theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Harpreet Uppal:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking with (a) the University of Huddersfield and (b) other local universities to help promote (i) innovation and (ii) skills development in that region. \p Janet Daby: Skills development is crucial for economic growth and breaking down the barriers to opportunity.

The government is developing a Post-16 Education and Skills Strategy which will set out how the skills system will work to deliver on our Plan for Change, moving towards a more responsive and flexible education system that can adapt to the evolving demands of the economy. This will help ensure that students and workers have access to the training and education they need to thrive in work and life.

Through Skills England, the department also oversees local skills improvement plans which provide an ongoing mechanism through which local employers, strategic authorities, further education and higher education providers and other stakeholders can come together locally to identify and resolve skills needs and issues.
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Andrew Gwynne:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will take steps to provide redress for kinship carers in instances where local children’s services are not utilising the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund in the intended way. \p Janet Daby: The department’s recently published policy paper specified that families should receive support immediately when the child is placed, delivering on our mission to provide children with the best start in life. Regular discussions are held with other departmental ministers on these issues.

The department recently announced £8.8 million for Adoption England to improve adoption services and help regional adoption agencies to put in place support to respond more effectively to adoptive families in crisis.

The department is also ensuring that children in kinship care get the right support. This includes promoting their educational and mental health needs and supporting their carers. We are also delivering over 140 kinship peer support groups and a package of training and support for kinship carers.

The £50 million adoption and special guardianship support fund will continue to enable families to access a significant package of therapeutic support. Local areas may supplement with their own funding as needed.

Statutory guidance states that all local authorities must publish information about services for children in kinship care and how they will meet their needs. It states that children should receive the support they and their carers need to safeguard and promote their welfare. All local authorities should be clear what support services they provide.
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department will be taking to integrate improved nutrition outcomes in the (a) health, (b) agriculture and (c) humanitarian sectors. \p Stephen Doughty: The Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) continues to implement its Nutrition for Growth (N4G) commitment to integrate nutrition across its programme portfolio, including in health, agriculture, and humanitarian sectors. This includes measures to further increase the proportion of programmes that include nutrition objectives, related activities and indicators: 1) application of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's (OECD) Development Assistance Committee (DAC) Nutrition Policy Marker (NPM), 2) internal assurance processes to ensure adoption and accurate application of the NPM, and 3) the provision of advice and assistance to colleagues to integrate nutrition objectives. Health, agriculture, and humanitarian sectors have been key areas where nutrition advice has been given.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-08)

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Rachael Maskell:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he plans to attend the third session of the Preparatory Committee for the 2026 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons in April and May 2025. \p Stephen Doughty: The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Director for Defence and International Security and the UK Ambassador to the Conference on Disarmament are representing the UK at the 2025 Preparatory Committee for the 2026 Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).

