Written questions by Corbyn.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department supports a Middle East Nuclear Weapons Free Zone.

The UK's longstanding position on these questions was set out by the previous government on 27 November 2023 in their answer to Question 2945, which - for ease of reference - is reproduced below:"Israel has never declared a nuclear weapons programme. The UK Government continues to encourage Israel to sign the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) as a Non-Nuclear Weapon State. We regularly monitor all global nuclear developments and will continue to work with international partners to strengthen the non-proliferation regime and advance multilateral nuclear disarmament. The UK Government closely follows the security situation in the Middle East and maintains a regular dialogue with international counterparts."

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for his policies of reports that Israel is modernising its nuclear weapons programme.

The UK's longstanding position on these questions was set out by the previous government on 27 November 2023 in their answer to Question 2945, which - for ease of reference - is reproduced below:"Israel has never declared a nuclear weapons programme. The UK Government continues to encourage Israel to sign the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) as a Non-Nuclear Weapon State. We regularly monitor all global nuclear developments and will continue to work with international partners to strengthen the non-proliferation regime and advance multilateral nuclear disarmament. The UK Government closely follows the security situation in the Middle East and maintains a regular dialogue with international counterparts."

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has made a recent estimate of the number of nuclear weapons possessed by Israel.

The UK's longstanding position on these questions was set out by the previous government on 27 November 2023 in their answer to Question 2945, which - for ease of reference - is reproduced below:"Israel has never declared a nuclear weapons programme. The UK Government continues to encourage Israel to sign the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) as a Non-Nuclear Weapon State. We regularly monitor all global nuclear developments and will continue to work with international partners to strengthen the non-proliferation regime and advance multilateral nuclear disarmament. The UK Government closely follows the security situation in the Middle East and maintains a regular dialogue with international counterparts."

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to conduct due diligence when licensing arms transfers to the United Arab Emirates to prevent weapons being used by the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan.

All export licence applications are assessed for the risk of diversion and are kept under careful and continual review. We have recently reviewed over 2,000 licences for the United Arab Emirates (UAE).The risk of diversion is complex and is the single biggest reason export licences are refused. We regularly refuse licences, including to the UAE, for this reason.We carefully review any reports we receive, but to date, there is no evidence of UK weapons or ammunition being used in Sudan.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the steps Israel is taking to establish the E1 settlement in the occupied West Bank.

Tackling illegal settlement expansion and settler violence are vital to protecting a two-state solution.Israel must stop settlement expansion and crack down on settler violence, which has reached record levels.Alongside 26 international partners, we have condemned the E1 settlement plan and we condemn the recent steps to further that plan. We urge Israel to listen to the weight of international opinion on this issue, rather than lessen the prospects for long-term peace.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions or meetings her Department has held with Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado since January 2024.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has sought to maintain a constructive dialogue with senior figures in the Venezuelan opposition in recent years, including Maria Corina Machado, and as the Foreign Secretary said in her statement to the House on 5 January, she spoke to Ms Machado in the wake of the removal of Nicolas Maduro to reassure her of the UK's support for a peaceful transition to a democratic government in Venezuela, respecting the will and rights of all its people.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions or meetings her Department has held with representatives of BP or Shell regarding oil in Venezuela since August 2025.

The Government regularly engages with major British businesses about their global operations, through different departments, at various levels, and in multiple countries. We do not hold a central register of all the issues discussed.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, on what date her Department last raised the issue of the disputed territory of Essequibo with Venezuelan officials.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer provided on 12 January 2026 to Question 103712.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, on what date her department last had discussions with US officials on the Bank of England holding Venezuelan gold.

There is no record of any such discussions.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if her Department will publish a summary of the legal advice it has received regarding US airstrikes on Venezuela and the capture of President Nicolas Maduro.

I refer the Rt. Hon Member to the Foreign Secretary's statement to the House on 5 January, and her responses to questions raised after that statement.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what information his Department holds on whether Israel is in possession of nuclear weapons.

Israel has never declared a nuclear weapons programme. The UK Government continues to encourage Israel to sign the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) as a non nuclear-weapon State. We regularly monitor all global nuclear developments and will continue to work with international partners to reduce nuclear risks, strengthen the non-proliferation regime and advance multilateral nuclear disarmament.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will support the establishment of an independent public inquiry into the UK's involvement in Israeli operations in Gaza since October 2023.

The government does not support the establishment of an independent public inquiry into the UK's involvement in Israeli operations in Gaza since October 2023. The government has already set out the role of UK military operations in relation to Gaza. In support of ongoing hostage rescue activity, the Ministry of Defence has conducted surveillance flights over the eastern Mediterranean, including in airspace over Israel and Gaza. Surveillance aircraft are unarmed, do not have a combat role and have been tasked solely to locate hostages in order to uphold the government's primary responsibility: the security of its citizens.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what research his Department has undertaken on the consequences of nuclear war since the signature of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons in 1968.

The devastation that would be caused by nuclear war has been long understood and was written into the preamble of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in 1968. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's focus since then has therefore been on upholding the NPT and nuclear risk reduction.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he plans to participate in the UN study on the effects of nuclear war.

The UK voted against the United Nations General Assembly Resolution "Nuclear War Effects and Scientific Research", which proposed establishing an independent scientific panel on the effects of nuclear war, because the devastation that would be caused by nuclear war has been long understood. The UK questioned the benefit of further research in that area, which could not change our collective understanding of the horror of a nuclear war.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will take steps to encourage the release of (a) Taj Muhammad Sarparah and (b) other Baloch citizens detained in Pakistan.

The UK strongly condemns any instances of enforced disappearances. We urge states to fully investigate any allegations, prosecute those responsible and provide justice to victims and their families.  We continue to encourage progress towards the criminalisation of enforced disappearances in Pakistan. The British High Commission regularly raises these issues with the Government of Pakistan at a senior level. The UK will continue to urge the Government of Pakistan to guarantee the rights of all people as laid down in Pakistan's Constitution and in accordance with international standards.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when he expects negotiations with Mauritius on the (a) sovereignty of the Chagos Islands and (b) return of Chagossians who wish to resettle will conclude.

On 3 October the UK and Mauritius reached a political agreement on the sovereignty over the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) / Chagos Archipelago. This agreement secures the effective operation of the vital UK-US military base on Diego Garcia well into the next century. Following Mauritian elections, the Government will seek Treaty signature and ratification when Parliamentary time allows. Under this agreement Mauritius will be free to implement a programme of resettlement on the islands, other than Diego Garcia. The terms of resettlement will be for Mauritius to determine. Mauritius and the UK will also now work to start a new programme of visits to the Chagos Archipelago for Chagossians.