Written questions by Patel.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations he has made to (a) support the rights of (i) minority groups and (ii) women and girls and (b) promote religious freedoms in Syria since the appointment of an interim President on 29 January 2025.

The Foreign Secretary met interim Syrian Foreign Minister al Sheibani on 12 January and stressed the need for an inclusive political transition. In our engagement with the interim Syrian authorities, we have consistently advocated for an inclusive political process and underlined the importance of protecting the rights of all civilians, including women and religious and ethnic minorities. The UK Special Representative for Syria reiterated these points during her visit to Damascus on 29 January.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what aid he plans to deliver to Syria in 2025.

The UK continues to provide vital support to those in need in Syria and Syrians across the region. We pledged more than £250 million in 2024, and in December 2024, we announced a further £61 million in support. Through the United Nations and international non-governmental organisations, we are providing food, healthcare, protection, and other life-saving assistance. Financial year 2025/2026 budgets are under consideration by FCDO Ministers.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how funding to UNRWA announced in (a) July 2024 and (b) December 2024 has been spent; and whether conditions were imposed on funding provided to UNRWA since July 2024.

The UK has committed £41 million for United Nations Relief and Work Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) this financial year, to deliver essential services for civilians in Gaza and the West Bank, and to Palestinian refugees across the region. On 19 July 2024, the Foreign Secretary announced £21 million towards UNRWA's Flash Humanitarian Appeal for Gaza and the West Bank, which focuses its resources on emergency food, shelter, and other support, as well as its wider work supporting Palestinian refugees across the region. £1 million of this funding was earmarked for implementing the recommendations of Catherine Colonna's Independent Review. On 2 December 2024, The Minister of State for Development announced a further £7 million funding towards UNRWA's Flash Humanitarian Appeal for Gaza. On 13 December, the Prime Minister committed to an additional £13 million to UNRWA to support vital services for Palestinian refugees in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and the region. A Memorandum of Understanding governs UK financial support to UNRWA. We continue to monitor UNRWA's activity through due diligence and annual assessments.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help prevent (a) arms, (b) drugs and (c) people trafficking through Syria.

We are taking a regional approach to help prevent arms, drugs and people trafficking networks through Syria. Our efforts include support to the Lebanese and Jordanian Armed Forces to tackle more effectively incursions by drugs and weapons smugglers from Syria, and we provide support to the Government of Iraq and Kurdistan Regional Government to respond to threats posed by serious organised crime groups, including those operating in Syria.Additionally, we are working with international partners to raise awareness and take action on the risks posed by the captagon industry, which fuels regional instability and generates vast revenues for criminal gangs and armed groups in Syria and across the region.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what support his Department provides to organisations working to protect the (a) rights and (b) safety of the Ahmadi Muslim community in Pakistan.

Promoting the rights of religious minorities is an important part of the UK's diplomatic engagement in Pakistan. I raised Ahmadi rights when I met Pakistan's Human Rights Minister on 19 November in Pakistan and discussed this issue in Parliament on 28 November. The British High Commission continues to raise the issue of safety for the Ahmadi community at the highest levels, including the need to respond swiftly to incidents of violence. UK officials routinely speak with civil society groups in Pakistan and the UK to better understand the issues affecting the Ahmadi community and inform our engagements with the Pakistani authorities. UK programming also brings together influential community and faith leaders and minority representatives to promote interfaith harmony.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when he shared with the US Administration a copy of the proposed Treaty with Mauritius over the future sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory.

We shared the proposed treaty with the new US Administration upon their taking office. Our primary goal throughout negotiations is to protect the joint UK-US military base in Diego Garcia, which plays a crucial role in regional and international security. The UK has been working in lockstep with the US since the start of negotiations in 2022, including under the previous Conservative government. Given Diego Garcia's status as a key strategic asset, it is right that the new US Administration has the chance to consider the agreement.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the announcement of the appointment of an interim president in Syria; and whether he recognises that position as a Head of State.

