Every parliamentary written question tabled by Iain Duncan Smith this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 161–180 of 217 · this parliament
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the Consular Assistance (Journalists) Bill.
The Government is considering its response to the Private Member's Bill "to make provision for a right to consular assistance for British journalists abroad who have been detained or held hostage; and for connected purposes" and will respond to the Parliamentary Business and Legislation Committee in due course.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will support legislative proposals to establish a legal right to consular assistance for British nationals.
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 course.
Media and Sport, whether she has had recent discussions with gambling (a) companies and (b) operators on (i) advertising to (A) children and (B) other vulnerable people and (ii) their compliance with advertising codes of conduct.
As the Gambling Minister set out in her speech at the GambleAware conference in December 2024, the industry has now been set a clear task to further raise standards to ensure that gambling advertising is appropriate, responsible, and does not exacerbate harm, and this work will be monitored closely.There are a range of robust rules in place to ensure that gambling adverts, wherever they appear, are socially responsible and do not target children. The ASA continues to closely monitor and enforce compliance but, if needed, can refer gambling operators’ advertising to the Gambling Commission which can and does take action.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has received representations from the Metropolitan Police on the called-in application for the proposed new Chinese embassy.
The FCDO has not received any representations from the Metropolitan Police on the called-in application for the proposed new Chinese embassy.
Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of a ban on gambling advertisements in video games PEGI rated 18 and under.
Gambling operators must ensure that their advertising is not targeted at children and must not appear in media created for children or for which children make up 25% or more of the audience. Operators must also ensure that they take all reasonable steps to use data available to exclude individuals on the basis of their age or other relevant criteria. These rules are required as part of the Gambling Commission’s Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice (LCCP). The ASA continues to closely monitor and enforce compliance but, if needed, can refer gambling operators’ advertising to the Gambling Commission which can and do take action. The ASA’s rulings on breaches of loot box advertising code requirements are available at: https://www.asa.org.uk/codes-and-rulings/rulings.htmlDCMS officials regularly meet the Advertising Standards Authority to discuss a range of issues, including its view on whether ads for apps, video games and other online products that feature random-item purchasing mechanisms sufficiently disclose this fact in the content of the advertisement. Through ‘Guidance on Advertising In-game Purchases’ and ASA rulings, the ASA system sets and applies standards to mitigate the potential for ads to mislead consumers about the cost of in-game purchases, whether games contain them, and how they might affect gameplay. The ASA’s sister body, the Committee of Advertising Practice, is currently deliberating whether and, if so, on what basis, to take further action in this aspect of its regulation.
If she will take steps to ensure that funds potentially owed by Roman Abramovich to HMRC are (a) investigated and (b) reclaimed.
I cannot comment on specific taxpayers or provide comment on individuals or businesses.However, at the Budget, the Government announced the most ambitious ever package to close the tax gap, to raise £6.5 billion in additional tax revenue per year by 2029-30.This includes recruiting 5,000 additional compliance staff to make sure people pay the tax that is due, including against serious offshore non-compliance and fraud by the wealthy. Offshore evasion is an international issue that calls for international solutionsThe UK is leading international efforts to improve global transparency and we are committed to ensuring everyone pays the right tax under the law, regardless of wealth or status.
Media and Sport, what steps she has taken with the Advertising Standards Authority to tackle online gambling advertisements (a) targeting children and (b) failing to disclose the presence of (i) loot boxes and (ii) other gambling-like features in mobile games.
Gambling operators must ensure that their advertising is not targeted at children and must not appear in media created for children or for which children make up 25% or more of the audience. Operators must also ensure that they take all reasonable steps to use data available to exclude individuals on the basis of their age or other relevant criteria. These rules are required as part of the Gambling Commission’s Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice (LCCP). The ASA continues to closely monitor and enforce compliance but, if needed, can refer gambling operators’ advertising to the Gambling Commission which can and do take action. The ASA’s rulings on breaches of loot box advertising code requirements are available at: https://www.asa.org.uk/codes-and-rulings/rulings.htmlDCMS officials regularly meet the Advertising Standards Authority to discuss a range of issues, including its view on whether ads for apps, video games and other online products that feature random-item purchasing mechanisms sufficiently disclose this fact in the content of the advertisement. Through ‘Guidance on Advertising In-game Purchases’ and ASA rulings, the ASA system sets and applies standards to mitigate the potential for ads to mislead consumers about the cost of in-game purchases, whether games contain them, and how they might affect gameplay. The ASA’s sister body, the Committee of Advertising Practice, is currently deliberating whether and, if so, on what basis, to take further action in this aspect of its regulation.
Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of revoking the gambling licenses of Greentube Alderney Limited.
As the independent regulator, it is the Gambling Commission’s duty to ensure that operators comply with the requirements set out in the Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice and to take appropriate regulatory action against those operators which fail to comply. The Gambling Commission has published its decision on regulatory action against Greentube Alderney Limited, and any decision on revoking Greentube Alderney Limited’s licence lies with them.
When he plans to commence the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024.
