Kate Osamor Portrait

Kate Osamor

Labour (Co-op) - Edmonton and Winchmore Hill

12,632 (30.8%) majority - 2024 General Election

First elected: 7th May 2015


Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and International Committee of the Red Cross (Status) Bill [HL]
6th Nov 2024 - 13th Nov 2024
International Development Committee
2nd Mar 2020 - 30th May 2024
International Development Sub-Committee on the Work of the Independent Commission for Aid Impact
10th Mar 2020 - 30th May 2024
Committees on Arms Export Controls
5th Oct 2020 - 16th Jan 2024
Public Accounts Committee
13th Jul 2021 - 4th Jul 2022
Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Bill
5th Jan 2022 - 12th Jan 2022
Shadow Secretary of State for International Development
27th Jun 2016 - 1st Dec 2018
Consolidation Bills (Joint Committee)
9th Nov 2015 - 3rd May 2017
Consolidation, &c., Bills (Joint Committee)
9th Nov 2015 - 3rd May 2017
Junior Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities
14th Jan 2016 - 27th Jun 2016
Petitions Committee
20th Jul 2015 - 14th Mar 2016
Education Committee
6th Jul 2015 - 1st Feb 2016


Division Voting information

During the current Parliament, Kate Osamor has voted in 137 divisions, and 1 time against the majority of their Party.

29 Nov 2024 - Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill - View Vote Context
Kate Osamor voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 147 Labour No votes vs 234 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 330 Noes - 275
View All Kate Osamor 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
Anneliese Dodds (Labour (Co-op))
(4 debate interactions)
Nick Thomas-Symonds (Labour)
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
(2 debate interactions)
Alison McGovern (Labour)
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
(2 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
Department Debates
Department of Health and Social Care
(4 debate contributions)
Cabinet Office
(2 debate contributions)
View All Department Debates
View all Kate Osamor's debates

Edmonton and Winchmore Hill 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).

Kate Osamor has not participated in any petition debates

Latest EDMs signed by Kate Osamor

7th February 2024
Kate Osamor signed this EDM on Monday 19th February 2024

Jagtar Singh Johal

Tabled by: Martin Docherty-Hughes (Scottish National Party - West Dunbartonshire)
That this House notes that Jagtar Singh Johal, a Sikh activist and resident of Dumbarton, will be marking his 37th birthday on 9 February, his sixth in arbitrary detention in India since being abducted from the street during his honeymoon by unidentified assailants who turned out to be undercover police …
41 signatures
(Most recent: 21 Mar 2024)
Signatures by party:
Scottish National Party: 16
Labour: 8
Liberal Democrat: 5
Independent: 5
Plaid Cymru: 3
Democratic Unionist Party: 2
Alba Party: 1
Alliance: 1
Social Democratic & Labour Party: 1
8th January 2024
Kate Osamor signed this EDM on Tuesday 6th February 2024

Short-term medical evacuation of children from Gaza

Tabled by: John McDonnell (Independent - Hayes and Harlington)
That this House welcomes the work of Saving Gaza's Children, an NGO dedicated to supporting the children of Gaza to receive life-saving and time-critical, emergency medical care required as a result of the Israel-Gaza conflict by identifying children in dire need of medical evacuation and securing their evacuation to host …
51 signatures
(Most recent: 18 Mar 2024)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 23
Scottish National Party: 12
Independent: 7
Plaid Cymru: 3
Liberal Democrat: 3
Social Democratic & Labour Party: 2
Alliance: 1
Alba Party: 1
Green Party: 1
View All Kate Osamor's signed Early Day Motions

Commons initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Kate Osamor, 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.


Kate Osamor has not been granted any Urgent Questions

Kate Osamor has not been granted any Adjournment Debates

1 Bill introduced by Kate Osamor


A Bill to set training standards for NHS 111 service operators; to require NHS 111 services to be overseen by clinical advisors; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading
Wednesday 5th February 2020

Latest 50 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
6th Feb 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending Paid Parental Bereavement Pay and Leave to those who experience a miscarriage before 24 weeks.

The loss of a child at any age is incredibly difficult. Parental Bereavement Leave is available to parents who suffer a bereavement from 24 weeks of completed pregnancy up to the age of 18.

Under existing laws, women are protected against any discrimination regarding pregnancy, including miscarriage. We expect employers to treat their employees experiencing miscarriage with compassion, and we encourage them to where possible go further to support their employees. More broadly, the Employment Rights Bill will strengthen protection for new mothers and establish a new right to Bereavement Leave for other loved ones.

Justin Madders
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
4th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to help ensure that social media companies provide adequate support to customers who are the subject of hacking and fraud.

As fraud offences are ‘priority offences’ under the Online Safety Act (OSA), all user-to-user services in scope must prevent illegal fraudulent content from appearing on their platforms and swiftly remove if it does. They must also effectively mitigate the risk of their service being used to facilitate fraud.

The OSA also requires in-scope platforms to provide accessible complaints and appeals procedures for their users. Additionally, those services over the designated threshold (Category 1 services) must uphold their terms of service.

Feryal Clark
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
19th Dec 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of publishing an education staff retention strategy.

Supporting our teachers is critical to the government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity and boost the life chances for every child, as the within-school factor that makes the biggest difference to a young person’s educational outcome is high quality teaching.

The department wants to improve the experience of being a teacher and re-establish teaching as an attractive profession, one that existing teachers want to remain in, former teachers want to return to, and new graduates wish to join. Fair pay is key to this, which is why we accepted in full the School Teachers’ Review Body’s recommendation of a 5.5% pay award for teachers and leaders in maintained schools for 2024/25.

​In addition, new teachers of mathematics, physics, chemistry and computing in the first five years of their careers will now receive a targeted retention incentive of up to £6,000 after-tax if working in disadvantaged schools. These targeted incentives are helping schools to retain those specialist teachers in the shortage subjects and schools that most need them.

Our ‘Working Lives of Teachers and Leaders’ study also shows the importance of reducing teacher workload, improving wellbeing and increasing opportunities to work flexibly in retaining more of our excellent school staff. Already we have taken action to remove the requirement for schools to use Performance Related Pay from September 2024 and clarified that teachers can undertake their Planning Preparation and Assessment time at home.

The department is also making available workload and wellbeing resources that were developed with school leaders, through our new improving workload and wellbeing online service, and continuing to promote the Education Staff Wellbeing Charter, which currently has nearly 4,000 school and college signatories. 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 Education Support’s website.

High quality continuous professional development is also key to ensuring we have and retain an effective teaching workforce. That is why we have committed to introducing a new teacher training entitlement, to ensure teachers stay up to date on best practice with continuing professional development. This builds on the work the department already does to ensure teachers can access high quality development at key points in their careers, underpinned by our Initial Teacher Training and Early Career frameworks, and onwards through our suite of national professional qualifications.

We are committed to resetting the relationship with the profession and will continue to work with partners to tackle retention issues.

Catherine McKinnell
Minister of State (Education)
19th Dec 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of the report entitled Teacher Wellbeing Index 2024, published by Education Support on 20 November 2024.

Supporting our teachers is critical to the government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity and boost the life chances for every child, as the within-school factor that makes the biggest difference to a young person’s educational outcome is high quality teaching.

The department wants to improve the experience of being a teacher and re-establish teaching as an attractive profession, one that existing teachers want to remain in, former teachers want to return to, and new graduates wish to join. Fair pay is key to this, which is why we accepted in full the School Teachers’ Review Body’s recommendation of a 5.5% pay award for teachers and leaders in maintained schools for 2024/25.

​In addition, new teachers of mathematics, physics, chemistry and computing in the first five years of their careers will now receive a targeted retention incentive of up to £6,000 after-tax if working in disadvantaged schools. These targeted incentives are helping schools to retain those specialist teachers in the shortage subjects and schools that most need them.

Our ‘Working Lives of Teachers and Leaders’ study also shows the importance of reducing teacher workload, improving wellbeing and increasing opportunities to work flexibly in retaining more of our excellent school staff. Already we have taken action to remove the requirement for schools to use Performance Related Pay from September 2024 and clarified that teachers can undertake their Planning Preparation and Assessment time at home.

The department is also making available workload and wellbeing resources that were developed with school leaders, through our new improving workload and wellbeing online service, and continuing to promote the Education Staff Wellbeing Charter, which currently has nearly 4,000 school and college signatories. 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 Education Support’s website.

High quality continuous professional development is also key to ensuring we have and retain an effective teaching workforce. That is why we have committed to introducing a new teacher training entitlement, to ensure teachers stay up to date on best practice with continuing professional development. This builds on the work the department already does to ensure teachers can access high quality development at key points in their careers, underpinned by our Initial Teacher Training and Early Career frameworks, and onwards through our suite of national professional qualifications.

We are committed to resetting the relationship with the profession and will continue to work with partners to tackle retention issues.

Catherine McKinnell
Minister of State (Education)
17th Dec 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of extending access to student finance to students from Hong Kong with a British National (Overseas) Visa.

I refer my hon. Friend, the Member for Edmonton and Winchmore Hill to the answer of 29 October 2024 to Question 10190.

Janet Daby
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
14th Nov 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing mandatory autism training for (a) teachers and (b) teaching assistants.

