Hamish Falconer MP: speeches

Speeches

• 24 Jun 2025 · Recognition of the State of Palestine · Hansard source

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  The hon. Gentleman makes important points about the situation in the west bank—points that we have discussed in this Chamber before. We have condemned the violence and the expansion of illegal settlements in the west bank. There are a range of issues on which we profoundly disagree with the Israeli Government in relation to their approach to the west bank, and we will continue to raise those issues with force. I refer him to my previous answer about recognition.

• 24 Jun 2025 · Recognition of the State of Palestine · Hansard source

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  We are committed to recognising a Palestinian state at a time that has the most impact and is most conducive to long-term prospects for peace. UK bilateral recognition is the single most important action we can take towards Palestinian statehood, which is why it is important to get the timing right, so that it creates genuine momentum and is not simply a symbolic gesture.

• 24 Jun 2025 · Recognition of the State of Palestine · Hansard source

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  I think my hon. Friend refers to the two-state solution conference that was due to take place in New York last week. It has been suspended for understandable reasons, given events in the region, by its French and Saudi co-hosts. We expect that it will be rearranged, and I have been in conversation with my Saudi colleagues about when that might be.

• 24 Jun 2025 · Topical Questions · Hansard source

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  As I have said before, travel advice is the surest and most regularly updated advice for British nationals in the region. We changed the travel advice yesterday for Qatar, as my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary announced in the House. We hope, as he has said this morning, that there will now be greater stability in the region, that the ceasefire will hold, and that British nationals in the region will not be so concerned. Travel advice is the best place to look.

• 24 Jun 2025 · Topical Questions · Hansard source

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  I recognise the appetite in the Chamber to hear more about the ICJ advisory opinion. It was a far-reaching and complex judgment, and we are taking our time with our response.

• 24 Jun 2025 · Topical Questions · Hansard source

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  We are talking to the French and the Saudis about their plans. Obviously events in the middle east are moving quickly, but I recognise the force of what my hon. Friend has said.

• 17 Jun 2025 · Genocide Convention: UK Compliance · Hansard source

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  I am about to hand over to the hon. Member. Our commitment to international law is firm. It applies everywhere without exception, and our record reflects that.

• 17 Jun 2025 · Genocide Convention: UK Compliance · Hansard source

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  I understand that the hon. Member does not like the answers that she has been provided with, but they have remained consistent, because our position is consistent. I can assure her that, armed with the full legal advice of the Government, I am confident that the Government are complying with the genocide convention. She raises the very—

• 17 Jun 2025 · Genocide Convention: UK Compliance · Hansard source

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  I want to clarify about the advisory opinion, which we are still considering—it was long in the making and has broad implications—that the UK agrees with the central position that the hon. Member describes, which is that settlements are illegal and should cease. That is not a novel element of the advisory opinion for the UK Government. [ Interruption. ] I will make some progress, if I may.

• 16 Jun 2025 · Air India Plane Crash · Hansard source

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  I understand the force and the emotion behind my hon. Friend’s question. I have spoken to families about the obvious agonies of the process of identification. I will look into the circumstance that he describes. He mentioned the Indian High Commission, to whom I pass on my thanks for its hard work, particularly in rapidly facilitating visas for family members to be able to go out to see their loved ones.

• 16 Jun 2025 · Air India Plane Crash · Hansard source

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  I am happy to talk to the hon. Member about the particulars of the cases that he is referring to. We will, of course, do everything we can to try to minimise uncertainty.

• 16 Jun 2025 · Air India Plane Crash · Hansard source

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  I am very grateful to my right hon. Friend for those remarks. The family liaison officers and the consular staff on the ground are trying to stand with British nationals during some of their darkest moments, and their work is very hard, exactly as she says. We will stay with those affected by this situation for as long as it takes, as the shadow Foreign Secretary asked us to.

