Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee Central)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, on what date will the announced import ban on goods from illegal settlements come into force; and which UK companies have been contacted to inform them that any (a) construction, (b) finance and (c) real-estate services provided to illegal settlements will become designated.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
As the Foreign Secretary set out on 8 September, legislation for the new illegal settlement regime will be introduced within six to nine months. We are working to ensure that this is delivered at the earliest opportunity. The new regime will provide powers to designate individuals and companies that support, facilitate or profit from illegal settlement activity. The Foreign Secretary's statements on 8 September and 19 October outline how the UK intends to use these powers. Detailed guidance will be published alongside future legislation to provide clarity for UK businesses.
Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee Central)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether Yinon Levi remains subject to UK sanctions; and whether his Department has made representations to Israel about Levi's arrest and prosecution.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Yinon Levi remains subject to UK sanctions. For further information please refer to the UK Sanctions List: https://search-uk-sanctions-list.service.gov.uk/?searchValue=Yinon%2520Levi
We cannot comment on ongoing legal proceedings; however, we continue to raise settler violence with the Israeli authorities.
Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee Central)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what instructions have been given to British diplomats, following the announced closure of the Consulate-General in East Jerusalem, to continue field visits to Palestinian communities named in the Foreign Secretary’s 8 September statement.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
As set out by the Foreign Secretary on 8 October, the UK Mission, Jerusalem remains independent and operational and will continue to deliver vital services and our work with the Palestinian people. The UK stands steadfast by the measures announced on 8 September, in concert with the international community, in support of a two-state solution to deliver peace and security for the people of Israel and Palestine.
Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee Central)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what consular assistance was provided to Finn Joughin after he was detained by armed settlers in Umm al-Khair on 29 August 2026.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the honourable member to HL3993 answered on 26th October.
Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee Central)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of Israel's tourist-visa conditions and electronic travel authorisations on the ability of international witnesses to access Palestinian communities facing settler violence.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We have not made a specific assessment of the impact of Israel's tourist-visa conditions and electronic travel authorisations on the ability of international witnesses to access Palestinian communities. We recognise the importance of access and the ability to see the situation on the ground and have called on the Government of Israel to allow independent foreign media access to the West Bank. The UK condemns settler violence and has been clear that the Government of Israel must take action to address it and hold those responsible to account.
Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee Central)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what conversations he has held with his Israeli counterparts on the refusal, detention, and deportation of British nationals from the occupied Palestinian territory.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Consular staff are accessible 24/7 via our Consular Contact Centre. We do not as a matter of course record the reasons why a British national may have been deported or refused entry by a particular country. Denying elected representatives the opportunity to visit the West Bank and see the situation on the ground is counterproductive. We have raised these issues with the Israeli authorities.
Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee Central)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department tracks the number of British nationals that have been (a) denied entry to, (b) detained in and (c) deported from (i) Israel and (ii) the occupied Palestinian territory since 7 October 2023 in connection with (A) human-rights monitoring, (B) protective presence and (C) parliamentary fact-finding.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We expect all countries to abide by international standards and the rule of law in decisions on entry, detention and deportation. Denying those including elected representatives the opportunity to visit the West Bank and see the situation on the ground is regrettable and counterproductive. We have raised these issues with the Israeli authorities.
Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee Central)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations he has made to the (a) South African and (b) the Zimbabwean authorities regarding the death of Kudzai Weston Saruwaka on 7 February 2026.
Answered by Kirsty McNeill - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK has not made specific representations to the South African or Zimbabwean authorities regarding the death of Kudzai Weston Saruwaka. We are not able to intervene in the judicial or law enforcement processes of another country but we are monitoring the case.
Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee Central)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what assessment he has made of the strategic importance of a future UK-Canada trade agreement; and whether he has set a timetable for determining the next phase of UK-Canada trade relations.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Canada is one of the UK’s closest partners and a trusted ally, with whom we share deep ties, common values and a commitment to open, rules-based trade. The Government remains committed to strengthening our trade and investment relationship with Canada and continues to engage closely on shared economic priorities.
The UK wants to continue to grow bilateral trade, and we are working with the Canadians through a range of fora including the bilateral Economic and Trade Working Group. Within this, our priority is to update the UK-Canada Trade Continuity Agreement’s Rules of Origin chapter with more modern rules reflecting today’s supply chains. We aim to conclude this over the coming months.
The Secretary of State keeps his travel plans under regular review and the Ministerial team at the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade work closely with their Canadian counterparts.
Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee Central)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, whether he plans to seek an interim arrangement with Canada to address tariff quota-related trade disruptions before the conclusion of a comprehensive trade agreement.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Canada is one of the UK’s closest partners and a trusted ally, with whom we share deep ties, common values and a commitment to open, rules-based trade. The Government remains committed to strengthening our trade and investment relationship with Canada and continues to engage closely on shared economic priorities.
The UK wants to continue to grow bilateral trade, and we are working with the Canadians through a range of fora including the bilateral Economic and Trade Working Group. Within this, our priority is to update the UK-Canada Trade Continuity Agreement’s Rules of Origin chapter with more modern rules reflecting today’s supply chains. We aim to conclude this over the coming months.
The Secretary of State keeps his travel plans under regular review and the Ministerial team at the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade work closely with their Canadian counterparts.