theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Terry Jermy:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many people have received funding from the Disabled Facilities Grant in (a) South West Norfolk constituency, (b) Norfolk and (c) East Anglia in each of the last 14 years. \p Rushanara Ali: The Disabled Facilities Grant allocation to South West Norfolk constituency, Norfolk and East Anglia for the last ten years is shown below. This information is not available prior to 2015-16:

Year

Kings Lynn and West Norfolk

Norfolk County Council

East Anglia (Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough)

2015-16

£759,000

£3,753,000

£9,210,000

2016-17

£1,248,225

£6,367,664

£16,194,692

2017-18

£1,352,170

£6,923,659

£17,680,001

2018-19

£1,456,115

£7,479,654

£19,165,308

2019-20

£1,571,235

£8,070,995

£20,680,514

2020-21

£1,782,807

£9,157,782

£23,465,217

2021-22

£1,782,807

£9,157,782

£23,465,217

2022-23

£1,782,807

£9,157,782

£23,465,217

2023-24

£1,938,375

£9,956,890

£25,512,792

2024-25

£2,212,175

£11,363,321

£29,116,526

This information is also available through the website of Foundations, the National Body for DFGs and Home Improvement Agencies here: Disabled Facilities Grant Annual Allocations.

It is for local authorities to decide how to spend their allocation and deliver adaptations to eligible disabled and older people. Government does not hold data on how many people have received Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) funding.

This Government recognises how important home adaptations are in enabling disabled people to live as independently as possible in a safe and suitable environment. This is why government awarded an £86 million in-year uplift to the DFG for 2024-25, bringing the total funding for 2024-25 to £711 million. The Government has also confirmed £711 million for the DFG for 2025-26.

We are also reviewing the allocations formula for the DFG to ensure the funding is aligned with local needs and will consult on a new approach during 2025. Any changes in policy that require additional funding would be subject to the Spending Review.
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Stuart Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to support the renovation of (a) village halls and (b) community centres. \p Alex Norris: Community centres and village halls are important parts of our social fabric in towns and villages across the UK.

Through the English Devolution Bill, we will introduce a new Community Right to Buy to help local people acquire valued community spaces, which will help to bring them back into use and rejuvenate high streets across the country.

We have also announced a further £750,000 as a 1-year extension to the £3 million Platinum Jubilee Village Halls Fund for 2025/2026. This will support the modernisation or improvement of village hall facilities by providing capital grants between £2000 and £75,000, up to a maximum of 20 per cent of eligible project costs. Since 2022, it has supported 142 large projects (£7,500 to £75,000) and 90 small projects (£2000 to £5000).
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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 23/04/20225 to Question 45236 on private parking sector, if she will publish the minutes of her upcoming meetings with both private parking trade associations. \p Alex Norris: The Department does not usually publish minutes between Ministers and stakeholders. However, my officials would be happy to share a note of the meeting with your office after it takes place.
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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of private parking companies on motorists in Devon. \p Alex Norris: The Government recognises that the matter of private parking enforcement of local authority land is a complex issue that affects local authorities, private operators and motorists. I can confirm that the Government is looking into this matter, and will be able to provide a definitive response in due course.

The Government recognises the need for high standards in the private parking industry and is committed to delivering a Code of Practice, in accordance with The Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019.

We are progressing with plans to protect and support all motorists and to help us further understand the potential impacts of the Code, we will be launching a consultation in due course.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how often the Deputy Prime Minister has used her office in Room 111 in 70 Whitehall in the last six months. \p Alex Norris: This information is not held centrally.
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Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has made an assessment of the effectiveness of its statutory intervention at Slough Borough Council since December 2021. \p Jim McMahon: After publishing the fifth report from Slough Commissioners together with my response in October 2024, I confirmed to the House on 20 November that I had extended the statutory intervention at Slough Borough Council until 30 November 2026, and reappointed the Commissioner team together with a Managing Director Commissioner.
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Kirsty Blackman:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many posts there are for (a) press, (b) media and (c) other communications staff in her Department; and what the salary band is for each post. \p Alex Norris: In the central MHCLG communications team, there are a total of 53 Full Time Equivalent Government Communication Service professionals.