The UK national statement to the Preparatory Committee, delivered on 29 April, set out the UK's commitment to the NPT and the important contribution it makes to global security.
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Priti Patel:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether (a) inflation measures and (b) indexation methodology has been included in the proposed treaty with Mauritius. \p Stephen Doughty: I refer the Rt Hon Member to the response given to her previous Question 39402 on the details of the Treaty.
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Priti Patel:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of potential challenges to resettling parts of the Chagos Archipelago. \p Stephen Doughty: Our agreement will enable Mauritius to develop a programme of resettlement on the islands, other than Diego Garcia. The terms of resettlement will be for Mauritius to determine.
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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an estimate of the (a) amount and (b) proportion of (i) lithium, (ii) nickel, (iii) cobalt, (iv) manganese and (v) graphite entering the UK from international mining operations that are potentially involved in human rights violations. \p Stephen Doughty: The UK is committed to promoting responsible business practice to reduce and prevent human rights violations. We work through a number of international mechanisms to deliver on this, including supporting the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Mineral Supply Chains which enables business to continue to operate responsibly from conflict-affected and high-risk areas. The UK's new Critical Minerals Strategy will help secure the supply of critical minerals vital for the UK's economic growth and clean energy transition, promoting responsible and transparent supply chains.
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Rachael Maskell:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what his Department’s negotiating priorities are for the Preparatory Committee for the 2026 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. \p Stephen Doughty: Our priorities for the 2025 Preparatory Committee for the 2026 Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) include to promote and strengthen the NPT for the future, demonstrate the UK's enduring commitment to taking its responsibilities as a nuclear weapons state seriously and to engage productively and work collaboratively to forge the broadest possible consensus.
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 3 April 2025 to Question 41879 on European Political Community, whether (a) staff and (b) Ministers from his Department attended; and what the cost was of participation by his Department. \p Stephen Doughty: The next European Political Community summit will take place in Tirana on 16 May. We will be able to share further information about the Summit after it takes place.
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Mike Wood:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of (a) utilising or (b) amending the provisions of the Trading with the Enemy Act 1939 to designate Russia as an enemy for the purposes of that Act. \p Stephen Doughty: The Trading with the Enemy Act 1939 can only be used in relation to countries that are at war with the UK. The UK is not at war with Russia, so we cannot use the Act. The UK has implemented extensive sanctions against Russia, which already significantly restrict trade and other financial dealings with Russia. We have sanctioned 2,300 individuals from Russia, and our sanctions have deprived Russia of $450 billion in revenue since February 2022. We, along with international partners, have excluded Russia from the SWIFT system, which stopped Russian banks from conducting financial transactions worldwide in a fast and efficient manner. Russian imports into the UK have fallen by more than 98 per cent compared to pre-invasion levels, and UK exports to Russia are down by more than 80 per cent.
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he will take to ensure UK (a) health and (b) health security is not adversely impacted by changes to (i) Official Development Assistance and (ii) the global health budget. \p Stephen Doughty: Decisions on how the Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget will be used are being worked through as part of the ongoing Spending Review, based on various factors including impact assessments. We plan to publish final 2025/26 ODA programme allocations in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Annual Report & Accounts this summer.

We continue to work across Government to strengthen global health security and to protect the health of our people in the UK. The UK's role in helping secure agreement to a Pandemic Accord at the World Health Organization last month is a good example of that collective effort.
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 17 February 2025 to Question 28555 on Nutrition for Growth Summit, whether it remains his policy to spend £1.5 billion on nutrition objectives by 2030. \p Stephen Doughty: The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) remains committed to supporting nutrition in our development work. The FCDO will be able to share further details once the Spending Review is concluded.

The Minister of State for International Development, Latin America and the Caribbean, led the UK's delegation to the recent Nutrition for Growth Summit, and reiterated our commitments to nutrition objectives particularly integrating nutrition into our wider programming.

The FCDO continues to report progress against our financial commitments through its annual Nutrition Accountability Report, as well as through updates to the Global Nutrition Report's Nutrition Accountability Framework.
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Tom Morrison:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment his Department has made of the role of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps in cyber operations targeting UK infrastructure or citizens. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) assess that Iran-based threat actors remain aggressive in cyberspace and continue to achieve their objectives through less sophisticated cyber techniques (including prolific use of spear-phishing), but also targeting industrial control systems. Iran is likely developing its cyber capabilities and willing to target the UK to fulfil its disruptive and destructive objectives. The NCSC continues to work closely with government, industry and international partners to understand and mitigate the cyber threat from Iran.

This includes the activities of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. In September 2024, the UK and the US jointly issued a Technical Advisory focusing on attackers working on behalf of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps who use social engineering to gain access to victims' online accounts. This Advisory provided network defenders with information to help mitigate these threats.

