Written questions by Morton.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of protecting global water supplies in humanitarian and development settings.

The world is facing a growing water crisis exacerbated and accelerated by climate change. Decades of collective mismanagement and undervaluation of water have damaged our ecosystems and contaminated our water resources. We can no longer rely on having enough freshwater for our collective future. Restoring stability of the water cycle is critical to deliver an equitable and sustainable future for all. We will fail to address the climate and nature crises and deliver all the Sustainable Development Goals if we fail on water.This will undoubtedly impact the poorest and most vulnerable the hardest. We are working to build resilience for the most vulnerable to cope with crises, including water insecurity and food insecurity. We are committed to increasing the quality and quantity of international climate finance to fragile and conflict affected states, which have traditionally struggled to attract investment. The UK is playing a critical role driving systems transformation to protect freshwater ecosystems and global water supplies.Through our Just Transitions for Water Security programme, we are working with climate vulnerable countries to influence policy, strengthen governance and accountability mechanisms, and shift markets to leverage critically needed investments in water. Similarly, the UK is working with our international partners to ensure climate-resilient and sustainable Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) - which is essential for poverty reduction, achieving global health goals, and for empowering of women and girls. For example, the UK is working through Sanitation and Water for All's Heads of State Initiative to accelerate access to water security and WASH by engaging political leadership at the highest level.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief on his (a) priorities and (b) plans to engage with international counterparts.

David Smith MP was announced as UK Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) in December 2024. The Envoy works closely with Lord Collins, the Minister responsible for Human Rights, and with other Ministers in the FCDO and, where relevant, other government departments to promote the government's shared priorities on FoRB for all with a range of UK and international partners individually and collectively through the Article 18 Alliance.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with the (a) Chancellor of the Exchequer and (b) Chief Secretary to the Treasury on the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative.

Preventing conflict and empowering women and girls is critical to the delivery of the government's missions, and this Government remains committed to delivering the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI). The FCDO works closely with HM Treasury to ensure that spend is directed towards our priorities.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to support sexual and reproductive health and rights for women and girls in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

This ceasefire provides a real opportunity now to halt the suffering in Gaza and the UK is doing all it can to support a sustained surge of aid, including to meet the sexual and reproductive health needs of women and girls. The UK has already announced £112 million of assistance this financial year for the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Palestinian refugees in the region. Additionally, £4.25 million of UK assistance to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has supported UNFPA to distribute reproductive health kits and midwifery kits across Gaza.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to his Department's International Women and Girls Strategy 2023-2030, published in March 2023, what steps his Department has taken to implement the three Es within the strategy.

The FCDO is committed to putting women and girls at the heart of everything we do. We will continue to support women and girls to access quality education, tackle gender-based violence, and empower women and girls globally and stand up for their health and rights. Last November, I announced a new £27 million programme to tackle technology-facilitated gender-based violence. We have doubled our aid for Sudan, including £14 million for education programmes in Sudan and for Sudanese refugees, the majority of whom are women and children. In December, the Prime Minister pledged £37 million to strengthen grassroots and civil society organisations and expand access to sexual and reproductive health and rights.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the humanitarian situation in the autonomous region of Tibet following the earthquake on 7 January 2025.

Following the earthquake, I issued a statement offering our condolences to the people affected by the devastating loss of life in Shigatse, Tibet. Due to travel restrictions and lack of media freedom in Tibet it is difficult to get up to date, independent reports of the situation on the ground. Chinese state reporting has detailed a significant humanitarian response internally, with no request for international support. We received no requests for consular support for UK nationals in Tibet, but received calls regarding several UK nationals in Nepal, who have subsequently all been reported safe.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Vietnamese counterpart on the case of Greta Marie Otteson.

FCDO Ministers are aware of Ms Otteson's case. FCDO officials are providing support to the family and are in contact with the Vietnamese authorities regarding the case. We are unable to provide comment on the detail of individual consular cases in line with relevant UK data protection legislation: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/foreign-commonwealth-development-office/about/personal-information-charter.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what estimate he has made of the number of British Nationals currently in the autonomous region of Tibet.

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office does not hold estimated numbers of British nationals currently in the autonomous region of Tibet. The UK Government does not require British nationals to register with the nearest British Embassy or High Commission when overseas.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of reports from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of fuel tankers being hijacked at the Kerem Shalom crossing on humanitarian aid delivery into Gaza.

