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 representations he has made to the Taliban on the treatment of (a) LGBT+ people, (b) women and girls and (c) people from ethnic Hazara communities.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Ministers do not engage with the Taliban, but Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office officials regularly press the Taliban to respect the human rights of all Afghans, most recently in June. The Government is working with international partners to maintain collective pressure on the Taliban to reverse their inhuman restrictions. We continue to support the UN Special Rapporteur and his mandate to document human rights abuses in Afghanistan. Upholding human rights and gender equality is not only a moral imperative but also essential for building a stable, inclusive and prosperous country for all Afghans.
Asked by: Olivia Blake (Labour - Sheffield Hallam)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what information his Department holds on the safety of transgender people travelling to the US; and if he will publish a country policy and information note on (a) sexual orientation and (b) gender identity and expression in the US.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
US immigration is a matter for the US Government, in accordance with international law. The UK Government remains fully committed to upholding the human rights and freedoms of all LGBT+ people. We regularly monitor how policy changes in other countries could impact British nationals who travel, including LGBT+ people. We then review and update policies, and travel advice, as necessary.
Asked by: Mike Wood (Conservative - Kingswinford and South Staffordshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 22 April 2025 to Question 44591 on Stonewall: Arms Length Bodies and Government Bodies, if he will make it his policy to discontinue his Department's partnerships with Stonewall.
Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) works closely with a range of civil society organisations to defend the human rights of LGBT+ people around the world. This has included valuable work with Stonewall to reduce violence and discrimination towards LBT+ women in the Caribbean, Southern Africa, and Eastern Europe; protect LGBT+ people in high-risk situations; and relocate the most vulnerable LGBT+ people from Afghanistan. Future funding decisions will be taken as part of the spending review, in keeping with FCDO policies.
Asked by: Steve Yemm (Labour - Mansfield)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support (a) LGBTIQ+ people and (b) women human rights defenders to access (i) sexual and reproductive health services, (ii) abortions, (iii) family planning services, (iv) HIV medication and (v) crisis response support in Kenya.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is committed to championing LGBT+ human rights around the world; this work is enabled by our global, £40 million LGBT+ rights programme which supports organisations such as 'United in Health and Agriculture Improvement - East African Sexual Health and Rights Initiative', which is Africa's first indigenous activist fund that advances the human rights of LGBT+ persons. The UK proudly defends and promotes universal and comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). Through the £28.3 million Delivering Sustainable and Equitable increases in Family Planning programme (2019-2025), the UK has strengthened family planning in Kenya through contributing towards averting over 1.72 million unintended pregnancies, averting over 4,500 maternal deaths and over 400,000 unsafe abortions. UK co-funding of the Kenya Maternal and Newborn Health programme supports an emergency transport system in Kenya, using mobile technology to connect pregnant women to care when needed during pregnancy and childbirth.
Asked by: Paul Davies (Labour - Colne Valley)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help ensure that (a) marginalized and (b) high-risk populations in (i) low and (ii) medium-income countries receive adequate HIV prevention support.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Addressing stigma, discrimination and barriers to access to HIV prevention, testing and treatment is vital for the global HIV response. The UK is a champion of human rights globally, and our funding to the Robert Carr Fund and UNAIDS has helped to combat stigma and improve access to services for those most marginalised, including LGBT+ people, in low- and middle-income countries.
Asked by: Joe Morris (Labour - Hexham)
Question
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps she is taking to improve LGBT+ support in (a) Hexham constituency, (b) Northumberland, (c) Newcastle, (d) the North East and (e) England.
Answered by Nia Griffith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Wales Office)
It is crucial that LGBT+ people in all areas of Britain are safe, included and protected from discrimination. To achieve this we must end the recent politics of division. Work is already underway to fulfil the commitments set out in the new Government’s manifesto, advancing the rights and protections afforded to LGBT+ people.
These include:
In addition to this, Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary is now taking part in one of our biggest successes, the HIV opt out testing in emergency departments. During the last 27 months over 2 million HIV tests have been conducted through the programme, indicatively finding over 800 new HIV diagnoses and 540 people previously diagnosed with HIV but not in care.
We are also pleased that a number of primary care service providers in the North-East, particularly in South Shields and Jarrow, are part of the Pride in Practice scheme that is run by the LGBT Foundation. This scheme aims to improve the experiences of LGBT+ people when accessing primary care services. We would encourage primary care providers in the North-East to consider joining this scheme.
