Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether there are plans to deliver Pillar 9.5 of the UK-Ukraine 2025 Partnership Agreement.

Delivery of Pillar 9, paragraph 5 of the 100 Year Partnership Agreement is progressing. We want more local authorities to twin with Ukrainian counterparts to enable cooperation that delivers material benefits for people in the UK and Ukraine. Local authorities have already: hosted Ukrainian medical professionals in UK hospitals to facilitate exchanges of expertise, supported business exchanges, engaged on sustainable and resilient urban development/reconstruction, shared lessons learned for fostering local culture and attracting tourism, and donated lifesaving equipment (e.g. fire engines to Ukraine). The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office works closely with Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government and colleagues in local government to ensure that this engagement supports the broader goals of the UK-Ukraine 100 Year Partnership and to provide support when necessary. We are also encouraging other institutions including universities, and schools to twin with their Ukrainian counterparts to ensure that the benefits of the 100-Year Partnership are shared as widely as possible across the UK and Ukraine.