Written questions by Morton.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of ring-fencing funding for Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning to (a) maintain accountability and (b) the evidence base for decisions on value for money.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer she received on 6 May 2025 in response to Question 48105.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 3 November 2025 to Question 84230 on Development Aid: Health, whether the reduced figure of £527.3 million reflects any reduction in spending on (a) pandemic preparedness and (b) maternal health.

I refer the Hon. Member back to the answer to which she refers in her question, where the reason for the reduction was explained.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of China’s compliance with its obligations under the 1984 Sino–British Joint Declaration; and what steps she is planning to take to hold the Chinese Government accountable for its international legal commitments.

I refer the Hon. Member to the latest edition of the six monthly update on the implementation of the Sino-British Joint Declaration on Hong Kong, published on 23 October 2025.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with (a) the United Nations, (b) the EU and (c) other international partners on protecting (i) journalists, (ii) academics, and (iii) civil society activists in Hong Kong who have been (A) targeted and (B) harassed under national security legislation; and whether she will consider new measures to support the work of (1) independent media outlets and (2) NGOs.

I refer the Hon. Member to the latest edition of the six monthly update on the implementation of the Sino-British Joint Declaration on Hong Kong, published on 23 October 2025.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what estimate she has made of the number of British National (Overseas) visa holders affected by restrictions imposed by the Hong Kong authorities on the withdrawal of savings from the Mandatory Provident Fund; and whether she has made representations to the Hong Kong Monetary Authority on the financial rights of UK-based BN(O) citizens.

I refer the Hon. Member to the latest edition of the six monthly update on the implementation of the Sino-British Joint Declaration on Hong Kong, published on 23 October 2025.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the impact of in‐donor refugee costs on the aid budget available for overseas development programmes.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 6 November in response to Question 85799.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to section 4 of the report by the Independent Commission for Aid Impact on Management of the official development assistance spending target, published on 15 July 2025, what steps she is taking to ensure that the majority of UK aid continues to be spent on development projects of strategic importance to the UK.

The Minister of State for International Development and Africa is responsible for ensuring cross-government Official Development Assistance (ODA) spending is coherent with our modernised development approach and chairs the refreshed Ministerial ODA Delivery and Impact Board. This will drive coherence and effectiveness of the UK's development work and value for money in ODA spending across government.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will commission a review of long-term outsourcing contracts with private sector suppliers involved in UK aid delivery to make an assessment of the potential impact of those long-term contracts on (a) value for money and (b) long- term expertise in her Department.

I refer the Hon Member to the written evidence provided by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) to the inquiry by the International Development Committee into the FCDO's Approach to Value for Money in Official Development Assistance, which can be found here: https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/142772/default/

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what plans she has to enable UK life-sciences (a) companies and (b) researchers to participate in the Global Fund’s efforts to tackle (i) AIDS, (ii) tuberculosis and (iii) malaria.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer she received on 3 November in response to Question 84226.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with (a) other donor countries and (b) the private sector on encouraging further pledges to the Global Fund.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer she received on 3 November in response to Question 84226.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when the final pledging event for the Global Fund’s eighth replenishment will take place; and what the UK’s anticipated contribution is.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer she received on 3 November in response to Question 84226.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what consideration her Department has given to exploring new minilateral partnerships to deliver aid.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office keeps all aspects of its Official Development Assistance programmes under review to ensure the maximum impact on our objectives, in consultation with other government departments and a wide range of other stakeholders.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what (a) monitoring and (b) evaluation mechanisms are in place to measure the impact of UK-supported programmes under the Global Fund on mortality rates for (i) AIDS, (ii) tuberculosis and (iii) malaria.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer she received on 3 November in response to Question 84226.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to safeguard budgets for Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning within aid programmes.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer she received on 6 May 2025 in response to Question 48105.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what coordination mechanisms exist between her Department, the Ministry of Defence and the Home Office to align aid spending with (a) defence, (b) resilience and (c) counter-malign influence objectives.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office keeps all aspects of its Official Development Assistance programmes under review to ensure the maximum impact on our objectives, in consultation with other government departments and a wide range of other stakeholders.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of Official Development Assistance-funded programmes in countering (a) disinformation and (b) destabilisation efforts by hostile states in (i) general and (ii) the Western Balkans.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office keeps all aspects of its Official Development Assistance programmes under review to ensure the maximum impact on our objectives, in consultation with other government departments and a wide range of other stakeholders.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what safeguards are in place to ensure that UK funding to (a) UNRWA and (b) other multilateral agencies is used (i) responsibly and (ii) effectively.

The UK supports the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) both politically and financially, recognising its vital role in delivering humanitarian aid and services in Gaza and the wider region, and the historic mandate it holds for the protection of refugee rights. The Foreign Secretary met with UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini on 4 November where she emphasised UK support for the agency and the important role that UNRWA plays across the region. In line with the approach taken by most other Member States, the UK has conducted extensive due diligence and are satisfied that UNRWA adequately manage UK funds. We are working very closely with the US and other partners on supporting the transition from the ceasefire to phase two of the peace plan which includes ensuring the urgent and unrestricted flow of aid into Gaza.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with (a) her US counterpart and (b) other international partners on the future role of UNRWA in Gaza.

The UK supports the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) both politically and financially, recognising its vital role in delivering humanitarian aid and services in Gaza and the wider region, and the historic mandate it holds for the protection of refugee rights. The Foreign Secretary met with UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini on 4 November where she emphasised UK support for the agency and the important role that UNRWA plays across the region. In line with the approach taken by most other Member States, the UK has conducted extensive due diligence and are satisfied that UNRWA adequately manage UK funds. We are working very closely with the US and other partners on supporting the transition from the ceasefire to phase two of the peace plan which includes ensuring the urgent and unrestricted flow of aid into Gaza.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 24 July 2025 to Question 67377, what plans he has for the Ministerial Women Peace and Security National Action Plan (WPS NAP) steering board to meet as part of the process of refreshing the WPS NAP.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer she received on 21 July 2025 in response to Question 67376.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 24 July 2025 to Question 67377, which (a) Departments and (b) civil servants are represented at the (i) the Cross-Whitehall Working Group and (ii) the Cross-Whitehall Deputy Director Shadow Board.

The quarterly Cross-Whitehall Working Group on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) is jointly chaired by the Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and the Ministry of Defence (MOD), with the Home Office, the Ministry of Justice, Scottish Government and the Northern Ireland Executive also represented. The Cross-Whitehall Deputy Director Shadow Board includes senior officials from the same UK Government departments and devolved administrations.