The Government takes the issue of information threats to national security seriously, including the risk posed by state-sponsored disinformation to democracy. It recognises that some foreign states attempt to manipulate information online to undermine the UK’s interests and weaken the integrity of our democratic institutions. The UK has a strong record of working closely with a wide range of different partners to tackle these risks.

For example, our Defending Democracy Taskforce works to protect the democratic integrity of the UK from threats of foreign interference, by engaging across government and with Parliament, the UK’s intelligence community, the devolved administrations, local authorities, the private sector, and civil society.

More broadly, the Online Safety Act will address a range of online manipulation tactics which pose a threat to UK democratic integrity. The Foreign Interference Offence has been added as a priority offence in the Act and will require companies to take action against a wide range of state-sponsored disinformation and state-linked interference targeted at the UK. Platforms will be required to take steps to remove content which amounts to foreign interference - including where it is produced by AI bots - if they become aware of it on their services.

Finally, we are working in collaboration with international partners to tackle this shared challenge. The UK recently issued a joint statement alongside the US and Canada on our coordinated efforts to counter foreign state information manipulation and is engaging internationally to manage risks on AI-enabled foreign interference, including disinformation. Government is also working to increase cooperation between like-minded international partners and the tech industry to safeguard forthcoming elections from state manipulation, including through the AI Summit.

The elections that took place on 13 January are testament to Taiwan's vibrant democracy. The UK has a clear interest in peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. We consider the Taiwan issue one to be settled peacefully by the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait through constructive dialogue, without the threat or use of force or coercion. We have restated the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait alongside our G7 partners.

The UK welcomes the inauguration of Guatemalan President Arévalo. It is positive that the choice of the people of Guatemala has been respected. The Rt Hon. Lord Benyon attended the inauguration on 14 January. Minister Rutley and His Majesty the King have both issued statements of support for the President confirming that we will stand with those seeking to safeguard democracy and rule of law.

The British Embassy in Guatemala City continues to monitor the political and security situation closely. The UK shares concerns with the EU regarding the conduct of the electoral process prior to election day but agrees with the EU and OAS statements that there were no elements within the voting or counting processes which cast doubt on the electoral results presented by the Guatemalan Electoral Tribunal.

The Venezuelan regime's recent decision to disqualify opposition leader, María Corina Machado, from holding public office for 15 years is an attack on basic democratic rights. It is vital for opposition leaders to be able to stand for election and for opposition parties to be able to organise primaries without improper interference by the state. We have registered our thoughts about the disqualification of Maria Corina Machado and Minister Rutley issued a tweet on 2 July publicly condemning the decision. We continue to encourage all parties concerned to do everything necessary to bring about a return to democracy in Venezuela and to hold free, fair presidential elections in 2024, in accordance with international democratic standards.

I refer the Noble Marquess to the debate on Voter Identification at HC volume 728, column 138, debated on 21 February 2023, and to the answer given to PQ HL 6447, and the debate on Voter ID at HC volume 731, column 919, debated on 27 April 2023.

Regarding the steps taken to monitor and assess the effects of voter identification, I refer the Noble Lord to the response given on 14 March to PQ 162192 .

Free, fair, transparent and inclusive presidential and parliamentary elections as soon as possible across the country remain the clear will and aspiration of the Libyan people who deserve a unified and democratically-elected government that can govern for the good of the whole country and its people, as well as a legislature with a renewed mandate. We call on all Libyan actors and key stakeholders to work with Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya Abdoulaye Bathily and the UN, to fulfil their responsibilities to the Libyan people on the political, security, economic and human rights tracks, in order to deliver long-term stability, security and prosperity.

The Prime Minister wrote to Gustavo Petro last week to congratulate him on his election as President. We look forward to working with him on the wide range of interests our two countries share after his inauguration on 7 August 2022.

It is important that local elections in Central African Republic (CAR), which have not been held since 1988, are credible and inclusive. We have regular conversations with international partners on a range of issues in CAR including elections. In May, British diplomats met members of the international community including the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the UN peacekeeping mission (MINUSCA), and discussed local elections. The UK contributes approximately £40 million annually to MINUSCA, which continues to provide security across the country. MINUSCA also plays a role in election security.

The UK has a strong record of providing electoral support in CAR. During national elections in 2020-21, our £500,000 contribution to UNDP's elections fund supported procurement of critical election materials and greater participation of women and marginalised groups.

The UK fully supports the UN-facilitated, Libyan led and owned political process. Successful free, fair and inclusive elections will be a crucial step in this process, and the Libyan people have made clear their aspirations to have a say in who governs them. The UK is working with Libyan and international partners - including the UN Secretary-General's Special Advisor Stephanie Williams, the United Nation's Support Mission in Libya, and the United Nations Secretary-General - to pursue this priority, supporting Libya's sovereignty and national unity, and putting the country on a path to sustained peace, security and prosperity.

Free, fair and inclusive Parliamentary and Presidential elections on 24 December 2021, including women's full, equal and meaningful participation, is one of the top priorities for the UK in Libya. They are captured in UK-drafted UN Security Council Resolution 2570, and in the communiqué agreed by the Berlin II Conference on 24 June. The UK is working with international and Libyan partners, including the interim Government of National Unity, to pursue these priorities, restoring Libya's sovereignty and putting the country on a path to sustained peace, security and prosperity. We have spent £1.4 million to support the long-term delivery of credible elections, through building the capacity of the Libyan local and national electoral commissions, and £347,000 on increasing women's engagement in the electoral process.

