Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking with international partners to support (a) access to and (b) legislation protecting sexual and reproductive health and rights internationally, in the context of Official Development Assistance negotiations between the US and (i) low and (ii) middle-income countries.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided in the House of Lords on 23 January 2025 to Question HL3786, which is reproduced below for ease of reference:

The empowerment of women and girls is a top priority for the UK government, and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) are key to this. When women and girls around the world are able to have control over their lives and their own bodies, they can avoid a life of early, multiple and often dangerous pregnancies and births, and instead complete their education, take up better economic opportunities and fulfil their potential. The UK therefore prioritises bodily autonomy and the rights of women and girls in the development of SRHR policies, in line with the Guttmacher-Lancet integrated definition of comprehensive SRHR for all.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the treatment of members of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra in Nigeria.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK Government takes all allegations of human rights violations and due process concerns very seriously including raising with local authorities where appropriate. We assess what action is appropriate to take on the specific facts of the case. The UK Government has raised Mr Kanu's case with the Nigerian authorities on multiple occasions, most recently on 11 November 2025 when Baroness Chapman, Minister for Africa met with Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar. Consular officials visit Mr Kanu and attend his trial hearings on a regular basis and remain in contact with his family and legal representatives.

The UK respects the territorial integrity of Nigeria. We encourage dialogue between the many ethnic groups and communities that make up and contribute to the strength and diversity of Nigeria. The UK supports and respects the Nigerian Government's commitment to work for a secure and prosperous Nigeria for all its citizens and is committed to working with Nigeria in support of this objective.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with the Nigerian Government on (a) arbitrary detentions and (b) due process.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK Government takes all allegations of human rights violations and due process concerns very seriously including raising with local authorities where appropriate. We assess what action is appropriate to take on the specific facts of the case. The UK Government has raised Mr Kanu's case with the Nigerian authorities on multiple occasions, most recently on 11 November 2025 when Baroness Chapman, Minister for Africa met with Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar. Consular officials visit Mr Kanu and attend his trial hearings on a regular basis and remain in contact with his family and legal representatives.

The UK respects the territorial integrity of Nigeria. We encourage dialogue between the many ethnic groups and communities that make up and contribute to the strength and diversity of Nigeria. The UK supports and respects the Nigerian Government's commitment to work for a secure and prosperous Nigeria for all its citizens and is committed to working with Nigeria in support of this objective.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has raised the case of British citizen Nnamdi Kanu with the Nigerian authorities.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK Government takes all allegations of human rights violations and due process concerns very seriously including raising with local authorities where appropriate. We assess what action is appropriate to take on the specific facts of the case. The UK Government has raised Mr Kanu's case with the Nigerian authorities on multiple occasions, most recently on 11 November 2025 when Baroness Chapman, Minister for Africa met with Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar. Consular officials visit Mr Kanu and attend his trial hearings on a regular basis and remain in contact with his family and legal representatives.

The UK respects the territorial integrity of Nigeria. We encourage dialogue between the many ethnic groups and communities that make up and contribute to the strength and diversity of Nigeria. The UK supports and respects the Nigerian Government's commitment to work for a secure and prosperous Nigeria for all its citizens and is committed to working with Nigeria in support of this objective.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to section 4 of the report by the Independent Commission for Aid Impact on Management of the official development assistance spending target, published on 15 July 2025, what steps she is taking to ensure that the majority of UK aid continues to be spent on development projects of strategic importance to the UK.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Minister of State for International Development and Africa is responsible for ensuring cross-government Official Development Assistance (ODA) spending is coherent with our modernised development approach and chairs the refreshed Ministerial ODA Delivery and Impact Board. This will drive coherence and effectiveness of the UK's development work and value for money in ODA spending across government.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the impact of in‐donor refugee costs on the aid budget available for overseas development programmes.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 6 November in response to Question 85799.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, having regard to part 6 of the Memorandum of Understanding on Strategic Cooperation between the United Kingdom and the Palestinian Government on education, published on 28 April, what recent discussions they have had with the Palestinian Authority to determine whether any UK aid is being used to support teaching materials in Palestinian schools that promote hatred, extremism or the glorification of terrorism; and what steps they plan to take should such use be identified.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

The UK has a zero-tolerance approach to fraud and robust controls against the diversion of aid. We select our partners for the strong safeguards they have in place, which reduce delivery risks and will ensure the maximum impact of UK aid for Palestinians.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the reply by Baroness Chapman of Darlington on 4 November (HL Deb 1808) stating that official development assistance allocations will be published "in the coming months", what plans they have to make a statement under section 2(4) of the International Development (Official Development Assistance Target) Act 2015 alongside these allocations.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

I refer the Noble Lord to HLWS887 made on 22 July 2025, published alongside the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's (FCDO) Annual Report & Accounts 2024-25. If, when published, the FCDO annual report and accounts for 2025-26 shows that the 0.7 per cent target has not been met in calendar year 2025, the government will make the relevant statement as set out in the International Development Act 2015.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with her Israeli counterpart on the role of the Israeli Defence Force in allowing adequate aid to enter Gaza.

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

I refer the Hon. Member to the responses I gave during the Urgent Question debate on Gaza in the House of Commons on 29 October.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of trends in the levels of aid being allowed into Gaza.

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

I refer the Hon. Member to the responses I gave during the Urgent Question debate on Gaza in the House of Commons on 29 October.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what role the UK is playing through the (a) Multi-agency Donor Coordination Platform, (b) Ukraine Recovery Conference process and (c) other international strategies to (i) plan and (ii) coordinate Ukraine’s post-conflict reconstruction.

