Neil Shastri-Hurst MP: written questions
346 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Hong Kong: Civil LibertiesForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 8 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51046More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the state of freedoms in Hong Kong; and what steps the Government is taking to support the rights of British National (Overseas
Answer: The UK has deep and longstanding ties with Hong Kong. However, as set out in detail in the Government's successive Six-monthly Reports on Hong Kong, the continued erosion of rights and freedoms threatens Hong Kong's way of life. China's imposition of the ...
Answered 16 May 2025
Original Parliament recordXinjiang and Tibet: Ethnic GroupsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 8 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51045More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations he has made to his Chinese counterpart on the treatment of ethnic minorities in Xinjiang and Tibet.
Answer: The UK Government stands firm on human rights in China, including the repression of people in Xinjiang and Tibet.We raise our concerns at the highest levels: the Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary, Chancellor and Energy Secretary all raised human rights re...
Answered 16 May 2025
Original Parliament recordInfrastructure: Risk AssessmentMinistry of DefenceTabled 8 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51044More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the potential military and dual-use implications of Chinese investment in UK critical infrastructure.
Answer: The UK welcomes foreign investment. The National Security and Investment Act 2021 (NSIA) provides the UK Government robust powers to scrutinise and, if necessary, intervene in acquisitions or investment that may pose a risk to national security. This legi...
Answered 15 May 2025
Original Parliament recordResearch: National SecurityDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 8 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51043More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he has taken to prevent hostile state actors from exploiting UK research institutions; and what assessment her Department has made of potential Chinese involvement in sensiti
Answer: We have a robust approach to risk in the research sector, working to ensure that institutions are alert to security risks and able to make informed decisions when collaborating internationally, backed by the government's comprehensive regulatory powers.We...
Answered 16 May 2025
Original Parliament recordImmigration: Hong KongHome OfficeTabled 8 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51042More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Hong Kong BN(O) visa holders have settled in the UK under the bespoke immigration route since its launch; and what integration support is being provided.
Answer: The Home Office publishes statistics relating to indefinite leave to remain (ILR) in the Immigration system statistics publication. Data on the number of grants of ILR to those on the British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) route, is published in table Se_D02...
Answered 15 May 2025
Original Parliament recordEspionage: ChinaHome OfficeTabled 8 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51041More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have been (a) arrested and (b) charged under espionage-related offences linked to the People’s Republic of China in the last five years.
Answer: The Home Office routinely collects and publishes information on arrests and charges in the 'Police Powers and Procedures', and 'Crime Outcome' statistics respectively. However, the requested data is not published at the level of detail requested.
Answered 15 May 2025
Original Parliament recordFinancial Institutions and Pension Funds: ChinaTreasuryTabled 7 May 2025AnsweredUIN 50720More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent estimate she has made of the UK’s exposure to Chinese (a) sovereign debt and (b) state-backed entities through (i) public pension funds and (ii) financial institutions.
Answer: Seven of the eight largest Public Service Pension Schemes (PSPSs) are unfunded, which means that they do not hold or invest assets against their pension liabilities and instead the Exchequer pays pensions as they come due. The largest funded PSPS is the L...
Answered 16 May 2025
Original Parliament recordOverseas Trade: ChinaDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 7 May 2025AnsweredUIN 50719More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to ensure that UK businesses trading with China are not complicit in the use of forced labour.
Answer: No company in the UK should have forced labour in its supply chains. The UK recognises the importance of ensuring UK businesses are not complicit in forced labour, in line with the UN Guiding Principle on Business and Human Rights and the OECD Guidelines ...
Answered 15 May 2025
Original Parliament recordForeign Investment and Overseas Trade: ChinaDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 7 May 2025AnsweredUIN 50718More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent discussions he has had with his international counterparts on the coordination of (a) trade and (b) investment policies relating to the People’s Republic of China.
Answer: The UK regularly engages with international partners regarding trade and investment policies, both bilaterally and in multilateral fora such as the World Trade Organisation.With regards to China specifically, the UK's overall approach is to cooperate wher...
Answered 16 May 2025
Original Parliament recordSupply Chains: ChinaDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 7 May 2025AnsweredUIN 50717More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of strategic dependencies on Chinese supply chains for (a) semiconductors, (b) pharmaceuticals, (c) rare earth elements and (d) other cri
Answer: This government recognises the importance of strong and resilient supply chains to the UK's growth and economic security. While it would be counterproductive to 'de-couple' the UK economy from China or any other trading partner, we agree with many of our ...
Answered 14 May 2025
Original Parliament recordUkraine: War CrimesMinistry of DefenceTabled 7 May 2025AnsweredUIN 50716More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that evidence gathered by (a) UK armed forces and (b) partners in Ukraine is preserved for potential use in war crimes prosecutions.
Answer: The UK deplores the barbaric acts that are taking place in Ukraine, after Russia’s illegal invasion, and will continue to support holding all perpetrators to account. We continue to support the work of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in investigati...
Answered 15 May 2025
Original Parliament recordRussia: SanctionsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 7 May 2025AnsweredUIN 50715More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of sanctions in deterring further atrocities in Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine.
Answer: Working with partners, our Russia sanctions are restricting Putin's war machine and degrading his military. Sanctions have deprived Russia of at least $450 billion since February 2022. They are increasing equipment costs and delays and reducing equipment ...
