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 promote the John Bunyan Fund for Freedom of Religion and Belief.

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

The UK Government champions, and 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. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) John Bunyan Fund (JBF), the designated programme for FoRB-focused overseas projects, has a budget allocation of £460,720 in financial year (FY) 2024/25. 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, including Christians, 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 the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help stop the persecution of Christians in South East Asia; and if he will have discussions with his ASEAN counterparts on protecting (a) Christians and (b) churches.

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

The UK Government champions, and 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 organisations including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), our bilateral work, and our programme funding. The UK continues to hold countries to account on their FoRB commitments and obligations, including South East Asian nations, through our engagement with the UN's Universal Periodic Review (UPR) and at the UN Human Rights Council. This work is mutually reinforcing of our wider human rights efforts, underpinning our belief that human rights are universal.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when his next scheduled meeting is with representatives of the Chinese Government.

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

On 13 February, the Foreign Secretary met the Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wang Yi, in London. The Foreign Secretary does not have any further meetings scheduled with representatives of the Chinese Government at this point.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many (a) meetings and (b) discussions (i) he and (ii) Ministers from his Department have had with their Mauritian counterparts since July 2024.

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 2024, and negotiating rounds led to political agreement between the Prime Minister and then Mauritian Prime Minister on 3 October 2024. The Prime Minister's Special Envoy for BIOT negotiations, Jonathan Powell, and Prime Minister Ramgoolam met on 25 November 2024. The Attorney General met with the Mauritian Attorney General on 16 January 2025, and I also had a separate call with the Mauritian AG on this date. The Prime Minister spoke with Prime Minister Ramgoolam on 31 January 2025. This engagement has been supplemented by numerous official level meetings, and joint statements from the UK and Mauritian governments were issued on 20 December 2024 and 13 January 2025. We do not hold a centralised list of all meetings relating to Chagos sovereignty, and the number of such meetings, and Ministers and senior officials involved, would make it disproportionately costly to put such a list together.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what plans he has to bring forward legislative proposals to revoke the status of the British Indian Ocean Territories as British Overseas Territories.

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

The political agreement, reached between the UK and Mauritius in October 2024, will need to be underpinned by a Treaty which, once signed, will be made public and put before both Houses for scrutiny consistent with the obligations under the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act. Following signature, the Government intends to bring forward a Bill to make the necessary amendments to current legislation to implement the Treaty.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of UK-funded counter-terrorism initiatives in Africa on trends in the level of terrorism in those countries.

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

UK funded counter-terrorism initiatives in Africa reduce terrorism risks to the UK and to British Nationals and UK interests overseas, as set out in the CONTEST Strategy published in 2023. Across Africa, the primary risks to the UK stem from Al Qaeda affiliates such as Al Shabaab based in Somalia, and from groups affiliated with Daesh located across the continent.

We have had positive impact by supporting activities in priority countries to disrupt and degrade terrorist organisations (the 'Pursue' strand of CONTEST). Our focus is building host nations' counter terrorism criminal justice capability to tackle threats effectively, and to reduce terrorist capability and access to resources. We work hard to ensure compliance with UK human rights and legal standards.

We have also worked with a range of governments and international and multilateral partners to develop capabilities to prevent people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism (the 'Prevent' strand of CONTEST). For example, in Tunisia following the 2015 Sousse attacks in which 30 British nationals died, we worked in partnership with the Tunisian government to develop an early intervention system for people susceptible to radicalisation.

This focused counter terrorism work is designed in close coordination with wider UK-funded activity seeking to reduce conflict in places where the primary conflict actors are affiliates of global terrorist organisations, ensuring that the UK Government's efforts both target the direct terrorism risk to UK interests as well as some of the underlying drivers which may contribute to that risk.

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 support women and girls in states affected by conflict.

