Fabian Hamilton Portrait

Fabian Hamilton

Labour - Leeds North East

16,083 (35.6%) majority - 2024 General Election

First elected: 1st May 1997


Foreign Affairs Sub-Committee on the Overseas Territories
5th Dec 2023 - 30th May 2024
Foreign Affairs Committee
28th Nov 2023 - 30th May 2024
Transport Committee
20th Nov 2023 - 30th May 2024
Shadow Minister (Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs)
2nd Sep 2020 - 5th Sep 2023
Shadow Minister (Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs)
10th Oct 2016 - 2nd Sep 2020
Shadow Minister (Defence)
10th Oct 2016 - 10th Apr 2020
Shadow Minister (Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs)
7th Jan 2016 - 4th Jul 2016
International Development Committee
8th Jul 2015 - 8th Feb 2016
Panel of Chairs
25th Jun 2015 - 11th Jan 2016
International Development Sub-Committee on the Work of the Independent Commission for Aid Impact
14th Jul 2015 - 1st Oct 2015
Committees on Arms Export Controls (formerly Quadripartite Committee)
24th Jun 2013 - 30th Mar 2015
International Development Committee
4th Feb 2013 - 30th Mar 2015
National Security Strategy (Joint Committee)
30th Nov 2010 - 30th Mar 2015
Political and Constitutional Reform Committee
8th Nov 2010 - 30th Mar 2015
Committees on Arms Export Controls
24th Jun 2013 - 30th Mar 2015
Committees on Arms Export Controls (formerly Quadripartite Committee)
10th Mar 2008 - 6th May 2010
Foreign Affairs Committee
16th Jul 2001 - 6th May 2010
Committees on Arms Export Controls
10th Mar 2008 - 6th May 2010
Administration Committee
28th Jul 1997 - 11th May 2001


Division Voting information

During the current Parliament, Fabian Hamilton has voted in 53 divisions, and never against the majority of their Party.
View All Fabian Hamilton 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
Simon Lightwood (Labour (Co-op))
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
(2 debate interactions)
John Whittingdale (Conservative)
(2 debate interactions)
Hamish Falconer (Labour)
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
(2 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
Legislation Debates
Powers of Attorney Bill 2024-26
(1,736 words contributed)
View All Legislation Debates
View all Fabian Hamilton's debates

Leeds North East 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).

Fabian Hamilton has not participated in any petition debates

Latest EDMs signed by Fabian Hamilton

17th December 2024
Fabian Hamilton signed this EDM as the primary signatory on Tuesday 17th December 2024

International Human Rights Day

Tabled by: Fabian Hamilton (Labour - Leeds North East)
That this House recognises the importance of the international human rights framework which underpins the international rules-based order; notes that to mark this year’s International Human Rights Day, the UN has highlighted the critical role of human rights as a preventative, protective and transformative force for good; celebrates the human …
10 signatures
(Most recent: 20 Dec 2024)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 4
Independent: 3
Democratic Unionist Party: 1
Liberal Democrat: 1
Green Party: 1
23rd April 2024
Fabian Hamilton signed this EDM on Friday 10th May 2024

Childcare for working parents

Tabled by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
That this House notes the importance of affordable childcare to enable parents, especially mothers, to work; further notes the important contribution of migrants to the economy; welcomes the intention behind the expansion of childcare support for working parents which is currently being rolled out; also notes however that this support …
19 signatures
(Most recent: 15 May 2024)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 12
Scottish National Party: 3
Democratic Unionist Party: 2
Independent: 2
Social Democratic & Labour Party: 1
View All Fabian Hamilton's signed Early Day Motions

Commons initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Fabian Hamilton, 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.


