Written questions by Rosindell.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Governor of Saint Helena decides which positions in the police service are filled by Technical Cooperation Officers.

The budget for all Technical Cooperation Officers (TCO) is set by Saint Helena Government Ministers. The St Helena Government's Technical Cooperation Monitoring Group oversees the budget and TCO appointments. In line with St Helena's Constitution, the Chief of Police reports to the Governor for operational policing matters, and to the Minister for Safety, Security, and Home Affairs for all other matters. TCO bids related to operational policing require the Governor's approval.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 9 May 2025 to Question 49724 on Saint Helena: Police, whether the national average salary for locally recruited police constables includes the salaries of Technical Cooperation Officers.

The national average salary provided in response to Question 49724 did not include salaries for Technical Cooperation Officers (TCO). The St Helena Government sets TCO salaries to compete with the overseas job market and secure candidates with the advanced experience and broader skill sets not yet available locally. In line with The Royal St Helena Police Service's five-year plan, TCOs help build the capacity of local police officers by investing their expertise and providing bespoke training.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 12 May 2025 to Question 49901 on Saint Helena: Aviation, whether the weather causing delayed flights includes wind shear; and whether this was identified as a potential issue prior to the construction of the airport.

Poor weather including cloud cover, high winds and wind shear has on occasion caused delays to scheduled flight services to St Helena Airport. Prior to the airport's construction, the initial expert advice provided to the former Department for International Development (DFID) assessed the risk of wind shear as low. Challenges with turbulence and wind shear were subsequently identified during a series of test flights into the airport in 2016, contributing to the airport's classification as a Category C airport. The FCDO pursued litigation in relation to some of the initial expert advice received, and reached a settlement in January 2019. I cannot comment on the detail of decisions made by the 2010-15 Conservative government.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how the Governor of Saint Helena’s special responsibility for finance differs from the role of the Finance Minister.

Each Overseas Territory has a unique constitution. St Helena introduced a ministerial form of government in 2021 and the updated constitution provides that St Helena ministers have responsibility departments and shall exercise general direction and policy control of that department. The St Helena Treasury was one of the departments transferred to a minister. Part 8 of the Constitution, together with the Public Finance Ordinance 2010, sets out roles and responsibilities in how public finances are managed. Under Section 44(1)(f) of the constitution, the Governor has a special responsibility for finance. In practice, day to day responsibility is exercised through Executive Council and as prescribed by subordinate ordinance.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the Syrian government in tackling jihadi terror threats.

The UK is committed to combatting all forms of terrorism emanating from Syria, including from Daesh. Alongside our international partners, we are pressing the Government of Syria to demonstrate their commitment to combat terrorism and extremism in all forms. I raised the security situation with Foreign Minister al-Shaibani in March. The UK National Security Advisor also discussed countering Daesh when he spoke to Syrian President, Ahmed al-Sharaa on 10 April.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of recent fighting between Druze minorities and Sunni militias in Damascus.

Recent violence against the Druze community in Syria was appalling. In our statement on 3 May, we publicly urged the Syrian government to take steps to shield civilians from violence and hold those responsible to account. The protection of all civilians and their full inclusion in the transition process is vital for peace in Syria. This will continue to be a priority in our engagement with the Syrian government.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with his Syrian counterpart on the establishment of de-radicalisation programmes in that country.

The UK is committed to combatting all forms of terrorism emanating from Syria, including from Daesh. Alongside our international partners, we are pressing the Government of Syria to demonstrate their commitment to combat terrorism and extremism in all forms. I raised the security situation with Foreign Minister al-Shaibani in March. The UK National Security Advisor also discussed countering Daesh when he spoke to Syrian President, Ahmed al-Sharaa on 10 April.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has met the Commonwealth Secretary General since her appointment in March 2025.

The Foreign Secretary met with Shirley Botchwey in her capacity as Secretary-General elect during January and at Commonwealth Day in March. The Minister for Africa has met with the Commonwealth Secretary-General twice since she took office on 1 April 2025.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has provided guidance to the Inter-American Development Bank on the financing of infrastructure in Caribbean nations as an alternative to Chinese state-backed loans.

