Written questions by Campbell.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help end the spread of Hansen's disease.

The UK supports the World Health Organization's (WHO) Neglected Tropical Diseases Roadmap 2021-2030, which includes targets to interrupt Hansen's disease (leprosy) transmission, prevent disability and address stigma and discrimination, including through our £248 million contribution to WHO in support of its 2025-2028 programme of work. Our wider support to global health also helps countries to strengthen their health systems and indirectly supports efforts to combat Hansen's disease.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what engagement has the Government had with Mexican Authorities on the safety of UK football fans attending World Cup matches in Guadalajara.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is working across Government and with sporting bodies to support UK fans travelling to matches for the FIFA World Cup in 2026. Our Embassy in Mexico remains in regular contact with the Mexican Federal and State Governments. We are closely monitoring the situation and keep travel advice under regular review to ensure it reflects the latest assessment of risk to British nationals. We encourage those travelling to Mexico to consult our Mexico (https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/mexico/entry-requirements) and World Cup (https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/mexico/world-cup-2026) travel advice pages before making travel arrangements.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the humanitarian impact of recent Israeli strikes in the Bekaa Valley and what steps is the Government taking to de-escalate tensions in the region.

We are concerned about the military escalation in Lebanon, especially the impact on civilians, and we are coordinating closely with the Government of Lebanon and humanitarian partners to provide support. On 3 March, I discussed the situation with Lebanese Foreign Minister Rajji, and we will continue to press for de-escalation in our other talks with international partners.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking international partners to encourage de-escalation between Pakistan and Afghanistan; and what recent discussions she has had with her (a) Pakistani and (b) Afghan counterpart on the October 2025 ceasefire.

The UK is deeply concerned by rising tensions between Pakistan and the Taliban. An escalation in hostilities is in no one's interest. At the United Nations in February, the Foreign Secretary discussed the situation with her Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar and, on 10 March, I expressed my concern about ongoing hostilities in a meeting with Pakistan Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi. More broadly, in January, the UK Special Envoy to Afghanistan visited Islamabad and encouraged de-escalation in talks with both Pakistani and Taliban interlocutors. Alongside that, UK officials regularly engage Taliban Ministers and officials to encourage them to engage in dialogue, as well as relevant third parties, including Qatar, Türkiye, and Saudi Arabia who can help to support these goals.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment her Department has the risk of an imminent liquidity crisis of the UN; and what steps she is taking, including with international partners, to support the financial stability of the UN system and to protect the delivery of core programmes.

The UK is deeply concerned by the financial challenges faced by the UN and we support efforts to put the organisation on a more sustainable financial footing to ensure it can continue to deliver its mandate. The UK stands ready to work with the UN Secretariat to find additional sustainable and effective solutions to manage these challenges, and we continue to encourage budget discipline across the UN System. The UK submitted its regular budget contribution of USD $128 million for 2026 in full and on time, the first permanent UN Security Council member to do so and the 14th Member State overall. We call for all Member States to do likewise.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure the protection of Christian communities from persecution in Maldives.

The UK continues to champion Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) for all, including in Sudan, Mali, Burkina Faso, Maldives, Mauritania, Cuba, Niger, Tajikistan and other countries on the Open Doors' World Watch List where Christians face persecution or discrimination because of their faith. Last July, the UK's Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief, David Smith MP, set out the Government's new strategy on FoRB, providing a framework for engagement with other countries, and describing the links between the protection of FoRB and other goals including the prevention of conflict. As part of this strategy, the UK continues to champion FoRB on the international stage, including through our position in the United Nations and the Article 18 Alliance.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure the protection of Christian communities from persecution in Sudan.

The UK continues to champion Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) for all, including in Sudan, Mali, Burkina Faso, Maldives, Mauritania, Cuba, Niger, Tajikistan and other countries on the Open Doors' World Watch List where Christians face persecution or discrimination because of their faith. Last July, the UK's Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief, David Smith MP, set out the Government's new strategy on FoRB, providing a framework for engagement with other countries, and describing the links between the protection of FoRB and other goals including the prevention of conflict. As part of this strategy, the UK continues to champion FoRB on the international stage, including through our position in the United Nations and the Article 18 Alliance.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure the protection of Christian communities from persecution in Burkina Faso.

The UK continues to champion Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) for all, including in Sudan, Mali, Burkina Faso, Maldives, Mauritania, Cuba, Niger, Tajikistan and other countries on the Open Doors' World Watch List where Christians face persecution or discrimination because of their faith. Last July, the UK's Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief, David Smith MP, set out the Government's new strategy on FoRB, providing a framework for engagement with other countries, and describing the links between the protection of FoRB and other goals including the prevention of conflict. As part of this strategy, the UK continues to champion FoRB on the international stage, including through our position in the United Nations and the Article 18 Alliance.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure the protection of Christian communities from persecution in Mali.

The UK continues to champion Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) for all, including in Sudan, Mali, Burkina Faso, Maldives, Mauritania, Cuba, Niger, Tajikistan and other countries on the Open Doors' World Watch List where Christians face persecution or discrimination because of their faith. Last July, the UK's Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief, David Smith MP, set out the Government's new strategy on FoRB, providing a framework for engagement with other countries, and describing the links between the protection of FoRB and other goals including the prevention of conflict. As part of this strategy, the UK continues to champion FoRB on the international stage, including through our position in the United Nations and the Article 18 Alliance.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure the protection of Christian communities from persecution in Mauritania.

The UK continues to champion Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) for all, including in Sudan, Mali, Burkina Faso, Maldives, Mauritania, Cuba, Niger, Tajikistan and other countries on the Open Doors' World Watch List where Christians face persecution or discrimination because of their faith. Last July, the UK's Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief, David Smith MP, set out the Government's new strategy on FoRB, providing a framework for engagement with other countries, and describing the links between the protection of FoRB and other goals including the prevention of conflict. As part of this strategy, the UK continues to champion FoRB on the international stage, including through our position in the United Nations and the Article 18 Alliance.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure the protection of Christian communities from persecution in Cuba.

The UK continues to champion Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) for all, including in Sudan, Mali, Burkina Faso, Maldives, Mauritania, Cuba, Niger, Tajikistan and other countries on the Open Doors' World Watch List where Christians face persecution or discrimination because of their faith. Last July, the UK's Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief, David Smith MP, set out the Government's new strategy on FoRB, providing a framework for engagement with other countries, and describing the links between the protection of FoRB and other goals including the prevention of conflict. As part of this strategy, the UK continues to champion FoRB on the international stage, including through our position in the United Nations and the Article 18 Alliance.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure the protection of Christian communities from persecution in Niger.

The UK continues to champion Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) for all, including in Sudan, Mali, Burkina Faso, Maldives, Mauritania, Cuba, Niger, Tajikistan and other countries on the Open Doors' World Watch List where Christians face persecution or discrimination because of their faith. Last July, the UK's Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief, David Smith MP, set out the Government's new strategy on FoRB, providing a framework for engagement with other countries, and describing the links between the protection of FoRB and other goals including the prevention of conflict. As part of this strategy, the UK continues to champion FoRB on the international stage, including through our position in the United Nations and the Article 18 Alliance.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure the protection of Christian communities from persecution in Tajikistan.

The UK continues to champion Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) for all, including in Sudan, Mali, Burkina Faso, Maldives, Mauritania, Cuba, Niger, Tajikistan and other countries on the Open Doors' World Watch List where Christians face persecution or discrimination because of their faith. Last July, the UK's Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief, David Smith MP, set out the Government's new strategy on FoRB, providing a framework for engagement with other countries, and describing the links between the protection of FoRB and other goals including the prevention of conflict. As part of this strategy, the UK continues to champion FoRB on the international stage, including through our position in the United Nations and the Article 18 Alliance.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has contingency plans to support individuals fleeing conflict in the event of military intervention in Iran by the United States.

I refer the Hon Member to the statement the Foreign Secretary made to the House on 13 January, setting out our latest assessment of the position in Iran. We will inform the House of any further updates in that assessment in due course, including on the issues that she mentions.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how the department has been working with the UK’s international allies to support pro-democracy protestors in Iran.

I refer the Hon Member to the statement the Foreign Secretary made to the House on 13 January, setting out our latest assessment of the position in Iran. We will inform the House of any further updates in that assessment in due course, including on the issues that she mentions.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz on global oil trade.

Closure of the Strait of Hormuz would significantly disrupt global oil supplies, resulting in higher global prices. In the event of any global supply disruption, the UK holds emergency oil stocks that can be released to the market as part of a collective action by member countries of the International Energy Agency.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps the Department is taking to ensure there are easy, accessible, diplomatic routes for ambassadors and high commissioners to utilise during travel to and from the United Kingdom.

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) regularly liaises with missions and airports to assist with the transit arrangements for ambassadors and high commissioners entering or leaving the UK, as well as other international visitors travelling to the UK on official business.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with her international counterparts on the reported massacres in el-Fasher in Sudan.

I refer the Hon. Member to the response provided to the Urgent Question on Sudan: Protection of Civilians on 30 October.