Every parliamentary written question tabled by Calum Miller this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 21–40 of 59 · Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to her oral response on Monday 15 December 2025, Official Report Column 683, what further information was provided to the planning process for the proposed China embassy relating to the wider security considerations.
The relevant letters provided to the planning process by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Home Office, dated 14 January, 20 August, and 27 November 2025, are already on the public record.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to her oral response on Monday 15 December 2025, Official Report Column 683, what further information was provided to the planning process for the proposed China embassy relating to the consolidation of the diplomatic premises.
The relevant letters provided to the planning process by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Home Office, dated 14 January, 20 August, and 27 November 2025, are already on the public record.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has set new objectives for her Department.
We will maintain our engagement with all key allies and partners over the coming months in pursuit of our shared priorities and interests; and we will continue to ensure that the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is fully geared up to support these activities.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she plans to prioritise any bilateral relationships in her first three months in office.
We will maintain our engagement with all key allies and partners over the coming months in pursuit of our shared priorities and interests; and we will continue to ensure that the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is fully geared up to support these activities.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has (a) commissioned a review of and (b) made changes to the structure of her Department since taking office.
We will maintain our engagement with all key allies and partners over the coming months in pursuit of our shared priorities and interests; and we will continue to ensure that the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is fully geared up to support these activities.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what the Government's strategic objectives are for the state visit of President Trump.
State visits are a core part of delivering the Government's Plan for Change, strengthening the UK's global partnerships and people-to-people ties. As part of the US President's State Visit, the UK and US have agreed the Tech Prosperity Deal, focused on developing the fastest growing technologies like AI, quantum and nuclear. This comes as America's top technology and AI firms commit a combined £31 billion to boost the UK's AI infrastructure and cutting-edge tech. This partnership will turbocharge the build-out of new nuclear power stations to secure jobs and growth in the UK and US, this golden age of nuclear is central to the government's mission to build more clear homegrown power to ensure energy security. As the Prime Minister has said, the Tech Prosperity Deal will "shape the futures of millions of people on both sides of the Atlantic, and delivering growth, security and opportunity up and down the country".
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many meetings have Ministers held with Roman Abramovich's representatives and the foundation set up to manage the funds received from the sale of Chelsea FC since July 2024.
The Government is determined to see the proceeds from the sale of Chelsea Football Club reach humanitarian causes in Ukraine following Russia's illegal full-scale invasion. There have been regular contacts with stakeholders to achieve this and we are deeply frustrated that it has not yet been possible to reach agreement with Mr Abramovich. It would not be appropriate to provide a running commentary on discussions, but we remain open to reaching a negotiated agreement and, as the Chancellor and Foreign Secretary have stated previously, we are considering all options, including pursuing this matter through the courts if necessary.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when his Department plans to appoint a Special Envoy with responsibility for (a) advocating for and (b) securing the release from detention of British nationals arbitrarily held abroad.
This Government condemns the practice of detaining British Nationals for political leverage. We take all allegations of human rights violations, and opinions of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, seriously. The Government is committed to strengthening consular services, including introducing a right to consular assistance in cases of human rights violations, and through the appointment of an Envoy for complex detention cases. Further details will be announced in due course.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if his Department will consider laying an annual report before Parliament on the status of British nationals arbitrarily detained abroad.
This Government condemns the practice of detaining British Nationals for political leverage. We take all allegations of human rights violations, and opinions of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, seriously. The Government is committed to strengthening consular services, including introducing a right to consular assistance in cases of human rights violations, and through the appointment of an Envoy for complex detention cases. Further details will be announced in due course.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of reports of Gaza Humanitarian Fund contractors opening fire on civilians queuing for food.
Reports of mass casualty incidents at and near the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) sites are horrifying. Over 600 people have been killed since the GHF began operations.We regularly engage with Israeli counterparts to urge them to improve the situation on the ground. On 22 June the Foreign Secretary spoke to Minister of Foreign Affairs Sa'ar to express his horror at the mass casualty incidents at GHF sites. He stressed the need to deliver aid at pace and scale.Humanitarian aid should never be used as a political tool. The UN and trusted partners must be able to operate in line with humanitarian principles and deliver lifesaving aid.Working closely with the US and our allies, we will continue to support calls for a lasting ceasefire that can end the war, ensure the release of all hostages and a surge of aid into Gaza.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made representations to his Israeli counterpart on reports of deaths of civilians queuing for food at Gaza Humanitarian Fund distribution centres.
Reports of mass casualty incidents at and near the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) sites are horrifying. Over 600 people have been killed since the GHF began operations.We regularly engage with Israeli counterparts to urge them to improve the situation on the ground. On 22 June the Foreign Secretary spoke to Minister of Foreign Affairs Sa'ar to express his horror at the mass casualty incidents at GHF sites. He stressed the need to deliver aid at pace and scale.Humanitarian aid should never be used as a political tool. The UN and trusted partners must be able to operate in line with humanitarian principles and deliver lifesaving aid.Working closely with the US and our allies, we will continue to support calls for a lasting ceasefire that can end the war, ensure the release of all hostages and a surge of aid into Gaza.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with his US counterpart on the rules of engagement for security contractors working for the Gaza Humanitarian Fund.
