Iain Duncan Smith MP: written questions 2025
118 published records · newest first.
Written questions
North Korea: ChristianityForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 16 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 77458More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with international partners on the ongoing detention of (a) Pastor Kim Jung-Wook, (b) Missionary Kim Kook-kie and (c) Missionary Choi Chun
Answer: Defending the right to freedom of religion or belief is a key strand of our human rights strategy in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the UK regularly raises its concerns about these issues both bilaterally via the embassy in London an...
Answered 17 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordEritrea: OppressionForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 8 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75561More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations she has made to the Eritrean authorities concerning the enforced disappearance and harassment of (a) religious leaders and (b) human rights defenders; an
Answer: We continue to raise the issue of human rights with the Eritrean government, both through our Embassy in Asmara and through multilateral fora. We advocate for the end of all discriminatory detentions based on religion or belief, as we have stated at the U...
Answered 2 Oct 2025
Original Parliament recordBiomethane: RecyclingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 4 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75041More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to integrate biogas into its circular-economy strategy.
Answer: This Government is committed to transitioning towards a circular economy and has convened a Circular Economy Taskforce of experts to help develop the first ever Circular Economy Strategy for England, which we plan to publish for consultation later in the ...
Answered 9 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordAnaerobic DigestionDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 4 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75040More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the role of anaerobic digestion to secure rural economic growth.
Answer: British farmers are world-leaders and know their own land best - carefully planning their planting to suit the weather, their soil type, and their long-term agronomic strategy. It is not Government policy to determine which crops farmers should prioritise...
Answered 15 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: BiomethaneDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 4 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 75039More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to encourage crop-based biomethane to support regenerative farming practices.
Answer: British farmers are world-leaders and know their own land best - carefully planning their planting to suit the weather, their soil type, and their long-term agronomic strategy. It is not Government policy to determine which crops farmers should prioritise...
Answered 23 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordJimmy LaiForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 3 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 74771More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what support his Department has offered to British citizens accused of being co-conspirators in the closing days of the trial of Jimmy Lai in Hong Kong; and what assessment h
Answer: The prosecution in Jimmy Lai's politically motivated trial has sought to highlight Mr Lai'srelationships with foreign nationals, including British nationals. The naming of Britishnationals in this manner is unacceptable. If individuals named in any overse...
Answered 16 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordJimmy LaiForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 2 Sept 2025AnsweredUIN 74393More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when he last raised the case of Jimmy Lai with US counterparts.
Answer: This Government welcomes US President Trump's public support for Jimmy Lai. Mr. Lai's case remains an utmost priority; his prosecution is politically motivated, and he should be released. The Foreign Secretary and her officials remain in regular contact w...
Answered 11 Sept 2025
Original Parliament recordRussia: 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 record
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