Written questions by Morrison.

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 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 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, 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, 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, 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, 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.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he plans to reopen the British Embassy in Damascus.

We are keeping the re-establishment of a permanent presence in Damascus under review. Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office staff, including our UK Special Representative for Syria, undertake visits to Damascus, most recently in April.

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 he is taking with international partners to ensure that free and fair elections are held in Syria.

We welcomed the formation of the Syrian Government last month and the commitment of interim President al-Sharaa to hold free and fair elections. We are working closely with the Syrian Government, the UN and international partners to support an inclusive transition that represents Syria's diversity and protects the rights of all its citizens. We continue to call on the Syrian Government to prioritise inclusivity and representation in the building of state institutions and in further appointments, and to set out a clear timeline for the next phases of the transition. I discussed these issues with Foreign Minister al-Shaibani on 17 March.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the targeting of media workers in Gaza on global (a) press freedom and (b) journalist safety.

The government continues to monitor the reports of journalists and media workers killed in Gaza. This conflict has already become the deadliest conflict for journalists and media workers ever recorded and we remember all those who have lost their lives in the name of press freedom. All parties to a conflict must avoid deliberate attacks against journalists. Reporters covering conflicts are protected under international humanitarian law. We have called on the Government of Israel to do more to protect civilians, civilian infrastructure, and to allow the unhindered passage of humanitarian aid. We continue to call for a return to the ceasefire and we call on Hamas immediately to release all the remaining hostages. The United Kingdom co-founded the Media Freedom Coalition with Canada in 2019 and has joined Media Freedom Coalition statements calling for the protection of journalists in conflicts.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations the Government has made to (a) the UN Security Council and (b) other international partners on the reported targeting of humanitarian workers in Gaza; and if he will have discussions with international counterparts on stronger measures to hold people responsible to account.

We are appalled by the recent increase in strikes on aid workers. Gaza remains the most dangerous place for aid workers in the world. In partnership with France, we called a meeting of the Security Council on 28 March to advocate for greater protection for aid workers in Gaza. At the UN Security Council meeting on 3 April, we urged Israel to conduct thorough investigations into all incidents involving aid workers and medical personnel, and ensure accountability for those responsible. We continue to make representations to the Government of Israel to stress the importance of ensuring aid workers are protected, and to call for full investigations and accountability for the killing of humanitarian workers.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure the protection of humanitarian personnel working in (a) Gaza and (b) other conflict zones; and if he will review the Government's (a) arms exports and (b) military cooperation with states found to be violating international humanitarian law.

Gaza remains the most dangerous place for humanitarians in the world, with over 400 killed since 7 October 2023. Humanitarian personnel must be protected and never targeted. At the UN Security Council meeting on 3 April, we urged Israel to respect deconfliction notifications from aid workers, to allow them to operate without coming under attack. Globally, the UK uses its bilateral relationships, and partnerships with humanitarian actors on the front line to encourage parties to consent to humanitarian relief operations, facilitate unimpeded access, and protect civilians including humanitarian aid workers. We provide direct investment to support the protective measures our partners require to work safely, the freedom to use different approaches to increase access to aid and reduce risks, and flexible funding to enable our partners to strengthen their risk mitigation strategies when required. The government is committed to maintaining a robust export control system. An export licence would not be granted if it was incompatible with any of the criteria, including respect for international humanitarian law.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made representations to (a) his Israeli counterpart and (b) international bodies on the discovery of aid workers handcuffed in a mass grave in Gaza in March 2025; and whether he plans to call for an independent investigation into these deaths.

We were outraged at the recent deaths of Palestine Red Crescent medics and other humanitarian workers. At the UN Security Council meeting on 3 April, we called for this incident to be investigated fully, transparently and for those responsible to be held to account. We continue to make representations to the Government of Israel to ensure aid workers are protected, to urgently restore deconfliction systems, and to call for full investigations and accountability for the killing of humanitarian workers, including regarding the Palestine Red Crescent Society incident.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Government plans to support (a) international legal action and (b) referrals to the International Criminal Court against people responsible for (i) violations of international humanitarian law and (ii) the killing of aid workers in Gaza.

