Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Collins of Highbury on 10 March (HL5089), what assessment they have made of the reliability of the figures produced as a result of changes of methodology used by the Gazan Ministry of Health since October 2023.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The UK Government uses data from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) for the numbers of those killed in the current Gaza conflict. OCHA obtain their figures from the Gazan Ministry of Health (MoH). Producing reliable casualty statistics in contexts of violent conflict is often difficult. For example, prior to October 7th 2023, the MoH collected mortality figures from 8 sentinel hospitals across the strip. Unfortunately, many of these hospitals were struck in the conflict and the capacity to collect the data was reduced. After consulting experts, we believe the MoH data to be largely accurate. Some experts have reached the view that the MoH may have underestimated the numbers of injured and dead.
Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Collins of Highbury on 10 March (HL5089), what assessment they have made of the impartiality of the experts to which that answer refers regarding death statistics.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
As explained in HL5089, we use data from United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). The United Nations, and its agencies, work under the principle of impartiality. We also consult academic experts, including from the London School of Tropical Medicine, who have published their research in peer-reviewed publications.
Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Collins of Highbury on 10 March (HL5089), what assessment they have made of the number of Palestinian combatants killed since 7 October 2023, the ratio of this figure against Palestinian civilians killed during the same period, and how that ratio compares with other urban conflicts.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
We use data from United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) to report on daily casualties in the current Gaza conflict. OCHA draws on figures issued from the Gazan Ministry of Health (MoH), which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants. It is nonetheless clear that the conflict has been devastating for civilians. It is vital that the ceasefire is sustained, all hostages released, and aid and access to essential services including electricity in Gaza resumed.
Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the development of nuclear weapons and the installation of more advanced centrifuges by Iran, and what steps they are taking in response.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Iran's nuclear escalation, including its recent expansion of uranium enrichment capacity, threatens international peace and security and undermines global non-proliferation. Iran must never develop a nuclear weapon. The United Nations Security Council met to discuss this issue on 12 March. The UK reiterated that we are willing to use all diplomatic options available to ensure Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon, including triggering UN snapback, if necessary.
Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the reliability of the war-related death statistics issued by the Hamas-run Ministry of Health in Gaza since 7 October 2023.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Like many of our partners, we use data from United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) to report on daily casualties in the current Gaza conflict. OCHA draws on figures issued from the Gazan Ministry of Health (MoH). Producing reliable casualty statistics in contexts of violent conflict is never straightforward. The MoH verifies and identifies each death by age, gender, and ID number. Previously, this methodology has been deemed sound by international academics. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has consulted experts from the London School of Tropical Medicine, OCHA, World Health Organization (WHO) and Every Casualty Counts, and assesses that the total number of deaths in Gaza since 7 October 2023 estimated by OCHA is a reasonable figure, though numbers of those still missing are not yet known.
Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to reconsider their funding of UNRWA, in the light of reports that (1) Ismail Haniyeh, and a bodyguard of Yahyah Sinwar, were both former UNRWA teachers; and (2) UNRWA staff have stolen food intended for Gazans.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
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.
Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the continuing inability of Chagossians to return to Diego Garcia and the compliance with international human rights law of their current situation.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
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.
Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of any inconsistency between the diplomatic pronouncements of (1) the Consul General in Jerusalem, and (2) the British embassy in Israel; and what plans they have, if any, to ensure such statements are consistent.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The British Embassy in Tel Aviv and British Consulate General in Jerusalem work closely together as part of one diplomatic network to press for an immediate ceasefire and a resolution to the conflict. We do not agree that there have been any inconsistencies between public statements by either mission, both of which represent the policies of the UK Government. We condemn personal attacks on individual members of our diplomatic staff, and reject attempts to portray differences in position which do not exist. An immediate ceasefire is the first step towards a lasting solution. Both the Embassy and Consulate General remain open and continue to work as normal, including providing services to British nationals.
Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government in the light of the Independent Review of Mechanisms and Procedures to Ensure Adherence by UNRWA to the Humanitarian Principle of Neutrality, published for the Secretary-General on 20 April, what assessment they have made of subsequent reports, and videos, of UNRWA's involvement with Hamas and its infrastructure.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
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.
Asked by: Baroness Deech (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what information is held by the Consul General in Jerusalem on reported Hamas involvement in UNRWA.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
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.