Written questions by Morden.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with her Caribbean counterparts on migration on the island of Hispaniola.

The UK is deeply concerned about the serious security and humanitarian crisis in Haiti, which is driving significant migration pressures on Hispaniola and neighbouring islands. We are working with international partners to address this, including through the creation of the Gang Suppression Force and support for UN sanctions on those responsible for instability in Haiti. In October, I spoke with the Haitian Foreign Minister, Jean-Baptiste, and the Dominican Vice Minister for Multilateral Affairs, Rubén Silié Valdez, about the significant challenges in Haiti. The Minister for International Development also met the Haitian Foreign Minister on 17 November. During my visit to Jamaica last week, migration from Haiti to nearby islands was raised in discussions with partners.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has taken recent steps to support Armenian cybersecurity.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer given on 8 December to question 96636.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of allegations of the use of bromobenzyl cyanide by Georgian authorities against demonstrators.

I was deeply concerned by the BBC report alleging that Georgian police used toxic chemicals against protesters in Tbilisi in late 2024, and we expect Georgia to fulfil its obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention to ensure that any alleged breaches of the Convention's prohibitions on uses of toxic chemicals are properly investigated.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to help support recent progress by Haiti’s transitional presidential council to hold elections.

The UK is supporting international efforts to stabilise security in Haiti, and advance Haitian-led solutions. We welcome the Haitian Government's efforts to agree an electoral timetable, while acknowledging that continued gang violence remains a major obstacle. We are backing the UN-supported international Gang Suppression Force, which aims to tackle that violence, and enable progress towards free and fair elections. I spoke with the Haitian Foreign Minister in October and met with the Coordinator of Haiti's Transitional Presidential Council in November to reaffirm UK support.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the threat of Russian-backed disinformation campaigns to (a) peace negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, (b) Armenian democracy and (c) relations between Armenia and the United Kingdom.

Together with our international partners, we remain committed to supporting lasting peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and to safeguarding Armenia's electoral integrity and democratic resilience, including against any attempted acts of information manipulation and interference by Russia. Working closely with our international partners, we are always ready to defend the information environment and will always act to disrupt any malign activity targeting democratic elections. I held constructive discussions with the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan at the OSCE Ministerial on 4 December.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on funding for the BBC World Service beyond the 2025-26 financial year.

Government funding for the World Service beyond 2025/26 will be determined through Phase 2 of Spending Review 2025.FCDO Ministers have and continue to engage relevant departments on matters affecting the BBC World Service including funding and will continue to do this through the Spending Review process.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the BBC on the funding model for the BBC World Service.

The Government is committed to determining a long-term sustainable funding model for the World Service. This will be done through Charter Review.FCDO Ministers engage routinely with the BBC on a range of issues, including the World Service funding model.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent representations he has made to countries providing (a) financial support and (b) military equipment to the groups engaged in the conflict in Sudan.

The Foreign Secretary regularly raises the Sudan conflict with his international counterparts. We have regularly condemned, including in the UN Security Council, the flow of external arms into Sudan and urged those who have influence over the parties to use it to bring them to the negotiating table to seek a political resolution to the conflict.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his US counterpart on peace negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Alongside the US, we continue to urge Armenia and Azerbaijan to utilise upcoming multilateral meetings to maintain momentum on the peace process to finalise a lasting peace agreement. Officials in London, Baku and Yerevan remain in close contact with our US counterparts regarding peace negotiations. We welcome Secretary Blinken's recent efforts to bring both Foreign Ministers together in the margins of UNGA on 26 September.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in (a) Armenia and (b) Azerbaijan on the preservation of buildings of Armenian religious significance in the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

We are clear that the preservation of religious and cultural sites in the region is an important issue and is in the interests of all peoples of the region and beyond. We are aware of allegations from both Armenia and Azerbaijan that cultural and religious sites have been deliberately damaged over the course of the conflict between the states, and in Nagorno-Karabakh. Officials at British Embassy Baku have raised the topic of religious and cultural heritage and the need to protect sites of Armenian religious significance with the Azerbaijani government at the most senior levels.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in (a) Armenia and (b) Azerbaijan on Armenians detained in Azerbaijan.

The UK continues to urge the Azerbaijani authorities to ensure that those detained during its conflict with Armenia, or during September 2023's military action in Nagorno-Karabakh, are afforded a fair trial and provided safe conditions, in accordance with Azerbaijan's international obligations and commitments. We have been consistent in calling for the release of all remaining prisoners of war, and the return of the remains of the deceased, throughout the period of conflict in the region. I raised these issues most recently with Azerbaijan Presidential Representative Elchin Amirbayov on 29 October. The Foreign Secretary met Armenian and Azerbaijani Foreign Ministers in July and urged them to seize the opportunity to secure an historic peace treaty.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to support peace negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

We urge Armenia and Azerbaijan to utilise upcoming multilateral meetings to maintain momentum on the peace process, and to finalise a lasting peace agreement. Alongside our international partners, the UK stands ready to support them in doing so. The Foreign Secretary spoke with both Foreign Ministers on 18 July at the European Political Community summit, where he made clear our support for both countries. I [Minister Doughty] also spoke with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan on 11 October and Azerbaijan Presidential Representative Elchin Amirbayov on 29 October to reiterate our support.