Every parliamentary written question tabled by Tom Morrison this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 21–40 of 79 · Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to increase awareness that passports must have been issued fewer than 10 years from the date of arrival in the EU for non-EU countries, including Britain.
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given on 23 June to question 60560.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification of 29 July 2025 which states that Gaza has entered Phase 5 (Catastrophic/Famine conditions); and what steps he is taking in response.
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification's (IPC) confirmation of famine in Gaza City and the surrounding neighbourhood on 22 August is utterly horrifying. The former Foreign Secretary issued a statement on 22 August stating that the Israeli government's refusal to allow sufficient aid into Gaza has caused this man-made catastrophe and calling for aid to reach those in need urgently and without delay. He also spoke with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar on 23 August to urge for restrictions on humanitarian access to be removed. We coordinated joint statements with over 30 international partners on 12 August and on 21 July calling on Israel to immediately restore the flow of aid into Gaza and enable humanitarian agencies to operate. On 1 September, the UK announced an additional £15 million funding for humanitarian and medical support in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his counterpart in Israel on ensuring that food aid reaches people in 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, whether he has made representations to his Israeli counterpart on reports that several humanitarian organisations and clinics in Gaza have been forced to evacuate following the launch of an Israeli ground assault on Deir al-Balah.
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 assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the forced evacuation orders in Deir al-Balah and the resultant disruption to humanitarian operations in 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 his Department is taking to ensure unimpeded humanitarian access to 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 assessment he has made of the potential impact of Student Brand Ambassadors on raising awareness of methanol poisoning among young travellers.
Student Brand Ambassadors (SBAs) have played a valuable and strategic role in extending the reach of our safety messaging to young travellers. Through the use of social media, they have delivered key messages on methanol poisoning and drink safety in a voice that is both authentic and relatable. This peer-led approach has proven to be an effective tool in promoting safer travel campaign messages.Our SBAs create targeted posts focused on drink safety, including the risks associated with methanol poisoning. They have recently increased their social media presence to include TikTok. In June-July this year, this resulted in a 300 per cent increase in the number of people our messaging reached. This impressive increase shows the value in tailored focused messaging across the full range of social media. A full analysis of the SBA programme over the summer period will be conducted late Autumn.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to target (a) gap year students and (b) backpackers as part of methanol poisoning awareness efforts.
Student Brand Ambassadors (SBAs) have played a valuable and strategic role in extending the reach of our safety messaging to young travellers. Through the use of social media, they have delivered key messages on methanol poisoning and drink safety in a voice that is both authentic and relatable. This peer-led approach has proven to be an effective tool in promoting safer travel campaign messages.Our SBAs create targeted posts focused on drink safety, including the risks associated with methanol poisoning. They have recently increased their social media presence to include TikTok. In June-July this year, this resulted in a 300 per cent increase in the number of people our messaging reached. This impressive increase shows the value in tailored focused messaging across the full range of social media. A full analysis of the SBA programme over the summer period will be conducted late Autumn.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the effectiveness of (a) the ABTA and (b) other Travel Aware industry partners in increasing methanol poisoning awareness.
The Association for British Travel Agents (ABTA) and Travel Aware partners play a vital role in amplifying information on methanol poisoning as part of our broader proactive messaging efforts. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office collaborates with over 150 partners through the Travel Aware campaign, we engage with selected partners who are best placed to help raise awareness and promote safe travel behaviours in destinations where methanol poisoning is a known risk (their contributions account for 1 in 10 hits to our travel advice website).
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what information his Department holds on the number of British nationals affected by methanol poisoning abroad in each of the last 10 years.
We fully recognise the serious risks posed by methanol poisoning and remain committed to supporting affected British nationals abroad. Methanol poisoning is not classified as a distinct case type within our case management system. Any consular support provided in these situations would have been recorded under broader categories such as medical care, deaths, or general health concerns. We publish our consular data on a regular basis (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/consular-data). It includes a breakdown of where we have been approached for assistance in relation to, amongst other things, hospitalisation and death. It is broken down by country and date. We continue to monitor health and safety risks abroad and provide guidance to help British nationals stay safe while travelling.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department holds information on the demographic breakdown of people who engaged with the Travel Aware methanol poisoning campaign between November 2024 and March 2025.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) does not hold demographic data on individuals who engaged with the Travel Aware campaigns, including the methanol poisoning campaign. While the campaign generates engagement metrics in aggregate form - such as reach and interaction rates - these do not include breakdowns by age, gender, nationality, or other demographic categories. Between 28 November 2024 and 6 March 2025, the FCDO's methanol related social media posts received a total of 41,103 views.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his counterpart in Israel on hostages in Gaza.
