Every parliamentary written question tabled by Angus MacDonald this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 1–20 of 73 · Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps she is taking to help reduce the risk of escalation between Iran and NATO member states.
I refer the Hon Member to the recent public and parliamentary statements made by the Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary, and Defence Secretary, in which all these questions were addressed in detail.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps her Department has taken to ensure good relations with the government in Cyprus in the context of recent defence decisions.
I refer the Hon Member to the public and parliamentary statements made by the Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary, and Defence Secretary, in which all these questions were addressed in detail. I regularly speak to the Cypriot Foreign Minister on a range of issues.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she has taken to support the residents of Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire, that are currently stranded in the Middle East.
I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 16 March in response to Question 118590.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of reports of increased kidnappings for ransom in Nigeria.
I refer the Hon Member to the Written Ministerial Statement of 27 November 2025.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has had recent discussions with her Nigerian counterpart on protection of civilians in areas affected by armed militant activity.
I refer the Hon Member to the Written Ministerial Statement of 27 November 2025.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment her Department has made of trends in the level of violence against religious minorities in Nigeria.
I refer the Hon Member to the Written Ministerial Statement of 27 November 2025.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to support Nigerian authorities in reducing displacement caused by violence in northern and Middle Belt states.
I refer the Hon Member to the Written Ministerial Statement of 27 November 2025.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of reports of targeting of Christian communities in Nigeria by armed militant groups.
I refer the Hon Member to the Written Ministerial Statement of 27 November 2025.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what support she provides through international partners for people impacted by violence and displacement in Nigeria.
I refer the Hon Member to the Written Ministerial Statement of 27 November 2025.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the strength of the link between freedom of religion or belief and conflict prevention in the context of UK foreign policy.
The UK champions Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) for all, both in sub-Saharan Africa and across the world. On 8 July, the UK's Special Envoy for Religious Freedom, David Smith MP, set out the Government's new strategy on FoRB, providing a framework for engagement with other countries, and describing the links between the protection of FoRB and other goals including the prevention of conflict. As part of this strategy, the UK continues to support FoRB on the international stage, through our position in the United Nations, G7 and Article 18 Alliance.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with international partners on strengthening protections for freedom of religion or belief in sub-Saharan Africa.
The UK champions Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) for all, both in sub-Saharan Africa and across the world. On 8 July, the UK's Special Envoy for Religious Freedom, David Smith MP, set out the Government's new strategy on FoRB, providing a framework for engagement with other countries, and describing the links between the protection of FoRB and other goals including the prevention of conflict. As part of this strategy, the UK continues to support FoRB on the international stage, through our position in the United Nations, G7 and Article 18 Alliance.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to support the protection of freedom of religion or belief in countries identified as priority areas as part of her Department’s freedom of religion or belief strategy.
The UK champions Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) for all, both in sub-Saharan Africa and across the world. On 8 July, the UK's Special Envoy for Religious Freedom, David Smith MP, set out the Government's new strategy on FoRB, providing a framework for engagement with other countries, and describing the links between the protection of FoRB and other goals including the prevention of conflict. As part of this strategy, the UK continues to support FoRB on the international stage, through our position in the United Nations, G7 and Article 18 Alliance.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent steps her Department has taken to support UN investigations into reports of (a) forced re-education, (b) ideological indoctrination and (c) other violations of children’s rights in territories of Ukraine under Russian occupation.
We consistently raise awareness of child deportations in our communications and across multilateral fora and have raised this issue at the UN Security Council, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), and the UN Human Rights Council. Most recently, we raised the issue at the UN General Assembly, as well as in UN Security Council meetings on missing persons in armed conflict on 15 May, and on the maintenance of peace and security in Ukraine on 8 April, and we also raised it at the annual open debate on children and armed conflict on 26 June 2024. In April, the UK supported the renewal of the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine at the Human Rights Council.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of UN mechanisms for monitoring humanitarian needs in Ukraine; and what steps her Department is taking to help improve those mechanisms.
The UK has committed up to £5.3 billion in non-military support to Ukraine since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, including over £477 million in humanitarian assistance to date. The UK's humanitarian strategy for Ukraine aims to protect vulnerable groups, prioritise those most in need, and mitigate the worst impacts of the conflict on people. On 12 September 2025, during her first visit to Kyiv, the Foreign Secretary announced a £100 million humanitarian support package for the 2025/26 financial year. This funding will help civilians in frontline communities, protect the most vulnerable, and provide emergency assistance to those impacted by Russia's continued attacks.We are delivering our humanitarian aid through all parts of the international humanitarian system, including the UN, Red Cross, and NGOs. We work closely with these partners to ensure that humanitarian needs are accurately assessed and that aid reaches the most vulnerable.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking through the UN to respond to reports of Russian airspace violations over NATO member states.
