Written questions by Kearns.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 5 November 2024 to Question 12092 on Spain: Floods, how many British citizens have been affected by floods in Spain.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has provided consular assistance in 31 cases to British nationals and/or their families, who have been affected by the floods. We encourage anyone seeking assistance to contact the FCDO on 020 7008 5000 from the UK or +34 917 146 300 from Spain.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will place sanctions on the (a) Montenegro based company International Business Corporation Bar and (b) Serbia based company Ventrade DOO for supplying Russia with advanced technology and equipment for its invasion of Ukraine.

The UK remains steadfast in our support to Ukraine. Together with our international partners, we have implemented the most severe package of sanctions ever imposed on a major economy. The UK alone has sanctioned more than 2,000 individuals and entities under the Russia sanctions regime. Whilst we do not comment on future or individual designations, the Foreign Secretary underlined the importance of tackling third-country support to Russia's military-industrial complex at the EU Foreign Affairs Council on 22 October. I [Minister Doughty] regularly raise third-country circumvention and the Common High Priority Items list with counterparts. We have sanctioned several entities in third countries involved in supporting Russia's war machine.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether (a) he and (b) any Ministers from his Department held meetings with Representative Vincent Yao from the Taipei Representative Office in the UK in (i) September and (ii) October.

The Foreign Secretary and other FCDO ministers did not hold any meetings with Representative Vincent Yao in September or October.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has allocated additional resources to the British Embassy and Consulates in Spain following the recent flooding.

Determining the safety and welfare of British nationals impacted by the severe floods in Spain, through our Embassy and Consulates in the country, is a top priority for the FCDO. We are regularly reviewing the situation and our resources in place to support this effort, working closely with the Spanish authorities, to ensure we continue to act in line with our commitment to provide support to affected British Nationals.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has made an estimate of the number of UK nationals affected by the floods in Spain.

We have passed on our sincere condolences to the Spanish government following the devastating floods that have hit the country. We are in contact with the local authorities in Spain to offer our support and determine the number of British Nationals impacted by the catastrophe. The FCDO is providing consular support to a number of British nationals who have been affected by the floods and we encourage anyone seeking our assistance to contact us on 020 7008 5000 from the UK or +34 917 146 300 from Spain.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has (a) offered assistance to the Spanish Government following the recent flooding and (b) held discussions with his Spanish counterpart on the floods.

The Foreign Secretary and I were shocked and saddened to see the devastating scenes in Spain, and by the deaths and damage caused by heavy flooding. The Foreign Secretrary has been in touch with the Foreign Minister of Spain to express the UK's condolences and offer our support, the Prime Minister and I have also contacted our counterparts. Our thoughts are with all those who have been affected. The British Embassy in Madrid and Consulates in affected areas are providing consular support to affected British Nationals.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has demarched the North Korean chargee over North Korean troops in Russia and Ukraine.

The DPRK Charge d'Affairs was called in on 29 October to express our concern about DPRK's support for Russia. We condemn the increasing military cooperation between the DPRK and Russia in the strongest possible terms. We are gravely concerned about the deployment of DPRK troops to Russia, and the reports of DPRK and Ukraine engaged in combat. This demonstrates Russia's growing reliance upon third country support at a time when their casualties are at their highest level. We are working with our partners on a coordinated response, and have made clear to the DPRK that this action is dangerous and has serious consequences for peace and security in Europe and the Indo-Pacific.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 2 September 2024 to Question 2311 on British Nationals Abroad: Departmental Responsibilities, whether the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan) is responsible for cross-departmental representation of British expats within the Government on matters other than consular and crisis operations.

I am the Minister responsible for consular and crisis operations. My Ministerial responsibilities do not include cross-departmental representation of British expats beyond consular and crisis operations.The Government has no plans to make an assessment of the potential merits of creating a ministerial portfolio for representing the interests of UK citizens living abroad. Detailed information for British Nationals living abroad can be found on GOV.UK. Our Consular operation offers British Nationals a 24/7, 365 days a year service.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 2 September 2024 to Question 2311 on British Nationals Abroad: Departmental Responsibilities, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of creating a ministerial portfolio for representing the interests of UK citizens living abroad.

I am the Minister responsible for consular and crisis operations. My Ministerial responsibilities do not include cross-departmental representation of British expats beyond consular and crisis operations.The Government has no plans to make an assessment of the potential merits of creating a ministerial portfolio for representing the interests of UK citizens living abroad. Detailed information for British Nationals living abroad can be found on GOV.UK. Our Consular operation offers British Nationals a 24/7, 365 days a year service.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made representations to the United Nations on the attendance of the UN Secretary General at the BRICS summit in Russia.

The Foreign Secretary spoke to the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres prior to the BRICS Summit in Kazan, where the UNSG reiterated his position that Russia's invasion of Ukraine had violated the United Nations Charter and international law. The meetings that the Secretary-General chooses are a matter for him, not the UK Government. The UK Government continues to bring economic and diplomatic pressure to bear on Russia, including through sanctions.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will take diplomatic steps to reduce Iranian influence in Lebanon.

