Written questions by Ribeiro-Addy.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of historical UK-linked deforestation and extractive industries on biodiversity loss in the Global South; and whether her Department supports global ecological restoration initiatives.

Global deforestation rates peaked in the 1980s at around 15 million hectares per year, driven by a range of factors, including global demand for agricultural commodities, timber and wood products. Deforestation rates have since declined to around 10 million hectares a year but much more needs to be done to protect forests, which are a vital refuge for biodiversity, support the livelihoods of over one billion people worldwide and are crucial to limiting the damaging effects of climate change.The UK is supporting efforts to restore critical global ecosystems and is on track to deliver £3 billion in International Climate Finance for nature and biodiversity by March 2026. This includes funding to international initiatives such as the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund, which aims to restore 30 per cent of degraded ecosystems globally by 2030.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that funding for programmes supporting women’s and girls’ rights, education, and health is maintained in the current and future aid budgets.

The UK continues to place women and girls at the heart of our international work, including playing a key role in the global effort to tackle violence against women and girls. We are also continuing to support countries to build resilient and sustainable health systems, and partner with governments to strengthen their own education systems. Detailed decisions on how the ODA budget will be used from 2026/27 to 2028/29 will be announced in due course.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions her Department has had with Commonwealth nations on climate finance to address the impact of climate change on small island developing states.

The UK is a leading player in global efforts to support indigenous communities, and tackle climate change and nature loss, including contributing £40 million to help operationalise the Fund for responding to Loss and Damage in 2025. Our International Climate Finance has helped 137 million people adapt to the effects of climate change, provided 89 million people with improved access to clean energy, and helped to mobilise billions in private investment.We also continue to support initiatives which strengthen climate resilience in small island developing states (SIDS). This includes the Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub and Commonwealth Investment Network. These initiatives were discussed at the 2025 Commonwealth Trade Ministers Meeting on 25 November.On proposals for reparations, I refer the Hon Member to the response provided on 10 March 2025 to Question 32987.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions her Department has had with CARICOM member states regarding the ten-point reparations plan put forward by the CARICOM Reparations Commission.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 10 March 2025 to Question 32987.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions her Department has had with international bodies, including the United Nations, on the issue of reparations for historical injustices.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 10 March 2025 to Question 32987.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions her Department has had with international financial institutions, including the IMF and World Bank, on cancelling or restructuring debt for Global South countries facing economic crises.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 14 July 2025 to Question HL9091.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions her Department has had with the African Union and CARICOM regarding the role of debt cancellation in broader reparations discussions.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 14 July 2025 to Question HL9091.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions her Department has had with the G7 and G20 on the expansion of the Common Framework for Debt Treatments to provide deeper and more timely debt cancellation for highly indebted countries.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 14 July 2025 to Question HL9091.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the feasibility of a UK-supported debt-for-climate swap programme to help low-income countries finance climate resilience projects.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 14 July 2025 to Question HL9091.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the role of UK aid in supporting economic and social initiatives aimed at addressing the legacy of colonial exploitation and enslavement.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 10 March 2025 to Question 32987.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the UK’s contributions to international climate funds, such as the Loss and Damage Fund, in addressing the environmental harm caused by historical emissions.

The UK is a leading player in global efforts to support indigenous communities, and tackle climate change and nature loss, including contributing £40 million to help operationalise the Fund for responding to Loss and Damage in 2025. Our International Climate Finance has helped 137 million people adapt to the effects of climate change, provided 89 million people with improved access to clean energy, and helped to mobilise billions in private investment.We also continue to support initiatives which strengthen climate resilience in small island developing states (SIDS). This includes the Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub and Commonwealth Investment Network. These initiatives were discussed at the 2025 Commonwealth Trade Ministers Meeting on 25 November.On proposals for reparations, I refer the Hon Member to the response provided on 10 March 2025 to Question 32987.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department plans to increase support for women and girls in conflict-affected and climate-vulnerable regions.

