Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Sri Lankan Prime Minister on protecting the rights of Sri Lankan Tamils.

Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK Government is committed to human rights in Sri Lanka. We have led international efforts over many years to promote accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka, including the rights for Tamils. This includes at the UN Human Rights Council, alongside our partners in the Core Group on Sri Lanka. The Foreign Secretary spoke to newly appointed Foreign Minister, Herath, in November 2024 raising human rights concerns. I visited Sri Lanka from 26-28 January and met with a range of stakeholders including the Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, civil society organisations, as well as political leaders in the north of Sri Lanka raising human rights, including rights for Tamils.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Sri Lankan Government on the ongoing arrests of Tamil fishermen.

Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

A long-term solution is needed to resolve the complex issue regarding Indian fisherman from Tamil Nadu in Sri Lankan waters. We welcome recent discussions on fisherman rights between the Sri Lankan President, Dissanayake, and Indian Prime Minister, Modi, during a visit to India in December 2024. The UK Government continues to closely monitor developments.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of exempting hospices from the planned increase in employer National Insurance contributions.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government will provide support for departments and other public sector employers for additional employer National Insurance costs only. Charities, including hospices, will not be exempt, which is the usual approach taken by government when supporting the public sector with employer National Insurance contributions. The Government has announced a £100m boost for adult and children’s hospices to ensure they have the best physical environment for care, alongside £26m in revenue for children and young people’s hospices.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help tackle (a) trauma-related mental health issues among asylum seekers fleeing conflict and (b) generational trauma within those communities.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Recognising that asylum seekers may require additional mental health support including for trauma related mental health issues, the Department of Health and Social Care works together with NHS England and the Home Office to provide additional guidance and support where required.

The Mental Health Sub-Group of the National Asylum Seekers’ Health Oversight Group, which is co-chaired by the Home Office and NHS England, has published examples of national and local interventions aimed at maintaining and improving the emotional wellbeing and mental health of individuals seeking asylum. These are available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/asylum-mental-health-workstreams-tools-and-case-studies/workstreams-tools-and-case-studies-by-the-home-office-asylum-mental-health-and-wellbeing-team-accessible

Work is currently ongoing to review and improve the Solace training, designed to provide a foundational understanding of the mental health issues that people face in the context of seeking protection in the United Kingdom, so that it can be endorsed by NHS England and placed on the NHS Learning Hub. This will allow the training to be widely promoted to practitioners to understand better trauma and improve access, experience and outcomes of service.

In parallel, NHS England, the Department of Health and Social Care, the UK Health Security Agency and the Home Office have been working on practical ways to re-establish an improved initial health check within a few days from arrival to the UK. This early health check will include a baselining of physical and mental health needs and identify vulnerabilities. It reflects the recommendations of the British Red Cross’s report, Delivering with dignity, published in August 2024, and is cognisant of recommendation 16 in the recent report by the Commission on the Integration of Refugees.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will take steps to support the celebration of Tamil culture.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Faith groups and diaspora communities, including the Tamil community, are a core part of our societal fabric in the UK. Their festivals bring vibrancy to our streets and their community spirit they foster brings joy and purpose to so many.

The Prime Minister was delighted to host an event in January to celebrate the festival of Thai Pongal with members of Britain’s Tamil community where he praised British Tamils for their invaluable contribution to life in this country.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to support Tamil asylum seekers detained on Diego Garcia.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Only three migrants remain left on BIOT temporarily.

Diego Garcia was never a suitable long-term location for migrants given the logistical challenges of providing care in such a remote location with no civilian infrastructure and a UK-US military facility, but their safety and security has been paramount throughout this deeply troubling situation inherited from the previous Government.

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 his Pakistan counterpart on voting rights for Ahmadiyya Muslims in Pakistan.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Promoting the rights of religious minorities is an important part of the UK's diplomatic engagement in Pakistan. I underlined the importance of promoting religious tolerance and harmony when I met Pakistan's Human Rights Minister on 19 November 2024, and discussed this issue in Parliament on 28 November 2024. The British High Commission continues to raise the issue of Ahmadi voting rights with the Pakistani authorities at the highest levels. We have been clear that all Pakistani citizens should be able to exercise their democratic rights and participate in peaceful, inclusive and credible elections.

