Written questions by Kearns.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Opinions adopted by the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention at its 93rd session, 30 March-8 April 2022 : Opinion No. 19/2022 concerning Ryan Cornelius (United Arab Emirates), whether his Department has made an assessment of whether Ryan Cornelius has been arbitrarily detained.

The FCDO is not an investigatory body and does not have the specific expertise or the jurisdiction to conduct local investigations into any allegations of human rights violations. However, the FCDO takes the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention's opinions seriously. While the group's recommendations are not legally binding, we will continue to highlight concerns raised in the case of Mr Cornelius in discussions with UAE authorities.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Government considers joint committees between the legislatures of the Republic of Serbia and Republika Srpska as being compatible with the Dayton Agreement.

The UK remains committed to the Dayton Peace Agreement. I raised the importance of maintaining peace and stability in BiH on my visit to Serbia with senior government figures this week, alongside the Prime Minister's Special Envoy for the Western Balkans, Lord Peach.We welcome inclusive regional cooperation, economic integration and inter-connectivity initiatives which raise living standards across the Western Balkans. But it is vital that any such initiatives and related structures do not privilege individual groups or violate the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, of which we remain steadfast in our support. We will work with domestic authorities, our international partners, and the High Representative to act against any attempts to undermine the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when he plans to appoint the (a) special envoy for hostage affairs and (b) special envoy for arbitrary detention.

The FCDO is committed to strengthening support for British Nationals overseas, including through the appointment of an Envoy. Further details will be announced in due course.William Middleton has succeeded Charles Hay as Director for Gaza Hostages.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure UN Security Council Resolution 2118 on Syria is implemented.

The UK has been clear. Syria must fulfil its international obligations under UN Security Council Resolution 2118 and the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), as we stated at the OPCW Executive Council meeting on 12 December and at the UN Security Council on 17 December. While we welcome HTS's commitments to protect chemical weapons sites and never use these weapons under any circumstances, Syria must now take the next step, which is to comply with its obligations under UNSCR 2118 and the Chemical Weapons Convention and engage with the OPCW to declare fully its chemical weapons programme. The UK has recently announced an additional £120,000 of funding to OPCW to support its work on Syria.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his international counterparts on the (a) identification and (b) destruction of Captagon production facilities in Syria.

We are concerned by the growth of the Captagon industry, which as well as enriching the former Assad regime is fuelling regional instability and generating vast revenues for criminal gangs and armed groups in Syria and across the region. We are working with international partners, including partners in the region, to raise awareness of the risks posed by Captagon. The UK has imposed sanctions on 11 individuals involved in facilitating the Captagon industry in Syria.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to (a) identify and (b) destroy Captagon (i) production and (ii) distribution facilities in Syria.

We are concerned by the growth of the Captagon industry, which as well as enriching the former Assad regime, is fuelling regional instability and generating vast revenues for criminal gangs and armed groups in Syria and across the region. We are working with international partners, including partners in the region, to raise awareness of the risks posed by Captagon. The UK has imposed sanctions on 11 individuals involved in facilitating the Captagon industry in Syria.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the UK is participating in international action to (a) identify and (b) destroy chemical weapon (i) production sites and (ii) depots in Syria.

The brutal history of chemical weapons use in Syria must never be repeated. We have been closely monitoring developments as they unfold and engaging with partners in the region and with the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). We welcome Hayat Tahrir al-Sham's (HTS) statement that it will protect chemical weapons sites and will not use chemical weapons under any circumstances. Syria must now take the next step, which is to comply with the obligations set out under UN Security Council Resolution 2118 and the Chemical Weapons Convention and engage with the OPCW to declare fully its chemical weapons programme so that it can finally, and verifiably, be completely destroyed.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will designate Fawaz Al-Akhras for providing support to the Bashar Al-Assad regime.

The FCDO keeps all sanctions listings and evidence under close review. It is not appropriate to speculate on potential future designations, as to do so could reduce their impact.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will take steps to send justice and accountability experts to Syria to collect evidence of (a) war crimes and (b) crimes against humanity by the regime led by Bashar Al-Assad.

We are currently considering options for building on our ongoing accountability work in Syria. In the meantime, we will continue to support partners who are playing a pivotal role in developing a credible evidence base to record atrocities committed by the former regime and others. This year alone, we have committed £1.15 million to accountability and documentation related programmes. In addition, we will continue to work with our international partners and civil society to advocate for and support mechanisms such as the UN International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism (IIIM) and Independent Institution for Missing Persons (IIMP) to ensure that accountability is a core part of the transitional process.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the United States’ designation of Fawaz Al-Akhras for materially assisting, sponsoring, or providing financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Bashar Al-Assad.

