Commons Chamber

Monday 1st September 2025

(began 1 month, 2 weeks ago)

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None Portrait Q7. What steps she is taking to help tackle fraud in the welfare system. (905397)
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Thank you Mr Speaker. Number seven.
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Andrew Western Portrait Andrew Western MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Stretford and Urmston, Labour)
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Thank you Mr Speaker. This government has committed to significant measures to counter welfare fraud error, debt. This is the biggest package of such measures in recent history. The OBR has estimated it will deliver an additional £1.6 billion of savings in the next five years. The package is underpinned by public authorities error recovery bill which contains a range of new powers which allows us to keep pace with offenders who exploit the system. I thank the exploit the system.

I thank the Minister for his answer. We all agree that fraud strikes at the heart of the system. I do hope that the government will undertake a zero tolerance approach to this. Unlike in Scotland we have recently heard that £36 billion of benefit money that £36 billion of benefit money paid out in error will not now be recovered. Does the Minister agree to is deeply unfair to taxpayers? to is deeply unfair to taxpayers? The honourable gentleman tempts me to encroach upon what are legitimately policy questions for the Scottish government.

I would say that the policy of this government is clear, and is set out in the bill. I am grateful to the Cabinet Secretary for social justice for continuing to work with me constructively to try and make this bill as workable as possible. Alignment where we can. But where, if we end up diverging, we are still able to make sure that we are doing everything that we can from this Parliament and everything the Scottish government chooses to do to bear down on fraud and error.
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None Portrait Q8. What assessment she has made of the adequacy of the Personal Independence Payment application process. (905398)
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Question eight Mr Speaker.
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None Portrait Q16. What steps she is taking to support young people into employment, education or training in Southend East and Rochford constituency. (905406)
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providers, at the moment, and we will be increasing, already increasing, actually the proportion of face-to-face assessments and that will continue.
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None Portrait Q18. What steps she is taking to increase levels of employment through the trailblazer programme to tackle economic activity. (905408)
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wait until the child poverty strategy is published in the autumn. We believe every child the matter where they are born or what their parents do, or their ability, be given an equal start in life.
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None Portrait Topical questions: Work and Pensions
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Topicals.
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Yvette Cooper Portrait Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)
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Thank you, Mr Speaker. With permission, I will update the House on actions we are taking with France, to strengthen our Border Security Command and the next steps on our reforms to the asylum system. The House will be aware that when we came into the government, we found an asylum and immigration system in chaos. Small boat gangs for seven years had been allowed to embed their criminal trade along the French coast, the asylum backlog was soaring and illegal working was being ignored.

They lost control of the system and as a result, open many hundreds of asylum hotels across the country. While returns were one third lower than in 2010. Before leaving office, they deliberately cut asylum decision- making by 70%. Leaving a steeply rising backlog behind. It is little wonder that people right across the country's confidence in the system. And demanded to know why they were paying the price of a system that was so out of control. But that does not mean that people rejected the long and proud history of Britain doing our bit to help those fleeing persecution or conflict.

Including, in the past decade, families from Ukraine, Syria, and Hong Kong. Because it is the British way to do our bit, alongside other countries, to help those who need century, but the system has to be controlled and managed. Based on fair and properly enforce rules, not chaos and exploitation driven by criminal smuggling gangs. And it is precisely That substantial reforms are needed now. In our first year in government, we have taken immediate action, laying the foundations for more fundamental reform.

We have restored asylum decision-making and rapidly increase the rate decisions. We continued with the previous government's freeze on asylum decisions, thousands more people would have been in hotels and asylum accommodation by now. Instead, we removed 35,000 people with no right to be here, including a 28% increase in returns of failed asylum seekers. And a 14% increase in removals of foreign criminals. We have increased raids and arrests on illegal working by 50% and we cut the annual hotel bill by almost £1 billion in the last financial year.

We are rolling out digital ID and biometrics kits, so immigration enforcement can check on the spot whether someone has a right to work or a right to be in the UK. And on channel crossings and organised immigration crime, we are putting in place new powers, new structures, and new international agreements, to help dismantle the criminal industry. Behind the boats. I want to update the House on the further steps we are now taking. In August, signed a new treaty with France elements, for the first time, to directly return those who arrive in small boats.

-- Allowing us for the first time. It took place the next day, on people arriving indelible, and we expect the first returns to begin later this month. Applications have also been open for the reciprocal legal boot, with the first case is under consideration. Subject to strict security checks. We have made clear this is a pilot scheme. But the more we prove the concept at the outset, the better we will be able to develop and grow it. But the principles it embodies are crucial.

Because no one should be making these dangerous or illegal journeys on small boats. And if they do, we want to see them swiftly returned. But in return, we believe in doing our bit alongside other countries, to help those who have fled persecution through managed and controlled legal programs. This summer, we have also taken further action to strengthen enforcement against smuggling gangs. France has reviewed its maritime approach to allow for the intersection of taxi boats in French waters. And we will continue to work with them to implement this change as soon as possible.

In the last year, the National Crime Agency has left 347 descriptions of immigration crime networks. Their highest level on record. And a 40% increase in a record. And a 40% increase in a year. Over the summer, we announced £100 million uplift in Border Security Command up to 300 more personnel In the National Crime Agency, focusing on targeting the smuggling gangs. And at the border security bill will give them stronger powers, counterterrorism powers against smuggling gangs, power to seize and more phones on arrival, and ban sex offenders from the asylum system altogether.

If opposition parties work with us to speed passage through the other place, instead of opposing the bill, those powers could be in place within months. Making our country safer and more secure. Returning now to the major reforms that are needed to fix the broken asylum system that we inherited. Although we have increased decision-making and returns, the overall system remains erratic and outdated, and unfair. As we committed, in the immigration white paper, we will shortly set out more radical reforms to modernise the asylum system and to boost productivity.

Tackling the pull factors, threatening enforcement, making sure people are treated fairly, performing the way the ECHR is interpreted here at home, speeding up the system, cutting numbers, and ending the use of hotels. In developing controlled and hotels. In developing controlled and There will be an overhaul of the appeals system, the biggest obstacle to ending hotel use. Tens of thousands of people in asylum accommodation are currently waiting for appeals, and under the current system the figure is to grow.

With an average wait time already of 54 weeks. So we have already funded thousands of additional sitting days this year, and the border security Bill will introduce a statutory timeframe of 24 weeks but we need to go further. We will introduce a new independent body to deal with immigration and asylum appeals. Fully independent of government, staffed by professionally trained adjudicators with safeguards to ensure high standards, but able to surge capacity is needed to accelerate and prioritise cases, alongside new procedures to tackle repeat applications and unnecessary delays.

We are also increasing the tension and returns capacity including 1000 bed expansion, with the first tranche of additional beds coming online within months, to support many thousands more in forced removals each year. Our reforms will also address the overly complex system for family migration, including changes to the way that article 8 of the ECHR is interpreted. We should be clear, international law is important. It is because other countries know that we abide by it that we have been able to make these new agreements with France to return people who arrived on small boats.

To make new agreements with Germany to stop the warehousing of small boats by criminal gangs, and to explore returns hubs partnerships with other European countries. But we also need the interpretation of international law to keep up the realities and challenges of today's world. There is one area we also need to make more immediate challenges. The current rules for family reunion for refugees were designed many years ago to help families separated by war, conflict, and persecution. The way they are now being used has changed.

Even before the pandemic, refugees were applied to bring family to the UK did so on average more than one or two mac years after they had been granted protection. Long enough for them to be able to get jobs or find housing will be able to provide their family with some support. In Denmark and Switzerland, currently those granted to military protection are not able to apply to bring family for at least two mac years after protection has been granted. Here in the UK now however, those applications come in on average around one month after protection has been granted.

Often even before a newly granted refugee has left asylum accommodation. As a consequence, refugee families who arrive are far more likely to be seeking homelessness assistance. Some councils are finding more than 1/4 of their family homelessness applications are linked to refugee family reunion. That is not sustainable. Currently there are also no conditions of family reunion for refugee sponsors unlike those in place if the sponsor is a British or a long-term UK resident, and that is not fair.

Finally, the proportion of migrants who arrived on small boats and then applied to bring family has also increased sharply in recent years. With signs that smuggling gangs are now able to use the promise of family reunion to promote dangerous journeys to the UK. We continue to believe that families staying together is important. It is why we will seek to prioritise family groups among the applicants to come to Britain under our new deal with France. Reforms are needed. Without asylum policy statement later this year, we will set up new system for family migration couldn't looking at contribution requirements, long periods before newly granted refugees can apply, and dedicated controlled arrangements for unaccompanied children, and for those fleeing persecution who have family in the UK.

We aim to have some of those changes in place for the spring. In the meantime we do need to address the immediate pressures on local authorities and the risks from criminal gangs using family reunion as a pull factor to encourage more people onto dangerous boats. Therefore we are bringing forward new immigration rules this week to temporarily suspend new applications under the existing dedicated refugee family reunion route until the new framework is introduced, and refugees will be covered by the same family migration rules and conditions as everyone else.

Let me turn next to the action we are taking to ensure every asylum hotel will be closed for good under this government. Not just by shifting individuals from hotels to other sites but by driving down the numbers supported accommodation overall. And not in a chaotic way through piecemeal court judgements through a controlled, managed, and through a controlled, managed, and orderly program. Driving down inflow into the asylum system, clearing the appeals backlog which is crucial, and continuing to increase returns. Within the asylum estate we are reconfiguring the sites, greasing room sharing, tightening the test for accommodation and working at pace to identify alternative cheaper and more appropriate accommodation, with other government departments and with local authorities.

We are increasing standards and security, and joint public safety cooperation between the police, accommodation providers, and the Home Office, to ensure that laws and rules are enforced. I understand and agree with local councils and communities who want the asylum hotels in their communities close because we need to close all asylum hotels, and we need to do so for good. But that must be done in a controlled and orderly manner, and not through a return to the previous government's chaos that led to the opening of hotels in the first place.

