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 international partners on the detention and enforced disappearance of Christians in areas of Yemen under Houthi control since December 2025.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We are deeply concerned about the situation facing Christian communities in Yemen, particularly in areas under Houthi control, where reports indicate that minorities cannot practise their faith freely, and routinely face harassment and discrimination.
We raise these concerns regularly with international partners, including at the UN Security Council and Human Rights Council, and continue to press for respect for human rights and accountability for violations. The UK condemns all forms of persecution based on religion or belief and will continue to advocate for the protection of Christians and other minorities in Yemen. More broadly, the UK will continue to use its diplomatic influence and humanitarian support to try and protect all civilians in Yemen, and press for an inclusive peace process under UN auspices.
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 her policy is on civilian habitation of the outer atolls of the British Indian Ocean Territory.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Rt Hon Member to the statement I made to the House on 13 April and the answers I provided to questions raised in response.
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 plans she has to expand cooperation on delivering global energy security with the United Arab Emirates.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
In April we formally agreed to a framework for enhanced cooperation between the UK and UAE, which covers foreign affairs, defence, energy, trade and investment, artificial intelligence, judicial cooperation, and illicit finance. This framework will provide a strong basis for growing our cooperation across these areas, including on energy 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, with reference to her Department's press release entitled Statement: FCDO summons Chinese Ambassador, published on 9 May 2026, whether the People's Republic of China's Ambassador to the UK was formally summoned and demarched by her personally or by her Department's officials.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
On the Foreign Secretary's instruction, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office senior officials summoned the Chinese Ambassador on 8 May, as is standard practice. Officials made clear that any attempts by foreign states to intimidate, harass or harm individuals or communities in the UK are unacceptable. It was made clear that the UK Government will continue to use the full range of tools available to protect our security and hold China to account for actions which undermine our safety and democratic values.
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 plans she has to (a) review and (b) revoke the privileges and immunities currently afforded to the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London under the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office Act 1996.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 21 May in response to Questions 724 and 725.
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 she will bring forward legislative proposals to repeal the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office Act 1996.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 21 May in response to Questions 724 and 725.
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 Written Statement of 29 April 2026 on Syria, HCWS1552, what recent discussions her Department has had with the Syrian Government, the Syrian Democratic Forces and international partners on preserving evidence relating to Daesh crimes against Yazidis and other religious minorities following the closure of al-Hol camp.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided in the House of Lords on 12 February in response to Question HL13863. In my meeting with President Al Sharaa and Foreign Minister Al Shaibani on 31 March, I pressed UK concerns on human rights and securing justice for all Syrians. The Attorney General also offered UK support on transitional justice and accountability for crimes committed during Syria's civil war and the actions of the brutal Assad regime.
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 discussions she had with her US counterparts on the potential impact of arms sales to Taiwan on that country's security and autonomy prior to the recent US-China summit.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
UK ministers and officials discuss a wide range of issues with their US counterparts on a regular basis.
The UK continues to believe that the Taiwan issue should be settled peacefully by the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait through constructive dialogue, without the threat or use of force or coercion. The UK has a clear interest in peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, which is important for regional and global prosperity.
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 the Prime Minister has recently raised Taiwan’s security with the President of the United States.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
UK ministers and officials discuss a wide range of issues with their US counterparts on a regular basis.
The UK continues to believe that the Taiwan issue should be settled peacefully by the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait through constructive dialogue, without the threat or use of force or coercion. The UK has a clear interest in peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, which is important for regional and global prosperity.
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 her Department has conducted a risk assessment on engaging with groups previously designated as terrorist organisations in Syria.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Hon. Member to my statement on gov.uk marking the one‑year anniversary of the fall of the Assad regime and the written ministerial statement to both Houses on 22 October, which can be found respectively at the following links: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/minister-falconer-article-on-syria-anniversary-december-2025 and https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2025-10-22/hcws977
These set out, respectively, the UK's support for the efforts of the new Syrian government to build a more stable, inclusive, and representative country and the decision that the Government came to on de‑proscription. I emphasised the importance of inclusive political transition during President Al Sharaa's visit on 31 March.