Asked by: Iain Duncan Smith (Conservative - Chingford and Woodford Green)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment he has made of the implications for the Hong Kong BNO integration programme of reports that the leadership of the Wai Yin Society is linked to the Chinese Communist Party.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
We continually assess potential threats in the UK, and take protection of individuals' rights, freedoms, and safety in the UK very seriously. Any attempt by any foreign power to intimidate, harass or harm individuals or communities in the UK via third parties will not be tolerated. I would be happy to discuss this further with my Rt. Hon. Friend.
Asked by: Iain Duncan Smith (Conservative - Chingford and Woodford Green)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many British citizens are in prison in China; and how many have been in prison for longer than (a) two, (b) five and (c) ten years; and what proportion are awaiting trial.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
On the 1st June 2023, the FCDO was providing on-going consular assistance to 17 British citizens detained in China.
On the 1st June 2023, the FCDO was providing on-going consular assistance to 20 British citizens detained in Hong Kong.
It is not possible to provide further details on individual cases.
Asked by: Iain Duncan Smith (Conservative - Chingford and Woodford Green)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of reports that a Russian intelligence agent has entered the UK under the Homes for Ukraine scheme; and if her Department will review the security vetting process for people coming to the UK through the Homes for Ukraine Scheme.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
These reports are misleading and inaccurate.
Since February 2022, Russian nationals applying for any UK visa route have been subject to robust additional security checks. The UK Government is proud of the support we have given to Ukrainians fleeing Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, with over 200,000 Ukrainian nationals and their families either arriving, or extending their existing leave, in the UK to secure sanctuary on our Ukraine Schemes.
Asked by: Iain Duncan Smith (Conservative - Chingford and Woodford Green)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Rhodium Group report entitled The Global Economic Disruptions from a Taiwan Conflict, published on14 December 2022, what assessment he has made of the impact of a potential blockade or invasion of Taiwan by the People’s Republic of China on the UK economy; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK has a clear interest in peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. We consider the Taiwan issue one to be settled peacefully by the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait through constructive dialogue, without the threat or use of force or coercion. As the Foreign Secretary set out in his Mansion House speech, no country could shield itself from the economic repercussions should peace and stability fail in the Taiwan Strait. It's therefore essential that no party takes unilateral action to change the status quo.
Asked by: Iain Duncan Smith (Conservative - Chingford and Woodford Green)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Pakistani counterpart on the release of Murad Akbar in Pakistan.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
We are aware of reports of detainments in Pakistan and continue to monitor the situation closely. Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister for South Asia, spoke to the High Commissioner for Pakistan to the UK, Moazzam Ahmad Khan, on 9 May and to Hina Rabbani Khar, Pakistan's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, on 10 and 13 May, where he emphasised the importance of peaceful democratic rights, including the right to protest, adherence to the rule of law, and transparency in legal processes. Where there are allegations of human rights violations, we expect these to be fully investigated in line with international human rights law.
Asked by: Iain Duncan Smith (Conservative - Chingford and Woodford Green)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 6 June 2023 to Question 186806 on UK Internal Trade: Labelling, if he will provide the legal basis for the introduction of Not for EU labelling in Great Britain.
Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The legal basis for the “Not for EU” label requirements in Great Britain, confirmed in the Windsor Framework Command Paper, will be set out in due course, following consultation with the Scottish and Welsh governments. This requirement is planned to come into force in October 2024.
Asked by: Iain Duncan Smith (Conservative - Chingford and Woodford Green)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to his oral evidence on 16 May to the House of Lords Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland Sub Committee, whether he plans to consult UK retailers based in Great Britain over the introduction of Not for EU labels in Great Britain; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
There will be proportionate arrangements for the labelling of products, including product-level labelling for a subset of high-risk products, to ensure that internal trade moving in the green lane stays within the United Kingdom. Labelling requirements will apply to a targeted category of goods. These will be introduced in a phased way and we will support businesses in adapting to these new arrangements. These requirements will ensure that the same goods are on the shelves across the whole United Kingdom. This is the right approach to support and safeguard the functioning of the UK internal market. That is why, as noted in the Command Paper, we intend for these labelling requirements to apply UK-wide from October 2024. We will continue to work closely with industry in advance of those changes taking effect.
Asked by: Iain Duncan Smith (Conservative - Chingford and Woodford Green)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to his oral evidence to the House of Lords Protocol in Ireland/Northern Ireland Sub Committee on 16 May 2023, if he will set out under what statutory authority the introduction of Not for EU labelling in Great Britain is being made; and whether the Government plans to introduce new legislative proposals to give effect to that labelling regime.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
There will be proportionate arrangements for the labelling of products, including product-level labelling for a subset of high-risk products, to ensure that internal trade moving in the green lane stays within the United Kingdom. Labelling requirements will apply to a targeted category of goods. These will be introduced in a phased way and we will support businesses in adapting to these new arrangements. These requirements will ensure that the same goods are on the shelves across the whole United Kingdom. This is the right approach to support and safeguard the functioning of the UK internal market. That is why, as noted in the Command Paper, we intend for these labelling requirements to apply UK-wide from October 2024. We will continue to work closely with industry in advance of those changes taking effect.
Asked by: Iain Duncan Smith (Conservative - Chingford and Woodford Green)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to his oral evidence on 16 May to the House of Lords Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland Sub Committee, whether he has plans to introduce Not for EU labelling for goods produced in Northern Ireland for sale in Northern Ireland or Great Britain or in Great Britain for sale in Great Britain or Northern Ireland; and if he would make a statement.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
There will be proportionate arrangements for the labelling of products, including product-level labelling for a subset of high-risk products, to ensure that internal trade moving in the green lane stays within the United Kingdom. Labelling requirements will apply to a targeted category of goods. These will be introduced in a phased way and we will support businesses in adapting to these new arrangements. These requirements will ensure that the same goods are on the shelves across the whole United Kingdom. This is the right approach to support and safeguard the functioning of the UK internal market. That is why, as noted in the Command Paper, we intend for these labelling requirements to apply UK-wide from October 2024. We will continue to work closely with industry in advance of those changes taking effect.
Asked by: Iain Duncan Smith (Conservative - Chingford and Woodford Green)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to his oral evidence on 16 May to the House of Lords Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland Sub Committee, whether he has made an assessment of the potential cost to UK industry of the introduction of Not for EU labelling in Great Britain.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
There will be proportionate arrangements for the labelling of products, including product-level labelling for a subset of high-risk products, to ensure that internal trade moving in the green lane stays within the United Kingdom. Labelling requirements will apply to a targeted category of goods. These will be introduced in a phased way and we will support businesses in adapting to these new arrangements. These requirements will ensure that the same goods are on the shelves across the whole United Kingdom. This is the right approach to support and safeguard the functioning of the UK internal market. That is why, as noted in the Command Paper, we intend for these labelling requirements to apply UK-wide from October 2024. We will continue to work closely with industry in advance of those changes taking effect.