Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Chris Elmore Excerpts(1 week, 6 days ago)
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Chris Elmore)
I start by paying tribute, as all Members of the House have, to our deeply dedicated and professional civil servants in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. Speaking as a Minister just about to enter his sixth month in the job, I have met nothing but thoroughly professional, decent and hard-working civil servants. In fact, they are a tribute to some of the best parts of UK plc and the civil service. More broadly, I pay tribute, as again every Member has, to the work of teams on the ground across the middle east and their work in response to the Iranian attacks.
I turn first to the shadow Foreign Secretary’ speech and what I will call her list of questions. She tempts me into a wider debate on foreign policy, which, frankly, is her job, and I have enormous respect for her in doing that, but I will bring us back to one particular point on Iran. I can confirm to the House that the Minister for the Middle East has just finished summoning the Iranian ambassador, and I know that will obviously be of interest to her and the whole House. That has taken place in the last 30 minutes.
I will give a brief update on consular assistance—something that is of concern to many Members across the House, including the Liberal Democrat spokesperson. As of 7 am today, 136,582 individuals have registered their presence. The breakdown covers Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, Palestine, Qatar and the UAE. This is the largest ever response to this service that we have ever had across multiple countries, and it is testament to the significant pressure that the service is experiencing. Diplomats are undertaking this work across the middle east. We have received nearly 4,000 inquiries since the start of the crisis, and on 3 March, almost 1,000 calls were handled just on that one day. With the civil service, we are doing our very best across the middle east to offer as much support as possible, including—for one of the first times in the history of the Foreign Office—external-facing communications to people who register in place. That is an important part of our response.
Chris Elmore
I will make a bit of progress, but I can assure the right hon. Gentleman that I will give way later.
As you know, Madam Deputy Speaker, I am a pedant for procedure in this House, but I have forgotten something: I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Rotherham (Sarah Champion), and my right hon. Friend the Member for Islington South and Finsbury (Emily Thornberry), for securing the debate. I am sorry that I did not thank them at the beginning of my remarks, but the shadow Foreign Secretary tempted me, and I felt the need to bite. I am equally grateful to all other Members for their contributions. One thing I have learned is that my right hon. Friend the Member for Islington South and Finsbury has done a bit of gin-drinking and linen-wearing while travelling with the Foreign Affairs Committee. I need to up my game!
Let me set out and respond to some of the many points raised in the debate. Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, mentioned by many Members, including the shadow Foreign Secretary, has fundamentally reshaped Europe’s security landscape. Like many of our allies, we recognise the need to reduce overall reliance on the United States for our defence. Strengthening the UK’s sovereign defence capabilities is essential in this new era. It is in that strategic context that the Government have taken difficult but necessary decisions, although I appreciate that that view is not shared across the House. The Government have taken those decisions in that strategic context, while ensuring that the UK still plays a full part in European security and remains able to protect our people, our interests and our values.
I am known for many courtesies in this House, but I found it slightly disingenuous of the Liberal Democrat spokesperson, the hon. Member for Esher and Walton (Monica Harding), to skip over the fact that a Labour Government introduced ODA funding to begin with, and then gently suggest that the Lib Dems reached the 0.7% target after the 2010 general election. It is not my style to be combative in this House, but I thought that was slightly disingenuous—and I will leave it there.
The Chair of the International Development Committee, my hon. Friend the Member for Rotherham, mentioned the ICAI. I can confirm that no decision has been taken. I appreciate that that will not please her, but we remain totally committed to meeting our statutory obligation, as the independent evaluation of ODA spending is extremely vital for the Government’s work.
The right hon. Member for Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale (David Mundell)—I hope I have got the name of his constituency right—asked about Abercrombie House in Scotland. We are committed to maintaining Abercrombie House. In fact, we are considering how other Government Departments could be based on that. I give him that assurance on the record, and I am more than happy to take the conversation away from the Chamber if doing so would be helpful to him.
There have been many questions about a plan, a way forward and the transformation agenda. I do not underestimate the challenges that come with FCDO 2030. Just a few moments ago, I made very clear my support for the civil service in the FCDO—whether on King Charles Street, in Abercrombie House or across the globe—but I have also heard civil servants themselves talk about the need for change in order for the service to be more agile in responding to the global events that many Members have mentioned. There is no hiding from the work that we need to do.
The FCDO needs be equipped to meet challenges today and in the years ahead. The permanent under-secretary of state is leading the transformation programme, to build an organisation that is agile, innovative and equipped to seize the opportunities of the day. They build on deep expertise, which I know is a concern for colleagues, and on the professionalism and commitment that the civil service brings to Britain’s diplomacy and development work every single day. Our workforce reforms are designed to strengthen that foundation, with officials developing a clear sequenced strategy supported by a Department-wide assessment of our skills, capabilities and requirements. I want to stress that point, because Members from across the House have raised the skillset, the institutional memory, and the scale of the knowledge that we bring, across the world, through our diplomatic service. We want to improve those things, not lessen them, and that can be done, among other things, through the skills audit.
As part of that audit, we of course remain committed to maintaining our development capability, but reduced ODA means deploying it with greater precision and impact. It will also mean closing and transitioning programmes in a planned way, drawing on lessons from previous budget adjustments. This includes strengthening the skills we need most for the future, expanding opportunities for specialist development, and ensuring that colleagues can gain the depth of knowledge and experience, both in the UK and overseas, that underpins a world-class diplomatic service. In short, our aim is to build a workforce with the right mix of expertise, regional insight and professional capability to deliver consistently for the UK in a rapidly changing world.
Let me focus on the specific challenge put to me this afternoon: that of development. The Government remain committed to returning to 0.7% when fiscal circumstances allow. We should be proud of the progress made in international development this century, but the world has changed and so must we. The British people and our partners around the world want a new approach to international development—that was raised by my hon. Friend the Member for St Austell and Newquay (Noah Law)—and the phrase “partners not patrons” is testament to where ODA needs to move to. We must listen to the countries that we support through ODA, not dictate the terms of what we think they need. That is important and I know the International Development Committee will agree with it, as will Members across the House.
The days of viewing aid as charity are frankly over. This modernisation is not simply the product of tighter budgets. It reflects what our partners have told us directly: they want support that is more responsive to their priorities, with partnerships focused on better health and education, and on ensuring that their people have opportunities at home. We have listened to that—I have listened, as have the Minister for Development and the Foreign Secretary—and our new approach is designed to match what our partners say they need, not what outsiders think they should have.
The right hon. Member for Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale spoke about a plan. The new approach is based on four fundamental shifts: it moves us from donor to investor; it moves us away from delivering services ourselves and towards supporting the capacity of our partners to improve their own service delivery; it moves us away from providing grants to offering our expertise; and it moves us from imposing change from overseas to championing local leadership. My hon. Friend the Member for Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton (Jim McMahon) raised the latter point with respect to co-operatives, and I was pleased that at the development conference at the beginning of November, I was able to include the crucial work done by the co-operative movement. I reassure him that while I remain in the job, co-operatives will be an extremely important part of how I see development moving forward.
As we progress through the aid budget work, and to announcements on decisions, I confirm that we plan to publish indicative ODA allocations for the next three years shortly. Those three-year budgets will provide the predictability that our teams need—the need for long-term funding allocations has been raised, and I can assure the House that the announcement will come soon. Effectively managing the reduction in aid spending will demonstrate how we intend to put our modern approach into practice. Our development work has never been solely about our aid budget, and access to private investment—the shadow Foreign Secretary raised that—remittance flows, efficient tax systems and trade opportunities are essential foundations for countries to achieve self-reliance. With less money to spend, we must make choices and focus on greater impact, as has been said by many Members. Every pound must deliver for the UK taxpayer and the people we support. The UK remains committed to meeting our statutory obligation on the independent scrutiny of our ODA spending—I am saying that again for emphasis, and to reassure the International Development Committee and its Chair of that work.
Let me come to points raised the hon. Member for Melksham and Devizes (Brian Mathew) and my hon. Friend the Member for Putney (Fleur Anderson) about water, sanitation and hygiene. We have increased humanitarian funding that includes WASH support in both Gaza and Sudan, working with the World Bank and the UN. The shadow Foreign Secretary may see things differently, but I reassure the hon. Member for Melksham and Devizes that that part of our ODA change is about being a player in this space—as an advocate in the room, ensuring that we campaign and lobby for investment within the multilateral space. I also speak as the Minister responsible for multilateral issues, and the change can be a crucial part of such work. We are also supporting several fragile and conflict-affected states to strengthen WASH services, and we have supported more than 700,000 people in Sudan with access to water. I assure the hon. Member and my hon. Friend the Member for Putney that we understand the importance of access to water, and how that can lead to security in the spaces where people are living and on which they are reliant.
The UK will also remain at the forefront of the world in relation to responses to humanitarian crises, particularly in supporting people affected by violent conflict, whether in Ukraine, Gaza or Sudan, and helping displaced people in or near their counties of origin. My hon. Friend the Member for Lewisham East (Janet Daby) raised the right of women and girls to live in a world free from violence, which I know is an issue that she champions. We recognise that human rights, good governance and our work through the preventing sexual violence in conflict initiative are key enablers of our wider FCDO priorities. I cannot stress enough to the House how important this is to both me and the Foreign Secretary. It is vital that we find solutions to the fact that the rape of women, girls and boys is used as a tool of war. I am sure that there would be no dividing line for anybody in the House over the part that the UK Government will play in reducing and, we would all like to hope, ending that practice. We will champion the rights of women.
We will accelerate the global clean energy transition, promoting green and resilient growth and seizing the opportunities for Britain. We will also continue to support countries to build resilient and sustainable health systems, as mentioned by the right hon. Member for Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale—I seem to be highlighting him today, but I promise I will get to other Members —including through major investments, such as our £1.25 billon pledge to Gavi and our £850 million commitment to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. I cannot give the right hon. Gentleman a clearer reassurance than that. This will help to protect millions of children from disease and save well over 1 million lives in the years ahead. All this is underpinned by our commitment to sustainable, inclusive long-term economic development, and it is built on the foundation of our strong relationships with countries around the world and our standing on the global stage.
Let me turn to questions raised by the Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, the Chair of the International Development Committee, the right hon. Member for Maldon (Sir John Whittingdale) and others, including the Liberal Democrat spokesperson, the hon. Member for Esher and Walton, about soft power. I know, understand and support utterly and totally the UK’s role in making sure that soft power is relevant and crucial to our wider work within foreign affairs and diplomacy.
Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (North Cotswolds) (Con)
The Minister may be aware that the Public Accounts Committee held a session on 8 January on the BBC World Service. At that session, we pushed for the BBC to be given a budget for the World Service, but here we are, two months on, and I understand that we have still not had notification of that budget, although we are nearly at the beginning of the next financial year. Will the Minister tell us when that budget will be forthcoming?
Chris Elmore
I thank the Chair of the Public Accounts Committee for his question. As I set out at the beginning of my speech, the announcements will be made shortly.
I want to expand on some of the points that have been raised by the right hon. Member for Maldon, among others. We are developing a soft power strategy to try to reverse the decline on the UK’s role in soft power. There have been four meetings of the Soft Power Council since January 2025, so I reassure the right hon. Gentleman that we are still working on developing a new strategy on soft power and ensuring that every part of the United Kingdom is supported by the work of the Soft Power Council.
Our offer to the world remains utterly unique. As hon. Members have said in different ways during the debate, and I completely agree with them, the UK’s democracy, rule of law and world-class institutions give us real global influence. That is why soft power is at the heart of our diplomacy, but we cannot take this soft power for granted. If we are to make progress on the challenges we face and create a world that is safer and more prosperous, we must engage the sectors, institutions and networks that together contribute to our success and project it to the world.
We are building our partnerships with all those institutions and businesses that contribute to our soft power, specifically to give us the edge when it comes to both geopolitics and growth. We are drawing on advice from bodies such as the Soft Power Council, alongside wider Government expertise, to enhance our attractiveness. In response to another point that was raised, our leadership of two major global alliances—the Open Government Partnership and the Media Freedom Coalition—reinforces our values internationally and shows that we practise what we preach on transparency and accountability. I can reassure the right hon. Member for Maldon and the House that just this morning I had a meeting with leading experts in the media freedom space, and I will be speaking at the Media Freedom Coalition’s conference in London tomorrow—[Interruption.]—as will the right hon. Gentleman, I am glad to hear.
What I want to see, through us retaking the chair of the Media Freedom Coalition, is a move back to the original pillars of this work to ensure that we have meaningful outcomes. One of the things I was challenged on today is leadership in this space, and I can reassure the right hon. Member for Maldon and the House that I care deeply about the freedom of journalists and their investigative work. They are often at the forefront of how we understand what is happening in conflicts across the world. I hope that gives him some reassurance.
I also happen to be the Minister with responsibility for the World Service and the British Council, and Members have rightly raised the work of both those distinguished organisations. The BBC World Service’s role has been especially clear in recent days—BBC Arabic and BBC Persia services are crucial in providing impartial and accurate reporting on events to audiences across the world, as was referenced by the Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, my right hon. Friend the Member for Islington South and Finsbury.
That is why we have boosted the World Service’s grant by £32.6 million this financial year to a total of £137 million—a 31% increase in a tight fiscal situation. I reassure colleagues across the House that we are doing our best to work with the BBC World Service. Just last week I met Ministers in the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport to ensure that the World Service remains a cornerstone of the charter review.
Similarly, the Government highly value the work of the British Council in promoting the English language, arts and culture, and education. We are providing the Council with grant in aid funding of £163.1 million in this financial year alone, and we are working with its leadership and trustees to ensure its financial stability. I stress to the House that senior officials and I have had frequent, often and regular—however we wish to express it—meetings with the chair, vice-chair, chief executive and deputy chief executive. I have also provided briefings to the Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, my right hon. Friend the Member for Islington South and Finsbury, and its ranking member, the right hon. Member for Maldon.
I am determined to find a way through for the British Council to make it sustainable. We have talked about the losses that it has experienced, and I can assure the House that we are working through a plan—I will do my very best to ensure that Members are updated in due course. I want a sustainable future for the Council that allows it to grow and become a part of soft power for decades to come, and I give that commitment to the House.
I need to conclude—forgive me, Madam Deputy Speaker, as I have gone on far too long. That was another pet hate of mine when I was Comptroller of the Household, but nevertheless I will stretch your good will towards me slightly longer. I can even see the Deputy Chief Whip, my right hon. Friend the Member for Alyn and Deeside (Sir Mark Tami)—I should know better. May I quickly canter through some of the other questions that have been asked?
I particularly want to respond to the hon. Member for Chester South and Eddisbury (Aphra Brandreth). Yesterday, in FCDO questions, the Minister for the Middle East offered to have a conversation with one of her colleagues—forgive me, I forget who it was. Can I make the same offer to the hon. Lady, if she wishes to meet the Minister to ensure that we work together in this space? I cannot be clearer that there is no space for antisemitism in the United Kingdom, or for us to be, in any way, supporting or funding anything that leads to hate towards Jews—either here or across the world. If the hon. Lady would like to take me up on that offer, I am happy to speak to the Minister for the Middle East.
To conclude—I am sure to the delight of the Government Whips Office—this Government have a modernised approach to development. We have the right combination of hard power and soft power tools to achieve our objectives. We have a plan for what we want to deliver, and we know that we have the best people and institutions working throughout the world to deliver it. I applaud all those members of staff for the work that they continue to do, and I commend the estimate to the House.
Oral Answers to Questions
Chris Elmore Excerpts(2 weeks ago)
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Chris Elmore)
Tens of thousands of children have been killed, injured, orphaned, or separated from their family during this conflict. The UK has medically evacuated 50 children for treatment in the UK, but help on the required scale can only be delivered on the ground in Gaza. We are providing £81 million in humanitarian and early recovery support this year, including social protection services, which have so far supported over 335,000 Palestinian children.
Mrs Blundell
It is estimated that 40,000 children in Gaza have lost either one or both of their parents in the appalling war of recent years, leaving many as orphans without the love and protection that they need in one of the most dangerous places on the planet. As crisis engulfs the region once again and vital aid is still being blocked, what assurances can the Minister give that the UK will play a leading role in supporting those children in the long term, after all the horrors they have had to endure?
Chris Elmore
International NGOs remain indispensable to the UN-led humanitarian response, and we have supported key INGO partners, including through the Disasters Emergency Committee. In January, we marked the UK’s £3 million aid match for the middle east appeal. In total, we have provided £13 million since the appeal began. On 30 December last year, the UK led a statement with nine other countries to underline the vital role that INGOs play in Palestine. We continue to engage those organisations that have been impacted by new registration requirements, and we have raised that issue directly with the Government of Israel.
Ayoub Khan (Birmingham Perry Barr) (Ind)
Amid the illegal attack on Iran by America and Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu has closed all the border crossings into Gaza. What does the Minister know of this? Food and humanitarian aid are once again being blocked.
Chris Elmore
We would like all borders, including Rafah, to be open as quickly as possible and not in a phased process. We are making representations to the Israeli Government in that regard.
Mark Sewards (Leeds South West and Morley) (Lab)
Bob Blackman (Harrow East) (Con)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Chris Elmore)
I assure the hon. Member and the House that we are prioritising those areas of continued support in the health sphere of development funding.
Kim Johnson (Liverpool Riverside) (Lab)
Chris Elmore
We take this extremely seriously. Journalists on frontlines across the world are often how we find out where atrocities have taken place. Tomorrow I am hosting a Media Freedoms Coalition discussion, and I reassure my hon. Friend that this will always remain a priority for the UK Government.
Jack Rankin (Windsor) (Con)
Chris Elmore
I thank the hon. Member for his question. [Interruption.] Tomorrow is estimates day, and perhaps he would like to raise it then. On the wider point, he and I have been in correspondence, and discussions about these costs are ongoing.
Peter Swallow (Bracknell) (Lab)
Chris Elmore
Improving road safety is a global challenge. Every year, 1.2 million people die on the roads—it is the biggest killer of young people. I thank my hon. Friend for bringing this to the House’s attention. Through the Department of Health and Social Care, the UK contributes £12.5 million to the Global Road Safety Facility and is represented on its partnership council, and we continue to work on this truly important issue.
Vikki Slade (Mid Dorset and North Poole) (LD)
Draft Caribbean Development Bank (Eleventh Replenishment of the Special Development Fund (Unified)) Order 2026
Chris Elmore Excerpts(3 weeks, 1 day ago)
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Chris Elmore)
I beg to move,
That the Committee has considered the draft Caribbean Development Bank (Eleventh Replenishment of the Special Development Fund (Unified)) Order 2026.
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Ms Jardine, I think for the first time. The draft order will permit the UK Government to make financial contributions to the special development fund of the Caribbean Development Bank up to the stated values.
The Caribbean region is important to the United Kingdom, and our history and values are closely intertwined. Twelve of the 53 Commonwealth states are in the region, along with five out of the 14 UK overseas territories. There is a large Caribbean diaspora in the UK, and a significant number of British nationals visit as well as reside in the Caribbean. The Caribbean has strong economic links to the UK, and the UK was the destination for almost 10% of Caribbean goods exports in 2025. Although small in population size, countries in this region have a significant voice on global issues and in international organisations, including the United Nations. We have shared interests in areas such as tackling climate change, global financial system reform, combating crime and violence, and fostering trade and inclusive economic development.
The Caribbean Development Bank, or CDB, is the sole multilateral development bank that is exclusively focused on the Caribbean region, providing more than $312 million in 2024. The UK has a long-standing partnership with the CDB. We were one of the founding members and are the joint largest non-regional shareholder, with a 9.3% shareholding. The CDB plays a key role in the achievement of the UK’s regional development objectives of supporting sustainable development and tackling the impact of climate change.
Allow me briefly to take the Committee through the background and the purpose of the draft order. The special development fund, or SDF, is the consensual arm of the Caribbean Development Bank, which provides loans and grants to the most vulnerable countries in the region. It aims to reduce poverty, support human development, and strengthen climate and economic resilience across the Caribbean. It is replenished by donors every four years, and contributions to the fund come from regional and non-regional member countries of the Caribbean Development Bank, as well as from non-members. In line with our strategic shift towards multilateral assistance, the UK will commit up to £21 million to the SDF to maintain our position as the second largest donor.
The draft order will allow for the provision of the core funding by the UK. This replenishment will play a crucial role in supporting regional efforts to meet the sustainable development goals. The SDF will focus on promoting economic development and supporting increased resilience, with a particular focus on environmental resilience.
Lincoln Jopp (Spelthorne) (Con)
Can the Minister tell us who the largest donor will be?