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

Empowering women and girls is a UK Government priority. The UK will take a leading role on the global stage, building partnerships, particularly in the Global South, to promote greater gender equality that strengthens whole societies and economies. Having led on UN Security Council Resolution 1325 in 2000, the UK is resolute in its commitment to the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda, and intends to build on the ambition displayed in the UK's 5th WPS National Action Plan during this anniversary year. At the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in March 2025, I, alongside Lord Collins, will promote women's economic empowerment, galvanise funding for the global grassroots women's rights movement, support women and girls in Afghanistan, and strengthen global action on conflict-related sexual violence.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they have taken (1) to address and tackle disinformation surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; and (2) to challenge dehumanising language and racist tropes in conflict situations.

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

We recognise that dehumanising language and hate speech can lay the ground for and justify identity-based violence in conflict. The proliferation of harmful online narratives and its impact on conflict is an emerging challenge. Partnering with specialist organisations, the FCDO is working to identify global best practices for mitigating harmful digital behaviours in conflict - including misinformation, disinformation and hate speech - and considering how action on such digital harms can be integrated into our wider approach to conflict and atrocity prevention.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he plans to provide support to Georgian democrats who were arrested by their government and have lost legal defence funding following the funding freeze by USAID.

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

We do not provide any legal defence funding to Georgian Civil Society involved in recent protests. The UK's commitment to supporting both humanitarian aid and development across the world remains steadfast. The Foreign Secretary and I have raised our concerns over arbitrary arrests and violence in Georgia with the Georgian Dream authorities. I was clear that Georgia's negative democratic trajectory, and violence targeting demonstrators and journalists is unacceptable. We are working to support a free and open civil society and attend court hearings. On 30 January, our Embassy in Tbilisi issued a statement supporting journalist Mzia Amaglobeli, who has been on hunger strike since 11 January.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports of Turkish attacks on Kurds in the Rojava region of northeastern Syria in the last six months.

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

We are concerned by increased tensions in northern Syria and the impact this may have on civilians and stability in the region. Our priority is de-escalation, and we are in regular contact with both Turkey and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to this end. We are urging all sides 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. We continue to advocate for an inclusive political transition process that is representative of all Syrians, including Kurdish communities.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what proportion of the £236.75 million allocated to Ukraine in the Official Development Assistance Programme was designated for (a) humanitarian aid and (b) economic development projects in 2024-25.

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

The bilateral Ukraine portfolio totals £282 million in 2024/25 covering humanitarian, stabilisation, energy, recover and reform programmes. The majority of this is through Official Development Assistance. This includes £122 million in humanitarian assistance which is delivered through key partners such as UNICEF, UNHCR and Mercy Corps.

Our economic recovery programmes total £25.5 million for this year. These programmes will unlock hundreds of millions of pounds of private lending to bolster the growth and economic resilience in Ukraine. These programmes cover aspects from support to small business, to war risk insurance and infrastructure capacity building, working with key partners such as the International Finance Corporation, Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

The remainder of this year's allocation will be used to support energy, social recovery, and governance reform programmes.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government when Lord Mandelson’s appointment as UK ambassador will commence.

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

The Prime Minister confirmed the appointment of Lord Mandelson to be the next British Ambassador to the United States of America on Friday 20 December. He started the role on 10 February 2025.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made recent representations to his US counterparts on the case for an end to the economic blockade of Cuba.

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

The Foreign Secretary had a call with his recently appointed US counterpart, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, on 27 January. The readout is available on gov.uk.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made recent representations to his US counterpart on removing Cuba from the State Sponsors of Terrorism list.

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

The Foreign Secretary had a call with his recently appointed US counterpart, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, on 27 January. The readout is available on gov.uk.

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 with his (a) US and (b) EU counterparts to provide additional support to Ukraine.

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

We are in constant contact with our US and European partners to ensure that Ukraine has the support it needs. The Foreign Secretary led a senior UK delegation at the Munich Security Conference focussed on bolstering joint efforts to address the challenges of Russia's illegal war in Ukraine. On 17 February the Prime Minister travelled to Paris to meet with President Macron and other European leaders to review the situation in Ukraine and security issues in Europe. We are also working with G7 partners, including the US and EU, to implement the $50 billion Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration Loan by advancing the extraordinary profits generated by immobilized Russian Assets. We are working with Europe, stepping up our collective defence spending and support to Ukraine. Europe now provides 60 percent of all aid to Ukraine, and over half of all military aid. The UK will spend £4.5 billion on lethal aid for Ukraine this year - more than ever before, and we will set out a pathway to increase Defence spending to 2.5 percent in the spring.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made representations to his US counterpart on British citizens and their families impacted by that country's sanctions on the International Criminal Court.

