Hurricane Melissa: Government Response
Chris Elmore Excerpts(4 days, 21 hours ago)
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Chris Elmore)
I am writing to update the House on the impact of Hurricane Melissa in the Caribbean and the action the Government are taking in response, following my recent visit to Jamaica, where I witnessed at first hand the devastation caused and the scale of the challenge facing communities.
Nearly 6 million people throughout the Caribbean have been affected by Hurricane Melissa, with Jamaica, Cuba and Haiti suffering the most acute impacts. In Jamaica, 45 deaths have been reported, and the World Bank has estimated that there has been up to $8.8 billion in damage—over 41% of the country’s 2024 GDP. In Haiti, assessing the scale of the damage has been challenging, with critical roads and bridges swept away, and severe damage to the agricultural sector. Haitian authorities report 43 deaths in the coastal town of Petit-Goave alone, and approximately 250,000 people have been affected. In Cuba, extensive damage was caused to infrastructure, agriculture and essential services. In the Bahamas, and in the UK overseas territories of Turks and Caicos, Cayman Islands and Bermuda, the impact was limited but nonetheless disruptive.
Throughout my time in Jamaica, the importance of the UK’s support was evident. The UK Government have assisted Jamaica in three different ways. First and most importantly, there is the work that we do in advance of any crisis. The UK is a long-standing champion of disaster finance mechanisms, and it has worked closely with Jamaica to set up a sophisticated pre-arranged finance framework, with a reported $1.6 billion available to respond to disasters through financial instruments. We were also a founding donor of a regional risk pool—the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility. The CCRIF has announced that Jamaica has received around $92 million from hurricane and excess rainfall insurance, and Jamaica’s catastrophe bond paid out $150 million last week. The UK is also a major contributor to the Red Cross and UN global emergency response funds, as well as the Start non-governmental organisation network, with over £14 million additionally triggered for vulnerable households in affected countries, both for preparation ahead of the hurricane, and for humanitarian relief post impact. These initiatives provide countries with security at their most insecure time and allow them to rebuild at pace. I pay credit to the Jamaican Government for their prudence and foresight in engaging such frameworks.
Second is the work that the UK has done bilaterally. We delivered over 18,000 core relief items, such as emergency shelter kits, hygiene kits and solar lanterns, which are directly assisting approximately 33,000 people. HMS Trent arrived in Jamaica on 2 November, having supported the Turks and Caicos in the immediate aftermath of Melissa. 24 Commando Royal Engineers, alongside the ship’s company, cleared debris, repaired storm damage, and conducted urgent repairs at Falmouth hospital and a local primary school. These efforts enabled the Spanish Government-run field hospital to occupy wards.
The UK emergency medical team was deployed to deliver primary healthcare services in support of Jamaica’s Ministry of Health and Wellbeing; the provision of two mobile clinics operating in rural areas of Trelawny parish supported affected communities and reduced the burden on Jamaican healthcare. To date, our teams have seen 1,225 patients. We are also supporting the Caribbean Public Health Agency with public health supplies and specialist technical support.
The UK is also funding the staffing of a field hospital in Savana-la-Mar. Demonstrating the benefit of the UK’s efforts to build climate-resilient healthcare, I visited Santa Cruz health centre in Saint Elizabeth, a UK-funded resilient hospital implemented by the Pan American Health Organization—the regional WHO office—in collaboration with Jamaica’s Ministry of Health. The hospital has survived both Hurricanes Beryl and Melissa, continuing to provide critical healthcare throughout these crises. We have also provided funding for the Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation, which has deployed 51 specialist energy sector personnel to support restoration of the national electrical grid.
Lastly, there is the work we have been delivering through multinational organisations. We have funded critical surge staff positions in UN agencies in both Jamaica and Haiti, as well as providing humanitarian experts to support the British high commission in Kingston. During my visit to Saint Elizabeth, I met children directly affected by the storm—30% of early learning facilities were severely damaged, and another 30% were impacted. The UK has provided £850,000 to UNICEF to deliver water and sanitation services, child protection, and education support. I saw UNICEF’s mobile child-friendly spaces, which offer critical psychosocial support to children in affected communities. In Saint Elizabeth, I also observed the World Food Programme’s efforts, supported by £2 million from the UK, to provide emergency food supplies, strengthen humanitarian logistics, and deliver telecommunications expertise.
The Red Cross Jamaica is using £1 million in UK funding to provide emergency shelter, cash assistance, psychosocial support, including for children, and water, sanitation, and hygiene supplies. Preparations are also under way for cash assistance programmes led by the World Food Programme, the Red Cross, and UNICEF to help affected families purchase essentials and restore livelihoods once markets stabilise. The UK has also contributed to programmes that have been active in responding to the impact of the hurricane in Haiti and Cuba. The World Food Programme has provided anticipatory cash transfers to 9,400 households in high-risk areas ahead of Hurricane Melissa’s landfall, and a $4 million Central Emergency Response Fund allocation was also released to support humanitarian efforts in response to Melissa’s impact. The UK has also supported specific technical expertise to the response.
Alongside our humanitarian response, the UK consular operation has been significant. With the UK’s strong links to Jamaica, many British nationals and UK residents were in the country during Hurricane Melissa. The FCDO provided consular support to over 2,000 British nationals in Jamaica, including by organising a charter flight, closely liaising with airlines and providing tailored support to vulnerable individuals.
Throughout my visit to Jamaica, I was reminded of the deep and enduring bonds between the UK and the Caribbean; every map I saw contained links to every part of the UK. These relationships need to mean something in times of crisis. I pay tribute to all those I have met across Government, NGOs and local communities who continue to work tirelessly to ensure that assistance reaches those most in need. I am proud to say—and to have seen for myself—that the UK stands by Jamaica’s side in its hour of need.
[HCWS1159]
International Human Rights Day 2025
Chris Elmore Excerpts(5 days, 21 hours ago)
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Chris Elmore)
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship for the first time, Ms Butler. I am grateful to the hon. Member for Penrith and Solway (Markus Campbell-Savours) for securing this debate and for his work with the APPG on human rights.
I also thank my hon. Friend the Member for Leeds North East (Fabian Hamilton) for his long-standing commitment to human rights as a shadow Minister, through his work with the Inter-Parliamentary Union and his work in this House over what I believe is now 28 years—I am testing my memory. I am grateful to him, too.
I congratulate the APPG, and all those Members who declared their interest today, on the International Human Rights Day events it held last week. I am genuinely sorry not to have been there. The reason, you will be glad to hear, Ms Butler, is because I was in Jamaica looking at the horrific aftermath of Hurricane Melissa and at the work the UK Government have been doing out there since the hurricane as we build towards reconstruction.
