Every parliamentary written question tabled by Ruth Jones this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 1–20 of 76 · Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her Department’s policies of recent convictions relating to the 2022 attack on St Francis Catholic Church in Ow
I refer the Hon Member to my statement to the House on 27 November 2025 (HWCS1105), and the response provided on 5 June to Question 5325.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that officials working on human rights and international development have access to appropriate (a) tools, (b) training, and (c)
All staff working in this area are equipped with the knowledge, skills and resources needed to support delivery of the Government's Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) strategy. The UK Special Envoy for FoRB also plays an active role in strengthening our...
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking through (a) the United Nations, (b) the Organization of American States and (c) other multilateral institutions to help support members of
A number of Parliamentary Questions have been asked in recent months around the persecution of members and leaders of Christian congregations and other religious groups in Nicaragua, Colombia, Mexico and Cuba, and these are issues the Government continues...
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies towards Nicaragua of requirements for Catholic and Protestant religious leaders to report regularly to polic
A number of Parliamentary Questions have been asked in recent months around the persecution of members and leaders of Christian congregations and other religious groups in Nicaragua, Colombia, Mexico and Cuba, and these are issues the Government continues...
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has raised with the Government of Cuba the arbitrary detention of Jonathan Muir Burgos on 15 March 2026.
A number of Parliamentary Questions have been asked in recent months around the persecution of members and leaders of Christian congregations and other religious groups in Nicaragua, Colombia, Mexico and Cuba, and these are issues the Government continues...
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the implications for her Department's policies of (a) the assassination of at least 11 religious leaders by illegal armed groups in Columbia o
A number of Parliamentary Questions have been asked in recent months around the persecution of members and leaders of Christian congregations and other religious groups in Nicaragua, Colombia, Mexico and Cuba, and these are issues the Government continues...
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations she has made to the Government of Nicaragua on the detention of Protestant Pastor Efren Vilchez.
A number of Parliamentary Questions have been asked in recent months around the persecution of members and leaders of Christian congregations and other religious groups in Nicaragua, Colombia, Mexico and Cuba, and these are issues the Government continues...
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has had discussions with her Indian counterpart on freedom of religion or belief relating to the proposed implementation of the Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Relig
I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 4 June in response to Question 3945.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with the Government of Mexico on the protection of freedom of religion or belief for indigenous and rural communities affected by organise
The UK is committed to promoting freedom of religion or belief and to the freedom of expression globally. We are concerned by reports of violence against indigenous and rural communities in Mexico. Any violence against indigenous communities must be fully...
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with the Government of India on the protection of Christian communities and other religious minorities; and what steps her Department is t
I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 9 March in response to Question 116730.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of a lack of access to (a) education, (b) employment and (c) public services on (a) the BaBaháʼí community and (b) other religious minorities in Iran.
Awaiting answer.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the state of freedom of religion or belief in India; and what discussions she has had with her Indian counterpart on that topic.
We take the issues of freedom of religion and belief across the world very seriously. I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 9 March in response to Question 116730.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations she has made to the Government of Vietnam regarding the release of political prisoners requiring medical care; and what steps she is taking to promote freedom of religion or belief in Vietnam.
Vietnam is a focus country in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's Freedom of Religion and Belief Strategy, launched in July 2025, and we raise the issue on a regular basis with the Government of Vietnam. We also regularly raise concerns about the treatment of political prisoners, including access to appropriate medical care, through bilateral engagement and also jointly with the support of other diplomatic missions.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of the reported forced confessions and coerced statements of Baha’i followers broadcast on Iranian state media, including on the potential impact on the level of religious persecution of Baha’i followers in Iran..
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided to question 67802 on 6 August 2025.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with her Egyptian counterpart on the potential impact of the use of Egyptian national identity cards to record a person's religion on the level of religious discrimination.
The UK is committed to defending freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all, and we continue to regularly raise rights concerns with the Egyptian authorities where appropriate.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of reports that a Christian researcher in Egypt has been sentenced under blasphemy laws, including the potential impact on religious minorities freedom in that country.
The UK is committed to defending freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all, and we continue to regularly raise rights concerns with the Egyptian authorities where appropriate.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking in collaboration with her counterpart in Myanmar to support the ability of Christian communities to (a) observe religious holidays and (b) practice their faith in Myanmar.
The UK continues to support Freedom of Religion and Belief in Myanmar, and we support the right of Christian communities and other faith groups in Myanmar to practice their religion without fear of violence or persecution.In 2025, we co-sponsored a UN Human Rights Council resolution calling for the Myanmar military to fully respect and protect the human rights of all persons, including those belonging to ethnic and religious minorities, and we strongly condemn the Myanmar military's use of airstrikes on civilian infrastructure, including places of worship.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what (a) diplomatic steps is her Department taking to assist in (i) locating and (ii) rescuing the remaining girls kidnaped from Chibok on 14 April 2014, and (b) what recent discussions has she had with the Nigerian Government about this.
The UK Government strongly condemns the abduction and continued captivity of children by Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa (ISWA) in North East Nigeria, and has repeatedly called for their release. This includes the 2014 kidnapping of the Chibok schoolgirls, around 90 of whom are understood still to be missing. On 11 November the Foreign Secretary held a meeting in London with Nigeria's Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar where the ongoing insecurity in Nigeria was discussed. The UK Government will continue to work closely with the Nigerian Government to prevent the future abduction of children in Nigeria.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for his policies of trends in the level of discrimination affecting religious-minority women in the garment sector in South Asia; and how this is being addressed through UK development and human-rights programmes.
We remain concerned by the discrimination that affects religious minority women in South Asia's garment sector, and we continue to advocate for their fair treatment, equal opportunities and safe working conditions. UK-funded programmes across South Asia also support women's entrepreneurship, and inclusive trade benefitting vulnerable groups.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with her Cuban counterpart on reports of gender-based violence against women human rights defenders.
Our relationship with Cuba allows for frank dialogue, including on matters on which we do not agree. Our Ambassador in Havana has raised recent human rights cases with the Ministry of External Relations, and we work with likeminded partners to make clear our shared position. We will continue to raise concerns where we have them through diplomatic channels, in both London and Havana.