Chris Elmore
If the hon. Member will give me two moments, I will get the correct name for him, because the list is not in front of me. It is in fact Canada—I am grateful to the officials on my left.
I will go through each point in turn. The SDF will build resilience against environmental stresses and disasters. It will fund climate adaptation, disaster risk management, biodiversity preservation and sustainable energy. That will include 10 km of new or improved sea defences and drainages, 6 MW of renewable energy and a reduction of 30,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually. The SDF will ensure that Caribbean infrastructure, agriculture and small businesses are supported to thrive. It will do so by training over 10,000 agricultural workers, improving 2,000 hectares of land, providing $75 million in credit to over 1,000 small businesses, half of which will be women-owned businesses, and building or upgrading 200 km of roads.
The SDF will support poverty reduction efforts in the region and improve living conditions by targeting the most vulnerable communities. That will include improving water and sanitation for over 30,000 households, building or upgrading 1,700 classrooms, training over 18,000 teachers and improving learning conditions for 350,000 students. It will also improve financial systems and practices so that individuals, Governments and organisations can better manage risks and respond to uncertainty. Twenty Caribbean Ministries, Departments and agencies will benefit from strengthened systems and services. The SDF will strengthen and modernise institutions so that they can respond effectively to challenges. It will support digital transformation in 11 Caribbean Ministries and agencies to help them operate more efficiently.
The SDF is an essential lifeline to the region’s most vulnerable people who have faced multiple crises over the last few years, including climate-related shocks to which the region is exceptionally vulnerable. Supporting the SDF will help us to achieve our objective of a bigger, better and fairer global financial system that delivers for everyone and is fit for the future.
To conclude, the Caribbean Development Bank special development fund is instrumental in achieving UK objectives in the Caribbean region. The financial contributions covered by the draft order will deliver UK international development and foreign policy objectives in some of the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries. I commend the order to the Committee.
Chris Elmore
I thank the official Opposition for their support and I want to come back to as many of the shadow Minister’s points as I can. As I canter through the questions, the usual caveat applies and I will write to the right hon. Lady if I miss something or if I am unable to give a substantive answer.
On the first point, about climate and disaster risk, at least 35% of early funding in SDF11 will be allocated to climate projects, rising to 40%. It is an early part of the structure. On priorities, the pillars of climate resilience, production, poverty, living conditions, financial systems and digital transformation form part of our wider work on overseas development aid and the funding that goes with it.
On the results we expect and how we will to maintain and check them, we have five areas to cover. One is climate resilience, which is linked to 10 km of sea defences, 6 MW of renewables, and the training of 10,000 trained agricultural workers. That is the list of outcomes that I gave in my opening speech, but they are the set outcomes for how the funding can be used.
On governance and the UK’s role, in my speech I mentioned the provision of up to £21 million, which is part of our governance and scrutiny arrangements for the work of the new chief executive of the development bank. It also ensures that we have meaningful deliverables and play our part in the governance structure of the bank.
On insurance work, the wider work around risk management and the work that the bank and UK Government do in this space, the best example I can give the right hon. Lady is what happened recently in the Caribbean, that is, Jamaica and Hurricane Melissa. HMG were at the forefront of accessing additional insurance relief funding in response to Melissa. That work is ongoing, but, crucially, the UK Government are at the very forefront of being able to secure that funding for the Caribbean.
I completely agree with the right hon. Lady about the vulnerabilities of SIDS and, obviously, all Caribbean nations are SIDS. I saw for myself at the beginning of December the sheer scale of a climate shock like Melissa in Jamaica—roads that were there are there no longer—and that forms part of the initial challenges.
I am grateful for the right hon. Lady’s comments and the official Opposition’s support. The SD fund is a vital source of finance for some of the most vulnerable countries and people in the world. Supporting the fund is essential to strengthen development and resilience across the region. I hope that the Committee will support the order.
Question put and agreed to.
Media Freedom Coalition
Chris Elmore Excerpts(3 weeks, 1 day ago)
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Chris Elmore)
The United Kingdom remains steadfast in its commitment to media freedom around the world, and we recognise the vital role that journalists play in upholding human rights, supporting accountable governance and protecting democracy. As Moldovan President Maia Sandu put it well,
“Peace cannot survive without information integrity, and democracies cannot survive without those who protect it.”
From Gaza to Georgia, Mexico to Myanmar, and in dozens of other countries, the UK regularly speaks up alongside our international partners to defend media freedom, and to condemn incidents where reporters, commentators, photographers, videographers and bloggers have been harassed, intimidated, detained, assaulted or killed simply for doing their jobs.
Since it was co-founded by the UK and Canada in 2019, the Media Freedom Coalition has played a vital role in exposing the risks faced by journalists around the world, co-ordinating international statements on their behalf and supporting reforms to promote media freedom. Membership of the MFC has grown to 51 countries across six continents, working globally as well as in local networks.
A panel of independent lawyers, chaired by my noble Friend Baroness Kennedy of The Shaws, provides pro bono legal assistance to members on media legislation. Many UK civil society organisations also input into the MFC’s work. Through advocacy, statements and events, the coalition has played a consistent role over the last seven years in highlighting and supporting individual journalists in danger.
I am therefore pleased to tell the House that, as part of our commitment to this crucial agenda, the UK has agreed to co-chair the MFC for a two-year term, commencing on 1 March. We will take over from Germany, which has co-chaired the MFC since January 2024, and we will partner with Finland, which began its two-year term in July 2025. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary formally accepted the co-chairship from her German counterpart, Johann Wadephul, at the Munich Security Conference. As she said to the Foreign Affairs Committee recently, this Government view media freedom as a “hugely important” issue.
With our own proud traditions of a free press here at home, our long-standing commitment to promoting media freedom around the world, and our continuing support for the work of the BBC World Service, the UK is well positioned to guide the MFC at this critical juncture, ensuring that it remains a powerful collective voice in support of public interest journalism around the world.
At a time when independent public interest media is facing multiple threats—from intimidation and censorship to disinformation and financial pressures—the UK will use our role as co-chair to help the coalition step up its response.
We will work to include new voices, strengthen the sharing of expertise, and support timely, effective advocacy of journalists at risk. We will also ensure that the MFC helps nations around the world to nurture public interest media, navigate the opportunities and risks that stem from new technology, tackle the specific challenges facing women journalists, and use our collective voice to speak out for those in need.
Ultimately, the Media Freedom Coalition provides a powerful collective voice for countries like ours, which believe in the crucial importance of a free media for democracy, human rights and good governance. Now—as the world becomes more turbulent and fragmented—that voice is needed more than ever.
[HCWS1342]
Oral Answers to Questions
Chris Elmore Excerpts(1 month, 3 weeks ago)
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Mr Richard Quigley (Isle of Wight West) (Lab)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Chris Elmore)
There is no place for forced labour in our global economy, especially when the victims are so often women, children and persecuted minority groups. We are working through a range of multilateral bodies, including the G7, the UN and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, to eradicate forced labour from supply chains. We are reviewing the effectiveness of our rules on responsible business conduct to ensure that the UK continues to set the global standard on the elimination of forced labour.
Mr Quigley
I thank the Minister for his response. However, the UK’s Joint Committee on Human Rights has warned that without stronger action, we risk falling behind the EU and the US, and even becoming a dumping ground for goods produced with forced labour. Will the Government commit to introducing legislation that sends a clear and unequivocal message that the UK stands firmly against Uyghur forced labour, and will not allow such products into our market?
Chris Elmore
We are clear that no company in the UK should have forced labour in its supply chain. We are committed to promoting and protecting human rights, including in Xinjiang, and we continue to work with international partners to hold China to account for its human rights violations. The Government’s review of responsible business conduct is considering a range of policy options to tackle forced labour.
Sir Alec Shelbrooke (Wetherby and Easingwold) (Con)
As the Energy Secretary insists that we move as quickly as possible to renewables, may I ask the Minister what steps he has in place to ensure that the materials—90% of them are processed materials—used in renewables are made without slave labour and human rights abuses?
Chris Elmore
We of course support voluntary human rights due diligence by businesses, as recommended in the UN’s “Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights”. As I mentioned in answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Isle of Wight West (Mr Quigley), in the Government’s review on responsible business conduct, those will be some of the options that we take forward.
Uma Kumaran (Stratford and Bow) (Lab)
Olly Glover (Didcot and Wantage) (LD)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Chris Elmore)
We are committed to international development, but we must modernise our approach to reflect the world we live in and the threats that our country faces, while maintaining economic stability at home. We are committed to meeting the overseas development aid budgets that have been set out, but with less money, we must focus on having greater impact. Every pound must deliver for the UK taxpayer and the people we support. We will sharpen our focus on humanitarian issues, health, climate and nature, and that will be underpinned by a focus on economic development.
Olly Glover
The United States Government have cut funding for research and development on lifesaving health solutions that help the world’s poorest people. In that context, the UK has the opportunity to embrace world-leading scientists who are no longer welcome elsewhere. Will the Government seize the opportunity to both continue progress on life expectancy in the global south and boost the UK’s economy by increasing their spending on global health research and development?
Chris Elmore
I cannot comment on the US’s decision; it is a matter for its Administration. As I have mentioned, one of the focuses of our ODA support will be on health. We have announced to the House additional funding for tackling life-limiting conditions, particularly on the continent of Africa, so the lifesaving work around health carries on.
Fleur Anderson (Putney) (Lab)
The conflict in Sudan is affecting millions of people, including thousands of women affected by horrific sexual violence. I have been hearing from aid workers on the ground who are working with those women. Will the Minister assure the House that, despite aid budget cuts, support for the women victims of sexual violence in the conflict in Sudan will not be cut?
Chris Elmore
I know what a hugely important issue this is to all Members across the House. I can confirm that additional funding has been allocated in relation to the Sudan conflict. We are, of course, calling for the violence to end, particularly the violence that is targeted at women and girls. I assure my hon. Friend that part of this continuing funding is for trying to tackle the extreme levels of sexual violence that women are experiencing in Sudan.
Sir Andrew Mitchell (Sutton Coldfield) (Con)
As the Minister will know, part of the official development assistance budget goes to investment in businesses creating employment in the poorest parts of the world, such as British International Investment, which is now undoubtedly the best development finance institution in the world. Will the Minister continue to ensure that BII receives injections of capital so that it can go on doing that brilliant work and earning a decent return for the British taxpayer?
Chris Elmore
I am pleased to say that the international development Minister in the other place, Baroness Chapman, is due to meet the group imminently. We will continue that work, including through my conversations with nations in the ODA context, on how we provide more support for business as one of the changes to ODA moving forward.
