Every parliamentary written question tabled by Cat Smith this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 1–19 of 19 · Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what reports she has on the threats to life against Peyvand and Borna Naimi, two members of the Baha'i community in Iran, and if she will make a statement.
I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided to Question 611 on 19 May, and I would add that we are aware of the reported cases referenced in her question and are monitoring the situation for Baha'is in Iran more widely.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps Tahoe is taking to help support the protection of Christian holy sites, religious institutions and heritage properties in Jerusalem.
The UK remains committed to championing freedom of religion or belief for all around the world, including in Jerusalem where the protection of sacred sites and interfaith coexistence remain central to regional stability. The UK is clear on the need to res...
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her Department's policies of reports concerning the seizure of land owned by the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in
The UK is monitoring the situation in Silwan closely, including the reported seizure of land belonging to the Greek Orthodox Church. The UK is committed to championing freedom of religion or belief for all, and that is particularly important in a city whi...
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether officials have raised with the Government of Israel reports concerning restrictions on access to land owned by the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in Silwan, Jerusalem.
The UK is monitoring the situation in Silwan closely, including the reported seizure of land belonging to the Greek Orthodox Church. The UK is committed to championing freedom of religion or belief for all, and that is particularly important in a city whi...
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how the Government intends to monitor and track potential breaches of international humanitarian law following the closure of the international humanitarian law cell.
As explained in the answer of 29 April to Question 129721, the International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Cell has not closed; it has simply moved to a different team within the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has had recent discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the fiscal circumstances within which the level of the Official Development Assistance budget will be raised to 0.7% of gross national income.
In line with the International Development (Official Development Assistance Target) Act 2015, the Government is required to review whether a return to spending 0.7 per cent of gross national income on Official Development Assistance is possible against each new fiscal forecast, and to lay a statement in Parliament in each year when that is not possible. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office continues to liaise closely with HM Treasury on an ongoing basis in relation to these projections.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will make representations to her Israeli counterparts on preventing further military attacks on Palestinian higher education institutions.
The UK has been clear with the Government of Israel on the imperative, under international humanitarian law, to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, including education institutions. We remain focussed on supporting the transition from an immediate ceasefire to a sustainable peace, in line with the 20-Point Plan.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help support the (a) treatment and (b) elimination of neglected tropical diseases.
I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 17 February in response to Question 111786.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will reply to the letter of 7 November 2025 on Christianity in the Holy Land from the hon. Member for East Wiltshire and the hon. Member for and Lancaster and Wyre.
We will announce further details in the near future of the 12 March conference to help establish an International Peace Fund for Israel and Palestine, including attendees, and I thank the Hon Member for her constructive proposals. On her letter of 7 November 2025, I apologise for the delay in responding, and I will ensure that a reply is with her shortly.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has had discussions with the Heads of Churches in the Holy Land on their (a) attendance at and (b) participation in the Israel-Palestine peace summit of 12 March 2026.
We will announce further details in the near future of the 12 March conference to help establish an International Peace Fund for Israel and Palestine, including attendees, and I thank the Hon Member for her constructive proposals. On her letter of 7 November 2025, I apologise for the delay in responding, and I will ensure that a reply is with her shortly.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will make it her policy to support efforts to create a Special Rapporteur for Women and Girls Living Under Occupation at the United Nations.
In our discussions with the United Nations and other international bodies, the UK continues to push for greater priority to be given to the risks facing women and girls in conflict, as set out in the Foreign Secretary's speech on 24 November, available at the link below:https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/twenty-five-years-of-women-peace-and-security.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much her Department spent on bilateral water, sanitation and hygiene projects in the 2024-25 financial year.
UK bilateral Official Development Assistance (ODA) for water supply and sanitation, which includes hygiene, is released annually in the UK Government Publication Statistics for International Development. The latest report, published in September 2025, shows that UK bilateral ODA spent on water supply and sanitation totalled £80million in the 2024 calendar year. The Statistics for International Development publishes data on an annual basis rather than by financial year.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much her Department spent on bilateral water, sanitation and hygiene projects in each year between 2020-21 and 2024-25.
