Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the implications for his policies of the (a) expulsion of a UK diplomat by Russia and (b) travel bans issued by Russia on UK officials and Ministers.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK condemns harassment of diplomats in the strongest terms including the malicious and completely baseless accusations made against FCDO staff in Russia. We do not comment on specific Russian travel bans. No Minister will be visiting Russia in the current circumstances of their egregious actions not least their continued barbarous and illegal war against Ukraine.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make representations to his European counterparts on steps to help implement the arrest warrant for (a) Benjamin Netanyahu, (b) Yoav Gallant and (c) Mohammed Deif issued by the International Criminal Court on 21 November 2024.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

We respect the independence of the International Criminal Court (ICC) which is the primary international institution for investigating and prosecuting the most serious crimes of international concern. It is for all ICC States Parties to consider how to meet their obligations under the Rome Statute, including on cooperation with the Court. The Government engages with other States Parties on such matters via the ICC Assembly of States Parties.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help ensure that the British Council has adequate funding to effectively promote (a) Scottish and (b) wider UK (i) education and (ii) arts.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

As an Arms Length Body, the British Council is operationally independent. They set out their plans in their Annual Corporate Plan. The Government is committed to a successful British Council that is financially stable. Our funding to the British Council underlines our support. FCDO will provide the British Council with £162.5 million Grant-in-Aid in 2024/25. Funding for 2025/26 will be announced in due course.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of proposed changes to Home Office English Language Testing services on the British Council’s (a) finances and (b) ability to promote Scottish (i) further and (ii) higher education overseas.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

My officials will follow up with the British Council on these points. The British Council is operationally independent from Government; its priorities, programmes and operations are approved by its Board of Trustees.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the Taliban's decision to (a) ban women from medical training and (b) prohibit male medics from treating female patients.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK is deeply concerned at reports of a ban on women accessing medical training in Afghanistan. We strongly condemn this and urge the Taliban to reverse this decision. Female health workers are critical to treating women-focused health issues such as reproductive health. These decisions are yet another affront to girls' right to education and will threaten the lives of countless women and girls who will be denied critical medical care, as well as their future children. Our ongoing support to those Afghans most in need is more essential than ever, and we remain committed that at least 50% of those reached by UK aid are women and girls.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will list the meetings (a) he and his Ministers and (b) officials have had with representatives of the Chagossian community since 5 July 2024.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I met members of the Chagossian community on 30 September and 3 October. Officials are also in regular contact with Chagossians on a range of issues. There are a large number of Chagossian groups with a spectrum of views. We will continue efforts to engage all groups or representatives with an interest.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure the safety of UK humanitarian workers in Lebanon.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Any British national in Lebanon, regardless of the purpose of their stay, is entitled to consular support from the British Embassy. We provide detailed and up-to-date travel advice on gov.uk, which gives useful information for British Nationals to inform their personal security arrangements.

The UK funds a humanitarian programme in Lebanon and while we do not assume duty of care for our implementing partners, we perform due diligence to understand their security arrangements. There is explicit criteria in grant or commercial contracts which outline HMG's expectations of suppliers in terms of duty of care and security provision for their staff, for example regarding safety briefings and risk mitigation plans.

We urge all parties involved in the conflict in Lebanon to allow humanitarian workers to carry out their work safely, and we continue to do so even with the ceasefire in place. More broadly, the FCDO supports the safety of humanitarian workers by investing in protective measures that our partners need to work safely, championing international humanitarian law, and using UK seats at key multilateral fora to raise awareness and promote accountability. The UK was proud to co-sponsor and vote in favour of UN Security Council resolution 2730, which calls on states to protect humanitarian personnel, and we support its full implementation in Lebanon and around the world.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in (a) Lebanon and (b) the Middle East on ensuring that aid can be brought into Lebanon.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK continues to engage with international partners on alleviating the suffering of those most in need in Lebanon, including refugees and vulnerable Lebanese communities. I attended the International Conference in Support of Lebanon's People and Sovereignty in Paris on 24 October, where approximately €800 million in humanitarian support was committed. I met Lebanon's Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib and Environment Minister Nasser Yasin to discuss the situation, as well as other regional and international counterparts. The UK is one of the largest donors to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs' Lebanon Humanitarian Fund and the Central Emergency Response Fund. We have announced £10 million of aid to Lebanon, which includes essential medicine, hygiene kits, fuel for water stations, education and child protection services for the most vulnerable children, and cash assistance. This is in addition to the £5 million already provided to support emergency response programming. UK bilateral humanitarian support for this financial year so far is £31 million.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions his Department has had with representatives of the (a) national unity government and (b) ethnic revolutionary organisations in Myanmar on the delivery of aid to people most in need.

Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

We continue to discuss the humanitarian situation and the delivery of aid in Myanmar with a range of opposition stakeholders, including the National Unity Government (NUG) and a number of Ethnic Resistance Organisations (ERO). Since the coup, the UK has provided more than £150 million in life-saving humanitarian assistance, emergency healthcare and education support, and we continue to support civil society and local communities on the ground. The UK is committed to supporting a plurality of voices in Myanmar, and we are clear that any future settlement for Myanmar must be inclusive and involve a wide range of opposition actors, including EROs and the NUG. The Myanmar military must engage with them and all other opposition groups.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department has taken to identify any potential additional routes for humanitarian aid delivery into Gaza since July 2024.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK continues to call on Israel to increase humanitarian and commercial access into the Palestinian territories by ensuring all aid crossings are fully operational. This is particularly vital in the winter months as heavy rain and flooding are now exacerbating an already desperate humanitarian situation. We are clear that Israel can and must do more to get aid into Gaza. The Prime Minister stressed this in a call with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu on 19 October; and the Foreign Secretary reiterated this at the UN Security Council on 18 November. Israel must streamline processes at Ashdod, increase the flow of aid from Jordan and Egypt, and allow the commercial import of goods from Israel, the West Bank and neighbouring countries.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what his definition is of progressive realism; and what steps he is taking to implement a progressive realist foreign policy.

