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Written Question
Palestinians: Development Aid
Thursday 26th October 2023

Asked by: Baroness Altmann (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what information they hold about how aid money given to the Palestinian Authority in the 10 years is spent.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Following Official Development Assistance (ODA) prioritisation exercises undertaken in March 2021, the UK no longer provides direct financial aid to the Palestinian Authority. All UK support to the Palestinian Authority is provided through technical advice, procured through commercial suppliers.

The FCDO aid budget is allocated in accordance with UK strategic priorities against a challenging financial climate. There is a robust framework in place for allocating ODA. Data on ODA spend in the Occupied Palestinian Territories is available on DevTracker (https://devtracker.fcdo.gov.uk/countries/PS). More than 80 per cent of our ODA spend this year of UK support will be used to meet humanitarian need, or to provide vital health, education, and protection services for Palestinian Refugees.


Written Question
Palestinians: Development Aid
Thursday 26th October 2023

Asked by: Baroness Altmann (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what is the breakdown of aid spend by Government departments to the Palestinian Authority in the past 10 years.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Following Official Development Assistance (ODA) prioritisation exercises undertaken in March 2021, the UK no longer provides direct financial aid to the Palestinian Authority. All UK support to the Palestinian Authority is provided through technical advice, procured through commercial suppliers.

The FCDO aid budget is allocated in accordance with UK strategic priorities against a challenging financial climate. There is a robust framework in place for allocating ODA. Data on ODA spend in the Occupied Palestinian Territories is available on DevTracker (https://devtracker.fcdo.gov.uk/countries/PS). More than 80 per cent of our ODA spend this year of UK support will be used to meet humanitarian need, or to provide vital health, education, and protection services for Palestinian Refugees.


Written Question
Middle East: Peace Negotiations
Thursday 23rd December 2021

Asked by: Baroness Altmann (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what recent discussions they have had with (1) the government of Israel, and (2) Palestinian representatives, about the Middle East peace process.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK remains committed to making progress towards a two-state solution. The Foreign Secretary discussed the Middle East Peace Process with Israeli FM Lapid on 29 November and Minister Cleverly raised with Deputy FM Roll on 9 November. Minister Cleverly met with Israeli Minister Frej and Palestinian Prime Minister Shtayyeh on 17 November in Oslo at the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee.


Written Question
Middle East: Peace Negotiations
Thursday 23rd December 2021

Asked by: Baroness Altmann (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking, if any, (1) to strengthen the Abraham Accords, and (2) to expand those accords to additional nations.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The United Kingdom (UK) warmly welcomed the normalisation agreements between Israel, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, and Sudan. These were historic steps which see the normalisation of relations between friends of the UK.

Restoring cooperation is an important and constructive step towards peace, and shows both sides are willing to put the needs and security of both Israelis and Palestinians first. We need to build on this momentum through further dialogue and compromise to move towards a two state solution and a lasting solution to the conflict. The United Kingdom will continue to work towards a more peaceful and prosperous future for Israelis and Palestinians alike.


Written Question
Iran: Uranium
Wednesday 27th October 2021

Asked by: Baroness Altmann (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report by the Institute for Science and International Security Analysis of IAEA Iran Verification and Monitoring Report, published on 13 September, and in particular the finding that Iran is only one month away from producing weapons-grade uranium for an atomic bomb.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The information in the International Atomic Energy Authority's report of 13 September shows that Iran's nuclear programme has never been more advanced or more worrying than it is today. This includes Iran's continued efforts to increase its stockpile of enriched uranium, including at 60% and 20%; and developing and operating powerful advanced centrifuges, permanently improving its enrichment capabilities. Our priority continues to be to find a diplomatic solution to bring Iran back into compliance with its Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA) commitments. Iran urgently needs to return to talks in Vienna and to conclude the deal on the table.


Written Question
International Organisations: Antisemitism
Wednesday 26th May 2021

Asked by: Baroness Altmann (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to promote the adoption by international bodies of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's working definition of antisemitism.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK is an active member of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) and is represented by the UK's Post Holocaust Issues Envoy Lord Eric Pickles. The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance cooperates closely with other intergovernmental bodies that include Holocaust-related issues as part of their mandate, including the United Nations, UNESCO, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) and actively encourages them and other international bodies to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's working definition of antisemitism.


Written Question
Israel: Sanctions
Wednesday 26th May 2021

Asked by: Baroness Altmann (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they oppose initiatives at the United Nations which promote boycotts, divestment and sanctions against the government of Israel.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK is strongly opposed to the Boycotts, Divestment and Sanctions Movement against Israel. While we do not hesitate to express disagreement with Israel whenever we feel it necessary, we are firmly opposed to boycotts/sanctions.


We believe that open and honest discussions, rather than imposing sanctions or supporting anti-Israeli boycotts, best supports our efforts to help progress in the peace process and achieve a negotiated solution.


Written Question
Greece: Migrant Camps
Wednesday 23rd September 2020

Asked by: Baroness Altmann (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to support victims of the fire at the Moria refugee camp in Lesbos; and whether they plan to bring any of those affected, including children, to the UK.

Answered by Baroness Sugg

The UK is responding to requests by the Greek Government to provide specific humanitarian goods and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is urgently making plans for the delivery of these goods.

The UK has a long and proud history of welcoming those in need and escaping persecution. Throughout the pandemic the UK has remained ready to receive those accepted for transfer under the Dublin III Regulation. We remain in regular contact with sending Member States, including Greece, who are responsible for arranging transfers.


Written Question
Rami Aman
Thursday 2nd July 2020

Asked by: Baroness Altmann (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken in response to the arrest of Rami Aman in Gaza in April for engaging in online dialogue with Israelis; and whether they have called for his release.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

We strongly condemn the detention of Rami Aman by Hamas. The UK retains a policy of no contact with Hamas in its entirety. Hamas has de facto control over the Gaza Strip. We monitor the human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories closely, including reporting on human rights violations in the FCO's annual Human Rights and Democracy Report.