Written questions by Rosindell.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has provided guidance to the Inter-American Development Bank on the financing of infrastructure in Caribbean nations as an alternative to Chinese state-backed loans.

The UK recognises the benefit of cooperating with a range of partners to support the interests of individual countries in the Caribbean. We encourage partners in the Caribbean to weigh up the risks and opportunities that investment opportunities might present, including from China.The UK itself is a shareholder of and supports the Inter-American Development Bank, the Caribbean Development Bank, and the World Bank in their work in the Latin America and Caribbean regions, providing financial support for sustainable development and growth.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of recent fighting between Druze minorities and Sunni militias in Damascus.

Recent violence against the Druze community in Syria was appalling. In our statement on 3 May, we publicly urged the Syrian government to take steps to shield civilians from violence and hold those responsible to account. The protection of all civilians and their full inclusion in the transition process is vital for peace in Syria. This will continue to be a priority in our engagement with the Syrian government.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of China’s Belt and Road initiative investments in Caribbean states on the UK's strategic interests in the region.

The UK recognises the benefit of cooperating with a range of partners to support the interests of individual countries in the Caribbean. We encourage partners in the Caribbean to weigh up the risks and opportunities that investment opportunities might present, including from China.The UK itself is a shareholder of and supports the Inter-American Development Bank, the Caribbean Development Bank, and the World Bank in their work in the Latin America and Caribbean regions, providing financial support for sustainable development and growth.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when he plans to publish the finalised text of the proposed treaty with Mauritius on the matter of sovereignty over the British Indian Ocean Territory.

Once the treaty is signed it will be put before both Houses for scrutiny before ratification in the usual way.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has met the High Commissioner of Pakistan since taking office.

The Foreign Secretary met the High Commissioner during a meeting with Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar on 4 September 2024. I have met the High Commissioner on multiple occasions, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, and the former Minister for Development Anneliese Dodds have also met with the High Commissioner.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 28 April 2025 to Question 44421 on China: Cook Islands, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the 99-year initial period of UK exercise of Mauritian sovereign rights on access for the (i) US and (ii) UK.

I refer the Hon. Member to the response given to his previous Question 44421, which remains the same.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the Syrian government in tackling jihadi terror threats.

The UK is committed to combatting all forms of terrorism emanating from Syria, including from Daesh. Alongside our international partners, we are pressing the Government of Syria to demonstrate their commitment to combat terrorism and extremism in all forms. I raised the security situation with Foreign Minister al-Shaibani in March. The UK National Security Advisor also discussed countering Daesh when he spoke to Syrian President, Ahmed al-Sharaa on 10 April.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what guidance his Department has issued on the flying of the Union Flag from courthouses in the Overseas Territories.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has not issued any guidance on the flying of the Union flag from Courthouses in the Overseas Territories as this is a matter for the Territories' governments.The FCDO provides guidance on the flying of the Union Flag at the office and residence of the Governor, Administrator or Commissioner.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many and what percentage of visitors to the British Overseas Territory of St Helena have experienced delays in their (a) inward and (b) outward flights of more than 12 hours in the last two years.

The St Helena Government and the commercial airline Airlink collate data on flights. During 2023 and 2024, the proportion of weather-delayed flights was around 25 per cent. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is supporting technological improvements at the airport to support operations, including to enhance weather modelling.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many people are employed as technical cooperation officers to support the Government of Saint Helena; and what the total cost of of those posts is.

The St Helena Government employs technical cooperation officers in key positions across its portfolios including health, education, legal chambers and the police where it is not possible to recruit locally. The St Helena Government has responsibility for the recruitment of its human resources and the remuneration provided.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, by what year he expects Saint Helena to become financially self-sustainable; and whether it is his policy that this will be primarily achieved through promoting tourism.

The St Helena Government leads on local economic development, with assistance from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, which provides technical and financial support. The UK funded Tourism Development Fund is supporting the development of the island's tourism industry, which has potential to drive forward greater financial self-sufficiency as visitor numbers grow.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the (a) pay and (b) benefits of (i) UK and (ii) Saint Helenian police officers of the same rank serving in Saint Helena are comparable.

In St Helena, a locally recruited Police Constable's starting salary is £12,049 per year, which is above the national average salary (£9,970). The St Helena Government has responsibility for setting pay and benefits levels for members of The Royal St Helena Police Service, including those appointed as technical cooperation officers.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department is taking steps to help improve the provision of renewable energy on St Helena.

The St Helena Government is responsible for energy generation and has set out the ambition for generating 80 per cent of its local energy production from renewable energy sources by 2027/2028. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, through its £30 million Economic Development and Investment Programme, is supporting the St Helena Government to progress capital investment in a range of renewable sources.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of trends in the level of cryptocurrency theft by North Korea; what steps he is taking to (a) trace the assets and (b) prevent further illicit transactions; and whether he has considered (i) the imposition of sanctions on (A) cryptocurrency and (B) related entities linked to North Korea and (ii) other steps to help strengthen security regulatory protocols.

The UK has been consistent in challenging malicious cyber activity carried out by North Korean groups. This has included exposing and sanctioning North Korean actors for disruptive attacks that impacted the National Health Service. The National Cyber Security Centre has also issued multiple Cyber Security Advisories specifically on threats from North Korean groups, informing the UK technical audience on the way these groups operate and ways to defend against them.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department is taking steps to help reduce the cost of fuel on St Helena.

The St Helena Government sets the wholesale fuel price and the island's fuel retailers set the commercial price. The St Helena Government has set out the ambition for generating 80 per cent of its local energy production from renewable energy sources by 2027/2028. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, through its £30 million Economic Development and Investment Programme, is supporting the St Helena Government to progress capital investment in a range of renewable sources.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help support (a) subsistence and (b) commercial agriculture on St Helena.

The St Helena Government is responsible for its agricultural policy. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is providing £30 million between 2019-2028 in support to St Helena, including funding for agricultural initiatives. This contributed to an increase in agricultural production of £380,000 from Financial Year 2020/21 to Financial Year 2023/24.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will take steps help prevent the depopulation of St Helena.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is actively supporting St Helena towards financial self-sustainability. A thriving island population is central to that. The FCDO works in partnership with the St Helena Government to invest in key areas such as education and tourism, helping to maintain the population and attract new visitors and revenue to the island.

o ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he is taking steps to reduce St Helena's dependence on imported oil.

The St Helena Government has responsibility for energy generation and has set out the ambition of generating 80 per cent of its local energy production from renewable energy sources by 2027/2028. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, through its £30million Economic Development and Investment Programme, is supporting the St Helena Government to progress capital investment in a range of renewable sources.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help increase employment opportunities in St Helena.

The St Helena Government is responsible for its employment portfolio. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office works in partnership with the St Helena Government to increase employment opportunities, including through programmes which invest in infrastructure and help build technical expertise.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help ensure the affordability of imported consumer goods on St Helena.

The St Helena Government is responsible for the island's freight services and has appointed a shipping supplier. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office continues to help fund the construction of a new port and cargo handling facilities (£4.79 million to date), to improve island access and shipping transfers for the benefit of St Helena consumers.