Neil Coyle Portrait

Neil Coyle

Labour - Bermondsey and Old Southwark

7,787 (20.7%) majority - 2024 General Election

First elected: 7th May 2015


Work and Pensions Committee
21st Oct 2024 - 16th Dec 2024
Work and Pensions Committee
2nd Mar 2020 - 30th May 2024
Foreign Affairs Committee
11th May 2020 - 30th May 2024
Committees on Arms Export Controls
6th Jul 2020 - 16th Jan 2024
Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill
7th Jun 2023 - 11th Jul 2023
Nationality and Borders Bill
16th Sep 2021 - 4th Nov 2021
Work and Pensions Committee
11th Sep 2017 - 6th Nov 2019
Work and Pensions Committee
1st Feb 2016 - 3rd May 2017


Division Voting information

During the current Parliament, Neil Coyle has voted in 60 divisions, and 1 time against the majority of their Party.

29 Nov 2024 - Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill - View Vote Context
Neil Coyle 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 Neil Coyle 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
Mel Stride (Conservative)
Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer
(4 debate interactions)
Keir Starmer (Labour)
Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury
(3 debate interactions)
Yvette Cooper (Labour)
Home Secretary
(3 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
Department Debates
Home Office
(5 debate contributions)
Cabinet Office
(4 debate contributions)
Department for Work and Pensions
(4 debate contributions)
Northern Ireland Office
(1 debate contributions)
View All Department Debates
View all Neil Coyle's debates

Bermondsey and Old Southwark 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).

Neil Coyle has not participated in any petition debates

Latest EDMs signed by Neil Coyle

13th December 2023
Neil Coyle signed this EDM as a sponsor on Monday 18th December 2023

Imprisonment of Jimmy Lai

Tabled by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
That this House notes with deep concern the forthcoming trial of Mr Jimmy Lai, a British citizen, founder and proprietor of the Apple Daily newspaper, under the National Security Law in Hong Kong; expresses alarm at the prospect that he will not receive a fair trial, and has been denied …
25 signatures
(Most recent: 18 Jan 2024)
Signatures by party:
Scottish National Party: 6
Democratic Unionist Party: 4
Conservative: 4
Liberal Democrat: 4
Labour: 3
Plaid Cymru: 3
Green Party: 1
Social Democratic & Labour Party: 1
30th March 2023
Neil Coyle signed this EDM on Tuesday 25th April 2023

Show Racism the Red Card

Tabled by: Kim Johnson (Labour - Liverpool Riverside)
That this House congratulates Show Racism the Red Card for engaging one million people through their anti-racist educational programmes; notes the contribution of footballers and other sportsmen and women in promoting equality and inclusion among adults and children in schools, workplaces and at sporting clubs; believes that Show Racism the …
46 signatures
(Most recent: 22 May 2023)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 26
Independent: 7
Scottish National Party: 4
Plaid Cymru: 3
Liberal Democrat: 3
Conservative: 2
Green Party: 1
View All Neil Coyle's signed Early Day Motions

Commons initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Neil Coyle, 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.


Neil Coyle has not been granted any Urgent Questions

Neil Coyle has not been granted any Adjournment Debates

Neil Coyle has not introduced any legislation before Parliament


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
17th Oct 2024
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Ethics and Integrity Commission will examine donations to MPs from any individual or company that is sanctioned either by the UK or by any other state.

I refer the honourable member to the answer given to PQ 1251 on 31 July 2024.

Georgia Gould
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
16th Dec 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking with (a) Deliveroo, (b) Uber Eats and (c) Just Eat to end the contracting-out of their workforce accounts for use by people illegally working in the UK.

The Government is alert to the risks associated with substitution in the platform economy, particularly the role it can play in facilitating illegal working by irregular migrants.

I met recently with the Minister for Border Security and Asylum and the Director of Labour Market Enforcement to discuss this.

We are looking closely at the extent to which Deliveroo, Uber Eats and Just Eat have implemented the commitments they made earlier this year to implement systems to conduct right to work checks on substitute riders, and I have recently written to them seeking further detail on how this is operating in practice.

Justin Madders
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
18th Nov 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing grants to enable small and medium-sized film and TV production companies to attend trade fairs.

