Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of an international treaty on the provision of humanitarian aid in conflict zones.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government works closely with international partners in support of efforts to prevent and resolve conflicts, and ensure the provision of humanitarian aid in conflict zones.
This includes discussing with states and organisations active in mediation how best to coordinate efforts to ensure their effectiveness, and using the existing international treaties that govern the provision of humanitarian assistance during conflict, principally the Geneva Conventions, to demand that warring parties facilitate safe access and prevent interference with humanitarian activities.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she is taking steps to review mechanisms to (a) de-escalate conflict and (b) provide for international mediation.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government works closely with international partners in support of efforts to prevent and resolve conflicts, and ensure the provision of humanitarian aid in conflict zones.
This includes discussing with states and organisations active in mediation how best to coordinate efforts to ensure their effectiveness, and using the existing international treaties that govern the provision of humanitarian assistance during conflict, principally the Geneva Conventions, to demand that warring parties facilitate safe access and prevent interference with humanitarian activities.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what intelligence did she receive from UK sources as to the build up of operations by the US ahead of their operation in Venezuela.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
It has been the long-standing policy under successive governments not to comment on intelligence matters. But as the Foreign Secretary made clear in her statement to the House on 5 January, the UK Government had no advance knowledge of the operations to which she refers.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions were held with the US Government on Venezuela ahead of their military operation.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
It has been the long-standing policy under successive governments not to comment on intelligence matters. But as the Foreign Secretary made clear in her statement to the House on 5 January, the UK Government had no advance knowledge of the operations to which she refers.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has held with her Israeli counterpart on the need for foreign nationals to provide health care services in Gaza from deregistered organisations.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Hon Member to the statement I made to the House on 5 January.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment has she made of the effectiveness of the operation of the UN Security Council at being able to hold jurisdictions to account when they are involved in actions which fail to meet the standards set out in the UN Charter.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK keeps all such matters under regular review alongside our international partners.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions has she had with relevant stakeholders on the potential merits of reforming the operations of the UN Security Council when activities and operations concern a member of the Security Council.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK keeps all such matters under regular review alongside our international partners.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she is holding with international counterparts on processes to hold countries which are in breach of international humanitarian law to account.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK keeps all such matters under regular review alongside our international partners.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
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 support the establishment of the UN Convention on the Rights of Older Persons.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Hon Member to the response provided on 4 March 2025 to Question 33140.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with the Sudanese authorities on the protection of civilians, including members of religious minority communities, during the ongoing conflict.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
I refer the Hon Member to the responses provided in the Urgent Question debate on 15 December 2025.