Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the proposed increase in Machine Games Duty on the sport of greyhound racing.
Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General
At Budget 2026, the government announced the rate of Machines Games Duty will increase from 20% to 25% on higher stake machines from 1 April 2027. The increase is targeted at higher risk machine games which are more associated with gambling harm.
An assessment of the impacts is published within the Tax Impact and Information Note, which can be found at the following link: Machine Games Duty: increasing the rate on higher stake and prize machines - GOV.UK
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to protect Hong Kongers, Uyghurs, Tibetans, Chinese dissidents and other individuals resident in the United Kingdom from intimidation, surveillance or coercion by or on behalf of the Chinese authorities.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security) (Jointly with the Cabinet Office)
The first duty of this Government is to keep the country safe. Any foreign state-directed intimidation, harassment or harm in the United Kingdom is unacceptable and will never be tolerated.
The Government works with operational partners to keep potential threats to the UK and its residents, including from China, under constant review. As set out in my statement to the House on 14 May 2025, following the Defending Democracy Taskforce’s Review of transnational repression (TNR), we have continued to strengthen our response, including through the continued implementation of the National Security Act 2023, which provides a comprehensive suite of powers to counter state threats activity. We have rolled out training on state threats across all police forces, including the upskilling of 999 call handlers to strengthen frontline identification and response.
Clear guidance is also available on GOV.UK and from the National Protective Security Authority for those who believe they may be at risk of transnational repression. This guidance provides practical steps that individuals can take to protect themselves, both in person and online.
Anyone who believes they are a victim of state‑directed activity should report it to the police via 101, 999, or at a local police station. Allegations of unlawful activity will be handled sensitively, treated seriously, and swiftly investigated in line with UK law.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of constitutional arrangements in British Overseas Territories and Commonwealth jurisdictions that provide for (a) appointed and (b) nominated legislators to enhance parliamentary oversight.
Answered by Uma Kumaran - Assistant Whip
The British Overseas Territories (OTs) have longstanding and diverse constitutional arrangements, but all reflect a modern UK-OT partnership where constitutional evolution occurs through consultation, negotiation, and agreement between the UK and territory. OT governments should gain support for their proposals through public consultations and cross-party deliberations. UK Ministers will consider OT proposals, mindful that the UK must retain the constitutional powers necessary to discharge our sovereign responsibilities and international obligations. All formal proposals are subject to rigorous assessment, including governance implications and sustainability, by both the UK and the OT.
This approach was reflected in the Turks and Caicos Island's 2024 constitutional reform process. Since then, the TCI Government has sought a further amendment. It would not be appropriate for me to comment further on ongoing discussions.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the abolition of appointed Members of Parliament under the Turks and Caicos Islands Constitution (Amendment) Order 2024 on the operation of parliamentary scrutiny.
Answered by Uma Kumaran - Assistant Whip
The British Overseas Territories (OTs) have longstanding and diverse constitutional arrangements, but all reflect a modern UK-OT partnership where constitutional evolution occurs through consultation, negotiation, and agreement between the UK and territory. OT governments should gain support for their proposals through public consultations and cross-party deliberations. UK Ministers will consider OT proposals, mindful that the UK must retain the constitutional powers necessary to discharge our sovereign responsibilities and international obligations. All formal proposals are subject to rigorous assessment, including governance implications and sustainability, by both the UK and the OT.
This approach was reflected in the Turks and Caicos Island's 2024 constitutional reform process. Since then, the TCI Government has sought a further amendment. It would not be appropriate for me to comment further on ongoing discussions.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has considered the implications for parliamentary scrutiny in the Turks and Caicos Islands of a situation in which all elected members of a governing party could simultaneously hold executive office.
Answered by Uma Kumaran - Assistant Whip
The British Overseas Territories (OTs) have longstanding and diverse constitutional arrangements, but all reflect a modern UK-OT partnership where constitutional evolution occurs through consultation, negotiation, and agreement between the UK and territory. OT governments should gain support for their proposals through public consultations and cross-party deliberations. UK Ministers will consider OT proposals, mindful that the UK must retain the constitutional powers necessary to discharge our sovereign responsibilities and international obligations. All formal proposals are subject to rigorous assessment, including governance implications and sustainability, by both the UK and the OT.
This approach was reflected in the Turks and Caicos Island's 2024 constitutional reform process. Since then, the TCI Government has sought a further amendment. It would not be appropriate for me to comment further on ongoing discussions.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has considered proposals for the reintroduction of appointed Members to the Parliament of the Turks and Caicos Islands as a mechanism to strengthen parliamentary scrutiny and representation.
Answered by Uma Kumaran - Assistant Whip
The British Overseas Territories (OTs) have longstanding and diverse constitutional arrangements, but all reflect a modern UK-OT partnership where constitutional evolution occurs through consultation, negotiation, and agreement between the UK and territory. OT governments should gain support for their proposals through public consultations and cross-party deliberations. UK Ministers will consider OT proposals, mindful that the UK must retain the constitutional powers necessary to discharge our sovereign responsibilities and international obligations. All formal proposals are subject to rigorous assessment, including governance implications and sustainability, by both the UK and the OT.
This approach was reflected in the Turks and Caicos Island's 2024 constitutional reform process. Since then, the TCI Government has sought a further amendment. It would not be appropriate for me to comment further on ongoing discussions.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the capacity of the Parliament of the Turks and Caicos Islands to provide effective scrutiny of the executive following the 2025 General Election.
Answered by Uma Kumaran - Assistant Whip
The British Overseas Territories (OTs) have longstanding and diverse constitutional arrangements, but all reflect a modern UK-OT partnership where constitutional evolution occurs through consultation, negotiation, and agreement between the UK and territory. OT governments should gain support for their proposals through public consultations and cross-party deliberations. UK Ministers will consider OT proposals, mindful that the UK must retain the constitutional powers necessary to discharge our sovereign responsibilities and international obligations. All formal proposals are subject to rigorous assessment, including governance implications and sustainability, by both the UK and the OT.
This approach was reflected in the Turks and Caicos Island's 2024 constitutional reform process. Since then, the TCI Government has sought a further amendment. It would not be appropriate for me to comment further on ongoing discussions.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department takes to ensure that constitutional amendments for Overseas Territories proposed during a parliamentary term do not confer a disproportionate political advantage on an incumbent administration.
Answered by Uma Kumaran - Assistant Whip
The British Overseas Territories (OTs) have longstanding and diverse constitutional arrangements, but all reflect a modern UK-OT partnership where constitutional evolution occurs through consultation, negotiation, and agreement between the UK and territory. OT governments should gain support for their proposals through public consultations and cross-party deliberations. UK Ministers will consider OT proposals, mindful that the UK must retain the constitutional powers necessary to discharge our sovereign responsibilities and international obligations. All formal proposals are subject to rigorous assessment, including governance implications and sustainability, by both the UK and the OT.
This approach was reflected in the Turks and Caicos Island's 2024 constitutional reform process. Since then, the TCI Government has sought a further amendment. It would not be appropriate for me to comment further on ongoing discussions.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department takes steps to assess the cumulative constitutional impact of multiple constitutional amendment proposals from Overseas Territories when considering whether to recommend an Order in Council.
Answered by Uma Kumaran - Assistant Whip
The British Overseas Territories (OTs) have longstanding and diverse constitutional arrangements, but all reflect a modern UK-OT partnership where constitutional evolution occurs through consultation, negotiation, and agreement between the UK and territory. OT governments should gain support for their proposals through public consultations and cross-party deliberations. UK Ministers will consider OT proposals, mindful that the UK must retain the constitutional powers necessary to discharge our sovereign responsibilities and international obligations. All formal proposals are subject to rigorous assessment, including governance implications and sustainability, by both the UK and the OT.
This approach was reflected in the Turks and Caicos Island's 2024 constitutional reform process. Since then, the TCI Government has sought a further amendment. It would not be appropriate for me to comment further on ongoing discussions.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what consultations have been undertaken with opposition parties in the Turks and Caicos Islands regarding proposed constitutional amendments under consideration by his Department.
Answered by Uma Kumaran - Assistant Whip
The British Overseas Territories (OTs) have longstanding and diverse constitutional arrangements, but all reflect a modern UK-OT partnership where constitutional evolution occurs through consultation, negotiation, and agreement between the UK and territory. OT governments should gain support for their proposals through public consultations and cross-party deliberations. UK Ministers will consider OT proposals, mindful that the UK must retain the constitutional powers necessary to discharge our sovereign responsibilities and international obligations. All formal proposals are subject to rigorous assessment, including governance implications and sustainability, by both the UK and the OT.
This approach was reflected in the Turks and Caicos Island's 2024 constitutional reform process. Since then, the TCI Government has sought a further amendment. It would not be appropriate for me to comment further on ongoing discussions.