The UK will continue to expose and take action against malicious cyber activity carried out by Iranian groups. These groups can no longer operate in the shadows, and the UK and international partners will hold Iran to account for their behaviour.
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Tom Morrison:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he plans to reopen the British Embassy in Damascus. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: We are keeping the re-establishment of a permanent presence in Damascus under review. Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office staff, including our UK Special Representative for Syria, undertake visits to Damascus, most recently in April.
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Tom Morrison:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much funding he plans to provide for civil society organisations in Syria in the 2027-28 financial year. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: Budgets for the 2027-28 financial year have not yet been agreed.
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Tom Morrison:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has evidence of human rights violations by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: In March 2024, the UN International Independent Fact-Finding Mission on Iran, which is mandated to collect and preserve evidence of human rights violations, said that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, amongst other state security forces, "participated in the commission of serious human rights violations". The UK maintains 94 human rights sanctions against Iranian individuals or entities, including members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
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Tom Morrison:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what information his Department holds on the level of religious freedom for (a) minority faith and (b) other groups in Iran. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) in Iran is extremely restricted. Minority faiths such as Bahai's, Christians, and Sunni Muslims, amongst others, are subjected to human rights violations, including but not limited to, harassment, intimidation, arbitrary arrest and detention. The UK is championing the right to FoRB in Iran by taking action in multilateral fora - we were integral to the delivery of the Iran human rights resolution, adopted by the UN Third Committee in November 2024, which called on Iran to release all religious practitioners imprisoned for their membership in or activities on behalf of a minority religious group, and to ensure that everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion or belief. The UK's dedicated Special Envoy for FoRB, David Smith, continues to advocate for religious freedom worldwide, including in Iran.
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the FCDO’s crisis response fund for 2025-26. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) maintains the Humanitarian Crisis Reserve (HCR) fund, which has the primary benefit of enabling flexible and rapid response to new humanitarian crises (e.g. earthquakes, floods, cyclones). Decisions about allocations are made by the Minister for Development and can be used in Official Development Assistance eligible countries only. The UK's commitment to supporting humanitarian aid across the world and responding flexibly remains a priority.

Moreover, the FCDO Crisis Management Department has been allocated £227,500 for routine crisis management in Financial Year 25/26. This is used to meet the additional costs of responding to international crises, such as deploying Rapid Deployment Teams to affected areas, staffing and running the London crisis centre, and emergent procurement, i.e. chartering aircraft for an evacuation. If a single crisis response is projected to cost the FCDO more than £150,000, we will ask HM Treasury for additional funding from the Emergency Disaster Response Fund.
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Marsha De Cordova:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 10 March to Question 34309, when he last raised the destruction of (a) schools and (b) higher education facilities in Gaza with his Israeli counterparts. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The Foreign Secretary continues to raise concern at continued Israeli operations in Gaza, including the need for protection of schools and higher education facilities, with his Israeli counterparts. Children's access to education must continue uninterrupted. The UK Government have announced £41 million for United Nations Relief and Work Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) this financial year, which is supporting the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and Palestinian refugees in the region. Furthermore, UK support has given 14,000 children access to education materials and welfare support.