Finally, let me update the house on the continued legal and controlled support we will provide for those facing conflict and persecution. We will continue to do our bit to support Ukraine, extending the Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme by a further 24 months. With further details to be set out in due course. You're also taking immediate action to rescue children who have been seriously injured in the horrendous onslaught on civilians in Gaza so they can get the health treatment they need. The Foreign Secretary will update the House shortly on the progress to get those children out.

I can confirm that the Home Office has put in place systems to issue expedited visas with biometric checks conducted prior to arrival on children and immediate accompanying family members, and we have done the same for the Chevening scholars and are in the process of doing so for those in Gaza who have been awarded fully funded scholarships and places that UK universities so they can start their studies in the autumn this year. Later this year, we will set out plans to establish a permanent framework for refugee students to come and study in the UK, so we can help more talented young people fleeing war and young people fleeing war and persecution to find a better future alongside And managed ways for refugees to find work in the UK.

The government is determined to fix every aspect of the broken system inherited, to restore the confidence of the British people. Solving problems not exploiting them, a serious and comments to plan not fantasy claims based on some that don't add up gimmicks that failed in the past. What we will never do is seek to stir up chaos, division, or hate, because that is not who we are as a country. And that is not what Britain stands for. A practical plan to strengthen our border security to fix the asylum chaos and to rebuild confidence in an Asylum and Immigration Act system that serves and national interest, tax and national security, and reflects our national values.

When we wave the Union flag, when we wave the St George's flag, meeting God Save The King, and celebrate everything that is great about Britain and our country, we do so with pride because of the values that our flags, our king, and our country represent. Togetherness, fairness, and decency. Respect for each other, respect for the rule of law. That is what our country stands for. That is the British way, to fix the problems we face, and I commend this statement to the House.
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Chris Philp Portrait Rt Hon Chris Philp MP (Croydon South, Conservative)
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Shadow Home Secretary.

**** Possible New Speaker ****

Thank you Mr Speaker. I thank the Home Secretary for advanced sight of her statement. The government has her statement. The government has now been in office for well over a now been in office for well over a year. It is fair to say that even their kindest friends would say they think it has gone very well. think it has gone very well. Listening to her statement, it sounds that she thinks everything is sounds that she thinks everything is fine if there are any problems to sort somehow somebody else's fault.

sort somehow somebody else's fault. Is she living in a parallel universe? After over a year in universe? After over a year in office, she must now take response ability for what is happening under ability for what is happening under this government. It was interesting during her statement, to notice she during her statement, to notice she did not mention her favourite phrase from a year or so ago that she was from a year or so ago that she was going to smash the gangs.

I wonder why she was so silent on her previously favourite catchphrase? The answer is it is not going very The answer is it is not going very well. She mentioned National Crime Agency disruptions. Let me gently Agency disruptions. Let me gently point out that 84% of those National Crime Agency disruptions that she cited a few minutes ago are classified as not being high impact. If you look at National Crime Agency arrests for organised immigration crime, they went down by 16% in the last financial year, hardly smashing the gangs.

In fact the NCA's arrests for organised immigration crime in that financial year, only 26. A drop in the ocean compared to the tens of thousands crossing the channel. It was also rather conspicuous that the Home Secretary did not mention at all, not even a word, about the numbers illegally crossing the English Channel. I wonder why that was? I wonder why she forgot to say a single word about that? The reason I'm afraid it's pretty clear. Far from smashing the gangs, so far this year, 29,000, to be precise 29,003 illegal immigrants have crossed the English Channel.

It is the worst in history and it is up by 38% compared to last year. That is not success, it is failure. Things are not getting any better, they are getting worse. This government is failing and everyone can see it. That is why there are protests up and down the country. And where those protests are peaceful, I support them. It is are peaceful, I support them. It is why 75% of the public think the government is handling immigration and asylum badly.

75%. Let me turn to hotels. In the nine months before the last general election, 200 hotels were closed down, including the Bell Hotel in Epping. But since the election, the numbers in asylum hotels have actually gone up by 8%. Had that previous trend of closures continued, today there would be no asylum hotels open at all. I asked Home Secretary to confirm this, would she confirm that she will not reduce hotel usage simply by shunting asylum seekers from hotels and into flats and HMOs which are desperately needed by young people? Would she give the House that categoric assurance? Last week, the Home Secretary's lawyers said that the rights of illegal immigrants are more important than the rights of local people in places like Epping.

When this was expressly put in those terms to the Education Secretary yesterday, on the Trevor Phillips program in those words, she shamefully agreed. Those statements are a disgrace. The Home Secretary realise how angry that makes people feel? It speaks of a government not on the side of the people in this country. It means the government appears to care more about the rights of illegal immigrants than our own citizens. So will she apologise for what her lawyers and the Education Secretary said? Would she undertake that ministers and their lawyers will never say that The Home Secretary talks about how returns deal with France.

It has been reported it will only return about 50 people a week. Amounting to 6% of arrivals. She accepts that allowing 94% of illegal arrivals to stay will act as no deterrent at all? Does she accept that? And if she doesn't accept this figure, will she tell the House exactly how many immigrants crossing the channel will in fact be returned under her deal? She may recall that back in July, we were told by the government, the first returns would happen within weeks.

That was back in July. Will she confirm to the health the number that have actually been returned so far is precisely 0. She also spent about a couple of minutes ago, there will be security checks on those people reciprocally taken from France into the UK. But will she confirmed her agreement with France expressly says the French element will not provide UK government with any information at all, any personal data about those migrants, so if there are criminal convictions, suspicions about extremism or terrorism, the French government will not provide information to us and if that is true, as her agreement says, how can you possibly conduct security checks.

The Home Secretary talks about tweaks to family Visa rules. Let me be clear about the oppositionPAT RICHIE: Position on this. Someone enters the country legally, they should not be allowed to bring in any family members. In fact, everybody, entering this country illegally entering this country illegally should be immediately removed to their country of origin, if possible. And if not possible, to a safe third country, such as Rwanda. A scheme which she cancelled just days before it was due to start.

The days before it was due to start. The public expects that approach, an approach which she cancelled because the numbers crossing the channel so far this year have been the worst ever. The worst in history. It is not just the numbers are high, not just the numbers are high, hundreds of migrants living in those hotels have been charged with criminal offences, such as sexual assault on young girls, and multiple rapes. This is not just Border Security Command it is, it is a public safety crisis as.

People across the country are curious, that is why they are protesting and what 75% of the public think this government is failing on asylum and immigration. If this government were serious about fixing this problem, they would know little tweaks here and there are not enough. Tweaks to article 8 are not going to be enough. Tweaking the Family Reunion rules are not enough. Returning, maybe if we are lucky, 50 people a week to France is not going to be enough. Maybe intercepting a few boats, worthy though that is, it is not going to be enough.

The only way these crossings., the only way we are going to get control of our borders back, is that everybody crossing the channel knows they will get the turn. We tabled a bill to do that in Parliament a few weeks ago. We had a plan to do that. The Rwanda bill. We need to go further by this applying the Human Rights Act, not just article 8, the entire Human Rights Act for enriching matters. The government is serious, that is what they will do. I have one last question Home Secretary, if you really want to control our borders and really wants to get down the record numbers that have been crossed on her watch, she would back our plan, to supply the Human Rights Act in its entirety, on immigration matters, and ensure that everything applies across the channel was immediately removed.

-- Every single person that has cropped channel was immediately removed. -- Crossed the channel. channel.
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Yvette Cooper Portrait Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)
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In the 14 years his party was in government, in which they never managed to do any of the fantasy things that he claims. Coming back to the reality, rather than the fantasy rhetoric that he said. He talked about the approach that his previous government was taking before the election. It is worth reminding the House what that approach was. Asylum decisions dropped by 70%. They essentially had a freeze on taking asylum decisions and they were returning those asylum seekers nowhere.

Not to France, not to save countries that people had passed through, not to Rwanda, despite running the scheme for more than two years. Only four volunteers than two years. Only four volunteers went. At a cost of £700 million, that approach left us with a backlog that was soaring. Had we continued with that totally failed approach, not taking asylum decisions, not returning people anywhere, there would have been tens of thousands more people in a style and accommodation, in asylum hotels across the country right now.

That is the kind of chaos that his policies were heading towards and that is the kind of payoff that he is promising again now. We have to remember his personal record where small boat arrivals went up tenfold on his watch, when he was on his watch, when he was immigration minister. And where less than 1,000 asylum seekers were in hotels by the time he became immigration minister, more than 20,000, by the time he left. And his new concern for councils, he was the immigration minister that actually wrote to local authorities to tell them he was stopping the requirement for local authorities to agree to accommodation, saying 'I have instead authorised providers to identify any suitable properties they consider appropriate'.

So, Mr Speaker, we agree with communities across the country, that asylum hotels must all close. I understand as well what councils individually want to take action in their area. I would say to the shadow home secretary, the part that was to be in government should have a proper plan for the whole country. Not just promote a chaotic approach that ends up making it worse in lots of areas. But that actually is there record. The reason we have asylum hotels in the first place because they did no planning, they let the chaos cat out of control, and when the shadow justice minister, when he was immigration minister, is one of the shadow home secretary, brushed around the country, opening hotels instead, instead of taking a practical steady approach and get the heart of the problem, that deduces the asylum system, strengthens Border Security Commander tackles the reforms and appeals causing huge delays.

As a final point, this government strongly believes that sex offenders should be banned from the asylum system altogether. That is why we have put those details into the borders security bill. The bill his party has voted against time and again. Still persisting in at the House of Lords. -- Resisting. A bill that if opposition parties supported us and work with us, we could have or on the statute book, and have no strong powers against the sex offenders, the strong powers, counterterrorism powers, to go after criminal gangs, we could have the stronger powers in place to tackle the offences being committed in the channel and across the country as well.

