Asked by: Jamie Stone (Liberal Democrat - Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross)
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 continue funding for the elimination of lymphatic filariasis in Africa; how she plans to uphold commitments under the Kigali Declaration on Neglected Tropical Diseases; and what steps she is taking to ensure that pharmaceutical drug donations for preventive chemotherapy programmes are utilised to protect communities from preventable and treatable diseases.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK has played a leading role on Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) and remains committed to tackling today's key global health challenges within the framework of a modern development partnership approach. The UK continues to invest in NTD research, including £3 million support to the Coalition for Operational Research on NTDs (COR-NTD) for research on Female Genital Schistosomiasis. We are also proud to provide up to £15 million to support the Eliminating Lymphatic Filariasis in Africa (ELFA) programme as part of the World Health Organisation 2030 NTD Road Map to prevent, control and eliminate NTDs by 2030. Announcements on future Official Development Assistance budgets will be made in due course.
Asked by: Jamie Stone (Liberal Democrat - Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross)
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 maintain global leadership on neglected tropical diseases, including fulfilling commitments under the Kigali Declaration and supporting delivery of the WHO NTD Roadmap 2021–2030; and if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of reductions in Official Development Assistance on those commitments.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK has played a leading role on Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) and remains committed to tackling today's key global health challenges within the framework of a modern development partnership approach. The UK continues to invest in NTD research, including £3 million support to the Coalition for Operational Research on NTDs (COR-NTD) for research on Female Genital Schistosomiasis. We are also proud to provide up to £15 million to support the Eliminating Lymphatic Filariasis in Africa (ELFA) programme as part of the World Health Organisation 2030 NTD Road Map to prevent, control and eliminate NTDs by 2030. Announcements on future Official Development Assistance budgets will be made in due course.
Asked by: Jamie Stone (Liberal Democrat - Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross)
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 impact of reductions in Official Development Assistance on global efforts to eliminate neglected tropical diseases; and what steps her Department is taking to mitigate risks identified by the World Health Organization.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK has played a leading role on Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) and remains committed to tackling today's key global health challenges within the framework of a modern development partnership approach. The UK continues to invest in NTD research, including £3 million support to the Coalition for Operational Research on NTDs (COR-NTD) for research on Female Genital Schistosomiasis. We are also proud to provide up to £15 million to support the Eliminating Lymphatic Filariasis in Africa (ELFA) programme as part of the World Health Organisation 2030 NTD Road Map to prevent, control and eliminate NTDs by 2030. Announcements on future Official Development Assistance budgets will be made in due course.
Asked by: Alicia Kearns (Conservative - Rutland and Stamford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has had discussions with international partners on Stepan Latypov; and what assessment she has made of the level of opportunity to secure his release in prisoner exchanges.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We are deeply concerned by and condemn the ongoing domestic repression imposed by the Lukashenko regime, and call for the immediate and unconditional release of all remaining political prisoners.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Southwark (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel following the demolition of the headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine in East Jerusalem.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
I refer the Lord Bishop to the joint statement issued by the Foreign Secretary and a number of her overseas counterparts on 28 January, which - for ease of reference - is reproduced below:
We the Foreign Ministers of Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, Norway, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom strongly condemn the demolitions by the Israeli authorities of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) headquarters in East Jerusalem, on 20 January 2026.
This unprecedented act against a United Nations agency by a UN Member State marks the latest unacceptable move to undermine their ability to operate. We urge the Government of Israel to abide by its international obligations to ensure the protection and inviolability of United Nations premises in accordance with the provisions of the UN General Convention (1946) and the Charter. We call upon the Government of Israel, a member of the United Nations, to halt all demolitions.
We reiterate our full support for UNRWA's indispensable mission to provide essential services and humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including East Jerusalem. We welcome UNRWA's commitment to reform and implementation of the recommendations of the Colonna Report to ensure they meet the highest standards on neutrality and integrity. UNRWA is a service provider delivering healthcare and education to millions of Palestinians across the region, particularly in Gaza, and must be able to operate without restrictions. We reiterate our deep concern regarding the application by the Government of Israel of legislation, adopted by the Knesset in October 2024 and strengthened in December 2025, forbidding any contact between Israeli state entities and officials and UNRWA, prohibiting and de facto preventing any UNRWA presence within Israel and in Jerusalem including the supply of electricity, water and gas to properties registered under UNRWA.
