Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - 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 19 December (HL12164), what specific progress they have made in providing support through the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative to strengthen the prevention, documentation, and investigation of sexual violence in detention settings in Israel; what concrete assistance they have offered or delivered; and what measurable outcomes have been achieved.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The UK is deeply concerned by reports of mistreatment of Palestinian detainees by Israeli forces, including reports of sexual violence, and we have raised this issue with the Israeli government. The UK has been consistently clear that all detainees must be treated with dignity and in full accordance with international law, and that such allegations must be thoroughly investigated.
The UK supports the work of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) as the only organisation with the mandate, independence, and expertise to advocate for the humane treatment of detainees. Regular access to detainees is essential for the ICRC to fulfil its role, as enshrined in the 1949 Geneva Conventions. The UK continues to call on the Government of Israel to grant the ICRC immediate and unrestricted access to all detention facilities.
Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - 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 19 December 2025 (HL12164), what progress they have made in securing unfettered and regular access for the International Committee of the Red Cross to detention facilities; what steps they have taken to this end; and what response has been received from the government of Israel.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The UK is deeply concerned by reports of mistreatment of Palestinian detainees by Israeli forces, including reports of sexual violence, and we have raised this issue with the Israeli government. The UK has been consistently clear that all detainees must be treated with dignity and in full accordance with international law, and that such allegations must be thoroughly investigated.
The UK supports the work of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) as the only organisation with the mandate, independence, and expertise to advocate for the humane treatment of detainees. Regular access to detainees is essential for the ICRC to fulfil its role, as enshrined in the 1949 Geneva Conventions. The UK continues to call on the Government of Israel to grant the ICRC immediate and unrestricted access to all detention facilities.
Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - 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 27 November 2025 (HL11898), when they expect to appoint the Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict; what interim arrangements are in place pending that appointment; and how the functions of the role are currently being discharged.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
I refer the Noble Baroness to the answers provided on 27 November 2025 to Questions HL11898 and on 9 March to Questions HL14650 and HL14651. We will provide further updates in this area in the usual way in due course, reflecting the Foreign Secretary's decision to make the protection of women and girls one of the core priorities of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's work over the coming years.
Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the ethical implications of extending the Federated Data Platform contract between NHS England and Palantir Technologies beyond its initial term; whether an independent ethical review will be undertaken prior to any such extension; and whether considerations relating to (1) patient data protection, (2) patient consent, (3) transparency, (4) public trust, (5) alignment with NHS and wider UK public sector values, and (6) long-term UK data sovereignty and autonomy over NHS data infrastructure, will be taken into account before any decision on continuation beyond 2026–27 is made.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Following an independent and transparent procurement exercise, in line with public contract regulations, the NHS Federated Data Platform and Associated Services (FDP-AS) contract was awarded to a consortium, led by Palantir, in November 2023.
The contract has a review point after the first three years, which is up coming in 2026, then after a further two, then annually for the remainder of the seven-year contract period.
Should NHS England consider future procurement activity beyond the current contract term, this would be undertaken in full accordance with public procurement law and with careful consideration of the criteria highlighted. This would include patient data protection, patient consent, transparency, public trust, alignment with National Health Service and wider United Kingdom public sector values and long‑term UK data sovereignty.
Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration the independent review into countering foreign financial influence and interference in UK politics will give to the adequacy of existing safeguards, including the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme and lobbying rules, in relation to paid political influence activity carried out in the UK on behalf of foreign authorities and organisations whose senior leadership is subject to UK sanctions.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
It is, and always will be, an absolute priority for this Government to protect our democratic and electoral processes. The Rycroft review will involve an in-depth assessment of current financial and bribery related rules and safeguards that regulate political parties and political finance. The terms of reference for the review can be found here: Independent review: countering foreign financial influence and interference in UK politics: Terms of Reference - GOV.UK
The outcome of the review will, where relevant, inform the elections and democracy bill that we have pledged to bring forward during this Parliament. However, given the review’s independence, we cannot pre-empt specifics of the ground it will cover, nor the recommendations it will make. It is right that the review is independent of Government and independent of any political party. We will be looking to mitigate the risk of foreign financial interference in UK politics from any actors and individuals who might wish to undermine our democracy.
Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - 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 27 November 2025 (HL11898), what the expected timeframe is for completing the review of the Prime Minister's Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict; and whether they will publish the full outcomes of that review, including any decision on the continuation or termination of that position.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
In her appearance before the Foreign Affairs Committee on 16 December 2025, the Foreign Secretary explained that work on the review of Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office envoys had been delayed because of September 2025's ministerial reshuffle, but we expect to complete that work in the near future.
Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the findings of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development report Developments in the Economy of the Occupied Palestinian Territory on the destruction of civilian infrastructure and the collapse of economic activity in Gaza; and which, if any, of these findings have led to a suspension, revocation or refusal of any strategic export licences to Israel or of applications for export licences to Israel since 30 September.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
Export licensing decisions are made on a case-by-case basis, using the most up-to-date information and analysis available at the time. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office draws on information from a large variety of stakeholders, including our diplomatic network, other government departments, reporting from non-governmental organisations, and international organisations. We took decisive action in September 2024, stopping exports to the Israeli Defence Forces that might be used to commit or facilitate serious violations of international humanitarian law in Gaza. Detailed data on export licences is published regularly on gov.uk, including with refusal criteria. Additional Israel data is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/export-control-licensing-management-information-for-israel/israel-export-control-licensing-data-31-july-2025.
Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have commissioned a review of the UK's obligations under international humanitarian law or the Arms Trade Treaty as a result of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development report Developments in the Economy of the Occupied Palestinian Territory; and if so, whether they will place a copy of the review in the Library of the House.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
Export licensing decisions are made on a case-by-case basis, using the most up-to-date information and analysis available at the time. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office draws on information from a large variety of stakeholders, including our diplomatic network, other government departments, reporting from non-governmental organisations, and international organisations. We took decisive action in September 2024, stopping exports to the Israeli Defence Forces that might be used to commit or facilitate serious violations of international humanitarian law in Gaza. Detailed data on export licences is published regularly on gov.uk, including with refusal criteria. Additional Israel data is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/export-control-licensing-management-information-for-israel/israel-export-control-licensing-data-31-july-2025.
Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many strategic export licences to Israel are affected under each sub-paragraph of the strategic export licensing criteria relating to serious violations of international humanitarian law; and on what basis Ministers concluded that there remained no clear risk that UK-supplied items might be used in the commission of serious violations of international humanitarian law.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
Export licensing decisions are made on a case-by-case basis, using the most up-to-date information and analysis available at the time. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office draws on information from a large variety of stakeholders, including our diplomatic network, other government departments, reporting from non-governmental organisations, and international organisations. We took decisive action in September 2024, stopping exports to the Israeli Defence Forces that might be used to commit or facilitate serious violations of international humanitarian law in Gaza. Detailed data on export licences is published regularly on gov.uk, including with refusal criteria. Additional Israel data is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/export-control-licensing-management-information-for-israel/israel-export-control-licensing-data-31-july-2025.
Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether officials submitted to Ministers a written assessment of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development report Developments in the Economy of the Occupied Palestinian Territory; on what date any such assessment was first submitted; whether that assessment was shared with the Foreign Secretary, the Secretary of State for Business and Trade and the Attorney General; and whether they will place copies of any such assessments in the Library of the House.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
Export licensing decisions are made on a case-by-case basis, using the most up-to-date information and analysis available at the time. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office draws on information from a large variety of stakeholders, including our diplomatic network, other government departments, reporting from non-governmental organisations, and international organisations. We took decisive action in September 2024, stopping exports to the Israeli Defence Forces that might be used to commit or facilitate serious violations of international humanitarian law in Gaza. Detailed data on export licences is published regularly on gov.uk, including with refusal criteria. Additional Israel data is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/export-control-licensing-management-information-for-israel/israel-export-control-licensing-data-31-july-2025.