Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the oral contribution made by the Minister of State for the FCDO, the hon. Member for Berwick-Upon-Tweed during the debate on International Child Abduction on 22 March 2023 (Official Report, vol 730, col 148WH) whether the hon. Member for Macclesfield has invited Members with concerns to discuss them with his Department at a policy level; and if he will make a statement.

The Government takes International parental child abduction very seriously. When a child has been abducted, our consular staff provide empathetic consular support to those affected, including to signpost them to relevant partner organisations. Following the issues raised in the debate on 22 March, consular staff are exploring with stakeholders what more we may be able to do. We will then seek to follow up with interested members in due course.