Every parliamentary written question tabled by Brendan O'Hara this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 1–20 of 104 · this parliament
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential implications for its policies of levels of UK foreign direct investment into Georgia, in the context of reported targeting of journalists and peaceful protesters in the country, and and the continued detention of journalist Mzia Amaglobeli.
Awaiting answer.
What assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the report by Viginum entitled Rokh Solis: Analysis of an informational modus operandi that targeted the municipal electi
The Government is committed to safeguarding the UK's democratic integrity. The Joint Election Security Preparedness Unit (which sits jointly across the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Cabinet Office) is dedicated to electoral...
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has made recent representations to her Vietnamese counterpart on freedom of religion or belief for independent religious communities in that country.
The UK regularly raises concerns with the Government of Vietnam about freedom of religion or belief for independent religious communities. Vietnam is a focus country in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's Freedom of Religion and Belief (FoR...
What steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help reduce the cost of living in Scotland.
This Government is taking real action to help Scottish families with the cost of living. We have delivered the biggest upgrade to workers’ rights in a decade, extended the fuel duty freeze, increased the State Pension and Universal Credit, and are deliver...
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has had discussions with the Home Office and Department for Education on establishing and funding a safe, facilitated departure scheme for the 2026 cohort of stud
Further to my answer of 12 January in response to Question 103313, a total of eight cohorts of students and qualifying dependants have so far been supported to leave Gaza to take up their university places in the UK for the 2025/26 academic year. The futu...
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Government will support a facilitated departure of students from Gaza with fully funded scholarships to universities in Scotland and across the UK this year.
Further to my answer of 12 January in response to Question 103313, a total of eight cohorts of students and qualifying dependants have so far been supported to leave Gaza to take up their university places in the UK for the 2025/26 academic year. The futu...
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Six-Monthly Report on Hong Kong published on 26 March 2026, what diplomatic steps she is taking to secure the release of Jimmy Lai following reports tha
I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 21 April in response to Question 127084.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the report by the Independent Delegation of International Lawyers to Honduras, entitled "Our Determination Outweighs Our Fear": Agrarian conflict and the cr
On 28 April, the Minister of State for International Development met with Peace Brigades International and Honduran human rights defenders in London to discuss the report in question, and she reinforced the UK's calls for stronger protections for human ri...
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the report by the Independent Delegation of International Lawyers to Honduras published in April 2026, what representations her Department has made to the g
On 28 April, the Minister of State for International Development met with Peace Brigades International and Honduran human rights defenders in London to discuss the report in question, and she reinforced the UK's calls for stronger protections for human ri...
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to support religious minorities displaced by conflict in Myanmar, including Rohingya Muslims and Christian communities in Chin State.
Awaiting answer.
How the Government aligns its climate commitments with continued support for investor–state dispute settlement provisions in bilateral investment treaties where such provisions may affect fossil fuel transition policies in partner countries.
The UK draws on the full range of investment commitments and international best practice in our international investment agreements to promote growth, deliver our clean energy goals, and continue to uphold the UK’s right to regulate.Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) provides an independent means to resolve disputes with states where investors believe they have experienced arbitrary, discriminatory or unfair treatment or expropriation without compensation. ISDS does not remove governments’ right to regulate in the public interest, including with respect to the environment.
Whether the Government plans to support international efforts on addressing legal mechanisms that may hinder fossil fuel phase-out policies, in advance of the International Conference on a Just Transition Away from Fossil Fuels.
The UK is fully committed to the transition away from fossil fuels, both domestically and working with partners internationally. Recent events have underlined once more the risks of being exposed to volatile international fossil fuel markets. The UK delegation, led by the UK's Special Representative for Climate, will engage in discussions on a variety of barriers and solutions to the transition away from fossil fuels.
What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of investor–state dispute settlement provisions in the Colombia–UK Bilateral Investment Treaty on Colombia’s ability to implement climate policies aimed at phasing-out fossil fuels.
The Government values the role played by the UK-Colombia Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) in the investment relationship between our countries. Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) provides an independent means to resolve disputes with states where investors believe they have experienced arbitrary, discriminatory or unfair treatment or expropriation without compensation. ISDS does not remove a government’s right to regulate in the public interest, nor its obligations to comply with other commitments, including with respect to the environment.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential implications for its policies of recent Israeli legislation introducing the death penalty.
The UK opposes capital punishment in all circumstances, and we have raised our concerns directly with the Israeli Government about the recently-passed Death Penalty Bill.In a joint statement with Australia, France, Germany, Italy and New Zealand on 29 March, we highlighted the discriminatory character of the bill, and urged the Government of Israel to abandon it.And on 30 March, the Foreign Secretary raised the bill in a call with Foreign Minister Sa’ar, and highlighted Israel’s obligations under international humanitarian law.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what outcomes resulted from engagement with Mir Hazem Tahsin Beg in July 2025 in relation to (a) support for Yazidi communities and (b) the location of disappeared persons.
I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 18 March in response to Question 117286.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps her Department is taking to help ensure unrestricted humanitarian access in Lebanon.
I refer the Hon Member to the press statement on Lebanon issued by the Foreign Secretary on 15 March (link provided below), and to her oral statement to the House on 17 March.https://www.gov.uk/government/news/foreign-secretary-statement-on-the-situation-in-lebanon--2
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure the protection of civilians in Lebanon.
I refer the Hon Member to the press statement on Lebanon issued by the Foreign Secretary on 15 March (link provided below), and to her oral statement to the House on 17 March.https://www.gov.uk/government/news/foreign-secretary-statement-on-the-situation-in-lebanon--2
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps her Department is taking to help secure a ceasefire in Lebanon.
I refer the Hon Member to the press statement on Lebanon issued by the Foreign Secretary on 15 March (link provided below), and to her oral statement to the House on 17 March.https://www.gov.uk/government/news/foreign-secretary-statement-on-the-situation-in-lebanon--2
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department plans to support unaccompanied and separated children in Lebanon.
I refer the Hon Member to the press statement on Lebanon issued by the Foreign Secretary on 15 March (link provided below), and to her oral statement to the House on 17 March.https://www.gov.uk/government/news/foreign-secretary-statement-on-the-situation-in-lebanon--2
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department plans to increase bilateral and multilateral humanitarian assistance to Lebanon.
I refer the Hon Member to the press statement on Lebanon issued by the Foreign Secretary on 15 March (link provided below), and to her oral statement to the House on 17 March.https://www.gov.uk/government/news/foreign-secretary-statement-on-the-situation-in-lebanon--2