Middle East

Lord Polak Excerpts

Wednesday 10th June 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Foster of Oxton (Con)]

My Lords—

[Lord Polak (Con)]

My Lords—

[Lord Swire (Con)]

My Lords—

--- Later in debate ---

[Lord Polak (Con)]

Let me help the Minister. In a previous answer, he said that it is difficult to go to Israel. El Al flies twice a day from Heathrow, and I am sure any Government Minister who wishes to can go to Israel. In the Statement, the Foreign Secretary said that the Minister for the Middle East was due to go to a meeting, I think today, with the Charity Commission’s chief executive specifically to discuss UK charities having links in disputed areas. Will the Minister explain whether the said Minister raised the issue of charities in the UK supporting the IRGC, the Muslim Brotherhood or Palestinian rejectionists or—dare I say it—is it just Jewish charities that are concerning the Government?

[Lord Lemos (Lab)]

I am sure I did not mean to say that it is difficult to go to Israel, but even if I did say it, I am grateful for the helpful advice on that. I think the noble Lord knows what I meant, which is that this is a complex dynamic and who we talk to when is not straightforward. On the Charity Commission, the meeting took place this morning. I can confirm that it was not confined to charities that support West Bank settlements. I am very happy to ask the department to write to the noble Lord about the others, but I know it involved some of the places, charities and activities that he is talking about. I was not there, obviously.