I will try to answer the questions that have been asked, but I am conscious of time. The hon. Member for Penrith and Solway asked about overseas security and justice assistance guidance, and I reassure him that we are in the process of reviewing the OSJA guidance to make sure it is effective, up to date and clear to internal users across His Majesty’s Government. And we support the independence of the ICC—I cannot be clearer than that. We do not support sanctioning individuals or organisations associated with the court, which I hope gives him some reassurance.
Today I have played my part in marking International Human Rights Day, which is an important occasion. Earlier, in the Foreign Office, I hosted more than 100 parliamentarians, academics, diplomats and campaigners from around the world—the commitment and determination in that room was simply inspiring. Among those present were human rights defenders from as far afield as Malawi and Mexico.
The hon. Member for North Herefordshire (Dr Chowns) mentioned Claudia, who was there today to speak on a panel about the work she has done, not just in recent times but throughout her life. I was so sorry to hear that her niece had been killed as a human rights defender. Of course, she is one of many who have been murdered over the last year simply for defending the basic principles of the rule of law and human rights that many of us take for granted in the United Kingdom.
It was a privilege to hear about it at first hand before taking part in this thoughtful and engaging debate. I am grateful to all hon. Members for their contributions, and I will try to respond to their points in the order in which they were raised.
As the shadow Minister, the right hon. Member for Aldridge-Brownhills (Wendy Morton), and a number of colleagues mentioned, this year’s theme for International Human Rights Day is “our everyday essentials.” That is exactly right. Human rights are not just abstract ideas; they shape our daily lives, protect our freedoms and help our communities to thrive.
Standing up for human rights is not just the right thing to do; it is also in Britain's interests. When we defend human rights, we protect our future security, growth and prosperity. If we respect the rule of law, businesses can plan and invest. And if we protect people’s rights at work and in society, we can build a healthier and more skilled workforce.
I pay tribute to the hon. Member for Strangford (Jim Shannon). In the 10 years that I have served with him in this House, barely a week has gone by without his talking about freedom of religion or belief. On violations, about which he has talked so passionately in debates over the years, I reassure him that we are an active member of the Article 18 Alliance. We continue to raise these issues in our role as a permanent member of the UN Security Council and, of course, the G7.
In addition, I warmly pay tribute to my hon. Friend the Member for North Northumberland (David Smith), the UK Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief, and his predecessors in that role. Regardless of party politics, all those envoys have done significantly good work in not just highlighting but challenging positions around religious persecution—whether of Christianity or of any faith. It is important that we acknowledge the work of my hon. Friend and all his predecessors. If we defend the right to life and freedom from torture, we keep our country safe. The Government stand firm in defending human rights, the rule of law and democracy. We do that because it is right and it is good for Britain.
Let me now turn to the current situation, which is of huge concern and was mentioned by all Members across the conversation today. Freedom House reports that global freedom has declined for the 19th year in a row. As mentioned by a number of hon. Members, 60 countries saw a deterioration in political rights and civil liberties last year, and conflicts are spreading instability and undermining democracy.
We are seeing record levels of humanitarian crises and displacement. Every news report seems to bring fresh horrors: Palestinians attacked in olive groves in the west bank; journalists in Georgia imprisoned for speaking out; children killed by Russian missiles in Ukraine—I will come back to the Russian abduction issue shortly; Gazan families suffering while aid is blocked at the border; and crimes in Sudan so appalling that they are literally visible from space. It is unimaginable. Doing nothing is not an option. We must act, and as a UK Government we are. Earlier today at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office event, I reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to human rights. We are backing words with action, highlighting concerns on the international stage while providing financial and practical support to partners around the world.
The shadow Minister and a number of other Members have mentioned Sudan. In this context, that issue includes an update from the conference held in the earlier part of the year. I hope that most Members will be aware that the Foreign Secretary led efforts to call the Human Rights Council into a special session to condemn atrocities in Sudan and push for better humanitarian access. We have supported a fact-finding mission to investigate violations in El Fasher and are providing £125 million in lifesaving aid this year, reaching over 650,000 people, and including the £5 million for El Fasher announced by the Foreign Secretary just last month.
We will continue to work with partners to keep the spotlight on Sudan. There was a specific question from the hon. Member for Melksham and Devizes (Brian Mathew), who has since left, but I want to be as explicitly clear as I can about the issue of arms sales: we take very seriously allegations that UK-made military equipment may have been transferred to Sudan in breach of the UK arms embargo. To be clear, there are no current export licences for that equipment and there is no evidence of UK weapons or ammunition being used in Sudan. I hope that that will reassure colleagues.
I turn to the middle east. On 27 November, we joined France, Germany and Italy in condemning settler violence in the west bank. Meanwhile, UK funded tents are providing urgent shelter for 12,000 civilians in Gaza this winter. We have also pledged to match £3 million of public donations to the Disasters Emergency Committee’s middle east appeal. We continue to do all we can to ensure that aid is delivered to Gaza. I agree with the shadow Minister that it is incredibly important that the body of the last hostage is returned and that we all work as much as we can on the very basic principle that we should have a long and sustained peace in the region and work towards a two-state solution.
In Ukraine, we are backing efforts to hold people responsible for war crimes. We have supported the special tribunal for Ukraine, helped set up the atrocity crimes advisory group, and worked with others to refer cases to the International Criminal Court. We have funded training for hundreds of Ukrainian judges, prosecutors and investigators so that victims can have their voices heard.
The shadow Minister asked specifically about the abhorrent deportation of children. The Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, my hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff South and Penarth (Stephen Doughty), has spoken recently about that and directly challenging what the Russian Government have done. We continually raise it with allies and play a significant and full part in the international efforts to reunite those children with their families. I am sure we can all agree that there can be no greater victim of conflict than children. There is also the additional horror to their abduction: their re-education, so that they forget their families. We need to make sure that that is dealt with and that those children are returned as quickly as possible.
We also continue using our position at the United Nations to encourage states to uphold their international human rights obligations. The UK has led efforts at the UN Human Rights Council on renewing mandates on countries such as Syria, Sudan and South Sudan. Those mandates matter: they keep international attention focused and help drive accountability. We are also leading negotiations on a new international convention on crimes against humanity. The treaty will reflect progress on international law, including on sexual and gender-based violence. I am very pleased that the UK was re-elected to the UN Human Rights Council in October, and we will use our membership to defend civic space, uphold the rule of law and champion equal rights.