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) supports film and TV businesses to meet international buyers and partners at key events both in the UK and overseas. In addition, businesses can access DBT’s export services via Great.gov.uk, including the UK Export Academy, International Trade Advisers in England, Help to Grow and the Export Support Service.

The creative industries are one of the Industrial Strategy’s growth-driving sectors. The Industrial Strategy will be published alongside a Creative Industries Sector Plan in Spring 2025 which will set out a 10-year plan to drive growth in the creative sector. We are reviewing our Export Services as part of our work in the Industrial Strategy, our Trade White Paper and on better support for small businesses.

Gareth Thomas
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
30th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what recent assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of powers to remove (a) false, (b) inciting and (c) otherwise harmful content from online platforms.

The Online Safety Act gives online platforms new duties to put in place systems and processes to remove illegal content on their services. This includes illegal false communications and content which incites hatred. Platforms will also need to put in place systems and processes to protect children from accessing harmful and age-inappropriate content.

Ofcom is the regulator for this new regime, and it will have extensive enforcement powers to take action where companies do not comply with their new duties. The swift and effective implementation of the Act is a government priority, and we continue to keep online safety measures under review.

Feryal Clark
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
29th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will make an assessment of the effectiveness of Ofcom in helping tackle the dissemination of online conspiracy theories.

The Online Safety Act will require platforms to tackle false information where it is illegal or harmful to children. The Act will also hold Category 1 platforms to account over the enforcement of their terms of service, including terms relating to conspiracy theories. As the regulator, Ofcom will ensure companies comply with these duties. Section 178 of the Act requires the Secretary of State to carry out a review of the effectiveness of the regulatory framework and to lay a report in parliament. It is important to allow time for measures to be fully implemented before carrying out any review.

Feryal Clark
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
29th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will take steps to remove the documentary Silenced from online distribution.

The removal of online content is not within my department’s powers.

I can confirm that this film has not been classified by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC).

It is for the courts to determine whether this content is in contempt of court and for the online sites hosting the content to remove content where it breaches their own standards or where instructed.

A person may be liable for contempt of court where they know of an injunction and do anything to help or permit the person to whom it applies to breach its terms. It is for the Attorney General to consider each particular case and determine the appropriate course of action. Bringing proceedings for contempt of court is a Law Officer function which is exercised independently of the government.

Chris Bryant
Minister of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
27th Nov 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions she has had with (a) the Secretary of State for Transport, (b) rail operators, (c) regional mayors and (d) Transport for London on ensuring that apprenticeships are open to young people wherever they live.

This government has a driving mission to break down barriers to opportunity and we want to rebalance opportunities towards young people, who have the most to gain from apprenticeships but who too often have been locked out of accessing these opportunities. My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education held a recent roundtable with Regional Mayors which included discussions on how we can work together more closely to boost opportunities for young people. The department and Skills England will continue to have discussions with the Department for Transport and its stakeholders.

This government’s reformed growth and skills offer, which will have apprenticeships at its core, will deliver greater flexibility for learners and employers, including through shorter duration apprenticeships in targeted sectors. This will help more people learn new high-quality skills at work, and fuel innovation in businesses across the UK. The department has also begun work to develop new foundation apprenticeships, a training offer that will give more young people a foot in the door and support clear pathways and progression in work-based training and employment.

The department provides employers and apprenticeship providers with additional funding to support more apprenticeship opportunities. The department provides two payments of £500 to employers and providers when they take on apprentices aged 16 to 18, and up to age 24 for apprentices with an education, health and care plan or who have been in local authority care. These payments are used in many cases to support costs such as work equipment, uniforms or travel.

Apprentices may also be eligible for local discounted travel schemes. For example, apprentices over 18, living in a London borough and in the first year of an apprenticeship can get discounted travel with an Oyster photocard.

Apprentices aged under 25 who have been in local authority care may be eligible for a £3,000 bursary, as well as wages from their employer. The bursary is not subject to tax and is not treated as income for benefits purposes.

The department is also continuing to promote apprenticeships in schools and colleges through the Apprenticeship Support and Knowledge programme as well as targeting young people through the ‘Skills for Life’ campaign.

Janet Daby
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
12th Nov 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when the Animal Welfare Committee is expected to publish its review on the responsible sourcing of fur.

I refer the Honourable Member to the reply I gave to the Honourable Member for Romford for PQ 4519 on 16 September 2024.

