Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have reached a decision on invoking Article 60(1) of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties in response to China's breaches of the Sino-British Joint Declaration; what decision was reached; and if they decided against invocation or reached no final decision, what reasons informed that position.

Answered by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK has been clear that, since March 2021 and following Beijing's imposition of the National Security Law on Hong Kong, China has been in an ongoing state of non-compliance with the Sino-British Joint Declaration. The Joint Declaration is a legally binding, UN-registered agreement that remains in force, and we continue to monitor its implementation through our Six-Monthly Reports on Hong Kong. We have consistently called on China to honour the commitments it made to the people of Hong Kong.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have reached a conclusion on whether China's breaches of the Sino-British Joint Declaration constitute a material breach within the meaning of Article 60(3) of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties; and if they concluded that no material breach occurred, what reasons informed that conclusion.

Answered by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK has been clear that, since March 2021 and following Beijing's imposition of the National Security Law on Hong Kong, China has been in an ongoing state of non-compliance with the Sino-British Joint Declaration. The Joint Declaration is a legally binding, UN-registered agreement that remains in force, and we continue to monitor its implementation through our Six-Monthly Reports on Hong Kong. We have consistently called on China to honour the commitments it made to the people of Hong Kong.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the reports that acute malnutrition has killed 1,852 vulnerable civilians and affected 1,743 others in areas controlled by the Sudan Liberation Movement, including casualties and illnesses among children, pregnant and lactating women, and elderly people, across the Jebel Marra, Tawila, and Ain Siro regions; and what steps they are taking to address the situation, in particular the shortage of healthcare facilities.

Answered by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Noble Lord to the answer provided in the House of Commons on 16 October in response to Question 32464, which - for ease of reference - is reproduced below:

The UK is concerned by the risk of further deterioration of the already catastrophic humanitarian situation in Sudan over the coming months. This is a man made crisis - driven by repeated attacks on civilian infrastructure and humanitarian operations and by the systematic obstruction of aid - that is being exacerbated by a strong El Nino.

The UK continues to engage both warring parties, regional partners and the international community to press for the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure and unimpeded humanitarian access, in line with international law. These measures are essential to enabling access to farmland, maintaining markets and trade routes, and supporting the movement of agricultural goods.

The UK is providing £146 million in aid to Sudan this financial year (FY26/27), making us the third largest humanitarian donor. As part of this,we are providing £15 million to local responders , who are often the first to identify needs, report on the crisis, and deliver life-saving assistance to famine-affected communities.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that chemical weapons were used at the Al-Jaili (Al-Garri) oil refinery in Sudan in September 2024; and whether they plan to call for an independent international inquiry at the Executive Council of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.

Answered by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Noble Lord to the response provided to his previous Question HL3376 on 6 October 2026, printed here for ease:

We are aware of recent media reporting of alleged chemical weapons use in Sudan and are reviewing the allegations carefully. The UK takes any alleged breach of the Chemical Weapons Convention very seriously. Sudan is a State Party to the Chemical Weapons Convention and we expect all those in Sudan to abide by the prohibition on developing, producing, possessing, transferring or using chemical weapons. We have consistently raised serious concerns about allegations of chemical weapon use in Sudan, including at the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), and will continue to do so. Officials have also raised this specific report with representatives of the Sudanese Armed Forces and urged Sudan to conclude its investigation into the allegations and report back to the OPCW.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made in the transfer of the funds from the sale of Chelsea Football Club from Roman Abramovich to a charitable foundation for the benefit of victims of the war in Ukraine, as originally committed to in 2022.

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

This Government recognises that the proceeds of the sale of Chelsea FC urgently need to be released to address the acute humanitarian needs in Ukraine. Our absolute priority is to ensure the funds reach vulnerable people in Ukraine who have endured over four years of relentless suffering as soon as possible.

Previous Governments have striven to reach an agreement with Mr Abramovich, to transfer the proceeds to support humanitarian needs in Ukraine. Despite committing to make this donation over four years ago, it has not happened, even after the UK government created a clear legal route for him to do so by issuing an OFSI licence in December last year.

Abramovich must not be allowed to delay these proceeds reaching the Ukrainian people. This government is urgently exploring further action we can take to release the funds, including preparing for a possible legal case. It would not be appropriate for me to comment on specific actions we are taking at this stage. But rest assured we are making every effort to release these funds as quickly as possible.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what comparative analysis they have conducted on Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 4 academic performance between Voluntary Aided Catholic schools and Catholic schools that have converted to academy status within Catholic Multi-Academy Trusts over the last five years.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The government recognises that faith schools operate within governance arrangements that require the consent of the relevant foundation, trustees or religious authority to voluntarily join an academy trust. However, under the Academies Act 2010, a voluntary application for academy status is made by the school's governing body.

The governing body must consult appropriately before conversion takes place. The department publishes guidance for schools about academy conversion which explains the statutory requirements around consultation.

The department has not conducted a specific comparative assessment of the financial resilience, per-pupil funding allocations, administrative overheads or academic performance of voluntary aided Catholic schools and Catholic schools within Catholic multi-academy trusts.

Academy trusts are required to publish annual accounts and the latest published data shows that 96% of academy trusts are operating with a cumulative surplus. Multi-academy trusts can realise efficiencies through economies of scale when delivering services across a group of schools.

Information on school and academy performance is published annually and is available through the department's performance data publications.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the (1) financial resilience, (2) per-pupil funding allocation, and (3) administrative overheads, of voluntary aided Catholic schools compared to those operating within Catholic multi-academy trusts.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The government recognises that faith schools operate within governance arrangements that require the consent of the relevant foundation, trustees or religious authority to voluntarily join an academy trust. However, under the Academies Act 2010, a voluntary application for academy status is made by the school's governing body.

The governing body must consult appropriately before conversion takes place. The department publishes guidance for schools about academy conversion which explains the statutory requirements around consultation.

The department has not conducted a specific comparative assessment of the financial resilience, per-pupil funding allocations, administrative overheads or academic performance of voluntary aided Catholic schools and Catholic schools within Catholic multi-academy trusts.

Academy trusts are required to publish annual accounts and the latest published data shows that 96% of academy trusts are operating with a cumulative surplus. Multi-academy trusts can realise efficiencies through economies of scale when delivering services across a group of schools.

Information on school and academy performance is published annually and is available through the department's performance data publications.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what is their policy regarding the structural conversion of maintained schools to academy status where conversion is directed or mandated by a diocesan authority rather than initiated by a school’s governing body.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The government recognises that faith schools operate within governance arrangements that require the consent of the relevant foundation, trustees or religious authority to voluntarily join an academy trust. However, under the Academies Act 2010, a voluntary application for academy status is made by the school's governing body.

The governing body must consult appropriately before conversion takes place. The department publishes guidance for schools about academy conversion which explains the statutory requirements around consultation.

The department has not conducted a specific comparative assessment of the financial resilience, per-pupil funding allocations, administrative overheads or academic performance of voluntary aided Catholic schools and Catholic schools within Catholic multi-academy trusts.

Academy trusts are required to publish annual accounts and the latest published data shows that 96% of academy trusts are operating with a cumulative surplus. Multi-academy trusts can realise efficiencies through economies of scale when delivering services across a group of schools.

Information on school and academy performance is published annually and is available through the department's performance data publications.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what (1) statutory guidance, and (2) requirements, apply to public and parental consultations conducted prior to a Catholic voluntary aided school converting to academy status under a diocesan-wide plan.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The government recognises that faith schools operate within governance arrangements that require the consent of the relevant foundation, trustees or religious authority to voluntarily join an academy trust. However, under the Academies Act 2010, a voluntary application for academy status is made by the school's governing body.

The governing body must consult appropriately before conversion takes place. The department publishes guidance for schools about academy conversion which explains the statutory requirements around consultation.

The department has not conducted a specific comparative assessment of the financial resilience, per-pupil funding allocations, administrative overheads or academic performance of voluntary aided Catholic schools and Catholic schools within Catholic multi-academy trusts.

Academy trusts are required to publish annual accounts and the latest published data shows that 96% of academy trusts are operating with a cumulative surplus. Multi-academy trusts can realise efficiencies through economies of scale when delivering services across a group of schools.

Information on school and academy performance is published annually and is available through the department's performance data publications.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what comparative data they hold on the Ofsted outcomes of Catholic primary and secondary schools operating as Voluntary Aided schools and those operating as academies within Catholic Multi-Academy Trusts in each of the past five years.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

This is a matter for His Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Sir Martyn Oliver. I have asked Sir Martyn Oliver to write directly to the noble Lord, Lord Alton of Liverpool, and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether the 1984 United Kingdom Memorandum creates a continuing international-law restriction upon granting British citizenship or right of abode to British National (Overseas) status holders; and whether the present restrictions arise from domestic legislation, government policy, or both.

Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The UK Government remains committed to the Sino-British Joint Declaration.

British nationality law is set out in statute. We have no plans to amend legislation to automatically give British citizenship to all British Nationals (Overseas) (BN(O)s), but there are legislative provisions which allow BN(O)s to apply for British citizenship if they have competed a period of UK residence or have no other citizenship or nationality.

Under the BN(O) visa route, BN(O)s and their dependant family members can apply to come to the UK, enabling them to live, work and study, and thereby providing a pathway to British citizenship and the right of abode in the UK.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many civil servants have left their jobs following the reshuffle in summer 2026 at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

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

Between 1st June 2026 and 31st August 2026, 375 civil servants left the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) as part of the FCDO 2030 restructure.

In terms of how many civil servants left the FCDO following the Ministerial reshuffle in July 2026, the Cabinet Office routinely publishes a breakdown of special advisers by department as part of the Annual Report on Special Advisers.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that people with religious beliefs in North Korea continue to face imprisonment, forced labour, torture, and execution for possessing religious materials or engaging in worship; and what steps they are taking with international partners to secure the release of religious prisoners of conscience in North Korea.

Answered by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK remains deeply concerned by reports of ongoing, widespread and systematic human rights violations in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), including severe restrictions on freedom of religion or belief. Reports indicate that individuals practicing religion can face surveillance, imprisonment or other serious penalties. The UK frequently raises its concerns about the DPRK's continued human rights violations, including the lack of freedom of religion or belief in the DPRK, both bilaterally through our Embassy, in London and in multilateral fora. On 31 March, the UK, alongside international partners, co-sponsored the annual Human Rights Council Resolution on the situation of human rights in the DPRK, which was adopted by consensus in Geneva. We continue to call on the DPRK to address its human rights violations and to comply with its international human rights obligations.

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