Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if her Department has any plans to provide financial support to the operations of UNHCR in Afghanistan.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK remains one of the largest donors to Afghanistan, providing £151 million in aid for the 2025/26 financial year. The UK does not currently directly fund United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) operations in Afghanistan, but we have supported those operations indirectly via pooled funds managed by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Future funding allocations for UN and non-governmental organisation partners in Afghanistan will be set out in the normal way in due course.
Asked by: Lord Swire (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effect of the asylum policies of the government of Germany on the number of Afghans seeking asylum in the United Kingdom.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Government has not undertaken a formal assessment of the isolated impact of stricter asylum policy measures introduced by the German government as part of the ‘migrationswende’ on Afghan asylum claims in the UK.
Afghan asylum claims to the UK are down 8% (September – September) from 2024-2025.
The Government does monitor global migration trends closely, including illegal migration into the UK via Europe. We have enhanced our close cooperation with European partners on this shared challenge, including with Germany via our Joint Action Plan, as members of the Calais Group and via EU agencies such as Europol and Frontex.
On 17 November 2025, the Home Secretary announced new measures in the asylum policy statement to Parliament, with the aim of reducing the pull factors which underpin illegal migration to the UK. Many of these measures are comparable to European counterparts and will restore order and control to the UK asylum system via EU agencies via EU agencies.
Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to implement the recommendations of the People's Tribunal of Women of Afghanistan's judgement of 11 December 2025.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 21 October in response to Question 81211.
Asked by: Baroness Kennedy of Shaws (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to address gender apartheid and gender persecution in Afghanistan; what steps they are taking to support Afghan women and girls in the country; and what assessment they have made of how this assistance is affected by any cuts to UK overseas development assistance.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
I refer the Noble Baroness to the answer provided in the House of Commons on 21 October in response to Question 81211, which - for ease of reference - is reproduced below:
The Government condemns the Taliban's appalling repression of Afghan women and girls. Officials regularly engage with the Taliban on UK Government priorities, including human rights. The Government is working with international partners to maintain collective pressure on the Taliban to reverse their inhuman restrictions.
The UK strongly opposes the death penalty in all countries as a matter of principle, and in all circumstances, including through UN and Human Rights Council resolutions.
In October, the UK Special Envoy for Women and Girls and the UK Special Envoy to Afghanistan met Afghan women leaders. Upholding the human rights of all Afghans is not only a moral imperative, but essential for building a stable, inclusive, and prosperous country.
Asked by: James Cleverly (Conservative - Braintree)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, further to the Local Authority Housing Fund: Round 4 prospectus and guidance, of 19 November 2025, what is the profile of the spending in each year; and what is the profile of competition of the units.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The £950 million fourth round of Local Authority Housing Fund will primarily support local authorities in England to increase the supply of better-quality temporary accommodation and drive down the use of Bed and Breakfasts for families with children.
It will also provide safe and suitable housing for those on the Afghan Resettlement Programme (ARP), to fulfil the UK’s humanitarian duties to assist those who assisted British efforts in Afghanistan and are at risk of homelessness.
The fund will run for four years (2026/27 - 2029/30) and it will support delivery of up to 5,000 homes.
We have written to councils to inform them of their initial allocation offers. We will agree allocations and delivery profiles ahead of delivery commencing in April 2026.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when the Minister for the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan plans to respond to correspondence from the hon. Member for Arbroath and Broughty Ferry of 23rd October 2025 on the FBU donation to Nablus Fire Department.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I apologise for the delay in responding to the Hon. Member's correspondence. I will issue a reply shortly.
Asked by: Charlie Dewhirst (Conservative - Bridlington and The Wolds)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the (a) name, (b) job title, (c) annual remuneration, (d) time commitment and (e) expected end date is for each direct ministerial appointment in his Department.
Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Department has 41 direct Ministerial appointments, across seven entities. These are as follows:
Defence Industrial Joint Council
Name | Job title | Annual remuneration | Time commitment (per annum) | Expected end date |
Dr Charles Woodburn | Chair | £0 | 4 days (minimum) | 15/04/2026 |
Dame Fiona Murray CMG CBE | Deputy Chair | £0 | 4 days (minimum) | 29/04/2026 |
Michael Ord | Member | £0 | 4 days (minimum) | 29/04/2026 |
Kevin Craven | Member | £0 | 4 days (minimum) | 22/05/2026 |
Kata Escott CB | Member | £0 | 4 days (minimum) | 22/05/2026 |
David Lockwood OBE | Member | £0 | 4 days (minimum) | 22/05/2026 |
Gary Smith | Member | £0 | 4 days (minimum) | 05/06/2026 |
Craig Beddis | Member | £0 | 4 days (minimum) | 22/05/2026 |
Ned Baker | Member | £0 | 4 days (minimum) | 01/06/2026 |
Kerry Baker | Member | £0 | 4 days (minimum) | 22/05/2026 |
Joanne O'Doherty | Member | £0 | 4 days (minimum) | 01/06/2026 |
Paul Livingston CBE | Member | £0 | 4 days (minimum) | 22/05/2026 |
Andrew Kinniburgh | Member | £0 | 4 days (minimum) | 22/05/2026 |
Nick Sharpe | Member | £0 | 4 days (minimum) | 22/05/2026 |
Louis Mosley | Member | £0 | 4 days (minimum) | 22/05/2026 |
Mike Clancy | Member | £0 | 4 days (minimum) | 05/06/2026 |
Steve Wadey | Member | £0 | 4 days (minimum) | 22/05/2026 |
Tufan Erginbilgic | Member | £0 | 4 days (minimum) | 01/06/2026 |
Julian David OBE | Member | £0 | 4 days (minimum) | 22/05/2026 |
Graham Booth | Member | £0 | 4 days (minimum) | 22/05/2026 |
Defence Investors Advisory Group
Name | Job title | Annual remuneration | Time commitment (per annum) | Expected end date |
Kerry Baldwin | Co-Chair | £0 | 15 days | 31/03/2026 |
Dame Sharron White DBE | Co-Chair | £0 | 15 days | 31/03/2026 |
Three members: names have been omitted due to commercial sensitivity. | Member | £0 | 9 days | 31/03/2026 |
Independent Inquiry relating to Afghanistan
Name | Job title | Annual remuneration | Time commitment (per annum) | Expected end date |
The Rt Hon Lord Justice Charles Haddon-Cave | Chair | £256,000 | Full time | No fixed date |
LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme Independent Panel
Name | Job title | Annual remuneration | Time commitment (per annum) | Expected end date |
Lord Brian Paddick | Chair | £86,250 | 115 days | 02/02/2027 |
Alison Brown MBE | Member | £57,500 | 115 days | 14/05/2027 |
Francis Castle MBE | Member | £57,500 | 115 days | 14/05/2027 |
Dr Matthew Gould | Member | £57,500 | 115 days | 14/05/2027 |
Hannah Graf MBE | Member | £57,500 | 115 days | 14/05/2027 |
Craig Jones MBE | Member | £57,500 | 115 days | 14/05/2027 |
Caroline Paige MBE | Member | £57,500 | 115 days | 14/05/2027 |
Dr Annabell Poate-Joiner | Member | £57,500 | 115 days | 14/05/2027 |
Emma Riley | Member | £57,500 | 115 days | 14/05/2027 |
LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme Appeals Board
Name | Job title | Annual remuneration | Time commitment (per annum) | Expected end date |
Douglas Bosphore-Ward MBE | Chair | £37,500 | 50 days | 14/05/2027 |
Judith Henry | Member | £25,000 | 50 days | 14/05/2027 |
Rachael Ruxton | Member | £25,000 | 50 days | 14/05/2027 |
Tracey Myhill | Member | £25,000 | 50 days | 14/05/2027 |
Octric Semiconductors Ltd
Name | Job title | Annual remuneration | Time commitment (per annum) | Expected end date |
Graham Love | Interim Chair | £120,000 | 104 days | 13/09/2026 |
Strategic Advisor to the Secretary of State for Defence
Name | Job title | Annual remuneration | Time commitment (per annum) | Expected end date |
Prof Malcolm Chalmers | Adviser | £162,500 | 260 days | 03/02/2027 |
Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, where companies his Department has signed contracts with in relation to the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy are based by local authority.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The total cost of the Afghan Response Programme (ARP) to the end of financial year 2024-25 is approximately £2.7 billion. The costs are shared cross-Government. This figure includes spend on contracts that were already acquired by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) which were then utilised for ARP as well as contracts directly acquired for the specific requirements of ARP. Due to the nature of how these schemes operate, it is not possible to provide a breakdown per scheme.
I am withholding details regarding the location of such companies that the MOD has contracts with as its disclosure would be likely to prejudice the commercial interests of the Ministry of Defence.
Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the cost to the public purse is of contracts his Department has signed with companies in relation to the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The total cost of the Afghan Response Programme (ARP) to the end of financial year 2024-25 is approximately £2.7 billion. The costs are shared cross-Government. This figure includes spend on contracts that were already acquired by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) which were then utilised for ARP as well as contracts directly acquired for the specific requirements of ARP. Due to the nature of how these schemes operate, it is not possible to provide a breakdown per scheme.
I am withholding details regarding the location of such companies that the MOD has contracts with as its disclosure would be likely to prejudice the commercial interests of the Ministry of Defence.
Asked by: John McDonnell (Labour - Hayes and Harlington)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether the Government has authorised any export licences for military equipment or dual-use items to Pakistan that could be used in drone operations or internal security actions in Balochistan.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The UK remains deeply concerned by reports of human rights abuses in Pakistan, including in Balochistan. Advocating for civil and political rights is a core part of the UK's diplomatic engagement with Pakistan. To that end, the Minister of State for the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan has raised human rights issues on several occasions with Ministers in Pakistan. We will continue to urge the Government of Pakistan to guarantee the rights of all people in Pakistan in accordance with its constitution and international standards.
All export licences for military and dual-use equipment are assessed on a case-by-case basis against our Strategic Export Licensing Criteria. Once granted, all our licences are kept under close and continual review and can be revoked or suspended if necessary.
As our most recent data on export licences show, last year licences have been refused to Pakistan both where there has been a risk of diversion for an undesirable end use, and due to concerns the items may be used to commit or facilitate internal repression.