Asked by: Baroness Goudie (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what measures they have put in place to ensure a rapid response to international humanitarian emergencies, in the light of (1) the number of global active conflicts and atrocity crimes, and (2) budget cuts to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The UK remains committed to support conflict and atrocity prevention to help save lives, uphold international law and prevent cycles of violence that drive displacement. The UK can rapidly deploy a range of assistance in response to humanitarian emergencies. This includes aid items such as tents and blankets, the UK Emergency Medical Team (UK EMT), and the UK International Search and Rescue Team, as well as technical experts specialising in disaster management, conflict, and health, among others. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) holds the Humanitarian Crisis Reserve, designed to enable rapid responses to new or emerging humanitarian crises, such as a natural disasters, disease outbreak, or spike in conflict.
We are working through detailed decisions on how the Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget will be used from 2026/27 to 2028/29, informed by internal and external consultation and impact assessments. ODA is only one element of how we deliver impact. It is the combination of defence, politics, development, diplomacy and policy levers, which will maintain the UK's effectiveness amongst international partners and within the multilateral architecture.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Chapman of Darlington on 5 January (HL13152), where the information about the representations they have made to the (1) government of China, and (2) authorities in Hong Kong, regarding the admission of evidence obtained through the reported torture of Andy Li and cited during the trial of Jimmy Lai is located in the statement or response in the House of Lords on 17 December 2025 (HL Deb cols 798–806).
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
These were among the representations that the Foreign Secretary referred to in her opening statement, at Column 800, and again - in response to Lord Oates - at Columns 802-803.
Asked by: Lord Empey (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the statements by the President of the United States of America regarding the status of Greenland.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
I refer the Noble Lord to the responses I gave to the House in response to oral questions on 8 January, Official Report, vol. 851, cols. 1317-1320.
Asked by: Katrina Murray (Labour - Cumbernauld and Kirkintilloch)
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 implications for her policies on Colombia of recent comments by President Trump regarding President Petro.
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 January, and her responses to the questions raised in that debate.
Asked by: Julian Lewis (Conservative - New Forest East)
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 implications for her policies of the role of (a) Russia and (b) China in (i) supplying military aircraft and other offensive weaponry to and (b) impeding condemnation by the UN Security Council of the military regime in Myanmar.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK has sanctioned a number of targets responsible for supplying arms to the military regime since the coup in 2021. In 2022, the UK sanctioned two Russian companies involved in the supply and upkeep of aircraft for the Myanmar Armed Forces. In 2024, the UK issued its 19th round of sanctions, targeting companies involved in the procurement of aviation fuel and equipment to the Myanmar Armed Forces. To date, the UK has imposed sanctions on 10 individuals and entities in connection with the import of aviation fuel.
The UK convened the UN Security Council (UNSC) on 22 December 2025 to discuss the Myanmar crisis, and condemned recent airstrikes on civilians and civilian infrastructure. A summary of the session is available on gov.uk: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/elections-under-the-current-circumstances-in-myanmar-risk-provoking-further-violence-uk-statement-on-myanmar
The UK continues to use its penholder role to shine a spotlight on the Myanmar crisis at the UNSC.
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds Central and Headingley)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to help ensure that UK companies operating in West Papua respect the rights of Indigenous peoples and prevent adverse environmental or human rights impacts, in line with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK Government takes seriously any concerns about environmental and human rights impacts linked to British businesses operating abroad. We regularly engage with both the Government of Indonesia and UK companies to promote responsible business conduct and uphold international standards.
The UK is a signatory to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, which promote responsible business conduct globally. Our National Contact Point allows individuals and organisations to raise concerns about UK-linked corporate behaviour overseas.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Baroness Chapman of Darlington on 5 January (HL13153), where the information about what consideration the Prime Minister has given to delaying his official visit to China in January until Jimmy Lai has been released from prison is located in the statement or response in the House of Lords on 17 December 2025 (HL Deb cols 798–806).
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
At Column 804, in response to the Noble Lord's question on the matter.
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds Central and Headingley)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations her Department has made to the Indonesian government on upholding free, prior and informed consent for Indigenous communities affected by National Strategic Projects.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK Government is aware of the ongoing implementation of National Strategic Projects across Indonesia. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office senior officials have raised the importance of free, prior and informed consent (FPCI) for Indigenous People and Local Communities (IPLCs) with senior Indonesian parliamentarians and Government of Indonesia officials, most recently in August 2025.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of US military action in Venezuela on regional stability in Latin America.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Hon Member to the Foreign Secretary's statement to the House on 5 January, and her responses to questions raised in that debate.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
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 US military action in Venezuela on UK national security.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Hon Member to the Foreign Secretary's statement to the House on 5 January, and her responses to questions raised in that debate.