This government’s ambition is that all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) or in alternative provision receive the right support to succeed in their education and as they move into adult life. We are committed to improving inclusivity and expertise in mainstream schools, as well as ensuring special schools cater to those with the most complex needs. We will strengthen accountability on mainstream settings to be inclusive including through Ofsted, support the mainstream workforce to increase their SEND expertise and encourage schools to set up Resourced Provision or special education needs units to increase capacity in mainstream schools.

High quality teaching and support is the single most important in-school factor in improving outcomes for pupils, including those with autism or other SEND.

All mainstream schools must have a special educational needs co-ordinator (SENCO) who must be a qualified teacher, or the head teacher, working at the school. On 1 September 2024, the government introduced a new mandatory leadership level National Professional Qualification (NPQ) for SENCOs. The NPQ will play a key role in improving outcomes for children and young people with SEND by ensuring SENCOs consistently receive high quality, evidence-based training. This is crucial given the central role SENCOs play in supporting pupils with SEND.

Universal SEND Services brings together SEND-specific continuing professional development and support for the school and further education workforce. The programme aims to improve outcomes for children and young people, including those with autism. The contract offers autism awareness training and resources. Over 200,000 professionals have received autism training from an Autism Education Trust training partner since the programme launched in May 2022.

Catherine McKinnell
Minister of State (Education)
25th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department provides support to international students unable to afford university fees due to high inflation in Nigeria.

Our universities are autonomous bodies, independent of government, and are therefore responsible for managing their own budgets. Student Support Regulations ensure that the support provided by British taxpayers is targeted at those who have a substantial and recent connection with the UK.

Higher education (HE) providers operate their own hardship funds to support students who have financial issues. Like domestic students, international students can apply to their provider to request support. HE providers also offer dedicated support to their international students pre-arrival, on-arrival and during their studies. Students experiencing financial difficulties should contact their university to discuss their circumstances.

The UK Council for International Student Affairs offers information and guidance for international students who may be experiencing unexpected financial hardship, which is available here: https://www.ukcisa.org.uk/Information--Advice/Fees-and-Money/Unexpected-financial-hardship.

Janet Daby
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
8th Apr 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to increase the take up of means-tested benefits among households with children in poverty.

The Department provides extensive information on Universal Credit including on GOV.UK that supports customers to identify what support may be available. Additionally, we signpost potential customers to external benefit calculators where they can identify what they are likely to be eligible for. We also work closely with Citizens Advice who provide Help to Claim support by phone and on-line for customers to apply for Universal Credit.

Delivering our manifesto commitment to tackle child poverty is an urgent priority for this Government. The Ministerial Taskforce is working to publish a Child Poverty Strategy looking at levers across four key themes of increasing incomes, reducing essential costs, increasing financial resilience; and better local support especially in the early years. This will build on the reform plans underway across government.

Stephen Timms
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
17th Dec 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she plans to negotiate a reciprocal social security agreement with Taiwan.

There are no current plans to negotiate a reciprocal social security agreement with Taiwan.

Stephen Timms
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
10th Dec 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent progress the Child Poverty Taskforce has made on developing strategies to help reduce child poverty.

Tackling the terrible state of child poverty in this country is our priority every day and the Taskforce is looking at every lever we can pull across Government to do this.

The Taskforce has already heard from charities, experts and families and will publish its strategy in the Spring.

Alison McGovern
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
9th Dec 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of extending access to benefits for families with children who have no recourse to public funds on levels of child poverty.

In developing a Child Poverty Strategy, the Child Poverty Taskforce is considering all children across the United Kingdom. We recognise the distinct challenges of poverty faced by migrant children. The causes of child poverty are deep-rooted, with solutions that go beyond government, and the Taskforce is exploring all available levers in response.

The Home Office sets the immigration rules and grants immigration leave to individuals which allows them to live and work in the UK. DWP cannot pay public funds benefits to individuals where the Home Office has applied a ‘No Recourse to Public Funds’ condition to their immigration status.

Alison McGovern
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
8th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the taper rate for housing benefit on young people in supported housing.

The income taper in Housing Benefit ensures people in work are better off than someone wholly reliant on benefits. In addition to any financial advantage, there are important non-financial benefits of working. These benefits include learning new skills, improved confidence and independence as well as a positive effect on an individual's mental and physical health.

Notwithstanding these positive outcomes from work, the Department acknowledges there is a challenge presented by the interaction between Universal Credit and Housing Benefit for those residing in Supported Housing and Temporary Accommodation and receiving their housing support through Housing Benefit and will consider the issue carefully in partnership with stakeholders.

Stephen Timms
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
4th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of Gingerbread’s report entitled They are sanctioning the children, published on 16 September 2024.

The Child Poverty Taskforce will explore how we can harness all available levers to reduce child poverty, including by listening to stakeholders on potential changes, before publishing a strategy in Spring 2025.

