Lord Bishop of Gloucester

The UK Government has a clear position that Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories are illegal under international law. There are clear risks related to economic and financial activities in the settlements, and we do not encourage or offer support to such activity.

The overseas business risk guidance, available on gov.uk, provides further information for UK operators. UK citizens and businesses should be aware of the potential reputational implications of involvement in economic and financial activities in settlements, as well as possible abuses of the rights of individuals that such activity may entail. Those contemplating any economic or financial involvement in settlements should seek appropriate legal advice.

The UK Government has a clear position that Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories are illegal under international law. There are clear risks related to economic and financial activities in the settlements, and we do not encourage or offer support to such activity.

The overseas business risk guidance, available on gov.uk, provides information for UK operators. UK citizens and businesses should be aware of the potential reputational implications of involvement in economic and financial activities in settlements, as well as possible abuses of the rights of individuals that such activity may entail. Those contemplating any economic or financial involvement in settlements should seek appropriate legal advice.

The UK Government has a clear position that Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories are illegal under international law. There are clear risks related to economic and financial activities in the settlements, and we do not encourage or offer support to such activity.

The overseas business risk guidance, available on gov.uk, provides information for UK operators. UK citizens and businesses should be aware of the potential reputational implications of involvement in economic and financial activities in settlements, as well as possible abuses of the rights of individuals that such activity may entail. Those contemplating any economic or financial involvement in settlements should seek appropriate legal advice.

The UK Government has a clear position that Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories are illegal under international law. There are clear risks related to economic and financial activities in the settlements, and we do not encourage or offer support to such activity. Goods produced in these settlements are not entitled to benefit from preferential tariff treatment under the UK's current trade agreements with the Palestinian Authority and Israel.

The overseas business risk guidance, available on gov.uk, provides information for UK operators on how goods from Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories should be labelled.

To support families seeking support beyond the current financial year, adoption and special guardianship support fund (ASGSF) applications are currently permitted to extend up to 12 months, allowing children and families to receive continuing therapy across financial years. Where applications are approved, therapy which starts during March 2025 may therefore continue into the next financial year, under previously agreed transitional funding arrangements.

Announcements on funding for the ASGSF from April 2025 will be made shortly. All future funding decisions will be considered as part of the next spending review.

To support families seeking support beyond the current financial year, adoption and special guardianship support fund (ASGSF) applications are currently permitted to extend up to 12 months, allowing children and families to receive continuing therapy across financial years. Where applications are approved, therapy which starts during March 2025 may therefore continue into the next financial year, under previously agreed transitional funding arrangements.

Announcements on funding for the ASGSF from April 2025 will be made shortly. All future funding decisions will be considered as part of the next spending review.

The Child Poverty Taskforce continues its urgent work to publish the Child Poverty Strategy and is exploring all available levers across government to deliver an enduring reduction in child poverty in this parliament, as part of a 10-year Strategy for lasting change.

The Strategy will look at levers across four key themes of increasing incomes, reducing essential costs, increasing financial resilience; and better local support especially in the early years. This will build on the reform plans underway across government and work underway in Devolved Governments.

The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) is committed to ensuring that it delivers a safe service that is sensitive to the needs of all the parents that use it. We recognise that some parents may face difficult circumstances, particularly at a time of separation.

The CMS is well prepared to respond quickly and effectively if it becomes aware that the safety of any of its customers are at risk, and caseworkers receive extensive training and follow a well-managed process with clear steps to support vulnerable clients.

Caseworkers have access to several tools and procedures to help support customers when they advise they cannot afford to pay child maintenance or are struggling with the cost of living in general and are in financial or emotional crisis.

This includes the National District Provision Toolkit and Affordability Hub which provides invaluable information to allow caseworkers to signpost to national and local support organisations for debt help and mental health assistance across the UK.

Additionally, Caseworkers can refer particularly vulnerable customers to the DWP Advanced Customer Support team for debt advice, access to benefits and mental health support or refer to the Money Advisory Service, Money Helper, an arm’s length body of DWP which provides confidential debt advice.  They also have access to the Benefit Calculator tool to check if the paying parent is entitled to any benefits.

In addition, Caseworkers can check income information is correct through Real Time Information (RTI) from His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs. Once this has been confirmed with the paying parent, they can discuss making an interim arrangement to clear the arrears.

The government has committed to reviewing the calculation to make sure it is fit for purpose and reflects today’s trends. Any changes will be subject to extensive consultation and legislation brought forward where necessary for approval.

The Department has been conducting a review of the child maintenance calculation to make sure it is fit for purpose and reflects today’s social trends. This process is ongoing and no date for announcing the outcome has yet been set. When it is, any changes will be subject to extensive consultation and legislation brought forward where necessary for approval.

The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) removed the £20 application fee in February 2024. This has removed any requirement to report domestic abuse. It has also removed one of the affordability barriers for parents who wish to apply to the scheme.

A consultation on proposed reforms to the CMS was published by the previous Government on 8 May 2024. This included:

• removing Direct Pay and managing all CMS cases in one service to allow the CMS to tackle non-compliance faster,
• exploring views on collection fees and the impact of proposals to reduce, but maintain, fees and
• exploring how victims and survivors of domestic abuse can be better supported. This follows the Child Support Collection (Domestic Abuse) Act receiving royal assent in July 2023.

The consultation was extended by this Government at the end of July and ran until 30 September 2024. We are currently analysing the responses we have received, and the Government will publish a response in due course.

We are committed to tackling poverty and raising living standards across the country. We know that good work can significantly reduce the chances of people falling into poverty so this will be the foundation of our approach. Backed by £240 million investment, the Get Britain Working White Paper sets out details of reforms to employment support, including creating an inclusive labour market in which everybody can participate and progress in work. Our vision is for a service where people can access support through the channels that best meet their needs – whether that is online, on the phone or in person. We will also be devolving more power to local areas so they can shape a joined-up work and skills offer that suits the needs of the people they service.

This Government is also committed to delivering the biggest increase in affordable housing in a generation. Our long-term Housing Strategy, which will be published in the Spring, will set out a plan to reform the housing market so that it works better for communities and for building 1.5 million high-quality homes. In addition, the existing Rural Housing Enablers Programme has established a network across England which works with housing providers, rural communities and local authorities to identify local housing needs, source sites, and facilitate the development of small-scale affordable rural housing schemes.

This Government knows how important bus services are to local communities and that buses can be a lifeline in particular for those in rural areas. We have set out a plan to deliver better buses throughout England by giving local leaders the tools they need and empowering them to ensure bus services reflect the needs of the communities they serve, including through the introduction of the Buses Bill later in this parliamentary session. The government also recognises the importance of providing funding to support and drive improvements to bus services over the longer-term. In the Budget we confirmed over £1 billion of funding to support and improve bus services, and keep fares affordable in England outside London.

The Government’s Platinum Jubilee Village Halls Fund supports the modernisation and improvement of village halls across England helping to keep these valuable assets and the services they provide accessible to rural communities. We also provide support to rural communities for actions to address local needs and capacity building through a programme of activities delivered through the Action with Communities in Rural England Network.

As the majority of hospices are independent charitable organisations, neither the Government nor NHS England collect or hold their data, including information on how many prisoners have been moved into a hospice.

Whilst the majority of palliative care and end-of-life care is provided by National Health Service staff and services, we recognise the vital part that voluntary sector organisations, including hospices, also play in providing support to people at the end of life and their loved ones.

Hospices operate as autonomous bodies, managing their own funding structures and the provision of their services. This autonomy allows them to maintain their independence and offer services beyond the statutory NHS offer.

We will announce further details in the near future of the 12 March conference to help establish an International Peace Fund for Israel and Palestine.

We will announce further details in the near future of the 12 March conference to help establish an International Peace Fund for Israel and Palestine.

I refer the Lord Bishop to the answer provided on 1 August 2025 to Question HL9653.

