Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the July 2026 convictions in Germany of former Daesh members for genocide, crimes against humanity and the forced religious conversion of Yazidi children; and what steps the Government is taking with international counterparts to ensure that perpetrators of Daesh atrocities against Yazidis are prosecuted for international crimes, including genocide, rather than solely for terrorism offences.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We welcome efforts to ensure that those responsible for Daesh atrocities are held accountable. The July 2026 convictions in Germany demonstrate the important role that national jurisdictions can play in prosecuting serious international crimes committed against the Yazidi community.
The UK remains committed to achieving justice for survivors of Daesh crimes. We continue to work with the Government of Iraq, the Kurdistan Regional Government and international partners to support accountability, including through international judicial cooperation and evidence-sharing. The UK also supports third-country investigations and prosecutions for serious international crimes where appropriate. In August 2023, the UK formally acknowledged that acts of genocide were committed by Daesh against Yazidis. We will continue to support efforts to ensure that perpetrators are held accountable for the full range of crimes they have committed.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the statement by the Prime Minister of Mauritius that Mauritius is prepared to take legal action unless the deadlock over the Chagos agreement is resolved.
Answered by Uma Kumaran - Assistant Whip
Diego Garcia is a key strategic military asset for both the UK and the US, which has protected our shared security for nearly 60 years. Maintaining long-term operational control and security of Diego Garcia is the entire basis for the UK-Mauritius Agreement. We will continue to work with the US and Mauritius to find a way forward that is in the UK's best interests and protects our national security.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, (1) for which British Overseas Territories the Government has established formal national security strategies; and (2) what plans it has to review those strategies to address risks arising from natural disasters and other emergencies.
Answered by Uma Kumaran - Assistant Whip
The UK Government works in close partnership with British Overseas Territory Governments to support national security, resilience and preparedness for natural disasters and other emergencies. As Minister for the Overseas Territories, I recently visited the Turks and Caicos Islands and Bermuda, where I met key security agencies and I am in regular discussions with the Home Office and Ministry of Defence in relation to security matters related to the UK and our Overseas Territories.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has conducted a formal corruption and integrity risk assessment on the Chagos Deal.
Answered by Uma Kumaran - Assistant Whip
It is unclear what the Hon Member is referring to by 'a formal corruption and integrity risk assessment'. The UK/Mauritius Treaty has been thoroughly scrutinised by Parliament and has been tested at the highest level of the US security establishment, under two separate US administrations. No payments under the Treaty will be made to Mauritius until the treaty is ratified and any payments will be made in accordance with standard government practice, including fiduciary risk assessments as appropriate. The Government has also conducted both an Equality Impact Assessment, and an Environmental Principles Assessment of the treaty.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will provide a list of external legal, strategic, intelligence, PR and lobbying advice in relation to the proposed Chagos deal with Mauritius; who that advice was from; under what contract terms; and at what cost.
Answered by Uma Kumaran - Assistant Whip
The Government has received external legal advice in relation to the negotiations with Mauritius over BIOT/the Chagos Archipelago over the course of several years.
Payments are published in the normal manner alongside other Departmental spend in the annual accounts.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the answer on 16 June 2025 to question 60001, if he will provide an itemised list of every visit and meeting with Chagossian groups.
Answered by Uma Kumaran - Assistant Whip
The UK Government has engaged regularly with the Chagossian community since treaty negotiations began and continues to do so both at official and Ministerial level. This includes through the Chagossian Contact Group, which was established under this government, alongside meetings with a range of Chagossian groups and representatives. An itemised list of every visit and meeting could only be produced at disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what mechanism the Foreign Office uses to log incidents of Chinese transnational repression within the UK; and if he will consider establishing a formal dialogue with Beijing to raise these cases directly as matters affecting UK sovereignty.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government will not tolerate attempts by foreign states to coerce, intimidate, harass or harm individuals in the UK. The UK has a broad suite of powers available to counter foreign interference, including acts which amount to transnational repression. We continue to implement measures in the National Security Act 2023, which strengthens our legal powers and makes the UK a harder target.
We have already rolled out training to improve the police's ability to investigate potential incidents that may be state directed. This is in addition to publishing practical guidance online for those who believe themselves to be at risk of transnational repression. We raise concerns about transnational repression directly with the Chinese and Hong Kong authorities.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much her Department has spent on legal fees opposing legal actions brought by Misley Mandarin and other Chagossians living in the British Indian Ocean Territory.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Any publication of the legal fees incurred will be made at the end of the proceedings in question.Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with her Nigerian counterpart on the persecution of Christians in that country.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 26 June in response to Question 11395.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many officials from her Department with responsibility for the British Indian Ocean Territory are working a) within the British Indian Ocean Territory, b) from her Department's main building and c) from home remotely.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The British Indian Ocean Territory is constitutionally distinct and separate from the UK. It is administered by the British Indian Ocean Territory Administration (BIOTA). The Commissioner is based in the UK and is supported by around 40 staff split between the UK and the Territory. In addition, there are currently around 13 Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office staff working on all aspects of BIOT policy, all of whom are based in the UK.