Additionally, the Government is committed to reviewing Universal Credit so that it makes work pay and tackles poverty.

Alison McGovern
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
17th Dec 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to establish a reciprocal healthcare agreement with Taiwan.

Department officials continue to engage with Taiwanese officials. Any new reciprocal healthcare agreement between the United Kingdom and Taiwan would be subject to negotiations.

9th Dec 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will extend the Food Information (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2019 to (a) restaurant menus and (b) non-pre-packed food.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has policy responsibility for food safety, including food allergen labelling, in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and is working to improve the availability and accuracy of allergen information for non-prepacked foods, which includes foods made to order in restaurants.

Last year, the FSA board agreed that businesses selling non-prepacked foods, such as cafes and restaurants, should be required to provide allergen information to consumers in writing, as well as having a conversation.

As a non-ministerial department, the FSA cannot make legislation, but has written to ministers in England and Wales, the Executive in Northern Ireland, and Food Standards Scotland, who would ultimately decide whether to change the law.

Any new legislation needs to be carefully considered, taking into account the views of all stakeholders and the balance of costs and benefits, and the FSA will provide more information to support a decision on legislation if needed.

To make improvements more quickly, the FSA is creating best practice guidance for businesses, which makes it clear that they should provide both written allergen information and support this with a conversation. A public consultation on this guidance has recently concluded and the guidance, along with tools to assist businesses in following it, will be published early next year.

The FSA has conducted a number of research projects looking at the provision of allergen information by businesses, including those in the hospitality sector. The FSA is currently carrying out another two research projects, a consumer survey and a food business survey, to understand the allergen information provision landscape and allow for evaluation of change.

Food business operators are legally required to ensure that food handlers are supervised, instructed, or trained, or both, in food hygiene and safety measures.

The FSA provides support for food businesses through guidance and training to help drive up knowledge and compliance with allergen regulations and safe practices. For example, free allergen e-learning was launched in 2020 and has over 700,000 users to date.

9th Dec 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of making allergen training a mandatory requirement for hospitality venues.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has policy responsibility for food safety, including food allergen labelling, in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and is working to improve the availability and accuracy of allergen information for non-prepacked foods, which includes foods made to order in restaurants.

Last year, the FSA board agreed that businesses selling non-prepacked foods, such as cafes and restaurants, should be required to provide allergen information to consumers in writing, as well as having a conversation.

As a non-ministerial department, the FSA cannot make legislation, but has written to ministers in England and Wales, the Executive in Northern Ireland, and Food Standards Scotland, who would ultimately decide whether to change the law.

Any new legislation needs to be carefully considered, taking into account the views of all stakeholders and the balance of costs and benefits, and the FSA will provide more information to support a decision on legislation if needed.

To make improvements more quickly, the FSA is creating best practice guidance for businesses, which makes it clear that they should provide both written allergen information and support this with a conversation. A public consultation on this guidance has recently concluded and the guidance, along with tools to assist businesses in following it, will be published early next year.

The FSA has conducted a number of research projects looking at the provision of allergen information by businesses, including those in the hospitality sector. The FSA is currently carrying out another two research projects, a consumer survey and a food business survey, to understand the allergen information provision landscape and allow for evaluation of change.

Food business operators are legally required to ensure that food handlers are supervised, instructed, or trained, or both, in food hygiene and safety measures.

The FSA provides support for food businesses through guidance and training to help drive up knowledge and compliance with allergen regulations and safe practices. For example, free allergen e-learning was launched in 2020 and has over 700,000 users to date.

9th Dec 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to increase the availability of allergen information in hospitality venues where food is not pre-packed.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has policy responsibility for food safety, including food allergen labelling, in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and is working to improve the availability and accuracy of allergen information for non-prepacked foods, which includes foods made to order in restaurants.

Last year, the FSA board agreed that businesses selling non-prepacked foods, such as cafes and restaurants, should be required to provide allergen information to consumers in writing, as well as having a conversation.

As a non-ministerial department, the FSA cannot make legislation, but has written to ministers in England and Wales, the Executive in Northern Ireland, and Food Standards Scotland, who would ultimately decide whether to change the law.

Any new legislation needs to be carefully considered, taking into account the views of all stakeholders and the balance of costs and benefits, and the FSA will provide more information to support a decision on legislation if needed.

To make improvements more quickly, the FSA is creating best practice guidance for businesses, which makes it clear that they should provide both written allergen information and support this with a conversation. A public consultation on this guidance has recently concluded and the guidance, along with tools to assist businesses in following it, will be published early next year.

The FSA has conducted a number of research projects looking at the provision of allergen information by businesses, including those in the hospitality sector. The FSA is currently carrying out another two research projects, a consumer survey and a food business survey, to understand the allergen information provision landscape and allow for evaluation of change.

