Every parliamentary written question tabled by Lee Anderson this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 21–40 of 50 · Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, which countries were the top 5 recipients of international climate finance from the UK in each of the last 3 years; and how much each of these countries received.
For detail on live programme information please refer to the UK Government's Development Tracker or for the official source of information on UK Official Development Assistance spend covering previous calendar years, the Statistics on International Development publication.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what plans he has to review his Department's policies on distributing foreign aid to India.
We are currently working through detailed decisions on how the Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget will be used from 2026/27 to 2028/29. We will publish indicative ODA programme allocations for the next three years in due course.The UK has transformed its relationship with India from donor to investor and partner. Investing the UK's ODA budget in supporting India's transition to clean energy helps mitigate the worsening impacts of climate change through bolstering the development of clean technology. Through UK investments and sharing expertise, we are also creating jobs, opportunities and inward investment for the UK.This is a strategic investment in our partnership with the Indian Government, which we can make a return on. Last year our ODA spend in India was negative: we received more money back from investments made than we invested that year.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what plans he has to review his Department's policies on distributing foreign aid to Afghanistan.
We are working through detailed decisions on how the Official Development Assistance budget will be used from 2026/27 to 2028/29. We plan to publish indicative allocations for the next three years in the coming months. This will provide the predictability our teams need to effectively manage the transition to 0.3 per cent of Gross National Income (GNI).UK aid to Afghanistan is subject to strict monitoring and verification to ensure it is only used to help those in need. All funding is provided directly to implementing partners who are highly experienced at delivering in difficult circumstances. We do not give aid to the Taliban.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what plans he has to review his Department's policies on distributing foreign aid to Pakistan.
We continuously examine all levers at our disposal to deliver for UK interests overseas, including foreign aid. We are currently reviewing allocations to all countries as part of the UK Government's move to reduce aid spending to 0.3 per cent of gross national income by 2027. Pakistan is an indispensable partner in keeping the UK safe from terror threats and organised crime, and some of the technical assistance we provide through UK Official Development Assistance (ODA) is integral to these efforts.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what criteria his Department uses when selecting recipients for international climate finance.
International Climate Finance is spent in countries according to their vulnerability to climate change, ability to fund their own adaptation, and high emissions or high future emissions pathways where climate mitigation, poverty reduction, and development co-benefits potential are greatest.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much the UK has spent in (a) foreign aid or (b) international development funding on projects on improving equality, diversity and inclusion overseas in the last two years.
Data on Official Development Assistance (ODA) spend is available in the Statistics on International Development publications, which are available for 2023 and provisionally for 2024. Data is available broken down by sector for the 2023 publication, including social sector spending on health and education, and humanitarian aid.Further information on specific programmes, including those with a specific focus on equalities, can be found on GOV.UK's Development Tracker.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what his policy is on responding to non-binding rulings of the United Nations International Court of Justice where they relate to the UK.
While not legally binding, rulings such as the International Court of Justice's advisory opinions carry significant weight and are likely to be highly influential on any subsequent court or tribunal considering the same issues, so the UK will take them into account when formulating relevant policies.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if his Department will publish a list of projects focusing on improving equality, diversity and inclusion abroad that have received UK (a) foreign aid and (b) international development funding in the last two years.
Data on Official Development Assistance (ODA) spend is available in the Statistics on International Development publications, which are available for 2023 and provisionally for 2024. Data is available broken down by sector for the 2023 publication, including social sector spending on health and education, and humanitarian aid.Further information on specific programmes, including those with a specific focus on equalities, can be found on GOV.UK's Development Tracker.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps his Department is taking to help tackle anti-Christian violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
We are deeply concerned by an escalation in attacks by Islamic State - Democratic Republic of the Congo (IS-DRC), also known as the Allied Democratic Forces, who primarily target Christians. The UK has repeatedly raised the actions of IS-DRC in the United Nations, including at the United Nations Security Council and Human Rights Council, and have sanctioned them through the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, which countries will receive funding from the £11.6 billion international climate finance funding.
I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave on 17 September to Question 71017.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what proportion of funding from the international climate finance funding will be allocated to each recipient country.
I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave on 17 September to Question 71017.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he plans to review the suitability of Syria as a recipient of foreign aid.
