Written questions by Rosindell.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he plans to make representations to Reza Pahlavi on the conflict between Iran and Israel.

The Foreign Secretary has already spoken to his Israeli, American, and Iranian counterparts and will continue to call for restraint and for all parties to step back. Now is the time for restrain, calm and a return to diplomacy. Our priority is stability in the Middle East. We are clear that a widening of this conflict is in nobody's interests, and that immediate de-escalation is vital for both regional stability and global security.

Pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 54690 on Tobacco: Excise Duties, whether her Department has undertaken analysis on the reasons for the 10% fall in tobacco duty receipts.

HMRC publishes commentary on tobacco duty receipts with the Tobacco Bulletin - Tobacco statistics commentary April 2025 - GOV.UK. The 10% decrease in tobacco duty receipts between 2023/24 and 2024/25 was primarily driven by falling cigarette and hand rolling tobacco receipts. The Office for Budget Responsibility also discuss drivers of tobacco duty receipts in relation to the tobacco duty forecast on their webpage - Tobacco duties - Office for Budget Responsibility. Receipts are driven by inflation (CPI and RPI), real household consumption and underlying trends in tobacco consumption. The downward trend in tobacco consumption has accelerated in recent years, partly reflecting changing attitudes and the increasing popularity of e-cigarettes.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what changes he plans to make to the British Indian Ocean Territory (Constitution) Order 2004 following the Treaty with Mauritius.

Following entry into force of the Treaty, Mauritius will be sovereign over the Chagos Archipelago and the British Indian Ocean Territory will no longer exist. The Government will bring forward a Bill as soon as parliamentary time allows, which will make provision inter alia for the ongoing governance of Diego Garcia.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether it his Departments policy to permit the Chagossian people a say over their self-determination.

These negotiations were necessarily between the UK and Mauritius. We continue to engage with Chagossian communities. The Foreign Secretary and I met groups on 22 May 2025.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department defines the Chagossian people as a distinct racial group of shared ethnic and cultural origin who are entitled to (a) recognition, (b) consideration and (c) treatment as such.

The UK government provides a range of support to people who were born on the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) / Chagos Archipelago and their descendants. The government has also maintained the current route to British citizenship for Chagossians until it expires in 23 Nov 2027.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 6 June 2025 to Question 54687 on St Helena: Bank Services and Financial Services, which of the areas set out will help support Saint Helena to provide (a) financial and (b) banking services to non-residents; and whether it is his policy to encourage the provision of such services, in the context of the steps taken by the Saint Helena government to become economically self-sufficient.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) continues to support the St Helena Government to help strengthen its financial and banking sectors. This includes assistance to modernise financial infrastructure, enhance regulatory frameworks, and ensure compliance with international standards.The provision of banking and financial services to non-residents is a matter for the St Helena Government. UK Government support has been designed to help St Helena ensure any expansion of services is carefully managed to mitigate reputational and financial crime risks. The FCDO remains engaged with the St Helena Government and the St Helena Financial Services Regulatory Authority to explore opportunities that support the goal of greater economic self-sufficiency, including through the responsible development of its financial services sector.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make provision for legally binding agreement protections for Chagossian (a) cultural and (b) historical locations following implementation of the agreement with Mauritius on the British Indian Ocean Territory.

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

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

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

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will conduct a consultation with Chagossians on the (a) restoration of the right of (i) abode and (ii) resettlement, (b) loss of (A) visitation permissions and (B) practical assistance by the UK and (c) fishing and natural resources.

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 trust fund to benefit Chagossians; the ability Mauritius will have, for the first time, to resettle the islands other than Diego Garcia (in contrast to the 2016 Conservative Government that decided that a programme of resettlement on the Archipelago would not be taken forward by the UK); 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 engages with Chagossians 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 on future programmes.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Chagossian people will be assured of their right of abode within the British Indian Ocean Territory before transfer of sovereignty.

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

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure that (a) Chagossians resident in the UK and (b) all other Chagossians have (i) rights of abode, (ii) resettlement, (iii) return and (iv) other rights derived from the British Indian Ocean Territory (Constitution) Order 2004 for the outer islands.

I refer the Hon member to the reply to his previous PQ 59998.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he plans to provide rights of (a) abode, (b) resettlement and (c) return to Chagossians in the context of the British Indian Ocean Territory (Constitution) Order 2004.

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

What plans he has to ensure early diagnosis targets in cancer can be (a) measured and (b) monitored for (i) blood cancers and (ii) other unstageable cancers.