Answered by Anneliese Dodds - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

In his article in Foreign Affairs (April 2024), the Foreign Secretary defined progressive realism as "using realist means to pursue progressive ends". He is clear that this approach will underpin FCDO policies and will require using all the tools at our disposal: economic, diplomatic and societal. In his Kew speech (September 2024), he set out what this means in the specific context of the climate crisis - engaging collaboratively to deliver an ambitious COP29 agreement as we did ensuring genuine partnerships are at the cornerstone of our foreign policy.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make representations to the incoming United States Administration on steps to help implement the arrest warrant for (a) Benjamin Netanyahu, (b) Yoav Gallant and (c) Mohammed Deif issued by the International Criminal Court on 21 November 2024.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

We respect the independence of the International Criminal Court (ICC) which is the primary international institution for investigating and prosecuting the most serious crimes of international concern. The UK is a State Party to the Rome Statute, and we will always comply with our legal obligations. The Government will engage with the current and incoming US Administration on all our priorities.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will publish the (a) environmental principles and (b) equalities impact assessment for the Chagos Islands handover decision.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

HM Government recognises the importance of environmental and equalities considerations in the context of the BIOT Sovereignty agreement. Both parties have committed to ensuring that all aspects of the sovereignty transfer align with international legal standards including on environmental protection, as well as considerations of equality and inclusivity where relevant. Relevant assessments will be managed in line with standard protocols.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to meet sustainable development goal six.

Answered by Anneliese Dodds - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK works with governments and development partners to strengthen the delivery of climate-resilient water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services. We work to strengthen systems in six countries: Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Tanzania, Malawi, Nepal and Bangladesh, and we support the Heads of State Initiative to gain high level political commitment for Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 acceleration. Through this initiative, the President of Ghana recently committed $1.7 billion for WASH-related SDG 6 targets. The UK is also implementing the £39m Just Transitions for Water Security programme, enhancing resilience for 40 million people in insecure countries through better planning, water governance and increased investment in water infrastructure.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the UK's use of soft power to support free and fair elections worldwide.

Answered by Anneliese Dodds - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Supporting democracy and defending democratic freedoms are fundamental for the UK. Election observation is an integral part of democratic scrutiny. It contributes to transparent and accountable political processes and institutions overseas.

The UK is a firm supporter of the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, and its vital work deploying missions to observe elections in the OSCE region. This autumn, the UK supported the OSCE's work by funding over 135 election observers to five countries, including to highly contested elections in Georgia and Moldova.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with his US counterpart on the potential impact of transferring sovereignty over Diego Garcia on existing agreements on (a) nuclear capabilities and (b) other matters governing the operation of the UK-US base.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Foreign Secretary is in regular contact with Secretary Blinken on a range of issues, including the British Indian Ocean Territory / Chagos Archipelago.

We look forward to continuing to engage with the current and incoming US Administrations in the usual way to protect and enhance our shared security interests.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the adequacy of his Department's reporting timelines on Israel's compliance with international humanitarian law in the Middle East.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

On day one in office, the Foreign Secretary commissioned a thorough review into Israel's compliance with International Humanitarian Law (IHL). On the first day back after the summer recess the Foreign Secretary informed parliament that the Government had taken the decision to suspend arms export licences to Israel for use in military operations in Gaza, after the review concluded that there is a clear risk that relevant exports to Israel might be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of IHL. We continue to keep Israel's compliance with International Humanitarian Law in Gaza under review through a regular assessments process.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has commissioned external legal advice on Israel's compliance with international humanitarian law.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

We continue to keep Israel's compliance with International Humanitarian Law (IHL) in Gaza under review through a regular assessments process, informed by legal advice. Our judgment on Israel's IHL compliance remains as set out in the Foreign Secretary's statement to Parliament on 2 September.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will take steps to ensure the financial stability of the British Council.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

This Government is committed to a successful British Council that is financially stable. Our funding to the British Council underlines our support. The FCDO will provide the British Council with £162.5 million Grant-in-Aid in 2024/25. Funding for 2025/26 will be announced in due course.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 28 November 2024 to Question 14865 on British Council: Finance, what the planned expenditure of the British Council is for 2024/25.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The British Council's Corporate Plan for 2024/25 sets out its projected expenditure as £1,069.5 million and projected total income as £1,047.5 million.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what bilateral funding to tackle malnutrition levels across northern Nigeria will be in 2025/26.

Answered by Anneliese Dodds - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK is committed to tackling the increasing levels of malnutrition across northern Nigeria. The FCDO will make funding decisions for programming in 2025/26 in due course.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to oral answer of 13 November 2024 by the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, on Chagos Islands, Official Report, Column 793, what the evidential basis is for the statement that providing the costs of the Chagos settlement would put the future secure operation of the Diego Garcia base at risk.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Government fully respects the calls for transparency. However, confirming these costs could affect the UK's ability - and that of our closest allies - to negotiate basing agreements in the future therefore putting secure operations at risk. We are not willing to jeopardise the UK's national security.

Further details of the Treaty will be put before both Houses for scrutiny and treaty ratification in the usual way.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his counterpart in Mauritius on (a) Mauritius' policy on nuclear weapons and (b) the future operation of the military base in Diego Garcia.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary met the then Mauritian Prime Minister in London on 23 July. The political agreement between the Prime Minister and then Mauritian Prime Minister was reached on 3 October. The new Mauritian Prime Minister has since written to the Prime Minister to reaffirm his commitment to concluding the deal.

