Asked by: David Smith (Labour - North Northumberland)
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 help increase funding for education for children around the world.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is a world leader in championing safe, inclusive, quality education, working in partnership with governments and multilaterals to deliver the education that all children deserve. In a context of scarce resources, the UK is working to increase both the volume and effectiveness of global and national financial investments in education, including supporting innovative financing mechanisms such as the International Finance Facility for Education.
Asked by: David Smith (Labour - North Northumberland)
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 the allegations relating to the (a treatment and (b) location of Y Qunyh Bdap from Vietnam; and what discussions she has had with her counterparts in Vietnam on his (i) location, (iI) wellbeing and (iii) access to legal counsel and independent monitoring.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 11 November in response to Question 83589. The UK raised the case of Y Quynh Bdap in our statement at the UN Human Rights Council in September 2025. On 19 December, the UK Human Rights Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, Eleanor Sanders, also raised the UK's position on this case with Thailand's Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, Usana Berananda.
Asked by: David Smith (Labour - North Northumberland)
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 in response to the expansion of settlements in the West Bank.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Hon Member to the answer given on 3 September to question 71442.
Asked by: David Smith (Labour - North Northumberland)
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 with the Palestinian Authority to support a two-state solution.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Hon Member to the announcements made by the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary on 21 September, further details of which can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-formally-recognises-palestinian-state.
Asked by: David Smith (Labour - North Northumberland)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of implementing economic sanctions on Israel in relation to the expansion of settlements in the West Bank.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Hon Member to the answer given on 17th September to Question 74580.
Asked by: David Smith (Labour - North Northumberland)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to support British students in the United States.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
US Visa policy and immigration issues are a matter for US authorities. We are seeking clarity from US officials, tracking announcements, and keeping our Travel Advice under constant review, to give students that currently study or want to study in the US clarity and confidence. We stand ready to provide consular support to British nationals abroad 24/7.
Asked by: David Smith (Labour - North Northumberland)
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 effectiveness of sanctions on imports of aviation fuel on Myanmar.
Answered by Catherine West
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office regularly reviews the effectiveness and impact of UK sanctions and remains committed to continuing to impose and enforce sanctions, alongside our partners, to constrain the Myanmar military's ability to inflict harm against civilians. It is vital for the UK that any sanctions imposed against the Myanmar military and its affiliates, have the desired effect of denying the regime credibility and constraining their access to finance, arms and equipment. Since the coup in 2021, the UK has announced sanctions on 25 individuals and 39 entities under the Myanmar (Sanctions) Regulations, most recently in October 2024, where we announced sanctions against companies involved in the procurement of aviation fuel to the Myanmar Armed Forces.
Asked by: David Smith (Labour - North Northumberland)
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 effectiveness of multilateral arms embargos on Myanmar.
Answered by Catherine West
The UK is clear that countries should not sell arms to the Myanmar military as this will exacerbate the violence. We raise our opposition regularly in international fora. In March 2025, the UK co-sponsored a UN Human Rights Council Resolution, calling for all states to cease the illicit transfer and diversion of arms, munitions and other military equipment to Myanmar. UK sanctions include a comprehensive arms embargo on Myanmar. These sanctions prohibit the provision of military related services, including technical assistance, to or for the benefit of the Myanmar Armed Forces.