Sep. 25 2026
Source Page: UK and others condemn Russia's failure to uphold OSCE commitments: joint statement to the OSCEAsked by: Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to reintroduce the Diego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory Bill within this session of Parliament.
Answered by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Diego Garcia is a key strategic military asset for both the UK and the US, which has protected our shared security for nearly 60 years. Maintaining long-term operational control and security of Diego Garcia is the entire basis for the UK-Mauritius Agreement. We will continue to work with the US and Mauritius to find a way forward that is in the UK's best interests and protects our national security.
Asked by: Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have held with environmental organisations about the implications of the Diego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory Bill.
Answered by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Ministers and officials have engaged with a range of stakeholders, including environmental organisations, on issues relating to the future of the Chagos Archipelago and the environmental protection of its unique marine environment. The Government remains committed to ensuring long-term robust environmental protections for the Archipelago.
Asked by: Ayoub Khan (Independent - Birmingham Perry Barr)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he plans to update Government guidance to UK businesses operating in or trading with Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, following the announcement on 8 September 2026 that the Government considers Israel's occupation to be unlawful.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We routinely update our guidance to British businesses on the Overseas Business Risk website. Detailed guidance will be published alongside any future legislation to clarify the implications for UK businesses.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how much Official Development Assistance they provided to support Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh in (1) 2021–22, (2) 2022–23, (3) 2023–24, (4) 2024–25, (5) 2025–26, (6) 2026–27 and (7) 2027–8.
Answered by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
UK Official Development Assistance (ODA) provided to support Rohingya refugees and host communities in Bangladesh was ÂŁ36.6 million in 2021-22, ÂŁ20.2 million in 2022-23 and ÂŁ22.8 million in 2023-24, ÂŁ43 million in 2024-25 and ÂŁ36.59 million in 2025-26.
For 2026-27, ÂŁ18.15 million has been allocated for the response. ÂŁ6.3 million has been disbursed to date, and 15 per cent of the funding is being held in reserve in line with central guidance. ÂŁ19 million has been confirmed annually until FY 2028/29.
For detail on future funding, including in Bangladesh, I refer the Noble Lord to statement HLWS292 (https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2026-07-16/hlws292) made by the Minister of State for International Development and Africa on the 16 July 2026 (The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's planned ODA programme country and regional allocations 2026/27 - 2028/29). As noted in the statement, we will retain a significant humanitarian spend that will focus on alleviating the Rohingya crisis.
Asked by: Lord Boateng (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of any adverse impacts on the UK's international reputation by the retention of the Hoa Hakananai'a by the British Museum; and when this matter was last raised by the government of Chile.
Answered by Lord Wood of Anfield - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The British Museum operates independently of the Government, and decisions relating to the care and management of its collections are a matter for the Museum's Trustees. Government representatives have discussed issues relating to Hoa Hakananai'a with the British Museum, most recently in June 2025.
Asked by: Ayoub Khan (Independent - Birmingham Perry Barr)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Government plans to conduct a cross-departmental review of UK Government activity that may provide assistance to the maintenance of Israel's occupation of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, following the change in Government policy announced on 8 September 2026.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign Secretary set out on 8 September the official view of the UK Government is that Israel's occupation is unlawful. He announced a series of measures to ensure the unlawfulness of the occupation is reflected in UK economic relationships. Officials are working closely across Government to put these measures in place.
Asked by: Baroness Anelay of St Johns (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government which Minister will participate in the high-level debate at the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly; and what policy priorities they plan to promote there.
Answered by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Noble Baroness to the answer provided in the House of Commons on 8 September in response to Question 19958, which - for ease of reference - is reproduced below:
The Foreign Secretary plans to attend the High-Level Week of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. During his visit, the Foreign Secretary expects to meet a range of international counterparts and other interlocutors. Details of his programme are being finalised in the coming weeks.
Asked by: Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of China and the Hong Kong authorities regarding the prison sentences imposed on three activists on 11 September for organising the commemoration of the Tiananmen Square massacre.
Answered by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
As I said in my statement of 21 August, these convictions were a further demonstration that even peaceful acts of remembrance in Hong Kong are now treated by the authorities as threats to national security. We continue to raise these concerns with the Hong Kong and Chinese authorities and to call for the Beijing-imposed National Security Law to be repealed.
Sep. 24 2026
Source Page: UK Statement at the High-level Plenary Meeting to Address the Existential Threats Posed by Sea-level Rise