This engagement has been supplemented by official level meetings, which have covered all elements of the Agreement. This includes a meeting between the Prime Minister's Special Envoy with BIOT negotiations, Jonathan Powell and PM Ramgoolam on 25 November.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he plans to authorise the use of frozen Russian state assets to finance the reconstruction of Ukraine.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

This Government is clear that Russia must be held responsible for its illegal war. That includes its obligations under international law to pay for the damage it has caused in Ukraine. Working with allies, we continue to pursue all possible lawful avenues by which Russia can be made to meet those obligations. Our agreement with G7 partners to provide approximately $50 billion in additional funding to Ukraine, repaid by the profits generated on sanctioned Russian sovereign assets, is an important step towards ensuring Russia pays. Our focus is on delivering this commitment, including the UK's £2.26 billion contribution, as soon as possible.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent representations he has made to his Afghan counterpart on the treatment of women and girls in that country.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

We have repeatedly condemned Taliban restrictions on women and girls' rights, both bilaterally and internationally. As the Foreign Secretary has said, exclusion of women from all aspects of public life is a tragic setback for Afghanistan.

Officials from the Doha-based UK Mission to Afghanistan continue to press Taliban acting ministers and Afghan officials on human rights abuses in Afghanistan. Officials visit Kabul regularly, raising issues directly with senior members of the Taliban, including the unacceptable violations of the rights of women and girls. Since 4 December officials have been raising the issue of the Taliban ban on women accessing medical education and training in Afghanistan.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when his Department next plans to publish an assessment of Israel's compliance with international humanitarian law.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

We continue to keep Israel's compliance with International Humanitarian Law (IHL) in Gaza under review through regular assessments. On 2 September, the Foreign Secretary announced to Parliament the suspension of certain UK export licences to Israel, for items he concluded might be used to commit or facilitate serious violations of IHL in Gaza. This was further to the IHL assessment raising concerns about possible breaches of IHL in the areas of humanitarian access and in the treatment of detainees. The relevant export licences remain suspended and there are no plans to publish further summaries while our assessment remains unchanged.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 4 December 2024 to Question 15678 on Mohammed Hamouda, what information he has received on Dr Hamouda’s (a) status and (b) well-being.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

We are concerned by the reports that Dr. Mohammed Hamouda was detained by the Israeli authorities on 6 November. I raised his case with the Israeli Ambassador on 18 November and FCDO officials have been following up the case since then. Whilst we do not comment on specific non-UK national cases, the government does raise International Humanitarian Law compliance regularly with Israel. Medical staff must be allowed to carry out their work unimpeded, and to travel around Gaza as needed.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent steps his Department has taken to improve collaboration with foreign authorities in investigating deaths of British nationals overseas.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

FCDO consular staff offer tailored support to families bereaved through the death of British nationals overseas. The FCDO is not an investigative body, though can support families to engage with the relevant foreign authority investigating the death of a British national. FCDO staff can register interest in the death with local authorities, request information and signpost families on how to seek independent legal advice.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an estimate of the number of UK citizens that are imprisoned abroad.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) provides consular assistance to c.4100 British nationals who are arrested or detained each year, and is currently providing ongoing assistance to c.1,400 British nationals detained overseas. It is not mandatory for British nationals to report incidents to the FCDO or one of its diplomatic missions. Data held by the FCDO only includes incidents where we have offered consular assistance.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he is taking steps to expand (a) inpatient, (b) community-based, (c) outpatient and (d) other nutritional treatment services across northern Nigeria.

Answered by Anneliese Dodds - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK supports access to essential life-saving health services in northern Nigeria through the Lafiya Programme. Lafiya supports the states of Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa, Borno and Yobe to strengthen their health systems to improve access for the poorest and most vulnerable people. This includes access to inpatient, outpatient and community-based services to detect and treat severe acute malnutrition. The UK invests in Global Nutrition programmes including the Child Nutrition Fund which provides 1:1 matched funding for Nigerian Federal and State governments to scale up resource allocation for nutrition, and financing for 6 million units of Micronutrient Supplements for pregnant women.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help tackle malnutrition in northern Nigeria.

Answered by Anneliese Dodds - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK is providing support to tackle malnutrition in north-east Nigeria through the Humanitarian and Resilience Programme (HARP).

In 2024/25, the UK provided £12 million through HARP to UNICEF's Multisectoral Integrated Nutrition Action for Children, Adolescents and Women in North-East Nigeria (MINA) programme for prevention and treatment of malnutrition which aims to reach 500,000 children with life-saving support. HARP reduces mortality and increases resilience for people with the most severe humanitarian needs by (i) addressing food insecurity and malnutrition and (ii) protecting vulnerable people from harm.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the report by Amnesty International entitled You feel like you are subhuman: Israel’s genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

We are aware of the report by Amnesty International, entitled "You feel like you are subhuman: Israel's genocide against Palestinians in Gaza". The UK is fully committed to international law. The UK Government's long-standing policy is that any formal determination as to whether genocide has occurred is a matter for a competent national or international court, such as the International Court of Justice, rather than for governments or non-judicial bodies. Since 2 September, the UK has suspended relevant export licences to Israel for use in military operations in the Gaza conflict, following a review which concluded there is a clear risk that UK export items might be used to commit or facilitate serious violations of International Humanitarian Law. The UK remains resolute in our call for an immediate ceasefire, the immediate release of all hostages cruelly held by Hamas since 7 October 2023 and urgent action to address the humanitarian crisis.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to respond to (a) attacks on (i) Christian communities, (ii) humanitarian access and (iii) religious freedom and (b) violence in Aleppo.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The FCDO has consistently underlined the importance of protecting all civilians, including minorities, publicly and in our engagement with regional and international partners. We are closely monitoring the treatment of religious minorities, including Christians.

No one should live in fear because of what they do or do not believe in. We will continue to advocate for the right of Freedom of Religion or Belief in Syria and for an inclusive political transition.

We are working closely with the UN and other humanitarian partners to understand any barriers to access. We continue to call on all parties to support humanitarian access, including for humanitarian workers, in all regions of Syria.

