Written questions by Brickell.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what progress her Department has made with Cabinet colleagues on resetting the UK's relationship with the European Union.

Our long‑term national interest requires a closer EU partnership, anchored in the Common Understanding and strengthened by new security and defence cooperation.Our Security and Defence Partnership has delivered a step change in engagement, supporting Ukraine through coordinated sanctions, military assistance, training, and resilience.While providing a long‑term framework for practical cooperation that protects our citizens and strengthens Europe’s collective defence.This sits alongside wider progress, including Erasmus+ and negotiations on energy, youth experience, and food and drink.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when will her department plans to publish the Economic Diplomacy Review.

The findings from this and other reviews were used to inform the strategy for the department's FCDO2030 reform programme, as set out in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's published annual report.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department plans to publish the 2025 Joint Ministerial Council Communiqué.

The communique from the 2025 Joint Ministerial Council has been published on gov.uk. The link is at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-and-overseas-territories-joint-ministerial-council-2025-communique.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of recent reports of the harassment of civil society leaders in Georgia.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 21 July 2025 to Question 66922.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the merits of sanctioning additional Georgian elites accused of corruption with significant financial holdings in the UK.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 21 July 2025 to Question 66922.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of recent reports that the Government of Georgia is fostering closer ties with the Government of Iran.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 21 July 2025 to Question 66922.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that businesses in Georgia are not used for third-country evasion of sanctions against Russia.

On 27 June 2025, the Government issued new UK sanctions guidance for non-UK businesses in several countries, including Georgia, to support compliance with UK sanctions and raise awareness of relevant national laws. This built on the extensive diplomatic engagement and technical assistance we have provided in priority jurisdictions to address circumvention risks.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps she is taking to support (a) civil society and (b) a free press in Georgia.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 21 July 2025 to Question 66922.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when the international Summit on Countering Illicit Finance Summit will take place.

I refer the Hon. Member to the written statement made to the House on 22 July 2025 (UIN HCWS877).

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions her Department has had with international counterparts on democracy in Georgia.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 21 July 2025 to Question 66922.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what plans his Department has to provide (a) urgent aid and (b) longer-term climate adaptation support to Pakistan following recent floods.

The UK was among the first countries to respond to the floods in Pakistan, approving £2.53 million in emergency funding to date across the seven most affected districts reaching over 400,000 people with search and rescue, emergency medical care, food, water, hygiene, and household items. Additionally, the UK has contributed to the Start Ready Disaster Risk Financing system in Pakistan. £500,000 has been released, reaching 20,000 people across Punjab, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to anticipate and mitigate humanitarian impacts from future flooding.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will provide assurances that there will be no further delays by (a) Anguilla, (b) Bermuda, (c) the British Virgin Islands and (d) Turks and Caicos Islands to implement Legitimate Interest Access Registers of Beneficial Ownership, following commitments made at the 2024 UK and Overseas Joint Ministerial Council.

Please refer to my Written Ministerial Statement of 3 July which provides an update and details of next steps.We have made very clear to our partners in the remaining Overseas Territories the importance of delivering on the previously committed to deadlines, and have offered technical support to achieve this. We have communicated that we expect rapid and robust action to be taken, given the crucial importance of tackling illicit finance and increasing transparency. We have set out that we expect access to be granted to a wide range of legitimate users, that registers should enable proactive investigations and should act as a deterrent to those seeking to conceal illicit gains.Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office officials have conducted an in-house assessment of the latest policies and proposals from these Overseas Territories against the discussions at the Joint Ministerial Council in November 2024. In addition, we have reviewed feedback from a range of external stakeholders including expert NGOs and parliamentarians. We have also considered emerging international modalities which cover legitimate interest access registers.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how he will assess compliance with commitments made at the 2024 Joint Ministerial Council by (a) Anguilla, (b) Bermuda, (c) the British Virgin Islands, (d) the Cayman Islands and (e) the Turks and Caicos Islands to implement Legitimate Interest Access Registers of Beneficial Ownership.

Please refer to my Written Ministerial Statement of 3 July which provides an update and details of next steps.We have made very clear to our partners in the remaining Overseas Territories the importance of delivering on the previously committed to deadlines, and have offered technical support to achieve this. We have communicated that we expect rapid and robust action to be taken, given the crucial importance of tackling illicit finance and increasing transparency. We have set out that we expect access to be granted to a wide range of legitimate users, that registers should enable proactive investigations and should act as a deterrent to those seeking to conceal illicit gains.Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office officials have conducted an in-house assessment of the latest policies and proposals from these Overseas Territories against the discussions at the Joint Ministerial Council in November 2024. In addition, we have reviewed feedback from a range of external stakeholders including expert NGOs and parliamentarians. We have also considered emerging international modalities which cover legitimate interest access registers.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what progress (a) Anguilla, (b) Bermuda, (c) the British Virgin Islands, (d) the Cayman Islands and (e) the Turks and Caicos Islands have made on implementing Legitimate Interest Access Registers of Beneficial Ownership.

