Commons
Oral Questions
24 June 2026
3 contributions
Antisemitism
The rise in antisemitism is unacceptable; antisemitism has no place in Britain. It requires a whole-of-society response. That is why we are strengthening policing, and investing in record protective security funding to keep Jewish communities safe. We are also clamping down on antisemitic extremism,…
The hon. Lady speaks for the whole House in recognising the importance of celebrating and sharing Jewish culture, and that is why this month has been so valuable. She may be aware that an event was held in the Department for Education. We will leave no stone unturned to tackle antisemitism. Members …
+1 more contribution in this session
Commons
Oral Questions
24 June 2026
3 contributions
Discrimination against Trans People
The rise in antisemitism is unacceptable; antisemitism has no place in Britain. It requires a whole-of-society response. That is why we are strengthening policing, and investing in record protective security funding to keep Jewish communities safe. We are also clamping down on antisemitic extremism,…
The hon. Lady speaks for the whole House in recognising the importance of celebrating and sharing Jewish culture, and that is why this month has been so valuable. She may be aware that an event was held in the Department for Education. We will leave no stone unturned to tackle antisemitism. Members …
+1 more contribution in this session
Commons
Westminster Hall
23 June 2026
3 contributions
Environmental Sustainability: UK-Indonesia Collaboration
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Sir Jeremy.
I am very grateful to my hon. Friend the Member for Bristol East (Kerry McCarthy) for securing this debate. I pay tribute to her long-standing work on climate and environmental issues, and to her generosity in sharing with us her experienc…
I am happy for the hon. Lady to write to me to ask about the specifics because there are different funds, some of which are already deployed and some of which will continue in the future. If she would like to know more about specific funds, we can probably answer that.
It is also important to recog…
+1 more contribution in this session
Commons
Oral Questions
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
16 June 2026
8 contributions
Topical Questions
We recognise the strength of feeling among diaspora communities and continue to press the Sri Lankan Government bilaterally and at the United Nations Human Rights Council for meaningful progress to improve the human rights situation. That includes securing truth, justice and accountability for past …
Anthropic’s Fable 5 and Mythos 5 models have been withdrawn worldwide, including in the US. We respect that this is a decision for the US Government and are in direct contact with US Government officials as this develops. It reinforces the importance of Britain having greater sovereign control over …
+6 more contributions in this session
Commons
Oral Questions
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
16 June 2026
3 contributions
Tibetan Plateau: Environmental Change
Mr Speaker, I echo your words about Jo Cox, our friend and colleague, who we remember in our hearts. Had she not been so brutally murdered, she would have been in this House and, I am almost certain, would have been present for Foreign Office questions today.
Rivers originating from the Tibetan pla…
The UK continues to engage with China on climate and environmental issues. During the recent UK-China environment dialogue, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs secured agreement for greater collaboration with China on ecosystem resilience, biodiversity, conservation and mu…
+1 more contribution in this session
Commons
Proceedings
4 June 2026
16 contributions
Russian Attacks on Civilian Infrastructure
I thank the right hon. Member for his urgent question. Once again, we are witnessing truly reckless attacks from the Russian state, not only impacting the people of Ukraine, who continue to stand up to these barbaric assaults time and again, but in Romania; a Russian drone hit a residential building…
I thank the right hon. Gentleman for his remarks. It is absolutely clear that the strikes that hit Ukrainian cities, killed civilians and injured hundreds of people are utterly unacceptable. That underscores the fact that Russia is not serious about peace. It must end its illegal war. Some of the qu…
+14 more contributions in this session
Commons
Ministerial Statement
1 June 2026
Equality Act 2010: Code of Practice
With permission, I would like to make a statement on the draft Equality Act 2010 code of practice for services, public functions and associations.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission is the independent equality regulator, and it ensures compliance with the Equality Act 2010. Its code of practi…
Commons
Oral Questions
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
21 April 2026
Topical Questions
I can give my hon. Friend the assurance that we continue to raise the important case of Jagtar Singh Johal and to seek a resolution to his case as soon as we can.
Commons
Debate
12 March 2026
5 contributions
International Women’s Day
I beg to move,
That this House has considered International Women’s Day 2026.
