Asked by: Wendy Morton (Conservative - Aldridge-Brownhills)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department has a role in reviewing proscription designations for armed groups operating in Syria.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
In the case of the de-proscription of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), I refer the Rt Hon Member to the written ministerial statement provided by the Security Minister on 22 October 2025, setting out the process leading up to that decision. De-proscription decisions are made by the Home Secretary following an extensive process of consideration and assessment of all available information, to which the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office contributes.
Asked by: Wendy Morton (Conservative - Aldridge-Brownhills)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what role her Department had in the decision to deproscribe Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
In the case of the de-proscription of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), I refer the Rt Hon Member to the written ministerial statement provided by the Security Minister on 22 October 2025, setting out the process leading up to that decision. De-proscription decisions are made by the Home Secretary following an extensive process of consideration and assessment of all available information, to which the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office contributes.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the UK Minister Councillor Jennifer McNaughtan Statement at the Security Council on 19 December 2025, what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of her Department's work to encourage stability in Libya since 2020.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Hon Member to the statement mentioned in his questions, which sets out the UK's current position on these issues.
Asked by: Jack Rankin (Conservative - Windsor)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much their Department has spent on X and xAI since July 2024.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The central communication team at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has spent £722.77 on X Premium since July 2024, to enable the posting of longer-form messages, which can be essential when communicating in crisis situations. There has been no paid advertising on X by the FCDO since April 2023. We do not hold a central record of spending by overseas posts on X services, and this information could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to WPQ 105155 answered on 20 January 2026, whether the topic of Russia, Iranian and Venezuelan registered oil tankers in British and Irish waters was discussed at the meeting on 3 December 2025
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
While this particular issue was not on the agenda for that call, the Ministers did discuss countering Russian aggression and our support to Ukraine, and we continue to discuss priority issues with our Irish counterparts as and when they arise, including at Ministerial level.
Asked by: Wendy Morton (Conservative - Aldridge-Brownhills)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether it remains Government policy to support Israel’s participation in international cultural institutions and competitions; and whether she has assessed the potential implications for UK-Israel relations of boycott actions taken by broadcasters in Europe.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
There has been no change of policy in this area, and no such assessment made.
Asked by: John Glen (Conservative - Salisbury)
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 her Egyptian counterpart on the detention of Saeid Mansour Abdulraziq.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK champions freedom of religion or belief for all and, where appropriate, will raise these issues with the Egyptian authorities.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to Q341 of the oral evidence session of the Foreign Affairs, Commonwealth and Development Committee, on Oral evidence: Work of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, HC 385, 3 November 2025, if he will make it Government policy that Parliamentary select committees can question direct ministerial appointments in an oral evidence session.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The government recently published guidance on making Direct Ministerial Appointments, which sets out the principles for this route into government. This can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/direct-ministerial-appointments
Asked by: Lord Weir of Ballyholme (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what action they are taking to facilitate and encourage the delivery across the borders with Israel and Egypt of accommodation shelters for people in Gaza.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The UK is providing £81 million for humanitarian and early recovery support for Palestine this financial year. Last month, supplies of UK-funded tents entered Gaza, providing urgent shelter for 12,000 vulnerable civilians, and we will continue to push for the entry of further UK-funded aid, including tents and shelter kits, which have so far been unable to reach those in need. On 30 December 2025, the Foreign Secretary issued a joint statement alongside a number of international partners calling on the Government of Israel to remove restrictions hindering the delivery of essential humanitarian aid.
The UK is supporting the US-led plan for Gaza's post-conflict stability, as well as exploring the mobilisation of private-sector finance to support Palestinian-led reconstruction of Gaza. We have also deployed UK civilian and military experts to support the Civil-Military Coordination Centre that aims to coordinate reconstruction efforts in Gaza. In addition, the UK has announced £4 million of funding for the United Nations Mine Action Service to help clear rubble, protect civilians and aid workers, and enable the safe delivery of aid. In total, the UK is providing £116 million for Palestine this financial year for humanitarian aid, support for Palestinian economic development, and strengthening Palestinian Authority governance and reform.
Asked by: Lord Weir of Ballyholme (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what provision they are making to provide temporary accommodation structures or housing shelters to people in Gaza.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The UK is providing £81 million for humanitarian and early recovery support for Palestine this financial year. Last month, supplies of UK-funded tents entered Gaza, providing urgent shelter for 12,000 vulnerable civilians, and we will continue to push for the entry of further UK-funded aid, including tents and shelter kits, which have so far been unable to reach those in need. On 30 December 2025, the Foreign Secretary issued a joint statement alongside a number of international partners calling on the Government of Israel to remove restrictions hindering the delivery of essential humanitarian aid.
The UK is supporting the US-led plan for Gaza's post-conflict stability, as well as exploring the mobilisation of private-sector finance to support Palestinian-led reconstruction of Gaza. We have also deployed UK civilian and military experts to support the Civil-Military Coordination Centre that aims to coordinate reconstruction efforts in Gaza. In addition, the UK has announced £4 million of funding for the United Nations Mine Action Service to help clear rubble, protect civilians and aid workers, and enable the safe delivery of aid. In total, the UK is providing £116 million for Palestine this financial year for humanitarian aid, support for Palestinian economic development, and strengthening Palestinian Authority governance and reform.