Colum Eastwood MP: written questions 2025

Written questions

• Asylum: SyriaHome OfficeTabled 6 May 2025AnsweredUIN 50229More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to develop new country information for Syria; and when she plans to resume processing asylum claims.

  Answer: As we explained at the time of announcing a pause on decision making, we have kept that pause under constant review. Without stable, objective information on which to base an accurate assessment of a claimant’s risk on return to Syria, we are unable to ma...

  Answered 12 May 2025

  Original Parliament record
• Chemicals: Labelling and PackagingNorthern Ireland OfficeTabled 27 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 41972More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with reference to the Written Statement of 21 January 2025 on Stormont Brake: Response to the notification made under Schedule 6B Northern Ireland Act 1998, HCWS374, what recent steps he has taken to pro

  Answer: Further to the answer provided by Noble Friend in UIN HL4285, on 20 January the Government set out its commitment to take any future steps necessary to avoid new barriers that would affect supplies of such products into Northern Ireland, and to consult on...

  Answered 1 Apr 2025

  Original Parliament record
• Carer’s Allowance: OverpaymentsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 20 Mar 2025AnsweredUIN 39974More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has considered pausing the creation of new Carer’s Allowance overpayment debts until after the independent review into Carer’s Allowance overpayments?has published its recommendations.

  Answer: We recognise that overpayments have caused anxiety for some people. This is why it is important to take the time to independently review these circumstances, so we can find out exactly what went wrong and make things right. The review is not a substitute ...

  Answered 25 Mar 2025

  Original Parliament record
• Israel: PalestiniansForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 23 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26092More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his Israeli counterpart on the (a) conditions and (b) treatment of Palestinian (i) prisoners, (ii) abductees and (iii) detainees.

  Answer: Since taking office, the Foreign Secretary has visited Israel and the OPTs three times and continues to speak regularly with his Israeli counterpart. During these interactions, the Foreign Secretary has raised the UK's deep concerns about reports of the m...

  Answered 29 Jan 2025

  Original Parliament record
• Palestinians: DetaineesForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 23 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 26091More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if his representative for Humanitarian Affairs in the Occupied Palestinian Territories will meet with (a) Addameer, (b) Defence for Children International Palestine and (c) o

  Answer: The Foreign Secretary's Representative for Humanitarian Affairs in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (FSRHA) regularly meets with NGOs, to discuss topics including prisoners and detainees. This has mostly been organised via the Palestine Platform and t...

  Answered 3 Feb 2025

  Original Parliament record
• West Bank: ViolenceForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 22 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 25753More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Israeli counterpart on the escalation of violence in the West Bank.

  Answer: The risk of rising instability in the West Bank is serious, and the need for de-escalation urgent. The UK has been clear that it is in no-one's interest for further conflict and instability to spread in the West Bank. We continue to call on Israeli author...

  Answered 28 Jan 2025

  Original Parliament record
• Gaza: Humanitarian AidForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 10 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 23183More

  Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his Israeli counterpart on attacks on (a) international aid agencies and (b) their (i) facilities and (ii) staff in northern Gaza.

  Answer: We welcome the agreement to end the fighting in Gaza. It is the first step in ensuring long-term peace and security for Israelis, Palestinians and the wider region, bringing much-needed stability. The Foreign Secretary met Israeli Foreign Minister Sa'ar i...

  Answered 16 Jan 2025

  Original Parliament record