David Taylor (Hemel Hempstead) (Lab)
I hate to disagree with the right hon. Member for Sutton Coldfield (Sir Andrew Mitchell), who I respect greatly, but in an era when we have less money I wonder whether we should focus on reaching the poorest people the most. There are other models, including the International Finance Facility for Education and the International Finance Facility for Immunisation, that offer ways to leverage much more money. By putting in a small amount, we can leverage up to four times more. Will Ministers, including a Treasury Minister, meet me to discuss such proposals and consider innovative forms of development finance in an era of less ODA?
Chris Elmore
I am, of course, more than happy to meet my hon. Friend, as diaries allow.
Marsha De Cordova (Battersea) (Lab)
With two out of three FCDO-funded programmes dedicated to disability inclusion coming to an end this year, what targets will the Government set to ensure that their remaining programming will prioritise and can be accessed by disabled people, 80% of whom live in the global south? Will the Minister offer some assurances that there will be sufficient capacity within the FCDO to support disabled people across the globe?
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Chris Elmore)
The UK has long promoted global disability rights through our global programme to support disability inclusion in health, education and employment, plus access to innovative assistive technologies. In addition to our work to mainstream disability inclusion across the FCDO’s priorities, the UK is co-chair of the Global Action on Disability Network that strengthens international co-ordination on disability rights and accelerates that progress, including in the global south.
James Wild (North West Norfolk) (Con)
The Iranian regime is killing protesters in their thousands, and the communication blackout is enabling abuses to happen away from public view. The Minister said yesterday:
“They must restore internet access.”—[Official Report, 19 January 2026; Vol. 779, c. 48.]
What are the Government doing with partners, so that we can hear the voices of those freedom fighters?
Alex Sobel (Leeds Central and Headingley) (Lab/Co-op)
Last week, Uganda held elections. There were wide-ranging accounts of people being prevented from going to polling stations and of ballot stuffing. In one polling station, more votes were cast than there were electors. There is now widespread violence, and the son of the so-called President of Uganda has threatened to murder the leader of the opposition, Bobi Wine, who lost the election. What can the Foreign Secretary tell me about the veracity of the elections? What is she doing to protect British citizens in Uganda and to ensure the safety of members of the National Unity Platform?
Chris Elmore
We have consistently advocated for peaceful and credible elections, and we encourage any disputes to be addressed through peaceful and legal means. In relation to the opposition leader, we have engaged across the political spectrum to advocate for peaceful elections, including for the opposition candidates to be able to campaign freely and safely, and we continue to do so, including through our high commission.
Dr Al Pinkerton (Surrey Heath) (LD)
In answer to an earlier question, the Foreign Secretary said that the future of Greenland should be determined by Greenlanders and Danes, yet Members across this House are just finding out that any opportunity to give Chagossians a referendum has been stripped from this afternoon’s discussions on the Chagos Bill. Why does the Foreign Secretary think that the Chagossians do not deserve the same rights that she considers to be so fundamental to Greenlanders?
UK Small Island Developing States Strategy
Chris Elmore Excerpts(2 months ago)
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Chris Elmore)
I wish to update the House on the Government’s decision to publish a refreshed UK-SIDS strategy for 2026-2030. This strategy sets out the major strands of UK support to SIDS climate and economic resilience, based on partnership.
Small island developing states are essential UK partners on global issues such as climate change, economic growth, combating crime and energy security. SIDS represent 20% of the UN family, steward vast ocean territories through their exclusive economic zones, and are hotspots for biodiversity globally. The UK shares deep connections with many SIDS, particularly through the Commonwealth, and we recognise their special circumstances, including their vulnerability to extreme weather events and global economic shocks.
Many SIDS have made progress towards achieving sustainable development, yet their inherent vulnerabilities remain. Global geopolitical competition, a changing landscape on development, and increasing climate and nature challenges means the risks are rising. We need a more tailored approach that reflects SIDS’ special circumstances and our new approach to modern partnerships. At the fourth international financing for development conference in Seville in July 2025, the international community agreed that a new chapter is needed for development and sustainable growth. We are now looking to build on this consensus, including the “Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS” from 2024.
The UK-SIDS strategy builds on these foundations and will help us to support SIDS’ economic and climate resilience. We will focus activity across three areas:
Partner—We will partner with SIDS to build resilience and support sustainable development through climate adaptation, disaster risk finance, aid effectiveness, governance and human rights.
Reform—The UK will drive reform in the international finance system to increase SIDS’ access to climate finance, tackle unsustainable debt and mobilise private sector resources. We will amplify SIDS’ voices to ensure that international systems better take account of SIDS’ special circumstances and capacities.
Grow—We will support SIDS as they protect nature and the ocean and promote their blue economies. We will work with SIDS to enable resilient, inclusive economic growth and diversification.
In delivering the strategy, we will support the UK’s wider international objectives, support multilateralism and also benefit from the ideas and energies that SIDS themselves bring to international debates on development, sustainable growth, biodiversity, climate change and a reformed international system. Ultimately, our strategy is about empowering people and countries to direct their own future and reduce their reliance on aid. A responsive, modern partnership with SIDS includes lending our voice to advocate for issues important to SIDS internationally. At the same time, we will ensure that our partnership with SIDS and other actors will further UK values and interests, stand up for freedom around the world and support SIDS to plan for their own sustained progress and resilience.
[HCWS1238]
New Approach to Africa: UK-Africa Strategy
Chris Elmore Excerpts(3 months ago)
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Chris Elmore)
My noble Friend the Minister of State for International Development and Africa (right hon. Baroness Chapman of Darlington) has today made the following statement:
When this Government came into power, we were clear that a new kind of relationship with African countries was long overdue. We inherited an approach that reflected the past rather than being fit for the future. That is why this Government committed in their manifesto to deliver a new approach to the African continent for mutual long-term benefit, recognising Africa’s growing importance to the UK’s domestic missions and plan for change.
We were clear too that reframing our relationship was not something to cook up here in London and then package up as a shared approach. Some have spoken the language of partnership that is not borne out in practice, without being clear and up front about our own interests and what we want from the relationship. So we launched a five-month listening exercise, hearing from Governments and over 600 organisations, from civil society and diaspora communities, from businesses and universities, about what they valued and wanted to see from Britain. There was a clear common message: African nations want respectful, long-term partnerships that deliver real change for people’s lives.
Today, the Government are fulfilling our manifesto commitment, marking a significant milestone in the UK’s partnership with African countries. The UK’s new approach is shaped by African leadership, ideas, and energy—aligning with the steps that the UK and African nations are already taking to unlock new growth opportunities, lead climate action, drive innovation, and push for reform to the international system—and brings this together with UK strengths. It is consistent with the principles of our modernised approach to international development, recognising we are not just donors. We are partners, investors, and reformers.
Responding to the consultation, the UK’s new approach provides a high-level framing to guide the Government’s long-term engagement with African partners, reaffirming the shift from paternalism to a partnership of respect and equality. It does so over seven areas of shared interest.
First, we are moving from donor to investor. We will go further to unlock investment and trade, helping African and British businesses create quality jobs, economic opportunities, and prosperity. Our partnerships will place mutual growth at the centre. We will back the African continental free trade area, supporting its implementation and the opportunities it creates, and strengthen UK-Africa relations through ongoing tariff reviews, building on the developing countries trading scheme and network of economic partnership agreements. We will support the development of local capital markets, mobilise private capital to invest sustainably, and scale up promising African enterprises. The UK’s investment vehicles—British International Investment, FSD Africa Investments, and UK Export Finance—will continue to drive this innovative agenda. As a long-standing partner of the African Development Bank, we will continue to strengthen our collaboration with Africa’s leading financial institution. And we are proud to be co-hosting with Ghana the 17th replenishment of the African Development Fund, using our convening power to scale up private capital for Africa’s development priorities.
Secondly, we are working together on the challenges of migration. Migration should be fair, managed, and controlled. But this is undermined by illegal migration that harms both the UK and African partners, funds organised criminal gangs, and puts lives at risk. We will provide humanitarian support to alleviate suffering; help enable protection for displaced people in their regions of origin; and work together to disrupt criminal networks and facilitate returns. We will be unapologetic in pressing for high ambition and clear progress against these priorities. Recognising the UK visa system can seem hard to navigate, we are engaging with African businesses to improve understanding, including uptake of the global partner programme, helping businesses travel, build ties, and stimulate investment.
Thirdly, we are advancing shared interests on climate, nature, and clean energy. Despite its abundant natural resources, Africa has the lowest levels of modern energy access. And despite contributing least to global emissions, African nations are among those shouldering the greatest climate risks. Therefore, we must go further to invest in renewables, protect biodiversity, and ensure climate finance reaches those who need it most, creating more opportunities for African countries by growing the scale and quality of carbon markets. We will back African initiatives such as Mission 300 to connect 300 million people to electricity by 2030. We will work with African scientists to protect the world’s largest forest carbon stores in the Congo basin and mobilise finance through the Belem call to action. And we look forward to supporting further African leadership on climate as Ethiopia hosts COP32 in 2027.
Fourthly, we want to collaborate for peace and stability, the foundations of prosperity. We will continue to work closely with the African Union and other partners to support African efforts to “silence the guns” and promote post-conflict recovery. This includes urgent work to support an end to the horror of the current war in Sudan. We will continue to work with African partners to help push the warring parties towards a ceasefire, to supply the lifesaving humanitarian aid where needed and to call out and avert, together, atrocities like in El Fasher, where we know rape has been used systematically as a weapon of war. The UN’s humanitarian chief has correctly called this the epicentre of human suffering. We are determined to support Sudan and ensure the world does not forget this devastating conflict. Beyond Sudan, we are supporting vital peacebuilding efforts in the Great Lakes region and working on conflict prevention with countries such as Nigeria, Ethiopia and Somalia. This is part of a wider push to build security partnerships to tackle regional instability and shared threats, champion respect for international humanitarian law, stand up for freedom of religion and belief, and go much further to tackle violence against women and girls.