The UK continues to place women and girls at the heart of our international work, including playing a key role in the global effort to tackle violence against women and girls. We are also continuing to support countries to build resilient and sustainable health systems, and partner with governments to strengthen their own education systems. Detailed decisions on how the ODA budget will be used from 2026/27 to 2028/29 will be announced in due course.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to support Indigenous communities affected by historic UK-linked resource extraction projects.

The UK is a leading player in global efforts to support indigenous communities, and tackle climate change and nature loss, including contributing £40 million to help operationalise the Fund for responding to Loss and Damage in 2025. Our International Climate Finance has helped 137 million people adapt to the effects of climate change, provided 89 million people with improved access to clean energy, and helped to mobilise billions in private investment.We also continue to support initiatives which strengthen climate resilience in small island developing states (SIDS). This includes the Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub and Commonwealth Investment Network. These initiatives were discussed at the 2025 Commonwealth Trade Ministers Meeting on 25 November.On proposals for reparations, I refer the Hon Member to the response provided on 10 March 2025 to Question 32987.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions her Department has had with international partners on the development of legal frameworks for climate reparations.

The UK is a leading player in global efforts to support indigenous communities, and tackle climate change and nature loss, including contributing £40 million to help operationalise the Fund for responding to Loss and Damage in 2025. Our International Climate Finance has helped 137 million people adapt to the effects of climate change, provided 89 million people with improved access to clean energy, and helped to mobilise billions in private investment.We also continue to support initiatives which strengthen climate resilience in small island developing states (SIDS). This includes the Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub and Commonwealth Investment Network. These initiatives were discussed at the 2025 Commonwealth Trade Ministers Meeting on 25 November.On proposals for reparations, I refer the Hon Member to the response provided on 10 March 2025 to Question 32987.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the £40 million Trust Fund for Chagossians under the agreement with Mauritius forms part of the £40 million support package for Chagossians pledged in 2016.

No. The £40 million Trust Fund for Chagossians under the Agreement with Mauritius is entirely separate from the support package for Chagossians pledged in 2016. As we have said, this Government will scale-up HMG’s support for Chagossians in the UK and elsewhere.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of steps taken by the US to discourage third countries from engaging with (a) the Henry Reeve Medical Brigade and (b) other Cuban international medical cooperation programmes on health outcomes in Cuba.

The UK continues to support access to essential health services, alongside transparency and ethical labour standards, and there is no reason those objectives should not be compatible.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential (a) economic and (b) diplomatic merits of ratifying the UK–Cuba Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement.

The UK-Cuba Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement (PDCA) was signed under the previous Government. We are currently undertaking a cross-Government consultation before it is laid before Parliament for scrutiny, while continuing to cooperate positively with Cuba in the interim where possible, including on climate. The PDCA will support discussion on issues of common interest and will include human rights as a standing agenda item. It also offers the potential to facilitate exchanges of expertise, including on economic reform and healthcare.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what progress she has made on concluding the inter-departmental consultation process on the UK–Cuba Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement.

The UK-Cuba Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement (PDCA) was signed under the previous Government. We are currently undertaking a cross-Government consultation before it is laid before Parliament for scrutiny, while continuing to cooperate positively with Cuba in the interim where possible, including on climate. The PDCA will support discussion on issues of common interest and will include human rights as a standing agenda item. It also offers the potential to facilitate exchanges of expertise, including on economic reform and healthcare.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has made representations to her US counterpart on the imposition of visa restrictions on officials of third countries who cooperate with Cuba in the provision of medical services.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 6 November to Question 87175.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on potential scientific exchange programmes with Cuba on (a) maternal health and (b) sickle cell disease.

The UK-Cuba Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement (PDCA) was signed under the previous Government. We are currently undertaking a cross-Government consultation before it is laid before Parliament for scrutiny, while continuing to cooperate positively with Cuba in the interim where possible, including on climate. The PDCA will support discussion on issues of common interest and will include human rights as a standing agenda item. It also offers the potential to facilitate exchanges of expertise, including on economic reform and healthcare.