Asked by: Baroness Foster of Oxton (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency's revised staff vetting and oversight procedures, following the dismissal of some of its staff members due to their alleged involvement in the attacks on Israel on 7 October 2023.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington
The UK continues to support the full implementation of the Colonna Report by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) to ensure that the agency meets the highest standards on neutrality and integrity, including the recommendations relating to staff vetting, conduct and oversight. The last Quarterly Colonna Progress Report, published on 11 May, stated that 40 out of 50 recommendations had now been implemented in full, and we look forward to evidence of further progress in the next report, covering the period April-June 2026.
In line with the approach taken by most other Member States, the UK has conducted extensive due diligence and are satisfied that UNRWA adequately manages UK funds.
Asked by: Baroness Foster of Oxton (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to their recent announcement that they will provide an additional £23 million contribution to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, what accountability conditions they have attached to that funding.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington
The UK continues to support the full implementation of the Colonna Report by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) to ensure that the agency meets the highest standards on neutrality and integrity, including the recommendations relating to staff vetting, conduct and oversight. The last Quarterly Colonna Progress Report, published on 11 May, stated that 40 out of 50 recommendations had now been implemented in full, and we look forward to evidence of further progress in the next report, covering the period April-June 2026.
In line with the approach taken by most other Member States, the UK has conducted extensive due diligence and are satisfied that UNRWA adequately manages UK funds.