theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to help tackle underage drug use. \p Sarah Jones: This Government is committed to protecting young people from the harms of drug use through a range of universal and targeted prevention activity and are using the recent report from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) ‘A Whole-System Response to Drug Prevention in the UK’ to inform our approach.

The Home Office is also working with The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) to deliver an Innovation Fund to Reduce Demand for Illicit Substances to help us build our longer term understanding of how to prevent and reduce drug use, prevent associated harms and facilitate behaviour change.

Ketamine use in young people is increasing, so we have commissioned the ACMD to update their harms assessment on the drug, and DHSC have launched a media campaign to raise awareness of the risks posed by new drug trends and products. The campaign focusses on the adulteration of counterfeit medicines with other drugs like synthetic opioids, ketamine harms and adulteration of ‘THC vapes’.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

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Margaret Mullane:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what progress has been made regarding on the manifesto commitment to roll out a direct entry scheme for detectives to boost investigation skills. \p Sarah Jones: It is essential that police forces recruit the best and most able people to meet the evolving demands of policing and deliver the best possible service to the public.

There are existing opportunities to join policing directly into detective roles, including through the Police Now programme, which enables graduates who may not have previously considered a career in policing to join in specialist roles.

We are committed to ensuring a wide choice of entry routes available into policing to help to attract a diverse range of people, skills, experience and are considering this as part of wider police reform. In addition, we are funding a Leadership Commission, set up by the College of Policing and led by Lord Blunkett and Lord Herbert, which is examining the current entry routes into policing and potential alternative models to attract and develop talent.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much (a) their Department and (b) its arm’s length bodies have spent on (i) installing electric vehicle charging facilities and (ii) purchasing electric vehicles since 4 July 2024; and what estimate their Department has made of the difference in capital cost between (A) the electric vehicles purchased by their Department and (B) comparable (1) petrol and (2) diesel models. \p Sarah Jones: CDEL – HOPS Change Budget

RDEL – Resource Budget

FY CDEL RDEL

20/21 £1,153,957.77

21/22 £1,066,198.03

22/23 £495,547.89 £721,655.00

23/24 £442,482.00

24/25 £1,123,253.86

25/26 £318,642.00

Sub Total £4,600,081.55 £721,655.00

Total £5,321,736.55
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

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Euan Stainbank:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the UK's withdrawal from the Dublin Regulation on the 31 of December 2020 on levels of irregular migration into the United Kingdom. \p Alex Norris: This government has not undertaken an assessment of the impact of the UK’s withdrawal from the Dublin arrangements in 2020. However, we are clear that cooperation with our EU partners is a crucial part of our response to the challenges posed by irregular migration. This is why the UK-France Agreement on the Prevention of Dangerous Journeys is so important, and why we will look at further such developments in future.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) single sex and (b) gender neutral bathroom facilities her Department provides in its premises on Whitehall. \p Sarah Jones: The Home Office’s main Whitehall building, 2 Marsham Street, has 81 single sex cubicles (39 Male & 42 Female cubicles) and 0 urinals.

There are 17 wheelchair accessible/non-gendered universal toilets (individual self-contained lockable toilet rooms which contain a toilet, washbasin and hand-drying facilities).

Note, figures above are for the toilets in HO demise only.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

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Sir Christopher Chope:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 12 November 2025 to Question 88185 on Hadush Kebatu, what operational guidance her Department has issued to prevent small discretionary payments from being used as (a) inducements and (b) bribes. \p Alex Norris: All discretionary payments must go through a clearance process. Operational managers take into consideration the cost of returning someone to their final place of stay and supporting welfare and safety.

As always with expenditure on returns, these one-off costs must be set against the much higher long-term costs that would result from the same individuals remaining in the UK, including, where necessary, ongoing expenditure on accommodation or detention and the legal processes required to authorise their removal.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure that irregular migrants deported under the UK/France treaty entitled Agreement on the Prevention of Dangerous Journeys, published on 5 August 2025, do not return to the UK illegally. \p Alex Norris: The Department continues to work closely with French counterparts to ensure migrants returned under the UK-France agreement are clearly aware of the consequences of returning to the UK illegally – that they will be subject to removal once again - and to support French officials in encouraging migrants to pursue other options available to them in France. Where previously removed individuals have returned to the UK by small boat, they have been swiftly identified, detained and progressed for removal.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

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Lisa Smart:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to update guidance for police forces on the investigation of (a) false and (b) malicious allegations as potential criminal offences. \p Sarah Jones: Section 5 of the Criminal Law Act 1967 sets out that wasting police time is a criminal offence, which includes by knowingly making a false report.

Furthermore, the Common Law offence of perverting the course of justice could also be considered by police and the Crown Prosecution Service when investigating and making a decision on whether an offence has been committed.

The Home Office has no plans to amend or update any existing guidance in use by police in relation to these matters.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

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Adam Dance:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to support Avon and Somerset Police to increase levels of community policing in communities in Yeovil constituency. \p Sarah Jones: This year, £200 million has been made available to support the first steps towards delivering 13,000 more neighbourhood policing personnel across England and Wales by the end of this Parliament, including up to 3,000 additional neighbourhood officers by March 2026.

This major investment supports the commitment to make the country’s streets safer and reflects the scale of the challenges that many forces face and the Government’s determination to address them.

Based on their funding allocation of £4,574,856, Avon and Somerset Police’s projected growth over 2025 to 2026 in their neighbourhood teams will be 70 Police Officers. The local deployment of these officers remains an operational policing decision.

Additionally, the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee (NPG) is now being delivered across England and Wales to ensure consistent and high-quality neighbourhood policing. Every neighbourhood in Yeovil, now has named and contactable officers. As a result of the Guarantee, communities are benefitting from neighbourhood policing teams that are spending the majority of their time within their communities, delivering visible patrols and actively engaging with residents and businesses.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

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Liz Saville Roberts:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information her Department holds on the number of police officers who died by suicide in each of the last ten years. \p Sarah Jones: The Home Office does not collect data on suicides or attempted suicides by police workers. Data on suicides by occupation have previously been published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) available here: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarri ages/deaths/adhocs/2726suicidebyoccupationinenglandandwales2023and202 4provisional.

A National Action Plan for Suicide Prevention and Postvention in policing has been launched, which aims to reduce rates among the police workforce as well as enhancing data recording.

The plan, which includes ensuring adequate training for the police workforce, emphasises a supportive environment that promotes mental health and combats stigma to ensure that those affected by suicide or suicidal thoughts can access appropriate and timely support.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

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Mr Lee Dillon:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of automated translation tools for use in the asylum decision making process. \p Alex Norris: The Home Office does not currently use AI or automation for interpreting or translation purposes.

The Home Office is currently exploring the technology landscape for translation and transcription solutions with the view to better understand the capabilities and their current maturity, along with the risks and benefits. The intent is to understand the feasibility and adequacy of utilising this type of technology to support processes within the Migration & Borders system. This exploration is also supportive of engaging with experts and academia to ensure a well-informed and evidence-based approach.

The Home Office is investing in innovative techniques, including AI, to explore how we can improve productivity, speed up processing the asylum backlog, streamline the provision of accommodation and support, and restore order in the asylum system. This will not be at the cost of compromising on accuracy due to the complexity and importance of asylum decisions.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

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Steff Aquarone:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 11 November 2025 to Question 88046 on Economic Crime: British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies, if she will make it her policy to collect data on the use of Exchange of Notes Arrangements in investigations. \p Sarah Jones: While we do not collect specific data on the use of Exchange of Notes Arrangements in investigations, we regularly review the effectiveness and usefulness of these arrangements as part of our ongoing policy considerations, including with law enforcement partners.

We are also mindful of the need to strike the appropriate balance when introducing any new reporting requirements on law enforcement agencies, ensuring that such measures support operational effectiveness without creating unnecessary burdens.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

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Sir Christopher Chope:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many of the initial asylum decisions resulting in refusal have been the subject of an appeal to the First-tier Tribunal between October 2024 and March 2025; and how many of those (a) were successful, (b) were unsuccessful and (c) are outstanding. \p Alex Norris: The Home Office publishes data on asylum in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on asylum appeals lodged, and determined by outcome, are published in tables Asy_D06 and Asy_D07, respectively, of the asylum detailed datasets. The latest data relates to the year ending March 2023. Appeals data for April 2023 onwards is not available due to ongoing work on a new case working system. Updated data will be included in a future edition of the Immigration system statistics release.

The Ministry of Justice publishes data on asylum appeals in the ‘Tribunal Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on the open caseload for appeals relating to asylum, protection and revocation of protection is published in table FIA_4. The latest data relates to as at March 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum claimants were found to have provided a false age; and how many of those identified led to claims being rejected. \p Alex Norris: The Home Office publishes data on asylum in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’.

Data on initial decisions and outcomes on asylum claims, is published in table Asy_D02 of the ‘Asylum claim and initial decisions detailed datasets’. The latest data relates to as at 30 June 2025.

Data for 30 September 2025 will be published on 27 November 2025.

Data on the number of raised and resolved age disputes is published in table Asy_D05 of the ‘Age disputes detailed datasets’ . Age disputes data for July 2024 onwards is not available due to ongoing work on a new case working system. Updated data will be included in a future edition of the Immigration System Statistics release.

Published Home Office data on asylum outcomes and age disputes does not include reasons for refusal.

Official statistics published by the Home Office are kept under review in line with the code of practice for statistics, taking into account a number of factors including user needs, the resources required to compile the statistics, as well as quality and availability of data.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

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Bell Ribeiro-Addy:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many companies have a licence to grow cannabis in the UK. \p Sarah Jones: There are currently 102 licences in extant to cultivate low THC cannabis (Industrial Hemp) in Great Britain. The majority of these licences will be issued to farms. A small proportion of these licences will be issued to educational or research institutes.

The licences are generally issued for a validity period of three growing seasons and therefore will include licences issued in 2023, 2024 and 2025.

Standard ‘cannabis cultivation licences’ may be issued for research or pharmaceutical purposes.

In the last year (to 11 November 2025) 16 companies have been issued ‘High THC’ cannabis cultivation licences at a total of 19 sites. A proportion of these licences will have been issued for research purposes.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 20 October 2025 to Question 79669 on Police National Database, what options for future delivery of the Police National Database transformation programme she is considering. \p Sarah Jones: The Home Office is currently considering a variety of options for future delivery of the Police National Database transformation programme. Information will be issued once a decision has been taken. The Home Office is unable to provide further information at this stage.

Service continuity of this vital intelligence system and critical national infrastructure is our primary concern and that will enable the long-term development and modernisation of our national intelligence capabilities.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

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Helen Morgan:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) police officers and (b) civilian staff were employed by the National Wildlife Crime Unit on 1 November 2025. \p Sarah Jones: This Government recognises the excellent work of the National Wildlife Crime Unit and the National Rural Crime Unit. The NWCU and the NRCU play key roles in helping police across the UK tackle organised theft and disrupt serious and organised crime groups.

This financial year the Home Office has provided a funding boost of over £800,000, which will allow these specialist units to continue their work in tackling rural and wildlife crime which can pose unique challenges for policing given the scale and isolation of rural areas.

The NWCU employs five police officers and thirteen civilian staff and the NRCU employs two police officers and six civilian staff members.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

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Mr Gregory Campbell:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a (a) medal and (b) formal recognition of members of the emergency services who have sustained (i) severe and (ii) life-changing injuries in the line of duty. \p Sarah Jones: Any official award is a gift from the Government, on behalf of His Majesty The King to recognise individuals within policing and emergency services personnel. The creation of a new award requires cross Government consensus and approval from the Committee on The Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals, before advice is put to HM The King to make his final decision.

The Home Office will continue to consider proposals for new awards for members of the emergency services. It is only right that we recognise the sacrifices made by the emergency services, and it is important to make sure this is considering fully and carefully to ensure any changes are proportionate and effective.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

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Sarah Pochin:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure that a person seeking asylum has not been involved in terrorism; and if she will make an assessment of the effectiveness of the application of these checks in the last five years. \p Alex Norris: All asylum claimants undergo mandatory security checks to establish their identity and to link it to their biometric details for the purpose of immigration, security and criminality checks - including war crimes, crimes against humanity and terrorism. To protect the integrity of the specific identity and security checking processes that are conducted, details about them are not disclosed publicly.

All asylum and human rights claims are carefully considered on their individual merits in accordance with our international obligations. Our guidance for considering asylum claims is available on GOV.UK at: Assessing credibility and refugee status: caseworker guidance - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Each assessment is made using relevant case law and the latest available country of origin information, which is based on evidence taken from a wide range of reliable sources. Our assessment of the situation of a given group in a given country, is set out in the relevant country policy and information note, which is available on GOV.UK at: www.gov.uk/government/collections/country-policy-and-information-notes

Under Article 1F of the Refugee Convention, we will deny protection to those who commit serious crimes or represent a threat to national security.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of litigation on the implementation of the one-in, one-out migrant returns agreement with France; and whether policy changes have been made in response. \p Alex Norris: Litigation related to the UK-France Agreement on the Prevention of Dangerous Journeys was anticipated and our policies, processes and operational practices were developed accordingly and designed to be lawful.

Litigation is a standard element of all returns processes from the UK.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which French (a) ministries, (b) local authorities and (c) private contractors have received UK funding for (i) border security and (ii) migration control infrastructure since 2023. \p Alex Norris: The Home Office cannot comment on the specifics of French activity, but the Sandhurst agreement and related finances are referred to in this press release from the beginning of the year - New UK-French action to go after smuggler gangs - GOV.UK

We continue close cooperation with France to strengthen border security and disrupt criminal gangs.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 27 October 2025 to Question 83507 on Undocumented Migrants: English Channel, whether that figure refers to the number of people prevented from crossing. \p Alex Norris: 9,686 refers to the number of attempts by people prevented from crossing in that time period.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

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Sarah Pochin:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum applications have been approved for people with a criminal record in the UK prior to the commencement of their asylum application. \p Alex Norris: The requested data on asylum applications from foreign national offenders is not currently published by the Home Office.

As explained in this note published in April 2025, systems for collecting and compiling data related to foreign national offenders in the immigration system are currently undergoing a transition to improve the quality of information held by the department. The Home Office is currently working towards a release of this data. At this stage, we are not in a position to detail what this will contain or the exact timing of the release.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what estimate she has made of the number of British National (Overseas) visa holders affected by restrictions imposed by the Hong Kong authorities on the withdrawal of savings from the Mandatory Provident Fund; and whether she has made representations to the Hong Kong Monetary Authority on the financial rights of UK-based BN(O) citizens. \p Seema Malhotra: I refer the Hon. Member to the latest edition of the six monthly update on the implementation of the Sino-British Joint Declaration on Hong Kong, published on 23 October 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

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Neil O'Brien:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many and what proportion of staff in her Department left employment in the last 12 months following formal (a) performance and (b) capability procedures. \p Seema Malhotra: The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office's total staff headcount is approximately 17,500 employees, working in hundreds of different locations around the world, many with locally-managed HR arrangements and procedures. The requested information could therefore only be collated and verified for the purposes of answering this question at disproportionate cost.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

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Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the humanitarian impact of Typhoon Kalmaegi in Vietnam. \p Seema Malhotra: The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office are closely monitoring the impact of Typhoon Kalmaegi in Vietnam. Current assessments indicate significant disruption to affected communities, including six confirmed fatalities and extensive damage to homes, public infrastructure, and livelihoods, particularly in coastal and low-lying areas.

In October, the UK allocated £500,000 in humanitarian assistance to Vietnam to address the devastating impact of typhoons Bualoi and Matmo. We continue to engage with international partners and local authorities to monitor evolving requirements and to ensure that assistance is delivered effectively to those in greatest need.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

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Priti Patel:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with the National Security Adviser on government to government communications with Russia. \p Stephen Doughty: I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer given on 20 October to question 81835.
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Gareth Thomas:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to help prevent (a) products or (b) services produced in illegal settlements in the West Bank from entering the UK. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer I provided on 15 October 2025 to Question 77510.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what safeguards are in place to ensure that UK funding to (a) UNRWA and (b) other multilateral agencies is used (i) responsibly and (ii) effectively. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The UK supports the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) both politically and financially, recognising its vital role in delivering humanitarian aid and services in Gaza and the wider region, and the historic mandate it holds for the protection of refugee rights. The Foreign Secretary met with UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini on 4 November where she emphasised UK support for the agency and the important role that UNRWA plays across the region. In line with the approach taken by most other Member States, the UK has conducted extensive due diligence and are satisfied that UNRWA adequately manage UK funds. We are working very closely with the US and other partners on supporting the transition from the ceasefire to phase two of the peace plan which includes ensuring the urgent and unrestricted flow of aid into Gaza.
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Helen Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations she has made to her Israeli counterpart on (a) forced evictions of Palestinian families and (b) home demolitions in Silwan. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The UK is concerned by reports of evictions of Palestinian families and home demolitions in East Jerusalem, including Silwan. In all but the most exceptional cases, demolitions by an occupying power are contrary to international law.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

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Sir Desmond Swayne:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions has he had with the Palestinian Authority on ensuring that content which promotes hatred is excluded from the Authority's school curriculum. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer given on 29 October to question 79968.
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 3 November 2025 to Question 84230 on Development Aid: Health, whether the reduced figure of £527.3 million reflects any reduction in spending on (a) pandemic preparedness and (b) maternal health. \p Chris Elmore: I refer the Hon. Member back to the answer to which she refers in her question, where the reason for the reduction was explained.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

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Mary Kelly Foy:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential humanitarian impact of the reported demolition issued against 13 residential houses and a community centre in the village of Um al Khair in the occupied West Bank. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: We are deeply concerned by the levels of settler violence, settlement growth, and demolition of Palestinian homes in the West Bank. In all but the most exceptional cases, demolitions by an occupying power are contrary to international law. We urge Israel to halt demolitions and evictions of Palestinian communities. The UK Government supports Bedouin and Palestinian communities facing demolition or eviction in Area C of the West Bank through access to legal aid programmes and outreach to vulnerable and remote areas. Our officials in Jerusalem will continue to meet communities at risk of demolition and displacement.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

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Bob Blackman:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will review the adequacy of her Department's position ahead of the next meeting at the UN on an Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child to strengthen the right to education in 2026; and if she will publish the (a) criteria, (b) timeline and (c) cross-Government process for that review. \p Chris Elmore: I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 3 November 2025 to Question 84390.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

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Tim Farron:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of reports of Islamist attacks on Christian communities in Nigeria’s Middle Belt on 31 October 2025. \p Chris Elmore: I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 3 November to Question 85661.
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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department plans to take in 2026 to assist with ending international child hunger around the world. \p Chris Elmore: The UK is deeply concerned by the high levels of food insecurity around the world, particularly the impact this has on children; nutrition related factors contribute to an estimated 45 per cent of deaths in children under 5 years of age.

The UK established the Child Nutrition Fund, which matches finance for therapeutic foods and aims to reach 320 million children and women annually with life-changing nutrition programmes by 2030. Our work with partners is helping to prevent food crises, which can impact children the hardest, through early action and resilience building. The Resilience and Adaptation Fund is supporting hundreds of thousands of food-insecure households to build resilience to climate and other shocks.

We are also using our global influence, for instance as vice-chair of the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty (GAHP). I recently attended the first Summit of the GAHP to reaffirm the UK's commitment to help families find sustainable pathways out of poverty.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-18 conversation_482

Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the recent attacks on the Christian community in Oromia region, Ethiopia; and what steps she is taking to help ensure their protection. \p Chris Elmore: We remain concerned about the situation in Oromia, and its impact on civilians, and note the 4 November statement of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Ethiopia condemning recent attacks on Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Muslim communities across Oromia. We continue to call on all sides to engage in dialogue to address the underlying causes of conflict in the region. Through our Human Rights and Peacebuilding Programme, in Oromia, the UK supports dialogue efforts by local peacemakers, women's groups and the Inter-Religious Council of Ethiopia (IRCE). The UK is also supporting the investigative capacity of Ethiopian Human Rights Commission to follow up on reports of violations affecting civilians in Oromia.
wrans/answers2025-11-18 conversation_483
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-18 conversation_483

Bobby Dean:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department is taking steps to help support independent election observation in Uganda before its next general election in 2026. \p Chris Elmore: Our High Commission in Kampala will aim to conduct local observation of the election, in consultation with relevant stakeholders, including the Electoral Commission of Uganda. The UK also provides financial support to the African Union via the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa and to the Commonwealth Secretariat, which can support election observation.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-18 conversation_484

Andy Slaughter:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when she last asked her Bahraini counterpart to allow a research mission by a UN Special Rapporteur to consider the human rights situation in Bahrain. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: We continue to encourage all countries to engage constructively with UN mechanisms, including Special Rapporteurs, as part of their international commitments. The UK remains committed to supporting progress on human rights.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-18 conversation_485

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with her Iranian counterpart on reports of (a) property and (b) asset seizures from the Baha'i community in the Isfahan Province. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given on 18 September to the question 74968.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-18 conversation_486

Luke Akehurst:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 29 October to Question 79968 on Palestine: Education, what discussions his Department has had with the Palestinian Authority on seeking an independent audit into the implementation of the curriculum reform. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The Foreign Secretary met with the Palestinian Foreign Minister on 1 November. As part of their conversation they discussed educational reforms. The UK continues to monitor and advance the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding on strategic cooperation through an annual strategic dialogue. In the meantime, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, through the British Consulate in Jerusalem, engage regularly with the Palestinian Authority on many areas, including education reform.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-18 conversation_487

Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with the (a) European Union and (b) international counterparts on potential co-ordinated oversight of Palestinian Authority education reforms. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the statement made on the Middle East by the Prime Minister on 14 October which addresses these discussions.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-18 conversation_488

Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of levels of humanitarian support to Syria over the last 5 years. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: Since 2011, Syria has seen one of the worst and most protracted humanitarian crises in the world. The annual UN humanitarian appeals have been consistently underfunded and the trend has worsened in recent years, with just 36.6 per cent of the appeal met in 2024. The UK has consistently been one of the biggest contributors to those appeals, but it is clear that humanitarian support overall has not been adequate to address the scale of the crisis.
wrans/answers2025-11-18 conversation_489
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-18 conversation_489

Bob Blackman:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with her Iranian counterpart on the sentencing of Morteza Faghanpour Sassi; and what diplomatic steps she is taking to help ensure his release. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: Further to the answer I gave on 29 October to Question 83265, we are concerned by Morteza Faghanpour Sassi's case and we continue to monitor the situation for Christians in Iran.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-18 conversation_490

Phil Brickell:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when the international Summit on Countering Illicit Finance Summit will take place. \p Stephen Doughty: I refer the Hon. Member to the written statement made to the House on 22 July 2025 (UIN HCWS877).
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-18 conversation_491

John Glen:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with her Iranian counterpart on the imprisonment of Aida Najaflou; and what diplomatic steps she is taking to help ensure her release. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: Further to the answer I gave on 29 October to Question 83265, we are concerned by Aida Najaflou's case and we continue to monitor the situation for Christians in Iran.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-18 conversation_492

Bob Blackman:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with her Iranian counterpart on the sentencing of Morteza Faghanpour Sassi; and what diplomatic steps she is taking to help ensure his release. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: Further to the answer I gave on 29 October to Question 83265, we are concerned by Morteza Faghanpour Sassi's case and we continue to monitor the situation for Christians in Iran.
wrans/answers2025-11-18 conversation_493
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-18 conversation_493

Nick Timothy:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with European Union counterparts on the residency rights of UK citizens in the EU. \p Stephen Doughty: Residency in the EU is primarily a matter for individual Member States, but ministers and officials frequently engage with a range of Member State counterparts to advocate for the rights and interests of British citizens living and working across the EU.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-18 conversation_494

Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of the seven month minimum waiting period for sample collection on UK-led marine research projects. \p Seema Malhotra: Section 2(2) of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Bill requires pre-collection information to be provided to the Secretary of State seven months in advance. This is to ensure that the UK can make a submission to the Clearing-House Mechanism established by the BBNJ Agreement within the timeframe of six months set out in the Agreement. These pre-cruise notification requirements mirror to a large extent the information that researchers are already required to provide as part of an application for consent to conduct research within the territorial sea or Exclusive Economic Zone of a State, including the six-month timeframe.
wrans/answers2025-11-18 conversation_495
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-18 conversation_495

Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she plans to introduce differentiated reporting requirements for (a) small-scale and (b) non-commercial marine genetic resource collection projects under the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Bill. \p Seema Malhotra: I refer the Hon Member to the explanatory notes and impact assessments published alongside the Bill, as well as the debates that he has taken part in during its passage to date, where these issues and many others have been addressed. Further guidance about the requirements imposed by the Bill, including in relation to Section 2(3), will be published in due course, and post-legislative evaluation will also take place in the normal way. In terms of pre- and post-collection notification, this will only require one notification per research cruise. Engagement with scientific stakeholders indicates that this is unlikely to be a significant burden, and that differentiated reporting requirements are not required.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-18 conversation_496

Phil Brickell:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of recent reports that the Government of Georgia is fostering closer ties with the Government of Iran. \p Stephen Doughty: I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 21 July 2025 to Question 66922.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-18 conversation_497

Phil Brickell:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps she is taking to support (a) civil society and (b) a free press in Georgia. \p Stephen Doughty: I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 21 July 2025 to Question 66922.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-18 conversation_498

James Wild:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 2 July 2025 to Question 61221 on Government Departments: Reviews, how many lines of activity in her Department were considered as part of the zero based review. \p Seema Malhotra: To ensure consistency in approach, cross-government guidance set expectations for the level of granularity each zero based review should consider, recommending that departments review all spending within individual programme expenditure - at a minimum reflecting any lines of spending in excess of £1 million per annum.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-18 conversation_499

Greg Smith:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has had discussions with her US counterpart on reports of BBC Panorama editing President Trump's speech. \p Stephen Doughty: I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 17 November to Question 89121, which sets out the Government's position on this matter.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-18)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-18 conversation_500

Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many (a) single sex and (b) gender neutral bathroom facilities her Department provides in its Whitehall premises. \p Seema Malhotra: I will be glad to schedule an opportunity for the Rt Hon Member to come into the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's King Charles Street offices and count the number of toilets if he considers that a sensible and appropriate use of his time. He will find that there has been no change to the provision of facilities to that in place under the previous government.