In East Jerusalem the Israeli order to close schools and the immediate evacuation of the Kalandia Training Centre is deeply worrying. The vital work of UNRWA in ensuring that Palestinians have access to education and healthcare must be protected in Gaza as well as the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
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Tom Morrison:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to respond to reports of the detention of journalists in Iran. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: We condemn Iran's severe restrictions against Freedom of Opinion and Expression, including reprisals against journalists. We were integral to the delivery of the Iran human rights resolution, adopted by the UN Third Committee in November 2024, which called on Iran to halt threats and intimidation against journalists who are critical of the government, and to investigate and prosecute those responsible for reprisals against journalists. As a member of the Media Freedom Coalition, the UK is committed to ensuring that journalists are able to do their jobs without fear of retribution from Iran.
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Tom Morrison:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support human rights defenders in Iran. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: We condemn the Islamic Republic's severe repression of human rights defenders in Iran. We were integral to the delivery of the Iran human rights resolution, adopted by the UN Third Committee in November 2024, which called on Iran to immediately and unconditionally release persons arbitrarily detained for the exercise of their human rights and fundamental freedoms, including human rights defenders. We continue to support the UN Independent Fact-Finding Mission on Iran, which under its expanded mandate, will collect and preserve evidence for recent and ongoing human rights violations in Iran. We continue to engage with Iranian diaspora groups and civil society to work together toward accountability. His Majesty's Ambassador to Iran and I continue to raise human rights directly with the Iranian government.
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 31 March to Question 39447 on Israel and Occupied Territories: Development Aid, whether the funding levels for the years 2025-26 and 2026-27 will remain unchanged. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: In financial year 2025-26, the UK will provide £101 million for the Occupied Palestinian Territories, which will prioritise humanitarian relief, support for Palestinian economic development, and strengthening Palestinian Authority governance and reform. We cannot yet confirm funding allocations for the financial year 2026-27 as these are subject to Spending Review processes. On 25 February, the Prime Minister made clear in the House that this Government is proud of the UK's pioneering record on overseas development, and we will continue to play a key humanitarian role in Gaza.
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 8 April 2025 to Question 39012 on Sudan: Refugees, how much and what proportion of official development assistance funding to Sudan will be spent on Sudanese refugees in Chad in the 2025-26 financial year. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: Since the start of the conflict in Sudan, almost one million people have crossed the border into Chad which now has Africa's largest refugee caseload per capita. On average, 200 people each day seek safety in Chad from Sudan. In January, whilst in Chad, the Foreign Secretary announced a doubling of aid to Sudan with an overall allocation of £226.5 million for financial year 2024/25. Last financial year, we provided over £40 million to address humanitarian needs in eastern Chad. This benefitted 300,000 people: both Sudanese refugees and local Chadian host communities.
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Tom Morrison:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking with international partners to ensure that free and fair elections are held in Syria. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: We welcomed the formation of the Syrian Government last month and the commitment of interim President al-Sharaa to hold free and fair elections. We are working closely with the Syrian Government, the UN and international partners to support an inclusive transition that represents Syria's diversity and protects the rights of all its citizens. We continue to call on the Syrian Government to prioritise inclusivity and representation in the building of state institutions and in further appointments, and to set out a clear timeline for the next phases of the transition. I discussed these issues with Foreign Minister al-Shaibani on 17 March.
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Ian Byrne:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his counterpart in Israel on preventing the forced displacement of Palestinians in Masafer Yatta in the West Bank. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: This government has been clear that stability in the West Bank is crucial. All sides should work to ensure a lowering of tension in the West Bank at this time. The risk of instability is serious and the need for de-escalation urgent. We continue to call on Israeli authorities to exercise restraint, adhere to international law, and clamp down on the actions of those who seek to inflame tensions. The UK is clear that Israeli settlements are illegal under international law and harm prospects for a two-state solution. Israel must clamp down on settler violence and end settlement expansion. We are also clear that in all but the most exceptional of cases, demolitions by an occupying power are contrary to International Humanitarian Law. The Foreign Secretary discussed the West Bank with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar on 15 April and has raised the situation in the West Bank with other international counterparts. During previous visits he has met with Palestinian community members in the West Bank where he heard how communities are affected.
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Tom Morrison:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help protect civil society organisations (a) within or (b) in exile from Iran. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: We regularly engage the Iranian diaspora and human rights organisations in exile to better understand the lived experiences of Iranians. We stand with them in their fight for equal rights and fundamental freedoms. On the 4th March, the Security Minister announced to Parliament a concerted package of measures to counter the threat from the Iranian Intelligence Services.
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Tom Morrison:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his international counterparts on ensuring that members of the previous Syrian Government are held accountable for (a) the use of chemical weapons and (b) other crimes against humanity. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: We support the UN and civil society accountability efforts, including developing a credible evidence base to record atrocities committed by the former regime and others. We are also working with international partners to support the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to destroy Assad's chemical weapons programme and ensure those responsible are held accountable.

