Apsana Begum Portrait

Apsana Begum

Independent - Poplar and Limehouse

12,560 (29.2%) majority - 2024 General Election

First elected: 12th December 2019


Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation Bill
1st May 2024 - 8th May 2024
Education Committee
2nd Mar 2020 - 30th Apr 2024
Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill
3rd Nov 2021 - 18th Nov 2021


Division Voting information

During the current Parliament, Apsana Begum has voted in 53 divisions, and 1 time against the majority of their Party.

23 Jul 2024 - Immigration and Home Affairs - View Vote Context
Apsana Begum voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 7 Labour Aye votes vs 361 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 103 Noes - 363
View All Apsana Begum Division Votes

Debates during the 2024 Parliament

Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.

Sparring Partners
Hamish Falconer (Labour)
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
(5 debate interactions)
Iain Duncan Smith (Conservative)
(2 debate interactions)
Catherine West (Labour)
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
(2 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
Department Debates
Home Office
(5 debate contributions)
Ministry of Justice
(2 debate contributions)
View All Department Debates
View all Apsana Begum's debates

Poplar and Limehouse Petitions

e-Petitions are administered by Parliament and allow members of the public to express support for a particular issue.

If an e-petition reaches 10,000 signatures the Government will issue a written response.

If an e-petition reaches 100,000 signatures the petition becomes eligible for a Parliamentary debate (usually Monday 4.30pm in Westminster Hall).

Petitions with highest Poplar and Limehouse signature proportion
Apsana Begum has not participated in any petition debates

Latest EDMs signed by Apsana Begum

25th November 2024
Apsana Begum signed this EDM on Monday 2nd December 2024

Suspension of Israel from international sports competitions

Tabled by: Brian Leishman (Labour - Alloa and Grangemouth)
That this House expresses profound concern over the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the continued suffering and loss of life caused by the lack of a ceasefire and the failure to advance peace talks; condemns the disruption to Palestinian sports resulting from Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories and the …
13 signatures
(Most recent: 5 Dec 2024)
Signatures by party:
Independent: 6
Labour: 4
Liberal Democrat: 1
Scottish National Party: 1
Green Party: 1
28th November 2024
Apsana Begum signed this EDM on Monday 2nd December 2024

Lobby of Parliament by refugee groups

Tabled by: Ian Lavery (Labour - Blyth and Ashington)
That this House welcomes the lobby of Parliament by refugee groups including Northumberland County of Sanctuary; acknowledges that the UK has, for centuries, provided a safe haven for those fleeing oppression; understands that many people seeking asylum display qualities of great courage and resilience and have abilities which can serve …
9 signatures
(Most recent: 5 Dec 2024)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 3
Independent: 3
Democratic Unionist Party: 1
Liberal Democrat: 1
Green Party: 1
View All Apsana Begum's signed Early Day Motions

Commons initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Apsana Begum, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.

MPs who are act as Ministers or Shadow Ministers are generally restricted from performing Commons initiatives other than Urgent Questions.


Apsana Begum has not been granted any Urgent Questions

Apsana Begum has not been granted any Adjournment Debates

Apsana Begum has not introduced any legislation before Parliament


Latest 33 Written Questions

(View all written questions)
Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department
30th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department (a) monitors and (b) assesses the extent to which countries participating in the Developing Countries Trading Scheme comply with international (i) human rights, (ii) labour rights, (iii) gender rights and (iv) environmental obligations.

The Government is committed to working with international partners and businesses to ensure global supply chains are free from human and labour rights abuses. The UK monitors all countries on the Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS) on an ongoing basis for serious and systemic violations of human rights (including gender rights), labour rights and environmental obligations based on international conventions.

The tools to monitor compliance may include reports from international convention bodies, reports produced by international organisations and reporting from the Government’s diplomatic network. The criteria the Government may consider include the nature, scale, impact, frequency and pattern of violations.

Douglas Alexander
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
30th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department takes steps to (a) monitor and (b) assess the extent to which countries participating in the Developing Countries Trading Scheme comply with their international (i) human rights, (ii) labour rights, (iii) gender rights and (iv) environmental obligations.

The Government is committed to working with international partners and businesses to ensure global supply chains are free from human and labour rights abuses. The UK monitors all countries on the Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS) on an ongoing basis for serious and systemic violations of human rights (including gender rights), labour rights and environmental obligations based on international conventions.

