Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking through the UN to advance the Children and Armed Conflict agenda.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UN Secretary General's 2025 report on Children and Armed Conflict is shocking; it shows that children are being harmed and denied lifesaving aid on an unprecedented scale.

As we made clear in our statement at the UN Security Council Open Debate on Children and Armed Conflict on 25 June, the UK is deeply concerned at the worsening situation for children in conflict, and remains committed to both preventing and ending grave violations against children in conflict, and to supporting, promoting and defending the UN Children and Armed Conflict mandate.

The UK is an active member of the UN Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict and plays a key role in ensuring effective scrutiny by the UN Security Council of conflicts where children are harmed.

In 2024-25, the UK funded UNICEF's Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism, which is a vital tool in ensuring that perpetrators are held to account.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions he has had with menstrual product manufacturers on the adequacy of levels of glyphosate in menstrual products.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

My officials engage regularly with a number of industry bodies, including the Absorbent Hygiene Products Manufacturers Association who represent the UK disposable nappy, adult continence care and period product industries.

Subject to Royal Assent of the Product Regulation and Metrology Bill, the Government will consult on a range of issues, including the safety of period products, to ensure that any changes to the regulatory framework are robust and consistent. As part of this, we are considering further research and testing in this area to complement the consultation, as well as engaging with other interested Government Departments in reviewing any evidence and agreeing a way forward following consultation.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he plans to take to support global maternal and newborn health initiatives; and whether he plans to change the level of support in the next five years.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Healthy Women, Children and Newborns (HWCN) is the UK government's approach to help end preventable maternal, child and newborn deaths, supporting global efforts in line with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets to reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, and to end preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age by 2030. The approach works to strengthen health systems; promote gender equality and comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights; and support improved nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene and climate resilience in health.

The Spending Review 2025 confirmed the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's (FCDO) Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget from 2026/27 onwards. Over the coming months, the Department will undertake detailed planning to determine how this budget will be allocated. The FCDO is reviewing how these allocations will support existing and future commitments, with a continued focus on ensuring all ODA spending delivers value for money and advances the UK's development priorities, including global health.

ODA has always been only one element of the UK's approach, alongside policy and diplomatic efforts. In April 2025, at the UN Commission on Population and Development, the UK cosponsored the launch of the Global Midwifery Accelerator, which aims to shift the dial on midwifery, encouraging partnerships and investment to end preventable maternal and neonatal deaths.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will take steps to introduce a maximum limit on levels of glyphosate in menstrual products.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Most period products are regulated by the General Product Safety Regulations 2005, which requires all products to be safe and for consumers to be provided with information on the potential risks of a product.

Officials are currently reviewing the evidence base concerning the safety of period products, from which any evidence gaps will be identified, and appropriate expert evidence or further research sought. Where appropriate the Department will seek to work with other interested Government Departments, including those with responsibility for the regulation of glyphosate.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support Sudan's Emergency Response Rooms.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

At the April London Sudan Conference, the Foreign Secretary announced £120 million for this financial year, which will deliver life-saving services to more than 650,000 people. A portion of this uplift provides support to local responders both through the Sudan Humanitarian Fund, which supports the Emergency Response Rooms (ERRs), and the Mercy Corps-led Cash Consortium for Sudan which provides direct cash assistance to Mutual Aid Groups and ERRs on the ground.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 5 June 2025 to Question 55860 on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Health Services, whether he has a new target date for publication of that plan.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome, final delivery plan will be published shortly. The plan will focus on boosting research, improving attitudes and education, and bettering the lives of people with this debilitating disease.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made with Cabinet colleagues of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to regulate the use of conflict minerals in UK supply chains.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK is committed to promoting responsible business practice to reduce and prevent human rights abuses. We work through a number of international mechanisms, including supporting the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Mineral Supply Chains. This enables business to continue to operate responsibly from conflict-affected and high-risk areas. The UK's new Critical Minerals Strategy will be published this summer and will help secure the supply of critical minerals that are vital for the UK's economic growth and clean energy transition, including tin, tantalum and tungsten, whilst promoting responsible and transparent supply chains.