During recent calls, the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary have made it clear to Iran that it must cease its support for its proxies and partners. We will continue to work alongside international partners to hold Iran to account for its escalatory behaviour through its support for its proxies and partners, including Lebanese Hezbollah, in the Middle East and its attempts to undermine global security. On 2 September, the UK imposed sanctions against four Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corp (IRGC) Quds Force targets who have a role in supporting Iranian proxy actions. Furthermore, the UK has proscribed Lebanese Hezbollah and sanctioned the IRGC in its entirety.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 16 October 2024 to Question 7857 on British Indian Ocean Territory: Sovereignty, how much funding he plans to allocate to that new trust fund.

We recognise the importance of the British Indian Ocean Territory / Chagos Archipelago to Chagossians and we have worked to ensure this agreement reflects their interests. The government will endeavour to provide Parliament with appropriate details about the new trust fund for Mauritius in support of Chagossians, including additional support for Chagossians in the UK when the Treaty is laid before Parliament.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Government considers that the All-Serb Assembly Declaration of June 2024, made by the Republic of Serbia and Republika Srpska, is compatible with the Dayton Agreement.

The UK Government considers that a number of elements in the Declaration of 8 June do not align with the Dayton Peace Agreement. The UK is firmly committed to supporting Bosnia and Herzegovina's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and multi-ethnic character and completely oppose statements supporting secessionism or stoking division. We will continue to work closely with our allies in the EU and US to ensure the upholding of the Dayton Peace Agreement.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when he plans to answer Question 6569 on Armenia: Azerbaijan tabled by the hon. Member for Rutland and Stamford on 4 October 2024.

I [Minister Doughty] responded to Question 6569 on 14/10/2024.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Government has offered assistance to Bosnia and Herzegovina following recent flooding and landslides.

I [Minister Doughty] was in contact with the Foreign Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) on 5 October and expressed the UK's condolences for the loss of life and damage caused by flooding and landslides. On 4 and 5 October, British search and rescue specialists (in BiH as a short-term training team arranged by the British Embassy in Sarajevo) provided advice and expertise to BiH armed forces and emergency services on the ground. The UK's Ambassador to BiH visited the worst affected sites on 5 October, meeting the UK team and local mayors. The UK Government is considering, with BiH authorities and international partners, how it might support further responses.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he held meetings with representatives of the Chagossian community in the period between his appointment as Foreign Secretary and 7 October 2024.

As Minister for the Overseas Territories, I have met with members of the Chagossian community twice since the election. The Foreign Secretary has not yet had the opportunity to do so. We recognise the importance of the British Indian Ocean Territory / Chagos Archipelago to Chagossians and we have put their interests at the heart of this Agreement.  Under this agreement, Mauritius will (for the first time) be free to develop a resettlement programme on the islands, other than Diego Garcia. We will also finance a new trust fund for Mauritius in support of Chagossians, as well as increase our support to Chagossians in the UK and around the world, through new and existing projects. All Chagossians remain eligible for British citizenship & to make home in UK. Mauritius and the UK will now work to start a new programme of visits for Chagossians to the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much funding the Government will contribute to Italy's Rome Process; and what that funding will be used for.

The UK will contribute up to £4 million to the Rome Process, the Italian government's initiative bringing together international partners to tackle drivers of irregular migration. The funding will be channelled through a new multi-donor fund - the Rome Process Financing Facility - that will support climate-related development projects in Africa.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with the Chinese ambassador to the UK on reports that a Russian state owned company has developed a weapons programme in China for military drones.

In my meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on 26 July 2024, I urged China to prevent its companies supporting Russia's military industrial complex. Such support poses a material threat to international security and prosperity. Officials have also raised this with the Chinese Ambassador. We will continue to make our concerns clear at every opportunity.The reports the Right Honorable Member references add to a growing body of open-source reports that Chinese companies are enabling Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine, including through the provision of dual use goods. The supply of military UAVs would be a direct contradiction to statements from China that it would not provide weapons to relevant parties of the conflict.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to his article entitled The United Kingdom and the United States, United for Ukraine, published on Substack on 16 September 2024, what his policy is on the use of force by Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The UK remains steadfast in our support and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of both Azerbaijan and Armenia. The UK Government was clear during the military operation in Nagorno-Karabakh in September 2023 that only peaceful diplomacy, not force, should have been used to resolve conflict. This position has not changed. We will work with Armenia and Azerbaijan to promote a prosperous, peaceful and stable South Caucasus. We will continue to work alongside our trusted international partners to help Armenia and Azerbaijan to secure a lasting peace agreement through peaceful negotiations. The UK supported displaced people in the region with £1 million funding to ICRC and we continue to work with partners to ensure humanitarian and other needs are met.