Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with international partners on modern slavery in Afghanistan.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office officials are working closely with international partners on this issue, as well as broader human rights concerns in Afghanistan. Officials consistently raise human rights concerns with the Taliban and urge them to reverse their inhuman restrictions. We continue to support the UN Special Rapporteur and his mandate to document human rights abuses in Afghanistan. Upholding human rights is not only a moral imperative but also essential for building a stable, inclusive and prosperous country for all Afghans.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her department plans to introduce (i) increased safety standards for US-style pickup trucks and (ii) measures to limit the number of US style pick-up trucks in urban areas.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
New pick-up trucks are subject to approval against rigorous performance-based standards. These standards are developed by the UK and our international partners to ensure vehicles are safe to use on the road and protect occupants and other road users, including pedestrians, in the event of a collision.
There are currently no plans to introduce increased safety standards for US style pick-up trucks or to introduce measures to limit the number of US style pick-up trucks in urban areas. In the Road Safety Strategy, published on 7 January, the government has committed to collaborating with stakeholders and vehicle manufacturers to further understand safety concerns regarding increasing vehicle size.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to put transitional arrangements in place before the Medical Training (Prioritisation) Bill comes into force.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government does not plan to introduce transitional arrangements ahead of the Medical Training (Prioritisation) Bill coming into force.
It is the intention of the Department to commence the bill as soon as we are able, subject to passage through Parliament.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the human rights situation in Syria, in particular in relation to the rights of Kurdish people; and what action she is taking.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Hon Member to the Written Ministerial Statement I made to the House on 28 January 2026.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Medical Training (Prioritisation) Bill on International Medical Graduates already working in NHS, particularly those in non-training and service roles.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Medical Training (Prioritisation) Bill was introduced to Parliament on 13 January 2026. The bill delivers the Government’s commitment in the 10-Year Health Plan for England, published in July 2025, to prioritise United Kingdom medical graduates for foundation training, and to prioritise UK medical graduates and other doctors who have worked in the National Health Service for a significant period for specialty training.
Subject to the parliamentary passage of the bill, for 2026, international medical graduates with specific immigration statuses will be prioritised when making offers for specialty training. These statuses, such as Indefinite Leave to Remain, are being used as a proxy for NHS experience because individuals who hold them and are eligible for specialty training are likely to have already worked in the NHS for a substantial period.
From 2027 onwards, these immigration categories will no longer apply automatically. Instead, the Government will set out in future regulations additional persons who will be prioritised based on criteria indicating they are likely to have significant NHS experience, or based on their immigration status.
International medical graduates who are not prioritised will still be able to apply and will be offered places if vacancies remain after prioritised applicants have received offers. In particular, there are likely to be opportunities in specialties such as general practice, core psychiatry, and internal medicine. Historically, these attract fewer applicants from the groups we are prioritising for 2026.
International medical graduates will also continue to have opportunities in locally employed doctor roles, which could lead to NHS experience that might count towards future prioritisation.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether British citizens who have graduated from medical schools outside of the UK will be prioritised for medical training places in the Medical Training (Prioritisation) Bill.
Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Medical Training (Prioritisation) Bill was introduced to Parliament on 13 January 2026. The bill delivers the Government’s commitment in the 10-Year Health Plan for England, published in July 2025, to prioritise United Kingdom medical graduates for foundation training, and to prioritise UK medical graduates and other doctors who have worked in the National Health Service for a significant period for specialty training
Under the bill, British citizens who have graduated from medical schools outside of the UK will not be prioritised for foundation training places, and a graduate from a medical school in the UK or Ireland will not be prioritised if they spent the majority of their time studying outside the British Islands.
For specialty training places starting in 2026, NHS experience is being represented by immigration status, as people with a settled immigration status are more likely to have worked in the NHS for longer. The effect of this is that British citizens and those with certain other immigration status will be prioritised. For specialty training posts starting from 2027 onwards, this provision will not apply automatically. Instead, it will be possible to make regulations to specify additional groups who will be prioritised, where they are likely to have significant experience working as a doctor either in the NHS in England, Scotland, or Wales or in health and social care in Northern Ireland, or by reference to their immigration status.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what recent discussions she has had with the Chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission on tackling Islamophobia.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is an independent Non Departmental Public Body and Great Britain’s national equality and human rights body. The Government regularly engages with EHRC on a range of areas covered in their remit.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when his Department plans to publish its response to the consultation entitled Strengthening leaseholder protections over charges and services, which closed on 26 September 2025.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The consultation in question closed on 26 September 2025. We are analysing responses and will bring the relevant measures into force as quickly as possible thereafter.
Asked by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester Rusholme)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions her Department has had with its counterparts in Guinea on the rights of political prisoners.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK regularly raises concerns with the authorities in Guinea over human rights, democracy, freedom of expression, and the rule of law, including arbitrary detentions, and restrictions on political freedoms, civil society and peaceful protest.
Since the December 2025 elections, our Ambassador has pressed the Guinean authorities, including security officials, to ensure due process, and release detainees being held without charge. The UK is also continuing to support efforts to strengthen good governance and access to justice.