Lord Bates
Conservative - Life peer
Joined House of Lords: 30th June 2008
Michael Bates was elected as an MP between 1992 and 1997. He served as Lord Commissioner (HM Treasury) (Whip) between 1995 and 1996 and as Paymaster General (HM Treasury) between 1996 and 1997.
1 APPG Officer Position (as of 29 Jun 2026)
Sudan and South Sudan2 APPG Memberships
Global Education, Transport Safety4 Former APPG Officer Positions
Cycling and Walking, Japan, Olympic and Paralympic Games, Water, Sanitation and HygieneDivision Voting information
Lord Bates voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 23 Conservative Aye votes vs 82 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 84 Noes - 263
Lord Bates voted No - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 13 Conservative No votes vs 72 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 78 Noes - 246
Debates during the 2024 Parliament
Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.
Sparring Partners
(4 debate interactions)
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
(2 debate interactions)
Department Debates
(3 debate contributions)
(2 debate contributions)
(2 debate contributions)
(1 debate contributions)
Legislation Debates
(1,369 words contributed)
Lords initiatives
These initiatives were driven by Lord Bates, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.
1 Bill introduced by Lord Bates
First reading took place on 13 December. This stage is a formality that signals the start of the Bill's journey through the Lords.Second reading - the general debate on all aspects of the Bill - is yet to be scheduled. A Bill to make provision for election of the BBC Trust Chairman by licence fee payers.
Thursday 13th December 2012
Lord Bates has not co-sponsored any Bills in the current parliamentary sitting
Latest 24 Written Questions
(View all written questions)The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) is prioritising Official Development Assistance (ODA) where humanitarian needs are most acute - to reach those in greatest need and reduce the harm caused by violence and atrocities, including in Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan. With greater instability, humanitarian need growing, and poverty becoming more concentrated in places affected by conflict, we are increasing the proportion of spending in fragile and conflict affected states by around 13 percentage points to over 70 per cent of all FCDO country and regional spending by 2028/29, and will spend £1.4 billion per year in countries with the most humanitarian need over this Spending Review period. With this support, we want to see increased allocation of humanitarian resources to cost-effective, localised delivery mechanisms; and a more streamlined, prioritised and efficient multilateral humanitarian system.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) is prioritising Official Development Assistance (ODA) where humanitarian needs are most acute - to reach those in greatest need and reduce the harm caused by violence and atrocities, including in Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan. With greater instability, humanitarian need growing, and poverty becoming more concentrated in places affected by conflict, we are increasing the proportion of spending in fragile and conflict affected states by around 13 percentage points to over 70 per cent of all FCDO country and regional spending by 2028/29, and will spend £1.4 billion per year in countries with the most humanitarian need over this Spending Review period. With this support, we want to see increased allocation of humanitarian resources to cost-effective, localised delivery mechanisms; and a more streamlined, prioritised and efficient multilateral humanitarian system.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) is prioritising Official Development Assistance (ODA) where humanitarian needs are most acute - to reach those in greatest need and reduce the harm caused by violence and atrocities, including in Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan. With greater instability, humanitarian need growing, and poverty becoming more concentrated in places affected by conflict, we are increasing the proportion of spending in fragile and conflict affected states by around 13 percentage points to over 70 per cent of all FCDO country and regional spending by 2028/29, and will spend £1.4 billion per year in countries with the most humanitarian need over this Spending Review period. With this support, we want to see increased allocation of humanitarian resources to cost-effective, localised delivery mechanisms; and a more streamlined, prioritised and efficient multilateral humanitarian system.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is providing £146 million in aid to Sudan this financial year (FY26/27), providing life-saving assistance to nearly 2 million people affected by the conflict. The UN's 'Sudan Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan 2026' provides an overall assessment of humanitarian needs throughout the country with details of financial requirements across 12 sectors (education, health, nutrition, emergency shelter etc.) All of the UK's humanitarian funding to Sudan in FY 26/27 is targeted at needs identified by the UN in its Sudan response plan. UK funding is provided to a range of partners - UN and non-UN - who are working to alleviate suffering in Sudan, including local responders operating in the hardest to reach areas.
I refer the Noble Lord to the statements made by the Foreign Secretary and myself - UIN HLWS1431 - on 19 March outlining the UK's Official Development Assistance (ODA) allocations for the period up to 2028-29, and to the accompanying documents setting out the detail of those allocations. Funding for specific organisations over the period in question will be confirmed in due course.
I refer the Hon Member to the statement made to the House by the Foreign Secretary on 19 March outlining the UK's Official Development Assistance (ODA) allocations for the period up to 2028-29, HLWS1431, and the accompanying documentation setting out the impact of those allocation decisions. I also refer him to the evidence provided by the Foreign Secretary and I to the International Development Committee on 24 March, where we addressed questions at length about the Government's ODA policies and allocation decision: https://committees.parliament.uk/event/26907/formal-meeting-oral-evidence-session/.
