theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what support is available to local authorities to meet demand for SEND provision. \p Catherine McKinnell: The statutory duty to provide sufficient school places for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities or who require alternative provision sits with local authorities.

The department provides local authorities with capital funding to support them to meet this duty and has published allocations for £740 million in High Needs Provision Capital Allocations for the 2025/26 financial year.

Of this £740 million, Lancashire County Council has been allocated £19.6 million.

This funding can be used to adapt schools to be more accessible, to create specialist facilities within mainstream schools that can deliver more intensive support adapted to suit the pupils’ needs and to create special school places for pupils with the most complex needs.
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Damian Hinds:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what her Department's definition is of expert teachers. \p Catherine McKinnell: Recruiting and retaining high quality teachers is critical to the government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity and boost the life chances for every child. This is why the government’s Plan for Change has committed to recruiting an additional 6,500 new expert teachers in secondary and special schools, and in our colleges, over the course of this Parliament.

The term ‘expert teacher’ focuses on the qualities and expertise it requires to be a high quality teacher and ensuring that teaching remains a valued profession. Quality teaching is essential to reduce the attainment gap and is the most significant in-school and college determinant of pupil outcomes.

This is why the department has put in place initiatives to ensure teachers are better qualified and better trained. We are introducing legislation to ensure new teachers have or are working towards qualified teacher status, and to help further improve teacher quality from September 2025, we will also introduce the new initial teacher training and early career framework, replacing the current initial teacher training core content framework and the early career framework. We are also reviewing national professional qualification courses to align with the latest evidence and best practice.
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Victoria Collins:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department plans to help promote reading through (a) digital formats and (b) media platforms commonly used by young people. \p Catherine McKinnell: ​I refer the hon. Member for Harpenden and Berkhamsted to the answer of 26 June 2025 to Question ​​61425​.
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Graham Stuart:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to (a) remove and (b) consult on a timetable for the removal of the historic spend factor from the High Needs National Funding Formula. \p Catherine McKinnell: This government’s ambition is that all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) receive the right support to succeed in their education and as they move into adult life.

The structure of the high needs national funding formula (NFF) is largely unchanged for the 2025/26 financial year, as the government takes the time needed to consider what changes are necessary. It is important both to make sure that we establish an equitable education funding system that directs funding to where it is needed, including to reflect any substantive differences in the costs of SEND provision in rural areas, and to support the government’s SEND reforms.

As part of our review of the NFF we are considering the previous government’s decisions on the element based on local authorities’ spending levels in 2017/18, which amounts to about 25% of the 2025/26 NFF quantum. Our plans for this historic spend factor, as for the NFF as a whole, and for any consultations on changes to the NFF, will be announced in due course.
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Esther McVey:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many staff network events took place in her Department in May 2025; and what the names of those events were. \p Janet Daby: Staff networks are collaborative volunteer networks, organised by staff themselves rather than the department. As a result, events are organised by staff themselves, not the department. We are aware of the following events that these networks organised in May 2025.

In May 2025, four staff network events were held in the department as part of Dementia Week. The events were:
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Shockat Adam:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make it her policy to introduce mandatory neurodiversity training for all (a) teachers and (b) education staff. \p Catherine McKinnell: The department is committed to improving support for all children and young people. Statutory Initial Teacher Training and Early Career Teacher induction training must cover adaptive teaching and special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), and this includes training which would support effective teaching of neurodiverse pupils.

The department has reviewed the content for the Initial Teacher Training and Early Career Framework, adding significantly more content related to adaptive teaching and supporting and improving inclusivity for pupils with SEND.

From September 2025, the department has also enhanced the requirement on providers of Early Career Teacher training to develop, in conjunction with educational experts, SEND specific training materials.

The government is expanding the Partnerships for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools (PINS) programme, providing neurodiversity training to teachers and staff in a further 1200 mainstream primary schools.

