Asked by: Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what recent discussions they have had with the government of Pakistan on the imprisonment of Imran Khan.
Answered by Lord Wood of Anfield - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
While Pakistan's judicial processes are a domestic matter, we are clear that the Pakistani authorities need to respect fundamental freedoms, including the right to a fair trial, due process, humane detention and access to appropriate medical treatment. This applies to Imran Khan as it does to all Pakistan's citizens. The Minister for the Middle East met Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Dar on 27 August to discuss a wide range of issues, including matters relating to Imran Khan.
Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the autopsy reports regarding the deaths of Andrew Bagshaw and Christopher Parry in Ukraine in January 2023; and what steps they are taking to further investigate their deaths.
Answered by Lord Wood of Anfield - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Noble Lord to the answer provided on 14 May 2025 in response to Question HL6994. Which for ease has been reproduced below:
The Office of the Prosecutor General in Ukraine has already recorded over 160,000 allegations of war crimes committed since Russia's barbaric invasion in February 2022. The majority of these will be investigated by Ukraine and where appropriate tried in Ukrainian courts. The UK has provided over £11.3 million in funding to support Ukraine's domestic accountability efforts to ensure allegations of war crimes can be fully and fairly investigated, by independent, effective, and robust legal mechanisms. Investigations into the deaths of Andrew Bagshaw and Chris Parry are a matter for the Ukrainian authorities, and we would respond to any requests for UK support through the usual judicial co-operation channels. It would not be appropriate to comment on any such requests or cooperation. FCDO officials have been in contact with both men’s families, but for GDPR reasons it wouldn’t be appropriate to provide a running commentary on this.
Asked by: Charlie Dewhirst (Conservative - Bridlington and The Wolds)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department’s (a) Permanent Secretary and (b) Ministers have had correspondence with Flint Global since July 2024.
Answered by Uma Kumaran - Assistant Whip
I can confirm that the Permanent Under-Secretary and the Minister of State, Stephen Doughty, have had correspondence with Flint Global in the course of routine engagement.
Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - 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 31 October 2025 (HL10877), whether they still regard ending the Palestinian Authority's payments to prisoners and to the families of those killed while carrying out attacks against Israelis as a precondition for full diplomatic relations with a Palestinian state; and what assessment they have made of the statement made by a released Palestinian prisoner, Khaled Abu Amsha, on official Palestinian Authority television that ending such payments would undermine recruitment to future attacks against Israelis.
Answered by Lord Wood of Anfield - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
A reformed Palestinian Authority (PA) is essential to long-term stability in the region and progressing towards a two-state solution. We welcome the Palestinian Authority's commitment, underlined in the UK-PA Memorandum of Understanding, to reform prisoner payments so that welfare payments are based on needs and not linked to acts of violence. The audit has been completed. We await full publication of the audit so that this can be verified.
Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - 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 31 October 2025 (HL10877), what conditions relating to the cessation of the Palestinian Authority's payments to prisoners and to the families of those killed while carrying out attacks against Israelis are attached to (1) the £101 million support package provided under the UK–Palestinian Authority Memorandum of Understanding on Strategic Cooperation of 28 April 2025, and (2) the recognition of a Palestinian state; and what assessment they have made of whether those conditions have been met.
Answered by Lord Wood of Anfield - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
A reformed Palestinian Authority (PA) is essential to long-term stability in the region and progressing towards a two-state solution. We welcome the Palestinian Authority's commitment, underlined in the UK-PA Memorandum of Understanding, to reform prisoner payments so that welfare payments are based on needs and not linked to acts of violence. The audit has been completed. We await full publication of the audit so that this can be verified.
Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - 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 31 October 2025 (HL10877), what assessment they have made of the Palestinian Central Elections Commission's ruling that Palestinian Authority employees must resign their posts and forfeit their salary to stand as candidates in local elections, while those receiving payments as prisoners or as wounded persons are exempt from that requirement and may continue receiving those payments while standing for and holding public office.
Answered by Lord Wood of Anfield - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
A reformed Palestinian Authority (PA) is essential to long-term stability in the region and progressing towards a two-state solution. We welcome the Palestinian Authority's commitment, underlined in the UK-PA Memorandum of Understanding, to reform prisoner payments so that welfare payments are based on needs and not linked to acts of violence. The audit has been completed. We await full publication of the audit so that this can be verified.
Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - 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 31 October 2025 (HL10877), what assessment they have made of the statement by the Fatah spokesman in the Gaza Strip, Mundhir Al-Hayek, that the Palestinian Authority has not stopped paying salaries to prisoners and to the families of those killed while carrying out attacks against Israelis, and that these payments are being routed to recipients in Gaza through arrangements involving powers of attorney.
Answered by Lord Wood of Anfield - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
A reformed Palestinian Authority (PA) is essential to long-term stability in the region and progressing towards a two-state solution. We welcome the Palestinian Authority's commitment, underlined in the UK-PA Memorandum of Understanding, to reform prisoner payments so that welfare payments are based on needs and not linked to acts of violence. The audit has been completed. We await full publication of the audit so that this can be verified.
Asked by: Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment, if any, they have made of the implication of holding Imran Khan at a time of poor health on (1) social stability in Pakistan, and (2) the security of the wider region.
Answered by Lord Wood of Anfield - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
While Pakistan's judicial processes are a domestic matter, we are clear that the Pakistani authorities need to respect fundamental freedoms, including the right to a fair trial, due process, humane detention and access to appropriate medical treatment. This applies to Imran Khan as it does to all Pakistan's citizens. We have raised these principles privately with the Government of Pakistan at suitable opportunities and will continue to do so. The Minister for the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan met Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Dar on 27 August to discuss a wide range of issues, including matters relating to Imran Khan.
Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effect of (1) the measures taken by the government of Israel in response to the sanctions they imposed on settlements in the West Bank, and (2) those sanctions on Palestinian workers in the settlements.
Answered by Lord Wood of Anfield - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The response of the Government of Israel to the sanctions announced on 8 September by the Foreign Secretary is deeply regrettable. The measures taken will target illegal settlement activity, violence and extremism. Palestinian businesses will continue to benefit from preferential trade arrangements. Our focus is on ensuring we can continue our diplomatic work and support efforts towards a two-state solution. The UK will continue acting in line with our values, and keeps all our sanctions regimes and their impact and effectiveness under review. We will update the House further on these measures.
Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - 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 31 October 2025 (HL10875), whether they will now answer the question put, namely who they recognise as the government of Palestine and where it is located.
Answered by Lord Wood of Anfield - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK formally recognised the State of Palestine on 21 September 2025. The UK recognises Palestinian statehood over provisional borders, based on the 1967 lines subject to agreed land swaps, to be finalised through future negotiations. The UK remains of the firm view that the two-state solution is the best means to secure lasting peace, security and prosperity for both Israelis and Palestinians.