Of this total, 19 work in the media discipline which covers press and media responsibilities.

This is the latest available data from June 2024.
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Neil O'Brien:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many staff in (a) her Department and (b) Homes England have job titles which include the words (i) equality, (ii) diversity, (iii) inclusion, (iv) gender, (v) LGBT and (vi) race. \p Alex Norris: As of 31 March 2025 the department had 5 or less roles that included the specified words within their job titles.

Homes England have no one employed with these words in their job title, nor do they have any colleagues designated solely to work on EDI.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the increase in employers National Insurance contributions on the number of staff directly employed by local authorities. \p Jim McMahon: We recognise the pressures local authorities are under as demand for vital services grows. Government is providing £2 billion of additional grant funding through the Settlement, including £502 million to manage the impact of employer National Insurance Contribution changes on council budgets, and £13 million for combined authorities, totalling £515 million.

Payments to councils will be unringfenced to give local authorities discretion over the use of funds in their area. This funding can be used to support councils to mitigate the additional costs of employer National Insurance Contributions within direct, commissioned, and externally provided local services, for example.

Additional funding for employer NICs has been determined based on a national assessment of the costs for directly employed staff. The grant distribution methodology has been published in an explanatory note on the government website: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/updated-explanatory-note-on-the-employer-national-insurance-contribution-grant-2025-to-2026.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what progress the Best Value intervention has made on improving Birmingham City Council’s oracle and income management system. \p Jim McMahon: The Best Value Intervention has supported substantial progress in addressing key issues relating to Birmingham City Council’s Oracle ERP system. A new re-implementation strategy is set, with the Council committed to adopting the best practice processes of the new system. The programme is currently in the design phase, with Council officers engaged in understanding system requirements and developing a formally agreed process model. Commissioners have noted improved leadership, staff engagement and collaboration. The Council, supported by Commissioners, will continue their efforts during this crucial period – the system build is expected to commence once the design phase concludes in May and the Council formally agrees the way forward, with a currently planned implementation in 2026.
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Steve Darling:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when her Department plans to respond to the correspondence from Councillor David Thomas, leader of Torbay Council of 10 February 2025. \p Jim McMahon: I thank the hon. Member for Torbay for drawing my attention to this correspondence. I have instructed officials to expedite a reply to Cllr Thomas.
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what information her Department holds on the total cost of employers’ National Insurance contributions in (a) London boroughs, (b) Metropolitan districts, (c) County councils, (d) Shire districts, (e) Unitary authorities, (f) the Greater London Authority, (g) fire and rescue authorities and (h) fire and rescue authorities in the Greater Manchester Combined Authority in (i) 2024-25 and (ii) 2025-26. \p Jim McMahon: In the Autumn Budget 2024, the government announced funding to help public sector organisations cover the additional costs associated with employer National Insurance Contributions. This funding has been allocated to departments and other public sector employers, with shares based on data covering headcount, wage and salary costs

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government allocated its share of the funding based on a measure of total service expenditure. The department published details of its methodology on the government website: Updated explanatory note on the Employer National Insurance Contribution Grant 2025 to 2026 - GOV.UK.
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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what funding she has made available for town centre regeneration in Great Yarmouth constituency. \p Alex Norris: This Government is fully committed to supporting the regeneration of our town centres and coastal communities.

Our new £1.5bn Plan for Neighbourhoods programme will deliver up to £20 million of funding and support over the next decade into 75 communities across the UK, including Great Yarmouth and 24 other coastal towns; laying the foundations to kickstart local growth and drive-up living standards.

