Found: II: The Rt Hon Baroness Chapman of Darlington, Minister of State (International Development and Africa

Found: Baroness Chapman of Darlington Minister for International Development and Africa King Charles Street

Found: II: The Rt Hon Baroness Chapman of Darlington, Minister of State (International Development and Africa

Found: Director of Communications, ODI Global Q69–99 Tuesday 20 January 2026 The Rt Hon. the Baroness Chapman of Darlington

Found: Director of Communications, ODI Global Q69–99 Tuesday 20 January 2026 The Rt Hon. the Baroness Chapman of Darlington

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Chapman of Darlington on 8 April (HL15854), why has there been a delay in publishing the conflict-of-interest declaration form by Lord Mandelson, including the agreed mitigations relating to Global Counsel.

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

I refer the Hon Member to the Government's statement (Official Report, vol. 782, cols. 359-374) and release of information on 11 March, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The Government is working to ensure that Parliament's instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Chapman of Darlington on 8 April (HL15854), whether the conflict-of-interest declaration form by Lord Mandelson was shared with the Prime Minister's office as part of the appointment process.

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

I refer the Hon Member to the Government's statement (Official Report, vol. 782, cols. 359-374) and release of information on 11 March, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The Government is working to ensure that Parliament's instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Baroness Chapman of Darlington on 8 April (HL15854), whether the conflict-of-interest declaration form by Lord Mandelson was shared with ministers or their staff.

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

I refer the Hon Member to the Government's statement (Official Report, vol. 782, cols. 359-374) and release of information on 11 March, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The Government is working to ensure that Parliament's instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government further to the remarks by Baroness Chapman of Darlington on 23 March (HL Deb col 316GC), what representations they have made, if any, to the government of Pakistan about the filing of the independent medical report for Imran Khan; and what assessment they have made of the impact of any delay of that report on Imran Khan's eye health.

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

I refer the Noble Lord to the answer given on 6 March to Question HL14686.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Chapman of Darlington on 19 December (HL12164), what specific progress they have made in providing support through the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative to strengthen the prevention, documentation, and investigation of sexual violence in detention settings in Israel; what concrete assistance they have offered or delivered; and what measurable outcomes have been achieved.

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

The UK is deeply concerned by reports of mistreatment of Palestinian detainees by Israeli forces, including reports of sexual violence, and we have raised this issue with the Israeli government. The UK has been consistently clear that all detainees must be treated with dignity and in full accordance with international law, and that such allegations must be thoroughly investigated.

The UK supports the work of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) as the only organisation with the mandate, independence, and expertise to advocate for the humane treatment of detainees. Regular access to detainees is essential for the ICRC to fulfil its role, as enshrined in the 1949 Geneva Conventions. The UK continues to call on the Government of Israel to grant the ICRC immediate and unrestricted access to all detention facilities.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Chapman of Darlington on 19 December 2025 (HL12164), what progress they have made in securing unfettered and regular access for the International Committee of the Red Cross to detention facilities; what steps they have taken to this end; and what response has been received from the government of Israel.

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

The UK is deeply concerned by reports of mistreatment of Palestinian detainees by Israeli forces, including reports of sexual violence, and we have raised this issue with the Israeli government. The UK has been consistently clear that all detainees must be treated with dignity and in full accordance with international law, and that such allegations must be thoroughly investigated.

The UK supports the work of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) as the only organisation with the mandate, independence, and expertise to advocate for the humane treatment of detainees. Regular access to detainees is essential for the ICRC to fulfil its role, as enshrined in the 1949 Geneva Conventions. The UK continues to call on the Government of Israel to grant the ICRC immediate and unrestricted access to all detention facilities.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Chapman of Darlington on 9 March (HL14364), whether they will publish the arrangements and mitigations that were put in place in relation to Lord Mandelson's Global Counsel shareholdings when he was appointed Ambassador to the United States.

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

I refer the Noble Lord to the Government's statement (Official Report, vol. 782, cols. 359-374) and release of information on 11 March, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The Government is working to ensure that Parliament's instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Baroness Chapman of Darlington on 26 March (HL Deb col 1610) that "we are opposed to item 7 in the Human Rights Council", and the speech by the UK Human Rights Ambassador on 31 March in which she stated that there had been a change in the UK voting position, what is their current position on item 7; why they changed their voting position; and whether they have responded to the objections raised by the Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council.

