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Written Question
Gaza: Humanitarian Aid
Thursday 19th June 2025

Asked by: Chris Bloore (Labour - Redditch)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what estimate he has made of the proportion of aid from the UK destined for Gaza that has reached its intended recipients.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Israel has clear obligations under international humanitarian law to facilitate humanitarian aid. The unimpeded entry of assistance at scale to meet the enormous needs in Gaza must be restored immediately. Israel must allow partners to operate in line with humanitarian principles to deliver lifesaving aid. The current limited amount of aid entering Gaza is completely inadequate, in the face of the desperate needs resulting from months of Israeli restrictions on aid. Due to the complex operating environment and limited real-time data, it is difficult to quantify the volume of aid currently awaiting entry.

Written Question
Gaza: UNRWA
Tuesday 10th June 2025

Asked by: Chris Bloore (Labour - Redditch)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps he is taking to help ensure that UNWRA's work in Gaza can resume.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Our support for United Nations Relief and Work Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has been unwavering. We have been clear that the United Nations and humanitarian partners must be allowed to operate in line with humanitarian principles to deliver aid and save lives. The vital work of UNRWA in ensuring that Palestinians have access to education and healthcare must be protected in Gaza as well as the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The Minister for Development met UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini on 12 May and reiterated our support for the organisation and its critical role in delivering desperately needed aid and services to Palestinians. In the last financial year, we provided £41 million in support to UNRWA to deliver vital services to Palestinians in the region.

Written Question
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Carers
Tuesday 4th March 2025

Asked by: Chris Bloore (Labour - Redditch)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether their Department offers (a) paid time off work and (b) other support to employees who become kinship carers.

Answered by Catherine West

The government defines kinship care as "any situation in which a child is being raised in the care of a friend or family member who is not their parent". The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) offers support to employees who become kinship carers, similar to the support provided to foster carers. The entitlements include:

  • Additional leave during the approval process or when a child is in placement: employees can receive an additional 5 days of paid or unpaid leave in a 12-month period at the discretion of their line manager. This leave can be used for meetings, training, unforeseen emergencies related to their fostering role, or to accommodate an emergency placement.
  • Additional leave at the start of a planned permanent placement: employees are entitled to additional discretionary special paid leave for up to 10 days in a 12-month period. If both parents are employed by the FCDO, one parent would receive up to 10 days, and the other up to 5 days.

These provisions ensure that employees who take on the important role of kinship carers have the necessary support and flexibility to manage their responsibilities effectively. Staff also have a statutory right to take unpaid time off work to deal with an emergency involving a dependant.