The tools to monitor compliance may include reports from international convention bodies, reports produced by international organisations and reporting from the Government’s diplomatic network. The criteria the Government may consider include the nature, scale, impact, frequency and pattern of violations.

Douglas Alexander
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
30th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs on the human rights situation in Bangladesh in respect of that country's participation in the Developing Countries Trading Scheme.

The UK has been deeply saddened by the violence and loss of life in Bangladesh. The interim government has the UK’s full support as it works to restore peace and order. The Secretary State for Business and Trade and the Foreign Secretary speak regularly on a range of issues. The UK monitors all countries on the Developing Countries Trading Scheme for serious and systemic violations of human rights, labour rights and environmental obligations. We are monitoring the situation in Bangladesh closely and raising matters regularly with the Government of Bangladesh in London and via our High Commission in Dhaka.

Douglas Alexander
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
30th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many childcare places were provided by local authority group-based providers of Ofsted registered Early Years Foundation Stage (a) education and (b) care in each year since 2010.

The Ofsted Early Years Register collects data on the number of providers of childcare on domestic premises, childcare on non-domestic premises, childminders, and home childcare. It does not identify local authority run provision and it is not broken down by age.

Ofsted’s registered early years and childcare statistics contains granular data about providers registered with Ofsted, their places and inspection outcomes (where appropriate) and can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/early-years-and-childcare-statistics.

Ofsted have also recently published management information aggregating registered childcare providers and inspections and their outcomes. This can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/childcare-providers-and-inspections-management-information.

The department publishes an annual survey of childcare and early years providers. This includes school-based provision that is not required to register with Ofsted. This survey includes a category for “school, college, local authorities and 'other unclassified'” group-based providers, which includes those run by local authorities. The survey covers three broad groups of providers: group-based providers, school-based providers and childminders.

Between 2018 and 2023 in England the survey reported:

2018

2019

2021

2022

2023

Other group-based providers

700

700

600

1,100

1,000

Total providers

66,600

66,000

62,000

59,400

56,300

This data is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-childcare-and-early-years.

It is not possible to break the survey data down further and identify numbers of, for example, local authority run group-based providers or school run group-based providers within the other group-based providers group. The reports do not include the number of places per provider.

Stephen Morgan
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
30th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many local authority group-based providers of Ofsted registered Early Years Foundation Stage (a) education and (b) care provided childcare places in each year since 2010.

The Ofsted Early Years Register collects data on the number of providers of childcare on domestic premises, childcare on non-domestic premises, childminders, and home childcare. It does not identify local authority run provision and it is not broken down by age.

Ofsted’s registered early years and childcare statistics contains granular data about providers registered with Ofsted, their places and inspection outcomes (where appropriate) and can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/early-years-and-childcare-statistics.

Ofsted have also recently published management information aggregating registered childcare providers and inspections and their outcomes. This can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/childcare-providers-and-inspections-management-information.

The department publishes an annual survey of childcare and early years providers. This includes school-based provision that is not required to register with Ofsted. This survey includes a category for “school, college, local authorities and 'other unclassified'” group-based providers, which includes those run by local authorities. The survey covers three broad groups of providers: group-based providers, school-based providers and childminders.

Between 2018 and 2023 in England the survey reported:

2018

2019

2021

2022

2023

Other group-based providers

700

700

600

1,100

1,000

Total providers

66,600

66,000

62,000

59,400

56,300

This data is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-childcare-and-early-years.

It is not possible to break the survey data down further and identify numbers of, for example, local authority run group-based providers or school run group-based providers within the other group-based providers group. The reports do not include the number of places per provider.

Stephen Morgan
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
30th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of childcare places for children aged between zero and two years were provided by local authority group-based providers of Ofsted-registered early years foundation stage education and care in each year since 2010.

The Ofsted Early Years Register collects data on the number of providers of childcare on domestic premises, childcare on non-domestic premises, childminders, and home childcare. It does not identify local authority run provision and it is not broken down by age.

Ofsted’s registered early years and childcare statistics contains granular data about providers registered with Ofsted, their places and inspection outcomes (where appropriate) and can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/early-years-and-childcare-statistics.

Ofsted have also recently published management information aggregating registered childcare providers and inspections and their outcomes. This can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/childcare-providers-and-inspections-management-information.

The department publishes an annual survey of childcare and early years providers. This includes school-based provision that is not required to register with Ofsted. This survey includes a category for “school, college, local authorities and 'other unclassified'” group-based providers, which includes those run by local authorities. The survey covers three broad groups of providers: group-based providers, school-based providers and childminders.