The programme will help revitalise local areas and fight deprivation at root cause. Funding from the Plan for Neighbourhoods will help people across all 75 towns create bespoke regeneration plans that best fits the needs of their community, delivering change that people can see and identify with.

Alongside this, Great Yarmouth will benefit from an additional £597k for 2025-26 to support new or existing UK Shared Prosperity Fund investments.
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Josh Newbury:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will take steps to develop a strategy for (a) preventing and (b) responding to wildfires. \p Alex Norris: The Prime Minister announced in February 2025 that the Home Office’s fire functions would move to the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) from the 1 April 2025 under a machinery of government (MOG) change. This included its responsibilities as lead government department for wildfire.

In the Third National Adaptation Plan (2023) the previous government committed to scoping a wildfire strategy and action plan. Prior to the MOG the Home Office convened a number of stakeholder workshops with the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (Defra), its’ agencies, and other stakeholders to identify policy options for addressing wildfire risk. The outcomes of this work are currently being considered.

Since 2024 the government has funded a National Resilience Wildfire Advisor to assess what additional national capabilities might be needed in the fire sector to increase resilience to wildfire risk. In addition to ensuring the effective coordination of approaches across the sector, MHCLG has also been working with other departments, stakeholders and partners to identify further research opportunities to enhance our understanding of wildfire risk.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 29th April 2025 to Question 47888 on Fire and Rescue Services: Finance, whether population (a) density and (b) sparsity is taken into account when calculating fire and rescue services funding. \p Alex Norris: Both population density and sparsity are key components of the current fire funding formula. The Government recognises that the formula is outdated. As such, this formula is currently being reviewed as part of Local Government funding reform and a public consultation on this ran from 18 December 2024 to 12 February 2025.
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Laurence Turner:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the process is for amending an enterprise zone's boundaries. \p Alex Norris: Enterprise Zone sites were carefully selected and are designated in law. We currently have no plans to allow for boundaries to be redrawn
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Carla Denyer:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Renters' Rights Bill on renters in rent to rent schemes. \p Matthew Pennycook: Tenants living under rent-to-rent arrangements should have legal protections and the same right to redress as other private renters.

Rent to rent arrangements can be abused to make it more difficult to identify landlords and hold them to account.

The Renters’ Rights Bill addresses this in several ways:

To improve enforcement against criminal rent to rent schemes, we are expanding rent repayment orders to cover superior landlords in rent-to-rent arrangements. This will mean all landlords involved can be held to account by tenants.

We are also extending liability for rent repayment orders to company directors. This will help to ensure that where the rent-to-rent company has committed an offence, the individuals behind it cannot escape liability.

Complex ownership arrangements for rent-to-rent agreements should not impede effective enforcement. We intend to pass secondary legislation which will require the details of others associated with the property, such as the owner or superior landlord, to be recorded on the Private Rented Sector Database.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to London Council's press release entitled London borough leaders make united call for ‘seat at the table’ in new devolution settlement, published on 3 April 2025, what her policy is on giving a greater role to London boroughs in pan-London governance. \p Jim McMahon: The Government remains committed to engaging local authorities, including London Borough Councils, and the wider local government sector on the detail of our reforms set out in the English Devolution White Paper. As part of this process, it will be important to consider London’s unique devolution settlement, including drawing on existing ways of working between the Greater London Authority and London Boroughs.
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, which Departmental budget will cover the cost of the use of armed forces personnel to support waste collection in Birmingham. \p Jim McMahon: This is a local issue and it is right that the response is led by the key public sector partners in Birmingham. We have been clear that if the local leaders on the ground in Birmingham feel tackling these issues goes beyond the resources available to them and they request national support, then we stand ready to consider any such ask. The Department is working with the Council on options to address further costs arising from industrial action.

To date, additional support has included the three office-based military personnel with logistical expertise that were made available to the council to assist with planning. They have now returned to normal duties. We are grateful to our colleagues in the MOD for their support.

