How successful are the UK’s sanctions? Foreign Affairs Committee to hold one-off evidence session

The Committee will hear from expert witnesses. Tom Keatinge, the Director of the Centre for Finance and Security at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI); Maya Lester KC, Senior Barrister at Brick Court Chambers, who specialises in sanctions law; and Freya Page, Director of Global Outreach at Kharon, will appear to give evidence. 

The evidence session will examine the UK’s sanctions policy in full and the effectiveness of the different sanctions regimes. The session will also explore when, how and why sanctions might be an appropriate tool of foreign policy. Members are likely to ask whether the Government should be bolder in its use of sanctions, or whether sanctions have become an overused foreign policy tool. Members may also ask what role Parliament should have in scrutinising sanctions, if any.  

The session will also focus on UK sanctions against Russia, the evolution of the Government’s strategic aims since the start of the conflict, as well as examining the arguments for and against the confiscation and use of frozen Russian assets for any Ukrainian reconstruction plan. Questions are likely to cover the evasion of sanctions via third countries. 

Further information

• About Parliament: Select committees
• Visiting Parliament: Watch committees

Image: House of Commons