Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions (a) he, (b) his ministers and (c) officials from his Department have had with counterparts in the Commonwealth and Commonwealth member countries on reparatory justice (i) since July 2024 and (ii) subsequent to the most recent Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting; whether further such discussions are planned; and whether he plans to use ODA for reparatory justice measures.

We fully recognise the horrific impacts and the understandable, ongoing, strength of feeling on the transatlantic slave trade across communities in the UK and the Commonwealth family. Ministers have had no discussions with Commonwealth counterparts focused on reparatory justice since July 2024, and none are foreseen. If interlocutors raise reparatory justice, we make clear our position that we do not pay reparations. We are focused on working with Commonwealth partners to tackle the most pressing challenges of today including security, growth and climate change and building partnerships for the future.