The department recognises that continuous improvement is essential and have committed to a full review of the Early Career Teacher Entitlement in 2027.
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Liz Jarvis:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential implications for its policies of the National Literacy Trust’s report entitled Children and young people's writing in 2025, published on 12 June 2025. \p Catherine McKinnell: High and rising school standards, with excellent foundations in reading, writing and mathematics, are at the heart of the government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity and give every child, in every region of the country, the best start in life.

In the 2025/26 financial year, the government has committed £27.7 million to support and drive high and rising standards in reading and writing. This summer, the department will publish a Writing Framework which will be a first step to support schools in delivering high-quality writing provision across England.

The department recognises the important work of organisations such as the National Literacy Trust in promoting reading and writing and will continue to engage with them on this important issue.
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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has made an estimate of the cost of hiring new teachers due to changes in employer National Insurance contributions for schools in (a) Fylde constituency and (b) Lancashire. \p Catherine McKinnell: The increase in National Insurance Contributions (NICs) costs was taken into account when calculating the additional funding the department is providing to support schools with the 2025 pay awards in the financial year 2025/26. Schools in Lancashire will be receiving £16.6 million to support them with their NICs costs and the department will publish allocations for the pay grant in the autumn. From 2026/27, funding in respect of NICs costs will be incorporated into schools’ core budgets through the national funding formula.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate her Department has made of the cost of school transport for SEND children in each of the last five years. \p Catherine McKinnell: The department knows that delivering home-to-school travel can be very challenging for local authorities and that costs have increased steeply over recent years. In particular, challenges within the wider special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system have created significant pressure on home-to-school travel. The SEND system inherited by the government has been failing to meet the needs of children and families for far too long, with a lack of early intervention and support in mainstream schools and unsustainable strain on local government finances. The department is grateful to local authorities for ensuring that transport is available for eligible children in the face of significant challenge.

Section 251 of the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009 requires local authorities to submit information about their education expenditure, including expenditure on home-to-school travel. The information collected from local authorities is published on GOV.UK. Further details are available at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/la-and-school-expenditure/2023-24.
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Maya Ellis:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the level of attainment was of (a) girls and (b) boys under 11 in (i) maths and (ii) sciences in Ribble Valley constituency in the latest period for which data is available. \p Catherine McKinnell: The percentage of girls and boys in the Ribble Valley constituency at the end of key stage 2, that met the expected standard in mathematics and science in 2023/24, is provided in the table below.

Mathematics

Science

Girls

78%

88%

Boys

80%

84%
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Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many children with dyslexia achieved a grade five or above in (a) English and (b) Maths GCSE in Ashfield constituency in each of the last five years. \p Catherine McKinnell: The information requested is not held centrally. The department holds information on pupils’ special educational needs by 12 types of primary need. Dyslexia is usually included in the wider category of primary need ‘specific learning difficulty’.
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Kim Johnson:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether the Child Poverty Taskforce has held discussions with the Department for Education on the potential inclusion of family hubs in the forthcoming Child Poverty Strategy. \p Catherine McKinnell: Tackling child poverty is at the heart of this government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity and improve the life chances for every child. For too many children, living in poverty robs them of the opportunity to learn and to prosper.

The Ministerial Child Poverty Taskforce co-chaired by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education and my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, has now met nine times to discuss the critical issues that drive child poverty. One such meeting in January focused on the crucial role of local services, including Family Hubs, in reducing the impact of poverty.

Family Hubs offer vital services from birth to age 19, or to 25 with special educational needs and disabilities, supporting health, education, and wellbeing, particularly for families in poverty. In 2025/26, £126 million will be invested through Family Hubs and Start for Life to give every child the best start in life.

The Taskforce will continue to explore all available levers to drive forward short and long-term action across government to reduce child poverty, including Family Hubs.
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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to increase the teaching of CPR in schools. \p Catherine McKinnell: All state-funded schools in England are required to teach first aid as part of statutory health education, which is taught as part of relationships, sex and health education (RSHE). It includes basic first aid and dealing with common injuries, such as head injuries. Pupils in secondary schools are taught further first aid, for example how to administer CPR and the purpose of defibrillators. Schools can teach topics beyond those covered in the statutory guidance and have flexibility to respond to local issues.