More widely, the government is under no illusions about the scale of the wider financial challenge facing councils following more than a decade of cuts by successive Conservative governments. The government is therefore supporting the Leader and his team in Birmingham, directly and through the Commissioners, to move the council on from its historic issues. This includes providing an increase in Core Spending Power in Birmingham of up to 9.8%, or £131m for 2025-26, and £39.3 million of the new one-off Recovery Grant that illustrates this Government’s commitment to correcting unfairness in the funding system.
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many meetings her Department had with Unite between 11 March 2025 and when she decided to use the armed forces to help with waste collection in Birmingham. \p Jim McMahon: The Secretary of State has engaged with Unite and Birmingham City Council to encourage them to get back around the negotiating table. She has not met with ACAS and the Department has not met with Unite. Any talks to settle the equal pay dispute are solely between the employer (Birmingham City Council) and trade union (Unite).

The decision to allow a small number of military personnel to provide office based operational planning expertise for a short, time limited period to support the council with making sure its response to the ongoing public health risk is as swift as possible was taken in the first week of the major incident, and they were able to add value in that time which was appreciated by the council and the Department.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has issued guidance to local authorities on trade union facility time since 1 March 2013. \p Jim McMahon: The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has not issued guidance to local authorities on trade union facility time since 1 March 2013. However, the Local Government Transparency Code 2015 sets out publication requirements on trade union facility time for local authorities. The Cabinet Office published guidance for public bodies on reporting trade union facility time data on 21 May 2019. This guidance was most recently updated on 22 May 2024. The Ministry has also previously written to the sector periodically to remind authorities of their obligations regarding publishing trade union facility time.
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Llinos Medi:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what her policy is on whether the UK Shared Prosperity Fund will continue as a distinct funding stream beyond the current Spending Review period. \p Alex Norris: The Government will set out its long-term vision for local growth at the multi-year Spending Review.
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Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to (a) evaluate and (b) mitigate the impact of global health crises on the United Kingdom's (i) national security, (ii) public health, (iii) economic stability, and (iv) military readiness. \p Stephen Doughty: The Government recognises the threat global health crises pose for UK national security and prosperity, noting that the threat of another global pandemic is specifically highlighted in the UK National Risk Register. The Government has a multifaceted approach to mitigating this threat which includes multilateral initiatives such as strengthening the World Health Organisation and bilateral initiatives aimed at supporting partner countries and regional institutions to prevent, detect and respond to health threats by building stronger, more resilient health systems.
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what estimate he has made of the potential impact of the recent changes to the ODA's budget on nutrition-related spend. \p Stephen Doughty: The Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) is awaiting the outcome of the ongoing Spending Review to determine how the Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget will be used. The FCDO remains committed to integrating nutrition, delivering nutrition objectives alongside successes in other sectors.

The FCDO's nutrition-related spend is reported as part of the Nutrition Accountability Report. The 2022 Report was published in August 2024 with nutrition-related spend for 2022 totalling £366.4 million. The FCDO is currently reviewing nutrition-related spend for calendar year 2023.
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he plans to reduce in-donor refugee costs to meet Official Development Assistance budget allocations for (a) 2026-27 and (b) 2027-28. \p Stephen Doughty: The Government is committed to ensuring that asylum costs fall and has already acted. The Government has taken measures to reduce the asylum backlog, reform the asylum accommodation system to help end the use of expensive accommodation in the next Spending Review (SR) period and increase detention capacity to facilitate more asylum removals. Whilst there will always be volatility in asylum forecasts, we expect these decisions to drive down overall in-donor refugee costs over the next multi-year SR (2026/xx-xxxx-xxxx).