Recent incursions into Poland, Romania and Estonia were reckless violations of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) airspace. NATO responded to the incidents immediately and decisively, shooting down drones over its airspace for the first time. This was combined with a strong political response at NATO - with two Article 4 discussions - as well as at the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and UN. On 12 September, the UK condemned Russia's violations of NATO airspace at a UN Security Council session following the Poland incursions, noting that its actions violated the most basic principles of the UN Charter. Then on 22 September, following the air incursions into Estonia, the Foreign Secretary again underlined to the UN Security Council that Russia's actions are a threat to the values and principles that underpin the UN. We will continue working with our Allies at NATO, as well as through the OSCE and UN, to stress in the clearest terms that Russian recklessness is completely unacceptable, and that NATO is ready and able to defend its territory.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to support the provision of humanitarian (a) aid and (b) other assistance to civilians affected by the conflict in Ukraine.
The UK has committed up to £5.3 billion in non-military support to Ukraine since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, including over £477 million in humanitarian assistance to date. The UK's humanitarian strategy for Ukraine aims to protect vulnerable groups, prioritise those most in need, and mitigate the worst impacts of the conflict on people. On 12 September 2025, during her first visit to Kyiv, the Foreign Secretary announced a £100 million humanitarian support package for the 2025/26 financial year. This funding will help civilians in frontline communities, protect the most vulnerable, and provide emergency assistance to those impacted by Russia's continued attacks.We are delivering our humanitarian aid through all parts of the international humanitarian system, including the UN, Red Cross, and NGOs. We work closely with these partners to ensure that humanitarian needs are accurately assessed and that aid reaches the most vulnerable.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan.
The Government condemns the Taliban's appalling repression of Afghan women and girls. Officials regularly engage with the Taliban on UK Government priorities, including human rights. The Government is working with international partners to maintain collective pressure on the Taliban to reverse their inhuman restrictions.The UK strongly opposes the death penalty in all countries as a matter of principle, and in all circumstances, including through UN and Human Rights Council resolutions.In October, the UK Special Envoy for Women and Girls and the UK Special Envoy to Afghanistan met Afghan women leaders. Upholding the human rights of all Afghans is not only a moral imperative, but essential for building a stable, inclusive, and prosperous country.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with her international partners on taking steps to help (a) prevent the use of stoning as a punishment for adultery and (b) protect women’s rights in Afghanistan.
The Government condemns the Taliban's appalling repression of Afghan women and girls. Officials regularly engage with the Taliban on UK Government priorities, including human rights. The Government is working with international partners to maintain collective pressure on the Taliban to reverse their inhuman restrictions.The UK strongly opposes the death penalty in all countries as a matter of principle, and in all circumstances, including through UN and Human Rights Council resolutions.In October, the UK Special Envoy for Women and Girls and the UK Special Envoy to Afghanistan met Afghan women leaders. Upholding the human rights of all Afghans is not only a moral imperative, but essential for building a stable, inclusive, and prosperous country.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of diplomatic engagement with the Taliban on (a) the rights of women and girls and (b) other human rights issues.
The Government condemns the Taliban's appalling repression of Afghan women and girls. Officials regularly engage with the Taliban on UK Government priorities, including human rights. The Government is working with international partners to maintain collective pressure on the Taliban to reverse their inhuman restrictions.The UK strongly opposes the death penalty in all countries as a matter of principle, and in all circumstances, including through UN and Human Rights Council resolutions.In October, the UK Special Envoy for Women and Girls and the UK Special Envoy to Afghanistan met Afghan women leaders. Upholding the human rights of all Afghans is not only a moral imperative, but essential for building a stable, inclusive, and prosperous country.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps he is taking to help ensure enforcement of international humanitarian law protections for journalists in Gaza.
The UK strongly condemns all violence directed against journalists and media workers. Civilian reporters covering conflicts are afforded protection under international humanitarian law. We are therefore appalled by the extremely high number of fatalities, arrests and detentions of media workers in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. In a recent joint statement with 28 other countries, we called on the Israeli authorities and all other parties to make every effort to ensure that media workers in Gaza, Israel, the West Bank and East Jerusalem can conduct their work freely and safely. The statement also called for all attacks against media workers to be investigated and for those responsible to be prosecuted in compliance with national and international law.The UK has contributed £3 million to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's (UNESCO) Global Media Defence Fund, benefitting over 9,000 journalists, including time-sensitive emergency support to journalists and media experiencing sudden major crises in Ukraine, Sudan and Haiti. Earlier this year the UK provided funds to UNESCO's Special Fund for Gaza, supporting locally based journalists with vital equipment.