Question

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Baroness Smith of Malvern on 24 April (HL Deb col 773), what assessment they have made of the application in Northern Ireland of the Supreme Court judgment in For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers [2025] UKSC 16.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities)

Equal opportunities and anti-discrimination law remain devolved matters in Northern Ireland, and the extent of the Equality Act 2010 as set out in law remains unchanged following this judgment.

We expect those affected by the judgment to comply with this ruling and the Equality Act 2010, together with any other relevant legislation and guidance. As they always have, courts across the UK should continue to give full and proper regard to the jurisprudence from higher courts.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government how much was paid for membership to (1) the United Nations, (2) the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, and (3) the Council of Europe, in each of the past two years; and what percentage of those organisations' costs the UK contributed in each of the past two years.

Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK is one of the top contributors to the UN regular budget, contributing USD 137 million (~3.991 per cent of the USD 3.72 billion total) in 2025. In 2024, the UK was responsible for 4.375 per cent of the Regular Budget (USD 137.8 million). Taken together with contributions to the UN Peacekeeping budget, the UK has the 5th highest assessed contribution among Member States. The UK is also one of the four principal financial contributors the Council of Europe. In 2025, the UK contributed EUR 48 million, up from EUR 45 million in 2024. This represents 11.7 per cent of the Council's (approximately) EUR 414.4 million budget for Member States' obligatory contributions. The UK's contribution to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) has remained stable across 2024 and 2025 at a 10.3 per cent share, equivalent to EUR 14,276,010.40.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government how much they contributed to the BBC World Service in each of the past two years; and what percentage of that organisation's cost they contributed in each of the past two years.

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

In Financial Year 2023/2024, the government contribution to the World Service was £104.4 million. The Licence Fee contribution was £265 million, so we provided 28.3 per cent of the budget. In 2024-2025, the government provided £104.4 million of the budget, and in 2025-2026 we will provide £137 million - an uplift of over 31 per cent. The BBC will not publish the final Licence Fee contribution and total World Service budget for 2024/2025 until the summer, so we cannot provide the percentage calculation.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the finding in the United Nations document Moving Forward, Whilst Looking Back: Reflections on the Effective Implementation of the Genocide Convention, published in 2024, that the signatories of the Genocide Convention failed to look beyond geopolitical factors with regard to the protection needs of the Isaaq people; and what steps they will take to work with international partners to prevent similar failings in future.

Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK has made note of the findings of the United Nations document Moving Forward, Whilst Looking Back: Reflections on the Effective Implementation of the Genocide Convention. As a party to the Convention, the UK is fully committed to the prevention and punishment of genocide under the Convention. To fulfil its duty to prevent under the Genocide Convention, the Government adopts a consolidated, whole-of-government effort, using our diplomatic, development, defence and law enforcement capabilities, to help find pathways to global peace and stability. Where we see immediate risks of atrocities, we take diplomatic steps to highlight our concerns: bilaterally with the countries concerned and with regional neighbours, and multilaterally through international organisations.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many civil cases have been lodged with the Northern Ireland Office in relation to the 2020 Supreme Court decision that the signing of interim custody orders by a Minister or official other than a Secretary of State was unlawful; when were the interim custody orders signed; how many of the claimants are deceased; how many cases have been determined; and at what cost they were determined.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Approximately 100 civil damages claims relating to Interim Custody Orders signed by a Minister or official other than the Secretary of State have been lodged with the Northern Ireland Office since the decision of the Supreme Court in 2020. Around a tenth of these have been brought on behalf of an individual who is deceased. The relevant date period for an ICO claim relating to the signing of an order by a Minister or official other than a Secretary of State is between 24 March 1972 and 5 December 1975. None of the claims have yet been determined by a judge.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report by Chris Mburu Past Human Rights Abuses in Somalia: Report of a Preliminary Study Conducted for the United Nations, published in 2002; and what assessment they have made of its recommendations following the Isaaq genocide.

Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Government is aware of the findings of the report 'Past Human Rights Abuses in Somalia: Report of a Preliminary Study Conducted for the United Nations', by Chris Mburu, published in 2002. The UK is committed to improving respect for human rights in Somalia, including Somaliland, which is crucial to building a more secure, democratic and prosperous Somalia. It is the long-standing policy of the British Government that any judgement as to whether genocide has occurred is a matter for a competent national or international court, rather than for governments or non-judicial bodies.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the BBC about making access to its television channels by residents of the Republic of Ireland subject to subscription payment.

Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Government does not hold information about the number of people who have access to free BBC channels from the Republic of Ireland.

The Government has not had discussions with the BBC about making access to its television channels by residents of the Republic of Ireland subject to subscription payment. With regard to the ongoing distribution of UK television services in the Republic of Ireland, the Government remains committed to the relevant provisions set out in the Good Friday Agreement and 2010 Memorandum of Understanding.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many people in the Republic of Ireland have access to free BBC television channels.

Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Government does not hold information about the number of people who have access to free BBC channels from the Republic of Ireland.

The Government has not had discussions with the BBC about making access to its television channels by residents of the Republic of Ireland subject to subscription payment. With regard to the ongoing distribution of UK television services in the Republic of Ireland, the Government remains committed to the relevant provisions set out in the Good Friday Agreement and 2010 Memorandum of Understanding.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government on what grounds they have removed sanctions against Owen Ncube, Isaac Moyo, Godwin Matanga, Anselem Sanyatwe and Zimbabwe Defence Industries.

Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK regularly reviews its sanctions designations. The four individuals removed from the UK Sanctions list are no longer in the positions held when they were designated in 2021. The revocations follow a similar move from the European Union in February 2025, when they delisted their last remaining entity (ZDI) whilst renewing their existing Zimbabwe sanctions framework. The US also removed a number of designations in March 2024.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many asylum seekers and refugees have been dispersed by the Home Office to Northern Ireland in each of the past five years, and how many from Syria, Afghanistan, Hong Kong and Ukraine in the relevant official schemes.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

The number of supported asylum seekers and refugees in Northern Ireland in each of the past five years were as follows:

Please note that Asylum seekers are accommodated in Northern Ireland only if they apply for asylum there. These figures are a snapshot as at 31 March for the last 5 years.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, following the UK–Morocco Joint Communiqué of 1 June and the agreement to internal autonomy for the Western Sahara, whether they now recognise Moroccan sovereignty over the territory; and whether that is compatible with their vote for United Nations Security Council Resolution 1754 which endorsed the right of self-determination for the people of Western Sahara.

Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

On 1 June, the Foreign Secretary endorsed Morocco's autonomy proposal as the most credible, viable and pragmatic basis for a lasting resolution of the Western Sahara conflict. The UK's position on the legal status of Western Sahara has not changed. We are clear that any solution to the conflict must be mutually agreed by the parties. The UK continues to support the parties and the UN to reach a just, lasting and mutually acceptable solution, based on compromise, which conforms with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, including the principle of respect for self-determination. The UK will encourage dialogue and compromise with the aim of achieving a peaceful and mutually agreed resolution that upholds the dignity and rights of the people of Western Sahara and contributes to long-term regional stability.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government when a minister last met with the President of Zimbabwe, and what was the outcome of that meeting.

Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I met with President Emmerson Mnangagwa at State House in Harare on June 11. During this meeting I reaffirmed the UK's commitment to building a respectful, modern partnership with Zimbabwe, with a strong focus on delivering mutually beneficial economic growth including on trade and investment, energy and climate. I also underlined that the UK remains committed to engaging in Zimbabwe's arrears clearance dialogue and encouraged progress on the three tracks, which include governance reforms.

Found: resolution in the region and self-determination for the people of Western Sahara.20 On 3 June, Baroness Hoey

University APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: Nurses: Higher Education The Baroness Hoey (Non-affiliated): (HL6115) To ask His Majesty's Government

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) APPG
Wednesday 11th June 2025

Found: Marie Rimmer MP Fleur Anderson MP Sharon Hodgson MP Debbie Abrahams MP Jim Shannon MP Baroness Hoey