Asked by: Neil Duncan-Jordan (Labour - Poole)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she plans to ratify the UN High Seas Treaty by June 2026.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Following Royal Assent of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Act (BBNJ), further secondary legislation is required before the BBNJ Agreement can be ratified by the UK. This will happen when the parliamentary timetable allows.
Asked by: Neil Duncan-Jordan (Labour - Poole)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations her Department has made to the Israeli Government over the decision to demolish a football pitch in the Aida Refugee Camp in the West Bank.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK regularly raises the situation in the West Bank with the Israeli government, including the demolitions of housing, olive groves, and other civilian infrastructure, carried out in breach of International Humanitarian Law.
Asked by: Neil Duncan-Jordan (Labour - Poole)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with her United States counterpart on the military operation in Venezuela and compliance with international law.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Hon Member to the statement to the House made by the Foreign Secretary on 5 January, and her responses in that debate.
Asked by: Neil Duncan-Jordan (Labour - Poole)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has made representations to her Israeli counterpart on its decision to remove registration from 31 December 2025 from international NGOs operating in the occupied Palestinian territory.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Hon Member to the statement I made on 5 January.
Asked by: Neil Duncan-Jordan (Labour - Poole)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of membership of the ECHR.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is already a High Contracting Party of the ECHR and has been since it entered into force in 1953.
Asked by: Neil Duncan-Jordan (Labour - Poole)
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 adequacy of the relationship between the UK and Israel.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK government has taken action in response to the egregious activity of the Israeli government in Gaza and the West Bank. The actions of this Israeli government are isolating Israel from its friends and partners around the world and in response we have suspended negotiations with the Israeli government on a new free trade agreement. We will also review cooperation under the 2030 Bilateral Roadmap.
The decision made by the Israeli Government on 8 August to further escalate its offensive in Gaza is wrong, and we urge it to reconsider immediately. This action will do nothing to bring an end to this conflict or to help secure the release of the hostages. It will only bring more bloodshed.
Every day the humanitarian crisis in Gaza worsens and hostages taken by Hamas are being held in appalling and inhuman conditions. What we need is a ceasefire, a surge in humanitarian aid, the release of all hostages by Hamas and a negotiated solution. Hamas can play no part in the future of Gaza and must leave as well as disarm.
Together with our allies, we are working on a long-term plan to secure peace in the region as part of a two-state solution, and ultimately achieve a brighter future for Palestinians and Israelis. As part of this, on 29 July, the Prime Minister announced the UK will recognise the state of Palestine in September before the United Nations General Assembly; unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza and commits to a long-term sustainable peace. These actions do not undermine our support for the Israeli people, our commitment to their security, and standing with them against the evil of antisemitism.
This financial year we have allocated £101 million for the Occupied Palestinian Territories, covering our significant humanitarian response in Gaza and the West Bank, our support for Palestinian economic development, reform of the Palestinian Authority, and supporting Palestinian refugees in the region.
Asked by: Neil Duncan-Jordan (Labour - Poole)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether time spent in Gibraltar by UK citizens will count against the 90-day allowance for stays in Schengen countries.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Non-resident British nationals can currently visit Gibraltar for up to 90 days. The same will be the case under this agreement. As visitors will be free to cross into Spain without checks, time spent in Gibraltar will count towards the EU's 90 in 180 requirement. Immigration into Gibraltar is, and will remain, the responsibility of the Government of Gibraltar.
Asked by: Neil Duncan-Jordan (Labour - Poole)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will ensure that time spent in Gibraltar does not reduce the time British citizens can spend in Schengen countries.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
To unlock the benefits of a fluid border, all individuals arriving at Gibraltar's airport will undergo dual immigration controls allowing them to move freely into the EU if they wish to. As visitors will be free to cross into Spain without checks, time spent in Gibraltar will count towards the EU's 90 in 180 requirement. This agreement provides a solution to the unique situation in Gibraltar, ensuring a fluid border and delivering certainty for Gibraltar's people and businesses.
Asked by: Neil Duncan-Jordan (Labour - Poole)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when he next plans to discuss the case of Alaa Abd el-Fattah with his Egyptian counterpart.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK Government continues to raise Mr Alaa Abd El-Fattah's case at the highest levels with the Egyptian government. We have been consistently clear in calling for his release and continue to press for urgent consular access. The Prime Minister raised the case in a phone call with President Sisi on 28 February 2025 and previously wrote to President Sisi on 26 December 2024 and 8 January 2025. The Foreign Secretary raised this case with Egyptian Foreign Minister on 23 January 2025. I raised the case with the Egyptian Ambassador to London on 18 February 2025.