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 she has made of the potential implications for her policy of the reconstruction in Syria.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
On the reconstruction challenges facing Syria, I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 4 June in response to Question 5915. The UK provided £104 million to Syria for financial year 2025/26, funding life-saving humanitarian assistance, as well as support for Syria's longer-term recovery.
On the specific issue of food security, the World Food Programme reports that conditions are gradually improving. However, more than 80 per cent of Syrian families are still unable to reliably access enough nutritious food. This assessment helps shape UK support through our agriculture and humanitarian assistance programmes, which aim to improve food security, support livelihoods and strengthen resilience.
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 she has made of the implications for her policies of current levels of food security in Syria.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
On the reconstruction challenges facing Syria, I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 4 June in response to Question 5915. The UK provided £104 million to Syria for financial year 2025/26, funding life-saving humanitarian assistance, as well as support for Syria's longer-term recovery.
On the specific issue of food security, the World Food Programme reports that conditions are gradually improving. However, more than 80 per cent of Syrian families are still unable to reliably access enough nutritious food. This assessment helps shape UK support through our agriculture and humanitarian assistance programmes, which aim to improve food security, support livelihoods and strengthen resilience.
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 she has made of the impact of UK aid cuts on the spread of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Further to the answer provided on 8 June in response to Question 5558, the UK has now allocated up to £26.9 million to support the Africa-led Ebola response in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda and to accelerate scientific and medical research in relation to this outbreak.
This reflects the Government's modernised development approach, both in the affected region and throughout the world: using UK finance, expertise and diplomacy to support local leadership and strengthen health systems.
Through partnerships with the World Health Organisation, Unicef, the Africa Centre for Disease Control, and national governments, we are also supporting regional preparedness initiatives, including in South Sudan, Zambia and Burundi, to help build more resilient health systems and strengthen health security across the region.
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 she has made of the impact of UK aid cuts on health systems in central and southern Africa.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Further to the answer provided on 8 June in response to Question 5558, the UK has now allocated up to £26.9 million to support the Africa-led Ebola response in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda and to accelerate scientific and medical research in relation to this outbreak.
This reflects the Government's modernised development approach, both in the affected region and throughout the world: using UK finance, expertise and diplomacy to support local leadership and strengthen health systems.
Through partnerships with the World Health Organisation, Unicef, the Africa Centre for Disease Control, and national governments, we are also supporting regional preparedness initiatives, including in South Sudan, Zambia and Burundi, to help build more resilient health systems and strengthen health security across the region.
Asked by: Monica Harding (Liberal Democrat - Esher and Walton)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the increase in the probate application fee to £526 on bereaved families, in the context of current costs of living, including on those whose estates lack sufficient liquid assets to meet that fee before a grant of probate is issued.
Answered by Catherine Atkinson
The Government recognises that applying for probate can be a difficult process for bereaved families. Before introducing the increase in the probate application fee to £526, the Ministry of Justice undertook a full Impact Assessment, including an assessment of the equalities impacts of the change in line with its obligations under the Public Sector Equality Duty. This was published alongside the Court and Tribunal Fees (Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2026 on 19 June 2026. This fee increase is intended to recover the cost of delivering the probate service, taking account of rising costs from inflation and investment in a modern and efficient service and ensuring that the service has the resources necessary to continue to deliver effectively. Estates valued below £5,000 will continue to be exempt from paying a fee.
For those who may be unable to afford a fee, the Help with Fees remission scheme remains available to eligible applicants. In addition, where an applicant does not qualify for Help with Fees, they may ask court or tribunal staff to exercise the Lord Chancellor’s exceptional power to remit fees. This ensures that no one is denied access to justice because they cannot reasonably afford a court or tribunal fee.
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 progress has been made by the Sudan Atrocity Prevention Coalition to ensure justice for the people of Sudan.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK-launched Coalition on Atrocity Prevention and Justice in Sudan brings together international partners to support justice, accountability, and local peacebuilding and protection efforts in Sudan, including calling for the protection of civilians where risks are clear.
Most recently, for example, the Coalition came together on 18 June at the UN Human Rights Council, to call on the Rapid Support Forces to pull back immediately from their offensive in El Obeid, and for the warring parties to urgently de-escalate, allow civilians to leave safely, and let aid in.
Through the Coalition and wider UK action, we are supporting Sudanese human rights defenders to document and preserve evidence of atrocities, coordinating sanctions against those responsible, and backing international mechanisms including the UN Fact-Finding Mission and the International Criminal Court to ensure perpetrators are held to account.
Asked by: Monica Harding (Liberal Democrat - Esher and Walton)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of children who turn nine months old shortly after the term-time eligibility deadline for 30-hour free childcare on families; how many young children turned nine-months of age within one month after this deadline in March 2026; and whether she is considering the potential merits of reviewing this issue as part of the proposed reform to childcare.
Answered by Olivia Bailey
The government’s Plan for Change sets out a commitment to give children the best start in life, breaking the link between background and opportunity.
Children become eligible for an early education and childcare place from 1 September, 1 January or 1 April, the term following them reaching nine months old.
Termly deadlines enable local authorities and childcare providers to better plan and ensure sufficient early years places are available, as there are clear periods for when children are likely to enter into a place.
The department does not hold data on the number of children who turned nine-months of age within one month after this deadline in March 2026.
We have committed to a Childcare and Early Education Review which will look at how to improve access to early education and care, making the system simpler for families and delivering a coherent offer.
Asked by: Monica Harding (Liberal Democrat - Esher and Walton)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the difference in pet ownership rights of leaseholders and tenants in rental properties, specifically regarding the provisions in the Renter’s Rights Act that prevent landlords issuing blanket bans on pets on equality of treatment between different forms of property ownership; and whether the Government will introduce measures to ensure leaseholders have equivalent rights to keep pets in their properties.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The government recognises that pets can bring joy and comfort to their owners, as well as supporting their mental and physical wellbeing.
At present, the ability of a leaseholder to keep a pet will depend on the terms of their lease. Where a given lease restricts the keeping of pets, variation of the lease to enable leaseholders to have a pet may only be made by agreement with the freeholder.
The government is considering the rights of leaseholders to keep pets as part of its leasehold and commonhold reform agenda.
Asked by: Monica Harding (Liberal Democrat - Esher and Walton)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the Government plans to bring forward legislative proposals to prevent leasehold agreements from imposing blanket bans on pet ownership where similar restrictions would not be permitted under the Renters’ Rights Act.
Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The government recognises that pets can bring joy and comfort to their owners, as well as supporting their mental and physical wellbeing.
At present, the ability of a leaseholder to keep a pet will depend on the terms of their lease. Where a given lease restricts the keeping of pets, variation of the lease to enable leaseholders to have a pet may only be made by agreement with the freeholder.
The government is considering the rights of leaseholders to keep pets as part of its leasehold and commonhold reform agenda.
Asked by: Monica Harding (Liberal Democrat - Esher and Walton)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the impact of the continued freeze on Local Housing Allowance on (a) Elmbridge Borough Council and (b) other high-cost rental areas.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government) (Equalities)
The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions reviewed Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates and confirmed in his written ministerial statement on 26th November 2025 that rates would be maintained at their current levels for 2026/27.
Renters facing a shortfall in meeting their housing costs can apply for discretionary support through the Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) Housing Payments from local authorities in England.