Fabian Hamilton has not been granted any Urgent Questions

1 Adjournment Debate led by Fabian Hamilton

Tuesday 10th December 2024

2 Bills introduced by Fabian Hamilton


A Bill to make provision about Lasting Powers of Attorney; to place duties on banks in respect of Lasting Powers of Attorney; to make provision about the powers of the Office of the Public Guardian to investigate the actions of an attorney; to require the Secretary of State to review the effectiveness of the powers of the Office of the Public Guardian to investigate the actions of an attorney and of its use of those powers; to make provision about the duties of care homes in respect of Lasting Powers of Attorney; to require an attorney to notify the Office of the Public Guardian of the death of a donor; to require the Office of the Public Guardian to take steps to promote the facility to request a search of its registers of powers of attorney; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading
Tuesday 12th November 2024
(Read Debate)
Next Event - 2nd Reading
Friday 17th January 2025
Order Paper number: 18
(Unlikely to be Debated - would require unanimous consent to progress)

The Bill failed to complete its passage through Parliament before the end of the session. This means the Bill will make no further progress. A Bill to require the person registering a marriage or civil partnership to attest the valid consent of both parties to the marriage or civil partnership before it is solemnized; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading: House Of Commons
Wednesday 21st November 2018
(Read Debate)

1 Bill co-sponsored by Fabian Hamilton

Public Sector Websites (Data Charges) Bill 2023-24
Sponsor - Simon Lightwood (LAB)


Latest 34 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
4th Nov 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the (a) effectiveness of and (b) implications for his policies of recent investor-state dispute settlements under the bilateral investment treaty with Colombia; and whether he plans to retain that treaty.

The Government regards the UK-Colombia Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) as playing an important role in the investment relationship between our two countries. The stock of total investment between the UK and Colombia was £6.8 billion in 2023. The BIT contains legally binding investment protection commitments which ensure UK and Colombian investors are treated in line with the rule of law, and are protected against unfair, arbitrary or discriminatory treatment, and expropriation without adequate compensation.

Douglas Alexander
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
21st Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if the Prime Minister will create a Minister for Manufacturing post in the Department for Business and Trade.

I am responsible for manufacturing as Minister for Industry.

Sarah Jones
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
4th Nov 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he is taking steps to support Property Linked Finance to help homeowners to install (a) domestic renewables and (b) energy efficiency measures.

Green finance can play a key role in helping achieve our home decarbonisation ambitions. Through the Warm Homes Plan, the Department is exploring the role private financing can play in supporting homeowners to meet the upfront costs of installing domestic renewables and fabric energy efficiency improvements. As part of that work, Government is assessing the role novel finance models, including Property Linked Finance and Heat-as-a-Service, can play in addressing homeowner needs. Further details on the Warm Homes Plan, including future financing support for households, will be confirmed in due course.

Miatta Fahnbulleh
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
9th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if his Department will include measures to increase low carbon and renewable energy schemes (a) owned and (b) part owned by community organisations in the Great British Energy Bill.

As set out in the Founding Statement, Great British Energy will support Local and Combined Authorities and Community Energy Groups to develop up to 8GW of cleaner power by 2030 through small and medium‑scale renewable energy projects. Community-owned low carbon and renewable energy schemes are already in the scope of the Great British Energy Bill, however, as Great British Energy will be operationally independent, it will be for the company to decide the activities it engages in. Such decisions will be determined in due course and influenced by available opportunities, as well as the strategic priorities that government sets out.

Michael Shanks
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
18th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will hold discussions with universities on the value for money of their contracts with academic publishers for (a) journal subscriptions and (b) open-access publishing.

Jisc is an independent nonprofit company that supports universities with the transition to open access. It does this through negotiating a range of transitional open access agreements and institutional access to journal publications. These agreements enable UK research output to be published open access in accordance with UK funder policies.

Jisc will negotiate new agreements with publishers on behalf of the sector in 2025. This will focus on pace of change to open access models, the financial sustainability of agreements, and equity to enable a wider audience to benefit including researchers, small specialist institutions and public health organisations.

Feryal Clark
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
18th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he is taking steps to support (a) affordable and (b) open-access models in academic publishing.

The Government supports open science because it drives innovation and collaboration by enabling researchers, innovators and policymakers to access and use the latest science and evidence. UKRI Open Access policy ensures that findings from research funded by the public through UKRI can be freely accessed. The policy supports around 45,000 research articles a year, being made OA immediately. In 2022 over 85% of all articles arising from UKRI funded research were open access.