• 16 Jun 2025 · Air India Plane Crash · Hansard source

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  The Air Accidents Investigation Branch will be playing its full role, and we will consider the findings of the Indian and the British and American-supported investigation and take any actions that are required.

• 16 Jun 2025 · Air India Plane Crash · Hansard source

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  I thank the hon. Member for his kind words about me and the officials, and I join him in sending my truly heartfelt condolences to his constituents for the loss of life.

• 16 Jun 2025 · Air India Plane Crash · Hansard source

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  I confirm that we will provide British families with all the support they require during this horrific incident.

• 16 Jun 2025 · Air India Plane Crash · Hansard source

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  I spoke to some of my hon. Friend’s constituents earlier in the day, and they were full of gratitude for his work on behalf of his city and constituency over the weekend. I also pay tribute to that. As I said earlier, I am happy to talk to any Member about the particular circumstances of their constituents, and see what can be done to help them.

• 16 Jun 2025 · Air India Plane Crash · Hansard source

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  The UK AAIB will be supporting the work of the Indian authorities, and we will do everything we can to ensure that families are kept fully apprised of the conduct of the investigation.

• 16 Jun 2025 · Air India Plane Crash · Hansard source

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  I thank the hon. Lady for her question. I am sure she will understand why I will decline to comment in too much detail on Mr Ramesh’s case in the House. We can all only imagine the agonies that he and others affected by the incident will be feeling. I will not comment too much on the ongoing investigation. It will be a complex operation, but I know that our Air Accidents Investigation Branch is among the best in the world and will do everything it can. It is fully supported by our high commissioner in India and by the Foreign Office to do that vital work. As the hon. Lady said, the black box has been retrieved and further insights will no doubt be gleaned over time.

• 16 Jun 2025 · Air India Plane Crash · Hansard source

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  As I said, British investigators are now in India working with the Indian authorities. We are also in direct contact with Air India.

• 16 Jun 2025 · Air India Plane Crash · Hansard source

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  Regrettably, in incidents of this scale, identification tends to take some time. Through family liaison officers in the UK and consular staff, we are trying to support British nationals and those affected in India and here in the UK to enable the contribution of DNA. If any right hon. or hon. Member wants to ensure that their constituents get support through that process in India or here in the UK, they should please not hesitate to be in touch.

• 16 Jun 2025 · Air India Plane Crash · Hansard source

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  I have spoken to our high commissioner and the team on the ground this afternoon to ensure that we have adequate resources in place, including in the places where British nationals and their families might be congregating, to ensure that we can provide the best possible support to families affected.

• 16 Jun 2025 · Air India Plane Crash · Hansard source

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  I have set out some of the detail around our support for the Indian Government. The High Commissioner remains in regular dialogue with the Indian authorities and met Prime Minister Modi to discuss the case in recent days. We will continue to do all that we can so that your constituents— [ Interruption. ] Apologies, Madam Deputy Speaker; it is obviously contagious. We will continue to do all that we can so that my hon. Friend’s constituents, and the constituents of all right hon. and hon. Members across the House, can feel confident.

• 16 Jun 2025 · Air India Plane Crash · Hansard source

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  I thank one of my hon. Friends from Bournemouth—the other MP for Bournemouth is unable to speak as she is a Parliamentary Private Secretary, but I know they have both been very engaged with the tragedy that is being felt across the city. We are doing everything we can to support people both in India and here in the UK, and we will continue to do so until people have navigated the full depths of this tragedy. I am particularly conscious of those going through the difficult but necessarily time-consuming process of identifying remains.

• 16 Jun 2025 · Air India Plane Crash · Hansard source

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  I am happy to talk to any hon. Member about particular cases of people affected by the incident.

• 13 May 2025 · Consular Assistance: Statutory Right · Hansard source

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  We are committed to strengthening support for British nationals abroad, including introducing a right to consular assistance in cases of human rights violations. The Department is considering a package of measures, which we will announce in due course, alongside options for stakeholder consultations.