Written questions by Smith.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to secure the release of Lindsay and Craig Foreman.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer provided on 11 March in response to Question 114825.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential implications for its policies of Nikkei's investigation entitled Chinese state company helps Russian ally build ammunition plant, published on 23 February 2026.

We have taken action, including sanctions, against entities supporting Russia's military‑industrial complex. As the Prime Minister made clear in Beijing, we continue to urge China to prevent such activity and to use its influence to press Russia towards a just and lasting peace.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 28 January 2025 to Question 24853 on North Korea: Christianity, what assessment she has made of the steps taken by Government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in response to her Department's engagement on human rights issues, including on freedom of religion and belief.

The UK remains deeply concerned by the ongoing reports of severe persecution in North Korea for those adopting or practicing religion. We welcomed North Korea's participation in the UN Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review's fourth cycle (in November 2024) and continue to urge North Korea to take concrete actions to fulfil its commitment to implement the accepted recommendations. We will continue to raise human rights issues with North Korean officials bilaterally and in multilateral fora, including to allow independent civil society organisations immediate and unhindered access to the country.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her Department's policies of Amnesty International's press release entitled Georgia: Elections marred by severe reprisals and risk of further violence, published on 3 October 2025.

I am aware of the report in question, and I have raised my own concerns about the imprisonment of opposition figures, pressure on civil society, and attacks on independent media directly with the Georgian Government. The UK will continues to raise those human rights issues with the Georgian authorities, and to work with international partners, including through the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), to support democratic standards and accountability.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has contingency plans in place if funds from the 2022 sale of Chelsea Football Club are not released within the authorised period.

I refer the Rt. Hon Member to the answer provided on 16 February to question 112094.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the UK's signing of the Convention establishing an International Claims Commission for Ukraine, what the Government’s timeline is for bringing forward the legislation required to ratify the Convention.

Russia must be held accountable for its illegal actions in Ukraine. The UK is a founding member of the Register of Damage and I signed the Convention to establish an International Claims Commission for Ukraine on 16 December 2025. We expect to lay the treaty before Parliament in the current parliamentary session, with further domestic steps required for ratification to follow in due course.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department has made an assessment of the effectiveness of the evidence used by the US in its designation of Bidzina Ivanishvili; and whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of applying sanctions on people linked to the repression of (a) civil society, (b) independent media and (c) political oppression in Georgia.

The UK remains resolute in our support for civil society, independent media and democratic freedoms in Georgia. Legislation introduced by the Georgian Government over recent years continues to target non-governmental organisations, opposition leaders and independent voices. We are monitoring developments closely and working with international partners. The UK has imposed targeted sanctions on senior Interior Ministry figures responsible for violent attacks on protesters, judges for abusing their positions, and high-ranking officials for enabling serious human rights violations. I cannot comment on potential future sanctions designations, as doing so could undermine their effectiveness.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the decision to issue a licence authorising the release within 90 days of the proceeds from the 2022 sale of Chelsea Football Club for humanitarian support in Ukraine, what the deadline is for the completion of this process.

On 17 December 2025, His Majesty's Government issued a licence which permits the transfer of over £2.5 billion proceeds from the club's sale into a new foundation for humanitarian purposes in Ukraine. We would have preferred to take this action with the cooperation of Mr Abramovich and his company, Fordstam Ltd, and we continue to urge him to honour the commitments he made in 2022. But if Mr Abramovich fails to act quickly, this Government is fully prepared to go to court to enforce his previous commitments if necessary.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of removing the wear and tear allowance for childminders under Making Tax Digital.

Childminders play a vital role in childcare. The Government has eased rules on working from schools and community centres and increased early years funding rates above 2023 average fees. These increases reflect increased costs, and from April 2026, local authorities must pass at least 97 per cent of funding to providers. Only a small proportion of childminders with qualifying income over £50,000 will be mandated into Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income tax from April 2026. Childminders moving to MTD for income tax can continue to claim tax relief for household costs, wear and tear of household items and furniture, and food and drink, by deducting actual business costs. This ensures childminders receive tax relief for all of the costs that they incur in relation to their childminding business. The Government will monitor the impact of Making Tax Digital (MTD) for income tax on childminders and other home-based childcare providers in the same way as it will for all sole traders moving to MTD for income tax.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations she has made to her Nigerian counterparts regarding the arbitrary detention of Mr Nnamdi Kanu and what steps she is taking to secure his release.