The deteriorating security situation in Gaza after 15 months of conflict has been very concerning. Humanitarian actors including UN agencies must be able to carry out their vital work safely and effectively. We welcome reports that aid is now entering Gaza safely and at scale. Israel must now continue to work with partners to ensure law and order is reestablished in Gaza so that safe distribution of aid across the Gaza strip is sustained. The UK is also pressing Israel to increase the flow of aid from Jordan and Egypt, alongside more commercial goods from Israel, the West Bank and neighbouring countries.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with his international counterparts on the extradition of Bashar al-Assad to Syria.

The Foreign Secretary has not had discussions on the extradition of Bashar al Assad to Syria.Accountability is key to any sustainable transition and we continue to advocate for this to be part of the transitional process. The Foreign Secretary raised the need for accountability most recently with interim Foreign Minister Shaibani at the International Contact Group for Syria in Riyadh on 12 January.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether (a) he and (b) a Minister in his Department plans to attend the Nutrition For Growth Summit in Paris in 2025.

As Minister for Development I am planning to attend the summit and FCDO officials continue to work with French counterparts to build momentum in the lead up. Formal invitations have yet to be issued.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what estimate he has made of the number of British nationals in Trinidad and Tobago.

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) does not hold this information. The UK Government does not require British nationals to register with the nearest British Embassy or High Commission when overseas. The FCDO stands ready to provide consular support to British nationals abroad 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to reduce the amount of Overseas Development Assistance spent on in-donor refugee costs.

We will use our development spending to achieve better outcomes as part of a coherent international approach, with a strong focus on poverty reduction and accelerating progress on the Sustainable Development Goals.The Home Secretary is committed to ensuring asylum costs fall and has already acted. This includes taking measures to reduce the asylum backlog and end the use of expensive hotels. We expect these plans to create more space in the Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget to spend on our international development priorities overseas. The first meeting of the re-established ODA Board, chaired by myself and the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, will focus on in-donor refugee costs.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment his Department made of the safety of travel to Trinidad and Tobago before issuing recent travel advice.

A factual update to FCDO Travel Advice for Trinidad & Tobago was made on 31 December 2024 and 14 January 2025 as a result of assessments made in the wake of the declaration of and extension of a state of emergency in response to gang-related violence. The safety of British nationals in each country and territory is our overriding concern when determining our travel advice. The FCDO keeps travel advice under regular review.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what plans he has to discuss the proposed treaty with Mauritius in respect of the British Indian Ocean Territory with (a) the new US administration and (b) the Secretary of State for Defence.

We have been clear that this deal protects UK and US national security interests by ensuring the long-term effective operations of the base. However, given the importance of the base to the US, it is right that the new US Administration has the chance to consider the full agreement properly. We look forward to discussing the deal with them, which will include, of course, sharing the full detail of what has been agreed, including the detailed protections we have secured for the base for the next 99 years and beyond. We have regular discussions with the Secretary of State for Defence on this and other matters and will continue to do so.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions the Minister for Development has had with Baroness Shafik during the independent development review.

I have been in communication with Baroness Shafik throughout the review, including discussing review findings.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what plans he has to publish regional bilateral programmes for 2024-25.

The FCDO is finalising Official Development Assistance (ODA) allocations for 2024/25, and these will be published in the coming weeks. It is right that as a new Government we carefully consider the indicative budgets set by the previous Government.Ministers will consider how to allocate the FCDO's ODA budget for 2025/26 over the coming months ahead of publication in the Annual Report and Accounts in summer 2025.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what preparations his Department is making for the Nutrition For Growth Summit in Paris in 2025.

The FCDO is looking forward to the 2025 Nutrition for Growth summit. FCDO officials have been working closely with French counterparts to build momentum in the lead up to the summit. The UK continues to champion the integration of improved nutrition outcomes alongside successes in other sectors - health, agriculture, humanitarian, and climate.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, in which regional bilateral programmes he plans to make efficiency savings.

The FCDO is finalising Official Development Assistance (ODA) allocations for 2024/25, and these will be published in the coming weeks. It is right that as a new Government we carefully consider the indicative budgets set by the previous Government.Ministers will consider how to allocate the FCDO's ODA budget for 2025/26 over the coming months ahead of publication in the Annual Report and Accounts in summer 2025.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the proportion of overseas development assistance that is spent on in-donor refugee costs.

We will use our development spending to achieve better outcomes as part of a coherent international approach, with a strong focus on poverty reduction and accelerating progress on the Sustainable Development Goals.The Home Secretary is committed to ensuring asylum costs fall and has already acted. This includes taking measures to reduce the asylum backlog and end the use of expensive hotels. We expect these plans to create more space in the Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget to spend on our international development priorities overseas. The first meeting of the re-established ODA Board, chaired by myself and the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, will focus on in-donor refugee costs.