Fifthly, we are strengthening systems that support people and growth. This is about strengthening the systems that build human capital—the engine of sustainable, inclusive growth. Rather than providing piecemeal funding to individual services, we will work with partners to improve whole systems for health and nutrition, education, and social protection. We will invest in vaccine manufacturing, disease prevention, and sexual and reproductive health and rights. Last month, the UK announced in South Africa its pledge of £850 million to the Global Fund—a pledge that stands to save over 1 million lives, prevent 20 million cases of HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria, and deliver over £10 billion in economic returns. This investment demonstrates the UK’s commitment to global health, gender equality, multilateralism, and modern development partnerships. We are applying the same principles to helping African countries become financially self-reliant, harnessing UK expertise in tax, finance, and technology. Next year, the Foreign Secretary will host the illicit finance summit in London, convening a diverse coalition of Governments, multilateral organisations, the private sector, and other key stakeholders to tackle criminal and corrupt wealth.
Sixthly, we are championing African voices in global decision-making. We will amplify and work alongside African calls for fairer representation in global forums, ensuring African priorities shape the rules and outcomes that matter most. This is why the UK strongly advocated for the establishment of a third seat for sub-Saharan Africa at the IMF board, and why we continue to call for lower-income countries to have greater voting power at the World Bank. It is also why we look forward to the establishment of a borrowers’ platform, following agreement at the financing for development conference in Seville. As we look ahead to our G20 presidency in 2027, we will continue to work towards further reforms to the debt architecture to tackle unsustainable debt following the G20 ministerial declaration on debt sustainability in October, so that African countries have a greater stake in the decisions that affect them.
Lastly, we are supporting innovation and cultural partnerships. From AI and digital skills to music, sport, and design, there is enormous potential to deepen our ties across science, technology, and the creative industries. At South Africa’s science forum in November, we launched our first UK-South Africa AI policy training programme to establish a cohort of AI-savvy diplomats and officials from both countries, drawing on the expertise of leading UK and South African universities. Our forthcoming soft power collaboration will support alumni networks across the UK and Africa. We will maintain scholarships and strengthen our enduring research and education partnerships. These connections are not just economic—they are human, and they are powerful. One milestone is Imperial College London opening its first African hub in Ghana last year, marking a major step forward in UK-Africa scientific collaboration. This new centre will support fellowships in AI and climate science, accelerating joint research and innovation across medical diagnostics, vaccine research, and sustainable cities.
This adds up to a new kind of partnership. One that works with African leadership. One that is inclusive and respectful and strong enough to work through difficulties and disagreements. Our high commissions and embassies will be at the forefront of embedding this approach—in spirit and content—and we will take it forward into the UK’s G20 presidency in 2027. UK Ministers will be out there, on the continent, championing these principles, strengthening coherence across our partnerships, and backing diverse African voices to shape our work.
[HCWS1168]
Sudan: Sanctions on RSF Commanders
Chris Elmore Excerpts(3 months ago)
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Chris Elmore)
My noble Friend the Minister of State for International Development and Africa, the right hon. Baroness Chapman of Darlington, has made the following statement:
On 12 December 2025, the UK announced a package of four sanctions designations under the Sudan (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020—the Sudan regulations. These sanctions respond to the appalling atrocities committed by the Rapid Support Forces in and around El Fasher, north Darfur, which the RSF captured on 26 October 2025. There is overwhelming evidence of mass killings of civilians; ethnically targeted executions; sexual violence, including gang rape; abductions for ransom; widespread arbitrary detention; and attacks on health facilities, medical staff and humanitarian workers. This scale of suffering is unimaginable, with women and children bearing the heaviest burden in what is now the largest humanitarian crisis of the 21st century.
Since the start of the war, the UK has worked ceaselessly to bring an end to the fighting, alleviate the suffering and protect civilians. The UK remains the third largest bilateral donor to Sudan. The Prime Minister has committed to protecting UK funding to support people affected by the crisis, a clear signal of our unwavering commitment to justice for the Sudanese people.
Accountability for crimes remains at the heart of our response. That is why we are sanctioning RSF commanders who we have reasonable grounds to suspect have been responsible for, engaged in, provided support for or promoted the commission of these serious violations of international humanitarian law. We will impose travel bans, director disqualifications and asset freezes. This will ban these individuals from entering the UK, and stop them from being able to form, manage or promote a UK company or interact in any way with the UK economy. We are sanctioning:
Abdul Rahim Hamdan Dagalo—deputy leader of the RSF, and brother of RSF leader, General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo Moussa, “Hemedti”. He is or has been responsible for engaging in, providing support for or promoting the commission of serious violations of international humanitarian law in Sudan, including the mass killings of civilians; ethnically targeted executions; sexual violence, including gang rape; abductions for ransom; widespread arbitrary detentions; and attacks on health facilities, medical staff and humanitarian workers. Acting in global resolve with partners such as the US, Canada and the EU, which have all previously sanctioned Abdul Rahim Hamdan Dagalo, this sends a strong message of international condemnation for his actions.
Gedo Hamdan Ahmed, “Abu Nashuk”—RSF commander for the north Darfur section. He is or has been responsible for engaging in, providing support for, or promoting the commission of serious violations of international humanitarian law in Sudan, such as the mass killings of civilians; ethnically targeted executions; sexual violence, including gang rape; abductions for ransom; widespread arbitrary detentions; and attacks on health facilities, medical staff and humanitarian workers.
Tijani Ibrahim Moussa Mohamed, “Al Zeir Salem”—RSF field commander. He too is or has been responsible for engaging in, providing support for, or promoting the commission of serious violations of international humanitarian law in Sudan, including the deliberate targeting of civilians in El Fasher.
Al-Fateh Abdullah Idris “Abu Lulu”—brigadier general of the RSF, dubbed “the butcher of El-Fasher” for claiming to have killed over 2,000 people. He is being sanctioned for his involvement in serious violations of international humanitarian law in Sudan and the systematic campaign of violence against civilians in El Fasher.
The Sudanese sanctions regime contains a humanitarian assistance exception to the asset freeze. We do not expect these designations to have humanitarian impacts and will monitor this closely.
In addition to these sanctions, the UK is stepping up our response to the crisis in Sudan with an additional £21 million. This will fund support including food, shelter, health services to those most in need, and protection for women and children in some of the hardest-to-reach areas. This lifeline will empower aid organisations to reach 135,000 people with essentials like food, medical care, and emergency shelter, as well as enable them to keep hospitals running and reconnect families torn apart by conflict. The overall UK aid commitment to Sudan this year rises as a result to £146 million, delivering lifesaving aid to over 800,000 people, and underscoring the unwavering commitment to stand with the Sudanese people and meet humanitarian needs.
As the UK, we are doing all we can politically and diplomatically to end the fighting, prevent future atrocities, protect civilians and deter the perpetrators by bringing accountability and justice—however long it takes. We are leading the charge to bring accountability to those committing heinous atrocities, at the UN and the International Criminal Court, for all to see. We will not let these horrors go unanswered.
[HCWS1169]
Sudan: Humanitarian Situation
Chris Elmore Excerpts(3 months ago)
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Seamus Logan (Aberdeenshire North and Moray East) (SNP)
(Urgent Question): To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs if she will make a statement on UK Government actions on the humanitarian crisis in Sudan.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Chris Elmore)
I congratulate the hon. Gentleman on securing this urgent question.
The thoughts of the whole House will be with those affected by the horrific antisemitic terrorist attack on Bondi beach yesterday. The Foreign Secretary will address this further at the start of her statement, which follows this UQ.
Sudan is experiencing the most severe humanitarian crisis of the 21st century: 30 million people need lifesaving aid, 12 million people have fled their homes, and women and children are bearing the brunt of the violence. The drone strike on the UN peacekeeping base in Kadugli on Saturday was deplorable and exemplifies how the war is being fought with little regard for civilian life and international law. The strike killed six Bangladeshi peacekeepers, and our thoughts are with their families. The British high commission Dhaka has released a statement offering the Government’s heartfelt condolences to the families of those who tragically lost their lives and wishing a swift recovery to all those who were injured. The perpetrators must be held to account.
On Friday, the UK announced a package of sanctions targeting four senior commanders from the Rapid Support Forces involved in the horrendous violence in El Fasher. The Government will do all they can to exert pressure on those responsible for these atrocities. The Foreign Secretary is working with her counterparts on three priorities: first, protecting civilians; secondly, strengthening humanitarian access; and thirdly, securing an immediate ceasefire and a political process to end the conflict.
The war in Sudan was a priority for the Foreign Secretary on her visit to Washington DC last week, where she discussed these issues with Secretary of State Rubio and senior adviser Boulos. Last week, we stepped up our response to the crisis with an additional £21 million, taking the UK contribution to £146 million this year. UK funding will reach more than 800,000 people with lifesaving aid. That is in addition to our efforts as penholder for Sudan at the United Nations Security Council to call out atrocities committed and press for unimpeded humanitarian access.
On 8 December, the UK led the UN Security Council consultations on the violence in Kordofan where members heard from senior UN officials on worsening conditions and access challenges. The UK will convene the Security Council again tomorrow to discuss mediation efforts. We are urgently pressing for a three-month humanitarian truce and will do all we can to support and help drive these peace efforts forward alongside the Quad. All those with influence over the warring parties must work to stop the suffering, and that must include ending external support for the conflict in line with the Quad statement on 12 September. The Foreign Secretary has been clear that the UK will use all diplomatic tools at our disposal to agree a cessation of hostilities and a sustainable end to this conflict that delivers peace for the Sudanese people.
Seamus Logan
I thank the Minister for his statement and thank the Speaker for granting this urgent question. In fewer than two months, since the RSF captured El Fasher on 26 October, the city has been consumed by a killing spree—a series of appalling international war crimes. We have seen reports of relentless assassinations of innocent civilians, with accounts of parents forced to watch the killing of their children; systematic sexual violence, including gang rape; and satellite imagery exposing bloodstained ground and piles of civilian bodies. Current estimates suggest that 60,000 innocent civilians have been killed, with as many as 150,000 people missing since the takeover. Those numbers are likely to be underestimates.
Recent sanctions on senior figures in the RSF are welcome, but there are areas where I would ask the Government to go further. There have been cuts to the UK’s overseas development assistance from 0.5% to 0.3%. In addition, recent reports suggest that the work of the atrocity prevention team at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is being reduced, and the team that previously monitored global atrocities is being cut. The UK Government refused to contribute to an atrocity prevention programme in Sudan, even after the risk of genocide and mass atrocities became clear. That is indefensible. I want to hear from the Minister why that decision was made.
Although the announcement of an additional £21 million in aid for Sudan is welcome, consistently funded development and prevention aid for relevant countries could prevent the UK from forking out millions when future atrocities occur. Today’s displaced people are tomorrow’s asylum seekers. Will the UK Government reinstate overseas development aid to Sudan and reconsider their contribution to international atrocity programmes?