Daniel Zeichner
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
17th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much (a) housing benefit and (b) equivalent benefit as part of Universal Credit was paid to housing associations in each of the last three years.

The information requested for Universal Credit is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

The information requested for Housing Benefit may be found by using the Detailed Housing Type and the Payment Destination fields in the “Housing Benefit - Data from April 2018” dataset in Stat-Xplore (Stat-Xplore - Log in (dwp.gov.uk)). Guidance on how to use Stat-Xplore can be found here: https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/index.html. An account is not required to use Stat- Xplore; the ‘Guest Login’ feature gives instant access to the main functions.

The Department is working towards developing these statistics internally so that we will be in a position to answer similar Parliamentary Questions in the future.

Stephen Timms
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
15th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will review her Department's use of the term customer for claimants.

The department keeps its policies and procedures under regular review, including how it communicates with users of its services.

Andrew Western
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
9th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she plans to meet with the Safe Sick Pay campaign to discuss the rate of Statutory Sick Pay.

My officials met with representatives from the Centre for Progressive Change to discuss measures to strengthen Statutory Sick Pay on the day of the Employment Rights Bill introduction.

As announced in the Next Steps to Make Work Pay, the Government will shortly publish a consultation on what the percentage replacement rate for those earning below the current flat rate of Statutory Sick Pay should be. I welcome responses from the Centre for Progressive Change and other stakeholders to this consultation.

Alison McGovern
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
9th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much (a) housing benefit and (b) UC equivalent allowance was paid directly to councils in each of the last three years.

The information requested for Universal Credit is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

The information requested for Housing Benefit may be found by using the Detailed Housing Type and the Payment Destination fields in the “Housing Benefit - Data from April 2018” dataset in Stat-Xplore ((Stat-Xplore - Log in (dwp.gov.uk)). Guidance on how to use Stat-Xplore can be found here: https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/index.html. An account is not required to use Stat- Xplore; the ‘Guest Login’ feature gives instant access to the main functions.

The Department is working towards developing these statistics internally so that we will be in a position to answer similar Parliamentary Questions in the future.

Stephen Timms
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
9th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when the Occupational Health Taskforce (a) last met and (b) is scheduled to next meet.

As outlined in the previous Government’s response to the Occupational Health: Working Better consultation (published on 23 November 2023), an expert occupational health taskforce led by Dame Carol Black was established in February 2024 to explore the development of a new voluntary framework for OH provision.

The taskforce last met on 26th April 2024 and Government is reviewing how best to progress the evidence, stakeholder views and insights gathered as part of the policy development previously undertaken for this work.

Alison McGovern
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
9th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will take steps to ensure that deductions from social security payments do not leave people in relative poverty.

The primary aim of deductions in Universal Credit is to protect customers by providing a last resort repayment method for arrears of essential services, such as, housing, electricity and gas. The policy also enables social obligations, such as, paying Court Fines to be enforced when other repayment methods have failed, or are not cost effective, and ensures that benefit debt is recovered in a cost-effective manner.

The Department has an established process to support anyone experiencing financial hardship and encourages customers unable to afford the proposed rate of repayment to contact DWP Debt Management at the earliest opportunity. Departmental agents will, where applicable, negotiate an affordable and sustainable repayment plan.   Furthermore, there is no limit on the number of times a person can request a change to their repayment rate. In exceptional cases, based on individual circumstances, a temporary suspension of recovery may be agreed.

We are committed to reviewing Universal Credit, to make sure it is doing the job we want it to.

Stephen Timms
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
12th Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people applying for pension credit have been in receipt of universal credit in each of the last five years.

The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

Emma Reynolds
Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
12th Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when the application process for Pension Credit was last reviewed.

We continually review the Pension Credit application process, with improvements made as recently as 3 September 2024. This led to the introduction of the online claim process, providing customers with a convenient alternative claim route, alongside the existing telephony and paper application methods. As the Department continues to modernise the Pension Credit service, we continue to review the user experience, balancing simplification of application with capturing the right information to ensure accuracy of award.

Emma Reynolds
Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
12th Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when the threshold for pension credit was last reviewed; and when it is next set for review.

