Written questions by Patel.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what information his Department holds on the number of reports of Hamas using UNRWA facilities.

The Prime Minister was pleased to speak with Emily Damari on 31 January and was deeply moved by her personal story. We are aware of the various reports since 7 October 2023 of Hamas using the United Nations Relief and Work Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) facilities. UNRWA Commissioner General Phillipe Lazzarini has since stated that UNRWA takes any such allegations extremely seriously, and that UNRWA was forced to vacate all its installations in the north of Gaza Strip, including Gaza City, on 13 October 2023. We welcome the fact that UNRWA has said there should be independent investigations into any misuse of its facilities by Palestinian armed militants, including Hamas. Furthermore, following Catherine Colonna's Independent Review of Mechanisms and Procedures to Ensure Adherence by UNRWA to the Humanitarian Principle of Neutrality, UNRWA set out an action plan with detailed management reforms. As the Minister for Development told the House on 28 January, she has discussed the issue of neutrality with UNRWA's leadership, including directly with Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini. She also spoke to UNRWA staff members on their work to implement the recommendations of the Colonna report during her visit to the region on 3-5 December.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when he last discussed the future sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory with the (a) US and (b) Mauritius government.

The Foreign Secretary last spoke to the US Secretary of State on 27 January where they discussed a range of shared UK/US priorities, including the long-term protection of the base on Diego Garcia. Officials and Ministers have regular engagement with Mauritius on the deal, most recently during a phone call on 31 January between the Prime Minister and Mauritian Prime Minister Ramgoolam.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the use of UNRWA facilities by Hamas since 7 October 2023.

The Prime Minister was pleased to speak with Emily Damari on 31 January and was deeply moved by her personal story. We are aware of the various reports since 7 October 2023 of Hamas using the United Nations Relief and Work Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) facilities. UNRWA Commissioner General Phillipe Lazzarini has since stated that UNRWA takes any such allegations extremely seriously, and that UNRWA was forced to vacate all its installations in the north of Gaza Strip, including Gaza City, on 13 October 2023. We welcome the fact that UNRWA has said there should be independent investigations into any misuse of its facilities by Palestinian armed militants, including Hamas. Furthermore, following Catherine Colonna's Independent Review of Mechanisms and Procedures to Ensure Adherence by UNRWA to the Humanitarian Principle of Neutrality, UNRWA set out an action plan with detailed management reforms. As the Minister for Development told the House on 28 January, she has discussed the issue of neutrality with UNRWA's leadership, including directly with Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini. She also spoke to UNRWA staff members on their work to implement the recommendations of the Colonna report during her visit to the region on 3-5 December.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what support his Department provides to organisations working to protect the (a) rights and (b) safety of the Ahmadi Muslim community in Pakistan.

Promoting the rights of religious minorities is an important part of the UK's diplomatic engagement in Pakistan. I raised Ahmadi rights when I met Pakistan's Human Rights Minister on 19 November in Pakistan and discussed this issue in Parliament on 28 November. The British High Commission continues to raise the issue of safety for the Ahmadi community at the highest levels, including the need to respond swiftly to incidents of violence. UK officials routinely speak with civil society groups in Pakistan and the UK to better understand the issues affecting the Ahmadi community and inform our engagements with the Pakistani authorities. UK programming also brings together influential community and faith leaders and minority representatives to promote interfaith harmony.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the displacement of people in Syria since December 2024.

The UK continues to monitor displacement in Syria and provide vital assistance to support those displaced inside Syria and across the region. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that over one million people have been internally displaced in Syria since 27 November 2024. As of 30 January, the UN's Refugee Agency, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), estimate that some 237,000 Syrians have returned to Syria. Since the fall of Assad, the UK has announced a further £61 million in humanitarian assistance to support vulnerable Syrians inside Syria and across the region.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when he shared with the US Administration a copy of the proposed Treaty with Mauritius over the future sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory.

We shared the proposed treaty with the new US Administration upon their taking office. Our primary goal throughout negotiations is to protect the joint UK-US military base in Diego Garcia, which plays a crucial role in regional and international security. The UK has been working in lockstep with the US since the start of negotiations in 2022, including under the previous Conservative government. Given Diego Garcia's status as a key strategic asset, it is right that the new US Administration has the chance to consider the agreement.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the announcement of the appointment of an interim president in Syria; and whether he recognises that position as a Head of State.