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 his Swiss counterparts on preventing the international trade in conflict gold illicitly mined in Africa.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Switzerland is crucial to tackling the illicit gold trade as it is a key global gold refining centre, home to the largest gold refiners in the world, and one of the global leaders in implementing multilateral gold standards. The Foreign Secretary has engaged closely with Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis on tackling illicit financial flows and corruption globally, and will hold further discussions to develop areas for strengthened collaboration and partnership.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to prevent conflict gold from entering UK supply chains.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The illicit gold trade fuels corruption and conflict, undermining the rule of law and entrenching human rights abuses such as child labour. Russia uses the illicit gold trade to launder money and evade sanctions, in doing so bolstering Putin's war efforts. The UK has sanctioned Russian gold and targeted illicit gold networks abroad, including through further sanctions in December 2024. The UK works with the London Bullion Market Association and World Gold Council to support responsible sourcing of gold and to build resilience to illicit gold flows. The London Bullion Market Association implements the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's (OECD) industry-leading Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas to ensure proper risk identification and mitigation for conflict gold.

Reform of the special educational needs and disabilities system

Tackling food waste

Loan Charge and settlement terms offered to large companies and individuals

UK trade with illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories

Local authority funding

Democracy in Hong Kong

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Sarah Champion (Chair); Tracy Gilbert; Monica Harding; Noah Law;

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Sarah Champion (Chair); Tracy Gilbert; Monica Harding; Noah Law;

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Sarah Champion (Chair); Tracy Gilbert; Monica Harding; Noah Law;

Found: International Development Committee member present: Monica Harding.

Found: Debate Pack, Humanitarian situation in Sudan EDM 381 (session 2024 -25) 11 November 2024 Monica Harding

Found: _NC15 Mr Paul Kohler Monica Harding .

Found: _NC7 Mr Paul Kohler Monica Harding .

Found: _NC7 Mr Paul Kohler Monica Harding .

Found: _NC15 Mr Paul Kohler Monica Harding .

Found: _NC15 Mr Paul Kohler Monica Harding .

Found: _NC7 Mr Paul Kohler Monica Harding .

Found: _NC15 Mr Paul Kohler Monica Harding .

Found: _NC7 Mr Paul Kohler Monica Harding .

Found: _NC15 Mr Paul Kohler Monica Harding .

Found: _NC7 Mr Paul Kohler Monica Harding .

Found: _NC15 Mr Paul Kohler Monica Harding .

Found: _NC7 Mr Paul Kohler Monica Harding .

Found: Bennett Bell Ribeiro-Addy Ellie Chowns John Milne Daisy Cooper Siân Berry Adrian Ramsay Monica Harding

Found: Bennett Bell Ribeiro-Addy Ellie Chowns John Milne Daisy Cooper Siân Berry Adrian Ramsay Monica Harding

Found: Bennett Bell Ribeiro-Addy Ellie Chowns John Milne Daisy Cooper Siân Berry Adrian Ramsay Monica Harding

Found: _NC7 Max Wilkinson Monica Harding .

Found: _NC7 Max Wilkinson Monica Harding .

Found: REPORT STAGE Tuesday 8 July 2025 4 Not called_NC7 Max Wilkinson Monica Harding .

Found: Dame Karen Bradley Ms Stella Creasy Lisa Smart Siân Berry Munira Wilson Martin Wrigley Monica Harding

Submit Evidence (by 25 Aug 2025)

Nigeria was the sixth largest recipient of UK Official Development Assistance in 2023 with over £100m allocated. This was a reduction from third place in 2022 when it received £110m. As of 2024, Nigeria had by far the largest population in Africa and one of the highest population growth rates. Nigeria is the fourth largest economy in Africa and has a diaspora numbering hundreds of thousands living in the UK.