Written questions by Taylor.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to tackle the enablers of illicit finance in the financial and legal services sectors.

Awaiting answer.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will use the Illicit Finance Summit to press the Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies to introduce publicly accessible registers of beneficial ownership without delay or dilution.

Awaiting answer.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will expand the remit of the Illicit Finance Summit to include tax abuse.

Awaiting answer.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to help ensure that access to safe and good quality education for children overseas.

Awaiting answer.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with her Sri Lankan counterpart on the arrest of Sangeethsan Ganeskumar, also known as Hip Hop Sangee.

Officials at our High Commission in Colombo are monitoring this case, and the British High Commissioner raised it with the Sri Lankan authorities on 4 June.The UK remains firmly committed to protecting human rights in Sri Lanka, including securing truth, ...

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to secure e-gate access for UK travellers at Schengen area border points.

Access to e-gates in the EU and Schengen area is not based on bilateral agreements but is granted at the unilateral discretion of Member States. We continue to work closely with individual Member States to press for expanded access to e-gates for British ...

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what estimate she has made of the number of EU member states permitting UK citizens to use e-gates at border crossings since the UK-EU Summit of 19 May 2025.

Access to e-gates in the EU and Schengen area is not based on bilateral agreements but is granted at the unilateral discretion of Member States. We continue to work closely with individual Member States to press for expanded access to e-gates for British ...

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure that the Overseas Territories introduce Public Registers of Beneficial Ownership.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave on this issue during the most recent session of departmental oral questions on 21 April, and to my Written Ministerial Statement (HCWS1237) following the Joint Ministerial Council on 13 January.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to help ensure freedom of worship at holy sites in Jerusalem.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 14 April in response to Questions 124030-34.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps she is taking to tackle the use of so-called guilt by blood tactics against Hong Kongers.

This Government will not tolerate any attempts by foreign governments to coerce, intimidate, harass, or harm their critics overseas. Home Office and Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) ministers have raised directly with the Chinese authorities their strong opposition to the Hong Kong Police's use of arrest warrants and bounties. In the most recent Six-monthly Report to Parliament, the Foreign Secretary spoke out against the deliberate targeting of opposition voices in the UK and elsewhere. FCDO officials have reiterated the Government's deep concerns regarding transnational repression in engagements with Chinese officials and continue to engage regularly with likeminded partners about combatting transnational repression.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations she has made to her Chinese counterpart on the release of Chow Hang-tung.

China's imposition of the National Security Law on Hong Kong has seen opposition stifled and dissent criminalised. Ministers have repeatedly called for the National Security Law to be repealed and for an end to the prosecution of all individuals charged under it, including Chow Hang-tung.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of providing security guarantees to Greenland outside the NATO framework alongside key European allies.

I refer the Hon Member to the statement made to the House by the Foreign Secretary on 5 January, and her responses to questions raised in that debate, where she set out in comprehensive terms the UK's position on Greenland.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps she is taking to help ensure (a) unrestricted humanitarian access across the country and (b) the protection of humanitarian and aid workers in Sudan.

I refer the Hon Member to the statement on Sudan made to the House by the Foreign Secretary on 18 November 2025, and to the most recent Urgent Question debate on 15 December 2025, where these issues were addressed at length.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help bring about a ceasefire in Sudan.

I refer the Hon Member to the statement on Sudan made to the House by the Foreign Secretary on 18 November 2025, and to the most recent Urgent Question debate on 15 December 2025, where these issues were addressed at length.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps she is taking to secure the release of Palestinian children held in Israeli military detention centres.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer given on 13th October to Question 76963.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department plans to participate in humanitarian aid airdrops to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza is catastrophic. In late July, the Prime Minister announced plans for the UK to work with Jordan to get aid into Gaza. Since then, UK aid has been dropped into Gaza by the Royal Jordanian Air Force. Whilst airdrops will help to alleviate some of the suffering, land routes serve as the only viable and sustainable means of providing aid into Gaza. Israel must urgently lift restrictions and facilitate a surge of aid into Gaza to prevent further hunger and malnutrition related deaths. It must ensure that the UN and its partners including non-governmental organisations are able to work safely and effectively.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to support access to medical care for Palestinians.

The healthcare situation in Gaza is critical. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly all hospitals in Gaza have been partly damaged or destroyed. We have made both private and public representations calling for the protection of healthcare facilities and medical professionals. On 25 August, the former Foreign Secretary expressed his horror at the strike on Nasser hospital and called for civilians and healthcare professionals to be protected. On 22 August, the former Foreign Secretary also urged Israel to allow desperately needed medical supplies into Gaza.With our £19 million of support, UK-Med has treated over 600,000 patient consultations in their field hospitals and emergency departments. We have also boosted regional healthcare capacity by providing £3 million for WHO Egypt to treat medically evacuated civilians from Gaza who are receiving care in Egypt.On 1 September, the former Foreign Secretary announced an additional £15 million of aid and medical care for Gaza and the region.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will take steps to prevent JCB equipment being used by the Israeli Government in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

The UK Government has a clear position that Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories are illegal under international law. We have guidance on gov.uk that states there are clear risks related to economic and financial activities in the settlements, and we do not encourage or offer support to such activity. UK citizens and businesses should be aware of the potential reputational implications of involvement in economic and financial activities in settlements, as well as possible abuses of the rights of individuals that such activity may entail. Those contemplating any economic or financial involvement in settlements should seek appropriate legal advice.The Government also supports voluntary due diligence approaches taken by UK businesses to identify and prevent human rights abuses, in line with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations he has made to the Israeli government on the closure of the Polyclinic in Deir al‑Balah, Gaza.

I refer the Hon Member to the statement made to the House by the former Foreign Secretary on 1 September, and the joint statement on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza made alongside 31 overseas partners on 12 August (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/joint-statement-on-the-humanitarian-situation-in-gaza).

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help prevent the destruction of (a) hospitals and (b) medical facilities in the Gaza Strip.

The healthcare system in Gaza is now on the brink of collapse. As the Minister for International Development said in August, essential medicines are running our while all of Gaza's hospitals have been damaged, with most no longer functioning at all. Humanitarian workers must be protected, and medical and aid workers must be able to do their jobs safely.Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office officials and I are in regular dialogue with our Israeli counterparts on the protection of healthcare facilities in Gaza. We will continue to make both public and private representations to the Government of Israel to protect healthcare staff and facilities.