I refer the Noble Lord to the answer provided in the House of Commons on 3 July 2025 in response to Question 62975, which - for ease of reference - is reproduced below:

We are deeply concerned by the levels of settlement expansion and settler violence in the West Bank and continue to urge the Government of Israel to stop settlement expansion and take action to hold violence to account. Settlements are illegal under international law. On 20 May the UK imposed sanctions on three individuals, two illegal settler outposts and two organisations supporting violence against Palestinian communities in the West Bank. On 10 June the UK, acting alongside partners Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Norway, imposed sanctions on Israeli government ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich in their personal capacity, in response to their repeated incitements of violence against Palestinian communities in the West Bank.

The UK does not recognise the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including Israeli settlements, as part of Israel. Goods imported from the settlements are therefore not entitled to benefit from trade preferences under the UK-Israel Trade and Partnership Agreement. The UK also supports accurate labelling of settlement goods, so as not to mislead the consumer.

Sanctions can be used to achieve a range of foreign and security policy objectives. We use sanctions when they complement other tools as part of a wider strategy. It would not be appropriate to speculate about future sanctions designations as to do so could reduce their impact. We have been clear that we keep these issues under close review.

I refer the Noble Lord to the answer provided in the House of Commons on 3 July 2025 in response to Question 62975, which - for ease of reference - is reproduced below:

We are deeply concerned by the levels of settlement expansion and settler violence in the West Bank and continue to urge the Government of Israel to stop settlement expansion and take action to hold violence to account. Settlements are illegal under international law. On 20 May the UK imposed sanctions on three individuals, two illegal settler outposts and two organisations supporting violence against Palestinian communities in the West Bank. On 10 June the UK, acting alongside partners Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Norway, imposed sanctions on Israeli government ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich in their personal capacity, in response to their repeated incitements of violence against Palestinian communities in the West Bank.

The UK does not recognise the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including Israeli settlements, as part of Israel. Goods imported from the settlements are therefore not entitled to benefit from trade preferences under the UK-Israel Trade and Partnership Agreement. The UK also supports accurate labelling of settlement goods, so as not to mislead the consumer.

Sanctions can be used to achieve a range of foreign and security policy objectives. We use sanctions when they complement other tools as part of a wider strategy. It would not be appropriate to speculate about future sanctions designations as to do so could reduce their impact. We have been clear that we keep these issues under close review.

Whilst HMRC holds information on the country of last known destination for exported goods, it does not hold information on how the goods will be used after delivery.

The UK Government has a clear position that Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories are illegal under international law. Goods produced in these settlements are not entitled to benefit from preferential tariff treatment under the UK’s current trade agreements with the Palestinian Authority and Government of Israel.

Where there are doubts about the origin of goods that have been declared as being of Israeli origin, HMRC will undertake checks to verify the origin of those goods to ensure fiscal compliance. HMRC does not however provide specific details regarding checks as it may serve to undermine compliance activity.

The Home Office publishes data on entry clearance visas, by nationality, in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’ [https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release]. Data on visa applications are published in table ‘Vis_D01’ whilst data on outcomes of visa applications are published in table ‘Vis_D02’ of the ‘detailed entry clearance visas dataset’[https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/immigration-system-statistics-data-tables#entry-clearance-visas-granted-outside-the-uk]. The latest data is from January 2005 up to the end of June 2025.

The Home Office does not routinely collect information on the religion of visa holders; therefore, it is not possible to identify how many applications or approvals were specifically from Christians.

Figures for visa applications for Jordanian and Occupied Palestinian Territories nationals can be seen in the table below. Please note that an outcome of a visa application may relate to an application raised in a previous year.

The Home Office publishes data on entry clearance visas, by nationality, in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’ [https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release]. Data on visa applications are published in table ‘Vis_D01’ whilst data on outcomes of visa applications are published in table ‘Vis_D02’ of the ‘detailed entry clearance visas dataset’[https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/immigration-system-statistics-data-tables#entry-clearance-visas-granted-outside-the-uk]. The latest data is from January 2005 up to the end of June 2025.