The UK is appalled at the recent killings of aid workers and health workers in Gaza. In our diplomatic engagement with the Government of Israel and at the UN Security Council we have called on Israel to conduct thorough investigations into all incidents involving aid workers and medical personnel and ensure accountability for those responsible. We have also urged Israel to cooperate fully with the UN fact-finding mission into the hit on a UN compound on 19 March. We respect the independence of the International Criminal Court (ICC); It is for the ICC Prosecutor, having reviewed the evidence from his investigations, to determine independently who should be prosecuted in accordance with his mandate under the Rome Statute. And it is for courts to rule on violations of international humanitarian law.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made a recent assessment of the Israeli military’s compliance with international humanitarian law, in the context of reports of targeted killings of humanitarian personnel in Gaza.

We are appalled by the recent increase in strikes on aid workers. Gaza remains the most dangerous place for humanitarians in the world. We have been clear that humanitarian and medical personnel must be protected and never targeted. We have urged Israel to conduct thorough investigations into all incidents involving aid workers and medical personnel, and ensure accountability for those responsible. International Humanitarian Law (IHL) assessments on Israel's compliance and commitment continue on a regular basis. Previous assessments have raised concerns about possible breaches of IHL in the areas of humanitarian access and in the treatment of detainees. Details of the assessment process are available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/summary-of-the-international-humanitarian-law-ihl-process-decision-and-the-factors-taken-into-account/summary-of-the-ihl-process-decision-and-the-factors-taken-into-account#:~:text=The%20assessment%20addresses%20Israel%E2%80%99s%20record%20of%20compliance%20in

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with this counterparts in (a) Indonesia and (b) Laos on (i) tackling methanol poisoning and (ii) protecting tourists from (A) counterfeit and (B) contaminated alcohol.

Following the tragic incident that caused the deaths of 6 people on 14 November 2024, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) travel advice for Laos and Indonesia was updated to warn about the risks of methanol poisoning. We continue to press the local authorities for a full investigation and steps to prevent such contaminated alcohol being sold. Some local Lao brands of alcohol remain restricted from sale. Our Travel Aware campaign will continue to encourage British nationals who are planning to travel abroad to read the latest FCDO travel advice and sign up for e-mail alerts.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has taken steps to implement a public awareness campaign on the risks of methanol poisoning for British nationals travelling abroad.

Since November 2024 the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has proactively communicated the risks of methanol poisoning to British travellers through Travel Aware, the FCDO's public-facing campaign that aims to prevent consular assistance cases. This includes:a dedicated drink spiking and methanol poisoning page on the Travel Aware website: https//travelaware.campaign.gov.uk/spiking-and-methanol-poisoning;regular Travel Aware social media posts (X, Facebook, Instagram), directing audiences to the webpage;work with Student Brand Ambassadors (youth-focussed content creators) to raise awareness;work with Travel Aware industry partners, including ABTA, who have shared information with relevant audiences.We regularly review our social media engagement. Travel Aware methanol-related posts received 41,103 views in the period 28 November 2024 - 6 March 2025.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department plans to update travel advice for British nationals to include stronger warnings about the risks of methanol poisoning in high-risk destinations.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) travel advice remains under regular review to ensure it reflects our latest assessment of risks to British nationals. The risks of methanol poisoning are included in our travel advice pages where we see evidence of a trend that is likely to affect British nationals in that country or territory.We include information about the risks from methanol poisoning or counterfeit alcohol in our Travel Advice pages for Cambodia, Costa Rica, Fiji, Indonesia, Laos, Thailand, Turkey and Vietnam. In determining what we include in our Travel Advice, we assess a range of factors, including drawing on local knowledge and monitoring trends in consular cases.