Relations have strengthened between Venezuela and the US since Maduro’s capture in January 2026. Venezuelan interim President Delcy Rodríguez has signed an agreement giving the US preferential access to her country's oil fields.

Relations have strengthened between Venezuela and the US since Maduro’s capture in January 2026. Venezuelan interim President Delcy Rodríguez has signed an agreement giving the US preferential access to her country's oil fields.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what instructions has he given to the Foreign Office for the accreditation of diplomats to the Palestinian embassy.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what instructions has he given to the Foreign Office for the accreditation of diplomats to the Palestinian embassy.

Agreed to on question.

Agreed to on question.

I am grateful to have the opportunity this evening, just before we rise for recess, to raise the case of George Low, a Dartford resident who was tragically murdered in Cyprus in August 2016—now 10 years ago. Before I give an outline of the case, I want to pay tribute...

I am grateful to have the opportunity this evening, just before we rise for recess, to raise the case of George Low, a Dartford resident who was tragically murdered in Cyprus in August 2016—now 10 years ago. Before I give an outline of the case, I want to pay tribute...

I am grateful to my hon. Friend the Member for Dartford (Jim Dickson) for securing this important debate and for his powerful support for George’s parents Helen and Martyn, and their family. He spoke movingly, and I will do my best to respond to his points.

This is a deeply tragic...

I am grateful to my hon. Friend the Member for Dartford (Jim Dickson) for securing this important debate and for his powerful support for George’s parents Helen and Martyn, and their family. He spoke movingly, and I will do my best to respond to his points.

This is a deeply tragic...

The United Kingdom has long supported the right of all Venezuelan people to shape their own future through a peaceful, democratic process. We remain steadfast in our commitment to free, fair elections, and the promotion of human rights and other fundamental freedoms in Venezuela.

Developments in Venezuela since 3 January have...

The United Kingdom has long supported the right of all Venezuelan people to shape their own future through a peaceful, democratic process. We remain steadfast in our commitment to free, fair elections, and the promotion of human rights and other fundamental freedoms in Venezuela.

Developments in Venezuela since 3 January have...

My Honourable Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Americas, Multilateral and Human Rights (Chris Elmore MP) has today made the following statement:

The United Kingdom has long supported the right of all Venezuelan people to shape their own future through a peaceful, democratic process. We remain steadfast in our...

My Honourable Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Americas, Multilateral and Human Rights (Chris Elmore MP) has today made the following statement:

The United Kingdom has long supported the right of all Venezuelan people to shape their own future through a peaceful, democratic process. We remain steadfast in our...

Assad had been militarily reliant on Russia and Iran. Since his fall, the UK has been among those to engage with the interim government and lift many sanctions.

Assad had been militarily reliant on Russia and Iran. Since his fall, the UK has been among those to engage with the interim government and lift many sanctions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to promote compliance with international humanitarian law in Mongolia.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to promote compliance with international humanitarian law in Mongolia.

As the United Nation's 80th year draws to a close, this briefing highlights the work of the UK Missions to the United Nations

As the United Nation's 80th year draws to a close, this briefing highlights the work of the UK Missions to the United Nations

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has met with the Chinese Ambassador to the UK since 3 July 2026.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has met with the Chinese Ambassador to the UK since 3 July 2026.

Despite long and historic disagreements between successive UK Governments and Israel, it has remained a steadfast ally in counter-terrorist efforts to keep our people safe in this country. We are now embarked, it seems, on a full diplomatic dispute with Israel and tit-for-tat expulsions of diplomats. What advice was the Foreign Office giving Ministers on this matter, and what advice were the security services giving about our national security interest before this decision was taken?

Despite long and historic disagreements between successive UK Governments and Israel, it has remained a steadfast ally in counter-terrorist efforts to keep our people safe in this country. We are now embarked, it seems, on a full diplomatic dispute with Israel and tit-for-tat expulsions of diplomats. What advice was the Foreign Office giving Ministers on this matter, and what advice were the security services giving about our national security interest before this decision was taken?

We gave the most careful consideration to all of the issues involved, and indeed all of the risks. The Foreign Secretary and I took close advice from the security services and, of course, officials in the Foreign Office and in our embassies. The risk of the collapse of the two-state solution and the effect that would have on the middle east should concern us all. The risk is that it is dying before our eyes, and that requires us to have the courage to act. In the world that we are in, if Britain loses the confidence to lead on the world stage, where will we be? Where will this country be? It is right that we have taken this action. The Father of the House said yesterday that he “absolutely and fully” supports what my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary is doing,

“standing up for freedom, for morality and for justice for all people in this world.”

