Written questions by Morrison.

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, 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, 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, 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, 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.

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 steps his Department is taking to help protect civil society organisations (a) within or (b) in exile from Iran.

We regularly engage the Iranian diaspora and human rights organisations in exile to better understand the lived experiences of Iranians. We stand with them in their fight for equal rights and fundamental freedoms. On the 4th March, the Security Minister announced to Parliament a concerted package of measures to counter the threat from the Iranian Intelligence Services.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment his Department has made of the role of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps in cyber operations targeting UK infrastructure or citizens.

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) assess that Iran-based threat actors remain aggressive in cyberspace and continue to achieve their objectives through less sophisticated cyber techniques (including prolific use of spear-phishing), but also targeting industrial control systems. Iran is likely developing its cyber capabilities and willing to target the UK to fulfil its disruptive and destructive objectives. The NCSC continues to work closely with government, industry and international partners to understand and mitigate the cyber threat from Iran.This includes the activities of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. In September 2024, the UK and the US jointly issued a Technical Advisory focusing on attackers working on behalf of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps who use social engineering to gain access to victims' online accounts. This Advisory provided network defenders with information to help mitigate these threats.The UK will continue to expose and take action against malicious cyber activity carried out by Iranian groups. These groups can no longer operate in the shadows, and the UK and international partners will hold Iran to account for their behaviour.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has evidence of human rights violations by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

In March 2024, the UN International Independent Fact-Finding Mission on Iran, which is mandated to collect and preserve evidence of human rights violations, said that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, amongst other state security forces, "participated in the commission of serious human rights violations". The UK maintains 94 human rights sanctions against Iranian individuals or entities, including members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much funding he plans to provide for civil society organisations in Syria in the 2027-28 financial year.

Budgets for the 2027-28 financial year have not yet been agreed.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what information his Department holds on the level of religious freedom for (a) minority faith and (b) other groups in Iran.

Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) in Iran is extremely restricted. Minority faiths such as Bahai's, Christians, and Sunni Muslims, amongst others, are subjected to human rights violations, including but not limited to, harassment, intimidation, arbitrary arrest and detention. The UK is championing the right to FoRB in Iran by taking action in multilateral fora - we were integral to the delivery of the Iran human rights resolution, adopted by the UN Third Committee in November 2024, which called on Iran to release all religious practitioners imprisoned for their membership in or activities on behalf of a minority religious group, and to ensure that everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion or belief. The UK's dedicated Special Envoy for FoRB, David Smith, continues to advocate for religious freedom worldwide, including in Iran.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support human rights defenders in Iran.

We condemn the Islamic Republic's severe repression of human rights defenders in Iran. We were integral to the delivery of the Iran human rights resolution, adopted by the UN Third Committee in November 2024, which called on Iran to immediately and unconditionally release persons arbitrarily detained for the exercise of their human rights and fundamental freedoms, including human rights defenders. We continue to support the UN Independent Fact-Finding Mission on Iran, which under its expanded mandate, will collect and preserve evidence for recent and ongoing human rights violations in Iran. We continue to engage with Iranian diaspora groups and civil society to work together toward accountability. His Majesty's Ambassador to Iran and I continue to raise human rights directly with the Iranian government.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to respond to reports of the detention of journalists in Iran.

We condemn Iran's severe restrictions against Freedom of Opinion and Expression, including reprisals against journalists. We were integral to the delivery of the Iran human rights resolution, adopted by the UN Third Committee in November 2024, which called on Iran to halt threats and intimidation against journalists who are critical of the government, and to investigate and prosecute those responsible for reprisals against journalists. As a member of the Media Freedom Coalition, the UK is committed to ensuring that journalists are able to do their jobs without fear of retribution from Iran.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his international counterparts on ensuring that members of the previous Syrian Government are held accountable for (a) the use of chemical weapons and (b) other crimes against humanity.

We support the UN and civil society accountability efforts, including developing a credible evidence base to record atrocities committed by the former regime and others. We are also working with international partners to support the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to destroy Assad's chemical weapons programme and ensure those responsible are held accountable.We supported the establishment of both the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism and Independent Institution for Missing Persons, and welcomed the recent renewal of the Commission of Inquiry in April. We are advocating for these mechanisms to have the operational remit to complement Syrian-led accountability efforts.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of consulting with Syrian civil society organisations on the steps required to ease sanctions.

The UK has long supported Syrian civil society, and we continue to do so. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Ministers and senior officials, including the UK Special Representative for Syria, regularly meet civil society actors to discuss a range of issues, including the impact of sanctions. On 1 April, I met representatives from Syrian civil society to discuss how the international community can support Syria in building a better future, including through sanctions relief.