We are currently reviewing the statutory RSHE curriculum, which includes considering whether any additional content is needed, and will be publishing revised guidance shortly.
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Adam Dance:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what consideration the Curriculum and Assessment Review will give to the (a) needs of and (b) challenges faced by students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. \p Catherine McKinnell: ​​The Curriculum and Assessment Review, chaired by Professor Becky Francis CBE, is actively considering the needs and challenges faced by all pupils in accessing the national curriculum and making sure that they are all able to achieve high and rising standards.

​The review is thoroughly examining the key challenges to attainment faced by children and young people in mainstream education, including those with special educational needs and disabilities, such as dyslexia, dyscalculia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

The Review is committed to ensuring all pupils have access to a broad curriculum and achieve positive outcomes.

​This government remains committed to enhancing inclusivity within mainstream schools and the review’s final report and recommendations will be published in autumn, at which point the government will respond.
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Andrew Gwynne:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department holds information on the number of times that defibrillators installed in state-funded schools were used in the last year. \p Stephen Morgan: Since January 2023, defibrillators provided by the department and installed in state-funded schools have been available for use and deployed in over 12,000 emergency situations where there has been a suspected cardiac arrest.
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Neil Coyle:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to help tackle exploitative employers that target immigrant workers. \p Justin Madders: The Fair Work Agency will bring existing labour market enforcement functions together into one place, so employment rights for all workers are enforced more effectively and efficiently.

In addition, the White Paper ‘Restoring Control over the Immigration System’ set out measures for targeting exploitation of migrant workers including reforms to the sponsorship system, putting more responsibility and accountability on effective and responsible sponsors. This will include exploring making it easier for workers to move between licensed sponsors, reducing the risk of exploitation.
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Bell Ribeiro-Addy:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the potential impact of international trials of universal basic income on levels of (a) entrepreneurship and (b) innovation in (i) small businesses and (ii) start-ups. \p Justin Madders: Universal Basic Income is not a government policy and therefore no assessments are planned related to international trials.
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Sarah Olney:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has considered convening a cross-agency taskforce with the (a) Financial Conduct Authority, (b) Prudential Regulation Authority, (c) British Business Bank, (d) HM Treasury and (e) Lending Standards Board to develop a joined-up strategy to embed the ethnicity code across the financial system. \p Gareth Thomas: The government’s approach to support equitable outcomes for businesses led by ethnic minorities and other underserved groups is to work with the financial services sector, building on a shared commitment to fairness and equality and exchanging knowledge of good practice.

Earlier this year the government published a Call for Evidence on small business access to finance, which included the experiences of ethnic minority-led businesses and other underserved groups, and will be publishing our response to this in the Autumn and the further steps we will take.
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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how much his Department spent on equipment for civil servants to work from home in each of the last three years. \p Justin Madders: DBT’s default approach is Hybrid Working. This combines the benefits of face-to-face working with the flexibility of working from home or another location. Contractual homeworking is a type of flexible working arrangement where an employee and the department agree to change the employee’s designated place of work to their home address. The Civil Service position on contractual home working agreements is that these are not routinely approved other than for a very small number of relevant roles, or where a workplace adjustment is agreed in respect of a disability under the Equality Act or occasionally as a redundancy mitigation. Civil servants are expected to spend at least 60 per cent of their time in the office or on official business, which can include conducting site visits or meeting stakeholders.

DBT is required by The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 to ensure that workstation users, including those who work from home, perform a suitable and sufficient analysis of their workstation. Before purchasing equipment, users must complete mandatory health and safety training, a homeworking checklist, a Display Screen Equipment self-assessment, and obtain line manager approval.

DBT has spent a total of £318,148 from April 2022 to March 2025.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 28 May 2025 to Question 52687 on Pay: Publicity, which (a) publications, (b) channels and (c) sites paid-for advertising was undertaken on. \p Justin Madders: a). Publications: No paid advertising for this campaign ran in print publications.

b). Channels: These were:

o Online digital display advertising

o Digital online video (YouTube)

o Social media (Snapchat, Meta - Facebook/Instagram, Reddit)

o Radio

o Out of home: train card panels in national rail/bus interiors, beermats in 1000 pubs and digital screens in gyms

o Paid search (Google)

o Use of six digital influencers (Instagram/TikTok)

c). Sites: Online digital display advertising is bought programmatically by audience, not by site, and it is thus not possible to provide details of the sites that users saw such advertising appearing on. In addition, advertising appeared on the social media and search sites listed in answer to part b) above.
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Priti Patel:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, which (a) international treaties and (b) obligations will apply to (i) the Chagos Archipelago and (ii) Diego Garcia as a result of the transfer of sovereignty to Mauritius; and if he has undertaken an assessment of the potential impact of those obligations on (A) the Chagos Archipelago and (B) Diego Garcia. \p Stephen Doughty: The Treaty ensures that its terms are compatible with the other international obligations of the Parties, current and future. The United Kingdom will ensure all operations on Diego Garcia comply with its obligations under applicable international law.
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Priti Patel:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what estimate he has made of the total funding contribution provided to Mauritius through (a) bilateral and (b) multilateral institutions (i) since July 2024, (ii) for 2025-26 and (iii) for each of the next five financial years. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: UK Official Development Assistance can be found in the "Statistics on International Development (SID)." The UK Official Development Assistance spend in Mauritius from July 2024 is not yet available on SID and the latest data is up to 2023.
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Written Ministerial Statement of 17 June 2025 on Afghanistan, HCWS703, what (a) recommendations and (b) actions were agreed as part of the dialogue on food insecurity. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: As part of its response to the dire food security and nutrition situation in Afghanistan, the UK is convening a range of stakeholders to explore how we can collectively maximise the impact of our work on this issue. These discussions are ongoing and will conclude in October where we hope to secure joint commitments from donors and partners to work together to improve the situation, particularly for women and children.

As part of this initiative, my colleague the Minister of State for International Development has invited you and fellow interested MPs and Peers to join the United Nations Children's Fund, and partners for the UK Launch of First Foods Afghanistan in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office on 17 July - I do hope you will be able to join this important presentation and discussion.
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what mechanisms his Department has put in place to monitor the delivery of UK-funded aid in Afghanistan. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The Assurance and Learning Programme was established by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in 2022 to strengthen oversight of the delivery of UK-funded aid in Afghanistan by providing independent third-party monitoring and portfolio monitoring, evaluation and learning. In addition, officials visit Kabul regularly and meet partners there. FCDO's Official Development Assistance (ODA) programmes in Afghanistan have been subject to regular Independent Commission for Aid Impact (ICAI) oversight. FCDO facilitated a visit to Kabul by the ICAI Commissioner Sir Hugh Bayley in May 2024, where he met UN agencies and local and international NGOs supported by the UK to support the completion of an Information Note.
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Wendy Chamberlain:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will publish the expected advisory arrangements to the Special Envoy for Afghanistan. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The UK Mission to Afghanistan in Doha closed on 30 June 2025. Mr Richard Lindsay was appointed as Special Envoy to Afghanistan on 17 June. He will lead a new Afghanistan department from the UK, taking on the duties of the current Chargé d'Affaires. These changes will not affect our resolve to support the people of Afghanistan, which is unwavering.

This new model will allow the UK to actively engage with a broader range of Afghans. The Special Envoy will engage the Taliban on UK priorities including counter terrorism, human rights, and humanitarian access; support intra-Afghan dialogue; engage women, religious and ethnic minorities who suffer at the hands of the Taliban; and work with regional countries on shared priorities.
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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 merits of moving the the UK Mission to Afghanistan from Doha to a UK-based Afghanistan department. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The UK Mission to Afghanistan in Doha closed on 30 June 2025. Mr Richard Lindsay was appointed as Special Envoy to Afghanistan on 17 June. He will lead a new Afghanistan department from the UK, taking on the duties of the current Chargé d'Affaires. These changes will not affect our resolve to support the people of Afghanistan, which is unwavering.