Departmental Official Development Assistance allocations will be confirmed at the next Spending Review.
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Anna Gelderd:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will list the project (a) title, (b) code and (c) cost of International Climate Finance projects under the international forest (i) indigenous peoples and local communities, (ii) Congo basin and (ii) Amazon pledge in (A) 2021-22, (B) 2022-23, (C) 2023-24 and (D) 2024-25 financial year. \p Stephen Doughty: At COP26, the UK committed £1.5 billion International Climate Finance (ICF) for forests from April 2021 to March 2026, including £200 million for the Congo Basin (to 2029) and £300 million for the Amazon. This forms the UK's contribution toward the Global Forest Finance Pledge, Congo Basin Pledge, and Indigenous People and Local Communities Forest Tenure Pledge. The UK invested £682 million over financial years 2021/22 (£155 million), 2022/23 (£200 million), 2023/24 (£327 million). Data is not yet finalised for 2024/2025. The UK Government publishes detail of ICF programmes through our online resource DevTracker and pledge reports can also be found online for consultation.
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the Independent Development Review in the context of changes changes to Official Development Assistance. \p Stephen Doughty: The review recommendations are now being considered as part of the Foreign Secretary's wider work to reform the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), including how the FCDO approaches the reduction in the Official Development Assistance budget.
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what proportion of Official Development Assistance spending will be on domestic (a) administrative and (b) staffing costs in 2025-26. \p Stephen Doughty: The Department estimates that the proportion of Official Development Assistance spending on domestic (a) administrative and (b) staffing costs in 2025-26 will be approximately 3 per cent and 1 per cent respectively. The staffing costs are part of the total administrative costs. These figures are indicative estimates only.
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of providing long-term funding for de-mining (a) organisations and (b) programmes between 2026 and 2029. \p Stephen Doughty: Decisions on how the Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget will be used from 2025-2029 are being worked through as part of the ongoing Spending Review, based on various factors including impact assessments.
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of US tariffs on the Falkland Islands economy. \p Stephen Doughty: The UK Government is working closely with the Falkland Islands Government to understand the impact of the US tariffs, this includes engaging and meeting with experts in the Department for Business and Trade and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. I spoke to the Chair of the Legislative Assembly on 3 April on this issue, and discussed it again with the full Legislative Assembly and Governor on 23 April.
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of a delay in pledging for Gavi’s 8th replenishment on 25 June 2025 on (a) the UK’s international reputation and (b) other donor countries making pledges. \p Stephen Doughty: The UK is one of the largest donors to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. We have committed £1.65 billion to the current strategic period covering 2021-2025. The UK is working with all partners, including other donors, to support a successful replenishment of Gavi. The UK has been clear about the reasons for the difficult decision to reduce UK Official Development Assistance from 0.5 per cent of Gross National Income to 0.3 per cent by 2027. Announcements on individual investments will be made following the completion of the Spending Review process.
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he plans to make a financial commitment for Gavi’s 8th replenishment on 25 June 2025. \p Stephen Doughty: The UK is one of the largest donors to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. We have committed £1.65 billion to the current strategic period covering 2021-2025. Following the difficult decision to reduce UK Official Development Assistance (ODA) from 0.5 per cent of Gross National Income to 0.3 per cent by 2027 we are taking a rigorous approach to ensure all ODA delivers value for money. Announcements on individual investments will be made following the completion of the Spending Review process.
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to strengthen partnerships with (a) local governments and (b) non-governmental organisations to improve the effectiveness of UK-funded development projects. \p Stephen Doughty: The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) values local authorities and civil society as an essential element for delivering UK aid, as well as a policy partner and further recognises that stronger, more inclusive engagement with such partners and local organisations can better empower those that development and humanitarian efforts are designed to serve. Delivery, leadership, and decision-making by local people is often the best solution, particularly in times of crisis and in complex contexts. We are working to support the network to take a locally led approach that strengthens the leadership and resilience of local institutions, organisations and communities.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-06)