Food business operators are legally required to ensure that food handlers are supervised, instructed, or trained, or both, in food hygiene and safety measures.

The FSA provides support for food businesses through guidance and training to help drive up knowledge and compliance with allergen regulations and safe practices. For example, free allergen e-learning was launched in 2020 and has over 700,000 users to date.

9th Dec 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of severe food allergy labelling requirements for hospitality venues.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has policy responsibility for food safety, including food allergen labelling, in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and is working to improve the availability and accuracy of allergen information for non-prepacked foods, which includes foods made to order in restaurants.

Last year, the FSA board agreed that businesses selling non-prepacked foods, such as cafes and restaurants, should be required to provide allergen information to consumers in writing, as well as having a conversation.

As a non-ministerial department, the FSA cannot make legislation, but has written to ministers in England and Wales, the Executive in Northern Ireland, and Food Standards Scotland, who would ultimately decide whether to change the law.

Any new legislation needs to be carefully considered, taking into account the views of all stakeholders and the balance of costs and benefits, and the FSA will provide more information to support a decision on legislation if needed.

To make improvements more quickly, the FSA is creating best practice guidance for businesses, which makes it clear that they should provide both written allergen information and support this with a conversation. A public consultation on this guidance has recently concluded and the guidance, along with tools to assist businesses in following it, will be published early next year.

The FSA has conducted a number of research projects looking at the provision of allergen information by businesses, including those in the hospitality sector. The FSA is currently carrying out another two research projects, a consumer survey and a food business survey, to understand the allergen information provision landscape and allow for evaluation of change.

Food business operators are legally required to ensure that food handlers are supervised, instructed, or trained, or both, in food hygiene and safety measures.

The FSA provides support for food businesses through guidance and training to help drive up knowledge and compliance with allergen regulations and safe practices. For example, free allergen e-learning was launched in 2020 and has over 700,000 users to date.

9th Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to provide funding for (a) free or (b) subsidised parking for NHS (i) staff and (ii) patients at NHS facilities.

Hospital car parks are the responsibility of individual National Health Service trusts, with no central Government involvement. All revenue that hospitals make from car parking must be put back into front line services. The NHS Car Parking guidance states that where car parking charges exist, they should be reasonable for the area, with further information available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nhs-patient-visitor-and-staff-car-parking-principles/nhs-patient-visitor-and-staff-car-parking-principles

Karin Smyth
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
9th Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support (a) NHS staff and (b) patients with car parking charges at NHS facilities.

Hospital car parks are the responsibility of individual National Health Service trusts, with no central Government involvement. All revenue that hospitals make from car parking must be put back into front line services. The NHS Car Parking guidance states that where car parking charges exist, they should be reasonable for the area, with further information available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nhs-patient-visitor-and-staff-car-parking-principles/nhs-patient-visitor-and-staff-car-parking-principles

Karin Smyth
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
26th Mar 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Turkish counterpart on media freedom in that country.

The UK is a resolute supporter of democracy, the rule of law and media freedom. This Government has discussed recent events in Turkey with our counterparts at a number of levels. Most recently, on 29 March, the Foreign Secretary spoke to his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan. Among other issues he raised our expectation that as a key friend and ally, Turkey upholds its international commitments, the rule of law and protects the fundamental rights to free speech, peaceful assembly, and media freedom, including the treatment of British and other journalists reporting there.

Stephen Doughty
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
24th Mar 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with his American counterpart on the detention of Mahmoud Khalil.

This individual does not work for the FCDO and has not done so for over two years. We do not comment on personal matters relating to former members of staff

Hamish Falconer
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
10th Mar 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his Tunisian counterpart on the imprisonment of Said Ferjani.

The UK monitors the situation in Tunisia closely, including the recent sentence and ongoing case against Said Ferjani. During his visit to Tunisia in January, the Foreign Secretary noted the importance of political participation and human rights in discussions with the Tunisian Government. and on On 17 February, our the British Ambassador to Tunisia raised the case of Mr Ferjani with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Officials are observing ongoing trial proceedings against Mr. Ferjani to signal our support for the importance of a free and fair trial, and met members of his family on 27 February to discuss his case.

Hamish Falconer
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
6th Feb 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his international counterparts on the development of a UN Convention on the Rights of Older Persons.

The UK Government is committed to equality and opportunity for all, with a particular focus on those most likely to be marginalised and discriminated against, including on the grounds of their age. We are open in principle to the idea of a multilateral instrument dedicated to the human rights of older people and will continue to play a constructive role in discussions on this issue at the UN and other relevant fora.

Stephen Doughty
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
3rd Feb 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help increase supplies of (a) potable water and (b) electricity in North Kivu.

