Saudi Arabia’s Execution of Hussein Abo al-Kheir

Debate between Margaret Ferrier and Leo Docherty

Thursday 16th March 2023 Commons Chamber

[Leo Docherty]

We are proud that we continue very energetically to advocate for the advancement of human rights in Saudi Arabia, and our particularly close relationship with the Saudi Arabians allows us to do that. If we did not have a close relationship, we would not be able to help the Saudi Arabians advance human rights in their own country, so it is for the benefit of both sides.

[Margaret Ferrier (Rutherglen and Hamilton West) (Ind)]

I send my condolences to Mr al-Kheir’s family. Concerns have been raised that Saudi Arabia is using the death penalty to silence dissidents and protesters convicted of non-lethal offences, while claiming publicly to be applying the penalty only to murder. What conversations have Ministers had around the misinformation that is being spread to the international community regarding that?

[Leo Docherty]

I do not think that we can usefully speculate about that— the intent of the use of that. It is useless to speculate. But we do continue to engage to argue against the use of the death penalty. That is our long-standing position and we continue to make that point to our interlocutors.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Margaret Ferrier and Leo Docherty

Monday 18th July 2022 Commons Chamber

[Leo Docherty]

I thank my hon. Friend for his question and for the work he does for the armed forces in his constituency. Of course this a very serious matter, so I am happy to confirm that we will look at it and I will write to him.

[Margaret Ferrier (Rutherglen and Hamilton West) (Ind)]

T5. What steps are being taken to address the urgent shortage of translators for UK and Ukraine training exercises while ensuring that adequate proficiency in the language is a key requirement? Some concerns have been raised that the fluency level currently being accepted is not high enough.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Margaret Ferrier and Leo Docherty

Wednesday 13th July 2022 Commons Chamber

[Leo Docherty]

I share my hon. Friend’s frustration. The Government look forward to the recommendations of the independent reviewer, Lord Etherton. They will be credible, and we will take them very seriously.

[Margaret Ferrier (Rutherglen and Hamilton West) (Ind)]

3. What recent steps she has taken to encourage women and girls to pursue careers in STEM subjects.

Ukraine: UK and NATO Military Commitment

Debate between Margaret Ferrier and Leo Docherty

Monday 20th June 2022 Commons Chamber

[Leo Docherty]

We always keep these matters under review, but what we have at the moment is a good plan to deliver a great deal of new and very effective capability for the spend that we have. I will not speculate beyond that.

[Margaret Ferrier (Rutherglen and Hamilton West) (Ind)]

Russia has reportedly become China’s biggest oil supplier, following sanctions in the face of the conflict in Ukraine. Can the Minister set out what level of risk is posed by strengthening ties and co-dependency between China and Russia in the immediate and longer term?

[Leo Docherty]

That is an interesting question. Clearly the dividend for China in the immediate term is a great deal of much cheaper energy, and I am sure that it will reap the benefit. In the longer term, however, the lesson for China is the willingness of western European nations, together with the US, to stand up for the integrity of sovereign nations. That is something that will not be lost on the Chinese.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Margaret Ferrier and Leo Docherty

Monday 13th June 2022 Commons Chamber

[Leo Docherty]

I agree. I hope my hon. Friend and I will meet Colonel James Phillips in Wales very soon.

[Margaret Ferrier (Rutherglen and Hamilton West) (Ind)]

President Biden has made clear the USA’s respect for Taiwan’s sovereignty and its willingness to provide support to that nation. What discussions have Ministers had with our international allies about joining this recognition and any potential defence-specific support?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Margaret Ferrier and Leo Docherty

Thursday 9th June 2022 Commons Chamber

[Margaret Ferrier (Rutherglen and Hamilton West) (Ind)]

Centrica’s veteran action pathway provides veterans with a secure role, training and support. It is a really positive opportunity for veterans looking to re-enter the civilian workforce. How are the Government supporting the private sector to develop initiatives like this that specifically focus on supporting veterans?

[The Minister for Defence People and Veterans (Leo Docherty)]

We are supporting the private sector by giving a national insurance contribution holiday to those such as Centrica that employ service leavers, and we commend them for doing so. We know that military service gives people fantastic skills for life.

Ukraine: UK Military Support

Debate between Margaret Ferrier and Leo Docherty

Wednesday 11th May 2022 Commons Chamber

[Leo Docherty]

That is an interesting pair of questions. When it comes to the robustness and the organisational ability of the Ukrainian armed forces and humanitarian forces, we have been reassured and amazed by their resilience and by the extent to which they have maintained their integrity in their operational capability, so we should be confident that all support that we provide, whether it be defensive lethal aid or humanitarian aid, is reaching its required destination.

[Margaret Ferrier (Rutherglen and Hamilton West) (Ind)]

The UN has said that the Ukrainian death toll is likely to be much higher than the 3,381 so far confirmed. What support is the UK offering to help Ukraine to retrieve and count its dead and ensure that families are informed where possible?