The UK recognises the benefit of cooperating with a range of partners to support the interests of individual countries in the Caribbean. We encourage partners in the Caribbean to weigh up the risks and opportunities that investment opportunities might present, including from China.The UK itself is a shareholder of and supports the Inter-American Development Bank, the Caribbean Development Bank, and the World Bank in their work in the Latin America and Caribbean regions, providing financial support for sustainable development and growth.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with his Syrian counterpart on protecting the Druze minority.

Recent violence against the Druze community in Syria was appalling. In our statement on 3 May, we publicly urged the Syrian government to take steps to shield civilians from violence and hold those responsible to account. The protection of all civilians and their full inclusion in the transition process is vital for peace in Syria. This will continue to be a priority in our engagement with the Syrian government.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what information his Department holds on the role of Venezuela as a transit hub for cocaine shipments to Europe; and whether his Department is taking steps to help tackle such shipments.

There are credible reports that local conditions have allowed criminal enterprises to substantially increase illicit activities in Venezuela, which has likely resulted in increases in cocaine trafficked through the country. The UK collaborates with regional partners to fight such organised crime, including drug trafficking.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when he plans to publish the finalised text of the proposed treaty with Mauritius on the matter of sovereignty over the British Indian Ocean Territory.

Once the treaty is signed it will be put before both Houses for scrutiny before ratification in the usual way.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 28 April 2025 to Question 44421 on China: Cook Islands, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the 99-year initial period of UK exercise of Mauritian sovereign rights on access for the (i) US and (ii) UK.

I refer the Hon. Member to the response given to his previous Question 44421, which remains the same.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has met the High Commissioner of Pakistan since taking office.

The Foreign Secretary met the High Commissioner during a meeting with Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar on 4 September 2024. I have met the High Commissioner on multiple occasions, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, and the former Minister for Development Anneliese Dodds have also met with the High Commissioner.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of proposed Chinese military infrastructure developments in the Caribbean on risks to national security.

The UK recognises the benefit of cooperating with a range of partners to support the interests of individual countries in the Caribbean. We encourage partners in the Caribbean to weigh up the risks and opportunities that investment opportunities might present, including from China.The UK itself is a shareholder of and supports the Inter-American Development Bank, the Caribbean Development Bank, and the World Bank in their work in the Latin America and Caribbean regions, providing financial support for sustainable development and growth.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of China’s Belt and Road initiative investments in Caribbean states on the UK's strategic interests in the region.

The UK recognises the benefit of cooperating with a range of partners to support the interests of individual countries in the Caribbean. We encourage partners in the Caribbean to weigh up the risks and opportunities that investment opportunities might present, including from China.The UK itself is a shareholder of and supports the Inter-American Development Bank, the Caribbean Development Bank, and the World Bank in their work in the Latin America and Caribbean regions, providing financial support for sustainable development and growth.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help support civil society organisations working on (a) human rights and (b) democratic freedoms in Venezuela.

The UK firmly supports the right of civil society to operate freely in all countries, including Venezuela. We remain deeply concerned by restrictive legislation brought into law last year and publicly raised our concerns about the bill. We actively engage with civil society and human rights defenders in Venezuela, and run local projects to deliver UK objectives. We repeatedly call for human rights to be protected and for the cooperation of the Venezuelan authorities in bringing about a democratic transition, most recently at the Human Rights Council on 18 March 2025.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many and what percentage of visitors to the British Overseas Territory of St Helena have experienced delays in their (a) inward and (b) outward flights of more than 12 hours in the last two years.

The St Helena Government and the commercial airline Airlink collate data on flights. During 2023 and 2024, the proportion of weather-delayed flights was around 25 per cent. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is supporting technological improvements at the airport to support operations, including to enhance weather modelling.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what guidance his Department has issued on the flying of the Union Flag from courthouses in the Overseas Territories.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has not issued any guidance on the flying of the Union flag from Courthouses in the Overseas Territories as this is a matter for the Territories' governments.The FCDO provides guidance on the flying of the Union Flag at the office and residence of the Governor, Administrator or Commissioner.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, by what year he expects Saint Helena to become financially self-sustainable; and whether it is his policy that this will be primarily achieved through promoting tourism.

The St Helena Government leads on local economic development, with assistance from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, which provides technical and financial support. The UK funded Tourism Development Fund is supporting the development of the island's tourism industry, which has potential to drive forward greater financial self-sufficiency as visitor numbers grow.