The UK is a leading partner for the humanitarian response in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and is deeply concerned by the humanitarian impacts of the current situation in North Kivu. We are already the second largest donor in country, allocating over £62 million of assistance this year through capable partners. This includes providing £8 million to fund water and sanitation infrastructure to displacement sites, and £10 million to assist with food security, shelter, healthcare and protection. As a result of this humanitarian programming on water supply development, hundreds of thousands of affected people have been supported with clean drinking water through this crisis period. Our partners are now restarting their work to deliver life-saving infrastructure to scale across North Kivu. UK funds have also supported the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to re-establish electricity access there by at least 75 per cent.

17th Dec 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he is taking steps to declassify documents on Hong Kong dated prior to 1 July 1997.

Documents created about Hong Kong pre 1997 are part of the FCDO's ongoing high priority transfer programme to The National Archives. Currently we have transferred documents up to 1994 (Link to catalogue: https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C15105). We aim to have completed the transfer of all documents up to 1997 to The National Archives by approximately 2027.

Catherine West
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
9th Dec 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he is taking steps to expand routine immunisation programs across northern Nigeria.

The UK supports immunisation programmes in Nigeria through our contributions to GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance (GAVI), a public-private partnership that helps vaccinate more than half the world's children against some of the world's deadliest diseases. The UK's contribution to GAVI is £1.65 billion over five years (2021-2025). Nigeria will receive over $1 billion in funding from GAVI between 2018 and 2028, one of the largest of any country.

The UK continues to work with the Government of Nigeria to strengthen health systems in northern Nigeria, which are crucial for ensuring access to life-saving vaccinations for the poorest and most vulnerable people.

9th Dec 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what bilateral funding to tackle malnutrition levels across northern Nigeria will be in 2025/26.

The UK is committed to tackling the increasing levels of malnutrition across northern Nigeria. The FCDO will make funding decisions for programming in 2025/26 in due course.

9th Dec 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he is taking steps to expand (a) inpatient, (b) community-based, (c) outpatient and (d) other nutritional treatment services across northern Nigeria.

The UK supports access to essential life-saving health services in northern Nigeria through the Lafiya Programme. Lafiya supports the states of Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa, Borno and Yobe to strengthen their health systems to improve access for the poorest and most vulnerable people. This includes access to inpatient, outpatient and community-based services to detect and treat severe acute malnutrition. The UK invests in Global Nutrition programmes including the Child Nutrition Fund which provides 1:1 matched funding for Nigerian Federal and State governments to scale up resource allocation for nutrition, and financing for 6 million units of Micronutrient Supplements for pregnant women.

9th Dec 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help tackle malnutrition in northern Nigeria.

The UK is providing support to tackle malnutrition in north-east Nigeria through the Humanitarian and Resilience Programme (HARP).

In 2024/25, the UK provided £12 million through HARP to UNICEF's Multisectoral Integrated Nutrition Action for Children, Adolescents and Women in North-East Nigeria (MINA) programme for prevention and treatment of malnutrition which aims to reach 500,000 children with life-saving support. HARP reduces mortality and increases resilience for people with the most severe humanitarian needs by (i) addressing food insecurity and malnutrition and (ii) protecting vulnerable people from harm.

9th Dec 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure that humanitarian funding is allocated based on assessed needs.

The FCDO is committed to being a principled humanitarian donor, prioritising humanitarian assistance to people in greatest need by using data and evidence to guide allocation decisions.

We have announced a doubling of support for people hit by the humanitarian emergency in Sudan, as well as providing support for people in Gaza, in Lebanon and in other crisis situations.

14th Nov 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the matters raised in the Human Rights Watch report entitled Hopeless, Starving and Besieged: Israel's Forced Displacement of Palestinians in Gaza, published on 14 November 2024.

We have not made an assessment of the matters raised in the Human Rights Watch report entitled Hopeless, Starving and Besieged: Israel's Forced Displacement of Palestinians in Gaza, published on 14 November 2024. However, the Government has been clear, the humanitarian situation in Gaza is catastrophic and completely unacceptable. Nearly 44,000 people have been killed in Gaza and more than 90% of the population have been displaced, many of those repeatedly. We are clear that northern Gaza must not be cut off from the south, and there must be no forcible transfer of Gazans from or within Gaza, nor any reduction in the territory of the Gaza Strip. Israel must do better to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, and - as reiterated by the Foreign Secretary at the UN Security Council on 18 November - ensure much more aid is allowed into Gaza. We have raised these issues with Israel, and on 8 November I reiterated our deep concern at reports suggesting that people would not be able to return to their homes in Northern Gaza. We continue to press all parties to comply with International Humanitarian Law.

Hamish Falconer
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
31st Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help ensure that UK aid is able to pass into the Amhara region of Ethiopia.

With active conflict leading to humanitarian access restrictions across much of Amhara, we are aware that aid agencies struggle to deliver assistance to civilians across the region. We are providing funding for a UN-led civil-military coordination team in Amhara, which negotiates humanitarian access throughout the region. This will improve the ability of partners to deliver humanitarian support, including UK-funded aid to affected peoples.

31st Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his Ethiopian counterpart on the conflict in Amhara region.

The UK regularly discusses the conflict in Amhara with the Ethiopian government, condemning violence and calling for a peaceful resolution. On 15 August, the Foreign Secretary discussed the conflict with the then Ethiopian Foreign Minister, including its impact on civilians and on stability in the region. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Africa and I have both recently visited Ethiopia and raised the conflict in Amhara at the highest levels.

31st Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the matters raised in the Amnesty International press release entitled Ethiopia: Human rights bodies failure to act as justice continues to elude victims of atrocities, published on 6 August 2024.

The Amnesty International press release on 6 August has drawn attention to the conduct of actors across northern Ethiopia. Their reporting is consistent with UN investigations which found that all sides committed major human rights abuses, some of which might amount to crimes against humanity. The UK has consistently called for accountability for victims across Ethiopia and is supporting Ethiopia's transitional justice efforts, including by working with national human rights organisations to enhance evidence collection that could support criminal procedures.

4th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the report by Defense for Children International - Palestine entitled Targeting childhood, Palestinian children killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the occupied West Bank, published on 9 September 2024.

The UK is deeply worried by the situation in the West Bank. The risk of instability is serious and the need for de-escalation urgent. The allegations in this report are deeply disturbing. Israel has a right to self-defence in line with international law, but we are deeply worried by the methods Israel has employed and by reports of civilian casualties, including children. Israel must respect the rights and vulnerabilities of children. We continue to call on Israeli authorities to exercise restraint, adhere to international law, take greater action to hold violent settlers to account and clamp down on the actions of those who seek to inflame tensions. The UK has sanctioned eight people and two groups responsible for perpetrating and inciting human rights abuses against Palestinian communities in the West Bank.

Hamish Falconer
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
30th Aug 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of Save the Children's press notice entitled Gaza's missing children: Over 20,000 children estimated to be lost, disappeared, detained, buried under the rubble or in mass graves, published on 24 June 2024.

The Government is deeply concerned by the devastating impact of the conflict on children in Gaza. The Foreign Secretary has publicly condemned the tragic loss of civilian life since this war began and has made clear that all parties must comply with International Humanitarian Law. On 2 September, the Foreign Secretary noted in his Statement on the Middle East that Israel could reasonably do much more to ensure life-saving food and medical supplies reach civilians in Gaza.

Israel must respect the rights and vulnerabilities of children and the critical infrastructure that serves their basic needs. On 7 August, during her visit to the region, the Minister of State for Development announced £6 million in funding for UNICEF to support vulnerable families in Gaza with lifesaving water, healthcare and specialist treatment for malnourished children. On 4 September I signed an agreement with Kuwait to deliver £4.5 million of joint support via UNICEF into Gaza and Yemen.

Hamish Falconer
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
30th Aug 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of Save the Children's press notice entitled Physical abuse, infectious disease spreading as conditions for Palestinian children in Israeli military detention deteriorate, published on 22 July 2024.

We engage regularly with Save the Children and received this report directly from the organisation. Save the Children is part of the BOND Occupied Palestinian Territories working group, and regularly raises the impact of the conflict on children. The most effective means of addressing these concerns is through UK funding to humanitarian partner organisations, and our advocacy work.

Hamish Falconer
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
26th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help protect freedom of religious belief in Tibet.

This Government will take a consistent, long term and strategic approach to managing the UK's relations with China, rooted in UK and global interests. We will co-operate where we can, compete where we need to, and challenge where we must.

We will stand firm on human rights, including China's repression of the people of Tibet. We will champion freedom of religion or belief for all abroad, and work to uphold the right to freedom of religion or belief through our position at the UN, G7 and other multilateral fora, and through bilateral engagement.

Catherine West
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
26th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help support the preservation of the Tibetan language and culture across Tibet.

This Government will take a consistent, long term and strategic approach to managing the UK's relations with China, rooted in UK and global interests. We will co-operate where we can, compete where we need to, and challenge where we must.

We will stand firm on human rights, including China's repression of the people of Tibet. We will champion freedom of religion or belief for all abroad, and work to uphold the right to freedom of religion or belief through our position at the UN, G7 and other multilateral fora, and through bilateral engagement.

Catherine West
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
26th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of potential implications for his policies of the human rights situation in Tibet.

