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Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 22 Jul 2025
Humanitarian Situation in Sudan

"It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Dr Huq. I congratulate the hon. Member for Huddersfield (Harpreet Uppal) on securing this important debate and on putting Sudan in the spotlight, where it needs to be. This war is the greatest humanitarian catastrophe since the advent of the modern …..."
Monica Harding - View Speech

View all Monica Harding (LD - Esher and Walton) contributions to the debate on: Humanitarian Situation in Sudan
Written Question
Armed Conflict: Minerals
Friday 18th July 2025

Asked by: Monica Harding (Liberal Democrat - Esher and Walton)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made with Cabinet colleagues of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to regulate the use of conflict minerals in UK supply chains.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK is committed to promoting responsible business practice to reduce and prevent human rights abuses. We work through a number of international mechanisms, including supporting the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Mineral Supply Chains. This enables business to continue to operate responsibly from conflict-affected and high-risk areas. The UK's new Critical Minerals Strategy will be published this summer and will help secure the supply of critical minerals that are vital for the UK's economic growth and clean energy transition, including tin, tantalum and tungsten, whilst promoting responsible and transparent supply chains.

Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 16 Jul 2025
Sudan

"The ongoing war in Sudan is the world’s largest humanitarian catastrophe and the biggest since aid began. I thank you, Mr Speaker, for granting this urgent question, but I regret that in the past seven months there has been only one statement on Sudan from the Government.

Local and community-led …..."
Monica Harding - View Speech

View all Monica Harding (LD - Esher and Walton) contributions to the debate on: Sudan
Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 15 Jul 2025
SEND Provision: South-east England

"Does my hon. Friend agree that we do not fix a financial problem by giving away a right? For many parents and families battling the system, an EHCP is the only protection that a child gets to a right to education...."
Monica Harding - View Speech

View all Monica Harding (LD - Esher and Walton) contributions to the debate on: SEND Provision: South-east England
Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 15 Jul 2025
SEND Provision: South-east England

"I thank my fellow Surrey MP for his thoughts. Last year, nearly half of Surrey’s high needs block of £122 million was spent supporting SEND places at non-maintained independent schools. Placing those children in state-maintained school is often half the cost. Does the hon. Gentleman not agree that we need …..."
Monica Harding - View Speech

View all Monica Harding (LD - Esher and Walton) contributions to the debate on: SEND Provision: South-east England
Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 15 Jul 2025
SEND Provision: South-east England

"In Surrey, for example, 1,800 children with special educational needs are missing education because there is no provision. They are sliding into poor mental health as a result, and that needs to stop. Does my hon. Friend agree?..."
Monica Harding - View Speech

View all Monica Harding (LD - Esher and Walton) contributions to the debate on: SEND Provision: South-east England
Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 15 Jul 2025
SEND Provision: South-east England

"Does my hon. Friend agree that it is very difficult to measure accountability in these schools? Where does accountability sit, and how do parents know that their children are achieving in those schools?..."
Monica Harding - View Speech

View all Monica Harding (LD - Esher and Walton) contributions to the debate on: SEND Provision: South-east England
Division Vote (Commons)
15 Jul 2025 - Welfare Spending - View Vote Context
Monica Harding (LD) voted No - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 64 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 0 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 106 Noes - 440
Division Vote (Commons)
15 Jul 2025 - Taxes - View Vote Context
Monica Harding (LD) voted Aye - in line with the party majority and against the House
One of 61 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 1 Liberal Democrat No votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 165 Noes - 342
Written Question
Armed Conflict: Gold
Tuesday 15th July 2025

Asked by: Monica Harding (Liberal Democrat - Esher and Walton)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with his Swiss counterparts on preventing the international trade in conflict gold illicitly mined in Africa.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Switzerland is crucial to tackling the illicit gold trade as it is a key global gold refining centre, home to the largest gold refiners in the world, and one of the global leaders in implementing multilateral gold standards. The Foreign Secretary has engaged closely with Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis on tackling illicit financial flows and corruption globally, and will hold further discussions to develop areas for strengthened collaboration and partnership.