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

Successive UK and US administrations have taken a different view on the ICC - for example, the UK are signatories to the Rome Statute, the US are not. We support the independence of the ICC. Imposing sanctions against ICC officials impedes the Court's ability to carry out its important work prosecuting the most serious crimes of international concern. We will continue to engage with the 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, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of recent attempts by Russia to destabilise democracies in the Eastern Caucasian region; and what steps he is taking to support that region to counter those attempts.

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

Countering Russia's efforts to destabilise democracies in the South Caucasus, such as Armenia and Georgia, is a priority for the UK. We have previously supported Georgia in combatting Russian hybrid aggression by helping increase Georgia's cyber resilience. We took all opportunities to condemn Russia's illegal presence in Georgian territories including through the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolutions. We have supported Armenia's efforts to remove itself from Russia's orbit, including through support for Armenia's reform agenda and efforts to building institutional resilience and to strengthen cyber and border management.

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 projected financial commitments within the revised agreement with Mauritius on the Chagos Islands including adjustments for (a) inflation and (b) exchange rate fluctuations.

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

Once the treaty is signed it will be put before both Houses for scrutiny before ratification in the usual way.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has withdrawn the veto on the compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice on disputes with countries that (a) are and (b) have been Commonwealth members.

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

The position around the International Court of Justice compulsory jurisdiction remains as per the UK's deceleration of 22 February 2017.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many counter proposals the Government has received from the Mauritian Government on the future sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory since 3 October 2024.

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

It would not have been, nor would it be appropriate to provide a running commentary on private negotiations, not least given the national security issues involved. When the treaty text is finalised and agreed, it will be laid before Parliament, which will be the right time for scrutiny and discussion.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, which groups of Chagossians he has met with; and when he met them.

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

As Minister for the Overseas Territories, I have met with members of the Chagossian community on 30 September and 3 October, and officials have also been in regular contact with Chagossians on a range of issues. We recognise the importance of the British Indian Ocean Territory / Chagos Archipelago to Chagossians and have worked to ensure the sovereignty agreement reflects their interests.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what the total cost is of the financial settlement for the transfer of sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.

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

Details of the proposed treaty will be set out when it is laid before Parliament.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much his Department has incurred in legal costs on the Chagos Islands since 5 July 2024.

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

It is not possible to provide a single figure for the amount the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has incurred in legal costs on the Chagos Islands since 5 July 2024. Legal costs would include the costs of FCDO lawyers, who are paid salaries and do not charge by workstream. However, the FCDO has incurred £28,367.35 in external legal costs in relation to matters concerning the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands since 5 July 2024, including in respect of defending relevant litigation. There may be additional costs for January that have not yet been invoiced. The FCDO has also incurred external legal costs in respect of migration issues on Diego Garcia. As the FCDO is still to receive a number of invoices for these costs, it is not possible to provide an accurate figure at this time.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Government has agreed any changes to (a) the proposed treaty and (b) financial arrangements connected to the agreement with Mauritius announced on 3 October 2024 on the future sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory.

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

In the house I have said repeatedly that I will not provide a running commentary on this matter. We have reached an agreement with Mauritius, but the final text of the proposed treaty, as well as the financial arrangements are still being finalised and it is only when they are concluded that we will be in a position to put them before Parliament, in line with the normal procedures, for scrutiny and debate.

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 tackling irregular migration to the UK.

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

The Foreign Secretary has made migration a top Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office priority. On 31 January, the Foreign Secretary travelled to Tunisia to see UK programming addressing the upstream drivers of migration. On 15 February, the Foreign Secretary met key European partners at the Munich Security Conference to discuss how to use sanctions to tackle people smuggling and Organised Immigration Crime.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports of the bombing of Tishreen Dam in northeastern Syria; what is the potential humanitarian impact; and what steps they are taking in response.

