Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of reports of networks linked to the Iranian regime using AI-generated images and videos to disseminate fabricated scenes of conflict on social media platforms; and what steps she is taking with international partners to disrupt such activity and strengthen global resilience to state-sponsored disinformation.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We are concerned about reports of alleged Iranian information manipulation and interference both in the Middle East and beyond. The government has invested in our capacity to disrupt information networks targeting the UK and our international partners and will continue to do so. It is clear that artificial intelligence poses challenges, for example, by making it potentially quicker, easier, and cheaper for malign actors to conduct information operations. We will continue to work with our allies, and through the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, in partnership with technology companies, to understand the growing impact of artificial intelligence on states' ability to conduct information operations.
Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of the (i) risks to women involved in commercial surrogacy arrangements in Nigeria, including (a) maternal mortality, (b) contractual conditions and (c) time for women to review and consent to contracts and (ii) potential impact of those risks on her Department’s policy on safeguarding in international surrogacy cases.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK believes that all people have the right to make their own informed decisions about if, whether, when and how to have children. As part of a range of assisted conception options, surrogacy may be an option, but it requires laws and regulations to protect the health, wellbeing and rights of the individuals involved. International commercial surrogacy arrangements can involve risks in some circumstances, especially where there are high rates of maternal mortality, such as in Nigeria, or weak regulatory frameworks. It should be noted that, through the UK's health programming, including the Lafiya programme, we are working with the Government of Nigeria to improve maternal and reproductive health care.
Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the risks of the international community agreeing a diplomatic framework relating to the Gaza conflict before the dismantling of Hamas’s military capabilities has been secured.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is working with our international partners to support the implementation of all elements of the 20-point Gaza Peace Plan, each of which it is important to deliver to create the conditions for a just and lasting peace for Israel and Palestine alike.
That includes the elements of the plan relating to the decommissioning of Hamas weaponry and dismantling of its military and terrorist infrastructure, to ensure that they can never again threaten the security of Israel, and commit vile acts of murder, terrorism and sexual violence against ordinary Israelis, in the way that they did on 7 October 2023.
Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with international counterparts on survivor accounts of sexual violence perpetrated by Hamas on and since 7 October 2023.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is working with our international partners to support the implementation of all elements of the 20-point Gaza Peace Plan, each of which it is important to deliver to create the conditions for a just and lasting peace for Israel and Palestine alike.
That includes the elements of the plan relating to the decommissioning of Hamas weaponry and dismantling of its military and terrorist infrastructure, to ensure that they can never again threaten the security of Israel, and commit vile acts of murder, terrorism and sexual violence against ordinary Israelis, in the way that they did on 7 October 2023.
Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment her Department has made of reports that individuals legally residing in the UK who previously resided in Hong Kong have been the subject of bounty notices issued by the Hong Kong authorities; and what measures are in place to support the security of those individuals in the context of transnational repression.
Answered by Seema Malhotra
I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided in the House of Lords on 19 June in response to Question HL933.
Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with the government of Canada on protections for peaceful religious expression in proposed hate speech legislation.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK and Canada enjoy a close friendship, based on our shared history and values, including an unswerving commitment to democracy, free speech, and human rights. Canadian domestic legislation is a matter for Canada, and it is not for the UK to comment.
Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will make it her policy to condition the continuation of UK funding to the Palestinian Authority on the removal of (a) antisemitic content and (b) incitement to violence from its school textbooks.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Hon Member to the answers I gave on this topic on 3 March at Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Oral Questions, and on 9 March in response to Question 115698.
Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to (a) make representations to the Iranian authorities on lifting the internet blackout and (b) assist Iranian citizens to stay connected via alternative channels.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We continue to urge Iran to immediately restore access to the internet and communications. Iran must respect its citizens' fundamental rights and freedom.
Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment her Department has made of trends in the level of the persecution of Christians and other religious minorities in Iran; and what steps she is taking to support religious freedom and human rights in that country.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We continue to monitor Iran's violations of the rights of religious minorities, and are committed to working with international partners to hold Iran to account. My Hon Friend the UK Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief, has worked closely on this issue - including hosting events in partnership with with Open Doors and Christian Solidarity Worldwide. We were integral to the delivery of an Iran human rights resolution, adopted by the UN Third Committee in November 2025, which called on Iran to ensure Iranians have the right to freedom of religion or belief in accordance with its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Asked by: Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
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 adequacy of regulations for a) the health and welfare of surrogate mothers and children born through surrogacy and b) ethical concerns associated with cross-border surrogacy arrangements.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Hon member to the answer provided to question HL6361 on 31 March 2025, a copy of which is reproduced below for ease of reference:
The UK does not support international surrogacy involving any form of exploitation and is committed to eradicating all forms of modern slavery, forced labour and human trafficking in line with Sustainable Development Goal 8.7. Globally the UK is proud to defend and promote universal and comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights. At the multilateral level, and through our diplomatic and Official Development Assistance partnerships, we advocate that all people have the right to make informed decisions about childbearing, including if, whether and when to have children. Family planning interventions, including surrogacy, must always be voluntary and rooted in a human rights-based approach.