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

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they are considering using the underspend in the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme to lift the cap on individual claims in the second half of the 2025–26 financial year.

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

Government has allocated up to £23 million to the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme in 2025/26. This year’s scheme will end on 31 March 2026 or when the budget is exhausted, whichever is the sooner.

Applications can be made throughout the year and are paid on a weekly basis. In order to help applicants plan, we publish an online tracker showing remaining funding. This indicates remaining budget and is not an underspend. We typically see an upsurge in claims towards the end of the financial year.

Altering the scheme's established criteria during the course of the financial year would not be fair on those organisations whose claims have already been paid, or on those who intend to claim later in the year and may find budget unavailable. We do not have plans to amend or remove the cap.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will recognise the new government of Syria, and what plans they have to help the new government to secure a fair and just administration of Syria.

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

The Foreign Secretary visited Damascus on 5 July to renew UK-Syria relations and reiterate UK support to the Syrian Government as it seeks to rebuild the economy and deliver an inclusive political transition. We welcome the progress made, including representative appointments to the Cabinet, a commitment to free and fair elections, and provisions on freedom of expression and freedom of religion and belief in the Constitutional Declaration. We will continue to work with the Syrian Government to ensure the political transition proceeds in a genuinely inclusive way and protects the rights of all Syrians, regardless of religious or ethnic background.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, in the light of the suicide bombing at the Greek Orthodox Church of the Prophet Elias on 22 June, what support they have given to the new government of Syria to help to protect the Christian population against attack.

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

The UK strongly condemns the horrific terrorist attack at Mar Elias Church in Damascus, and remains committed to combatting terrorism in all forms. The Foreign Secretary expressed his condolences, and the UK's continued support to the people of Syria, to President Al-Sharaa during his visit to Damascus on 5 July. We have consistently underlined the importance of protecting all civilians, both publicly and as part of our engagement with the Syrian Government. The Foreign Secretary raised this most recently during his visit to Damascus. We will continue to advocate for the right to Freedom of Religion or Belief for all Syrians.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of arrests made in the Republic of Armenia of Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan and Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan; and the impact the arrests may have on freedom of religion in Armenia.

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

The UK is monitoring the recent arrests of opposition figures in Armenia, including Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan. It is important that due process is allowed to take its course, ensuring that all individuals are treated fairly under the law and that judicial proceedings remain transparent and impartial. The UK Government remains firmly committed to promoting and protecting the right to freedom of religion or belief globally.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to curb the sale of looted antiquities from Syria on the international market.

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

The Government is committed to preventing the sale of looted antiquities. Through our International Cultural Heritage Protection programme, we work closely with international partners, including the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the Commission for International Justice and Accountability (CIJA), Blue Shield International and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) on projects to prevent the trafficking and sale of looted antiquities, including those from Syria.

We have a range of provisions in international and domestic UK law, including criminal offences, to protect cultural objects from unlawful removal and illicit trade. UK authorities work with the UK art market and online selling platforms, such as eBay, to combat the sale of stolen and looted cultural objects. The Government encourages anyone who believes that a cultural object has been stolen or looted to raise it with the appropriate authorities.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report of the European Parliament A-10-0067/2025 on the 2023 & 2024 Commission on Türkiye and the subsequent motion of 6 May, in particular paragraph 25 of the report where the parliament calls for Turkey to respect the role of the Ecumenical Patriarchate for Orthodox Christians; recognise its legal personality and the public use of the ecclesiastical title of Ecumenical Patriarch; and protect the value of UNESCO World Heritage sites the Hagia Sophia and Chora Museum.

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

The UK calls on Turkey, as a founding member of the Council of Europe, to uphold the rights of all religious groups in Turkey as enshrined within the Turkish constitution and to implement the recommendations of the Venice Commission and the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights. Decisions on the status of Hagia Sophia are a sovereign matter for Turkey. However, the Government expects Hagia Sophia and the Chora Museum, as part of a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site, to remain accessible to all and that their cultural and religious significance be preserved. We welcome assurances by the Turkish Government that the Hagia Sophia will remain open to people of all faiths and nationalities. The UK continues to work closely with UNESCO, its advisory bodies and partner governments, including Turkey, to promote the highest standards of heritage protection. This will ensure designated sites are protected effectively for the whole of humanity and for future generations.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the BBC World Service on (1) global projection of the UK, and (2) global access to news reporting.

