Stephen Doughty
MP for Cardiff South and Penarth · Labour (Co-op) · United Kingdom
“The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right to set out the situation, the threats and the impact on our economy. Across this House, we share a desire to get the strait reopened.”
“I thank my hon. Friend for his sustained and continued advocacy on behalf of his constituent, which is deeply powerful. I know it is of concern to many Members across this House. Despite some progress in Mr Johal’s legal proceedings, eight of the cases against him remain outstanding.”
“I share the hon. Gentleman’s horror at some of the things we have seen going on in those illegal settlements, and we have absolutely condemned the settler violence—the settler terrorism—that we have seen.”
“I pay tribute to our Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office consular teams, particularly for their current work on the Nepal-China flooding crisis. It is also important to pay tribute to the work they do to support the thousands of British nationals who are arrested or detained abroad each year.”
“If I may, Mr Speaker, I want to start by acknowledging the devastating floods in Nepal. I know many Members are supporting constituents who have been affected by this tragedy, and our intention remains to support British nationals and the people of Nepal.”
“The right hon. Gentleman raises important cases. I can assure him that we continue to support the clemency applications of Ryan Cornelius and Charles Ridley and to raise their case with the UAE authorities. In fact, I did so recently; the former Foreign Secretary did so as well and has met the families. As the right hon.”
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“As part of our response to Russia’s illegal and barbarous war in Ukraine, the United Kingdom has sanctioned more than 3,300 individuals and entities under the Russian sanctions regime, with more than 1,300 of those delivered under this Government. Only last month, we introduced a new package that sanctioned 18 individuals and entities under the UK’s Russia sanctions regulations, including cryptocurrency exchanges active in Russia, and entities and individuals that we suspect are linked to the UK-sanctioned A7 network, which has embedded itself in the Kyrgyz financial sector. This instrument marks a further step in the UK’s sustained effort to erode Russia’s ability to fund its illegal, full-scale invasion, ramping up pressure on Putin’s war chest.”
“We all stand united with Ukraine in this Committee, and our thoughts are with all those affected by those terrible actions. This statutory instrument was laid on 19 May under the powers in the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018; its measures, subject to the affirmative parliamentary procedure, entered into force on 20 May. Since coming to power, the Government have been clear that Russia must not be allowed to succeed in its illegal war, and we have been steadfast in our support of Ukraine. Russia represents a threat not just to Ukraine, but to the whole of Europe, including the United Kingdom and our allies.”
“I beg to move, That the Committee has considered the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) Regulations 2026. These regulations amend the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019. Before I begin, I want to place on the record—I am sure this is shared by all colleagues—our utter horror at the attacks meted out by Russia in Ukraine yet again, in the past 24 hours. The attack on the monastery in Kyiv was particularly despicable, as were the deaths of civilians across Ukraine. Those appallingly barbarous actions show the whole House and the whole world again what Russia continues to be capable of. This morning, I was able to convey that horror and our solidarity and support to the Chairman of the Rada, Ruslan Stefanchuk, who was here as a guest of Mr Speaker and has been meeting right hon. and hon. Members across the House.”
“I assure him that we aim for the sanctions to have the biggest impact, and that there are not loopholes or ways for anyone in any part of the United Kingdom to get around them. That is also true for our overseas territories and Crown dependencies, with which I work closely to ensure that their sanctions legislation is fit for purpose. We have strong working between different teams to make sure not only that we understand what we need to put in place legally but, crucially, that enforcement takes place. Having visited the port in my constituency, I know the work that goes on to check and make sure that vessels do not appear on lists of sanctioned vessels. I am sure that that is also the case in Northern Ireland, and across other EU partners.”
“Alongside Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office teams, I met EU officials today to establish where we can unify efforts to have the maximum impact. Although the United Kingdom can have a huge impact, it is important to act with others as that will have the biggest hit to Putin’s war chest. On the topic of the EU, the hon. and learned Member for North Antrim asked about the Windsor framework. I am happy to write to him on the technicalities, but I do not want to mislead him. All the sanctions regulations came in as a result of us leaving the EU sanctions regime as part of Brexit and our having wider obligations, so I suspect that the language in that paragraph is standard. I cannot think of specific obligations, but I will certainly write to him with the technical detail.”