—[Official Report, 8 September 2026; Vol. 790, c. 891.]

Those were his words, and we take great heart from them.

We gave the most careful consideration to all of the issues involved, and indeed all of the risks. The Foreign Secretary and I took close advice from the security services and, of course, officials in the Foreign Office and in our embassies. The risk of the collapse of the two-state solution and the effect that would have on the middle east should concern us all. The risk is that it is dying before our eyes, and that requires us to have the courage to act. In the world that we are in, if Britain loses the confidence to lead on the world stage, where will we be? Where will this country be? It is right that we have taken this action. The Father of the House said yesterday that he “absolutely and fully” supports what my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary is doing,

“standing up for freedom, for morality and for justice for all people in this world.”

—[Official Report, 8 September 2026; Vol. 790, c. 891.]

Those were his words, and we take great heart from them.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 19 of his Department's Defence Diplomacy Strategy, published 24 March 2026, what progress he has made on making defence diplomacy an engine for growth.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 19 of his Department's Defence Diplomacy Strategy, published 24 March 2026, what progress he has made on making defence diplomacy an engine for growth.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 19 of his Department's Defence Diplomacy Strategy, published 24 March 2026, what progress he has made on making defence diplomacy a whole of society effort.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to page 19 of his Department's Defence Diplomacy Strategy, published 24 March 2026, what progress he has made on making defence diplomacy a whole of society effort.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether Defence Diplomacy Network funding will support potential defence deals for components and services, as well as platforms, in the Filton and Bradley Stoke constituency and across the country.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether Defence Diplomacy Network funding will support potential defence deals for components and services, as well as platforms, in the Filton and Bradley Stoke constituency and across the country.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the estimated yearly budget is for the Defence Diplomacy network.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the estimated yearly budget is for the Defence Diplomacy network.

To ask His Majesty’s Government what diplomatic steps they intend to take following the absence of consensus at the Review Conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty that took place in April and May.

To ask His Majesty’s Government what diplomatic steps they intend to take following the absence of consensus at the Review Conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty that took place in April and May.

My Lords, the nuclear non-proliferation treaty is the cornerstone of the international nuclear order and the UK remains fully committed to it. It is a treaty that has kept us safe for over half a century, underpinning international security by constraining the spread of nuclear weapons. Although it is disappointing that consensus could not be reached in New York, the review conference covered a thorough examination of global progress to implement NPT obligations over the past four years so as to identify positive progress and those areas that remain challenging. We will continue to work with partners across the world to strengthen implementation of the treaty across all three of its pillars.

My Lords, the nuclear non-proliferation treaty is the cornerstone of the international nuclear order and the UK remains fully committed to it. It is a treaty that has kept us safe for over half a century, underpinning international security by constraining the spread of nuclear weapons. Although it is disappointing that consensus could not be reached in New York, the review conference covered a thorough examination of global progress to implement NPT obligations over the past four years so as to identify positive progress and those areas that remain challenging. We will continue to work with partners across the world to strengthen implementation of the treaty across all three of its pillars.

My Lords, I thank the Minister for her reply. She will appreciate that the threat of nuclear war is as great as it ever was. The fact that the NPT did not reach a consensus was very disappointing, as she says. Will the Government continue, with all the energy they have, to pursue the things that they pursued very well before the treaty, including the UK’s capacity in verification science, nuclear safeguards, strategic stability and arms control negotiations, and, in particular, diplomatic engagement? Diplomatic engagement is the absolute prime issue in keeping us safe before we reach world disarmament, which we may never reach.

My Lords, I thank the Minister for her reply. She will appreciate that the threat of nuclear war is as great as it ever was. The fact that the NPT did not reach a consensus was very disappointing, as she says. Will the Government continue, with all the energy they have, to pursue the things that they pursued very well before the treaty, including the UK’s capacity in verification science, nuclear safeguards, strategic stability and arms control negotiations, and, in particular, diplomatic engagement? Diplomatic engagement is the absolute prime issue in keeping us safe before we reach world disarmament, which we may never reach.