Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how her Department plans to ensure that public funding for sports facilities supports a balanced range of sports, including court-based activities such as tennis and padel, to maximise participation among women, disabled people, and inactive communities.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

The Government is investing at least £400 million in new and upgraded grassroots sport facilities over the next four years, promoting health, wellbeing and community cohesion, while removing the barriers to physical activity for under-represented groups, such as women and girls, and people with disabilities.

At least £15 million is being invested into new delivery models across England in 2026/27, to allow more people to participate in sports they wish to. At least £2.5 million will be invested through the LTA for covered courts in England for tennis, padel and other activities, with additional funding will also enable a wider range of sporting bodies to trial innovative funding pathways.

We are also investing £85 million across the UK via the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme in 2026/27, funding projects such as new artificial grass pitches, changing rooms and pavilions, and floodlights which provide communities with access to the facilities they need.

A key objective of the programme is to increase access and participation levels for women and girls, disabled players and communities most in need across the UK. We will ensure these communities are prioritised using deprivation and inactivity data. Projects are also required to generate partner funding, ensuring we achieve value for money on Government investment.

We are now working closely with the sports sector and local leaders to develop plans for funding for a range of sports across the country based on what each community needs. Although a decision has yet to be made regarding future funding year allocations, we understand the value of multi-year commitments to our delivery partners and will aim to confirm allocations as soon as possible.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has considered providing multi-year capital funding settlements for community sports facilities, in order to enable national governing bodies and local partners to plan, deliver matched funding and achieve value for money at scale.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

The Government is investing at least £400 million in new and upgraded grassroots sport facilities over the next four years, promoting health, wellbeing and community cohesion, while removing the barriers to physical activity for under-represented groups, such as women and girls, and people with disabilities.

At least £15 million is being invested into new delivery models across England in 2026/27, to allow more people to participate in sports they wish to. At least £2.5 million will be invested through the LTA for covered courts in England for tennis, padel and other activities, with additional funding will also enable a wider range of sporting bodies to trial innovative funding pathways.

We are also investing £85 million across the UK via the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme in 2026/27, funding projects such as new artificial grass pitches, changing rooms and pavilions, and floodlights which provide communities with access to the facilities they need.

A key objective of the programme is to increase access and participation levels for women and girls, disabled players and communities most in need across the UK. We will ensure these communities are prioritised using deprivation and inactivity data. Projects are also required to generate partner funding, ensuring we achieve value for money on Government investment.

We are now working closely with the sports sector and local leaders to develop plans for funding for a range of sports across the country based on what each community needs. Although a decision has yet to be made regarding future funding year allocations, we understand the value of multi-year commitments to our delivery partners and will aim to confirm allocations as soon as possible.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate her Department has made of the amount of funding needed to meet the level of demand for covered and indoor sports tennis courts.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

The Government is investing at least £400 million in new and upgraded grassroots sport facilities over the next four years, promoting health, wellbeing and community cohesion, while removing the barriers to physical activity for under-represented groups, such as women and girls, and people with disabilities.

At least £15 million is being invested into new delivery models across England in 2026/27, to allow more people to participate in sports they wish to. At least £2.5 million will be invested through the LTA for covered courts in England for tennis, padel and other activities, with additional funding will also enable a wider range of sporting bodies to trial innovative funding pathways.

We are also investing £85 million across the UK via the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme in 2026/27, funding projects such as new artificial grass pitches, changing rooms and pavilions, and floodlights which provide communities with access to the facilities they need.

A key objective of the programme is to increase access and participation levels for women and girls, disabled players and communities most in need across the UK. We will ensure these communities are prioritised using deprivation and inactivity data. Projects are also required to generate partner funding, ensuring we achieve value for money on Government investment.