“On the end date, as I set out to his colleague, Lord Purvis, that will remain under constant review; if there is an earlier opportunity, we will seek to take it, subject to the four-month notification period provision set out in the original licence. The hon. Gentleman also asked whether notifications of people using the existing licence have been made. Some notifications have been made but the numbers are extremely low, which was one of the factors we took into consideration when looking at how the licence was operating. As he will understand, it would not be right for me to comment on individual companies, as there may be commercial confidentiality provisions. I assure him that we constantly look at and keep under review any UK nexuses, or any other way in which services are used, and that we work closely with other partners to do so.”
“We intend to take further measures in this place, but we have had a steady drumbeat of designations and actions, each of which has to be evidenced and based on clear legal parameters. I absolutely assure him that we are closely across the practice of false flagging and re-flagging vessels, which is one of the tactics that Russia, as well as other countries, has used to avoid scrutiny. The hon. Member for Bicester and Woodstock raised some important points. He asked whether I would deposit certain letters and correspondence in the Library. My understanding is that those were private, but I will certainly look at whether I can do that, given that the Government have now publicly announced the measures that I set out.”
“The shadow Minister rightly pointed out the importance of investing in nuclear. That is exactly what the Government are doing, including, I am pleased to say, in Wales—my part of the United Kingdom. Announcements were made recently. We can also see the investment in the Hinkley plant, which will bring huge benefits. We are clear that investing in nuclear, renewables and a robust, resilient energy system that does not rely on the likes of Putin—or anybody else—is the way forward, and we work with partners on that. The hon. Gentleman asked about the other exemptions, saying that they are narrowly construed. I am happy to write to him with some more technical detail, but I assure him in general terms that we aim to make sure that none of those matters can be circumvented in an unreasonable way. He also asked about the shadow fleet.”
“The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero and others have been very clear: expanding drilling in the North sea will not lower bills or improve energy security. That short-sighted approach would leave the UK exposed to volatile global gas prices. Gas prices are set internationally, so having new North sea licences would not take a penny off of bills and would potentially make people more vulnerable. We are looking at making better use of existing North sea infrastructure, such as the range of measures we are taking around what are known as “tie-backs”. We will always act in the interests of British consumers, in relation to both the challenges of climate change and making sure that we have security of supply. The regulations are not one policy on their own, but sit within a range of different measures.”
“I gently caution the shadow Minister on his question about loopholes. There is not a loophole. There was a loophole, prior to our bringing in this legislation—that is why we have sought to introduce it. I have called for this for a very long time, as have many Members. The Liberal Democrat spokesperson, the hon. Member for Bicester and Woodstock, was right to point out his noble Friend Lord Purvis’s assiduous advocacy on the issue over many years. The situation did allow these products before and but they will not be allowed now. It is only right that this is phased in appropriately, and we have set out clearly how we intend to do that. The shadow Minister, the hon. Member for Fylde, raised a point about wider energy supplies and went back to arguments used on the Floor of the House a few times about the North sea.”
“I genuinely appreciate the scrutiny in the questions raised by hon. Members. I appreciate the wholehearted support for the package as a whole from the shadow Minister. He asked me about further operations, but he will understand that I will not get into those here. But let us be clear that we sent a strong signal with the action over the weekend—the Prime Minister has been absolutely clear about the intent. We will act lawfully to take measures in relation to the shadow fleet, so that is a very clear signal. This is not the first time we have been involved in such operations; we have supported partners and allies on a range of vessels operating outwith international law in relation to sanctions evasion. But this was the first time when we were in the lead and took action in the channel.”
“The regulations are an important step forward and I hope the Committee will support them. I commend them to the Committee. Question put and agreed to. Resolved, That the Committee has considered the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) Regulations 2026.”
