Laid - 19 Jun 2025 In Force 10 Jul 2025
These Regulations are made under the Sanctions and Anti Money Laundering Act 2018. They make amendments to a number of sanctions regulations.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made recent representations to his counterpart in (a) Hong Kong and (b) China on the wellbeing of wanted people of Hong Kong origin residing in the UK.
Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign Secretary spoke to his counterpart, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, in April and raised the impact of transnational repression on Hong Kongers residing in the UK. The Foreign Secretary personally met those recently targeted by the Hong Kong police with arrest warrants and bounties in January.
The UK is clear that any attempts by foreign Governments to coerce, intimidate or harm critics overseas, are unacceptable. This Government is deeply committed to supporting all members of the Hong Kong community who have relocated to the UK.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has met with Hong Kong pro-democracy activists since 4 July 2024.
Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign Secretary met Hong Kong pro-democracy activists, recently targeted by the Hong Kong police with arrest warrants and bounties, in January.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has met the Chief Executive of Hong Kong since taking office.
Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign Secretary has not met the Chief Executive of Hong Kong since taking office. Any proposed visits will be made public as and when relevant.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what information his Department holds on the status of Jesús Armas.
Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK strongly condemns the ongoing repression against civil society and members of the opposition in Venezuela. We remain gravely concerned about reports of human rights abuses and violations, including arbitrary arrests and detentions. Over 900 Venezuelans remain arbitrarily detained, including Jesús Armas whose whereabouts remain unknown.
Asked by: Jas Athwal (Labour - Ilford South)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many Sikhs are employed in his Department; and whether they are recorded as (a) an ethnic or (b) a religious group.
Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office staff can share if they are Sikh via the religion category on our people management system. 0.8 per cent of UK Based Staff have shared that they are Sikh.
Asked by: Baroness Sugg (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the proceeds from the sale of Chelsea Football Club, currently held in a frozen fund, will be used exclusively for humanitarian purposes.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The Government is determined to see the proceeds from the sale of Chelsea Football Club reach humanitarian causes in Ukraine, following Russia's illegal full-scale invasion.
We are deeply frustrated that it has not been possible to reach agreement on this with Mr Abramovich so far.
While the door for negotiations will remain open, we are fully prepared to pursue this matter through the courts if required, to ensure people suffering in Ukraine receive the benefit from these proceeds as soon as possible.
Asked by: Tom Morrison (Liberal Democrat - Cheadle)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his counterpart in Israel on hostages in Gaza.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Since day one, this Government has been clear that we need to see an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages cruelly detained by Hamas, better protection of civilians, significantly more aid consistently entering Gaza, and a path to long-term peace and stability. The remaining hostages must be released and the only way to return them safely is through a deal. The UK is playing an active role in coordination with our international partners and continue to urge all parties to re-engage in ceasefire negotiations to get the hostages out and to secure a permanent end to the conflict. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Ministers continue to regularly engage their Israeli counterparts on this issue.
Asked by: Chris Bloore (Labour - Redditch)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what estimate he has made of the proportion of aid from the UK destined for Gaza that has reached its intended recipients.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Israel has clear obligations under international humanitarian law to facilitate humanitarian aid. The unimpeded entry of assistance at scale to meet the enormous needs in Gaza must be restored immediately. Israel must allow partners to operate in line with humanitarian principles to deliver lifesaving aid. The current limited amount of aid entering Gaza is completely inadequate, in the face of the desperate needs resulting from months of Israeli restrictions on aid. Due to the complex operating environment and limited real-time data, it is difficult to quantify the volume of aid currently awaiting entry.