Asked by: Baroness Anelay of St Johns (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the World Food Programme and Food and Agriculture Organization for the United Nations joint report Hunger Hotspots: FAO-WFP early warnings on acute food insecurity, published on 5 June, what assessment they have made of the project in that report that the La Niña weather phenomenon is expected to exacerbate acute hunger in many regions; and what assistance they are providing to the countries and territories which are most impacted.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The UK is closely monitoring the potential development of La Niña conditions and in particular the risk of food security impacts in the Horn of Africa and Southern Africa.
The UK is a committed humanitarian donor, channelling over £277 million in Humanitarian Aid to the Africa region in 2023 and is already operating humanitarian programmes in those countries of concern highlighted in the Hunger Hotspots report. Those programmes are standing-by to adapt as required. On 22 August, Minister Dodds, Minister for Development, announced an additional £15 million of vital assistance to Sudan, South Sudan and Chad.
Asked by: Baroness Anelay of St Johns (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Lord Collins of Highbury on 13 September (HL Deb cols 1811–16), what steps are they taking, together with the African Union, United Nations and Intergovernmental Authority on Development, to support the development of a civilian protection mission in Sudan.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
We have repeatedly used our position as penholder at the UN Security Council (UNSC) to call for a ceasefire, and for all warring parties to protect civilians in Sudan. On 13 June, the UNSC adopted UK-led resolution 2736 demanding a halt to the Rapid Support Forces' siege of El Fasher and requested the Secretary-General to provide recommendations on the protection of civilians. The UK is engaging with the UN on the development of those recommendations which will be released in October ahead of the next 120-day meeting on Sudan, just ahead of our Presidency of the UNSC in November. We will continue to work alongside our international partners, including those in the region, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the African Union (AU) to urge the warring parties to engage constructively to secure a ceasefire, protect civilians and open up humanitarian access.
Asked by: Baroness Anelay of St Johns (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to engage in diplomacy that specifically highlights the connection between conflict and hunger, as acknowledged in United Nations Security Council Resolution 2417 in 2018 and the G7 famine prevention and humanitarian crises compact in 2021.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The UK champions UN Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 2417 which enables reporting and early warnings to the UN Security Council when parties to conflict are causing food insecurity and famine risk, including by blocking access to humanitarian support and destroying agriculture and food and water production systems. We use our seat at the Security Council to implement 2417 and urge swift action when such warnings are submitted. We did this when formal warnings were issued earlier this year on Gaza and Sudan. On 13 June, the UK penned UNSCR 2736 on Sudan, with specific calls to warring parties to withdraw fighters to enable agricultural activities throughout the planting season.
Asked by: Baroness Anelay of St Johns (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Lord Collins of Highbury on 13 September 2024 (HL Deb cols 1811–16), what steps they are taking (1) to pursue accountability for ongoing atrocities and other violations of international human rights law in Sudan; (2) to support the International Criminal Court (ICC) with its ongoing Darfur investigations; and (3) to ensure that the ICC has the financial resources needed in its regular budget to carry out its mandate (a) in Darfur and (b) across its docket.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
In October 2023, the Human Rights Council adopted the UK-led resolution to establish an international and Independent Fact-Finding Mission to investigate evidence of human rights abuses and violations in Sudan. Following publication of its first report in September, the UK co-led renewal on 9 October 2024 of the Fact-Finding Mission's mandate for a further year, with the Resolution passing by a higher vote margin this year. The UK continues to support the work of the Centre for Information Resilience (CIR) to gather open-source evidence on the ongoing fighting, with a view to supporting future accountability efforts. We continue to support the International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor's ongoing work to investigate the allegations of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Darfur. Our practical support to the ICC more broadly includes witness protection; sentence enforcement; commitment to the ICC's reform process; and work to ensure that the Court has the resources it needs to operate effectively.
Asked by: Baroness Anelay of St Johns (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made in securing agreement at the United Nations Human Rights Council for the resolution tabled by the UK which seeks, in the words of the UK's Human Rights Ambassador, to "keep UN resources focused on the human rights situation, most importantly for a fact-finding mission" and an "independent international mechanism to document and monitor abuses" in Sudan.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The UK uses its position as penholder at the UN Security Council and leader of the Core Group on Sudan at the UN Human Rights Council to keep a spotlight on, and take actions in response to, the human rights situation in Sudan. In October 2023, the Human Right Council adopted the UK-led Resolution to establish an international and independent Fact-Finding Mission to investigate evidence of human rights abuses and violations. Following publication of its first report in September, the UK co-led renewal on 9 October 2024 of the Fact-Finding Mission's mandate for a further year, with the Resolution passing by a higher vote margin this year.
Asked by: Baroness Anelay of St Johns (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government on what basis they decided to suspend Chevening scholarships for Afghan students; and what plans they have to review this decision and to reinstate these scholarships.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
No final decisions have been taken for the Afghanistan Chevening programme for academic year 2025/26. We will provide an update on our website in due course.
Asked by: Baroness Anelay of St Johns (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support initiatives to close the financing gap for food security and nutrition, further to the report The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2024, published in July by the World Food Programme, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, UNICEF and the World Health Organisation; and what assessment they have made of the projection that 582 million people will be chronically food insecure by 2030.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
We are committed to addressing global food insecurity and malnutrition. This includes the financing gap identified in the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report. We work to unlock climate finance, push multilateral development banks to stretch their balance sheets, provide technical assistance and finance to bring in more private sector investment, and support the reform of subsidies for more sustainable agriculture. This must be done in partnership. We will join the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty, to accelerate action and unlock finance, and support the G7 Apulia Food Systems Initiative which seeks innovative financing solutions.
Asked by: Baroness Anelay of St Johns (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to take forward their commitment to the UN on 30 July that they would welcome discussion and feedback from other States Parties and from civil society on their National Implementation Report regarding the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The UK strives for the highest possible transparency in our nuclear doctrines, policies, and capabilities, including through our National Implementation Report mandated by the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). As in past NPT review cycles, the UK intends to submit and make public its draft National Implementation Report at the third session of the NPT Preparatory Committee in 2025. We welcome feedback and discussion with other States Parties and civil society to ensure our final report to the Review Conference in 2026 is as useful as possible, including by holding a consultation exercise facilitated by Wilton Park.
Asked by: Baroness Anelay of St Johns (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government when they plan to appoint a Prime Minister’s Special Representative for Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
There are more countries in the world today engaged in conflict than at any time since World War II. Preventing conflict and empowering women and girls is critical to the delivery of the government's missions. We are working to prevent and respond to conflict-related sexual violence, including as vice chair of the International Alliance on PSVI (Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict) and by supporting thousands of survivors around the world.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Ministers will take decisions on envoys in due course and appointments of any new envoys will be announced publicly.
Asked by: Baroness Anelay of St Johns (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support the UK–Brazil Partnership on Green and Inclusive Growth announced on 24 May; and whether they endorse the initial five main pillars of the agreement relating to climate, forests, agriculture, energy and finance.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK government wants to strengthen our long-standing cooperation with Brazil on climate, energy, and nature. We are proud to be the third biggest contributor of climate finance to Brazil and are boosting our relationships with Brazilian ministers and officials. Last month, the Secretary of State for Energy and Net Zero visited Brazil and underlined the UK's ongoing commitment to work with the Brazilian government to realise our shared ambition on climate mitigation, finance, deforestation, and energy transition. The subsequent joint statement reaffirmed our collective desire to strengthen collaboration, including under the existing UK-Brazil Partnership for Green and Inclusive Growth and committed us to develop a Bilateral Strategic Dialogue on Climate.