We are now working closely with the sports sector and local leaders to develop plans for funding for a range of sports across the country based on what each community needs. Although a decision has yet to be made regarding future funding year allocations, we understand the value of multi-year commitments to our delivery partners and will aim to confirm allocations as soon as possible.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when her Department plans to publish further details of the Places of Worship Renewal Fund.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

Comprehensive guidance on eligibility and how to apply to the Places of Worship Renewal Fund will be made available in the coming weeks.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that children receive a minimum of two hours of high-quality physical education per week, and are supported to be physically active for at least 60 minutes a day.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The government has pledged to protect PE time and wants schools to offer a minimum of two hours of PE per week for all pupils. The department is committed to supporting schools to meet this ambition.

The government response to the independent Curriculum and Assessment Review has committed to strengthen the PE curriculum across all key stages, including key stage 4, to give it a clearer purpose and ensure schools recognise the importance of protecting two hours of PE throughout a pupil’s time at school.

To bring more consistency to the provision of support and opportunities across the country and to ensure it reaches the children and young people who need it most, we are working to set up new PE and School Sport Partnerships across the country. These will make sure that the support that schools can draw on for making improvements to PE is high quality and informed by the best evidence and clearly focused on the challenge of reducing inactivity, securing equal access to sporting opportunities and ensuring there is a renewed focus on supporting schools to increase PE time.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that the introduction of School Sport Partnerships and the new Enrichment Framework is supported by adequate levels of funding.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

My right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister announced in June 2025 the establishment of a new PE and School Sport Partnerships Network to ensure all children and young people have access to high quality PE and extracurricular sport. Details on the PE and School Sports Partnerships funding will be confirmed in due course.

The Enrichment Framework will be published this academic year, accompanied by a range of support to help schools’ enrichment offers. We will work with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on the National Youth Strategy implementation, including the £22.5 million Enrichment Expansion Programme and £132.5 million through the ‘Every Child Can’ dormant assets funding. This is in addition to international enrichment opportunities through the UK’s association to the EU’s Erasmus+ programme, continuing investment in our national network of Music Hubs, a new £750,000 chess support programme, and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology’s flagship ‘TechYouth’ programme.

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 with international partners to expand access to basic eye care services, including cataract surgery and vision correction, in low- and middle‑income countries.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK is committed to tackling global health challenges and considers eye health within this wider agenda. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is transforming its approach to global health by moving from direct service delivery to supporting countries with technical expertise and long-term system strengthening, including through our fully flexible funding to the World Health Organization. The new Global Health Community of Expertise will connect partners with UK and global knowledge, innovation and investment. This demand-led, partnership model is designed to help countries access the resources they need to address their own health challenges, including on eye health.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has assessed the potential merits of advocating international action to reduce avoidable sight loss at the Global Summit for Eye Health in November 2026.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK is committed to tackling global health challenges and considers eye health within this wider agenda. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is transforming its approach to global health by moving from direct service delivery to supporting countries with technical expertise and long-term system strengthening, including through our fully flexible funding to the World Health Organization. The new Global Health Community of Expertise will connect partners with UK and global knowledge, innovation and investment. This demand-led, partnership model is designed to help countries access the resources they need to address their own health challenges, including on eye health.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she plans to include eye health interventions in future UK international development and global health programmes.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK is committed to tackling global health challenges and considers eye health within this wider agenda. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is transforming its approach to global health by moving from direct service delivery to supporting countries with technical expertise and long-term system strengthening, including through our fully flexible funding to the World Health Organization. The new Global Health Community of Expertise will connect partners with UK and global knowledge, innovation and investment. This demand-led, partnership model is designed to help countries access the resources they need to address their own health challenges, including on eye health.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what timetable her Department is working to for confirming country-level Official Development Assistance allocations for financial years (a) 2026-27, (b) 2027-28 and (c) 2028-29.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Official Development Assistance (ODA) allocations by country for the next three years will be published no later than in the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office's (FCDO) Annual Report & Accounts this summer.

Teams across the FCDO and our country network are considering how best to prioritise their ODA allocations, including as part of portfolio strategies which will help deliver a more coordinated approach to our work in partner countries. We are therefore unable to provide details on individual programme decisions. Updates to UK ODA programmes are published on DevTracker on GOV.UK each month.

We are reducing ODA gradually to the equivalent of 0.3 per cent of Gross National Income by 2027 to allow time for programming to be reprioritised in a way which is considered and deliberate. Setting three years of allocations from 2026/27 to 2028/29 provides the predictability our teams need to effectively manage reductions, including responsibly exiting programmes where necessary.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to advance the 2018 Commonwealth Heads of Government commitment on taking action towards achieving access to quality eye care for all, including eliminating blinding trachoma.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK is committed to tackling global health challenges and considers eye health within this wider agenda. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is transforming its approach to global health by moving from direct service delivery to supporting countries with technical expertise and long-term system strengthening, including through our fully flexible funding to the World Health Organization. The new Global Health Community of Expertise will connect partners with UK and global knowledge, innovation and investment. This demand-led, partnership model is designed to help countries access the resources they need to address their own health challenges, including on eye health.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what role eye health plays within global health and international development strategies.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK is committed to tackling global health challenges and considers eye health within this wider agenda. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is transforming its approach to global health by moving from direct service delivery to supporting countries with technical expertise and long-term system strengthening, including through our fully flexible funding to the World Health Organization. The new Global Health Community of Expertise will connect partners with UK and global knowledge, innovation and investment. This demand-led, partnership model is designed to help countries access the resources they need to address their own health challenges, including on eye health.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department has estimated the potential effect of future reductions to the ODA budget on (a) existing and (b) pipeline programmes in (i) Kenya and (ii) Jamaica.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Official Development Assistance (ODA) allocations by country for the next three years will be published no later than in the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office's (FCDO) Annual Report & Accounts this summer.

Teams across the FCDO and our country network are considering how best to prioritise their ODA allocations, including as part of portfolio strategies which will help deliver a more coordinated approach to our work in partner countries. We are therefore unable to provide details on individual programme decisions. Updates to UK ODA programmes are published on DevTracker on GOV.UK each month.

We are reducing ODA gradually to the equivalent of 0.3 per cent of Gross National Income by 2027 to allow time for programming to be reprioritised in a way which is considered and deliberate. Setting three years of allocations from 2026/27 to 2028/29 provides the predictability our teams need to effectively manage reductions, including responsibly exiting programmes where necessary.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much and what proportion of planned spend figures on DevTracker (a) have been committed to and (b) are subject to reprofiling or cancellation.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Official Development Assistance (ODA) allocations by country for the next three years will be published no later than in the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office's (FCDO) Annual Report & Accounts this summer.

Teams across the FCDO and our country network are considering how best to prioritise their ODA allocations, including as part of portfolio strategies which will help deliver a more coordinated approach to our work in partner countries. We are therefore unable to provide details on individual programme decisions. Updates to UK ODA programmes are published on DevTracker on GOV.UK each month.

We are reducing ODA gradually to the equivalent of 0.3 per cent of Gross National Income by 2027 to allow time for programming to be reprioritised in a way which is considered and deliberate. Setting three years of allocations from 2026/27 to 2028/29 provides the predictability our teams need to effectively manage reductions, including responsibly exiting programmes where necessary.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, which bilateral programmes in a) Kenya and b) Jamaica are currently assessed as at risk of closure or early exit as a result of reductions in the aid budget as announced in February 2025.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Official Development Assistance (ODA) allocations by country for the next three years will be published no later than in the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office's (FCDO) Annual Report & Accounts this summer.

Teams across the FCDO and our country network are considering how best to prioritise their ODA allocations, including as part of portfolio strategies which will help deliver a more coordinated approach to our work in partner countries. We are therefore unable to provide details on individual programme decisions. Updates to UK ODA programmes are published on DevTracker on GOV.UK each month.

