Asked by: Lord Bishop of Gloucester (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the construction of the Shdema settlement near Bethlehem on Palestinian livelihoods and the prospects for a two-state solution.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
I refer the Noble Lord to the answer provided in the House of Commons on 3 July 2025 in response to Question 62975, which - for ease of reference - is reproduced below:
We are deeply concerned by the levels of settlement expansion and settler violence in the West Bank and continue to urge the Government of Israel to stop settlement expansion and take action to hold violence to account. Settlements are illegal under international law. On 20 May the UK imposed sanctions on three individuals, two illegal settler outposts and two organisations supporting violence against Palestinian communities in the West Bank. On 10 June the UK, acting alongside partners Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Norway, imposed sanctions on Israeli government ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich in their personal capacity, in response to their repeated incitements of violence against Palestinian communities in the West Bank.
The UK does not recognise the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including Israeli settlements, as part of Israel. Goods imported from the settlements are therefore not entitled to benefit from trade preferences under the UK-Israel Trade and Partnership Agreement. The UK also supports accurate labelling of settlement goods, so as not to mislead the consumer.
Sanctions can be used to achieve a range of foreign and security policy objectives. We use sanctions when they complement other tools as part of a wider strategy. It would not be appropriate to speculate about future sanctions designations as to do so could reduce their impact. We have been clear that we keep these issues under close review.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Gloucester (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of Israel regarding the construction of the Shdema settlement near Bethlehem.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
I refer the Noble Lord to the answer provided in the House of Commons on 3 July 2025 in response to Question 62975, which - for ease of reference - is reproduced below:
We are deeply concerned by the levels of settlement expansion and settler violence in the West Bank and continue to urge the Government of Israel to stop settlement expansion and take action to hold violence to account. Settlements are illegal under international law. On 20 May the UK imposed sanctions on three individuals, two illegal settler outposts and two organisations supporting violence against Palestinian communities in the West Bank. On 10 June the UK, acting alongside partners Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Norway, imposed sanctions on Israeli government ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich in their personal capacity, in response to their repeated incitements of violence against Palestinian communities in the West Bank.
The UK does not recognise the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including Israeli settlements, as part of Israel. Goods imported from the settlements are therefore not entitled to benefit from trade preferences under the UK-Israel Trade and Partnership Agreement. The UK also supports accurate labelling of settlement goods, so as not to mislead the consumer.
Sanctions can be used to achieve a range of foreign and security policy objectives. We use sanctions when they complement other tools as part of a wider strategy. It would not be appropriate to speculate about future sanctions designations as to do so could reduce their impact. We have been clear that we keep these issues under close review.
Asked by: Scott Arthur (Labour - Edinburgh South West)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has had discussions with FIFA on the pricing of participating member association's tickets for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Government understands the strong interest in ticket pricing for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the impact it has on fans.
FIFA is an independent international body with its own governance structures. Ticket pricing is a commercial decision determined solely by the World Cup organisers, which are FIFA and the Host Nations (Canada, Mexico, and the United States).
Representations regarding the interests of fans fall to the respective football associations. The Football Association (FA), Scottish Football Association (SFA), Football Association of Wales (FAW), and Irish Football Association (IFA) are the recognised home nation representatives within the international football structure, and are the appropriate bodies to raise such matters with FIFA.
Asked by: Clive Betts (Labour - Sheffield South East)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has had discussions with (a) FIFA and (b) the FA on the price of tickets for England fans at the World Cup 2026.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Government understands the strong interest in ticket pricing for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the impact it has on fans.
FIFA is an independent international body with its own governance structures. Ticket pricing is a commercial decision determined solely by the World Cup organisers, which are FIFA and the Host Nations (Canada, Mexico, and the United States).
Representations regarding the interests of fans fall to the respective football associations. The Football Association (FA), Scottish Football Association (SFA), Football Association of Wales (FAW), and Irish Football Association (IFA) are the recognised home nation representatives within the international football structure, and are the appropriate bodies to raise such matters with FIFA.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the implications for her Department’s policies of levels of tobacco excise taxes in Australia; and what assessment she has made of the potential relationship between trends in the level of tobacco excise taxes and (a) the size of the illicit tobacco market and (b) associated organised criminal activity.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
Australia imposes some of the highest tobacco duty rates globally with excise accounting for a significant share of retail price. In the UK, tobacco duty aims to both raise revenue and reduce harm to public health by discouraging smoking. High duty rates make tobacco less affordable and are a proven way to reduce smoking prevalence and have helped reduce the percentage of adult smokers in the UK from 26% in 2000 to 10.6% in 2024.