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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 4 April 2025 to Question 41877 on Ukraine: Drug Resistance, which (a) projects and (b) work streams are focusing on tackling AMR. \p Stephen Doughty: We are funding the Ukrainian Red Cross (URCS) who are treating people, including some which have these infections. However, our humanitarian support does not specifically involve or target the particular issue of anti-microbial resistance (AMR). The URCS have funded UK-based surgeons and nurses to provide expertise to the burns unit in Kyiv. This unit supports people who have been injured through shelling, attacks, and debris, as well as household accidents. The medical staff coming to Kyiv help with best practice sharing; improving current procedures including infection prevention and control to help prevent infection which result in AMR. Through a partnership with the Unbroken Rehabilitation Centre, Imperial Healthcare NHS Trust have launched an infection control programme which aims to strengthen capacity and capability of medical personnel in both the UK and Ukraine to manage the healthcare burden created by AMR.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-06 conversation_345

Priti Patel:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what progress he has made on the (a) capitalisation of the proposed Chagossian Trust Fund, (b) developing the governance arrangements for he proposed Chagossian Trust Fund and (c) presenting details of his total funding commitment to the proposed Chagossian Trust Fund. \p Stephen Doughty: I refer the Rt Hon Member to the response given to her previous Parliamentary Question 39402 on the details of the Treaty.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-06 conversation_346

Priti Patel:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will publish his response to the representations his Department has received from Chagossians on the potential resettlement of parts of the Chagos Archipelago under the proposed treaty with Mauritius. \p Stephen Doughty: We will engage with Chagossians in the UK, and around the world on the implementation of the agreement at both an official and Ministerial level. We do not provide a running commentary on correspondence that is sent to individuals or organisations by Ministers and officials on this issue.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-06 conversation_347

Priti Patel:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what mechanisms are in place for the (a) renewal and (b) changes to the costs of the proposed lease with Mauritius towards the end of the initial 99-year period. \p Stephen Doughty: I refer the Rt Hon Member to the response given to her previous Question 39402 on the details of the Treaty.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-06 conversation_348

Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to encourage (a) local leadership and (b) community involvement in the (i) planning and (ii) implementation of UK-funded development programmes. \p Stephen Doughty: Promoting the resilience and local legitimacy of local civil society and mutual aid groups helps to protect civic space and support open societies and human rights. There is strong evidence that local organisations are particularly effective at driving social accountability and improvements to public services for marginalised groups, including women and girls. Examples include our innovative £60 million partnership with Comic Relief to build the capacity of Southern civil society organisations, and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's programmes to support local Disabled People's Organisations and local Women's Rights Organisations. We are working to support the network to take a locally led approach that strengthens the leadership and resilience of local institutions, organisations, and communities. Delivery, leadership, and decision-making by local people is often the best solution, particularly in times of crisis and in complex contexts.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-06 conversation_349

Priti Patel:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many Government officials have been involved in the negotiations with Mauritius over the proposed treaty on the future sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory since 5 July 2024. \p Stephen Doughty: It would be difficult to assess how many officials are working on the negotiations, given that we do not record and measure the amount of time spent on any one topic where an official covers a range of matters.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-06 conversation_350

Chi Onwurah:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential risk that the proposed free trade agreement between the UK and Israel may result in Israel firms having access to British public procurement contracts which support Israeli firms involved in human rights abuses. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The UK is a leading advocate for human rights around the world. We remain committed to the promotion of universal human rights. We have taken action in the Procurement Act 2023 to strengthen the rules around excluding suppliers which may be unfit to bid for public contracts due to serious past misconduct.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-06 conversation_351

Chi Onwurah:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of including a ban on data localisation in the proposed free trade agreement between the UK and Israel. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: This government is committed to securing the best outcomes for the UK in our Free Trade Agreement negotiations. We are a strong supporter of modern and ambitious digital provisions which prevent unjustified data localisation requirements for UK businesses whilst protecting the UK's high standards for personal data protection.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-06 conversation_352