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

We are working closely with the EU, G7 and other partners through the Ukraine Donor Platform to align donor assistance with Ukraine's urgent needs, support recovery planning, and support Ukraine's reform ambitions, including progress towards EU accession. We play a leading role on meeting Ukraine's financing needs and strengthening private sector engagement.

At the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2025 in Rome, the international community pledged €10 billion in support and agreed over 200 business deals spanning defence and reconstruction. The UK committed up to £283 million in bilateral assistance for 2025/2026 to fund humanitarian, energy, stabilisation, recovery and reconstruction programmes.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what role the UK is taking through (a) the Multi-agency Donor Coordination Platform for Ukraine, (b) the Ukraine Recovery Conference process and (c) other international efforts to (i) plan and (ii) coordinate Ukraine's post-conflict reconstruction.

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

We are working closely with the EU, G7 and other partners through the Ukraine Donor Platform to align donor assistance with Ukraine's urgent needs, support recovery planning, and support Ukraine's reform ambitions, including progress towards EU accession. We play a leading role on meeting Ukraine's financing needs and strengthening private sector engagement.

At the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2025 in Rome, the international community pledged €10 billion in support and agreed over 200 business deals spanning defence and reconstruction. The UK committed up to £283 million in bilateral assistance for 2025/2026 to fund humanitarian, energy, stabilisation, recovery and reconstruction programmes.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the value for money of British International Investment’s use of UK aid funding in low income countries.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 6 May 2025 in response to Question 48105.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department has visibility over donations or grants from U.S. government agencies or foundations to (a) BBC Media Action and (b) the BBC World Service Trust since 2018.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The information requested is not held by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she plans to fulfil the UK's outstanding funding pledge of £173 million to Unitaid.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer of 20 October given to question 80764.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will publish data on the use of (a) aid funding and (b) existing assets by British International Investment to generate investment returns in low income countries.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 6 May 2025 in response to Question 48105.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how she (a) monitors and (b) evaluates the return on investment of British International Investment funded projects.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 6 May 2025 in response to Question 48105.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the (a) vetting and (b) due diligence carried out for employees of the British Embassy in Tel Aviv includes assessments of whether they (i) reside in illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank and (ii) have (A) membership of and (B) ties to Israeli settler organisations; and what her Department's policy is on the employment of people in sensitive roles with conflicts of interest.

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

It has been the longstanding policy under successive governments not to comment on personnel and security matters in relation to individual members of staff.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what her Department's policy is on the employment of staff at (a) the British Embassy in Tel Aviv and (b) other government missions that reside in illegal Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian Territory.

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

It has been the longstanding policy under successive governments not to comment on personnel and security matters in relation to individual members of staff.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will conduct an urgent inquiry into the continued employment of Gila Ben-Yakov Phillips at the British Embassy in Tel Aviv; and if she will publish the findings of the inquiry.

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

It has been the longstanding policy under successive governments not to comment on personnel and security matters in relation to individual members of staff.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will publish the (a) due diligence and (b) vetting reports produced for the appointment of members of staff at the British Embassy in Tel Aviv.

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

It has been the longstanding policy under successive governments not to comment on personnel and security matters in relation to individual members of staff.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will undertake a review of the (a) due diligence, (b) selection and (c) security protocols for staff at the British Embassy in Tel Aviv; and if she will make it her policy to publish the findings of the review.

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

It has been the longstanding policy under successive governments not to comment on personnel and security matters in relation to individual members of staff.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions has she had with Israeli counterparts on (a) military strikes, (b) the destruction of buildings and (c) aid restrictions in Gaza since the implementation of the ceasefire.

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

I refer the Hon. Member to the responses I gave during the Urgent Question debate on Gaza in the House of Commons on 29 October, Official Report, vol. 774, cols. 311-325.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what progress her Department has made in supporting Sudanese civil society and political groups to prepare for a transition to civilian rule; and how that support is being coordinated with regional and international partners.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

As the Foreign Secretary said in her statement to the House on 18 November 2025, "it is crucial that ultimately we have a transition to a civilian administration in Sudan..." Our Special Representative for Sudan and officials in the UK regularly meet with a wide range of Sudanese civil society and diaspora groups to listen to their concerns and help to build an inclusive, united approach for transitioning to a civilian-led government once a lasting ceasefire is in place.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure that companies receiving contracts for border activity are not contributing to foreign conflicts that cause displacement.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK promotes high standards for private security companies through voluntary international regulation. We supported the drafting of the International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers (2010) and the creation of the International Code of Conduct Association (ICoCA) in 2013 to oversee compliance. These initiatives ensure transparency, accountability, and due diligence, reducing risks that security providers contribute to conflict or displacement.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when her Department will respond to the letter from the hon. Member for Dewsbury and Batley dated 1 October 2025.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I apologise to the Hon member for the delay. I can confirm that a response will be returned in the coming days.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she had had with her counterpart in Bangladesh on recent targeted attacks on St Mary’s Cathedral and St Joseph’s School in Dhaka; and what steps she is taking to help ensure the protection of Christians in Bangladesh.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

We condemn all acts of violence in Bangladesh, including those on 7-8 November, and we regularly raise issues of justice, accountability and the protection of fundamental rights, including Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB), with Bangladesh's Interim Government.

