Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has offered additional resource to West Midlands Police for the UEFA Europa League match between Aston Villa and Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

West Midlands Police did not notify the department of it’s risk assessment findings. Planning for football matches is considered and decided locally by Safety Advisory Groups which are operationally independent of Government and assess the risks and safety for the public. Home Office Officials were notified on 2 October 2025 by the UK Football Policing Unit of the options under consideration to allow the upcoming UEFA Europa League match between Aston Villa and Maccabi Tel Aviv to proceed safely.

The department was not informed of the final decision until it was in the public domain.

The Government has been working with West Midlands Police and Birmingham City Council to support them in considering all the options available for the match, including what resources are needed to manage the risks. Although the ultimate decision regarding the admittance of away fans is for the Local Authority to make, Government was clear that resources should not be the determining factor in whether Maccabi Tel Aviv fans would be admitted.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when West Midlands Police notified her Department of its risk assessment for the UEFA Europa League match between Aston Villa and Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

West Midlands Police did not notify the department of it’s risk assessment findings. Planning for football matches is considered and decided locally by Safety Advisory Groups which are operationally independent of Government and assess the risks and safety for the public. Home Office Officials were notified on 2 October 2025 by the UK Football Policing Unit of the options under consideration to allow the upcoming UEFA Europa League match between Aston Villa and Maccabi Tel Aviv to proceed safely.

The department was not informed of the final decision until it was in the public domain.

The Government has been working with West Midlands Police and Birmingham City Council to support them in considering all the options available for the match, including what resources are needed to manage the risks. Although the ultimate decision regarding the admittance of away fans is for the Local Authority to make, Government was clear that resources should not be the determining factor in whether Maccabi Tel Aviv fans would be admitted.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to help remove barriers to work faced by young disabled people with complex needs in Birmingham Perry Barr constituency.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

Disabled people and people with health conditions are a diverse group. Access to the right support, in the right place, at the right time, is crucial.

Jobcentre Plus provides tailored, person-centred support to young disabled people, focusing on their individual needs. Disability Employment Advisors (DEAs) provide personalise support for people with health conditions and disabilities to enable them to achieve appropriate and sustainable employment. DEAs work closely with Youth Employability Coaches (YECs), who deliver longer-term support, specifically for young people facing with complex to work. Both DEAs and YECs work with partner organisations to ensure access to expert advice.

The Department for Work and Pensions and the Department for Education continue to work closely with the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) on the design and delivery of their Youth Guarantee Trailblazer. WMCA has actively engaged its seven Local Authorities, which includes Birmingham, to co-develop and test place-based solutions aimed at tackling high youth unemployment, economic inactivity, and declining apprenticeship opportunities. Examples of programmes being delivered through the Trailblazer include work experience placements, pre-apprenticeship training, and NEET prevention. This locally tailored support is also accessible to young people with health conditions and disabilities. Insights from the Trailblazer will inform future national policy and delivery.

In addition, young people with health conditions and disabilities can benefit from other locally delivered programmes such as Connect to Work and Workwell. Connect to Work, is a voluntary, high-fidelity programme, connecting work, health and skills support for people with challenges to employment, including health and disability. Workwell, provides a light touch intervention which focuses on prevention and support for people in work to sustain employment. It also supports people who have fallen out of work due to health and disability to return to the workplace.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has made representations to her Israeli counterpart on the Knesset Bill entitled Application of Israeli Sovereignty in Judea and Samaria, 2025.

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

The UK Government condemns any calls to annex the West Bank and has also consistently opposed the expansion of illegal settlements. Annexation threatens regional stability, the viability of a Palestinian state and lasting peace for both Israelis and Palestinians.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has made recent representations to her American counterpart on the detainment of Sami Hamdi by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on 26 October 2025; and what steps she is taking to secure his immediate release.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

We do not routinely discuss specific cases, but I can confirm that the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office are in contact with a British man detained in the USA and in touch with the local authorities and his family in the UK.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has made recent representations to her Israeli counterpart on the implementation of the International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion of 22 October 2025 on the Obligations of Israel in Enabling the Presence and Activities of the United Nations, Other International Organizations and Third States in and In Relation to the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

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

I refer the Hon Member to the answer of 15 October to Question 77707.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure Israel’s compliance with the International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion of 22 October 2025 on the Obligations of Israel in Enabling the Presence and Activities of the United Nations, Other International Organizations and Third States in and In Relation to the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

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

I refer the Hon Member to the answer of 15 October to Question 77707.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure Israel complies with its obligation to facilitate the activities of (a) the United Nations Relief and Works Agency and (b) other UN agencies.

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

I refer the Hon Member to the answer of 15 October to Question 77707.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions her Department has had with (a) West Midlands Police on amending its risk assessment for the upcoming UEFA Europa League match between Aston Villa FC and Maccabi Tel Aviv FC and (b) Birmingham City Council's Safety Advisory Group on reversing its decision to ban away fans from attending.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

Further to the answer that I gave on 27 October, I can confirm that the Government continues to work with West Midlands Police and Birmingham City Council to support them in ensuring the match between Aston Villa FC and Maccabi Tel Aviv FC due to be played on 6 November can proceed safely.

We are clear that law abiding fans should be able to enjoy football matches in safety and that any violent or disorderly behaviour at matches will not be tolerated.

Hurricane Melissa

Trial by jury

Israel’s use of cluster munitions

Road Safety Week 2025

Conflict in Sudan

International Men’s Day and prostate cancer

Movember

Economic growth and the asylum system

Matters for the Chancellor of the Exchequer to consider prior to the Autumn Budget 2025 (No. 3)

Budget 2025 and living standards

New private capital in the NHS in the Autumn Budget

Safe and legal routes for Sudanese people to the UK

Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Day on 20 November 2025

Dying in Poverty 2025

Funding for clean heat schemes

Freezing of Local Housing Allowance

Family Business Week 2025

Cancer waiting times

Two-child limit

Local Housing Allowance

Accommodation standards for people seeking asylum

Cumulative disruption proposals and the right to protest

Tower Hamlets counter-demonstration on 25 October 2025

Actions of Samir Zitouni on 1 November 2025

Train safety, staffing levels and plans for driverless trains

Kashmir Black Day and self-determination

Media Plurality and Press Freedom in Parliament