The rates of Pension Credit were last reviewed in Autumn 2023 as part of the Secretary of State’s annual statutory review of State pension and benefit rates. Following that review, the Pension Credit standard minimum guarantee was increased by 8.5%, in line with the percentage increase in average earnings, to £218.15 a week for a single pensioner and £332.95 a week for a pensioner couple, with effect from 8 April 2024. Other Pension Credit amounts, including the maximum rate of Savings Credit and additional amounts for those with a severe disability or caring responsibilities, were increased by 6.7% in line with price inflation.

The next review will be undertaken following the publication in October by the Office of National Statistics of the earnings and prices indices used to inform the review, with the new rates taking effect from 7 April 2025.

Emma Reynolds
Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
12th Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of automating pension credit payments without an application process for claimants reaching retirement age on universal credit.

Households in receipt of Universal Credit are likely to see a significant change in their financial situation on reaching state pension age – at which point they may become entitled to retirement income such as the state pension, occupational or private pension or other financial product.

It cannot therefore be assumed that entitlement to Universal Credit will also mean entitlement to Pension Credit.

Eligibility to Pension Credit and the amount of any award will depend on a household’s particular financial and personal circumstances on reaching retirement age. This can only be established once a successful claim is made and will be based on a range of decisions which cannot all be automated.

Emma Reynolds
Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
9th Sep 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential role of (a) small and medium sized enterprises and (b) community interest companies in helping to deliver the Youth Guarantee.

Our plan to get Britain Working includes a Youth Guarantee for all young people aged 18-21 to ensure that they can access quality training opportunities, an apprenticeship or employment support. This will sit alongside; a new national jobs and careers service to help get more people into work, work health and skills plans for the economically inactive, and the launch of Skills England to open new opportunities for young people.

We have not yet made any assessment on the potential role of small and medium sized enterprises and community interest companies in helping to deliver the Youth Guarantee. In the early development stages, we will engage with our stakeholders who represent young people on the design and delivery of the Youth Guarantee.

We will set out further detail in the upcoming ‘Get Britain Working’ White Paper.

Alison McGovern
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
22nd Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if her Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of setting a target for the level of food bank usage by the end of this Parliament.

We are committed to tackling poverty and ending the mass dependence on emergency food parcels. We will be considering the best way to achieve these important objectives over the coming weeks and months working through the new Ministerial Taskforce on Child Poverty which will oversee the development of a cross-government Child Poverty Strategy.

Alison McGovern
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
19th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the proposed child poverty strategy will examine the potential impact of (a) trends in the use of food bank usage and (b) the No Recourse to Public Funds policy on levels of childhood poverty.

We are committed to tackling child poverty and ending the mass dependence on emergency food parcels. The new Ministerial Taskforce will drive cross-government action on child poverty, starting with overseeing the development of our ambitious new strategy in line with the Opportunity Mission.

After initial engagement, the formal work to develop the new child poverty strategy will begin and we will publish a Full Terms of Reference in the coming weeks. We will explore how we can use all the available levers we have across government and wider society to drive forward the change our children need.

Alison McGovern
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
19th Nov 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to maintain levels of mental health spending in line with planned increases in other NHS spending in (a) the next financial year and (b) the future.

The NHS Operational and Planning Guidance for 2024/25 makes clear that integrated care boards are expected to continue to meet the Mental Health Investment Standard by increasing their investment in mental health services in line with their overall increase in funding for the year.

Further details on mental health spending for 2025/26 will be set out in the NHS Operational and Planning Guidance for 2025/26, following which we will provide an update to Parliament.

Stephen Kinnock
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
13th Nov 2024
What steps his Department is taking to help reduce the number of people on NHS waiting lists.

Patients are waiting too long to access the care they need, with the total waiting list standing at over 7.5 million. Last week we saw the welcome news that waiting lists have fallen. Since we ended the strikes, we have been ramping up delivery of the 2 million additional appointments that we committed to deliver (which is equivalent to 40,000 per week). The investment delivered by the Chancellor in last month’s Budget will be matched with the reform our NHS needs, to get patients treated faster.
Karin Smyth
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
17th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what financial contribution the NHS makes to the tribunal service.

The HM Courts and Tribunals Service is funded primarily by the Ministry of Justice. Where the National Health Service is party to a tribunal where a fee is levied, for instance immigration and asylum, and other fee charging special tribunals, they will pay this in the usual way. We would not expect the NHS to be a significant source of income through these tribunal fees, however the HM Courts and Tribunals Service’s annual report and accounts do not provide the level of detail required to be able to provide a figure.