Anneliese Dodds:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has held recent discussions with his G20 counterparts on the humanitarian situation in Sudan. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: Sudan is a personal priority for the Foreign Secretary, who chaired the London Sudan Conference on 15 April. The conference was co-hosted by the AU, EU, France and Germany, and all G20 counterparts. It was also attended by G20 members including Canada, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye. Discussions at the conference included recognising the urgency of the humanitarian situation, including the impact of refugees on neighbouring states, and how best countries can align and strengthen efforts to get assistance to those who need it most. Delegates also agreed to use their influence with the parties, and urge them to lift all impediments, and guarantee safe, rapid, and unimpeded access throughout Sudan for humanitarian supplies and personnel.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-06 conversation_353

Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much funding was (a) allocated for and (b) spent on the London Sudan conference on 15 April 2025. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: We are currently collating information on funding allocated to and spent on the London Sudan Conference. We will write to the Honourable Member with a full response in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-06 conversation_354

Siân Berry:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what information his Department holds on the number of UK citizens that (a) have served since 7 October 2023 and (b) are serving with the Israeli Defence Forces. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) does not hold specific information on British Nationals who have served with the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). The UK recognises the right of British dual nationals to serve in the legitimately recognised armed forces of the country of their other nationality. The FCDO advises against all travel to Gaza. Israel travel advice - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). Allegations of war crimes should be submitted to the Met Police for investigation.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-06 conversation_355

Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he plans to take with (a) Cabinet colleagues and (b) international partners to help ensure (a) a cessation in hostilities and (b) an end to conflict in Sudan. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: A key focus of the London Sudan Conference on 15 April was to establish international consensus on how to end the conflict. There was clear consensus on the importance of an immediate and permanent ceasefire and sustainable end to the conflict, as reiterated in the co-chairs' statement. The Foreign Secretary and Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office officials will continue to engage with colleagues across Government as well as international counterparts to maintain momentum and work towards a peaceful future for the Sudanese people.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-06 conversation_356

Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps is he taking to engage with (a) bilateral and (b) multilateral parties to the London Sudan conference on 15 April 2025 who did not sign the co-chairs' joint statement. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The Foreign Secretary engaged with multiple partners, bilateral and multilateral, in the run-up to the London Sudan Conference and on the day of the conference itself. The conference demonstrated the strong international will to bring the conflict to an end and to ensure aid reaches those most in need. The UK continues to use all diplomatic levers at its disposal in pursuit of these aims.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-06 conversation_357

Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking with international partners to establish an African Union-led contact group to convene regional partners to focus on a diplomatic solution to the conflict in Sudan. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: At the London Sudan Conference, co-hosts agreed on a series of next steps, including revitalising existing frameworks such as the African Union Expanded Mechanism to enhance coordination among regional partners. Together with our co-hosts, we also emphasised the importance of strategic coordination and inclusive political dialogue, focusing on aligning efforts to achieve a diplomatic solution to the conflict in Sudan. We continue to engage with our international partners on these efforts.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-06 conversation_358

Alice Macdonald:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether upholding the rights of women and girls is one of his Department's priorities. \p Stephen Doughty: The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is committed to putting women and girls at the heart of everything we do. This includes defending their rights and freedoms and tackling the rollback on gender equality globally. The recent appointment of Baroness Harriet Harman as UK Special Envoy for Women and Girls highlights our ongoing commitment to protecting women and girls' rights in the UK and around the world.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-06)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-05-06 conversation_359

Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of UK soft power on exports by UK companies. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: Our soft power is an important driver for growth; the sectors that contribute to our soft power are the economic backbone of the country and deliver tangible benefits for the people of the UK. Greater coordination of the UK's soft power through the Soft Power Council will contribute to growth for the UK through providing opportunities for investment and trade. Research from the British Council shows that strong soft power results in strong growth outcomes for UK businesses. Exports are supported through strong positive perceptions of the UK globally, including trust, favourability and attractiveness.