Asked by: Baroness Altmann (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs on 20 January (HC104985) and the answer by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs on 3 March (HC Deb col 719), whether their assessment that the Palestinian Authority’s Grade 12 curriculum reforms demonstrated “considerable progress” was informed by the independent audit commissioned the Palestinian Authority; and if not, what evidence informed that assessment.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington
All education must promote peace, tolerance and non-violence. Any incitement to hatred or violence is unacceptable and has no place in the classroom. We have raised this with the Palestinian Authority (PA) and will continue to do so.
The PA is undertaking a multi-year curriculum reform in which textbooks are systematically being updated to align with UNESCO standards. Recent independent analysis has identified credible progress since 2018 in removing material of concern from PA textbooks. We welcome this initial progress, but we recognise that more needs to be done to bring every textbook page for every Grade in line with UNESCO standards.
We have made clear that the Palestinian Authority must fully implement the reforms they have committed to make, including in relation to the school curriculum, and will continue to support them to do so.
Asked by: Baroness Altmann (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the answer by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs on 3 March (HC Deb col 719), whether they still assess that the Palestinian Authority’s Grade 12 curriculum reforms demonstrated “considerable progress” in light of recent findings that newly issued Grade 12 textbooks continue to contain material promoting violence, martyrdom, and antisemitic narratives.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington
All education must promote peace, tolerance and non-violence. Any incitement to hatred or violence is unacceptable and has no place in the classroom. We have raised this with the Palestinian Authority (PA) and will continue to do so.
The PA is undertaking a multi-year curriculum reform in which textbooks are systematically being updated to align with UNESCO standards. Recent independent analysis has identified credible progress since 2018 in removing material of concern from PA textbooks. We welcome this initial progress, but we recognise that more needs to be done to bring every textbook page for every Grade in line with UNESCO standards.
We have made clear that the Palestinian Authority must fully implement the reforms they have committed to make, including in relation to the school curriculum, and will continue to support them to do so.
Asked by: Baroness Altmann (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what benchmarks they have established for monitoring progress on Palestinian Authority curriculum reform in light of President Abbas’ letter to President Macron and the UK–Palestinian Authority Memorandum of Understanding; and what assessment they have made of the implications for UK–Palestinian Authority cooperation should the Palestinian Authority fail to deliver the curriculum reforms it has committed to.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington
I refer the Noble Baroness to the answer I provided on 27 November to Question HL11630.
Asked by: Baroness Altmann (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what support and guidance they are providing to non-governmental organisations and official Palestinian bodies, excluding Hamas, to help ensure the security and safety of women and children from internal violence within Gaza.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington
The UK has allocated £74 million so far this financial year to support the humanitarian response in Gaza. This includes £3 million for the United Nations Population Fund, which supports their response and early recovery under four pillars: sexual and reproductive health; sexual violence; adolescents and youths; and interagency coordination. We are also working closely with partners to support implementation of the next phase of the US-led peace plan, including establishing transitional security arrangements. Within this work, we will continue to prioritise the needs of civilians, particularly women and children.
Asked by: Baroness Altmann (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Chapman of Darlington on 22 November 2024 (HL2411) and the equalities assessment on the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office flying the bisexual flag, what plans they have for it to fly (1) the transgender flag, (2) the asexual flag, (3) the aromantic flag, or (4) the intersex flag.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington
The FCDO's flag flying policy is that all our buildings should fly the Union flag, as appropriate, throughout the year on working days during office hours. In addition, the FCDO continues to fly the Ukrainian flag from the secondary flagpole at King Charles Street. Any other flags flown on the estate are considered on a case-by-case basis and must have a compelling reason for inclusion. The FCDO does not advertise in advance which additional flags it will be flying and when.
Asked by: Baroness Altmann (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they will take, in light of their decision to renew funding of UNWRA, to ensure that its schools and facilities are not used to conceal Hamas infrastructure or launch attacks on Israel.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
Following the independent review by Catherine Colonna the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) set out an action plan with detailed management reforms including stronger independent oversight, better detection systems, improved screening procedures, mandatory training for staff on humanitarian principles and more proactive donor engagement. As a result, we are assured that UNRWA is taking action to ensure it meets the highest standards of neutrality.
£1 million of the UK's £21 million support to UNRWA this financial year will support implementation of these reforms. The FCDO will also continue to conduct its own annual assessment of UK funding to UNRWA.
Asked by: Baroness Altmann (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what safeguards they have in place to ensure that restoration of funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees will not result in UK funding being used to directly or indirectly benefit Hamas.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
When the Foreign Secretary announced the resumption of funding on 19 July 2024, he said that UNRWA has taken serious action in response to the appalling allegations that UNRWA staff were involved in the 7 October attack against Israel. The government is confident that UNRWA is taking action to ensure it meets the highest standards of neutrality and is strengthening its procedures. £1 million of the £21 million of new UK funding will be earmarked to support UNRWA implement the management reforms recommended by the Colonna review. Together with other donors, we will continue to monitor UNRWA's progress on implementation of its action plan. The FCDO will also continue to conduct our own annual assessment of UK funding to UNRWA.
Asked by: Baroness Altmann (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what implications the statement by Bakr Ahmed Bakr Qanita that Hamas is using the management building, the specialist building and the maternity ward at al-Shifa hospital in Gaza will have for their policies in the region.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Hamas and other terrorist organisations are putting Palestinian civilians at grave risk by embedding themselves in the civilian population and civilian infrastructure. The UK is aware of reports of Hamas and other terrorist organisations using healthcare facilities and other infrastructure, such as schools, as bases and command nodes.
This does not absolve parties from their responsibility to ensure that their actions are compliant with International Humanitarian Law, and minimise harm to civilians. The UK is particularly clear that civilian buildings must not be targeted, and extra care must be taken in relation to hospitals and other medical facilities.
Asked by: Baroness Altmann (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what implications the statement by Nabeel Rajab Abed Shteiwi that Palestinian Islamic Jihad is using al-Shifa hospital and schools as shelter will have for their policies in the region.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Hamas and other terrorist organisations are putting Palestinian civilians at grave risk by embedding themselves in the civilian population and civilian infrastructure. The UK is aware of reports of Hamas and other terrorist organisations using healthcare facilities and other infrastructure, such as schools, as bases and command nodes.
This does not absolve parties from their responsibility to ensure that their actions are compliant with International Humanitarian Law, and minimise harm to civilians. The UK is particularly clear that civilian buildings must not be targeted, and extra care must be taken in relation to hospitals and other medical facilities.
Asked by: Baroness Altmann (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what information they hold about how aid money given to the Palestinian Authority in the 10 years is spent.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Following Official Development Assistance (ODA) prioritisation exercises undertaken in March 2021, the UK no longer provides direct financial aid to the Palestinian Authority. All UK support to the Palestinian Authority is provided through technical advice, procured through commercial suppliers.
The FCDO aid budget is allocated in accordance with UK strategic priorities against a challenging financial climate. There is a robust framework in place for allocating ODA. Data on ODA spend in the Occupied Palestinian Territories is available on DevTracker (https://devtracker.fcdo.gov.uk/countries/PS). More than 80 per cent of our ODA spend this year of UK support will be used to meet humanitarian need, or to provide vital health, education, and protection services for Palestinian Refugees.