Asked by: Iqbal Mohamed (Independent - Dewsbury and Batley)
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 impact of political bodies seeking to override findings of independent judicial panels associated with the International Criminal Court on the upholding of international law.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK fully supports the independence of the International Criminal Court (ICC). The ICC's internal process to address the allegations of misconduct against the Prosecutor is still underway. That process follows Terms of Reference agreed by the ICC Bureau. The UK is not currently a member of that body. It would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the answer of 19 March 2026, to Question 118010, on FCDO: Artworks, if she will publish information on artworks installed at her Department’s headquarters in London since 4 July 2024.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Government Art Collection is a working collection, used across government buildings in the UK and the global estate, which means that artworks may change their display location from time to time. Current locations of artworks in the collection can be found on their website.
Asked by: Lord Fuller (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to develop a strategic chemicals resilience programme to reduce reliance on foreign producers of critical primary building blocks and intermediates that support manufacturing activities in the UK.
Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Government recognises the criticality of chemicals, given that the sector underpins almost all other manufacturing. The chemicals sector was identified as a key foundational industry within our modern Industrial Strategy which will implement targeted policy interventions to drive long-term sustainable, inclusive and secure growth.
Government regularly engages with industry to monitor vital supply chains, including on chemicals. This includes regular engagement with the sector to identify areas which could improve the resilience of our supply or mitigate disruption.
The government announced its intention to set up a Supply Chain Centre as part of the Trade and Industrial Strategies. The Centre is already operational, marking a step change in government’s approach to protecting the UK’s economy and security in turbulent geopolitical times utilising a data-led approach.
Asked by: Steve Darling (Liberal Democrat - Torbay)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to support the British Council in addressing identified financial pressures; and what further assistance is under consideration to ensure its long-term sustainability.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Hon Member to (a) the answer I provided on 28 October 2025 in response to question 906060, (b) the oral evidence provided to the Foreign Affairs Committee on 9 December 2025 by the Permanent Under-Secretary to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, and on 16 December 2025 by the Foreign Secretary, and (c) the Written Ministerial Statement I made on 26 March 2026 (Statement UIN HCWS1470), where these issues were addressed at length.
Asked by: Steve Darling (Liberal Democrat - Torbay)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how the Government is assessing the financial sustainability of the British Council over the next 3 years; and what metrics or criteria are being used in that assessment.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Hon Member to (a) the answer I provided on 28 October 2025 in response to question 906060, (b) the oral evidence provided to the Foreign Affairs Committee on 9 December 2025 by the Permanent Under-Secretary to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, and on 16 December 2025 by the Foreign Secretary, and (c) the Written Ministerial Statement I made on 26 March 2026 (Statement UIN HCWS1470), where these issues were addressed at length.
Asked by: Steve Darling (Liberal Democrat - Torbay)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment the Government has made of the principal financial pressures facing the British Council; and what the main drivers of those pressures are.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Hon Member to (a) the answer I provided on 28 October 2025 in response to question 906060, (b) the oral evidence provided to the Foreign Affairs Committee on 9 December 2025 by the Permanent Under-Secretary to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, and on 16 December 2025 by the Foreign Secretary, and (c) the Written Ministerial Statement I made on 26 March 2026 (Statement UIN HCWS1470), where these issues were addressed at length.
Asked by: Iqbal Mohamed (Independent - Dewsbury and Batley)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has had discussions with international partners on the potential impact of US sanctions on officials of the International Criminal Court.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Hon Member to the answer he was provided on 11 March in response to Question 118062.
Asked by: Lord Leigh of Hurley (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is the (1) longest, and (2) average amount of, time taken by the Investment Security Unit to accept notifications of transactions over the periods of (a) 31 December 2025-31 March 2026, and (b) 31 March 2025-31 March 2026.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government publishes information on the operation of the National Security and Investment Act in the NSIA Annual Report. The most recent report, covering the 2024/25 reporting period, can be found on GOV.UK. In this period, the median time from receipt of a notification to a decision to accept that notification was:
7 working days for mandatory notifications;
8 working days for voluntary notifications; and
6 working days for retrospective validation applications.
Data on the time taken to accept notifications received between 1st April 2025 and 31st March 2026 will be published in the next Annual Report later this year.
Asked by: Iqbal Mohamed (Independent - Dewsbury and Batley)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations she has made to members of the Assembly of States Parties to the International Criminal Court on reports that the findings of an independent judicial panel into allegations concerning the Prosecutor are being disregarded.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK fully supports the independence of the International Criminal Court (ICC). The ICC's internal process to address the allegations of misconduct against the Prosecutor is still underway. That process follows Terms of Reference agreed by the ICC Bureau. The UK is not currently a member of that body. It would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.
Asked by: Iqbal Mohamed (Independent - Dewsbury and Batley)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps her Department is taking to ensure that (a) the International Criminal Court; (b) the International Court of Justice; and (c) the UN can discharge their duties and responsibilities without undue interference from other countries.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Hon Member to the answer he was provided on 11 March in response to Question 118062.