The Home Office does not routinely collect information on the religion of visa holders; therefore, it is not possible to identify how many applications or approvals were specifically from Christians.

Figures for visa applications for Jordanian and Occupied Palestinian Territories nationals can be seen in the table below. Please note that an outcome of a visa application may relate to an application raised in a previous year.

All Ministry of Justice policies are subject to equality considerations, and an Equality Impact Assessment is completed before publication where required.

PSI 07/2014, PI 03/2014 is a long-standing policy that was first published in 2014 and applies to staff and workers across prisons, HMPPS and providers of probation services. The policy is currently being revised and, as part of the redevelopment process, impacts on affected individuals will be considered. Any new policy will be subject to the appropriate Equality Impact Assessment requirements prior to publication.

The specific findings of the assessment undertaken when the policy was published are not currently in the public domain. HMPPS is unable to establish the detail of those findings in a timely manner as accurate, reliable data.

All Ministry of Justice policies are subject to equality considerations, and an Equality Impact Assessment is completed before publication where required.

PSI 07/2014, PI 03/2014 is a long-standing policy that was first published in 2014 and applies to staff and workers across prisons, HMPPS and providers of probation services. The policy is currently being revised and, as part of the redevelopment process, impacts on affected individuals will be considered. Any new policy will be subject to the appropriate Equality Impact Assessment requirements prior to publication.

The specific findings of the assessment undertaken when the policy was published are not currently in the public domain. HMPPS is unable to establish the detail of those findings in a timely manner as accurate, reliable data.

All Ministry of Justice policies are subject to equality considerations, and an Equality Impact Assessment is completed before publication where required.

PSI 07/2014, PI 03/2014 is a long-standing policy that was first published in 2014 and applies to staff and workers across prisons, HMPPS and providers of probation services. The policy is currently being revised and, as part of the redevelopment process, impacts on affected individuals will be considered. Any new policy will be subject to the appropriate Equality Impact Assessment requirements prior to publication.

The specific findings of the assessment undertaken when the policy was published are not currently in the public domain. HMPPS is unable to establish the detail of those findings in a timely manner as accurate, reliable data.

The Ministry of Justice does not centrally hold sufficiently robust or complete data on protected characteristics, including gender, in relation to vetting outcomes under PSI 07/2014, PI 03/2014. Vetting and pre-employment checks are undertaken through a combination of HMPPS, Shared Services Limited, and other parallel processes.

While certain protected characteristic information may be held by third-party providers, HMPPS does not record vetting outcomes by gender within its management information systems. As a result, a consolidated and reliable breakdown of the number of women employed by organisations providing services to probation under contract who have been refused vetting clearance is not available and therefore cannot be provided.

The Ministry of Justice is committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion and to ensuring that policies and operational practices comply with the Public Sector Equality Duty. Security vetting requirements are applied consistently and proportionately in accordance with national policy and business need.

Information on individuals who have ceased to hold roles following changes to security vetting requirements is not routinely collated or reported centrally in the manner requested.

In addition, the Ministry of Justice does not centrally hold sufficiently robust or complete data on protected characteristics, including gender, in relation to vetting outcomes under PSI 07/2014, PI 03/2014. Vetting and pre-employment checks are undertaken through a combination of HMPPS, Shared Services Limited, and other parallel processes.

While certain protected characteristic information may be held by third-party providers, HMPPS does not record the reasons individuals cease to hold roles, nor does it record such outcomes by gender within its management information systems. As a result, a consolidated and reliable breakdown of the number of women who have ceased to hold existing roles as a result of changes to vetting requirements introduced through PSI 07/2014, PI 03/2014, is not available and therefore cannot be provided.

The Ministry of Justice is committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion and to ensuring that policies and operational practices comply with the Public Sector Equality Duty. Security vetting requirements are applied consistently and proportionately in accordance with national policy and business need.