Asked by: Jeremy Corbyn (Independent - Islington North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, if he will urge the UN Security Council to set a timetable for the referendum of self-determination in Western Sahara.
Answered by David Rutley
The UK continues to support UN-led efforts to reach a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution, based on compromise, which will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara. We strongly support the work of Staffan de Mistura as Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General to Western Sahara, and will continue to encourage constructive engagement with the political process and monitor progress.
Asked by: Jeremy Corbyn (Independent - Islington North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, if he will call for a census of (a) the indigenous people and (b) Moroccan settlers in Western Sahara.
Answered by David Rutley
The UK continues to support UN-led efforts to reach a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution, based on compromise, which will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara. We strongly support the work of Staffan de Mistura as Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General to Western Sahara, and will continue to encourage constructive engagement with the political process and monitor progress.
Asked by: Jeremy Corbyn (Independent - Islington North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what estimate he has made of the number of lorries that need to pass through the Rafah border crossing each day in order to deliver sufficient humanitarian aid to people in Gaza.
Answered by David Rutley
The flow of aid into and through Gaza continues to be insufficient and we are urgently exploring all diplomatic options to increase this, including urging Israel to open other existing land border crossings such as Kerem Shalom. Fuel remains a critical component, without sufficient aid, fuel cannot be distributed by humanitarian organisations and hospitals, bakeries as well as desalination plants cannot operate. We are also actively exploring other routes for aid to get into Gaza.
On 10 December, as of 22:00, 100 trucks carrying humanitarian supplies entered from Egypt into Gaza, the same volume as in most days since the resumption of hostilities on 1 December. This is well below the daily average of 500 truckloads (including fuel) that entered every working day prior to 7 October according to United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA). The UNOCHA has also reported on the 9 and 10 December, a daily average of 150,000 Lt of fuel entered Gaza from Egypt.
The UK Government has already announced £60 million in humanitarian funding since the crisis began and has sent more than 74 tonnes of emergency relief for civilians in Gaza. The shipments have included lifesaving items such as wound care packs, water filters and solar powered lights. Shipments have also provided shelter equipment such as 4,500 blankets and 4,500 sleeping mats, as well as vital equipment including forklift trucks, belt conveyors and lighting towers, specifically requested by UK partners in the region to manage and deliver aid more effectively.
Asked by: Jeremy Corbyn (Independent - Islington North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, if he will make representations to the Israeli authorities on lifting restrictions on (a) water and (b) fuel reaching internally displaced refugees.
Answered by David Rutley
We are deeply concerned about the fuel shortages in Gaza. Fuel is necessary to allow humanitarian organisations to deliver assistance, power hospitals and operate desalinisation plants. The Government of Israel must allow sufficient aid and fuel into Gaza to meet the needs of civilians. We support any action that aims to keep civilians safe and protected. The pause that took place last week for hostage and prisoner releases demonstrated what can be achieved when there is political agreement to allow more vital aid and fuel into Gaza. This should be sustained and built on now that the pause has ended.
We have urged Israel to take action to limit civilian casualties, prevent mass displacement and ensure viable safe areas. About 1.8 million people in Gaza, or nearly 80 per cent of the population, are estimated to be internally displaced. However, obtaining an accurate count is challenging, especially given difficulties in tracking Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) staying with host families, movement of IDPs following evacuation orders since 1 December, and access restrictions. The UK Government has already announced £60 million in humanitarian funding and has sent more than 74 tonnes of emergency relief for civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. This funding will help support the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in responding to critical food, fuel, water, health, shelter and security needs in Gaza.
Asked by: Jeremy Corbyn (Independent - Islington North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether he has had discussions with the Israeli Government on reopening the Kerem Shalom border crossing.
