Asked by: Baroness Sheehan (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of Israel about its reasons for (1) refusing, and (2) delaying, permits for medical treatment for children in Gaza.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK continues to monitor closely the ongoing humanitarian situation in Gaza. We are a longstanding supporter to the UN Relief and Works Agency, which provides core services, including healthcare to Palestinian refugees in Gaza and across the wider region. The British Embassy in Tel Aviv recently raised the importance of access to healthcare, including for children, with the Israeli authorities.
Asked by: Baroness Sheehan (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the restrictions imposed by the government of Israel on (1) the movement of Palestinians within Palestinian territories, and (2) Palestinians seeking to travel abroad.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK regularly raises the issue of freedom of movement and access into and out of the Occupied Palestinian Territories with the Israeli authorities. We recognise Israel's legitimate need to deploy security measures and we encourage them to deploy these in a way that minimises tension.
Asked by: Baroness Sheehan (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 15 March (HL6555), whether they will now answer the question put, namely, what representations they have made, if any, to the government of Israel regarding the killing of 13-year-old Mohammad Rezq Shehadeh Salah by Israeli forces near Bethlehem.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We continue to stress the importance of the Israeli security forces providing appropriate protection to the Palestinian civilian population, particularly the need to protect children, and urge restraint in the use of live fire.
Asked by: Baroness Sheehan (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 15 March (HL6555), what assessment they have made of the findings by the Defence for Children in Palestine report on 31 March, which found that (1) five Palestinian children have been killed by Israeli forces this year, and (2) that 2021 was the deadliest year for Palestinian children since 2014 with 78 children killed by Israeli forces and armed Israeli civilians.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We regularly raise the issue of the high numbers of Palestinians killed and injured by Israeli Defense Forces in the West Bank and Gaza with the Israeli authorities, encouraging them to carry out swift, transparent and thorough investigations. We continue to stress the importance of the Israeli security forces providing appropriate protection to the Palestinian civilian population, particularly the need to protect children, and urge restraint in the use of live fire.
Asked by: Baroness Sheehan (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the government of Israel’s plans to develop a road that will enable construction in the E1 area of the West Bank, in particular the impact the road would have on the viability of an independent Palestinian state.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK's position on settlements is clear. They are illegal under international law. We urge the Government of Israel to cease the construction of settlement units in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.
Asked by: Baroness Sheehan (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact the government of Israel’s plans to (1) build 10 new settlements, and (2) resume its forestation work, in the Naqab, will have on the existing Bedouin communities.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We continue to follow the debate around unresolved Bedouin land claims, unrecognised Bedouin villages in the Negev and lack of basic services for Bedouin communities. We continue to encourage the Israeli authorities and Bedouin communities to agree a satisfactory solution to these issues.
Asked by: Baroness Sheehan (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the World Health Organisation’s recommendation that the ideal room temperature for healthy and appropriately dressed people is 18 degrees Celsius, what plans they have, if any, to introduce an information campaign to encourage people to reduce their room temperatures.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Met Office’s WeatherReady campaign, run in partnership with Cabinet Office and expert partners, is a year-round campaign to help individuals, communities and businesses prepare for and cope with severe weather and its impacts. It includes webpages on heating your home in winter and getting your home winter ready and provides advice on keeping homes at a comfortable temperature, even if this is slightly below 18°C, for healthy adults under the age of 65 and wearing appropriate clothing. Warmer indoor temperatures may be required for vulnerable individuals, including younger children.
Asked by: Baroness Sheehan (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether Ukrainian citizens already in the UK who hold a Leave to Remain residence permit are able to fast-track applications for UK visas for family members who have fled the war in Ukraine.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
People in the UK with at least six months immigration leave are able to sponsor Ukrainian nationals and their family members to the UK.
Information on the scheme van be found at the GOV.UK website: Apply for a visa under the Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme (Homes for Ukraine) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
Asked by: Baroness Sheehan (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the policy of the government of Israel of demolishing the homes of suspected Palestinian terrorists, and (2) the restrictions on demonstrations against this policy.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
In all but the most exceptional of circumstances, demolitions and evictions are contrary to International Humanitarian Law. On 19 January, the former Minister for Middle East urged the Government of Israel to stop these practices. The UK raises these issues with the Government of Israel, most recently with Israel's Ministry of Defence on 20 January and Ministry of Justice on 27 January.
Asked by: Baroness Sheehan (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel concerning the incarceration of Ahmad Manasra for almost six years, from the age of 13.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We call on Israel to abide by its obligations under international law and have a regular dialogue with Israel on legal issues relating to the occupation, including the treatment of Palestinian children. We remain committed to working with Israel to secure improvements to the practices surrounding children in detention and raise this with the Israeli Ministry of Justice.