The Government's priority is to work closely with our allies, including the US, to prevent instability in Syria, ensure civilians are protected and provide humanitarian assistance to those who need it, while shaping an inclusive and peaceful transfer of power following the fall of Assad's brutal regime. The FCDO keeps all sanctions listings and evidence under close review.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the attack on the Iber Lepenci water canal in Kosovo on 28 November 2024.

Following the 29 November attack on critical infrastructure in northern Kosovo, our immediate priorities are to demonstrate our support and solidarity with Kosovo; to work with Kosovo and international partners to ensure a credible, evidence-based investigation is conducted; and to manage down risks of escalation. I spoke to Kosovo's Prime Minister Kurti and Serbia's Foreign Minister Djuric on 1 December and urged against rhetoric that increases tensions.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has discussed the attack on the Iber Lepenci water canal in Kosovo with the Foreign Ministers of (a) the EU, (b) the USA, (c) France, (d) Italy and (e) Germany.

I discussed the attack on critical infrastructure in northern Kosovo on 3 December with French Minister for European Affairs. I also discussed the situation with fellow NATO members at the NATO Foreign Ministerial Meeting on 3 December. On the same day, the Prime Minister's Special Envoy, Lord Peach, discussed the attack with EU Special Representative Lajcak. This followed the immediate engagement of our Ambassadors in Pristina and Belgrade with their EU, French, Italian, US and German counterparts, with whom we are working to encourage a full and evidence-based investigation to establish the facts of the attack, and to urge against rhetoric that heightens tensions. I will continue to engage with counterparts.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will increase the number of British military personnel deployed to KFOR following the attack on the Iber Lepenci water canal on 28 November 2024.

The size and shape of NATO's Kosovo Force (KFOR) mission is an operational matter for NATO. The UK would consider any request from NATO, through its established process and procedure, for an increase in the number of military personnel deployed to Kosovo. We remain a key part of KFOR - including with our Strategic Reserve, which deployed for three months at less than five days' notice after the attack at Banjska in the north of Kosovo in September 2023.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when his Department last discussed the Banjska attack with the Serbian Government.

We continue to engage at senior levels with the Serbian government to urge Serbia to bring to account the perpetrators of the September 2023 Banjska attack and the May 2023 attack on Kosovo Force (KFOR) troops. Most recently, I underlined the importance of accountability for these attacks in my conversation with Serbian Foreign Minister Djuric on 1 December. I also made this point to Foreign Minister Djuric in the margins of the Berlin Process Foreign Ministers' meeting in October.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with his Kosovan counterpart on the attack on the Iber Lepenci water canal on 28 November 2024.

The Foreign Secretary messaged Kosovo's President Osmani on 30 November and on 1 December I spoke to Kosovo's Prime Minister Kurti, following the attack on critical infrastructure in northern Kosovo the previous day. We expressed our shock and welcomed the swift work of emergency engineers to contain the damage. We underlined the importance of a full, evidence-based investigation and set out the UK's staunch support for Kosovo as it works to bring the perpetrators to account and, in coordination with the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) and the Kosovo Force (KFOR), works to prevent further attacks.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether officials from his Department have met representatives of the Taipei representative office in London in the last six months.

FCDO officials have met regularly with representatives from the Taipei Representative Office in the last six months.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether (a) he and (b) other Ministers in his Department have held meetings with Taiwan's Representative in London in the last six months.

The Foreign Secretary and other FCDO ministers have not held meetings with the Taipei Representative in London in the last six months.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he made representations to his Azeri counterpart on the case of Gubad Ibadoghlu during his recent visit to Baku.

The UK consistently advocates for Dr Ibadoghlu to receive all appropriate medical access and treatment, and for a fair legal process.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Prime Minister made representations to his Azeri counterpart on the case of Gubad Ibadoghlu during his recent visit to Baku.

The UK consistently advocates for Dr Ibadoghlu to receive all appropriate medical access and treatment, and for a fair legal process.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if his Department will request from the Serbian authorities the results of any (a) investigation into the death and (b) autopsy of Alexei Zimin.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is providing consular support to Alexei Zimin's family following his death in Belgrade. Local authorities decide whether to conduct postmortems and investigations following deaths. Not all deaths are investigated, for example if it is clear the death was of natural causes. The results of investigations may take months. Families can request information via local authorities. If families wish us to do so, FCDO officials can formally register interest in an investigation on the family's behalf which may result in local authorities sharing information with families directly or via FCDO. If a British national's body is repatriated to England and Wales, HM Coroners may ask for information from overseas authorities. The FCDO can place a request on their behalf. HM Coroners cannot hold inquests in cases of burials or cremations overseas.