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

Since late 2024, ongoing fighting between the Syrian National Army and Syrian Defence Forces, as well as airstrikes, have affected Tishreen Dam, placing civilians at risk as well as depriving over 400,000 people of water and electricity. Ongoing damage to the dam could lead to the loss of lives and livelihoods of up to one million people should the dam collapse. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office funds humanitarian agencies who are undertaking critical repairs. We continue to call on all parties to ensure the safety and security of humanitarian workers, safe access to affected areas for the timely delivery of humanitarian aid, as well as to protect civilian infrastructure.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what support they are providing for the healthcare of women and girls in Syria; and whether they intend to ringfence funding within the Official Development Assistance budget for that purpose.

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

The UK does not ringfence funding specifically for women and girls. However, we put support to women and girls at the heart of all our work in Syria and require our partners to provide sex and age disaggregated data on the outcomes of UK-funded programmes. In financial year (FY) 2023/24, 53 per cent of UK humanitarian programming in Syria helped provide health, sexual and reproductive health services, education, and vocational training to over 690,000 women and girls. Through our health partner we delivered 783,649 medical consultations, of which 61 per cent were delivered to female beneficiaries. Through funding to UN organisations such as the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), the UK provided Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) and Gender Based Violence (GBV) services to 145,490 Syrians, of which 96 per cent were female.

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 Iraqi counterpart on strengthening UK-Iraq relations.

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

I met Iraqi Foreign Minister Dr Fuad Husein during the official visit of his Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani to the UK from 14-16 January. During the visit, our Prime Ministers signed the landmark Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, a wide-ranging treaty on trade and strategic cooperation, and announced a trade package worth up to £12.3 billion.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether the award of Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order to King Hamad of Bahrain was proposed by the Government.

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

Awards in the Royal Victorian Order are made personally by The King. With advice from His Majesty's Government, The King invested King Hamad of Bahrain with his Honorary Knighthood at Windsor Castle on 11 November 2024 in the year of his Silver Jubilee.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Collins of Highbury on 4 February (HL4182), which states were sanctioned for conflict-related sexual violence sanctions in (1) December 2022, (2) March 2023, (3) June 2023, and (4) February 2024.

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

The UK has designated fourteen perpetrators of Conflict-related Sexual Violence (CRSV) related crimes since 2022. These include perpetrators in Mali, Myanmar, South Sudan, Central African Republic, Syria and the Democratic Republic of Congo. These designations under the UK Global Human Rights sanctions regime are narrowly targeted at individuals and groups for their involvement in CRSV.

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 potential merits of integrating carbon monoxide risks into country-based travel advisories.

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

We are now adding information to our dedicated page for independent travellers to highlight the risks of carbon monoxide poisoning globally. We will continue to include information about carbon monoxide in specific country travel advice where there is evidence of significant and enduring risk to British people. Currently that is China and Nepal. We keep this under regular review.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to secure the release of imprisoned human rights defenders and political activists in Bahrain; and what discussions they have had with Bahrain, if any, about the cases of (1) Abduljalil Al-Singace, (2) Hasan Mushaima, and (3) Sheikh Ali Salman.

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

We continue to follow and discuss the cases of Abduljalil Al Singace, Hasan Mushaima and Sheikh Ali Salman with the Bahraini Government, as well as with the independent oversight bodies, where appropriate.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the statement by Vice-President of the European Commission, Kaja Kallas, concerning the ongoing imprisonment of Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja in Bahrain; and whether they plan to endorse calls for his unconditional release.

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

The UK continues to follow and discuss the case of Abdulhadi al-Khawaja with the Bahraini Government. The UK remains committed to supporting reforms in Bahrain and to encouraging the government to meet its human rights commitments.

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 the Northern Ireland Executive on the development of its international relations strategy.