Since day one, this Government has been clear that we need to see an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages cruelly detained by Hamas, better protection of civilians, significantly more aid consistently entering Gaza, and a path to long-term peace and stability. The remaining hostages must be released and the only way to return them safely is through a deal. The UK is playing an active role in coordination with our international partners and continue to urge all parties to re-engage in ceasefire negotiations to get the hostages out and to secure a permanent end to the conflict. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Ministers continue to regularly engage their Israeli counterparts on this issue.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure that civilian (a) support and (b) protection is being considered as part of work towards a ceasefire in Sudan.
As penholder on Sudan at the UN Security Council (UNSC), the UK is committed to advocating for the protection of civilians amidst this brutal conflict. In November 2024, during our UN Security Council Presidency, the Minister for Africa chaired a Council session which stressed the urgent need to protect civilians in Sudan. The UK also co-led a protection of civilians resolution in partnership with Sierra Leone which received support from all Council members apart from Russia, who chose to veto it. Any lasting ceasefire must adhere to the Jeddah Declaration of Commitment to Protect Civilians in Sudan that both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces have already signed up to. The UK continues to push for a return to a civilian-led government that delivers the peace and stability that the Sudanese people deserve.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of reductions to USAID on humanitarian aid in Sudan.
The UK notes the US' decision to disband United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and cancel certain USAID programmes. This is a matter for the US. We are currently working to assess the implications of the US funding pause across all humanitarian and development sectors, including on joint and coordinated programming. Sudan remains a priority for the UK. After the London Sudan Conference, the Foreign Secretary announced a further £120 million in funding which will target over 650,000 people. This brought the total pledged by the attendees of the conference to over £800 million in humanitarian aid, a positive step that will have important protection outcomes for civilians.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his UN counterparts on (a)ICE detention centres, (b) total abortion bans, (c) incarceration labour, (d) racism and (e) US human rights abuses.
The Foreign Secretary does not have a single United Nations counterpart. Among other meetings with senior UN representatives, he has recently met with the High Commissioner for Human Rights on 17 March where these issues were not discussed.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what information his Department holds on the number of British citizens who have been detained abroad when entering another country due to mistaken identity based on their name alone in each of the last five years; and how many of these citizens have been refused consular support during their detention.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office publishes data on the assistance services provided to British nationals on gov.uk. It is not possible to differentiate data on whether mistaken identity was a factor in detentions.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will take steps to recognise the state of Palestine.
The UK commitment to a two-state solution is unwavering. We are committed to recognising a Palestinian state at a time that has the most impact in achieving this reality and is most conducive to long-term prospects for peace. We are clear that does not need to be at the end of a process.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he plans to make representations to his Israeli counterpart on complying with international (a) humanitarian and (b) criminal law.
The UK has repeatedly stated that all parties including Israel must observe international law in Gaza. Ministers have regularly pressed their Israeli counterparts to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and meet their obligations under international humanitarian law. On 19 May, in a statement with his French and Canadian counterparts, the Prime Minister stated that the Israeli Government's denial of essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable and risks breaching International Humanitarian Law. On 13 May the UK, along with European partners, called an urgent session of the UN Security Council to raise these issues.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the Israeli security cabinet’s plan to capture and hold territory within the Gaza strip.
We have been clear that the UK strongly opposes the expansion of Israel's operations in Gaza. We have repeatedly stated that Palestinian territory must not be reduced in the conduct of this war or subjected to demographic change, and that there must be no forced displacement of people from Gaza. Ministers have made these views clear in their contact with Israeli counterparts, and we have also set this out in our joint statements with our partners and at the UN Security Council. On 20 May, the Foreign Secretary set out the government's latest steps in response to the situation in Gaza, including suspending negotiations with this Israeli government on a new free trade agreement. He also made clear that if Israel pursues this military offensive as it has threatened, failing to ensure the unhindered provision of aid, we will take further actions in response.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations he has made to his Israeli counterpart on lifting the aid blockade of Gaza.
We call on the Government of Israel to abide by its international obligations to ensure full, rapid, safe and unhindered provision of humanitarian assistance to the population in Gaza, now. The Foreign Secretary regularly presses his Israeli counterparts on these issues. We are calling on the Government of Israel to allow a full resumption of aid into Gaza, and let the UN and humanitarians save lives. On 13 May the UK, along with European partners, called an urgent session of the UN Security Council to address the humanitarian situation in Gaza. I spoke with the Israeli Ambassador on 20 May to make clear that the UK stands firmly against Israel's resumption of military action in Gaza, its wholly inadequate plan for aid delivery and to demand that a full and unhindered resumption in the flow of aid into Gaza takes place immediately.