Written questions by Rosindell.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to support access to legal assistance for Montserratian citizens residing in Montserrat, in the context of Article 73 of the United Nations Charter.

The UK fulfils its responsibilities under Article 73 of the United Nations Charter to promote the political, economic, social, and educational advancement of the Overseas Territories. As part of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's capital allocation to Montserrat, we are investing in green energy, including solar and resilience works, as well appropriate and safe social housing.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether any patients in Montserrat who are (a) naturalised and (b) full British citizens and must travel to the United Kingdom for specialist treatment unavailable locally but fall outside the NHS–Montserrat referral scheme have been (i) denied (A) accommodation and (B) welfare support and (ii) advised to return to Montserrat.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answers he was previously provided on these issues on 6 November and 1 December 2025.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department has had discussions with the Government of Montserrat on the adequacy of levels of education funding in Montserrat; and if she will make an assessment of whether funding levels are adequate to meet the educational needs and aspirations of the Government and people of Montserrat.

As part of the UK's ongoing support to Montserrat, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) provides annual Budget Support to cover the provision of key services, including education. FCDO officials work with the Government of Montserrat (GoM) on annual budget allocations, but ultimately it is for GoM to determine those allocations, including what goes to the Education Ministry. Over the last five years the FCDO has provided the following:FY 25/26£37mFY 24/25£31.2mFY 23/24£30.2mFY 22/23£24.1mFY 21/22£23.6m

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much funding the United Kingdom Government has provided to support primary and secondary education in Montserrat in each of the last five years.

As part of the UK's ongoing support to Montserrat, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) provides annual Budget Support to cover the provision of key services, including education. FCDO officials work with the Government of Montserrat (GoM) on annual budget allocations, but ultimately it is for GoM to determine those allocations, including what goes to the Education Ministry. Over the last five years the FCDO has provided the following:FY 25/26£37mFY 24/25£31.2mFY 23/24£30.2mFY 22/23£24.1mFY 21/22£23.6m

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether there is a limit to the Official Development Assistance available to Montserrat.

The UK remains committed to meeting the reasonable needs of the Overseas Territories (OTs) where financial self-sufficiency is not possible. As such, the OTs continue to have the first call on Official Development Assistance to facilitate sustainable economic growth and development.We have recently informed Montserrat of their new allocation, and I held a positive and constructive call with Premier Meade on 25 March.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to improve emergency medical evacuation and overseas treatment on Montserrat.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answers he was previously provided on these issues on 6 November and 1 December 2025.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to meet obligations under Article 73 of the UN Charter in respect of the British Overseas Territories; and what assessment she has made of the potential impact of (a) the costs of healthcare, fuel and electricity, (b) quality of infrastructure and (c) levels of hurricane-resilient housing in Montserrat on people in that territory.

The UK fulfils its responsibilities under Article 73 of the United Nations Charter to promote the political, economic, social, and educational advancement of the Overseas Territories. As part of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's capital allocation to Montserrat, we are investing in green energy, including solar and resilience works, as well appropriate and safe social housing.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of maritime safety, search and rescue capability, and maritime security resources available to the British Overseas Territory of Montserrat; and if she will take steps to ensure that the territory retains an appropriately equipped maritime patrol and rescue vessel in order to meet the UK’s constitutional responsibilities for the security and good governance of the territory and its obligations under international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue, to protect life at sea.

Since 2016 the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has established a programme of activities to improve Montserrat's capacity to meet its international maritime safety and search and rescue (SAR) obligations. Montserrat has three UK-funded multipurpose vessels including two new fast police patrol boats provided by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office which improve the Royal Montserrat Police Service's capability to respond to maritime threats more efficiently and effectively, as well as fulfilling international obligations in relation to search and rescue.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of the adequacy of mechanisms for parliamentary scrutiny of Overseas Territories.

Mechanisms for parliamentary scrutiny are a matter for the House.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of the level of the independence of the Nigerian judiciary; and whether judicial independence forms part of the Government’s criteria in assessing the credibility of Nigeria’s 2027 elections.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer provided on 10 March 2026 in response to Question 117243.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps she is taking to support democratic participation in Nigeria ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer provided on 10 March 2026 in response to Question 117243.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department plans to take to support international election observation and rule-of-law monitoring mechanisms in Nigeria ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer provided on 10 March 2026 in response to Question 117243.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of Saudi Arabia air strikes against anti-Houthi coalition partners in southern Yemen and the potential impact of those air strikes on the expansion of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, in Hadramout and other governorates.

I refer the Hon Member to the statement the I made to the House on 5 January, where I noted that the United Kingdom remains committed to supporting Yemen's unity, including the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council and the Government of Yemen. The United Kingdom continues to stay in regular contact with our partners in Yemen, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates about the situation, and we will continue to work closely with them. The Government does not comment on operational intelligence, or security matters, but will continue to work with regional and international partners to tackle the threat posed by Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his counterpart in Argentina on opportunities for high‑level bilateral engagement between the UK and Argentina in 2026.

UK ministers and officials maintain regular contact with their Argentine counterparts, discussing a range of issues including economic growth, support for Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression, and the South Atlantic. The Foreign Secretary last spoke to her counterpart, Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno, on 4 December 2025. Any future bilateral visits or meetings will be announced in the normal way.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will invite the President of Argentina for an official visit to the United Kingdom.

UK ministers and officials maintain regular contact with their Argentine counterparts, discussing a range of issues including economic growth, support for Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression, and the South Atlantic. The Foreign Secretary last spoke to her counterpart, Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno, on 4 December 2025. Any future bilateral visits or meetings will be announced in the normal way.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of (a) Argentine and (b) Chilean territorial claims to the British Antarctic Territories.

The UK's approach to Antarctica, including the British Antarctic Territory, is set out in the UK Antarctic Strategy. There is no doubt about our sovereignty claim. All claims are held in abeyance by the Antarctic Treaty.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 24 July 2025 to Question 68353, what the start date and project completion date of the Department's review of medals available in the British Overseas Territories compared to the UK.

This work is ongoing, as I told him in my response of 24 July 2025 to Question 68353. We will provide further updates in the normal way in due course.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department has undertaken a review of illegal immigration into the British Overseas Territories.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 7 January in response to Question 102330, which sets out the action that the Government is taking to support our Overseas Territories in tackling organised immigration crime.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what oversight mechanisms exist for ensuring that major development proposals submitted to Overseas Territory governments, including Montserrat, are assessed in a transparent and timely manner.

The UK is committed to meeting the reasonable assistance needs of Montserrat. Much of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) funding allocated to Montserrat is used to support major infrastructure projects and economic development, such as the construction of a new hospital, a new air traffic control tower, and supporting green energy transition including geothermal testing. The FCDO work in partnership with Government of Montserrat (GoM) and the Governor's Office to ensure all proposals are assessed in accordance with FCDO and GoM rules and procedures.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps the her Department is taking to help ensure that governance arrangements in Montserrat support sustainable economic development and inward investment.

The UK is committed to meeting the reasonable assistance needs of Montserrat. Much of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) funding allocated to Montserrat is used to support major infrastructure projects and economic development, such as the construction of a new hospital, a new air traffic control tower, and supporting green energy transition including geothermal testing. The FCDO work in partnership with Government of Montserrat (GoM) and the Governor's Office to ensure all proposals are assessed in accordance with FCDO and GoM rules and procedures.