Today, we are marking not just International Human Rights Day, but the conclusion of 16 days of activism to end gender-based violence. Over the past two weeks, our actions have included the Foreign Secretary launching a major new global coalition, bringing together pioneering women from across the world to tackle violence against women and girls. Officials have also met activists and organisations working to end violence in Sudan and elsewhere, to understand what more can be done to protect them and amplify their calls for justice.
On the shadow Minister’s concerns around online platforms, which I share, we also announced new support to tackle non-consensual intimate image abuse, expanding a UK-hosted online system to help victims remove and block online images. Our special envoy for women and girls, Baroness Harman, continues to champion the issue worldwide, co-ordinating international efforts and sharing best practice.
Sanctions are an important tool that we are using to hold rights abusers to account. In May, we sanctioned individuals and organisations supporting violence against Palestinians in the west bank. In October, alongside the US, we sanctioned the Prince Group, a scam-centre operator responsible for widespread abuses. These measures are targeted and co-ordinated with international partners to maximise their impact. We will keep up the pressure and continue to send a strong signal to the world that we will not stand by.
We are also working closely with partners on the ground to protect human rights and the rule of law. That work is backed by £50 million in funding this year, and includes support for organisations working to prevent torture, to end the death penalty and to ensure that the Holocaust is never forgotten. Our rule of law expertise programme sends UK experts to more than 50 countries. We have helped train police chiefs in east Africa to use interview techniques that respect people’s rights. That means people are treated fairly and the evidence gathered can be used in court. In Malawi, we supported the legal process to abolish the death penalty, taking the number of people on death row from 33 to zero. Those are real, practical results delivered in partnership with local authorities and organisations.
I recognise concerns about reductions in the UK’s official development assistance budget and what that means for our work; I acknowledge the question from the hon. Member for North Herefordshire on the subject. We are responding by finding new, innovative ways to support change, working in greater partnership with local actors and tailoring our work for maximum impact. The development of new FCDO centres of expertise will support the delivery of human rights objectives in individual countries, providing practical help and advice to posts and partners—something that countries right across the world have called for. We will continue to report publicly on our work ensuring transparency and accountability. Our commitment is not just to fund and support projects, but to share what we learn and show the impact that we are making.
To conclude, this Government are working to protect and promote human rights, democracy and the rule of law internationally—not just because it is the right thing to do, but because it is in our national interest. A world where human rights are respected is a more peaceful world, where Britain and our partners are more secure and prosperous. We remain committed to achieving that goal.
Dawn Butler (in the Chair)
Thank you very much. For the record, the Minister was nodding.
Question put and agreed to.
Resolved,
That this House has considered International Human Rights Day 2025.
Draft International Development Association (Twenty-First Replenishment) Order 2025
Chris Elmore Excerpts(1 week ago)
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Chris Elmore)
I beg to move,
That the Committee has considered the draft International Development Association (Twenty-First Replenishment) Order 2025.
It is a privilege to serve under your chairmanship for the first time, Mr Western. The draft order, which was laid before the House on 11 September, will permit the UK Government to make financial contributions to the World Bank’s International Development Association up to the values stated in the order. The International Development Association, or IDA, is the largest source of grant and concessional finance for the world’s poorest countries and plays a vital role in supporting growth, tackling poverty and getting the sustainable development goals back on track.
The external financing needs of low-income countries are growing, but progress on global poverty reduction has stalled following high inflation, low growth and increasing fragility. Poverty today is also increasingly concentrated, with more than 70% of the global population in extreme poverty living in countries supported by IDA. This is exacerbated by protracted crises, regional conflict and the effects of climate change. Addressing those challenges will become increasingly important for achieving our objectives on migration, growth, security and development.
IDA is normally replenished by donors every three years, and following negotiations throughout 2024, the UK and other donors agreed to a $100 billion IDA21 replenishment, the largest yet. The UK has committed to increase our pledge by 40% to £1.98 billion over the next three years, positioning us as the third-largest donor, after the US and Japan. The decision to protect the UK’s pledge, despite reductions to the official development assistance budget, is a testament to the UK’s new approach to development: delivering value for money for the British taxpayer and maximum impact for the most vulnerable overseas. That means prioritising spending through the most impactful multilateral organisations.
IDA delivers excellent value for money for UK taxpayers. The use of an innovative financing model, which combines donor contributions with income from loan repayments and borrowing from the markets, means that every £1 we put into IDA generates over £4 for its borrowers. The UK has also agreed a new way to make payments that reduces costs to UK taxpayers. By paying our contribution to IDA on an accelerated timeframe, we will get a discount from the bank. That is because it reduces the amount that the bank needs to borrow from financial markets in the short term. That means the UK will pay around 10% less, while providing the same value to the bank.
The UK has also pushed IDA to use more of its own resources than ever before. The bank’s middle-income-country lending arm will transfer $2.8 billion to IDA21—three times higher than IDA20—and the bank’s private sector arm will use $500 million to support IDA21. IDA not only provides good value for money but is one of the most impactful development organisations. In the last year alone, it has supported 81 million people in receiving essential health and nutrition services and provided 23 million people with new or improved electricity services, while 12 million benefited from interventions to help to create more jobs.
Through the IDA21 negotiations, the UK also secured important new commitments from the bank to ensure that IDA delivers even greater impact: deepening support to fragile and conflict-affected states and improving the association’s staffing in fragile countries, which will also help to tackle the root cause of migration; improving disaster preparedness and scaling up access to ready-to-use insurance-type financing for emergency response; creating more jobs and expanding private investment while increasing accountability on progress; and supporting the advancement of gender equality through the implementation of a new gender strategy and the inclusion of a new target for sexual and reproductive health rights interventions in 35 countries.
IDA also plays a leading role in supporting IDA countries to build resilience to climate change, with 45% of its financing going to tackling climate change, at least half of which will help countries to adapt to the changes brought about by climate change. IDA is also becoming simpler and faster for borrower countries, through simplifying its policy commitments and financing architecture. Since its creation, there has been strong support across the House for IDA and recognition of its central role in improving the lives of millions of the world’s poorest people.
The UK can be proud of its leadership as one of the major donors to IDA. We have played a central role in the negotiation of the financing and policy package to ensure that IDA resources deliver the best impact and align with UK foreign policy and development priorities. However, in a constrained ODA world, that support must come with a renewed push for reform to further maximise efficiencies and the impact for people on the ground.
The draft order secures our commitment to the UK’s most important development partner, IDA—the largest provider of concessional assistance worldwide. Through its scale, multilateral character and proven impact, IDA enables us to tackle the global challenges that the UK cannot address alone. I commend the draft order to the Committee.
