Every parliamentary written question tabled by Zarah Sultana this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 1–20 of 25 · Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions were held at the meeting in Caracas on 5 March 2026 with Harriet Thompson, Colin Dick and British natural resource companies.
I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided to her party leader on 12 January in response to Question 103190, and I would suggest that she resumes talks with him to coordinate their lines of questioning, and avoid duplicating each other's work.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether Ministers in her Department have met with (a) BP and (b) Shell to discuss Venezuela since January 2026.
I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided to her party leader on 12 January in response to Question 103190, and I would suggest that she resumes talks with him to coordinate their lines of questioning, and avoid duplicating each other's work.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, who was present at the meeting on 24 January 2025 between Baroness Chapman and Shell PLC; and what their job titles were.
I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided to her party leader on 12 January in response to Question 103190, and I would suggest that she resumes talks with him to coordinate their lines of questioning, and avoid duplicating each other's work.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she plans to relax arms export controls to Argentina.
I refer the Hon Member to the government statement on this subject issued in December 2025, which said: "There are no specific talks with Argentina about the UK relaxing its arms export controls, but more broadly, we look forward to deepening our co-operation with Argentina across areas including trade, science and culture to deliver growth for the British people."
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions were held at the meeting on 24 January 2025 between Baroness Chapman and Shell PLC.
I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided to her party leader on 12 January in response to Question 103190, and I would suggest that she resumes talks with him to coordinate their lines of questioning, and avoid duplicating each other's work.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how her Department interprets the word facilitate in Article 7 of the Arms Trade Treaty 2015.
We assess our relevant treaty obligations in accordance with the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how her Department interprets the word facilitate in Article 7 of the Arms Trade Treaty 2015.
We assess our relevant treaty obligations in accordance with the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether any funds from the UK Integrated Security Fund have been allocated for projects involving Venezuela since 2024.
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 15 May 2025 to Question 50066. She can find details of all programmes supported in Venezuela on the GOV.UK Development Tracker (https://devtracker.fcdo.gov.uk/).
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department has funded any non-governmental or media organisations in Venezuela since 2023.
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 15 May 2025 to Question 50066. She can find details of all programmes supported in Venezuela on the GOV.UK Development Tracker (https://devtracker.fcdo.gov.uk/).
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, which (a) financial institutions and (b) private corporations attended the Wilton Park conference on the reconstruction of Gaza.
The UK co-hosted a conference at Wilton Park with the Palestinian Authority and Egypt on mobilising private sector finance in support of Palestinian-led planning for the Recovery and Reconstruction of Gaza. Wilton Park Protocol means that we cannot provide exact names or institutions, but the attendees included international investors with particular focus on development impact, multilateral institutions, Palestinian private sector representatives, and our international partners, including European and Arab Governments.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the UK is training Palestinian police forces.
As part of our commitment to stability in Israel and Palestine, the UK provides the Palestinian Authority with professional support in helping develop capable and responsible security institutions that respect human rights and are accountable to the Palestinian people. The Foreign Secretary recently announced up to £1 million funding for UK supported training facilities in Jordan, which will train Palestinian Security Forces based in the West Bank to build their capacity and capability to maintain security in the State of Palestine.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many foreign officials have been granted special mission immunity to visit the UK since March 2024; and what the (a) names and (b) country of origin are of those officials.
The purpose of special missions is a 'temporary mission, representing a state, which is sent by one state to another with the consent of the latter, in order to carry out official engagements on behalf of the sending state'. All visitors granted a special mission status would have had bilateral engagements with UK ministers and officials during their visit, pertinent to the individual bilateral relationship.Since 1 March 2024, special mission status has been granted to four delegations:Benny Gantz, Chairman of The National Unity Party & War Cabinet Minister of the State of Israel and two delegates, March 2024;Lieutenant General Herzl Halevi, Chief of the General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces and four delegates, November 2024;Major General Oded Bassiuk, Head of the Operations Directorate J3 of the Israel Defense Forces and five delegates, January 2025;Major General Tomer Bar, Head of the Israeli Air Force, July 2025.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether Tomer Bar was granted special mission immunity to visit the UK in July 2025.
Government officials from any country can apply for and be granted special mission certificates as part of official visits to the UK. As set out in a Written Ministerial Statement to the House on 4 March 2013, Official Report, volume 559, column 55WS, a special mission is a temporary mission, representing a State, which is sent by one State to another with the consent of the latter, in order to carry out official engagements on behalf of the sending State. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office gave consent for special mission status for the visit to the UK on 17-18 July for Tomer Bar, Head of the Israeli Air Force, and a member of their delegation.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has used contractors to provide (a) information and (b) analysis to the International Humanitarian Law Compliance Assessment Process Cell.
