Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to minimise risks potentially leading to delays in implementing interim targets for (1) assessing, and (2) improving, the condition of England’s Sites of Special Scientific Interest.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Defra published a delivery plan for the interim protected sites target alongside the revised Environmental Improvement Plan published in December 2025. The delivery plan includes a wide range of actions, to 1) assess and 2) improve the condition of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

The 50% of actions on track interim target will actively help improve the condition of SSSIs. Natural England (NE) carries out condition assessments of SSSI features to inform these actions. For the actions to count as being ‘on track’, the feature needs to have an up-to-date assessment and needs an agreed action plan to be underway.

To strengthen delivery Defra now chairs the Major Landowners Group to help drive collective effort. Defra tracks delivery through regular updates from NE and the Environmental Improvement Plan Annual Progress Report. Defra will review the delivery plan and update it as policy and evidence evolve to ensure effective delivery.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to implement interim targets for (1) assessing, and (2) improving, the condition of England’s Sites of Specific Scientific Interest.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Defra published a delivery plan for the interim protected sites target alongside the revised Environmental Improvement Plan published in December 2025. The delivery plan includes a wide range of actions, to 1) assess and 2) improve the condition of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

The 50% of actions on track interim target will actively help improve the condition of SSSIs. Natural England (NE) carries out condition assessments of SSSI features to inform these actions. For the actions to count as being ‘on track’, the feature needs to have an up-to-date assessment and needs an agreed action plan to be underway.

To strengthen delivery Defra now chairs the Major Landowners Group to help drive collective effort. Defra tracks delivery through regular updates from NE and the Environmental Improvement Plan Annual Progress Report. Defra will review the delivery plan and update it as policy and evidence evolve to ensure effective delivery.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether the public finance pledge made in 2021 of £350 million towards forest-related climate finance in Indonesia over a five-year period has been fulfilled in full.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington

The UK  has  met and exceeded the International Climate Finance 3 (ICF 3) nature (£3 billion) sub-target. We will confirm final figures for ICF 3 and sub-targets once our accounts are finalised and audited in line with usual practice for official Government spending data. Individual programme-level spend data will be available on DevTracker in due course.

The UK remains committed to protecting, restoring and sustainably managing tropical forests, and recognises the crucial role they place in mitigating against climate change, preserving biodiversity and supporting livelihoods. Across the Amazon, Congo and Indonesia forest basins, UK ICF programme support is helping countries strengthen forest governance, protecting Indigenous and community land rights, improving forest monitoring, tackling illegal activities driving deforestation, and developing more sustainable land-use and livelihood opportunities.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether the public finance pledge made in 2021 of up to £300 million intended towards forest-related climate finance in the Amazon basin over a five-year period has been fulfilled in full.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington

The UK  has  met and exceeded the International Climate Finance 3 (ICF 3) nature (£3 billion) sub-target. We will confirm final figures for ICF 3 and sub-targets once our accounts are finalised and audited in line with usual practice for official Government spending data. Individual programme-level spend data will be available on DevTracker in due course.

The UK remains committed to protecting, restoring and sustainably managing tropical forests, and recognises the crucial role they place in mitigating against climate change, preserving biodiversity and supporting livelihoods. Across the Amazon, Congo and Indonesia forest basins, UK ICF programme support is helping countries strengthen forest governance, protecting Indigenous and community land rights, improving forest monitoring, tackling illegal activities driving deforestation, and developing more sustainable land-use and livelihood opportunities.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether the public finance pledge made in 2021 of £1.5 billion towards the forests pledge over a five-year period has been fulfilled in full.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington

The UK  has  met and exceeded the International Climate Finance 3 (ICF 3) nature (£3 billion) sub-target. We will confirm final figures for ICF 3 and sub-targets once our accounts are finalised and audited in line with usual practice for official Government spending data. Individual programme-level spend data will be available on DevTracker in due course.

