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 funding he plans to provide to Mauritius as part of official development assistance programmes in 2025.
Answered by Anneliese Dodds - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's ODA programme allocations for 2024/25 were published in a Written Ministerial Statement (HCWS421) on Thursday 6 February 2025. We are prioritising predictability and stability after years of turbulence. Ministers will consider ODA allocations for 2025/26 over the coming months, and we will publish them in the Annual Report & Accounts in summer 2025. The second phase of the Spending Review, concluding in late spring 2025, will set departmental ODA budgets for future years.
Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Solicitor General, how many (a) meetings and (b) discussions (i) the Attorney General and (ii) his officials have had with the representatives of the Government of Mauritius since July 2024.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
Since July 2024, the Attorney General and his officials have had one meeting with a representative of the Government of Mauritius.
This was a courtesy meeting with Mr Gavin Glover, the visiting Attorney General of Mauritius, in January 2025.
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, when he shared with the US Administration a copy of the proposed Treaty with Mauritius over the future sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We shared the proposed treaty with the new US Administration upon their taking office. Our primary goal throughout negotiations is to protect the joint UK-US military base in Diego Garcia, which plays a crucial role in regional and international security. The UK has been working in lockstep with the US since the start of negotiations in 2022, including under the previous Conservative government. Given Diego Garcia's status as a key strategic asset, it is right that the new US Administration has the chance to consider the agreement.
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 Prime Minister discussed proposals to (a) reduce the length of term of the proposed lease and (b) make changes to the financial arrangements for the proposed terms of the lease of the military base at Diego Garcia agreed with the Mauritius Government on 3 October 2024 during his phone call with the Prime Minister of Mauritius on 31 January 2025.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Rt Hon Member to the read-out of their meeting on gov.uk.
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 implications for his policies of the announcement of the appointment of an interim president in Syria; and whether he recognises that position as a Head of State.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
On 29 January, Ahmed Al-Sharaa was announced as Syrian President for a transitional period. We welcome Al Sharaa's announcement that he will form an inclusive transitional Government, leading to free and fair elections. This is a critical moment for Syria's transition and we will continue to judge Al Sharaa on his actions.
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 representations he has received from his Mauritian counterpart since 15 January 2025.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign Secretary has received no direct representations from his Mauritian counterpart since 15 January.
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, on what date the new US Administration began formal consideration of the proposed treaty with Mauritius.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We shared the proposed treaty with the new US Administration. Internal processes for the US Administration are for them to speak to.
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 representations he has made to (a) support the rights of (i) minority groups and (ii) women and girls and (b) promote religious freedoms in Syria since the appointment of an interim President on 29 January 2025.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign Secretary met interim Syrian Foreign Minister al Sheibani on 12 January and stressed the need for an inclusive political transition. In our engagement with the interim Syrian authorities, we have consistently advocated for an inclusive political process and underlined the importance of protecting the rights of all civilians, including women and religious and ethnic minorities. The UK Special Representative for Syria reiterated these points during her visit to Damascus on 29 January.
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 aid he plans to deliver to Syria in 2025.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK continues to provide vital support to those in need in Syria and Syrians across the region. We pledged more than £250 million in 2024, and in December 2024, we announced a further £61 million in support. Through the United Nations and international non-governmental organisations, we are providing food, healthcare, protection, and other life-saving assistance. Financial year 2025/2026 budgets are under consideration by FCDO Ministers.
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 funding to UNRWA announced in (a) July 2024 and (b) December 2024 has been spent; and whether conditions were imposed on funding provided to UNRWA since July 2024.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK has committed £41 million for United Nations Relief and Work Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) this financial year, to deliver essential services for civilians in Gaza and the West Bank, and to Palestinian refugees across the region. On 19 July 2024, the Foreign Secretary announced £21 million towards UNRWA's Flash Humanitarian Appeal for Gaza and the West Bank, which focuses its resources on emergency food, shelter, and other support, as well as its wider work supporting Palestinian refugees across the region. £1 million of this funding was earmarked for implementing the recommendations of Catherine Colonna's Independent Review. On 2 December 2024, The Minister of State for Development announced a further £7 million funding towards UNRWA's Flash Humanitarian Appeal for Gaza. On 13 December, the Prime Minister committed to an additional £13 million to UNRWA to support vital services for Palestinian refugees in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and the region. A Memorandum of Understanding governs UK financial support to UNRWA. We continue to monitor UNRWA's activity through due diligence and annual assessments.