Written questions by Jogee.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with the French Government on the political situation in Togo.

The UK engages with the African Union (AU) on a range of regional issues, including political developments in West Africa.While the Foreign Secretary has not held direct discussions with African Union counterparts specifically on Togo, UK officials regularly exchange views with AU representatives on governance, stability, and democracy across the region.The UK works alongside the AU in supporting democratic outcomes in Africa through high-quality AU election observation and AU engagement during political transitions.Through our partnership with the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA), we continue to support the AU to train and deploy election observers, with regular assessment of its effectiveness.The UK and France maintain regular diplomatic engagement on regional developments in West Africa, including Togo. Officials from our Embassy in Abidjan recently met French counterparts in Togo to exchange views on the political situation.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with African Union counterparts on the political situation in Togo.

The UK engages with the African Union (AU) on a range of regional issues, including political developments in West Africa.While the Foreign Secretary has not held direct discussions with African Union counterparts specifically on Togo, UK officials regularly exchange views with AU representatives on governance, stability, and democracy across the region.The UK works alongside the AU in supporting democratic outcomes in Africa through high-quality AU election observation and AU engagement during political transitions.Through our partnership with the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA), we continue to support the AU to train and deploy election observers, with regular assessment of its effectiveness.The UK and France maintain regular diplomatic engagement on regional developments in West Africa, including Togo. Officials from our Embassy in Abidjan recently met French counterparts in Togo to exchange views on the political situation.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the UK Commonwealth Envoy.

The UK Commonwealth Envoy acts as a link between the UK government and the wider Commonwealth community. The Envoy represents the UK on Commonwealth governance bodies, leads engagement with the Commonwealth Secretariat and other member states' representatives, and negotiates Commonwealth statements and communiques on behalf of the UK government.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the (a) political and (b) security situation in Pakistan.

Pakistan remains a valued bilateral partner. We closely follow political developments in Pakistan and continue to advocate for democratic principles and the rule of law. On security, we are concerned by the impact of militant violence in Pakistan and recent regional tensions. We welcome the 10th May cessation of hostilities following the escalation of tensions between India and Pakistan. The Foreign Secretary discussed these issues with Pakistan's Prime Minister and Interior Minister on his recent visit to Islamabad in May, and more recently with Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister. We advise British nationals to consult our travel advice regularly.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Government of Pakistan on former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The UK Government consistently urge Pakistani authorities to act in line with their international obligations and respect fundamental freedoms and human rights. The Foreign Secretary raised these issues in meetings with Pakistan's Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister when he visited Pakistan in May. While judicial matters are for Pakistan's courts, we have consistently emphasised the need for due process, fair trials, and humane treatment for all, including Mr Imran Khan.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many overseas diplomatic postings are waiting for a Head of Mission to be appointed.

Appointments to all Head of Mission roles, including Ambassadors and High Commissioners, are announced after the necessary internal processes have concluded, including approval through His Majesty The King and agreement from the host Government. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office ensures that all diplomatic posts are appropriately staffed, including with interim arrangements in place where necessary.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the political situation in South Sudan.

The political and security situation in South Sudan is becoming increasingly unstable. We are using our diplomatic levers at our disposal to call for de-escalation of ongoing violence across the country and for President Kiir to release political detainees, including First Vice President Riek Machar from house arrest. On 27 March, we joined likeminded partners to call on President Kiir to release First Vice President Machar under house arrest and prevent further escalation. On 8 May, the UK joined a majority of UN Security Council members in voting in favour of extending the mandate of the UN Peacekeeping Mission in South Sudan. On 30 May, we again joined a majority of Council members in voting in favour of the UN Arms Embargo and Sanctions Regime on South Sudan, preventing the flow of weapons to armed groups. We will continue to work with partners, including the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, the African Union and the UN, to urge the Government of South Sudan to implement their Peace Agreement.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the 2025 Commonwealth Health Ministers Meeting.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has worked closely with the Department for Health and Social Care in the run up to the 2025 Commonwealth Health Ministers Meeting, attended by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health and Prevention, on 17 May. This meeting was an opportunity for the UK and our Commonwealth partners to exchange views and strengthen cooperation on shared health challenges. Commonwealth Health Ministers adopted an Outcome Statement outlining commitments to build equitable, resilient and sustainably financed health systems that prioritise vulnerable member countries. The statement focused on a number UK health priorities including cancer, digital health, mental health and antimicrobial resistance.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the impact of the contributions made by (a) Togo and (b) Gabon on the work of the Commonwealth since their admittance as full members.

The UK values the contribution of all Commonwealth members. Working together we can maximise the impact of the Commonwealth for the benefit of all members.Togo attended its first Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa in 2024, represented by Prime Minister Dogbé. The Commonwealth is currently working with Togo to develop a roadmap for technical assistance to support its national priorities. In July 2024, former Commonwealth Secretary-General visited Togo and met with President Gnassingbé.Gabon is currently partially suspended from the Commonwealth and is therefore unable to fully participate. However, in November 2024, Gabon permitted a Commonwealth Expert Team to observe their constitutional reform referendum and discuss technical support. In April 2025, they also welcomed a Commonwealth Observer Group to monitor their presidential elections. The Group assessed the elections as largely transparent, peaceful and conducted in accordance with the Gabon's legislative framework.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the (a) political and (b) security situation in Ecuador.

The UK and Ecuador have an excellent bilateral relationship, and we work closely on shared issues including the environment and climate, the fight against drugs and organised crime, and delivering economic growth. The Minister of State for Security met ministerial counterparts on his recent visit to Ecuador. During his visit he discussed the security challenges facing Ecuador and signed a memorandum of understanding on security cooperation, which offers UK support to Ecuador in their fight against serious organised crime. In May, the Minister of State for International Development, Latin America and Caribbean met the Ecuadorean Foreign Minister in London, whilst President Noboa had an audience with His Majesty the King. We will continue to work to strengthen our relationship with Ecuador.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the (a) political and (b) security situation in South Korea.

I look forward to the opportunity of working with the newly elected Korean administration to develop our UK-ROK relationship even further. I hope to work together with the new government to build on the strong foundations of the Downing Street Accord and our global strategic partnership across all our shared interests.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has with his Turkish counterpart on increasing humanitarian aid in Gaza.

I refer you to the Foreign Secretary's statement of 20 May on Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The UK remains committed to working with regional partners to address the urgent humanitarian needs in Gaza and to support efforts to increase the flow of aid. The Foreign Secretary regularly speaks to his Turkish counterpart on a range of issues, including humanitarian aid to Gaza. It is the long-standing practice of successive governments not to comment on private diplomatic meetings.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the United Nations Development Programme.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office maintain a close working relationship, with regular senior-level discussions to align on strategic priorities, coordinate development efforts, and respond jointly to global challenges.His Majesty the King and the Foreign Secretary engaged with the UNDP on Clean Energy in April at a UK-hosted Roundtable in Rome. Nick Dyer, the Second Permanent Under-Secretary met with the UNDP Administrator at the Hamburg Sustainability Conference on 2 June.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with his Trinidad and Tobago counterpart on trade.

An opportunity for the Foreign Secretary to discuss trade with his Trinidad & Tobago counterpart has not presented itself since their Government was elected on 28 April 2025.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Association of Anti-Corruption Agencies in Commonwealth Africa.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) works closely with the Commonwealth Secretariat, including on their efforts to strengthen anti-corruption agencies across Commonwealth countries. The UK's annual financial contribution to the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation (CFTC) supports this work, including partnership with the Association of Anti-Corruption Agencies in Commonwealth Africa (AAACoA), a non-profit organisation that focusses on supporting the needs of anti-corruption agencies in Commonwealth Africa countries and providing a space for these agencies to share best practice.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the (a) political and (b) security situation in Tunisia.

The UK and Tunisia share an ambition to build the bilateral relationship across trade, energy and security portfolios. The UK monitors the political and security situation in Tunisia closely. As noted by the UK's Human Rights Ambassador last October, the space for political participation in Tunisia has shrunk considerably. In both public and private, we encourage respect for civil, political, social and economic rights and the rule of law in Tunisia. During his visit to Tunisia in January, the Foreign Secretary noted the importance of political participation and human rights in discussions with the Tunisian Government. The UK continues to use a range of programmes and activities to encourage and support an open society, including the Integrated Security Fund (ISF) Programme that aims to directly tackle the drivers of instability.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the (a) political and (b) security situation in Iraq.

The UK wants to see a stable, peaceful and prosperous Iraq. In partnership with the Iraqi Government, we aim to counter threats and foster stability and development, while promoting UK interests and values. We are encouraged by this period of relative security stability in the country and will continue to work with Iraq and other regional partners to ensure this continues. With the transition of the Global Coalition Against Daesh's military mission, Operation Inherent Resolve, set for September this year, the UK is working at pace to implement new defence and security agreements with the Government of Iraq.Elections are due to take place in Iraq in November this year. We continue to monitor the election build-up and look forward to a free and fair election.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the (a) political and (b) security situation in Libya.

We are deeply concerned by the recent violence in Tripoli and we are continuing to monitor developments closely. We welcome the truces that have been agreed, urge all parties to respect them unconditionally and work towards agreeing a permanent ceasefire. This latest unrest highlights the urgent need for a sustainable political solution. Libyan actors must take responsibility for peace and security by engaging constructively with the UN to achieve a Libyan-led political agreement. The UK remains committed to supporting the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) and will continue engaging a broad range of political stakeholders to help build a more stable, democratic, and prosperous Libya.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he has taken to advance recognition of the State of Palestine since 20 May 2025.

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. UK bilateral recognition is the single most important action the UK can take with regard to Palestinian statehood. That is why it is important to get the timing right so that it creates genuine momentum and is not simply a symbolic gesture. We are continuing to engage all partners on advancing a two-state solution and supporting the foundations of Palestinian statehood.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his US counterpart on increasing levels of humanitarian aid into Gaza.

The UK remains in close and regular contact with the United States to jointly seek ways to get urgently-needed humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza. In April and May the Foreign Secretary, Secretary of State Rubio and Special Envoy Witkoff discussed the urgent need for a full and unhindered flow of humanitarian assistance. We continue to work closely with the US on the delivery of aid and medical support. Together with our international partners, we are calling on Israel to immediately allow the rapid, safe and unfettered resumption of humanitarian aid into Gaza.