Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will set out his priorities for the Official Development Assistance budget.

Answered by Kirsty McNeill - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

We will prioritise humanitarian need, health and climate and nature, underpinned by economic development, with women and girls central to our development efforts. Countries affected by war and crises, including Ukraine, Sudan and Palestine, will remain a priority. We aim to transform lives and build stability by:

- Creating jobs and economic opportunity as a path out of poverty;

- Investing in climate action that protects people and prevents crises;

- Increasing health security; and Supporting international institutions to deliver greater impact.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how much funding has been allocated to the Shared Rural Network.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

The Government has allocated up to £184 million to upgrade 190 existing Home Office masts across Great Britain through the Shared Rural Network's Extended Area Service project and up to £150 million to build up to 44 new masts in Scotland through the Total Not Spot project. These Government-funded elements of the Shared Rural Network are delivering new 4G mobile coverage to some of the UK's most remote rural areas and are scheduled to complete by January 2027. This funding also includes an allocation to cover the operating costs of these publicly funded sites.

The Committee is examining the UK Government’s approach to Syria following the collapse of the Assad Regime in December 2024 and the establishment of a transitional government.