British-manufactured weapons—allegedly supplied by the United Arab Emirates—are reportedly still being used by the RSF to conduct horrific massacres. Will the UK Government take action on that and pledge to prevent British weapons from falling into the hands of the RSF?
It feels as if the UK Government are not giving the genocide in Sudan the time in this Chamber that it deserves. They have chosen to update the House on Sudan alone on only one occasion. I therefore ask the Secretary of State to commit to updating the House on the Government’s actions in relation to Sudan through a ministerial statement early in the new year.
Chris Elmore
I thank the hon. Gentleman for his further questions. He is not correct about ODA cuts for Sudan. The Prime Minister has already committed to that funding continuing over the next three years, so it is not correct to say that there will be ODA cuts for Sudan.
We continue to support the International Criminal Court’s active investigation of the situation in Sudan. In relation to arms, I say to the House that we take very seriously allegations that UK-made equipment may have been transferred to Sudan, in breach of the UK’s arms embargo. There is no evidence in recent reporting of UK weapons or ammunition being used in Sudan.
In terms of reporting to the House, the Foreign Secretary answered substantive questions on Sudan at the beginning of this month and made a statement at the end of last month. It is notable that the hon. Gentleman was not here for those questions.
Anneliese Dodds (Oxford East) (Lab/Co-op)
I welcome the Government’s sanctioning of senior commanders in the RSF, but the Minister will be aware of the genuine fears about further barbaric escalation in the run-up to Christmas. He rightly talked about the appalling killing of peacekeepers, but in the past couple of days a hospital has been shelled, and there are huge concerns about the insecure situation of refugees, particularly in Tawila. What is the Government’s timeline for further measures to try to force the belligerents to protect civilians, as a matter of extreme urgency?
Chris Elmore
I know how much my right hon. Friend cares about this issue, particularly as she was a development Minister last year. Tomorrow, the UK will co-host with Denmark a closed informal interactive dialogue at the United Nations Security Council. It will address the urgent need to harmonise regional international mediation efforts to bring about the much-needed humanitarian ceasefire.
Madam Deputy Speaker (Ms Nusrat Ghani)
I call the shadow Foreign Secretary.
Priti Patel (Witham) (Con)
Millions continue to suffer in Sudan. It is clear that red lines are constantly being crossed. The world is witnessing unspeakable horrors and barbaric atrocities. The situation in El Fasher is of grave concern. No one in this House or the country can comprehend the level of barbarity in the acts that have been taken.
We Conservatives have been calling for further sanctions on the warring parties, and we note the additional measures announced by the Government last week. That does represent progress, but it is important now that momentum builds and follows. I acknowledge what the Minister said about the closed session at the UN tomorrow. Can we expect to see more rounds of sanctions? It is vital that the sanctions directorate at the FCDO works around the clock to identify the culprits—be they individuals or organisations—and holds them to account.
What contribution is the UK making to the urgent UN inquiry into El Fasher, and what further steps will the Government take? What direct engagement has the Minister had with the Sudan Quad on finding a diplomatic solution, and to pressure those with influence over the warring parties to agree a ceasefire and allow humanitarian aid to flow in, and to stop committing atrocities? Is the UK involved in the international processes, like Cairo, to develop and build confidence with the Sudanese political civilian forces? That is crucial for facilitating a transition to a civilian-led Government.
As we have heard, the humanitarian situation is catastrophic, so will the Minister explain how the latest aid package will be delivered and by which organisations, and say how those who are in desperate need will receive it? How will the Government ensure that shifting frontlines and potential new challenges and blockages to aid delivery are addressed, and what is their assessment of the humanitarian assistance that we have already given? Has it been reaching those in need, and what is the timescale for the dispatch of new aid? Will the Minister update the House on whether there has been any progress since the Sudan summit in London earlier this year when it comes to the support and pledges made by other countries? What discussions are the Government holding with partners who could be deploying urgent relief and assistance in light of this ongoing and growing crisis?
Chris Elmore
I thank the shadow Foreign Secretary for her opening remarks and questions. She is right to say that there should be no politics in this. We all want to see an end to the unimaginable suffering that is taking place in Sudan, and as was mentioned by the hon. Member for Aberdeenshire North and Moray East (Seamus Logan), the idea that we can see that from satellite imagery shows its unimaginable scale.
On sanctions, we will not rule anything out and we will keep the issue under constant review following the announcement on Friday—that was the second round of sanctions that the Government have issued in relation to Sudan. We are continuing to work with all members of the Quad, and we want to be as clear as we can be that all sides must come together in ensuring what will hopefully be a humanitarian pause, and more broadly a wider ceasefire.
On the specific points about support for refugees and people on the ground in Sudan, the funding so far has supported over 1 million people, including 98,000 children, in tackling severe malnutrition; in food assistance for 744,000 people; in vital protection for services for 350,000 people in relation to victims of international humanitarian law violations; and indeed in cash assistance. I am confident that the money is reaching the people it needs to reach. On more support, the additional £20 million—or the £146 million—is about aid directly on the ground and supporting 800,000 people. Some of that is supporting refugees in Chad and other countries that people are moving to, but fundamentally it is about support.
We are absolutely working on the wider points about work in the multilateral space with the United Nations. This is a personal priority for the Foreign Secretary, and she is in pretty much constant dialogue with Secretary Rubio, including last week. Baroness Chapman, the Minister for Africa in the other place, is in regular dialogue with African near neighbours, and she is having broader conversations to ensure that we find a humanitarian ceasefire and the broader ceasefire that is so desperately needed.
Kim Johnson (Liverpool Riverside) (Lab)
The Minister has just mentioned doing all we can to exert pressure, but with all due respect to him, I think we need to be doing far more than exerting pressure. As UN penholder for Sudan, the UK has a moral responsibility to ensure that the ongoing genocide and ethnic cleansing is brought to an end as soon as possible. Most importantly, we must end all arms trade with the UAE, because it is evident that UK arms are ending up in Sudan.
Chris Elmore
On arms exports, the UK has one of the most robust and transparent export control regimes in the world. All export licences are assessed for the risk of diversion, and we regularly prevent exports that might be diverted to an undesirable end user or end use. As I have said, in recent reviews that has not been deemed the case from any other nation. On our role on the Human Rights Council and the Security Council, I agree with my hon. Friend: we do have a moral imperative, and that is exactly our approach. This is a personal mission for the Foreign Secretary. She convened the emergency meeting of the Human Rights Council, and the meeting of the Security Council was brought forward. The UK, as penholder, has been at the very forefront of trying to end these most appalling atrocities against the Sudanese people.
Madam Deputy Speaker (Ms Nusrat Ghani)
I call the Liberal Democrat spokesperson.
Monica Harding (Esher and Walton) (LD)
I welcome the Government’s sanctions on the RSF. Those are long overdue, given that the US imposed sanctions in January and the EU have gone wider. Why has the UK left out RSF leader Hemedti? Why has the UK left out the Sudanese armed forces who are bombing civilians and using starvation as a weapon of war? It is widely reported that the UAE is arming the RSF, yet the UK continues to supply arms to the UAE. The Minister will know that selling arms where there is a risk that those states are arming actors who commit atrocities is in contravention of the UK’s obligations under international humanitarian law and its own strategic export licensing criteria, whether or not UK arms are being diverted. Why is the UK still arming the UAE?
I am deeply worried about the advances by the RSF in Kordofan, and there are real fears of another El Fasher. What are the UK Government doing to prevent atrocities of that scale? Humanitarian access remains severely constrained. What are the Government doing to open up access? Finally, has the Prime Minister spoken this month to the US President about the Sudan crisis? The Sudan appeal is still just 27% funded, and although I welcome the Government’s additional £21 million of funding, will they pledge further to this crisis?
Chris Elmore
As I said in answer to the shadow Foreign Secretary, we do not rule out any further sanctions and we will take evidence-based decisions on what has meaningful impact. On the UK Government’s response, as I have already said, the UK is at the forefront of the process at both the Security Council and the Human Rights Council. I reiterate that we take very seriously any allegations of UK-made equipment being used in this regard in relation to Sudan, but there is no evidence of that in recent reporting. In fact, where any weapons have been found, they have been of no ammunition or military purpose. They have been non-lethal supplies, which I am afraid is the issue in front of us.
Adam Jogee (Newcastle-under-Lyme) (Lab)
People in Newcastle-under-Lyme are watching this crisis unfold with horror, and I congratulate the hon. Member for Aberdeenshire North and Moray East (Seamus Logan) on securing this urgent question. I welcome the Minister to the Dispatch Box—it is the first time I have seen him—but I must say that an oral ministerial statement would have been welcomed. What specific engagement has taken place with the African Union not just on securing a much-needed peace, but on the distribution of aid? What co-ordinating role is the United Kingdom playing with our European counterparts, because the world cannot sit by and watch this any longer?
Chris Elmore
We are working with the African Union as best we can on ensuring that aid is delivered. There was a statement on 18 November, and there were oral questions to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office at the beginning of the month. The fast pace of this work in Sudan, as a personal priority for the Foreign Secretary, means that it is under constant review and dialogue with various partners, including as recently as last week with US Secretary of State Rubio.
Sir Iain Duncan Smith (Chingford and Woodford Green) (Con)
I congratulate the hon. Member for Aberdeenshire North and Moray East (Seamus Logan) on securing this urgent question. Although there have been two recent sanctions—[Interruption.] All right, four, if we add in the other two. In reality there are 21 other Sudanese, many of them RSF, operating here in the United Kingdom. They are well known to the authorities, they are involved in the financing of this, but they have not been sanctioned. Is it not the reality that this fighting is still going on, with the brutality of the RSF, because the UAE finances and supports what they are doing? Without UAE involvement, there would be no further war. When will the Government turn around, notwithstanding ideas of wanting to get business contacts in the UAE, and start placing Magnitsky sanctions on individuals in the UAE until it stops financing this brutal war?
Chris Elmore
The right hon. Gentleman will know from his time in government and opposition that we do not comment on individuals in relation to specific sanctions, but I confirm to the House that we will not rule out any additional sanctions. On the work of the Quad, the statement on 12 September is a significant development, and we remain completely focused on pushing for the humanitarian pause, the wider ceasefire, and supporting the Sudanese-led political transition. It is for all sides as part of that Quad to ensure that they can do that work—[Interruption.] The right hon. Gentleman pushes me on sanctions for UAE. As he knows, we do not comment on individual sanctions decisions. He is an experienced Member of the House, and he knows that. We will keep this matter under constant review, and keep working with the Quad towards the cessation of violence.
