Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the implications for the UK of any changes to trade agreements between the United States of America and Commonwealth countries within the last 12 months.

Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

It is not for the UK to comment on another country's trade relationships. Clearly there are ongoing discussions between the US and Commonwealth countries on their relationship and interests. The UK deeply values its strong trading ties with both the US and the Commonwealth countries, and we will continue to build on these relationships in the future.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Chapman of Darlington on 5 March (HL5369), what assessment they have made of the potential impact on the UK’s soft power of cutting the aid budget to 0.3 per cent by 2027.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Prime Minister has set out a new strategic vision for government spending on defence and security and Official Development Assistance (ODA). Detailed decisions on the future allocation of resources will be worked through as part of the ongoing Spending Review based on various factors including impact assessments.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what new trade agreements they are discussing with the government of the United States of America.

Answered by Baroness Gustafsson - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The UK-US relationship is very strong, with trade of around £300 billion, and shared investment of over £1.2 trillion at the end of 2023. The Prime Minister and President Trump met on 27 February and agreed to deepen this relationship and to work together on a trade deal focused on tech. The Trade Secretary has also been engaging with the US Administration including Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, to make the case for stronger UK-US trade that benefits both our countries, and will continue to make every effort to support British business.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what different trade arrangements they are discussing with the government of the USA.

Answered by Baroness Gustafsson - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The UK-US relationship is very strong, with trade of around £300 billion, and shared investment of over £1.2 trillion at the end of 2023. The Prime Minister and President Trump met on 27 February and agreed to deepen this relationship and to work together on a trade deal focused on tech. The Trade Secretary has also been engaging with the US Administration including Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, to make the case for stronger UK-US trade that benefits both our countries, and will continue to make every effort to support British business.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether there are British military personnel in Yemen.

Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

There are no British military personnel currently stationed in Yemen.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the case for re-classifying sexual violence in conflict offences under international law to be prosecuted under existing torture laws.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK Government is committed to strengthening justice for all survivors and victims of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) and holding perpetrators to account. CRSV is prohibited under international humanitarian law, international human rights law and international criminal law. Some forms of CRSV, such as rape, can also be classified as torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. Torture is defined and prohibited by multiple human rights treaties. We continue to work closely with partners to eradicate the use of torture and end all forms of CRSV.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government how they define the difference between the right to defend and an offensive action by a state.

Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

As recognised in Article 51 of the UN Charter, States have the inherent right of individual or collective self-defence against armed attack. Self-defence permits States to use necessary and proportionate force to repel such armed attacks. States’ uses of force outside of self-defence or absent some other legal basis such as a Chapter 7 UN Security Council Resolution, consent or humanitarian intervention would be unlawful as a matter of international law.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government when they last assessed whether Israel has breached the humanitarian criteria for arms sales from the UK to that country.

Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

We regularly assess Israel's compliance with International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and our assessments continue to raise concerns about possible breaches of IHL in the areas of humanitarian access and treatment of detainees.

The UK's robust export licensing criteria state that the Government will not issue export licences if there is a clear risk that the items might be used to commit or facilitate serious violations of International Humanitarian Law. On 2 September 2024 we took decisive action, suspending relevant licences for the Israeli Defense Forces that might be used to commit or facilitate serious violations of IHL in Gaza. Further to the suspension decision in respect of the Gaza conflict, there are no extant licences for items that might be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of International Humanitarian law. Our International Humanitarian Law assessments continue.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they recognise the term "scholasticide".

Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The UK Government does not recognise the term "scholasticide". "Scholasticide" is not a standalone international crime, though certain breaches of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) involving schools and educational facilities may be war crimes. Promoting IHL compliance is central to the Government's humanitarian policy, and IHL compliance provides protections for civilian objects, such as schools.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what has been the year-on-year commitment of the £7.85 million provided to the Global Survivors Fund since 2019; and what was the country breakdown of this year-on-year commitment.

Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Since 2019, the UK Government has supported the Global Survivors Fund to provide life-saving support and reparative measures for survivors of conflict-related sexual violence around the world.