This new approach will allow the UK to engage with a broader range of Afghans. The Special Envoy will engage the Taliban on UK priorities including counter terrorism, human rights, and humanitarian access; support intra-Afghan dialogue; engage women, religious and ethnic minorities who suffer at the hands of the Taliban; and work with regional countries on shared priorities.
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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his Pakistani counterpart on first cousin marriage involving UK and Pakistani nationals. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The UK Government has not held recent discussions with the Government of Pakistan on first cousin marriage involving UK and Pakistani nationals. The Marriage (Prohibited Degrees of Relationship) Bill, currently under consideration in the UK Parliament, is a domestic legislative matter.
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to table 2.6 of HM Treasury's document entitled Spending Review 2025: Departmental Efficiency Plans, published on 11 June 2025, whether he has had discussions with the BBC on proposals for potential costs savings of the BBC World Service. \p Catherine West: No decisions have been taken on the World Service Grant-in-Aid funding for the next three years (2026/27 and beyond). This was not settled in the Spending Review and will be determined alongside our other Official Development Assistance and Non-ODA allocations, in the autumn.

For the Spending Review, the Treasury asked the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (along with most departments) to identify efficiency savings and to model certain budget scenarios. The request we made - to model scenarios equivalent to flat cash and a 2 per cent per year budget reduction, equating to around £3 million per year - was in line with that Treasury request.
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Mr Gregory Campbell:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Syrian authorities following the suicide bombing that resulted in twenty three deaths and scores injured at a Church in Damascus on 23 June 2025. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The UK strongly condemns the horrific terrorist attack at Mar Elias Church in Damascus, and remains committed to combatting terrorism in all forms. I sent a personal message to Syrian Foreign Minister Al-Shaibani, expressing my condolences and the UK's continued support to the people of Syria. The UK Special Representative for Syria visited Damascus last week and discussed the assessment of the situation with the Syrian authorities, including the Foreign Minister and also gave her condolences. We will continue to advocate for the right to Freedom of Religion or Belief for all Syrians.
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Sammy Wilson:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his counterpart in Israel on compensation for the relatives of British aid workers killed while delivering humanitarian aid in Gaza. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The Prime Minister and I recently met with the families of British aid workers killed in Gaza.

The Government's priority is securing justice for the appalling strike that killed John Chapman, James Henderson, and James Kirby. We continue to press Israel to swiftly conclude the Military Advocate General's (MAG) investigation into consideration of events on the 1 April 2024, including determining whether criminal proceedings should be initiated. The Foreign Secretary has repeatedly pressed Foreign Affairs Minister Sa'ar and Minister of Strategic Affairs Dermer for the MAG to conclude consideration of the case swiftly and thoroughly.

We have advised the families on their legal options for claiming compensation and that is a matter for them to pursue independently through the Israeli legal system.
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Alicia Kearns:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many flights have been chartered to evacuate UK citizens from Iran. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: Flights have been chartered to evacuate UK citizens from Israel. The UK Government has not chartered flights to evacuate UK citizens from Iran. Media reports suggest the Iranian airspace is in the process of re-opening.
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Neil Coyle:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of imposing sanctions on any British company operating in the illegal settlement activity in the West Bank. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: We are deeply concerned by the levels of settlement expansion and settler violence in the West Bank and continue to urge the Government of Israel to stop settlement expansion and take action to hold violence to account. Settlements are illegal under international law.

On 20 May the UK imposed sanctions on three individuals, two illegal settler outposts and two organisations supporting violence against Palestinian communities in the West Bank. On 10 June the UK, acting alongside partners Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Norway, imposed sanctions on Israeli government ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich in their personal capacity, in response to their repeated incitements of violence against Palestinian communities in the West Bank.

The UK does not recognise the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including Israeli settlements, as part of Israel. Goods imported from the settlements are therefore not entitled to benefit from trade preferences under the UK-Israel Trade and Partnership Agreement. The UK also supports accurate labelling of settlement goods, so as not to mislead the consumer.