In Aleppo, we are urging all parties to refrain from activity that will lead to further loss of civilian life, or damage to civilian infrastructure, to avoid further destabilisation and civilian suffering in the region.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his international counterparts on the (a) identification and (b) destruction of Captagon production facilities in Syria.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

We are concerned by the growth of the Captagon industry, which as well as enriching the former Assad regime is fuelling regional instability and generating vast revenues for criminal gangs and armed groups in Syria and across the region. We are working with international partners, including partners in the region, to raise awareness of the risks posed by Captagon. The UK has imposed sanctions on 11 individuals involved in facilitating the Captagon industry in Syria.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Government recognises the Golan Heights as Syrian territory.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Our position remains clear: The Golan Heights are occupied territory and we do not recognise Israel's annexation of them. We continue to call on Israel and all actors to uphold their obligations to peace, stability and security under international law.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps is he taking to tackle (a) detention and (b) mistreatment of healthcare workers in Gaza.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Medical workers and facilities, including ambulances and rescue personnel, must be protected in accordance with International Humanitarian Law and allowed to provide life-saving services. It is unacceptable that northern Gaza now has no functioning hospitals, after strikes on Kamal Adwan hospital. On 5 November, when I spoke to the Israeli Ambassador, I raised the UK's grave concerns that Kamal Adwan continues to come under fire. This government has been clear that Israel must do much more to protect civilians, civilian infrastructure and humanitarian workers, and Israel must allow medical staff to carry out their work unimpeded, and to travel around Gaza as needed.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of British Council's repayment of its pandemic loan on its ability to promote UK soft power.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Government is committed to a successful British Council that is financially stable. The Government recognises the value of the British Council as a UK soft power asset through its important work in promoting the English language, UK arts and culture and education. The Government remains committed to recovering the loan as soon as the British Council's finances allow. We are working closely with the British Council and HM Treasury on this issue.  FCDO will provide the British Council with £162.5 million Grant-in-Aid in 2024/25. Funding for 2025/26 will be announced in due course.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what support his Department provides to British citizens and their families in cases where (a) suspicious deaths occur abroad and (b) local investigations are perceived to be inadequate.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

FCDO consular staff offer tailored support to families bereaved through the death of British nationals overseas, including in cases where the authority overseas is investigating a death as suspicious or where the family have concerns about the investigation process overseas. This support can include advising families on how to raise concerns about the local investigation; signpost families on how to seek independent legal advice; and, where appropriate, refer families to relevant partner organisations for further support. FCDO staff can also register interest in the death with local authorities and request information and/or convey any concerns the family may have. The FCDO welcomes feedback on its service and is committed to continuous improvement.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department plans to review the consular support available to families of British citizens who die abroad under suspicious circumstances.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

FCDO consular staff offer tailored support to families bereaved through the death of British nationals overseas, including in cases where the authority overseas is investigating a death as suspicious or where the family have concerns about the investigation process overseas. This support can include advising families on how to raise concerns about the local investigation; signpost families on how to seek independent legal advice; and, where appropriate, refer families to relevant partner organisations for further support. FCDO staff can also register interest in the death with local authorities and request information and/or convey any concerns the family may have. The FCDO welcomes feedback on its service and is committed to continuous improvement.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with the incoming US Administration on securing the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Whilst we have not had any official discussions with the incoming US administration regarding the release of hostages, our position remains clear. It is appalling that hostages taken by Hamas terrorists on 7 October are still being held captive, including one British national, Emily Damari, and three hostages with strong British links. We have supported hostage talks throughout, and continue to work alongside our allies and partners in the region, exercising every possible diplomatic lever to see the hostages immediately and unconditionally released. We thank the US, Qatar, Egypt, and all international partners, for their coordinating efforts. Ensuring the release of all hostages remains a top priority for this government.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will provide a breakdown of planned spending for the additional £11 million in humanitarian aid for Syria.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK continues to support those in need across Syria where it is safe to do so. Through NGOs and UN organisations, we are providing food, healthcare and other life-saving assistance.

The additional £11 million of humanitarian aid for the people of Syria includes £6 million to the UN Humanitarian Pooled Funds, £4 million to the Aid Fund for Northern Syria, and an additional £1 million to NGOs operating across all of Syria.

As with all our work, we have extensive controls in place to ensure our aid reaches those who need it.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to (a) identify and (b) destroy Captagon (i) production and (ii) distribution facilities in Syria.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

We are concerned by the growth of the Captagon industry, which as well as enriching the former Assad regime, is fuelling regional instability and generating vast revenues for criminal gangs and armed groups in Syria and across the region. We are working with international partners, including partners in the region, to raise awareness of the risks posed by Captagon. The UK has imposed sanctions on 11 individuals involved in facilitating the Captagon industry in Syria.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when his Department last raised the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan in the (a) UN Human Rights Council and (b) General Assembly.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The government continues to call for the human rights of all Afghans to be protected. We condemned the Taliban's actions against women and girls in a statement at the UN Third Committee on 8 October and in a statement on Afghanistan at the 57th UN Human Rights Council on 9 October. The future of Afghanistan as a country at peace with itself, its neighbours and the international community, relies on there being human rights for all.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the UK is participating in international action to (a) identify and (b) destroy chemical weapon (i) production sites and (ii) depots in Syria.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The brutal history of chemical weapons use in Syria must never be repeated. We have been closely monitoring developments as they unfold and engaging with partners in the region and with the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). We welcome Hayat Tahrir al-Sham's (HTS) statement that it will protect chemical weapons sites and will not use chemical weapons under any circumstances. Syria must now take the next step, which is to comply with the obligations set out under UN Security Council Resolution 2118 and the Chemical Weapons Convention and engage with the OPCW to declare fully its chemical weapons programme so that it can finally, and verifiably, be completely destroyed.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he plans to take to ensure that the £11 million in aid for Syria reaches its intended recipients.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK continues to support those in need across Syria where it is safe to do so. Through NGOs and UN organisations, we are providing food, healthcare and other life-saving assistance.

The additional £11 million of humanitarian aid for the people of Syria includes £6 million to the UN Humanitarian Pooled Funds, £4 million to the Aid Fund for Northern Syria, and an additional £1 million to NGOs operating across all of Syria.

As with all our work, we have extensive controls in place to ensure our aid reaches those who need it.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 9 September to Question 3985 on Palestinians: Fire and Rescue Services, if he will take steps to help ensure the delivery of that donation.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK continues to call on Israel to increase humanitarian and commercial access into the Occupied Palestinian Territories by ensuring all aid crossings are fully operational, including the port of Ashdod. The Foreign Secretary recently spoke to Israeli Officials and raised the urgent need for a rapid increase in aid for those most in need. FCDO officials have raised the matter of this donation directly with the Israeli authorities. At a UK-chaired meeting of the UN Security Council on 12 November, Lord Collins called on Israel to immediately make good on its commitment to flood Gaza with aid. The Foreign Secretary reaffirmed these messages and the urgent need for a resolution at the UN Security Council on 18 November.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his international counterparts about (a) the role the UK will play in restarting Syria’s political process and (b) a timeline for political transition that enables free elections.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK is speaking regularly to regional and other partners about the situation in Syria. The Foreign Secretary has spoken to the UN Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria and a number of regional counterparts. I have also discussed developments in Syria with regional partners and Syrian civil society actors.

The focus of discussions has been on protecting civilians, including minorities, and moving quickly to a political transition. It is essential that this transition is inclusive, comprehensive and most importantly determined by the Syrian people themselves. The UK will continue to engage closely with Syrian contacts, international and regional partners to support a peaceful political transition.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Apulia G7 Leaders’ communique, published in June 2024, what steps his Department is taking to support civil society peacebuilding efforts in (a) Israel and (b) Palestine.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

In June 2024, the G7 Heads of Government included milestone new language in their communiqué, committing to "working together and with other international partners to closely coordinate and institutionalize our support for civil society peacebuilding efforts, ensuring that such efforts are part of a larger strategy to build the foundation necessary for a negotiated and lasting Israeli-Palestinian peace." This government has been clear; we are committed to pursuing a lasting solution to the Israeli/Palestinian Conflict, including through achieving a two-state solution. We continue to support efforts to this end through our aid programmes, which assist civil society in Israel and Palestine on a range of issues, including peacebuilding and conflict resolution. We further support grassroots local peacebuilding efforts between Israeli and Palestinian civil society, for example on more inclusive and conflict-sensitive journalism.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the APPG report entitled Deaths Abroad, Consular Services and Assistance Report 2019: Why families in the UK deserve better and what can be done, whether his Department has taken steps to implement the recommendations of that report.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) engaged with the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Deaths Abroad, Consular Services and Assistance following the publication of its report on 2 November 2019. The report's recommendations were taken into consideration in the development of the 2022 Consular Strategy. FCDO consular staff are available to offer appropriate and tailored support to British nationals and their families, 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year. The support we can provide is set out on GOV.UK in Support for British nationals abroad. The FCDO seeks continuously to improve our processes and services by acting on feedback and reviewing what we do.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he is taking steps to expand routine immunisation programs across northern Nigeria.

Answered by Anneliese Dodds - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK supports immunisation programmes in Nigeria through our contributions to GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance (GAVI), a public-private partnership that helps vaccinate more than half the world's children against some of the world's deadliest diseases. The UK's contribution to GAVI is £1.65 billion over five years (2021-2025). Nigeria will receive over $1 billion in funding from GAVI between 2018 and 2028, one of the largest of any country.

The UK continues to work with the Government of Nigeria to strengthen health systems in northern Nigeria, which are crucial for ensuring access to life-saving vaccinations for the poorest and most vulnerable people.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what his Department's procedures are for informing relatives when a British national dies abroad in (a) non-suspicious and (b) suspicious circumstances.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

When the FCDO Consular Directorate is first notified of the death of a British national abroad, consular staff will, wherever possible, arrange for the relevant police force to notify UK-based relatives as soon as possible.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his international counterparts in (a) November and (b) December on the security situation for Christians in Syria.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Recent events in Syria have been extraordinary, and we have been closely monitoring the treatment of religious minorities. From the opposition offensive in North West Syria on 27 November to Assad fleeing Syria this weekend, our call for the protection of all civilians, including religious minorities, has been consistent. No one should live in fear because of their beliefs, and our dedication to upholding the right of Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) in Syria will continue during its political transition. As the Foreign Secretary stated on 9 December, the Government's priority is the protection of all civilians. Promoting FoRB is crucial for building a sustainable future for all Syrians, advancing cultural and religious diversity, and ensuring equality and human dignity for all.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will take steps to prevent the religious persecution of Christians in Syria.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Recent events in Syria have been extraordinary, and we have been closely monitoring the treatment of religious minorities. From the opposition offensive in North West Syria on 27 November to Assad fleeing Syria this weekend, our call for the protection of all civilians, including religious minorities, has been consistent. No one should live in fear because of their beliefs, and our dedication to upholding the right of Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) in Syria will continue during its political transition. As the Foreign Secretary stated on 9 December, the Government's priority is the protection of all civilians. Promoting FoRB is crucial for building a sustainable future for all Syrians, advancing cultural and religious diversity, and ensuring equality and human dignity for all.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department have had meetings with Ahmadiyya Muslim representatives in London in the last six months.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

On 20 November, I attended a meeting with Pakistan's Minister of Interior Mosin Naqvi, where the British High Commissioner and I raised concerns about threats of violence directed towards Ahmadiyya Muslims in Pakistan. The British High Commissioner also raised Ahmadi rights with the Punjab Minister for Minority Affairs on 21 November.

