Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, with reference to the UN Meetings Coverage reports GA/12563, published on 17 November 2023, and GA/12586, published on 5 March 2024, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of proposals to reform the UN Security Council to limit the power of veto.

As a permanent member of the Security Council, we consider the veto a heavy responsibility, to be used in the interests of securing international peace and security.

We support responsible and accountable use of the veto. The UK Government was proud to co-sponsor the Veto Initiative that enables the General Assembly to scrutinise use of the veto. We support the Accountability, Coherence and Transparency code of conduct, through which we have committed not to vote against a credible draft resolution to prevent or end a mass atrocity. The UK has not used its veto since 1989.