I refer the Noble Baroness to the answer provided in the House of Commons on 8 July in response to Question 15843, which is reproduced below:

The Government extends its deepest sympathies to all those affected by pelvic mesh, and recognises the profound, life‑changing impact these harms have had on individuals and their families. We know that for many, the consequences are ongoing and deeply felt. The Government is carefully considering the work done by the Patient Safety Commissioner (PSC), Professor Henrietta Hughes, including her report, which set out recommendations for redress for those harmed by sodium valproate and pelvic mesh. The Government has been clear that there must be meaningful progress on this matter during this Parliament. We recognise how difficult this uncertainty is for those affected, and we will ensure that the public is kept informed on this important work.

This Government inherited prisons days from collapse. We had no choice but to take decisive action to stop our prisons overflowing and keep the public safe. Without the changes this Government made, courts would have had to halt trials and the police cancel arrests, undermining public safety.

Whilst measures like the SDS40 change provided the intended medium-term relief to the system, this was only ever a temporary change as a bridge to a more sustainable solution. That is why the Sentencing Act has been passed, to deliver a more sustainable solution to the prison capacity crisis we inherited.

Following a review, the Prime Minister and Lord Chanceller have decided that rape and certain child sex offences will be excluded from the progression model and these sentences will retain their current release points. This is in addition to the 18,000 offenders who are already ineligible for earlier release under the model given they have either been found by a court to be the most dangerous or are serving a life sentence.

There has been no Ministerial level contact between the UK Government and the Mauritian Government since 20 January.

All ministerial meetings with external organisations, and relevant Special Adviser meetings, are published in the usual way on gov.uk. Details of ministerial overseas visits are routinely published in each department's quarterly transparency releases

We remain committed to fulfilling our manifesto commitment to introduce specialist rape courts. We are working with criminal justice partners and external stakeholders to develop plans for what form such courts should take. This includes a consideration of case timelines and progression, victim experience, the use of special measures and the effective operation of the courts.

The Government is already taking decisive action to revive our criminal court system and address long-standing issues that impact all victims, particularly those of rape and other serious sexual offences.

The uncapping of Crown Court sitting days in the 26/27 financial year means that more rape and other sexual offence cases can be heard more promptly. Judges will continue to prioritise cases involving vulnerable victims and witnesses, including rape and other sexual offences. Under the judiciary's new National Listing Framework published in July 2026, RASSO cases will be prioritised in listing and, crucially, the practice of floating these cases will end.

Lengthy delays can be particularly difficult for victims of rape and sexual violence and so we are taking forward a range of measures to improve the experience of these victims through the criminal justice system. This includes introducing independent legal advisors for adult rape victims, rolling out trauma-informed training to all court staff, and delivering legislative reforms to protect victims, particularly victims of sexual offences, from unnecessary and intrusive cross-examination about their personal lives at court.

Loans are classed as Official Development Assistance (ODA) where they meet the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) criteria for ODA eligibility, including being provided on concessional terms and having the promotion of economic development and welfare as their primary objective.

Under current OECD rules, only the grant-equivalent element of an eligible loan is recorded as ODA, rather than the full value of the loan.

The Government's position in relation to the UK-Mauritius treaty has been informed by legal advice throughout. A summary of the Government's legal position was set out on 22 May when the treaty was signed, and can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-secures-future-of-vital-diego-garcia-military-base-to-protect-national-security. In accordance with the long-standing convention, adhered to by successive governments, whether or not the Law Officers have been, or will be, consulted, and the substance of any such advice is not disclosed outside government.

The International Strategic Framework, launched at the Global Partnerships Conference in May 2026, sets out how the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) will deliver its standalone Women and Girls Priority by placing them at the centre of the UK's international work. We are prioritising action across four foundations: safety, prosperity, voice and choice (education and health). The UK is working with international partners to drive progress on preventing violence against women and girls (VAWG), including announcing in May the new International Coalition to End VAWG. The coalition brings together eight countries to share expertise and drive practical action to prevent domestic abuse and sexual violence, tackle online abuse, and strengthen global efforts to prevent sexual violence in conflict and other forms of violence in humanitarian crises. The UK is committed to tackling violence domestically and internationally and remains committed to advancing women and girls' rights.

The International Strategic Framework, launched at the Global Partnerships Conference in May 2026, sets out how the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) will deliver its standalone Women and Girls Priority by placing them at the centre of the UK's international work. We are prioritising action across four foundations: safety, prosperity, voice and choice (education and health). The UK is working with international partners to drive progress on preventing violence against women and girls (VAWG), including announcing in May the new International Coalition to End VAWG. The coalition brings together eight countries to share expertise and drive practical action to prevent domestic abuse and sexual violence, tackle online abuse, and strengthen global efforts to prevent sexual violence in conflict and other forms of violence in humanitarian crises. The UK is committed to tackling violence domestically and internationally and remains committed to advancing women and girls' rights.

The Government is committed to a modern approach to international development based on genuine respect and partnership with the Global South to support our common interests. In a statement on his appointment on 20 July, the Foreign Secretary reaffirmed the Government's commitment to strengthening international development partnerships and reforming international institutions so that they deliver more effectively for all countries, including the world's poorest people.

Planning for the UK's G20 Presidency in 2027 is underway, and the government will set out its priorities in due course.

I refer the Noble Baroness to my previous answer on 30 July to question HL2205.

As we move towards publishing the frameworks, I am sure that we will be taking into mind the request that the noble Baroness has made.

It is incredibly precarious. We see increasing gathering of troops around El Obeid, and we see more civilians moving into the city because they are being displaced from surrounding villages and are seeking refuge. This is an incredibly dangerous situation. We are monitoring it very closely, bearing in mind the limitations on our ability to be present on the ground there. I can assure the noble Baroness, because I know she cares deeply about this, that we are talking to our counterparts at Head of State level, and we are all speaking to our counterparts wherever we can, because I think we all understand the way that this stops is for the backers of both the armed groups we are talking about to insist that it stops. They need to stop funding, stop arming, and enable peace to be secured and negotiated.

The UK's G20 policy agenda is currently under development and further details will be confirmed in due course.

We are committed to putting women and girls at the heart of everything we do. This includes ensuring the multilateral system remains a powerful tool for gender equality to secure strong commitments for progress on women and girls.

The Government are committed to publishing FCDO country ODA allocations in or before the FCDO annual report and accounts 2025-26. The annual report is due to be published in July. Publishing the annual report is in line with previous FCDO practice.

What we are doing to make this better—I appreciate that there is less money—is to give three years’ worth of certainty to our posts. We are also requiring them, rather than submitting for approval programme by programme, to do that as a portfolio, so that we can see how everything fits together. Posts are experts, they are there in country, and we pay them to know what they are doing. They can do an analysis of what they think the best approaches are for that particular place, and we are enabling them to do that with the three years’ worth of certainty that they now have.

I am pleased to say that Baroness Harriet Harman remains the UK Special Envoy for Women and Girls, championing our objectives to protect the rights and safety of women and girls around the world, alongside her new, domestic-focused role as the Prime Minister's Adviser on Women and Girls.

Yes, I am very aware that Members are keen to hear about some progress on the consultation on this. We are progressing all steps, and the idea is to introduce by-laws by the end of 2026. I am absolutely mindful of the importance that the noble Baroness attaches to this, as do other noble Lords, and we are working directly with the Marine Management Organisation to move this along.