On 9 May, FCDO officials met with Ahmadi community representatives at the Baitul Futuh mosque in Morden, London, where they discussed key concerns of the Ahmadi community. Officials again met with representatives from the Ahmadi community on 29 August.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the humanitarian situation in Syria.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK is calling on all parties to support humanitarian access, including access and protection for humanitarian workers in all regions of Syria. We are working closely with humanitarian and international partners to get a fuller picture of the situation, assess impacts and needs and determine how best to respond.

The UK continues to support those in need across Syria where it is safe to do so. Through NGOs and UN organisations, we are providing food, healthcare and other life-saving assistance. The additional £11 million of humanitarian aid for the people of Syria includes £6 million to the UN Humanitarian Pooled Funds, £4 million to the Aid Fund for Northern Syria, and an additional £1 million to NGOs operating across all of Syria. As with all our work, we have extensive controls in place to ensure our aid reaches those who need it.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many British nationals were in Syria on 11 December 2024.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

We are aware British nationals are located in Syria. Due to the shifting circumstances on the ground, we are not in a position to provide numbers.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with his Bangladeshi counterpart on the recent arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das.

Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK is committed to promoting and protecting human rights, including Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB). We monitor human rights in Bangladesh closely, including following student-led protests in Bangladesh. I understand the concerns about the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das. In November, during my visit to Bangladesh, I discussed the importance of protecting religious minorities, including the Hindu community with Chief Adviser Yunus. I underlined the UK Government's commitment to religious freedom in Bangladesh. We will continue to engage with the Interim Government of Bangladesh on the importance of FoRB.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has provided the interim government in Bangladesh with support for the asset recovery of funds potentially misappropriated by the previous government.

Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK is committed to assisting investigative, prosecuting and judicial authorities in combating international crime. We have robust illicit finance legislation and instruments which can be used to support asset recovery requests. Requests require significant domestic political support, as well as cooperation from law enforcement agencies and the judiciary. We are in discussions with the International Anti-Corruption Coordination Centre hosted by the UK's National Crime Agency and the International Centre for Asset Recovery on how to support the Interim Government of Bangladesh. In October, the UK National Crime Agency visited Dhaka as part of the UK's effort to support Bangladesh in this area, as well as wider engagement on law enforcement issues. We will continue to support these recoveries to the extent that we can.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many countries allow British citizens to travel to them without a visa.

Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

FCDO Travel Advice provides information to British nationals on entry requirements for travelling overseas, including any visa requirements. Travel Advice pages are kept under regular review.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with Baroness Shafik on consulting with (a) parliamentarians, (b) NGOs and (c) other stakeholders, in the context of her strategic review of international development.

Answered by Anneliese Dodds - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Foreign Secretary is grateful to Baroness Shafik for her leadership on the review and pleased that she and her team have been able to engage with parliamentarians, including the International Development Committee, NGOs and other stakeholders during the process of her review. This has built upon the extensive consultation on the UK's approach to international development carried out in 2023, across government, with development sector experts, members of Parliament and civil society groups in the UK and the Global South.

The Foreign Secretary will consider the recommendations of the three reviews and will engage further externally with Baroness Shafik in the new year, as will the Minister for International Development.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when he plans to bring forward legislative proposals to ratify the Global Oceans Treaty.

Answered by Anneliese Dodds - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Government is completely committed to ratification of the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement, also known as the Global Oceans Treaty or the High Seas Treaty), which is in line with our determination to reinvigorate the UK's wider international leadership on climate and nature. Work is in hand on the measures needed to implement the detailed and complex provisions of the Agreement before the UK can ratify.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on the conflict in Myanmar.

Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Since the coup in February 2021, the UK has provided more than £150 million for life-saving humanitarian assistance, healthcare, education and support for civil society and local communities in Myanmar. UK Ministers and officials work with many international partners to address the Myanmar crisis including the EU. G7 Foreign Ministers reiterated their commitment to addressing the Myanmar crisis in their November 2024 Foreign Ministers' Meeting. FCDO officials continue to coordinate with the EU on sanctions, including announcing a joint round of sanctions with Canada in October 2024 which targets the Myanmar military's access to military material, equipment and funds.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of UK sanctions on Iran.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

We judge UK sanctions to be an important tool in deterring and disrupting Iran's malign activity and demonstrating that, alongside our international partners, the UK condemns Iran's threats to international security and its human rights violations. Since September, the UK has announced four sanctions packages to counter Iranian activity, including coordinated international responses to both Iran's 1 October attack against Israel, and its transfer of ballistic missiles to Russia. Furthermore, on 13 September, the UK also expanded its trade sanctions to cover further goods which play an important role in Iran's unmanned aerial vehicle and missile programmes.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what cash levels of Official Development Assistance he plans to provide in each of the next five financial years.

Answered by Anneliese Dodds - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Our mission is to build partnerships to help create a world free from poverty on a liveable planet. The UK's development spending is central to achieving this mission.

The FCDO's planned Official Development Assistance (ODA) programme budget, including the Integrated Security Fund, is £8.78 billion in 2024/25. This is planned to increase by £450 million in 2025/26 to £9.24 billion, the highest level in recent years.

The second phase of the Spending Review, concluding in late spring 2025, will set departmental ODA budgets for future years.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they made to the President of China regarding that country's sanctions on nine UK citizens, including parliamentarians, at the recent G20 Summit in Brazil.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

China's retaliatory sanctions, including against Parliamentarians and UK citizens, are unwarranted and unacceptable. The Prime Minister raised this issue during his meeting with President Xi at the G20 summit in Brazil on 18 November. The Foreign Secretary has similarly raised sanctions at every meeting he has had with his counterpart Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Collins of Highbury on 6 November (HL1953), whether the review mentioned in the Answer has been conducted; if not, when it is expected to conclude; and whether its findings will be made publicly available in the interests of transparency.

Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

As mentioned in my answer to HL1953, the FCDO is committed to transparency. We are currently reviewing how to improve the quality of transparency data published about the Gulf Strategy Fund, to build on the Thematic Summaries already published annually to Gov.uk. Publication of the summary for 2023/24 will follow this review. The review is underway and is expected to conclude in January 2025, it is in the form of advice which is internal to the FCDO and will not be published.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his counterparts in Mozambique on (a) violence perpetrated against Christians by Islamic extremists in Cabo Delgado and (b) the effectiveness of the steps Mozambique is taking to tackle the humanitarian and security situation in that region, in the context of its freedom of religion and belief obligations.

Answered by Anneliese Dodds - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK is committed to working multilaterally and bilaterally to defend Freedom of Religion or Belief around the world. In Mozambique, the UK regularly engages with authorities and religious leaders both in the capital (Maputo) and northern Mozambique (Cabo Delgado and Nampula) to address the problems of violence and to tackle the ongoing humanitarian crisis, including several times this year. The UK is supporting efforts to counter the ongoing IS-Mozambique insurgency in Cabo Delgado, through programmes aimed at building local resilience to violent extremism and security and human rights training of Mozambican Armed Forces, as well providing humanitarian assistance to those displaced. Ongoing challenges for religious communities remain, as Christian and Muslim places of worship continue to be affected.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much his Department spent on government procurement card purchases (a) above and (b) below £500 net of refunded payments in (i) 2022 and (ii) 2023.

Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Government Procurement Cards provide an efficient route to enable key staff to procure goods and services, necessary to the promotion of British interests overseas and the maintenance of our embassies and high commissions. All purchases are subject to authorisation by managers and audit checks.

The FCDO publishes £500+ spend on gov.uk, and the monthly breakdown can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/fcdo-spending-over-500.

With regards to sub-£500 spend, the total for 2022 is £13,434,713, and for 2023 is £15,106,232. To note, the total value of refunds in the period has been deducted from the total value of purchases in the period in the data presented; some refunds may relate to purchases in the previous period.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his international counterparts on the security of Buddhists in Tibet in (a) November and (b) December 2024.

Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

This Government stands firm on human rights, including China's repression of the people of Tibet. We will champion freedom of religion or belief for all abroad, and work to uphold the right to freedom of religion or belief through the UN, G7 and other multilateral fora, and through bilateral engagement.

We continue to coordinate efforts with our international partners to hold China to account for human rights violations, for example, joining a statement led by Australia on Xinjiang and Tibet at the UN General Assembly on 22 October. The Foreign Secretary has raised human rights in every meeting with his Chinese counterpart Foreign Minister Wang Yi, including during his recent visit to China on 18 October.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps he is taking to help protect the rights of minority groups in Pakistan.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

We work to protect and promote human rights in Pakistan through our diplomatic engagement and programme funding. I (Minister Falconer) underlined the importance of promoting religious tolerance and harmony when I met with Pakistan's Human Rights Minister Azam Tarar on 19 November. On 20 November, I attended a meeting with Pakistan's Minister of Interior Mosin Naqvi, where the British High Commissioner and I raised concerns about threats of violence directed towards Ahmadi Muslims in Pakistan. The UK will continue to urge the Government of Pakistan to guarantee the rights of all people as laid down in Pakistan's Constitution and in accordance with international standards.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure that humanitarian funding is allocated based on assessed needs.

Answered by Anneliese Dodds - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The FCDO is committed to being a principled humanitarian donor, prioritising humanitarian assistance to people in greatest need by using data and evidence to guide allocation decisions.

We have announced a doubling of support for people hit by the humanitarian emergency in Sudan, as well as providing support for people in Gaza, in Lebanon and in other crisis situations.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make it his policy that (a) internships and (b) jobs in (i) his Department and (ii) all non-ministerial bodies are open to applicants of all ethnic backgrounds.

Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The FCDO is committed to being a truly inclusive employer, with a workforce that reflects the diversity of the diverse population we serve. We encourage applications from people of all ethnic backgrounds and indeed all backgrounds for all our schemes and positions.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an estimate of the cost to the public purse of aid provided by his Department's Freedom of Religion or Belief programme in financial year 2024-25.

Answered by Anneliese Dodds - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK remains strongly committed to freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all abroad. It is our firm opinion that no one should live in fear because of what they do or do not believe in. We are championing the right to FoRB and promoting tolerance and mutual respect through our engagement in multilateral fora, our bilateral work, and our programme funding. The FCDO John Bunyan Fund, the designated programme for FoRB-focused overseas projects, has a budget allocation of £460,720 in FY24/25. More broadly, the FCDO works to ensure that Official Development Assistance (ODA) is allocated to those who are most vulnerable and most in need of this assistance irrespective of race, religion, or ethnicity. This includes minority religious or belief communities, who are assessed by our partners when determining those most in need of protection and assistance.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to publish the number of UK citizens in prison abroad as a matter of routine.

Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) launched a new consular case management system in October 2023 and is renewing the information management system that tracks data relating to consular assistance provided to British nationals. Due to the transition between systems, the FCDO is unable to provide comparable data from before and after October 2023 and has currently paused publishing online transparency reports on the number of arrest and detention cases where the FCDO is providing consular assistance. The FCDO expects to resume publishing of these reports in early 2025.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made an estimate of the amount of overseas development assistance funds that have been spent on providing abortion services in the last five years.

Answered by Anneliese Dodds - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

We report spend in line with Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Development and Assistance Committee sector codes which do not track spend specifically for abortion services which are part of a wider package of women's healthcare. FCDO support to safe abortion services is within what is permitted by national laws, as well as providing life-saving treatment for women who have had unsafe abortions.