Answered 13 May 2025
Original Parliament recordUkraine: Crimes of AggressionForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 7 May 2025AnsweredUIN 50714More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will take steps with his international counterparts to establish an international register of damage caused by Russian aggression against Ukraine.
Answer: The UK is a founding member and Chair of the Conference of Participants for the Register of Damage for Ukraine, which allows Ukrainians to record losses, injury, or damage suffered as a result of the war. In March, the Board took several steps to increase...
Answered 13 May 2025
Original Parliament recordUkraine: Crimes of AggressionForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 7 May 2025AnsweredUIN 50713More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his international counterparts on establishing a special tribunal to prosecute crimes of aggression against Ukraine.
Answer: The UK is fully behind efforts to establish a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine, and UK officials have played an important role in this process so far. The Foreign Secretary has just returned from Lviv where, alongside represent...
Answered 13 May 2025
Original Parliament recordUkraine: War CrimesForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 7 May 2025AnsweredUIN 50712More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department is taking steps to support the (a) documentation and (b) investigation of alleged Russian war crimes in Ukraine.
Answer: The UK is actively involved in initiatives aimed at ensuring allegations of war crimes committed in Ukraine are fully and fairly investigated, by independent, effective, and robust legal mechanisms. This includes our work with the Office of the Prosecutor...
Answered 13 May 2025
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational Needs: Pupil ExclusionsDepartment for EducationTabled 7 May 2025AnsweredUIN 50711More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure children with SEND are not disproportionately affected by (a) school exclusions and (b) informal off-rolling in mainstream schools.
Answer: This government’s ambition is that all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities receive the right support to succeed in their education. We are committed to ensuring earlier intervention in mainstream schools for pupils wi...
Answered 30 May 2025
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational NeedsDepartment for EducationTabled 7 May 2025AnsweredUIN 50710More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on improving integration between health services and local authority provision in the development of education, health
Answer: Statutory duties are clear that health and local authorities must ensure the integration of educational and training provision with health and social care provision. They must also make joint commissioning arrangements with other local partners about the ...
Answered 15 May 2025
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational Needs: AppealsDepartment for EducationTabled 7 May 2025AnsweredUIN 50709More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions she has had with local authorities on reducing the time taken to appeal an EHCP decision.
Answer: Whilst most education, health and care plans and assessments are agreed without recourse to the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) Tribunal, some families struggle to get the support they need when they need it.The department continues to w...
Answered 15 May 2025
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational Needs: TribunalsMinistry of JusticeTabled 7 May 2025AnsweredUIN 50708More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what information her Department holds on the number of first-tier SEND tribunal cases lodged in the most recent year for which data is available; and in how many of those cases was the decision made in favour of
Answer: Information about registered appeals and outcomes to SEND Tribunals is published at: Tribunals statistics quarterly: July to September 2024 - GOV.UK.
Answered 15 May 2025
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational Needs: Private EducationDepartment for EducationTabled 7 May 2025AnsweredUIN 50707More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to improve access to independent special schools for children with complex needs in regions where maintained provision is (a) limited and (b) oversubscribed.
Answer: The department recognises the vital role that special schools play in providing high-quality education and meeting the needs of children and young people. Independent special schools play their part in this, particularly in meeting low incidence needs. Ho...
Answered 16 May 2025
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational Needs: ReformDepartment for EducationTabled 7 May 2025AnsweredUIN 50706More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has undertaken a cost-benefit analysis of the proposed reforms in the SEND and Alternative Provision Improvement Plan.
Answer: The special educational needs and disabilities and alternative provision improvement plan was published under the previous government which did not complete a full cost-benefit analysis.The department continues to develop and test reform proposals, includ...
Answered 15 May 2025
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational NeedsDepartment for EducationTabled 7 May 2025AnsweredUIN 50705More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to improve the accountability of local authorities in delivering high-quality SEND provision under the Children and Families Act 2014.
Answer: This government’s ambition is that all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) or in alternative provision receive the right support to achieve and thrive including as they move into adult life. The department is c...
Answered 15 May 2025
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational NeedsDepartment for EducationTabled 7 May 2025AnsweredUIN 50704More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of education, health and care plans across different local authority areas.
Answer: An education, health and care (EHC) needs assessment ensures that a child or young person’s needs are assessed in a joined-up way across education, health and social care services.Under this assessment process, the local authority must seek information an...
Answered 15 May 2025
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational NeedsDepartment for EducationTabled 7 May 2025AnsweredUIN 50703More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many education, health and care plans were completed within the statutory timeframe in each of the last five years for which data is available.
Answer: Information on the number of requests for an education, health and care (EHC) plan issued within the statutory timeframe of 20 weeks, for each of the last 5 years, is shown in the table linked here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data...
Answered 15 May 2025
Original Parliament recordSpecial Educational NeedsDepartment for EducationTabled 7 May 2025AnsweredUIN 50702More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment her Department has made of trends in the level of regional disparities in the time taken for education, health and care plan assessments; and what steps she is taking to ensure local auth
Answer: The department wants to ensure that, where required, education, health and care (EHC) plan assessments are progressed promptly and, if needed, plans are issued as quickly as possible so that children and young people can access the support they need.Local...
Answered 16 May 2025
Original Parliament record
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