The trouble is, what the party opposite is doing in opposition is actually an even worse version of what they did in government. Wrapping up the rhetoric with policies that will just make the chaos worse. This government will fix the chaos that we inherited, and strengthen our border security for the sake of the whole country.
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Lisa Smart Portrait Lisa Smart MP (Hazel Grove, Liberal Democrat)
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auto family reunion routes. Cutting beats back further seems counter- productive. Especially when half of those who were granted family those who were granted family reunion visas it with a 25 were reunion visas it with a 25 were children under 18 it is worth government has increased the rate of decisions, those with no right to be decisions, those with no right to be here should be sent back quickly and here should be sent back quickly and those with a valid claim should be able to settle, work, integrate into our communities.

The backlog is too large. Initial decisions are taking large. Initial decisions are taking too long. As the Home Secretary stated, the significant share of the backlog comes from appeals. According to the government's own According to the government's own figures, in 2024, almost half of rejected asylum applications were rejected asylum applications were overturned on appeal. And for applications from high ground countries, the proportion was even higher for welcome clarity from the Home Secretary on how long it is currently taking to process the currently taking to process the average asylum application, and what concrete steps are being taken to ensure that only the cases are processed more swiftly, but that processed more swiftly, but that decisions are right the first time.

So applications are not left in limbo, the courts are not limbo, the courts are not overburdened, taxpayers are footing overburdened, taxpayers are footing the bill for avoidable delays. I welcome the Home Secretary's encouraging comments about a reciprocal agreement with France. Could she confirm whether the government plans for this to be scaled up? And if so, when? Given one of the main drivers for dangerous channel crossings is the absence of safe, legal family reunion routes, does the Home Secretary agree that cutting family reunion rules actually risks making a small boat crisis worse, not better.

The Home Secretary rightly also mentions the impact on local authorities. When individuals leave hotels, many present as homeless, greedy and unsustainable burden on councils, including my own. -- Creating an unsustainable burden. Can she say how she was appalled councils to ensure this crisis is not simply shifting from one overstretched system to another. Constituents have been in touch with me with their concerns over the number of weeks about the number of flags going up on lampposts around the area.

They worry they have been put up by those who seek to devalue our committee, not bring it together for patriotism is a good thing, we should be proud of our country, we should be proud that our country welcomed people like my Nan in the 1930s, when she was fleeing the Nazis. We should be proud of the record we have of doing our bit. We should be proud of the British values and action across my communities every day. I am proud of those police officers who kept everyone safe during the protests at two hotels in my constituency over the summer.

Proud of those teachers and pupils who welcome you classmates when they have been placed in hotels. And I am proud of those who volunteer their time to support new arrivals, whether through local churches or other voluntary groups and charities. Because, Mr Speaker, that is what patriotism looks like.
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Yvette Cooper Portrait Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)
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Can I thank the honourable member for her remarks and questions. What I will say to her is obviously, at the heart of the France pilot we have developed is the principle that those who are arriving on dangerous and illegal small boats should be returned, but we should also have alongside that, in return, the legal route for those who apply and go through proper security checks and we will seek to prioritise as part of that people who have a connection to the UK.

For example, prioritising family groups, people who have family connections to the UK. And family will continue to need to be in underpinning part of the approach. It is, for example, you will recall the Ukrainian families scheme was important part of the response to Ukraine. Add something from opposition Labour Party called for as well. What I will say about the family reunion races we have at the moment is the Abbey and using a very different way compared to five years ago. The way in which the number of people who were applying immediately before they have a job, before have a house, before I have NUAR been up to support their families, and instead, as a result, are increasing the pressures on local authorities, at a time when we need local authorities not just to be able to do their bit to be able to help clear hotels, but also crucially to be able to provide homelessness supporting the local community and that is why making sure that the refugee arrangements around families actually doesn't put that additional pressure on the homelessness system, I think is important.

It is why we will set out reforms and ensure that in the interim, the refugees are included under the existing arrangements that apply to everybody. To all sponsors in the UK family reunion as well. One of the appeals issue, we obviously need to speed it up. The average appeal time 54 weeks, that's 40 long. But also, some appeals, for way longer than that and we have people who are in asylum accommodation for years, with repeated appeals. That is preventing the closure of asylum hotels, at least take place, it is why we need the reforms.

Finally, the issues of flags, I strongly support flags across the country, with the flag we fly at the castle each year, the Union Jack one of the Labour Party's membership card, I will show her a copy if she hasn't seen it as well. But those flags are the embodiment, as I said. The flags are an embodiment, should be a way to bring our country together. That'll be the same for Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The other ways of commerce with symbolism, to bring

**** Possible New Speaker ****

A couple of years ago I was working in local government in working in local government in Scotland had to do with the impact of asylum hotels. The shadow Home Secretary at the time was at the Home Office, and he opened hotel Home Office, and he opened hotel after hotel without even telling councils that that was happening.
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Yvette Cooper Portrait Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)
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This is an issue that the gentleman has taken an interest in. What I would say is that, since he and I started discussing this issue many years ago, the way in which the system has been used has changed and so it has gone from people applying after they had been having protection for a year or two years in the UK to applying in around a month, and that means that those people applying have often not left asylum accommodation or asylum hotels.

They don't have housing, jobs, ways in which to support family members who they seek to bring to the UK, and we've also seen issues around risks that criminal gangs are using and exploiting it. That is why we are temporarily pausing the existing refugee family reunion and will be consulting on what are the new arrangements that should be brought in that we would aim to bring in some of those arrangements by the spring. In the interim, the refugees will be covered by exactly the same rules as everyone else and the same conditions as everyone else through the appendix FM process, there is a concern where there are no conditions at the moment on refugee family reunion.

The way in which it has been used has changed and there is a responsibility on us to not have huge problems on homelessness assistance for local authorities to have a managed system that also supports contributions and doesn't simply and are being exploited by criminal gangs.
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David Lammy Portrait Rt Hon David Lammy MP, Foreign Secretary, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Tottenham, Labour)
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Palestinian territories and Iran.

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In Gaza on the ground, it is unimaginably bleak. Horrified images unimaginably bleak. Horrified images and accounts will be seared into the minds of colleagues across this minds of colleagues across this house. They are almost impossible to put into words. But we can and must be precise with our language. Because on 22 August, the UN backed Because on 22 August, the UN backed IPC mechanism confirmed what we are IPC mechanism confirmed what we are witnessing. Famine. Famine in Gaza witnessing.

Famine. Famine in Gaza city and neighbourhoods across the wider territory. Famine which, wider territory. Famine which, unchecked, could spiral into widespread starvation. This was foreseen. The terrible conclusion of foreseen. The terrible conclusion of the obstacles we have warned about the obstacles we have warned about for over six months. Since 1 July, over 300 people have died from malnutrition including 119 children. malnutrition including 119 children. Over 132,000 children under the age of five are at risk of dying from hunger by June of next year.

This is not a natural disaster but a man- not a natural disaster but a man- made famine. In the 21st-century. And I'm outraged by the Israeli government's refusal to allow insufficient aid. We need a response As a result, in the past three months, over 2000 have been killed trying to feed their families. And Hamas themselves are exploiting chaos themselves. And deliberately starving Israeli hostages for warrant political purposes. I know that these words of condemnation echoed across legislatures all across the world which are not enough.

But be in no doubt we have acted as a country where we can. We restored funding. We suspended arms exports that can be used in Gaza. We signed a landmark agreement with the Palestinian Authority. We stood up for the independence of international courts and delivered three sanction packages on violent settlers and far right Israeli And we are the forefront of the international community's work to plan for a stable, post-conflict peace. We have now provided over 250 million pounds in development assistance over the past two years.

Today we are going further. I can announce an additional 15 million pounds worth of aid and medical care for Gaza and the region. We continue to work alongside regional partners, including Egypt and Jordan, to enable the UN and NGOs to ensure aid reaches those most in need. Brave medics in Gaza tell us that essential medicines are running out and they cannot operate safely. That's why we are funding UK med whose field hospitals treated over 600,000 Gazans.

That's why we are also funding the WHO Egypt to treat thousands of evacuated Gazan people. Meanwhile, as my right honourable friend, the Home Secretary said earlier, we are working with the World Health Organization to get critically ill and injured children into the UK where they will receive special treatment. The first ones are expected to arrive in the UK in the coming weeks. And we are extracting people from a war zone that is complex and dangerous.

It relies entirely on Israeli permissions and I pressed the Israeli government for this to happen as quickly as possible. We are also supporting brilliant students granted FCDO scholarships to escape Gaza so they can take their places for the coming academic year. I recognise that this only touches the edges of this catastrophe. We all know there is only one way out. An immediate cease-fire. An immediate cease-fire that would see the unconditional release by Hamas of all hostages.

An immediate cease-fire that would see a transformation in the delivery of all aid. We know this, our US and European allies know it, our both partners know it too. And I'm working night and day with them to deliver a cease-fire -- goals partners. To make a cease-fire last winning a monitoring mechanism, we need the disarmament of Hamas, we need a new governments framework for Gaza, this is the framework of our diplomacy in the region. In contrast, further military operations in Gaza City will only prolong and deepen this crisis.

Together with our partners we demand an immediate halt to this operation. Each week brings new horrors. Last week's double strike on NASA Hospital, one of Gaza's last remaining major health facilities killed 20 people, including five journalists. I remind Israel once again that international law requires the protection of healthcare workers, journalists and civilians. These actions will not end the war. They will not bring hostages home, let alone make them safer as hostage families have recognised.

They also -- will so despair and anger across the region for generations. In the West Bank, the Israeli government is tightening its stranglehold on the economy and continues to approve a legal settlement construction. Just recently in the E1 area east of Jerusalem. This would erect a physical barrier to the contiguous Palestinian state and it must not Palestinian state and it must not happen. In July, I described before the UN General Assembly our intention to recognise the state of Palestine later this month.