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

The Government highly values the BBC World Service and its role promoting the national interest, supporting our security and reflecting our culture and values to the world. According to a 2025 survey conducted for the BBC by the independent polling company, Tapestry, the BBC is a leader in driving favourable impressions of the UK and is the country's most recognised cultural export internationally. BBC users around the world are more likely to invest in the UK than non-users (73 per cent of BBC users intend to invest in the UK in the future compared with 51 per cent of non-users).

The World Service provides impartial, accurate news to a global audience of 320 million, 73 per cent in countries with low/no media freedom. For example: Iran (13.5 million weekly reach), Russia, (2.24 million weekly reach) and Afghanistan (4.9 million weekly reach). It remains the world's most trusted international news service.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of Egypt concerning the ruling of the Ismailia Court of Appeal on 27 May on the world’s oldest continuous Christian monastery at St Catherine, Sinai, regarding the ownership of the site and of the surrounding area.

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

The UK Government recognises St Catherine's Monastery's historical and religious importance and tracks this long-standing land ownership dispute. Our Embassy in Cairo participated in discussions with the Egyptian government on this issue on Friday 30 May. We will continue to monitor developments and engage on issues of heritage protection and religious freedoms.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will meet members of Save the Armenian Quarter in Jerusalem; and what support, if any, they are providing to the campaign of preventing the takeover of Armenian property in the Old City of Jerusalem.

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

The UK recognises that Jerusalem holds particular significance for many groups around the globe, especially the three Abrahamic faiths of Christianity, Islam and Judaism. It has been the position of the UK Government since 1967 that the Occupied Palestinian Territories (West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Gaza) are not lawfully part of the State of Israel. In line with relevant UN Security Council Resolutions, we regard East Jerusalem as part of the Occupied Palestinian Territories. His Majesty's Government continue to support the cultural presence and identity in East Jerusalem. Officials at our Consulate General in Jerusalem regularly meet with members of the Christian community and Churches in Jerusalem, including the Armenian Patriarchate, to understand the impact of issues affecting their community.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will take steps to ensure there are no changes to the shape of the Armenian Quarter in the Old City of Jerusalem that would be illegal.

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

The UK recognises that Jerusalem holds particular significance for many groups around the globe, especially the three Abrahamic faiths of Christianity, Islam and Judaism. It has been the position of the UK Government since 1967 that the Occupied Palestinian Territories (West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Gaza) are not lawfully part of the State of Israel. In line with relevant UN Security Council Resolutions, we regard East Jerusalem as part of the Occupied Palestinian Territories. His Majesty's Government continue to support the cultural presence and identity in East Jerusalem. Officials at our Consulate General in Jerusalem regularly meet with members of the Christian community and Churches in Jerusalem, including the Armenian Patriarchate, to understand the impact of issues affecting their community.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of recent registration measures by the government of Israel on the ability of international non-governmental organisations to deliver humanitarian assistance in Gaza.

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

I refer the Lord Bishop to the statement I made to the House on 7 January.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the humanitarian situation in Gaza; and what representations they have made to the government of Israel to lift the restrictions on international humanitarian assistance in that territory.

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

I refer the Lord Bishop to the statement I made to the House on 7 January.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Twycross on 16 September 2025 (HL10149), what plans they have to disburse all the remaining funds in the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme by raising the cap on individual claims retrospectively in the final weeks of the scheme.

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

The Scheme for 2025 to 2026 will close on 31st March 2026 or once the £23 million budget has been reached, whichever is earlier. In order to ensure the scheme is available to as many listed places of worship as possible, within this context, we do not feel it is appropriate to reassess the cap for this financial year.

As announced on 22 January, from April 2026, the Places of Worship Renewal Fund will introduce to a more targeted model aimed at places of worship in areas of greatest need, ensuring that every pound of taxpayers' money is leveraged to secure the future of our heritage while supporting the government's wider missions for national renewal and community cohesion.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, following the arrest of an archbishop in Armenia on 4 December, what assessment they have made of religious freedom in that country, and what discussions they have had with the government of Armenia about that issue.