Sanctions can be used to achieve a range of foreign and security policy objectives. We use sanctions when they complement other tools as part of a wider strategy.  It would not be appropriate to speculate about future sanctions designations as to do so could reduce their impact. We have been clear that we keep these issues under close review.
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Brendan O'Hara:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many evacuation flights have been arranged for UK nationals from (a) Israel, and (b) the West Bank since 13 June 2025. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The UK Government have arranged six flights from Israel since 24 June. At this time, no further flights are planned. Commercial flights are now available. This remains a fast-moving and fragile situation, and plans will be kept under constant review.
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Dr Neil Hudson:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to monitor the (a) situation and (b) safety of British nationals in Iran. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: Our Embassy in Tehran, which continues to operate remotely, is closely monitoring the situation in Iran. We remain committed to ensuring the safety and security of our nationals, including those detained.

However we have long advised against all travel to Iran and warned British Nationals that in an emergency the UK government will not be able to evacuate or provide face-to-face assistance.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-03 conversation_164

Ben Lake:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with his Moroccan counterpart on Morocco's refusal to allow a visit to Western Sahara by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights since January 2016. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The UK remains committed to the promotion and protection of human rights globally, including in Morocco and Western Sahara. Officials, including up to Ambassador level regularly engage on these issues with the Moroccan Government and authorities accordingly. During the Foreign Secretary's visit to Morocco in June, the joint-communique of the Strategic Dialogue reaffirmed both countries commitment to cooperate on issues of human rights and the intention to hold a third session of the UK-Morocco Human Rights dialogue before the end of 2025. The UK has also supported language in UN Security Council Resolutions that encourages the parties to enhance the promotion and protection of human rights in Western Sahara, including through cooperation with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-03 conversation_165

Kim Johnson:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will take steps to ensure that any produce originating in Western Sahara is labelled as such. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The Government is committed to ensuring that UK consumers are not misled about the origin of the food they purchase. In accordance with retained EU Regulation 1169/2011 on the provision of food information to consumers, food labelling must not be misleading, including in relation to the origin or provenance of food. The UK is responsible for enforcing this regulation within the UK.

On 1 June, the Foreign Secretary endorsed Morocco's autonomy proposal as the most credible, viable and pragmatic basis for a lasting resolution of the Western Sahara conflict. In that context, we continue to support the parties and the UN to reach a just, lasting and mutually acceptable solution, based on compromise, which conforms with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, including the principle of respect for self-determination.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-03 conversation_166

Alicia Kearns:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether British nationals will be evacuated from Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: Support to British nationals remains our top priority and we have worked at pace to ensure those who want to leave Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories can do so, with six flights leaving Israel since 24 June. At this time, no further flights are planned. Commercial flights are now available. This remains a fast-moving and fragile situation, and plans will be kept under constant review.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-03 conversation_167

Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent representations he has made to the Taliban on the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan: and what outcome he has achieved. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) officials regularly speak to the Taliban on the UK Government's priorities, including women's rights in Afghanistan, most recently in June. Ministers do not engage with the Taliban. The Foreign Secretary condemned the erosion of women and girls' rights in the appalling "vice and virtue" law introduced in August 2024. The UK Government is working with international partners to maintain collective pressure on the Taliban to reverse their inhuman restrictions. Upholding human rights and gender equality is not only a moral imperative but also essential for building a stable, inclusive and prosperous country for all Afghans.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-03 conversation_168

Dr Neil Hudson:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to monitor the (a) situation and (b) safety of British nationals in (i) Israel and (ii) the Occupied Palestinian Territories. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: Consular teams have worked round the clock to support British nationals in the region. As soon as Israeli airspace re-opened UK government charter flights left Israel carrying over 340 British nationals on six flights. In allocating seats, we prioritised those who were most vulnerable, including those with medical needs, children, and the elderly. At this time, no further flights are planned. Commercial flights are now available. This remains a fast-moving and fragile situation, and plans will be kept under constant review.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-03 conversation_169