There are no current plans to introduce a specific proxy staging measure or a corresponding national target to support the earlier diagnosis of blood cancers. To tackle late diagnoses of blood cancers, the National Health Service is implementing non-specific symptom pathways for patients who present with symptoms such as weight loss and fatigue, which do not clearly align to a tumour type. Blood cancers are one of the most common cancer types diagnosed through these pathways.It is a priority for the Government to support the National Health Service to diagnose cancer, including blood cancer, as early and quickly as possible, and to treat it faster, to improve outcomes. We will get the NHS diagnosing blood cancer earlier and treating it faster, and we will support the NHS to increase capacity to meet the demand for diagnostic services through investment, including for magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography scanners.  The National Cancer Plan will include further details on how we will improve outcomes for cancer patients, including those with blood cancer and other cancers with lower survival rates.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of an alternative to staging when measuring early diagnosis for (a) blood cancers and (b) other unstageable cancers.

There are no current plans to introduce a specific proxy staging measure or a corresponding national target to support the earlier diagnosis of blood cancers. To tackle late diagnoses of blood cancers, the National Health Service is implementing non-specific symptom pathways for patients who present with symptoms such as weight loss and fatigue, which do not clearly align to a tumour type. Blood cancers are one of the most common cancer types diagnosed through these pathways.It is a priority for the Government to support the National Health Service to diagnose cancer, including blood cancer, as early and quickly as possible, and to treat it faster, to improve outcomes. We will get the NHS diagnosing blood cancer earlier and treating it faster, and we will support the NHS to increase capacity to meet the demand for diagnostic services through investment, including for magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography scanners.  The National Cancer Plan will include further details on how we will improve outcomes for cancer patients, including those with blood cancer and other cancers with lower survival rates.

What comparative assessment he has made of trends in the level of late diagnosis of (a) blood cancers and (b) solid tumour cancers.

There are no current plans to introduce a specific proxy staging measure or a corresponding national target to support the earlier diagnosis of blood cancers. To tackle late diagnoses of blood cancers, the National Health Service is implementing non-specific symptom pathways for patients who present with symptoms such as weight loss and fatigue, which do not clearly align to a tumour type. Blood cancers are one of the most common cancer types diagnosed through these pathways.It is a priority for the Government to support the National Health Service to diagnose cancer, including blood cancer, as early and quickly as possible, and to treat it faster, to improve outcomes. We will get the NHS diagnosing blood cancer earlier and treating it faster, and we will support the NHS to increase capacity to meet the demand for diagnostic services through investment, including for magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography scanners.  The National Cancer Plan will include further details on how we will improve outcomes for cancer patients, including those with blood cancer and other cancers with lower survival rates.

What steps her Department is taking to help protect Hong Kong democracy activists in the UK who have bounties placed on them by the Hong Kong government.

While it is our long-standing policy not to provide detailed information on security matters, where we identify individuals at heightened risk, we are front footed in deploying protective security measures as appropriate.The Government has developed new guidance which can be found on GOV.UK providing those who believe themselves to be at-risk of transnational repression with practical advice for their safety both physically and online.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment has been made of the potential impact of banning mancozeb by the end of 2025 on the (a) socio-economy and (b) security of the UK's trading partners.

Pesticide Active substance approvals are only granted following careful scientific assessment of risks to people, animals and the environment. We do not consider economic benefits of use. Mancozeb no longer meets GB approval criteria as regards to endocrine disrupting properties, non-dietary risks to human health and exposure risk to operators. Food treated with mancozeb can continue to be placed on the GB market provided it meets our Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs).

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has met with Hong Kong pro-democracy activists since 4 July 2024.

The Foreign Secretary met Hong Kong pro-democracy activists, recently targeted by the Hong Kong police with arrest warrants and bounties, in January.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made recent representations to his counterpart in (a) Hong Kong and (b) China on the wellbeing of wanted people of Hong Kong origin residing in the UK.

The Foreign Secretary spoke to his counterpart, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, in April and raised the impact of transnational repression on Hong Kongers residing in the UK. The Foreign Secretary personally met those recently targeted by the Hong Kong police with arrest warrants and bounties in January.The UK is clear that any attempts by foreign Governments to coerce, intimidate or harm critics overseas, are unacceptable. This Government is deeply committed to supporting all members of the Hong Kong community who have relocated to the UK.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of UK participation in EU defence industrial programmes on (a) the AUKUS agreement and (b) other existing defence procurement partnerships.

As the Strategic Defence Review recognised, international partnerships are crucial for the UK’s security and prosperity. The UK remains firmly committed to the AUKUS partnership and is working closely with the US and Australia at all levels to maximise the benefits and opportunities which AUKUS presents for our three nations. The new Security and Defence Partnership with the EU is complementary to our existing work and the full range of our defence partnerships.