UKRI Open Access Awards support over 150 universities, research institutes and PSREs in meeting the requirements of the UKRI open access policy. These awards cover article publishing charges (APCs) under certain value for money terms and supports open publishing agreements where there is no article fee. The grants also support improvements to digital research infrastructures, repository management and guidance for researchers.

Feryal Clark
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
18th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she is taking steps with academic publishers to help ensure that they are not influenced by foreign powers that seek to (a) censor and (b) otherwise restrict the dissemination of research.

The Government recognises concerns about overseas interference in our higher education sector, including those related to overseas funding. The Government works with the Office for Students, and other stakeholders to ensure that overseas funding does not interfere with academic freedom.

Chris Bryant
Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
12th Dec 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to improve staff wellbeing and retention in the education sector.

Supporting our expert education workforce is critical to this government’s mission to break down the barriers to opportunity for children and young people at every stage.

Improving the wellbeing of staff in the education sector, including teachers, is key to this. The department is working in partnership with the sector, and mental health experts, to make commitments to improve staff mental health and wellbeing and boost retention.

These commitments include the creation of the education staff wellbeing charter which sets out shared commitments to protect and promote the wellbeing of staff in schools and colleges. The charter can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/education-staff-wellbeing-charter.

The charter can be used to inform a whole school or college approach to wellbeing or to develop a staff wellbeing strategy. So far, over 3,900 schools and colleges have signed up to it. In January 2024, the department published a progress report on its commitments in the charter, which is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/education-staff-wellbeing-and-teacher-retention.

The department is funding mental health and wellbeing support for school and college leaders, which includes professional supervision and counselling for those who need it. More than 2,000 leaders have benefitted from the support so far. Support continues to be available and can be accessed by visiting the Education Support website, which can be found at: https://www.educationsupport.org.uk/.

The department has made available a range of resources to help schools address teacher workload issues, prioritise staff wellbeing and support schools to introduce flexible working practices. For example, the department’s improve workload and wellbeing for school staff service, which was developed alongside school leaders, includes a workload reduction toolkit to support schools to identify opportunities to cut excessive workload. More information about this service can be found here: https://improve-workload-and-wellbeing-for-school-staff.education.gov.uk/.

The department also recently clarified that planning, preparation and assessment time can be done from home. The department has also removed the requirement for performance related pay and bureaucracy that went with it and has abolished one-word Ofsted judgements to deliver a system which provides better information for parents and is proportionate for staff.

Fair pay is key to ensuring teaching is an attractive and respected profession, which is why this government has accepted the School Teachers’ Review Body’s recommendation of a 5.5% pay award for teachers and leaders in maintained schools from September 2024. This will be fully funded at a national level.

School support staff play a vital role in all our schools. They are crucial to ensuring we give children the best possible life chances and the department wants to ensure they are paid fairly for the work they do. This is why the department set out its plans to reinstate the School Support Staff Negotiating Body (SSSNB) through the Employment Rights Bill, which was introduced on 10 October. Establishing the SSSNB will help ensure that schools can recruit and retain the staff needed to deliver high-quality, inclusive education.

Additionally, to boost recruitment and retention of teachers, the department has agreed to double the targeted retention incentive from 2024/25, which will give eligible early career teachers in key science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and technical shortage subjects, working in disadvantaged schools and in all colleges, up to £6,000 after tax annually, on top of their normal pay.

Catherine McKinnell
Minister of State (Education)
6th Dec 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to implement the 5.5% pay award for teachers in all sixth form colleges.

The government does not set or recommend pay in further education (FE) providers, which have the freedom to make their own arrangements in line with their local circumstances.

This government recognises the vital role that FE teachers and providers play in equipping learners with the opportunities and skills that they need to succeed in their education and throughout life.

That is why the October Budget set out the government’s commitment to skills, by providing an additional £300 million revenue funding for FE to ensure young people are developing the skills this country needs. The department will set out in due course how this funding will be distributed.

