Asked by: Iain Duncan Smith (Conservative - Chingford and Woodford Green)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has raised concerns with his German counterpart on the comments of the leader of the Alternative für Deutschland about a resumption of gas supplies to Germany from Russia.
Answered by Uma Kumaran - Assistant Whip
The Government continues to work closely with the Government of Germany and other partners to strengthen European energy security and maintain pressure on Russia. The Foreign Secretary has not raised the reported comments by the leader of the Alternative fur Deutschland with his German counterpart or discussed Russian gas supplies with the Deputy Chairman of the Christian Democratic Union. The Foreign Secretary and his German counterpart regularly discuss Russia's war against Ukraine, including support for Ukraine, European security, and the need to maintain pressure on Russia.
The Government supports efforts to strengthen European energy security and reduce dependence on Russian energy. The Government will continue to work with European partners to reduce the revenues available to Russia to fund its war against Ukraine.
Asked by: Iain Duncan Smith (Conservative - Chingford and Woodford Green)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether it is the Government's policy that the Nord Stream pipelines should remain closed and not used for the supply of Russian gas.
Answered by Uma Kumaran - Assistant Whip
The Government continues to work closely with the Government of Germany and other partners to strengthen European energy security and maintain pressure on Russia. The Foreign Secretary has not raised the reported comments by the leader of the Alternative fur Deutschland with his German counterpart or discussed Russian gas supplies with the Deputy Chairman of the Christian Democratic Union. The Foreign Secretary and his German counterpart regularly discuss Russia's war against Ukraine, including support for Ukraine, European security, and the need to maintain pressure on Russia.
The Government supports efforts to strengthen European energy security and reduce dependence on Russian energy. The Government will continue to work with European partners to reduce the revenues available to Russia to fund its war against Ukraine.
Asked by: Iain Duncan Smith (Conservative - Chingford and Woodford Green)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with the Deputy Chairman of the Christian Democratic Union on Russian gas supplies to Germany.
Answered by Uma Kumaran - Assistant Whip
The Government continues to work closely with the Government of Germany and other partners to strengthen European energy security and maintain pressure on Russia. The Foreign Secretary has not raised the reported comments by the leader of the Alternative fur Deutschland with his German counterpart or discussed Russian gas supplies with the Deputy Chairman of the Christian Democratic Union. The Foreign Secretary and his German counterpart regularly discuss Russia's war against Ukraine, including support for Ukraine, European security, and the need to maintain pressure on Russia.
The Government supports efforts to strengthen European energy security and reduce dependence on Russian energy. The Government will continue to work with European partners to reduce the revenues available to Russia to fund its war against Ukraine.
Asked by: Iain Duncan Smith (Conservative - Chingford and Woodford Green)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what plans she has to discuss the Ethnic Unity and Progress Law with her Chinese counterpart.
Answered by Seema Malhotra
This is a concerning development in China. We note the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights' concern that this law may entrench restrictions on the rights and freedoms of ethnic minorities in a country where the environment for freedom of religion or belief is already restrictive.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has discussed this law with Chinese officials, stressing the importance that the law does not harm the rights of members of minority groups and that it is not applied extraterritorially. We will never tolerate attempts by foreign governments to coerce, intimidate, harass, or harm their critics overseas, and anyone caught assisting a foreign state to undermine our security will be brought to justice.
Asked by: Iain Duncan Smith (Conservative - Chingford and Woodford Green)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what information her Department holds on the involvement of the United Front in the purchase of independent schools by Chinese investors since 2014.
Answered by Olivia Bailey
Any information the department holds on schools is accessible via the Get information about schools website here: https://get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/.
Asked by: Iain Duncan Smith (Conservative - Chingford and Woodford Green)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the statement by the European Council on 19 March 2026, whether she has made representations to the European Council on its intention to provide assistance to the Republic of Cyprus in discussions relating to the British Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia (SBAs) are fully sovereign UK territory, and remained so under the 1960 Treaty Concerning the Establishment of the Republic of Cyprus. The UK remains committed to the SBAs, which make a major contribution to the security of Europe and the wider region. Senior officials have engaged their EU counterparts following the European Council statement, restating the above and noting the important contribution of the SBAs to Euro-Atlantic security.
