Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel about allowing international media access to Gaza.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

I refer the Noble Lord to the answer provided in the House of Commons on 3 October 2025 in response to Question HC76551, which - for ease of reference - is reproduced below:

The UK is appalled by the extremely high number of fatalities, arrests and detentions of media workers in the State of Palestine. We have called on all parties to fully uphold International Humanitarian Law and ensure protection of civilians including journalists. In a recent joint statement with 28 other members of the Media Freedom Coalition, we called on the Israeli authorities and all other parties to make every effort to ensure that media workers in Gaza, Israel, the West Bank and East Jerusalem can conduct their work freely and safely. The statement also called for all attacks against media workers to be investigated and for those responsible to be prosecuted in compliance with national and international law. Earlier this year the UK provided funds to United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's (UNESCO) Special Fund for Gaza, supporting locally based journalists and providing vital equipment.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the environmental implications of attacks on Kharg Island.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

No such assessments are available at this time, but the UK continues to (a) work for a resolution of the conflict in the Gulf, and (b) call on Israel to respect Syria's territorial integrity, and lay out timelines for their withdrawal from the Area of Separation.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Chapman of Darlington on 18 March (HL15286), what assessment they have made of the number of (1) schools, and (2) hospitals, in Iran that have been hit or destroyed since 28 February; and if there is not yet an assessment or estimate available, when they expect that an assessment or estimate will be made available.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

I refer the Noble Lord to the answer he cites in his question. The position has not changed in the intervening week.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the environmental impacts of Israel’s attacks on oil facilities in Iran, following reports of toxic smoke and acid rain in Tehran.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

No such assessments are available at this time, but the UK continues to (a) work for a resolution of the conflict in the Gulf, and (b) call on Israel to respect Syria's territorial integrity, and lay out timelines for their withdrawal from the Area of Separation.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the amount of land in Syria under the control of the government of Israel.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

No such assessments are available at this time, but the UK continues to (a) work for a resolution of the conflict in the Gulf, and (b) call on Israel to respect Syria's territorial integrity, and lay out timelines for their withdrawal from the Area of Separation.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government how they ensure consistency in the approach they take to the application of the definition of right to defend under international law.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

Ministers have an overarching duty to comply with the law, including international law and treaty obligations, and civil servants must also comply with the law. Legal advice is provided as necessary, including where it relates to the legal basis for the use of force under international law.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the relationship between a Prime Minister's length of tenure and their right to nominate honours upon retirement or resignation.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

By long-standing convention, all Prime Ministers, regardless of length of tenure, are entitled to nominate individuals for honours as part of both dissolution and resignation honours lists.