“Of course. As I said, I do not want to mislead the Committee: if there is something more technical in that language, but I will happily copy the hon. Gentleman into my correspondence. I assure him that we work closely with EU partners, including the Republic of Ireland, to establish whether anybody can use any routes around the measures. We co-operate closely with those authorities generally, including on the security of the waters around our islands, which is crucial. When we see Russian ships and other vessels attempting to transit, we need to ensure that that is being done lawfully. As colleagues will be aware, ships have the right to innocent passage under international maritime law, but where that is not adhered to we need to look for any possible loophole.”
“If I have not replied to any specific points, I am very happy to write to hon. Members afterwards, but, in conclusion, I want to reassure Members that this remains a major priority. This summit will happen, and it will have tangible, important announcements to make about our commitment here at home and about what we are doing overseas. We will make sure that that has a legacy that impacts into the future, particularly as we enter an important year regarding the G20. I thank everybody for their contributions.”
“Member for North Norfolk quite rightly asked what we are doing with people who fail to comply. Let me be clear on that: verification of directors and persons with significant control is mandatory. Individuals who fail to comply in this country may face financial penalties, disqualification or, indeed, criminal sanctions. We are also clear that overseas entities on the UK register of overseas entities and register of persons with significant control must comply with our beneficial ownership requirements. We are taking every step possible. Of course, it is for enforcement agencies to follow up on these things, but we are very clear on this, and Companies House is actively identifying non-compliance and working with partners across Government and law enforcement to ensure that entities meet their obligations.”
“Members that that is under regular review, and that we certainly do not want to see Putin or his regime gain any kind of bonanza from this. We have been clear from the start that we are doing a huge amount to tackle the issue of asset recovery. In fact, in 2024-25, asset recovery from proceeds of crime was up by 31%, with £284.5 million recovered. We continue to be very ambitious in those strategies. We are also doing a huge amount, as I said, on the enablers—that was touched on by a number of people—and that new approach by the FCA will ensure that we have the powers to take a coherent, effective and impactful approach to supervision. In the remaining time—I am trying to work out how long I have, Sir Roger; I will keep going until you shout “Order”—the hon.”
“I have said a lot about the action in relation to Russia, which the shadow Minister asked me about, but she also asked about Iran. We have a range of measures in this regard: ramping up disruptions of UK-connected Iranian networks, increasing enforcement actions against Iranian organised crime and sanctions-circumvention networks and indeed dissolving companies registered in the UK for facilitating financing to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The shadow Minister also asked about the related sanctions issue. To be very clear, we are not watering down existing sanctions; we are introducing new sanctions in relation to refined oil and liquefied natural gas, but naturally with a phased-in strategy to ensure that we can wind down existing contracts and others. I can assure hon.”
“and hon. Members’ speeches is the British Virgin Islands. I want to reassure colleagues that I have raised those concerns directly with the Premier and other agencies in the British Virgin Islands in recent weeks. All options remain on the table if we do not see the sort of progress that we need, because, as been rightly pointed out, this is an issue not only about financial transparency and global economic stability, but about the national security of this country and the global British family. When it comes to the threats posed by Russia, Iran and many other malevolent actors—let alone serious and organised crime—we have to adhere to the highest standards. I have conveyed that to the Premier and the authorities in BVI in the strongest terms and I will update the House in due course.”
“Friend the Member for Rother Valley (Jake Richards) and, indeed, the anti-corruption champion, Baroness Hodge, said in relation to the Crown dependencies. As I am also Minister for overseas territories, I am glad that there was recognition of the progress made in Gibraltar, Saint Helena, Montserrat. We have legitimate interest to access registers in the Cayman Islands, the Turks and Caicos Islands and the British Virgin Islands; progress has also been made in Anguilla. However, I recognise the serious concerns that colleagues have raised about whether some of the measures go far enough. I am in regular dialogue with the elected Governments in the overseas territories, and I have made clear the progress that we expect to make and our disappointment at some of the backsliding we have seen. One location that came up in many right hon.”
