Asked by: Lord Leigh of Hurley (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to strengthen security cooperation between Israel and Arab states, particularly Abraham Accords countries, to counter the growing threat from Iranian-backed Houthi attacks.
Answered by Lord Wood of Anfield - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK supports greater cooperation between Israel and Arab states to address shared security threats and strengthen regional stability. We remain supportive of the Abraham Accords and the contribution they have made to dialogue, cooperation and regional security. We unequivocally condemn recent Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia and are working closely with regional and international partners to counter the Houthi threat, support the internationally recognised Government of Yemen, deter further destabilising activity and promote long-term stability.
Asked by: Lord Leigh of Hurley (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what advice they have received from the National Security Advisor and His Majesty's Ambassador to Israel regarding the timing of the announcement of sanctions of goods from Israeli settlements ahead of the Israeli general election on 27th October; and what consideration they have given to that advice.
Answered by Lord Wood of Anfield - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
It is a long-standing convention that Governments do not comment on the content of advice provided by National Security Adviser to Ministers. The Government announced its measures on 8 September because it judged them necessary to respond to the deteriorating situation on the ground and support the viability of a two-state solution. The measures are designed to stop UK economic activity supporting the expansion of illegal settlements. The UK will continue to distinguish between Israel within its internationally recognised borders and the territories occupied since 1967.
Asked by: Lord Leigh of Hurley (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, in light of the statement published by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office on 23 July about the UN Integrated Food Security Phase Classification snapshot for Gaza, what assessment they have made of the levels of acute malnutrition under five in Gaza; and how this compares with rates in Egypt, Jordan and Syria.
Answered by Lord Wood of Anfield - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Improvements in acute malnutrition among children under five in Gaza demonstrate what is possible during a ceasefire, allowing the scale up of the emergency nutrition response. However, 59 per cent of the population still face crisis levels of food insecurity, children continue to experience chronic malnutrition with potentially lifelong consequences, dietary diversity remains severely limited, and maternal malnutrition remains significant. We must see improved and sustained humanitarian access, to support widescale needs.
Asked by: Lord Leigh of Hurley (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Palestinian Authority about (1) reforming, or (2) dismantling, the Palestinian Authority Martyrs Fund in the period since the UK recognised the State of Palestine.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington
I refer the Noble Lord to the answer provided in the House of Commons on 3 March in response to Question 908079, which - for ease of reference - is reproduced below:
The Palestinian Authority has committed publicly to the principle of non-violence, including a new social security system that will ensure future welfare payments are needs-based and delinked from violent actions. An independent audit has been commissioned to verify the implementation of these and other reform commitments, and we will review the results when it is published.
Asked by: Lord Leigh of Hurley (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Lord Coaker on 21 May (HL Deb col 624), and in light of correspondence from the Foreign Secretary to the Chair of the International Development Committee on 1 September 2025 in which he stated that the Government has not concluded that Israel has acted with intent as set out in the Genocide Convention, what assessment they have made of whether Genocide has taken place in Gaza.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington
Our position remains as set out in my response of 7 October 2025 to Question HL10739.
Asked by: Lord Leigh of Hurley (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how much aid the UK has provided to the Palestinian Authority in each of the last 20 years.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington
The UK has delivered multiple programmes over the period in question to support Palestinian institutions and humanitarian needs, and the available data shows that £932 million was supplied in aid to Palestine between 2009 and 2024. More detailed breakdowns of individual programmes can be found at the Development Tracker website. We are clear that a reformed Palestinian Authority (PA) is essential to long-term stability in the region and making progress towards a two-state solution.
Asked by: Lord Leigh of Hurley (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 12 November, whether they will now answer the question put, namely, on how many occasions their representatives have met or had discussions with members or representatives of Hamas since 7 October 2023.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington
We are clear that there can be no role for Hamas in the governance of Palestine. Hamas is a terrorist organisation whom we proscribe in its entirety. We have a long-standing policy of non-engagement with Hamas.
Asked by: Lord Leigh of Hurley (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government on how many occasions their representatives have met or had discussions with members or representatives of Hamas since 7 October 2023.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington
The UK continues to engage with international and regional partners to support a framework for peace and transitional governance in Gaza. Discussions have focussed on supporting the Palestinian Authority as the legitimate governing body on the vital reforms they have committed to make. We have made clear that Hamas will play no future role in the governance of a Palestinian state.
Asked by: Lord Leigh of Hurley (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with leading Palestinian groups about the next stages of governance in Gaza and support against Hamas for those groups.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington
The UK continues to engage with international and regional partners to support a framework for peace and transitional governance in Gaza. Discussions have focussed on supporting the Palestinian Authority as the legitimate governing body on the vital reforms they have committed to make. We have made clear that Hamas will play no future role in the governance of a Palestinian state.
Asked by: Lord Leigh of Hurley (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Lord Collins of Highbury on 7 May (HL Deb cols 1637–1638), whether they have had contact with any Palestinian representatives, other than from Hamas, in their efforts to promote peace in the Middle East.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
A long-lasting ceasefire is the only credible pathway towards a sustainable peace, a two-state solution and the reconstruction of Gaza. The Government regularly engages with counterparts in the Palestinian Authority, the Palestine Liberation Organization and Fatah in support of this. The Foreign Secretary has engaged with President Abbas and Prime Minister Mustafa, including during Prime Minister Mustafa's visit to the UK on 28 April 2025. Minister Falconer also met Prime Minister Mustafa in Madrid on 25 May. An effective Palestinian Authority is vital for lasting peace and progress towards a two-state solution, and the UK has offered its support to the Palestinian Authority as it delivers much-needed reforms.