In February 2025, the UK's Human Rights Ambassador, Eleanor Sanders, discussed these issues on her visit to Bangladesh, and during her visit on 13-14 November, the Minister of State for International Development and Africa highlighted to Chief Adviser Professor Yunus the importance of democratic transition, human rights and reconciliation.

The UK's commitment to these issues is also reflected in our £27 million Collaborative, Accountable and Peaceful Politics programme in Bangladesh, which aims to protect civic space, foster inclusive dialogue and address tensions that can lead to violence.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department has (a) implemented a domestic abuse policy for staff and (b) trained line managers to effectively respond to staff who are experiencing domestic abuse.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is committed to supporting employees who may be experiencing domestic abuse. We provide comprehensive guidance for employees and their managers, including how to identify abuse, actions colleagues and managers can take, and links to organisations offering advice and support. This guidance also addresses the actions of perpetrators and outlines how disciplinary measures would be implemented.

The FCDO has implemented a comprehensive Domestic Abuse Policy that applies to all UK-based and overseas staff, including those on loan or secondment. The policy sets out clear principles, definitions, and guidance to ensure appropriate support for affected employees. While mandatory domestic abuse training for all line managers has not yet been introduced, guidance and resources are available to help managers respond sensitively and appropriately. Dedicated Human Resources teams and wellbeing services provide specialist advice on handling disclosures and safeguarding staff. When the Cabinet Office training for managers is introduced, we will ensure strong engagement and uptake.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with her Indian counterpart on the social boycott against Christians in Andhra Pradesh; and what diplomatic steps she is taking to help protect that community.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK Government is committed to promoting and protecting the right to Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) for all. Our High Commission in New Delhi, along with our network of Deputy High Commissions, monitors the human rights situation closely. We also engage with civil society and faith leaders to support efforts to promote tolerance and respect between communities.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many criminal cases were not prosecuted because the offender had diplomatic immunity broken down by nationality from 2015.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement (HCWS1075) made on 19 November 2025 which sets out the serious and significant offences allegedly committed by those with immunity in the UK. We do not share details of individual cases.

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 April 2025 to Question 40311, if she will provide an updated figure for the number of staff in her Department who currently hold valid Russian-language examination passes at C1 level or above.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Almost 100 valid Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) qualifications in Russian are currently held at C1 level or above by FCDO staff, and almost 75 in Mandarin. Exam passes are valid for five years. Some staff may concurrently hold a valid C1 and C2 pass. As previously explained to the Hon. Member, these figures alone do not provide an accurate measure of FCDO staff language capabilities as staff may hold a non-FCDO language qualification or be a native speaker.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Baroness Chapman of Darlington on 11 November (HL Deb col 141), what plans they have for the form of modernisation at the British Council.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

I refer the Noble Lord to the answer provided on 24 June 2025 to Question HL8297.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential benefits to the UK economy from the Global Fund’s partnerships with British research institutions, including in relation to innovations in HIV prevention and malaria control referenced in the Written Statement HCWS1043 made on 11 November 2025.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Global Fund's partnerships with British research institutions have supported innovations such as long-lasting insecticidal nets, improved HIV prevention, antiretroviral therapies, and strengthened community-led responses. Such partnerships drive scientific advancement, support skilled employment, and reinforce the UK's leadership in global health, delivering benefits to both global health and the UK economy.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department has funded any non-governmental or media organisations in Venezuela since 2023.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 15 May 2025 to Question 50066. She can find details of all programmes supported in Venezuela on the GOV.UK Development Tracker (https://devtracker.fcdo.gov.uk/).

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she plans to press the United Nations Security Council to refer the situation in Myanmar to the International Criminal Court.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided in the House of Lords on 12 November in response to Question HL11464, which has been reproduced below for ease of reference:

The UK acknowledges the report and shares its concerns regarding human rights violations in Myanmar. We condemn the Myanmar military's airstrikes on civilian infrastructure. The UK is clear that no country should provide arms, funds, or fuel to the Myanmar military. We have implemented 19 sanctions packages since 2021, including 10 targeting aviation fuel imports.

We are clear that there must be accountability for the atrocities committed in Myanmar. The UK has provided £900,000 to the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar since 2021 and established the Myanmar Witness program to collect evidence of human rights violations. As penholder on Myanmar at the UN Security Council, we have convened four meetings this year to maintain international focus and press for accountability. We co-sponsored a Human Rights Council resolution in April and coordinated a joint statement in May calling for an end to violence.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, How much his department has spent on alcohol in each month since July 2024, including those supplied by (i) invoice and (b) government credit card spending.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 28 October 2025 to Question 83336.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the pre-deployment of UK military teams to the Turks and Caicos Islands ahead of Hurricane Melissa, and whether similar pre-deployment strategies will be adopted in future hurricane seasons.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK military team pre-deployed to the Turks and Caicos Islands supported the disaster management preparations, response and recovery work as needed.

After Hurricane Melissa passed, HMS Trent redeployed to Jamaica. HMS Trent was equipped with humanitarian and disaster relief trained troops and crisis response equipment. It provided swift access to affected areas and the delivery of essential supplies, specialist recovery personnel, transport and damage assessments.

Similar pre-deployment strategies will be considered as part of response options in future hurricane seasons.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether any funds from the UK Integrated Security Fund have been allocated for projects involving Venezuela since 2024.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 15 May 2025 to Question 50066. She can find details of all programmes supported in Venezuela on the GOV.UK Development Tracker (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 assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the prevalence of airstrikes against civilian populations by the military regime in Myanmar.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided in the House of Lords on 12 November in response to Question HL11464, which has been reproduced below for ease of reference:

The UK acknowledges the report and shares its concerns regarding human rights violations in Myanmar. We condemn the Myanmar military's airstrikes on civilian infrastructure. The UK is clear that no country should provide arms, funds, or fuel to the Myanmar military. We have implemented 19 sanctions packages since 2021, including 10 targeting aviation fuel imports.