Between 2018 and 2023 in England the survey reported:

2018

2019

2021

2022

2023

Other group-based providers

700

700

600

1,100

1,000

Total providers

66,600

66,000

62,000

59,400

56,300

This data is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-childcare-and-early-years.

It is not possible to break the survey data down further and identify numbers of, for example, local authority run group-based providers or school run group-based providers within the other group-based providers group. The reports do not include the number of places per provider.

Stephen Morgan
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
28th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the Maritime Accident Investigation Branch will publish its interim report in relation to its investigation on the fatal injury to a crew member on a Malta-registered RoRo cargo vessel while loading freight vehicles in Purfleet on 13 July 2024.

The accident on the Laureline happened on 13/07/2024. The Maritime Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) is required to make every effort to publish a full report as soon as possible and in any case within 12 months of the accident. If this is not possible then an interim report is issued at the 12 month point. MAIB does not generally issue interim reports outside of this timeframe.

Mike Kane
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
21st Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will hold discussions with the Port of London Authority on its compliance with section three of the Ports Good Governance Guidance, published in March 2018, in the context of its practice of charging for river works licenses for balconies that overhang the River Thames.

The Department regularly engages with the Port of London Authority on a number of topics, including the PLAs approach to overhanging balconies on the river.

As there is going to be a public inquiry around the PLA Harbour Revision Order, where the topic of River Work licenses is likely to be raised it would be premature to take any substantive action, should that be appropriate, until the inquiry has concluded.

Mike Kane
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
30th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his Department's policies of the (a) arrests and (b) detention of (i) student leaders and (ii) protest participants in Bangladesh.

The Foreign Secretary and I have raised concerns publicly and privately about the recent unprecedented levels of violence, and tragic loss of life in Bangladesh. In July, I spoke to the Bangladesh High Commissioner to reiterate our concerns about the events unfolding in Bangladesh. In our public statements, we urged for an end to the violence and a de-escalation of the situation to prevent further loss of life. We were clear that a full and independent UN-led investigation into recent events was important. The UK Government welcomed the appointment of the Interim Government in Bangladesh, and it has the UK's support as it works to restore peace and order as well as ensure accountability.

Catherine West
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
30th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will have discussions with his Bangladeshi counterpart on releasing information on student protests.

The Foreign Secretary and I have raised concerns publicly and privately about the recent unprecedented levels of violence, and tragic loss of life in Bangladesh. In July, I spoke to the Bangladesh High Commissioner to reiterate our concerns about the events unfolding in Bangladesh. In our public statements, we urged for an end to the violence and a de-escalation of the situation to prevent further loss of life. We were clear that a full and independent UN-led investigation into recent events was important. The UK Government welcomed the appointment of the Interim Government in Bangladesh, and it has the UK's support as it works to restore peace and order as well as ensure accountability.

Catherine West
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
30th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make representations to his Bangladeshi counterpart on releasing information on student protests.

The Foreign Secretary and I have raised concerns publicly and privately about the recent unprecedented levels of violence, and tragic loss of life in Bangladesh. In July, I spoke to the Bangladesh High Commissioner to reiterate our concerns about the events unfolding in Bangladesh. In our public statements, we urged for an end to the violence and a de-escalation of the situation to prevent further loss of life. We were clear that a full and independent UN-led investigation into recent events was important. The UK Government welcomed the appointment of the Interim Government in Bangladesh, and it has the UK's support as it works to restore peace and order as well as ensure accountability.

Catherine West
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
30th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his Department's policies of the (a) arrests and (b) detention of (i) student leaders and (ii) protest participants in Bangladesh.

The Foreign Secretary and I have raised concerns publicly and privately about the recent unprecedented levels of violence, and tragic loss of life in Bangladesh. In July, I spoke to the Bangladesh High Commissioner to reiterate our concerns about the events unfolding in Bangladesh. In our public statements, we urged for an end to the violence and a de-escalation of the situation to prevent further loss of life. We were clear that a full and independent UN-led investigation into recent events was important. The UK Government welcomed the appointment of the Interim Government in Bangladesh, and it has the UK's support as it works to restore peace and order as well as ensure accountability.

Catherine West
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
30th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department supports an (a) impartial, (b) independent and (c) transparent investigation into alleged human rights violations in Bangladesh.