Our International Humanitarian Law (IHL) assessments include information from a wide range of sources, including a third-party contractor specialising in geolocation verification and consider analysis from a wide range of sources including the UN, Non-Governmental Organisations, media and organisations on the ground.The UK's operational mandate has been narrowly defined to focus on securing the release of the hostages only. These Royal Air Force surveillance flights are unarmed and do not have a combat role. We will not comment further on detailed intelligence matters to protect operational security.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the International Humanitarian Law Compliance Assessment Process Cell has requested access to footage from the Royal Air Force's surveillance missions over Gaza.
Our International Humanitarian Law (IHL) assessments include information from a wide range of sources, including a third-party contractor specialising in geolocation verification and consider analysis from a wide range of sources including the UN, Non-Governmental Organisations, media and organisations on the ground.The UK's operational mandate has been narrowly defined to focus on securing the release of the hostages only. These Royal Air Force surveillance flights are unarmed and do not have a combat role. We will not comment further on detailed intelligence matters to protect operational security.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many times the International Humanitarian Law Compliance Assessment Process Cell has submitted assessments on Israel's compliance with international humanitarian law since July 2024.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has carried out regular International Humanitarian Law assessments since the beginning of the conflict on 7 October 2023. To date we have undertaken 14 assessments. Further information on the assessment process can be found on Gov.uk: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
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he plans to make an assessment of Israel's compliance with international humanitarian law in the context of its airstrikes in the Israeli-designated safe zone in Al-Mawasi in southern Gaza on 13 July 2024.
On 2 September 2024 we suspended export licences to Israel for use in military operations in Gaza, following a review into Israel's compliance with International Humanitarian Law (IHL) which concluded there was a clear risk that some UK exports might be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of IHL. Our ongoing IHL assessments are informed by legal advice, and supported by a detailed evidence base, including reporting and analysis from international bodies, Non-Governmental Organisations and partner countries and analysis of military incidents - including airstrikes - verified through an independent third-party provider. The assessments continue to raise concerns about possible breaches of IHL in the areas of humanitarian access and in the treatment of detainees. The lack of sufficient verifiable evidence about individual incidents means that in the majority of cases we are unable to reach a determination of Israel's compliance. However, our findings in relation to conduct in other areas give us cause for concern about Israel's overall commitment to IHL, including in the conduct of hostilities.We are appalled by civilian casualties in Gaza and urgently call for an immediate return to a ceasefire. All parties must re-engage with negotiations to get hostages out, surge aid, and secure a permanent end to this conflict.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many and what proportion of the potential violations of international humanitarian law that have been assessed by the Government in relation to Israel’s actions in Gaza involved (a) F-35 jets and (b) 2000lb bombs.
On 2 September 2024 we suspended export licences to Israel for use in military operations in Gaza, following a review into Israel's compliance with International Humanitarian Law (IHL) which concluded there was a clear risk that some UK exports might be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of IHL. It was necessary to exclude exports to the F-35 programme from the suspension, as previously set out to Parliament. This is due to the F-35 programme's broader strategic role in North Atlantic Treaty Organization and wider implications for international peace and security.Our ongoing IHL assessments continue to raise concerns about possible breaches of IHL in the areas of humanitarian access and in the treatment of detainees. The lack of sufficient verifiable evidence means that we have not been able to reach a determination regarding Israel's IHL compliance in the conduct of hostilities. Our assessment findings give cause for concern about Israel's commitment to IHL generally, including in the conduct of hostilities.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will use one of the three formal recommendations of the UK to the upcoming UN Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review on Egypt to advocate for the release of Alaa Abd el-Fattah.
The UK remains committed to securing Alaa Abd El-Fattah's release so he can be reunited with his family. The Foreign Secretary raised Mr El-Fattah's case with the Egyptian Foreign Minister during his visit to Egypt on 23 January. The Prime Minister wrote to President Sisi to raise Mr El-Fattah's case on 8 January. The National Security Adviser, Jonathan Powell, raised with the Foreign Minister on 2 January. The UK will use the upcoming Universal Periodic Review on Egypt in January to raise issues relating to human rights. The Egyptian government does not recognise Mr El-Fattah as a British national and are refusing consular access. UK Government representatives are therefore unable to visit him in prison or communicate with him directly.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will visit Alaa Abd el-Fattah during his visit to Egypt.
The UK remains committed to securing Alaa Abd El-Fattah's release so he can be reunited with his family. The Foreign Secretary raised Mr El-Fattah's case with the Egyptian Foreign Minister during his visit to Egypt on 23 January. The Prime Minister wrote to President Sisi to raise Mr El-Fattah's case on 8 January. The National Security Adviser, Jonathan Powell, raised with the Foreign Minister on 2 January. The UK will use the upcoming Universal Periodic Review on Egypt in January to raise issues relating to human rights. The Egyptian government does not recognise Mr El-Fattah as a British national and are refusing consular access. UK Government representatives are therefore unable to visit him in prison or communicate with him directly.