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

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has held official-level discussions with the Northern Ireland Executive (NIE) on their proposal to develop an international relations strategy. We look forward to continuing that engagement with the NIE in due course as its Strategy is further developed.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of recent reports of human rights abuses in Bahrain’s Jau Prison, including arbitrary solitary confinement, physical assaults, and the prolonged use of shackles causing injury; what representations they have made to the government of Bahrain regarding these alleged violations; and what assessment they have made of the role played by Brigadier Abdulsalam Al Oraifi, the Director General of Reformation and Rehabilitation in Bahrain’s Ministry of Interior.

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

The UK maintains a dialogue with Bahrain on issues including detention and prison conditions at Jau. We encourage individuals alleging concerns about treatment in detention to report them to Bahrain's independent oversight bodies, which are established to deal with such matters.

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 merits of supporting the establishment of a medical evacuation scheme for children in Gaza requiring urgent treatment.

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

We have announced £1 million for the Egyptian Ministry of Health, delivered through World Health Organisation (WHO) Egypt, to support medically evacuated Palestinians from Gaza. Israel must ensure sustained passage through the now open Rafah crossing, for those needing treatment unavailable in Gaza, during the first phase of the ceasefire.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether any taxpayer-funded training has been provided to Brigadier Abdulsalam Al Oraifi, the Director General of Reformation and Rehabilitation in Bahrain’s Ministry of Interior in the past ten years; and, if so, what assessment they have made of allegations he has been implicated in human rights abuses.

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

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) does not provide direct funding to the Bahraini government or related security bodies or individuals. All FCDO-funded projects are delivered through implementing partners who provide training or technical assistance to local beneficiaries. Implementing partners have provided technical assistance to the Ministry of Interior in the last ten years. The FCDO does not hold records of individuals within the Ministry who have received technical assistance.

All cooperation through FCDO-funded programmes is subject to rigorous risk assessments, both at the outset and on an ongoing basis, to ensure all work meets our human rights obligations and values. We encourage individuals alleging concerns about treatment in detention to report them to Bahrain's independent oversight bodies, which are established to deal with such matters.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Collins of Highbury on 5 February (HL 4343), what steps they are taking to support interfaith dialogue and religious tolerance in Gaza's future governance structure.

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

The UK is pressing for a Palestinian-led process for recovery and reconstruction in Gaza and a strong role for civil society. This is crucial to lay the groundwork for inclusive governance, accountability, and transparency so that the needs, desires, rights and freedoms and voices of all Gazans are protected. The UK remains strongly committed to freedom of religious belief for all abroad. No one should live in fear because of what they do or do not believe in.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Collins of Highbury on 5 Feburary (HL4343), whether in assisting the political reconstruction of Gaza they will seek to ensure the protection of all religious communities, equal rights and the safeguarding of freedom of religion and belief for all groups.

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

The UK is pressing for a Palestinian-led process for recovery and reconstruction in Gaza and a strong role for civil society. This is crucial to lay the groundwork for inclusive governance, accountability, and transparency so that the needs, desires, rights and freedoms and voices of all Gazans are protected. The UK remains strongly committed to freedom of religious belief for all abroad. No one should live in fear because of what they do or do not believe in.

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 potential merits of making Israel a Human Rights Priority country.

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

The UK is committed to promoting and protecting human rights and rule of law around the world. On 10 December 2024, the Foreign Secretary and Lord Collins, Minister for Human Rights, set out their five priorities on human rights and democratic governance. Central to the strategic approach is the principle that human rights matter everywhere.

The UK is committed to improving the human rights situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. We regularly call on Israel to abide by its obligations under international law.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government when they intend to release the report by William Shawcross on compensation for victims of IRA attacks and the use of semtex supplied by Libya.

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

The UK Government has profound sympathy for UK victims of Qadhafi-sponsored Irish Republican Army (IRA) terrorism and indeed for all victims of the Troubles. The Shawcross report was commissioned by the previous government as an internal report drawing on a series of private and confidential conversations. We will keep decisions on publication regarding the Shawcross Report under review.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made representations to his Israeli counterpart on the killing of (a) Saher al-Qaran and (b) other Palestinians in Gaza since the ceasefire came into effect.