I spoke to the Bangladesh High Commissioner on 19 and 23 July to reiterate my concerns about the events unfolding in Bangladesh. In July and August, UK Government issued statements expressing concern about the situation in Bangladesh, calling for all sides to work together to end the violence and for internet access and communications services to be quickly restored. We were clear that a full and independent UN-led investigation into recent events was important. The Interim Government in Bangladesh has the UK's full support as it works to restore peace and order including investigating alleged human rights violations and ensuring accountability.

Catherine West
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
30th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with his Bangladeshi counterpart on reports of (a) violence towards protestors, (b) unlawful killings, (c) torture, (d) the shutting down of the internet and mobile services and (e) other forms of repression in that country.

I spoke to the Bangladesh High Commissioner on 19 and 23 July to reiterate my concerns about the events unfolding in Bangladesh. In July and August, UK Government issued statements expressing concern about the situation in Bangladesh, calling for all sides to work together to end the violence and for internet access and communications services to be quickly restored. We were clear that a full and independent UN-led investigation into recent events was important. The Interim Government in Bangladesh has the UK's full support as it works to restore peace and order including investigating alleged human rights violations and ensuring accountability.

Catherine West
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
30th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade on the Developing Countries Trading Scheme and human rights in Bangladesh.

The UK has been deeply saddened by the violence and loss of life in Bangladesh. The interim government has the UK's full support as it works to restore peace and order. The Foreign Secretary and the Secretary State for Business and Trade speak regularly on a range of issues. The UK monitors all countries on the Developing Countries Trading Scheme for serious and systemic violations of human rights, labour rights and environmental obligations. We are monitoring the situation in Bangladesh closely and raising matters regularly with the Government of Bangladesh in London and via our High Commission in Dhaka.

Catherine West
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
30th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the UK has provided training to the (a) Bangladeshi police, (b) Bangladeshi military and (c) Rapid Action Battalion.

UK ministers expressed concern at the violence used by the police against largely peaceful protests in July 2024. The UK Government welcomed the appointment of the interim government in Bangladesh, led by Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus. The interim government has the UK's support as it works to restore peace and order. The UK has provided short term training to sections of the police in Bangladesh. The UK has provided professional military education to Bangladesh military officers as part of our defence relationship. The UK does not currently provide training to the Rapid Action Battalion.

Catherine West
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
21st Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs on foreign travel advice for Bangladesh published by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office between 19 July 2024 and 29 August 2024.

The Home Office publishes data on enforced returns and asylum-related enforced returns in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’.

Quarterly data on enforced returns by destination are published in table Ret_D02 of the ‘returns detailed datasets’. This data covers the period 2004 to June 2024.

Data on asylum-related enforced returns for the top 10 nationalities, ranked by volume, are published in table Ret_04 of the ‘returns summary datasets’. This data is for the year ending June 2024.

Information on future Home Office statistical release dates can be found in the ‘Research and statistics calendar’.

Deportations are a subset of returns (defined in the ‘user guide glossary’). The published statistics refer to enforced returns which include deportations, as well as cases where a person has breached UK immigration laws, and those removed under other administrative and illegal entry powers that have declined to leave voluntarily.

The Home Office and FCDO are in regular communication regarding migration issues. FCDO travel advice is aimed at British nationals and is not the relevant test for deciding protection claims. The Home Office remains satisfied that Bangladesh is currently safe for returns of those with no legal basis to stay in the UK.

Angela Eagle
Minister of State (Home Office)
21st Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people were deported to Bangladesh between 19 July 2024 and 29 August 2024.

The Home Office publishes data on enforced returns and asylum-related enforced returns in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’.

Quarterly data on enforced returns by destination are published in table Ret_D02 of the ‘returns detailed datasets’. This data covers the period 2004 to June 2024.

Data on asylum-related enforced returns for the top 10 nationalities, ranked by volume, are published in table Ret_04 of the ‘returns summary datasets’. This data is for the year ending June 2024.

Information on future Home Office statistical release dates can be found in the ‘Research and statistics calendar’.

Deportations are a subset of returns (defined in the ‘user guide glossary’). The published statistics refer to enforced returns which include deportations, as well as cases where a person has breached UK immigration laws, and those removed under other administrative and illegal entry powers that have declined to leave voluntarily.

The Home Office and FCDO are in regular communication regarding migration issues. FCDO travel advice is aimed at British nationals and is not the relevant test for deciding protection claims. The Home Office remains satisfied that Bangladesh is currently safe for returns of those with no legal basis to stay in the UK.

Angela Eagle
Minister of State (Home Office)
21st Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people seeking asylum were deported to Bangladesh from 19 July 2024 to 29 August 2024.

