Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what medical facilities he plans to make available to Ukrainians injured in the war with Russia.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has supported medical practitioners and the provision of medical services through funding partners, such as the World Health Organization, in Ukraine. We have supported the strengthening of Ukrainian rehabilitation systems through training and capacity building of Ukrainian healthcare staff; the provision of rehabilitation equipment to facilities across Ukraine; and support on health and social policy. Last year, the UK contributed to £320,000 of funding to the Superhumans War Trauma Centre in Ukraine. The clinic provides innovative rehabilitation services to people who have been impacted by war, including training surgeons on prosthetics. In addition, the Ukraine Red Cross Society, funded by UK assistance channelled through the British Red Cross, provides specialised training at the Burns Unit in Kyiv.
Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what information his Department holds on assistance provided to Russia by (a) China and (b) Iran to resource military action against Ukraine.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Chinese companies continue to provide military and dual-use goods to Russia's military industrial complex. This is enabling Putin's invasion of Ukraine. We have repeatedly urged China to take all measures to investigate and to prevent Chinese companies from supplying Russia's military, including when the Foreign Secretary last spoke with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on 22 April. To date, the UK has sanctioned 35 China-based entities for supplying Russia's defence industry under the Russia sanctions regulations.
Iran has supported Russia through its large-scale supply of drones, munitions, and ballistic missiles. In response to Iran's supply of ballistic missiles, the UK and its partners took actions including terminating our air services agreement with Iran Air and implementing new sanctions.
Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to his Statement on Gibraltar on 12 June 2025, what estimate he has made of the number of UK nationals who will enter Gibraltar each year who are (a) eligible for entry to Gibraltar under Gibraltarian controls and also (b) ineligible to enter the Schengen area.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
As today, there is no automatic right of entry to Gibraltar for non-resident British nationals. Under the agreement announced on 11 June, immigration and entry to Gibraltar will remain the responsibility of the Gibraltarian authorities. Spain, on behalf of the EU, will be responsible for granting or refusing entry to the Schengen area. The Government of Gibraltar have taken the decision to mutually recognise decisions taken by Spain to refuse entry to Schengen. As is the case today when UK nationals arrive at either a Gibraltar or a Schengen checkpoint, we expect the overwhelming majority of travellers to proceed without difficulty through the checks, which are carried out in the mutual public safety interest. British nationals who are resident in Gibraltar will not be refused entry to Gibraltar.
Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much bilateral aid he plans to make available to Ukraine in 2025-26.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We are proud of our fast, flexible, and responsive support to Ukrainians living through Russia's invasion. The UK has provided £5 billion of non-military support to Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion. The Prime Minister has said in Parliament that we will continue to support Ukraine, including for humanitarian purposes. On 9 May, the Foreign Secretary announced almost £25 million in new funding to support local Ukrainian organisations to protect the most vulnerable who continue to suffer from Russia's ongoing aggression. This forms part of our funding for 2025-2026 - final funding allocation decisions for the current financial year are ongoing and will prioritise support for those most in need.
Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of public statements from representatives of (a) China, (b) Russia and (c) Iran supporting the agreement with Mauritius on the Chagos Islands.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The agreement has been backed by key allies and international partners, including the US and all of our 5 EYES allies. India, Japan and South Korea have all also made clear their support for the deal. As US Defence Secretary Hegseth said, the UK's "very important deal with Mauritius secures the operational capabilities of the base and key US national security interests in the region. We are confident the base is protected for many years ahead."
Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to his Statement on Gibraltar on 12 June 2025, Official Report, col 1130, what steps he is taking to ensure the compatibility of the sovereignty clause with the section of the UK-EU Agreement in Respect of Gibraltar: Joint statement, published 11 June 2025, on the future Agreement being without prejudice to the respective legal positions of Spain and the United Kingdom with regard to sovereignty and jurisdiction.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The sovereignty clause is fully compatible with the Joint Statement published on 11 June 2025.
This Government is fully committed to the double lock: we will never enter into arrangements under which the people of Gibraltar would pass under the sovereignty of another State against their freely and democratically expressed wishes. And we will never enter into a process of sovereignty negotiations with which Gibraltar is not content.
Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to his Statement on Gibraltar on 12 June 2025, what estimate he has made of the annual number of UK nationals who could be stopped at the airport as a result of Schengen checks.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
As is the case today when UK nationals arrive at either a Gibraltar or a Schengen checkpoint, we expect the overwhelming majority of travellers to proceed without difficulty through the checks, which are carried out in the mutual public safety interest. British nationals who are resident in Gibraltar will not be refused entry to Gibraltar. As a result of the agreement announced on 11 June, we expect the number of passport checks in Gibraltar to reduce from approximately 10 million to 250,000. This model of dual checks is specific to the situation in Gibraltar and agreed by its Government. It will unlock the significant benefits of a fluid border.
Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to his Statement on Gibraltar on 12 June 2025, Official Report, col 1130, if he will publish the draft of the sovereignty clause.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
All parties are committed to finalising the text of the UK-EU Treaty in respect of Gibraltar as soon as possible. The final text will then be brought before the House for ratification in the normal way pursuant to the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010.
This Government is fully committed to the double lock: we will never enter into arrangements under which the people of Gibraltar would pass under the sovereignty of another State against their freely and democratically expressed wishes. And we will never enter into a process of sovereignty negotiations with which Gibraltar is not content.
Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Prime Minister’s oral contribution at Prime Ministers Questions on 11 June 2025, Official Report, column 969, on what evidential basis he said that (a) China, (b) Russia and (c) Iran are opposed to the treaty with Mauritius.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The deal to secure the base on Diego Garcia is vital for our national security.
Our Five Eyes allies - the US, Australia, New Zealand, Canada - as well as India, South Korea and Japan, all put out formal statements welcoming the deal.
There are clear safeguards in the treaty, including a clear prohibition to prevent any other foreign security forces, civilian or military - including the Chinese - from establishing themselves on the outer islands.
Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the intended effect of Article 1 of the UK-Mauritius Treaty is to recognise Mauritius as being sovereign over the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia since Mauritian independence.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Mauritius will become sovereign at the point of entry into force of the Treaty. The Treaty explicitly grants all rights and authorities that the United Kingdom requires for the long-term, secure and effective operation of the Base.