UK What next for Ukraine? – Foreign Affairs Committee

Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)

Members of Parliament from Ukraine, Poland, Finland and the Czech Republic join UK colleagues on the Foreign Affairs Committee in Westminster to consider the current state of play and next steps for Ukraine.

The visiting Parliamentarians are delegates from ‘United for Ukraine’, an international non-governmental organisation who are in the UK to support Ukrainian people impacted by the war. The Committee will also hear from the Verkhovna Rada’s Committee on Foreign Policy and Interparliamentary Co-operation.

During the session, Parliamentarians will consider the latest news on the fighting and discuss the co-ordinated sanctions response against Russia. In recent days, the US has proposed a ‘peace plan’ to bring an end to the fighting since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

The humanitarian situation in Ukraine continues to be urgent. A recent research briefing from the Library at the House of Commons compiled figures relating to the humanitarian needs of the country including information that 12.7 million of Ukraine’s estimated population of 33 million were in need humanitarian assistance in January 2025. The Parliamentarians will also seek an update on Ukrainian children who have been forcibly removed to Russian territory and will consider humanitarian support for refugees.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ve_RxQEMuyY

UK Small business strategy – Business and Trade Committee

Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)

The Business and Trade Committee is holding the final session of its inquiry into the challenges faced by small businesses in the UK. The Committee will be hearing from the National Trading Standards, Companies House, the National Crime Agency and the Minister for Small Business and Economic Transformation, Blair McDougall MP.

The focus of this session is for the Committee to:

– Understand the scale and growth of illicit trade on the high street
– Explore the response to enforcement agencies to organised crime groups operating in town centres
– Evaluate the Department’s approach to implementing the Plan for Small and Medium Sized Businesses
– Explore the Department’s response to the emerging findings from the Committee’s small business inquiry

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJz_IrZnb9c

UK Universities Minister and Office for Students Chief questioned by MPs – Education Committee

Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)

The Education Committee holds the final session of its inquiry into the threat of insolvency facing a growing number of universities, and the relationship this has with government policy towards international students.

Witnesses in this session will include the Higher Education Minister Baroness Jacqui Smith, a senior official from the Department for Education and the Chief Executive of the Office for Students, Susan Lapworth.

There are concerns that fees from international students are providing less income than previously forecast for many universities, and that a significant number of institutions are running deficits.

The panel is likely to face questions on whether a special insolvency regime should be put in place to ensure continuity for students, protect staff and minimise disruption, were a university to become insolvent.

The cross-party Committee may explore whether weaknesses in governance and financial planning may have exacerbated the threat of insolvency in some universities.

MPs are also likely to ask the Minister what impact the Government’s proposed levy on international students’ fees may have on universities’ financial stability; as well as the impact of proposed reforms to immigration rules that affect international students.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kE8Airm9U54

UK E-petition debate relating to humanitarian obligations and Gaza – Monday 24 November 2025.

Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)

The Petitions Committee has scheduled a debate relating humanitarian obligations and Gaza.

Irene Campbell MP has been asked by the Committee to open the debate. The Government will send a Minister to respond.

Read the petition:
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/700682

Find petitions you agree with, and sign them: https://petition.parliament.uk/

What are petition debates?

Petition debates are ‘general’ debates which allow MPs from all parties to discuss the important issues raised by one or more petitions, and put their concerns to Government Ministers.

Petition debates don’t end with a vote to implement the request of a petition. This means that MPs will not vote on the issues raised in the petition at the end of the debate.

The Petitions Committee can only schedule debates on petitions to parliament started on petition.parliament.uk

Find out more about how petition debates work: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/326/petitions-committee/content/194347/how-petitions-debates-work/

Stay up-to-date
Follow the Committee on Twitter for real-time updates on its work: https://www.twitter.com/hocpetitions

Thumbnail image ©UK Parliament / Jessica Taylor

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h91WfAZi2tw

UK The work of the BBC – Culture, Media and Sport Committee

Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)

The CMS Committee are holding an evidence session with members of the BBC’s editorial guidelines and standards committee – BBC Chair Samir Shah and BBC board members Robbie Gibb and Caroline Thomson.

They will also hear from former editorial standards advisors Michael Prescott and Caroline Daniel.

The session will focus on the BBC EGS committee’s processes and how it ensures output complies with the BBC’s editorial guidelines.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_m4_ZuO2M1c

UK Discover what’s buried under Peers’ Car Park 🪏

Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)

What’s buried under Peers’ Car Park? 🚗

Medieval masonry dating from around the 11th century has been unearthed beneath Peers’ Car Park. This building was the site of much bicameral activity until it’s demolition in 1851.

Excavation works help plan for future restoration of the Palace of Westminster to safeguard the longevity and heritage of the Houses of Parliament.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScClXj0frtA

UK Meet our Makers… 🧵

Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)

Meet the brilliant British makers shaping our shop. 🇬🇧

Here are Derek and Rebecca from @Artcuts, a small family run business from Surrey that makes wooden decorations – including of the Elizabeth Tower. 🛍️

Explore the range: https://mailchi.mp/94736bb98c35/artcuts

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWhaNkoZHLU