Every parliamentary written question tabled by Fabian Hamilton this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 1–20 of 37 · Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations she has made to her Israeli counterpart regarding the closure of the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
The UK is concerned about recent restrictions on access to holy sites in Jerusalem. Israel must work with religious communities to facilitate access in line with the status quo, and the right to worship must be protected.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what support she is providing to independent election monitoring of the 2027 Nigerian Presidential Election.
We are closely monitoring preparations for Nigeria's 2027 presidential elections. Our High Commission in Abuja will, as in previous elections, deploy observation teams across the country, working alongside international partners and Nigerian civil society organisations.We will continue to engage with the Independent National Electoral Commission and civil society partners to support initiatives that strengthen a credible, transparent and inclusive electoral process.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many meetings she has held with the (a) Chief Executive and (b) Chair of the British Council since 5 September 2025.
As the Minister responsible, I have had a number of meetings with the leadership team within the British Council, details of which are routinely disclosed in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's quarterly publications of ministerial transparency data. My office also deals with a large amount of correspondence relating to the British Council and my other areas of responsibility, all of which we seek to respond to as promptly as possible.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many letters to her Department relating to the British Council have received a substantive response since 5 July 2024; and what the average response time was.
As the Minister responsible, I have had a number of meetings with the leadership team within the British Council, details of which are routinely disclosed in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's quarterly publications of ministerial transparency data. My office also deals with a large amount of correspondence relating to the British Council and my other areas of responsibility, all of which we seek to respond to as promptly as possible.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to support civilians in the West Bank, in the context of recent reports of an increase in violent attacks by settlers.
I refer my Hon Friend to the answers that the Foreign Secretary and I gave on this issue during the recent session of departmental oral questions on 20 January.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to organise the next session of the Association Council for the UK-Morocco Association Agreement.
The most recent ministerial meeting of the UK-Morocco Association Council took place in London on 12 November and reaffirmed our commitment to deepening cooperation on trade, investment, education, renewable energy, and security, in line with the step-change in relations following June's bilateral strategic dialogue. The next meeting has not yet been scheduled, but we will confirm the details in the usual way in due course.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether British International Investment’s Reporting & Complaints Mechanism is currently engaged regarding Kenya’s Menengai geothermal project; what steps she is taking to ensure access to remedy for affected communities; and what role the High Commission in Nairobi is playing to facilitate dialogue between the parties.
I believe the Hon Member is referring to complaints regarding geothermal exploration activities in specific areas of Nakuru County, Kenya. British International Investment have made clear that they have no investment in any company undertaking geothermal exploration in the relevant areas, and therefore have no basis to consider any complaints.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of reports of attacks on the Indigenous community of Cuahuayula, Mexico on 20 October 2025.
The UK remains committed to promoting and protecting human rights globally, including the rights of Indigenous communities. We are concerned by reports of violence against Indigenous communities in Mexico, including the recent attack in Coahuayula on 20 October. Any violence against Indigenous communities must be fully investigated. We regularly engage with the Mexican authorities and civil society on the issue of protection of civilians, as well as the UN in Mexico on the effective investigation of crimes against human rights defenders.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she plans to support the (a) mandate and (b) recommendations of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar.
The UK supports both the mandate and recommendations of the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar. As penholder on Myanmar at the UN Security Council, we have convened four meetings this year to maintain international focus and press for accountability. We co-sponsored a Human Rights Council resolution in April and coordinated a joint statement in May calling for an end to violence. We remain deeply concerned by ongoing violations committed by the Myanmar military, including airstrikes on civilians, sexual violence, and forced recruitment of children. Since the coup, the UK has provided over £190 million in humanitarian aid, including healthcare, education, and support for civil society. The UK continues to lead efforts to keep Myanmar on the international agenda and advocate for human rights.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what progress she has made on negotiations with the (a) British Council and (b) Treasury on the future of the British Council’s loan; and what steps she is taking to help protect the British Council.
While the British Council's Board of Trustees is ultimately responsible for the British Council's financial sustainability, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and British Council's shared objective is for the British Council to be financially sustainable so it can continue delivering soft power in the long term.The FCDO is working closely with the British Council to support implementation of a Turnaround Plan to achieve this objective, and continues to work with British Council and HM Treasury to explore viable options for the loan.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he is taking steps to support (a) campesino, (b) Indigenous and (c) Afro-descendent communities facing (i) land dispossession and (ii) forced evictions in Honduras.
The UK recognises the importance of addressing land dispossession and forced evictions in Honduras. Our Embassy in Guatemala City, which maintains our relations with Honduras, closely monitors cases of criminalisation, intimidation, and defamation against human rights defenders working on environmental issues, as well as communities at risk of eviction or already displaced. Officials at our Embassy and in London maintain regular contact with civil society organisations on this issue. The UK publicly supports the efforts and struggles of these communities and engages in diplomatic advocacy with the authorities in Honduras.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent representations he has made to his Tunisian counterpart on (a) the mass trial of political figures in April 2025 and (b) the need for (i) due process and (ii) humane treatment for political detainees in Tunisia.
The UK monitors the situation in Tunisia closely. As noted in a statement by the UK at the Human Rights Council last October, the space for political participation in Tunisia has shrunk considerably and the way legitimate political actors have been arrested raises serious questions about the independence of the judiciary.During my visit to Tunisia in July, I raised our concerns on the human rights and civil society environment with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and met with representatives of Tunisian civil society to understand more about the situation. The Foreign Secretary also noted the importance of political participation and human rights in discussions with the Tunisian Government in January. Our Ambassador in Tunisia regularly raises individual cases of concern in discussions with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the UK actively explores a range of programmes and activities to encourage and support an open society.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for UK counter-terrorism cooperation of the detention of Bechir Akremi; and whether he has considered the findings of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention in relation to his case.
