Written questions by Kirkham.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will provide an estimate of the proportion of UK-funded aid to Gaza that has been held up at the Israeli border and prevented from entering Gaza.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains catastrophic, and the UK is doing all we can to alleviate suffering. All allocations under our Humanitarian Programme are publicly available on Development Tracker. While much UK‑funded aid has entered Gaza, many urgently needed supplies remain stuck at the border due to Israeli restrictions. The UK will continue to press for the entry of all consignments of UK‑funded aid that have been delayed by restrictions and closed routes, so that assistance reaches those who need it most.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when she last spoke to her Israeli counterpart regarding the decision to restrict the operations of international non-governmental organisations in Gaza and the West Bank.

I refer the Hon Member to the statement I made on 5 January, and to the joint statement issued by the Foreign Secretary and several of her counterparts on 30 December 2025, which can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/jointstatementon-the-gaza-humanitarian-response.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking with international partners to support the reconstruction of Gaza.

I refer the Hon Member to the second half of the answer provided on 26 January in response to Question HL13572 which, for ease of reference, is copied below:The UK is providing £81 million for humanitarian and early recovery support for Palestine this financial year. Last month, supplies of UK-funded tents entered Gaza, providing urgent shelter for 12,000 vulnerable civilians, and we will continue to push for the entry of further UK-funded aid, including tents and shelter kits, which have so far been unable to reach those in need. On 30 December 2025, the Foreign Secretary issued a joint statement alongside a number of international partners calling on the Government of Israel to remove restrictions hindering the delivery of essential humanitarian aid.The UK is supporting the US-led plan for Gaza's post-conflict stability, as well as exploring the mobilisation of private-sector finance to support Palestinian-led reconstruction of Gaza. We have also deployed UK civilian and military experts to support the Civil-Military Coordination Centre that aims to coordinate reconstruction efforts in Gaza. In addition, the UK has announced £4 million of funding for the United Nations Mine Action Service to help clear rubble, protect civilians and aid workers, and enable the safe delivery of aid. In total, the UK is providing £116 million for Palestine this financial year for humanitarian aid, support for Palestinian economic development, and strengthening Palestinian Authority governance and reform.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has had discussions with her Nigerian counterpart on attacks on civilians in Benue and Nasarawa states. Nigeria.

I refer the Hon Member to the Written Ministerial Statement of 27 November 2025.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what information her Department holds on the (a) quantity and (b) value of UK aid that has been denied entry to Gaza by Israel since March 2025; and what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that those supplies reach Gaza.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer of 14 October to Question 75011.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on funding for the (a) BBC World Service and (b) British Council for 2026-7.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Ministers regularly engage with ministerial colleagues on matters affecting their Departments and issues of mutual interest. I lead on soft power within the FCDO and I am in regular contact with my Department for Culture, Media and Sport counterpart on this important issue.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he has taken to advocate for the protection of children in armed conflict in (a) the Occupied Palestinian Territories, (b) the Democratic Republic of the Congo, (c) Haiti, (d) Somalia and (e) Nigeria.

The UN Secretary-General's 2025 report on children and armed conflict highlights a shocking 25 per cent increase in grave violations against children. The UK statement at the UN Security Council open debate on 25 June called on all parties to armed conflict to immediately end and prevent grave violations against children. It also called on Israel to abide by its obligations under international humanitarian law to protect children.The UK is an active and committed member of the UN Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict, playing a key role ensuring scrutiny of conflicts where children are harmed and holding perpetrators to account.We have raised child protection issues and concerns with the governments of Israel, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti and Somalia. In Nigeria, we are working with partners on the ground to protect children, focusing on girls, explosive weapons and the recruitment and use and detention of children.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if his Department will publish a cross-government strategy on children and armed conflict.

The latest UN Secretary General's report on Children and Armed Conflict is shocking. It shows that children are being harmed and denied lifesaving aid on an unprecedented scale.In the UN Security Council, the UK has called on all parties to armed conflict to immediately end and prevent grave violations against children, and for perpetrators to be held to account. The UK also remains committed to promoting and defending the UN's Children and Armed Conflict mandate.The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's (FCDO) is currently reviewing our approach to children in conflict.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with the BBC on the potential impact of changes to the level of funding for BBC World Service on the capacity of the BBC to deliver content in other languages.

The Government is in close touch with the BBC on a range of issues - we have regular discussions at Ministerial, senior and official levels. The BBC is the main funder of the World Service and is editorially and operationally independent. It decides the most effective and efficient way of delivering the World Service. Expanding coverage would primarily be a decision for the BBC, in consultation with the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in line with the requirements of the Framework Agreement. World Service Grant-in-Aid funding for the next three years will be decided by Ministers through the FCDO allocations process in the autumn.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of changes in funding for the BBC World Service on the UK's soft power.

The Government highly values the BBC World Service, which makes a significant contribution to UK soft power. According to a 2025 survey conducted for the BBC by the independent polling company, Tapestry, the BBC is a leader in driving favourable impressions of the UK and is the country's most recognised cultural export internationally. Decisions have not yet been made on future funding. World Service Grant-in-Aid funding for the next three years will be decided by Ministers through the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office allocations process in the autumn.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the number of children in administrative detention in the Occupied Palestinian Territories; and what diplomatic steps his Department is taking to advocate for their release.

The Government is concerned about Israel's extensive use of administrative detention which, according to international law, should be used only when security makes this absolutely necessary. Israeli authorities must either charge or release detainees. UK officials regularly engage with groups supporting children in the Occupied Palestinian Territories to understand the impact of administrative detention and prison conditions on children.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when he last raised the case of Alaa Abd El-Fattah with the Egyptian Government; and how often he has raised the case of Mr El-Fattah with that Government.

The UK Government continues to raise Mr Alaa Abd El-Fattah's case at the highest levels with the Egyptian government. We have been consistently clear in calling for his release and continue to press for urgent consular access. The Prime Minister raised the case in a phone call with President Sisi on 28 February 2025 and previously wrote to President Sisi on 26 December 2024 and 8 January 2025. The Foreign Secretary has raised this case regularly with the Egyptian Foreign Minister, most recently on 23 January 2025. I raised the case with the Egyptian Ambassador to London on 18 February 2025. The National Security Adviser also raised the case with Foreign Minister Abdelatty in a phone call on 2 March.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to encourage international investment into the UK.

Growth is this government’s top priority. Working together with my Cabinet colleagues, I am determined to use our diplomatic and trade networks to attract inward investment and demonstrate the UK is open for business. At the International Investment Summit on 14 October international investors committed to £63 billion of investment into the UK.