The UK remains committed to protecting, restoring and sustainably managing tropical forests, and recognises the crucial role they place in mitigating against climate change, preserving biodiversity and supporting livelihoods. Across the Amazon, Congo and Indonesia forest basins, UK ICF programme support is helping countries strengthen forest governance, protecting Indigenous and community land rights, improving forest monitoring, tackling illegal activities driving deforestation, and developing more sustainable land-use and livelihood opportunities.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by the Minister of State for Europe, North America and Overseas Territories on 6 May 2025 (48828), how much of the £200 million towards forest-related climate finance for the Congo Basin was paid over the five-year period from April 2021.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington

At COP26, the UK committed £1.5 billion International Climate Finance (ICF) for forests from April 2021 to March 2026, including £200 million for the Congo Basin (to be delivered between 2021-2029).

Over the first four years of the Congo Basin Pledge (2021-2024) the UK reported total spend of £39,833,393. Total spend for 2025 is not yet finalised. The UK Government publishes detail of ICF programmes through our online resource DevTracker and pledge reports can also be found online for consultation.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the Protected Landscapes duty will be maintained and strengthened.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Protected Landscapes duty is intended to facilitate better outcomes for England’s Protected Landscapes by ensuring relevant authorities ‘seek to further’ their statutory purposes in decision-making. Building on guidance published in December 2024, this Government intends to retain and amend the duty, to provide clearer direction on how it should be implemented.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made on their commitments to support the protection of tropical forests and oceans.

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

I refer the Noble Lord to the answers given to HL1340, HL1341 and HL1342 on 7 July 2026.

The UK remains committed to halting and reversing forest loss and land degradation by 2030. Through programmes and partnerships across the Amazon, Congo and Indonesia forest basins, we support stronger governance, Indigenous Peoples' and local community rights, sustainable trade and finance mobilisation for forest protection.

On oceans, the UK continues to support global marine conservation through initiatives including the Blue Planet Fund, action to advance the 30by30 target, and ratification of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement on 10 July 2026.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government how much they will provide in funding to the UN Relief and Works Agency in the 2026-27 financial year.

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

The UK fully supports United Nations Relief and Works Agency's (UNRWA) indispensable mission. On 30 June the UK announced £23 million to support UNRWA this financial year. The funding will help UNRWA continue delivering essential services for up to 5.9 million Palestine refugees across the region. The funding will also support civilians in Gaza, where humanitarian needs remain acute and families face displacement, food insecurity and limited access to basic services.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether it remains Government policy to transfer ownership of the British Indian Ocean Territory to Mauritius.

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

I refer the Noble Lord to my previous answer on 30 July to question HL2205.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what recent discussions they have had with the government of Pakistan on the imprisonment of Imran Khan.

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

While Pakistan's judicial processes are a domestic matter, we are clear that the Pakistani authorities need to respect fundamental freedoms, including the right to a fair trial, due process, humane detention and access to appropriate medical treatment. This applies to Imran Khan as it does to all Pakistan's citizens. The Minister for the Middle East met Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Dar on 27 August to discuss a wide range of issues, including matters relating to Imran Khan.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment, if any, they have made of the implication of holding Imran Khan at a time of poor health on (1) social stability in Pakistan, and (2) the security of the wider region.

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

While Pakistan's judicial processes are a domestic matter, we are clear that the Pakistani authorities need to respect fundamental freedoms, including the right to a fair trial, due process, humane detention and access to appropriate medical treatment. This applies to Imran Khan as it does to all Pakistan's citizens. We have raised these principles privately with the Government of Pakistan at suitable opportunities and will continue to do so. The Minister for the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan met Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Dar on 27 August to discuss a wide range of issues, including matters relating to Imran Khan.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made since 5 July 2024 to counterparts in the government of Pakistan regarding reports of Imran Khan's mistreatment by Pakistani authorities.

