Every parliamentary written question tabled by Ben Obese-Jecty this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 121–140 of 172 · Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the cancellation by the CIA in the United States of the appointment of Tom Sylvester as the London chief of station on the UK's intelligence network.
It is a longstanding policy of successive governments not to comment on intelligence matters.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to page 33 of the National Security Strategy 2025, published on 24 June 2025, what progress he has made in strengthening the UK’s sanctions (a) implementation and (b) enforcement through the Economic Deterrence Initiative.
The Government concluded a review of the implementation and enforcement of UK sanctions in April 2025. Following the review, this Government is committing to do more to make compliance easier for UK industry, to deter non-compliance and to make sure we have the right powers and capabilities to enforce sanctions breaches.The Economic Deterrence Initiative has underpinned this review by funding activity across government to improve implementation and enforcement of sanctions. This includes establishing new HMG capabilities like the Office of Trade Sanctions Implementation (OTSI), enhanced guidance and licensing capability to support legitimate business, tackling sanctions circumvention with international partners, and bolstering sanctions implementation in the Overseas Territories.His Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) recently concluded a compound settlement to a UK business that breached UK sanctions. The settlement involved a penalty of £1.1 million which was paid to HMRC in May 2025. This is the largest compound settlement HMRC has concluded for a Russia sanctions offence.In March 2025, the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) imposed a monetary penalty of £465,000 for breaches of Financial Sanctions, and in April the National Crime Agency (NCA) secured the first convictions for breaches of the UK's Russia sanctions.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to page 11 of the National Security Strategy 2025, published on 24 June 2025, what progress he has made in sharpening the UK’s diplomatic focus with New Zealand.
The UK-New Zealand relationship is a close partnership based on shared history, deep people-to-people links and shared priorities and values. The UK engages with the Government of New Zealand at both ministerial and official level across a wide range of regional and global issues. We were pleased to welcome Prime Minister Luxon to London in April for a day of talks with the Prime Minister.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has (a) witnessed and (a) seen verified video evidence of the Israeli Defence Forces deliberately firing on the civilian population in Gaza during the distribution of humanitarian relief.
Reports and footage of the chaos at Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) sites are horrifying. It is appalling that at least 2,294 people have been killed and over 16,839 injured at or near the distribution sites. This further illustrates why humanitarian partners such as the UN and humanitarian non-governmental organisations must be allowed to operate in line with their principles. We have repeatedly urged Israel to remove restrictions on aid and ensure that aid can be delivered across the Gaza strip safely.The UK has been clear that we will not support any aid mechanism that seeks to deliver political or military objectives or puts vulnerable civilians at risk while retrieving aid.On 11 July, I called for an independent investigation into the killing of women and children while collecting aid in central Gaza. Indications that Israel's Military Advocate General may open an investigation into allegations of deliberate targeting of civilians at aid distribution sites are a step in the right direction. We expect those responsible to be held to account.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his (a) Ukrainian and (b) Russian counterpart on the release of James Scott Rhys Anderson.
The Ukrainian authorities have confirmed British national James Anderson was serving in the Ukrainian Armed Forces, meaning he holds Prisoner of War (PoW) status. Ukraine holds responsibility for engagement on any members of the Ukrainian Armed Forces who are captured and held as PoWs, regardless of their nationality. This includes negotiating with Russia on prisoner exchanges. The UK regularly raises Mr Anderson's case with our Ukrainian partners. We have been clear to the Russian authorities that Mr. Anderson must be treated as a PoW, in accordance with International Humanitarian Law. We remain in close contact with Mr Anderson's family and are providing consular support.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 24 June 2025 to Question 61044 on Chagos Islands: Sovereignty, under what description in his Department's annual accounts will expenditure relating to the UK/Mauritius: Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia [CS Mauritius No.1/2025] be listed.
Any expenditure by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office relating the Diego Garcia Treaty between the UK and Mauritius would be recorded as Grant Expenditure in the Annual Report and Accounts.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 18 June 2025 to Question 58713 on Chagos Islands: Sovereignty, what proportion of the annual cost of the deal each year between 2025-2050 will be paid by (a) his department and (b) the Ministry of Defence.
The payments to Mauritius will be split between the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and Ministry of Defence. They will be published in the normal manner alongside other departmental spend in the annual accounts.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when his Department started using the term Occupied Palestinian Territories in official documentation.
The UK government has used the term "Occupied Palestinian Territories" regularly since 2007.It has been the position of the UK Government since 1967 that the Occupied Palestinian Territories (West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Gaza) are not lawfully part of the State of Israel. In line with relevant UN Security Council Resolutions, we regard East Jerusalem as part of the Occupied Palestinian Territories. We consider that the level of control that Israel retains over these territories amounts to occupation under international law and hence that Israel's presence is governed by the provisions of the Fourth Geneva Conventions of 1949, to which Israel is a state party.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2025 to Answer 55083 on British Indian Ocean Territory: Sovereignty, how much of the cost will come from the budget of (a) his Department and (b) the Ministry of Defence.
I refer the Hon Member to the answer given to his previous question 56674.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to Letter No.1 entitled “Exchange of letters concerning implementation and interpretation of Article 11 of the agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Republic of Mauritius concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia”, from which budget will the £120m be taken for years four to thirteen of the Agreement.
The costs associated with the deal will be split between the Ministry of Defence and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Exchange of letters concerning implementation and interpretation of Article 11 of the agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Republic of Mauritius concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia, Letter No. 1, from which budget the £165m be taken from for the first three years of the Agreement.
The costs associated with the deal will be split between the Ministry of Defence and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to point 3, sub paragraph f of the Exchange of letters concerning implementation and interpretation of Article 11 of the agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Republic of Mauritius concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia, Letter No. 1, what steps he is taking to involve UK businesses in the delivery of projects supported by grant funding from the UK.
Full details of the mechanisms of use for the development framework grant will be agreed between the UK and Mauritius during the implementation period, before the first payment of the grant in year 4 of the Agreement.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much foreign aid his Department has granted to the Republic of Mauritius in each of the last ten years.
The table shows country-specific bilateral Official Development Assistance (ODA) to Mauritius by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and all other contributors of UK ODA (2014-2023), published in Statistics on International Development on the UK Government's website.YearFCDOAll other contributors of UK ODA£000sTotal £000s2014761-20745201577177772016187619320173041231620185053508201989839012020786818662021788103892202245210455620236732429152024Statistics not yet available
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what the terms were of the US proposal to enable a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine presented to European leaders at the Paris meeting on 17 April 2025.
We do not share the details of diplomatic discussions. To do so would only benefit Putin. We continue to work closely with the US, Ukraine, and European partners to achieve the shared goal of a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment has he made of the potential impact of Argentinian activity in Antarctica on (a) the environment, (b) British interests and (c) international interests.
The Antarctic Treaty preserves Antarctica as a place of peace and science and ensures international cooperation. The Treaty requires Parties to share advance notice of their plans in Antarctica and all activities are subject to environmental impact assessments. The UK actively scrutinises plans to ensure compliance with the Treaty's robust environmental principles as well as the prohibition on military training and the establishment of military bases. The UK has no doubt about its sovereignty over the British Antarctic Territory, although the Treaty effectively places in abeyance all sovereignty claims and is committed to maintaining a permanent presence on the continent, allowing us to conduct world-leading science and preserve British heritage.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment has he made of the potential impact of Russian activity in Antarctica on (a) the environment, (b) British interests and (c) international interests.
The Antarctic Treaty preserves Antarctica as a place of peace and science. An original Treaty signatory, Russia remains active in Antarctica. The Treaty requires Parties to share advance notice of their plans in Antarctica and all activities are subject to environmental impact assessments. The UK actively scrutinises plans to ensure compliance with the Treaty's robust environmental principles as well as the prohibition on military training and the establishment of military bases. We recognise the growing global interest in Antarctica, including for economic reasons. The Treaty prohibits commercial mining activity and all Parties, including Russia, reaffirmed their ongoing commitment to this ban in 2023. As with other multilateral fora, we have seen Russian State obstructionism in the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources. We will continue to work with international partners to ensure UK interest, and that of our allies, are protected in the Antarctic, and the integrity of all multilateral organisations is preserved. The UK has longstanding interests in Antarctica, and we will continue to maintain a permanent presence on the continent, allowing us to conduct world-leading science, preserve British heritage, and safeguard our sovereignty of the British Antarctic Territory. I recently established a cross-ministerial polar group to consider cross-cutting questions such as these.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 9 April 2025 to Question 43796, whether the topic of US interest in claiming Greenland was discussed.
I met Greenlandic Foreign Minister Motzfeldt at the Arctic Circle Assembly on 18 October 2024 in Iceland, and on 13 January 2025 in London. We discussed a range of bilateral and Arctic issues. We do not publish the minutes of diplomatic meetings.As per my response to Parliamentary Question 43796, the Foreign Secretary and I have been clear that 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.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 9 April 2025 to Question 43796, what the dates were of the two meetings with Greenland’s Foreign Minister.
I met Greenlandic Foreign Minister Motzfeldt at the Arctic Circle Assembly on 18 October 2024 in Iceland, and on 13 January 2025 in London. We discussed a range of bilateral and Arctic issues. We do not publish the minutes of diplomatic meetings.As per my response to Parliamentary Question 43796, the Foreign Secretary and I have been clear that 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.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the feasibility of undersea mineral extraction from nodes in the territorial waters of the Falkland Islands.
The natural resources of the Falkland Islands belong to the Islanders, and as such any consideration of undersea mineral extraction is a matter for the Falkland Islands Government. The UK supports the right of the Falkland Islanders to develop their natural resources for their own economic benefit - this is an integral part of their right of self-determination.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment has he made of the potential impact of Chinese activity in Antarctica on (a) the environment, (b) British interests and (c) international interests.
The Antarctic Treaty, of which the UK and China are members, preserves Antarctica as a place of peace and science. While there is growing global interest in the economic potential of Antarctica, the Treaty ensures all parties adhere to high environmental standards. The UK has longstanding interests in Antarctica, and we will continue to maintain a permanent presence on the continent, allowing us to conduct world-leading science, preserve British heritage, and safeguard our sovereignty of the British Antarctic Territory.