Ministers said country-by-country aid spending will be published by July and overseas posts will get three-year budgets, as peers challenged how reduced UK aid will protect priorities including women and girls, HIV, Ebola response, biodiversity and support through UNRWA.

The Lords examined new sanctions targeting Russian oil products, LNG, uranium, shipping and war-related supply chains, with support for stronger pressure on Moscow but concern that temporary licences could let Russian crude revenues continue; ministers said the licences are reviewed regularly, currently used by very few businesses, and will end by 1 January 2027, while promising further detail on Sizewell B’s nuclear fuel supply.

Ministers welcomed the fragile US-Iran framework and said Britain was preparing with allies, including France, to help secure unrestricted shipping and clear mines, while peers pressed for details on deployment, Gulf security, humanitarian supplies and unresolved threats from Iran’s nuclear programme and regional proxies.