Finally, we recognise that LGBT+ people in rural communities have not always had access to the services they need. That is why we are working on ensuring that rural LGBT+ communities can access the support, healthcare and sense of community that larger cities enjoy. For example, our Conversion Practices Victim Support Service is a national service that anyone can access wherever they are in the country.
Asked by: Joe Morris (Labour - Hexham)
Question
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps she is taking to improve LGBT+ support in rural communities.
Answered by Nia Griffith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Wales Office)
It is crucial that LGBT+ people in all areas of Britain are safe, included and protected from discrimination. To achieve this we must end the recent politics of division. Work is already underway to fulfil the commitments set out in the new Government’s manifesto, advancing the rights and protections afforded to LGBT+ people.
These include:
In addition to this, Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary is now taking part in one of our biggest successes, the HIV opt out testing in emergency departments. During the last 27 months over 2 million HIV tests have been conducted through the programme, indicatively finding over 800 new HIV diagnoses and 540 people previously diagnosed with HIV but not in care.
We are also pleased that a number of primary care service providers in the North-East, particularly in South Shields and Jarrow, are part of the Pride in Practice scheme that is run by the LGBT Foundation. This scheme aims to improve the experiences of LGBT+ people when accessing primary care services. We would encourage primary care providers in the North-East to consider joining this scheme.
Finally, we recognise that LGBT+ people in rural communities have not always had access to the services they need. That is why we are working on ensuring that rural LGBT+ communities can access the support, healthcare and sense of community that larger cities enjoy. For example, our Conversion Practices Victim Support Service is a national service that anyone can access wherever they are in the country.
Asked by: Lord Jackson of Peterborough (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Twycross on 16 September 2024 (HL694), what funding the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office has allocated to Stonewall in 2024 and 2025, broken down by each individual programme; what is the rationale for any funding; whether the funding was subject to competitive tender; and what assessment has been made of the appropriateness of government funding for Stonewall overseas.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office collaborates closely with a variety of civil society organisations to advance His Majesty's Government's commitment to defending the human rights and freedoms of LGBT+ people globally.
Following an open call for proposals in June 2023, Stonewall was awarded £649,979 to deliver programme activities in 2024 and 2025. This funding was used to support the most vulnerable LGBT+ people who were victims or at risk of violence or even death due to their sexual orientation and gender identity.
A breakdown of funding for each individual programme is provided in the table below.
Project | 2023/24 Actual (Q4) | 2024/25 Forecast (Q1-4) | 2025/26 Forecast (Q1-4) | Total |
Out of the Margins - addressing violence and discrimination against LBT+ women in the Caribbean, Southern Africa, and Eastern Europe. | £86,156 | £88,653 | £86,286 | £261,095 |
SAFAR - building global capacity to protect and support LGBT+ people in high-risk or crisis situations. | £65,684 | £159,487 | £163,713 | £388,884 |
Total | £151,840 | £248,140 | £249,999 | £649,979 |
Asked by: Baroness Anelay of St Johns (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions the Minister for Africa held during his recent meeting with the Deputy Speaker of the Nigerian House of Representatives on gender equality, LGBTQ+ rights and sexual and reproductive rights.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK Government is committed to championing the human rights of women, girls, LGBT+ people, and those belonging to other marginalised groups. In my meeting with the Deputy Speaker of the Nigerian House of Representatives on 22 January, I raised a variety of issues relating to the UK-Nigeria bilateral relationship, including the importance of championing human rights, inclusive economic growth and supporting women's participation in politics. Through programmes and advocacy, the UK government is supporting women and girls affected by conflict in North-East Nigeria; helping girls access education; supporting women's economic empowerment; tackling gender-based violence; and improving access to health services.
Asked by: Gill Furniss (Labour - Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to support LGBT people seeking asylum.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Home Office)
All asylum and human rights claims admitted to the UK system, including those based on sexual orientation and gender identity, are considered in accordance with our obligations under the Refugee Convention and European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).
With specific respect to LGBT+ asylum seekers, whilst they are registering their claim, the Home Office ensures that these claimants are signposted to relevant NGOs specialising in the support of LGBT+ individuals. This is done through an information leaflet given to all asylum claimants at the point of claim which includes sections on legal advice, additional help and assistance with links to relevant legal bodies and support organisations.
The Home Office remains committed to delivering an asylum system that is responsive to all forms of persecution including those based on sexuality or gender identity and which supports claimants in providing all information relevant to their claim to facilitate fair and sustainable asylum decisions.