Karin Smyth
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
18th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what his planned timetable is for bringing forward proposals to update and improve mental healthcare.

Our plans to update and improve mental healthcare will be shared in due course.

The King’s speech confirmed our intention to bring forward a Mental Health Bill to give patients greater choice, autonomy, enhanced rights and support, and ensure everyone is treated with dignity and respect throughout treatment.

We will also recruit 8,500 additional staff across children and adult mental health services and introduce a specialist mental health professional in every school.

Stephen Kinnock
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
12th Nov 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of imposing sanctions on travel to and from the UK for people responsible for the disputed 2023 election results in Sierra Leone.

The FCDO regularly reviews its sanctions policy and does not comment on any possible future sanctions designations. Exclusion orders are used to prevent a person from entering the UK. The Home Office lead on the policy of exclusion.

Anneliese Dodds
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
12th Nov 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to monitor the effectiveness of the use of UK aid in Sierra Leone.

UK aid is guided by UK Government priorities and we work closely with the Government of Sierra Leone to ensure effective implementation of Sierra Leone's own national development plans. The UK does not provide budget support to the Government of Sierra Leone.

All UK development funding is subject to rigorous procurement protocols, due diligence and strong transparency standards. Our programmes are regularly and robustly monitored. The FCDO also works closely with the Independent Commission for Aid Impact to apply the highest standards to our aid spend. These measures ensure the effectiveness of UK aid in Sierra Leone throughout design, delivery and evaluation stages.

Anneliese Dodds
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
12th Nov 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps he is taking with international counterparts to ensure that future elections in Sierra Leone will be free and fair.

In his first conversation with Sierra Leone's Foreign Minister, Timothy Kabba, Lord Collins, Minister for Africa, highlighted the importance of implementing the Agreement for National Unity and recommendations of the Cross-Party Committee on Electoral Systems and Management Bodies in a bipartisan way. The UK remains committed to supporting a democratic Sierra Leone, and in this vein the British High Commission is currently exploring options to bolster support to governance processes that underpin the 2023-28 electoral cycle, in consultation with our diplomatic partners in Sierra Leone.

Anneliese Dodds
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
12th Nov 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the criteria for maintaining diplomatic relations with other states include (a) the strength of democratic institutions and (b) human rights.

The UK is committed to promoting and protecting democratic institutions and human rights around the world. The decision to maintain or suspend diplomatic relations is made on a case-by-case basis.

Anneliese Dodds
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
30th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking with his international partners to help support (a) the Egyptian Red Crescent and (b) other aid organisations to increase the amount of humanitarian assistance in Gaza.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza is intolerable. The UK continues to provide significant funding to partners to support those most in need, including £5.5m in additional funding for UK-Med to run field hospitals in Gaza, and an additional £6m for UNICEF to provide lifesaving aid to vulnerable families in Gaza. In October and November 2023, we provided support to the Egyptian Red Crescent (ERCS) to strengthen their operations to get aid into Gaza. This included providing enabling equipment to support the international response at Al-Arish including mobile storage units, forklift trucks, pallet trucks and lighting generators. We continue to play a leading role in alleviating the suffering in Gaza, including by matching up to £10 million of public donations to the Disasters Emergency Committee's Middle East humanitarian appeal.

Hamish Falconer
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
16th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 14 October 2024 to Question 8157 on Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of removing consular status from the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in the context of Hong Kong no longer being an independent territory.

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office Act 1996 provides the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office with certain privileges and immunities in line with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations for the purposes of furthering economic and trade interests. There are no current plans to replace this legislation.

Catherine West
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
9th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he plans to hold discussions with his Chinese counterpart on the (a) arrest of (i) Jimmy Lai and (ii) other democracy activists in Hong Kong and (b) targeting of activists in the UK during his visit to that country.

The Foreign Secretary raised Jimmy Lai's case in his first meeting with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the ASEAN Summit on 26 July and his case remains a priority for this Government. We will continue to call on the Hong Kong authorities to end their politically motivated prosecutions of all democracy activists, including Jimmy Lai. I met with Sebastien Lai and Jimmy Lai's international legal team on Tuesday 8 October.

