Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of freedom of religion or belief in Iraq; and what steps they are taking to support freedom of religion or belief in Iraq.

Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The UK is committed to freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all. We demonstrate this through our engagement, both multilaterally and bilaterally. For example, earlier this month, UK Special Envoy for FoRB, David Smith MP, attended the 58th Session of the UN Human Rights Council and met with counterparts to discuss key issues.

In Iraq, we recognise that continued insecurity is challenging for its religious and ethnic minorities. Through our diplomatic presence, we regularly raise FoRB with the Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government. We also support civil society groups to freely advocate on behalf of minority groups.

FoRB-specific goals are also threaded throughout British Embassy Baghdad's and British Consulate General Erbil's programme work. We are careful to ensure that these focus on local cohesion and minimise the risk of inadvertently exacerbating community divisions.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of Ukraine regarding the wellbeing of Solomiya Spence who was taken to that country by her mother in July 2024.

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

The Government takes international parental child abduction (IPCA) very seriously and we recognise the distress of all those affected. While we cannot comment on the details of specific cases publicly without consent, when a British child has been abducted and taken overseas, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) support can include signposting to partner organisations, providing help to families with contacting the relevant authorities abroad, expressing our interest in a case with the overseas government and asking about progress, where appropriate. The FCDO has also published guidance to assist parents affected by IPCA: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/international-parental-child-abduction

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what support they are providing to Ian Spence regarding his daughter Solomiya who was taken to Ukraine by her mother in July 2024.

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

The Government takes international parental child abduction (IPCA) very seriously and we recognise the distress of all those affected. While we cannot comment on the details of specific cases publicly without consent, when a British child has been abducted and taken overseas, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) support can include signposting to partner organisations, providing help to families with contacting the relevant authorities abroad, expressing our interest in a case with the overseas government and asking about progress, where appropriate. The FCDO has also published guidance to assist parents affected by IPCA: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/international-parental-child-abduction

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential impact of reported attacks on religious communities and places of worship in Ukraine by Russian forces on freedom of religion or belief in that country.

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

We are deeply disturbed by the impact of Russia's illegal war on Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB), as well as the damage done to places of worship and religious significance. Following Russia's extension into the occupied territories in Ukraine, its domestic repression of FoRB sees Orthodox Church of Ukraine clergy, Crimean Tatars, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and Protestant Churches suffer repression and physical abuse. This includes the prohibition of religious literature and arbitrary arrests and detentions, where religious figures are reportedly subjected to torture. Jehovah's Witnesses have been banned altogether. Russia's war is not just an attempt to destroy Ukraine's democracy, but their identity and culture - extending to Ukraine's religious and belief communities.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what military support they are providing to the government of Rwanda for (1) training, (2) technology, (3) tactics, and (4) weapons licensing, and whether they have reviewed these arrangements following the support by the government of Rwanda for M23 rebels in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The UK has condemned the offensives by M23 and the Rwandan Defence Force as an unacceptable violation of the Democratic Republic of the Congo's (DRC) sovereignty and territorial integrity, and a breach of the UN Charter. On 25 February, the UK issued a statement following the Foreign Secretary's visits to Kinshasa and Kigali announcing several measures impacting Rwanda. These included a suspension of future defence training assistance to Rwanda, revoking relevant extant licences for the armed forces in Rwanda, and a pause in direct bilateral financial aid to the Government of Rwanda, excluding support to the poorest and most vulnerable.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what financial support, debt relief and development assistance they are providing to Rwanda, and what steps they will take to review these arrangements as a result of the support by the government of Rwanda for M23 revels in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The UK has condemned the offensives by M23 and the Rwandan Defence Force as an unacceptable violation of the Democratic Republic of the Congo's (DRC) sovereignty and territorial integrity, and a breach of the UN Charter. On 25 February, the UK issued a statement following the Foreign Secretary's visits to Kinshasa and Kigali announcing several measures impacting Rwanda. These included a suspension of future defence training assistance to Rwanda, revoking relevant extant licences for the armed forces in Rwanda, and a pause in direct bilateral financial aid to the Government of Rwanda, excluding support to the poorest and most vulnerable.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of Qatar about the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, and support by Rwanda for M23 rebels.

Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is deeply alarming. We have been clear that there can be no military solution and call for meaningful engagement in peace processes. We are in close contact with a range of partners globally on eastern DRC, including Qatar. Ministers and senior officials hold regular meetings to discuss foreign policy issues with their Qatari counterparts.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether the proposed the Act on Amendments to the Churches and Congregations Act adopted by the Estonian Parliament on 18 June contravenes international standards and norms on the right to freedom of religion of belief, and whether they have made representations to the government of Estonia.

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

His Majesty's Government has made no formal assessment of the Estonian Government's amendments to the Churches and Congregations Act, which has not yet received Presidential approval. The UK is committed to promoting freedom of religion or belief for all and we work closely with international partners, including through the Article 18 Alliance, of which Estonia is a member, to champion freedom of religion or belief around the world. Estonia consistently scores highly on measures of freedom of religion or belief in public rankings, such as those of Freedom House. We have made no representations to the government of Estonia on the law under consideration.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of freedom of religion or belief in Estonia.

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

His Majesty's Government has made no formal assessment of the Estonian Government's amendments to the Churches and Congregations Act, which has not yet received Presidential approval. The UK is committed to promoting freedom of religion or belief for all and we work closely with international partners, including through the Article 18 Alliance, of which Estonia is a member, to champion freedom of religion or belief around the world. Estonia consistently scores highly on measures of freedom of religion or belief in public rankings, such as those of Freedom House. We have made no representations to the government of Estonia on the law under consideration.

Found: Fleet; Baroness Healy of Primrose Hill; Lord Holmes of Richmond; Lord Knight of Weymouth; The Lord Bishop of Leeds

Found: International Schools Pro bono adviser to a not-for-profit media literacy education start-up The Lord Bishop of Leeds

Found: Fleet; Baroness Healy of Primrose Hill; Lord Holmes of Richmond; Lord Knight of Weymouth; The Lord Bishop of Leeds

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Found: Fleet; Baroness Healy of Primrose Hill; Lord Holmes of Richmond; Lord Knight of Weymouth; The Lord Bishop of Leeds

Found: Fleet; Baroness Healy of Primrose Hill; Lord Holmes of Richmond; Lord Knight of Weymouth; The Lord Bishop of Leeds