Asked by: Baroness Warsi (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of British nationals travelling to Israel to fight in the Israel Defence Forces.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK recognises the right of British nationals with more than one nationality to serve in the legitimately recognised armed forces of their additional nationalities. This includes the Israel Defence Force.
With respect to the current conflict in Gaza, Section 4 of the Foreign Enlistment Act 1870 makes it an offence for a British subject to enlist in the military of a foreign state at war with another foreign state with which the UK is at peace. That prohibition does not extend, however, to enlistment in a foreign government's forces which are engaged in a civil war or combating terrorism or internal uprisings. The Occupied Palestinian Territories are not currently recognised as a state by the UK. The 1870 Act therefore does not apply in this instance.
Asked by: Baroness Warsi (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what arrangements are in place to engage with British nationals returning to the UK after serving in the Israel Defence Forces to ascertain whether they have been involved in any breaches to the Geneva Convention.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK recognises the right of British nationals with more than one nationality to serve in the legitimately recognised armed forces of their additional nationalities. This includes the Israel Defence Force.
Anyone who travels to conflict zones to engage in unlawful activity should expect to be investigated upon their return to the UK. Decisions on prosecutions are taken independently by the police and Crown Prosecution Service on a case-by-case basis.
Asked by: Baroness Warsi (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of any risk posed to national security and national cohesion of returning British nationals who have served in the Israel Defence Forces.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK recognises the right of British nationals with more than one nationality to serve in the legitimately recognised armed forces of their additional nationalities. This includes the Israel Defence Force.
Anyone who travels to conflict zones to engage in unlawful activity should expect to be investigated upon their return to the UK. Decisions on prosecutions are taken independently by the police and Crown Prosecution Service on a case-by-case basis.
Asked by: Baroness Warsi (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many British or dual British nationals are currently serving in the Israel Defence Forces.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We are aware of reports of UK citizens travelling to fight for the Israel Defence Force (IDF), but the Government does not estimate the numbers of those who have done so.
The UK recognises the right of British nationals with more than one nationality to serve in the legitimately recognised armed forces of their additional nationalities.
Asked by: Baroness Warsi (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will publish all aspects of the legal advice submitted to them on the formulation of a new definition of extremism, which was published on 14 March.
Answered by Baroness Swinburne - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
In line with the practice of successive administrations, legal advice is not normally disclosed.
Asked by: Baroness Warsi (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many British citizens are currently in Gaza; and what steps they are taking to assist (1) British citizens, and (2) immediate family members of British citizens, who are trapped in Gaza.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We have helped to support over 315 British nationals, their dependants and relevant visa holders to leave Gaza so far. A small number remain. There may be others who have not sought our help and we understand that others have left without our assistance.
We have been working with the Israeli and Egyptian authorities to try and ensure remaining British nationals and other eligible persons, as set out in our Travel Advice, who seek our support to leave Gaza are cleared to cross as soon as possible.
The UK government has also been working with partners across the region to secure the release of hostages, including British nationals and their families.
Asked by: Baroness Warsi (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many British-Palestinian nationals have been included in their evacuation list from Gaza; and how many have been successfully repatriated to the United Kingdom.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We have helped to support over 315 British nationals, their dependants and relevant visa holders to leave Gaza so far. A small number remain. There may be others who have not sought our help and we understand that others have left without our assistance.
We have been working with the Israeli and Egyptian authorities to try and ensure remaining British nationals and other eligible persons, as set out in our Travel Advice, who seek our support to leave Gaza are cleared to cross as soon as possible.
The UK government has also been working with partners across the region to secure the release of hostages, including British nationals and their families.
Asked by: Baroness Warsi (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many (1) British-Palestinian citizens, and (2) Palestinians with a right to remain in the United Kingdom, are currently trapped in Gaza.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We have helped to support over 315 British nationals, their dependants and relevant visa holders to leave Gaza so far. A small number remain. There may be others who have not sought our help and we understand that others have left without our assistance.
We have been working with the Israeli and Egyptian authorities to try and ensure remaining British nationals and other eligible persons, as set out in our Travel Advice, who seek our support to leave Gaza are cleared to cross as soon as possible.
The UK government has also been working with partners across the region to secure the release of hostages, including British nationals and their families.
Asked by: Baroness Warsi (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what research briefings have been (1) produced for, and (2) commissioned by the Lead Commissioner for Countering Extremism; what was the subject of any such briefing; and if provided by an external party, who that was.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
The independent Commission for Countering Extremism’s study into the threat we face from extremism and the current response, including advice on new policies to tackle it, will report to the Home Secretary and be published shortly. The Government expects the Lead Commissioner’s report to include advice on the Commission’s future structures, work programme and, if necessary, the appointment of further commissioners.
Once the Commission’s has reported to the Home Secretary on its study and it’s been published, the Government’s response will be a decision for the Home Secretary.
The Commission for Countering Extremism’s public Charter is clear that it’s a transparent body operating independently of the Government. This independence extends to its decision about who it engages with and the methodologies and content of its reports.
Asked by: Baroness Warsi (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government which individuals and organisations met with the Lead Commissioner for Countering Extremism during her first year in post; and what are the dates, locations, agenda and meeting outcomes of all such meetings.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
The independent Commission for Countering Extremism’s study into the threat we face from extremism and the current response, including advice on new policies to tackle it, will report to the Home Secretary and be published shortly. The Government expects the Lead Commissioner’s report to include advice on the Commission’s future structures, work programme and, if necessary, the appointment of further commissioners.
Once the Commission’s has reported to the Home Secretary on its study and it’s been published, the Government’s response will be a decision for the Home Secretary.
The Commission for Countering Extremism’s public Charter is clear that it’s a transparent body operating independently of the Government. This independence extends to its decision about who it engages with and the methodologies and content of its reports.