Attempts by foreign Governments to coerce, intimidate or harm critics overseas, are unacceptable. Freedom of speech and other fundamental rights of all people in the UK are protected under domestic law, regardless of nationality.

Catherine West
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
9th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the China Audit will cover potential targeting of Hong Kong BNO status holders in the UK by Chinese representatives.

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 carry out an audit of the UK's relationship with China as a bilateral and global actor, to improve our ability to understand and respond to the challenges and opportunities China poses. As a Special Autonomous Region of China, Hong Kong will form part of this audit.

Attempts by foreign Governments to coerce, intimidate or harm critics overseas, are unacceptable. Freedom of speech and other fundamental rights of all people in the UK are protected under domestic law, regardless of nationality.

Catherine West
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
9th Oct 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when he last reviewed the status of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office; when he plans next to review it;, and for what reason it has diplomatic status.

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office Act 1996 provides the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office with certain privileges and immunities in line with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, for the purposes of furthering economic and trade interests. There are no current plans to replace this legislation.

Catherine West
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
30th Aug 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to his Oral Statement of 19 July 2024 on Israel and Gaza, Official Report, column 301, what discussions he has had with representatives of UNRWA on the management reforms recommended in the Final Report of the Independent Review of Mechanisms and Procedures to Ensure Adherence by UNRWA to the Humanitarian Principle of Neutrality, published on 20 April 2024, that will be supported by UK funding.

The Foreign Secretary and Minister Dodds spoke to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) Commissioner General, Philippe Lazzarini, in July. They discussed UNRWA's progress in implementing the recommendations from the Final Report of the Independent Review of Mechanisms and Procedures to Ensure Adherence by UNRWA to the Humanitarian Principle of Neutrality led by Catherine Colonna. The FCDO speaks regularly to UNRWA and other international donors on UNRWA management reforms, including at their bi-annual Advisory Commission meeting that met in June.

Catherine Colonna's report found the existing UNRWA neutrality framework "robust", but neutrality issues persisted. UNRWA committed to implementing all the review's recommendations. The Foreign Secretary was subsequently reassured that UNRWA is committed to the highest standards of neutrality. £1 million of the UK's £21 million support to UNRWA this financial year will support implementation of these reforms.

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, what discussions he has had with representatives of UNRWA on the management reforms it has implemented as a result of the Final Report of the Independent Review of Mechanisms and Procedures to Ensure Adherence by UNRWA to the Humanitarian Principle of Neutrality, published on 20 April 2024.

The Foreign Secretary and Minister Dodds spoke to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) Commissioner General, Philippe Lazzarini, in July. They discussed UNRWA's progress in implementing the recommendations from the Final Report of the Independent Review of Mechanisms and Procedures to Ensure Adherence by UNRWA to the Humanitarian Principle of Neutrality led by Catherine Colonna. The FCDO speaks regularly to UNRWA and other international donors on UNRWA management reforms, including at their bi-annual Advisory Commission meeting that met in June.

Catherine Colonna's report found the existing UNRWA neutrality framework "robust", but neutrality issues persisted. UNRWA committed to implementing all the review's recommendations. The Foreign Secretary was subsequently reassured that UNRWA is committed to the highest standards of neutrality. £1 million of the UK's £21 million support to UNRWA this financial year will support implementation of these reforms.

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, whether he has had discussions with his international counterparts in countries that provide donations to UNRWA on the reforms recommended in the Final Report of the Independent Review of Mechanisms and Procedures to Ensure Adherence by UNRWA to the Humanitarian Principle of Neutrality, published on 20 April 2024.

The Foreign Secretary and Minister Dodds spoke to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) Commissioner General, Philippe Lazzarini, in July. They discussed UNRWA's progress in implementing the recommendations from the Final Report of the Independent Review of Mechanisms and Procedures to Ensure Adherence by UNRWA to the Humanitarian Principle of Neutrality led by Catherine Colonna. The FCDO speaks regularly to UNRWA and other international donors on UNRWA management reforms, including at their bi-annual Advisory Commission meeting that met in June.

Catherine Colonna's report found the existing UNRWA neutrality framework "robust", but neutrality issues persisted. UNRWA committed to implementing all the review's recommendations. The Foreign Secretary was subsequently reassured that UNRWA is committed to the highest standards of neutrality. £1 million of the UK's £21 million support to UNRWA this financial year will support implementation of these reforms.