We are clear that there must be accountability for the atrocities committed in Myanmar. The UK has provided £900,000 to the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar since 2021 and established the Myanmar Witness program to collect evidence of human rights violations. As penholder on Myanmar at the UN Security Council, we have convened four meetings this year to maintain international focus and press for accountability. We co-sponsored a Human Rights Council resolution in April and coordinated a joint statement in May calling for an end to violence.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure international justice for (a) past and (b) continuing atrocity crimes in Myanmar.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided in the House of Lords on 12 November in response to Question HL11464, which has been reproduced below for ease of reference:

The UK acknowledges the report and shares its concerns regarding human rights violations in Myanmar. We condemn the Myanmar military's airstrikes on civilian infrastructure. The UK is clear that no country should provide arms, funds, or fuel to the Myanmar military. We have implemented 19 sanctions packages since 2021, including 10 targeting aviation fuel imports.

We are clear that there must be accountability for the atrocities committed in Myanmar. The UK has provided £900,000 to the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar since 2021 and established the Myanmar Witness program to collect evidence of human rights violations. As penholder on Myanmar at the UN Security Council, we have convened four meetings this year to maintain international focus and press for accountability. We co-sponsored a Human Rights Council resolution in April and coordinated a joint statement in May calling for an end to violence.

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 March 2025 to Question 40312 on China: Diplomatic Service, how many staff in her Department have achieved Mandarin qualifications at (a) C1 and (b) C2 level under the CEFR scale in the past five years for which the latest data is available.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Almost 100 valid Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) qualifications in Russian are currently held at C1 level or above by FCDO staff, and almost 75 in Mandarin. Exam passes are valid for five years. Some staff may concurrently hold a valid C1 and C2 pass. As previously explained to the Hon. Member, these figures alone do not provide an accurate measure of FCDO staff language capabilities as staff may hold a non-FCDO language qualification or be a native speaker.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to her Department's policy paper entitled Healthy Women, Children and Newborns: A Coordinated Approach to Ending Preventable Deaths, published on 6 November 2025, what role the Child Nutrition Fund is playing in her Department’s updated approach to ending preventable deaths.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 18 November to Question 89032, which sets out the UK's approach to improving nutrition for women and children, including our role as a proud co-founder and Board member of the Child Nutrition Fund (CNF). The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has disbursed £16.7 million in total to the Child Nutrition Fund since its inception in 2020. Of this £13 million has been disbursed through the Child Nutrition Fund's match window, £1 million through the programme window and £2.7 million through the supplier window.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, Pursuant to the answer of 5 November 2025, to Question 86049, on Official Residences: Repairs and Maintenance, whether his department holds records on the costs of (a) works, (b) fittings and (c) fixtures to the Ministerial residence in 1 Carlton Gardens since 4 July 2024.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) does not hold the specific information requested. The FCDO has a Facilities Management contract - awarded in 2018 - that provides services to its entire UK Estate, including the offices, meeting rooms, function rooms, residence and wider grounds at 1 Carlton Gardens. It is not possible to separate the costs of maintenance works on the residence from the rest of the property and in a number of cases from our other properties.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much of the UK's funding to the Child Nutrition Fund (CNF) has been disbursed through the CNF's (a) programme window and (b) match window.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 18 November to Question 89032, which sets out the UK's approach to improving nutrition for women and children, including our role as a proud co-founder and Board member of the Child Nutrition Fund (CNF). The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has disbursed £16.7 million in total to the Child Nutrition Fund since its inception in 2020. Of this £13 million has been disbursed through the Child Nutrition Fund's match window, £1 million through the programme window and £2.7 million through the supplier window.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has considered allowing British International Investment to borrow to invest.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 20 March to Question 38518.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Written Statement of 11 November 2025 (HCWS1043) on the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, what assessment her Department has made of the UK’s ability to sustain previous levels of investment in multilateral health partnerships; and what analysis she has commissioned on the projected impact of this reduced fiscal envelope during the 2026–28 replenishment cycle on projected health outcomes.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 17 September to Question 72441.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the role the Global Fund will play in improving global surveillance systems for infectious diseases, including early warning capabilities for antimicrobial resistance and future pandemics; and how this aligns with the UK’s national health-security strategy.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer provided on 1 September to Question 69322.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, the dates of each occasion that (a) ministers and (b) officials engaged with Tufan Erhurman in the previous 12 months.

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

I met Tufan Erhurman on 7 March and spoke to him by phone on 25 June this year, as set out in the department's quarterly transparency data, in relation to Cyprus settlement and the UN 5+1 talks.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what recent representations they have made to the government of Israel about the release of Marwan Barghouti.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

I refer the Noble Baroness to the answer given in the House of Commons on 21 October in response to Question 80474, which I have reproduced below for ease of reference:

The UK continues to reiterate calls for Israel to allow the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) unfettered and immediate access to detention facilities and continue to raise this with the Israeli government as a priority. The UK reaffirms our support for the ICRC as the only humanitarian actor with the experience, capability, independence and mandate to carry out their important responsibilities. We believe it is critical that the ICRC is given regular access to detainees to deliver on their independent visiting role, as enshrined within the 1949 Geneva Conventions.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the interest accrued on the frozen £2.5 billion proceeds from the sale of Chelsea Football Club is intended to benefit the proposed foundation to support victims of the war in Ukraine; and what steps the Government is taking to ensure that no part of these funds benefits sanctioned individuals.