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

We cannot comment on individual cases, but we remain concerned by the situation in the West Bank and reiterate that Israel must ensure that civilians are protected. The Foreign Secretary has raised the situation in the West Bank and issues of international law compliance directly at the highest levels of the Israeli Government. This government is clear that international law must be upheld, and civilians protected.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made representations to his Israeli counterpart on (a) the killing of Sondos Jamal Muhammed Shalabi and (b) other actions in Nur Shams refugee camp.

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

We cannot comment on individual cases, but we remain concerned by the situation in the West Bank and reiterate that Israel must ensure that civilians are protected. The Foreign Secretary has raised the situation in the West Bank and issues of international law compliance directly at the highest levels of the Israeli Government. This government is clear that international law must be upheld, and civilians protected.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will take steps with Cabinet colleagues to ensure that UK (a) defence equipment supplied to and (b) trade with Israel is not used to support the continued presence of Israel in the Palestinian Occupied Territories.

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

The UK's robust export licensing criteria states that the Government will not issue export licences if there is a clear risk that the items might be used to commit or facilitate serious violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL). In September 2024, following an IHL review, we have suspended certain export licences to Israel where we have assessed there is a clear risk that they might be used to commit or facilitate serious violations of IHL. We do not encourage or offer support to economic and financial activity in the settlements, and our commitment to a two-state solution is unwavering, as is our commitment to international law. We advise British businesses to consider the UK government's stance towards settlements when considering their investments and activities in the region.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many medical evacuations from Gaza to the UK have been (a) requested by the UK and (b) successfully conducted since 7 October 2023.

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

Officials from all relevant Whitehall departments are exploring avenues to ensure our support best meets the needs of the critically ill in Gaza, and we continue to support the provision of healthcare in Gaza and the region. The Government is keeping our humanitarian programme and existing policies on medical evacuations and visa pathways under review in response to events in Gaza.

The ceasefire provides a vital opportunity to increase the number of medical evacuations from Gaza. It is very positive that the Rafah crossing has reopened to support this. It is vital that Israel ensures that there is a sustained passage for patients who need treatment not available in Gaza, and the UK frequently engages with Israel to ensure critically ill patients receive the medical treatment they need.

We have announced £1 million for the Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population, delivered through World Health Organisation (WHO) Egypt, to support medically evacuated Palestinians from Gaza. The UK is also supporting the provision of essential healthcare to civilians in Gaza, including support to UK-MED who have now provided vital care to over 330,000 Gazans since the start of the conflict.

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 Israeli counterpart on its international obligations on the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.

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

The UK remains opposed to anti-United Nations Relief and Work Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) Knesset legislation which came into force on 30 January, and unequivocally rejects attempts to undermine or degrade UNRWA. UNRWA plays a vital role in delivering humanitarian assistance in Gaza and enabling the broader international response through its logistics and distribution network. We reiterated this position in our E3 joint Foreign Ministers' statement of 31 January, alongside France and Germany. The Foreign Secretary's Representative for Humanitarian Affairs in the Occupied Palestinian Territories also raised this with the Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs on 23 January.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to his correspondence of 8 January 2024 to the Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, if he will list the steps his Department takes to monitor the risk of genocide being committed as part of the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria process.

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

Criterion 1 of the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria states that the Government will not grant a licence if to do so would be inconsistent with the UK's international obligations and commitments. This includes the duty to prevent genocide under Article 1 of the Genocide Convention. We draw on a range of sources in making assessments, including NGOs, international organisations, and reporting from our overseas network. All licences are kept under careful and continual review as standard.

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 ensure the protection of (a) medical equipment in hospitals in Gaza and (b) medical facilities in conflict zones.

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

We remain gravely concerned by the lack of adequate medical care in Gaza. Nearly all of Gaza's hospitals are damaged or partly destroyed, according to the World Health Organization. I have raised our concern about the ability of civilians safely to access medical treatment with the Government of Israel, and we highlighted our concerns at the recent UN Security Council meeting on healthcare in Gaza. International Humanitarian Law (IHL) gives special protection to medical missions, health facilities, their staff and equipment and to humanitarian personnel exclusively engaged in medical duties. We will continue to use our permanent seat on the UN Security Council to promote compliance with IHL, seek accountability for violations, and implement existing UN Security Council Resolutions (UNSCR) - including UNSCR 2286 on Healthcare in Armed Conflict, which the UK co-sponsored.

