theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-15)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the proposed East Park energy solar park on (a) local and (b) national energy bills. \p Michael Shanks: The East Park Energy project is current at the pre-application stage and is expected to be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate by September 2025: https://national-infrastructure-consenting.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/projects/EN010141. This stage of the planning process, including the pre-application consultation process, is developer led.

In taking the decision on any development consent application, I follow the relevant requirements in the Planning Act 2008 and have regard to all relevant matters.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-05-15)

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Wera Hobhouse:To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, for what reason The Contracts for Difference (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 2) Regulations 2025 do not include time limits on extended subsidies to Drax. \p Michael Shanks: The Government agreed Heads of Terms with Drax for short-term support from 2027-2031 to ensure UK security of security, as outlined in the ministerial statement in February. This represents a step-change in arrangements and Drax will provide power only when the system, and consumers really need it. This halves the level of consumer subsidies compared to existing arrangements, saving nearly £6 per household in annual bills.

The referenced statutory instrument makes amendments to the definition of an eligible generator to facilitate support for large scale biomass generators. It does not specify the terms of contracts for difference for individual companies, including time limits.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-11)

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Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he has made an assessment of the adequacy of the availability of non- wheelchair accessible disability-friendly safety and accessible features following changes to the Motability scheme. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-11)

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Alex Ballinger:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to ensure support is available for vulnerable people in poverty to have improved access to food banks. \p Dame Diana Johnson: Foodbanks are independent organisations and remain in control of who they provide support to and how people can access that support. However, our Work Coaches are adept at providing holistic support to customers, and use their knowledge of local provision to signpost vulnerable customers to the support they need, including Food Banks where appropriate.

From 1 April 2026, we are introducing a new Crisis and Resilience Fund. This is the first ever multi-year settlement for locally delivered crisis support. This longer-term funding approach aims to enable local authorities to provide preventative support to communities – working with the voluntary and community sector – as well as assisting people when faced with a financial crisis, to support our ambition to end mass dependence on emergency food parcels.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-11)

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Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent discussions he has had with local authorities on the level of (a) employment and (b) training support provided to job seekers. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The Get Britain Working White Paper, published in November 2024, outlined plans to deliver fundamental reform of our health, employment and skills system to help support people across all areas of England to get into work. Government’s English Devolution White Paper sets the direction of travel to continue to empower local areas to deliver our Plan for Change. It will give new and deeper levers to local areas, including some skills and employment support.

Ministers and officials meet regularly with local areas to engage with them on issues each local area is facing. These meetings provide opportunities to share intelligence on employment, employment support and skills.

On 2nd December 2025, the Minister for Employment met with councillors who sit on the Local Government Association's Inclusive Growth Committee as part of a standing series of meetings with Local Authorities. The Minister met with the Mayors Council on the 4th of December in Liverpool and also meets quarterly with Mayors to discuss local employment and skills challenges. DWP officials also engage regularly with both Mayoral Strategic Authorities and other local government.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-11)

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Tom Tugendhat:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what measures are in place to ensure that constituency casework can be resolved efficiently, including integration of ministerial databases, improved online access, and prompt communication of case updates. \p Andrew Western: While not specified in the question, we have linked your query to the Child Maintenance Service (CMS), as you have raised other questions today on this topic.

In 2020–21, DWP, introduced a single-tier complaints model to ensure that the process for raising complaints is simple and consistent for customers, including where contact is received from Members of Parliament on behalf of constituents. This model returned complaints handling back to specialist teams within service delivery, enabling the Department to strengthen capability and improve the quality of complaint responses. It also introduced a single software solution for managing complaints and correspondence across DWP.

To embed consistency, we have implemented a Complaints Quality Standards Framework, supported by quality assurance measures, and aligned to the Cross Government Complaints Standards. Under our service standard, when a customer makes a complaint, whether directly or via an MP, the Department aims to provide a response within 15 working days or advise when they can expect a response, if the matter is complex and will take longer.

MPs and their office staff can contact the CMS via dedicated routes, in writing or by phone. The CMS MP hotline is staffed by Complaint Resolution Managers, who aim to provide an on the call response to enquiries where possible or will arrange a call back in more complex cases.

