Asked by: Iain Duncan Smith (Conservative - Chingford and Woodford Green)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has raised concerns with his German counterpart on the comments of the leader of the Alternative für Deutschland about a resumption of gas supplies to Germany from Russia.
Answered by Uma Kumaran - Assistant Whip
The Government continues to work closely with the Government of Germany and other partners to strengthen European energy security and maintain pressure on Russia. The Foreign Secretary has not raised the reported comments by the leader of the Alternative fur Deutschland with his German counterpart or discussed Russian gas supplies with the Deputy Chairman of the Christian Democratic Union. The Foreign Secretary and his German counterpart regularly discuss Russia's war against Ukraine, including support for Ukraine, European security, and the need to maintain pressure on Russia.
The Government supports efforts to strengthen European energy security and reduce dependence on Russian energy. The Government will continue to work with European partners to reduce the revenues available to Russia to fund its war against Ukraine.
Asked by: Iain Duncan Smith (Conservative - Chingford and Woodford Green)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether it is the Government's policy that the Nord Stream pipelines should remain closed and not used for the supply of Russian gas.
Answered by Uma Kumaran - Assistant Whip
The Government continues to work closely with the Government of Germany and other partners to strengthen European energy security and maintain pressure on Russia. The Foreign Secretary has not raised the reported comments by the leader of the Alternative fur Deutschland with his German counterpart or discussed Russian gas supplies with the Deputy Chairman of the Christian Democratic Union. The Foreign Secretary and his German counterpart regularly discuss Russia's war against Ukraine, including support for Ukraine, European security, and the need to maintain pressure on Russia.
The Government supports efforts to strengthen European energy security and reduce dependence on Russian energy. The Government will continue to work with European partners to reduce the revenues available to Russia to fund its war against Ukraine.
Asked by: Iain Duncan Smith (Conservative - Chingford and Woodford Green)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with the Deputy Chairman of the Christian Democratic Union on Russian gas supplies to Germany.
Answered by Uma Kumaran - Assistant Whip
The Government continues to work closely with the Government of Germany and other partners to strengthen European energy security and maintain pressure on Russia. The Foreign Secretary has not raised the reported comments by the leader of the Alternative fur Deutschland with his German counterpart or discussed Russian gas supplies with the Deputy Chairman of the Christian Democratic Union. The Foreign Secretary and his German counterpart regularly discuss Russia's war against Ukraine, including support for Ukraine, European security, and the need to maintain pressure on Russia.
The Government supports efforts to strengthen European energy security and reduce dependence on Russian energy. The Government will continue to work with European partners to reduce the revenues available to Russia to fund its war against Ukraine.
Asked by: Iain Duncan Smith (Conservative - Chingford and Woodford Green)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what plans she has to discuss the Ethnic Unity and Progress Law with her Chinese counterpart.
Answered by Seema Malhotra
This is a concerning development in China. We note the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights' concern that this law may entrench restrictions on the rights and freedoms of ethnic minorities in a country where the environment for freedom of religion or belief is already restrictive.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has discussed this law with Chinese officials, stressing the importance that the law does not harm the rights of members of minority groups and that it is not applied extraterritorially. We will never tolerate attempts by foreign governments to coerce, intimidate, harass, or harm their critics overseas, and anyone caught assisting a foreign state to undermine our security will be brought to justice.
Asked by: Iain Duncan Smith (Conservative - Chingford and Woodford Green)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the statement by the European Council on 19 March 2026, whether she has made representations to the European Council on its intention to provide assistance to the Republic of Cyprus in discussions relating to the British Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia (SBAs) are fully sovereign UK territory, and remained so under the 1960 Treaty Concerning the Establishment of the Republic of Cyprus. The UK remains committed to the SBAs, which make a major contribution to the security of Europe and the wider region. Senior officials have engaged their EU counterparts following the European Council statement, restating the above and noting the important contribution of the SBAs to Euro-Atlantic security.
Asked by: Iain Duncan Smith (Conservative - Chingford and Woodford Green)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, to what degree has the Government been committed to offer support regarding the sovereignty of the British Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia, prior to the European Council statement on 19 March 2026.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia (SBAs) are fully sovereign UK territory, and remained so under the 1960 Treaty Concerning the Establishment of the Republic of Cyprus. The UK remains committed to the SBAs, which make a major contribution to the security of Europe and the wider region. Senior officials have engaged their EU counterparts following the European Council statement, restating the above and noting the important contribution of the SBAs to Euro-Atlantic security.
Asked by: Iain Duncan Smith (Conservative - Chingford and Woodford Green)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has had discussions with the Government of China on reports that released religious prisoners of conscience in China face exit bans and other post-release restrictions; and whether she has raised the removal of those restrictions.
Answered by Seema Malhotra
I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 17 March in response to question 118999.
Asked by: Iain Duncan Smith (Conservative - Chingford and Woodford Green)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has had discussions with her counterpart in Ireland on the (a) restricting and (b) ceasing of sales of aluminium to Russia.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK and Irish governments regularly discuss our staunch support for countering Russia's aggression in Ukraine, including international efforts to maximise pressure on the Russian war economy. We conduct similar conversations with the EU on a regular basis. We keep all options to put pressure on the Russian war economy under regular review.
Asked by: Iain Duncan Smith (Conservative - Chingford and Woodford Green)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of China’s Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress on freedom of religion and belief for (a) Tibetans, (b) Uyghurs, (c) Hui and (d) Mongols; and what discussions she has had with international counterparts on that law.
Answered by Seema Malhotra
I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer provided in the House of Lords on 17 March in response to Question HL15305.
Asked by: Iain Duncan Smith (Conservative - Chingford and Woodford Green)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether Peter Mandelson had access to the China audit at any stage.
Answered by Seema Malhotra
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.