On 29 January, Ahmed Al-Sharaa was announced as Syrian President for a transitional period. We welcome Al Sharaa's announcement that he will form an inclusive transitional Government, leading to free and fair elections. This is a critical moment for Syria's transition and we will continue to judge Al Sharaa on his actions.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Prime Minister discussed proposals to (a) reduce the length of term of the proposed lease and (b) make changes to the financial arrangements for the proposed terms of the lease of the military base at Diego Garcia agreed with the Mauritius Government on 3 October 2024 during his phone call with the Prime Minister of Mauritius on 31 January 2025.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the read-out of their meeting on gov.uk.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what funding he plans to provide to Mauritius as part of official development assistance programmes in 2025.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's ODA programme allocations for 2024/25 were published in a Written Ministerial Statement (HCWS421) on Thursday 6 February 2025. We are prioritising predictability and stability after years of turbulence. Ministers will consider ODA allocations for 2025/26 over the coming months, and we will publish them in the Annual Report & Accounts in summer 2025. The second phase of the Spending Review, concluding in late spring 2025, will set departmental ODA budgets for future years.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Prime Minister had discussions on the (a) future of the British Indian Ocean Territory and (b) military base at Diego Garcia during his phone call with the President of the United States on 26 January 2025.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the read out of the Prime Minister's phone call with President Trump on gov.uk.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Prime Minister had discussions on strategy towards China during his phone call with the President of the United States on 26 January 2025.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the read out of the Prime Minister's phone call with President Trump on gov.uk.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Prime Minister had discussions on strategy towards Iran during his phone call with the President of the United States on 26 January 2025.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the read out of the Prime Minister's phone call with President Trump on gov.uk.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what consents are required from US Government to appoint the new UK ambassador to that country.

The UK follows the universal diplomatic process of agrément, as set out in the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions (a) he, (b) Ministers in his Department and (c) officials in his Department have had with US counterparts on the (i) the future sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory and (ii) the military base at Diego Garcia since 20 January 2025.

The Foreign Secretary spoke with United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio on 27 January. The Foreign Secretary and the Secretary of State discussed how long-term protection of the base on Diego Garcia is a shared UK and US priority. Ministers and officials will continue to engage closely with US counterparts as they consider the details of the proposed Treaty between the UK and Mauritius on the sovereignty of the Territory.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, for what reason his Department notified the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government about the resubmission of the planning application for the Chinese Embassy in Tower Hamlets; and whether that notification included material planning grounds for requesting that the Secretary of State exercise powers under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to determine the planning application.

In the anticipation of press interest in the application, FCDO officials notified colleagues in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) of the resubmission of the planning application for the Chinese Embassy in Tower Hamlets. This notification did not express any views on the exercise of the powers that the Secretary of State, MHCLG, has under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to call in and determine the planning application. The decision to call in the planning application was a decision of the Deputy Prime Minister in her capacity as Secretary of State, MHCLG, and was made in line with current policy on call-in.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what verbal discussions his Department has had with representatives of the Chinese government on the planning application for a new Chinese Embassy in London since July 2024.

The planning application has been called in by the Secretary of State for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and she will make this decision independent from the rest of Government corresponding to her quasi-judicial role.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations he has received from his Mauritian counterpart on the length of the proposed lease of the military base on Diego Garcia since 3 October 2024.

The agreement will have a duration of 99 years from entry into force, extendable with the agreement of both parties.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will publish all (a) correspondence and (b) representations his Department (i) has made and (ii) received on the planning application for the proposed Chinese Embassy since July 2024.

The planning application has been called in by the Secretary of State for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and she will make this decision independent from the rest of Government corresponding to her quasi-judicial role. As you would expect, the FCDO has received correspondence relating to the planning application. We have no plans to publish this information. The Foreign Secretary and Home Secretary's written representations to the Planning Inquiry are publicly available.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 20 December 2024 to Question 18362 on Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Cost Effectiveness, when he expects to be in a position to provide details of departmental budget savings.

The Department expects to have finalised savings plans by April 2025.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of recent trends in the prevalence of human right abuses in China; and if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of such instances on civilians.

People across China face widespread restrictions and violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms. China continues to persecute and arbitrarily detain Uyghurs and Tibetans, restrict civil society and independent media, and target human rights defenders and lawyers. We provided this assessment at the UN General Assembly last October, and the Human Rights Council in September. In addition, we joined a statement led by Australia on Xinjiang and Tibet at the UN General Assembly and a statement led by the USA on Xinjiang at the Human Rights Council, both of which provided further assessments of the human rights situations in the respective geographies.