We supported the establishment of both the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism and Independent Institution for Missing Persons, and welcomed the recent renewal of the Commission of Inquiry in April. We are advocating for these mechanisms to have the operational remit to complement Syrian-led accountability efforts.
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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help tackle the kidnapping of British citizens abroad. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: Whenever a British person is kidnapped abroad, we will try to do everything we can to make sure they are released safely. Wherever possible we will work with the government and law enforcement agencies where the kidnapping has happened, as they will normally be responsible for leading the response. It is the long-standing policy of successive governments that we will not make substantive concessions to kidnappers. Travel Advice published by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office on gov.uk provides safety information for travellers, and includes information on kidnap risks in relevant countries.
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria funding allocated in 2023 at achieving (a) peace and (b) resilience in the region. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The UK's Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria programme (SPRiNG) is working to reduce rural violence in northwest and north-central Nigeria, including by supporting collaboration and productive livelihoods for both farmers and pastoralists, and strengthening conflict early warning, management and response. Whilst SPRiNG is still in the early phases of implementation, its partnership with the Institute For Integrated Transitions (IFIT) has achieved encouraging results already. Mediation efforts in Nasawara State have fostered a negotiated agreement between the Bassa and Egbura People, enabling the return and resettlement of 5000 internally displaced persons (IDPs).
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to his Department’s policy paper entitled London Sudan Conference, 15 April 2025: co-chairs' statement, published on 15 April 2025, what the UK’s comparative advantage is in international efforts to resolve the conflict in Sudan. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: As penholder on Sudan at the UN Security Council, leader of the core group on Sudan at the UN Human Rights Council and as a major humanitarian donor, the UK occupies a unique position to keep international attention on the conflict. On 15 April, the London Sudan Conference demonstrated the UK's convening power, as Foreign Ministers and high-level Representatives from 21 countries and multilateral bodies gathered to discuss how to make progress on shared goals of ending the conflict and alleviating the suffering of the Sudanese people. As detailed in the co-chairs' statement, this is not the end but the start of a process; the UK remains committed to working with the international community to bring an end to the conflict in Sudan and see vital humanitarian aid reaching those most in need.
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps he is taking to (a) build on and (b) strengthen the 2018 power sharing agreement between President Salva Kiir and Vice-President Riek Machar in South Sudan. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The UK continues to press for implementation of the 2018 power sharing Peace Agreement and a peaceful transition to democracy through peaceful, credible and inclusive elections. On 18 March, we issued a joint statement with likeminded partners offering to facilitate direct dialogue between President Kiir and First Vice President Machar. Following the arrest of First Vice President Machar on 26 March, we joined likeminded partners to call on President Kiir to release First Vice President Machar under house arrest and prevent further escalation on 27 March. We continue to call for all sides to deescalate. The Minister for Development met the South Sudanese Foreign Minister at the Sudan Conference on 16 April and called for the release of First Vice President Machar.
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Mr Andrew Mitchell:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he plans to designate the Polisario Front as a terrorist organisation. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The Government has robust processes in place for reviewing the list of proscribed organisations. However, the Government does not routinely comment on whether or not an organisation is being considered for proscription. The UK continues to support UN-led efforts to reach a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution, based on compromise, which will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara.
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Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made representations to the interim Syrian Foreign Minister on the potential merits of establishing independent oversight mechanisms to monitor the protection of religious minorities. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: We welcome the Syrian Government's reassurances to the Syrian population and international community that they will protect all civilians in Syria, and their establishment of a fact-finding committee to investigate and prosecute individuals who committed crimes during the violence in early March. I discussed these points in my meeting with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani on 17 March. We will continue to monitor the treatment of all civilians in Syria, and this issue will continue to be an important aspect of our engagement with the Syrian Government and with regional and international partners.
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Ben Lake:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 22 April to Question 42840 on Western Sahara: Human Rights, what discussions he has had with the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary General on Western Sahara on the adequacy of the number investigations undertaken by the Moroccan National Human Rights Council following allegations of human rights abuses in Western Sahara since 2015. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The UK is committed to the promotion and protection of human rights worldwide, including in Morocco and Western Sahara, and consistently urges all states to uphold international law and international human rights standards, avoiding any action that may endanger human life. The UK engages regularly with Staffan de Mistura, Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary General for Western Sahara, most recently at senior official level on 1 April. The Minister for Africa last met with him in September 2024.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-08)

