Jammu and Kashmir: Human Rights and Political Situation

Debate between Lord Bruce of Bennachie and Lord Collins of Highbury

Thursday 23rd July 2026 Lords Chamber

[Lord Bruce of Bennachie (LD)]

With no disrespect to the Minister, it is regrettable that we do not have a dedicated Foreign Office Minister in this House. I hope that that will be rectified, but I welcome him to his post. The situation in both Indian- and Pakistan-administered Kashmir has for ever been one of clashes, crackdowns and human rights abuse. Will the Government consider reviewing the update of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights 2019 report that highlighted all this, and press for a long-term solution?

[Lord Collins of Highbury (Lab)]

I thank the noble Lord and I am sure, by the way, that we will have dedicated Ministers in this House. The Government are committed to that, but do not be disappointed when I get up to speak for the FCDO. As the noble Lord well knows, the United Kingdom’s long-standing position is that it is for India and Pakistan to find a lasting resolution on Kashmir that takes the wishes of the Kashmiri people into account. It is not for the United Kingdom to prescribe a solution or to act as a mediator; it is for those two countries to come to a solution that satisfies the people.

Cuba: Humanitarian Situation

Debate between Lord Bruce of Bennachie and Lord Collins of Highbury

Tuesday 9th June 2026 Lords Chamber

[The Deputy Leader of the House of Lords (Lord Collins of Highbury) (Lab)]

I thank the noble Lord for his series of questions but, as he is well aware, successive United Kingdom Governments have opposed the United States’ embargo on Cuba and have done so consistently over many occasions for almost 30 years, certainly at the United Nations. We will continue that. Our position has been very clear that engagement and involvement are a way that we can deliver very clear messages about human rights. We have strongly made those points to both Cuba and the United States and we work with allies to pursue that position. In relation to reports of third-country involvement in Russia’s illegal war, we will continue to take appropriate action, together with our international partners, to deter those responsible.

[Lord Bruce of Bennachie (LD)]

My Lords, Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, has said about the blockade:

“Such severe sanctions packages that target entire sectors of an economy and produce broad, indiscriminate, and harsh effects on populations are incompatible with basic principles of international human rights law”.


We all know that poverty and hardship have been embedded by political repression in Cuba, but aid is now being provided by Canada and Europe for a humanitarian crisis created mostly by the US. The current blockade is making a long-term difficult situation for the people of Cuba potentially disastrous. What are the UK Government doing to engage with the United States Government to find ways to liberalise Cuba, to the benefit of its people, and not just see it as a resource to be plundered by US corporates?

[Lord Collins of Highbury (Lab)]

I hear what the noble Lord says, but what the United Kingdom Government have been doing is engaging with both the United States and Cuba. We welcome the dialogue taking place between those countries. Certainly, we are incredibly concerned about the current humanitarian situation. Our first concern is obviously also with United Kingdom citizens who may be involved, but our priority is to ensure, working through United Nations agencies, that humanitarian aid is delivered to the people of Cuba—who, as the noble Lord points out, have suffered tremendously, and that needs to be addressed.