[Leo Docherty]

We will, of course, afford all help that we can following requests from Ukraine. We should put it on record that we are expectant that the Ukrainians, with our support if required, will do a very thorough job of gathering all relevant evidence of Russian atrocities—especially against innocent civilians, women and children—in order that Putin and his cronies are held to account very firmly and in good order in front of the International Criminal Court.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Margaret Ferrier and Leo Docherty

Monday 21st February 2022 Commons Chamber

[Leo Docherty]

We acknowledge with gratitude my hon. Friend’s active role in the debate. He should wait for news this week on that issue.

[Margaret Ferrier (Rutherglen and Hamilton West) (Ind)]

10. What recent assessment he has made of the experience of women employed in the armed forces.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Margaret Ferrier and Leo Docherty

Thursday 25th November 2021 Commons Chamber

[Margaret Ferrier (Rutherglen and Hamilton West) (Ind)]

I have previously written to the Minister for Defence People and Veterans about the delay that one of my constituents has experienced while waiting for a decision on his military pension. Will the Minister please look into this case and ensure that my constituent does not wait any longer than the year that has already elapsed since his application?

[Leo Docherty]

I confirm to the hon. Lady that I will pursue that again today and will get her an answer urgently.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Margaret Ferrier and Leo Docherty

Monday 15th November 2021 Commons Chamber

[Leo Docherty]

I am pleased to be able to put on record my acknowledgement of the injustice suffered by gay people who were unjustly thrown out of the military. I have met Fighting With Pride and others, and we are doing good work on this, which will be formally announced as part of a review. I hope to be able to provide further details to the House in the coming weeks.

[Margaret Ferrier (Rutherglen and Hamilton West) (Ind)]

Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory in Edinburgh has been in operation since 1926, employing ex-soldiers since the very beginning. Over the years it has grown considerably, and now it employs 41 veterans. Will the Minister join me in thanking them for their hard work and dedication in making beautiful poppy wreaths, and encourage other organisations to support veteran employability in the same way?

[Leo Docherty]

I am delighted to put on record my thanks to the Poppy Factory, which I have visited: it does magnificent work, and the wreaths it creates are a moving and important part of the Festival of Remembrance. I am also grateful that the hon. Lady picked up the theme of employability, because we will focus explicitly on that in the forthcoming veterans strategy.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Margaret Ferrier and Leo Docherty

Thursday 23rd September 2021 Commons Chamber

[Leo Docherty]

I have been reading the Select Committee’s report with great interest. The MOD is compiling its formal response, and I give my hon. Friend my personal assurance that we take these issues seriously across a whole range of considerations, including uniform and sanitary product provision. We are determined to get this right. We have opened up every single role across the military to women, but that will not be sufficient unless there is a culture of support.

[Margaret Ferrier (Rutherglen and Hamilton West) (Ind)]

Constituents have contacted me recently, and I wrote to the Office for Veterans’ Affairs about one of them on 3 August and am still awaiting a reply. What steps is the Office for Veterans’ Affairs specifically taking to make sure that veterans facing obstacles to accessing services are fully and appropriately supported?

[Leo Docherty]

If the hon. Lady would like to raise that case with me personally after this session, I will pursue it with urgency.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Margaret Ferrier and Leo Docherty

Monday 20th September 2021 Commons Chamber

[Leo Docherty]

I am grateful for that question. I would like to put on record my thanks to my hon. Friend’s good offices for making that happen. Of course, there will be a very significant role for the wider community and the third sector to play in welcoming our Afghan friends. I recently visited an Afghan cricket team that had been put together by a local pastor. The whole community is quite demonstrably coming together.

[Margaret Ferrier (Rutherglen and Hamilton West) (Ind)]

The Scottish Refugee Council recently called for the UK Government to extend Operation Warm Welcome to Afghans who are still stuck in the asylum process waiting on decisions or who have previously been declined protection. Can the Minister confirm what discussions he has had with colleagues across Government on extending the programme in such a way?

[Leo Docherty]

I will, of course, pass that question on to the Home Office, but my expectation is that Operation Warm Welcome will run for as long as is necessary.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Margaret Ferrier and Leo Docherty

Monday 24th May 2021 Commons Chamber

[The Minister for Defence People and Veterans (Leo Docherty)]

I recognise that this is an important issue. This is taking too long, so I look forward to reporting back to the hon. Gentleman with an update on progress.

[Margaret Ferrier (Rutherglen and Hamilton West) (Ind) [V]]

The fifth Astute class nuclear submarine was delivered a month ago after many delays and ballooning costs over the last half decade. Given those delays, will the Secretary of State clarify if he still believes that these submarines can be delivered by the MOD by the current deadline of 2026? Can he give us assurances that there will be no further increase in cost?