Written questions by Farron.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she is providing support to improve security in Burkina Faso in the context of recent attacks conducted by Islamist armed groups.

The UK is deeply concerned by the deteriorating security situation in Burkina Faso, including regular attacks by terrorist groups. This year, the UK provided £173 million to support programmes across the Sahel, including to alleviate the root causes of conflict, help those displaced by it and promote conflict prevention and stability. We have also been working with regional partners to encourage a joined-up response to what is a trans-national problem.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the humanitarian impact of UK sanctions on Iran; and what steps she is taking to ensure that sanctions are focused on human‑rights violators and security organs and do not unduly harm the general population.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 26 February in response to Question 114342. Further to this, I add that the UK seeks to mitigate any unintended negative impacts of sanctions, including on humanitarian delivery. The UK does not sanction food or medicines, and UN and UK sanctions provide for a range of humanitarian exceptions and licensing grounds.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much funding her Department provides to support secure internet access, circumvention technologies and independent Persian‑language media for people in Iran; and whether she plans to increase that funding in the context of recent internet shutdowns and disinformation campaigns.

On 23 January, the UK supported UN Human Rights Council resolution SS39/1 calling on Iran to immediately restore full internet access and telecommunications services, and in February, we spoke out as part of the Freedom Online Coalition for the Iranian people's rights to access the Internet.The BBC is operationally and editorially independent, but BBC Persian continues to play a crucial role in ensuring impartial, accurate news is reaching the Iranian people. Despite a tough fiscal situation, we have continued to back the World Service, providing an uplift of £32.6 million this year alone, taking our total funding to £137 million.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will commit to expanding targeted sanctions against Iranian officials and security force commanders responsible for killings, torture and internet shutdowns during the recent protests; and if she will publish the human‑rights criteria used for future designations.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 26 February in response to Question 114342. Further to this, I add that the UK seeks to mitigate any unintended negative impacts of sanctions, including on humanitarian delivery. The UK does not sanction food or medicines, and UN and UK sanctions provide for a range of humanitarian exceptions and licensing grounds.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the situation of women, girls and ethnic and religious minorities in Iran following the protests that began in December 2025; and what steps her Department is taking to prioritise women’s and minority rights in its policy and engagement on Iran.

The human rights situation in Iran, including for women, girls and minorities, has long been unacceptable. As the Foreign Secretary said to the House on 13 January: it takes huge bravery to protest and to speak out in the face of this oppression - especially for women who continue to endure severe repression in their daily lives. We led the call for a Special Session of the UN Human Rights Council during the protests, and supported the continuation of the mandate of the Independent Fact-Finding Mission - to investigate human rights violations on grounds of gender, ethnicity, religion, or belief - and for the Mission to conduct an urgent investigation into human rights violations perpetrated during the protests. We will continue to work with international partners to hold Iran accountable for its repression of women and girls, and minorities.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with international counterparts on the protection of Christian women in Chibok, Nigeria.

The UK condemns violence against civilians of all religions in Nigeria and regularly raises freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) with the Nigerian government. For example, on 11 November, the Minister for International Development and Africa discussed the importance of FoRB and the causes of intercommunal violence during a meeting with Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar. The UK remains committed to defending FoRB globally, with Nigeria a focus country under the new FoRB strategy.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of reports of Islamist attacks on Christian communities in Nigeria’s Middle Belt on 31 October 2025.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 3 November to Question 85661.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with UN officials to ensure aid supplies are able to enter Gaza.

The UK has held regular discussions with UN agencies, including the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the World Food Programme (WFP), to support aid delivery and address access challenges in Gaza. On 19 May, the UK issued a joint statement calling for full aid resumption and for Israel to allow UN and non-governmental organisation (NGO) partners to operate independently. We will continue to convene international partners to increase pressure and take further steps to address the catastrophic situation on the ground. We have committed £101 million this financial year in humanitarian support to trusted partners including UN agencies and NGOs.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his international counterparts to ensure aid supplies are able to enter Gaza.

The UK remains in close and regular contact with international counterparts to press for increased humanitarian access into Gaza. On 19 May, the UK, Canada, and France issued a joint statement calling on Israel to cease its renewed military offensive and lift restrictions on humanitarian assistance. In parallel, on 20 May, I summoned the Israeli ambassador to demand the immediate, full, and unhindered flow of aid, making the UK's position unequivocally clear. Alongside international partners, we continue to call for Israel to allow a full resumption of aid into Gaza.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to amend the International Development (Official Development Assistance Target) Act 2015 to change the target for official development assistance to 0.5 percent of gross national income.

There are no plans to amend the International Development (Official Development Assistance Target) Act 2015 to change the target for Official Development Assistance (ODA) to 0.5 per cent of Gross National Income (GNI).The Government is committed to returning to spending 0.7 per cent of GNI on ODA as soon as fiscal circumstances allow.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking with (a) members of the United Nations Security Council and (b) other international partners to help support Rohingya people in Myanmar.

Since 2017, the UK has provided over £48 million in aid including cash assistance and water, sanitation and hygiene services to the Rohingya and other Muslim minorities in Rakhine state. We continue to work with members of the United Nations Security Council and international partners in calling for the protection of civilians and the need for unhindered humanitarian access to ensure support can reach the most vulnerable. In May 2024, the UK, along with international partners, released a statement calling on all armed actors to ensure the protection of civilians in Rakhine state. We will continue to work with international partners to ensure there is accountability for acts committed against the Rohingya, including through the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with his Iranian counterpart on (a) the arrest of Mojdeh Farah on September 9 and (b) the imprisonment of other Christian converts in that country.

We are aware of Ms Farah's case. We condemn Iran's restrictions against Freedom of Religion or Belief. Christians, particularly converts from Islam and other minority religions, continue to face severe repression in Iran. We are committed to holding Iran to account for its attacks against religious minorities, including at the UN Third Committee this month.