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, what discussions he has had with UNWRA since the publication of the Final Report of the Independent Review of Mechanisms and Procedures to Ensure Adherence by UNRWA to the Humanitarian Principle of Neutrality, published on 20 April 2024 on their vetting procedures.

The Foreign Secretary and Minister Dodds spoke to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) Commissioner General, Philippe Lazzarini, in July. They discussed UNRWA's progress in implementing the recommendations from the Final Report of the Independent Review of Mechanisms and Procedures to Ensure Adherence by UNRWA to the Humanitarian Principle of Neutrality led by Catherine Colonna. The FCDO speaks regularly to UNRWA and other international donors on UNRWA management reforms, including at their bi-annual Advisory Commission meeting that met in June.

Catherine Colonna's report found the existing UNRWA neutrality framework "robust", but neutrality issues persisted. UNRWA committed to implementing all the review's recommendations. The Foreign Secretary was subsequently reassured that UNRWA is committed to the highest standards of neutrality. £1 million of the UK's £21 million support to UNRWA this financial year will support implementation of these reforms.

Hamish Falconer
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
29th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made representations to his counterpart from the People’s Republic of China on (a) the case of Jimmy Lai’s and (b) the latest delays to his trial.

British national Jimmy Lai's case is a priority for the Government. The Foreign Secretary raised his case in his first meeting with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the ASEAN Summit on 26 July.

We will continue to call on the Hong Kong authorities to end their politically motivated prosecution and immediately release Jimmy Lai and we will continue to press for consular access.

Catherine West
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
23rd Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of China's new judicial guidelines imposing criminal punishments on so-called Taiwanese separatists on British citizens.

The UK has a clear interest in peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. We consider the Taiwan issue one to be settled peacefully by the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait through constructive dialogue, without the threat or use of force or coercion. New judicial guidelines are part of a series of assertive Chinese measures towards Taiwan in recent months.

Advice to British nationals travelling to China is set out in our travel advice, which includes risks around arrests and detention. Travel Advice is continually kept under review.

Catherine West
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
19th Jul 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help ensure that oil from Russia refined in other countries (a) does not evade sanctions and (b) is used to support Russian forces during the war in Ukraine.

The action taken by the UK and partners to limit Russian energy revenues is having a significant impact, with Russia forced to shoulder a 24% reduction in oil and gas revenues in 2023 compared to 2022. We took robust action against Russia's 'shadow fleet' alongside allies at the European Political Community, and we are exploring further options to strengthen our sanctions, including in the energy sector.

Stephen Doughty
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
18th Nov 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of broadening the definition of research and development activities that qualify for tax relief to include research and development undertaken by creative industries.

Qualifying R&D is defined as a project seeking to achieve an advance in science or technology through the resolution of uncertainty, which allows claims from creative sectors.

In the 2021 consultation on R&D tax reliefs, there was a strong consensus amongst respondents that the definition of “R&D” itself does not require amending given it is well understood, embedded and consistent with the OECD Frascati standard, including the core criteria within it. The government currently has no intention to change the definition, since this would add further complexity and uncertainty at a time when the government is prioritising stability and simplification.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
31st Oct 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will pause action related to the IR35 loan charge while the newly announced review is underway.

IR35 rules are distinct from the Loan Charge.

The Government has now announced a further independent review of the Loan Charge to help bring the matter to a close for those affected whilst ensuring fairness for all taxpayers. The Government will provide further details on the review in due course.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
9th Oct 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a quality assurance process for status determination statements.

The Government keeps all tax policy and legislation under review.

To help customers make an informed decision on a worker’s status for tax, HMRC provides comprehensive online guidance that explains the relevant factors and tests and how to apply them.

HMRC also provides the Check Employment Status for Tax tool (CEST) for free to help customers determine the employment status for tax of an engagement. CEST was developed alongside tax specialists and HMRC will stand by a determination from CEST if the tool was used in accordance with HMRC guidance.

HMRC regularly engages with stakeholders and reviews its guidance products. HMRC will amend or add to guidance in response to stakeholder feedback where this improves the content or customer experience.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
9th Oct 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if her Department will consult stakeholders on the adequacy of its guidance on the status determination statement process.

