Asked by: Ayoub Khan (Independent - Birmingham Perry Barr)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of creating a dedicated visa category for Chevening scholars to apply for after completing their studies in the UK.
Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
Chevening Scholars are required, under the terms of their scholarship, to return to their home country at the end of their studies. These conditions apply to all scholars and mean they must leave the UK on completion of their course unless they obtain written consent from the scholarship provider to apply for further permission in the UK, including under the Graduate route. The Government has no plans to introduce a dedicated post‑study visa for Chevening Scholars.
Asked by: Ayoub Khan (Independent - Birmingham Perry Barr)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of permitting Chevening scholars to apply for graduate visas.
Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
Chevening Scholars are required, under the terms of their scholarship, to return to their home country at the end of their studies. These conditions apply to all scholars and mean they must leave the UK on completion of their course unless they obtain written consent from the scholarship provider to apply for further permission in the UK, including under the Graduate route. The Government has no plans to introduce a dedicated post‑study visa for Chevening Scholars.
Asked by: Ayoub Khan (Independent - Birmingham Perry Barr)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to support applicants to the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy affected by the data leak of February 2022.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The previous Government established the Afghanistan Response Route (ARR) for individuals affected by the February 2022 data incident considered to be at highest risk as a result of the incident.
Under the scheme around 900 ARR principals are in Britain or in transit, with 3,600 family members.
As the Defence Secretary outlined in his statement, on 15 July 2025, the Ministry of Defence took action to notify as many of those affected as possible by the incident using the most recent contact details held by the department and provided security advice. An online self-checker tool and an Information Service Centre (ISC), which included 24/7 telephone and email support for all affected individuals, were also stood up to assist people in finding out whether they were affected by the data incident. The ISC continued for a number of months and was gradually wound down, in accordance with demand. It was closed in October 2025, but the online self-checker tool remains available on gov.uk.
Asked by: Ayoub Khan (Independent - Birmingham Perry Barr)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to support the family members of applicants to the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy that remain in Afghanistan and were affected by the data leak of February 2022.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The previous Government established the Afghanistan Response Route (ARR) for individuals affected by the February 2022 data incident considered to be at highest risk as a result of the incident.
Under the scheme around 900 ARR principals are in Britain or in transit, with 3,600 family members.
As the Defence Secretary outlined in his statement, on 15 July 2025, the Ministry of Defence took action to notify as many of those affected as possible by the incident using the most recent contact details held by the department and provided security advice. An online self-checker tool and an Information Service Centre (ISC), which included 24/7 telephone and email support for all affected individuals, were also stood up to assist people in finding out whether they were affected by the data incident. The ISC continued for a number of months and was gradually wound down, in accordance with demand. It was closed in October 2025, but the online self-checker tool remains available on gov.uk.
Asked by: Ayoub Khan (Independent - Birmingham Perry Barr)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much her Department has spent on (a) the arrest and imprisonment of protestors (b) legal proceedings and (c) other costs following the proscription of Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation.
Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)
The enforcement of the law, including arrests, charges, and sentencing, is a matter for the operationally independent police, Crown Prosecution Service, and the independent judiciary, including associated costs Therefore, the Home Office has not accrued any costs in relation to the costs of enforcing the law for those who have been suspected of committing Palestine Action linked proscription offences.
In relation to the cost of legal proceedings, up until 19 December 2025 which is the latest figure the department holds, the total cost in legal fees charged to the Home Office amounted to £694,390.03, exclusive of VAT. This figure includes the legal fees of the Government Legal Department, fees of counsel instructed on behalf of the Home Secretary, court fees, and other administrative legal costs.
Asked by: Ayoub Khan (Independent - Birmingham Perry Barr)
Question to the Leader of the House:
To ask the Leader of the House, if he will facilitate a vote on proposals for financial redress contained in the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman report on changes to women's State Pension age, published on 21 March 2024.
Answered by Alan Campbell - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
The Government has made its decision on this case based on due process and careful consideration of the body of evidence. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State made a statement to the House of Commons (available at: https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2026-01-29) and the detailed reasons for this decision have been placed in the House library (available at: https://depositedpapers.parliament.uk/depositedpaper/2287768/details).
There are a number of mechanisms at the disposal of Members should they wish to bring these matters forward for further debate.
Asked by: Ayoub Khan (Independent - Birmingham Perry Barr)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Prime Minister’s oral contribution during Prime Minister's Questions, Column 780, 11 February 2026, what steps the Government is taking to bring a negotiated settlement to the Birmingham bin strikes; and what representations he has made to Birmingham City Council on re-entering negotiations with Unite the Union.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The success of Birmingham is vital for the wider region, and the government therefore takes the progress made across Birmingham City Council very seriously. My department regularly engages with both the Council and Commissioners, alongside receiving regular updates on progress, including on the waste dispute.
While the government is not a party to this dispute, we continue to urge both parties to work together to bring about a sustainable solution to end the strike, in the interests of the people of Birmingham.
Asked by: Ayoub Khan (Independent - Birmingham Perry Barr)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when the last Joint Analysis of Conflict and Stability strategic assessment was carried out to evaluate the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Regular and ongoing cross-government analysis of the situation in the Middle East takes place, with support from external experts, to inform the UK's policy-making. This rolling analysis incorporates multiple assessment types and is updated as required.
Asked by: Ayoub Khan (Independent - Birmingham Perry Barr)
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 (a) her Israeli counterpart, (b) the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and (c) the Royal British Legion on the bulldozing of parts of The Gaza War Cemetery in al-Tuffah.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Gaza War Cemetery in al-Tuffah holds the remains of more than 3,000 men who gave their lives in the First and Second World Wars, the majority from the United Kingdom, but many also from Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, Poland, South Africa and other countries. As I said in the General Debate on 5 February, that includes Private William Jordan and Private Wilfrid Ogden, from my own constituency, who died during the Battles for Gaza in 1917.
There is justifiable distress in our country and elsewhere at the reports that the cemetery has been damaged by Israeli bulldozers, and we also deplore the reports that the cemetery has been used for Hamas military operations. Brave servicemen laid to rest overseas should never have had their graves defiled in this way. Alongside our international partners, we are raising our concerns about this with the Israeli authorities, and we will work with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission to ensure that - when the circumstances allow - they are able to go to Gaza, assess what damage has been done, and do what is necessary to repair that damage.
Asked by: Ayoub Khan (Independent - Birmingham Perry Barr)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when his Department's amendment of Section 288(2) of the Sentencing Code will take effect.
Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip
The Sentencing Act 2026 received Royal Assent on 22 January 2026. This measure commences automatically 2 months after Royal Assent, on 22 March 2026.