Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that dozens have been killed in airstrikes by the Sudanese armed forces at Nyala, South Darfur; and what justice mechanisms the UK plans to use to hold those responsible accountable.
Answered by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We aware of the reports of airstrikes in Nyala, Sudan. This airstrike is part of a growing trend of aerial warfare that is inflicting devastating harm on civilians and civilian infrastructure and is contributing to the growing risk of famine in Sudan.
That is why we are consistently calling for the warring parties to protect civilians, comply with international humanitarian law, and facilitate safe and unhindered humanitarian access; why we have led efforts alongside partners to successfully renew the UN Fact-Finding Mission's mandate; why we have coordinated the Coalition for Atrocity Prevention and Justice for Sudan to issue seven statements this year highlighting the devastating impact of drone warfare on civilians; and why, on 24 September, the Minister of State for International Development and Africa hosted a high-level event at the UN General Assembly on the growing threat posed by drone attacks and pressing for stronger action to protect civilians.
Asked by: Baroness Chakrabarti (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to consult UK human rights and development organisations working on Sudan on the compatibility of UK’s support for United Arab Emirates’ candidacy for the post of United Nations Secretary General with UK’s commitments to international law and international humanitarian law.
Answered by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government recognises the important role of civil society organisations and has engaged with them to hear their views on the appointment of the next UN Secretary-General. The UK is taking a merit-based approach to the selection of the next Secretary-General to find the candidate best equipped to lead the UN in tackling our shared global challenges. We will not be publicly commenting on our position on individual candidates.
Asked by: Ben Obese-Jecty (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has held with the Attorney General on the UK response to Argentina’s pursuit of a provisional ruling from the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea regarding activities at the Sea Lion oil field in the North Falkland Basin as part of their Annex VII arbitration.
Answered by Uma Kumaran - Assistant Whip
The Law Officers' Convention applies to advice which may or may not have been given by the Law Officers, or requested of the Law Officers, and the Convention applies to the Hon Member's question.
The Law Officers' Convention can be found at paragraph 21.27 of Erskine May:
"By long-standing convention, observed by successive Governments, the fact of, and substance of advice from, the law officers of the Crown is not disclosed outside government. This convention is referred to in paragraph 5.14 of the Ministerial Code. The purpose of this convention is to enable the Government to obtain frank and full legal advice in confidence."
Asked by: Vikki Slade (Liberal Democrat - Mid Dorset and North Poole)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent steps he has taken with international counterparts to support increasing access into areas of South Sudan for the delivery of humanitarian aid.
Answered by Kirsty McNeill - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is deeply concerned by the growing humanitarian need in South Sudan, where nearly 10 million people require some form of humanitarian assistance. The situation is made only worse by constrained humanitarian access, attacks on humanitarian operations, displacement exacerbated by regional violence and climate shocks, and a lack of domestic investment in essential services. We are pressing, alongside regional and international partners, for the South Sudanese authorities to guarantee safe, unimpeded access into all areas of South Sudan, for de-escalation of violence, and for the provision of essential services to the South Sudanese people. This includes using our role as chair of the Humanitarian Donor Group in South Sudan which brings donors together to press these messages with the authorities. We also support the mandate of the UN Mission in South Sudan which is vital to establishing the security conditions for humanitarian operations and upholding humanitarian principles.
Asked by: Alicia Kearns (Conservative - Rutland and Stamford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has called in the Chinese Ambassador following allegations of transnational repression by United Work Front Department-linked organisations in the UK.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government is clear that any attempts by foreign Governments to coerce, intimidate or harm critics overseas, are unacceptable. Regardless of nationality, freedom of speech and other fundamental rights of all people in the UK are protected under our domestic law. Ministers and officials have made this position clear to the Chinese authorities.
Asked by: Lara Bird (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
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 international development projects in the Western Balkans to (a) facilitate peace and reconciliation, (b) strengthen democratic institutions, and (c) tackle corruption.
Answered by Uma Kumaran - Assistant Whip
The UK supports peace, democratic governance and the rule of law across the Western Balkans. We invested over £30 million last year in work to empower women and girls, tackle the drivers of conflict, and build resilience to hostile state threats. We also support anti-corruption bodies, political finance reform, and police and judicial institutions, including through targeted UK expertise and partnerships. We supported the Srebrenica Memorial Centre to establish a globally relevant centre for genocide research and prevention, as well as a regional hub for reconciliation and inter-ethnic dialogue. Through the International Security Fund, we provided £13 million last year to strengthen judicial and prosecutorial independence, parliamentary and regulatory oversight, election integrity and women's political participation. Our Foundations for Stability Programme will invest £10.5 million from 2026 to 2029 in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo, addressing conflict legacies, strengthening trust between communities and enabling civil society to work across ethnic and political divides.
Asked by: Lord Moynihan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs has granted a production licence to Navitas Petroleum as Operator for the Sea Lion Oil Field in the South Atlantic in 2026; and whether they sought an Environmental Impact Assessment to include “Scope 3” emissions when assessing the licence application.
Answered by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The power to issue production licences sit with the Falklands Islands Government and not the Foreign Secretary.
Asked by: Alison Bennett (Liberal Democrat - Mid Sussex)
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 impact of attacks on higher education institutions in Gaza on access to education in the Occupied Palestinian Territories; and what steps he is taking to protect, support and help rebuild Palestinian universities.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The conflict has caused catastrophic damage to Gaza's education system. The UK recognises the profound impact this has had on Palestinians' access to education.
The UK is supporting Gaza's early recovery and reconstruction, including through £10 million for the UN Horizon Fund, which supports a Palestinian-led, UN-coordinated approach to early recovery in critical sectors including education. We are also continuing to support eligible students from Gaza to take up places at UK universities.
Asked by: Lara Bird (Scottish National Party - Arbroath and Broughty Ferry)
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 UK's engagement with the Western Balkan countries through the Berlin Process.
Answered by Uma Kumaran - Assistant Whip
The UK supports the Berlin Process and its contribution to engagement with, and regional co-operation between, all six Western Balkans countries, including by chairing in 2025. Through the Berlin Process the UK has strengthened cooperation on addressing irregular migration and countering foreign information manipulation and disinformation as part of a security agenda. The UK has also used the Berlin Process to help promote regional reconciliation, economic integration/connectivity and greater collaboration on gender equality, including action against violence against women and girls and regional work on Women, Peace and Security.
Asked by: Desmond Swayne (Conservative - New Forest West)
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 implications for his policies on freedom of religion or belief of Kyrgyzstan’s new Religion Law and restrictions on unregistered religious activity and evangelism; if he has made representations to the Government of Kyrgyzstan on those restrictions; and whether his Department plans to have discussions with Aid to the Church in Need on full implementation of the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion under Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Answered by Uma Kumaran - Assistant Whip
I refer the Honourable Member to the answer given on 18 June 2026 to Question 10099. We have not discussed this specific situation with the Kyrgyz Government, but our Embassy in Bishkek continues to support respect for rights and freedoms in Kyrgyzstan and raises issues with the Government where appropriate.