Every parliamentary written question tabled by Jessica Morden this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 21–27 of 27 · this parliament
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 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.
What steps his Department is taking with universities to support research and innovation.
Research and innovation is key to delivering the government’s missions, and universities are essential for this.We are increasing Core Research funding to over £6.1bn to deliver on the government’s research priorities and offer real terms protection to the UK's world leading universities.This Government has committed to record funding of R&D in the recent budget. Total HMG investment in R&D is rising to a record allocation of £20.4bn in 2025/26
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 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.
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 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.