Asked by: Lord Austin of Dudley (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what recent assessment they have made of reports that the Palestinian Authority is making monthly payments to the families of Hamas fighters killed during the 7 October 2023 attacks.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
A reformed Palestinian Authority is essential to long-term stability in the region and making progress towards a two-state solution. The UK welcomes the Palestinian Authority's commitment to deliver its ambitious and necessary 'National Program for Development and Reform' in full as a matter of priority in the short, medium and long term. We welcome the important commitments made by the Palestinian Authority to reform prisoner payments so that welfare payments are needs-based and delinked from violent actions. The Palestinian Authority must now ensure an independent audit verifies that the reforms have been completed. Alongside our partners, the UK will continue to support the Palestinian Authority as it delivers its important reform agenda.
Asked by: Lord Austin of Dudley (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential for cooperation on education between the Kurdistan region of Iraq and the UK.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The UK supports the Kurdistan Region of Iraq's education sector and recently hosted the Prime Minister and Minister of Education of the Kurdistan Regional Government and discussed opportunities for collaboration in education. In discussions with the Secretary of State for the Department for Education we agreed to work closely to further expand our collaboration. Our Consulate in Erbil continues to identify opportunities for and work with UK institutions that offer both academic and vocational training programmes, including City and Guilds who now have established an office in Iraq.
Asked by: Lord Austin of Dudley (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the (1) possibility, and (2) impact, of sanctions on Iran being lifted as part of a renegotiated Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA); and what discussions they have held with the government of the United States in relation to this.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
We are at the end of talks to restore the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA). The deal on the table is a result of intensive negotiations and is based on input from all JCPoA participants, and the United States. The US has offered to lift JCPoA-related sanctions which would benefit the Iranian people. In exchange, Iran would reverse its nuclear escalation, return its nuclear programme to strict JCPoA limits and restore extensive monitoring by the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Asked by: Lord Austin of Dudley (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the approach of the government of the United States to the negotiations on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, following confirmation of the departure of three members of the United States negotiating team on 24 January.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
We have reached the end of talks in Vienna to restore the JCPoA. The deal on the table is a result of intensive negotiations and is based on input from all JCPoA participants, and the United States. The US has offered to lift JCPoA-related sanctions which would benefit the Iranian people. In exchange, Iran would reverse its nuclear escalation, return its nuclear programme to strict JCPoA limits and restore extensive monitoring by the International Atomic Energy Agency.
We urge all parties to focus on rapidly concluding the deal and implementing it in full.
Asked by: Lord Austin of Dudley (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the (1) possibility, and (2) impact, of the government of the United States lifting sanctions on the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as part of agreement with the government of Iran on a revised Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action; and what discussions they have held with the government of the United States on this matter.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
We are at the end of talks to restore the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA). The deal on the table is a result of intensive negotiations and is based on input from all JCPoA participants and the United States. The US has offered to lift JCPoA-related sanctions iin exchange for Iran returning to full compliance with its nuclear commitments. In exchange, Iran would reverse its nuclear escalation, return its nuclear programme to strict JCPoA limits and restore extensive monitoring by the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Asked by: Lord Austin of Dudley (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the (1) possibility, and (2) impact, of the government of the United States lifting sanctions on the Iranian charitable foundation Bonyad Mostazafan as part of agreement with the government of Iran on a revised Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action; and what discussions they have held with the government of the United States on this matter.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
We are at the end of talks to restore the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA). The deal on the table is a result of intensive negotiations and is based on input from all JCPoA participants and the United States. The US has offered to lift JCPoA-related sanctions iin exchange for Iran returning to full compliance with its nuclear commitments. In exchange, Iran would reverse its nuclear escalation, return its nuclear programme to strict JCPoA limits and restore extensive monitoring by the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Asked by: Lord Austin of Dudley (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the (1) possibility, and (2) impact, of the government of the United States lifting sanctions that had been imposed by US Executive Order 13876 on (a) Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, (b) President Ebrahim Raisi, (c) Vice President Mohsen Rezaei, (d) Hossein Dehghan, and (e) other Iranians associated with the Supreme Leader and accused of acts of terrorism, as part of agreement with the government of Iran on a revised Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action; and what discussions they have held with the government of the United States on this matter.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
We are at the end of talks to restore the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA). The deal on the table is a result of intensive negotiations and is based on input from all JCPoA participants and the United States. The US has offered to lift JCPoA-related sanctions iin exchange for Iran returning to full compliance with its nuclear commitments. In exchange, Iran would reverse its nuclear escalation, return its nuclear programme to strict JCPoA limits and restore extensive monitoring by the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Asked by: Lord Austin of Dudley (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the (1) possibility, and (2) impact, of the government of the United States granting Russia immunity from any economic sanctions relating to Iran as part of agreement with the government of Iran on a revised Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action; and what discussions they have held with the government of the United States on this matter.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The sanctions in place on Russia due to their unprovoked invasion of Ukraine are entirely separate to the Iran nuclear deal. We reject attempts to exploit JCPoA negotiations to obtain assurances that are separate to the JCPoA. We have made this clear in regular E3 (France, Germany and the United Kingdom)+US lead negotiator meetings.
Asked by: Lord Austin of Dudley (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to ensure their support for the Universal Rights Group non-governmental organisation based in Geneva, Switzerland is contingent on that organisation's support for the UK’s policy priorities in the Middle East region; and in particular, the UK's priorities in respect of the conflict between Israel and Palestine.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
HM Government respects the independence of civil society organisations. While HMG ensures objectives of projects it funds are clear and value for money, it is not contingent on support for other UK policy priorities.
Asked by: Lord Austin of Dudley (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will make a statement on the activities of the British Council in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
The British Council maintains an office in Erbil and all of the British Council's cultural relations activities in Iraq extend to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI). This includes programmes in arts and culture, education and English. The British Council runs a free digital library service across Iraq, including KRI, and paid education services in online English teaching and face-to-face English language assessment at centres in Erbil and Sulaymaniyah.