The UK supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Moldova, and a sustainable resolution of the Transnistrian conflict, with a special status for the Transnistrian region. Since Moldovan Presidential elections in 2020, which were assessed by international observers to have been 'well-managed', we do not assess that the security situation in Transnistria has worsened. However, we are concerned by recent reports of human rights abuses and limitations placed on freedom of movement by the de facto Transnistrian authorities. There have been no recent bilateral discussions between the UK and Russian governments on the status of this issue. Minister Morton discussed Transnistria with Moldovan President Maia Sandu, and Interim Prime Minister Aureliu Ciocoi on 12 May during her visit to Chisinau. The UK raises Transnistria regularly in international fora, and we will continue to press for the withdrawal of illegally-stationed Russian forces from the Transnistrian region, in accordance with UN General Assembly Resolutions.

We are disappointed that elections in the Occupied Palestinian Territories have been postponed. The Palestinian people should be allowed to enjoy their democratic rights - and Israel must allow voting for Palestinians in East Jerusalem, in line with the Oslo Accords. Elections are long overdue and we urge the swift setting of a new date.

Following unsubstantiated claims of electoral fraud in the November 2020 elections, Myanmar's armed forces took control of the country on 1st February, declaring a state of emergency. The country is now under effective control of the Commander in Chief and the military Vice President Myint Swe.

The UK condemns this military coup and the detention of members of the civilian Government and civil society, including State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint. The UK calls for the peaceful reconvening of the elected National Assembly, and respect for the results of the November 2020 general election and expressed wishes of the people of Myanmar. We are considering UK actions in response to the coup.

Our High Commission in Kampala has been consulting with the diplomatic community, civil society actors, other international observers, and the Government of Uganda, to ensure we have a comprehensive and accurate picture of the elections. We deployed 51 Election Observers across Uganda on election day, covering over 120 polling stations. Following analysis from the observer missions, we have raised our concerns with the appropriate authorities. Through our lobbying, including at senior levels of government and through our public messaging, we continue to urge the Government of Uganda to respond to any concerns raised and to meet their international human rights commitments. The treatment of opposition figures post-election, including Robert Kyagulanyi, has been unacceptable and the Minister for Africa expressed his concerns about this in his tweet on 19 January. The Minister for Africa welcomes the High Court of Uganda's decision of 25 January that the detention of Robert Kyagulanyi was unconstitutional and unlawful and that these restrictions are now lifted. This is a positive step towards removing the restrictions on political freedoms of Kyagulanyi and the UK will continue to raise these issues with the Government of Uganda

The UK does not recognise the legitimacy of the Venezuelan legislative elections held on 6 December. Electoral conditions were neither free nor fair, and did not reach international democratic standards. We welcome the strong international condemnation of the elections by the International Contact Group (ICG) on Venezuela, the Organisation of American States, the European Union, and others. Staff at our Embassy in Caracas, and in London talk regularly with opposition leaders. We are discussing next steps with like-minded partners in both Europe and the Americas.

The UK Government has noted the provisional election results published by the Independent Electoral Commission in Côte d'Ivoire. In his statement of 30 October ahead of the election, the Minister for Africa was concerned by the violence in the run up to elections and urged the Ivoirian authorities to ensure that all deaths and election-related violent incidents were properly investigated. In his statement on 5 November, the Minister for Africa condemned the violence and incendiary rhetoric during the electoral period in Côte d'Ivoire, and expressed his condolences to the families of those who died. The UK Government notes the varied voter participation around the country, whether through choice or disenfranchisement. The lack of consensus on the electoral process has divided communities, but creating parallel structures is not a resolution. We urge all parties to exercise restraint and abstain from declarations which may inflame the situation further. We encourage all parties to respect the constitutional order and democratic process and to re-establish a genuine political dialogue to resolve their differences.

The UK stands with the people of Côte d'Ivoire at this important moment, and reiterates its commitment to working with all stakeholders in a peaceful way. We continue to follow developments closely.

We are aware of the 2 October statement by the International Crisis Group. However, we will not speculate on the outcome of the US election, which is a matter for the US people.

The UK supports inclusive, one-person-one-vote (OPOV) elections in Somalia in 2021, in line with Somali commitments and mutual goals of building longer-term stability. We have consistently underlined the need for urgent, constructive political dialogue between the Federal Government and the Federal Member States to build consensus, and for accelerated progress on technical preparations to deliver timely OPOV elections.

We are concerned by reports of violence and human rights abuses in Central African Republic (CAR) including in the east of the country. The UK supports efforts to bring lasting peace and stability to the country, including as a major contributor (£42 million per year) to UN peacekeeping mission MINUSCA. MINUSCA is mandated to support elections in December in addition to its vital protection of civilians. The UK also finances the EU Training Mission to build the capacity of CAR security forces, helping to improve security in the country. This includes support to the formation of mixed units from military and armed groups, as part of the 2019 peace agreement. More broadly, in 2019 the UK provided around £20 million in humanitarian and development assistance to support vulnerable people in CAR.

The UK is working closely with Ethiopian and international partners to support preparations for the August elections. Our Embassy is leading international donor coordination around the election in Addis Ababa, and the UK has contributed £15.5m to the UN's "Supporting Elections for Ethiopia's Democracy Strengthening" programme. In 2019, the British Government hosted the chair of the National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE), and two NEBE Commissioners observed the UK General Election in December 2019, meeting with elections experts from the UK Electoral Commission, the British Government and local authorities.

We will continue to work closely with the Ethiopian authorities, our international partners, multilateral bodies and local stakeholders to promote free, fair and safe elections.