Asked by: Al Pinkerton (Liberal Democrat - Surrey Heath)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many consular assistance cases involving British citizens affected by enforcement of the Schengen 90/180-day rule were recorded in each calendar year since 2020.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Baroness Casey has made clear that one of the core purposes of the Big Conversation on Care that she is leading is to hear from people, families, carers, and others with direct, real-life experience of the current social care system, so she can reflect those experiences in her recommendations for reform. That will include individuals aged under 65 years old in need of care, and the individuals caring for them. The Government will wait for the outcome of Baroness Casey’s review before taking any final decisions.
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 the 10 Downing Street press release entitled UK government response to agreement between US and Russia: 9 October, published on 10 October 2026, what assessment he has made of the potential implications of the agreement for the level of support Ukraine requires from the UK and its other allies.
Answered by Uma Kumaran - Assistant Whip
I refer the Hon Member to the Prime Minister's Oral Statement, made on 12 October.
Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Lord Wood of Anfield on 22 September (HL3235) and 28 September (HL3236), why the policies of engagement, solutions and compromise outlined in relation to the situations in Cyprus and Morocco are not adopted in relation to Israel and the imposition of sanctions on West Bank settlements.
Answered by Lord Wood of Anfield - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK engages regularly with the Government of Israel and Palestine in support of a negotiated two-state solution. The contexts in Cyprus and Morocco are each unique scenarios that should be assessed and understood in their own contexts. Our announcement on 8 September is driven by our policy on illegal Israeli settlements and our support for the two-state solution.
Asked by: Alison Taylor (Labour - Paisley and Renfrewshire North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will include the use of the death penalty by member countries on the formal agenda for the forthcoming UK G20 summit.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is committed to the global abolition of the death penalty; this government firmly opposes the death penalty in all circumstances as a matter of principle. We continue to support international efforts to encourage all states to establish a moratorium on executions and move towards full abolition in line with global human rights commitments. Planning for the UK's G20 Presidency in 2027 is underway, and the government will set out its priorities in due course.
Asked by: Kim Johnson (Labour - Liverpool Riverside)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to his oral contribution of 8th September 2026, Official Report, Column 911, whether his Department will undertake a specific review process to consider whether a) extant and b) new applications for arms exports licences might materially contribute to the occupation.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We have conducted a full review of extant export licences going to Israel to assess whether they might make a material contribution to Israel's unlawful occupation. We have not suspended additional extant licences, at this stage because licences for items that might materially contribute to the occupation have already been suspended because of Israel's conduct in the Gaza conflict. However, we now have in effect an 'additional lock' on relevant licences. We will not now approve licences for items that might be used in Gaza or that would make a material contribution to the occupation.
Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Chapman of Darlington on 1 July (HL1363), what changes have resulted from the initiatives listed as milestones in the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative Strategy 2022–2025 in relation to (1) survivors’ access to support and reparations, (2) the investigation, prosecution and conviction of perpetrators, and (3) the adoption and implementation of relevant national laws and policies.
Answered by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government remains resolute in its commitment to preventing and responding to conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV), supporting survivors and tackling impunity.
Since July 2024, UK support has strengthened survivor-centred justice and national capacity to investigate and prosecute CRSV. Most recently, Ukraine adopted new Instructions for the pre-trial investigation of CRSV, developed with UK funding and expertise, which establish consistent, mandatory and survivor-centred standards across relevant Ukrainian investigating and prosecuting authorities.
UK support has helped thousands of survivors and children affected by CRSV to access redress, including through support to the Global Survivors Fund. It has contributed to vital legislative changes in Bosnia Herzegovina and Kosovo, and the opening of a judicial macro-case on sexual violence crimes in Colombia. We are also strengthening survivor participation in our work through our Survivor Advisory Group and Survivor Champions.
We are building on the progress of the 2022-25 Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI) Strategy, with a continued focus on prevention, survivor support, accountability and strengthening international action to tackle CRSV.
Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support (1) national, and (2) international, investigators and prosecutors to (a) investigate, and (b) charge, conflict-related rape and other sexual violence as torture offenders where the applicable legal elements are satisfied.
Answered by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government remains resolute in its commitment to preventing and responding to conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV), supporting survivors and tackling impunity.
Since July 2024, UK support has strengthened survivor-centred justice and national capacity to investigate and prosecute CRSV. Most recently, Ukraine adopted new Instructions for the pre-trial investigation of CRSV, developed with UK funding and expertise, which establish consistent, mandatory and survivor-centred standards across relevant Ukrainian investigating and prosecuting authorities.
UK support has helped thousands of survivors and children affected by CRSV to access redress, including through support to the Global Survivors Fund. It has contributed to vital legislative changes in Bosnia Herzegovina and Kosovo, and the opening of a judicial macro-case on sexual violence crimes in Colombia. We are also strengthening survivor participation in our work through our Survivor Advisory Group and Survivor Champions.
We are building on the progress of the 2022-25 Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI) Strategy, with a continued focus on prevention, survivor support, accountability and strengthening international action to tackle CRSV.
Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the outcomes from the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative since July 2024, and (2) how successful the Initiative has been in tackling conflict-related sexual violence.
Answered by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government remains resolute in its commitment to preventing and responding to conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV), supporting survivors and tackling impunity.
Since July 2024, UK support has strengthened survivor-centred justice and national capacity to investigate and prosecute CRSV. Most recently, Ukraine adopted new Instructions for the pre-trial investigation of CRSV, developed with UK funding and expertise, which establish consistent, mandatory and survivor-centred standards across relevant Ukrainian investigating and prosecuting authorities.
UK support has helped thousands of survivors and children affected by CRSV to access redress, including through support to the Global Survivors Fund. It has contributed to vital legislative changes in Bosnia Herzegovina and Kosovo, and the opening of a judicial macro-case on sexual violence crimes in Colombia. We are also strengthening survivor participation in our work through our Survivor Advisory Group and Survivor Champions.
We are building on the progress of the 2022-25 Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI) Strategy, with a continued focus on prevention, survivor support, accountability and strengthening international action to tackle CRSV.
Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will commission an updated assessment of Israel’s compliance with international humanitarian law.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK considers the Government of Israel's commitment and capability to comply with international humanitarian law (IHL) in order to comply with our export licensing obligations. The Foreign Secretary is kept regularly updated on assessments. Our suspension of multiple export licences that might be used by the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) in Gaza remains fully in place as does our rejection of multiple new applications. We continue to raise concerns regarding compliance with IHL with the Government of Israel at all levels.
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many civil servants have left their jobs following the reshuffle in summer 2026 at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
Answered by Lord Wood of Anfield - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Between 1st June 2026 and 31st August 2026, 375 civil servants left the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) as part of the FCDO 2030 restructure.
In terms of how many civil servants left the FCDO following the Ministerial reshuffle in July 2026, the Cabinet Office routinely publishes a breakdown of special advisers by department as part of the Annual Report on Special Advisers.