Asked by: Iain Duncan Smith (Conservative - Chingford and Woodford Green)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, to what degree has the Government been committed to offer support regarding the sovereignty of the British Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia, prior to the European Council statement on 19 March 2026.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia (SBAs) are fully sovereign UK territory, and remained so under the 1960 Treaty Concerning the Establishment of the Republic of Cyprus. The UK remains committed to the SBAs, which make a major contribution to the security of Europe and the wider region. Senior officials have engaged their EU counterparts following the European Council statement, restating the above and noting the important contribution of the SBAs to Euro-Atlantic security.
Asked by: Iain Duncan Smith (Conservative - Chingford and Woodford Green)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what comparative assessment she has made of dedicated transnational repression reporting mechanisms operated in other jurisdictions, including the FBI's dedicated reporting line in the United States; and what lessons have been drawn for the UK.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
The Government, in consultation with CTP, has assessed that existing reporting channels, including 101 and 999, are the most widely known and easily accessible means of contacting the police, allowing for effective triage by trained professionals with onward referral to specialist teams. Language support, including translation services, is embedded within these mechanisms, and work is ongoing to ensure interpreters can support the accurate identification of TNR cases. CTP has rolled out training and guidance across all forces, including for call handlers, to support the identification and escalation of potential TNR cases. CTP is also embedding a national reporting model to ensure cases indicating potential foreign state involvement are identified and escalated to specialist teams. Given the targeted and specific nature of TNR in the UK, expected demand for a dedicated hotline was assessed to be low, and a separate reporting route could risk duplication and confusion. The Government recognises that some individuals may be reluctant to report incidents and is therefore focused on strengthening confidence through improved guidance, training, and engagement with victims and civil society. The UK continues to engage closely with international partners, including the United States, to exchange insights and strengthen cooperation on TNR and wider state threats, sharing best practice on detection, reporting, and response mechanisms. |
Asked by: Iain Duncan Smith (Conservative - Chingford and Woodford Green)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the 101 non-emergency police line as the primary route for Hong Kongers in the UK to report incidents of transnational repression.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
The Government, in consultation with CTP, has assessed that existing reporting channels, including 101 and 999, are the most widely known and easily accessible means of contacting the police, allowing for effective triage by trained professionals with onward referral to specialist teams. Language support, including translation services, is embedded within these mechanisms, and work is ongoing to ensure interpreters can support the accurate identification of TNR cases. CTP has rolled out training and guidance across all forces, including for call handlers, to support the identification and escalation of potential TNR cases. CTP is also embedding a national reporting model to ensure cases indicating potential foreign state involvement are identified and escalated to specialist teams. Given the targeted and specific nature of TNR in the UK, expected demand for a dedicated hotline was assessed to be low, and a separate reporting route could risk duplication and confusion. The Government recognises that some individuals may be reluctant to report incidents and is therefore focused on strengthening confidence through improved guidance, training, and engagement with victims and civil society. The UK continues to engage closely with international partners, including the United States, to exchange insights and strengthen cooperation on TNR and wider state threats, sharing best practice on detection, reporting, and response mechanisms. |
Asked by: Iain Duncan Smith (Conservative - Chingford and Woodford Green)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will reconsider the Government's rejection of the Joint Committee on Human Rights' recommendation for a dedicated national reporting mechanism for victims of transnational repression.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
The Government, in consultation with CTP, has assessed that existing reporting channels, including 101 and 999, are the most widely known and easily accessible means of contacting the police, allowing for effective triage by trained professionals with onward referral to specialist teams. Language support, including translation services, is embedded within these mechanisms, and work is ongoing to ensure interpreters can support the accurate identification of TNR cases. CTP has rolled out training and guidance across all forces, including for call handlers, to support the identification and escalation of potential TNR cases. CTP is also embedding a national reporting model to ensure cases indicating potential foreign state involvement are identified and escalated to specialist teams. Given the targeted and specific nature of TNR in the UK, expected demand for a dedicated hotline was assessed to be low, and a separate reporting route could risk duplication and confusion. The Government recognises that some individuals may be reluctant to report incidents and is therefore focused on strengthening confidence through improved guidance, training, and engagement with victims and civil society. The UK continues to engage closely with international partners, including the United States, to exchange insights and strengthen cooperation on TNR and wider state threats, sharing best practice on detection, reporting, and response mechanisms. |