Oral Answers to Questions

Lloyd Hatton Excerpts

Tuesday 27th October 2026 Commons Chamber

[Ed Miliband]

I gently remind the right hon. Gentleman that the House of Commons has primacy in our legislative arrangements. That is a long-standing convention, I would say. On his point about the courts, at a time when international law is under threat across the world, we should be defenders of international law, and we absolutely believe that maintaining a base at Diego Garcia is consistent with that.

[Lloyd Hatton (South Dorset) (Lab)]

T3. Dirty money fuels crime on our streets and conflict overseas, so I welcome the Government’s continued commitment to hosting an illicit finance summit next year. Getting this right really matters for our national security. Will the Minister use the extra time ahead of the summit to work with civil society and our international partners to ensure that the summit finally delivers the tough action we need so that we can turn the tide on the scourge of dirty money?

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Uma Kumaran)]

My hon. Friend raises an important topic. I thank him and all those across the House for their efforts on tackling illicit finance. We take the issue seriously and are working across Government, including with colleagues at the Treasury, the Home Office and the National Crime Agency. We are determined to ensure that next year’s illicit finance summit delivers tangible action. The plague of dirty money must be eradicated. As the Minister for overseas territories, I have been raising the issue and will continue to do so with elected leaders in the overseas territories.