Asked by: Lord Polak (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East's mandate is aligned with their commitment to a two-state solution for an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; and what steps they will take to ensure that alignment if necessary.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
UNRWA is a necessary humanitarian and stabilising force in the region, providing vital services to millions of Palestinian refugees every day. The UK recognises UNRWA’s unique mandate from the UN General Assembly, to protect and provide essential health and education services to Palestinian registered refugees across the Middle East. We accompany our support to UNRWA with stringent attention to neutrality and values of peace and remain in close contact with UNRWA’s senior management to monitor and drive progress on essential reforms.
Asked by: Lord Polak (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to ensure that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East is rated by the Publish What You Find AID transparency index.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.
Asked by: Lord Polak (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East's mandate; and whether that mandate complies with the Department for International Development's anti-corruption strategies.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.
Asked by: Lord Polak (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of the United States about new models and approaches to ensure the long-term viability of the work currently undertaken by the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees.
Answered by Lord Bates
The UK maintains a regular dialogue with the US on a range of Middle East issues, and has discussed UNRWA’s long term financial viability in light of the US decision to withdraw their funding.
Asked by: Lord Polak (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the sustainability of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees’ working definition of a Palestinian refugee.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK recognises the United Nations Relief and Works Agency's (UNRWA) unique mandate from the UN General Assembly, to protect and provide essential services to Palestinian refugees across the Middle East. The UK is clear that the status of Palestinian refugees is a final status issue, and must be agreed as part of wider peace negotiations. Accordingly the UK has not made an assessment of the sustainability of the UNRWA's working definition of a Palestinian refugee.
Asked by: Lord Polak (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees about its working definition of a refugee.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is clear that the status of Palestinian refugees is a final status issue, and must be agreed as part of wider peace negotiations. Accordingly the UK has not made representations to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) regarding its working definition of a Palestinian refugee. The UK remains a firmly committed supporter of UNRWA, and Palestinian refugees across the Middle East, and we will do everything we can to maintain continuity of essential services at this time.
Asked by: Lord Polak (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Palestinian Authority’s ability to deliver public services within the Palestinian Territories.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK is committed to the objective of a sovereign and prosperous Palestinian state, living side by side with a safe and secure Israel. That is why we are a key donor to the Palestinian Authority (PA) and why we have put such emphasis on strengthening Palestinian institutions and fostering private sector-led, sustainable economic growth in the West Bank. The UK is concerned about the effects of US and Israeli cuts to the PA's budget on both the PA's ability to deliver essential services to Palestinians and on the prospects for peace and stability in the region. We are also concerned by the PA's decision to not accept reduced clearance revenues from Israel. The PA needs to be financially sustainable to ensure stability, deliver services to Palestinians, and to fulfil its responsibilities under the Oslo Accords. UK aid helps to ensure the PA's financial stability. In 2018/19 UK aid to the PA helped to pay the salaries of 37,600 teachers, doctors, nurses, midwives and other health and education public servants. No UK aid is used for payments to Palestinian prisoners or their families.
Asked by: Lord Polak (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment has been made of the value for money to the UK taxpayer of the 690,189 shekels (£154,000) grant given to Yesh Din in 2016.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
Each project funded by the UK is in line with British Government policy. The money allocated to Yesh Din supported our objective of preserving the viability of a two-state solution.
Asked by: Lord Polak (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of reports of renewed construction of tunnels into Israel by Hamas; and of the impact of those tunnels on progress towards a two-state solution.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
We remain deeply concerned by Hamas attempts to rearm and rebuild militant infrastructure, including the tunnel network in Gaza. Hamas rearmament undermines efforts to improve the situation in Gaza and harms the prospects for peace and stability in the Middle East.
Asked by: Lord Polak (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with the government of Israel to strengthen UK–Israel trade; and what progress has been made in securing a UK–Israel trade deal to be implemented following the UK's exit from the EU.
Answered by Lord Price
The Prime Minister met the Israeli Prime Minister in February and agreed to establish a working group to continue the progress we have seen to date. We continue to liaise closely with the Israeli Government on strengthening our trading links, and I look forward to building on our strong trade relationship during my visit to Israel this week.