It is an honour to open this International Women’s Day debate, which is being held in Government time for the first time since 2020. International Women’s Day was forged in the labour strikes of the early 20th century as…
I thank the hon. Gentleman for his comments and wish all the women in his family a very happy International Women’s Day. Let the message ring out from this House that every girl is a leader. He is absolutely right that we must look at where women come under threats online or through violence, and do…
+3 more contributions in this session
Commons
Oral Questions
Women and Equalities
11 March 2026
Topical Questions
I firmly agree that women’s equality and economic growth go hand in hand. That is why I was pleased to join the Minister for Women and Equalities in formally launching the action plans last week, so that large employers will be encouraged to set out the steps that they are taking to narrow their gen…
Commons
Oral Questions
Women and Equalities
11 March 2026
6 contributions
International Women’s Day
Cabinet colleagues have marked International Women’s Day by highlighting what we are doing to support working women, to halve violence against women and girls and to build a better future for every woman and girl. Last week I was proud to formally launch employer action plans, alongside the Minister…
I join my hon. Friend in commending the work of Her-Place and all community-based support. We are rolling out neighbourhood health centres across the country, prioritising areas with the greatest need. Local authorities and integrated care boards will work together to design those services to reflec…
+4 more contributions in this session
Commons
Oral Questions
Women and Equalities
11 March 2026
3 contributions
Endometriosis: Workplace Rights
While around 1.5 million women live with endometriosis, survey data shows that it can take more than nine years to receive a diagnosis, which will clearly have a significant impact on those women’s careers. We are acting so that women receive medical support earlier, ensuring that they can access di…
My hon. Friend is absolutely right about the challenges that endometriosis brings and that workplaces cannot afford to lose such talented women. Action matters. That is why, as part of the Employment Rights Act, we are improving access to flexible working, making changes to statutory sick pay and op…
+1 more contribution in this session
Commons
Oral Questions
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
3 March 2026
3 contributions
Jimmy Lai
The UK condemns in the strongest terms the politically motivated persecution of British citizen Jimmy Lai. We continue to call for his immediate release, and for giving him full access to independent medical professionals and all necessary treatment. The Prime Minister raised the case of Jimmy Lai w…
We continue to keep sanctions under close review. It would not be appropriate to speculate on any future designations, since doing so could reduce their impact, as the hon. Member knows. However, although we will not get into the details of any private discussions on Jimmy Lai, the Government will c…
+1 more contribution in this session
Commons
Oral Questions
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
3 March 2026
7 contributions
Hong Kong: Human Rights Situation
China’s imposition of the national security law on Hong Kong has significantly eroded the rights and freedoms of Hongkongers. We remain deeply concerned about that. Our most recent assessment was set out in the last six-monthly report on Hong Kong to Parliament in October, and the next report will b…
I thank my hon. Friend for his question, and for his constituency work. I am proud that the UK has welcomed around 200,000 Hongkongers since 2021. We will continue unequivocally to uphold our commitment to them. As he will know, their contribution enriches our economy and our society, including in L…
+5 more contributions in this session
Commons
Oral Questions
9 February 2026
26 contributions
Jimmy Lai: Prison Sentence
I thank the right hon. Member for his question on this serious matter. He will know that the UK condemns in the strongest terms the politically motivated prosecution of British national Jimmy Lai. As the Foreign Secretary said this morning, 20 years is tantamount to a life sentence for a 78-year-old…
The right hon. Member may have missed my earlier reference to Jimmy Lai as a British citizen, but I reiterate it. It is also important to reiterate our call on the Hong Kong authorities to release Jimmy Lai immediately on humanitarian grounds, so that he may be reunited with his family and receive a…
+24 more contributions in this session
Commons
Debate
2 February 2026
9 contributions
Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Bill
I beg to move, That this House agrees with Lords amendment 1.
I am delighted that the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Bill has returned to this House for the consideration of Lords amendments. I thank Members of both Houses for their careful scrutiny and for the constructive and collaborative approach throughout the Bill’s passage. I also place on th…
+7 more contributions in this session
Commons
Debate
28 January 2026
22 contributions
British Indian Ocean Territory
It is a pleasure to respond to this debate.
Let me start by saying that the Government oppose the motion. The treaty guarantees full UK operational control of Diego Garcia for generations to come.
Let me make a few remarks before I give way.