Janet Daby
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
2nd Dec 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans she has to spend the £300 million allocated to her Department for further education in the Autumn Budget 2024.

This government is committed to driving economic growth and supporting opportunity for all, and further education (FE) is central to this. The government is providing the additional £300 million for FE to ensure young people are developing the skills they need to succeed and a further £300 million to support colleges to maintain, improve and ensure suitability of their estate. The department will set out how the additional funding will be distributed in due course.

Janet Daby
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
14th Nov 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 13 November 2024 to Question 13172 on Pre-school Education, what reforms to the early years system her Department plans; and whether she plans to publish a consultation on these reforms.

The department’s long term intention is to reform the early years system as the foundation of opportunity and life chances for children. Giving children the best start in life is key to the government’s Opportunity Mission. We will consider what reforms, if any, and what consultation are necessary, and then set out our vision for reforming the early years sector next year.

Stephen Morgan
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
8th Nov 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to release an Early Years strategy.

The department’s long term intention is to reform the early years system as the foundation of opportunity and life chances for children. We will set out our vision for reforming the early years sector next year.

Stephen Morgan
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
4th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to support local authorities in delivering education health and care plans.

The department publishes annual data from the SEN2 survey in relation to every educational, health and care plan maintained by individual local authorities.

The department closely monitors the information from the annual SEN2 data collection and uses it to inform discussions with local areas.

Where a council does not meet its duties, the department can take action that prioritises children’s needs and supports local areas to bring about rapid improvement. The department offers a range of universal, targeted and intensive support through department’s managed programmes, such as the Sector Led Improvement Partners which provide peer-to-peer tailored support.

Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission introduced a strengthened area special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) inspection framework in January 2023 leading to a greater emphasis on the outcomes being achieved for children and young people. It is the primary tool to maintain a focus on high standards in the SEND system across all partners.

Catherine McKinnell
Minister of State (Education)
23rd Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of mandating education on islamophobia in schools.

The department is committed to tackling all forms of prejudice, including religious prejudice, and education is a key component of building a fairer and more equal society.

As part of a broad and balanced curriculum, there are many opportunities in the existing curriculum for schools to teach about islamophobia, including through:

  • Citizenship education, which is compulsory at key stages 3 and 4, and teaches about religious diversity, mutual respect and understanding.
  • Relationships education, which is compulsory in all schools, and teaches about the impact of prejudice and the importance of respect.
  • Religious education, which is compulsory in all state-funded schools, and educates about religious tolerance.

The department’s ‘Educate Against Hate’ campaign also provides teachers, school leaders and parents with guidance, advice and trusted resources to help them safeguard students from radicalisation and build students’ resilience to all forms of extremism. Further information can be found here: https://www.educateagainsthate.com/.

The government will keep the effectiveness of this approach under review and will consider the issue further in the Curriculum and Assessment Review.

Catherine McKinnell
Minister of State (Education)
23rd Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of implementing mandatory education on antisemitism in schools.

The department is committed to tackling antisemitism and all forms of prejudice. Education is a key component of building a fairer and more equal society.

As part of a broad and balanced curriculum, there are many opportunities in the existing curriculum for schools to teach about antisemitism, including through:

  • Citizenship education, which is compulsory at key stages 3 and 4, and teaches about religious diversity, mutual respect and understanding.
  • Relationships education, which is compulsory in all schools, and teaches about the impact of prejudice and the importance of respect.
  • Religious education, which is compulsory in all state-funded schools, and educates about religious tolerance.

Young people should be taught the history of the Holocaust. Effective Holocaust education, and learning about other genocides, supports pupils to learn about the possible consequences of antisemitism and other forms of extremism and to help reduce the spread of antisemitism, religious intolerance and other forms of intolerance and extremism.

The department has been supporting greater understanding of the Holocaust by providing funding to the Holocaust Educational Trust to provide the Lessons from Auschwitz programme, and to UCL Centre for Holocaust Education which provides a programme of continuing professional development for teachers.