UK funding to the Global Survivors Fund has supported thousands of survivors, including in Ukraine, Colombia, Iraq, South Sudan, Mali, Central African Republic, Guinea, Democratic Republic of Congo, Iraq, Turkey, East Timor, Nigeria and Nepal among others. Projects have included the provision of psychosocial, educational and livelihood support, as well as technical support to Governments.

A year-on-year breakdown of funding is as follows:

• From Financial Year (FY) 2019/20 to 2021/22: £2.7m

• FY 2022/23: £1.5m

• FY 2023/24: £1.85m

• FY 2024/25: £1.8m

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they recognise the term "domicide".

Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The UK Government does not recognise the term "domicide". "Domicide" is not a standalone international crime, though certain breaches of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) involving homes may be war crimes. Promoting IHL compliance is central to the Government's humanitarian policy, and IHL compliance provides protections for civilian objects, such as homes.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to aid children in Gaza in 2025, and especially those in need of medical assistance.

Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The UK has consistently pressed Israel to do more to protect civilians in Gaza, including children, and for all parties to ensure adherence to international humanitarian law. In the last financial year, we announced £6 million for United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) to support vulnerable families in Gaza, and £41 million funding for United Nations Relief and Work Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), supporting their delivery of essential services including education across Gaza, the West Bank and to Palestinian refugees in the region. £5.8 million of the UK's contribution to the Global Partnership for Education has been earmarked to support essential education service delivery in Gaza and the West Bank. Through our partnership with UK-Med, they have provided over 405,000 patient consultations in Gaza since January 2024. The UK also supported delivery of Polio vaccination campaigns protecting over 600,000 vulnerable children across Gaza through funding to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. As the Prime Minister has said, the UK will continue to play a key humanitarian role in Gaza.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to re-establish a ceasefire in Gaza.

Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

We urge all parties to return urgently to talks, implement the ceasefire agreement in full and work towards a permanent peace. More bloodshed is in no-one's interest. Our priority is urging all parties to return urgently to dialogue and to ensuring the ceasefire agreement is implemented in full and work towards permanent peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians.

Since the hostilities resumed, the Foreign Secretary has spoken to Secretary Rubio, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer, EU High Representative Kallas and the UN emergency relief co-ordinator, Tom Fletcher. On 15 April, the Foreign Secretary spoke to his Israel counterpart Gideon Sa'ar, and he plans to speak to Palestinian PM Mustafa shortly.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to reform the funding rules for local elections.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The funding of costs necessarily incurred for the delivery of local elections is a matter for local authorities.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what value of humanitarian aid they have provided to Myanmar following the recent earthquake.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK has announced up to £25 million in life-saving support for people affected by the recent earthquake in Myanmar. This includes up to £5 million to match the British public's generous donations to the Disasters Emergency Committee appeal.

The UK's earthquake support is funding local actors on the ground, who can directly access affected populations. UK-funded food, water, healthcare and shelter supplies are already reaching affected areas, helping over 300,000 people so far.

Since the 2021 coup the UK has provided more than £170 million in live-saving humanitarian assistance, emergency healthcare and education support, and support to civil society and local communities, in Myanmar.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what contribution they have made to the UN's Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan in 2025.

Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

According to the United Nations Financial Tracking Service, as of 9 May the UK has contributed $260.4 million to UN-coordinated appeals in 2025 so far. Of this, $198.9 million went to Humanitarian Response Plans and Needs and Response Plans. This data is gathered and reported by the UN; The UK's official Statistics on International Development, covering the whole of 2025, will be published in autumn next year.

The UK will continue to play a key humanitarian role, including in Sudan, in Ukraine, and in Gaza. For example, last month we announced £120 million in new support for Sudan, which will target over 600,000 people with lifesaving assistance.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what proportion of the £120 million humanitarian funding for Sudan announced on 15 April will be allocated to support survivors of sexual violence.

Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The UK is a major humanitarian donor to Sudan with £226.5 million provided in financial year (FY) 2024/25 and a further £120 million in support this current FY which the Foreign Secretary announced at the London Sudan Conference on 15 April. Since the start of the conflict in April 2023, millions of Sudanese civilians have benefitted from UK-funded humanitarian programmes including survivors of sexual violence. Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office officials are now determining how funding for FY 2025/26 will be allocated and further information will be provided in due course.