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Imran Hussain:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what support his Department provides to British nationals entering the al-Aqsa compound in East Jerusalem. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The Haram Al-Sharif / Temple Mount and Jerusalem hold particular significance for many groups around the globe, especially the three Abrahamic faiths of Christianity, Islam and Judaism. We value Jordan's important role as custodian of the holy sites in Jerusalem. The UK is committed to working with all parties to maintain calm, avoid provocation and uphold the status quo to ensure the safety and the security of the Al Haram Al Sharif / Temple Mount and all who worship there. British nationals should inform themselves of the risks in a country by following Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Travel Advice.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-08 conversation_207

Alex Mayer:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in (a) India, (b) Pakistan and (c) international organisations on the potential impact of violence in Kashmir on women. \p Catherine West: The UK Government is taking all the steps we can to ensure that heightened tensions do not lead to escalation. We encourage all to commit to effective channels of engagement to safeguard stability in the region. Alongside international partners, the UK is continuing to engage in dialogue in pursuit of long-term regional stability. On Sunday 27 April, the Foreign Secretary spoke both to Indian Foreign Minister Jaishankar and with Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister Dar. We encourage all parties to take a measured approach. We are committed to promoting human rights in the region and will monitor any potential risks to communities, including those most vulnerable.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-08 conversation_208

Marsha De Cordova:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 10 March to Question 34309, what steps his Department has taken to promote accountability for attacks on schools in the Occupied Palestinian Territory by (a) Israeli forces and (b) Israeli settlers. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: Education is a human right. It expands choices and enables children to live lives that they value. The vital work of the United Nations Relief and Work Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in ensuring that Palestinians have access to education and healthcare must be protected in Gaza as well as the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Children's access to education must continue uninterrupted. The Foreign Secretary and I have also made clear our concerns about the current Israeli military operations in the West Bank and stressed the need for civilians and civilian infrastructure to be protected. We recognise Israel's security concerns, but it must show restraint and ensure its operations are commensurate to the threat posed. We are also clear that the Israeli government must crack down on settler violence, stop settlement expansion and not annex the West Bank.

On 15 October 2024, the Foreign Secretary announced sanctions targeting three illegal settler outposts and four organisations that have supported and sponsored violence against communities in the West Bank. These measures will help bring accountability to those who have supported and perpetrated such heinous abuses of human rights. We continue to keep these issues under review. It would not be appropriate to speculate about any potential future sanctions designations as to do so could reduce their impact.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-08 conversation_209

Tom Morrison:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the targeting of media workers in Gaza on global (a) press freedom and (b) journalist safety. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The government continues to monitor the reports of journalists and media workers killed in Gaza. This conflict has already become the deadliest conflict for journalists and media workers ever recorded and we remember all those who have lost their lives in the name of press freedom. All parties to a conflict must avoid deliberate attacks against journalists. Reporters covering conflicts are protected under international humanitarian law. We have called on the Government of Israel to do more to protect civilians, civilian infrastructure, and to allow the unhindered passage of humanitarian aid. We continue to call for a return to the ceasefire and we call on Hamas immediately to release all the remaining hostages. The United Kingdom co-founded the Media Freedom Coalition with Canada in 2019 and has joined Media Freedom Coalition statements calling for the protection of journalists in conflicts.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-08 conversation_210

