Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel on the opening of the Rafah and Kerem Shalom crossings to allow aid into Gaza.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We have been clear that entry points for humanitarian aid, including Rafah and Kerem Shalom, must be reopened quickly to allow aid in. Israel must facilitate immediate uninterrupted humanitarian access in the south, including the entry of fuel.
The Foreign Secretary has pressed these points with Israeli Foreign Minister Katz.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the alleged threat by Israeli settler Elchanan Groner to the life of the Foreign Secretary; and what are the implications for his security during future visits to Israel and engagement with Israeli government officials.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
It is long-standing policy not to comment on Ministerial travel. To do so could compromise the integrity of protective security arrangements and affect the safety of the individuals involved.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to sanction (1) Israeli government ministers, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, and (2) leaders of the settler movement, who have expressed support for acts of violence against (a) Palestinians, (b) aid workers and convoys, and (c) UNRWA facilities.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK policy on settlement expansion is clear: settlements are illegal under international law and only make it harder to progress to achieving peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians. We have called on the Israeli Government to halt seizures of Palestinian lands immediately.
On 3 May, the Foreign Secretary announced new sanctions on extremist groups and individuals for inciting and perpetrating settler violence in the West Bank. The measures impose financial restrictions on the entities and individuals, and travel restrictions on the individuals. The UK will not hesitate to take further action if needed, including through further sanctions.
The Foreign Secretary has made our position clear to his Israeli counterparts, including during his visit to the region on 17 April.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to nominating or supporting a specific candidate to be Secretary General of the International Seabed Authority.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
FCDO Ministers are considering the UK position in advance of the upcoming election for the Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority. The question of mineral-resources related activities in the seabed beyond the limits of national jurisdiction for the benefit of humankind is a critical one, and we are therefore giving full consideration of all candidates for the election.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report by the Independent Review Group on the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) Independent Review of Mechanisms and Procedures to Ensure Adherence by UNRWA to the Humanitarian Principle of Neutrality, published on 22 April; what are the implications of the report for future UK policy towards the agency; and whether they will resume funding UNRWA.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Allegations that UNRWA staff were involved in the events that took place on 7 October in Israel are appalling, which is why we took decisive action to pause future funding to the organisation.
The UK recognises that UNRWA is critical to aid delivery in Gaza. The Prime Minister has been clear that the UK will set out its position on future funding to UNRWA following careful consideration of Catherine Colonna's final report, UNRWA's response and the ongoing UN Office for Internal Oversight Services investigation into these allegations.
We remain absolutely committed to getting humanitarian aid to people in Gaza who desperately need it, including through other UN agencies and British charities.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made towards achieving the commitments outlined in the White Paper on international development published on 20 November 2023.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The White Paper on International Development sets out 216 commitments as part of the UK's strategic goal to end extreme poverty and tackle climate change and biodiversity loss, with a timeframe through to 2030. The Government has moved at pace to deliver across the commitments. Recent delivery includes additional support for Education Cannot Wait, the launch of a new programme to support maternal and neonatal health for 3.5 million people in Ethiopia and supporting the Green Climate Fund to announce a $100 million investment partnership with Somalia.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with governments of (1) countries in the European Union, (2) the United States of America, and (3) Middle East countries, regarding deep seabed mining.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
On 30 October 2023, the UK Government announced its support for a moratorium on the granting of exploitation licences for deep sea mining projects by the International Seabed Authority (ISA). The UK set out this position to international partners at the 28th Session of the ISA Council meeting in November 2023. The UK continues to engage proactively in the work of the ISA alongside other member States of the ISA (including from countries in the European Union) and with the USA who attend as an Observer State. The UK will attend ISA Council and Assembly meetings in July this year.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of deep seabed mining.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
On 30 October 2023, the UK Government announced its support for a moratorium on the granting of exploitation licences for deep sea mining projects by the International Seabed Authority (ISA). The UK set out this position at the 28th Session of the Council at the International Seabed Authority in November 2023. The UK recognises the impacts of deep sea mining are not fully understood and our position is to support research proactively, using UK scientific expertise, to improve international understanding and develop strong and enforceable ISA environmental regulations, standards and guidelines on deep sea mining before any such projects commence.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they will take as a member of the International Seabed Authority to work with other countries to achieve a global moratorium on deep seabed mining.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
On 30 October 2023, the UK Government announced its support for a moratorium on the granting of exploitation licences for deep sea mining projects by the International Seabed Authority (ISA). The UK set out this position to international partners at the 28th Session of the ISA Council meeting in November 2023. Whether to support a moratorium on deep seabed mining is a matter for each ISA Member State to consider. The UK continues to engage proactively with other member States of the ISA and will attend the ISA Council and Assembly meetings in July this year.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what checks and balances they have in place to ensure that funding to the government of Iraq does not benefit organisations such as the Popular Mobilisation Forces, or any Iranian-backed organisations operating in Iraq.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Our funding and support is delivered through implementing partners and not directly through the Government of Iraq. Thorough due diligence assessment of all funding is carried out to ensure partners have procedures in place to manage the main risks of aid diversion from activities it funds, including specific controls to ensure that assistance goes direct to the intended beneficiaries.