This Government will take a consistent, long term and strategic approach to managing the UK's relations with China, rooted in UK and global interests. We will co-operate where we can, compete where we need to, and challenge where we must.

We will stand firm on human rights, including China's repression of the people of Tibet. We will champion freedom of religion or belief for all abroad, and work to uphold the right to freedom of religion or belief through our position at the UN, G7 and other multilateral fora, and through bilateral engagement.

Catherine West
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
25th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the closure of the Prosperity Fund in 2021 on his Department's work to reduce poverty.

The cross-government Prosperity Fund ended on 31 March 2021 and prosperity programming moved to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. While some programmes closed, other programmes continued to run and continue to support fighting global poverty.

The Independent Commission for Aid Impact (ICAI) regularly reviews FCDO programming. Their 2023 impact review, covering the organisation's reports from 2019 to 2023, noted that, despite pressures, many aid programmes are still making a positive difference globally.

The new government is committed to strengthening international development work within the FCDO. We will continue to prioritise support for economic transformation, tackling unsustainable debt, empowering women and girls, supporting conflict prevention, and unlocking climate finance.

21st Feb 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to require currency exchange services for consumers to display the (a) live exchange rates and (b) commission charged to consumers.

The Payment Services Regulations 2017 outline requirements on UK payment service providers regarding disclosure of fees and charges to the payer where currency conversion is provided as part of a payment transaction. Provisions under the Cross Border Payments Regulation also contribute to price transparency, with further requirements regarding how foreign exchange costs are communicated before a payment is made.

The Government recognises the importance of transparency of fees and charges in ensuring effective competition between payment service providers. These regulations, amongst other things, are intended to enable consumers to make informed decisions when making use of payment services, including where currency conversion is offered as part of a payment transaction.

Emma Reynolds
Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
21st Feb 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing mandatory disclosure of commission rates for currency exchange brokers.

The Payment Services Regulations 2017 outline requirements on UK payment service providers regarding disclosure of fees and charges to the payer where currency conversion is provided as part of a payment transaction. Provisions under the Cross Border Payments Regulation also contribute to price transparency, with further requirements regarding how foreign exchange costs are communicated before a payment is made.

The Government recognises the importance of transparency of fees and charges in ensuring effective competition between payment service providers. These regulations, amongst other things, are intended to enable consumers to make informed decisions when making use of payment services, including where currency conversion is offered as part of a payment transaction.

Emma Reynolds
Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
21st Feb 2025
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of updating regulations on currency exchange brokers.

The Payment Services Regulations 2017 outline requirements on UK payment service providers regarding disclosure of fees and charges to the payer where currency conversion is provided as part of a payment transaction. Provisions under the Cross Border Payments Regulation also contribute to price transparency, with further requirements regarding how foreign exchange costs are communicated before a payment is made.

The Government recognises the importance of transparency of fees and charges in ensuring effective competition between payment service providers. These regulations, amongst other things, are intended to enable consumers to make informed decisions when making use of payment services, including where currency conversion is offered as part of a payment transaction.

Emma Reynolds
Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
9th Dec 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has had recent discussions with her G20 counterparts on a global agreement to tax the world’s richest individuals.

The UK was pleased to support the Rio de Janeiro G20 Ministerial Declaration on International Tax Cooperation, including the commitment to cooperate to ensure that ultra-high-net-worth individuals are effectively taxed.

The Government is committed to making sure that the richest in our society pay their fair share on their wealth and assets. That is why the Chancellor announced a series of reforms at the Budget on 30 October to make the tax system fairer and more sustainable.

The G20 can play an important role in helping countries implement progressive tax systems by sharing best practice, building capacity on tackling avoidance and evasion, and supporting international cooperation to increase tax transparency.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
4th Apr 2025
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has had recent discussions with representatives of Border Force on the potential impact of channel crossings on staff wellbeing.

We recognise the work of Border Force staff in relation to channel crossings and continue to ensure support is in place for them. All Border Force colleagues have access to peer support on a 24/7 basis, allowing them to speak to a volunteer who is trained in Mental Health First Aid (MHFA), Trauma Risk Management (TRiM), Applied Suicide Intervention Skills (ASIST) or Sustaining Resilience at Work (StRaW). All operational colleagues have access to the Police Treatment Centres, which support recovery from a variety of physical and mental ailments on a residential basis.

The Border Force Wellbeing team also manage the Border Force Wellbeing Hub and run a variety of events throughout the year on key wellbeing themes, including stress, anxiety, shift working and health. Border Force line managers are also trained with the information and tools to discuss wellbeing and mental health with their teams, how to spot the warning signs and how to refer a team member for further help.

All Home Office staff also have access to the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) which provides support for a wide variety of issues.

Seema Malhotra
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)