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

The Government is determined to see that the frozen proceeds, including the accrued interest, from the sale of Chelsea Football Club reach humanitarian causes in Ukraine. Restrictions imposed through UK sanctions laws will ensure that the proceeds do not benefit sanctioned individuals.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to increase the flow and quantity of humanitarian aid, particularly medical supplies, being sent into Gaza.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

I refer the Noble Lord to the answer I provided on 24 October to Question HL10829.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what action they are taking to increase the amount of aid, in particular the amount of medical supplies, provided to Gaza.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

I refer the Noble Lord to the answer I provided on 24 October to Question HL10829.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he plans to provide technical or financial assistance to support the establishment of the International Claims Commission and its associated compensation fund.

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

We are clear that Russia must be held accountable for its illegal actions in Ukraine. The UK is a founding member of the Register of Damage and Chair of the Conference of Participants, under the auspices of the Council of Europe. The process to establish a Claims Commission as the next stage in an international compensation mechanism is still ongoing. The UK has participated in all four rounds of negotiations and continues to actively engage.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has considered the practice of forced passportization in territories of Ukraine currently under Russian occupation.

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

It has been widely-documented that residents in Russia-occupied Ukrainian territories are being compelled to take Russian passports to access essential services such as healthcare, education and pensions, with those who refuse facing detention, deportation, and the loss of property rights. This is a clear breach of international humanitarian law, and we continue to condemn it in international fora, including the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the UN.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential role of Marwan Barghouti in any future reconciliation process or peace negotiations.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

I refer the Noble Baroness to the answer given in the House of Commons on 21 October in response to Question 80474, which I have reproduced below for ease of reference:

The UK continues to reiterate calls for Israel to allow the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) unfettered and immediate access to detention facilities and continue to raise this with the Israeli government as a priority. The UK reaffirms our support for the ICRC as the only humanitarian actor with the experience, capability, independence and mandate to carry out their important responsibilities. We believe it is critical that the ICRC is given regular access to detainees to deliver on their independent visiting role, as enshrined within the 1949 Geneva Conventions.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what recent discussions they have had with the government of Israel about the safety and treatment of Marwan Barghouti.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

I refer the Noble Baroness to the answer given in the House of Commons on 21 October in response to Question 80474, which I have reproduced below for ease of reference:

The UK continues to reiterate calls for Israel to allow the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) unfettered and immediate access to detention facilities and continue to raise this with the Israeli government as a priority. The UK reaffirms our support for the ICRC as the only humanitarian actor with the experience, capability, independence and mandate to carry out their important responsibilities. We believe it is critical that the ICRC is given regular access to detainees to deliver on their independent visiting role, as enshrined within the 1949 Geneva Conventions.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 5 November 2025 to Question 85832 on USA: Diplomatic Service, what work was undertaken when Lord Mandelson was Ambassador.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Minor works were undertaken to the Embassy and Residence during Lord Mandelson's tenure as Ambassador.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Prime Minister has been consulted on whether Lord Mandelson will receive a severance payment.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Lord Mandelson's withdrawal was subject to normal HR processes within the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to Question 338 of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Oral evidence: Work of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, HC 385, 3 November 2025, what the threshold is for the publication of severance payments.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to Annex 4.13 of the Managing Public Money guidance, most recently updated by HM Treasury in June 2025.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with her Turkish counterpart on the expulsion of Christian foreign workers under national security legislation.

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

Freedom of religion or belief is a priority for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and a fundamental right that we regularly discuss with our Turkish counterparts. We will continue to urge respect for religious freedoms, which are essential to the long-term health of Turkish democracy.

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 October 2025 to Question 84207 on Embassies, how many sites in the United Kingdom for premises of the Chinese Government have that consent; and in which locations.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The current list of China's unconditionally accredited diplomatic premises is published in the London Diplomatic List, available on GOV.UK. The former Royal Mint site received conditional diplomatic consent in 2018, and this remains conditional on securing the necessary planning and listed building consents from the relevant authorities.

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 October 2025 to Question 84207 on Embassies, whether the Royal Mint site has that consent.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The current list of China's unconditionally accredited diplomatic premises is published in the London Diplomatic List, available on GOV.UK. The former Royal Mint site received conditional diplomatic consent in 2018, and this remains conditional on securing the necessary planning and listed building consents from the relevant authorities.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 20 October 2025, to Question 81874, on Diplomatic Service: Public Appointments, if Heads of Mission are appointed by open and fair competition; and what role does the Civil Service Commission play in the appointments of Ambassadors.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the oral evidence provided to the Foreign Affairs Committee on 3 November, where these issues were addressed at length.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will publish Lord Mandelson’s contract.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

It has not been the policy under any government to publish the employment contracts of individual members of staff.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the human rights situation in Iraq, in particular in relation to the rights of Kurdish people; and what action she is taking.

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

The UK remains deeply concerned about the human rights situation in Iraq, including restrictions on free expression and barriers to women's political participation. We continue to urge the Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government to uphold constitutional rights and international obligations.