“That is on top of the National Crime Agency’s Operation Destabilise, which exposed and disrupted high-harm Russian money laundering networks supporting serious and organised crime around the world. That led to 84 arrests—many are already serving prison sentences—and we seized over £20 million in cash and cryptocurrency. That is tangible progress that is being made, which is important to reflect on. I pay tribute to all the law enforcement officers and experts who were involved in that. Members have rightly raised points about the overseas territories and Crown dependencies. I have spoken about that issue on many occasions in this House, and Members will have heard what the Justice Minister, my hon.”
“And we did not stop there: at the Berlin process summit, we targeted a number of entities including criminal gangs that are driving people smuggling across the western Balkans. We are also working through bodies such as the International Anti-Corruption Coordination Centre, which has identified and frozen billions of pounds of stolen assets globally. We are looking at every way in which evasion is going on and new networks are being used, which includes the evasion of Russian sanctions by those exploiting cryptoassets and complex financial routes. Members will have seen our announcements in recent weeks on that as well as the closing down of crypto exchanges and other means by which illicit finance is being used to fuel the war in Ukraine.”
“We are using a range of measures on everything from sanctions to exposures of different networks that are moving money around, particularly in new technological ways; for example, by using crypto. As an example of that, colleagues will be aware that in October 2025 and March 2026 we sanctioned the Prince Group and its enablers. It is responsible for a huge network of scam centres in south-east Asia that exploit trafficked workers to defraud victims on a global scale, including on the streets here in the United Kingdom and undoubtedly in every one of our constituencies. Our sanctions froze £127 million-worth of UK property and triggered a wave of investigations and arrests across the region. We also launched the world’s first dedicated sanctions regime targeting irregular migration.”
“That important document included an additional £15 million to expand the domestic corruption unit and improve investigation—the shadow Minister asked about the resourcing across Government and agencies for that. This does not mean that we cannot do more; we will always seek to bring more effort to bear on this. It is important that this is a cross-Government and cross-Agency effort, and that it is not just one Department. We are also working on a new anti-money laundering and asset recovery strategy to strengthen our response. We also have to focus on international co-operation. It is not within the abilities of one country alone to tackle this; it is huge, and the sums referred to by right hon. and hon. Members were staggering.”
“That will replace a system that previously involved 22 different private sector bodies. It is better that that is brought together and focused to simplify the system and strengthen our defences. The Chancellor announced an increase to the economic crime levy rates—this was also referred to by hon. Members—which will raise an additional £110 million a year to boost law enforcement staffing and technology, and support public-private data sharing and financial intelligence to target criminal activity. There is, of course, much more to do, and I accept that challenge. We set out further ambitions in the UK’s anti-corruption strategy, which was published in December.”
“I will keep the House updated on the preparations in due course. I was asked a number of times what the Government are doing on this domestically, which is obviously crucial. This is not just an agenda for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office; it is also for my ministerial colleagues in the Home Office, the Treasury, the Department for Business and Trade and many other agencies, as well as our law enforcement agencies. The economic crime Acts protect our open economy and strengthen the UK’s reputation as a place where legitimate business can thrive. We have built on the Acts to enable further progress. In October, the Chancellor announced that the Financial Conduct Authority will take supervision of anti-money laundering and counterterrorist financing in professional services firms—another theme of the debate.”
“There is no great conspiracy around the change in the date. As the shadow Minister, the right hon. Member for Aldridge-Brownhills (Wendy Morton), and other colleagues know, there is often complexity when it comes to the diaries of Ministers and others whose attendance we want to secure at these summits. It will take place in December, and we will announce the exact date in due course. It is crucial that we have a successful summit and have the right people there, and that we can demonstrate our own leadership on a number of key topics. I appreciate the welcome from many hon. Members who understand that it is better to have a summit that is successful and that has the right people than one that is, perhaps, not all it could be. That is why we took the decision; it was not taken lightly.”
