Asked by: Lord Callanan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government who appointed Nishi Dholakia as the Commissioner for the British Indian Ocean Territory; and to whom he is accountable.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The Commissioner has a constitutional responsibility to discharge the powers conferred on him under the British Indian Ocean Territory (Constitution) Order 2004 and related instruments, and does so with professional diligence. The Commissioner and BIOT Administration is constitutionally and legally separate from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
Asked by: Marsha De Cordova (Labour - Battersea)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has assessed the potential merits of advocating international action to reduce avoidable sight loss at the Global Summit for Eye Health in November 2026.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is committed to tackling global health challenges and considers eye health within this wider agenda. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is transforming its approach to global health by moving from direct service delivery to supporting countries with technical expertise and long-term system strengthening, including through our fully flexible funding to the World Health Organization. The new Global Health Community of Expertise will connect partners with UK and global knowledge, innovation and investment. This demand-led, partnership model is designed to help countries access the resources they need to address their own health challenges, including on eye health.
Asked by: Sarah Hall (Labour (Co-op) - Warrington South)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has held discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the potential merits of establishing a judge-led public inquiry into the UK Government’s potential role in relation to Operation Blue Star in 1984.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Lord Callanan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the report in the Daily Telegraph, ‘Chagos supply mission ‘thwarted by officials’’ published on 11 April, what role, if any, the Commissioner for the British Indian Ocean Territory had in authorising the prevention of humanitarian items, such as bed linen and mosquito nets, from entering Peros Banhos.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The Commissioner has a constitutional responsibility to discharge the powers conferred on him under the British Indian Ocean Territory (Constitution) Order 2004 and related instruments, and does so with professional diligence. The Commissioner and BIOT Administration is constitutionally and legally separate from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
Asked by: Lord Callanan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what consultations the Commissioner for the British Indian Ocean Territory has held with Chagossians, including those currently resident on Peros Banhos since December 2024.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The Commissioner has a constitutional responsibility to discharge the powers conferred on him under the British Indian Ocean Territory (Constitution) Order 2004 and related instruments, and does so with professional diligence. The Commissioner and BIOT Administration is constitutionally and legally separate from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
Asked by: Lord Callanan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government when the Commissioner for the British Indian Ocean Territory last visited Peros Banhos; and when he next plans to visit that island.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The Commissioner has a constitutional responsibility to discharge the powers conferred on him under the British Indian Ocean Territory (Constitution) Order 2004 and related instruments, and does so with professional diligence. The Commissioner and BIOT Administration is constitutionally and legally separate from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
Asked by: Lord Callanan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government when the Commissioner for the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) last visited the BIOT.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The Commissioner has a constitutional responsibility to discharge the powers conferred on him under the British Indian Ocean Territory (Constitution) Order 2004 and related instruments, and does so with professional diligence. The Commissioner and BIOT Administration is constitutionally and legally separate from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
Asked by: Esther McVey (Conservative - Tatton)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her Department's policies of the increasing percentage of funding for the World Health Organization coming from (a) specified and (b) non-State donor funding.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK recognises the importance of flexible and predictable funding for the World Health Organization (WHO). That is why we prioritise fully flexible funding to ensure the organisation's ability to set independent priorities and respond to emerging global health risks. While specified and non State funding remains part of WHO's financing mix, its reporting shows that the share of flexible funding has increased in recent years. The UK continues to advocate for a balanced funding model to strengthen WHO's effectiveness, independence, and accountability. Member States have also agreed reforms to assessed contributions to increase the amount of flexible funding available.
Asked by: Earl Russell (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they are actively monitoring for any indications that the government of the United States is considering, or has implemented, a toll or charge on oil tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The UK keeps all aspects of the Iran crisis under constant review. The Foreign Secretary set out the UK's position on freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz in her Mansion House speech on 9 April, a link to which can be found below:
https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/foreign-secretary-mansion-house-address-to-city-of-london-2026.
Asked by: Alec Shelbrooke (Conservative - Wetherby and Easingwold)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to pages 19 to 20 of the Sixth Special Report of the Joint Committee on Human Rights of Session 2024-26 on Transnational repression in the UK: Government Response, HC1405, published on 30 October 2025, when she intends to publish a refreshed Human Rights and Democracy report.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office is working on a Human Rights and Democracy Report and will confirm publication timeframes in due course.