Chris Elmore
I thank the shadow Minister. I will come back to her in writing on the issues around governance and transparency, because I would rather that she receive a substantive answer. I reassure her that we take those issues very seriously.
On what the UK got out of the negotiations, I will run through a couple of things for the Committee’s benefit: stronger capability in fragile and conflict-affected countries; greater focus on crisis preparedness and supporting countries in resilience and scaling up investment; a stronger focus on adaptation and nature financing, in line with the UK’s priorities around climate and nature; increased ambition on sexual and reproductive health rights; and IDA using more of its own resources than ever before, in terms of additional funding.
On supporting countries’ debt, IDA provides grants to the poorest countries and those facing the highest levels of debt distress, ensuring that support reaches the most vulnerable without adding to their debt burden. I can give the shadow Minister that reassurance. On her broader questions around debt, countries at high risk of debt distress get 100% of their allocation as grants rather than loans. Again, we are not adding to that burden through the IDA programme.
As I said, I will come back to the shadow Minister more formally on the governance elements, but I reassure her about our key focus as a Government. Because of IDA’s efficiency and the fact that we are able to deliver on the ground, much of what she has raised is part of the work that happened under the last Government, and that has happened and will continue under this Government.
I welcome the comments of my hon. Friend the Member for Worthing West, and the fact that we are finding an efficiency in the 10% saving, which enables the Government to use it for other pieces of work. This is a really positive piece of work that has been done, cross-party, for more than a decade now, by the previous Government and this one. It shows how we can actually deliver meaningful support for the countries that need it the most. I commend the draft order to the Committee.
Question put and agreed to.
The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria: 2026-28
Chris Elmore Excerpts(1 month ago)
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Chris Elmore)
My right hon. and noble Friend, the Minister of State for International Development and Africa, Baroness Chapman of Darlington, has today made the following statement:
I wish to update the House on the Government decision on investment in the eighth replenishment of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria—the Global Fund—which covers 2026 to 2028.
Diseases such as HIV, TB and malaria are not only preventable and treatable, but disproportionately affect the poorest and most marginalised. Over the past two decades, the Global Fund partnership has helped to save over 70 million lives, ensure equitable access to health services, and build stronger, more resilient health systems in more than 100 countries. Despite this remarkable progress, 4,000 adolescent girls and young women per week still contract HIV. In sub-Saharan Africa, TB remains the world’s single deadliest infectious disease, and malaria still kills a child under five nearly every minute.
The UK Government are proud to have supported the formation of the Global Fund partnership in 2002. We are continuing that leadership now by co-hosting the eighth replenishment of the Global Fund, working alongside South Africa in a truly modern development partnership. Today I am proud to announce that we will invest £850 million in the Global Fund for 2026 to 2028 to deliver lifesaving prevention, testing and treatment services. This is expected to save up to 1.3 million lives, avert up to 22 million new cases or infections of HIV, TB and malaria, and generate up to £13 billion in health gains and economic returns in the countries where the Global Fund works. In dollar terms, this is only 5% less than the amount we invested in the seventh replenishment, demonstrating how strongly we have prioritised global health and the Global Fund.
This commitment is not only a moral imperative, it is a strategic investment in global and national health security and in wider economic growth and stability. As replenishment co-hosts, we call on all our partners in the G20 and beyond to join us in continuing this investment in our shared future. The Global Fund plays a critical role in preventing disease outbreaks, strengthening surveillance, and building health systems that are robust enough to respond to emerging threats, including antimicrobial resistance and future pandemics. Communicable diseases know no borders; this investment in fighting them around the world complements our work to fight them here in the UK. It will also boost overall prosperity by enabling healthier people to contribute to the economies of our partner countries, and it will support jobs and economic growth here at home, with the Global Fund working in partnership with UK institutions and researchers, supporting innovations including dual active ingredient bed nets for malaria and long-acting prevention for HIV. Its work on market shaping and capacity building for regional manufacturing will continue to be a vital tool in scaling up access to these innovative new technologies.
As I set out in my statement of 26 June regarding our pledge to Gavi 6.0, multilateral health organisations must go further to maximise impact. As we pursue a modern approach to development, I welcome the Global Fund’s commitment to reform, becoming even more efficient and effective, focused on those most in need and with a simpler approach to delivery that puts country ownership at its heart. Looking beyond the Global Fund, we will go even further in reforming the multilateral health system to enable low and middle-income countries to make the most of all health investments, to incentivise domestic resourcing and to strengthen health systems so that we deliver for the health challenges of tomorrow. Partners such as South Africa are telling us how important these reforms are and we look forward to working with them to deliver this change.
The decision on the UK’s pledge to the Global Fund has been taken in the context of the difficult decision this Government have made to reduce spending on development assistance from 0.5% of GNI to 0.3% to fund increased spending on our defence and national security. As the Prime Minister noted, this Government are proud of the UK’s pioneering record on overseas development. Less money does not mean less action. Even in the context of a lower ODA budget we will continue to play a key role in global health. Alongside our continued strong commitment to multilateral organisations such as Gavi and the Global Fund, and to their ongoing reform in partnership with others, we will continue to make pioneering investments in research and development, in market shaping to drive down prices and increase access, and in strengthening the health systems needed to deliver universal health coverage.
The UK is committed to a safer, healthier and more prosperous world. Through our investment in the Global Fund, we are helping to build a future where no one dies from preventable diseases.
[HCWS1043]
Hurricane Melissa: UK Response
Chris Elmore Excerpts(1 month, 1 week ago)
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Chris Elmore)
I am writing to update the House on the impact of Hurricane Melissa in the Caribbean and the action the Government are taking in response.
Hurricane Melissa has caused severe flooding, landslides and infrastructure damage across Jamaica, Haiti and Cuba, and also impacted parts of Dominican Republic and the Bahamas. The UK overseas territories of the Cayman Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands and Bermuda reported low to minimal damage. Over 5.5 million people have been affected across the region. At least 65 deaths have been reported—actual numbers may well be higher.
Hurricane Melissa is the strongest ever storm to make landfall in Jamaica, where it hit the southwestern part of the country on 28 October as a category 5 hurricane.
At least 32 deaths are now reported, and the number may yet rise. Some 25,000 people have been displaced. All western parishes have suffered significant damage, and over half the country remains without power, internet or mobile connectivity, with many roads blocked and water systems affected. All British high commission staff and dependants on platform remain safe and accounted for, and I pay tribute to the dedicated work they have done in recent days in the most difficult circumstances. In Haiti, assessments and relief efforts continue to be frustrated by damaged or impassable roads and bridges. Priority needs include shelter materials, food, water and hygiene supplies, medical support, and fuel. In Cuba, infrastructure and services are likely to be impacted for some time, including the national power grid, which is already under severe pressure.
