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.

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.