Catherine McKinnell
Minister of State (Education)
11th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help improve sustainable fishing.

Protecting and, where necessary, recovering our fish stocks is a priority for this Government, because fish is food and food security is national security. It is also committed to restoring and protecting nature at sea as well as on land. The Government is making progress delivering Fisheries Management Plans (FMPs) which set out how to maintain or restore fish stocks to sustainable levels. The sixth Defra-led FMP was published on 10 October, with consultations launched on a further five draft FMPs too.

Through fisheries negotiations with our international partners, our objective is to set Total Allowable Catches in line with the best available scientific advice to ensure that stocks are managed over the long term within sustainable limits. We are also introducing other fisheries management reforms domestically, including, for example, the introduction of Remote Electronic Monitoring, and action to reduce incidental bycatch in our fisheries.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
11th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to help support unpaid carers.

Unpaid carers play a vital role in supporting elderly or disabled relatives or friends. Sometimes unpaid carers will need to turn to the benefit system for financial support, so it is right that we keep Carer’s Allowance under review, to see if it is meeting its objectives, and giving unpaid carers the help and support they need and deserve.

Unpaid carers may be able to receive financial and/or employment support from the department depending on their circumstances. This includes Carer’s Allowance and mean tested benefits such as Universal Credit. And those caring for less than 35 hours a week on Universal Credit can receive individualised employment support through their Jobcentre Plus work coach who can tailor work related requirements, such as searching for work, to fit their caring responsibilities so they can combine paid work and unpaid care.

Unpaid carers may continue to be able to receive benefits if they choose to combine their caring responsibilities with paid work, meaning they can increase their overall income (eligibility rules apply).

Carers (providing at least 35 hours per week) of severely disabled people may be eligible for Universal Credit Carer Element and/or Carer’s Allowance. They are not required to undertake any work-related activity, but can access employment support on a voluntary basis if they wish.

Stephen Timms
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
4th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to reduce the cost of living for people with disabilities.

In England, the Household Support Fund (HSF) is a scheme providing discretionary support towards the cost of essentials, such as food and energy to those most in need, including disabled people. The current HSF is running from 1 October 2024 until 31 March 2025, with an additional £421m being provided to enable the extension in England, plus funding for the Devolved Governments through the Barnett formula to be spent at their discretion, as usual.

This winter, we are continuing to deliver the £150 Warm Home Discount to eligible low-income households and we expect it again to support well over three million households.

The extra costs disability benefits are a contribution to meeting the extra costs that arise from a disability or long term health condition. These benefits were not subject to the benefits freeze, were most recently uprated by 6.7 per cent from 8 April 2024 and were qualifying benefits for the Disability Cost of Living Payments paid in 2022 and 2023. They are not means–tested, are non-contributory and thus paid regardless of any income or savings. They are also tax-free and worth up to £184.30 a week, or over £9,580 a year.

The extra costs disability benefits can be paid in addition to other financial support that those with a health condition or disability may be eligible for, such as Employment and Support Allowance, Universal Credit, premiums and additional amounts paid within the income-related benefits, Carer’s Allowance, Motability and the Blue Badge scheme.

Stephen Timms
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
7th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to increase the number of qualified GPs working in the NHS; and if he will make an estimate of what the proportional change in the number of qualified GPs working in the NHS will be by 2036.

We are working to increase the general practice (GP) workforce in England. This includes measures to boost recruitment, address the reasons why doctors leave the profession, and encourage them to return to practice.

NHS England is working to address training bottlenecks so the health service has enough staff for the future, and we will provide £82 million to fund the recruitment of over 1,000 newly qualified GPs, via the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme, so patients can get the care they need.

Stephen Kinnock
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
12th Dec 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when the Government plans to ratify the Global Oceans Treaty.

The Government is completely committed to ratification of the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement, also known as the Global Oceans Treaty or the High Seas Treaty), which is in line with our determination to reinvigorate the UK's wider international leadership on climate and nature. Work is in hand on the measures needed to implement the detailed and complex provisions of the Agreement before the UK can ratify.

