Written questions by O'Hara.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether future UK-funded capacity-building programmes will be structured to (a) advance Palestinian statehood and (b) support the government of Palestine in building institutions capable of delivering public services across Palestine, including the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem.

I refer the Hon Member to the statement made by the Foreign Secretary on the Middle East on 18 November, where support for Palestinian institutions was discussed. We will update the House in due course on any further developments.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with her international counterparts on the reported attacks by the Armenian government against the Armenian Apostolic Church; and what diplomatic steps she is taking to ensure its protection.

The UK is monitoring the situation between the Armenian Government and the Armenian Apostolic Church. We expect all actions to comply with Armenia's constitutional and legal framework, allowing due process to take its course and ensuring that all individuals are treated fairly under the law, with judicial proceedings remaining transparent and impartial. The UK Government remains firmly committed to promoting and protecting the right to freedom of religion or belief worldwide.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department supports negotiations for a treaty on lethal autonomous weapons systems in 2027.

The Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) and its Group of Government Experts (GGE) is the appropriate forum to consider the issue of emerging technologies in the area of Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS). It is inclusive, expert and consensus based which means that as a forum its conclusions will have the most meaningful impact. The UK is an authoritative voice in the GGE, aiming to increase understanding of the related issues and encourage agreement on appropriate norms and standards. We continue to support the fulfilment of the 2023 consensus mandate of the GGE to 'formulate, by consensus, a set of elements of an instrument, without prejudging its nature, and other possible measures to address emerging technologies in the area of LAWS'. The LAWS GGE has made progress in articulating the key aspects of the issue and its current mandate provides a positive basis for progress.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what the her Department's objectives are in its engagement with the UN Group of Governmental Experts on Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems.

The Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) and its Group of Government Experts (GGE) is the appropriate forum to consider the issue of emerging technologies in the area of Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS). It is inclusive, expert and consensus based which means that as a forum its conclusions will have the most meaningful impact. The UK is an authoritative voice in the GGE, aiming to increase understanding of the related issues and encourage agreement on appropriate norms and standards. We continue to support the fulfilment of the 2023 consensus mandate of the GGE to 'formulate, by consensus, a set of elements of an instrument, without prejudging its nature, and other possible measures to address emerging technologies in the area of LAWS'. The LAWS GGE has made progress in articulating the key aspects of the issue and its current mandate provides a positive basis for progress.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many meetings the UK has participated in under the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons framework on lethal autonomous weapons systems; what the financial cost of that participation has been; and what progress has been made towards delivering her Department's objectives in those discussions.

The Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) and its Group of Government Experts (GGE) is the appropriate forum to consider the issue of emerging technologies in the area of Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS). It is inclusive, expert and consensus based which means that as a forum its conclusions will have the most meaningful impact. The UK is an authoritative voice in the GGE, aiming to increase understanding of the related issues and encourage agreement on appropriate norms and standards. We continue to support the fulfilment of the 2023 consensus mandate of the GGE to 'formulate, by consensus, a set of elements of an instrument, without prejudging its nature, and other possible measures to address emerging technologies in the area of LAWS'. The LAWS GGE has made progress in articulating the key aspects of the issue and its current mandate provides a positive basis for progress.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications of her policies of the recent detention of 70 Vietnamese refugees in Thailand.

The UK Government continues to monitor reports of human rights concerns in Vietnam. We regularly raise these issues with the Vietnamese authorities - including at the highest levels - through bilateral engagement and in multilateral forums such as the UN Human Rights Council. Our Embassy in Bangkok is following the arrests of Montagnard Protestants in Thailand. This includes liaising with the relevant authorities to understand potential next steps. We continue to urge all governments to uphold their international human rights obligations, including the non-refoulement principle.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of reports of (a) torture and (b) other human rights violations by Tô Lâm .

The UK Government continues to monitor reports of human rights concerns in Vietnam. We regularly raise these issues with the Vietnamese authorities - including at the highest levels - through bilateral engagement and in multilateral forums such as the UN Human Rights Council. Our Embassy in Bangkok is following the arrests of Montagnard Protestants in Thailand. This includes liaising with the relevant authorities to understand potential next steps. We continue to urge all governments to uphold their international human rights obligations, including the non-refoulement principle.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department gave Special Mission Immunity to Mr Tô Lâm to allow him to travel to the UK in October 2025.

No special immunity was given in this case.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with her Iranian counterpart on the arrest of (a) Negar Misaghian and (b) Shakib Farzan; and what diplomatic steps she is taking to help ensure their release.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 18 September to question 74935.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with her counterpart in China on the recent detention of members of Zion Church; and what diplomatic steps she is taking to help ensure their release.

The UK Government is aware of reports concerning the detention of Zion Church members in China. We continue to follow developments closely and regularly raise human rights concerns with the Chinese authorities. The UK remains committed to promoting human rights and the rule of law globally.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with her Chinese counterpart on the re-sentencing of Zhang Zhan; and what diplomatic steps she is taking to help ensure her release.

The Government regularly raises its concerns about media freedom with the Chinese authorities, including the case of Zhang Zhan, and the Prime Minister and Cabinet colleagues have all raised human rights with their Chinese counterparts.British diplomats attempted to attend Zhang Zhan's trial on 19 September but were declined entry to court. On 13 October, the Media Freedom Coalition issued a joint statement expressing our strong concern about the detention of Zhang Zhan and calling for her release.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with her Chinese counterpart on (a) Christian churches in that country and (b) the arrest of (i) priests and (ii) laypersons from that community; and what diplomatic steps she is taking to help ensure the promotion of religious freedom in that country.