I refer the Rt Hon member to the answer provided for 87707 on 19 November 2025.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the state of religious freedom in Armenia.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer provided on 17 November 2025 to Question 89462.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps she has taken with her international counterparts to help ensure the independence of Armenia’s Apostolic Christian Church.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer provided on 17 November 2025 to Question 89462.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of Prime Minister of Armenia moving to enact state control of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer provided on 17 November 2025 to Question 89462.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions her Department has had with its international partners and relevant authorities on restrictions on girls’ access to education in Afghanistan.

The UK Government condemns the Taliban's ban on girls' secondary and higher education in Afghanistan. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office officials consistently raise human rights concerns, including the ban on girls' education, in engagements with the Taliban, including during every visit to Kabul. The UK works closely with international partners to sustain pressure on the Taliban, including through our chairmanship of the G7+ group of countries, our membership of the Afghanistan Coordination Group and engagement through the UN and the Human Rights Council.

How many solar arrays in GB Energy inventory were made in part or in whole using forced labour.

Great British Energy will lead the way in ethical supply chains by engaging with stakeholders to raise standards, explore alternatives to diversify high-risk supply chains, and work internationally to align with leading global partners. As a publicly owned company, Great British Energy is expected to be a first in class example of adherence to the UK’s legislation and guidance on modern slavery, including the Modern Slavery Act 2015, and is actively engaging with partners to raise the bar globally on solar supply chain transparency and accountability. Solar purchasing has been undertaken by Devolved Governments, Other Government Departments, NHS Trusts, and relevant Mayoral Combined Authorities, under clear expectations by GBE that they must comply with UK procurement rules, including requirements under the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and Procurement Act 2023, as well as seeking out additional reassurances where necessary.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of reports of Russia sending Ukrainian children to camps in North Korea; and if she will have discussions with her NATO counterparts on demanding the return of those children back to Ukraine.

These reports are highly alarming and would represent a further concerning aspect of the deepening relationship between Russia and North Korea. As the Foreign Secretary said to the House on 15 October, the kidnapping and forcible deportation of almost 20,000 Ukrainian children by Russia is one of the most disturbing aspects of this war, and we will continue to do all we can to support the return of those children, as well as monitoring the latest reports on their whereabouts and treatment.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of reports of torture and other serious human rights abuses in scam centres operating in Cambodia; and what steps his Department is taking to press for accountability and the protection of victims.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer he was given on 3 November in response to Questions 85061-64, and I would add that we are closely monitoring reports of torture, human trafficking and other abuses in Myanmar-based scam centres, working with partners and international organisations to gather evidence of the scale of the problem, and strengthening law enforcement capacity to detect, investigate, and disrupt online trafficking recruitment and illicit financial flows linked to cyber-enabled fraud. All evidence is kept under review, and further action will be taken when needed.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to monitor and prevent the rerouting of assets, including gold reserves, from Cambodia to other jurisdictions following recent sanctions; and whether she is working with international partners to disrupt money laundering linked to cybercrime networks in Cambodia.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer he was given on 3 November in response to Questions 85061-64, and I would add that we are closely monitoring reports of torture, human trafficking and other abuses in Myanmar-based scam centres, working with partners and international organisations to gather evidence of the scale of the problem, and strengthening law enforcement capacity to detect, investigate, and disrupt online trafficking recruitment and illicit financial flows linked to cyber-enabled fraud. All evidence is kept under review, and further action will be taken when needed.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department plans to take further steps beyond recent sanctions to address human rights abuses linked to Cambodian scam centres, including efforts to secure the release of individuals held in conditions amounting to torture.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer he was given on 3 November in response to Questions 85061-64, and I would add that we are closely monitoring reports of torture, human trafficking and other abuses in Myanmar-based scam centres, working with partners and international organisations to gather evidence of the scale of the problem, and strengthening law enforcement capacity to detect, investigate, and disrupt online trafficking recruitment and illicit financial flows linked to cyber-enabled fraud. All evidence is kept under review, and further action will be taken when needed.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to her Department's joint press release entitled UK and US take joint action to disrupt major online fraud network, published on 14 October 2025, what steps she is taking to support international efforts to monitor conditions in Cambodian scam centres and assist victims of torture and other abuses.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer he was given on 3 November in response to Questions 85061-64, and I would add that we are closely monitoring reports of torture, human trafficking and other abuses in Myanmar-based scam centres, working with partners and international organisations to gather evidence of the scale of the problem, and strengthening law enforcement capacity to detect, investigate, and disrupt online trafficking recruitment and illicit financial flows linked to cyber-enabled fraud. All evidence is kept under review, and further action will be taken when needed.