Written questions by Rosindell.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 30 January 2025 to Question 23270 on Denmark: Politics and Government, whether the territorial integrity of Greenland was discussed in these meetings.

As the Foreign Secretary and I have repeatedly and publicly made clear, Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark and the future of their constitutional arrangements is a matter for the people and government of Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office officials and I have reaffirmed this position in engagements with Danish and Greenlandic counterparts since January.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has met with officials from the Westminster Foundation for Democracy since 4 July 2024.

The Foreign Secretary has not met with officials from the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) since 4 July 2024, however the previous Minister of State for Development (Anneliese Dodds MP) met recently in February this year with the Chair, Yasmin Qureshi MP, and CEO, Anthony Smith of WFD. Senior Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) officials meet with WFD on a regular basis.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has met with pro-democracy campaigners in Iran since 4 July 2024.

The Foreign Secretary has not visited Iran. The Islamic Republic's human rights record is unacceptable. The UK helped deliver a resolution on the human rights situation in Iran at the UN Third Committee in November 2024. In January, the Foreign Secretary raised human rights directly with his Iranian counterpart. We will continue to raise rights issues directly with the regime, including through our Ambassador in Tehran.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department's China audit will consider (a) Chinese debt relief for low income countries and (b) China's belt and road initiative.

The China Audit will improve the UK's ability - both inside and outside of government - to understand and respond to the challenges and opportunities China poses. The Audit will consider the UK's economic and security interests at home and overseas, and how those interests are impacted by China. The Government is determined to pursue a consistent, long term and strategic approach to managing the UK's relations with China.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department is taking steps to facilitate (a) environmental and (b) conservation cooperation between the British Overseas Territories and the external territories of (i) Australia and (ii) New Zealand.

The Territories have not recently to our knowledge requested enhanced co-operation with Australia, New Zealand, or their external territories. The UK, Australia, and New Zealand liaise on topics of mutual interest including recent developments in the external territories and the conservation of Antarctic marine life. The UK remains open to considering requests to facilitate dialogues between the UK Overseas Territories and other territories.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with his (a) Australian and (b) New Zealand counterpart on areas of mutual interest between the British Overseas Territories and the external territories of Australia and New Zealand.

The Territories have not recently to our knowledge requested enhanced co-operation with Australia, New Zealand, or their external territories. The UK, Australia, and New Zealand liaise on topics of mutual interest including recent developments in the external territories and the conservation of Antarctic marine life. The UK remains open to considering requests to facilitate dialogues between the UK Overseas Territories and other territories.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with representatives of the British Overseas Territories on enhancing cooperation with the external territories of (a) Australia and (b) New Zealand.

The Territories have not recently to our knowledge requested enhanced co-operation with Australia, New Zealand, or their external territories. The UK, Australia, and New Zealand liaise on topics of mutual interest including recent developments in the external territories and the conservation of Antarctic marine life. The UK remains open to considering requests to facilitate dialogues between the UK Overseas Territories and other territories.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has plans to send officials to monitor the upcoming Albanian parliamentary election.

UK officials, including staff from our Embassy in Tirana, are working with international partners on monitoring plans ahead of May's Parliamentary elections in Albania, and the UK will be contributing monitors to join the scheduled Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) International Monitoring Mission.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has considered establishing formal mechanisms for dialogue between the British Overseas Territories and the external territories of (a) Australia and (b) New Zealand.

The Territories have not recently to our knowledge requested enhanced co-operation with Australia, New Zealand, or their external territories. The UK, Australia, and New Zealand liaise on topics of mutual interest including recent developments in the external territories and the conservation of Antarctic marine life. The UK remains open to considering requests to facilitate dialogues between the UK Overseas Territories and other territories.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to strengthen diplomatic relations with the republic of San Marino.

The UK has a good relationship with San Marino. On 11-12 February, our Ambassador to Italy and San Marino led a senior Embassy delegation to San Marino to launch a new UK-San Marino structured bilateral dialogue with the Sammarinese Foreign Minister and key Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials. This dialogue focussed on important areas of co-operation such as foreign and security policy and growth, and built on our existing Memorandum of Understanding on Bilateral Cooperation to further strengthen diplomatic relations.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had any discussions with his counterparts in Colombia regarding the ongoing conflict in the Catatumbo region.

The UK continues to monitor the concerning escalation of conflict in the Catatumbo region of Colombia. At the UN Security Council meeting on the Colombian Peace Process in January, we condemned the violence between the National Liberation Army (ELN in Spanish) and General Staff of Blocks and Front (EMBF in Spanish), which has left many dead and thousands displaced. Senior Embassy officials have been in contact with government negotiators and the relevant government ministries to express our concern at the situation. The START fund is providing £150k of aid, and the UK is one of its largest donors.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with opposition figures in Venezuela since the Presidential election in that country in July 2024.