Unless he is really government takes substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza and commits to a long term sustainable peace. This commitment response to the current crisis, but stems from our historic responsibility to the region security, reaching back over a century to the Balfour declaration. As I said last month in New York, I am deeply proud that it was a British Foreign Secretary who helped establish a homeland for the Jewish people. But the same declaration promised that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of the Palestinian people.

Those rights are more under threat then at any point in the past century. To those who say recognition awards Hamas or threatens Israeli security, does neither. Recognition is rooted in the principle of a two-state solution which Hamas rejects. We have been clear that any Palestinian state should be demilitarised. President Abbas has confirmed this in writing. We see no contradiction between the two-state solution and our deep commitment to Israeli security. Because security comes from stable borders, not indefinite occupation.

Before I finish I would also like to update the House on Iran. On 20 August, the UK along with France and Germany triggered the snapback mechanism under the UN Security Council resolution 2231. This means that if no agreement is reached within 30 days, the sanctions that were listed under the Iran nuclear deal, the JCPOA, will come back into force. These wide- ranging sanctions include a full arms embargo and restrictions on its nuclear, missile and drone programme.

This is not a decision we take lightly. For years we have worked with international partners to stop Iran developing a nuclear weapon. The 2015 deal was meant to do just that, but Iran has repeatedly undermined the agreement. Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium is now 40 times over the limit that was set by the JCPOA. Despite this clear escalation, we have made every effort over years of negotiations to bring Ron back to compliance. -- Bring Iran. Lisa continued for several months.

I urge the Prime Minister. In July we offered more time if they would return to negotiations with the US and restore full access to the international atomic energy agency. Last month I warned around that time was short and we would have little choice but to trigger snapback. I regret to inform the House that Iran has not complied with these nor chosen the path of diplomacy. So we have had no choice but to act. I have long been clear that I will not be click -- I will not allow snapback to conspire without a deal.

It will be unacceptable to allow this issue to fall off the UN Security Council agenda despite the threat posed by Iran's nuclear programme. Snapback is not the end of diplomacy, as has been recently underlined. Iran can still meet our conditions, it can restore full access, it can address our concerns about its stockpile of enrichment and return to negotiations come alongside our partners I will continue to urge Iran to choose this path. In the worst of times this government will continue to take all the steps that we can to alleviate suffering, to help bring regional conflict to an end, to create the conditions for long-term peace and security.

We will not rest until there is a cease-fire in Gaza, the hostages are returned, a flood of aid reaches those in desperate need and despite the obstacles before us, we will work with partners to preserve the two-state solution. I commend this statement to the House.
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Priti Patel Portrait Rt Hon Priti Patel MP (Witham, Conservative)
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I call the shadow Foreign Secretary who will have 6 1/2

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minutes. I think the Foreign Secretary for advanced side of the statement today. I express my somebody for the today. I express my somebody for the people of Afghanistan who are suffering from last night's major earthquake -- thank. When it comes earthquake -- thank. When it comes to the Middle East, since this House last met, this awful conflict continues to see lives lost was such an tolerable suffering. Hamas continues to refuse the release of all remaining hostages. Despite the best efforts of those trying to best efforts of those trying to broker peace.

The hostages are now approaching 700 days in captivity. The whole house will have been sickened by the harrowing clip of sickened by the harrowing clip of emaciated hostage released by Hamas over the summer. The humanitarian over the summer. The humanitarian situation in Gaza is dire. We are all familiar with the reports that all familiar with the reports that we have seen on a daily basis on news channels. The inhumane suffering, the recent airstrikes and suffering, the recent airstrikes and the inability to provide food for civilians simply cannot go on.

We civilians simply cannot go on. We all want an urgent and sustainable and to this conflict. The release of the hostages from terrorist the hostages from terrorist captivity and to see aid for the people of Gaza. There are key questions for the British Government to answer. The British Government is in a position to help influence these outcomes, but is it actually leveraging its ability to fully do so? The government's frequent statements have so far not moved the dial closer to a sustainable and to this conflict.

In the Foreign Secretary himself has said, we are not in any position whatsoever to see any alleviation of this horrendous situation. Diplomacy is about putting in the hard yards to find solutions and not just giving statements. I do want to ask the government on three specific points today, is the government taking any new specific action to tighten the screws on Hamas, to put more pressure on them to release the hostages? Should we expect more measures to further degrade Hamas's ability to finance their campaign of terror? And why is the government not leading on international efforts to produce a credible plan to exactly do this? With an agreement from all the key regional partners and players with an interest in peace to see how must leave Gaza.

Secondly, in the Foreign Secretary update the House on precisely where we stand, what Britain is contributing to the efforts by EU and to our regional allies to broker the release of hostages and to an end of the conflict? Are we intimately involved? And are we sending in the UK expertise to help? Because we do have great expertise when it comes to brokering these types of negotiations. Third, while we note his announcement on the support for women and girls yesterday, the government has yet to make essential breakthroughs on aid.

Ministers obviously need to work around the clock with everyone, all our partners, including with the Israelis and multinational institutions to unlock the situation. By coming up with practical solutions, even new solutions, that all sides can focus on when it comes to getting medical and food aid into Gaza. That does have to provide a significant increase in food and medical supplies to reach civilians. While addressing Israeli concerns about aid diversions because those concerns are constant. His UK working with the multilateral bodies to try to meet -- mediate the divisions in the breakdowns of trust that have emerged with the government of Israel? Is the Foreign Secretary considering scheme similar to those we implanted previously by the conservative government, such as floating piers? In working with the US and Cyprus to put in place at the coast of Gaza to get Aiden? We need practical and pragmatic solutions when it comes to getting food and medical supplies into innocent civilians in Gaza.

On Labour's decision to recognise a Palestinian state, the government announces huge shift in British policy just days after the House went into recess. We support a two-state solution that guarantee security for both Israelis and Palestine, but the Foreign Secretary must also no that recognising a Palestinian state in September will not secure the lasting peace we all want to see. Recognition is only meaningful, if it is part of a formal peace process and it should not happen while the hostages are still being held in terrorist captivity and will Hamas's reign of terror continues.

Can the Foreign Secretary explain with his plan to go ahead with the recognition will hostages are still being held and while Hamas who have predictably welcomed and been involved in this move, while they continue to hold onto power in Gaza, how and what practical measures are we posing to remove Hamas from Gaza? The foreign circuitry must realise that recognition will not secure the release of the hostages, nor will it get Aiden to Gaza immediately. -- Aid in. With that we must always consider tools of leverage we have when it comes to future peace process is in negotiations that could help a two-state solution to be established for a peaceful situation in the Middle East.

How will this unilateral action helped to advance the best shot we have of achieving a two-state solution? Which is also the expansion of the Abraham Accords and Saudi normalisation through which we can The appalling behaviour of the Iranians regime has gone on for too long and they have wrought the anticipation of the snapback process among themselves. The Iranian people deserve much better. Conservatives remain clear that the US strikes were necessary. Can the Foreign Secretary confirm whether he believes Iran has the capability and the intention of recommending or recommends in its nuclear programme and whether his assumption is that snap back will be seen through to completion, and finally, can the Foreign Secretary confirm whether or not he welcomes Israel's actions on the hoof action in Yemen, and how we will use this time to degrade the ability to carry out the recent attacks we have seen.
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David Lammy Portrait Rt Hon David Lammy MP, Foreign Secretary, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Tottenham, Labour)
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And grateful to the shadow Foreign Secretary for the tone of her remarks, and please that she agrees with me and the sentiment of the entire house on the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza on humanitarian situation in Gaza on the inhumanity she described. She will recognise that before we came to power, the government was calling for a ceasefire that we all want to see. She asks what the government is doing in relation to Hamas, and can I just say to her that, in New York, when our are partners, with the French and others, we were doing just that, supporting the Prime Minister's framework for peace, working with colleagues to establish the circumstances of the day after.

We have been crystal-clear that there can be no wrong for Hamas. We need the demilitarisation of Gaza and we are working with partners to try to set about the trusteeship, the new governments arrangements with Gaza and no government is doing more than we are. We are working on deliberate day-to-day action because there must be a rule subsequently for the Palestinian Authority. She asks what new solutions might be found on aid, and that is where I depart with the sentiment of what she is saying.

I'm not sure we need new solutions. It is the World Food Programme. They exist. Let us support them. That is why it is this party that restored funding to UNRWA when it was proposed. That is not what feeds women and girls. The mechanisms are there. They work all over the globe. It worked last time when we had a ceasefire. The trucks went up to 600. We can do it once more. That is the position of the UK government.

I spoke to Tom Fletcher at the UN this morning to get the latest. The moderate good news is that truck movements are up in August when we last updated the house and we came to recess in July. 6070 trucks a day is no when a needs to be. The medical situation is dire, and the work that we can do with UK maid is so important Against with UK maid is so important Against The hostages must be released without delay, and there can be no role for Hamas.

She didn't comment on her remarks running a coach and horses through to states. Two states has been a United position of every single party in this chamber. That is why we set out plans that we did towards recognition. Unless we get the breakthrough that we need on the ceasefire and a full process, we will move to recognition when the UN meets in New York. I am grateful for her support on it around and the snapback.

My assessment is that no country meets the percentages of enriched uranium that we see in Iran. We don't have them in our country. We don't have them at sites like Sellafield and others. There is absolutely no need for them. We need a baseline and it is why we need inspectors to come back in where that highly enriched uranium has now gone, and that is why we have been very clear with the Iranians on the need to trigger snapback and we will see ghosts captions come back in the next 30 days.
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Calum Miller Portrait Calum Miller MP (Bicester and Woodstock, Liberal Democrat)
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Thank you. I thank the Foreign Secretary for insight of his statement. I welcome the robust approach of the E3 in administering the process in response to around nuclear ambitions and programme in breach of its undertakings. The Foreign Secretary statement on 21 July shocked this house, and we had a long debate about the situation in Gaza. Yet the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and the West Bank has deteriorated even further since then as he has acknowledged. We have seen hundreds more Palestinians killed while seeking aid.

Famine declared in the strip, a chronic lack of medical supplies attested to by UK medics volunteering in Nasser Hospital. The start of IDF approaches in Gazan start of IDF approaches in Gazan cities, and images of emaciated hostages held by Hamas terrorists. Human suffering is indeed beyond comprehension. Yet the extremists are indifferent. Hamas terrorists publish videos intended to torment the families of hostages. Cabinet members advocate for the forced displacement of Palestinians. In Israel, the hostage families Forum and the opposition parties call for an end to the violence.

In the UK, our constituents are desperate for the same. By decisive actions. Actions which I regret the government has so far failed to take. The Prime Minister was wrong in principle to condition the recognition of Palestine on the actions of the Netanyahu government. And wrong in practice as he has been ignored. So will the Foreign Secretary confirmed today that the UK will recognise Palestine later this month at the UN. The government must learn a lesson and apply relentless pressure to the Netanyahu government.

Lib Dems call on the Foreign Secretary to sanction Prime Minister Netanyahu for expanding his military campaign for the E1 settlement. And to ban the export of arms to Israel including components. We also make reparations to the Qatari government on political headquarters unless they agree to release all of the hostages

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immediately and unconditionally. The Foreign Secretary bemoans that words are not enough to alleviate suffering. He acknowledges alleviate suffering. He acknowledges that the government has failed to that the government has failed to remove one man who could unlock progress. Donald Trump has the power to secure peace in Gaza if he chose to by picking up the phone to Netanyahu. So will the Foreign Secretary tell the house how he will use his special relationship to help use his special relationship to help secure that goal.

And will the secure that goal. And will the government commit to making a ceasefire in Gaza a priority during Trump's state visit?
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David Lammy Portrait Rt Hon David Lammy MP, Foreign Secretary, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Tottenham, Labour)
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Trump's state visit? I'm grateful to the honourable

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I'm grateful to the honourable gentleman for his remarks on Iran particularly, and he is absolutely particularly, and he is absolutely right to place, at the centre, the 15,000 people who have been injured in Gaza simply seeking aid. And the over 2000 that have died seeking aid. It is totally unacceptable. And he is right as well to remind the house about the position of the hostage families. They are crystal- clear that we do not want to see further military endeavour and operation in Gaza city.

What they want is a ceasefire, and they fear that further military endeavour will actually harm their loved ones further, not succeed in bringing them home. He criticises our position. I ask him to reflect on that because it must be right that the government continues to give diplomacy and opportunity as we head to the UN, alongside other parts, and surely he would want us to be working with our French, our Australian, our Canadian partners as we head to that gathering in hunger, and surely, he would want to see the Israelis commit to a ceasefire, commit to a process, end the war, all of that is what we are seeking to do as we make that assessment in the coming months, and of course, I would want to reassure him that of course I raised the issue of Gaza and I have raised this with premised advance earlier in the summer, and I spoke to an envoy in the last 24- hour is to get an update on a fast moving situation of course.

In direct sales are banned to Israel, and he knows that we ban arms that can go to the IDF for use in Gaza.
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David Lammy Portrait Rt Hon David Lammy MP, Foreign Secretary, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Tottenham, Labour)
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Well, I cannot comment on assumptions from Dispatch Box. -- On sanctions from Dispatch Box. But I know my honourable friend has campaigned long in his constituency before on the issue of recognition, so I am grateful for his statements in relation to that. And I recognised that the situation I outlined, the situation that I was updated from by Tom Fletcher this morning, is horrendous and it is why we have to work collectively with other partners and be back in the region to see what more we can do.

region to see what more we can do. Not really be difficult. We can, as I do, passionately support Israel's right to exist securely and in peace, we must call for the release of hostages without any strings attached, demand the exclusion of Hamas from a post-conflict settlement, and at the same time, we must say, the shooting and starving must say, the shooting and starving of innocent civilians in Gaza is nothing other than utterly and totally fundamentally evil. There can be no other word for it, so why does this government still failed to does this government still failed to sanction Benjamin Netanyahu and his entire cabinet? entire cabinet? I hear the strengths of passion from the right honourable gentleman, but let me say to him that I would urge him to look closely at our sanctions policy, and he will struggle to find any other struggle to find any other struggle to find any other World, we have had three packets of sanctions just in the last year, two from government, France I don't think Yet sanctioned government, so we have done a considerable amount.
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John Healey Portrait Rt Hon John Healey MP, The Secretary of State for Defence (Rawmarsh and Conisbrough, Labour)
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I begin I would like to inform the House that yesterday we secured a £10 billion contract to supply Norway with at least 526 frigates. Norway with at least 526 frigates. This is the biggest warship deal in This is the biggest warship deal in our history. It strengthens NATO and out northern flank. It supports 4000 out northern flank. It supports 4000 British jobs, and 400 British British jobs, and 400 British businesses for years to come. It is showing that this government is showing that this government is making defence and engine for growth across the regions and nations.

Turning to Ukraine, a few days ago Ukrainians around the world came Ukrainians around the world came together to mark a special day. 34 years of their country's independence. 34 years as a proud independence. 34 years as a proud and sovereign nation. Ukrainians continue to fight for that freedom with huge courage, military and with huge courage, military and civilians alike, 3 1/2 years on from the start of Putin's brutal full- the start of Putin's brutal full- scale invasion. A secure Europe needs a strong Ukraine.

Their freedom is our freedom, their values are our values, and this is why UK stands with Ukraine, and this is why this House stands united for Ukraine. When Ukraine marks their next Independence Day, will hope to see them celebrate in a time of peace not in a time of war. Over the summer UK with our allies have been working hard to make that hope a reality. The Prime Minister hosted President Zelensky in London, he chaired various coalition of the willing meetings with President Macron and a joint European leaders with President Zelensky to meet President Trump in Washington DC.

I have spoken with defence ministers across the coalition about stepping up military support and about securing a piece after any deal. Our military leaders have met multiple times to strengthen international contributions to the coalition, also known now as the multinational force. We welcome President Trump's dedication to bringing this terrible war to an end. We strongly welcome his commitment to make security guarantees as he says very secure guarantees as he says very secure with Europeans. At every stage, President Zelensky continues to support for a full unconditional ceasefire and talks on a lasting peace.

And yet Putin's response has been to launch some of the largest attacks on Ukraine the start of the war. During last week's onslaught on war. During last week's onslaught on Kyiv, at least 23 people were killed, four of whom were children, including a two year old. An attack on the British Council was an outrage. A Russian missile fired into a civilian area as part of an illegal war damaging a British government building and injuring a civilian worker. Now it appears that Putin is refusing a meeting with President Trump and President Zelensky.

So while Ukraine wants peace, Putin wages war. President Trump is right, we must continue pushing for peace as well as increasing pressure on Putin to come to the table. So we support measures to disrupt Russian oil revenues, and we welcome President Trump's comments that he is weighing very serious economic sanctions on Russia. And the Foreign Secretary will have more to say on similar UK will have more to say on similar UK action soon. On the battlefield, intense fighting continues along the front line.

While Russian military activity has reduced in some areas as Russian ground forces eliminate elements of those forces, over the past TEA weeks they have advanced in the northern Donetsk region. Russian forces are using a variety of methods to infiltrate Ukrainian positions. But Putin continues only to make minor territorial gains, and at a huge cost. The most recent assessment of the UK defence intelligence estimates that, at the current pace, since January, it would take Russia and other 4.4 years to seize the Donbas.

At a cost of almost 2 million more Russian casualties. Despite this, increasing escalation of Russia's devastating drone strikes is a serious concern. In July, Russia launched approximately 6200 one-way attack drones into Ukraine. Another monthly record. In one night alone, over this weekend, Russia launched nearly 540 drones and 45 missiles. The UK government is stepping up our efforts for Ukraine, and our priorities are simple. Support the fight today, secure the peace tomorrow. On support for the fight today, we are providing £4.5 billion in military a for Ukraine this year, the highest ever level.

The last Ukraine defence contact meeting, with over 50 nations and partners in July launched a 50 day drive to accelerate the assistance we are giving. 50 days on, it has delivered to Ukraine nearly 5 million rounds of munitions, around 6000 artillery shells rockets and missiles, 2500 unapproved platforms, 30 vehicles and engineering equipment and 200 electronic warfare aim defence systems. We will not jeopardise the peace by forgetting about the war. Next week I will also co-chair the 30th you meeting alongside secretary general Mark Rutte and 50 other allies and partners.

I will host an E5 Defence Minister summit in London where we will be joined by Ukrainian defence minister. Together we will step up still further our support for Ukraine. To secure the peace tomorrow, the UK continues with the French to lead coalition of the French to lead coalition of the willing. 200 military planners from more than 30 nations have helped design plans in the event of a ceasefire. Plans to secure the skies and seas, and to train Ukrainian forces to defend the nation.

This week, I will host defence ministers from across the coalition with a French minister, to further cement contributions to the coalition. And for the Armed Forces, I am reviewing readiness levels and exhilarating funding to prepare for any possible deployment. Peace is possible, and we will be ready. The Prime Minister and I will ensure that the House is fully informed of developments in the proper way. May I take this opportunity today to pay tribute to one of the driving figures of the coalition of the willing, Admiral coalition of the willing, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin? His last day as chief of the UK Defence staff is today.

He has had a distinguished 35 year military career in the armed forces serving in operations right across the globe. He is widely respected, and is a true friend of the Ukrainian people, as President Zelensky himself said last week. I'm sure everyone in the House will join me in thanking Tony for his outstanding service, and wish every success to his successor. Let me end by saying that while President Putin likes to project strength, he is now weaker than ever.

Since Putin launched his illegal invasion, he has not achieved any of his strategic aims. He is lost more than 10,000 tanks and armoured vehicles, and his Black Sea Fleet has been related. He is forced to rely on states like Iran for drones, North Korea for frontline troops, and China for technology opponents. He is using 40% of this total government spending on the war. With interest rates now running at 18%, and inflation at 9%. Moreover, Putin now faces a bigger NATO, 32 nations strong, with an agreement to raise national spending on security to 5% by 2035.

Any faces Ukraine more determined than ever to control its own future. He secure Europe needs a strong sovereign Ukraine. And we in the UK will stand with Ukraine for

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as long as it takes. I call the shadow defence secretary of state.

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secretary of state. Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. I am grateful to the Secretary of State for advanced sight of his State for advanced sight of his statement. Can I join him in paying tribute to the outgoing Chief of the tribute to the outgoing Chief of the Defence Staff who, as he says, has given such impactful leadership on support for Ukraine. I also send my
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James Cartlidge Portrait James Cartlidge MP (South Suffolk, Conservative)
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support for Ukraine. I also send my best wishes to his successor, was a privilege to work with both the MoD. Turning to Ukraine, it is being widely reported that in his speech to the Shanghai corporations summit today, Mr Putin said " The understandings reached the meetings with President Trump and Ilasco were opening the way to peace in Ukraine. " How utterly cynical. What followed the summit in Alaska was not peace but the brutal bombing of innocent civilians across Ukraine.

In particular, just days ago, Putin unleashed the second largest aerial attack the whole war killing at least 23 people, and as the Secretary of State confirmed, including four children. And of course bomb damage included the British Council in Kyiv. We joined the government in Otley condemning the attack on the British Council and pay tribute to all their staff saying their part in our national endeavour to support Ukraine and pass on our best wishes to the member of staff injured in the attack.

We know the Chief Executive of the British Council Scott McDonald promised to continue operations whenever possible. The the Secretary of State outlined what degree this has been achieved will support the government has provided to assist? If Putin really wants to open the way to peace in Ukraine as he says, he should recognise the blame for this war lie squarely with his territorial ambitions. And all the civilian and military bloodshed continues wholly as a result of his illegal invasion. The reality is Putin does not accept this basic fact.

In his speech today, Putin is also widely quoted as blaming others for the war. In particular his long-standing refrain that the war was caused by "The West's constant attempts to drag Ukraine into NATO. " Without ambiguity, we and all our allies must see that the war in Ukraine is a question of a free and sovereign democracy invaded without provocation by a bullying dictator. That is why when we were in office it was right to provide such strong support to Ukraine from the outset of the invasion, before it commenced, while opposition we stand shoulder to shoulder with the government in continuing that policy.

And that is why we need to keep tightening the screws on Putin. Moscow should be denied safe harbours for its tankers profits. In Europe should ban Russian oil and gas sooner its current 2027 deadline. The Euro-Atlantic alliance must lead pincer movement to constrain Russia's energy measures and stop eating tandem equipment. I'm glad the Foreign Secretary will have more to say on sanctions very soon. Can you confirm if the timeline is directly linked to US action? Would the UK go ahead with those plans for tougher sanctions the US for some reason did not? On any potential end to the fighting, we desperately want to see peace in Ukraine.

We are clear this must be a lasting sustainable peace and that is why security guarantees are so important. Secretary of state referred to President Trump's commitment to make security guarantees and he quoted "Very secure" with the Europeans. What further detail can share the likely shape of such security guarantees? On the coalition of the willing, he states this would secure the skies and seas. This seems to miss out the Landfall element. Does this mean the army would only be sent to Ukraine training? He says readiness levels are being reviewed and funding accelerated for any possible deployment on funding.

Does he expect that to come from the Treasury reserve or from existing budget? And on reviewing readiness, what is the timescale of the review and as yet at the stage where urgent operational requirements are being considered? Finally, I strongly welcome the news that Norway has beans selecting Scotland for its new fleet. This has been many years in the making. Significant input and progress under the previous government. In December 2023, I myself had the pleasure to visit the Norwegian MoD in Oslo and I can assure the House that this was very much the top of the agenda.

That was in the same week that we announce that Britain and Norway would lead the maritime coalition support of Ukraine's Navy, underlining the strength of our joint commitment Ukraine. It is clear that a key reason for Norway's decision as they face the same Russian threat as we do from Russian submarines, and they want the best possible capability to respond maximising interoperability with the Royal Navy. Russian threat arises entirely because of Putin's policy of aggression rather than peace. Until the situation changes, in reality, rather than rhetoric, we must continue to be robust doing anything possible to support Ukraine.

Ukraine.
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John Healey Portrait Rt Hon John Healey MP, The Secretary of State for Defence (Rawmarsh and Conisbrough, Labour)
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I welcome his endorsement of the success in securing the Norway deal, there were certainly glad work done by the last government, and he did a lot of act as defence procurement minister but we have a great deal more to do when we took over in July last year, frankly, but had to reboot the campaign, which we did. reboot the campaign, which we did. And I'm grateful we have secured it. It has any huge military, economic and strategic importance.

Can I say I welcome also is continuing support for the action we are taking to support Ukraine. He is absolutely right to call out Putin's remarks at the Shanghai cooperation Council. The pressure is now on Putin, to prove he wants peace, to do what he says he wants. And while he has sat down to discuss peace with President Donald Trump in Alaska, he has been turning up in the tax, of course, on Ukraine. He launched this war, he could stop the war tomorrow if he chooses.

Madame Deputy Speaker, the right honourable gentleman asks about sanctions. He encourages us to take the steps further, he will know we have introduced already 500 new sanctions against individuals, entities, and ships. Section 289 vessels, as part of the Russian shadow fleet, very soon, the Foreign Secretary will announce further UK steps. On the security guarantees, the commitments we have secured already from many of those involved in the discussion are substantial. The discussions continue, we look for contributions would be further confirmed.

Much of the shape of the employment of the coalition will depend on the terms of any piece agreement. And at this stage, I certainly won't want to offer any more public details on that because that would only reinforce Putin's hand and make him add the Russians wiser.
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Helen Maguire Portrait Helen Maguire MP (Epsom and Ewell, Liberal Democrat)
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I thank the Defence Secretary for advanced sight of his statements. I would also like to join others in house today in thanking the Admiral for his service and wish him well on his next steps. I was pleased to see the Prime Minister join fellow leaders in Washington last month, standing shoulder to shoulder with President Zelensky, and with President Trump's for the appeasement of Branimir Putin in Alaska, I still feel that Trump would prefer to secure a quick and easy, for Ukraine, rather than secure peace which means just for Ukraine, and sovereignty against Russian aggression.

That is why the government needs to continue to lead from the front but take European partners with us, need to bolster Ukraine's defence and punish Putin. In that vein, Secretary of State updates the House or what progress, if any, has been made in season. And what difference has been made, but what use the assets could be used to support the rebuilding of Ukraine. We also must be tightening the screws on Putin's war chest. I welcome the new £10 billion contract with Norway at the business, jobs and businesses it will support in the UK.

This threatens the need to work with Northern European allies in their fight against Russia. I am pleased the government has taken steps to further reduce the Kremlin profits, but this must be accompanied by more work to crack down on Russia's shadow fleet as it continues to trade and transport oils sold above the price cap. But will the Secretary of State commit to expanding the U.K.'s designation of vessels on the chassis, including those already censured by the EU, Canada, and the US, and will he seek reciprocal designations from those partners? As we reach critical moments in negotiations, we need to be taking all the steps we can to provide Ukraine with the leverage and military material it needs.

The Secretary of State considered sending it for use by Ukrainian Air Force? Force?
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John Healey Portrait Rt Hon John Healey MP, The Secretary of State for Defence (Rawmarsh and Conisbrough, Labour)
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I welcome her strong focus for the need for further economic pressure on Putin and Russia. She will recognise the UK is out ahead of many countries in the number of vessels we have now sanctioned, as part of the Russian shadow fleet. I say to her, we are always ready to take further steps to do that. And I hope that she will see from the Foreign Secretary very soon the UK determination to go further still from economic pressure and odd sanctions.

She invites me to offer an update on the progress on use of seized assets. I am unable to do that, but she will know that this is not just a matter, if this will be effective for a UK decision, the detailed work that is still being discussed with other key allies does continue. We recognise the potential of being able to use the seized assets from Russia, to help rebuild and support Ukraine, that is something we are working on.

She urges us to lead European allies. I think it is not unreasonable to say that is exactly what we are doing. that is exactly what we are doing. Not with the highest military aid ever, but that we have stepped up now to lead the UNCG and I will Chair the meeting, next week. And we have stepped in with the French, by leading the coalition of the willing. More than 50 nations, part of the discussions about planning for Ukraine's long-term future.

And I will host meetings this week to discuss that further, but one point, for the honourable lady and this House, often seen as the European coalition of the willing, or the European UDC G, these are quotations of nations that go well beyond Europe. And I was in Japan last week. So, the Prime Minister of Japan has joined the discussions for the coalition of the willing. And some of the most stormwater some of the most stormwater Since the start of the invasion, steadfast supporters of Ukraine from other parts of the world, from Australia, Japan, to New Zealand, to Korea, and it signals for Putin, not just that Europe stands steadfast with Ukraine, in challenging and confronting his aggression but we confronting his aggression but we see this as a security matter in the Euro Pacific, but in the Indo- Pacific as well.

Pacific as well.
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John Healey Portrait Rt Hon John Healey MP, The Secretary of State for Defence (Rawmarsh and Conisbrough, Labour)
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There is indeed nothing that Putin can do to deter us in support for Ukraine. Our support while it fights but our preparation for the moment of peace that we hope will come. He invites me to set out how we are developing that, we've had multiple meetings of our military leaders and planners over the summer through the coalition of the willing. I will host this week a meeting of defence ministers of the coalition of the willing, that will be designed to make sure that we maintain our military plans but also that we step up the commitments to contribute at the point at which we can get a peace agreement in place and that there will be a role for countries like ours to support Ukraine securing that piece for the long-term and regenerating their own Armed Forces to deter Russia in the Can I thank the Secretary of State for his statement this evening.

We now come to the Select Committee statement on behalf of the Joint Committee on Human Rights. Alex Sobel will speak up to 10 minutes during which no interventions will during which no interventions will be taken. At the conclusion of this statement I will call members to ask questions on the subject of the statement which must be brief statement which must be brief questions not speeches. I emphasise that questions should be directed to the Select Committee member and not the Select Committee member and not to the government frontbench.

Front Benches may take part in questioning. I call Alex Sobel.
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Alex Sobel Portrait Alex Sobel MP (Leeds Central and Headingley, Labour )
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I was thinking maybe I would have a quiet day on the first day back after recess but I've been in the chamber now for six hours and 20 minutes. Clearly working hard for my constituency again and working hard on behalf of the joint committee of human rights who I give the statement on the second report of this session on transnational repression in the UK. We the committee believe that transnational repression is a serious and under recognised threat. The report argues its impact far beyond those directly targeted creating a broader chilling effect on entire communities undermining fundamental rights such as freedom of expression and The committee received credible evidence that a number of states engage in actions of transnational repression on UK soil.

The report highlights China, Russia and Iran as the three most flagrant transnational repression perpetrators within the United Kingdom. Transnational repression is generally understood to refer to certain state directed crimes or actions against individuals that take place outside the territory of the perpetrating state. Transnational repression can take many forms including harassment, online disinformation campaigns, surveillance, stalking and physical violence. This in addition to threats to family members attempts to force individuals to return to their country of origin and assassination attempt. The committee launched an enquiry to respond to increasing risk to foreign governments moving beyond their borders to persecute people here in the United Kingdom.

In the last year the number of state threat investigations run by MI5 has increased by 48%. There have been several recent high-profile transnational repression cases including the issuance of bounties against Hong Kong pro-democracy activists and Iran's, MI5 encodes With many cases relating to Iran since the start of 2022. The government has also set out strategic framework to address transnational repression following a review of the U.K.'s transnational repression approach by Defending Democracy Taskforce. The committee received 181 written evidence of missions, 91 of which we were able to publish.

Many submissions from people with personal experience of transnational repression the committee was held for oral sessions will be heard from legal experts, academics, Human Rights Act shirts, journalists and most importantly the victims of transnational repression themselves. I express my gratitude to all those who confidence their enquiry and their bravery for coming forward particularly those victims who put themselves a personal risk coming and appearing in public There is currently no universally accepted definition of transnational repression and the UK government has chosen not to adopt formal definition of transnational repression, opting instead to describe it as, certain current state directed crimes against individuals.

However without a clear definition of what constitutes transnational repression is difficult to claim reliable data on the scale and nature of transnational repression activities will top it appears the Home Office does not collect or require police forces to collect data on transnational repression incident taking place in UK full stop the report recommends the government does adopt a formal definition of transnational repression and establishes data collection monitoring mechanisms. The committee report welcomes introduction of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme first as a tool to help strengthen the U.K.'s ability to tackle it.

The designation of Iran and Russia's countries listed on the enhanced Tia at first was consistent with evidence resented the committee regarding the threat posed of transnational repression operating from these states. The report argues that China's admission in the enhanced Tia risks undermining the credibility and recommend that China Looking to support for victims, transnational repression victims but overall the response has been inconsistent. Many affected individuals describe limited awareness of transnational repression and lack of clear referral pathways. Some victims had even been advised to avoid political activity or self censor what others have been incorrectly referred to hate crimes or diversity and equality officers.

Counterterrorism policing and the knowledge of policing have launched guidance on foreign interference and the powers introduced in National Security Act. This trend is now available for all 45 territorial police forces in the UK, however this is only mandatory counterterrorism officers. The report recommends the serious consideration should be given to making transnational repression training mandatory for all police officers. At present, victims of transnational repression advised report incidents through stand policing channels for instance calling 909 or 101 or by attending their local police station.

However victims felt that early signs of transnational repression could be effectively identified through dedicated helpline where people had training to recognise and respond to transnational repression dress appropriately. The report recommends that government establish a reporting hotline for transnational repression victims. Regarding diplomatic policy the FCDO tools to target transnational repression are largely in line with those used to address other foreign national policy challenges, issuing a demarche, terminating privileges and immunities in addition to producing office, official or ministerial counteract denied visas, imposing sections asking for diplomatic withdrawal or expelled.

The global human rights actions regulations 2020 if this active state that powers to digs and eight individual for the purpose of fixing sections on them. This active state has to consider the designations appropriate and have reasonable grounds for the person being involved in serious violation of persons right to life. Subject to torture or cruel inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment of right to be free from slavery. Activities in the UK are carried out by someone who is not a UK national, they are covered.

Some contact may fall under the human rights actions regulation 2020, amounts to serious regulation to the right to not be tortured. Much transnational repression conduct including even violence, intimidation harassment, legal deportation, abductions and abuse would fall outside the scope of the regulations. Therefore the committee recommends that the government review the scope of the UK sanctions framework to assess the feasibility of introducing specific transnational repression sanctions. The UK should also adopt a more proactive approach sanctions clicking cases where UK national residents are directly affected.

The report also recommends UK should ensure diplomatic responses such as the expulsion of officials, public emotions and the imposition of sections are not only available in principle but actively and visibly deployed in response to serious incidents and recommend this report to the House. to the House.
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David Mundell Portrait Rt Hon David Mundell MP (Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale, Conservative)
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petition. David Mandel. Thank you. And I rise to present a petition on behalf of constituents a petition on behalf of constituents who are users of the Bank of Scotland more for branch. Earlier this year, out of the blue, the Bank of Scotland announced the closure of all five of its branches in my constituency, along with many others across Scotland, leading in my view to them giving up on rural to them giving up on rural communities. Offer was particularly effective because of its geography being some 23 miles from the next nearest branch in Dumfries, having a high elderly and vulnerable population, being a tourist trap town attracting many visitors and a large number of businesses who rely on cash.

The petition therefore declares that the residents of Moffat and other Annandale and visitors to the area would be left without banking services and access to cash by the proposed closure of the local bank of Scotland branch in Mulford. Thereby causing significant concern and worry the local community, particularly the elderly and vulnerable and local businesses, particularly in the hospitality industry who rely on these packing services and access to cash. Further that the petition organised locally by Evelyn Atkins calling on the Bank of Scotland to reverse the closure decision has garnered over 3,000 signatures from the local community and visitors to the town.

The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the government to consider the concerns of the petitioners and take immediate action to: The Bank of Scotland to keep its Moffat branch open and to ensure the residents of Moffat and other Annandale have proper access to cash and banking facilities. The petitioners remain

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Petition, Petition, bank Petition, bank facilities Petition, bank facilities in

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Moffat. I beg to move that this House do now adjourn.

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now adjourn. The question is that this House do now adjourn. Kirsteen Sullivan.
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Kirsteen Sullivan Portrait Kirsteen Sullivan MP (Bathgate and Linlithgow, Labour )
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do now adjourn. Kirsteen Sullivan. Thank you. And thank you to the

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Thank you. And thank you to the Minister for her time, attention to the subject of this debate this evening. On the first of this debate this evening. On 1 October 1942, an unmarked Japanese freighter called the Lisbon Maru was carrying over 1,800 British and Allied prisoners of war. Hundreds of them from the Royal Scots regiments. The prisoners had been captured after the fall of Hong Kong and were destined for determinant in Japan. Conditions for prisoners on the ship and many freighters like it were brutal and unsanitary.

They became known as hell ships due to the suffering of those on board. For many, including the freighter, this was the final voyage. On that day, the Lisbon Maru was torpedoed by a submarine in the East China Sea. Whilst the Japanese troops on board the vessel were evacuated, -- troops, the prisoners of war were locked in the ship's hold. As the vessel sank, many were trapped. And those who escaped were shot by the remaining guards on board or from nearby Japanese vessels.

Many others were gunned down in the water as they desperately try to survive. But amid this horror, a glimmer of humanity emerged. Chinese fishermen from nearby islands risked their lives to rescue hundreds of survivors and gave them shelter in their homes. Their efforts speak to a spirit that we know well. One that reminds us of our own Dunkirk evacuations. Showing common humanity in the face of unimaginable horror. Now this tragedy was not known to me until this year when a constituent reached out.

For Gerry, his father John and uncle Eddie's extraordinary experience on board the Lisbon Maru and their miraculous survival was a story he needed to share. Unfortunately, John and Eddie were recaptured and imprisoned for the remainder of the war. But they finally returned home, unlike so

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Can I commend the honourable lady

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Can I commend the honourable lady for bringing this forward, she puts forward her story with so much passion and interest and we can congratulate Taiyo-O on that. I congratulate Taiyo-O on that. I again remember and pay tribute to again remember and pay tribute to the victory over Japan, last week I went to an event to commemorate it. It's a very timely debate and I pay tribute to the honourable lady for tribute to the honourable lady for her passion in establishing this. I support her in this as she tries to support her in this as she tries to achieve that goal, does she not agree that the tragedy resulting in the deaths of over 800 prisoners from Scotland make a memorial seem appropriate understanding the loss appropriate understanding the loss to families throughout Scotland that took place on the sinking of the took place on the sinking of the Lisbon Maru and it's appropriate to do something?

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do something? I thank the honourable member for Strangford for his intervention and Strangford for his intervention and its very important point and one that I will come on to make but wholeheartedly agree with the wholeheartedly agree with the sentiment. Jerry wrote to me in a plea to shine a light on the tragedy plea to shine a light on the tragedy which impacted many families when the Lisbon Maru stunk I spoke to Jerry last week in my office and the message that he wanted me to convey this evening is the timeless message this evening is the timeless message that even during the horrors of war, the actions of the Chinese fishermen exemplify the human instinct to reach out and to help your fellow human beings.

I know that many who experience conflict, particularly in the Pacific theatre they meant never felt able to share their stories. Yet each town and village in this country will have it sewn relationship with conflict and loss to remember. Honouring the history and the conflicts that have often defined it is something I believe written has done well over the years. The dedication of the Commonwealth War grave commission and the monuments that we wrecked our powerful legacy to the sacrifices made and lives cut short.

However it is also a promise that whenever one dies in conflict around the globe they will be remembered back home for their heroism, their service and the legacy that they leave. leave.

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I thank my honourable friend from Bathgate and go for this debate tonight. A few days ago in my office I met relatives of people who died I met relatives of people who died on the Suez Maru which was lost in on the Suez Maru which was lost in very similar circumstances, around 550 prisoners of war on it. A great number of whom were machine-gunned in the water by members of the in the water by members of the Imperial Japanese Navy.

The people I met the relatives their fight wasn't for a memorial, it was for an answer from the government about why a warcrimes trial didn't take place. It's really all these years later it's a really emotive subject for it's a really emotive subject for them. One of the relatives was crying in my office. Really a reminder that although years have passed, that ship was lost in 1943, the people can still be quite raw and quite emotional and it's right

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that we remember these losses.. I thank my honourable friend the

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I thank my honourable friend the Member for Edinburgh South West for raising that really powerful and important point. People didn't come important point. People didn't come home from war and people came home from war changed, not the same from war changed, not the same person who left. I think we them a debt of gratitude and we are it to them to deliver for the sacrifices they made and the legacy they have left for us in securing our freedom. left for us in securing our freedom.

For the servicemen who died in the tragedy of the Lisbon Maru including the 373 Royal Scots who perished, their deaths are a reminder of the historic contribution Scotland made to the war effort. One months from now will be the 83rd anniversary of this tragedy but the commemorations this year have already begun. A few months ago Jerry and several relatives of those who were prisoners of war attended a ceremony of a new memorial on Qingbang Island south-east of Shanghai.

It's greatly welcome that their plight and story is recognised around the world. However it is important that we remember it at home as well. The

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national... I commend the honourable lady on

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I commend the honourable lady on bringing forward this debate and the fact that we were able to have a VJ fact that we were able to have a VJ specific debate in this House specific debate in this House because I think one of the issues is that these events in the Far East are not as well-known as they should are not as well-known as they should be, some of the horrors that happened there I wasn't aware of this specific incident until I previously heard the honourable lady previously heard the honourable lady mention it.

So I very much commend mention it. So I very much commend her but does he agree that we must continue to bring out all the facts continue to bring out all the facts and the events of the Far East where Scotland played a particular role so that people understand the

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contribution and sacrifices that were made? I would like to thank the other

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I would like to thank the other woman before the point that he made and he's made it very well. Indeed and he's made it very well. Indeed my own grandfather served in Burma and is a story not really known in and is a story not really known in our family. It was a story not told our family. It was a story not told at the time. I do think it's important that we bring the stories into the light and we hear about the sacrifices that are quite unimaginable to many people of our generations.

It's important that generations. It's important that

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those continue to be told. The National Memorial Arboretum

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The National Memorial Arboretum has a dedicated memorial to the Lisbon Maru tragedy and it hosts a Lisbon Maru tragedy and it hosts a ceremony every year for which I know the relatives and country are grateful. People have memorials in grateful. People have memorials in their communities to commemorate the personal loss of war, and provide a personal loss of war, and provide a focal point for remembrance. In a detached and inhumane conflict which seems far away the consequences of seems far away the consequences of felt by the empty seats around the dinner table at home.

From the dinner table at home. From the conflict of the Second World War the world developed humanity in law and a more humane treatment of prisoners which has underpinned our international community for decades. It is important that we commit ourselves to learn these lessons and as we heard throughout this evening, as we heard throughout this evening, that we continuously strive to win that we continuously strive to win the peace. The best way to remind ourselves and teach our young people ourselves and teach our young people is to show that tragedies of war are universal and felt everywhere.

A new universal and felt everywhere. A new memorial to the Lisbon Maru would be an excellent place to learn just that, the bravery of those men who suffered as prisoners of war, the bravery of the fishermen, also the horrors of war that must not be repeated. My constituency is no stranger to powerful morals, the Bathgate hosts a memorial to those who died in the Korean War in the 1950s, and it's a beautiful, peaceful and sobering place to reflect on those killed, captured reflect on those killed, captured and maimed very far from home.

Its presence encourages us to spark conversations with new generations about the lessons of the past and the sacrifices that were made for their future. My honourable friend the Minister for Veterans' Affairs and has been a welcome advocate in my constituency not just with the new guarantee from this government but personal support for local memorial to women in wartime working in hazardous conditions and munitions factories. The dedicated work of Gerry and the Lisbon Maru Memorial Association will ensure that the legacy lives on.

I asked the Minister this evening to consider supporting a new national memorial closer to home for the families of the Royal Scots, for those who survived, those who died and their rescuers. A memorial in Scotland will provide a space for families like cherries to share their stories and remember together. Finally, I'm going to end by thanking Gerry for sharing his family's personal story with me. A story of two young men far from home facing inconceivable horrors. And for allowing me to record it in this place.



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Thank you, can I begin by
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Kirsty McNeill Portrait Oral questions: Work and Pensions Kirsty McNeill MP, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Midlothian, Labour )
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Thank you, can I begin by And securing this debate on the potential merits of government support for a memorial to the Lisbon support for a memorial to the Lisbon Maru and can I congratulate her in particular for the very moving and evocative way that she told the story of this tragedy and of the shared humanity exhibited by those shared humanity exhibited by those who came to the rescue. Let me also put on record her tribute to her constituency my constituent Gerry constituency my constituent Gerry for recording their family story must've been painful but it was so incredible important also thank the incredible important also thank the incredible important also thank the members who spoke to this debate and members who spoke to this debate and also the wonderful members who have stated listen to it this evening.

I want to begin by own reflections by acknowledging and honouring the service and suffering of British and service and suffering of British and Commonwealth prisoners of war in the Pacific theatre during the Second World War. As we heard today this World War. As we heard today this issue has impacted many lives very deeply. Including the families of the many Scottish servicemen who tragically lost their lives, and as tragically lost their lives, and as the honourable member for Bathgate and Linlithgow has said, every constituency has a story to tell.

It's right that we remember all those who died, those who suffered appalling injuries and who were tortured and imprisoned during the conflict. It's right that we thank conflict. It's right that we thank them and us right that we recognise that they suffered deeply for our shared freedoms. Recently I had the privilege of representing the UK government at the VJ Day service at the Edinburgh Castle organised by the Royal British Legion Scotland and I was deeply moved then to spend time with families recounting the stories of their own loved ones who served in World War II and I will never forget the stories they told and the lessons they imparted on the power of forgiveness, on service and on sacrifice.

Similarly the Secretary of State for Scotland met with World War II veterans during To the Poppy factory for VE day. Both of those significant national occasions are reminders of the price paid for our freedoms and they both highlight the importance of standing alongside our allies, particularly as we heard earlier from the Secretary of State for defence and continuing our support for Ukraine. The UK will always support Ukraine's sovereignty, freedom and rights peace. That is something I have to reflect on personally, I attended the first anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine at the Royal Edinburgh Castle that honours all Scottish service personnel who have died in the service of their country Of Scotland's long-standing contribution to U.K.'s national defence was not Scots in the Armed Forces, their families and communities are rightly proud of Scotland's deep-rooted military history.

The Scots have a very long tradition of defending U.K.'s interests around the world. Beyond remembering our fallen heroes we have a duty to ensure that veterans and their families today receive the support and care they deserve no matter where they live in the UK. That's why this covenant has taken significant steps to deliver on our promise to renew the nation's contract with those who serve and who have served. I'm proud this government launched valour a transformative initiative backed by £50 million commitment to veteran support.

We also launched a £75 million LGBT financial redress scheme. We are hoping helping veterans thrive in their post service careers providing them with opportunities to succeed in the civilian workforce. On to the specific subject of today's debate. UK government deeply regrets the loss of life which occurred on the Lisbon Maru and the resulting distress caused by the decision not to pursue a case against those involved. The government of Japan And And showing And showing contrition And showing contrition for And showing contrition for its wartime action over the last seven decades including past by ministers and emperors.

Since the Second World War the UK and Japan have continued to work hard to promote shared democratic values and respect for human rights in the hope that we will never ever see a repeat of these events anywhere in the world. I saw this closeness of our modern partnership when I visit Japan the last month. There is at the honourable lady mentioned rightly a memorial located in Staffordshire which commemorates all those were taken captive and perished. Now every year on October 2 there is an annual gathering at the memorial to remember and honour those who are affected by this tragedy.

I would also like to take the opportunity to pay tribute to the Lisbon Maru MORI Association for their own dedicated work in preserving the history of the event surrounding the sinking of the Lisbon Maru and honouring those. As heritage the default policy in Scotland, any funding of such memorials remains the preserve of public subscription delivered by individuals and organisations. I therefore encourage the Scottish government could consider how it can best support efforts for those affected by the tragic events ensuring that the memory of the 183 servicemen who lost their lives is truly honoured.

I know that my truly honoured. I know that my honourable friend Minister for Veterans' Affairs people engaged relatively with the Scottish veterans commissioner who advocates for veterans living in Scotland and influences policymakers are matters of affecting veterans or our governments must continue to work together and how we appropriately honour and remember the past. In closing, let us remember that our commitment to veterans is not just a promise, it's an ongoing, deep obligation. It is our Responsibility to honour their service, acknowledge their sacrifices and most of all preserve their memories for future generation.

Together we will continue to build a future for every single veteran receives the care, support and opportunities that they

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rightfully deserve. The question is that this House to now adjourn. As many are of that opinion say, "Aye", and of the opinion say, "Aye", and of the contrary, "No". The "Ayes" have it.
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