Iain Duncan Smith MP: written questions
106 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Russia: UkraineForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 1 Jul 2025AnsweredUIN 63968More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his counterpart in Russia on the airstrike on the Dnipro Theological Seminary of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine; and what diplomatic steps he
Answer: We are deeply disturbed by the impact of Russia's illegal war on Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB), as well as the damage done to places of worship and religious significance. Ukraine's democracy is well known for its commitment to religious pluralism....
Answered 15 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordChinese Embassy: Planning PermissionForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 25 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 62524More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions officials have had with Chinese officials on the application to develop Royal Mint Court into a new Chinese embassy.
Answer: The planning application has been called in by the Secretary of State for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and Ministers in MHCLG will make this decision independent from the rest of Government in their quasi-judicial capa...
Answered 30 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordMyanmar: Humanitarian AidForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 23 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61719More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to (a) deliver humanitarian aid to vulnerable populations in Myanmar's conflict zones outside military control and (b) avoid (i) legitimising and (ii)
Answer: Since the 2021 coup, the UK has provided more than £190 million in life-saving humanitarian assistance, emergency healthcare and education support, and support to civil society. No UK funds go to the Myanmar military, and we work through local partners to...
Answered 30 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordEstonia: Religious FreedomForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 18 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60805More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made representations to the Estonian Government on the importance of defending and promoting freedom of religion in Estonia, in the context of the Government’s
Answer: I am not aware of any plans by Estonia's government to ban the Estonian Orthodox Christian Church. The revised wording of Estonia's proposed Churches and Congregations Act Amendment simply states that religious organisations must not have links to religio...
Answered 26 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordEstonia: Orthodox ChurchForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 18 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 60804More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made representations to the Estonian Government on their plans to ban the Estonian Orthodox Christian Church.
Answer: I am not aware of any plans by Estonia's government to ban the Estonian Orthodox Christian Church. The revised wording of Estonia's proposed Churches and Congregations Act Amendment simply states that religious organisations must not have links to religio...
Answered 26 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordChinese Embassy: ProtestHome OfficeTabled 12 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 59279More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with the Metropolitan Police on (a) the space available for and (b) policing of protests at the site of the old Royal Mint, in the context of proposals to build a new Chin
Answer: The management and safety of demonstrations is an operational matter for the police.The Metropolitan Police Service have provided their assessment of the potential management of protests outside Royal Mint Court in their publicly available submission to t...
Answered 17 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordMinerals: XinjiangDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 11 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58907More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the findings of the Global Rights Compliance report entitled Risk at the Source: Critical Mineral Supply Chains and State-I
Answer: This government will continue to speak up on human rights in China, including the repression of people in Xinjiang, and will continue to hold China to account.The new Critical Minerals Strategy will help secure the supply of critical minerals vital for th...
Answered 17 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordMyanmar: ChinaForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 10 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58560More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, on what date he last discussed levels of Chinese support for the military regime in Myanmar with his Chinese counterparts; and if he will publish the minutes of that meeting.
Answer: The UK regularly raises the Myanmar crisis with China and other neighbouring countries, including at the UN Security Council (UNSC). At the UNSC and other multilateral fora, the UK continues to call for the need for all actors to protect civilians and for...
Answered 25 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordMyanmar: Politics and GovernmentForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 10 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58559More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department is taking steps to restrict access to (a) international banking, (b) insurance and (c) other sources of financial support by the military regime in Mya
Answer: The UK is considering a range of further measures to hold the military regime in Myanmar to account. It would not be appropriate to speculate about future sanctions as to do so could reduce their impact. It is vital that any sanctions imposed have the des...
Answered 18 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordMyanmar: China and RussiaForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 10 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58552More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to implement targeted sanctions on Chinese and Russian companies supplying (a) drones, (b) military hardware, (c) surveillance tools and (d) aviation
Answer: The UK has sanctioned a number of targets responsible for supplying arms to the military regime since the coup in 2021. In 2022, the UK sanctioned two Russian companies involved in the supply and upkeep of aircraft for the Myanmar Armed Forces. In October...
Answered 18 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordMyanmar: China and RussiaForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 10 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 58551More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what information his Department holds on the extent of (a) financial and (b) military assistance provided to the military regime in Myanmar by (i) China and (ii) Russia; and
Answer: The UK is clear that countries should not sell arms or provide financial assistance to the Myanmar military regime as this will only lead to greater instability and violence. UK sanctions include a comprehensive arms embargo on Myanmar. We note that in re...
Answered 18 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordTGP Europe: LicensingDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54596More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department is taking steps to prohibit the owners of white label gambling operator TGP Europe from holding gambling licenses in the future.