The Foreign Secretary has kept in close contact with the Jamaican Foreign Minister throughout this crisis to offer UK support and solidarity. The Foreign Secretary, Minister Doughty and I have also kept in close touch with the Governments of Haiti, Dominican Republic, Cuba, the Bahamas, Cayman Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands, and Bermuda.
Our efforts have involved close co-ordination between the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and colleagues in the Ministry of Defence, Home Office, Met Office and Department for Transport.
On 26 October, a UK military team pre-deployed to the Turks and Caicos Islands to support disaster management preparations and response. After Melissa passed, HMS Trent also deployed to the Turks and Caicos Islands to provide additional support and assist with local recovery efforts. As always, the UK stands ready to assist the UK overseas territories as required.
Given the UK’s strong links with Jamaica, many thousands of British nationals and UK residents were there during the storm.
Our consular operation organised an evacuation flight that arrived in the UK on Sunday 2 November with just over 100 passengers. These British nationals and their close family had been unable to make arrangements to leave Jamaica through commercial means. We estimate that around 1,600 British nationals have returned to the UK through commercial airlines and tour operators. Our consular services have been available on a round-the-clock basis and have answered over 700 phone or email inquiries to date. We are updating travel advice regularly to reflect the situation as it evolves. We created a portal—Register Your Presence—where British nationals in Jamaica have been able to provide their details and receive the latest updates. We will continue to provide consular support to British nationals still in-country and direct those wanting to get home to the available commercial flights.
The UK is a long-standing champion of prearranged finance and our support has been instrumental in helping Jamaica set up a sophisticated prearranged finance framework with a reported maximum of $1.6 billion available to respond to disasters through various financial instruments, including anticipatory and contingent finance, insurance, and a catastrophe bond. We were a founding donor to the Caribbean regional risk pool CCRIF in 2007. As publicly announced by the CCRIF, Jamaica will receive around $71 million from hurricane insurance within 14 days.
In anticipation of Hurricane Melissa, UK-funded financing mechanisms such as the Red Cross Disaster Risk Emergency Fund and UN Central Emergency Response Fund have provided around $8 million to help vulnerable communities in Jamaica, Cuba and Haiti. The World Food Programme in Haiti also provided anticipatory cash transfers to 9,400 households in high-risk areas ahead of Hurricane Melissa’s landfall. Some $4 million in Central Emergency Response Fund allocations, to which the UK contributes, were made to each of Haiti, Cuba and Jamaica.
The UK Government have themselves mobilised £7.5 million in emergency funding, in addition to expert deployments to support the response. This includes £1 million to the Red Cross appeal and £1 million to the UN World Food Programme. The UK overseas territories are also sending support, for example the Cayman Islands Government have publicly pledged $1.2 million to Jamaica.
These efforts aim to meet urgent needs, reinforce national co-ordination, and support recovery across Jamaica and the wider Caribbean.
To date, 2,800 emergency shelter kits and 1,728 solar lanterns have been delivered, supporting 14,000 people. A consignment of 1,104 hygiene kits is due to arrive in Montego Bay on 4 November. UK supply chain teams are continuing to scope further items, in co-ordination with the Government of Jamaica and regional partners.
Seven UK humanitarian experts are currently in Jamaica to assess needs and speed up delivery of aid. These include a humanitarian adviser, logistician, and humanitarian affairs officer, who are working to support the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management and UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The UK stands ready to support further deployment of humanitarian experts into UN agencies via the stand-by partnerships mechanism In addition, we are responding to a request from the Government of Jamaica to deploy HMS Trent to assist with the relief effort. HMS Trent arrived off the coast of Jamaica today, having been pre-positioned in the region as part of the UK’s permanent/ongoing presence in the region. Royal Engineers will be going ashore to help assess and repair key infrastructure, in co-ordination with Jamaican authorities. Should any Members’ constituents wish to assist, the most effective way to help is by donating cash through trusted organisations. There are several trusted charities and organisations providing humanitarian relief on the ground in Jamaica. Here are links to two options for donations. The UK Government will match public donations to the Red Cross appeal with up to £1 million.
Donate to the Government of Jamaica’s emergency appeal: https://supportjamaica.gov.jm/
Donate to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC) Societies appeal in support of Jamaica: https://donate.redcross.org.uk/appeal/hurricane-melissa-emergency
The UK shares a deep and enduring relationship with communities across the Caribbean, and that bond has become even more important in this time of crisis. We are committed to standing alongside Jamaica and the region as it recovers and rebuilds. We will keep the House updated.
[HCWS1017]
Oral Answers to Questions
Chris Elmore Excerpts(1 month, 2 weeks ago)
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Sir Julian Smith (Skipton and Ripon) (Con)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Chris Elmore)
The BBC World Service remains the world’s most-trusted international news source and supports our national security, growth and development objectives. That is why we provided a 31% increase in Government funding for the World Service this year. Funding allocations for the next three years will be announced in due course.
Sir Julian Smith
The Institute for Global Prosperity and CreativePower have produced an excellent report on the sheer impact of the World Service, which reaches 320 million people globally and is trusted by 75%. In a key market for the Government—India—75 million people listen to or watch the BBC. How will the Government maximise the opportunity of the World Service, which is one of our best soft power assets and the best way that we can have conversations with the rest of the world?
Chris Elmore
I thank the right hon. Gentleman for his question. The Government wholeheartedly agree with him that the BBC World Service is one of our strongest areas of soft power. He will be aware that the charter review starts next year, and we think that is one of the best ways we can work towards establishing the funding streams. We are working with the BBC World Service on ways in which it can innovate to ensure that it reaches even further, as the most trusted news network on the globe.
Fabian Hamilton (Leeds North East) (Lab)
I recently met senior journalists who have been exiled from Russia, following Putin’s clampdown on any form of free, trustworthy media. Despite the huge challenges, they are still providing vital, accurate reporting for all those in the region who need it most. Will the Minister commit to sustainable funding guarantees for our soft power, and continue to support these courageous journalists, who are forced to move countries, and are often threatened by rogue states?
Chris Elmore
I agree with my hon. Friend about the work of the BBC World Service, and we are working with the BBC. I am shortly due to visit Broadcasting House to see at first hand the work it is doing, particularly its innovative work to deliver and develop its funding programmes, which will form part of the charter review. In response to Russian interference in the media around the world, I echo my hon. Friend’s support for the journalists who work in the World Service, who do so much to expose what is happening globally, particularly around conflict.