The Government keeps all tax policy and legislation under review.

To help customers make an informed decision on a worker’s status for tax, HMRC provides comprehensive online guidance that explains the relevant factors and tests and how to apply them.

HMRC also provides the Check Employment Status for Tax tool (CEST) for free to help customers determine the employment status for tax of an engagement. CEST was developed alongside tax specialists and HMRC will stand by a determination from CEST if the tool was used in accordance with HMRC guidance.

HMRC regularly engages with stakeholders and reviews its guidance products. HMRC will amend or add to guidance in response to stakeholder feedback where this improves the content or customer experience.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
30th Jul 2024
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to review Section 684 activities with reference to the Loan Charge.

Section 684 of the Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act (ITEPA) 2003 provides for the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) regulations. In 2022, the Court of Appeal considered HMRC’s use of section 684(7A)(b) in relation to a disguised remuneration scheme.

The Chancellor and I know that the loan charge is a very important matter for many members and their constituents. We have been considering this matter since taking office and will provide an update in due course.

James Murray
Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
20th Nov 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an estimate of the number of people whose (a) biometric residence permit and (b) biometric residence card are scheduled to end on 31 December 2024 but haven't yet accessed an e-visa.

An extensive communications campaign is being delivered in support of the transition to eVisas, which includes guidance available at: www.gov.uk/evisa, as well as direct messaging to individuals with Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs), out of home advertising, print and social media alongside engagement activity through multicultural community organisations, embassies and stakeholder events. We have also produced an eVisa partner pack, which includes guidance for those who check immigration statuses, informative factsheets and a range of social media assets which stakeholders can use on their channels.

Over 4 million BRPs and over 200,000 BRCs are due to expire on 31 December 2024. BRC holders granted status under the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) already have an eVisa, and do not need to take any action to obtain one. As part of the transition to eVisas, we are closely monitoring the volume of customers who have registered for a UKVI account and the forecast total volume of affected customers, and we will shortly publish updated data on the number and breakdown of UKVI registrations.

For many, the expiry of BRPs and BRCs on 31 December 2024 will have no immediate impact; most people don’t need to prove their immigration status on a day-to-day basis, and many of the checks performed will be unaffected by the expiry of biometric residence permits (BRPs). The underlying status of the customer’s current immigration status will also not be affected upon creation of a UKVI account. BRP holders will still be able to use the online right to work and rent services to prove their rights once their BRP expires – provided they still have valid status. They will also be able to create a UKVI account to access their eVisa using an expired BRP. We are planning to update the biometric registration regulations to make this clear.

While we are encouraging legacy immigration document holders to transition to eVisas, they can still use their legacy documents to prove their rights as they do today, where these are permitted.

Seema Malhotra
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
20th Nov 2024
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an estimate of the number of people that need to register for an e-visa before 1 January 2025.

An extensive communications campaign is being delivered in support of the transition to eVisas, which includes guidance available at: www.gov.uk/evisa, as well as direct messaging to individuals with Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs), out of home advertising, print and social media alongside engagement activity through multicultural community organisations, embassies and stakeholder events. We have also produced an eVisa partner pack, which includes guidance for those who check immigration statuses, informative factsheets and a range of social media assets which stakeholders can use on their channels.

Over 4 million BRPs and over 200,000 BRCs are due to expire on 31 December 2024. BRC holders granted status under the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) already have an eVisa, and do not need to take any action to obtain one. As part of the transition to eVisas, we are closely monitoring the volume of customers who have registered for a UKVI account and the forecast total volume of affected customers, and we will shortly publish updated data on the number and breakdown of UKVI registrations.

For many, the expiry of BRPs and BRCs on 31 December 2024 will have no immediate impact; most people don’t need to prove their immigration status on a day-to-day basis, and many of the checks performed will be unaffected by the expiry of biometric residence permits (BRPs). The underlying status of the customer’s current immigration status will also not be affected upon creation of a UKVI account. BRP holders will still be able to use the online right to work and rent services to prove their rights once their BRP expires – provided they still have valid status. They will also be able to create a UKVI account to access their eVisa using an expired BRP. We are planning to update the biometric registration regulations to make this clear.

While we are encouraging legacy immigration document holders to transition to eVisas, they can still use their legacy documents to prove their rights as they do today, where these are permitted.

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