Israel agreed to President Trump's 20-Point Plan, which committed to the entry and distribution of aid into Gaza, led by the UN and Red Crescent and without interference. We call on the Government of Israel to fully abide by its obligations to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip in accordance with international law. Despite the increase in aid entering Gaza, conditions remain dire and supply is inadequate for the needs of the population. Therefore, we call on the Government of Israel to take the following urgent and essential steps:
- Allow the expanded, safe and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid and services throughout the whole of Gaza and the West Bank in accordance with international humanitarian law.
- Ensure that international NGOs are able to operate in Gaza, including by lifting restrictive registration requirements.
- The reopening of all crossing points, including the announced plans to re-open the Rafah crossing in both directions.
- And lift persistent restrictions on humanitarian goods' imports, including items considered to have a "dual use" that are essential to humanitarian and early recovery operations.
Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment has she made of the potential impact of UK sanctions on Sudanese military actors in stopping conflict in Sudan.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Hon Member to the statement made to the House by the Foreign Secretary on 5 February. We keep the impact of all our sanctions designations under constant review.
Asked by: Iain Duncan Smith (Conservative - Chingford and Woodford Green)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department has made an assessment of the effectiveness of the evidence used by the US in its designation of Bidzina Ivanishvili; and whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of applying sanctions on people linked to the repression of (a) civil society, (b) independent media and (c) political oppression in Georgia.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK remains resolute in our support for civil society, independent media and democratic freedoms in Georgia. Legislation introduced by the Georgian Government over recent years continues to target non-governmental organisations, opposition leaders and independent voices. We are monitoring developments closely and working with international partners. The UK has imposed targeted sanctions on senior Interior Ministry figures responsible for violent attacks on protesters, judges for abusing their positions, and high-ranking officials for enabling serious human rights violations. I cannot comment on potential future sanctions designations, as doing so could undermine their effectiveness.
Asked by: Rupert Lowe (Independent - Great Yarmouth)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if her Department will publish all information it holds on child sexual exploitation committed by illegal migrants.
Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The information you have requested is not available from published statistics and there is no immediate intention to publish them.
Work is currently underway to publish more detailed information on FNOs subject to deportation. Further information on this work can be found at: Statistics on foreign national offenders and the immigration system - GOV.UK.
In the twelve months between 1 February 2025 and 31 January 2026, over 5,600 foreign national offenders (FNOs) have been returned from the UK under this government, a 12% increase on the previous year, and we will continue to do everything we can to remove these vile criminals from our streets
In April 2025, the Home Office announced that it would – for the first time – categorise as a ‘particularly serious crime’ for the purpose of the Refugee Convention any conviction resulting in the offender being made subject to the notification requirements for sex offenders, regardless of the length of sentence they receive, thereby allowing the UK to exclude those individuals from being granted any right to claim asylum protections.
We will build on these reforms across the immigration system, as well as the asylum system, amending our policies and guidance to ensure we are upholding UK laws - taking action to prevent individuals who pose a danger to the British public from being allowed to stay in the UK, and taking much earlier action on a wider range of crimes.
We will set out more detailed reforms and stronger measures to ensure our laws are upheld, including streamlining and speeding up the removals process. That will include establishing new procedures so that the Home Office can more easily take enforcement and removal action and revoke visas in a much wider range of crimes where non-custodial sentences have been given, not just cases which are sent to prison.
Asked by: Iain Duncan Smith (Conservative - Chingford and Woodford Green)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the decision to issue a licence authorising the release within 90 days of the proceeds from the 2022 sale of Chelsea Football Club for humanitarian support in Ukraine, what the deadline is for the completion of this process.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
On 17 December 2025, His Majesty's Government issued a licence which permits the transfer of over £2.5 billion proceeds from the club's sale into a new foundation for humanitarian purposes in Ukraine. We would have preferred to take this action with the cooperation of Mr Abramovich and his company, Fordstam Ltd, and we continue to urge him to honour the commitments he made in 2022. But if Mr Abramovich fails to act quickly, this Government is fully prepared to go to court to enforce his previous commitments if necessary.
Asked by: Wendy Morton (Conservative - Aldridge-Brownhills)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what aspects of the implementation of the UK-EU Gibraltar treaty she considers non-negotiable; and how this negotiating position will protect UK citizens and Gibraltar residents.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 27 June 2025 to Question 60853, and I look forward to going over the detail of the new arrangements with her when the final text of the treaty is brought before the House for scrutiny in due course.