Since the elections in July, the Foreign Secretary has discussed the concerning situation in Venezuela on multiple occasions, including with international partners and members of the opposition. On 10 January, he announced that Maduro's claim to power was fraudulent and announced new sanctions designations against members of the Maduro regime. The UK will continue to engage internationally in order to achieve a peaceful solution that respects the will of the Venezuelan people.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of travel arrangements between British Overseas Territories and the Caribbean constituent countries of the Netherlands.

There are a number of direct and indirect connections between the British Overseas Territories and the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Both Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands have direct flights to Sint Maarten. Anguilla and Sint Maarten are also connected via ferry. Regular flight connections between Montserrat and Sint Maarten will operate in February and March this year.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what was discussed between his Department and his Chilean counterparts during the delegation to Santiago and Punta Arenas in January 2025.

Baroness Chapman, Minister for Latin America and the Caribbean, visited Chile 7-9 January to meet with Chilean political and business leaders, and to strengthen bilateral and trade ties following the UK's recent accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. In Santiago, Baroness Chapman met her ministerial counterpart, Gloria de la Fuente, and visited the Chilean headquarters of Anglo American to discuss the growing use of carbon-neutral technologies within the mining sector. Baroness Chapman also visited Punta Arenas to celebrate the longstanding and enduring UK-Chile relationship on Antarctica, and our strong naval partnership.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help ensure the safety of British citizens travelling in Central America.

Through the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office's (FCDO) consular prevention work, we aim to provide information and guidance to help British nationals make informed decisions and take responsibility for themselves when they are living and travelling abroad. FCDO Travel Advice for countries in Central America is kept under regular review and provides information to help British nationals make informed decisions. The FCDO also works closely with host authorities in Central America to reduce risks, share expertise, and build capacity to improve the support British people receive.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant of the Answer of 20 January 2025 to Question 23271 on Faroe Islands and Greenland: Politics and Government, what the Minister of State for Europe and North America discussed with his counterparts from Greenland in those meetings.

I have met with Greenlandic Foreign Minister, Vivian Motzfeldt, twice since taking office. The first time, at the Arctic Circle Assembly in October 2024, we discussed the UK's Arctic policy, security, trade and bilateral relations. The second time in London, in January 2025, we discussed the Kingdom of Denmark's chairship of the Arctic Council in 2025, Arctic policy, security, trade as well as bilateral relations.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help protect native wildlife on South Georgia in the context of the potential risk of a collision of the iceberg A23a with the island.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is in close contact with the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) and the Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands (GSGSSI) about the movement of iceberg A23a. BAS and GSGSSI are both actively monitoring the movement of the iceberg and are working to identify a range of likely future scenarios and potential implications, including for the region's wildlife. It is currently anticipated that A23a will run aground on the continental shelf before it reaches the landmass of South Georgia, and that any impacts on wildlife are likely to be localised and transient, but we will keep this assessment under review.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant of the Answer of 17 January 2025 to Question 22594 on Western Sahara: Politics and Government, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the policies of the (a) US, (b) French and (c) Spanish governments on this matter.

Officials regularly discuss the Western Sahara with international partners, including the US, France, Spain, and the United Nations (UN), and we continue to encourage constructive engagement with the political process. The UK believes the UN-led process is the best way to solve the long-standing dispute by delivering a solution agreeable to all parties, one which would contribute significantly to regional security and prosperity.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help improve sea access infrastructure on St Helena.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) provided approximately £4.79 million in funding through the St Helena Economic Development and Investment Programme for the construction of a new port and cargo handling facilities at Rupert's Bay. The FCDO has also funded two new roads better connecting Rupert's Bay to Jamestown. The new facilities will allow for cargo operations to be moved from the current port at Jamestown, opening the waterfront for tourism purposes.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, What steps he is taking to help improve (a) healthcare infrastructure and (b) provision within Montserrat.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is committed to supporting the healthcare infrastructure and provision in Montserrat. It has continued its commitment to the building of the new hospital in Montserrat by providing up to £39.9 million through the Capital Investment Programme for Resilient Economic Growth. The new hospital will have a dedicated acute mental health room, plus two operating theatres including endoscopy and full diagnostic suite. The FCDO is also funding two ambulances for Montserrat which will arrive in the next few months and, working with the UK Health Security Agency, we are providing an epidemiologist from March.