Asked by: Neil Coyle (Labour - Bermondsey and Old Southwark)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, whether he has made representations to his counterpart in the United Arab Emirates on that country's role (a) with the Rapid Support Forces and (b) in Sudan.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
In our engagement with all international partners, we emphasise the importance of refraining from actions that prolong the conflict. To this end, we welcome reported plans to restart talks in Jeddah in the coming weeks, with the involvement of the UAE alongside Egypt and African representation. The UK continues to work with a range of partners to end hostilities, allow safe unhindered humanitarian access, and protect civilians.
Asked by: Marquess of Lothian (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what recent discussions they have had with the government of Egypt concerning the current humanitarian situation in Gaza; and what support they are providing to Egyptian authorities, together with international partners, to prevent the forced displacement of Palestinians in Gaza to the Sinai region of Egypt.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We maintain a close dialogue with Egypt on a range of issues relating to the conflict in Gaza. The Foreign Secretary most recently discussed the situation with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry on 10 May.
The UK Government firmly rejects any suggestion of the resettlement of Palestinians outside of Gaza.
The UK's position is clear: Gaza is Occupied Palestinian Territory and will and must be part of a future Palestinian state. We support a two-state solution that guarantees security and stability for both the Israeli and Palestinian people.
Asked by: Wayne David (Labour - Caerphilly)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, whether he has had discussions with his counterpart in Egypt on the detention of Tawfik Ghanem.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We have not raised Mr Ghanem's specific case directly with the Egyptians, but we regularly raise pre-trial detention cases, restrictions on media freedom and detentions of political activists with Egypt, both in London and Cairo. Lord [Tariq] Ahmad of Wimbledon discussed human rights with the Egyptian Ambassador on 20 February and with Foreign Minister Shoukry on 28 March. The Foreign Secretary raised human rights with FM Shoukry on 29 April.
We also raise human rights issues multilaterally through our Human Rights Council Item 4 Statements and detail our concerns through our Annual Human Rights and Development Reports.
Asked by: Lord Mott (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what recent assessment they have made of reported allegations of the widespread abuse of Israeli hostages held by Hamas.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
After more than 200 days in captivity, 132 hostages remain in Gaza, including British nationals and others with strong UK links. We are extremely concerned about reports regarding the conditions they are being held in.
The implications for the health and psychological well-being of hostages can be catastrophic, as is the impact and lasting trauma on their families and on their communities. We reiterate our call for the ICRC to be granted urgent access to all hostages and for their immediate release. Nothing can justify their continued detention. Their families are showing great courage in horrific circumstances.
Hamas must act on this now. It was wrong to kidnap them on 7 October, it has been wrong to hold them in captivity for so long and it is wrong to hold them any longer. We strongly support the intensive diplomatic efforts by Egypt, Qatar and the United States to secure their release.
Asked by: John Healey (Labour - Wentworth and Dearne)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, where the UK defence attaché for Sudan is based.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
The UK Defence Attaché in Egypt at the British Embassy in Cairo has responsibility for Sudan on a Non-Residential Accreditation.
Asked by: Earl of Sandwich (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what financial support they have provided to (1) the government of Egypt, and (2) non-government organisations and churches, to assist with Sudanese citizens seeking refuge in Egypt.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK and Egypt are partners in a number of fields. Through British Investment International, loan guarantees and Official Development Assistance, the UK has provided almost $1 billion to support a stable, green, prosperous Egypt. The UK Government does not provide direct financial support to non-government organisations and churches that assist with Sudanese citizens seeking refuge in Egypt.
Asked by: Alicia Kearns (Conservative - Rutland and Melton)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 13 May 2024 to Question 24720 on Fertilisers: Russia, from which countries have imports of fertiliser increased since March 2022.
Answered by Alan Mak - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)
As per the answer of 13 May 2024, UK imports of fertiliser originating from Russia fell 80% in 2023, compared to 2022 import values.
Across a similar period, from March 2022 to February 2023, the value of direct fertiliser imports grew most significantly from the following 10 countries: Egypt, Netherlands, Spain, Germany, USA, Poland, Trinidad and Tobago, France, Lithuania, and Israel. These countries accounted for around 82% of the total increase.
More recent data shows that the largest increases, between March 2023 and February 2024, were from: Egypt, Israel, Morocco, USA, Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, China, Canada, Greece, and Nigeria. These countries accounted for around 93% of the total increase for this period.
Asked by: Kenny MacAskill (Alba Party - East Lothian)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many planes operated by the Royal Air Force have landed in (a) Lebanon, (b) Egypt, (c) Jordan and (d) Syria since 7 October 2023.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
The RAF undertakes regular flights to the Middle East region as part of our routine engagement and to conduct humanitarian aid airdrops as part of the Jordanian led mission. For operational security considerations we will not comment further.
Asked by: John Healey (Labour - Wentworth and Dearne)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much humanitarian aid has been delivered to civilians in Gaza with the support of Armed Forces personnel in each month since October 2023.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
UK Armed Forces personnel have been deployed as planning teams with Allies and partners to support the wider delivery of humanitarian aid. UK Armed Forces have directly delivered over 225 tonnes on humanitarian aid to support the civilian population of Gaza since October 2023. It is broken down by month below.
UK Armed Forces directly delivered to aid agencies via Egypt | |
October 2023 | 21 tonnes |
November 2023 | 53 tonnes |
December 2023 | 87 tonnes of UK and Cypriot aid |
January 2024 | Nil |
UK Armed Forces directly delivered to Gaza | |
February 2024 | (4 tonnes of UK aid air dropped by Jordan) |
March 2024 | 42 tonnes |
April 2024 (to 17 April) | 24 tonnes |
Asked by: John Healey (Labour - Wentworth and Dearne)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much humanitarian aid his Department has delivered into Gaza by (a) land crossings, (b) maritime deliveries and (c) airdrops in each month since October 2023.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
With the exception of airdrops, the Ministry of Defence has not delivered humanitarian aid directly into Gaza.
In October one RAF flight delivered 21 tonnes of aid and in November three RAF flights delivered 53 tonnes to Egypt for land crossings. In December RFA Lyme Bay delivered 87 tonnes UK and Cypriot aid into Port Said, Egypt also for land crossings.
In March the RAF airdropped 28 tonnes of aid over Gaza, with a further 36 tonnes between 1-17 April, as part of the Jordanian led mission.