Wendy Morton MP: written questions
1974 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Diplomatic ServiceForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 11 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19317More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the oral contribution of the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs of 5 December 2024, Official Report, c
Answer: The Government is committed to strengthening consular services, including introducing a right to consular assistance in cases of human rights violations. My department is considering a package of measures to achieve this, which we will announce in due cou...
Answered 19 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordDevelopment Aid: ReviewsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 11 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19316More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when he expects Baroness Shafik’s strategic review of international development to be (a) completed and (b) published.
Answer: The Development Review has been submitted to the Foreign Secretary alongside the Global Impact and Economic Diplomacy reviews. The Development review is being considered by the Foreign Secretary and Minister for International Development. Consideration wi...
Answered 19 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordKosovo: Politics and GovernmentForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 11 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19315More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in (a) Kosovo and (b) countries neighbouring Kosovo.
Answer: The Foreign Secretary and I have engaged with counterparts in Kosovo and neighbouring states in the Western Balkans several times in recent months. With Kosovo, the Foreign Secretary messaged President Osmani on 30 November, and I spoke to Prime Minister ...
Answered 20 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordBelarus: SanctionsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 11 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19314More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of UK sanctions on Belarus.
Answer: Sanctions are carefully targeted to increase pressure over time. We regularly review our sanctions in order to maintain effectiveness. We therefore reserve the right to introduce further measures so that the Lukashenko regime continues to feel the consequ...
Answered 19 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordBBC World Service: Foreign RelationsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 11 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19313More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the BBC World Service on UK soft power and diplomacy.
Answer: The former UN Secretary-General described the BBC World Service as 'perhaps Britain's greatest gift to the world'. Independent studies show that the BBC's global reputation contributes to perceptions of the UK as an attractive and trusted country. Against...
Answered 19 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordSyria: British Nationals AbroadForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 11 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19312More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many British nationals were in Syria on 11 December 2024.
Answer: We are aware British nationals are located in Syria. Due to the shifting circumstances on the ground, we are not in a position to provide numbers.
Answered 17 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordSyria: Development AidForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 11 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19311More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to support (a) public institutions and (b) the civil service in Syria.
Answer: The UK has been at the forefront of the response to the fast moving events in Syria, speaking regularly to regional and other partners about the situation. These early discussions have focused on protecting civilians, including minorities, and moving quic...
Answered 19 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordSyria: Religious FreedomForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 11 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19310More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to support freedom of religion or belief for religious minorities in Syria.
Answer: The UK has consistently underlined the importance of protecting all civilians in Syria, including religious and ethnic minorities, publicly and in its engagement with regional and international partners. We are closely monitoring the treatment of religiou...
Answered 19 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordSyria: WomenForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 11 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19309More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help ensure access to education for women and girls in Syria.
Answer: Support to women and girls is at the heart of the UK's policy and programmes in Syria, including through active engagement with women's rights activists, women-led organisations and women involved in the political process. Over the 2023-24 financial year,...
Answered 24 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordSyria: Women's RightsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 11 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19308More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help safeguard the rights of women and girls in Syria.
Answer: Support to women and girls is at the heart of the UK's policy and programmes in Syria, including through active engagement with women's rights activists, women-led organisations and women involved in the political process. Over the 2023-24 financial year,...
Answered 24 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordSyria: Humanitarian AidForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 11 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19307More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps he is taking to ensure access of humanitarian aid into Syria.
Answer: The UK is calling on all parties to support humanitarian access, including access and protection for humanitarian workers in all regions of Syria. We are working closely with humanitarian and international partners to monitor the situation, assess impacts...
Answered 24 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordSyria: Humanitarian AidForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 11 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19306More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the humanitarian situation in Syria.
Answer: The UK is calling on all parties to support humanitarian access, including access and protection for humanitarian workers in all regions of Syria. We are working closely with humanitarian and international partners to get a fuller picture of the situation...
Answered 17 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordSyria: Peacekeeping OperationsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 11 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19305More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help secure a peaceful political process in Syria.
Answer: The UK has been at the forefront of the response to fast moving events in Syria, speaking regularly to regional and other partners about the situation. The Foreign Secretary has spoken to the UN Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria and a numbe...
Answered 24 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordSyria: Armed ConflictForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 11 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 19304More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in the Middle East on the situation in Syria.