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 merits of establishing a medical evacuation scheme for children in Gaza.

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

We continue to support the provision of healthcare in Gaza and the region, and officials from all relevant Government departments are exploring avenues to ensure our support best meets the needs of the critically ill in Gaza. The Government is keeping our humanitarian programme and existing policies on medical evacuations and visa pathways under review in response to events in Gaza.

The ceasefire provides a vital opportunity to increase the number of medical evacuations from Gaza. It is very positive that the Rafah crossing has reopened to support this. It is vital that Israel ensures that there is a sustained passage for patients who need treatment not available in Gaza, and the UK frequently engages with Israel to ensure critically ill patients receive the medical treatment they need.

We have announced £1 million for the Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population, delivered through World Health Organisation (WHO) Egypt, to support medically evacuated Palestinians from Gaza. The UK is also supporting the provision of essential healthcare to civilians in Gaza, including support to UK-MED who have now provided vital care to over 330,000 Gazans since the start of the conflict.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with refence to the Answer of 1 May 2024 to Question 23837 on World Bank: Climate Change, whether he expects all new financial flows to be aligned with the Paris Agreement by July 2025.

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

The World Bank Group's International Development Association and International Bank of Reconstruction and Development have aligned all their new financial operations with the Paris Agreement since 1 July 2023. The Group has committed to align the rest of its institutions, the International Financial Corporation and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency, with the Paris agreement in their new financial operations from 1 July 2025.

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 Israel on the arrest and detention of (a) Mahmoud Muna and (b) Ahmad Muna.

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

We are concerned by reports of the detention of Mahmoud and Ahmad Muna by the Israeli authorities. Our Ambassador in Tel Aviv, and the British Consulate General in Jerusalem, tweeted to express concern at the police raid, and to reiterate our support for freedom of expression as a fundamental right. We continue to call on Israeli authorities to exercise restraint and adhere to international law.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to his Department's press release entitled New partnerships with financial sector to unlock growth in UK and overseas, published on 3 February 2025, what role British International Investment will have in these partnerships; and how the scheme's funding will be (a) monitored and (b) measured.

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

British Investment International (BII) is a core part of the Government's partnership with private finance to mobilise investment into emerging markets, unlocking economic growth and sustainable development. A central component of their role is a new £100m Mobilisation Facility announced by the Prime Minister at the UN General Assembly in October. As the press release describes, BII launched a Call for Proposals in January to partner with investors in the City of London to source the strongest concepts into which this Facility will invest to enable commercial investment to flow at scale into developing countries.

As the Prime Minister said in October, BII expects that the Mobilisation Facility will mobilise hundreds of millions of pounds into emerging markets. The Facility is monitored through Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's (FCDO) regular governance arrangements with BII, as its sole shareholder. These arrangements require BII to report to FCDO regularly, including through a formal annual report. In addition, the performance of the facility will be monitored and measured through an annual review process that FCDO conducts on all of its programmes. This annual review will further assess the progress, effectiveness, and value for money of the facility.

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 risk of conflict minerals from the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (a) being traded on the London Bullion Market and (b) appearing in UK (i) supply chains and (ii) products.

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

We are deeply concerned by reports from the UN Group of Experts that M23 and Rwanda are illegally extracting critical minerals from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and are clear that such activity must stop immediately.

We are committed to addressing risks around conflict minerals and protecting human rights. The UK works through several international mechanisms to deliver on this, including encouraging compliance with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD's) Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Mineral Supply Chains which enables businesses to operate responsibly from conflict-affected areas and the European Partnerships for Responsible Minerals which aims to increase the proportion of responsibly sourced minerals in supply chains.

The Government recognises the importance of high regulatory standards in financial markets. For Over-The-Counter wholesale markets for precious metals like the London Bullion Markets, the Financial Conduct Authority recognises the Global Precious Metals Code.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 6 February 2025 to Question 27261 on Israel: Hamas, if he will make an assessment of the value of Overseas Development Aid spent in the last five years that has been destroyed during the course of the conflict in Gaza.

