Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps her Department taking to support the inclusion of Syrian youth and women in post-conflict reconstruction and decision-making processes, including funding for locally-led initiatives and civic empowerment programmes.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK regularly engages with the Syrian Government to press for an inclusive political transition that protects the rights of all Syrians, including women and young people. This was raised directly with President Al Sharaa during his visit to London on 31 March.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what guidance his Department plans to issue to employers on obligations under the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 following the High Court judgment in Good Law Project v EHRC [2026] EWHC 279 (Admin).

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 cover a wide range of basic health, safety and welfare issues and apply to most workplaces. Employers and building owners have to provide suitable welfare facilities for all workers.

The Regulations and guidance provide minimum requirements in relation to those facilities. I understand that The High Court judgment is being appealed against, and it would not be appropriate to comment while legal proceedings are continuing. In general terms, employers and building owners do need to consider other requirements such as those in Building Regulations and associated Approved Documents for new buildings, as well as their responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010.

Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps her Department is taking to ensure trans workers are not discriminated against on grounds of gender reassignment in the context of the High Court judgment in Good Law Project v EHRC [2026] EWHC 279 (Admin).

Answered by Olivia Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

We are grateful for the clarity from the High Court’s judgment. We are clear that the laws to protect trans people from discrimination and harassment remain in place. Trans people continue to be protected on the basis of gender reassignment – a protected characteristic written into the Equality Act.

Found: Juliet Campbell; Tom Gordon; Baroness Hamwee; Afzal Khan; Lord Murray of Blidworth; Lord Rook; Alex Sobel

Found: Speaker of the House of Commons and Chair of the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission Alex Sobel