The illicit tobacco market is dominated by organised crime groups that make money by smuggling and selling illicit tobacco products in the UK. Strong enforcement is essential in tackling the illicit tobacco market. HM Revenue and Customs and Border Force have had illicit tobacco strategies in place since 2000. Our latest strategy, “Stubbing out the problem”, was published in January 2024. The Department continues to investigate how the illicit tobacco market is evolving, including through its compliance activity, and the extent to which that may affect overall tax receipts seen.
Whilst tobacco duty has been progressively increased over time, successive illicit tobacco strategies have proven effective in tackling the size of the illicit tobacco market, reducing the tobacco duty tax gap from 21.7% in 2005/6 to 13.8% in 2023/24.
Asked by: Ian Lavery (Labour - Blyth and Ashington)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether she has issued guidance to (a) schools and (b) educational establishments to make them aware of potential concerns with Colours Play Sand.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
UK regulators are in touch with counterparts in Australia regarding reports of chemical concerns related to rainbow-coloured sand products. There is no evidence these products are available on the UK market. Our product safety regulations require businesses to only place safe consumer products on the market, including toys or products aimed at children. The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS), in my Department, and Local Authority Trading Standards enforce the regulations, and have powers to remove products from sale and prevent imports where unsafe items are identified.
The Government does not collect data on sales of individual products.
Asked by: Ian Lavery (Labour - Blyth and Ashington)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to communicate concerns of potential harmful substances in Educational Colours Rainbow Sand.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
UK regulators are in touch with counterparts in Australia regarding reports of chemical concerns related to rainbow-coloured sand products. There is no evidence these products are available on the UK market. Our product safety regulations require businesses to only place safe consumer products on the market, including toys or products aimed at children. The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS), in my Department, and Local Authority Trading Standards enforce the regulations, and have powers to remove products from sale and prevent imports where unsafe items are identified.
The Government does not collect data on sales of individual products.
Asked by: Ian Lavery (Labour - Blyth and Ashington)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what data he holds on how many packs of educational colours rainbow sand was sold before it was no longer available.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
UK regulators are in touch with counterparts in Australia regarding reports of chemical concerns related to rainbow-coloured sand products. There is no evidence these products are available on the UK market. Our product safety regulations require businesses to only place safe consumer products on the market, including toys or products aimed at children. The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS), in my Department, and Local Authority Trading Standards enforce the regulations, and have powers to remove products from sale and prevent imports where unsafe items are identified.
The Government does not collect data on sales of individual products.
Asked by: Rebecca Paul (Conservative - Reigate)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what data his Department holds on the number of UK firms utilising preferential tariff rates under the UK–Australia Free Trade Agreement.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Department for Business and Trade does not centrally hold any data on the number of UK firms utilising preferential tariff rates under the UK–Australia Free Trade Agreement.
The Department holds data on the UK’s utilisation of tariff preferences for imports and exports under preferential trade agreements. However, this data only contains value of trade flows using different import regimes and no information related to firms.
Between June 2023 and December 2024, 65% of eligible goods imports into Australia from the UK made use of an FTA tariff preference and 77% of eligible goods imports into the UK from Australia made use of FTA tariff preferences.
Source: Australia-UK Free Trade Agreement Joint Committee Statement - GOV.UK
Asked by: James Cartlidge (Conservative - South Suffolk)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 8 December 2025 to Question 95413 on Military Exercises, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of plans to reduce Royal Navy training over the next four years on the delivery of the AUKUS partnership.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence is fully committed to delivering the AUKUS partnership alongside Australia and the United States. This trilateral agreement will provide Australia with conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines and advance cooperation on cutting-edge defence technologies.
The Royal Navy constantly reviews and maintains the right level of high readiness forces to fulfil all of its commitments, including its contribution to AUKUS delivery.