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

The UK works closely with trusted partners to ensure timely reporting and monitoring of aid losses. Following the ceasefire, partners are continuing to assess the situation on the ground after 15 months of conflict. Our understanding of the impact on UK aid provided will be drawn from these assessments. To note, UK funding is used to support a wide range of activities and services, as well as provision of goods. We welcome reports that more aid has been entering Gaza during the ceasefire period and continue to urge all parties to ensure that aid can safely and effectively reach those who need it in all parts of Gaza.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if his Department will establish a mechanism to monitor the impact of USAID cuts on programmes to (a) conflict-affected countries and (b) multilateral organisations; and whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the withdrawal of American funding from UNRWA on levels of UK funding.

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

We are currently working to assess the implications of the US funding pause across development sectors, geographic regions and multilateral organisations. We are gathering information and working with other donor partners to share analysis of the pause before making any decisions.

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 the suspension of USAID on the UK's contribution to aid programmes.

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

We are currently working to assess the implications of the US funding pause across development sectors, geographic regions and multilateral organisations. We are gathering information and working with other donor partners to share analysis of the pause before making any decisions.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will ask the International Criminal Court to investigate the Taliban’s actions towards women in Afghanistan as crimes against humanity.

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

We continue to condemn the Taliban's draconian restrictions on women and girls' rights. Those responsible for international crimes committed in Afghanistan should be held to account for their actions. We note the International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor's application for arrest warrants against Taliban leaders in relation to the persecution of women and girls in Afghanistan. We welcome the progress being made in the investigation in Afghanistan. The UK Government respects the independence of the ICC. It is for the ICC Prosecutor to determine independently who should be prosecuted in accordance with his mandate under the Rome Statute.

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 help secure the release of hostages held by the Fulani militia in Nigeria in the last six months.

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

The UK Government condemns all violence, including kidnaps, across Nigeria. Kidnapping for ransom is sadly a widespread practice in Nigeria, particularly in the North West where banditry is prevalent. Kidnappings often have financial rather than religious motives and communities of all religions and beliefs are vulnerable. Through the UK-Nigeria Security and Defence Partnership (SDP), a Multi-Agency Kidnap Fusion Cell (MAKFC) has been established to support cooperation between Nigeria's security and justice agencies. This will both reduce the harm to victims and hold those responsible to account. Through the SDP, the UK also continues to deliver support such as training to strengthen the capability of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of designating gender apartheid as a crime against humanity under international law.

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

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is aware of calls for the inclusion of a new crime of gender apartheid in the draft Crimes Against Humanity Convention. We are assessing the merits and risks of such an approach by engaging closely with civil society and other partners to understand their views, and determine whether new international law is needed and would be beneficial.

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Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the statement by the Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office on 6 February on EU–UK relations (HC Deb cols 963–4), what is the breakdown by department of the 70 direct engagements between UK ministers and EU counterparts.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Responsibility for UK-EU Relations lies with the Cabinet Office and the Paymaster General and Minister for the Constitution and EU Relations Nick Thomas-Symonds, who has spoken with his counterpart Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič seven times. The Prime Minister has spoken with Commission President von der Leyen six times and with Council President Costa twice. Ministers across Government also regularly engage with their EU counterparts, including meetings held by FCDO, DSIT, DBT, DESNZ, HMT, HO, DEFRA, DCMS and others.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions she has had with other Cabinet colleagues on the possibility of front-loading payments to Mauritius as part of the proposed UK-Mauritius Treaty on the future sovereignty of the British India Ocean Territory.

Answered by Darren Jones - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

HMT has been engaged on the financial mandate for negotiations with Mauritius. Any UK-Mauritius agreement, alongside the structure of any associated financial obligations, remains subject to finalisation and signature. As lead departments, the FCDO and the MOD must balance the commitments of any agreement against wider priorities, as per the Managing Public Money Framework.

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Found: FCDO Services spending over £500, January 2025

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Found: FCDO Services spend over £25,000, January 2025

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