Asked by: Iain Duncan Smith (Conservative - Chingford and Woodford Green)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 4 November 2025 to Question 85691 on Government Digital Service: Taiwan, whether it is the policy of the government that Taiwan is not a place of residence for the purposes of government digital services.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave on 4 November 2025 to Question 85691.
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, if she will make an assessment the factors that can prevent adults with positive reasonable grounds decisions from entering support through the Modern Slavery Victim Care Contract; and what steps her Department is taking to ensure all those eligible for support can receive it.
Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
Government is committed to identifying and supporting victims of modern slavery, to assist with their recovery needs and help them begin rebuilding their lives.
All adult potential victims who receive a positive reasonable grounds decision can access support through the Modern Slavery Victim Care Contract (MSVCC), subject to their consent which can be given at the time of the NRM referral, or when transitioning from child to adult support structures.
Where consent is provided, The Salvation Army (TSA) will attempt to contact the victim on multiple occasions, at different times of day, and may use legal representatives or first responders to confirm contact details if necessary.
If contact has not been made within 48 hours, the victim or their legal representative can contact TSA directly to arrange entry into support.
Home Office do not currently publish data on numbers of potential victims who choose not to consent to MSVCC support.
For potential victims transitioning from child to adult support structures, we are also developing information packs for victims and the professionals who support them, which aim to enhance understanding of the consent process and adult support offer to improve informed decision making on accessing support.
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 steps her Department has taken to ensure adults with a positive Reasonable Grounds decision can enter support through the Modern Slavery Victim Care Contract; how many attempts are made to contact a person; and what happens if the person cannot be contacted.
Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
Government is committed to identifying and supporting victims of modern slavery, to assist with their recovery needs and help them begin rebuilding their lives.
All adult potential victims who receive a positive reasonable grounds decision can access support through the Modern Slavery Victim Care Contract (MSVCC), subject to their consent which can be given at the time of the NRM referral, or when transitioning from child to adult support structures.
Where consent is provided, The Salvation Army (TSA) will attempt to contact the victim on multiple occasions, at different times of day, and may use legal representatives or first responders to confirm contact details if necessary.
If contact has not been made within 48 hours, the victim or their legal representative can contact TSA directly to arrange entry into support.
Home Office do not currently publish data on numbers of potential victims who choose not to consent to MSVCC support.
For potential victims transitioning from child to adult support structures, we are also developing information packs for victims and the professionals who support them, which aim to enhance understanding of the consent process and adult support offer to improve informed decision making on accessing support.
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, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of the steps taken to ensure that adults who receive positive reasonable grounds decisions can enter support through the Modern Slavery Victim Care Contract.
Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
Government is committed to identifying and supporting victims of modern slavery, to assist with their recovery needs and help them begin rebuilding their lives.
All adult potential victims who receive a positive reasonable grounds decision can access support through the Modern Slavery Victim Care Contract (MSVCC), subject to their consent which can be given at the time of the NRM referral, or when transitioning from child to adult support structures.
Where consent is provided, The Salvation Army (TSA) will attempt to contact the victim on multiple occasions, at different times of day, and may use legal representatives or first responders to confirm contact details if necessary.
If contact has not been made within 48 hours, the victim or their legal representative can contact TSA directly to arrange entry into support.
Home Office do not currently publish data on numbers of potential victims who choose not to consent to MSVCC support.
For potential victims transitioning from child to adult support structures, we are also developing information packs for victims and the professionals who support them, which aim to enhance understanding of the consent process and adult support offer to improve informed decision making on accessing support.
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, how many adults with a positive Reasonable Grounds decision do not go on to enter support through the Modern Slavery Victim Care Contract.
Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
Government is committed to identifying and supporting victims of modern slavery, to assist with their recovery needs and help them begin rebuilding their lives.
All adult potential victims who receive a positive reasonable grounds decision can access support through the Modern Slavery Victim Care Contract (MSVCC), subject to their consent which can be given at the time of the NRM referral, or when transitioning from child to adult support structures.
Where consent is provided, The Salvation Army (TSA) will attempt to contact the victim on multiple occasions, at different times of day, and may use legal representatives or first responders to confirm contact details if necessary.
