Asked by: Cameron Thomas (Liberal Democrat - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent diplomatic steps she has taken to help return Ukrainian children abducted by Russia.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 20 October 2025 in response to Question 80930, and I would add that - on 3 December - the UK co-sponsored a UN General Assembly resolution for the 'Return of Ukrainian Children'.
I also refer the Hon Member to the answers provided by the Foreign Secretary during departmental questions on 2 December.
Asked by: Iain Duncan Smith (Conservative - Chingford and Woodford Green)
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 policies of reports of Russia sending Ukrainian children to camps in North Korea; and if she will have discussions with her NATO counterparts on demanding the return of those children back to Ukraine.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
These reports are highly alarming and would represent a further concerning aspect of the deepening relationship between Russia and North Korea. As the Foreign Secretary said to the House on 15 October, the kidnapping and forcible deportation of almost 20,000 Ukrainian children by Russia is one of the most disturbing aspects of this war, and we will continue to do all we can to support the return of those children, as well as monitoring the latest reports on their whereabouts and treatment.
Asked by: Cameron Thomas (Liberal Democrat - Tewkesbury)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent steps she has taken to seize frozen Russian assets and use them to resource Ukraine.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government remains determined to ensure Russia is held accountable for the damage it has caused, and continues to cause, in Ukraine.
We will continue work and coordinate with G7 and EU partners to ensure that Ukraine gets the funding it needs, ensuring any options developed by the Government are in line with international law.
We continue to pledge that Russia's sovereign assets will remain immobilised until they cease the war and pay compensation to Ukraine.
Asked by: Earl of Minto (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to (1) prevent, and (2) deter, further incursions by Russian spy ships.
Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Defence is ready to respond to any potential threats and take necessary steps to protect the UK's national interest. Defence will not shy away from robust action to protect Britain; with our NATO allies, we are strengthening our response to ensure that Russian ships and aircraft cannot operate in secrecy near UK or NATO territory.
The Royal Navy constantly monitors activity in and around UK waters and is ready and willing to respond if required, with ships held at high readiness under existing maritime security response plans. The Royal Navy is working closely across Government and with our international Allies to secure the waters and critical undersea infrastructure in and around the UK. HMG's centre of excellence for maritime security, the Joint Maritime Security Centre monitors our critical national infrastructure for potential threats. The Royal Navy also patrols UK waters with Maritime Patrol Aircraft and the Multi-Role Ocean Surveillance programme and continues to invest in new capabilities.
This includes responding to the Yantar, a Russian ship used for gathering intelligence and mapping to threaten our critical national underwater infrastructure and pose a threat to our way of life. During the Yantar's most recent deployment in and around the UK's exclusive economic zone, she was continuously and closely monitored by Royal Navy frigate HMS Somerset and the RAF's P-8s. Defence has also directed a change in the Royal Navy's posture, so that we can more closely track and robustly respond to the threats from this vessel and many others. Such actions have previously included surfacing a Royal Navy submarine - strictly as a deterrent measure - to make clear that we monitor every move.
Asked by: Earl of Minto (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government, with reference to the speech by the First Sea Lord on 8 December, what steps they are taking to prevent the loss of the naval control of the Atlantic to Russia.
Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence has announced Atlantic Bastion – the Royal Navy's programme to create an advanced hybrid naval force to secure the North Atlantic for the UK and NATO against the persistent and growing threat posed by Russia.
Atlantic Bastion will see ships, submarines, aircraft and unmanned vessels connected through AI-powered acoustic detection technology and integrated into a digital targeting web. Atlantic Bastion will enable the Armed Forces to find, track and, if required, act against adversaries with unprecedented effectiveness across vast areas of ocean. It represents a generational shift in capability and dominance in the North Atlantic.
Asked by: Mark Pritchard (Conservative - The Wrekin)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will introduce sanctions against senior members of Russia's GUGI agency.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
On 17 June 2025, the UK sanctioned the Main Directorate of Deep-Sea Research of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation (GUGI). As per the UK's long-standing policy on sanctions, it would not be appropriate to speculate about any future sanctions action.
Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the level of threat posed by Russia’s Arctic naval modernisation programme, including the introduction of armed icebreaking patrol vessels, on UK and allied maritime security in the High North.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The Ministry of Defence keeps Russian military capabilities and investment under continuous review. We work closely with our NATO Allies to understand the implications of Russian military capability development for Alliance security. NATO is strengthening its deterrence and defence as a result of the increasing threat from Russia and will continue to adapt as necessary.
Hypersonic missiles are just one type of many Russian air and missile capabilities. In light of the increasing threat the UK faces, His Majesty's Government announced up to £1 billion of investment for Integrated Air and Missile Defence in the Strategic Defence Review.
This is part of a comprehensive and integrated approach to deterring and defending against the range of strategic threats we face.
Asked by: Sarah Pochin (Reform UK - Runcorn and Helsby)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps the Government is taking to monitor and respond to changes in the military balance in the Arctic region, including Russia’s nuclear capabilities and posture, and what discussions he has held with NATO partners on this matter.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The Ministry of Defence keeps Russian military capabilities and investment under continuous review. We work closely with our NATO Allies to understand the implications of Russian military capability development for Alliance security. NATO is strengthening its deterrence and defence as a result of the increasing threat from Russia and will continue to adapt as necessary.
Asked by: Sarah Pochin (Reform UK - Runcorn and Helsby)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of recent trends in levels of Russian nuclear submarine and naval activity within the Arctic Circle and the implications for the security of the United Kingdom and NATO allies.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The Ministry of Defence keeps Russian military capabilities and investment under continuous review. We work closely with our NATO Allies to understand the implications of Russian military capability development for Alliance security. NATO is strengthening its deterrence and defence as a result of the increasing threat from Russia and will continue to adapt as necessary.
Asked by: Graeme Downie (Labour - Dunfermline and Dollar)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what analysis his Department has conducted on the strategic implications for NATO of Russia’s enhanced Arctic infrastructure, including air base expansions and deployment of advanced air defence systems such as S-400 on Novaya Zemlya.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The Ministry of Defence keeps Russian military capabilities and investment under continuous review. We work closely with our NATO Allies to understand the implications of Russian military capability development for Alliance security. NATO is strengthening its deterrence and defence as a result of the increasing threat from Russia and will continue to adapt as necessary.
Hypersonic missiles are just one type of many Russian air and missile capabilities. In light of the increasing threat the UK faces, His Majesty's Government announced up to £1 billion of investment for Integrated Air and Missile Defence in the Strategic Defence Review.
This is part of a comprehensive and integrated approach to deterring and defending against the range of strategic threats we face.