Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the European Court of Human Rights’ recognition of the Immovable Property Commission as an effective legal remedy for property disputes in Cyprus.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The European Court of Human Rights has issued several key judgments regarding the effectiveness of the Immovable Property Commission (IPC), including most recently in June 2025 where it judged the IPC to remain a valid legal remedy to domestic property disputes in Cyprus, although also noted procedural delays. The Government monitors closely the continued effectiveness of the IPC, including through the Committee of Ministers for Human Rights at the Council of Europe.
Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to establish a "coalition of the willing" in support of Taiwan against Chinese aggression.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The UK's longstanding position on Taiwan has not changed. The UK has a clear interest in peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and considers the Taiwan issue one to be settled peacefully by the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait through constructive dialogue, without the threat or use of force or coercion.
Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what recent steps they have taken to promote cultural exchange programmes between the United Kingdom and Northern Cyprus.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
In accordance with the rest of the international community, with the sole exception of Turkey, the UK does not recognise the self-declared 'Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus' as an independent state. Several UN Security Council Resolutions limit links between UK and the north of Cyprus. However, the UK supports appropriate measures aimed at reducing the isolation of the Turkish Cypriot community and has funded various local projects aimed at bringing together Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot communities, including art exhibitions, film festivals and wider youth engagement initiatives. The Minister for Europe, North America and UK Overseas Territories met representatives of the Turkish Cypriot community on his recent visit, and discussed a range of matters with Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders at the UN settlement talks on 17-18 March.
Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the governments of (1) the Republic of Ireland, (2) Austria, and (3) Switzerland, about what financial contributions these countries intend to make to protect the security of Europe.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs and the Minister of State for Europe, North America and UK Overseas Territories regularly engage with their counterparts in Ireland, Austria and Switzerland on a variety of issues including security in Europe. Security remains a priority for the UK and through regular engagements with partners the Government is keen to ensure this remains the case.
Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether it is their policy to reinitiate talks between the Republic of Cyprus and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus to reunite the island; and, if so, how the Prime Minister’s decision to meet the President of the Republic of Cyprus but reportedly not the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus during his visit to the region on 9–10 December supports this objective.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The UK, as a Guarantor Power and a friend to all parties, will continue to support UN efforts to create an enduring settlement on the Cyprus issue. The Prime Minister met President Christodoulides to discuss a wide range of issues across our bilateral relationship. During the Prime Minister's visit, senior officials met Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot negotiators to encourage both sides to engage constructively with the UN-led process on Settlement. We do not recognise the so-called "TRNC" but will continue to work with all Cypriots including Turkish Cypriots and their representatives as part of the UN process.
Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Secretary of State for Defence or the Minister for Armed Forces attended the meeting between the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs and Micheál Martin, the Republic of Ireland’s Minister for Defence, in London on 13 December 2023; and what defence-related matters were discussed.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Neither the Secretary of State for Defence nor the Minister for Armed Forces attended the meeting in question. The Foreign Secretary and the Tánaiste discussed a wide range of foreign policy, defence and security matters, including international development, peacekeeping, the Israel-Gaza conflict, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and the shared threat we face from malign state actors.
Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government when they intend to review official travel advice for UK nationals visiting the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
In accordance with the rest of the international community, with the sole exception of Turkey, the UK does not recognise the self-declared "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" as an independent state. The UK recognises the Republic of Cyprus as the sovereign authority of Cyprus. We regularly review official travel advice for UK nationals travelling abroad, including to the Republic of Cyprus.
Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many British expats currently reside in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus; and by how many this number has increased since 2004.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
In accordance with the rest of the international community, with the sole exception of Turkey, the UK does not recognise the self-declared "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" as an independent state. The UK recognises the Republic of Cyprus as the sovereign authority of Cyprus. Approximately 30,000 British Nationals reside in Cyprus, of which we estimate that 10,000-15,000 are based in the north of the island. We do not monitor year on year changes in the number of British Nationals residing in the north of Cyprus.
Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 18 September (HL9844), what discussions if any they are holding with the government of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus to support both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots living in the village of Pile.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
In accordance with the rest of the international community, with the sole exception of Turkey, the UK does not recognise the self-declared 'Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus' as an independent state. The UK recognises the Republic of Cyprus as the sovereign authority for the island of Cyprus. We have engaged with all parties, including Turkish Cypriot authorities, about recent events in the UN Buffer Zone. We welcome the diplomatic understanding announced on 9 October and recognise the constructive approach taken by all sides, along with the critical role of the UN, to find a way forward that meets the needs of both communities.
Asked by: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the decision by the government of Northern Cyprus to open the town of Maraş/Varosha and invite Greek Cypriot property owners to reclaim their properties.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
In accordance with the rest of the international community, with the sole exception of Turkey, the UK does not recognise the self-declared 'Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus' as an independent state. The UK recognises the Republic of Cyprus as the sovereign authority for the island of Cyprus. The UK supports the numerous United Nations Security Council Resolutions (UNSCRs) covering the issue of Varosha, the alongside the related 2021 United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Statement. On 12 July the UK, as UNSC President, issued a press statement on Cyprus stressing the need to avoid unilateral actions which could raise tensions on the island and undermine the prospects for a peaceful settlement.