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 his Pakistani counterpart on the legal recognition of Ahmadiyya Muslims in Pakistan.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Promoting the rights of religious minorities is a core part of the UK's diplomatic engagement in Pakistan. I raised the deteriorating situation for Ahmadi Muslims when I met Pakistan's Human Rights Minister on 19 November 2024, and discussed this issue in Parliament on 28 November 2024. The British High Commission regularly raises the issue of Ahmadi Muslim rights at the highest levels, including lobbying the Government of Pakistan against regressive legislation. We will continue to urge the Government of Pakistan to guarantee the rights of all people in accordance with international standards.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Pakistani counterpart on the desecration of Ahmadiyya mosques in that country.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK Government is aware of the desecration of Ahmadi Mosques in Pakistan and continues to monitor the situation. I underlined the importance of promoting religious tolerance and harmony when I met Pakistan's Human Rights Minister on 19 November 2024 and also discussed this issue in Parliament on 28 November 2024. In response to the desecration of an Ahmadi Mosque in Daska on 16 January, the British High Commissioner raised the issue of Ahmadi Muslim rights with the Punjab Minorities Minister. We will continue to urge the Government of Pakistan to guarantee the rights of all people, including those of religious minorities, in accordance with international standards.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with his Pakistani counterpart on taking steps to help prevent the desecration of Ahmadiyya burial sites in Pakistan.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK is aware of the desecration of Ahmadi burial sites in Pakistan and continues to monitor the situation. I raised the deteriorating situation for Ahmadi Muslims when I met Pakistan's Human Rights Minister on 19 November 2024, and discussed this issue in Parliament on 28 November 2024. The British High Commission continues to raise this issue at the highest levels, including the need for swift action in response to incidents of hate and violence. UK programmes promote the rights of religious minorities in Pakistan through facilitating interfaith dialogue and combatting online hate speech.

Chronic urinary tract infections and women's health

Replacement of Personal Independence Payments with a voucher system

Future of the adoption and special guardianship support fund

Homelessness

Community pharmacies

Snares

Ending the sale of tickets to captive orca and dolphin shows

West Bank

Changes to Overseas Development Assistance

Open Doors 2025

Found: Conservative; Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk) Mr Richard Quigley (Labour; Isle of Wight West) Luke Taylor

Found: Since my application was submitted, I have been notified that Mr Luke Taylor, Mr Noah Law, Ms Rupa Huq

Found: Louise Haigh Andrew Cooper Dr Beccy Cooper Dame Siobhain McDonagh Julia Buckley Susan Murray Luke Taylor

Found: Louise Haigh Andrew Cooper Dr Beccy Cooper Dame Siobhain McDonagh Julia Buckley Susan Murray Luke Taylor

Found: Liz Jarvis Freddie van Mierlo Mike Martin Manuela Perteghella Caroline Voaden Mr Lee Dillon Luke Taylor

Found: Liz Jarvis Freddie van Mierlo Mike Martin Manuela Perteghella Caroline Voaden Mr Lee Dillon Luke Taylor

Found: Liz Jarvis Freddie van Mierlo Mike Martin Manuela Perteghella Caroline Voaden Mr Lee Dillon Luke Taylor

Found: Liz Jarvis Freddie van Mierlo Mike Martin Manuela Perteghella Caroline Voaden Mr Lee Dillon Luke Taylor

Found: Liz Jarvis Freddie van Mierlo Mike Martin Manuela Perteghella Caroline Voaden Mr Lee Dillon Luke Taylor

Submit Evidence (by 14 Apr 2025)

Over the course of this Parliament, we will have an ongoing focus on the Civil Service that the UK needs and how we get it. We will be pursuing this through a series of targeted inquiries. The first of these of these inquiries is into Mission Government. The Government has announced a series of five “missions” on which policy will be focussed. This focus on missions will, it claims, enable government to operate in a less siloed and more long-term manner.