Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions (a) he has and (b) his ministerial colleagues have had with counterparts from countries in the Middle East on the ending of Hamas' role in the future governance of Gaza.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Foreign Secretary welcomed the Arab initiative of a Recovery and Reconstruction Plan for Gaza, alongside Foreign Ministers of France, Germany and Italy on 8 March. Reconstruction efforts must be based upon a solid political and security framework that provides long-term peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians alike. We are committed to working with the Arab initiative, Palestinians and Israel, including on security and governance, and are engaging international partners to support efforts. We are clear there can be no role for Hamas. The UK supports a central role for the Palestinian Authority.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will list which of his counterparts from countries in the Middle East region (a) he and (b) his ministerial colleagues have met with to discuss (i) the release of hostages held and (ii) securing a lasting peace in Gaza.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Securing an immediate ceasefire and the safe release of all hostages has been a priority for this government since the start of this conflict. We will not stop until they are all home.

We thank Qatar, Egypt, and the US for their support in bringing these individuals' and their families' horrific ordeal to an end. Our thoughts are also with those still waiting to be reunited with their loved ones, including the family of UK linked hostage's. Since the renewed outbreak of hostilities, the Foreign Secretary has spoken to Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs, Ron Dermer on 20 March and to his Israeli counterpart Foreign Minister Sa'ar on 21 March during which he urged that Israel do all it can to return to a ceasefire in Gaza. The Foreign Secretary also remains in regular contact with US Secretary of State Rubio.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he plans to review the status of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham as a proscribed terrorist group.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Government does not routinely comment on whether a group is being considered for proscription or de-proscription.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps he is taking to prevent Iran from providing (a) weapons and (b) resources to terrorist proxies in the Middle East.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary have both made clear to their Iranian counterparts that Iran must restrain its proxies and partners and cease providing them with weaponry and other resources.

We will continue to work with our international partners to tackle this malign behaviour, including by holding Iran to account in multilateral fora and through sanctions; addressing Iranian weapons proliferation and illicit finance channels; and maintaining our permanent defence presence in the region.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 24 March 2025 to Question 38981 on China: Foreign Influence Registration Scheme, whether his Department has received representations from China on (a) the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme and (b) that country being included in the enhanced tier.

Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the response given to her previous Question 36631, which remains the same.

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 implications for his policies of the outcome of the Iranian nuclear talks undertaken by Iran, China and Russia in March 2025; and what steps he plans to take following those talks.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Iran's nuclear programme has never been more advanced and threatens international peace and security. The UK continues to work with international partners in pursuit of a diplomatic solution. We welcome efforts to this end and we will track the outcomes of the recent meeting between Iran, China, and Russia. The onus is now on Iran to take the offer of diplomacy as proposed by President Trump. We will use all diplomatic options to ensure Iran never develops a nuclear weapon including UN snapback, if necessary.

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 level of (a) support, (b) resources and (c) financing provided by Iran to Hamas.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Iran's support for Hamas is unacceptable and further destabilises regional stability and security. The Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary have reiterated to our Iranian counterparts that Iran must cease providing its proxies and partners with weaponry and financing.

We will continue to work with our international partners to hold Iran to account for its destabilising regional activity, and to reiterate our commitment to a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of all hostages by Hamas.

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 potential implications for his policies in the Middle East of the US's approach to (a) Iran, (b) the Houthis in Yemen and (c) Hamas.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

We work closely with the US on all of our Middle East priorities and the Foreign Secretary has discussed the situation in the Middle East with Secretary Rubio on multiple occasions.

We will continue to work with the US to advance regional peace and stability. This includes reiterating the UK's commitment to a ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages by Hamas and holding Iran to account for its malign regional activity, including in multilateral fora and through our sanctions regimes. We also continue to work with the US to contain the Houthi threat and protect Freedom of Navigation in the Red Sea.

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 allegations that (a) Hamas and (b) other terrorist and criminal groups have control over aid in Gaza.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

We are aware of allegations from the Government of Israel that Hamas is using humanitarian aid for their own gain and have encouraged Israel to share any evidence of this with the UN/INGOs. We have not seen clear evidence of systematic aid diversion to Hamas, and given the ongoing hostilities in Gaza we are not able to verify allegations through direct monitoring. FCDO humanitarian programmes in the Occupied Palestinian Territories operate with enhanced sensitivity and additional safeguards to manage the risk of aid diversion. Our emergency humanitarian response is delivered through trusted, credible partners to minimise risk. These partners operate in line with humanitarian principles, including neutrality, and have demonstrated their ability to deliver aid to the most vulnerable in this challenging context. We remain in regular contact with partners regarding operational delivery, risk management and monitoring of delivery.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his international counterparts on securing phase 2 of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Foreign Secretary recently spoke with US Secretary of State Rubio and Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff on how we can work together to secure a ceasefire in Gaza which sees the release of all remaining hostages. We are in close contact with the US Administration and international partners on our priorities, in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and will continue to work with them to secure a long-term political solution. The UK also welcomed the Arab initiative of a Recovery and Reconstruction Plan for Gaza. We welcome proposals from the region that begin to chart a way forward on reconstruction and building a lasting peace. We are clear there can be no role for Hamas in Gaza's future.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what formal response he has received from the US on the proposed treaty with Mauritius.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

We have received confirmation from the White House that the United States supports the UK proceeding with the deal. This follows a rigorous U.S. interagency process. We welcome the U.S. endorsement of the deal, as well as the President's recognition of the strength of the deal.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of military (a) operations and (b) drills conducted by China near Taiwan.

Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK has a clear interest in peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. We consider the Taiwan issue one to be settled peacefully by people on both sides of the Strait without threat or use of force or coercion. The UK opposes any activity that risks destabilising the status quo, including escalatory activities by China.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office issued a statement in response to China's latest military drills on 2 April, and we subsequently joined G7 partners to reemphasise the importance of peace and stability in the Strait in a joint statement on 6 April.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Chinese counterpart on that country's military (a) operations and (b) drills near Taiwan since July 2024.

Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK has been clear on the continued need for peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, including in our recent statement alongside G7 partners following China's military drills last week. The Foreign Secretary has raised this with Wang Yi several times, including at the UK-China Strategic Dialogue in February.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made a formal request to the US to support the costs of the proposed lease for the military base at Diego Garcia.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The treaty will be between the UK and Mauritius. The base is an essential part of the UK-US defence relationship, and the US contributes a great deal to the operating cost of the base.  Once the treaty is signed it will be put before both Houses for scrutiny before ratification in the usual way. This will include costs.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether any marine areas will be covered within the lease of the base on Diego Garcia.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Under the agreement the UK will continue to have full control over, and unrestricted access to, Diego Garcia, including the waters and airspace. This will ensure the long term secure and effective operation of the base well into the next century.

Found: According to statements made by the then Home Secretary, Rt Hon Dame Priti Patel MP, across the weekends