Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Ruth Jones and Anne-Marie Trevelyan

Tuesday 12th December 2023 Commons Chamber

[Anne-Marie Trevelyan]

The UK Government regularly engage with the Government of the Philippines on the full range of our human rights concerns. We welcomed the 2020 UN Human Rights Council resolution, which proposed technical co-operation on human rights between the Government of the Philippines and the United Nations. The resolution resulted in a three-year UN joint programme, which commenced in 2021, to which the UK has contributed £400,000. We will continue to work alongside them.

[Ruth Jones (Newport West) (Lab)]

16. Whether he has had recent discussions with his Commonwealth counterparts on the proposed readmittance of Zimbabwe to the Commonwealth.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Ruth Jones and Anne-Marie Trevelyan

Tuesday 31st January 2023 Commons Chamber

[Ruth Jones (Newport West) (Lab)]

10. What steps he is taking to provide consular support for UK pensioners in Commonwealth countries.

[The Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Anne-Marie Trevelyan)]

We provide support to British pensioners in Commonwealth countries on the same basis as we do for any British national in foreign or Commonwealth countries. Our consular staff are contactable 24/7, 365 days a year and strive to provide the right tailored assistance to those who request our help, doing more for those who need more help.

[Ruth Jones]

Newport West is home to people from across the globe, many of whom have family living in other parts of the world. Those relatives are some of the 1.2 million UK pensioners living abroad, about half of whom do not receive the annual increases in their pensions related to inflation. Will the Minister answer Labour’s call to right that wrong?

[Anne-Marie Trevelyan]

I will take note of the particular issues and raise them with the Department for Work and Pensions, which is responsible for those policy areas.