Answered by David Rutley
The FCDO is actively engaging with international partners and those operating on the ground to do all we can to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary engage regularly and closely with regional counterparts including Israel and Egypt on the humanitarian response. However, the flow of aid into and through Gaza continues to be insufficient and we are urgently exploring all diplomatic options to increase this, including urging Israel to open other existing land border crossings such as Kerem Shalom. Fuel remains a critical component, without sufficient aid, fuel cannot be distributed by humanitarian organisations and hospitals, bakeries as well as desalination plants cannot operate. We are also actively exploring other routes for aid to get into Gaza. The UK Government has already announced £60 million in humanitarian funding and has sent more than 74 tonnes of emergency relief for civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Asked by: Jeremy Corbyn (Independent - Islington North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that (a) medical supplies and (b) other aid to Tigray are delivered effectively to the people of Tigray.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell
We welcome the peace agreement and cessation of hostilities announced on 2 November between the Government of Ethiopia and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), and their commitment to scale-up the delivery of life-saving aid to Tigray. As the new agreement includes restoration of services and unhindered access to humanitarian supplies, it is imperative that access is facilitated without delay so medical and other supplies can reach the people of Tigray. The UK is committed to working with the Government of Ethiopia and authorities in Tigray to expand aid deliveries to areas affected by the conflict and to promote long-term peace and security.
Asked by: Jeremy Corbyn (Independent - Islington North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what plans his Department has to provide (a) medical supplies and (b) other aid to Tigray.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell
We welcome the peace agreement and cessation of hostilities announced on 2 November between the Government of Ethiopia and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), and their commitment to scale-up the delivery of life-saving aid to Tigray. As the new agreement includes restoration of services and unhindered access to humanitarian supplies, it is imperative that access is facilitated without delay so medical and other supplies can reach the people of Tigray. The UK is committed to working with the Government of Ethiopia and authorities in Tigray to expand aid deliveries to areas affected by the conflict and to promote long-term peace and security.
Asked by: Jeremy Corbyn (Independent - Islington North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking at (a) the United Nations and (b) other international bodies to help secure a (i) ceasefire and (ii) permanent cessation of hostilities between Russia and Ukraine; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The future of Ukraine should be decided by its democratically elected government and people. There can be no prospect of a ceasefire or cessation of hostilities while Putin remains determined to pursue his war of aggression. The UK is playing a leading role in the UN Security Council, OSCE, G7 and other multilateral fora to urge Russia to cease hostilities, make a full withdrawal and commit to meaningful dialogue. The UK, together with our partners, will continue to provide enduring diplomatic, military and economic support to Ukraine to ensure that it is in the best possible position to deliver a sustainable, just peace through any negotiation process.
Asked by: Jeremy Corbyn (Independent - Islington North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what her Department's priorities are for the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty Review Conference in August 2022; what recent discussions she has had on this matter; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The UK looks forward to working with all states to strengthen the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) at the Tenth Review Conference in August, where we will mark the significant progress of the past 50 years. Our priority is to reaffirm our commitment to the NPT, finding common areas of agreement across all three pillars (disarmament, non-proliferation and peaceful uses of nuclear technology). Ministers and the Foreign Secretary regularly engage in discussions on the NPT and the UK remains committed to full implementation of the NPT in all its aspects. The latest Government position on this was set out in the National Report released in Nov 2021, available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/treaty-on-the-non-proliferation-of-nuclear-weapons-uk-national-report-for-the-10th-review-conference.
Asked by: Jeremy Corbyn (Independent - Islington North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps the UK is taking with the UN to negotiate the restoration of human rights in Myanmar.
Answered by Nigel Adams
The UK has been at the forefront of the international response to the coup in Myanmar. Following the coup, we urgently convened the UN Security Council and secured a statement on 4 February which called for the protection of human rights. On 12 February we co-led a Special Session of the UN Human Rights Council where a resolution calling for an end to human rights violations taking place in Myanmar was passed by consensus. In response to escalating violence we convened the Council again on 5 March and secured a Presidential Statement on 10 March which called for the restoration of democracy, respect for human rights and condemned violence against peaceful protestors. I [Minister Adams] have also met the UN Special Rapporteur for the Situation of Human Rights in Myanmar and the UN Secretary General's Special Envoy for Myanmar to discuss human rights in Myanmar.