Anneliese Dodds
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
6th Dec 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions his Department has had with representatives of the (a) national unity government and (b) ethnic revolutionary organisations in Myanmar on the delivery of aid to people most in need.

We continue to discuss the humanitarian situation and the delivery of aid in Myanmar with a range of opposition stakeholders, including the National Unity Government (NUG) and a number of Ethnic Resistance Organisations (ERO). Since the coup, the UK has provided more than £150 million in life-saving humanitarian assistance, emergency healthcare and education support, and we continue to support civil society and local communities on the ground. The UK is committed to supporting a plurality of voices in Myanmar, and we are clear that any future settlement for Myanmar must be inclusive and involve a wide range of opposition actors, including EROs and the NUG. The Myanmar military must engage with them and all other opposition groups.

Catherine West
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
29th Nov 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to pages 21-23 of the Peace Brigades International UK report entitled, The Case For Change: Why human rights defenders need a UK law on mandatory due diligence, published in November 2024, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of that report's findings; and if he will bring forward legislative proposals to introduce requirements on companies operating internationally to demonstrate (a) human rights and (b) environmental due diligence.

The UK recognises the essential role that human rights defenders and civil society organisations play in promoting and protecting human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. The UK supports voluntary due diligence approaches taken by UK businesses to respect human rights and the environment across their operations and supply relationships, in line with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises. Going forward, the Government will assess the best way to prevent environmental harms and human rights and labour rights abuses in both private and public sector supply chains.

Anneliese Dodds
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
21st Nov 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of reports of an extension of a ceasefire between the Colombian government and the Estado Mayor Central group.

The UK supports Colombian efforts to achieve a sustainable and long-lasting peace, including through implementation of the 2016 Peace Agreement and support from the UN Verification Mission. We welcome the renewal of the UN's mandate, which included willingness to consider future monitoring and verification of the ceasefire with Estado Mayor Central. Through our role as penholder at the UN Security Council the UK works with the Government, civil society, and international partners to support peace in Colombia. We regularly discuss the peace process with the Colombian Government at the highest levels. The PM met President Petro in the margins of the G20 and Foreign Secretary met Foreign Minister Murillo at COP29 and reiterated the UK's support for peace. Baroness Chapman also reiterated the UK's support for peace in Colombia during her visit to Bogota in November, including during her discussion with Vice Foreign Minister Jorge Rojas.

Catherine West
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
8th Nov 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the implications for his policies of the new transitional justice legislation in Nepal.

A legitimate and effective transitional justice process in Nepal remains necessary even 18 years after the 2006 Comprehensive Peace Agreement. It will help ensure reconciliation and underpin lasting peace. The UK welcomes Nepal's recent step forward with its new transitional justice legislation. The UK continues to engage with the Government of Nepal, the UN and others on how best to provide constructive support for Nepal's transitional justice efforts that are victim-centric, fair and in-line with international standards. We also continue to work to address the injustices, inequalities and exclusion that sowed the seeds of the civil war.

Catherine West
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
9th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department are taking to help reunite Nadia Ayoub McCulloch with her family.

The FCDO are aware of Nadia Ayoub McCulloch's situation and have been in contact with her directly. The FCDO's Consular team have been providing, and continue to provide, support to Nadia at what we recognise will be a distressing time for her, her family and her friends.

Hamish Falconer
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
4th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of establishing a new UN convention on the rights of older persons.

The UK is fully committed to promoting and protecting the rights of all people, including older people. Building stronger legal frameworks at the domestic and international level is key. We were an active participant in the work of the UN's Open-Ended Working Group on Ageing and we welcomed the consensus adoption by the General Assembly in September of its recommendations. The UK seeks to play a constructive role on these issues and we are open to considering further standard-setting, including the possibility of a multilateral instrument to help further address the issues faced by older people.

Stephen Doughty
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
4th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of imposing targeted sanctions on (a) people responsible for serious crimes in Sudan in line with those sanctioned by the United States, Canada and the European Union, (b) people identified in the UN Panel of Experts report of January 2024 and (c) commanders and officials obstructing humanitarian assistance.