The UK, working with international partners, will continue to press for accountability and reform and support civil society groups advocating for minority and women's rights.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 17 November to Question 88055 on Humanitarian Aid, whether a specific proportion of the Official Development Assistance budget is ring-fenced for those purposes.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Data on Official Development Assistance (ODA) spend for the requested period is published in the Statistics on International Development on GOV.UK, and is broken down by sector, including for humanitarian aid. Further information and annual reviews on specific programmes can be found on GOV.UK's Development Tracker.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with her Iranian counterparts concerning the recent arrest of Baha’i children’s rights activist, Afshin Heyratian; and what diplomatic steps she is taking to ensure his release.

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

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided to question 67802 on 6 August 2025, and add that we are aware of Afshin Heyratian's case and are monitoring the situation for Baha'is more widely.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will raise at the United Nations the refusal by Russian authorities to allow an independent investigation into the death of Alexei Navalny.

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

The Government continues to call on the Russian authorities to allow a full and independent investigation into the circumstances of Alexei Navalny's death. On 7 October, the UK co-sponsored a resolution adopted by the United Nations Human Rights Council expressing grave concerns that such an investigation had not been conducted.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the human rights situation in Turkiye, in particular in relation to politically motivated prosecutions and judgments in the European Court of Human Rights; and what action she is taking to help improve the situation inside that country for opposition politicians.

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

The Government maintains a regular dialogue with Turkey, a key North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) ally and strategic partner. The UK expects Turkey to uphold the rule of law, to live up to its international obligations as a founding member of the Council of Europe and act in line with the European Convention on Human Rights. As staunch supporters of democracy and human rights we will always support the fundamental rights to freedom of speech, peaceful assembly and media freedom. We regularly discuss these issues with our Turkish counterparts at ministerial and official levels.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that nutrition objectives are systematically integrated within women and girls’ programmes.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 18 November to Question 89032.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with her Pakistani counterparts on the ongoing bonded labour of religious minorities in brick kilns.

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

The UK Government recognises that serious exploitation persists in Pakistan, including bonded labour in sectors such as the brick kiln industry, where religious minorities are disproportionately affected. We regularly raise human rights concerns with the Government of Pakistan, including the rights and safety of minority communities. I have consistently engaged on these issues, most recently with Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister in August. Through UK-funded programmes such as Aawaz II, we have supported awareness campaigns, improved access to justice, and strengthened child protection systems to help tackle exploitative practices. We will continue to press for effective enforcement of Pakistan's laws prohibiting bonded labour and to advocate for the protection of vulnerable groups.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to raise awareness of the treatment of (a) Christians and (b) other religious minorities in Chad at the United Nations.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK condemns any attacks on individuals on the basis of their religion or belief, including in Chad. We consistently call on all actors in Chad and around the world to respect human rights, freedom of religion or belief, and international humanitarian law.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to support global reform of multilateral health organisations referred to in Written Statement HCWS1043, made on 11 November 2025, including improving coordination between Gavi, the Global Fund and other global health institutions.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK is working with partners to drive reform of the multilateral system in line with the Lusaka Agenda, supporting countries to move along the path to self-sufficiency.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) support the work that the Global Fund and Gavi leadership are undertaking to drive greater impact, efficiencies and effectiveness at country level and to explore more structural options for collaboration in future.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the territorial expansion of Jamat Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin across the Sahel on the group’s capacity to destabilise neighbouring states, disrupt regional supply lines, and undermine international security efforts in West Africa.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The continued terrorist fuel blockade is deeply concerning for Mali, and for the wider region, and we condemn its impact on civilians. The Foreign Secretary wrote to Foreign Minister Diop on 6 November, and the Minister for International Development and Africa spoke to him on 10 November, encouraging him to cooperate closely with all West African partners to address this shared challenge.

The UK works with Malian institutions and society to address fragility and support regional stability. Last year, we invested over £35 million in Mali through our regional overseas development assistance programmes. This year, we plan to spend £170 million in the Sahel region, to address the drivers of conflict and provide humanitarian support.

On 30 October, we advised British nationals to leave Mali urgently by commercial means. No British nationals have requested support during this period, but our consular assistance remains available around the clock, and we continue to update Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Travel Advice as necessary.

Found: Thursday, 27 November 2025 Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP Foreign Secretary Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

Found: Committee would like to understand what assessment the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO

Found: The FCDO is working closely with the Department for Business and Trade and other relevant departments

Found: Chair: For the FCDO. Jim Shannon: Yes. This is a copy of the request with all 16 names.

Found: What is actually going on in FCDO now?

Found: Do the FCDO, and other departments, have the resources, expertise and time to successfully implement

Found: Submission to the future of UK aid and development assistance inquiry Professor Diana Mitlin CEO of the FCDO-funded

Found: A small facility or roster could connect FCDO, UK universities, regulators, and City institutions to

Found: Our response builds on the work already done in 2024 with FCDO and coordinated by the West African Civil

Found: We do not receive funding from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

Found: local partners; Using accountable grants managed at country level more frequently; In addition, FCDO

Found: IFES recommends that the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) expand its engagement in

Found: introduce adaptive mechanisms that allow in-country partners to pivot as needs evolve and empower FCDO

Found: On one side of this approach it is important that there are dedicated staff within FCDO to oversee partnership

Found: Do the FCDO, and other departments, have the resources, expertise and time to successfully implement

Found: Furthermore, the recent FCDO equality impact assessment of the ODA cuts has raised significant question

Found: In particular, the FCDO should reverse the change whereby 30% of all humanitarian spending in the planet

Found: (FCDO) and other ODA‑spending departments [7]. 4.

Found: Create a “Preventive Security Fund” under FCDO linking aid disbursement to early-warning indicators (

Found: monitoring focuses on spending, not learning; and government departments with overlapping ODA remits (FCDO

Found: This eight-year Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)-funded programme has provided novel

Found: Recommendations for the FCDO and UK government Funding and programming Strengthen SRHR expertise and

Found: Co-developed by MMV and with funding from FCDO, it addresses a critical gap: while each year, around

Found: This includes establishing an FCDO Children Team, a children strategy, and dedicating at least 25% of

Found: Unlike the 2024-2025 retrospective FCDO Equality Impact Assessment (EIA), future UK ODA priorities must

Found: After all, DFID, and the FCDO have the word ‘development’ in their titles not aid.

Found: Finally, over the past fifteen years, the FCDO has operated in an environment of intense media scrutiny

Found: has been one of the largest recipients of bilateral aid from the UK, receiving £270 million in 2024 (FCDO

Found: How this will be done, and how it will be assessed, are now crucial for the FCDO to set out to ensure

Found: measurement and reporting in line with the channel disintermediation Invest in systems to support the FCDO

Found: Following a prolonged period of change and cuts, there is scope for the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

Found: approach complements the shift from grants to expertise: the UK Government (through Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

Found: or academic institutions like CEGA, would enable the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO

Found: , and benefits to households are often worth three times the cost (DCED/BEAM Evidence review 2021, FCDO-supported

Found: Prioritise the most cost effective interventions The FCDO lacks the budget to deliver effectively

Found: If the FCDO takes a significant step towards this, whilst boosting UK Aid cost-efficacy by a significant

Found: towards the goal of ending poverty, we collaborate closely with civil society organisations and the FCDO

Found: The publication of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s (FCDO) Annual Report for 2024/25

Found: based in their local communities, are actively engaged as crucial civil society contributors in all FCDO

Found: My wife has worked for 12 years in the development sector, evaluating the effectiveness of DfID and FCDO

Found: While the 2024 Aid Transparency Index saw FCDO score Very Good, an overall improvement, it also highlighted

Found: FCDO should integrate humanitarian assistance, conflict and development, and not treat humanitarian and

Found: AgDevCo is a blended finance vehicle funded by, among others, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

Found: Given the progress made on safeguarding – spearheaded by the FCDO – it is crucial that HMG ‘holds the

Found: ● Do the FCDO, and other departments, have the resources, expertise and time to successfully implement

Found: The changing international aid and development landscape amplifies the need for the FCDO to embrace funding

Found: The shift requires three core changes in FCDO behaviour and funding mechanisms.

Found: What we suggest is needed is for FCDO to listen and engage with those organisations who are undertaking

Found: ) between 2015 and 2020, based on a triangulation of data from 71 interviews with EU, UN, NGO, and FCDO

Found: improve the efficiency and effectiveness of humanitarian action and which the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

Found: by the below core principles: Show political leadership – the highest levels of Government and FCDO

Found: Call for Evidence – FCDO Nov.’25 - 12.11.25 Responses in Red by Prof.

Found: HIV The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has named the Global Fund to Fight AIDS

Found: Ensure the planned FCDO nutrition target focuses on the numbers women and children reached with interventions

Found: FCDO Helpdesk Report. London: UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.

Found: The FCDO is instrumental in maximising the UK’s growth potential, through promoting and enabling conditions

Found: FCDO must focus on the most cost-effective, evidence-based interventions, the global top 1%, to ensure

Found: Reshaping Aid for a Changed World The cutting of ODA to 0.3% of GNI in February 2025 leaves the FCDO

Found: The FCDO and donors more broadly need to continue to resource prevention of misconduct – specifically

Found: have a significant impact on the UK’s ability to deliver science and technological innovations; the FCDO

Found: A key example is the FCDO-funded Future on Tap project in Ethiopia, delivered by WaterAid and local partners

Found: significant progress in embedding disability inclusion within its development work including through the now FCDO

Found: FCDO and other departments can mobilise a lot of expertise to do this, with those responsible for delivery

Found: Three structural pulls matter: Measurement gravity: Metrics traditionally required for FCDO reporting

Found: rigour' model for evaluation To deliver genuine value for money and meet taxpayer expectations, the FCDO

Found: The company is now preparing to raise a further £250,000 in early 2026, informed and supported by FCDO-backed

Found: SUMMARY This submission draws on case study research examining FCDO programmes in Kenya and insights

Found: Embed comms metrics within FCDO and multilateral evaluation systems.

Found: Do the FCDO, and other departments, have the resources, expertise and time to successfully implement

Found: development assistance (ODA) programmes, including for the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO

Found: than just resources; given the recent cuts and the current global challenges, now is the time for FCDO

Found: Submission to the future of UK aid and development assistance inquiry Professor Diana Mitlin CEO of the FCDO-funded

Found: A small facility or roster could connect FCDO, UK universities, regulators, and City institutions to

Found: We do not receive funding from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). 2.3.