On 1st January of this year, the government commenced Parts 1, 2 and 5 of the Act, which brought into force, among other reforms, the new pro-competition regime for digital markets. The government intends to commence the Act’s consumer enforcement reforms and updated provisions on unfair commercial practices in April. Reforms to subscriptions contracts and alternative dispute resolution will follow later, with subscriptions reforms not commencing before Spring 2026. New savings schemes rules are planned to commence in January 2026. The new foreign state intervention (FSI) regime for newspapers and periodical news magazines, for which the Department for Culture, Media and Sport are the lead government department, commenced on 24 May 2024.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make representations to his counterpart in the United Arab Emirates to condemn the (a) detention of Ryan Cornelius in contravention of the ruling of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, (b) treatment of Ryan Cornelius in Al Awhir prison in contrary to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and (c) attempted coercion of Ryan Cornelius to sign a statement that he is well-treated in Al Awhir prison.
FCDO Ministers regularly raise consular cases with their foreign counterparts. The Foreign Secretary last discussed Ryan Cornelius' case with the UAE Foreign Minister in December 2024. The FCDO takes the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention's opinions seriously. While their recommendations are not legally binding, we will continue to highlight their concerns in discussions with UAE authorities. The FCDO are providing Mr Cornelius with consular assistance, and we take any reports of human rights violations, including coercion and poor prison conditions very seriously and, with the consent of Mr Cornelius, will raise any concerns with local authorities.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the information presented in the Hong Kong Legislative Council paper CB(2)1779/24-25(01) on 7 January 2025 and the reporting in Ming Pao on 8 January 2025, if he will (a) make an assessment of the potential impact of Hong Kong's Protection of Critical Infrastructure (Computer Systems) Bill on UK-based banks with (i) branches or offices based and (ii) electronic systems operating in Hong Kong and (b) take steps to protect those institutions from potential extraterritorial application of this legislation.
The British Consulate General liaises closely with UK businesses operating in Hong Kong regarding local regulatory developments, including in relation to the Protection of Critical Infrastructure (Computer Systems) Bill currently before the Hong Kong Legislative Council. We will continue to monitor developments closely as this legislation is finalised and becomes operational, and any potential impact it may have on UK business.
Media and Sport, if she will make an estimate of the number of high-street gambling operators in possession of non-remote bingo licenses that are operating as adult gambling centres.
As of 31 March 2024, there were 631 non-remote bingo premises in operation in Great Britain, according to the Gambling Commission’s November 2024 Industry Statistics.As set out in the Gambling Commission’s Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice, in licensed bingo premises, gaming machines may only be made available for use where there are also substantive facilities for non-remote bingo available in the premises. Non-remote bingo licensees must also ensure that the function and presentation of their premises are such that a customer can reasonably be expected to recognise that it is a premises licensed for the purposes of providing bingo facilities. These are conditions of non-remote bingo licences. To operate an adult gaming centre, operators require a “gaming machine general operating licence” for an adult gaming centre and an adult gaming centre premises licence.
Media and Sport, what progress she has made on the prevention framework under the statutory levy; and if she will take steps to ensure that prevention work is undertaken independently from (a) the gambling indust
As set out in the Government’s response to the consultation on the statutory levy, further consideration of the evidence is needed in order to appoint an appropriate body to lead the prevention strand of the levy system. We will confirm our decisions in d...
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made representations to his counterparts in the People’s Republic of China on the expulsion of the British press corps from the room in which Xi Jinping and th
Members of the press were present at the start of the meeting between the Prime Minister and President Xi Jingping on November 18. It is standard practice in diplomatic meetings for the press to remain in the room for opening remarks only, as was the case...
If she will use her discretionary powers to redirect a portion of the cash and cryptocurrency seized by the National Crime Agency in Operation Destabilise for the benefit of survivors of the war in Uk
Operation Destabilise is an NCA-led operation, which has so far resulted in over £20 million in cash and cryptocurrency being seized. The allocation of recovered criminal funds under POCA is governed by the Asset Recovery Incentivisation Scheme (ARIS), a ...
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the 1972 Communique on the Agreement between the Government of the People’s Republic of China and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
The UK's longstanding position on Taiwan, as set out in the 1972 Communique, has not changed and remains the position of this Government.
If she will use her discretionary powers to redirect a portion of the £783,827 recovered from Petr Aven to support survivors of the conflict in Ukraine.
The NCA secured a forfeiture of Petr Aven’s funds after breaches of sanctions regulations. The allocation of forfeited funds under POCA is governed by the Asset Recovery Incentivisation Scheme (ARIS), a discretionary funding model that allocates returned ...
If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to place on a statutory footing the ability to redirect a portion of funds recovered from sanctions violations penalti
The Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) is responsible for issuing civil monetary penalties for breaches of financial sanctions. OFSI maintains a robust and effective toolkit for responding to breaches of financial sanctions, of which mone...
Whether she has made an assessment of the implications for her policies of reports that Chinese companies have registered more than 30,000 companies at UK addresses where the registered owners have no connection to
DBT and Companies House are moving at pace to implement the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2024, a principal purpose of which is to strengthen the powers of the Registrar of Companies to bear down on the abuse of corporate structures in the...
Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of a ban on gambling (a) sponsorship and (b) advertising in football.
As the Minister for Gambling set out in her speech at the GambleAware conference on 4 December, we want to see the gambling industry further raise standards to ensure that levels of gambling advertising does not exacerbate harm. This work will be monitore...