The motion proposes a wildly exaggerated cost, in contrast to the actual costings published by this Government at the time of the treaty’s introduction, which has been verified by the independent Government Actuary’s Department. The motion invokes an exc…
+20 more contributions in this session
Commons
Oral Questions
Women and Equalities
28 January 2026
3 contributions
Race Equality Engagement Group
The race equality engagement group, chaired by the wonderful Baroness Lawrence, is determined to tackle race inequalities and barriers to opportunity. Strengthening the Government’s links with ethnic minority communities is crucial. The group has already convened roundtables of experts and those wit…
My hon. Friend is right to raise this issue. The race equality engagement group is engaging with minority communities across the country to tackle inequality. We are committed to our manifesto commitment and to making the right to equal pay effective for ethnic minority people. We are also introduci…
+1 more contribution in this session
Commons
Oral Questions
Women and Equalities
28 January 2026
2 contributions
Non-disclosure Agreements: Workplace Harassment and Discrimination
I thank my right hon. Friend for her work both in this area and with Zelda Perkins, who has rightly been recognised in the new year honours list. I am proud that our Employment Rights Act 2025 introduces a new measure that will void any provision in an agreement between a worker and their employer t…
The Secretary of State for Business and Trade has stated that the delivery of the non-disclosure agreement measure is his personal priority. The Government will be consulting on the secondary legislation to ensure that we deliver on protecting workers from the misuse of NDAs in cases of harassment a…
Commons
Proceedings
19 January 2026
20 contributions
Proposed Chinese Embassy
I thank my hon. Friend for her question, and I am grateful for the opportunity to respond to it. She will know that discussions with Five Eyes partners relating to domestic security matters are primarily a responsibility for the Home Office. The decision on planning permission for the proposed Chine…
I thank my hon. Friend for her remarks. I reiterate that our intelligence services have been involved throughout. A range of measures have been developed and are being implemented to protect national security. She will also know that the Government are still to make a decision. That planning decisio…
+18 more contributions in this session
Commons
Westminster Hall
13 January 2026
3 contributions
Academic Technology Approval Scheme
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Sir Christopher. I thank the hon. Member for North East Fife (Wendy Chamberlain) for securing this debate. My hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff South and Penarth (Stephen Doughty), the Minister of State who oversees this area within the Foreign Office…
I do understand the importance of that. There are other issues that in my previous role last year in the Home Office, I experienced when working alongside other Departments, including the DFE and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.
The hon. Member has also highlighted the relatio…
+1 more contribution in this session
Commons
Westminster Hall
8 January 2026
5 contributions
Myanmar: Religious Minority Persecution
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mr Betts. I congratulate the hon. Member for Strangford (Jim Shannon) on securing this debate, and I thank all hon. Members for their thoughtful and powerful contributions.
As the shadow Minister, the hon. Member for Romford (Andrew Rosindell), said, …
The hon. Member is right to highlight what the junta continues to try to do. That is why it is incredibly important that we are continuing to work to make sure that humanitarian aid is not prevented from reaching where it needs to go. It is also why it is so important that we continue to work with l…
+3 more contributions in this session
Commons
Proceedings
11 December 2025
23 contributions
US National Security Strategy
I thank my hon. Friend for his urgent question. I am sure that the whole House will agree that the UK-US relationship has delivered security and prosperity on both sides of the Atlantic for more than a century. The special relationship we share with the US is built on a foundation of deep defence, s…
As my hon. Friend and the House will know, national security is our first priority. It is important that we continue to discuss all national security issues on an ongoing basis with all our allies, and particularly with the United States. Ultimately, it is for the United States to set its strategy. …
+21 more contributions in this session
Commons
Oral Questions
Women and Equalities
10 December 2025
5 contributions
Women’s Economic Empowerment
Gender equality is not just the right thing to do; it is imperative to unlock growth, as a 5% increase in female employment could boost the economy by up to £125 billion every year. That is why we are backing women in work and those starting businesses by supporting the investing in women code, expa…
I am happy to join my hon. Friend in recognising the fantastic women-led businesses in Gravesham and the impact that women-led businesses have on our communities and our economy. The Department for Business and Trade’s venture capital unit has recently launched its second female founder cohort, and …
+3 more contributions in this session
Commons
Oral Questions
Women and Equalities
10 December 2025
3 contributions
Unfair Dismissal: Protected Characteristics
Data about tribunal cases will continue to be collected in the usual way. We know that disabled people are more likely to be impacted by unfair dismissals. Employees already have day one protections against discrimination, and recent developments in the Employment Rights Bill do not change that prot…
I thank my hon. Friend for her tireless campaigning on this important issue. It is right that we ensure that disabled people are protected at work. She may also wish to approach the Ministry of Justice, as the Department that collects data on protected characteristics across employment tribunals.
+1 more contribution in this session