The Home Office publishes data on enforced returns and asylum-related enforced returns in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’.

Quarterly data on enforced returns by destination are published in table Ret_D02 of the ‘returns detailed datasets’. This data covers the period 2004 to June 2024.

Data on asylum-related enforced returns for the top 10 nationalities, ranked by volume, are published in table Ret_04 of the ‘returns summary datasets’. This data is for the year ending June 2024.

Information on future Home Office statistical release dates can be found in the ‘Research and statistics calendar’.

Deportations are a subset of returns (defined in the ‘user guide glossary’). The published statistics refer to enforced returns which include deportations, as well as cases where a person has breached UK immigration laws, and those removed under other administrative and illegal entry powers that have declined to leave voluntarily.

The Home Office and FCDO are in regular communication regarding migration issues. FCDO travel advice is aimed at British nationals and is not the relevant test for deciding protection claims. The Home Office remains satisfied that Bangladesh is currently safe for returns of those with no legal basis to stay in the UK.

Angela Eagle
Minister of State (Home Office)
17th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether his Department has held recent discussions with their counterparts in Bangladesh on the asylum claims made in the UK by people from that country.

The first UK-Bangladesh Joint Working Group (JWG) on Home Affairs was held on 16 May and will be held on an annual basis. During the dialogue, and in compliance with Home Office disclosure and confidentiality guidance and the Immigration Rules, asylum and migration issues were discussed. To date, the Standard Operating Procedure for returns, signed at the JWG, has yet to be fully implemented by the Government of Bangladesh, though returns to Bangladesh continue in the meantime.

The Home Office and FCDO are in regular communication regarding human rights issues in Bangladesh. FCDO travel advice is aimed at British nationals and is not the relevant test for deciding protection claims. The Home Office remains satisfied that Bangladesh is currently safe for returns of those with no legal basis to stay in the UK.

Angela Eagle
Minister of State (Home Office)
17th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the Joint Working Group on Home Affairs with Bangladesh has met in the last 12 months.

The first UK-Bangladesh Joint Working Group (JWG) on Home Affairs was held on 16 May and will be held on an annual basis. During the dialogue, and in compliance with Home Office disclosure and confidentiality guidance and the Immigration Rules, asylum and migration issues were discussed. To date, the Standard Operating Procedure for returns, signed at the JWG, has yet to be fully implemented by the Government of Bangladesh, though returns to Bangladesh continue in the meantime.

The Home Office and FCDO are in regular communication regarding human rights issues in Bangladesh. FCDO travel advice is aimed at British nationals and is not the relevant test for deciding protection claims. The Home Office remains satisfied that Bangladesh is currently safe for returns of those with no legal basis to stay in the UK.

Angela Eagle
Minister of State (Home Office)
17th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department held discussions with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office on Bangladesh’s human rights record before a returns agreement was signed with that country in May 2024.

The first UK-Bangladesh Joint Working Group (JWG) on Home Affairs was held on 16 May and will be held on an annual basis. During the dialogue, and in compliance with Home Office disclosure and confidentiality guidance and the Immigration Rules, asylum and migration issues were discussed. To date, the Standard Operating Procedure for returns, signed at the JWG, has yet to be fully implemented by the Government of Bangladesh, though returns to Bangladesh continue in the meantime.

The Home Office and FCDO are in regular communication regarding human rights issues in Bangladesh. FCDO travel advice is aimed at British nationals and is not the relevant test for deciding protection claims. The Home Office remains satisfied that Bangladesh is currently safe for returns of those with no legal basis to stay in the UK.

Angela Eagle
Minister of State (Home Office)
17th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have been deported to Bangladesh as a result of the returns agreement dated 16 May 2024.

The first UK-Bangladesh Joint Working Group (JWG) on Home Affairs was held on 16 May and will be held on an annual basis. During the dialogue, and in compliance with Home Office disclosure and confidentiality guidance and the Immigration Rules, asylum and migration issues were discussed. To date, the Standard Operating Procedure for returns, signed at the JWG, has yet to be fully implemented by the Government of Bangladesh, though returns to Bangladesh continue in the meantime.

The Home Office and FCDO are in regular communication regarding human rights issues in Bangladesh. FCDO travel advice is aimed at British nationals and is not the relevant test for deciding protection claims. The Home Office remains satisfied that Bangladesh is currently safe for returns of those with no legal basis to stay in the UK.

