Written questions by Rosindell.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with the Chinese ambassador on the case of Anna Kwok.

The UK Government will not tolerate any attempts by foreign governments to coerce, intimidate, harass, or harm their critics overseas, including in the UK. Although Anna Kwok is based in the US, the international warrant for her arrest underscores the ongoing erosion of rights and freedoms in Hong Kong.The Foreign Secretary has repeatedly raised the UK government's concerns about human rights in Hong Kong directly with the Hong Kong and Chinese authorities. We call on China to repeal the National Security Law and end the prosecution of all individuals charged under it.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with Hong Kong officials on the use of arrest warrants against British citizens.

The UK Government is clear that it will not tolerate any attempts by foreign governments to coerce, intimidate, harass, or harm their critics overseas, especially in the UK. The Government will continue to stand with and support members of the Hong Kong community who have relocated to the UK.The Foreign Secretary issued a statement on 24 December 2024 condemning the Hong Kong police's latest arrest warrants and calling on Beijing to repeal the National Security Law. UK Ministers have repeatedly raised our opposition to these actions with the Chinese and Hong Kong authorities; most recently, I did so directly with Hong Kong Chief Secretary for Administration on 30 May.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the BBC World Service has a role on the Soft Power Council; and what progress that Council has made since its establishment.

Harnessing all of our soft power assets in a more purposeful manner is crucial if we are to maximise growth, security, and global impact for the UK. That is why the Foreign Secretary has established the UK Soft Power Council and commissioned a Soft Power Strategy. The BBC is a key part of this, represented on the Council by Tom Fussell from BBC Studios. The BBC World Service is contributing in various ways, including through the Director of the World Service, Jonathan Munro, acting as a member of the Council's working group on Hinge Markets.The Council is now fully operational, bringing together expertise from various sectors and shaping enhanced delivery through its working groups. We are producing a long-term shared Strategy between Government and soft power sectors to deliver tangible impact for the UK's objectives. That will be reviewed at the Council's next Ministerial meeting on 23 July.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 23 June 2025 to Question 60010 on British Indian Ocean Territory (Constitution) Order 2004 and with reference to the UK/Mauritius Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago (CS Mauritius No.1/2025), what plans he has to bring forward legislative proposals to (a) amend and (b) repeal the British Indian Ocean Territory (Constitution) Order 2004.

The government introduced the Diego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory Bill on 15 July.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when he last met with his United Arab Emirates counterpart to discuss that country's actions to deescalate tensions between Israel and Iran.

The Foreign Secretary is in regular contact with his Emirati counterpart. They spoke most recently on 23 June to discuss regional tensions and the importance of de-escalation and diplomacy.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Syrian counterpart on the status of investigations into the reported killings of Christians and Alawites in Syria’s coastal region in March 2025.

We continue to press the Syrian Government on the need to improve their response to sectarian violence and hold those responsible to account. We welcomed President Al-Sharaa's establishment of a Fact-Finding Committee to investigate the sectarian violence in the coastal regions in March 2025, and we look forward to its conclusions. We also welcome the swift and decisive action taken in response to the terrorist attack against Mar Elias church, including the tasking of specialist teams to investigate the incident.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has received assurances from the Syrian Interim Government that people responsible for recent attacks on religious minority communities are (a) not affiliated with and (b) supported by that administration.

The UK strongly condemns the terrorist attack at Mar Elias Church and remains committed to combatting terrorism. The Syrian Government's response was swift and robust, issuing an official statement of condemnation and call for unity, and announcing a three-day period of national mourning. The violence earlier this year, in the predominantly Alawite coastal region of Latakia, and against Druze in Southern Syria, was appalling. We continue to press the Syrian Government to improve their response to sectarian violence, protect civilians from violence and hold those responsible to account.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the reported naturalisation of former members of (a) Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham and (b) other extremist groups into the Syrian armed forces on the UK's national security.

We welcome the Government of Syria's announcement on 30 May introducing a new Code of Conduct for Syria's armed forces and expect all those serving to abide by it. The UK Defence Senior Advisor to the Middle East and North Africa travelled to Damascus on 9 July to discuss defence, security and areas for future cooperation with the Chief of Defence. A stable Syria is in the UK's interests and we are pressing the Syrian Government to make progress in combatting terrorism and extremism.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Syrian Interim Government on the commitment to (a) publish a report on the reported killings of (i) Christians and (ii) Alawites in Latakia Governorate and (b) bring those responsible to justice.

