Asked by: Danny Beales (Labour - Uxbridge and South Ruislip)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what role the UK is playing in ongoing UN processes to develop and strengthen an internationally agreed definition and global monitoring framework for homelessness.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is a member of the UN Intergovernmental Expert Working Group on Adequate Housing for All, and was consulted at the Expert Group and Intersessional Thematic Meeting on the Definition of Homelessness, which met in October 2025 to work on improving the consistency, comparability, and scope of member states' data on homelessness. The Group will meet again in November 2026 to review recommendations that will inform the UK-supported UN-Habitat strategy for 2026-29, including its goals to reduce homelessness globally.
Asked by: Danny Beales (Labour - Uxbridge and South Ruislip)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, which (a) bilateral and (b) multilateral development programmes supported by the UK include interventions aimed at preventing or reducing homelessness in low- and middle-income countries.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is a member of the UN Intergovernmental Expert Working Group on Adequate Housing for All, and was consulted at the Expert Group and Intersessional Thematic Meeting on the Definition of Homelessness, which met in October 2025 to work on improving the consistency, comparability, and scope of member states' data on homelessness. The Group will meet again in November 2026 to review recommendations that will inform the UK-supported UN-Habitat strategy for 2026-29, including its goals to reduce homelessness globally.
Asked by: Danny Beales (Labour - Uxbridge and South Ruislip)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she plans to advocate within the G20 for greater recognition of homelessness as a global development priority.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is a member of the UN Intergovernmental Expert Working Group on Adequate Housing for All, and was consulted at the Expert Group and Intersessional Thematic Meeting on the Definition of Homelessness, which met in October 2025 to work on improving the consistency, comparability, and scope of member states' data on homelessness. The Group will meet again in November 2026 to review recommendations that will inform the UK-supported UN-Habitat strategy for 2026-29, including its goals to reduce homelessness globally.
Asked by: Danny Beales (Labour - Uxbridge and South Ruislip)
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 encourage the possibility of a two-state solution in Israel and Palestine.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is working with partners to support a path to long-term peace and stability, with a two-state solution: a safe and secure Israel alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian state. This government has prioritised working to end this conflict and secure the safe release of hostages, in co-ordination with international partners, since day one. We will continue to use every diplomatic lever to bring about a ceasefire deal as the first step towards long-term peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians, and the wider region. The Foreign Secretary has raised the issue of securing long-term peace in all his meetings with counterparts across the region, in addition to the US, Germany and France. The UK will play our full diplomatic role in ending this conflict and creating a safe and secure Israel alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian state.
Asked by: Danny Beales (Labour - Uxbridge and South Ruislip)
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 prevent illegal settlements in the West Bank.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK Government's position on settlements is clear. They are illegal under international law, present an obstacle to peace and threaten the physical viability of a two-state solution. To date, we have sanctioned eight individuals responsible for inciting and perpetrating human rights abuses against Palestinian communities in the West Bank. We have also designated two groups known to have supported, incited and promoted violence against these communities. We do not comment on future sanctions.