Business of the House

Pippa Heylings Excerpts

Thursday 8th January 2026 Commons Chamber

[Sir Alan Campbell]

We are committed to supporting coastal communities and ensuring that coastal risk management is fit for the challenges we face now and going forward. We are making a record £10.5 billion investment in delivering the largest flood and coastal investment programme in history, but I encourage my hon. Friend to apply for a debate on this matter, as a number of MPs will also be concerned. If she wishes to meet with the Minister responsible to discuss this matter, I will help her to arrange that.

[Pippa Heylings (South Cambridgeshire) (LD)]

This past week, we have all been speaking about the need to respect the rule of international law, yet transnational repression in which authoritarian regimes extend their jurisdiction beyond their borders and powers is worryingly present on UK soil. My constituent Shahzad Akbar, who is a former human rights lawyer, cabinet Minister and political dissident from Pakistan, has faced repeated and violent attacks against him and efforts to intimidate him. He has suffered an acid attack in his home in front of his four-year-old daughter. Just on Christmas eve, he had a physical assault against him, resulting in a broken nose and jaw, which again happened in front of his young family. Just before new year’s eve, he had a terrifying arson attack on his home. I have made the Foreign Secretary and the Home Secretary aware of those attacks, but does the Leader of the House agree that that cannot be allowed on British soil? Further measures are needed to protect political dissidents here in our country, and a debate on transnational repression and the Government’s measures to combat it is in the interests of democracy and this House.

[Sir Alan Campbell]

If the hon. Lady gives me further details on that case, I will ensure that it is raised with the appropriate Department to see what else can be done to assist. The Government believe that political matters or faith matters, even though we may disagree with them, should never mean that people are threatened or attacked. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office raises these concerns regularly where necessary with countries and Governments across the world. I will ensure that she gets a response if she lets me have the details.