Answer: Gambling operating licences are issued by the Gambling Commission, the regulator for gambling in Great Britain. Following the Commission’s investigation, TGP Europe surrendered their operating licence.Where a licensee surrenders its licence whilst a licen...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordGambling: RegulationDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54595More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 4 April 2025 to Question 41783 on Bet365, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the Gambling Commission’s regulatory action against operators t
Answer: An assessment of which regulatory actions may be appropriate in a compliance case is for the Gambling Commission to make. The Commission expects licensed operators to obey the laws of all other jurisdictions in which they operate, such as China, and requi...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordBet365Department for Culture, Media and SportTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54594More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 4 April 2025 to Question 41783 on Bet365, what enforcement measures the Gambling Commission has considered in relation to Bet365’s operations in China.
Answer: An assessment of which regulatory actions may be appropriate in a compliance case is for the Gambling Commission to make. The Commission expects licensed operators to obey the laws of all other jurisdictions in which they operate, such as China, and requi...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordXinjiang: Human RightsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 22 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54228More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with international human rights organisations on (a) the Xinjiang Police Files and (b) the adequacy of human rights in the Uyghur Region.
Answer: This Government stands firm on human rights, including in Xinjiang, where China continues to persecute and arbitrarily detain Uyghur Muslims. We continue to refer to the OHCHR's 2022 Xinjiang Assessment, which is based on independent evidence and China's ...
Answered 3 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordXinjiang: Human RightsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 22 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54227More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his (a) international and (b) Chinese counterparts on (i) the Xinjiang Police Files, published in 2022, and (ii) allegations of human rights
Answer: This Government stands firm on human rights, including in Xinjiang, where China continues to persecute and arbitrarily detain Uyghur Muslims. We continue to refer to the OHCHR's 2022 Xinjiang Assessment, which is based on independent evidence and China's ...
Answered 3 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordXinjiang: Human RightsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 22 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54226More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential implications for its policies of the Xinjiang Police Files in 2022.
Answer: This Government stands firm on human rights, including in Xinjiang, where China continues to persecute and arbitrarily detain Uyghur Muslims. We continue to refer to the OHCHR's 2022 Xinjiang Assessment, which is based on independent evidence and China's ...
Answered 3 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordUkraine: Religious FreedomForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 20 May 2025AnsweredUIN 53456More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of law 3894 on religious freedom in Ukraine.
Answer: We are deeply disturbed by the impact of Russia's illegal war on Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) in Ukraine. In contrast, Ukraine's democracy is well known for its commitment to religious pluralism. The UK fully supports the intention behind Law 3894...
Answered 2 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordUkraine: Religious FreedomForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 20 May 2025AnsweredUIN 53455More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made representations to his counterpart in Ukraine on religious freedom, in the context of the ban on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church under law 3894.
Answer: We are deeply disturbed by the impact of Russia's illegal war on Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) in Ukraine. In contrast, Ukraine's democracy is well known for its commitment to religious pluralism. The UK fully supports the intention behind Law 3894...
Answered 2 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordGambling: OmbudsmanDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 15 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52579More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent progress her Department has made on the establishment of the gambling ombudsman.
Answer: We are looking at options for improving Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) provision for customers, including the establishment of a gambling ombudsman. The Minister for Gambling will confirm our plans in due course.
Answered 21 May 2025
Original Parliament recordSurveillance: Minority GroupsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 15 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52578More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the use of surveillance technology by authoritarian governments to target religious minorities;
Answer: The UK remains strongly committed to freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all abroad. We are working bilaterally and multilaterally to hold countries to account for repression of religious or belief minorities.The UK takes its export control responsib...
Answered 27 May 2025
Original Parliament recordRoyal Mint: DemonstrationsHome OfficeTabled 30 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 49304More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has had discussions with the Metropolitan Police on the cost of (a) overtime payments, (b) equipment, (c) special measures and (d) mutual aid from the policing of protests outside the Roya
Answer: The Home Secretary has regular meetings with all policing leaders, including the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), covering a range of matters.The police are operationally independent from the government. This means that the Home Offi...
Answered 6 May 2025
Original Parliament recordGambling: LicensingDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 28 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 48345More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to improve enforcement against unlicensed gambling operators.
Answer: We are committed to working closely with the Gambling Commission to ensure that illegal gambling, in all its forms, is addressed.In the past year, the Commission has significantly increased its disruption activity and has a renewed focus on finding innova...
Answered 6 May 2025
Original Parliament recordGambling: InternetDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 28 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 48344More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of enforcement action against unlicensed online gambling operators.
Answer: We are committed to working closely with the Gambling Commission to ensure that illegal gambling, in all its forms, is addressed.In the past year, the Commission has significantly increased its disruption activity and has a renewed focus on finding innova...
Answered 6 May 2025
Original Parliament recordAudiology: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 25 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 48083More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to move toward patient self-referral for community audiology services as a default pathway in (a) Chingford and Woodford Green constituency and (b) England.
Answer: Community audiology services are commissioned by integrated care boards. The priorities and operational planning guidance states that systems are expected to put in place self-referral routes to community audiology services. This was reiterated in the Del...
Answered 2 Jun 2025
Original Parliament record
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