Asked by: Alice Macdonald (Labour (Co-op) - Norwich North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure there is a joined-up response by his Department to organised transnational efforts to roll back gender equality, human rights and democratic freedoms.
Answered by Kirsty McNeill - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is committed to defending gender equality, human rights and democratic freedoms against growing global rollback. Across the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, we are using our diplomatic and development levers to defend established international commitments, build coalitions with partners and embed gender equality and support for rights and democracy, across our diplomacy, development, security and trade work.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
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 UK calls for fundamental reset of global financial system for developing countries, published on 14 October 2026, what assessment his Department has made of the expected economic and development returns to the UK from the proposed reforms, including to trade, investment and supply chain, over the next five financial years.
Answered by Kirsty McNeill - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The reforms highlighted under the development finance priorities are in the UK's interests. Reform means greater global economic stability and growth and investment opportunities for UK businesses and investors.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
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 UK calls for fundamental reset of global financial system for developing countries, published on 14 October 2026, what estimate his Department has made of the expected financial returns for the public purse from the investment in climate insurance in low-income countries.
Answered by Kirsty McNeill - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The reforms highlighted under the development finance priorities are in the UK's interests. Reform means greater global economic stability and growth and investment opportunities for UK businesses and investors.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, (1) for which British Overseas Territories the Government has established formal national security strategies; and (2) what plans it has to review those strategies to address risks arising from natural disasters and other emergencies.
Answered by Uma Kumaran - Assistant Whip
The UK Government works in close partnership with British Overseas Territory Governments to support national security, resilience and preparedness for natural disasters and other emergencies. As Minister for the Overseas Territories, I recently visited the Turks and Caicos Islands and Bermuda, where I met key security agencies and I am in regular discussions with the Home Office and Ministry of Defence in relation to security matters related to the UK and our Overseas Territories.
Asked by: Adam Jogee (Labour - Newcastle-under-Lyme)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, further to the answer to of 15 September 2026 to Question 30238, whether His Majesty's Government raised the arrest of the Zambian Opposition Leader following the results Zambian General Election of August 2026, with a) their counterparts in Lusaka or b) the Zambian High Commission in the United Kingdom.
Answered by Kirsty McNeill - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Further to my Written Answers of 12 October, our High Commission in Lusaka engages frequently with the Zambian government, emphasising the importance of transparency and following due process, including in relation to the recent detentions of opposition figures.
Asked by: Lord Robertson of Port Ellen (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, whether they plan to accelerate the Strategic Partnership Agreement with Kosovo in light of the election of a new President of Kosovo and the effect of that on the stability of Kosovo's institutions.
Answered by Lord Wood of Anfield - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK congratulates Kosovo's new President, Justina Shiroka Pula, on her election. We welcome progress towards greater political stability in Kosovo and encourage political leaders to work constructively to strengthen institutions and deliver effective governance. This will help advance Kosovo's Euro-Atlantic aspirations and create conditions for long-term economic growth.
The UK and Kosovo are close partners, with strong cooperation across defence, security, migration, serious organised crime and growing economic ties. We continue to engage closely with Kosovo on opportunities to deepen this cooperation and stand ready to explore further partnership across areas of shared interest.
Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
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 merits of deploying UK armed forces as a peacekeeping force in Gaza and the West Bank.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK voted in favour of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2803, which authorised the establishment of a temporary International Stabilisation Force in Gaza. We, alongside UK armed forces, worked closely with partners to support transitional security arrangements that can sustain the ceasefire, protect civilians and support long-term stability. Furthermore, the UK has also supported the development of Palestinian security capacity through the British Support Team in Ramallah.
Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - South Shropshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how the UK is holding states accountable for disruptive cyber operations against democratic institutions.
Answered by Uma Kumaran - Assistant Whip
The UK and its allies have a wide range of levers available to respond to malicious cyber activity and deter disruptive cyber operations against democratic institutions. Depending on the context, these can involve measures such as cyber resilience, law enforcement action, sanctions, and diplomatic intervention. The UK Government has publicly attributed those responsible for a range of destructive, disruptive, and destabilising cyber-attacks, including actors in North Korea, China, Russia, and Iran.
The UK's deterrence strategy forms part of our wider objective to define responsible state behaviour in cyberspace. The UK recognises states' right to develop sovereign offensive cyber abilities, alongside the obligation to ensure that use is necessary, proportionate, and governed in line with international law.
Asked by: Alice Macdonald (Labour (Co-op) - Norwich North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he plans to make the 2027 Global Summit on Violence Against Women and Girls a key milestone of the UK’s G20 presidency; and when the Summit will be held.
Answered by Uma Kumaran - Assistant Whip
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office will host a global summit on ending violence against women and girls next year, when the UK assumes the chair of the G20. The Summit will be designed to bring together governments, businesses, civil society and survivors to turn momentum into lasting change. It will take place in the first half of 2027, with the exact date to be announced in due course.
Asked by: Dan Norris (Independent - North East Somerset and Hanham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions were held with President Trump at the G7 Summit on support for Ukraine.
Answered by Uma Kumaran - Assistant Whip
Leaders discussed support for Ukraine during the G7 Summit in June. The US, alongside the UK and G7 partners, published a statement in support for Ukraine, where leaders agreed to increase the delivery of air defence capacities, additional systems and interceptors, and long-range capabilities. The full statement can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/g7-leaders-statement-on-geopolitical-issues-17-june-2026.