Alicia Kearns:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Chinese counterpart on the (a) arrest of the father of Anna Kwok and (b) additional charges laid against Joshua Wong. \p Catherine West: The UK is closely monitoring the prosecution of Kwok Yin-sang, father of US-based Anna Kwok, and is deeply concerned by the news of further charges against Joshua Wong who is currently detained in Hong Kong. China's imposition of the National Security Law has significantly eroded the rights and freedoms of Hong Kongers, a situation that has worsened with the enactment of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance. We call on Beijing to repeal the National Security Law and end the prosecution of all individuals charged under it.
wrans/answers2025-07-03 conversation_170
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-03 conversation_170

Mr Mark Francois:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with (a) his US counterpart and (b) other international partners on the compliance of US military strikes on Iran with the United Kingdom’s obligations under international law; and what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of those strikes. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The UK did not participate in the US' strikes. The Foreign Secretary has been engaging with Secretary of State Rubio on a regular basis, to discuss the need for Iran to return to the negotiating table as soon as possible and to make progress on a lasting settlement, to address Iran's nuclear programme. The legal basis for the US' action is a matter for them.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-03 conversation_171

Sammy Wilson:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Sri Lankan counterpart on the recent excavations of a mass grave of Chemmani in Sri Lanka. \p Catherine West: The UK Government is deeply concerned by the recent discovery of the mass grave in Chemmani. We remain committed to supporting accountability for human rights violations and we regularly meet the Government of Sri Lanka to discuss reconciliation and accountability and to press for tangible progress, particularly on cases of enforced disappearances. In January, I visited Sri Lanka and met a range of stakeholders including the Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, civil society organisations, as well as political leaders in the north of Sri Lanka to discuss human rights. Officials at our High Commission in Colombo maintain close contact with families of the disappeared from across the country, working to ensure their voices are heard, and have raised this issue with the Government of Sri Lanka. We continue to lead international efforts such as at the UN Human Rights Council alongside the Core Group to ensure perpetrators are held to account.
wrans/answers2025-07-03 conversation_172
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-03 conversation_172

Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, 1961, what discussions he has had with his Chinese counterparts on ensuring authorisation for UK contractors to access the British Embassy in Beijing to undertake repair and maintenance work. \p Catherine West: UK contractors routinely visit our overseas missions around the world, including in China, to carry out maintenance and repairs. We have not had cause to raise this with the Chinese authorities.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-03 conversation_173

Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many staff hours in his Department were allocated to (a) drafting, (b) reviewing and (c) promoting the LGBTQIA+ Legal Guidebook; and what estimate he has made of the total cost of this. \p Catherine West: The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office works with a range of organisations globally to protect and promote the human rights of the most vulnerable communities. The Legal Guidebook in question was developed by external partners, with no HMG staff time allocated to drafting. A small amount of staff time in our Embassy in Manila was allocated to hosting the launch event, part of HMG's efforts to advocate for human rights-compliant laws and policies around the world.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-03 conversation_174

Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much his Department has spent on (a) social media promotions, (b) influencer marketing and (c) online advertising in the last 12 months. \p Catherine West: The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office combines all Advertising & Publicity costs in its financial reporting system. The information required to delineate between social media promotions, influencer marketing and online advertising is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-03 conversation_175

Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what the cost to the public purse was of the (a) research, (b) design, (c) publication and (d) distribution of the LGBTQIA+ Legal Guidebook. \p Catherine West: The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office works with a range of organisations globally to protect and promote the human rights of the most vulnerable communities. The guidebook in question was developed by external partners, with no cost to the public purse for research, design and distribution. A small amount of money (£700) was allocated to support publication of the guidebook.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-03)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-03 conversation_176

Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to his Department's news story entitled LGBTQIA+ Legal Guidebook launched in Philippines for Pride Month, published on 23 June 2025, how many similar foreign LGBTQIA+‑related publications his Department has produced in the last five years; and what the cost to the public purse was. \p Catherine West: Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office-funded projects and programmes, delivered through external partners, routinely produce a variety of internal and external research, evidence, reports, and toolkits to support UK work on human rights and equality for all, including on LGBT+ rights. Due to the volume of documents produced and the sensitivity of the issues being considered, we do not hold a comprehensive list of similar reports produced across the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office over the past five years.