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 implications for her policies of the report by the UN Human Rights Office entitled Situation of human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea - Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, published on 12 September 2025; and what diplomatic steps she is taking with her international partners help protect (a) human rights defenders and (b) religious leaders in the country.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

As the September 2025 report by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights made clear, there has been no improvement in the human rights situation in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) since 2014. In response to this report, the UK issued a statement at the UN Human Rights Council. We called on the DPRK to engage meaningfully with the international community, to take credible steps to improve its human rights record and to grant all UN human rights mechanisms access into the country. We have also raised our concerns with the DPRK's Embassy in London. We regularly discuss with key international partners how to address the DPRK's human rights record, including on freedom of religion or belief.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of (a) the UK Government's recognition of a Palestinian State and (b) Jihadi public threats against Jews on the security of Synagogues; and what steps he is taking to increase levels of security..

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

The UK has formally recognised Palestine to protect the viability of a two-state solution and to create a path towards lasting peace for the Israeli and Palestinian people. A two-state solution, with a safe and secure Israel alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian state led by a reformed Palestinian Authority, is the only path to lasting peace, free from the horrendous violence and suffering of the last two years.

This Government is firmly committed to protecting the right of individuals to freely practise their religion at their chosen place of worship, and to ensuring the safety of our streets and communities. We recognise that recent incidents have heightened concerns about the safety of Jewish communities and places of worship, as well as those from other faiths. We take these concerns seriously and continue to work with closely with the police to assess threats and review the protections in place for communities.

The Community Security Trust has been allocated £28 million in 2025/26 through the Jewish Community Protective Security (JCPS) Grant, which provides protective security measures at synagogues, Jewish educational establishments and community sites. This includes additional emergency funding of £10 million announced by the Prime Minister following the horrifying terrorist attack at Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue for more security staff and equipment, such as CCTV, alarms and floodlights, at Jewish sites.