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

While Pakistan's judicial processes are a domestic matter, we are clear that the Pakistani authorities need to respect fundamental freedoms, including the right to a fair trial, due process, humane detention and access to appropriate medical treatment. This applies to Imran Khan as it does to all Pakistan's citizens. We have raised these principles privately with the Government of Pakistan at suitable opportunities and will continue to do so. The Minister for the Middle East, Stephen Doughty met Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Dar on 27 August to discuss a range of issues, including matters relating to Imran Khan.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government which non-governmental organisations they have discussed the future of the Chagos Islands with since 20 July 2026.

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

Ministers and officials regularly engage with a range of stakeholders with an interest in the future of the Chagos Archipelago. We do not routinely provide a running commentary on individual discussions.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they are holding with other governments about the need for an international regulatory approach to minimise the dangers of superintelligent artificial intelligence.

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

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has enormous potential to improve lives and drive growth but its rapidly advancing capabilities also bring serious risks. Governments must work with industry and researchers to develop effective safeguards and promote international cooperation in the interest of protecting our citizens.

Domestically, the UK is committed to a context-based regulatory approach where most AI systems are regulated at the point of use by our existing regulators, enabling targeted action where required. The UK continues to work closely with partners around the world to strengthen our shared understanding of AI's opportunities, capabilities and risks. The UK AI Security Institute (AISI) works closely with its international counterparts to share the latest information on frontier AI model capabilities and risks, especially as they relate to national security matters. The UK also chairs the International Network for Advanced AI Measurement, Evaluation and Science whose membership includes the US, the EU, France and other international partners.

Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have held discussions with experts in the field of artificial intelligence who have raised concerns about social, economic, and environmental harm resulting from rapid advances in this technology; and, if so, who.

Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

The Government engages regularly with a wide range of experts on both the opportunities and the risks presented by rapid advances in AI, including academics, civil society and independent researchers. Examples include: expert input to the Government Office for Science's AI Scenarios 2030, developed with experts from across government, academia and industry; the International AI Safety Report, which brings together over 100 independent experts and is chaired by Professor Yoshua Bengio, for which the AI Security Institute provides the secretariat; and the AI Energy Council, whose membership and minutes are published on GOV.UK.

Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have held with companies specialising in artificial intelligence regarding the potential social, economic, and environmental harms caused by rapid advances in this technology.

Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

The Government engages regularly with AI companies on both the opportunities and the risks presented by rapid advances in AI. Examples include: the AI Security Institute’s work with top AI developers to identify vulnerabilities in their models; the AI Economics Institute, which acts as a focal point for engagement with business and academia to strengthen the evidence base on AI's effects on productivity, labour markets and growth; and the AI Energy Council which convenes AI, data centre, and energy companies alongside regulators, with its membership and minutes published on GOV.UK.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to reintroduce the Diego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory Bill within this session of Parliament.

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

Diego Garcia is a key strategic military asset for both the UK and the US, which has protected our shared security for nearly 60 years. Maintaining long-term operational control and security of Diego Garcia is the entire basis for the UK-Mauritius Agreement. We will continue to work with the US and Mauritius to find a way forward that is in the UK's best interests and protects our national security.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have held with environmental organisations about the implications of the Diego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory Bill.

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

Ministers and officials have engaged with a range of stakeholders, including environmental organisations, on issues relating to the future of the Chagos Archipelago and the environmental protection of its unique marine environment. The Government remains committed to ensuring long-term robust environmental protections for the Archipelago.

Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure regulations relating to artificial intelligence are capable of addressing rapid advances in the development of superintelligent artificial intelligence.

Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

AI is developing rapidly and has the potential to transform our economy and public services. It is already helping scientists discover new treatments for disease and make our energy networks cleaner.

But as its capabilities advance, it is right that safeguards keep pace.

Through the AI Security Institute, the Government is leading global efforts to test and understand the most advanced AI systems, while helping to develop the standards and safeguards needed to keep people, businesses and critical infrastructure secure.