We continue to press the Syrian Government on the need to improve their response to sectarian violence and hold those responsible to account. We welcomed President Al-Sharaa's establishment of a Fact-Finding Committee to investigate the sectarian violence in the coastal regions in March 2025, and we look forward to its conclusions. We also welcome the swift and decisive action taken in response to the terrorist attack against Mar Elias church, including the tasking of specialist teams to investigate the incident.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment his Department has made of the safety of religious minority communities in Syria following the reported attack on Mar Elias Church in Damascus.

The UK strongly condemns the terrorist attack at Mar Elias Church and remains committed to combatting terrorism. We are concerned by reports of attacks on different religious groups by different actors. We have consistently underlined the importance of protecting all civilians, both publicly and as part of our engagement with the Syrian Government. The Foreign Secretary raised this most recently during his visit to Damascus on 5 July. We continue to monitor the situation closely and advocate for the right to Freedom of Religion or Belief for all.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with his counterpart in the Syrian interim government on taking steps to ensure that they will not be influenced by radical Islamist groups following the lifting of certain sanctions on Syria.

On 5 July, the Foreign Secretary met President Al-Sharaa and Foreign Minister al-Shaibani to reiterate the importance of an inclusive and representative political transition. The UK has consistently advocated for this and underlined the importance of protecting the rights of all Syrians. We welcome provisions in the Constitutional Declaration on freedom of expression and freedom of religion and belief, as well as on guaranteeing the cultural diversity of Syrian society and the linguistic rights of Syrians. We continue to press the Syrian Government to prioritise inclusivity and representation in the appointment and election of People's Assembly members.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support transparent investigations into the (a) recent attack on Mar Elias Church in Damascus, (b) reported killings of Christians and Alawites in Latakia Governorate in March 2025 and (c) reported violence against the Druze community in southern Damascus in May 2025.

We continue to press the Syrian Government on the need to improve their response to sectarian violence and hold those responsible to account. We welcomed President Al-Sharaa's establishment of a Fact-Finding Committee to investigate the sectarian violence in the coastal regions in March 2025, and we look forward to its conclusions. We also welcome the swift and decisive action taken in response to the terrorist attack against Mar Elias church, including the tasking of specialist teams to investigate the incident.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if his Department will take steps to ensure that the current availability of visitation by UK Chagossians to their ancestral islands can continue after any transfer of sovereignty.

I refer the Honourable Member to the answer of 23 June 2025 to question 59998.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his French counterpart on lessons learned from the France–Mauritius negotiations over Tromelin Island in the context of UK policy on the Chagos Archipelago.

The negotiations between the UK and Mauritius were to secure the future of the strategically critical UK-US military base on Diego Garcia. The agreement between France and Mauritius concerning Tromelin Island is a separate matter.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if it is his departments policy that Chagossian people must be assured of their right of abode within the British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Islands) before any transfer of sovereignty.

I refer the Honourable Member to the answer of 25 June 2025 to question 59999.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will take steps to safeguard the (a) status and (b) interests of Chagossians in relation to the British Indian Ocean Territory.

I refer the Hon Member to the reply to his question 59998.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies on the Chagos Archipelago of the agreement between France and Mauritius on Tromelin Island.

The negotiations between the UK and Mauritius were to secure the future of the strategically critical UK-US military base on Diego Garcia. The agreement between France and Mauritius concerning Tromelin Island is a separate matter.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the France–Mauritius sovereignty dispute over Tromelin Island on the UK’s negotiations with Mauritius over the Chagos Archipelago.

The negotiations between the UK and Mauritius were to secure the future of the strategically critical UK-US military base on Diego Garcia. The agreement between France and Mauritius concerning Tromelin Island is a separate matter.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has received representations from representatives of Pacific Island nations on the prohibition of Kava in the UK.

The UK prohibition is raised occasionally with our High Commissioners in the Pacific and by some Pacific Island High Commissions in London.In each case, we remind our Pacific partners about the evidence and procedures that are required to review the ban.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will take steps to agree legally binding protections for Chagossian cultural and historical locations.

We recognise the importance of the islands to Chagossians and have worked to ensure the agreement reflects this. We will increase our support to Chagossians , including through: the establishment of a £40 million fund to benefit Chagossians; the ability Mauritius will have, for the first time, to resettle the islands other than Diego Garcia; and work with Mauritius to start a new programme of visits for Chagossians to the Chagos Archipelago, including Diego Garcia. We have also maintained the current route to British citizenship for Chagossians, so all Chagossians will remain eligible and free to make their home in the UK. The UK Government regularly meets Chagossian groups and representatives at both official and Ministerial levels and a new 'Contact Group' will facilitate dialogue between the Chagossian community and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) on future programmes. This work may include discussions and support related to heritage, history and culture subject to further engagement.