On 29 January, Ahmed Al-Sharaa was announced as Syrian President for a transitional period. We welcome Al Sharaa's announcement that he will form an inclusive transitional Government, leading to free and fair elections. This is a critical moment for Syria's transition and we will continue to judge Al Sharaa on his actions.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Prime Minister discussed proposals to (a) reduce the length of term of the proposed lease and (b) make changes to the financial arrangements for the proposed terms of the lease of the military base at Diego Garcia agreed with the Mauritius Government on 3 October 2024 during his phone call with the Prime Minister of Mauritius on 31 January 2025.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the read-out of their meeting on gov.uk.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what funding he plans to provide to Mauritius as part of official development assistance programmes in 2025.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's ODA programme allocations for 2024/25 were published in a Written Ministerial Statement (HCWS421) on Thursday 6 February 2025. We are prioritising predictability and stability after years of turbulence. Ministers will consider ODA allocations for 2025/26 over the coming months, and we will publish them in the Annual Report & Accounts in summer 2025. The second phase of the Spending Review, concluding in late spring 2025, will set departmental ODA budgets for future years.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Prime Minister had discussions on strategy towards Iran during his phone call with the President of the United States on 26 January 2025.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the read out of the Prime Minister's phone call with President Trump on gov.uk.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Prime Minister had discussions on the (a) future of the British Indian Ocean Territory and (b) military base at Diego Garcia during his phone call with the President of the United States on 26 January 2025.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the read out of the Prime Minister's phone call with President Trump on gov.uk.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Prime Minister had discussions on strategy towards China during his phone call with the President of the United States on 26 January 2025.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the read out of the Prime Minister's phone call with President Trump on gov.uk.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions (a) he, (b) Ministers in his Department and (c) officials in his Department have had with US counterparts on the (i) the future sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory and (ii) the military base at Diego Garcia since 20 January 2025.

The Foreign Secretary spoke with United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio on 27 January. The Foreign Secretary and the Secretary of State discussed how long-term protection of the base on Diego Garcia is a shared UK and US priority. Ministers and officials will continue to engage closely with US counterparts as they consider the details of the proposed Treaty between the UK and Mauritius on the sovereignty of the Territory.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what consents are required from US Government to appoint the new UK ambassador to that country.

The UK follows the universal diplomatic process of agrément, as set out in the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, for what reason his Department notified the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government about the resubmission of the planning application for the Chinese Embassy in Tower Hamlets; and whether that notification included material planning grounds for requesting that the Secretary of State exercise powers under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to determine the planning application.

In the anticipation of press interest in the application, FCDO officials notified colleagues in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) of the resubmission of the planning application for the Chinese Embassy in Tower Hamlets. This notification did not express any views on the exercise of the powers that the Secretary of State, MHCLG, has under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to call in and determine the planning application. The decision to call in the planning application was a decision of the Deputy Prime Minister in her capacity as Secretary of State, MHCLG, and was made in line with current policy on call-in.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will publish all (a) correspondence and (b) representations his Department (i) has made and (ii) received on the planning application for the proposed Chinese Embassy since July 2024.

The planning application has been called in by the Secretary of State for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and she will make this decision independent from the rest of Government corresponding to her quasi-judicial role. As you would expect, the FCDO has received correspondence relating to the planning application. We have no plans to publish this information. The Foreign Secretary and Home Secretary's written representations to the Planning Inquiry are publicly available.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations he has received from his Mauritian counterpart on the length of the proposed lease of the military base on Diego Garcia since 3 October 2024.

The agreement will have a duration of 99 years from entry into force, extendable with the agreement of both parties.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what verbal discussions his Department has had with representatives of the Chinese government on the planning application for a new Chinese Embassy in London since July 2024.

The planning application has been called in by the Secretary of State for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and she will make this decision independent from the rest of Government corresponding to her quasi-judicial role.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of recent trends in the prevalence of human right abuses in Hong Kong] and if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of such instances on civilians.

China's imposition of the National Security Law on Hong Kong has seen opposition stifled and dissent criminalised. The UK continues to call for the National Security Law to be repealed and for an end to the prosecution of all individuals charged under it, including Jimmy Lai.The UK will continue to stand up for the rights of the people of Hong Kong. The Foreign Secretary has raised human rights in every meeting with his Chinese counterpart Foreign Minister Wang Yi, including during his recent visit to China on 18 October. I again raised these concerns with the Chinese and Hong Kong authorities on my visit to Hong Kong on 14-15 November.On Christmas Eve, the Foreign Secretary strongly condemned the Hong Kong police's targeting of individuals for exercising their right to freedom of expression and called on Beijing to repeal the National Security Law. Officials have raised concerns directly with the Chinese and Hong Kong authorities.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 20 December 2024 to Question 18362 on Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Cost Effectiveness, when he expects to be in a position to provide details of departmental budget savings.

The Department expects to have finalised savings plans by April 2025.