“I was asked a number of times about the objectives of the summit, which are very clear—to expose the scale and harm of illicit finance, to forge new partnerships, to share intelligence, to strengthen enforcement and, crucially, to secure concrete commitments for the future that close the gaps exploited by criminals and others who seek to undermine our society’s economies. We will strengthen global enforcement against illicit finance through new partnerships on, for example, information sharing and asset recovery, which also came up. The summit will also help us to agree actions to tackle channels for dirty money, including money laundering in the property sector, which was rightly raised, the misuse of cryptoassets and, as was rightly referenced in relation to Sudan and other locations, trade in illicit gold.”
“Crucially, as was rightly pointed out by a number of Members, it directly affects people here in the UK, from fraud and scams to criminality on our streets, as shown so excellently by the examples given by right hon. and hon. Members in relation to their constituents. Indeed, as a global financial centre, we also have a responsibility to lead international efforts in this field to tackle this threat. I appreciate the cross-party nature of today’s debate. Of course, one party is not here. What a surprise—Reform is absent yet again. I will let hon. Members draw their own conclusions from that. The summit will be a major opportunity to drive international action. The aim is to bring together countries, international organisations, civil society, private sector experts, researchers and others to tackle dirty money around the world.”
“I thank the hon. Member for North Norfolk (Steff Aquarone) for securing the debate, and all the right hon. and hon. Members who have contributed. It has been a thoughtful and important discussion on an issue that goes to the heart of our national security, our prosperity and our values. I can reassure the House that this Government are determined to tackle dirty money both at home and internationally, and that it remains a key priority. Hosting the illicit finance summit in 2026 is a central part of that commitment, which we will deliver on. We need to do that because illicit finance, as many Members have pointed out, fuels organised crime, corruption and conflict, enables kleptocrats to hide stolen wealth, undermines economic growth and weakens democratic institutions here and abroad.”
“We will work with the new Government to support Syria’s stability, promote regional security and protect UK national interests, including by reducing the risks of irregular migration, terrorism and other threats to our national security. This package, however, reflects the changed environment, and it is another important step in finding a new way forward for Syria. I commend the regulations to the Committee.”
“I would like, if I may, Mrs Harris—particularly as we are coming up to a significant anniversary—to recognise our dearly loved and lost colleague, Jo Cox, who worked with me and many other Members on many occasions during her time in this place to raise the issues affecting the Syrian people. I am sure she would be looking on today with some hope and optimism, although not without some concerns. She would have held us all to account, but with hope and optimism for the future of the Syrian people after what were truly dreadful times. A stable Syria is firmly in the UK’s interests, and we will continue to stand with the Syrian people.”
“In our engagements with the new Syrian Government, we consistently emphasise the importance of protecting the rights of all Syrians and an inclusive political transition. Meaningful representation of Syria’s diverse communities is crucial to strengthening Syria’s social fabric and underpinning a better future for the country. The past year has seen significant strides forward in Syria. We welcome the progress made by the Syrian Government to open Syria to the world, attract investment and reduce the threat from terrorism and insecurity. President al-Sharaa’s visit to the UK in March was his first, and his meetings with the Prime Minister and indeed His Majesty the King cemented a new era for the UK-Syria relationship.”
“We keep all our sanctions regimes under close review to ensure they are used as a responsive tool and target those who bear responsibility for oppression and human rights abuses. Members may rightly raise concerns about violence we have seen in Syria since the fall of Assad, whether in the coastal areas, Suwayda or the north-east. The UK remains committed to holding those responsible for violence against civilians in Syria to account. In December of last year, we sanctioned individuals and organisations involved in coastal violence and Assad-era atrocities to hold to account perpetrators of human rights abuses. Additionally, two individuals who financially supported the Assad regime were sanctioned.”
