Baroness Deech

Network Rail and Great Western Railway are executing plans to mitigate the impacts of the closure of Botley Road on station users, the wider public and businesses during the current closure of Botley Road. Work is underway to provide additional support for persons with reduced mobility as well as improvements to wayfinding, lighting and access to the station. Network Rail is working with Thames Water to produce a plan to complete critical utility works and to re-open the road. I have promised to meet stakeholders with Andrew Haines, the Chief Executive of Network Rail, as soon as there is a robust plan in place to complete the works. In the meantime, we welcome all further ideas on the most effective ways of mitigating the effects of the delays on local people, businesses and railway passengers, as we understand and regret the delays in delivering the works and the effect this is having.

Network Rail has not undertaken an assessment of the impacts and social costs resulting from the continuing closure of the A420 (Botley Road) to deliver the Oxford station improvements. Network Rail is working to produce a plan to complete the works and re-open the road. When this has been finalised I propose to meet with stakeholders to discuss it. I wrote to you on 2 September and explained that Network Rail and Great Western Railway are executing a plan to mitigate the impacts of the road closure on those accessing the station and city centre, including persons with restricted mobility. I expect Network Rail to continue to promote Oxford as being open for business throughout this critical and challenging phase.

Network Rail has not undertaken an assessment of the impacts and social costs resulting from the continuing closure of the A420 (Botley Road) to deliver the Oxford station improvements. Network Rail is working to produce a plan to complete the works and re-open the road. When this has been finalised I propose to meet with stakeholders to discuss it. I wrote to you on 2 September and explained that Network Rail and Great Western Railway are executing a plan to mitigate the impacts of the road closure on those accessing the station and city centre, including persons with restricted mobility. I expect Network Rail to continue to promote Oxford as being open for business throughout this critical and challenging phase.

I wrote to you on 2 September and explained that Network Rail and Great Western Railway are executing a plan to mitigate the impacts of the closure of Botley Road on station users, the wider public and businesses during the current closure of Botley Road. Work is under way to provide additional support for persons with reduced mobility as well as improvements to wayfinding, lighting and access to the station. Network Rail is working to produce a plan to complete the works and re-open the road. When this has been finalised I propose to meet with stakeholders to discuss it.

We were appalled by the allegations that those involved in the 7 October attacks against Israel may have included United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) staff. The Secretary-General and the Commissioner General of UNRWA took these allegations seriously and acted decisively. We expect robust processes to continue to be followed. UNRWA must meet the highest standards of neutrality as laid out in Catherine Colonna's report, including staff vetting and acting swiftly when concerns arise. The UK has allocated £1 million to support UNRWA to implement the report's recommendations. The FCDO will continue its own annual assessment of UK funding to UNRWA, which plays a vital role in saving lives in Gaza. We separately note that UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini confirmed on 17 October that allegations a staff member died alongside former Hamas leader Yahyah Sinwar were unfounded. We have not received reports of UNRWA staff stealing food, nor are we aware of allegations regarding Ismail Haniyeh being reported to UNWRA.

As a result of the agreement reached on 3 October, we intend that Chagossians will be able to access the Chagos Archipelago, including Diego Garcia, under a new programme of visits to be established by the UK and Mauritius as soon as possible. This was a priority for the UK in negotiations. Mauritius has additionally confirmed its intention to launch a programme of resettlement for the Archipelago. This will not include Diego Garcia, reflecting its status as an active military base with no permanent population.

The government is confident that United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (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 to 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.

We take these reports seriously and are following up with United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) to establish the facts. We expect UNRWA to meet the highest standards of neutrality as laid out in Catherine Colonna's report, including staff vetting. We welcome UNRWA's decisive action and support their decision to terminate the contracts of individuals involved in the October 7 atrocities. Catherine Colonna's review found that UNRWA had policies and procedures in place to ensure the organisation's neutrality. The FCDO speaks regularly to UNRWA and to other international donors on UNRWA management reforms, including at their bi-annual Advisory Commission meeting that met in June.

We have taken a close interest in the allegations of Hamas involvement in United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and subsequent investigations, on behalf of His Majesty's Government. We welcome UNRWA's decisive action and support their decision to terminate contracts of individuals involved in the October 7 atrocities. Anyone who participated in the horrific October 7 attacks should face the full force of the law.