Answer: The UK has been at the forefront of the response to fast moving events in Syria, speaking regularly to regional and other partners about the situation. The Foreign Secretary has spoken to the UN Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria and a numbe...
Answered 24 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordMauritius: TreatiesForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 10 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18944More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what his planned timetable is for laying the agreement with Mauritius before Parliament for ratification.
Answer: Following signature, the Treaty will be laid before Parliament in the usual way, consistent with the Constitutional Reform and Governance (CraG) Act 2010. The Government also intends to bring forward a Bill to implement the Treaty in domestic law, as soon...
Answered 18 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordSudan: Humanitarian AidForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 9 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18873More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the oral contribution of the Minister for Development in response to the Rt hon. Member for Aldridge-Brownhills during the Oral Statement of 28 November 202
Answer: I have raised the issue of humanitarian access with key regional actors, including during my visit to South Sudan and Ethiopia in August, as well as in bilateral engagements with Egypt at the Humanitarian Forum in Cairo in December. The Foreign Secretary ...
Answered 2 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordAsylum: HotelsHome OfficeTabled 9 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18555More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum seekers were housed in hotels as of 30 November 2024.
Answer: This Government inherited an asylum system under unprecedented strain, with thousands stuck in a backlog without their claims being processed.The Home Secretary took immediate action by restarting asylum processing and scrapping the unworkable Rwanda poli...
Answered 17 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordAsylum: HotelsHome OfficeTabled 9 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18554More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum hotels were opened in (a) July, (b) August, (c) September, (d) October and (e) November 2024.
Answer: This Government inherited an asylum system under unprecedented strain, with thousands stuck in a backlog without their claims being processed.The Home Secretary took immediate action by restarting asylum processing and scrapping the unworkable Rwanda poli...
Answered 17 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordAsylum: HotelsHome OfficeTabled 9 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 18553More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum hotels had been closed as of 4 July 2024.
Answer: This Government inherited an asylum system under unprecedented strain, with thousands stuck in a backlog without their claims being processed.The Home Secretary took immediate action by restarting asylum processing and scrapping the unworkable Rwanda poli...
Answered 17 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordChina: SanctionsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 5 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17541More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of UK sanctions on Chinese (a) people and (b) businesses.
Answer: UK sanctions are designed and targeted to deter and disrupt malign behaviour, and to demonstrate our defence of fundamental principles, including democracy, human rights and the rule of law. The FCDO regularly reviews the effectiveness and impact of our s...
Answered 11 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordTsai Ing-wenForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 3 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17543More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to facilitate an inward visit to the UK from former President of Taiwan, Tsai Ing-wen.
Answer: The UK's longstanding position on Taiwan has not changed. The UK does not have diplomatic relations with Taiwan but a strong unofficial relationship based on deep and growing ties in a wide range of areas and underpinned by shared democratic values. There...
Answered 11 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordGhana: ElectionsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 3 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17542More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of Russian interference in the upcoming Ghanaian general election.
Answer: Foreign actors, including Russia, attempt to use information manipulation and interference to manipulate social discourse, skew national and international debates on subjects of critical importance, and try to undermine democratic institutions and nationa...
Answered 6 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordGaza: Hostage TakingForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 3 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17540More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with the incoming US Administration on securing the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.
Answer: Whilst we have not had any official discussions with the incoming US administration regarding the release of hostages, our position remains clear. It is appalling that hostages taken by Hamas terrorists on 7 October are still being held captive, including...
Answered 17 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordGambling: TaxationDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 3 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17539More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact on charity lotteries of introducing a statutory levy on gambling operators.
Answer: As set out in the Government’s response to the consultation on the statutory levy, we will introduce a statutory levy charged to all licensed gambling operators. Society lotteries will be charged the levy at the lowest rate of 0.1%, in recognition of the ...
Answered 10 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordPrize Money: ResearchDepartment for Culture, Media and SportTabled 3 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17538More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she plans to publish research commissioned by her department to gather evidence about the (a) size and (b) nature of the prize draw sector.
Answer: The Department is still considering the findings of the independent research, which looked at the size and nature of the prize draw market, as well as possible gambling harm associated with these products. This research is informing our policy considerati...
Answered 11 Dec 2024
Original Parliament record
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