Asked by: Tim Roca (Labour - Macclesfield)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps his Department is taking to tackle (a) the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Cuba, and (b) the impact of US sanctions on food, fuel and medicine supplies and the effect of prolonged power blackouts on Cuban citizens.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK remains concerned about the serious humanitarian situation in Cuba, particularly shortages of fuel, food and essential medicines. Fuel shortages are disrupting essential services and constraining the delivery of humanitarian assistance. The UK supports humanitarian relief through international and multilateral partners including the World Food Programme, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the UN Central Emergency Response Fund. We continue to engage with international partners and assess what further practical support may be possible, while balancing competing humanitarian priorities globally.
The UK has consistently opposed the longstanding US embargo against Cuba, including through our voting position at the UN. We consider the embargo harmful to the Cuban people and counterproductive. Recent US measures affecting fuel supplies, finance and economic activity have compounded humanitarian pressures. Cuba's current challenges cannot, however, be explained by sanctions alone. Sustainable improvement also requires domestic economic reform.
Asked by: Tim Roca (Labour - Macclesfield)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking in international fora to uphold the right of the people of the Falkland Islands to self-determination and to support their expressed wish for the Islands to remain a British Overseas Territory.
Answered by Uma Kumaran - Assistant Whip
I refer the Honourable member to the answer provided in the House of Lords on 29 September in response to Question HL3618, which - for ease of reference - is reproduced below:
The UK Government continues proactively to defend and promote the Falkland Islanders' right of self-determination in all international fora. This included in advance of both the Organisation of American States General Assembly and the UN Committee on Decolonisation annual discussion of the Falkland Islands, in June. As my Right Honourable friend the Prime Minister said in the House of Commons on 9 September, we will always respect the rights of the Falkland Islanders to choose to be British. Self-determination is a principle grounded in international law and this government will resolutely uphold it at every opportunity on the international stage.
Asked by: Tim Roca (Labour - Macclesfield)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps the United Kingdom is taking to support the investigation and accountability of violations of human rights by all duty-bearers in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 12 October 2025 to Question 98016.
Asked by: Tim Roca (Labour - Macclesfield)
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 debt relief for poorer nations.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Supporting developing countries to tackle unsustainable debt is a key development priority of this government. The UK is playing its full part to support countries who face unsustainable debt burdens. Where we are a creditor, we have fully engaged in debt restructuring negotiations. We welcome recent Common Framework debt agreements with Zambia and Ghana and are calling for efforts to strengthen and speed up future debt restructurings.
We are also focussed on strengthening the system for the future. This means improving debt transparency, strengthening debt management, global implementation of sustainable lending and borrowing practices, and wider roll out of Natural Disaster Clauses which pause debt repayments when a climate or health disaster hits.
Asked by: Tim Roca (Labour - Macclesfield)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of supporting charities that support pregnant women and newborn babies in Afghanistan.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is committed to supporting vital health services in Afghanistan, including for pregnant women and newborn babies. Our £161 million aid programme provides support to the most vulnerable, delivered through non-governmental organisations, UN agencies, and the Red Cross Movement. In 2023/24 the UK helped more than 1.4 million people, of whom over 1 million were women, to access essential health services, and we reached at least 57,000 children under 5 and pregnant and lactating women with dietary supplements.
Asked by: Tim Roca (Labour - Macclesfield)
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 meet sustainable development goal six.
Answered by Anneliese Dodds
The UK works with governments and development partners to strengthen the delivery of climate-resilient water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services. We work to strengthen systems in six countries: Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Tanzania, Malawi, Nepal and Bangladesh, and we support the Heads of State Initiative to gain high level political commitment for Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 acceleration. Through this initiative, the President of Ghana recently committed $1.7 billion for WASH-related SDG 6 targets. The UK is also implementing the £39m Just Transitions for Water Security programme, enhancing resilience for 40 million people in insecure countries through better planning, water governance and increased investment in water infrastructure.
Asked by: Tim Roca (Labour - Macclesfield)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the financial situation of the British Council.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
In 2024/25, the FCDO will provide the British Council with £162.5 million Grant-in-Aid funding. The British Council is projected to generate £885 million from other sources over the same period, according to its Corporate Plan 2024-25. This self-generated income is largely derived from the British Council's teaching and exams businesses.
The Government is committed to a successful British Council that is financially stable. Our funding to the British Council underlines our support.
Asked by: Tim Roca (Labour - Macclesfield)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 15 October 2024 to Question 8070 on Unlawfully detained British nationals abroad, in how many cases his Department has the consent of individuals to raise welfare or human rights concerns.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Where the FCDO has welfare or human rights concerns in relation to British nationals detained overseas, consular staff seek the consent of individuals before raising concerns with the relevant authorities. The FCDO does not hold statistics on the number of British nationals who have provided the FCDO with their consent to raise welfare or human rights concerns.
Asked by: Tim Roca (Labour - Macclesfield)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will appoint a special envoy for arbitrarily detained persons.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Providing consular support to British nationals abroad, particularly in cases involving arbitrary detention, is a vital public service and one of the FCDO's top priorities. The Government is reviewing how to strengthen that support, including by considering the appointment of a new envoy.
Asked by: Tim Roca (Labour - Macclesfield)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with his counterpart in Israel on that country's policy on a two-state solution.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign Secretary most recently spoke to Israeli Foreign Minister Katz on 2 October. We advocate publicly and privately the need for a long-term political solution, that will include the implementation of a two-state solution. An immediate ceasefire must be agreed but is just the first step towards a lasting solution to this crisis. We continue to work to support progress towards a two-state solution with a safe and secure Israel alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian state.