If contact has not been made within 48 hours, the victim or their legal representative can contact TSA directly to arrange entry into support.
Home Office do not currently publish data on numbers of potential victims who choose not to consent to MSVCC support.
For potential victims transitioning from child to adult support structures, we are also developing information packs for victims and the professionals who support them, which aim to enhance understanding of the consent process and adult support offer to improve informed decision making on accessing support.
Asked by: Iain Duncan Smith (Conservative - Chingford and Woodford Green)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether all British citizens are eligible to the same access to healthcare across the UK.
Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
All British citizens who are residents in the United Kingdom are eligible to access healthcare services free at any point of need. In England, Scotland and Wales, this is provided through the National Health Service, and in Northern Ireland through Health and Social Care (HSC). These systems are founded on the principle of providing comprehensive, high-quality healthcare based on clinical need and not the ability to pay.
Health is a devolved matter and the health services in each of the four nations operates under their own legislative and governance arrangements. Eligibility criteria and specific service models may vary between England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. However, the UK Government works closely with the Devolved Governments to support a joined-up approach to healthcare, ensuring that people can receive urgent and emergency healthcare wherever they are in the UK.
We will continue to collaborate with our Devolved Government counterparts across the UK through established intergovernmental structures to share best practise and improve access to high-quality healthcare for all our citizens.
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 recent assessment she has made of the level of threat posed by people motivated by Jihadi ideology to (a) public safety and (b) the safety of (i) synagogues, (ii) Jewish educational establishments and (iii) other Jewish community sites; what assessment she has made of the trends in the level of this threat over the last five years; and what recent assessment she has made of whether levels of security provided to (A) synagogues, (B) Jewish educational establishments and (C) other Jewish community sites is adequate to respond to levels of threat.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The terrorist threat we see today is more diverse and complex than before. The UK National Threat Level remains at SUBSTANTIAL, meaning an attack is likely. The UK National Threat Level is set by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre which continually monitors the threat to the UK from all forms of terrorism.
This Government is firmly committed to protecting the right of individuals to freely practise their religion at their chosen place of worship, and to ensuring the safety of our streets and communities. We recognise that recent incidents have heightened concerns about the safety of Jewish communities and places of worship, as well as those of other faiths. We take these concerns seriously and continue to work with closely with the police to assess threats and review the protections in place for communities.
To support Jewish communities in the UK, the Community Security Trust (CST) has been allocated £28 million in 2025/26 through the Jewish Community Protective Security (JCPS) Grant. This includes an additional £10 million in emergency funding announced by the Prime Minister on 16 October following the terrorist attack at Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue. This funding enables the deployment of enhanced security staff and equipment, such as CCTV, alarms and floodlights, at synagogues, Jewish educational establishments, and other community sites.
We continue to engage with CST and other partners to ensure that the level of security provision remains proportionate to the assessed threat and is responsive to the needs of Jewish communities.
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 diplomatic steps she is taking to secure the release of Zhang Yadi; and what steps she is taking to co-ordinate her actions with (a) her French counterpart and (b) SOAS.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government is aware of a report concerning the detention of Zhang Yadi, and the case concerning Gui Minhai in China. We continue to follow developments closely and regularly raise human rights concerns with the Chinese authorities. The UK remains committed to promoting human rights and the rule of law globally.
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 diplomatic steps she is taking to secure the release of Gui Minhai in China; and what steps she is taking with (a) Sweden and (b) the European Union to secure his release.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government is aware of a report concerning the detention of Zhang Yadi, and the case concerning Gui Minhai in China. We continue to follow developments closely and regularly raise human rights concerns with the Chinese authorities. The UK remains committed to promoting human rights and the rule of law globally.
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, whether she has had recent discussions with her counterpart in Ukraine on an extension of tariff-free access for Ukrainian (a) poultry and (b) egg products, which is due to expire in March 2026.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The extension was raised by the Ukrainians during the Foreign Secretary's visit to Kyiv on 12 September. This information was relayed to the Department for Business and Trade who lead on the UK-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement including the question of the extension of provisions for eggs and poultry. The Department for Business and Trade have confirmed that they will review the options on egg and poultry tariffs before March 2026.