Asked by: John Glen (Conservative - Salisbury)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what outcomes were agreed during the UK Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief’s visit to Nigeria in May 2026.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
During his visit to Nigeria in May 2026, the UK's Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB), David Smith MP, met senior Nigerian government representatives, including the National Security Adviser, Governor of Plateau State and Minister for Information. He engaged a broad cross-section of senior Muslim and Christian religious leaders including the Sultan of Sokoto and President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, and Nigerian-led civil society and peacebuilding partners.
Discussions highlighted the importance of interfaith engagement in addressing violence affecting individuals of all religions or beliefs, alongside wider drivers including land, resource and ethnic tensions. The Special Envoy also raised concerns about the misuse of blasphemy and Sharia laws, including the cases of Yahiya Sharif Aminu and Deborah Samuel, and observed examples of peaceful inter-religious coexistence. The UK will continue working with the Nigerian government and international partners to protect FoRB for individuals of all faiths or beliefs in Nigeria.
Asked by: John Glen (Conservative - Salisbury)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the UK–EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement on the farming sector.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government is negotiating the SPS Agreement to make agrifood trade with our biggest market easier, cheaper, and quicker. Details of the agreement are subject to ongoing negotiations with EU, but our clear priority is cutting costs and removing barriers so British producers can trade with confidence.
Asked by: John Glen (Conservative - Salisbury)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with the Government of Iraq on adults from religious minority communities in Iraq being assigned a religious status on civil status documents that does not reflect their chosen religion or belief.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is firmly committed to protecting ethnic and religious minorities in Iraq and promoting Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB). It is against Iraqi law for adults, including those from religious minority communities, to be assigned a religious status that does not reflect their chosen religion or belief. Through our diplomatic presence, the UK regularly monitors and raises these issues with the Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government and engages actively with civil society organisations. The UK recognises Iraq as a FoRB priority country, and this is reflected throughout our programme work in Iraq.
Asked by: John Glen (Conservative - Salisbury)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps she has taken to ensure that consolidated tape architecture does not create single points of failure in UK market infrastructure in the context of the Financial Conduct Authority consultation on the framework for a UK equity consolidated tape.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The FCA is responsible for protecting and enhancing the integrity of the UK financial system, and making sure that markets are effective, efficient and reliable.
The FCA have published a discussion paper, including analysis, on the levels of lit and dark trading in the UK, which can be found in Chapter 4.
CP25/20: Consultation Paper on the SI regime for bonds and derivatives
The previous government legislated to give the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) responsibility for the policy design and the procurement process of a UK consolidated tape. The FCA consulted on the policy design of an equities tape in November 2025, including the importance of operating to high standards of operational resilience. As noted in the FCA consultation, an equities tape aims to help market participants to understand the full picture of UK liquidity.
CP25/31: The framework for a UK equity consolidated tape
Asked by: John Glen (Conservative - Salisbury)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the proportion of equity trading taking place on lit markets on perceptions of capital market liquidity.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The FCA is responsible for protecting and enhancing the integrity of the UK financial system, and making sure that markets are effective, efficient and reliable.
The FCA have published a discussion paper, including analysis, on the levels of lit and dark trading in the UK, which can be found in Chapter 4.
CP25/20: Consultation Paper on the SI regime for bonds and derivatives
The previous government legislated to give the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) responsibility for the policy design and the procurement process of a UK consolidated tape. The FCA consulted on the policy design of an equities tape in November 2025, including the importance of operating to high standards of operational resilience. As noted in the FCA consultation, an equities tape aims to help market participants to understand the full picture of UK liquidity.
CP25/31: The framework for a UK equity consolidated tape
Asked by: John Glen (Conservative - Salisbury)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of trends in the level of the proportion of equity trading taking place on lit markets.
Answered by Lucy Rigby - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The FCA is responsible for protecting and enhancing the integrity of the UK financial system, and making sure that markets are effective, efficient and reliable.
The FCA have published a discussion paper, including analysis, on the levels of lit and dark trading in the UK, which can be found in Chapter 4.
CP25/20: Consultation Paper on the SI regime for bonds and derivatives
The previous government legislated to give the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) responsibility for the policy design and the procurement process of a UK consolidated tape. The FCA consulted on the policy design of an equities tape in November 2025, including the importance of operating to high standards of operational resilience. As noted in the FCA consultation, an equities tape aims to help market participants to understand the full picture of UK liquidity.
CP25/31: The framework for a UK equity consolidated tape
Asked by: John Glen (Conservative - Salisbury)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with international counterparts on the case of Father Pereira; and what representations she has made to her Indian counterpart on freedom of religion or belief.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Our High Commission in New Delhi, along with our network of Deputy High Commissions, monitors the human rights situation in India closely, including issues affecting Christian communities. We also engage with civil society and faith leaders to support efforts to promote tolerance and respect between communities.
Asked by: John Glen (Conservative - Salisbury)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer to Question UIN 123141, of 31 March 2026, if she knows when the OBR expect to publish their first set of areas of research interest.
Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has full discretion over the timing of its publication programme.
The November 2025 Economic and Fiscal Outlook stated that the OBR will be publishing its first set of areas of research interest in the coming months.
Asked by: John Glen (Conservative - Salisbury)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he expects the financial report for the Infected Blood Inquiry for the financial year 2025-2026 to be published.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
We expect the Inquiry, which has now formally completed its work, to publish its final financial report soon
Asked by: John Glen (Conservative - Salisbury)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the state of freedom of religion or belief in Somalia; and whether this issue is systematically raised in the UK’s engagement with the Government of Somalia.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Hon Member to the answer given on 6 August 2025 to Question 68009.