Asked by: Beccy Cooper (Labour - Worthing West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what funding his Department plans to allocate (a) to international programmes primarily focused on preventing novel pandemics at source and (b) through multilateral and bilateral initiatives where pandemic preparedness is a secondary or cross-cutting objective from 2025 to 2028.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We will publish Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's final 2025/26 Official Development Assistance (ODA) programme allocations in the Annual Report & Accounts in July. Over the coming months, we will work through detailed decisions on how the ODA budget will be used in future years, informed by internal and external consultation and impact assessments, ahead of publishing indicative multi-year allocations in the autumn. We continue to work across Government and with our international partners to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response.
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 budget was allocated for his Department's involvement at the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in Seville and how many (a) officials,(b) ministers and (c) special advisers attended.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Minister of State for International Development, Latin America and Caribbean, led the UK's delegation at the Fourth Financing for Development Conference (FfD4) in Seville. Alongside the Minister, fourteen Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) officials supported and represented the UK at a range of events, including two UK-led initiatives, across the four days of the conference. No Special Advisors attended. The UK contributed £250,000 to the United Nations Department for Economic and Social Affairs FfD4 Fund to support participation from accredited civil society organisations and academia primarily from developing countries.
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, if he will publish a timetable for announcing a UK pledge for the Global Fund’s upcoming replenishment for the 2026-28 period.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK has long been a strong supporter of the Global Fund and we are proud to be co-hosting the 8th replenishment this year in partnership with South Africa. Over the coming months, we will work through decisions on how the Official Development Assistance budget will be used and then discuss the timing of our pledge announcement with the Global Fund and our co-hosts South Africa.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what recent representations they have made to the government of Pakistan concerning the persecution of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community, including the demolition of mosques, targeted killings and grave desecrations; and what steps they are taking to engage with Pakistan and its approach to supporting peacebuilding and the protection of religious freedom in that region.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We are deeply concerned by the demolition of Ahmadi mosques in Pakistan and continue to monitor the situation. Our High Commission in Islamabad regularly raises concerns over the persecution of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community with the Government of Pakistan at the highest levels. The Minister for the Middle East raised the deteriorating situation for Ahmadi Muslims, including the impact of extremist groups such as Tehreek-e-Labbaik, with Pakistan's Minister of State for Interior in March 2025. In June 2025, ahead of Eid al-Adha, the Minister for the Middle East also raised the safety and dignity of Ahmadis seeking to practice their faith with Pakistan's Human Rights Minister. We will continue to urge the Government of Pakistan to guarantee the rights of all people in accordance with international standards.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they are taking steps to refer the situation in Ethiopia to the International Criminal Court, following the approach taken with regard to Bangladesh and Myanmar, having regard to the mass forced displacement of Tigrayans from Ethiopia.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is concerned by increasing risks of atrocities across the globe, including in Ethiopia. We raise our concern of risks of atrocities in both the multilateral space and bilaterally, where possible. We respect the independence of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in determining crimes against humanity, including in the context of Myanmar and Bangladesh.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government when they last conducted a joint analysis of conflict and stability for Ethiopia, and whether they will review the situation again to take account of the escalating conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
A Joint Analysis of Conflict and Stability (JACS) Update was completed in June 2024 to refresh cross-government understanding of the drivers of conflict, insecurity and instability in Ethiopia and assess implications for UK response. The JACS continues to be used to inform regular monitoring of conflict and stability risks and to guide a cross-government approach to support peace and stability in Ethiopia.
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, with reference to the Women, Peace and Security National Action Plan, report to Parliament 2024 to 2025, published on 17 June 2025, what representations were made to the Special Envoy for Women and Girls by the women human rights defenders (WHRDs) from (a) Afghanistan, (b) Sudan and (c) Syria on potential steps the government might take to tackle threats and reprisals against WHRDs.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
In March, during the UN Commission on the Status of Women, the UK Special Envoy for Women and Girls, Baroness Harman, hosted a closed meeting which gathered States, UN, and civil society representatives to highlight the shocking level of threats and reprisals against women human rights defenders (WHRDs). Baroness Harman heard powerful testimonies from WHRDs from Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, and Syria who called on the international community to take greater action to support women's participation free from reprisals, and to condemn the alarming prevalence of such retaliatory acts.
The UK recognises the essential role that WHRDs play in promoting and protecting human rights, democracy, and the rule of law and is steadfast in its commitment to women's full, equal, meaningful and safe participation in all spheres of decision-making.
Asked by: Lord Jackson of Peterborough (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions the Foreign Secretary has had with the interim President of Syria on freedom of religion and belief, and whether specific reference was made to the persecution of Christians in Syria and the wider Middle East.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK strongly condemns the terrorist attack at Mar Elias Church. The Foreign Secretary expressed his condolences to President Al-Sharaa during his visit to Damascus on 5 July. We have consistently underlined the importance of protecting all civilians, both publicly and as part of our engagement with the Syrian Government, including during the Foreign Secretary's recent visit. We continue to monitor the situation closely and advocate for the right to Freedom of Religion or Belief for all.
Asked by: Lord Jackson of Peterborough (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what was the evidential basis for the sum of £94.5 million in aid disbursement promised to the government of Syria at the recent bilateral meeting with the Foreign Secretary.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The decision to allocate £94.5 million in aid to Syria reflects our continued commitment to addressing one of the world's most protracted and severe humanitarian crises. Over 16 million people still require humanitarian assistance and 90 per cent of the population are living in poverty. The UK remains committed to the people of Syria and will continue to support the Syrian Government in its efforts to build a more secure and prosperous future for Syrians. A stable Syria is in the UK's interests.
Asked by: Beccy Cooper (Labour - Worthing West)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what (a) steps he is planning to take to take to strengthen antimicrobial resistance (i) surveillance and (ii) diagnostic capacity following the conclusion of the Fleming Fund programme and (b) support his Department is providing to help laboratories maintain continuity of services while national governments build long-term capacity.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Tackling Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is a priority for the UK Government, and is vital also for protecting our NHS. The UK played a key role in securing an action-oriented Political Declaration from the UN High Level Meeting on AMR last September, including on the importance of strengthening multisectoral surveillance. The UK is working with our partners to drive robust implementation of the commitments from the Political Declaration. Regarding specific UK funding, we are currently working through detailed decisions on how the Official Development Assistance budget will be used in future years, informed by internal and external consultation and impact assessments, ahead of publishing indicative multi-year allocations in the autumn.