The CMS is committed to delivering a modern, efficient service that meets the needs of all customers. We are focusing on digital solutions and self-service to provide greater choice and flexibility to its customers. We have Increased use of SMS text and email and simplified letters for clarity. Online service 'My Child Maintenance Case' (MCMC) allows parents to access their case information 24/7. We have Introduced online messaging for certain processes, allowing customers to respond to information requests at their convenience, with plans for further expansion. Promoting self-service frees up resources for complex phone queries and vulnerable customers. Improved call routing ensures more calls go directly to case-owning teams for a faster, more responsive service.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-11)

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Jim McMahon:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many additional apprenticeships will be created from funding to provide free placements for employers taking on apprentices under 25 years old. \p Andrew Western: From the next academic year, the government will fully fund apprenticeship training for eligible people aged under 25 at non-levy paying employers. At the moment, this only happens for apprentices aged 16-21 and apprentices aged 22-24 who have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) or have been, or are, in local authority care. This change will make it easier for those employers to engage with apprenticeships by cutting costs and reducing bureaucracy for both them and their training providers.

This is an important step in the government’s ambition to support 50,000 more young people into apprenticeships, which will also be supported by expanding foundation apprenticeships into sectors that traditionally recruit young people and £140 million to pilot new approaches to better connect young people aged 16–24, especially those who are NEET, to local apprenticeship opportunities.
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Zöe Franklin:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what measures are in place to prevent delays to child maintenance proceedings arising from the non-submission of required documents by a paying parent; and how the Department ensures that such delays do not impede or postpone court-related processes. \p Andrew Western: Under the Child Support Information Regulations 2008, paying parents have a duty to provide the Department with any evidence or information needed for the i) determination of an application ; ii) making of a decision; or iii) collection and enforcement of child maintenance. Paying parents are expected to meet that obligation within specified timescales and are warned of the consequences of failing to do so.

Where a paying parent fails to provide the required information within the time allowed, the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) will take immediate action and is committed to using its wide-ranging enforcement powers proportionally, and in the best interests of children and separated families.

To support timely document submission, CMS offer a 24/7 online customer portal, My Child Maintenance Case, allowing parents to upload documents at their convenience any time of the day. In addition, data-sharing arrangements with other government departments, principally HMRC, reduce the need for customers to supply information directly, particularly earnings-related data.

If court action becomes necessary and customer information is not provided, the court may treat this as wilful refusal or culpable neglect when considering enforcement or sanctions for non-payment of child maintenance

The Department is committed to minimising delays in child maintenance proceedings and ensuring children receive the financial support they are entitled to.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-11)

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Tom Tugendhat:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many Child Maintenance Service cases in the latest year involved a variation request relating to unearned income such as dividends, rental income, or bonuses: and in what proportion of those cases the variation was granted. \p Andrew Western: The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) does not hold centrally collated data specifically categorising variation requests by type of unearned income (e.g., dividends, rental income, bonuses).

The information requested is not therefore readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-11)

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Tom Tugendhat:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps does the Child Maintenance Service have in place to calculate arrears for maintenance payments. \p Andrew Western: The Government is dedicated to ensuring parents meet their responsibilities to provide their children with financial support.

The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) aims to provide fast, accurate and transparent assessments, based on the paying parent’s income, primarily their gross annual income provided by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). If there are no significant changes in circumstances occurring, the maintenance calculation remains in place for a year at which point the CMS calculates a new liability as part of the annual review service. However, the CMS do continue to deal with unexpected events and major changes in year, in circumstances such as a move into or out of employment, or only where income changes by at least 25% from the latest annual income information provided by HMRC. This helps to keep calculations up to date and reduces the need for changes in income to be reported during the year.

Where maintenance is due to be paid, the CMS issues all customers a payment plan which details what their expected child maintenance payments are. Where parents fail to pay their on-going maintenance as expected, any unpaid amounts are then considered as arrears. For parents who use the Direct Pay service, they are required to notify the CMS if payments have not been made to allow arrears balances to be updated.

The CMS take proactive actions to move Paying Parents who are not paying their child maintenance back into compliant behaviours as soon as a missed payment is identified. Where payments have defaulted, we use our enforcement powers fairly and quickly to get cases back into payment.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-11)

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Tom Tugendhat:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what long term reforms to Child Maintenance Service digital services are being considered, including in relation to (a) online self service for parents, (b) real time information sharing with HMRC, and (c) data sharing with the courts. \p Andrew Western: The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) is committed to improving digital services and aligning with the Department’s aim to deliver modern, efficient, and responsive services to customers.

In June 2025, we published a response to our consultation outlining our intention to remove Direct Pay as a service type, to increase effective maintenance arrangements and help lift children out of poverty. This reform will be a main priority in our digital plans over the next few years, alongside modernising technology to be cloud-based, data-driven and scalable.

We continue to improve our digital services based on customer needs. Online services, including Get Help Arranging Child Maintenance and My Child Maintenance Case (MCMC), allow parents to access advice and manage their case 24/7. We have introduced online messaging for some processes and plan to expand this further.

We work closely with the courts on child maintenance matters, but there are no current plans to review data-sharing processes. Any future proposals would comply with data protection laws and ensure strong security.

Some aspects of our online services already use Real Time Information (RTI) from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). Gross income details for paying parents, including PAYE, are taken directly from HMRC for the latest tax year, allowing quick and accurate calculations. CMS also uses HMRC RTI to verify current income where it differs by 25% or more from the tax year figure. This threshold provides stability for both parents and avoids frequent recalculations for minor changes.

The Government is currently reviewing the child maintenance calculation to ensure it remains fit for purpose, including updating underlying research and considering how to reflect current and future societal trends.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-11)

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Ann Davies:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment has he made of the number of FAS and PPF members whose original pension scheme did not provide for specified pre-1997 indexation and will therefore not be included in the Government’s plans announced in the Budget on 26 November. \p Torsten Bell: At the Budget, the Chancellor announced that the Government will introduce pre-1997 indexation in the Pension Protection Fund (PPF) and the Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS), for members whose original schemes provided this. Compensation payments from these schemes on pensions built up before 6 April 1997 will be CPI-linked (capped at 2.5%), and this will apply prospectively.

The PPF have made an assessment that around 165,000 PPF members and 91,000 current FAS members have some pre-97 benefits where their former schemes provided mandatory indexation. The remaining members will not fall within the scope of our reforms, either because these members had no mandatory pre-97 indexation in their original schemes, or no pre-97 service.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-11)

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Tom Tugendhat:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what guidance his Department gives to the Child Maintenance Service to verify income for self-employed parents and those operating via company structures; and what mechanisms are in place to improve accuracy. \p Andrew Western: For self-employed paying parents, the gross income used in a maintenance calculation is provided by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) in the first instance. HMRC will provide details of the gross taxable profit of the paying parent's business, for the most recent complete tax year

People who are self-employed are required to keep accurate records of their business income and expenses for tax purposes. HMRC can charge penalties for inaccurate reporting where it results in tax being unpaid.

Where a paying parent is the Director of their limited liability company, they are legally an employee of that company and are treated the same as any other employee for child maintenance purposes.

If the receiving parent believes that the paying parent has additional income as a result of their employment status, for example, dividends they can apply for a variation to include this income in the maintenance calculation.

Cases involving complex income can be investigated by the Financial Investigation Unit (FIU). This is a specialist team which can request information from financial institutions to check the accuracy of information the CMS is given. The FIU uses its extensive investigative powers to ensure that families receive child maintenance appropriately and in accordance with the paying parent’s whole income.
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Matt Vickers:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment the Department has made of the adequacy of Jobcentre staffing levels to support claimants with complex needs. \p Dame Diana Johnson: We recognise that as a department we come into contact with some claimants who have complex needs or are vulnerable. The department already has processes in place to support and safeguard people who use our services, and we will continue to provide this support as changes are taken forward.

The Department continually impacts and assesses the service being offered to customers. Staff numbers, including the number of Work Coaches, and demand for Jobcentre services are reviewed on an ongoing basis, in line with the latest economic and benefit forecasts.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-11)

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Zöe Franklin:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the Department is taking to ensure that the Child Maintenance Service has effective mechanisms to prevent high earners from reducing their maintenance liabilities through the diversion of income into pension contributions. \p Andrew Western: The paying parent's (PP) gross income, after occupational or personal pension scheme contributions are deducted, is taken directly from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) for the latest tax year available. This is because either pension contributions themselves or the earnings from which they are paid qualify for income tax relief.

Either parent can ask the CMS to consider where they believe a paying parent is deliberately making excessive contributions into a private pension in order to reduce the calculation.

This is called a diversion of income variation. If the CMS considers that the deduction in the gross weekly income is unreasonable then the maintenance calculation can be adjusted.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-11)

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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many visas a) his Department, b) the Pension Protection Fund, and c) the Office for Nuclear Regulation have sponsored since 4 July 2024. \p Andrew Western: The requested data is not held centrally in a reportable format.
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Tom Tugendhat:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the Department plans to publish a child maintenance arrears reduction strategy for the next five years. \p Andrew Western: This Government is committed to maximising the effectiveness of the Child Maintenance Service (CMS), which plays a vital role in ensuring that children receive the financial support to which they are entitled. Only 7 per cent of the total maintenance due since the CMS commenced operations in 2012 remains outstanding through the Collect and Pay service.

Significant reforms to the CMS have already been announced setting out our intention to move to a single service where all payments will be collected and transferred on behalf of parents. This reform will enable the CMS to address non-compliance more swiftly and provide enhanced support to victims and survivors of domestic abuse.

The CMS have a strong range of enforcement powers and continually review how these can be strengthened to improve the CMS’s ability to deploy enforcement measures more widely and select the most appropriate action in each case.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-11)

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Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to support neurodivergent individuals in the workplace. \p Dame Diana Johnson: We have in place a range of measures to support employees with a disability or long-term health condition, including neurodivergent individuals, in the workplace.

Our digital information service for employers, Support with Employee Health and Disability provides tailored guidance to employers to support employees to remain in work, including guidance on health disclosures and having conversations about health, legal obligations, including statutory sick pay, and making reasonable adjustments.

We continue to oversee the Disability Confident Scheme, which encourages employers to create disability inclusive workplaces and to support disabled people to get work and get on in work. This includes resources around employing people with hidden disabilities including autism and other neurodivergent conditions.

DWP also operates Access to Work, which provides grant funding to support Workplace Adjustments that go beyond an employer's duty to provide reasonable adjustments as outlined in the Equality Act 2010. The grant provides personalised support and workplace assessments, travel to work, support workers, and specialist aids and equipment. In March 2025, we published the Pathways to Work Green Paper, to consult on the future of Access to Work. We are considering responses to the consultation and will set out our plans in due course.

Furthermore, in the plan to Make Work Pay (October 2024), government committed to raising awareness of all forms of neurodiversity in the workplace. Early this year DWP launched an Expert Academic Panel on Neurodiversity to advise government on boosting neurodiversity awareness and inclusion at work. The Panel considered why neurodivergent people have poor experiences in the workplace, and a low overall employment rate. We have received the Panel’s report and are considering its findings alongside the Keep Britain Working Review, which has now entered its Vanguard Phase testing new employer-led approaches to improving support for individuals to stay in work.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-11)

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Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether any new vehicle leases on the Motability Scheme will not increase in cost for the end user from July 2026. \p Sir Stephen Timms: We are protecting the taxpayer through changes to the Motability scheme, ensuring it supports disabled people whilst delivering efficient use of taxpayers’ money.

There will still be cars available through the scheme which require no advance payment. This means that customers will still be able to lease a car just with their qualifying disability benefit.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-11)

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Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much new leases for Motability vehicles will increase in end user cost from July 2026 as a result of the Autumn Budget 2026. \p Sir Stephen Timms: We are protecting the taxpayer through changes to the Motability scheme, ensuring it supports disabled people whilst delivering efficient use of taxpayers’ money.

There will still be cars available through the scheme which require no advance payment. This means that customers will still be able to lease a car just with their qualifying disability benefit.

Any change in costs of advance payments will depend on a range of factors, including the make and model of the car, and be determined by Motability.
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Matt Vickers:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment his Department has made of the accuracy of fraud and error detection systems used in Universal Credit administration. \p Andrew Western: Over the last year, we have seen a statistically significant decrease in the Universal Credit overpayment rate from 12.4% to 9.7% of expenditure - this represents a 21% fall in the overpayment rate, equivalent to £1.7bn in terms of FYE 2025 Universal Credit expenditure. This compares to the Universal Credit overpayment peak of 14.7% of expenditure in FYE 2022.

On Wednesday 26 November the Office for Budget Responsibility also published an updated Universal Credit fraud and error forecast which shows the rate of Universal Credit overpayments is expected to drop to 7.5% of Universal Credit expenditure by 2028/2029.
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Matt Vickers:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment the Department has made of the level of access to face-to-face support for claimants with limited digital skills. \p Andrew Western: If a work coach becomes aware a claimant lacks digital skills, they are able to refer to provision for Foundation Digital Skills, and then onto Essential Digital Skills training. In England, this is paid for by the adult skills budget.
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Matt Vickers:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to improve the accuracy of automated decision-making tools used in benefit administration. \p Andrew Western: The Department uses automated decision-making in some areas, as described in our Personal Information Charter. Customers are told when an automated decision has been made in relation to their case, along with information on the steps they would need to take if they want to exercise their right to ask for a human to review that decision.

Using automated decision-making allows us to improve accuracy, speeds up delivery and frees up colleagues’ time so they can support the people who need it most.

DWP has a legal requirement to ensure appropriate safeguards are in place when carrying out automated decision-making. The Department carries out regular checks to ensure our systems are working as intended, and any new features go through rigorous testing.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-11)

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Dr Al Pinkerton:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to tackle pensioner poverty in (a) Surrey and (b) Surrey Heath constituency. \p Torsten Bell: The State Pension remains the foundation of our support for pensioners, and our commitment to maintain the Triple Lock throughout this Parliament will ensure its value continues to rise over time. Subject to Parliamentary approval, the basic and new State Pensions will, increase by 4.8% in April 2026, benefitting over 12 million pensioners by up to £575. It also means the new State Pension is set to rise by over £2,000 over this Parliament.

Pension Credit continues to provide vital financial support for pensioners who, for whatever reason, find themselves on a low income. It does this by guaranteeing a minimum level of income - called the Standard Minimum Guarantee - which will also, subject to Parliamentary approval, increase by 4.8%, protecting the most vulnerable pensioners.

Crucially, receipt of Pension Credit also opens the door to other financial support, including Housing Benefit, Council Tax support and help with NHS costs as well as help with fuel bills and a free TV licence for those over 75. Maximising the take-up of Pension Credit remains a key priority. That is why we have been running the biggest ever Pension Credit take-up campaign, promoting Pension Credit to eligible pensioners and their family and friends. The latest campaign burst started in September and activity is planned until the end of the financial year.

Our campaign features adverts on television and 'video on demand', radio (including Greatest Hits radio, Hits Radio Lincolnshire, Classic FM and Smooth), social media, digital screens in GP surgeries and Post Offices (13 locations in Lincolnshire), as well as press activity (including advertorials in the Lincolnshire Echo, Grantham Journal, Lincolnshire Free Press, Spalding Guardian and the Stamford Mercury).

For households facing financial hardship, the Household Support Fund remains available, with funding extended to March 2026.
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Matt Vickers:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment the Department has made of the impact of digital-only communications on claimant engagement and error rates. \p Andrew Western: DWP are continuing to explore the choice of contact channel to reduce the cost of benefits administration and meet the needs of our customers for faster communication. This is based on customer research. While some customers are already able to access messages digitally this is not the only way in which we communicate with those customers. In the future we expect to expand the scope of our digital communications, but with a customer preference capability to allow customers to control which channel they choose and take account of accessibility needs. All new services and capabilities are assessed for impact on error rates
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Catherine West:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, in light of forthcoming elections in Myanmar, what steps is he taking to ensure that the UK takes the lead internationally on sanctions against Myanmar. \p Seema Malhotra: I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided in the House of Lords on 1 December to Question HL11962, which dealt with this question at length and is reproduced below for ease of reference:

We continue to support the aspirations of the people of Myanmar for a peaceful, democratic future. Any meaningful election needs to be accompanied by an end to violence, a resumption of dialogue among all parties concerned, and must also address the urgent need to allow access for humanitarian assistance, to end human rights violations, and reverse the collapse of public services. We will continue to engage international partners, including ASEAN and at the UN Security Council, on the challenges facing people in Myanmar. On 19 November at the UN Third Committee meeting on Myanmar, the UK delivered a statement, reiterating concern for human rights violations and election plans: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/the-uk-is-concerned-by-the-ongoing-violence-in-myanmar-including-escalating-human-rights-violations-and-increasing-reports-of-sexual-andgender-based

Since 2021, the UK Government has enacted 19 sanctions packages against the Myanmar regime, including 10 individual sanctions targeting the import of aviation fuel into Myanmar. In 2022 the UK updated our Overseas Business Risk Guidance to make it clear that UK businesses should conduct thorough supply chain diligence to ensure that commodities such as aviation fuel do not reach the military.

We have also sanctioned 25 individuals and 39 entities targeting the regime's access to finance, arms and equipment. We keep all evidence and potential designations under close review. It would not be appropriate to speculate about potential future sanctions designations as to do so could reduce their impact.
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Liam Byrne:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the policy papers entitled Spending Review 2025, published on 30 June 2025, and Budget 2025, published on 28 November 2025, what their Department’s capital Departmental Expenditure Limit (DEL) will be in each year of the Spending Review period; how much capital funding has been allocated to each of their Department’s programmes; and how much and what proportion of the capital DEL allocation remains unallocated in each year. \p Seema Malhotra: Table 5.4 of HM Treasury's Spending Review 2025 document sets out the Capital Departmental Expenditure Limit budgets for each department up to 2029/30. Departmental level allocations for the Spending Review period will be set out in the coming months.
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Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has made an estimate of the level of additional funding needed to maintain British Council operations in all current locations. \p Chris Elmore: I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 28 October to Question 906060.
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UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-11 conversation_28

Gregory Stafford:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether Ministers are considering sanctions against high ranking Georgian officials under the Chemical Weapons (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019. \p Stephen Doughty: I refer the Hon Member to the response given on 8 December 2025 to question 96635. We do not comment on potential future sanctions designations as to do so could reduce their impact.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-11 conversation_29

Anneliese Dodds:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to incorporate transnational repression into the UK’s human rights reporting frameworks. \p Chris Elmore: The UK is committed to promoting and protecting human rights, democracy and the rule of law, and we monitor the infringement of human rights across the world, including instances of transnational repression (TNR). Working in coordination with partners, we employ a range of measures to counter the threats presented by TNR, including operational, policy, and legal tools, and we take very seriously the need to protect the rights, freedoms, and safety of individuals in the UK from TNR.
wrans/answers2025-12-11 conversation_30
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-11 conversation_30

Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of countries withdrawing from the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction on the integrity of the Convention. \p Stephen Doughty: I refer the Hon Member to the answer she was provided on 5 November in response to Question 85644.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-11 conversation_31

Catherine West:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will take steps to make sports partnerships part of the UK's diplomatic efforts in Small Island States in the Caribbean. \p Chris Elmore: The Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS) recognises that sport can be an enabler of sustainable development, including through the promotion of tolerance and respect and through the positive contribution it makes to empowerment of women and girls, health, education and social inclusion. The UK has been one of the key supporters of the ABAS agenda in discussions with the SIDS group and at the United Nations.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-11 conversation_32

Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to support the economic stability and continued growth of the Turks and Caicos Islands. \p Stephen Doughty: I met Premier Misick of the Turks and Caicos Islands at the recent Joint Ministerial Council (JMC). Total trade between the UK and the Overseas Territories is worth around £17 billion annually, supported by tariff-free access to the UK for Overseas Territory exporters. The JMC included sessions with British Expertise International, UK Export Finance and a business engagement and networking event with UK companies. Supporting economic growth and diversification is a key UK Government priority.

Business licensing is a devolved matter for the Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-11 conversation_33

Anneliese Dodds:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure access of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to conduct an investigation in Sudan. \p Chris Elmore: We have expressed our concern over reports of the use of Chemical Weapons in Sudan, most recently at the Conference of States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention held in The Hague from 24-28 November.  We note that the Sudanese authorities in Port Sudan have established a national investigative committee to investigate reported use of chemical weapons. We have urged them to investigate fully and promptly.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-11 conversation_34

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to Q260 of the oral evidence given by her Department's Permanent Secretary to the Foreign Affairs Committee on 3 November 2025, HC385, if he will publish Lord Mandelson’s form. \p Seema Malhotra: As explained in the response to Question 91401 on 25 November, it has not been the policy under any government to publish the employment forms relating to individual members of staff.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-11 conversation_35

Marsha De Cordova:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the number of Israeli strikes on Lebanon since 27 November 2024. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer given on 20 November to Question 91653.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-11 conversation_36

Dr Scott Arthur:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department holds any information on the potential use of cluster munitions in Lebanon since September 2024. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The UK is a State Party to the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which prohibits their production, stockpiling, transfer, and use.

We are concerned by reports of the use of cluster munitions by the Israeli Defence Forces.

We continue to urge all actors to refrain from using such munitions and to adhere to international humanitarian law.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-11 conversation_37

Andy Slaughter:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to answer given to Question UIN 77478 on 14 October 2025, what discussions her officials have had with their Saudi counterparts regarding (a) the execution of Jalal Labbad for offences allegedly committed while he was a minor and (b) other juvenile defendants currently on death row. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The Government continues to monitor individual cases of concern in Saudi Arabia, and we regularly raise human rights with the Saudi authorities, including at ministerial level.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-11 conversation_38

Mark Sewards:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department has raised the detention of Bita Shafiei on 13 November 2025 with her Iranian counterparts. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: We are aware of Bita Shafiei's case and continue to raise the rights of women and girls and human rights defenders with the Iranian Government in multilateral fora. The UK co-sponsored an Iran Human Rights Resolution, adopted by the UN Third Committee on 19 November, which condemned the targeted repression of women and girls and called on Iran to release women human rights defenders imprisoned for exercising their rights. We delivered a statement at the Committee, which highlighted Iran's bolstering of surveillance capabilities to monitor and target women and girls, and we will continue to work with international partners to hold Iran to account.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-11 conversation_39

Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to increase humanitarian aid access and delivery into Gaza including through coordination with Israel, Egypt and the United Nations. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: I refer the Hon Member to the statement made by the Foreign Secretary to the House on 18 November 2025 regarding the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. In October, the Foreign Secretary spoke with UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, and Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar about the importance of opening more crossings to enable the flow of humanitarian supplies into Gaza at the pace and volume required to meet the scale of the crisis.
wrans/answers2025-12-11 conversation_40
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-11 conversation_40

Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to strengthen the UK’s bilateral relationship with Israel following recent events in Gaza and in the context of the UK’s wider Middle East security priorities. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The UK has a longstanding and important relationship with Israel, built on cooperation in areas including security, trade, science, and technology. We remain firmly committed to Israel's security and continue to work together on shared regional challenges.

The UK's immediate priority, working alongside our international partners, is to ensure continued progress on the 20-point peace plan endorsed by the UN Security Council on 17 November, including maintaining the current ceasefire, increasing the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza, and advancing the political process necessary for a just and lasting peace.

We discuss those matters regularly, and we remain committed to the pursuit of a two-state solution, with a secure Israel living side by side in peace and security alongside a viable, sovereign Palestinian state.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-12-11)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-12-11 conversation_41

Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the extent of Iranian state and proxy support for (a) Hamas and (b) other armed groups operating in Gaza and across the region; and what diplomatic or sanctions measures the UK is considering in response. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: Iran continues to destabilise the region through political, financial and military support for its proxies and partners - in direct contravention of multiple UN Security Council Resolutions. We will continue to work alongside international partners to hold Iran to account for this escalatory behaviour and call on Iran to cease this activity. The UK has to date sanctioned over 450 Iran-linked individuals and entities. We do not comment on prospective sanctions as to do so would risk reducing their impact.