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.

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.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans, if any, they have to allocate further funding to the Defence Investment Plan.

Answered by Lord Pitt-Watson - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Defence Investment Plan allocates a further £15 billion to defence spending over the next four years, funded by reprioritising public spending, with £10.3 billion already identified and a further £4.7 billion to be confirmed at Budget 2026 in a fair and balanced way. This brings total defence spending to almost £300 billion over the next four years and by 2027-28, the UK will spend 2.7% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on core NATO defence spending.

The Government has committed to increasing defence spending to 3% of GDP in the next Parliament, with funding and plans to be set out in due course.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether the £4.7 billion of uncommitted funding in the Defence Investment Plan will be met at the next Budget.

Answered by Lord Pitt-Watson - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Defence Investment Plan allocates a further £15 billion to defence spending over the next four years, funded by reprioritising public spending, with £10.3 billion already identified and a further £4.7 billion to be confirmed at Budget 2026 in a fair and balanced way.

A Defence Investment Plan Funding Explainer can be found on the government website.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to meet the efficiency savings outlined in the funding package for the Defence Investment Plan.

Answered by Lord Pitt-Watson - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

Defence will deliver £10.7 billion of efficiencies and savings over the Parliament, including through a reshaped civilian workforce, accelerated use of AI, £1 billion of savings from reduced reliance on consultancies, and rationalisation of the MOD estate. This will be underpinned by a £500m Transformation Fund to deliver productivity improving investments in AI and workforce transformation

The plan will be subject to an annual update to Parliament before summer recess, audited by the NAO, with the first update due by July 2027.

A further breakdown of the Defence Reform and Efficiency Plan can be found on page 73 of the Defence Investment Plan, available on the government website.