Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of the role of independence in the work of local Healthwatch organisations.

I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answers provided by Baroness Chapman to Questions HL16168 (on 27 April), HL199 (on 2nd June) and HL621 (on 17 June).

The Government is aware of the incident in question. The Egyptian Government has stated a firm commitment to protect the rights of Coptic Christians and their freedom of worship, and protections for freedom of religion are mandated in the Egyptian constitution. The UK champions freedom of religion or belief for all and regularly discusses human rights concerns with the Government of Egypt and international counterparts, and will continue to do so, where appropriate. His Majesty's Ambassador to Cairo also frequently engages with faith leaders in Egypt.