Written questions by Law.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of the decision by the Israeli Government to recognise the Armenian genocide.

Awaiting answer.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what information her Department holds on alleged violations of International Humanitarian Law and whether this information is kept up-to-date.

Awaiting answer.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, which teams have assumed functions previously carried out by the International Humanitarian Law Unit.

Awaiting answer.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Government will publish an organisational chart, business case, or other assessment setting out how the functions of the former International Humanitarian Law Uni

Awaiting answer.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, a) how many full-time equivalent staff were assigned to the International Humanitarian Law Unit prior to restructuring in 2026 and b) how many full-time equivalent staff are

Awaiting answer.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of restructuring the International Humanitarian Law Unit on the Department's capacity to monitor, assess and provide advi

Awaiting answer.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department has given advice to SOAS on the detention of their student Zhang Yadi in China since 31 July 2025.

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office is closely monitoring this case and we continue to raise it with the Chinese authorities. We have also been in touch with School of Oriental African Studies, and have made clear that any separate response...

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what her policy is on requests received from UK universities relating to students experiencing denials of human rights overseas.

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office is closely monitoring this case and we continue to raise it with the Chinese authorities. We have also been in touch with School of Oriental African Studies, and have made clear that any separate response...

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the academic study entitled International Attention and the Treatment of Political Prisoners, p

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office is closely monitoring this case and we continue to raise it with the Chinese authorities. We have also been in touch with School of Oriental African Studies, and have made clear that any separate response...

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when she last raised the case of Zhang Yadi with the Chinese authorities; and what their response was.

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office is closely monitoring this case and we continue to raise it with the Chinese authorities. We have also been in touch with School of Oriental African Studies, and have made clear that any separate response...

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, which dedicated funding lines for women and girls have been a) protected; b) had funding been reduced; c) had funding delayed; and d) had funding discontinued in the ODA allocations for 2026/27 to 2028/29.

I refer the Hon Member to the statement made to the House by the Foreign Secretary on 19 March outlining the UK's Official Development Assistance (ODA) allocations for the period up to 2028-29, and to the accompanying documents setting out the detail of those allocations. I also refer him to the evidence provided by the Foreign Secretary and the Minister of State for International Development at the International Development Committee on 24 March, where they addressed questions at length about the Government's ODA policies and allocation decisions.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Answer of 5 February 2026 to Question UIN 109564, on Russia: Liquefied Natural Gas, whether her Department has conducted an assessment of any links between Russian state or security agency activity and LNG exports transported on vessels operated or managed by Seapeak.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office does not comment on whether specific intelligence assessments have been undertaken.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has put in place contingency plans that may result in increased ODA spend by her department in response to unforeseen conflicts or crisis situations that require a humanitarian response by the UK over the next three financial years.

I refer the Hon Member to the statement made to the House by the Foreign Secretary on 19 March outlining the UK's Official Development Assistance (ODA) allocations for the period up to 2028-29, and to the accompanying documents setting out the detail of those allocations. I also refer him to the evidence provided by the Foreign Secretary and the Minister of State for International Development at the International Development Committee on 24 March, where they addressed questions at length about the Government's ODA policies and allocation decisions.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had about the impact of the UK Government’s cuts to ODA with counterparts in Commonwealth countries affected by those cuts.

I refer the Hon Member to the statement made to the House by the Foreign Secretary on 19 March outlining the UK's Official Development Assistance (ODA) allocations for the period up to 2028-29, and to the accompanying documents setting out the detail of those allocations. I also refer him to the evidence provided by the Foreign Secretary and the Minister of State for International Development at the International Development Committee on 24 March, where they addressed questions at length about the Government's ODA policies and allocation decisions.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what advice she is providing to FCDO country offices about managing the closure of programmes and projects following the reduction in Overseas Development Assistance spending.

I refer the Hon Member to the statement made to the House by the Foreign Secretary on 19 March outlining the UK's Official Development Assistance (ODA) allocations for the period up to 2028-29, and to the accompanying documents setting out the detail of those allocations. I also refer him to the evidence provided by the Foreign Secretary and the Minister of State for International Development at the International Development Committee on 24 March, where they addressed questions at length about the Government's ODA policies and allocation decisions.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will publish a country-by-country breakdown of ODA programme allocations for a) Africa and b) Middle East & North Africa over the next three financial years.

I refer the Hon Member to the statement made to the House by the Foreign Secretary on 19 March outlining the UK's Official Development Assistance (ODA) allocations for the period up to 2028-29, and to the accompanying documents setting out the detail of those allocations. I also refer him to the evidence provided by the Foreign Secretary and the Minister of State for International Development at the International Development Committee on 24 March, where they addressed questions at length about the Government's ODA policies and allocation decisions.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of allocations for the Official Development Assistance allocations for the next three financial years on the ability of affected partner countries to meet the Sustainable Development Goals.

I refer the Hon Member to the statement made to the House by the Foreign Secretary on 19 March outlining the UK's Official Development Assistance (ODA) allocations for the period up to 2028-29, and to the accompanying documents setting out the detail of those allocations. I also refer him to the evidence provided by the Foreign Secretary and the Minister of State for International Development at the International Development Committee on 24 March, where they addressed questions at length about the Government's ODA policies and allocation decisions.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when she expects FCDO country offices to make decisions on disbursement of allocated programme funding for each of the next three financial years.

I refer the Hon Member to the statement made to the House by the Foreign Secretary on 19 March outlining the UK's Official Development Assistance (ODA) allocations for the period up to 2028-29, and to the accompanying documents setting out the detail of those allocations. I also refer him to the evidence provided by the Foreign Secretary and the Minister of State for International Development at the International Development Committee on 24 March, where they addressed questions at length about the Government's ODA policies and allocation decisions.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with colleagues in the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the potential impact of developing country debt held by financial institutions based in the UK on the ability of those countries to meet the Sustainable Development Goals.

Supporting developing countries to tackle unsustainable debt is a key development priority of this government. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) works closely with the Treasury to support countries facing high debt burdens and struggling to finance their development priorities.The UK plays a leading role in mobilising private finance for development, leveraging the City of London's global strengths and our track record on innovative financial instruments. We are committed to ensuring finance is sustainable, which is why the Chancellor established the London Coalition on Sustainable Sovereign Debt last year. The Chancellor and the Minister for International Development will attend the World Bank/International Monetary Fund (IMF) Spring Meetings and the Minister for International Development will join discussions with borrowing countries on how the London Coalition can help them tackle their debt challenges.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Prime Minister raised the issue of the succession of the Dalai Lama with a) President Xi and b) Premier Li during his visit to China in January 2026.

On 2 July 2025, the UK hosted an event in Geneva to champion the universal right to freedom of religion or belief (FoRB), including for Tibetan Buddhists, and reaffirmed that Tibetans should be free choose their own religious leaders. We continue to raise FoRB and human rights concerns in relation to Tibet with the Chinese authorities, and the Prime Minister raised Tibet with President Xi during their meeting in January.