Written questions by Sobel.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of allocating confiscated proceeds from (a) sanctions breaches and (b) penalties for (i) human rights and (ii) humanitarian law violations towards reparations for victims.

His Majesty's Government is committed to clamping down on sanctions offenders and takes action in all cases where it is appropriate to do so. Fines issued for breaching sanctions are absorbed into HMG's overall budget. The Government assesses that it is for competent courts to judge whether we should allocate confiscated proceeds from penalties for human rights and humanitarian law violations reparations for victims. The International Criminal Court is the primary international institution for investigating and prosecuting the most serious crimes of international concern, holding perpetrators to account and achieving justice for victims - including through reparations.The UK also remains committed to supporting Ukraine. This Government is clear that Russia must pay for the damage it has caused and will continue to consider all lawful ways to hold Russia to this obligation.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will take steps to increase resources for enforcement agencies to (a) investigate and (b) prosecute complex sanctions evasion schemes.

A range of Departments have responsibility for the enforcement of UK sanctions, including the Home Office, Department for Business and Trade, Department for Transport and HM Treasury. Resourcing is decided by those Departments and their agencies in conjunction with HM Treasury. I launched a cross-Government review of sanctions at the first Small Ministerial Group on enforcement in October. The review is examining whether we have the right powers, approach, capacity and resourcing on policy, implementation and enforcement, with an urgent focus on strengthening the latter. It is being led by the FCDO in collaboration with key sanctions Departments.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had (a) meetings and (b) other discussions with (i) The Good Law Project and (ii) other campaigning groups on judicial independence and the rule of law in Kenya.

Whilst we have not held discussions with the Good Law Project, the FCDO has engaged with various groups to discuss judicial independence and the rule of law in Kenya. As part of this the British High Commission Nairobi has had regular engagements with the Law Society of Kenya. The High Commissioner has also engaged regularly with the Chief Justice to discuss judicial issues. In addition, the FCDO's Rule of Law Expertise programme provides legal expertise and partnerships to support the strengthening of judicial independence and the rule in law in Kenya.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made representations on allegations of (a) corruption, (b) police killings, (c) disappearances, (d) torture and (e) attempts to suppress the right to protest in Kenya with his Kenyan counterpart; and if he will make such representations in future (i) bi-lateral and (ii) multi-lateral talks.

The Foreign Secretary engages the Kenya Government on the importance of tackling corruption. At the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in October 2024, the Foreign Secretary and Kenya's Prime Cabinet Secretary discussed the Open Government Partnership and the importance of transparency. The British High Commission Nairobi also raised allegations of abductions at the highest levels of the Kenyan Government and released a joint statement following the protests emphasising the need for Kenya to fulfil its democratic principles. The UK's development funding supports police reform, focusing on human rights compliant policing and accountability. We will continue to engage the Kenya Government on human rights compliance issues.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to (a) help ensure and (b) verify that funding provided to governments in (i) Uganda, (ii) Kenya and (iii) other countries in sub-Saharan Africa is used for its intended purpose.

The FCDO has a zero-tolerance approach towards corruption, fraud, and misuse of UK development funding. We continually assess the impact of our ODA programming to ensure that it is delivered in a transparent manner with funding used for its intended purposes. The UK's development partners, including governments across Africa, understand our zero-tolerance approach and their obligations in delivering support funded by the UK taxpayer.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent (a) meetings or (b) other discussions with human rights NGOs on reports of human rights abuses in Kenya following protests in that country.

The British High Commission Nairobi regularly engages with human rights organisations in Kenya. In November 2024, the High Commissioner attended the 2024 UN Human Rights Defenders Awards alongside the National Coalition of Human Rights Defenders Kenya and other groups. The previous month, the Deputy High Commissioner hosted human rights experts to discuss the prevailing context for political and other rights in Kenya. The UK will continue to engage with human rights defenders and the Kenyan government to help hold the authorities to account including through its upcoming membership of the Human Rights Council.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of transferring frozen Russian assets held in the UK to support the underwriting of insurance for Ukrainian projects.

This Government is clear that Russia must be held responsible for its illegal war. That includes its obligations under international law to pay for the damage it has caused in Ukraine. Working with allies, we continue to pursue all possible lawful further avenues by which Russia can be made to meet those obligations. Our agreement with G7 partners to provide approximately $50 billion in additional funding to Ukraine, repaid by the profits generated on sanctioned Russian sovereign assets, is an important step towards ensuring Russia pays. Our focus is on delivering this commitment, including the UK's £2.26 billion contribution, as soon as possible.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Indonesian counterpart on the human rights situation in West Papua.

The Foreign Secretary and have raised concerns publicly about reports of human rights abuses during the protests in Bangladesh. We have urged an end to the violence and stressed the need for the right to assemble peacefully and express different political views to be protected.We continue to engage with the Bangladesh government including the Foreign Secretary on the importance of respect for human rights.