Paul Davies (Colne Valley) (Lab)
Andrew Rosindell (Romford) (Con)
Last week, Labour voted against our amendment, which would have given the House of Commons a say on the Government’s reckless decision to surrender £35 billion of taxpayers’ hard-earned money to Mauritius for the privilege of giving away our own sovereign territory, but we still have no certainty from the Government about the fate of the vital Diego Garcia base after the 99-year period. What is stopping Mauritius demanding billions more if the UK wishes to extend the use of Diego Garcia for another 40 years? Would it not be more sensible to save the money, ditch the surrender deal and the keep the Chagos islands British?
Chris Elmore
As the hon. Gentleman knows from the many questions that I have answered on this issue, and indeed the debate we had in this place that secured the Bill’s Third Reading, the cost of the agreement in today’s money is £101 million, and the net present value over 99 years is £3.4 billion. However much he comes up with other fantasy figures, they are simply incorrect; these are verified by the Government Actuary’s Department. If he wants to talk about spending and value, I will not apologise for spending on our national security and keeping this country and our allies safe. For comparison, he might like to reflect on the fact that the annual payment is 20% less than the cost of the festival of Brexit.
James Naish (Rushcliffe) (Lab)
Chris Vince (Harlow) (Lab/Co-op)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Chris Elmore)
My hon. Friend is a long-standing advocate of polio eradication. The UK is a long-time supporter of the initiative and we have confirmed a £1.25 billion pledge to Gavi for 2026-30. Other spending, including on the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, is being reviewed as part of the spending review and the official development assistance allocation process, which will be decided in due course.
Richard Tice (Boston and Skegness) (Reform)
Marie Goldman (Chelmsford) (LD)
The British Council is in dire financial straits. If it disappears, so will the invaluable soft power that it wields. Will the Foreign Secretary commit to meeting the chief executive of the British Council to discuss that as soon as possible?
Chris Elmore
The British Council plays a crucial role in supporting UK interests around the world, including helping people to learn English and promote the arts and culture. The Foreign Office is providing £160 million in grant aid to the council this year, which underlines our support. I have already met the vice-chair and the deputy chief executive, and I will meet the chief executive and the chair in due course.
Peter Prinsley (Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket) (Lab)
Mr Yaxley-Lennon, aka T. Robinson, has been fêted in Israel at the invitation of a Government Minister, while the hon. Member for Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket, aka Dr Peter Prinsley—a British Jew, a member of the Board of Deputies and a vocal supporter of the Israeli people in Parliament—has been banned. What does the Minister think can be usefully done to rectify that?
Korean War: 75th Commemoration
Chris Elmore Excerpts(1 month, 3 weeks ago)
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Chris Elmore)
Mr Twigg, it is, as ever, a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, although I have never done so as a Minister, so it is nice to be in this slightly different role.
I pay sincere tribute to the right hon. and gallant Member for Chingford and Woodford Green (Sir Iain Duncan Smith). I know from having been in the House for almost a decade that when he speaks, many Members across the House listen. He always does so with great dignity. If I may say so, with genuine affection, he gives us a huge history lesson on the conflicts around the globe, which come with real authority. I mean that most sincerely, and I know that many Members across the House respect the work that he has done over the decades he has served in it. I also pay tribute to his work as chair of the all-party parliamentary group on North Korea, and to the work of Lord Alton. I am sorry to hear that Lord Alton is currently in hospital; I do hope that there are ways in which our wonderful NHS can provide support to him as he recovers from his broken back.
The Under-Secretary of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Feltham and Heston (Seema Malhotra), who is responsible for the Indo-Pacific, would have been delighted to take the debate today, but she is travelling on ministerial duties, so it is my pleasure to respond on behalf of His Majesty’s Government.
I thank the shadow Minister, the right hon. Member for Aldridge-Brownhills (Wendy Morton). I am not sure we have ever sparred on any subject, including in our years of me shadowing her when I was in the Whips Office in opposition. I hope we can continue that friendly relationship as we start this new relationship as Minister and shadow Minister.
I am grateful for the many poignant contributions by Members from across the House, and I will try my best to respond to all the points raised. I make a commitment at this point that if I miss something, I will be more than happy to ensure that right hon. and hon. Members receive written responses, because I appreciate that this debate has cross-party consensus in the House, and it is our job as Members of Parliament to show that it is at its best when we are trying to find resolutions to some of the most difficult events, including those that took place 75 years ago.
Seventy-five years ago, the United Kingdom stood shoulder to shoulder with the Republic of Korea and the United Nations, defending freedom and democracy in what became the Korean war. The Minister of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff South and Penarth (Stephen Doughty), had the privilege of visiting the national memorial to this conflict in Washington, where the words “Freedom is not free” are etched in granite. As has been said, it is a powerful reminder of the price that so many paid.
From this war-scarred island 75 years ago, more than 80,000 British troops crossed the seas to fight in the Korean war, standing with a community of nations committed to freedom for the Korean people. More than 1,000 never returned. Their lives were given in the cause of liberty. Many more were wounded or taken prisoner.
A short distance from here, a beautiful bronze statue, crafted by Philip Jackson, stands—on a base of Welsh slate, I should tell Members—in Victoria Embankment Gardens. That memorial, a gift from the Republic of Korea, is a lasting tribute to those who served. When it was unveiled, veterans spoke of their sacrifice finally being recognised. Today, this House stands united in honouring that sacrifice, which must never be forgotten.
I also pay tribute to those who continue to serve and support the UN Command in supporting peace on the Korean peninsula. Twenty-two nations joined together in the Korean war, and it was our collective effort that secured an armistice, enabling South Korea to flourish. Today, the Republic of Korea is an important and valued partner, and our relationship spans defence, security, trade, climate action and far more. Sadly, the same cannot be said for North Korea.
Today, global risks are evolving and tensions are rising, but our commitment remains firm to peace and prosperity across the Korean peninsula, stopping the spread of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction, and supporting a peaceful, secure and prosperous future for the people of the Indo-Pacific.
I pay particular tribute to the hon. Members for North Cotswolds (Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown) and for Honiton and Sidmouth (Richard Foord) and to my hon. Friend the Member for Gloucester (Alex McIntyre) for their deeply moving contributions on the Gloucestershire Regiment. We could never do the brave men who served our country justice, but we stand united in thanking them and indeed, as the shadow Minister referenced, their families, who still talk, I am sure, about the sacrifice of their relatives.