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

I refer the Lord Bishop to the answer provided in the House of Commons on 17 November in response to Question 89462, which - for ease of reference - is reproduced below:

The UK is monitoring the situation between the Armenian Government and the Armenian Apostolic Church. We expect all actions to comply with Armenia's constitutional and legal framework, allowing due process to take its course and ensuring that all individuals are treated fairly under the law, with judicial proceedings remaining transparent and impartial. The UK Government remains firmly committed to promoting and protecting the right to freedom of religion or belief worldwide.

Ministers and officials have regularly discussed a range of issues with our Armenian counterparts.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel about the repair of graves in the Gaza war cemetery in al-Tuffah.

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

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided by the Minister for the Middle East and North Africa on 13 February in response to Question 111058, which - for ease of reference - is reproduced below:

The Gaza War Cemetery in al-Tuffah holds the remains of more than 3,000 men who gave their lives in the First and Second World Wars, the majority from the United Kingdom, but many also from Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, Poland, South Africa and other countries. As I said in the General Debate on 5 February, that includes Private William Jordan and Private Wilfrid Ogden, from my own constituency, who died during the Battles for Gaza in 1917.

There is justifiable distress in our country and elsewhere at the reports that the cemetery has been damaged by Israeli bulldozers, and we also deplore the reports that the cemetery has been used for Hamas military operations. Brave servicemen laid to rest overseas should never have had their graves defiled in this way. Alongside our international partners, we are raising our concerns about this with the Israeli authorities, and we will work with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission to ensure that - when the circumstances allow - they are able to go to Gaza, assess what damage has been done, and do what is necessary to repair that damage.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of Israel about the killing of three Palestinian journalists by a targeted strike on a vehicle on 21 January.

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

Local journalists in Gaza have done an extraordinary job reporting on the conflict in Gaza, often while they and their families are in danger, displaced and suffering from shortages of food, fuel and other basics. We call on Israeli authorities to ensure that media workers can conduct their work freely and safely. Civilian reporters covering conflicts must be afforded protection under international humanitarian law.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel following the demolition of the headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine in East Jerusalem.

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

I refer the Lord Bishop to the joint statement issued by the Foreign Secretary and a number of her overseas counterparts on 28 January, which - for ease of reference - is reproduced below:

We the Foreign Ministers of Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, Norway, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom strongly condemn the demolitions by the Israeli authorities of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) headquarters in East Jerusalem, on 20 January 2026.

This unprecedented act against a United Nations agency by a UN Member State marks the latest unacceptable move to undermine their ability to operate. We urge the Government of Israel to abide by its international obligations to ensure the protection and inviolability of United Nations premises in accordance with the provisions of the UN General Convention (1946) and the Charter. We call upon the Government of Israel, a member of the United Nations, to halt all demolitions.

We reiterate our full support for UNRWA's indispensable mission to provide essential services and humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including East Jerusalem. We welcome UNRWA's commitment to reform and implementation of the recommendations of the Colonna Report to ensure they meet the highest standards on neutrality and integrity. UNRWA is a service provider delivering healthcare and education to millions of Palestinians across the region, particularly in Gaza, and must be able to operate without restrictions. We reiterate our deep concern regarding the application by the Government of Israel of legislation, adopted by the Knesset in October 2024 and strengthened in December 2025, forbidding any contact between Israeli state entities and officials and UNRWA, prohibiting and de facto preventing any UNRWA presence within Israel and in Jerusalem including the supply of electricity, water and gas to properties registered under UNRWA.

Israel agreed to President Trump's 20-Point Plan, which committed to the entry and distribution of aid into Gaza, led by the UN and Red Crescent and without interference. We call on the Government of Israel to fully abide by its obligations to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip in accordance with international law. Despite the increase in aid entering Gaza, conditions remain dire and supply is inadequate for the needs of the population. Therefore, we call on the Government of Israel to take the following urgent and essential steps:

- Allow the expanded, safe and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid and services throughout the whole of Gaza and the West Bank in accordance with international humanitarian law.

- Ensure that international NGOs are able to operate in Gaza, including by lifting restrictive registration requirements.

- The reopening of all crossing points, including the announced plans to re-open the Rafah crossing in both directions.

- And lift persistent restrictions on humanitarian goods' imports, including items considered to have a "dual use" that are essential to humanitarian and early recovery operations.