The Government champions freedom of religion or belief for all abroad, and we continue to engage with Chinese counterparts on the restriction of those freedoms, including the arbitrary arrest of Christians for practicing their faith.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department has granted a Special Mission Immunity certificate to President Isaac Herzog of Israel in advance of his official visit in September 2025; and whether additional assurances of immunity have been provided beyond Head of State Immunity.

The UK Government can confirm that President Isaac Herzog's visit to the UK was conducted under the protections afforded to Heads of State under international law. Special Mission Status was not requested for this visit.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with the Egyptian authorities on reports of discrimination against the Baha’i community; and what steps she is taking to help (a) ensure the protection of the Baha’i population and (b) promote religious freedom in the country.

The UK is committed to defending freedom of religion or belief (FoRB), for all. The Egyptian Government has stated its commitment to protecting the rights and freedom of worship as well as the protections enshrined in the Egyptian constitution. We continue to regularly raise rights concerns with the Egyptian authorities.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations he has made to his Honduran counterpart on the killing of Juan López.

The UK condemns the killing of Juan Lopez in September 2024. Human rights defenders working on environmental issues should be able to work without fear of reprisal, wherever they are. Our Embassy in Guatemala City, which maintains our relations with Honduras, issued a statement following Mr Lopez's death urging the authorities in Honduras to urgently investigate this case. Officials at our Embassy in Guatemala City and in the UK are in regular contact with civil society organisations regarding human rights in Honduras.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much his Department is reducing programme funding to the Education, Gender and Equality Directorate by; and what assessment his Department has made of the impact of that reduction on women and girls in the Global South.

Our 2025/26 Official Development Assistance (ODA) programme allocations reflect the first step as we begin to pivot to a lower ODA budget, the ministerial line-by-line strategic review of our ODA programming, and our commitment to protect planned humanitarian spend and live contract agreements. An Equalities Impact Assessment (EIA) - which considers impacts on women and girls - was an essential part of how the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) made these decisions. The EIA also tracks spend in Least Developed Countries (LDCs). The final 2025/26 ODA programme allocations were published in the Annual Report & Accounts on 22 July alongside the EIA. As confirmed by the EIA, the allocations process for 2025/26 has protected against disproportionate impacts on equalities.The FCDO is committed to empowering women and girls globally and remaining a world leader on championing safe, inclusive education, including in the Global South.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the reported comments of the OHCHR spokesperson on 11 July 2025, if he will have discussions with his (a) UN, (b) United States and (c) Israeli counterparts on the causes of deaths at the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation aid distribution centres.

The UK has been clear that Israel's approach to aid delivery in Gaza is inhumane, fosters desperation and endangers civilians. We are appalled at repeated mass casualty incidents in the vicinity of Gaza Humanitarian Foundation distribution sites. Desperate civilians who have endured 20 months of war should never face the risk of death or injury to simply feed themselves and their families. We co-called a United Nations Security Council meeting on 16 July where we reiterated that Israel must lift restrictions on aid entering Gaza. The Foreign Secretary spoke to Foreign Minister Sa'ar on 21 July to raise these issues, press Israel to restore humanitarian access and agree to a ceasefire. We continue to work with partners, including the United Nations and United States, to push for improved humanitarian access, a ceasefire and a lasting peace in the region.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations he has made to his counterparts in (a) Israel and (b) the United States on the effectiveness of the functionality of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation aid distribution centres.

The UK stands firmly against Israel's inhumane approach to aid delivery in Gaza. We are appalled at repeated mass casualty incidents in the vicinity of Gaza Humanitarian Foundation distribution sites, with hundreds of desperate civilians killed whilst trying to get food for their families. The Foreign Secretary spoke to Foreign Minister Sa'ar on 21 July to raise these issues, press Israel to restore humanitarian access and agree to a ceasefire. We continue to work with partners, including the United States, to push for improved humanitarian access, a ceasefire and a lasting peace in the region.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many evacuation flights have been arranged for UK nationals from (a) Israel, and (b) the West Bank since 13 June 2025.

The UK Government have arranged six flights from Israel since 24 June. At this time, no further flights are planned. Commercial flights are now available. This remains a fast-moving and fragile situation, and plans will be kept under constant review.

What steps he plans to take to regulate arms exports in line with international (a) legal and (b) human rights obligations; and what assessment he has made of the potential merits of new international regulations over goods that could be used for torture.

All export licences are assessed on a case-by-case basis against the UK’s Strategic Export Licensing Criteria. Criterion 1 requires us to comply with the UK’s international commitments and obligations (including our treaty obligations), and Criterion 2 requires us specifically to determine if there is a clear risk that the exported items might be used to commit or facilitate internal repression, including torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment, or to commit or facilitate violations of international humanitarian law. The Government will not grant an export licence if doing so would be inconsistent with the Criteria. We keep all extant licences under regular review and have suspended licences where concerns that they may violate the criteria have emerged. The UK also continues to work internationally to improve the robustness of international arms transfers and human rights assessments, with the goal of bringing them to the highest possible standards.