Claire Hanna:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help resolve the blockade of food and aid reaching Gaza. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The Foreign Secretary has raised the urgent need for restarting the flow of humanitarian aid with his Israeli counterpart repeatedly and will continue to make representations to the Government of Israel on this matter. We are constantly pressing Israel publicly and privately to allow the flow of aid into Gaza. On 23 April, we issued a statement, together with France and Germany, calling for Israel to immediately re-start a rapid and unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza, ensure aid workers are protected and urge all parties to return to a ceasefire with remaining hostages released. On 29 April, the UK made a statement to the UN Security Council where we shared our concerns about the dwindling supply of food, which leaves a million children at risk of starvation, disease and death.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-08 conversation_211

Ben Lake:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will hold discussions with (a) the UN Security Council and (b) his Moroccan counterpart on ensuring access to the occupied territory of Western Sahara by (a) the media and (b) humanitarian NGOs. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The UK has supported language in relevant UN Security Council Resolutions that encourages the parties to continue their efforts to enhance the promotion and protection of human rights in Western Sahara, including the freedoms of expression and association. Officials, including up to ambassador level, also engage on these issues with the Moroccan Government and authorities. The UK continues to regularly meet and consult regional and international partners to discuss the issue of Western Sahara, including those from the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), the UN, civil society, and the broader international community.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-08 conversation_212

Dr Rupa Huq:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department is taking steps to ensure that the rapid support forces comply with UN Security Council Resolution 2736. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The UK continues to use all diplomatic levers at its disposal to press the parties, including the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), to comply with UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 2736. Despite the Russian veto in November of a UK-Sierra Leone led resolution to build on UNSCR 2736, the UK continues to work with UNSC partners to galvanise Council action on Sudan. This includes securing a UNSC press statement on 17 April which called for the end of hostilities in El Fasher and full implementation of Resolution 2736.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-08 conversation_213

Adam Jogee:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will take steps to increase the level of funding for supporting food-insecure people in Sudan. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: At the recent London Sudan Conference, the Foreign Secretary announced a package of support budgeted at £120 million which will deliver life-saving services to more than 650,000 people. In total, more than £800 million was pledged at the conference. Since the start of the conflict millions of people have benefitted from UK funded humanitarian programmes. Supporting humanitarian aid delivery in Sudan remains a top priority for this government.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-08 conversation_214

Adam Jogee:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking with his international counterparts who participated in the London Sudan Conference on 15 April 2025 to help ensure that the principles agreed at that Conference to (a) seek an immediate and permanent ceasefire, (b) protect civilians and (c) allow humanitarian supplies and personnel are implemented. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: Alongside those states that attended the London Sudan Conference, the UK is taking coordinated action to strengthen the protection of civilians and to improve aid delivery. We continue to advocate for the implementation of relevant UN Security Council resolutions, including UNSCR 2736 (2024) on El Fasher, Darfur. Additionally, the UK and its partners are advocating for safe and unimpeded humanitarian access.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-08)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-08 conversation_215

Kate Osamor:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Israeli counterpart on the role of the Israeli Defence Force in the killing of Palestinian (a) medics and (b) emergency workers near Rafah on 23 March 2025. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The killing of 15 rescue workers and paramedics, including at least eight Palestinian Red Crescent medics, on 23 March was horrific. We have made clear to the Government of Israel that we expect those responsible to be held to account and for this to be done transparently, and for lessons to be learned that prevent such tragedies occurring in future.

The Foreign Secretary raised attacks on aid workers when he met Israel's Foreign Minister Sa'ar on 15 April. With our French and German counterparts on 23 April, we publicly expressed our outrage at Israel's strikes on humanitarian personnel. At a UN Security Council meeting on 3 April, we called for this incident to be investigated fully, transparently and for those responsible to be held to account.

It is appalling that at least 418 aid workers have been killed in Gaza since the start of this conflict. We will continue to make both public and private representations to the Government of Israel to ensure that humanitarian workers and medics are protected, and able to carry out their vital work safely.