UK bilateral Official, Development Assistance (ODA) expenditure on water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) is published annually in the Statistics on International Development. The latest report shows UK bilateral ODA for WASH totalled £37 million in 2023, £45 million in 2022, £78 million in 2021, and £110 million in 2020. Figures for 2024 will be published on the 18th of September 2025.In parallel with this reduction, we have changed our approach to WASH, moving away from the direct delivery of WASH services at scale, to working in partnership with governments to strengthen the systems needed to provide and sustain WASH services. This can also help secure additional resources, including domestic funding, climate finance and private investment, extending our overall impact.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help prevent the Israeli Government’s E1 settlement plan going ahead.
I refer the Hon Member to the joint statement issued by the UK and 26 international partners on 21 August condemning the E1 settlement development, which can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/occupied-palestinian-territories-joint-statement-21-august-2025.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make representations to his Israeli counterparts on the immediate release of Palestinian healthcare workers currently being detained without charge or trial.
Gazan civilians must be protected, and able to access effective healthcare. The UK has consistently raised concerns about the impact of this conflict on Gaza's healthcare system and medical staff, including reiterating the requirement for all parties to comply with international humanitarian law. Israel must allow medical staff to carry out their work unimpeded, and to travel around Gaza as needed. On 27 December I made clear to Israel's government that the situation in northern Gaza cannot continue, and raised our serious concern about repeated strikes on Kamal Adwan hospital, and the safety of civilians and medical workers there. The Foreign Secretary met Israeli Foreign Minister Sa'ar in Israel on 13 January, and stressed to him the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire and the release of all hostages.We are particularly concerned by the reports of the recent Israel Defense Forces operation at Kamal Adwan hospital, and the reported detention of medical personnel there. We have raised this, and will continue to do so, directly with the Israeli Government. In recent weeks, I have specifically raised the detention of Kamal Adwan hospital director, Dr Hassam Abu Safiya, along with the wider need to ensure healthcare facilities in North Gaza are protected, and to enable World Health Organisation and International Committee of the Red Cross access, with both the Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister and Israel's Ambassador to the UK. We urge Israel to urgently clarify the reasons for Dr Hassam Abu Safiya's detention (and that of paediatrician Mohammed Hamouda), and all other health workers detained in Gaza.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many alcohol industry representatives Ministers in his Department have met since July 2024.
Details of ministers' meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK. Data for the period of July to September 2024 will be published in due course.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he plans to take to use the UK's position as penholder for Sudan at the UN Security C Council to press for (a) a ceasefire before peace talks in August, (b) adherence to international humanitarian law and (c) the free flow of humanitarian aid.
On 13 June, the UK successfully led a UNSC resolution calling for an immediate de-escalation in El Fasher and full, unimpeded humanitarian access, including the reopening of the Adre border crossing. It also requested that the Secretary-General provide recommendations on the protection of civilians. On 6 August, the UK called a UNSC session to urgently discuss the Famine Review Committee's findings and the need for the obstruction of aid by the warring parties to stop. The UK intervention re-iterated our support for UN efforts in Sudan, including through the recommendations set out by the UN Secretary White Note, released on 15 March 2024 under UNSC Resolution 2417. We continue to put pressure on the parties to ensure the recent move to re-open Adre is honoured in full and without excessive restrictions. The Foreign Secretary publicly welcomed the ceasefire talks co-hosted by the US, Saudi Arabia, and Switzerland in August and urged the warring parties to participate.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking with humanitarian groups and partners in Sudan to provide (a) humanitarian aid and (b) support for (i) food systems and (ii) local agriculture in Sudan; and if he will take steps to increase the level of aid for refugees from Sudan.
The UK is working with international partners, including UN agencies, other donors and NGOs, to improve and increase the delivery of aid into Sudan. UK ODA to Sudan nearly doubled this year to £97m, with the vast majority of this funding going to humanitarian assistance. This aid will also provide additional support for food systems and local agriculture. As part of this, I recently announced an additional £15m to increase support for Sudan refugees fleeing to Chad and South Sudan. We will also continue to push for the best data and evidence to inform our policy and programming.
Commonwealth and Development Office, pursuant to the Answer of 22 July 2024 to Question 210, whether he has had discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the fiscal circumstances within which the level of the Official Development Assistance budget will be raised to 0.7% of gross national income.
The Foreign Secretary and Chancellor regularly discuss a wide range of issues. This Government is committed to restoring ODA spending at the level of 0.7 per cent of GNI as soon as fiscal circumstances allow and will set out its approach to the House in due course.