The UK is aware of the ongoing detention of Mr Bechir Akremi. We are clear on the importance of continued public commitment to respect for the rule of law, and all Tunisians' civil, political, social, and economic rights, including the right to a fair trial. The UK respects Tunisia's judicial processes and calls for all cases to be tried in an independent, transparent manner.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Tunisian counterpart on (a) the detention of political figures in Tunisia in recent years and (b) compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
The UK monitors the situation in Tunisia closely. As noted in a statement by the UK at the Human Rights Council last October, the space for political participation in Tunisia has shrunk considerably and the way legitimate political actors have been arrested raises serious questions about the independence of the judiciary.During my visit to Tunisia in July, I raised our concerns on the human rights and civil society environment with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and met with representatives of Tunisian civil society to understand more about the situation. The Foreign Secretary also noted the importance of political participation and human rights in discussions with the Tunisian Government in January. Our Ambassador in Tunisia regularly raises individual cases of concern in discussions with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the UK actively explores a range of programmes and activities to encourage and support an open society.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department's review of the Overseas Security and Justice Assistance guidance will include consideration of specific cases in which assistance was provided despite credible risks of torture or the application of the death penalty.
The Overseas Security and Justice Assistance (OSJA) assessment is an essential tool to ensure that the UK's overseas security and justice assistance meets our human rights and international humanitarian law (IHL) obligations, increases respect for the rule of law, and supports UK values.The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is currently reviewing the Government's guidance for OSJA assessments so that it remains robust, effective and fit for purpose. As part of that review, we have engaged a range of stakeholders - including civil society organisations and Parliamentarians - through structured discussions. We are considering all the feedback received, including country examples that will help to inform the review process.With countries whose practice raises questions about their compliance with international legal obligations, we ensure that our co-operation accords with our own international and domestic obligations; the UK unreservedly condemns the use of torture and is opposed to the death penalty in all circumstances as a matter of principle.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to to Amnesty International's report entitled No one guarantees my safety: the urgent need to strengthen Mexico’s federal policies for the protection of journalists, published in March 2024, what discussions he has had with his Mexican counterpart on (a) strengthening Mexico’s Protection Mechanism for Human Rights Defenders and Journalists and (b) the need for its effective implementation.
The UK is committed to Media Freedom, and to championing democracy and human rights around the world. Independent media is essential to a healthy democracy. The danger facing journalists in Mexico is highly concerning and Amnesty International's report rightly raises concerns about the effectiveness of the Federal Protection Mechanism for Human Rights Defenders and Journalists. Our Embassy in Mexico City works closely with the Mexican Government and civil society organisations on understanding and reducing the risks faced by journalists and human rights defenders due to their professions. Representatives from the UK Government and the Mexican Government held their second Multilateral and Human Rights Dialogue on 13-14 May 2025 where both Governments reaffirmed their commitment to human rights. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office officials met with representatives of Amnesty International on 17 June in London to understand their concerns around the mechanism.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of reports of the murder of Danilo Benavides in Arauca on 2 March 2025.
We are concerned at the murders of former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) combatants, including that of Danilo Benavides in Arauca on 2 March 2025. We urge the Colombian authorities to investigate and tackle the root causes of violence to prevent such attacks. At the UN Security Council, we consistently call for the strengthening of protection and reintegration measures for former FARC combatants. Through UK funding, we have long supported the implementation of the peace agreement, including the security and reintegration of its signatories.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps his Department is taking to help support at-risk human rights defenders in (a) Mexico and (b) the El Bajío community in Sonora.
The UK recognises the essential role that civil society and human rights defenders play in promoting and protecting human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. Our Embassy in Mexico monitors the human rights situation in Mexico closely and maintains close communication with human rights defenders and civil society organisations. We also continue to engage regularly on human rights and related issues with the Mexican authorities at ministerial and official level. Representatives from the UK Government and the Mexican Government held their second Multilateral and Human Rights Dialogue on 13-14 May 2025 where both Governments reaffirmed their commitment to human rights. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office officials met with representatives of the El Bajio community on 14 May in London to understand their concerns.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps his Department is taking to help tackle the impact of the recruitment of children by armed groups on (a) the humanitarian situation and (b) human rights in Colombia.
The UK Government is concerned by reports of a sharp rise in child recruitment by armed groups in Colombia. The UK is a key member of the UN's Group of Friends of Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC) which plays a key role in promoting the protection of children affected by armed conflict, including through preventing recruitment. We align the activity of this multilateral group to the recommendations in the UN Secretary General's annual report on CAAC. We also regularly raise the issue of CAAC in our interventions at the UN Security Council (UNSC). We welcome the progress the Colombian government has made in the consultative phase of its Action Plan on Youth, Peace, and Security which if implemented effectively could help prevent youth and child recruitment. In November 2024, the Minister for Latin America and the Caribbean attended the Violence Against Children Conference in Colombia. At the conference, she discussed with Colombian counterparts how to strengthen the capacity of child protection systems to address significant threats to their wellbeing including in armed conflict.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent steps his Department has taken in response to reports of human rights abuses in Bangladesh.
The UK has a long-standing commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights. We commend the Interim Government of Bangladesh for inviting the UN Human Rights Office to investigate last summer's events. We support efforts to safeguard human rights and encourage collaboration with the UN and international partners to build a stable democratic future in Bangladesh. In November 2024, I raised the situation in Bangladesh with Chief Adviser Yunus during my visit. In February, Human Rights Ambassador, Eleanor Sanders visited Bangladesh and discussed justice, accountability, and fundamental freedoms. The UK is investing up to £27 million through the Bangladesh Collaborative, Accountable and Peaceful Politics programme to support civic and political space, reduce corruption, and prevent violence.