The use of sanctions is one of the tools the UK employs to respond to ongoing conflict in Sudan. Since the outbreak of the conflict in April 2023, the UK has sanctioned five entities linked with the RSF and four entities linked with the SAF. Six of those sanctions were issued on 12 July 2023 under the UK's Sudan Sanctions (EU Exit) Regulations 2020. The UK announced a package of three further sanctions designations on 15 April 2024. These sanctions froze the assets of three commercial entities linked to each warring party. The UK welcomes the Panel of Experts' report from January. Although we do not speculate on future measures, our sanctions policy is continually under review.  We continue to engage closely with key international partners on Sudan.

Hamish Falconer
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
4th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he is taking steps at the United Nations Security Council to (a) widen the existing arms embargo on Darfur to cover all of Sudan, (b) enforce the existing arms embargo, and (c) to sanction (i) individuals and (ii) companies that (A) have violated and (B) are violating the arms embargo.

There is a UN Arms Embargo and Sanctions Regime on Darfur, which the UN Security Council (UNSC) renewed in September 2024, which complements a longstanding bilateral UK arms embargo in place for the whole of Sudan. These regimes have been used to constrain the flow of weapons into the country, and individuals and entities who breach the UN arms embargo may be subject to targeted measures as stipulated in resolution 1591. Since the outbreak of conflict in April 2023, the UK has sanctioned five entities linked with the Rapid Support Forces and four entities linked with the Sudanese Armed Forces. We consistently use our position as penholder on Sudan at the UNSC to call on States urgently to refrain from enhancing either side's fighting capability.

Anneliese Dodds
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
3rd Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will take steps to help ensure that civil society organisations working on peacebuilding in Israel and Palestine are integrated into a future diplomatic resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The death and destruction in Gaza is intolerable. The UK is pushing for an immediate ceasefire. The fighting must stop, the hostages must be released and much, much more aid must enter Gaza. A deal is on the table, and we are urging both sides to show flexibility. The Civil Society organisations we work with are valuable partners of the government, and we welcome the opportunity to continue to work with them closely.

Hamish Falconer
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
23rd Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what consular support is in place to assist Indians with British citizenship when they are visiting India.

We would not normally provide consular support to a dual British national living or travelling in the country of their other nationality. In countries which recognise and permit dual-nationality, we would consider an exception if someone is vulnerable and we have human rights or humanitarian concerns. Some countries, such as India, do not recognise dual nationality so providing consular assistance to a British/Indian dual national may not be possible.

Catherine West
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
4th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to help prevent the coercive control of older people for financial gain.

This Government recognises the devastating impact that financial and economic abuse can have on victims. Whilst anyone can suffer from domestic abuse, we know that older victims, especially where dependent on others, may find it more difficult to recognise that they are experiencing coercive control and economic abuse and seek help.

The Government supports access to specialist services for all victims of domestic abuse. The Home Office funds Hourglass, a specialist organisation focused on the abuse and neglect of older people, to provide enhanced helpline support to victims and survivors of coercive control and domestic abuse in England and Wales. Hourglass also works with other frontline organisations to ensure safer ageing, including by raising awareness of economic abuse.

Diana Johnson
Minister of State (Home Office)
25th Nov 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps she plans to take to deliver the strategy to tackle homelessness; and what steps she plans to take to involve people with lived experience of homelessness.

The Deputy Prime Minister is leading cross-government work to deliver the long-term solutions we need to get us back on track to ending all forms of homelessness. This includes chairing a dedicated Inter-Ministerial Group, bringing together ministers from across government to develop a long-term strategy.

We have also established an Expert Group to bring together representatives from across the homelessness and rough sleeping sector, local and combined authorities and wider experts to help Government understand what is working well nationally and locally and where improvements are needed.

We will engage with those with lived experience through a lived experience forum to ensure their voices are reflected in the homelessness strategy.

Rushanara Ali
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)