Angela Eagle
Minister of State (Home Office)
17th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 9 September 2024 to Question 2525 on Bangladesh: Armed Forces and Police, what assessment his Department makes of the human rights obligations of the (a) UK and (b) other country when determining whether to train that country's armed forces personnel.

The Ministry of Defence uses an Overseas Security and Justice Assistance (OSJA) assessment to ensure that our training and assistance work defends and promotes human rights. This is a longstanding framework used across Government. The OSJA framework is intended to assess and reduce the risks of our assistance contributing to human rights abuses by foreign governments and partners.

Assessments are continuously reviewed as and when either the proposed assistance or the situation in country changes.

Luke Pollard
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
17th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 9 September 2024 to Question 2525 on Bangladesh: Armed Forces and Police, how many members of the Bangladeshi (a) police and (b) rapid action battalion have been trained at Sandhurst in the last ten years.

No Bangladeshi International Officer Cadets who have been trained at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the last ten years were members of the Bangladeshi Police or Rapid Action Battalion, either at the point of commencement or on completion of training.

The Department does not hold records on whether these personnel went on to join the Bangladeshi Police or Rapid Action Battalion following completion of training.

Luke Pollard
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
30th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) members of the Bangladeshi police, (b) members of the Bangladeshi Rapid Action Battalion and (c) other Bangladeshi personnel have been trained at Sandhurst in the last five years.

No members of the Bangladeshi police or the Bangladeshi Rapid Action Battalion have been trained at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS) in the last five years. Given the relatively low numbers of Bangladeshi personnel who have been training at RMAS, commercial sensitivities and data protection legislation restricts the disclosure of the figure. I hope the hon. Member will understand that this is to protect the identities of those trained at RMAS.

Luke Pollard
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
24th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending the obligations under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to registered social landlords.

The Government has confirmed that we will take action to introduce new access to information requirements for social housing tenants. This will enable social housing tenants of private registered providers, such as housing associations, to access the information they need about their homes from their landlords. The Government will set out further details of these requirements in due course.

Matthew Pennycook
Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
21st Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of removing the requirement to register to vote on the level of participation in general elections.

The Government has no plans to remove the requirement to register to vote and has therefore made no such assessment. The electoral register is the foundation of our democratic processes, showing who is eligible to vote in which elections. The Government is nonetheless committed to improving how registration works, including the use of data and online services to help increase registration levels so that everyone who is eligible to vote can vote.

Rushanara Ali
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
21st Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of providing guidance to newly-naturalised citizens on the requirement to register to vote before they can participate in general elections.

The Government is committed to improving electoral registration and is actively exploring ways to do so.

Rushanara Ali
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
21st Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward regulations on the (a) sourcing and (b) stocking of repair parts for lifts by registered social housing providers.

Registered providers of social housing are required to meet the regulatory standards set by the Regulator of Social Housing. The Safety and Quality Standard requires providers to provide an efficient, effective and timely repairs, maintenance and planned improvements service for the homes and communal areas for which they are responsible, which could include lifts.

The Government recently committed to introducing a competence and conduct standard to ensure that social housing staff have the right skills and experience and that social housing tenants can hold their landlords to account for their high quality services and homes. We will also bring forward a consultation as soon as possible setting out plans for a reformed Decent Homes Standard, which will apply to both the social and private rented sectors.

Matthew Pennycook
Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
18th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of pregnant women held in prison between 2023 and 2024 were on remand.

The HMPPS Annual Digest 2023/2024 reports a total number of 229 self-declared pregnant prisoners recorded between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024.

Custody type data were available for 91% of these prisoners, 71 (34%) of which were found to be on remand when their pregnancy was declared to HMPPS.[1][2]

There are now dedicated Pregnancy and Mother and Baby Liaison Officers in all women’s prisons as well as mandated multidisciplinary care planning for pregnant women.

The Lord Chancellor announced the creation of a Women’s Justice Board to address the distinct needs of women in the criminal justice system. The Board will have the goal of fewer women in prison and more supported in the community. It will initially focus on early intervention; community solutions including residential alternatives to custody; and improving outcomes for young adult women, and pregnant women and mothers of young children.

Whilst there will always be some, including those who are pregnant, who need to be in custody, we must ensure they are given the best chance possible to tackle the drivers of their offending and to contribute meaningfully to society.

Notes:

[1] Due to different data collection methods we have considered a matching record to be the closest remand record within 7 days of the first pregnancy declaration date.

[2] The figures in this table have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Nicholas Dakin
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury