Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what assessment he has made of the situation in Yemen.

Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK is deeply concerned by the humanitarian situation in Yemen, which remains dire despite the truce-like conditions since April 2022. This de facto truce offers the most significant opportunity for peace in Yemen in years. We welcome the conclusion of the Saudi-Houthi talks and the formal launch of the UN-led Roadmap by the UN Special Envoy to Yemen, Hans Grundberg, on 23 December 2023. This transition to an intra-Yemeni peace process under UN auspices has been reached following years of HMG's diplomatic support.

What the Houthis are doing in the Red Sea is unacceptable, illegal and threatening freedom of navigation. Their reckless actions are putting innocent lives at risk, reducing the flow of humanitarian aid to those who need it most in Yemen, threatening the global economy, and destabilising the region.

We are using every diplomatic lever at our disposal to pressure the Houthis to desist. It is in all our interests to work together to de-escalate tensions.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment she has made about the current political situation in Yemen.

Answered by Amanda Milling - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

The UK welcomes the UN-brokered two-month truce in Yemen, which began on 2 April, and the creation of a Presidential Leadership Council on 6 April. After over seven long years of conflict, a negotiated political settlement is the only way to bring long-term stability to Yemen and end the humanitarian suffering. The UK will continue to use its diplomatic relations and role as penholder on Yemen in the UN Security Council to support efforts towards political dialogue and peace. The UK continues to encourage the conflict parties to engage constructively with UN-led peace efforts.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the security situation in Yemen.

Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary

We condemn the Houthis' escalation of violence around Marib and Shabwa, which is worsening the humanitarian crisis, and their intensifying of cross-border attacks on Saudi Arabia. On 20 October the UK supported a UN Security Council Press Statement calling for an immediate end to the Houthi escalation in Marib. The Foreign Secretary also raised Yemen with Saudi counterparts on her visit to Riyadh on 20 October. We fully support the Yemen peace process led by the UN Special Envoy Hans Grundberg. An inclusive political settlement is the only way to bring long-term stability and security to Yemen and end the humanitarian suffering. We urge the parties to engage constructively with this process.