We strongly support the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator's plans, set out in his 11 March letter, to regroup, reform and renew the humanitarian system. We want to see a more localised, prioritised, efficient and effective humanitarian system. We are continually looking to improve the effectiveness of our official development assistance programmes.
The allocations in question will be set out in the coming months, and we will confirm details of that planned announcement in the normal way in due course.
The table below shows UK ODA funding in 2023 and 2024 provided to the International Committee of the Red Cross, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. The figures do not capture funding to Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement organisations where they are a partner further down the delivery chain.
Organisation | 2023 £ thousand | 2024 £ thousand |
International Committee of the Red Cross | 130.2 | 176.6 |
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies | 17.7 | 17.6 |
National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies | 0 | 4.7 |
Total | 147.9 | 198.9 |
Figures for 2025 will be published in due course.
Data on Official Development Assistance (ODA) spend for 2023 and 2024 is published in Statistics on International Development (https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/statistics-on-international-development-final-uk-oda-spend-2024), including breakdowns by country, sector, and type of aid.
Table 1 below shows UK ODA funding provided to Sudan through bilateral humanitarian assistance in 2023 and 2024. Table 2 shows ODA spent in the UK in the same years. Figures for 2025 and 2026 will be published in the usual way in due course.
Table 1. Humanitarian ODA to Sudan, 2023 and 2024
2023 £ million | 2024 £ million | |
Humanitarian ODA to Sudan | 35.8 | 121.3 |
Source: Statistics on International Development: Final UK ODA spend 2024
Table 2. ODA Spent in the UK, 2023 and 2024
2023 % of total UK ODA | 2024 % of total UK ODA | |
In-donor Expenditure [Note 1] | 33.3% | 26.0% |
Note 1. In-donor expenditure includes an estimate of the ODA-eligible part of FCDO's and other departments' administration costs, refugees living in the UK spend, raising development awareness and costs of UK experts and UK scholarships.
Source: Statistics on International Development: Final UK ODA spend 2024.
Data on Official Development Assistance (ODA) spend for 2023 and 2024 is published in Statistics on International Development (https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/statistics-on-international-development-final-uk-oda-spend-2024), including breakdowns by country, sector, and type of aid.
Table 1 below shows UK ODA funding provided to Sudan through bilateral humanitarian assistance in 2023 and 2024. Table 2 shows ODA spent in the UK in the same years. Figures for 2025 and 2026 will be published in the usual way in due course.
Table 1. Humanitarian ODA to Sudan, 2023 and 2024
2023 £ million | 2024 £ million | |
Humanitarian ODA to Sudan | 35.8 | 121.3 |
Source: Statistics on International Development: Final UK ODA spend 2024
Table 2. ODA Spent in the UK, 2023 and 2024
2023 % of total UK ODA | 2024 % of total UK ODA | |
In-donor Expenditure [Note 1] | 33.3% | 26.0% |
Note 1. In-donor expenditure includes an estimate of the ODA-eligible part of FCDO's and other departments' administration costs, refugees living in the UK spend, raising development awareness and costs of UK experts and UK scholarships.
Source: Statistics on International Development: Final UK ODA spend 2024.
I refer the Noble Lord to the answer provided on 8 December in response to Question HL12253.
The table shows Official Development Assistance (ODA) provided by the UK (2020 to 2024).
Year | Total UK ODA £ million |
2020 | 14,477 |
2021 | 11,423 |
2022 | 12,786 |
2023 | 15,344 |
2024 | 14,082 |
Source: Statistics on International Development: Final UK ODA spend 2024
Provisional figures for 2025 will be published in Spring 2026 and final figures will be published in Autumn 2026. Figures for 2026 will be published in 2027.
The table below shows UK funding provided to the World Health Organisation in the years 2023 and 2024, and Official Development Assistance (ODA) provided in those same years to support: (a) the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR); (b) the United Nations Children's Fund; (c) Water Supply and Sanitation programmes; and (d) Humanitarian Aid.
2023 £ million | 2024 £ million | |
World Health Organisation | 173.0 | 194.0 |
UNHCR | 43.0 | 77.0 |
Of which: bilateral | 10.0 | 44.0 |
Of which: multilateral | 33.0 | 33.0 |
United Nations Children's Fund | 223.4 | 331.0 |
Of which: bilateral | 183.4 | 307.0 |
Water, Supply and Sanitation | 36.7 | 79.6 |
Humanitarian Aid | 884.2 | 1,453.1 |
Figures for 2025 and 2026 will be published in the normal way in due course.
The table below shows UK funding provided to the World Health Organisation in the years 2023 and 2024, and Official Development Assistance (ODA) provided in those same years to support: (a) the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR); (b) the United Nations Children's Fund; (c) Water Supply and Sanitation programmes; and (d) Humanitarian Aid.
2023 £ million | 2024 £ million | |
World Health Organisation | 173.0 | 194.0 |
UNHCR | 43.0 | 77.0 |
Of which: bilateral | 10.0 | 44.0 |
Of which: multilateral | 33.0 | 33.0 |
United Nations Children's Fund | 223.4 | 331.0 |
Of which: bilateral | 183.4 | 307.0 |
Water, Supply and Sanitation | 36.7 | 79.6 |
Humanitarian Aid | 884.2 | 1,453.1 |
Figures for 2025 and 2026 will be published in the normal way in due course.