Reports of mass casualty incidents at and near the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) sites are horrifying. Over 600 people have been killed since the GHF began operations.We regularly engage with Israeli counterparts to urge them to improve the situation on the ground. On 22 June the Foreign Secretary spoke to Minister of Foreign Affairs Sa'ar to express his horror at the mass casualty incidents at GHF sites. He stressed the need to deliver aid at pace and scale.Humanitarian aid should never be used as a political tool. The UN and trusted partners must be able to operate in line with humanitarian principles and deliver lifesaving aid.Working closely with the US and our allies, we will continue to support calls for a lasting ceasefire that can end the war, ensure the release of all hostages and a surge of aid into Gaza.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether any intelligence shared with the Government of Israel (a) informed and (b) supported their attacks on Iran.
The UK did not participate in any element of Israel's strikes on Iran. We do not comment on intelligence matters. We are working closely with our allies to press for diplomacy and de-escalation, and urging all parties to show restraint.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether representatives from the US government communicated to the UK Government that there were plans by the Government of Israel to attack Iran.
The UK did not participate in any element of Israel's strikes on Iran. We are working closely with our allies including the US to press for diplomacy and de-escalation, and urging all parties to show restraint. The Foreign Secretary has been engaging with Secretary of State Rubio on a regular basis, to discuss the need for Iran to return to the negotiating table as soon as possible and to make progress on a lasting settlement.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when officials in his Department last had contacted with their Egyptian counterparts on the case of Alaa Abd el-Fattah.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office officials regularly speak with likeminded partners on how to enhance international cooperation and end the practice of arbitrary arrest, detention or sentencing. The Government is committed to securing Mr El-Fattah's release and we continue to raise his case at the highest levels of the Egyptian government. The Prime Minister raised the case in a letter to President Sisi on 4 May. The National Security Adviser also raised Mr-El Fattah's case with the Egyptian Foreign Minister Abdelatty on 27 April and the Foreign Secretary raised with Foreign Minister Abdelatty on 9 April.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with international allies on the case of Alaa Abd el-Fattah.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office officials regularly speak with likeminded partners on how to enhance international cooperation and end the practice of arbitrary arrest, detention or sentencing. The Government is committed to securing Mr El-Fattah's release and we continue to raise his case at the highest levels of the Egyptian government. The Prime Minister raised the case in a letter to President Sisi on 4 May. The National Security Adviser also raised Mr-El Fattah's case with the Egyptian Foreign Minister Abdelatty on 27 April and the Foreign Secretary raised with Foreign Minister Abdelatty on 9 April.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answers of 17 March 2025 to Question 36633 and 29 April 2025 to Question 45904 on China: Audit, for what reason the timeline for concluding the China audit has changed from spring 2025 to being in due course.
The Audit will improve the UK's ability to understand and respond to the challenges and opportunities China poses. It will help inform the government setting out a long-term, consistent approach to our relationship with China. The timing of the audit remains determined by the need for widespread consultation both within and beyond government. Work being done by the Audit team is already proving valuable in developing policies and planning engagement.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has sought advice from the Intelligence Agencies on the potential threat to the integrity of UK democracy from (a) Russia, (b) Iran, (c) China and (d) other hostile states.
It is the longstanding policy of successive UK Governments that we do not comment on operational intelligence or security matters. The UK Government is committed to defending the integrity of the UK's democracy from all state threats, including through the Defending Democracy Taskforce (DDTF). This cross-government Taskforce brings together Ministers, along with representatives from the intelligence community and law enforcement, to coordinate the Government's work to protect our democracy and call out threats, including from Russia, China, and Iran; as the Minister whose portfolio includes national security, I represent the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) at the Taskforce. For example, in December 2023 and March 2024, the Government publicly attributed and sanctioned groups affiliated with Russia and China respectively for interfering in the UK's democracy. The FCDO will continue to work with the DDTF and with the intelligence community to protect the UK's democratic integrity.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the merits of placing China on the enhanced tier of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme.
No decision has been made in relation to specifying China on the enhanced tier of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme. As the Security Minister confirmed in Parliament on 1 April, countries are considered separately, and decisions are made based on a robust evidence base. It would not be appropriate to speculate on which countries may or may not be specified in the future, but any changes will be announced in Parliament in the usual way.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications of the US Government's policies on deportation flights to El Salvador for his Department's advice to UK travellers to the US.
US immigration is a matter for the US Government, in accordance with international law. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office keeps our travel advice under regular review to ensure it provides accurate information to British nationals.