We are reducing ODA gradually to the equivalent of 0.3 per cent of Gross National Income by 2027 to allow time for programming to be reprioritised in a way which is considered and deliberate. Setting three years of allocations from 2026/27 to 2028/29 provides the predictability our teams need to effectively manage reductions, including responsibly exiting programmes where necessary.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what guidance her Department has issued to country offices on responsible programme exits.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Official Development Assistance (ODA) allocations by country for the next three years will be published no later than in the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office's (FCDO) Annual Report & Accounts this summer.

Teams across the FCDO and our country network are considering how best to prioritise their ODA allocations, including as part of portfolio strategies which will help deliver a more coordinated approach to our work in partner countries. We are therefore unable to provide details on individual programme decisions. Updates to UK ODA programmes are published on DevTracker on GOV.UK each month.

We are reducing ODA gradually to the equivalent of 0.3 per cent of Gross National Income by 2027 to allow time for programming to be reprioritised in a way which is considered and deliberate. Setting three years of allocations from 2026/27 to 2028/29 provides the predictability our teams need to effectively manage reductions, including responsibly exiting programmes where necessary.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the role of year-round, all-weather sports facilities in the development of future elite athletes.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

The Government recognises that year-round, all-weather training environments play a vital role in the development of future elite athletes, ensuring consistent access to high-quality facilities regardless of external conditions.

Through Government and National Lottery funding, UK Sport invests in a network of Elite Training Centres across the UK. These centres provide daily training environments where athletes can access world-class facilities, coaching and integrated performance support, forming a key part of the UK’s approach to developing future Olympic and Paralympic athletes.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the role of accessible, covered and indoor sports facilities in the participation of disabled people in sport.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

It has not proved possible to respond to the Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to improve training for primary school teachers on how to deliver high quality PE and school sport.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure disabled children have equal access to PE and school sport.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what arrangements are in place to identify and escalate emerging risks of breaches of international humanitarian law in relation to Gaza within her Department, in the context of the closure of the relevant FCDO unit.

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

The Media reports that the Honourable Member refers to are misleading. The International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Cell has moved, not closed. As part of an internal restructure, the Cell and its functions continue to operate from within a different team in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). The work of the FCDO assessing IHL risks arising from the conflict in Gaza is not being discontinued. The FCDO continues to draw on a range of sources and expertise to inform its assessments and approach to IHL issues, and we also continue to retain access to all FCDO-funded research previously carried out into alleged IHL violations.

We are in the process of reforming the FCDO to build a more capable, agile and resilient organisation that can respond quickly to changing challenges and crises, and operate effectively within the financial constraints that we are operating under in this spending review period. This process inevitably involves the restructuring of teams across the FCDO to deliver our objectives in a more streamlined and better-integrated way. It is important that Honourable Members do not mistake any changes of structure and nomenclature for changes in the priority that we attach to different issues and responsibilities, especially in areas as critical as this.

IHL assessments support UK export licensing decisions. On the delivery and oversight of UK funded humanitarian assistance in Gaza, we continue to call for urgent action to open all the crossings, lift restrictions and flood Gaza with aid.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether responsibility for monitoring potential breaches of international humanitarian law relating to Gaza has been reassigned within her Department following the closure of the international humanitarian law cell.

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

The Media reports that the Honourable Member refers to are misleading. The International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Cell has moved, not closed. As part of an internal restructure, the Cell and its functions continue to operate from within a different team in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). The work of the FCDO assessing IHL risks arising from the conflict in Gaza is not being discontinued. The FCDO continues to draw on a range of sources and expertise to inform its assessments and approach to IHL issues, and we also continue to retain access to all FCDO-funded research previously carried out into alleged IHL violations.

We are in the process of reforming the FCDO to build a more capable, agile and resilient organisation that can respond quickly to changing challenges and crises, and operate effectively within the financial constraints that we are operating under in this spending review period. This process inevitably involves the restructuring of teams across the FCDO to deliver our objectives in a more streamlined and better-integrated way. It is important that Honourable Members do not mistake any changes of structure and nomenclature for changes in the priority that we attach to different issues and responsibilities, especially in areas as critical as this.