The table below shows UK funding provided to the World Health Organisation in the years 2023 and 2024, and Official Development Assistance (ODA) provided in those same years to support: (a) the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR); (b) the United Nations Children's Fund; (c) Water Supply and Sanitation programmes; and (d) Humanitarian Aid.
2023 £ million | 2024 £ million | |
World Health Organisation | 173.0 | 194.0 |
UNHCR | 43.0 | 77.0 |
Of which: bilateral | 10.0 | 44.0 |
Of which: multilateral | 33.0 | 33.0 |
United Nations Children's Fund | 223.4 | 331.0 |
Of which: bilateral | 183.4 | 307.0 |
Water, Supply and Sanitation | 36.7 | 79.6 |
Humanitarian Aid | 884.2 | 1,453.1 |
Figures for 2025 and 2026 will be published in the normal way in due course.
The table below shows UK funding provided to the World Health Organisation in the years 2023 and 2024, and Official Development Assistance (ODA) provided in those same years to support: (a) the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR); (b) the United Nations Children's Fund; (c) Water Supply and Sanitation programmes; and (d) Humanitarian Aid.
2023 £ million | 2024 £ million | |
World Health Organisation | 173.0 | 194.0 |
UNHCR | 43.0 | 77.0 |
Of which: bilateral | 10.0 | 44.0 |
Of which: multilateral | 33.0 | 33.0 |
United Nations Children's Fund | 223.4 | 331.0 |
Of which: bilateral | 183.4 | 307.0 |
Water, Supply and Sanitation | 36.7 | 79.6 |
Humanitarian Aid | 884.2 | 1,453.1 |
Figures for 2025 and 2026 will be published in the normal way in due course.
The table below shows UK funding provided to the World Health Organisation in the years 2023 and 2024, and Official Development Assistance (ODA) provided in those same years to support: (a) the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR); (b) the United Nations Children's Fund; (c) Water Supply and Sanitation programmes; and (d) Humanitarian Aid.
2023 £ million | 2024 £ million | |
World Health Organisation | 173.0 | 194.0 |
UNHCR | 43.0 | 77.0 |
Of which: bilateral | 10.0 | 44.0 |
Of which: multilateral | 33.0 | 33.0 |
United Nations Children's Fund | 223.4 | 331.0 |
Of which: bilateral | 183.4 | 307.0 |
Water, Supply and Sanitation | 36.7 | 79.6 |
Humanitarian Aid | 884.2 | 1,453.1 |
Figures for 2025 and 2026 will be published in the normal way in due course.
The UK is deeply concerned by rising levels of acute food insecurity and catastrophic hunger, and we are a key donor to the World Food Programme, with funding since 2023 as follows:
2023: 290,747,871 USD
2024: 610,111,395 USD
2025: 410,441,878 USD at last reporting date.
Funding for 2026 will be confirmed in due course. We are also working with partners to improve early warning systems, and invest in strengthening countries' resilience to food crises in the longer-term.
The P5 Process, established by the UK in 2009, remains an important channel through which the Nuclear Weapon States (NWS) discuss implementation of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). The UK will assume the 2025-26 chair of the Process this summer 2025, taking over from China. We will seek to convene substantive discussions on nuclear doctrine between the P5 states, and discuss nuclear risk reduction. We will also facilitate two accompanying non-government dialogues, the Expert-Level Track (ELT) and Young Professionals' Network (YPN). The purpose of these dialogues is to engage non-proliferation and disarmament experts and early career professionals from academia and think tanks in P5 countries, with the aim of generating new ideas to support the government-level process.
The UK is committed to playing its part in eradicating modern slavery, forced labour and human trafficking. Official Development Assistance (ODA) for programmes directed at tackling modern slavery in line with Sustainable Development Goal 8.7 totalled £9,353,770 during 2024/25. Some ODA programmes on human rights, migration, gender and conflict will also have included components that indirectly tackle modern slavery.
Decisions on how the ODA budget will be used from 2025/26 onwards will be agreed as part of the ongoing Spending Review and resource allocation processes, based on various factors including impact assessments.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The Government is committed to playing its part in eradicating all forms of modern slavery, forced labour and human trafficking. Envoy appointments are considered on a rolling basis, based on their contribution to delivering the government's international priorities. We continue to use the strength of our global diplomatic network, including dedicated staff within the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, to address modern slavery and promote business and human rights around the world. The title of the former Migration and Modern Slavery Envoy role was revised when a Modern Slavery Envoy was appointed in 2023.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
We await confirmation from the United Nations of plans to mark the 80th anniversary of the UN this September. Once plans are confirmed, the UK will look to use this moment to demonstrate our commitment to multilateralism. The FCDO will liaise with relevant stakeholders such as civil society and UNA-UK when considering any UK based events to mark this anniversary.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)