Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Brazil to encourage the protection of the rights and livelihoods of indigenous and traditional peoples.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

The UK is committed to supporting Indigenous Peoples and local communities (IPLCs) in Brazil to prevent illegal deforestation. At COP26, we helped mobilise the Forest Tenure Pledge to advance IPLC land and resource rights and we will support its next phase at COP30. We support IPLCs across the Amazon through our Official Development Assistance (ODA) programmes and initiatives. Through the Amazon Catalyst for Forest Communities (AMCAT) programme, we are working in Brazil to strengthen land tenure for IPLCs and Afro-descendants. We also support the REDD Early Movers (REM) programme in the Brazilian States, Mato Grosso and Acre, which includes dedicated support for Indigenous Territories. Additionally, we work with the Brazilian Government through the Intergovernmental Forest Tenure Group and the Forest, Climate and Land Partnership (FCLP) to advance inclusive land tenure reforms.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what action they are taking, through aid or other support, to ensure the success of efforts to prevent illegal and indiscriminate deforestation in areas in Brazil occupied by indigenous and traditional peoples.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

The UK is committed to supporting Indigenous Peoples and local communities (IPLCs) in Brazil to prevent illegal deforestation. At COP26, we helped mobilise the Forest Tenure Pledge to advance IPLC land and resource rights and we will support its next phase at COP30. We support IPLCs across the Amazon through our Official Development Assistance (ODA) programmes and initiatives. Through the Amazon Catalyst for Forest Communities (AMCAT) programme, we are working in Brazil to strengthen land tenure for IPLCs and Afro-descendants. We also support the REDD Early Movers (REM) programme in the Brazilian States, Mato Grosso and Acre, which includes dedicated support for Indigenous Territories. Additionally, we work with the Brazilian Government through the Intergovernmental Forest Tenure Group and the Forest, Climate and Land Partnership (FCLP) to advance inclusive land tenure reforms.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure equitable distribution of the gonorrhoea vaccine to economically and socially disadvantaged communities, including minority communities and women from minority communities.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The routine vaccination programme for gonorrhoea prevention is targeted towards gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM), as this group is disproportionately affected by gonorrhoea infection, accounting for nearly half of all diagnoses in England.

The Government recognises that gonorrhoea and its complications can also disproportionately affect minority groups, including women from ethnic minority communities, particularly in urban and more deprived areas, where longstanding inequalities in sexually transmitted infection rates persist.

Vaccination is offered nationally through sexual health services (SHSs), which are skilled in identifying individuals who should be vaccinated, trusted by eligible cohorts, and understand the local populations they serve. SHSs can perform individual risk assessments to identify those at equivalent risk of gonorrhoea infection to GBMSM and offer vaccination where appropriate. Many services also undertake innovative and effective outreach programmes to reach those less able to access mainstream services.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation continues to keep all vaccination programmes under review as further evidence and epidemiological data emerge. Anyone concerned about their own risk should consult their local sexual health clinic for tailored advice and testing.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the humanitarian situation in Myanmar following the earthquake on 28 March, the continuing conflict, and the cuts in US and other international aid; and what action they are taking to respond to the humanitarian needs in that country.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

The UK has committed £25 million in life-saving support for people affected by the earthquake in Myanmar. In the six months since the earthquake, UK-funded assistance including lifesaving aid, has reached over one million people, 56 per cent of whom are women and girls, and 154 clinics have been set up with UK funding. Overcoming challenges regarding humanitarian access, the UK continues to deliver aid to the hardest hit areas, directing over 65 per cent of the funding to local organisations on the ground in Myanmar. The UK will continue to support Myanmar with official development assistance (ODA) in the current financial year 2025 to 2026 set to be over £80 million.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the environmental situation in Myanmar on human rights in that country; and what assessment they have made of the impact of the demand for rare earths from Myanmar on the conflict and human rights and humanitarian crisis in that country.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

The UK is concerned by reports of "in-situ leaching" of rare earths in Myanmar, which is associated with considerable environmental damage locally and further afield as leaching chemicals enter river systems. Reports of forced displacement around mining operations are equally concerning. All actors in Myanmar have a responsibility to respect human rights, including by protecting the environment. Our Overseas Business Risk Guidance makes clear that UK businesses procuring natural resources in Myanmar should conduct thorough supply chain due diligence to ensure that their intended activities do not contravene sanctions prohibitions and restrictions and that they are not supporting the military or its associated businesses. The UK has sanctioned a number of State Owned Entities involved in extractive industries in Myanmar including Myanmar Mining Enterprise 1 and 2 and the Myanmar Timber Enterprise.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to provide financial and technical support to the National Unity Government, ethnic minorities and civil society in Myanmar, including on international human rights law and standards and other governance-related matters.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

The UK continues to engage with a range of opposition stakeholders, including the National Unity Government, Myanmar diaspora, and civil society organisations. UK Aid supports civil society efforts to promote peace and stability in Myanmar, with over 65 per cent of funding directed to local organisations, including faith and education groups. The UK will continue to provide support on justice, accountability, Freedom of Religion and Belief (FoRB) and capacity building on human rights and governance.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to the potential benefits of the Commonwealth officially recognising Palestine as a state, and what consideration they have given to Palestine joining the Commonwealth as a member.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

All new applications for Commonwealth membership are considered on their merits, and decided by consensus by all member states.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of micronutrient deficiencies in the English diet, including minerals; and what discussions they have had, or plan to have, with the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board about consideration of the nutritional quality of varieties in the recommended lists for cereals and oilseeds, with regard to micronutrients.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Department of Health and Social Care’s National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) provides information on dietary intakes of micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) and blood markers of nutritional status for adults and children. The UK Scientific Advisory Committee for Nutrition has conducted risk assessments on the adequacy of specific micronutrients in the UK diet and made recommendations.

Defra's genetic improvement network initiative supports breeding research which identifies beneficial genetic traits to improve productivity, sustainability and resilience of UK crops including wheat varieties and oilseed rape. No research has been undertaken on micronutrients.

Defra engages regularly with the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) on a range of agricultural matters. However, these discussions have not included the consideration of micronutrient content in relation to the Recommended List of cereal and oilseed varieties.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Baroness Merron on 21 October (HL Deb col 125 GC), what is the expected timetable for the reforms to the General Medical Council’s governing legislation.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government is committed to modernising the regulatory frameworks for all healthcare professionals in the United Kingdom.

As a first step, we aim to consult on secondary legislation to modernise the General Medical Council’s (GMC) regulatory framework in early 2026 and to lay this legislation before Parliament in the same year.

As part of the consultation, we will be consulting on the professional titles which should be protected in law within the GMC’s regulatory framework.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking, in particular through diplomatic representations and support for scientific information sharing, to prevent the use internationally of paraquat and similar toxic herbicides banned in the UK.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

British businesses can only export Paraquat under the GB Prior Informed Consent (PIC) regulatory regime. GB companies intending to export Paraquat must notify and exchange information with the importing country via the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the explicit consent of the importing country is required before export can take place. This process allows the importing countries to make informed decisions on the import, handling and safe use.

The UK also works internationally to manage pesticides safely. We support the listing of Paraquat under the Rotterdam Convention, a multilateral treaty the UK is party to that promotes shared responsibilities and information sharing in relation to the international trade of hazardous chemicals. We recently supported the establishment of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste and Pollution which will support scientific information sharing to enhance global decision making on the management of chemicals and pesticides.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government how the responsible business conduct review will reflect the interconnection between human rights, labour rights and environmental harms as aspects of responsible business conduct, and address impacts across the full value chain, both domestically and internationally.

Answered by Lord Stockwood - Minister of State (HM Treasury)

This is precisely what the review is looking at. Human rights, labour rights and environmental harms are inherently interconnected. The responsible business conduct review is considering the effectiveness of the UK’s current regime and alternative measures to support responsible business practices across UK and global value chains.

The review is focused on a range of issues related to responsible business conduct, including human rights, labour rights and environmental harms. Recognising the interconnections between these harms is a core principle of the review.

Found: I thank the noble Baroness Hollins, Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick, Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle