Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Topical Questions

Tuesday 20 January 2026 · 17 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 6 Partly answered 11 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Dan Carden questioned the Foreign Secretary about banning the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, prompting a discussion on updating legislation to address state-backed threats.
  • Priti Patel raised concerns over the Chinese super-hub embassy planning permission and Jimmy Lai's imprisonment in Hong Kong, with the Government reiterating their criticism and pursuit of his release on humanitarian grounds.
  • Gurinder Singh Josan highlighted the case of young people from Gaza receiving medical attention in the UK, and the Minister acknowledged the Government's support for sick and injured children leaving Gaza for medical care.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Dan Carden Lab Liverpool Walton
Ukraine Foreign Affairs
Context

In the context of the ongoing Ukraine war, Dan Carden highlights the recent missile attacks by Russia on Ukrainian cities targeting energy infrastructure.

Question

I am grateful for that update. The brutal Iranian regime is dying and a new Iran is being born. We can assist that process, in the Iranian people’s interests and ours, by banning the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. If the Foreign Secretary requires a new legislative instrument for a proscription mechanism for state and state-linked bodies, will she bring that to the House? Will the Foreign Office prepare for the day after, convening Opposition parties to cohere them and mobilise expertise to decide on a future democratic—

Answer from The Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Yvette Cooper)

My hon. Friend will know that as Home Secretary I commissioned a review of the legislation which recommended changes, because existing legislation is drawn up around terrorism, and we need to be able to deal with state-backed threats. I assure him that both I and the Home Secretary take the threats from Iran extremely seriously.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Bringing a new legislative instrument for proscription mechanism to the House was not addressed directly

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Q2 Priti Patel Con Witham
Foreign Affairs
Context

The shadow Foreign Secretary raises concerns about the decision to grant planning permission for a new Chinese embassy super-hub while Jimmy Lai, a British national, remains imprisoned in Hong Kong.

Question

The Government have just given planning permission to the new Chinese super-hub embassy—the document is 240 pages; there it is for us to read—while Jimmy Lai, a British national, continues to be imprisoned in appalling conditions on bogus political charges under the disgraceful Hong Kong national security law. Does the Foreign Secretary agree that it is unacceptable for China to be rewarded with this spy hub in the heart of London while Jimmy languishes in prison?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Yvette Cooper)

The shadow Foreign Secretary will know that we have made the strongest of criticisms of the decision on Jimmy Lai. We continue to pursue that issue with the Chinese Government and to stress the urgent need for him to be released immediately on humanitarian grounds. She has raised the issue of the independent planning decision, and she will know the independent planning processes that need to be gone through.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The direct question about granting permission was not answered directly

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Q3 Gurinder Singh Josan Lab Smethwick
NHS Children & Families
Context

The MP highlights the situation of young people from Gaza receiving specialist medical attention in the UK and asks about the learning taken from this programme.

Question

I recently visited the Lodge community centre in West Bromwich to meet five of the 25 young people who had arrived in the UK from Gaza to receive specialist medical attention—they were with their families at a fun day put on by the Yemeni Community Association. I spoke with them about their community in Gaza and their journey here to the UK. Can the Minister tell the House what learning the Department has taken from the programme so far, in particular about the support required by the young people and their families while they are in the UK, and whether it is the intention to expand the project further?

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Mr Hamish Falconer)

As the House will be aware, we have supported a number of sick and injured children to leave Gaza. I am very proud of our work in this area. We work closely across Government, including with our colleagues in the Department of Health and Social Care and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, and with local authorities, to ensure that children and families arriving in the UK receive the help and support they need.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The intention to expand the project was not addressed directly

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Q4 Jeff Smith Lab Manchester Withington
Foreign Affairs
Context

The Rafah crossing is critical for delivering aid to Gaza, which faces a humanitarian crisis.

Question

It will be impossible to get the necessary aid into Gaza until the Rafah crossing is fully open. Will the Minister update us on progress in trying to persuade the Netanyahu Government to do the right thing and open the Rafah crossing?

Answer from Hamish Falconer

I thank my hon. Friend for his question and his continued advocacy on these issues. The 20-point plan clearly outlined the need to open the Rafah crossing, and indeed other crossings. There have been discussions between various partners, but we continue to press the Israelis to open all the crossings now.

Answered
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Q5 Mike Reader Lab Northampton South
Foreign Affairs
Context

The UK Foreign Secretary warned in an interview that a divided NATO benefits Vladimir Putin.

Question

In her interview two weeks ago in The Sunday Times, the Foreign Secretary warned that the only person who benefits when NATO is divided is Vladimir Putin. That warning looks even more relevant today, so may I ask her once again to remind her colleagues across the Atlantic that this is the time to come together as an alliance and remember who our true enemies are?

Answer from Yvette Cooper

I gather that that sentiment was also expressed by the Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, who has been with us in Parliament over the last few days. I think there are many people on both sides of the Atlantic, across Europe and north America, who recognise the vital importance of our NATO alliance to keeping all of us safe.

Answered
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Q6 Seamus Logan SNP Aberdeenshire North and Moray East
Foreign Affairs
Context

The Syrian Government and the Syrian Democratic Forces announced a ceasefire that quickly unraveled, with renewed fighting.

Question

My constituent Pelin Omar has asked me about the ceasefire that was announced on Sunday between the Syrian Government and the Syrian Democratic Forces, which has already unravelled, with fighting resuming in less than 24 hours. What is the Foreign Secretary doing to promote humanitarian access, international monitoring and a long-term reconciliation between the Kurdish people in Aleppo and northern Syria and the Syrian Government? Do the Government support more devolved government as a solution to bring about lasting peace for the Kurdish people?

Answer from Hamish Falconer

Many across the House will be aware of the fast-moving situation in north-east Syria, which is of concern to the British Government. We are calling for de-escalation, and we want a halt to the advance into the north-east. We continue to focus on the humanitarian situation in Syria. Over 16.5 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance, and we are delivering up to £104 million of assistance this year.

Answered
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Q7 Peter Lamb Lab Crawley
Foreign Affairs
Context

Tamils in Sri Lanka seek justice for past and current injustices.

Question

What action are the UK Government taking to support Tamils in seeking justice for past and current injustices?

Answer from Hamish Falconer

The UK is active in seeking justice and accountability for Sri Lanka’s Tamil community. Indeed, we lead in the UN Human Rights Council on the resolution on Sri Lanka. Last year, we sanctioned Sri Lankans for human rights violations in the civil war, and we have made clear to the Sri Lankan Government the importance of improved human rights for all in Sri Lanka, as well as reconciliation.

Answered
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Q8 Marsha De Cordova Lab Battersea
Foreign Affairs Women & Equalities
Context

Two out of three FCDO-funded programs dedicated to disability inclusion are ending this year, and 80% of disabled people live in the global south.

Question

With two out of three FCDO-funded programmes dedicated to disability inclusion coming to an end this year, what targets will the Government set to ensure that their remaining programming will prioritise and can be accessed by disabled people, 80% of whom live in the global south? Will the Minister offer some assurances that there will be sufficient capacity within the FCDO to support disabled people across the globe?

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Chris Elmore)

The UK has long promoted global disability rights through our global programme to support disability inclusion in health, education and employment, plus access to innovative assistive technologies. In addition to our work to mainstream disability inclusion across the FCDO’s priorities, the UK is co-chair of the Global Action on Disability Network that strengthens international co-ordination on disability rights and accelerates that progress, including in the global south.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The response provided general information about the UK's commitment to disability inclusion but did not provide specific targets or assurances about FCDO capacity.

How: General Statement, No Specifics

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Q9 James Wild Con North West Norfolk
Context

The Iranian regime is killing protesters in their thousands, and there is a communication blackout.

Question

What are the Government doing with partners, so that we can hear the voices of those freedom fighters?

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Mr Hamish Falconer)

As I said to the House yesterday, we treat the internet blackout in Iran as a breach of the human rights of the Iranian people. We continue to work on this issue with our partners for the reasons that my ministerial colleagues have set out, but I will not give further commentary on operational business.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The response provided general information about treating the internet blackout as a human rights breach but did not provide specific details on actions taken to support protesters' voices.

How: No Specifics

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Q10 Sarah Champion Lab Rotherham
Foreign Affairs
Context

There are significant FCDO budget reductions and staffing cuts planned.

Question

Given the scale of the planned FCDO budget reductions and significant staffing cuts, what assessment has been made of which policy areas will be deprioritised as a result of those measures? What redundancy mitigation steps are being taken in line with the 2016 civil service protocols and how those changes are expected to impact both UK personnel serving overseas and country-based staff?

Answer from Yvette Cooper

My hon. Friend will know that we have been doing extensive work to ensure that the Foreign Office is focused on the key priorities and on delivering for the national interest. She will also know that there was a quite significant expansion in the staffing, including the UK-based staffing, of the Foreign Office over the previous five years. It is right that we ensure the Foreign Office is most focused on the national security issues and prosperity issues as well as many of the issues that she and her Committee are concerned about around international development. We will continue to provide information to her Committee on this matter.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The response provided general statements about focusing priorities but did not give specific assessments or redundancy mitigation steps.

How: No Specifics

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Q11 Robbie Moore Con Keighley and Ilkley
Foreign Affairs Children & Families
Context

A British citizen child has been detained by the French state for 440 days with no schooling or welfare visits.

Question

Will the Foreign Secretary intervene personally in this case and meet with me to be able to secure a welfare visit?

Answer from Stephen Doughty

I am happy to meet with the hon. Gentleman to discuss the case.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The response provided agreement to meet but did not offer personal intervention from the Foreign Secretary.

How: No Specifics

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Q12 Alex Sobel Labour (Co-op) Leeds Central and Headingley
Foreign Affairs
Context

Uganda held elections with reports of people being prevented from going to polling stations, ballot stuffing, violence, and threats against the opposition.

Question

What can the Foreign Secretary tell me about the veracity of the elections? What is she doing to protect British citizens in Uganda and to ensure the safety of members of the National Unity Platform?

Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Chris Elmore)

We have consistently advocated for peaceful and credible elections, and we encourage any disputes to be addressed through peaceful and legal means. In relation to the opposition leader, we have engaged across the political spectrum to advocate for peaceful elections, including for the opposition candidates to be able to campaign freely and safely, and we continue to do so, including through our high commission.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The response provided general information on advocacy but did not provide specifics on election veracity or safety measures.

How: No Specifics

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Q13 Al Pinkerton Lib Dem Surrey Heath
Context

In answer to an earlier question, the Foreign Secretary stated that Greenland's future should be decided by Greenlanders and Danes. The Chagos Islands are currently under discussion in a bill.

Question

Why has the opportunity for Chagossians to have a referendum been stripped from today’s discussions on the Chagos Bill, when the same rights are considered fundamental for Greenlanders?

Answer from Stephen Doughty

We will be discussing these issues this afternoon and there will be ample time to discuss amendments. We have engaged extensively with Chagossian communities.

Partly answered
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Q14 Anneliese Dodds Labour (Co-op) Oxford East
Foreign Affairs
Context

The International Criminal Court’s deputy chief prosecutor stated that atrocities in Sudan would be repeated unless there is an end to impunity for belligerents.

Question

What measures have the UK Government been taking to ensure that the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement North, as well as the Rapid Support Forces and Sudanese armed forces, protect civilians and allow aid through?

Answer from Yvette Cooper

We have engaged extensively with the UN Secretary-General about further action. We need a ceasefire, an end to violence, and protection for civilians along with aid access.

Answered
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Q15 Wera Hobhouse Lib Dem Bath
Defence Foreign Affairs
Context

President Trump’s policies over Greenland are bringing the UK closer to Europe. Denmark has asked for European forces to use UK command infrastructure.

Question

Will the UK allow European forces to use its command infrastructure for operations in and around Greenland?

Answer from Stephen Doughty

We work closely with Denmark within NATO, including through the Arctic sentry programme and joint expeditionary force.

Partly answered
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Q16 Sarah Coombes Lab West Bromwich
Children & Families
Context

A mother from the questioner’s constituency reported her daughters were abducted by their father and taken out of the country, likely to Afghanistan or Pakistan.

Question

What can be done about such abductions? Will the Minister meet the MP to discuss how to return the girls home?

Answer from Hamish Falconer

We will set out what can be done about abductions. I am willing to meet the MP to discuss how we get these girls home.

Answered
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Q17 Carla Lockhart DUP Upper Bann
Foreign Affairs Religion & Faith
Context

According to Open Doors, Yemen is the third most dangerous country for Christians. Over 50 Yemeni Christians have been arrested since January.

Question

Why has freedom of religious belief not been made a prerequisite for continued UK aid to Yemen?

Answer from Hamish Falconer

There are significant restrictions on aid into northern Yemen. We prioritise religious freedom, including through our envoy, and I am willing to meet the hon. Lady to discuss these issues further.

Partly answered
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