The hon. Member for North Cotswolds asked about the repatriation of bodies, and I appreciate that this is a huge piece of work for him. The Ministry of Defence, along with partners, continues to identify the remains of those who fell during the war. If the opportunity arises, it will look to support efforts to repatriate the remains of those soldiers, so I encourage him to keep doing that work and to work with MOD Ministers to ensure that we do all we can to bring those remaining men home.
Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown
I am grateful for the Minister’s words, but what I was really trying to ask in my speech was whether the British Government would work with the Americans. It is only through the Americans that we will get the political buy-in from the North Koreans to allow these things to take place.
Chris Elmore
As the hon. Gentleman will appreciate, we do huge amounts of work bilaterally with the Americans. I will ensure that Ministry of Defence colleagues come back to him in a substantive way and that he gets an answer.
The UK Government’s long-standing position remains the same: we believe that diplomacy and negotiation are the best way to secure peace and stability on the Korean peninsula. That is not straightforward and progress is slow, but to honour the values our armed forces fought for, we will continue to work with our friends and allies in the region and across the globe towards peace and a better life for the people of North Korea.
However, the UK is clear about the threat the regime continues to pose to international security. We continue to condemn the DPRK’s illegal nuclear and ballistic missile programmes in the strongest terms, alongside our allies. Over the past year, North Korea has continued testing, launching one intermediate-range and six short-range ballistic missiles. As the right hon. and gallant Member for Chingford and Woodford Green referenced —as has been said, in good humour, although I am not sure that this was timed to coincide with the debate—the short-range missiles launched this morning are a brazen violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions.
The launches show that the DPRK continues to advance its illegal ballistic weapons programmes, posing a clear threat to regional stability. It continues to destabilise the peace and security of the peninsula. We call again on the DPRK to refrain from illegal launches and return to dialogue with the international community. As the G7 made clear in our joint statement at Charlevoix in March, these launches are a clear breach of UN Security Council resolutions. Today’s launches are no different. We will continue to call them out and work with partners across the region and beyond to uphold international law and protect global security.
The Russia-Ukraine conflict has already been mentioned and we condemn in the strongest possible terms the DPRK’s active support for Russia’s illegal war. The partnership between the DPRK and Russia poses grave risks to global security. Over the past year, Pyongyang has grown bolder, deploying 11,000 troops to Kursk. Our assessment is that there have been 4,000 North Korean casualties, including 1,000 fatalities. That is why in February the UK imposed sanctions on the DPRK, including sanctions against DPRK officials directly involved in supporting Russian military action against Ukraine. Alongside our partners, we will continue to impose costs on Russia and DPRK for this dangerous expansion of the war.
This year, we have stepped up our focus on cyber-space, working closely with partners. Today, I can inform the House that the UK, alongside key allies in the multilateral sanctions monitoring team, is publishing a report that exposes the DPRK’s malicious cyber-activity and use of overseas IT workers. Its cyber-activity includes theft of cyber-currency, fraudulent IT contracts and cyber-espionage. North Korea is using these tactics to bypass UN sanctions and fund its illegal weapons programmes. The report is available today on gov.uk; I commend it to right hon. and hon. Members.
While we continue to address the threat that North Korea poses to international peace and security, we have not lost sight of the fact that ordinary North Koreans are suffering. The DPRK’s regime prioritises weapons and illicit activity over the wellbeing of its people, whom we seek to support. We want a stable and prosperous DPRK. That is why we continue to highlight ongoing, widespread and systematic human rights abuses, and call them out. Last year marked 10 years since the UN’s Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and in June our permanent representatives at the UN Security Council said that the perpetrators of human rights abuses remain unaccountable and the people continue to suffer. Last month, the UN high commissioner’s report confirmed that, if anything, the situation has worsened since 2014.
We continue to call on the DPRK to address its appalling record. In April, the UK co-sponsored a Human Rights Council resolution renewing the special rapporteur’s mandate and calling for stronger accountability. The isolation of the DPRK regime is a major barrier to progress; we urge the DPRK to engage with the international community and to take steps to improve its human rights record. We also continue to press for the reopening of our embassy in Pyongyang and for the return of humanitarian agencies.
In response to the hon. Member for Strangford (Jim Shannon), who is a passionate advocate for freedom of religion or belief, I cannot stress enough that we consider it unacceptable that the people of DPRK face surveillance, imprisonment or even death because of their religion or belief. The House should be utterly united in the belief that people should have the ability to practise their religion, whether that is reading the Bible or anything else. We raise the issue of the lack of freedom of religion within the DPRK directly with the authorities there, and at the UN, including at the Human Rights Council. Freedom of religion remains an absolute priority for the British Government.
To continue this theme, we are also deeply concerned by reports from Human Rights Watch that, as many Members have already mentioned, China has forcibly returned over 400 North Koreans since last year, despite UN warnings of torture, imprisonment, sexual violence, forced labour and, tragically, execution. In May, the UK raised the issue at the UN General Assembly, calling on all states to respect the principle of non-refoulement and to ensure that refugees from North Korea are not sent back there.
We must also remember that the Korean war has never officially ended. The 1953 armistice still holds, yet the DPRK continues to claim that the US, South Korea and their partners are hostile. We are not aligned with the DPRK, but we do not seek its destabilisation or to harm its people. Our aim is clear: to limit the DPRK’s weapons programmes, to prevent proliferation and to urge the regime to prioritise its people over its nuclear ambitions. Our approach is one of critical engagement—we hold the DPRK to account, but we also seek dialogue. We want to reduce strategic risk and encourage a return to international co-operation. We hope that our embassy in North Korea can reopen, so that we can once again understand the lives of the North Korean people from the ground up.
I have almost reached my conclusion, Mr Twigg. In response to a question from the hon. Member for North Cotswolds, I should say that I touched on the work that we were still doing from the 2014 report until last year. I reassure him that we are continuing that work; we will continue to try always to have constructive dialogue with North Korea, while also making sure that it is held to account for human rights abuses.
Finally, I come to the shadow Minister’s questions and those from Members across the House. Building on the Downing Street accord, we are developing an enhanced shared agenda through the UK-Korea joint growth mission, aligning UK priorities on economic growth, clean energy leadership and security with President Lee’s priorities, including growth, defence industry exports, AI and climate action.
Later this year, we plan to convene the first UK-Korea high-level forum, bringing together industry leaders, politicians, academics and civil society to deepen collaboration in defence, AI and soft power. As was mentioned by the right hon. Member for Kingston and Surbiton (Ed Davey), we are looking forward to concluding negotiations on our enhanced UK-Republic of Korea free trade agreement by the end of this year, as agreed by the Prime Minister and the President over the summer. Both sides will hold a series of talks in October and November to finalise the remaining areas of the negotiation.
