Written questions by Chowns.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent representations he has made to his Saudi counterpart on the case of Manahel al-Otaibi.

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office have monitored the case of Manahel Al-Otaibi and will continue to do so. We have raised the case with the Saudi authorities. The British Embassy in Riyadh has attempted to observe Ms Al-Otaibi's trials. We will continue to discuss human rights, including individual cases of concern, with the Saudi government.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the reduction in ODA spending on the ability of recipient countries to respond to (a) resource scarcity and (b) food insecurity.

The Prime Minister has set out a new strategic vision for government spending on defence and security, and Official Development Assistance (ODA). Detailed decisions on how the ODA budget will be used will be worked through as part of the ongoing Spending Review on the basis of various factors including impact assessments.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the reduction in ODA spending on climate security.

The Prime Minister has set out a new strategic vision for government spending on defence and security, and Official Development Assistance (ODA), including that the UK will continue to play a key role in tackling climate change. Detailed decisions on how the ODA budget will be used will be worked through as part of the ongoing Spending Review.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Prime Minister's Oral Statement of 25 February 2025 on Defence and Security, Official Report, columns 631-634, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the reduction in the level of Official Development Assistance to 0.3% of gross national income on the UK's global reputation for supporting global action on climate change.

The Prime Minister has set out a new strategic vision for government spending on defence and security, and Official Development Assistance (ODA), including that the UK will continue to play a key role in tackling climate change. Detailed decisions on how the ODA budget will be used will be worked through as part of the ongoing Spending Review.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 27 January 2025 to Question 24912 on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement, whether the measures to implement the provisions needed to ratify the Global Ocean Treaty will be complete by the UN Ocean Conference in June 2025.

The Government is completely committed to ratification of the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement, also known as the "High Seas Treaty" or "Global Ocean Treaty"), which is in line with our determination to reinvigorate the UK's wider international leadership on climate and nature. Legislation to implement the BBNJ Agreement will be introduced as soon as the legislative timetable allows.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the UK's nuclear testing on the (a) medical, (b) public and (c) genetic health of the population in Kiribati.

The UK has arranged several assessments of the impacts of nuclear testing in the Pacific region and it has been the UK Government's position since 2008 that any remediation work required due to UK nuclear tests in Kiribati has been completed. There are no plans for the UK Government to undertake a further assessment of the health of the population or environment of that nation. The UK is committed to creating long standing partnerships with Pacific Island countries including Kiribati, and supporting their priorities including tackling environmental and climate related issues.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his polices on global climate action of (a) the US Executive Order entitled Putting America First in International Climate Agreements, dated 20 January 2025 and (b) other polices of the new US Administration on (i) climate finance commitments and (ii) international agreements; and if he will take steps to increase levels of climate adaptation funding for developing countries.

The UK notes the US Executive Order entitled Putting America First in International Climate Agreements and other climate-related policy steps, these are a matter for the US. The UK will continue to work with all countries and partners to tackle the urgency of the climate and nature crisis and will pursue an energy policy that gets UK household bills down in the long-term. Our next International Climate Finance commitment will be carefully determined through the multi-year Spending Review.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the number of (a) non-bond and (b) other private creditors have reached debt restructuring agreements; and what information his Department holds on when Zambia is expected to complete the G20 Common Framework for Debt Treatments.

Zambia has now reached agreement on restructurings with its official creditors and private bondholders, though progress was slow initially. Good faith negotiations continue with remaining commercial creditors. The UK has been clear that private creditors must play their part in debt restructurings. The Paris Club, and now the G20 as part of the Common Framework process, are also clear on our collective expectation that private creditors must participate in restructurings on terms at least as favourable as those provided by government creditors, to ensure comparability of treatment. The UK continues to push for the improvement and expansion of the Common Framework to all lower and middle-income countries, including through our participation in the Paris Club, G20 Finance Track, and the Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he has made an assessment of the potential impact of statements on Gaza by President Trump on 4 February 2025 on the temporary Gaza ceasefire deal.

The government's objective remans a negotiated two-state solution, with a sovereign Palestinian state, which includes the West Bank and Gaza, alongside a safe and secure Israel. In order to deliver this, it is clear that Palestinian civilians must be permitted to return to their communities in Gaza and rebuild and that there can be no forcible transfer of Gazans from or within Gaza, nor any reduction in the territory of the Gaza Strip. The new US administration played an integral role in negotiating the ceasefire agreement, alongside Qatar and Egypt. The UK will continue to work closely with the US to sustain the fragile ceasefire, ensure that all the hostages are released, increase the supply of aid, and break the ongoing cycle of violence in pursuit of a permanent, sustainable peace.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make representations to his Israeli counterparts for an independent investigation to be launched into the killing of two-year-old Palestinian child Laila Mohammad Ayman Khatib.

