Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with Ukrainian officials and officials on the IAEA regarding claims that Russian occupiers at the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant are denying employees access to the site who refused to sign contracts with the Russian State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom.

The UK is supporting the efforts of Ukraine and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to address the safety and security of Zaporzhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP). I [The Minister for Europe] spoke to the IAEA Director General on 2 December. The Foreign Secretary spoke to him on 15 November. UK Government officials have regular exchanges with their counterparts in Ukraine, the IAEA and the G7. Ukrainian staff at the ZNPP must be able to carry out their duties without threats or pressure and we will continue to use all political and diplomatic channels to insist Russia withdraws its forces and returns control of nuclear facilities to Ukraine.