Commons Chamber
11:34
Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)
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Mr Hamish Falconer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Lincoln, Labour)
Order. Order. Order! Order. Order! Most Order. Order! Most of Order. Order! Most of the Order. Order! Most of the unopposed returned Minister to move. We now come to question the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Mohamed. Question number one, Mr. Speaker. than two decades after the tragic deaths of brothers Sakil and Saeed Dawood in 2002, the family are still waiting for Saeed's remains to be repatriated following the conclusion of the criminal case this year.
Our consular teams remain fully committed to resolving this matter and continue to raise this with the Indian authorities to secure resolution Iqbal Mohamed.
Our consular teams remain fully committed to resolving this matter and continue to raise this with the Indian authorities to secure resolution Iqbal Mohamed.
11:35
Iqbal Mohamed MP (Dewsbury and Batley, Independent)
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Iqbal Mohamed MP (Dewsbury and Batley, Independent)
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Saeed in Sakil, Sakil Dawood were abducted and murdered in Gujarat, India, in February 22nd, 2002. The nephew and my constituent Imran Dawood survived the attack for over 23 years. Their family has sought accountability in the return of the victim's remains. The previous Labour and Tory government supported the family during the the court trials, which ended earlier this year without justice. I previously wrote to the Foreign Secretary on the 1st of October regarding the Dawood family campaign, which has sought repatriation of the family's remains.
We also had a held a parliamentary event on the 26th of October, which the FCDO leadership were invited. Would the Foreign Secretary meet with the family, and will she commit to providing urgent direct support to assist further in securing the family's remains held by the Indian government for two for over two decades, and helped the family achieve some level of closure?
We also had a held a parliamentary event on the 26th of October, which the FCDO leadership were invited. Would the Foreign Secretary meet with the family, and will she commit to providing urgent direct support to assist further in securing the family's remains held by the Indian government for two for over two decades, and helped the family achieve some level of closure?
11:36
11:36
Stephen Doughty MP, Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Cardiff South and Penarth, Labour )
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two please, Minister. Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. We collaborate closely with our international partners to deter and disrupt the perpetrators of malicious cyber activity and to hold them to account. And just last month, the UK, along with the US and Australia sanctioned media, land a major Russian cyber crime syndicate which enabled ransomware and phishing attacks against UK
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businesses, underscoring our commitment to tackling illicit cyber activity. Rachel Taylor.
Stephen Doughty MP, Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Cardiff South and Penarth, Labour )
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two please, Minister. Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. We collaborate closely with our international partners to deter and disrupt the perpetrators of malicious cyber activity and to hold them to account. And just last month, the UK, along with the US and Australia sanctioned media, land a major Russian cyber crime syndicate which enabled ransomware and phishing attacks against UK
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businesses, underscoring our commitment to tackling illicit cyber activity. Rachel Taylor.
11:36
11:36
Stephen Doughty MP, Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Cardiff South and Penarth, Labour )
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Stephen Doughty MP, Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Cardiff South and Penarth, Labour )
including Jaguar Land Rover, putting jobs and livelihoods in my constituency of North Warwickshire and Bedworth at risk. What action and Bedworth at risk. What action is the Minister taking with the UK's partners overseas to tackle this growing threat, both in our
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this growing threat, both in our country and throughout the world? Thank you. Mr. Speaker. She raises a crucially important issue on behalf crucially important issue on behalf of her constituents. And incidents like the attack on Jaguar Land Rover serve as a stark reminder of Rover serve as a stark reminder of the cyber threat is not just an abstract concept, but it's one that has real world costs. And we're working closely with international partners, and that includes being a founding member of the Counter Ransomware Initiative, which in October led the agreement of a supply chain resilience guidance endorsed by 67 countries.
And we're working closely with other partners through the UN and other bodies.
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this growing threat, both in our country and throughout the world? Thank you. Mr. Speaker. She raises a crucially important issue on behalf crucially important issue on behalf of her constituents. And incidents like the attack on Jaguar Land Rover serve as a stark reminder of Rover serve as a stark reminder of the cyber threat is not just an abstract concept, but it's one that has real world costs. And we're working closely with international partners, and that includes being a founding member of the Counter Ransomware Initiative, which in October led the agreement of a supply chain resilience guidance endorsed by 67 countries.
And we're working closely with other partners through the UN and other bodies.
11:37
Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP (Richmond and Northallerton, Conservative)
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Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP (Richmond and Northallerton, Conservative)
Rishi Sunak. significant cyber incidents have doubled. And as the Minister will know, many backed by hostile foreign states. Now, the National Cyber Force are clear that offensive cyber operations play a part in ensuring our national security. So given the environment where our adversaries are cooperating, could I ask the Minister continue deepening our cooperation with our Five Eyes partners in this domain, not least because I know first hand how much they value the particular capabilities that the UK brings to bear in this area.
11:38
Stephen Doughty MP, Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Cardiff South and Penarth, Labour )
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Stephen Doughty MP, Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Cardiff South and Penarth, Labour )
Yeah. to raise this issue. And the level of hostile state activity is significant and it's growing. And that's why we're working closely with international partners. We provided almost 30 million in support for international cyber security capacity building, including for Ukraine, but also working with other partners. And we're also working on issues such as sanctions. We have sanctioned 26 cyber criminals for entities linked to malicious cyber activity and 16 Russian military intelligence officers, including an attribution of cyber units within the GRU.
So our cooperation with Five Eyes crucial.
So our cooperation with Five Eyes crucial.
11:38
Mr Andrew Snowden MP (Fylde, Conservative)
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Mr Andrew Snowden MP (Fylde, Conservative)
Andrew Snowden Shadow Minister.
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Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. The whole House and country should rightly be concerned about cyber rightly be concerned about cyber attacks from malign cyber activity directed at MPs and the Electoral Commission to Chinese companies linked to global malicious cyber campaigns. So when is this government going to stand up to government going to stand up to China and address this threat? Can the Minister tell the House when they will send a strong message to the Chinese Communist Party by blocking their super embassy application, and finally place China on the enhanced tier of the Foreign influence registration scheme?
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Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. The whole House and country should rightly be concerned about cyber rightly be concerned about cyber attacks from malign cyber activity directed at MPs and the Electoral Commission to Chinese companies linked to global malicious cyber campaigns. So when is this government going to stand up to government going to stand up to China and address this threat? Can the Minister tell the House when they will send a strong message to the Chinese Communist Party by blocking their super embassy application, and finally place China on the enhanced tier of the Foreign influence registration scheme?
11:39
Stephen Doughty MP, Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Cardiff South and Penarth, Labour )
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Minister. Well, Mr. Speaker, I've been very clear about just how seriously we take the activity in the cyber domain from different states. It's significant. It's growing. As I pointed out, we're working closely with international partners. You'll understand that I won't go into the detail of all of our work on that, but I do want to commend the work of our National Cyber Security Centre, the work that's done with businesses and and individuals and indeed this place, Mr. speaker, to ensure our resilience is in is in place and we're going to continue to work with international partners to counter these threats.
Stephen Doughty MP, Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Cardiff South and Penarth, Labour )
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Minister. Well, Mr. Speaker, I've been very clear about just how seriously we take the activity in the cyber domain from different states. It's significant. It's growing. As I pointed out, we're working closely with international partners. You'll understand that I won't go into the detail of all of our work on that, but I do want to commend the work of our National Cyber Security Centre, the work that's done with businesses and and individuals and indeed this place, Mr. speaker, to ensure our resilience is in is in place and we're going to continue to work with international partners to counter these threats.
11:39
11:40
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Minister Mr Speaker, modern slavery refers to horrific situations in which individuals are situations in which individuals are exploited through coercion, threats, deception, forced labour and human trafficking. We are determined trafficking. We are determined collectively to do all we can to end it. That is why we work through a range of multilateral bodies like the UN, G7 and the OSCE to prevent exploitation and eradicate all
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Minister Mr Speaker, modern slavery refers to horrific situations in which individuals are situations in which individuals are exploited through coercion, threats, deception, forced labour and human trafficking. We are determined trafficking. We are determined collectively to do all we can to end it. That is why we work through a range of multilateral bodies like the UN, G7 and the OSCE to prevent exploitation and eradicate all
11:40
11:40
Mike Reader MP (Northampton South, Labour)
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Mike Reader MP (Northampton South, Labour)
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As chair of the all party Parliamentary Group for International Trade and Investment, I've heard first hand how new technology is making it easier to track supply chain risk. So what is the Minister doing to support better monitoring and data sharing with our international partners to ensure we can identify forced labour use at source in countries that support the UK economy? Okay. economy? Okay.
11:40
Seema Malhotra MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Feltham and Heston, Labour )
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Seema Malhotra MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Feltham and Heston, Labour )
Mr. Speaker, my hon. Friend is right to raise this. We are clear that no company in the UK should have forced labour in its supply chain. We work with our partners to promote the role that new technologies can play in reducing forced labour risks in supply chains. This includes developing an interactive tool to identify child labour risks in agricultural commodity supply chains, using satellite data to improving working to improve working conditions in South Asia's brick industry, and creating AI powered chatbots that
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can provide vulnerable workers with rights based guidance. Gregory Campbell.
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can provide vulnerable workers with rights based guidance. Gregory Campbell.
11:41
Seema Malhotra MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Feltham and Heston, Labour )
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Seema Malhotra MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Feltham and Heston, Labour )
I thank the hon. Member for raising this, and he will be aware that we believe no company in the UK should have forced labour in their supply chain. He may also be aware that in the trade strategy, the government launched a review of its approach to responsible business conduct policy and it is important that we continue to work together to make sure that we eradicate modern slavery from any of our supply chains.
11:42
11:42
Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, Foreign Secretary, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)
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Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, Foreign Secretary, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)
Mr. speaker, with permission, I will answer questions for seven, 18 and 19 together. The UK continues to strongly support Ukraine and the Ukrainian people in the face of continued Russian aggression, including appalling strikes against civilians this weekend. Last week, the Prime Minister convened the coalition of the Willing leaders, who welcomed US efforts to seek a just and lasting peace. And tomorrow, I will join other NATO
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foreign Ministers and reaffirm UK Ukraine. Sarah.
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foreign Ministers and reaffirm UK Ukraine. Sarah.
11:42
Sarah Dyke MP (Glastonbury and Somerton, Liberal Democrat)
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Sarah. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Secretary of State for her the Secretary of State for her answer. Since 2022, 1600 Ukrainians have sought refuge in Somerset, away from Putin's war machine, many making Glastonbury and Somerton their home. But the US led peace negotiations being dictated by Russia risk excluding US security guarantees, leaving many Ukrainians in fear of returning to Ukraine. So what discussions has the Secretary of State had with Cabinet colleagues on implementing a pathway to settled status, so Ukrainians may have a permanent future in the UK? Yeah, well, as she will know, I and many other she will know, I and many other people have been involved in welcoming people as part of the homes for Ukraine scheme, and we homes for Ukraine scheme, and we continue to do so and support the role that they are playing in our country and that will continue.
But country and that will continue. But I would also say to she referred to security guarantees, I can tell her security guarantees, I can tell her that the Ministry of Defence is involved in direct discussions on the detail of how security the detail of how security guarantees would need to work, if essential. Essential as part of a just and lasting peace.
Sarah Dyke MP (Glastonbury and Somerton, Liberal Democrat)
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Sarah. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Secretary of State for her the Secretary of State for her answer. Since 2022, 1600 Ukrainians have sought refuge in Somerset, away from Putin's war machine, many making Glastonbury and Somerton their home. But the US led peace negotiations being dictated by Russia risk excluding US security guarantees, leaving many Ukrainians in fear of returning to Ukraine. So what discussions has the Secretary of State had with Cabinet colleagues on implementing a pathway to settled status, so Ukrainians may have a permanent future in the UK? Yeah, well, as she will know, I and many other she will know, I and many other people have been involved in welcoming people as part of the homes for Ukraine scheme, and we homes for Ukraine scheme, and we continue to do so and support the role that they are playing in our country and that will continue.
But country and that will continue. But I would also say to she referred to security guarantees, I can tell her security guarantees, I can tell her that the Ministry of Defence is involved in direct discussions on the detail of how security the detail of how security guarantees would need to work, if essential. Essential as part of a just and lasting peace.
11:43
Sarah Green MP (Chesham and Amersham, Liberal Democrat)
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Sarah Green MP (Chesham and Amersham, Liberal Democrat)
Sarah Green.
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Mr. Speaker. Point 24 of Russia's police peace plan proposes establishing a humanitarian committee to resolve outstanding issues, such as prisoner exchanges issues, such as prisoner exchanges on an all for all basis and the return of civilian detainees and hostages, including children. Mr. hostages, including children. Mr. speaker, this approach conflates prisoners of war with stolen children who are afforded special children who are afforded special protected status under the Fourth Geneva Convention. So can I ask the Secretary of State what guarantees Secretary of State what guarantees she can provide that the UK will ensure all Geneva Convention signatories uphold their
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Mr. Speaker. Point 24 of Russia's police peace plan proposes establishing a humanitarian committee to resolve outstanding issues, such as prisoner exchanges issues, such as prisoner exchanges on an all for all basis and the return of civilian detainees and hostages, including children. Mr. hostages, including children. Mr. speaker, this approach conflates prisoners of war with stolen children who are afforded special children who are afforded special protected status under the Fourth Geneva Convention. So can I ask the Secretary of State what guarantees Secretary of State what guarantees she can provide that the UK will ensure all Geneva Convention signatories uphold their
11:44
Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, Foreign Secretary, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)
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Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, Foreign Secretary, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)
obligations in line with international law and the return of the stolen children.
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PQ kidnapped and stolen children from Ukraine need to be returned to their families and to their country. their families and to their country. That is an essential thing that must happen and is unconditional on must happen and is unconditional on anything else. The UK is continuing to support the Ukraine and other to support the Ukraine and other countries in the work to trace and identify where children are, and including direct work, which was
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PQ kidnapped and stolen children from Ukraine need to be returned to their families and to their country. their families and to their country. That is an essential thing that must happen and is unconditional on must happen and is unconditional on anything else. The UK is continuing to support the Ukraine and other to support the Ukraine and other countries in the work to trace and identify where children are, and including direct work, which was
11:45
Jim Dickson MP (Dartford, Labour)
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including direct work, which was helped identify the locations of 600 stolen children. Jim Dickson. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and can
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Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and can I thank the Secretary of State for her answer? And in particular, the UK government's continued excellent work to marshal the coalition of the willing in support of Ukraine. Would she agree with me that in any peace agreement arrived at in the future, that key Ukrainian red lines need to be defended? The preservation of Ukraine. Key parts of the Donbas not under Russian control. No Russian imposed limits on Ukrainian armed forces and freedom of the country to join NATO.
Jim Dickson MP (Dartford, Labour)
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including direct work, which was helped identify the locations of 600 stolen children. Jim Dickson. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and can
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Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and can I thank the Secretary of State for her answer? And in particular, the UK government's continued excellent work to marshal the coalition of the willing in support of Ukraine. Would she agree with me that in any peace agreement arrived at in the future, that key Ukrainian red lines need to be defended? The preservation of Ukraine. Key parts of the Donbas not under Russian control. No Russian imposed limits on Ukrainian armed forces and freedom of the country to join NATO.
11:45
Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, Foreign Secretary, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)
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Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, Foreign Secretary, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)
Well, we have been clear throughout this that first and foremost, the future of Ukraine is for Ukrainians to decide. That means, as the Prime Minister said last week, the borders should not be changed by force, but also that it has to be a sustainable peace, not just an opportunity for Putin to pause and then come again, because that would be not just a threat to the security of Ukraine, would also be a threat to the security of Europe.
11:46
John Milne MP (Horsham, Liberal Democrat)
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John Milne MP (Horsham, Liberal Democrat)
John Milne thank you, Mr. Speaker. A lasting peace in Ukraine can only be achieved if we remove the incentives for war. However, President Trump's initial peace plan badly translators, as it was from the Russian, included such measures as a dramatic cut in Ukrainian army manpower, the surrender of key fortress positions, a pledge never to join NATO, and an open door to Russian propaganda across the whole of Ukraine. Would the Minister agree that peace on such terms would only encourage Putin to resume war in a few years time, but are much stronger terms than today?
11:46
Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, Foreign Secretary, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)
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Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, Foreign Secretary, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)
Hear, hear. Yeah. week. There were initial proposals that were published. As the Prime Minister said, some of those issues were clearly unacceptable, and there have been considerable discussions since then, including in Geneva and in the US between the US and Ukraine. Those discussions have been important and we continue to support Ukraine. And the important issue about the lasting peace is it cannot simply be an opportunity for Putin to continue his aggression after a pause.
And that is why security guarantees. That is also why the lasting peace arrangements are so crucial. Everyone wants to see peace. It has to be lasting.
And that is why security guarantees. That is also why the lasting peace arrangements are so crucial. Everyone wants to see peace. It has to be lasting.
11:47
Johanna Baxter MP (Paisley and Renfrewshire South, Labour)
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Johanna Baxter MP (Paisley and Renfrewshire South, Labour)
Johanna Baxter thank you, Mr. Speaker. President Putin has proposed that Russia assume sovereignty of Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk as part of any so-called final peace settlement with Ukraine, which would carry profound consequences for the 1.6 million children who are currently living under Russian occupation in those regions. But the evidence is clear that Russia has pursued a sustained, systematic policy of indoctrination, militarisation and forced deportation of Ukrainian children. So does my right hon. Friend agree that accepting that proposal would risk permanently stripping those children of their legal protections, erasing their Ukrainian identity in direct violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention and the most basic principles of international humanitarian law.
11:48
Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, Foreign Secretary, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)
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Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, Foreign Secretary, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)
Yes. can I commend the work she has continually done to be a voice for children in Ukraine? She is right to highlight the horrendous breaches of the principles underpinning the UN charter by Russia. Repeatedly throughout this conflict and before, and also to recognise Russia has continually been the aggressor in this war, when everyone else has been pursuing peace. All Putin has done is escalate war, and that has continued to happen. All of us want to see an end to the war, but we have to keep the maximum pressure peace.
11:49
Sonia Kumar MP (Dudley, Labour)
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Sonia Kumar MP (Dudley, Labour)
Sonia Kumar thank you, Mr. Speaker, as we await the outcome of negotiations to end the war in Ukraine, which must be rooted in the voices and needs of the Ukrainian people, access to healthcare must be essential to rebuilding the nation. What steps does my right hon. Friend taking to ensure UK backed reconstruction strengthens rehabilitation and healthcare infrastructure? And will he meet with me to support my efforts to link allied health
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professionals within Ukraine? Secretary.
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professionals within Ukraine? Secretary.
11:49
Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, Foreign Secretary, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)
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Well, can I welcome my hon. Friend, because we are clearly continuing to provide Ukraine with continuing to provide Ukraine with support that they need on military grounds to defend themselves. But we are also supporting the Ukrainian people with being guided by the priorities that the Ukrainian government has set out in terms of aid funding that we provide. That includes supporting their public services, but also, crucially, their energy infrastructure, which will be vital this winter.
Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, Foreign Secretary, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)
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Well, can I welcome my hon. Friend, because we are clearly continuing to provide Ukraine with continuing to provide Ukraine with support that they need on military grounds to defend themselves. But we are also supporting the Ukrainian people with being guided by the priorities that the Ukrainian government has set out in terms of aid funding that we provide. That includes supporting their public services, but also, crucially, their energy infrastructure, which will be vital this winter.
11:49
Rt Hon Wendy Morton MP (Aldridge-Brownhills, Conservative)
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Rt Hon Wendy Morton MP (Aldridge-Brownhills, Conservative)
Shadow Minister Wendy Morton.
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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We all want to see Ukraine, a country that has made huge sacrifices to defend has made huge sacrifices to defend its freedom, secure a peace on its own terms, to put pressure on Putin own terms, to put pressure on Putin and weaken his ability to wage war. We must go harder after the money fuelling his war machine. We've fuelling his war machine. We've seen reports that Lakshmi Mittal's company has been buying oil from Russia. When was the government Russia.
When was the government first made aware of this, and does the Minister believe there may be grounds for sanctions?
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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We all want to see Ukraine, a country that has made huge sacrifices to defend has made huge sacrifices to defend its freedom, secure a peace on its own terms, to put pressure on Putin own terms, to put pressure on Putin and weaken his ability to wage war. We must go harder after the money fuelling his war machine. We've fuelling his war machine. We've seen reports that Lakshmi Mittal's company has been buying oil from Russia. When was the government Russia.
When was the government first made aware of this, and does the Minister believe there may be grounds for sanctions?
11:50
Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, Foreign Secretary, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)
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grounds for sanctions? Permanent Secretary well, she will know that the hon. Member will will know that the hon. Member will know that the UK has led the processes around sanctions against Russian oil and gas in particular, and also to lead the way in encouraging other countries, including countries across the world, to withdraw from purchasing Russian oil and gas. We continue to take this immensely seriously. She will know that sanctions enforcement is addressed on a case by case basis, but we do take both the sanctions and the need for seriously.
Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, Foreign Secretary, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)
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grounds for sanctions? Permanent Secretary well, she will know that the hon. Member will will know that the hon. Member will know that the UK has led the processes around sanctions against Russian oil and gas in particular, and also to lead the way in encouraging other countries, including countries across the world, to withdraw from purchasing Russian oil and gas. We continue to take this immensely seriously. She will know that sanctions enforcement is addressed on a case by case basis, but we do take both the sanctions and the need for seriously.
11:51
Rt Hon Wendy Morton MP (Aldridge-Brownhills, Conservative)
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Rt Hon Wendy Morton MP (Aldridge-Brownhills, Conservative)
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm sorry, but it's simply not good enough for the Foreign Secretary to dismiss questions by saying sanctions are not discussed on the floor of the House. This is a man and a business that have profited by buying, buying Russian oil, fuelling Putin's illegal war, a war that has caused death and destruction in Ukraine. He may have reportedly fled, fled Britain. But will the Foreign Secretary ensure that all his business interests are thoroughly investigated and that wider investigations are carried out to determine whether this practice is more widespread?
11:51
Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, Foreign Secretary, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)
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Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, Foreign Secretary, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)
Foreign Secretary. Minister, she will know both how seriously we've taken this case and how far this government has led the way on sanctions, and also how we ensure that processes around sanctions enforcement, including on Russian oil and gas, are taken extremely seriously and are implemented appropriately as well. And I would also just say that this has been critical in terms of the pressure that the US has taken as well. Now, on Lukoil and Rosneft, as a result of which Lukoil have now been forced to seek to sell their foreign assets as a result of the pressure that we have put on.
There has been no country that has led the way more than the UK in putting economic pressure on Russia. spokesperson.
There has been no country that has led the way more than the UK in putting economic pressure on Russia. spokesperson.
11:52
Calum Miller MP (Bicester and Woodstock, Liberal Democrat)
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Calum Miller MP (Bicester and Woodstock, Liberal Democrat)
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
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The support of its allies to counter Russia's threat. Yet Belgium and the ECB are holding out against the EU, using frozen against the EU, using frozen Russian assets to give Ukraine the funds it needs. The Wall Street Journal has reported that while Journal has reported that while discussing the original 28 point plan, Kirill Dmitriev pitched to Steve Witkoff that US firms could Steve Witkoff that US firms could be the first to receive payments from those assets for lucrative contracts in Russia and Ukraine.
It contracts in Russia and Ukraine. It is time for the UK to show international leadership, even as Belgium, the ECB and the US Belgium, the ECB and the US vacillate. So will the Foreign Secretary support my bill for the UK to seize the £30 billion in
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UK to seize the £30 billion in frozen Russian assets held in this country and put them at Kyiv's disposal for its defence? The truth? Well.
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The support of its allies to counter Russia's threat. Yet Belgium and the ECB are holding out against the EU, using frozen against the EU, using frozen Russian assets to give Ukraine the funds it needs. The Wall Street Journal has reported that while Journal has reported that while discussing the original 28 point plan, Kirill Dmitriev pitched to Steve Witkoff that US firms could Steve Witkoff that US firms could be the first to receive payments from those assets for lucrative contracts in Russia and Ukraine.
It contracts in Russia and Ukraine. It is time for the UK to show international leadership, even as Belgium, the ECB and the US Belgium, the ECB and the US vacillate. So will the Foreign Secretary support my bill for the UK to seize the £30 billion in
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UK to seize the £30 billion in frozen Russian assets held in this country and put them at Kyiv's disposal for its defence? The truth? Well.
11:53
Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, Foreign Secretary, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)
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Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, Foreign Secretary, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)
We have been clear about the importance of mobilising the Russian sovereign assets in order to invest in and support Ukraine. As he will know, the proposal that has been put forward by the EU, which is one we support, is one for reparation loans based on those sovereign assets that allows us to maintain the appropriate stability and approach to the financial markets, but also mobilise those assets to support Ukraine. The purpose of doing so is because Russia should pay for the damage that they have done.
So we will continue to press for those Russian sovereign assets to be mobilised
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for Ukraine. Boris. Question number five, Mr.
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Speaker. For a second. Mr. speaker, with permission, I will answer questions five and 11 together. The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire as situation in Gaza remains dire as winter weather draws in. While thousands of families do not have proper shelter. This weekend, after proper shelter. This weekend, after more than a year's delay, we were finally able to get UK funded tents finally able to get UK funded tents into Gaza through Kerem Shalom working with Unicef. Those tents will provide critical shelter for 12,000 people, but more support is needed.
And so from today the government will also match pound for pound new donations to the Disaster Emergency Committee. Middle East appeal. Over this winter, with an additional 3 million support through those charities to help those most in need and get support to families in Gaza.
So we will continue to press for those Russian sovereign assets to be mobilised
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for Ukraine. Boris. Question number five, Mr.
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Speaker. For a second. Mr. speaker, with permission, I will answer questions five and 11 together. The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire as situation in Gaza remains dire as winter weather draws in. While thousands of families do not have proper shelter. This weekend, after proper shelter. This weekend, after more than a year's delay, we were finally able to get UK funded tents finally able to get UK funded tents into Gaza through Kerem Shalom working with Unicef. Those tents will provide critical shelter for 12,000 people, but more support is needed.
And so from today the government will also match pound for pound new donations to the Disaster Emergency Committee. Middle East appeal. Over this winter, with an additional 3 million support through those charities to help those most in need and get support to families in Gaza.
11:54
Joe Morris MP (Hexham, Labour)
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Joe Morris MP (Hexham, Labour)
Thank the Foreign Secretary for her response. I'm very concerned about the recent reports that over a thousand tents were consigned and prevented from entering into Gaza, so can you just assure me what's being done further, to make sure that any aid that is given from the UK in terms of tents to provide shelter as the winter season approaches, that we're doing whatever we can to get those things through the border to those that through the border to those that need it the most.
11:55
Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, Foreign Secretary, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)
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Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, Foreign Secretary, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)
Foreign Secretary thank my hon. Friend for his question. We are continuing to press to get increased humanitarian aid in. The level of aid is now increasing and as we have seen, we've been able to get the UK funded tents into Gaza. But I have seen myself some of the warehouses in Amman, which are still holding UK funded aid, wheat that could feed hundreds of thousands of people and that we need to get into Gaza. And that is why we need all of the crossings opened.
11:55
Gareth Thomas MP (Harrow West, Labour )
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Gareth Thomas MP (Harrow West, Labour )
Gareth Thomas more than two thirds of Gaza's children, 700,000 are living in tents at high risk of preventable disease and growing numbers are suffering malnutrition, diarrhoea and pneumonia. Given that the Trump plan called for a minimum of 600 trucks of humanitarian aid to enter Gaza daily and nothing like that number are yet getting in. Will my right hon. Friend step up the government's efforts to secure sustained access for Unwra and other critical UN humanitarian agencies. In Foreign Secretary?
11:56
Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, Foreign Secretary, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)
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Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, Foreign Secretary, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)
Will we desperately need the humanitarian aid into Gaza? My hon. Friend is right that this was part of the 20 point peace plan. It has widespread support, but it is just essential. Basic humanitarian needs, shelter, support and health care are still needed for families in Gaza. That is why we are continuing to press, not just for the crossings to be reopened, but also for aid for the restrictions on aid to be lifted so that we can get into place the shelter kits and the equipment and the healthcare support families need.
11:56
Chris Law MP (Dundee Central, Scottish National Party)
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Chris Law MP (Dundee Central, Scottish National Party)
Chris Law Mr. speaker, the.
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Death toll in Gaza has now exceeded 70,000 people since the ceasefire. At least at least 357 ceasefire. At least at least 357 Palestinians have been killed and 903 wounded, with Israel committing close to 600 violations, including close to 600 violations, including recent video evidence of extrajudicial extrajudicial murders. Does the Minister agree that this
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Does the Minister agree that this suggests that the ceasefire is in name alone? Well, what I would say to the
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Death toll in Gaza has now exceeded 70,000 people since the ceasefire. At least at least 357 ceasefire. At least at least 357 Palestinians have been killed and 903 wounded, with Israel committing close to 600 violations, including close to 600 violations, including recent video evidence of extrajudicial extrajudicial murders. Does the Minister agree that this
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Does the Minister agree that this suggests that the ceasefire is in name alone? Well, what I would say to the
11:57
Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, Foreign Secretary, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)
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Well, what I would say to the hon. Member is that this ceasefire is fragile, but it is also crucial, and we cannot go back to the and we cannot go back to the situation that we have had the unbearable situation for the last two years. That is why we have said that there should be strengthened monitoring around the ceasefire, but also we need to make the forward momentum, including having the Palestinian Committee set up, including the humanitarian aid increasing and also decommissioning proposals that we have put forward
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in order to remove weapons from Hamas. Ayoub Khan Mr Speaker.
Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, Foreign Secretary, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)
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Well, what I would say to the hon. Member is that this ceasefire is fragile, but it is also crucial, and we cannot go back to the and we cannot go back to the situation that we have had the unbearable situation for the last two years. That is why we have said that there should be strengthened monitoring around the ceasefire, but also we need to make the forward momentum, including having the Palestinian Committee set up, including the humanitarian aid increasing and also decommissioning proposals that we have put forward
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in order to remove weapons from Hamas. Ayoub Khan Mr Speaker.
11:57
Ayoub Khan MP (Birmingham Perry Barr, Independent)
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Ayoub Khan Mr Speaker. aid. Is not just about supplies. And the trickle of access that
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And the trickle of access that we have into. Gaza, but it's also. The safety and security. Of aid agencies operating.
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Of aid agencies operating. Within Gaza. So recently, we witnessed two individuals gunned down in broad daylight by the down in broad daylight by the Israeli soldiers. Does the Minister believe that we now need to look at some international, United Nations, independent peace forces to actually assist in the humanitarian actually assist in the humanitarian work? Yeah.
Ayoub Khan MP (Birmingham Perry Barr, Independent)
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Ayoub Khan Mr Speaker. aid. Is not just about supplies. And the trickle of access that
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And the trickle of access that we have into. Gaza, but it's also. The safety and security. Of aid agencies operating.
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Of aid agencies operating. Within Gaza. So recently, we witnessed two individuals gunned down in broad daylight by the down in broad daylight by the Israeli soldiers. Does the Minister believe that we now need to look at some international, United Nations, independent peace forces to actually assist in the humanitarian actually assist in the humanitarian work? Yeah.
11:58
Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, Foreign Secretary, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)
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Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, Foreign Secretary, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)
Well. issues there, the importance of making sure that aid workers can operate in Gaza is hugely important. And we continue to press for NGOs to be fully recognised so they can continue their important work. But I think he was also referring to some of the shocking footage of a shooting in West Bank, which there must be a thorough, swift and transparent investigation because I think the footage of that shooting was extremely disturbing. Ulster.
11:59
Rt Hon Wendy Morton MP (Aldridge-Brownhills, Conservative)
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Rt Hon Wendy Morton MP (Aldridge-Brownhills, Conservative)
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We've heard Ministers in this House and elsewhere make claims about Israel and aid. Does the Foreign Secretary recognise the go, go, go? The CogAT and Ccmc figures showing 4200 trucks of aid entering Gaza a week, meeting the targets agreed as the 20 point plan is implemented. Will she thank the team for their work in getting aid in including those officers attacked by Hamas terrorists on the 7th of October who remain committed to improving the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
And does she agree the best way to secure more aid into Gaza is for the UK to work with partners to implement the ICF and to secure the elimination of Hamas.
And does she agree the best way to secure more aid into Gaza is for the UK to work with partners to implement the ICF and to secure the elimination of Hamas.
11:59
Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, Foreign Secretary, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)
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Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, Foreign Secretary, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)
Foreign Secretary? implemented. That includes the disarming of Hamas. It includes the introduction of the ISF and also the withdrawal of the IDF as part of an overarching plan. I would say to her on the humanitarian aid is, as I responded, it has increased, so there are more trucks going in. However, it is not enough and it is not going to all areas of Gaza. And that is why it is crucial that all of the crossings need to be opened.
Currently, the Jordanian crossing is still closed to many of the other crossings are still closed, so it's immensely important that those crossings are opened and the restrictions are lifted. St Ives question six Mr Speaker. volunteers who run community based emergency response rooms that the UK is supporting and the stories that they told me were horrific. Despite pressures from all sides for a ceasefire, the conflict and atrocities are continuing. Alongside the development Minister, the UK special envoy to Sudan and Arab and officials, I am in continual contact with the US, UAE, Egypt and Saudis, the members of the quad who are supporting action for a ceasefire.
But we need that urgency of action.
Currently, the Jordanian crossing is still closed to many of the other crossings are still closed, so it's immensely important that those crossings are opened and the restrictions are lifted. St Ives question six Mr Speaker. volunteers who run community based emergency response rooms that the UK is supporting and the stories that they told me were horrific. Despite pressures from all sides for a ceasefire, the conflict and atrocities are continuing. Alongside the development Minister, the UK special envoy to Sudan and Arab and officials, I am in continual contact with the US, UAE, Egypt and Saudis, the members of the quad who are supporting action for a ceasefire.
But we need that urgency of action.
12:01
Richard Tice MP (Boston and Skegness, Reform UK)
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Richard Tice MP (Boston and Skegness, Reform UK)
Richard Tice, I thank the Foreign Secretary. This appalling, appalling civil war with all its atrocities. How concerned is the Foreign Secretary that actually the growing influence of Iran and the Muslim Brotherhood is leading to foment deliberately extremism, and that actually is leading to the the rejection of ceasefire efforts by the Sudanese regime.
12:01
Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, Foreign Secretary, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)
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Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, Foreign Secretary, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley, Labour)
Well. Members, I am deeply concerned about the escalation of this on all sides, both from the CSF and the SAF. Despite the fact that there have been talks about ceasefires, instead we have seen continued action being taken, including in the Kordofan. I am deeply worried about the risks, further atrocities and also about the impact that this has on security issues, on extremism, issues, on migration issues. But most important of all,