We cannot comment on individual cases, but we remain concerned by the situation in the West Bank and reiterate that Israel must ensure that civilians are protected. The Foreign Secretary has raised the situation in the West Bank and issues of international law compliance directly at the highest levels of the Israeli Government. This Government is clear that international law must be upheld, and civilians protected.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to help protect the (a) safety and (b) wellbeing of Palestinian children in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

We are alarmed by the impact of the Gaza conflict on children across the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs). The UK has consistently pressed Israel to do more to protect civilians in Gaza, not least children, and for all parties to ensure adherence to international humanitarian law. We led calls on Israel to enable the rollout of the polio vaccine across Gaza and we have supported partners to deliver lifesaving aid to children, as well as educational and psychosocial services. This includes an additional £6 million for United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) to support vulnerable families in Gaza announced in August 2024, and £41 million funding for United Nations Relief and Work Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) this financial year to provide essential services including education across Gaza, the West Bank and Palestinian refugees in the region. £5.8 million of the UK's contribution to the Global Partnership for Education has been earmarked to support essential education service delivery in Gaza and the West Bank. We are also one of the largest donors to the Education Cannot Wait initiative, contributing £1.64 million of its £9.65 million funding to Gaza this financial year.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of joining the School Meals Coalition.

The UK is assessing the latest evidence on the impact of school feeding interventions on nutrition, education and social protection and continues to track developments in the evidence base for school feeding interventions. We note, for example, the World ...

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs' Humanitarian Situation Update No. 221 on the Gaza Strip, if he will have discussions wit

The FCDO is closely monitoring the impact of the conflict in Gaza on access to medical facilities and healthcare, and we are deeply concerned by reports of the destruction of hospitals and healthcare facilities. As set out in the Foreign Secretary's state...

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs' Humanitarian Situation Update No. 221 on the Gaza Strip, if he will have discussions wit

This Government is deeply concerned about the impact of the conflict on children, and the high level of destruction to civilian infrastructure in Gaza, including schools. The Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary continue to press Israeli leaders to take a...

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to paragraph 279 of the International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion entitled Legal Consequences Arising From The Policies and Practices of Israel in the Oc

We respect the International Criminal Court's independence and impartiality. We continue to call on Israeli authorities to exercise restraint, adhere to international law and clamp down on the actions of those who seek to inflame tensions. We are deeply c...

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of implications for his policies of the points of action in the statement entitled Experts warn international order on a knife’s edge, urge States

We note the statement by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on 18 September. The UK is fully committed to the international order, international law and the international rules based order. We continue to consider the ICJ's Advisory O...

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 25 July 2024 to Question 400 on British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies: Money Laundering and Tax Evasion, which jurisdictions (a) have

The Overseas Territories have committed to implement publicly accessible registers of company beneficial ownership, and set out timelines to do so, as outlined in a statement of 18 December 2023 (HCWS150).I have spoken with Overseas Territory leaders and ...

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the report entitled The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2024, published by the FAO in August 2024, if his Department will take steps to ad

Tracking and reporting financing for food security and nutrition consistently is important, and we welcome the proposals in the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) report. The UK reports on food security and nutrition finance using th...

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has taken steps to integrate nutrition into wider humanitarian and development programming to maximise positive outcomes for nutrition.

The UK has made progress toward its 2021 Nutrition for Growth commitment to integrate nutrition objectives and interventions into multiple sectors across its Official Development Assistance (ODA) programme portfolio. 12 per cent of FCDO programmes integra...

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the finding in the report entitled The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2024, published by the FAO in August 2024, that 2.8 billion people could not afford a healthy diet in 2022.

The UK, the UN and other states use the findings of the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report extensively. The persisting high levels of food insecurity and malnutrition are concerning. We are committed to addressing these, working alongside partners to provide immediate humanitarian support, tackle the causes of food insecurity and malnutrition, and leverage UK-funded science and technology expertise for more climate-resilient food systems. At the G20 Development Ministers Meeting in July, I announced the UK would join the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty to lift ambition, ensure better international coordination, and unlock much-needed finance.