Let me end by reiterating that the Government remain firmly committed to peace and stability on the Korean peninsula. We continue to believe that diplomacy and dialogue are the best path forward. We urge the DPRK to show restraint, engage meaningfully and choose peace. Over 75 years, we have seen what collective action and shared purpose can achieve. We have also seen the cost of isolation. It is our hope that the DPRK will reconsider its duty to its people and reconnect with the world, and that all Korean people will one day know freedom.
International Day of Democracy
Chris Elmore Excerpts(2 months, 4 weeks ago)
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This information is provided by Parallel Parliament and does not comprise part of the offical record
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Chris Elmore)
I thank the hon. Member for Strangford (Jim Shannon) for his remarks about my appointment—I think most Members do not realise that I have been silent for a good two years, so it is nice to know that the voice box is still working.
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir John, and I thank Members from across the House for the cordial way in which we have debated today—clearly without everyone agreeing, which is the whole point of democracy in this place and in institutions around our United Kingdom. I am extremely grateful to my hon. Friend the Member for Cities of London and Westminster (Rachel Blake) for securing this debate to mark such an important day and for her work to advocate for her constituent, Jimmy Lai. Mr Lai’s case remains a priority for the UK Government. We continue to call on the Hong Kong authorities to end their politically motivated prosecution and release Mr Lai. I am also grateful for the thoughtful contributions of other hon. Members and will try to respond to all the points raised.
In these unpredictable times of global tension and turmoil, with democracy under threat, the stakes are high. When we stand up for our democratic values, we are not only doing what is right, we are safeguarding our own future, for we know that accountable governance is the foundation for a safer, greener, healthier and more prosperous world. Although public support for democracy remains strong, as has been mentioned, over the last 20 years, the world has, overall, become less democratic. Today, more than seven in 10 people around the world live in autocracies, and democracy is under pressure from climate change, conflict and irregular migration, among many other factors. Even long-established democracies like our own are affected. That is why in the UK we continue to work with partners at home and abroad to ensure that democratic principles remain strong.
We need to maintain public trust and support for democracy by showing that democratic Governments can meet today’s challenges and deliver for their citizens. We must address the threats posed by countries such as Russia that are working to undermine democratic systems and values in the UK and around the world. We must also support our partners where the shoots of democracy are still growing to defend the space for civil society, uphold the rule of law, champion equal rights, support accountable, inclusive institutions, and tackle global challenges such as dirty money and corruption.
The Government have already taken big steps to strengthen democracy at home. As has been mentioned, we are giving 16-year-olds the right to vote in UK elections—a major change that will boost young people’s trust in democracy. We are making sure that eligible voters are not prevented or deterred from voting by permitting the use of UK-issued bank cards as an accepted form of ID at polling stations. We are introducing tougher rules on political donations, striking the right balance between safeguarding against foreign interference and making sure that legitimate donors can continue to fund electoral campaigns.
We are also empowering the Electoral Commission to clamp down on those who breach political finance rules, with fines of up to half a million pounds, and there will be tougher sentences for those who abuse election campaigners, or elected representatives or their staff. Our commitment to give more decision-making power, funding and tools to local leaders and mayors in England will enable them to effectively address local needs, drive growth and improve public services.
Alongside our efforts to strengthen democracy at home, we must protect ourselves from those overseas who do not share our values. The defending democracy taskforce, chaired by the Minister for Security, my hon. Friend the Member for Barnsley North (Dan Jarvis), is leading a whole-of-society effort to protect the integrity of British democracy. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has been stepping up its efforts to expose those who manipulate information, interfere with our democratic processes and institutions, or undermine the rights, freedoms and security of our citizens.
The international nature of the threats requires an international response. We are working through partnerships such as Five Eyes and the G7 to share expertise and take co-ordinated measures against actions by states such as Russia, China and Iran. Last month, the UK and our G7 partners condemned the latest round of arrest warrants and bounties issued by the Hong Kong police as acts of transnational repression. In July, we exposed and sanctioned the Russian interference agency African Initiative for its role in malign influence operations across Africa.
It is equally important to nurture and support democratic government around the world. We are delivering on that commitment through our extensive diplomatic and development partnerships. The UK supports elections, Parliaments and political parties in over 30 countries through our arms-length body, the Westminster Foundation for Democracy. I have heard the hon. Member for Cheadle (Mr Morrison) and the right hon. Member for Dwyfor Meirionnydd (Liz Saville Roberts), and I am more than happy to engage with the WFD governors and ensure that FCDO officials do too. Election observation remains an essential part of the UK’s support for free and fair elections. This year and last year, we sent more than 160 observers to watch votes around the world, including in Moldova, Georgia and Uzbekistan.
Freedom of expression and a free media are the bedrock of a healthy democracy, empowering citizens to hold institutions to account. However, as the persecution of Jimmy Lai demonstrates, in many parts of the world the freedom of the media is under threat. The UK is one of the most significant champions of international media freedom. Our support for the BBC World Service brings impartial, accurate news to 320 million people around the world, in 42 languages, every week. It remains the world’s most trusted international news service.
Illicit finance and corruption are transnational challenges, undermining growth and democratic governance, and fuelling organised crime and conflict. We are strengthening our domestic defences and stepping up efforts internationally to ensure that dirty money has nowhere to hide. In April, we sanctioned the cronies of corrupt leaders who are undermining democracy and the rule of law in Georgia and Guatemala.
It is unacceptable that in the UK and around the world, women face barriers to participation in politics and are increasingly exposed to abuse and threats. Our special envoy for women and girls, my noble Friend Baroness Harman, is championing gender equality worldwide and co-ordinating international efforts to ensure that women and girls are empowered and their rights are protected. I am sure that Members from across this House can agree that there is no more powerful advocate for ensuring that women and girls are able to take part in our democratic processes.
To briefly answer the point from the shadow Minister, the hon. Member for Romford (Andrew Rosindell)—having spent many years myself not always getting answers as an Opposition Member—I understand more than most Members of this House the importance of the Commonwealth, having served on the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association UK and international for years. I can assure the hon. Member that the Government recognise the importance of the Commonwealth, and we are working with the new secretary-general. I give him the assurance that we will continue to do that work.
This Government are working to protect and strengthen democracy internationally because it is the right thing to do and is clearly in our national interest.
Chris Elmore
I am running out of time.
A world where rights are respected and states are well governed is a more peaceful world—one where Britain and our partners will be more secure and prosperous. We are working flat out to achieve that goal.
Sir John Hayes (in the Chair)
I am delighted that the Minister has broken his vow of silence. I call Rachel Blake to sum up.