Rachael Maskell (York Central) (Lab/Co-op)
We know that health workers have been targeted and killed, that 80% of health facilities are no longer functioning and that a generation have not received vaccines. We have seen this happen not only in Sudan, but in other conflicts. Rather than being reactionary or using the law retrospectively, what proactive measures are the Foreign Office taking to secure vital humanitarian structures such as healthcare and ensure that they are in place, and to ensure that countries are held to account in real time?
Chris Elmore
As I mentioned, we support the work of the International Criminal Court and its investigation is happening in real time. On healthcare, the humanitarian aid will help to support people through malnutrition and the wider healthcare challenges that they face because of the horrific situation in Sudan.
Richard Foord (Honiton and Sidmouth) (LD)
When the House debated the conflict in Sudan on 4 November, we heard that some British arms and equipment had been found on battlefields in Sudan, and it was alleged that the RSF has been provided with arms by the UAE, which in turn is supplied by the UK. The Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, the hon. Member for Feltham and Heston (Seema Malhotra), said:
“The UK has one of the most robust and transparent export control regimes in the world.”—[Official Report, 4 November 2025; Vol. 774, c. 888.]
We have heard exactly the same line repeated today. Rather than repeating these lines, will the Minister tell the House what discussions have taken place with the UAE since 4 November about UK arms exports to the UAE?
Chris Elmore
As I have set out to the House, there is no evidence in recent reporting of UK weapons or ammunition being used in Sudan.
Florence Eshalomi (Vauxhall and Camberwell Green) (Lab/Co-op)
I thank the Minister for responding and I thank the hon. Member for Aberdeenshire North and Moray East (Seamus Logan) for securing this important urgent question. It is important for us to keep the focus on Sudan. Islamic Relief recently held an exhibition in my constituency entitled “Are your eyes on Sudan?” I am sure the organisation would be ready to welcome and host the Minister to show him the range of images and pictures. I attended a similar exhibition earlier this year, hosted by my hon. Friend the Member for Kensington and Bayswater (Joe Powell) and organised by Waging Peace, which included images drawn by children of their parents, brothers and sisters being raped. Rape is being used as a weapon of war in this conflict. Will the Minister set out how we are working with our international partners to stamp that out, and how we are ensuring that vital humanitarian aid gets to the vulnerable women and children who are caught up in this horrific conflict?
Chris Elmore
I thank my hon. Friend for highlighting the most horrific element of this conflict. It appears that sexual violence against women and girls, and in some cases boys, is increasingly a part of all conflicts across the globe. We have utterly condemned the significant escalation of conflict-related sexual violence throughout Sudan at the United Nations Human Rights Council and the UN Security Council and via two joint statements of the International Alliance on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict. I would be glad to come and see the exhibition. I have seen some of the imagery and it is genuinely distressing, but it is important that we keep a focus on the Sudanese people, as they are the victims of this horrific conflict.
Edward Morello (West Dorset) (LD)
As the Minister said, the UK is the penholder on Sudan at the UN. There clearly need to be comprehensive arms embargos and sanctions against those actors who are fuelling the violence in Sudan. Given that one of those is Russia, which is a permanent member of the UN Security Council, will the Minister ensure that the Government refer the matter to the General Assembly, where a veto cannot be used?
Chris Elmore
I am more than happy to look at any position at a multilateral level that supports the people of Sudan and brings a cessation of violence as quickly as possible, whether at the UN General Assembly, the Security Council or the Human Rights Council, as part of ongoing work across the multilateral space.
Joe Powell (Kensington and Bayswater) (Lab)
I welcome the additional aid and sanctions, and I praise my constituents who have done so much to keep Sudan in the public eye. What lessons have been learned from the fall of El Fasher to prevent the RSF repeating its tried and tested pattern in Tawila, where approximately 650,000 civilians and 300 aid workers, including British citizens, are at grave risk?
Chris Elmore
I thank my hon. Friend for his important question. Prevention work is ongoing to try to avoid further horrendous scenes. This conflict is ongoing and we are doing our very best at the UN level, across the European Union and working with the African Union to ensure that these conflicts do not continue and that we learn lessons as soon as possible.
Dave Doogan (Angus and Perthshire Glens) (SNP)
For the UK Government to decline to take part in the atrocity prevention programme in Sudan is regrettable, and for the UK Government to fail in their due diligence on arms export diversions via the UAE to the RSF is disgraceful, but for the UK Government to have done both looks alarmingly like ambivalence or even complicity. The Minister wants to take us around the houses in saying that the evidential basis for UK arms being in Sudan is not there—let us not do that again—but can he tell us what discussions he has had with the UAE on the sound, robust basis for saying that without the UAE, these atrocities would not be happening?
Chris Elmore
I appreciate that colleagues from across the House care deeply about this particular point, but I cannot go beyond the clear evidence in front of us: there is no evidence in recent reporting of UK weapons and ammunitions being used in Sudan. Where anything has been found, it is in non-lethal supplies—that is the reality about what has been found. We take the allegations in the reviews seriously and we have one of the most robust and transparent systems. It is simply not the case that those weapons have been found to have been made in Britain.
Madam Deputy Speaker (Ms Nusrat Ghani)
Order. I urge colleagues to keep their questions short.
Laura Kyrke-Smith (Aylesbury) (Lab)
I welcome the additional funding and the sanctions that the Minister has updated us on. There is currently a rapid escalation of violence in the Kordofan region, with a repeat of the tactics seen in El Fasher, including siege and sexual violence. What will the Minister do to protect civilians and prevent future atrocities in the Kordofan region?
Chris Elmore
We are working at pace in the international multilateral space to do our very best to bring about a cessation of violence, even if it is over a short period, and we are working with the Quad to ensure that we bring about a permanent ceasefire.
Brian Mathew (Melksham and Devizes) (LD)
Clearly, the No.1 priority is to achieve a ceasefire in Sudan, but peace needs to be secured. Will the UK Government, as the UN penholder, organise and host a Lancaster House-style peace conference for all the parties to the conflict, with civilians represented by the head of the previous civilian Government, Abdalla Hamdok?
Chris Elmore
As I have mentioned, tomorrow we will co-host, with Denmark, the closed United Nations Security Council informal interactive dialogue. As a Government, we will continue to do all we can to bring about the cessation of violence. If we can do any additional work on negotiating peace, of course we will play our part in that.
Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow West) (Lab)
I thank the hon. Member for Aberdeenshire North and Moray East (Seamus Logan) for securing the urgent question. We know that over 10 million people have already been displaced, more than half of them children. We know that children are trapped in hard-to-reach places and that access to food is cut off. Just last week, 63 children were killed in an attack on a kindergarten in South Kordofan. What action can be taken to support these children and their families? They are malnourished and traumatised and have had no education for the duration of the conflict.
Chris Elmore
My hon. Friend raises such an important point. In a previous answer, I spoke about the 98,000 children who we are supporting to tackle malnutrition. I reassure her that we are working with organisations like UNICEF to ensure that we are getting support to children on the ground. Conflict is horrific in all its forms, but there is no worse conflict than that against children, and it must be called out and stopped.
Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North) (Ind)
Will this country be more robust with the UAE on its financial support for the RSF, the clear supply of weapons to the RSF, which have come from somewhere around the world, and the interesting similarity between the areas occupied by the RSF and those where there is a massive supply of minerals and oil that will be available to it in the future? Is this not just a grab for the natural resources of Sudan being undertaken by the RSF on behalf of bigger actors around the world?
Chris Elmore
We continue to work with the US-led Quad effort, which includes the UAE, to ensure that we bring about a sustainable humanitarian pause and a broader ceasefire. We continue to work with all countries to bring about the cessation of violence as quickly as possible.
Mark Sewards (Leeds South West and Morley) (Lab)
Taking into account the Minister’s previous answers about the source of weapons, and given that civilians are being deliberately targeted, with murder, rape and starvation being used as weapons of war, what steps can the UK Government realistically take to disrupt the flow of weapons, drones and military support to the violent actors who are committing such hideous crimes?
Chris Elmore
The best and most robust work we can do is to use our robust and transparent export control regime around the world. We are able to be nimble in ending exports where we find any undesirable end user, and that work will continue, not just in Sudan but in other conflicts around the world.
Vikki Slade (Mid Dorset and North Poole) (LD)
I do not want to labour the point, but whether or not UK arms are being used by the UAE in Sudan is not relevant. It would be horrendous if they were, but the Minister has repeatedly said that they are not being used. Nevertheless, everyone seems to accept that UAE arms are being used, so I repeat the point made by my hon. Friend the Member for Honiton and Sidmouth (Richard Foord): what meetings has the Minister had with the UAE, since the last debate, to discuss whether it is arming the people of Sudan?
Chris Elmore
External support to the SAF and the RSF only fuels the conflict. We continue to emphasise to all parties the importance of refraining from actions that prolong the conflict. We ask that all those with influence over the warring parties bring them to the negotiating table to seek a political resolution.
Alice Macdonald (Norwich North) (Lab/Co-op)
The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights warned recently of escalating drone strikes across Darfur and Kordofan and, as the Minister said, six peacekeepers lost their lives in a drone attack on Saturday. It is of course the humans controlling the weapons who must stop, but there is a live conversation about this issue and organisations have called for new legally binding rules to offer legal certainty and stability around the use of drones and autonomous weapons systems. What is the Minister’s assessment of those systems? What conversations are the UK Government leading at the UN?
Chris Elmore
We are alarmed by the use of drones to attack civilians. We are particularly concerned about the recent attack, which my hon. Friend mentioned and to which I referred in my opening remarks, that killed peacekeepers and may have involved drones. Our export controls on arms are strict and include military drones, and we are working as best we can to ensure that external actors refrain from fuelling the conflict and work together to secure peace, and particularly to try to introduce mitigations on the use of drones. We continue to work on all possible options in the multilateral space as the penholder at the UN.
Ben Lake (Ceredigion Preseli) (PC)
I am pleased to hear the Minister confirm that the Government are supporting the work of the International Criminal Court’s investigations of the commanders implicated in the atrocities. Will he reassure us that the Government will waste no time in bringing further sanctions against individuals when charges are brought, and encourage international partners to do likewise?
