Defending the UK and Allies Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

Defending the UK and Allies

Mary Kelly Foy Excerpts
Monday 15th January 2024

(3 months, 3 weeks ago)

Commons Chamber
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Nigel Evans Portrait Mr Deputy Speaker
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Can we focus on the questions, please?

Mary Kelly Foy Portrait Mary Kelly Foy (City of Durham) (Lab)
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Only a handful of MPs have had the chance to scrutinise the Foreign Secretary since his appointment last year. In fact, news presenters have had more opportunities to scrutinise him than we have. Parliament is supposed to be sovereign, and we must be able to scrutinise major decisions, such as last week’s air strikes. What steps is the Prime Minister taking to ensure that we in this House can scrutinise the Foreign Secretary, and debate and vote on military action?

Rishi Sunak Portrait The Prime Minister
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My right hon. Friend the Member for Sutton Coldfield (Mr Mitchell) has made regular statements over the past couple of months on foreign affairs. I am here answering questions about last week’s actions, and the Procedure Committee is actively looking at how we ensure proper accountability and scrutiny— I gave evidence on that particular topic to the Liaison Committee in December.