Asked by: Claudia Webbe (Independent - Leicester East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has held discussions with his counterpart in Israel on the alleged use of white phosphorous and its compatibility with international law.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is steadfast in its position that all parties must uphold International Humanitarian Law and we call on our friends and partners to do so. Israel has the right to defend itself proportionately and its military operations must be conducted in accordance with International Humanitarian Law. All parties to a conflict must ensure that their actions are proportionate and necessary, affording innocent civilians the protection that is their right under international law. Civilians must be respected and protected. Both the Prime Minister and the former Foreign Secretary have, in their discussions with their Israeli counterparts, emphasised the importance of taking all possible measures to protect civilians. The President of Israel, Isaac Herzog, has stated that Israel will operate in accordance with international law. The UK Government is closely following the security situation in the Middle East and maintains a regular dialogue with international counterparts. The Foreign Secretary and his ministerial team continue to receive legal advice on all matters related to foreign policy, including the situation in Israel and Gaza. We will continue to use all the tools of British diplomacy to sustain the prospects of peace and stability in the region.
Asked by: Claudia Webbe (Independent - Leicester East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the statement by the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court on the Israel-Palestine conflict of 10 October 2023.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is a strong supporter of the International Criminal Court (ICC). We respect the independence of the Court. The UK is committed to International Humanitarian Law, and we call on our friends and partners to do the same. The UK remains committed to the Two-State Solution as the best way to bring peace and stability to the region and importantly, between Israelis and Palestinians.
Asked by: Claudia Webbe (Independent - Leicester East)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Renters (Reform) Bill on helping prevent discriminatory practices against people who are (a) older, (b) in receipt of Housing Benefit and (c) in receipt of other benefits in the private rented sector.
Answered by Jacob Young - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
We are committed to outlawing unacceptable discriminatory blanket ban practices against renters who receive benefits in the private rented sector – while ensuring that landlords retain the final say on who they let their property to.
The Government tabled amendments to the Renters (Reform) Bill on 15 November to make it illegal for landlords and agents to have blanket bans on renting to people who receive benefits or who have children.
Asked by: Claudia Webbe (Independent - Leicester East)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether his Department plans to introduce a decent homes standard to the private rented sector.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
As we have set out previously, we will bring this forward as soon as parliamentary time allows.
Asked by: Claudia Webbe (Independent - Leicester East)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether his Department plans to increase the length of the period at the start of a tenancy in which the landlord does not have a guaranteed right to possession from six months to two years.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The Renters (Reform) Bill received its second reading on Monday 23 October.
Tenants will have much more security in the new system. Unlike with Section 21, landlords will always need a reason to evict a tenant and be prepared to evidence that reason in court. Six months strike the right balance between improving security for tenants and ensuring landlords continue to feel confident in the market.
Asked by: Claudia Webbe (Independent - Leicester East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court's statement of 10 October 2023 on the ICC mandate into the Israel-Palestine Conflict in October 2023.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Claudia Webbe (Independent - Leicester East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for the Government' policies of the deaths of Palestinian civilians.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Since the beginning of the conflict and as of 22 October, 1,400 Israelis are reported killed and 4,941 wounded. 4,651 Palestinians are reported killed in Gaza and 91 in the West Bank. 14,245 are reported wounded in Gaza and 1,734 in the West Bank. More than 1,000 people have been reported missing and are presumed to be trapped or dead under the rubble. An estimated 1.4 million people in Gaza have been displaced, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
Any civilian death is a tragedy. Since the Hamas terrorist attacks on 7 October, the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary have spoken to counterparts from almost 20 countries, as part of extensive diplomatic efforts to sustain the prospect of peace and stability in the Middle East. We will continue to use all the tools of British diplomacy to sustain the prospects of peace and stability in the region.
Asked by: Claudia Webbe (Independent - Leicester East)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether his Department plans to use the Renters (Reform) Bill to help tackle discriminatory practices against (a) older people, (b) people in receipt of Housing Benefit and (c) people in receipt of other benefits in the private rented sector.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Claudia Webbe (Independent - Leicester East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will hold discussions with his counterpart in Israel on the potential merits of rescinding the order for people in northern Gaza to evacuate to the south of the Gaza strip.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is steadfast in its position that all states should uphold International Humanitarian Law and we call on our friends and partners to do so. Israel has the right to defend itself proportionately and its military operations must be conducted in accordance with International Humanitarian Law. Civilians must be respected and protected. Both the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary have, in their discussions with their Israeli counterparts, emphasised the importance of taking all possible measures to protect innocent civilians. Israeli President Isaac Herzog has stated that Israel will operate in accordance with international law.
Asked by: Claudia Webbe (Independent - Leicester East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Case Study Israel/OPT: Identifying the Israeli army’s use of white phosphorus in Gaza, published by Amnesty International on 13 October 2023, what assessment his Department has made of the accuracy of reports of the use of white phosphorous by Israel.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.