Chris Elmore
As I have mentioned, we do not provide a running commentary on individual sanctions, but I assure the hon. Gentleman and the House that we will keep this matter under constant review.
Chris Law (Dundee Central) (SNP)
I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Aberdeenshire North and Moray East (Seamus Logan) on securing the urgent question. Major aid cuts have happened, and a peacebuilding programme in Sudan was cancelled, which led to our failure to respond to the emerging civil war and the resulting genocide. Will the Minister confirm that any future aid cuts will come with a proper plan in advance? Will the conflict prevention unit be fully restored?
Chris Elmore
As I have mentioned, the Prime Minister has made it clear that we will continue to play a humanitarian role in Sudan, and he is committed to protecting our funding support for people affected by the crisis over the next three years. The fund is not linked to any official development assistance cuts and will, in fact, deliver £146 million of lifesaving aid over the next year.
Carla Denyer (Bristol Central) (Green)
I am sure I am not the only Member who feels that we are a bit through the looking glass, with the Minister today and the Minister who answered the urgent question last month insisting that no UK arms have been found in Sudan, while Amnesty International reports that small-arms targeting systems and engines for armoured vehicles from the UK have been found in Sudan. I think we can be confident that they are not being used for peaceful purposes, so will the Minister reconsider a ban on arms exports to the UAE, or at the very least set out how the Government—specifically how—are conducting due diligence when licensing arms transfers to the UAE?
Chris Elmore
As I have said, any arms found were non-lethal supplies, and they were not arms or ammunition. Although we are aware of reports of a small number of UK-made items being found in Sudan, none of the equipment reported on recently has been licensed for export to the UAE in recent years, and there is no evidence in recent reporting of UK weapons or ammunition being used in Sudan. As the hon. Lady may know, we have previously refused licences to the UAE due to the risk of diversion.
Shockat Adam (Leicester South) (Ind)
It appears that, once again, children are paying the price of man’s folly. According to Save the Children, over 1,200 children were killed in 2024, rising to 1,700 last year, mainly by explosive devices. At a hospital in Khartoum, one in six casualties are children with shrapnel to the head, limbs or abdomen. As a United Nations penholder on Sudan, will the Minister draft a child-focused resolution on protecting the most innocent?
Chris Elmore
The hon. Gentleman raises an extremely important point in relation to children, as have other Members. Conflict is unimaginable in any form, but the killing of children specifically and the use of children as weapons of war is an atrocity all of its own. We continue to work at the UN level, at both the Human Rights Council and the Security Council, to ensure that, as penholder, we bring about an end to the conflict as quickly as possible. Obviously, we will keep up that work, including on the specific impacts on children.
Ayoub Khan (Birmingham Perry Barr) (Ind)
As well as the atrocious mass murders, the humanitarian catastrophe in Sudan only worsens. It is vital that we commit ourselves not only to giving aid, but to delivering it in a way that reaches as many people as possible. Recently, the Independent Commission for Aid Impact highlighted how our Sudan-related aid is being undermined by understaffing, short-term and unpredictable funding allocations, over-complex compliance procedures and insufficient support for frontline responders. When can we expect the Government’s response to those findings? Can the Minister assure the House that the necessary changes will be made to ensure that humanitarian assistance gets through?
Chris Elmore
Let me give the hon. Gentleman one example. Over the past two years we have provided the World Food Programme with £55 million, which has been explicitly targeted at populations at risk of or experiencing famine, including in Sudan, and £2 million of additional funding for Cash Consortium Sudan’s El Fasher response, supporting over 100,000 people with lifesaving aid in north Darfur. We also work regionally, including around eastern Chad. We do ensure that the funding through the aid programmes reaches the people who are most in need.
Mr Adnan Hussain (Blackburn) (Ind)
I echo the calls from colleagues across the House. Given that we are a signatory to the genocide convention, will the Minister plainly commit to using every lever available to the Government, including our position in the United Nations, to demand an immediate end to the horrific situation unfolding in Sudan?
Chris Elmore
I can confirm that, as I have done for all questions throughout the session.
Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP)
I thank the Minister for his strong answers. The situation in Sudan is deteriorating every hour, yet the anguish that people are suffering is fresh and new. For Christians in particular, the murder, rape and systematic violence happens daily. Every day, another child loses their mother or father, their chance of education and their hope of a future. When will the Minister put his heartfelt words into action, and when can move into the region with other countries to restore peace? How we can get the help to those on the ground who need it most but whose voices cannot be heard?
Chris Elmore
I know how much these issues matter to the hon. Gentleman. We are working as quickly and as robustly as we can at the UN level, and we are working with European and American partners to ensure that we bring about the cessation of violence. We will continue to do that work. This is a personal commitment of the Foreign Secretary, given all her work in recent months to try to bring about a peaceful settlement for the people of Sudan.
Hurricane Melissa: Government Response
Chris Elmore Excerpts(3 months ago)
Written StatementsRead Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Chris Elmore)
I am writing to update the House on the impact of Hurricane Melissa in the Caribbean and the action the Government are taking in response, following my recent visit to Jamaica, where I witnessed at first hand the devastation caused and the scale of the challenge facing communities.
Nearly 6 million people throughout the Caribbean have been affected by Hurricane Melissa, with Jamaica, Cuba and Haiti suffering the most acute impacts. In Jamaica, 45 deaths have been reported, and the World Bank has estimated that there has been up to $8.8 billion in damage—over 41% of the country’s 2024 GDP. In Haiti, assessing the scale of the damage has been challenging, with critical roads and bridges swept away, and severe damage to the agricultural sector. Haitian authorities report 43 deaths in the coastal town of Petit-Goave alone, and approximately 250,000 people have been affected. In Cuba, extensive damage was caused to infrastructure, agriculture and essential services. In the Bahamas, and in the UK overseas territories of Turks and Caicos, Cayman Islands and Bermuda, the impact was limited but nonetheless disruptive.
Throughout my time in Jamaica, the importance of the UK’s support was evident. The UK Government have assisted Jamaica in three different ways. First and most importantly, there is the work that we do in advance of any crisis. The UK is a long-standing champion of disaster finance mechanisms, and it has worked closely with Jamaica to set up a sophisticated pre-arranged finance framework, with a reported $1.6 billion available to respond to disasters through financial instruments. We were also a founding donor of a regional risk pool—the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility. The CCRIF has announced that Jamaica has received around $92 million from hurricane and excess rainfall insurance, and Jamaica’s catastrophe bond paid out $150 million last week. The UK is also a major contributor to the Red Cross and UN global emergency response funds, as well as the Start non-governmental organisation network, with over £14 million additionally triggered for vulnerable households in affected countries, both for preparation ahead of the hurricane, and for humanitarian relief post impact. These initiatives provide countries with security at their most insecure time and allow them to rebuild at pace. I pay credit to the Jamaican Government for their prudence and foresight in engaging such frameworks.
Second is the work that the UK has done bilaterally. We delivered over 18,000 core relief items, such as emergency shelter kits, hygiene kits and solar lanterns, which are directly assisting approximately 33,000 people. HMS Trent arrived in Jamaica on 2 November, having supported the Turks and Caicos in the immediate aftermath of Melissa. 24 Commando Royal Engineers, alongside the ship’s company, cleared debris, repaired storm damage, and conducted urgent repairs at Falmouth hospital and a local primary school. These efforts enabled the Spanish Government-run field hospital to occupy wards.
The UK emergency medical team was deployed to deliver primary healthcare services in support of Jamaica’s Ministry of Health and Wellbeing; the provision of two mobile clinics operating in rural areas of Trelawny parish supported affected communities and reduced the burden on Jamaican healthcare. To date, our teams have seen 1,225 patients. We are also supporting the Caribbean Public Health Agency with public health supplies and specialist technical support.
The UK is also funding the staffing of a field hospital in Savana-la-Mar. Demonstrating the benefit of the UK’s efforts to build climate-resilient healthcare, I visited Santa Cruz health centre in Saint Elizabeth, a UK-funded resilient hospital implemented by the Pan American Health Organization—the regional WHO office—in collaboration with Jamaica’s Ministry of Health. The hospital has survived both Hurricanes Beryl and Melissa, continuing to provide critical healthcare throughout these crises. We have also provided funding for the Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation, which has deployed 51 specialist energy sector personnel to support restoration of the national electrical grid.
Lastly, there is the work we have been delivering through multinational organisations. We have funded critical surge staff positions in UN agencies in both Jamaica and Haiti, as well as providing humanitarian experts to support the British high commission in Kingston. During my visit to Saint Elizabeth, I met children directly affected by the storm—30% of early learning facilities were severely damaged, and another 30% were impacted. The UK has provided £850,000 to UNICEF to deliver water and sanitation services, child protection, and education support. I saw UNICEF’s mobile child-friendly spaces, which offer critical psychosocial support to children in affected communities. In Saint Elizabeth, I also observed the World Food Programme’s efforts, supported by £2 million from the UK, to provide emergency food supplies, strengthen humanitarian logistics, and deliver telecommunications expertise.
The Red Cross Jamaica is using £1 million in UK funding to provide emergency shelter, cash assistance, psychosocial support, including for children, and water, sanitation, and hygiene supplies. Preparations are also under way for cash assistance programmes led by the World Food Programme, the Red Cross, and UNICEF to help affected families purchase essentials and restore livelihoods once markets stabilise. The UK has also contributed to programmes that have been active in responding to the impact of the hurricane in Haiti and Cuba. The World Food Programme has provided anticipatory cash transfers to 9,400 households in high-risk areas ahead of Hurricane Melissa’s landfall, and a $4 million Central Emergency Response Fund allocation was also released to support humanitarian efforts in response to Melissa’s impact. The UK has also supported specific technical expertise to the response.
Alongside our humanitarian response, the UK consular operation has been significant. With the UK’s strong links to Jamaica, many British nationals and UK residents were in the country during Hurricane Melissa. The FCDO provided consular support to over 2,000 British nationals in Jamaica, including by organising a charter flight, closely liaising with airlines and providing tailored support to vulnerable individuals.
Throughout my visit to Jamaica, I was reminded of the deep and enduring bonds between the UK and the Caribbean; every map I saw contained links to every part of the UK. These relationships need to mean something in times of crisis. I pay tribute to all those I have met across Government, NGOs and local communities who continue to work tirelessly to ensure that assistance reaches those most in need. I am proud to say—and to have seen for myself—that the UK stands by Jamaica’s side in its hour of need.
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