IHL assessments support UK export licensing decisions. On the delivery and oversight of UK funded humanitarian assistance in Gaza, we continue to call for urgent action to open all the crossings, lift restrictions and flood Gaza with aid.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the closure of the FCDO unit responsible for monitoring potential breaches of international humanitarian law on the delivery and oversight of UK funded humanitarian assistance in Gaza.

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

The Media reports that the Honourable Member refers to are misleading. The International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Cell has moved, not closed. As part of an internal restructure, the Cell and its functions continue to operate from within a different team in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). The work of the FCDO assessing IHL risks arising from the conflict in Gaza is not being discontinued. The FCDO continues to draw on a range of sources and expertise to inform its assessments and approach to IHL issues, and we also continue to retain access to all FCDO-funded research previously carried out into alleged IHL violations.

We are in the process of reforming the FCDO to build a more capable, agile and resilient organisation that can respond quickly to changing challenges and crises, and operate effectively within the financial constraints that we are operating under in this spending review period. This process inevitably involves the restructuring of teams across the FCDO to deliver our objectives in a more streamlined and better-integrated way. It is important that Honourable Members do not mistake any changes of structure and nomenclature for changes in the priority that we attach to different issues and responsibilities, especially in areas as critical as this.

IHL assessments support UK export licensing decisions. On the delivery and oversight of UK funded humanitarian assistance in Gaza, we continue to call for urgent action to open all the crossings, lift restrictions and flood Gaza with aid.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether an equality, legal, or risk impact assessment was carried out ahead of the closure of the FCDO unit responsible for monitoring potential breaches of international humanitarian law.

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

The Media reports that the Honourable Member refers to are misleading. The International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Cell has moved, not closed. As part of an internal restructure, the Cell and its functions continue to operate from within a different team in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). The work of the FCDO assessing IHL risks arising from the conflict in Gaza is not being discontinued. The FCDO continues to draw on a range of sources and expertise to inform its assessments and approach to IHL issues, and we also continue to retain access to all FCDO-funded research previously carried out into alleged IHL violations.

We are in the process of reforming the FCDO to build a more capable, agile and resilient organisation that can respond quickly to changing challenges and crises, and operate effectively within the financial constraints that we are operating under in this spending review period. This process inevitably involves the restructuring of teams across the FCDO to deliver our objectives in a more streamlined and better-integrated way. It is important that Honourable Members do not mistake any changes of structure and nomenclature for changes in the priority that we attach to different issues and responsibilities, especially in areas as critical as this.

IHL assessments support UK export licensing decisions. On the delivery and oversight of UK funded humanitarian assistance in Gaza, we continue to call for urgent action to open all the crossings, lift restrictions and flood Gaza with aid.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department are developing new mechanisms to monitor compliance with international humanitarian law in Gaza, in the context of the closure of the international humanitarian law cell.

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

The Media reports that the Honourable Member refers to are misleading. The International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Cell has moved, not closed. As part of an internal restructure, the Cell and its functions continue to operate from within a different team in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). The work of the FCDO assessing IHL risks arising from the conflict in Gaza is not being discontinued. The FCDO continues to draw on a range of sources and expertise to inform its assessments and approach to IHL issues, and we also continue to retain access to all FCDO-funded research previously carried out into alleged IHL violations.

We are in the process of reforming the FCDO to build a more capable, agile and resilient organisation that can respond quickly to changing challenges and crises, and operate effectively within the financial constraints that we are operating under in this spending review period. This process inevitably involves the restructuring of teams across the FCDO to deliver our objectives in a more streamlined and better-integrated way. It is important that Honourable Members do not mistake any changes of structure and nomenclature for changes in the priority that we attach to different issues and responsibilities, especially in areas as critical as this.

IHL assessments support UK export licensing decisions. On the delivery and oversight of UK funded humanitarian assistance in Gaza, we continue to call for urgent action to open all the crossings, lift restrictions and flood Gaza with aid.