Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many river habitats in England have good ecological status; how many are polluted by chemical waste, including raw sewage and agricultural waste; and what steps they are taking to ensure the existing regulatory framework for managing the water environment in the UK is more effectively applied.

Answered by Lord Douglas-Miller - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The last Water Framework Directive (WFD) full water body classification results in 2019 showed 16% of all surface water bodies (14% for river water bodies), in England achieved good ecological status (GES) (or good ecological potential for artificial and heavily modified water bodies), and 64% of surface water bodies achieved moderate ecological status (or potential).

The next full results will be published by the Environment Agency (EA) in 2025. The headline reporting for WFD creates a simplified picture and is just one way of understanding the water environment. For example, the last classification results for England showed the 79% of elements the EA test for GES were classed at Good.

Most water bodies failing to reach GES are subject to multiple pressures. The top three pressures are physical modification of water bodies, diffuse agricultural pollution and waste water management. More detailed information on water body reasons for not achieving good are publicly available on the EA’s Catchment Data Explorer.

The EA has developed a Prioritisation and Early Warning System (PEWS) for chemicals of emerging concern to assess their presence and quantities in our rivers. This allows the Agency to prioritise suitable management. Additionally, EA has developed a list of priority chemicals of concern which are regularly monitored alongside appropriate measures to protect aquatic wildlife and human health.

The government is committed to achieving the goals of the Environment Improvement Plan to bring 75% of our water to as close to its natural state as soon as practicable. Our Plan for Water, published last year will go further and faster towards that goal and deliver a safe, reliable, resilient supply of clean and plentiful water underpinned by increased investment in infrastructure, increased regulation and stronger enforcement.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Prime Minister’s announcement on 23 April of an increase in defence spending to a new baseline of 2.5 per cent GDP by 2030 differs from the pledge to increase defence spending to 2.5 per cent by 2030 given by the former Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, at the NATO summit in Madrid in June 2022; and whether a spending review will be required.

Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Prime Minister's announcement is for a fully funded commitment to reach 2.5% of GDP in financial year (FY)2030-31. It is supported by a commitment not to increase borrowing or debt.

The current spending review period concludes at the end of FY2024-25, and a future Spending Review will formalise spending plans for the following period.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government when the Prime Minister last spoke to the Prime Minister of Israel.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Prime Minister last spoke to the Israeli Prime Minister on 30 April 2024.

They discussed the current hostage negotiations, the importance of getting much more aid into Gaza, including via vital land routes, and Israel's commitment to achieving this. The Prime Minister reiterated the UK's support for Israel's security and made clear that our focus is on de-escalation, which is essential and in everyone's interest.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report by the Independent Review Group on the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) Independent Review of Mechanisms and Procedures to Ensure Adherence by UNRWA to the Humanitarian Principle of Neutrality, published on 22 April; and what assessment they have made of the implications of the findings in that report on the UK's funding of UNRWA.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Allegations that UNRWA staff were involved in the events that took place on 7 October in Israel are appalling, which is why we took decisive action to pause future funding to the organisation.

The Prime Minister has been clear that the UK will set out its position on future funding to UNRWA following careful consideration of Catherine Colonna's final report, UNRWA's response and the ongoing UN Office for Internal Oversight Services investigation into these allegations.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, following recent reports by the United Nations Group of Experts on the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Human Rights Watch, what discussions they have had with the government of Rwanda concerning (1) whether that government are providing logistical support to the M23 rebels to operate inside the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and (2) whether Rwandan troops are reinforcing or fighting alongside the M23.

Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

We continue to raise the situation in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) with the governments of DRC and Rwanda to urge for an end to the violence, human rights violations and violations of international humanitarian law by armed groups including M23. On 9 April, the Prime Minister met with President Kagame and underlined the importance of a political process to resolve the situation. The Minister of State (Development and Africa) also raised this issue with President Kagame during his visit to Rwanda on 6 April. We continue to emphasise to all parties that recent mediation efforts of the Angola-led Luanda peace process should be followed with further tangible action.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the current political and security situation in Haiti; and what steps they are taking, together with international partners, to provide urgent humanitarian assistance.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Minister Rutley has engaged significantly on this issue, discussing it with regional and international partners over many months. I most recently engaged with Caribbean partners during my attendance at the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Heads of Government meeting in Guyana on 26 February, where I discussed concerns about - and options to respond to - the security situation in Haiti. The UK welcomes the recent swearing in of the Transitional Presidential Council. This is an important step on the journey to restoring much needed political stability in Haiti. It is clear that the climate of insecurity is driving Haiti's humanitarian needs, and we hope that deployment of the Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission in Haiti, to which the Foreign Secretary announced a £5 million ODA contribution on 9 April, will improve this. The difficult security situation within Haiti has impeded humanitarian access but we will continue to work with our international partners to build a coordinated and coherent response so that international support can reach people in need.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government when they expect to be able to make a full value for money assessment of (1) the Illegal Migration Act 2023, and (2) the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Act 2024; and when they expect to be able to assess with certainty the level of deterrent effect of this legislation.

Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

Both the Illegal Migration Act 2023 and the Safety of Rwanda Act 2024 aim to put a stop to illegal migration into the UK by removing the incentive to make dangerous small boat crossings.

The Home Office has published its Economic Impact Assessment for the Illegal Migration Act https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/impact-assessments-covering-migration-policy and Safety of Rwanda Act Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill: impact assessments - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether asylum seekers arriving in the UK unlawfully from the Democratic Republic of the Congo will be subject to removal to the Republic of Rwanda, under the provisions of the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Act 2024.

Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

Anyone in the UK illegally, including those who arrived through illegal, dangerous, and unnecessary means, may be in scope for removal to Rwanda.

Only those who face a real and imminent risk of serious and irreversible harm based on their individual circumstances will be able to appeal decisions in the UK.

Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many children are currently homeless in temporary accommodation in England and Wales, and how these figures compare to 2010; what is the average length of time that homeless children spend in temporary accommodation; and what action they are taking in this regard.

Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)

The statutory homelessness statistics for England publish quarterly data from local authorities containing information on families in temporary accommodation at the end of each quarter. Data can be found at Statutory homelessness in England: October to December 2023 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). Details of the length of time families with children are housed in temporary accommodation are published annually and can be found at Statutory homelessness in England: financial year 2022-23 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). In terms of the action the government is taking, I refer the Noble Lord to the response provided to UIN 14761 on 26 February 2024.

Housing is devolved and quarterly statistics for Wales can be found on the Welsh Government’s website.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have had discussions with international partners on implementing the recommendations for a common approach among relevant political, humanitarian and development actors, contained in the UN Special Coordinator Feridun Sinirlioğlu’s independent assessment on Afghanistan, dated 8 November 2023.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Government is supportive of the recommendations within the UN Special Coordinator's Independent Assessment, viewing them as the best path for an Afghanistan at peace with itself and the international community. We engage regularly with international partners on this issue, including hosting a meeting in London of G7+ Special Representatives for Afghanistan in January to discuss the report in detail. Senior officials also attend the UN-convened meetings in Doha for Special Representatives as part of this process. Ministers and officials regularly discuss the report's recommendations with international partners, including during the Foreign Secretary's recent trip to Central Asia.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what information they have on the progress of the International Criminal Court’s investigation into the Situation in the State of Palestine, announced by the Prosecutor on 3 March 2021 and covering crimes alleged to have been committed since 13 June 2014.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Our position on the ICC's investigation into the situation in the OPTs has not changed.

The UK is a strong supporter of the International Criminal Court and we fully respect the independence of the Court.

As a State Party to the Geneva Conventions, 1949, the Israeli Government is obliged to take action against Israeli nationals accused of grave breaches of International Humanitarian Law.  It is for the Israeli domestic judicial system to try or extradite those accused of grave breaches.

We continue to call for International Humanitarian Law to be respected and civilians to be protected.  It is vital that all parties ensure that their actions are proportionate, necessary and minimise harm to civilians.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the current (1) humanitarian, and (2) security, situation in Darfur following the recent outbreak of hostilities in El Fasher; and what diplomatic initiatives they are undertaking, together with international partners, to end the current conflict in order to prevent mass civilian casualties.

Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had, if any, with the government of Israel regarding the long-term purpose of the strategic corridor which has been built along the Netzarim Corridor in Gaza.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the current security situation in Western Myanmar; and what steps they are taking, together with international partners, to prevent the outbreak of a civil war between the Buddhist Rakhine and the Muslim Rohingya.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, following the suspension of political party activities and the postponement of elections in Mali, what assessment they have made of the current (1) political, and (2) security, situation in that country.

Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK condemns attempts to restrict democratic space in Mali, including through restrictive legislation on civil society and on political participation. Such measures risk undermining peace and security. We continue to urge the authorities in Mali to deliver on their commitment to a political transition, with free, fair, transparent and inclusive presidential elections. We are committed to working with our partners to respond to immediate humanitarian needs and address the underlying causes of conflict and poverty in Mali.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the amount of cocaine that arrived in the UK in (1) 2023, and (2) 2024 to date, as a result of Balkan drug gangs and their criminal networks; and what steps they are taking, together with European partners, to (a) end the illegal activities associated with Balkan drug dealers, and (b) disrupt the supply of cocaine across Europe.

Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

Illegal drugs devastate lives, ruin families and damage communities. The Government is committed to tackling these harms, including drug-related gang activity.

a) Reducing the threat posed by transnational Western Balkans organised crime groups (WBOCGs) is a government priority. We intensified the cooperation with our international partners to maximise the impact of our interventions WBOCGs wherever they are. Our engagements have already resulted in strategic partnerships with countries such as France, Germany, Italy, and Albania. In addition, the National Crime Agency (NCA) has well established relationships with law enforcement partners across Europe, as well as with Europol and Interpol, which include regular exchanges on organised crime with links to the Western Balkans. We are also seeking to improve criminal records sharing arrangements and law enforcement cooperation between the UK and the Western Balkan countries.

b) Our ten-year Drug Strategy, From Harm to Hope, sets out a whole system approach to combat illicit drugs. As part of this the Home Office has committed £300m of dedicated investment over three years (April 2022 – March 2025) to tackle every phase of the drug supply chain and make it considerably harder for criminal gangs to operate. With this funding we are supporting intelligence-led approaches to interdict and seize drugs as they cross the UK border and prevent criminal groups from bringing drugs to our streets. Across the whole of the UK, the NCA, Border Force, and local police are working in partnership, using intelligence and technology to secure our borders against drug trafficking. We are also funding upstream activity to tackle overseas drug supply, which is aimed at disrupting the criminal networks seeking to traffic illegal drugs to the UK. This includes building close enforcement partnerships with law enforcement agencies in mainland Europe.

The NCA has estimated that the UK consumes 117 tonnes of cocaine each year. We do not hold data on the amount of cocaine arriving in the UK as a result of Balkan OCGs. In the financial year ending 2023, police and Border Force seized 18.58 tonnes of powder cocaine, the second largest quantity of the substance since records began.

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.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, following the government of Israel’s decision to shut down the operations of the Al Jazeera television network in that country, what discussions they have had with that government concerning press freedom.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Israel must ensure its campaign is targeted at Hamas leaders and operatives and ensure journalists can carry out their work safely. On 5 December, the UK supported a joint statement of the Media Freedom Coalition expressing concern over the repercussions for the safety of journalists and access to information due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they are taking action, with international partners, to dissuade the government of Israel from undertaking a military ground offensive in Rafah, Gaza.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

We are clear that do not support a major operation in Rafah unless there is a very clear plan for how to protect people and save lives. We have not seen that plan so, in these circumstances, we do not support a major operation in Rafah.

The fastest way to end the conflict is to secure a deal which gets the hostages out and allows for a stop in the fighting in Gaza. We must then work with our international partners to turn that pause into a sustainable, permanent ceasefire.

We must remain focused on a long-term solution to this crisis - a political horizon for the Palestinians, providing a credible and irreversible pathway towards a two-state solution.

We have consistently made these points to Israel, at all levels.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to reform the Single Justice Procedure (SJP) to enable magistrates to properly consider each case before them and to minimise any risk of miscarriages of justice; and whether they have implemented, or plan to implement, any of the twelve recommendations to improve the operation, transparency and fairness of the SJP contained within the Magistrates’ Association position statement, published on 26 March.

Answered by Lord Bellamy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they taking to ensure that local councils in England are able to meet their statutory duties to provide adult social care for 2025–26,  in accordance with the Care Act 2014; and what discussions they have had with the Local Government Association about this matter.

Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government has made up to £8.6 billion available in additional funding over 2023/24 and 2024/25, to support adult social care and discharge. This funding has enabled local authorities to buy more care packages, helped people leave hospital on time, improved workforce recruitment and retention, and reduced waiting times for care. The Government regularly meets with the Local Government Association and other representatives from the sector, to understand the pressures facing them.

Funding plans for 2025/26 will be developed as part of the next Spending Review. We will continue to work closely with local authorities and the adult social care sector to understand what the impact of cost and demand pressures will be on service delivery, and to support them in responding to these pressures.

Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to address infrastructure and building safety issues within (1) school buildings, and (2) the NHS estate; and what is their current risk assessment for building collapse or failure in each of those.

Answered by Baroness Swinburne - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)

It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to their response to the First Joint Report of the Committees on Arms Export Controls Session 2022–23 Developments in UK Strategic Export Controls, published in January 2023 (CP 775), when, if at all, they intend to review whether their arms and equipment export licences to Israel meet the criteria contained in that response; and what assurances they have received from the government of Israel that those arms exports will not be used to violate international humanitarian law in Gaza.

Answered by Lord Offord of Garvel - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

We are monitoring the situation in Israel and Gaza very closely. All export licences are assessed against the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria and are kept under careful and continual review as standard.

As part of the Government’s robust arms export control regime we periodically review advice on Israel’s capability and overall commitment to comply with International Humanitarian Law, which includes a range of evidence. Ministers act in accordance with that advice.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that at least three residents of the Nur Shams refugee camp in the West Bank were summarily executed or used as human shields by the Israeli military; and what action they have taken in response.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Reports of this nature are shocking. We continue to call upon Israel and the Palestinian Authorities to comply with their legal obligations in the West Bank, affording proper respect to the rights of all persons living there, and to investigate any reports of this thoroughly and transparently.