Please refer to my Written Ministerial Statement of 3 July which provides an update and details of next steps.We have made very clear to our partners in the remaining Overseas Territories the importance of delivering on the previously committed to deadlines, and have offered technical support to achieve this. We have communicated that we expect rapid and robust action to be taken, given the crucial importance of tackling illicit finance and increasing transparency. We have set out that we expect access to be granted to a wide range of legitimate users, that registers should enable proactive investigations and should act as a deterrent to those seeking to conceal illicit gains.Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office officials have conducted an in-house assessment of the latest policies and proposals from these Overseas Territories against the discussions at the Joint Ministerial Council in November 2024. In addition, we have reviewed feedback from a range of external stakeholders including expert NGOs and parliamentarians. We have also considered emerging international modalities which cover legitimate interest access registers.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what incentives he is providing for (a) Anguilla, (b) Bermuda, (c) the British Virgin Islands and (d) the Turks and Caicos Islands to make swifter progress at delivering Legitimate Interest Access Registers of Beneficial Ownership.

Please refer to my Written Ministerial Statement of 3 July which provides an update and details of next steps.We have made very clear to our partners in the remaining Overseas Territories the importance of delivering on the previously committed to deadlines, and have offered technical support to achieve this. We have communicated that we expect rapid and robust action to be taken, given the crucial importance of tackling illicit finance and increasing transparency. We have set out that we expect access to be granted to a wide range of legitimate users, that registers should enable proactive investigations and should act as a deterrent to those seeking to conceal illicit gains.Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office officials have conducted an in-house assessment of the latest policies and proposals from these Overseas Territories against the discussions at the Joint Ministerial Council in November 2024. In addition, we have reviewed feedback from a range of external stakeholders including expert NGOs and parliamentarians. We have also considered emerging international modalities which cover legitimate interest access registers.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the escalation of tensions in the Kashmir region following the attack near Pahalgam on 22 April 2025.

India and Pakistan are both longstanding, important partners of the UK. The UK Government is taking all the steps we can to ensure that recent developments do not lead to uncontrolled escalation. We encourage all to commit to effective channels of engagement to safeguard stability in the region.  Alongside international partners, the UK will continue to engage in dialogue in pursuit of long-term regional stability. The Foreign Secretary is in regular dialogue with his Indian and Pakistani counterparts to encourage all parties to take a measured approach.  He is also in contact with US Secretary Rubio, French Foreign Minister Barrot, and Gulf Partners to discuss the situation.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that UK residents with British National (Overseas) Visas are able to access pension savings held abroad.

We are aware that individuals who have moved to the UK on the British National (Overseas) visa route are having difficulties in drawing down early their pension savings held in Hong Kong. We are committed to supporting the valued BN(O) community in the UK and are clear that discrimination against BN(O) passport holders is unacceptable. We have discussed the matter in detail with the relevant banks and we continue to raise this issue directly with the Hong Kong authorities to encourage a pragmatic solution.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support women and girls in states affected by conflict.

Empowering women and girls is a UK Government priority. The UK will take a leading role on the global stage, building partnerships, particularly in the Global South, to promote greater gender equality that strengthens whole societies and economies. Having led on UN Security Council Resolution 1325 in 2000, the UK is resolute in its commitment to the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda, and intends to build on the ambition displayed in the UK's 5th WPS National Action Plan during this anniversary year. At the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in March 2025, I, alongside Lord Collins, will promote women's economic empowerment, galvanise funding for the global grassroots women's rights movement, support women and girls in Afghanistan, and strengthen global action on conflict-related sexual violence.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to improve partnerships with major humanitarian relief donors, in the context of the recent USAID funding freeze announcement.

We are currently working to assess the implications of the US funding pause across development sectors, geographic regions and multilateral organisations. We are gathering information and working with other donor partners to share analysis of the pause before making any decisions.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Cypriot counterpart on the use of Cyprus-based financial structures by UK (a) businesses and (b) individuals to evade VAT.

The Foreign Secretary has not had discussions with Cypriot counterparts on the use of Cyprus-based financial structures by UK businesses or individuals for tax evasion. The UK and Cypriot governments committed to share expertise and invest in capacity building to tackle illicit finance at the UK-Cyprus strategic dialogue in December 2024.