Asked by: Andy McDonald (Labour - Middlesbrough)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether his Department granted a Special Mission Immunity certificate to a (a) visitor and (b) prospective visitor since 1 January 2024; and what the nationality was of each person.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The FCDO has granted one Special Mission Status certificate since 1 January 2024. This certificate was for the visit of Israeli Minister Benny Gantz on Wednesday 6 March.
Asked by: Andy McDonald (Labour - Middlesbrough)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether his Department granted a Special Mission Immunity certificate to a (a) visitor and (b) prospective visitor in 2023; and what the nationality was of each person.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The FCDO did not issue any Special Mission Certificates in 2023.
Asked by: Andy McDonald (Labour - Middlesbrough)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies on the activities of mayoral development corporations of the judgement in the litigation taken by South Tees Development Corporation and South Tees Developments Limited against PD Teesport Limited, with case reference Bl-2021-000461.
Answered by Simon Hoare - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
In line with the practice of successive administrations, it would be inappropriate to comment during legal proceedings.
Asked by: Andy McDonald (Labour - Middlesbrough)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether he has had discussions with his Israeli counterpart on the fatal shooting of Ramzi Abu Sahlool.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
We continue to call for International Humanitarian Law (IHL) to be respected and civilians to be protected. Too many civilians have been killed and we want to see Israel take greater care to limit its operations to military targets and avoid harming civilians and destroying homes. The Foreign Secretary continues to make these points in discussions with his Israeli counterparts.
Asked by: Andy McDonald (Labour - Middlesbrough)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, pursuant to the Answer of 17 January 2024 to Question 8441 on Israel: Gaza, whether he has sought legal advice on the (a) absence of intention to commit genocide on the part of the Israeli leadership and (b) threshold for engaging signatories to the Genocide Convention to comply with their duties under Articles I and VII.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
As previously stated, in terms of the situation in Gaza, we recognise that Israel has the right to defend itself against Hamas, in accordance with International Humanitarian Law (IHL). We do not believe that calling this genocide is the right approach; it is wrong to suggest that Israeli leadership, and Israel as a country, have the intention to commit genocide. Ultimately, it is for the courts to decide on the matters of genocide, not for states.
Asked by: Andy McDonald (Labour - Middlesbrough)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, pursuant to the Answers of 15 January 2024 to Questions 8744, 8995 and 8996 on Teesworks Joint Venture Independent Review, on what evidential basis the Minister said that very serious allegations of illegality had been made by the hon. Member for Middlesborough.
Answered by Simon Hoare - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
On 20 April 2023, the Hon Member for Middlesbrough asked in Parliament about Government plans for “a full investigation” of what he described as “industrial-scale corruption” in Teesside (Official Report, HC, Volume 731, Column 384). A link to the full debate is available here. Industrial-scale corruption would be considered by the Government to be very serious illegality. The Department’s exchange of letters with the Mayor of Tees Valley has been published online and is available here.
Asked by: Andy McDonald (Labour - Middlesbrough)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, pursuant to the Answers of 15 January 2024 to Questions 8744, 8995 and 8996 on Teesworks Joint Venture Independent Review, whether he received a request from the Mayor of Tees Valley to establish an assurance review.
Answered by Simon Hoare - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
On 20 April 2023, the Hon Member for Middlesbrough asked in Parliament about Government plans for “a full investigation” of what he described as “industrial-scale corruption” in Teesside (Official Report, HC, Volume 731, Column 384). A link to the full debate is available here. Industrial-scale corruption would be considered by the Government to be very serious illegality. The Department’s exchange of letters with the Mayor of Tees Valley has been published online and is available here.
Asked by: Andy McDonald (Labour - Middlesbrough)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, if he will make an assessment of the implications for his policies of the comments on imposing a complete siege on Gaza by Israeli Defence Minister on 9 October 2023.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
We support Israel's right to defend itself against Hamas, but it must comply with International Humanitarian Law and there must be a reduction in civilian casualties. We want to see Israel take greater care to limit its operations to military targets and avoid harming civilians and destroying homes. There is a desperate need for increased humanitarian support to Gaza. The UK trebled our aid commitment this financial year and is doing everything it can to get more aid in and open more crossings. Israel must now take steps, working with other partners including the UN and Egypt, to significantly increase the flow of aid into Gaza including allowing prolonged humanitarian pauses, opening more routes into Gaza and restoring and sustaining water, fuel and electricity.
Asked by: Andy McDonald (Labour - Middlesbrough)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, when he plans to respond to Questions 8440, 8441 and 8442 on Israel:Gaza tabled on 8 January 2024 by the hon. Member for Middlesbrough.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
I am writing to the honourable member separately on this matter. We are working hard to respond to these questions as quickly as possible, and apologise for the delay in doing so, which in no way reflects an unwillingness to answer these questions. Rather, these questions cover subjects which are dynamic and fast moving, and necessarily require detailed work to ensure a complete, accurate and up-to-date response in the context of fast-moving developments.
Asked by: Andy McDonald (Labour - Middlesbrough)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what recent steps his Department has taken to comply with its duties under Articles I and VIII of the Genocide Convention in the context of the war in Gaza.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
As a party to the Convention, the UK is fully committed to the prevention and punishment of genocide as appropriate under the Convention.
In terms of the situation in Gaza, we recognise that Israel has the right to defend itself against Hamas, in accordance with International Humanitarian Law (IHL). We do not believe that calling this genocide is the right approach. It is wrong to suggest that Israeli leadership, and Israel as a country, have the intention to commit genocide.
Ultimately, it is for the courts to decide on matters of genocide, not for states. We respect the role and independence of the International Court of Justice.