“The amendments we made to our sanctions regime last year have allowed us to continue to use sanctions as a tool to promote peace, stability and security in Syria, while encouraging respect for the rule of law and protection of human rights. That is why sanctions remain in place on those who committed gross human rights violations with or on behalf of Bashar al-Assad’s regime. The amendments the Government have made to the Syria sanctions regime, both this year and last year, reflect the momentous changes that have taken place since the fall of the Assad regime. They will support the Syrian people in rebuilding their country and economy and ensure that our regime is up to date.”
“We were at the forefront of western countries lifting sanctions on Syria, recognising that enabling the flow of investment into Syria was essential for the country’s recovery and reconstruction. In parallel, we have actively engaged with British companies to understand their barriers to market entry and to support their re-entrance into the Syrian market. During his visit to London in March, President al-Sharaa joined my colleague the Minister for the Middle East and North Africa at a UK-Syria business reception, where he heard investment proposals from a range of UK firms, as well as the Government’s support for British companies wanting to invest in Syria.”
“In February 2025, shortly after the fall of the Assad regime, the Treasury’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation issued a general licence, allowing payments to support humanitarian delivery. That provided essential sanctions relief to Syria at a time when the country faced staggering humanitarian needs and a broken economy. We followed that in April 2025 by revoking a number of sanctions on energy, transport, financial transactions and trade. We also delisted Syrian organisations that had been used by the Assad regime to fund the oppression of the Syrian people. That included the Central Bank of Syria, Syrian Arab Airlines, several energy companies and, indeed, media companies.”
“On 21 April, the Government laid a statutory instrument to amend the Syria sanctions regulations. The instrument revoked specific UK sanctions measures on some sectors of the Syrian economy—namely, gold, diamonds, precious metals and luxury goods, including cars. That action allows British companies to trade with and invest in those sectors in Syria. Sustained investment in those and other sectors supports British industry and Syria’s economic recovery. This is the latest step in a series of actions designed to change our approach to Syria, supporting its economy and allowing UK businesses to contribute to and benefit from the country’s economic recovery.”
“I beg to move, That the Cttee has considered the Syria (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 (S.I., 2026, No. 436). It is a pleasure to serve under your chairpersonship, Mrs Harris. The regulations amend the Syria (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019. Since the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024, the UK has engaged with and supported the new Syrian Government to help build a secure, prosperous future for all Syrians. The UK has long stood by the people of Syria and will continue to do so as they rebuild their country, clear in the knowledge that a stable Syria is firmly in the interests of the region and the UK. That is why the Prime Minister welcomed Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on his first visit to the UK on 31 March.”
“I hope that that satisfies the Committee that the regulations are a natural next step. We all want to see a stable, prosperous and secure Syria, not just for the Syrian people and the wider region, but for the security and prosperity of the UK. Question put and agreed to .”
“These regulations are part of a series of measures. We focused on some of the most important sectors first, but this is a series of phased normalisations of our trading and commercial relations with Syria. Those are aimed at stabilising the economy, providing opportunities and creating a more stable economic footing domestically in Syria, as well as providing opportunities for the UK and Syria to trade and work together in many different areas. But there is the caveat that sanctions remain in place, and they can be reimposed and more actions can be taken if we see illicit finance or other groups seeking to subvert this for their own purposes. The shadow Minister asked about kerosene. I will write to her on that point to give her the most accurate information.”
“The regulations are aimed at not only normalising economic trade and engagement with Syria but creating opportunities for increasing trade and commercial links between the UK and Syria; automobiles are a huge opportunity. Our latest trade statistics show that the total trade in goods and services between the UK and Syria was £10 million in the four quarters to the end of quarter three of 2025—an increase of 400% since the same time the previous year. That is in the context of the Syrian economy remaining in need of significant support. The humanitarian situation obviously remains acute, there are reconstruction needs and the economy has contracted by 83% since 2010 as a result of the horrors under the Assad regime. The costs of that have been estimated by the World Bank at $216 billion, which is 10 times Syria’s current GDP.”