The FCDO annually reports on Official Development Assistance (ODA) expenditure via the Statistics on International Development publications [https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-on-international-development]. All of our programmatic spend data can be found on the Devtracker website [https://devtracker.fcdo.gov.uk/].

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what third party contracts are scheduled for commissioning from 2025/26; and what estimate he has made of the value of each such contract.

Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The FCDO publishes a bi-annual pipeline of projects and the most recent one was in October 2024, available here: [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fcdo-commercial-pipeline-october-2024]

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of (a) historical reports and (b) recent reports of increased violence and persecution against Indian Hindus in Bangladesh.

Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK has a long-standing commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights, including Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB). Following the student-led protests in July and August, we have been closely monitoring the situation for minorities in Bangladesh. In November, I visited Bangladesh and discussed the importance of the protection of religious minorities, including the Hindu community, with Chief Adviser Yunus. We are providing up to £27 million under the Bangladesh Collaborative, Accountable and Peaceful Politics programme for protecting civic and political space, fostering collaboration, reducing corruption, and mitigating tensions that lead to violence. We will continue to engage with the Interim Government of Bangladesh on the importance of FoRB.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with Councillor Abdal Ullah of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets on the call-in of the planning application of the proposed Chinese Embassy in London.

Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Foreign Secretary has not had any discussions with Councillor Abdal Ullah on the call in of the planning application of the proposed Chinese Embassy at the Royal Mint Court.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help support humanitarian organisations in (a) Gaza and (b) Lebanon to prepare for winter.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK is committed to alleviating humanitarian suffering in both Lebanon and Gaza, particularly with the arrival of winter. The Foreign Secretary, together with his French and German counterparts, has written to Israeli Foreign Minister Sa'ar to urge Israel to ensure sufficient aid, including vital medical treatment, reaches civilians in Gaza. Minister Dodds also raised aid restrictions in her meetings with Israeli interlocutors during her recent visit to the region, including with Deputy Foreign Minister Haskel. I raised this issue with Minister Haskel on 05 December and met with Mr Philippe Lazzarini, the UN's Commissioner-General of UNWRA in Doha on 08 December. The UK has announced £112 million for the Occupied Palestinian Territories so far this financial year, providing vital services to civilians in Gaza and the West Bank delivered through partner agencies. Additionally, we have provided £46 million in support to Lebanon, of which £15 million is additional funding to respond to the widespread lack of shelter, and reduced access to clean water, hygiene and healthcare.

Found: www.parliament.uk/lords The Rt Hon David Lammy MP Secretary of State Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

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Found: stress the immediate need for the UK to step up and help the civilians of Syria, and to ask what the FCDO

Found: It is our normal practice to inform, but it is not an FCDO decision.

Found: DCMS will lead the Charter Review, and the FCDO will work with them to ensure that foreign, development

Found: We welcome the recent increase in funding from the FCDO.

Found: It is our normal practice to inform, but it is not an FCDO decision.

Found: It is an arm’s-length body of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

Found: It is an arm’s-length body of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

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Found: Written evidence from witnesses: British Antarctic Survey FCDO Examination of witness Witness: James

Found: Written evidence from witnesses: British Antarctic Survey FCDO Examination of witness Witness: James

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 15 November 2024 to Question 13191 on Exports: Ukraine, which Departments he is waiting to receive advice on before concluding this export licence application; and what steps his Department is taking to hasten advice.

Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Export Control Joint Unit (ECJU) is comprised of experts in the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and the Ministry of Defence (MOD). The FCDO advises DBT on the situation in country and the risks this poses with respect to the UK's export control responsibilities. The MOD advises DBT on the risks of diversion of exported goods and national security risks arising from hostile state activity. As the decision-making authority for all export licensing decisions DBT takes advice from both Departments and is in daily contact with them where necessary to ensure that process happens as quickly as possible.

Exporters are advised in the first instance to contact the ECJU Licensing Unit, as they will be able to provide further updates on the progress of their applications and comment on any specific cases they would like to raise.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure the safety of British Pakistanis speaking out about human rights violations in Pakistan.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Government regularly assesses potential threats to the UK, and takes the protection of individuals' rights, freedoms, and safety in the UK very seriously.

As you would expect, Home Office officials work closely with the FCDO and MHCLG as well as other Government departments to ensure that the UK is a safe and welcoming place.

The Home Secretary regularly discusses issues regarding national security with her counterparts, including the Foreign Secretary.

Found: below resources for the human rights situation: • Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO

Found: applies where— (a) the individual holds diplomatic status as recognised by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

Found: which is the UK’s Export Credit Agency (ECA) and the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO

Found: (FCDO) and the Ministry of Defence (MOD).

Found: outstanding stock of debt owed by other countries to UK Export Finance and the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

Found: The MOD is working hand-in-glove with the FCDO through our recently formed Joint Unit on Ukraine to maximise

Found: Agency DfT 21 Maritime and Coastguard Agency DfT 22 Vehicle Certification Agency DfT 23 Wilton Park FCDO

Found: : Home Office - Complexity Application Routing Solution - Visits (CARS(V)) DBT - Find Exporters FCDO

Found: such as import controls and/or mandatory due diligence, with support from the Home Office and the FCDO

Found: UK NACE is part of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and is the UK’s dedicated

Found: enquiries Email newsdesk@fcdo.gov.uk Telephone 020 7008 3100 Contact the FCDO

Found: (FCDO) and the Ministry of Defence (MOD).

Found: Andrew was a Finance Director and board member in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO

Found: Andrew was a Finance Director and board member in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO

Found: Andrew was a Finance Director and board member in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO

Found: Central HR and Payroll System This Freedom of Information request outlines information on FCDO

Found: In 2023, total FCDO support to ICRC was £133m, including £52m core unrestricted funding.

Found: The BSC will work closely with other government departments, including HMRC and FCDO, as well as operational

Found: such as Scottish Development International as necessary. 11.12 If travelling to an area which FCDO