Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of proportion of women and children among those killed in Lebanon in the current conflict with Israel.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The UK has not made its own estimates, but the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has published figures - based on data from the Lebanese Ministry of Health - stating that more than 2,000 people have so far been killed in Lebanon, including at least 172 children and 91 healthcare workers, with more than 7,000 others injured, as of 21 April.
The UNHCR further report that, since early March, over one million people have been displaced across Lebanon, with more than 140,000 individuals currently staying in Government designated collective shelters. Over 280,000 people are reported to have crossed into Syria through the three official border crossings, including almost 238,000 Syrians and around 44,000 Lebanese.
On the UK's support for families displaced by the conflict, I refer the Noble Lord to the answer I gave on 29 April in response to Question HL16505.
Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of journalists killed across the Middle East during the current conflict.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The UK has not made its own estimates, but the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has published figures - based on data from the Lebanese Ministry of Health - stating that more than 2,000 people have so far been killed in Lebanon, including at least 172 children and 91 healthcare workers, with more than 7,000 others injured, as of 21 April.
The UNHCR further report that, since early March, over one million people have been displaced across Lebanon, with more than 140,000 individuals currently staying in Government designated collective shelters. Over 280,000 people are reported to have crossed into Syria through the three official border crossings, including almost 238,000 Syrians and around 44,000 Lebanese.
On the UK's support for families displaced by the conflict, I refer the Noble Lord to the answer I gave on 29 April in response to Question HL16505.
Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of people displaced in Lebanon since the commencement of the current phase of the conflict with Israel.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The UK has not made its own estimates, but the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has published figures - based on data from the Lebanese Ministry of Health - stating that more than 2,000 people have so far been killed in Lebanon, including at least 172 children and 91 healthcare workers, with more than 7,000 others injured, as of 21 April.
The UNHCR further report that, since early March, over one million people have been displaced across Lebanon, with more than 140,000 individuals currently staying in Government designated collective shelters. Over 280,000 people are reported to have crossed into Syria through the three official border crossings, including almost 238,000 Syrians and around 44,000 Lebanese.
On the UK's support for families displaced by the conflict, I refer the Noble Lord to the answer I gave on 29 April in response to Question HL16505.
Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of medics killed in Lebanon during the current conflict with Israel.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The UK has not made its own estimates, but the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has published figures - based on data from the Lebanese Ministry of Health - stating that more than 2,000 people have so far been killed in Lebanon, including at least 172 children and 91 healthcare workers, with more than 7,000 others injured, as of 21 April.
The UNHCR further report that, since early March, over one million people have been displaced across Lebanon, with more than 140,000 individuals currently staying in Government designated collective shelters. Over 280,000 people are reported to have crossed into Syria through the three official border crossings, including almost 238,000 Syrians and around 44,000 Lebanese.
On the UK's support for families displaced by the conflict, I refer the Noble Lord to the answer I gave on 29 April in response to Question HL16505.
Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what support they have provided for children in Lebanon displaced by the current conflict.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The UK has not made its own estimates, but the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has published figures - based on data from the Lebanese Ministry of Health - stating that more than 2,000 people have so far been killed in Lebanon, including at least 172 children and 91 healthcare workers, with more than 7,000 others injured, as of 21 April.
The UNHCR further report that, since early March, over one million people have been displaced across Lebanon, with more than 140,000 individuals currently staying in Government designated collective shelters. Over 280,000 people are reported to have crossed into Syria through the three official border crossings, including almost 238,000 Syrians and around 44,000 Lebanese.
On the UK's support for families displaced by the conflict, I refer the Noble Lord to the answer I gave on 29 April in response to Question HL16505.
Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Lloyd of Effra on 20 March (HL15283), what plans they have to further develop a legislative framework for the use of facial recognition software by private companies in the light of the increasing use of AI.
Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government has no current plans to introduce a standalone legislative framework governing the use of facial recognition technology (FRT) by private companies. However, a recent consultation by the Home Office on a new legal framework for law enforcement use of biometrics and facial recognition will consider the relevance of any new developments in that area to wider public and private sector use of FRT. The consultation closed on 12 February, and responses are being analysed.
As noted in our previous correspondence, the use of FRT is already governed by a robust legal framework, including the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018. Under this framework, organisations must process data lawfully, fairly and transparently, and ensure its use is necessary and proportionate. Where used for identification, FRT involves biometric data, which is classified as special category personal data and is subject to stricter legal safeguards. Organisations must also carry out data protection impact assessments where use of such technologies is likely to pose high risks to individuals’ rights and freedoms.
The Government recognises that the use of artificial intelligence, including in FRT, continues to evolve. It therefore keeps the existing legislative framework under review, working closely with the Information Commissioner’s Office.
Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer from Baroness Chapman of Darlington on 2 April (HL15868), why an assessment of the environmental impacts of the government of Israel's attacks on oil facilities in Iran is not available; and when this will be published.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The Noble Lord will appreciate that the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) does not have unlimited resources, and FCDO officials therefore tend to focus their analytical work on the impact of the actions and policies for which the UK is responsible, not other countries.
Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - 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 2 April (HL15869), why an assessment of the amount of land in Syria under the control of the government of Israel is not available; and when this will be provided.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The Noble Lord will appreciate that the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) does not have unlimited resources, and FCDO officials therefore tend to focus their analytical work on the impact of the actions and policies for which the UK is responsible, not other countries.
Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer from Baroness Chapman of Darlington on 2 April (HL15871), why an assessment of the environmental implications of attacks on Kharg Island is not available; and when this will be published.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The Noble Lord will appreciate that the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) does not have unlimited resources, and FCDO officials therefore tend to focus their analytical work on the impact of the actions and policies for which the UK is responsible, not other countries.
Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - 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 8 April 2026 (HL15872), 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)
I refer the Noble Lord to the answer he refers to in his question. Seeking and obtaining legal advice where necessary ensures that the Government adopts a consistent approach to international law, including in respect of issues relating to the use of force under international law.