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

The UK's longstanding and principled objection to Item 7 remains unchanged. Item 7 unfairly and uniquely singles out the State of Israel in comparison to other countries. The UK will continue to argue for the removal of Item 7 and to push for issues related to Israel-Palestine to be discussed under alternative agenda items.

We believe that engaging in negotiations, including abstaining where we judge appropriate, while making clear our principled opposition to Item 7, is more likely to secure UK influence over the texts. This is the approach that the UK maintained between 2006 and 2018 and is in line with the approach taken by many European partners.

UK Ministers regularly engage with the Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council, to discuss a wide range of issues of mutual interest and concern.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Chapman of Darlington on 27 November 2025 (HL11898), when they expect to appoint the Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict; what interim arrangements are in place pending that appointment; and how the functions of the role are currently being discharged.

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

I refer the Noble Baroness to the answers provided on 27 November 2025 to Questions HL11898 and on 9 March to Questions HL14650 and HL14651. We will provide further updates in this area in the usual way in due course, reflecting the Foreign Secretary's decision to make the protection of women and girls one of the core priorities of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's work over the coming years.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Chapman of Darlington on 17 March (HL15165), whether the Ponsonby Rule applies to memorandums of understanding they sign with (1) foreign governments, (2) local, regional or state-level government tiers of foreign countries, and (3) supranational organisations; what their definition of a treaty is in this context; and what their policy is on disclosing to Parliament international agreements with foreign bodies that do not have the status of a treaty.

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

The Ponsonby Rule, which was put onto a statutory footing by the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010, did not apply to Memoranda of Understanding. The Government uses the definition of a treaty set out in the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, which is consistent with the definition used in the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010. Memoranda of Understanding and other non-legally binding instruments are treated like other expressions of Government policy. Where they raise questions of public importance, it may be necessary to bring them to the attention of Parliament. There will be occasions where the sensitivity of content or the wishes of other signatories (for example, on defence matters) means that such arrangements must be kept confidential.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer from Baroness Chapman of Darlington on 2 April (HL15868), why an assessment of the environmental impacts of the government of Israel's attacks on oil facilities in Iran is not available; and when this will be published.

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

The Noble Lord will appreciate that the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) does not have unlimited resources, and FCDO officials therefore tend to focus their analytical work on the impact of the actions and policies for which the UK is responsible, not other countries.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Chapman of Darlington on 2 April (HL15869), why an assessment of the amount of land in Syria under the control of the government of Israel is not available; and when this will be provided.

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

The Noble Lord will appreciate that the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) does not have unlimited resources, and FCDO officials therefore tend to focus their analytical work on the impact of the actions and policies for which the UK is responsible, not other countries.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer from Baroness Chapman of Darlington on 2 April (HL15871), why an assessment of the environmental implications of attacks on Kharg Island is not available; and when this will be published.

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

The Noble Lord will appreciate that the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) does not have unlimited resources, and FCDO officials therefore tend to focus their analytical work on the impact of the actions and policies for which the UK is responsible, not other countries.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Chapman of Darlington on 8 April 2026 (HL15872), how they ensure consistency in the approach they take to the application of the definition of right to defend under international law.

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

I refer the Noble Lord to the answer he refers to in his question. Seeking and obtaining legal advice where necessary ensures that the Government adopts a consistent approach to international law, including in respect of issues relating to the use of force under international law.

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 March (HL15457), what assessment they have made of recent reports of attacks against Christians during Easter; and what support they are providing to the government of Nigeria to improve security and protect religious minorities.

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

This remains an ongoing priority for the UK, and we continue to support the Nigerian authorities in tackling violence against civilians of all religions in Nigeria as set out in my Written Ministerial Statement on 27 November 2025 (HLWS1104).

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Found: Hospitality (£) Yvette Cooper Nil Return Nil Return Nil Return Nil Return Nil Return Baroness Chapman of Darlington

Found: , Chocolate Received Nasser Bourita, Moroccan Foreign Minister 270 Held by department Baroness Chapman of Darlington