“I emphasise to the Committee that 344 designations remain in place relating to human rights violations committed under the Assad regime. They include certain trade measures, including prohibiting the export of goods that can be used for internal repression, chemical or biological weapons, and other matériel. That is the approach that the United States and our partners in the EU have taken. The EU adopted legal acts in May last year to lift all economic restrictions, with the exception of those based on security grounds. In June last year, the US repealed the Caesar Act, which led to the eventual removal of many of the remaining US and secondary sanctions on Syria. In the measures we are setting in place today, our action very much aligns with what the US and the EU are doing.”
“I thank the Opposition and Lib Dem spokespeople for their remarks and questions, and for their broad support of the regulations. They both reflected on some of the things that are still leading to instability and risk in Syria, which I referred to in my opening remarks. They can be assured that we are keeping these measures under close monitoring. On the risks the shadow Minister raised, we keep those under review at all times. She knows that I do not comment on future designations, but sanctions can always be reimposed where we see anything we are uncomfortable with or that puts security and stability at risk. We have been clear that the violence and other issues we have seen are unacceptable. We want an inclusive, stable future for Syria, and we took action in December by introducing new sanctions on those responsible for those issues.”
“Mr Speaker, may I associate myself entirely with your remarks about Her late Majesty? The illicit finance summit will convene a coalition of international partners to scale up global enforcement against illicit finance. The summit will forge new partnerships to combat this shared threat, including illicit gold, money laundering in the property sector and the abuse of cryptoassets. The summit builds on our long-term commitment to this agenda, which is also shown in the 2025 UK anti-corruption strategy, and will complement our upcoming presidency of the Financial Action Task Force and other meetings.”
“The hon. Member will know from my previous answers in this place how seriously I take this issue. Our commitment across the whole of our British family on these matters is very clear. I have been working closely with leaders of the overseas territories. We have seen some important progress from a number of them, but a number have not gone far enough; I have been very frank with them about that. We are working in partnership and providing technical advice and support, and I am very hopeful that we will achieve progress, particularly on legitimate interest access to beneficial registers of ownership.”
“I recently visited Ukraine again—Lviv and Kyiv—and saw again the brutal impacts of Russia’s illegal war on the civilians and, in particular, the children of Ukraine. That is exactly why we are determined to clamp down on the individuals and companies who are supporting Russia’s war on Ukraine and the sources of revenue for that war. We have imposed over 1,200 designations against Russia, including 300 new sanctions in February. We have led international efforts to disrupt the shadow fleet, sanctioning almost 600 vessels, and collectively our efforts with other countries have denied Russia access to at least $450 billion since its full-scale invasion four years ago.”
“The issues to which the hon. Gentleman refers are of course for the United States. However, we are very clear that we will continue to ratchet up the economic pressure on Putin, to force him to come to the negotiating table and to provide support to Ukraine. Our sanctions remain in place, and we continue to work closely with others to increase that pressure. The Prime Minister, the Foreign Secretary and I have been very clear that we cannot allow the current global situation to result in any kind of bonanza for Putin.”
“As ever, my hon. Friend is right to raise this crucial issue. I was very privileged to see for myself the incredible work that we are supporting to trace what has happened to those Ukrainian children. The figure she has cited is correct, and it is absolutely appalling. I am very proud of the work that we are doing with other countries on that issue, and I will certainly look at the issues she has raised. Of course, we have already taken action against the oil companies she mentioned.”
“The right hon. Lady will know about the work we have already been doing on this crucial issue, which she is right to raise. We have been very clear on this. Under her Government, there was of course a ban on Russian liquefied natural gas imports, which we continued. We have gone further by announcing our intention to introduce a maritime services ban, and of course we will continue to co-ordinate with international partners on the issue she raises. We cannot allow those revenues to be used to fuel Russia’s terrible actions.”
“As I have said many times in this House, Diego Garcia is a key strategic military asset for the United Kingdom, the United States and our allies, and ensuring its long-term operational security is and will continue to be our priority. We remain confident that the UK-Mauritius treaty is the best way to defend the future of the base. We are obviously disappointed with the delay, which I set out the other day, but we will continue to work with the United States and Mauritius on the way forward.”