Found: Nutrition Integration.15 How this will be done, and how it will be assessed, are now crucial for the FCDO

Found: On one side of this approach it is important that there are dedicated staff within FCDO to oversee partnership

Found: - Do the FCDO, and other departments, have the resources, expertise and time to successfully implement

Found: In particular, the FCDO should reverse the change whereby 30% of all humanitarian spending in the planet

Found: towards the goal of ending poverty, we collaborate closely with civil society organisations and the FCDO

Found: Following a prolonged period of change and cuts, there is scope for the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

Found: The publication of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s (FCDO) Annual Report for 2024/

Found: based in their local communities, are actively engaged as crucial civil society contributors in all FCDO

Found: wife has worked for 12 years in the development sector, evaluating the effectiveness of DfID and FCDO

Found: While the 2024 Aid Transparency Index saw FCDO score Very Good, an overall improvement, it also highlighted

Found: monitoring focuses on spending, not learning; and government departments with overlapping ODA remits (FCDO

Found: Recommendations for the FCDO and UK government 10.1. Funding and programming 10.1.1.

Found: This eight-year Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)-funded programme has provided novel

Found: local partners;  Using accountable grants managed at country level more frequently;  In addition, FCDO

Found: IFES recommends that the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) expand its engagement

Found: Unlike the 2024-2025 retrospective FCDO Equality Impact Assessment (EIA), future UK ODA priorities must

Found: approach complements the shift from grants to expertise: the UK Government (through Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

Found: If the FCDO takes a significant step towards this, whilst boosting UK Aid cost-efficacy by a significant

Found: Prioritise the most cost effective interventions The FCDO lacks the budget to deliver effectively on

Found: and benefits to households are often worth three times the cost (DCED/BEAM Evidence review 2021, FCDO-supported

Found: HIV The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has named the Global Fund to Fight AIDS,

Found: improve the efficiency and effectiveness of humanitarian action and which the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

Found: Three structural pulls matter: ● Measurement gravity: Metrics traditionally required for FCDO reporting

Found: rigour' model for evaluation To deliver genuine value for money and meet taxpayer expectations, the FCDO

Found: This submission draws on case study research examining FCDO programmes in Kenya and insights from area-based

Found: .  Embed comms metrics within FCDO and multilateral evaluation systems.  Ensure openness and comparability

Found:  The FCDO should seize this opportunity in rethinking its approaches to partnership by developing

Found: than just resources; given the recent cuts and the current global challenges, now is the time for FCDO

Found: between 2015 and 2020, based on a triangulation of data from 71 interviews with EU, UN, NGO, and FCDO

Found: progress in embedding disability inclusion within its development work including through the now FCDO

Found: The FCDO is instrumental in maximising the UK’s growth potential, through promoting and enabling conditions

Found: ” - FCDO must focus on the most cost-effective, evidence-based interventions, the global top 1%, to

Found: The company is now preparing to raise a further £250,000 in early 2026, informed and supported by FCDO-backed

Found: : Reshaping Aid for a Changed World The cutting of ODA to 0.3% of GNI in February 2025 leaves the FCDO

Found: development assistance (ODA) programmes, including for the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO

Found: After all, DFID, and the FCDO have the word ‘development’ in their titles not aid.

Found: Finally, over the past fifteen years, the FCDO has operated in an environment of intense media scrutiny

Found: measurement and reporting in line with the channel disintermediation o Invest in systems to support the FCDO

Found: been one of the largest recipients of bilateral aid from the UK, receiving £270 million in 2024 (FCDO

Found: Co-developed by MMV and with funding from FCDO, it addresses a critical gap: while each year, around

Found: This includes establishing an FCDO Children Team, a children strategy, and dedicating at least 25% of

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will (a) review and (b) update Ukraine-related immigration (i) policies and (ii) guidance (A) in general and (B) on the application of protection principles depending on immigration route; what evidential criteria are used to justify refusal based on internal relocation; and if she will suspend removals to Ukraine during that review.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

Our assessment of the situation in Ukraine is set out in the relevant Country Policy and Information Notes (CPINs), which are available on the Gov.UK website.

The CPINs for Ukraine are based on evidence taken from a wide range of reliable sources, including reputable media outlets; local, national and international organisations, including human rights organisations; and information from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). The material drawn from those sources, including links to the original documents, are available in the published notes. This provides the evidence base for our assessment, which itself considers the situation in general, and regionally, against the relevant legal and policy framework for considering protection claims. Decision makers will consider how this applies in individual cases, including considerations such as internal relocation. The CPINs are kept under constant review and are updated periodically to ensure they remain accurate and reflect current country conditions.

Decisions on whether to remove individuals are made on a case-by-case basis depending on the situation at the time.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to Figure 4 of the Integrated Security Fund Annual Report 2024–25, of 30 October 2025, for what reason £778.9 million of Integrated Security Fund expenditure was allocated to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office; and if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the proportion of funding allocated to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office on national security.

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

The allocation to the FCDO is for two purposes. The ISF currently fulfils UK mandatory commitments to UN peacekeeping missions around the world, which the FCDO administers on its behalf. As per the Annual Report page 15, that is £263.75m. UN peacekeeping is critical in supporting global peace and security, including by preventing conflicts from escalating and creating space for political solutions. The rest of the allocation funds ISF programmes which deliver national security interventions overseas via the FCDO’s global network. ISF programming and its funding to departments are regularly reviewed to ensure alignment with evolving national security priorities.

Found: 2026 Topics: International, International aid and development Departments: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

Found: Award Value % of total DHSC 231 23% £1.8bn 25% Home Office 19 20% £306m 61% DWP 12 30% £185m 6% FCDO

Found: target at the Budget through the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s (FCDO’s) plans for FCDO

Found: target at the Budget through the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s (FCDO’s) plans for FCDO

Found: FOI202500031S relates to two questions about internal communications in FCDO Services.

Found: In addition, FCDO is carrying out a National Baseline Assessment (NBA) on the implementation of the