The humanitarian situation in Syria is dire, with over 16 million people in need of humanitarian assistance and 90 per cent of the population living in poverty. Our funding provides urgent humanitarian aid, as well as support for Syria's longer-term recovery through education and livelihoods. The UK has robust processes in place to ensure our overseas development assistance aid funding reaches those most in need, delivers value for money and protects against aid diversion. A stable Syria is firmly in the UK's interests, reducing the risk of irregular migration, terrorism and other threats to our national security.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure religious freedom in Syria.
The UK has consistently advocated for an inclusive political transition and underlined the importance of protecting the rights of all Syrians, regardless of religious or ethnic background. I travelled to Damascus on 27 August, and reiterated this message to Foreign Minister Al-Shaibani and Justice Minister Al-Waisi.. The Foreign Secretary also discussed this with President al Sharaa and Foreign Minister al Shaibani when he visited Damascus in July. We continue to press the Syrian Government on the need to improve their response to sectarian violence and hold those responsible to account. We welcome the provisions on freedom of expression and freedom of religion and belief in the Constitutional Declaration. We will continue to advocate for the right to freedom of religion or belief for all.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an estimate of the cost to the public purse for the use of private jets by his Department since 5 July 2024.
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office incurred approximately £3,850,000 in ministerial travel costs between July 2024 and the end of March 2025. This figure is inclusive of all commercial, non-scheduled and RAF flights, as well as associated rail and car journeys. The information required to isolate only the cost of private jet usage is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. April 2025 to end June 2025 data will be published in due course via gov.uk, as part of the Quarterly Ministerial Transparency Returns.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what plans he has to meet with his counterparts in (a) the EU and (b) Spain to discuss the status of Gibraltar.
We have no plans to meet with the EU, Spain, or any other party to discuss the status of Gibraltar. This Government is fully committed to the double lock: we will never enter into arrangements under which the people of Gibraltar would pass under the sovereignty of another State against their freely and democratically expressed wishes. And we will never enter into a process of sovereignty negotiations with which Gibraltar is not content. The Foreign Secretary and I continue, side by side with the Government of Gibraltar, to work with the EU and Spain to finalise a Treaty governing Gibraltar's relationship with the EU. Political agreement, including on a clause which safeguards Gibraltar's sovereignty, was reached on 11 June and all sides are working together to finalise the Treaty as soon as possible.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much their Department has spent on translating documents into languages other than (a) English and (b) other native UK languages in each year since 2023; and what these languages were.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) operates across 282 posts worldwide and has a wide range of translation and interpretation requirements across multiple foreign languages. While some translation services are specifically contracted, much of this work is likely to be part of larger programmes or ad hoc, making it very difficult to provide specific data in response to this question.The FCDO does however procure essential translation services from FCDO Services. In the financial year 2024-25, the FCDO spend with FCDO Services on translations from English into languages other than Welsh was £133,000 (in 2023-24, it was £118,000). These translation services were used for approximately 30 different languages, predominantly for translations into Arabic, French, Spanish and the Afghan languages - Dari and Pashto.In addition, the FCDO uses its own staff overseas or local suppliers to provide translation services when required. Machine translation, such as Google, and Artificial Intelligence are now also used.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will ensure that hon. Members are able to debate a divisible motion on the agreement with Mauritius on the Chagos Islands.
Parliamentary business will be arranged in the usual way.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make representations to the International Committee of the Red Cross on delivery of humanitarian supplies to Israeli hostages still held by Hamas.
The UK remains deeply concerned about Israeli hostages held by Hamas. We fully support the International Committee of the Red Cross's (ICRC) efforts to secure humanitarian access in line with international humanitarian law. The ICRC is the only humanitarian actor with the mandate and neutrality to carry out this role and it is vital they are granted access, as set out in the Geneva Conventions. The UK continues working with international partners to press for hostage release and improved humanitarian access.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether RAF Akrotiri and Dhekelia will remain an Overseas Territory.
The UK Government retains sovereignty over the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia (SBAs) under the 1960 Treaty of Establishment. The UK Government remains resolutely committed to the SBAs, which make an important contribution to the security of Europe and the wider region.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Falkland Islands will remain an Overseas Territory.
Yes. We will always resolutely defend the sovereignty and self-determination of the Falkland Islands, as I and other Ministers have made repeatedly clear in the House, and to the Members of the Legislative Assembly and Governor in my regular meetings with them. In line with the democratically expressed wishes of the people of the Falkland Islands - most recently in the 2013 referendum, the Falkland Islands will remain a self-governing UK Overseas Territory. The UK Government will always defend the Falkland Islanders' right to determine their own destiny.