Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the current (1) humanitarian, and (2) security, situation in Darfur following the recent outbreak of hostilities in El Fasher; and what diplomatic initiatives they are undertaking, together with international partners, to end the current conflict in order to prevent mass civilian casualties.

Answered by Lord Benyon - Lord Chamberlain (HM Household)

It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had, if any, with the government of Israel regarding the long-term purpose of the strategic corridor which has been built along the Netzarim Corridor in Gaza.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the current security situation in Western Myanmar; and what steps they are taking, together with international partners, to prevent the outbreak of a civil war between the Buddhist Rakhine and the Muslim Rohingya.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, following the suspension of political party activities and the postponement of elections in Mali, what assessment they have made of the current (1) political, and (2) security, situation in that country.

Answered by Lord Benyon - Lord Chamberlain (HM Household)

The UK condemns attempts to restrict democratic space in Mali, including through restrictive legislation on civil society and on political participation. Such measures risk undermining peace and security. We continue to urge the authorities in Mali to deliver on their commitment to a political transition, with free, fair, transparent and inclusive presidential elections. We are committed to working with our partners to respond to immediate humanitarian needs and address the underlying causes of conflict and poverty in Mali.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the amount of cocaine that arrived in the UK in (1) 2023, and (2) 2024 to date, as a result of Balkan drug gangs and their criminal networks; and what steps they are taking, together with European partners, to (a) end the illegal activities associated with Balkan drug dealers, and (b) disrupt the supply of cocaine across Europe.

Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

Illegal drugs devastate lives, ruin families and damage communities. The Government is committed to tackling these harms, including drug-related gang activity.

a) Reducing the threat posed by transnational Western Balkans organised crime groups (WBOCGs) is a government priority. We intensified the cooperation with our international partners to maximise the impact of our interventions WBOCGs wherever they are. Our engagements have already resulted in strategic partnerships with countries such as France, Germany, Italy, and Albania. In addition, the National Crime Agency (NCA) has well established relationships with law enforcement partners across Europe, as well as with Europol and Interpol, which include regular exchanges on organised crime with links to the Western Balkans. We are also seeking to improve criminal records sharing arrangements and law enforcement cooperation between the UK and the Western Balkan countries.

b) Our ten-year Drug Strategy, From Harm to Hope, sets out a whole system approach to combat illicit drugs. As part of this the Home Office has committed £300m of dedicated investment over three years (April 2022 – March 2025) to tackle every phase of the drug supply chain and make it considerably harder for criminal gangs to operate. With this funding we are supporting intelligence-led approaches to interdict and seize drugs as they cross the UK border and prevent criminal groups from bringing drugs to our streets. Across the whole of the UK, the NCA, Border Force, and local police are working in partnership, using intelligence and technology to secure our borders against drug trafficking. We are also funding upstream activity to tackle overseas drug supply, which is aimed at disrupting the criminal networks seeking to traffic illegal drugs to the UK. This includes building close enforcement partnerships with law enforcement agencies in mainland Europe.

The NCA has estimated that the UK consumes 117 tonnes of cocaine each year. We do not hold data on the amount of cocaine arriving in the UK as a result of Balkan OCGs. In the financial year ending 2023, police and Border Force seized 18.58 tonnes of powder cocaine, the second largest quantity of the substance since records began.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what recent discussions they have had with the government of Egypt concerning the current humanitarian situation in Gaza; and what support they are providing to Egyptian authorities, together with international partners, to prevent the forced displacement of Palestinians in Gaza to the Sinai region of Egypt.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

We maintain a close dialogue with Egypt on a range of issues relating to the conflict in Gaza. The Foreign Secretary most recently discussed the situation with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry on 10 May.

The UK Government firmly rejects any suggestion of the resettlement of Palestinians outside of Gaza.

The UK's position is clear: Gaza is Occupied Palestinian Territory and will and must be part of a future Palestinian state. We support a two-state solution that guarantees security and stability for both the Israeli and Palestinian people.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to their response to the First Joint Report of the Committees on Arms Export Controls Session 2022–23 Developments in UK Strategic Export Controls, published in January 2023 (CP 775), when, if at all, they intend to review whether their arms and equipment export licences to Israel meet the criteria contained in that response; and what assurances they have received from the government of Israel that those arms exports will not be used to violate international humanitarian law in Gaza.

Answered by Lord Offord of Garvel - Shadow Minister (Energy Security and Net Zero)

We are monitoring the situation in Israel and Gaza very closely. All export licences are assessed against the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria and are kept under careful and continual review as standard.

As part of the Government’s robust arms export control regime we periodically review advice on Israel’s capability and overall commitment to comply with International Humanitarian Law, which includes a range of evidence. Ministers act in accordance with that advice.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that at least three residents of the Nur Shams refugee camp in the West Bank were summarily executed or used as human shields by the Israeli military; and what action they have taken in response.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

Reports of this nature are shocking. We continue to call upon Israel and the Palestinian Authorities to comply with their legal obligations in the West Bank, affording proper respect to the rights of all persons living there, and to investigate any reports of this thoroughly and transparently.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to address infrastructure and building safety issues within (1) school buildings, and (2) the NHS estate; and what is their current risk assessment for building collapse or failure in each of those.

Answered by Baroness Swinburne

It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they taking to ensure that local councils in England are able to meet their statutory duties to provide adult social care for 2025–26,  in accordance with the Care Act 2014; and what discussions they have had with the Local Government Association about this matter.

Answered by Lord Markham - Shadow Minister (Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Government has made up to £8.6 billion available in additional funding over 2023/24 and 2024/25, to support adult social care and discharge. This funding has enabled local authorities to buy more care packages, helped people leave hospital on time, improved workforce recruitment and retention, and reduced waiting times for care. The Government regularly meets with the Local Government Association and other representatives from the sector, to understand the pressures facing them.

Funding plans for 2025/26 will be developed as part of the next Spending Review. We will continue to work closely with local authorities and the adult social care sector to understand what the impact of cost and demand pressures will be on service delivery, and to support them in responding to these pressures.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to reform the Single Justice Procedure (SJP) to enable magistrates to properly consider each case before them and to minimise any risk of miscarriages of justice; and whether they have implemented, or plan to implement, any of the twelve recommendations to improve the operation, transparency and fairness of the SJP contained within the Magistrates’ Association position statement, published on 26 March.

Answered by Lord Bellamy

It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they are taking action, with international partners, to dissuade the government of Israel from undertaking a military ground offensive in Rafah, Gaza.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

We are clear that do not support a major operation in Rafah unless there is a very clear plan for how to protect people and save lives. We have not seen that plan so, in these circumstances, we do not support a major operation in Rafah.

The fastest way to end the conflict is to secure a deal which gets the hostages out and allows for a stop in the fighting in Gaza. We must then work with our international partners to turn that pause into a sustainable, permanent ceasefire.

We must remain focused on a long-term solution to this crisis - a political horizon for the Palestinians, providing a credible and irreversible pathway towards a two-state solution.

We have consistently made these points to Israel, at all levels.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, following the government of Israel’s decision to shut down the operations of the Al Jazeera television network in that country, what discussions they have had with that government concerning press freedom.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

Israel must ensure its campaign is targeted at Hamas leaders and operatives and ensure journalists can carry out their work safely. On 5 December, the UK supported a joint statement of the Media Freedom Coalition expressing concern over the repercussions for the safety of journalists and access to information due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether any cases of Clade I or Clade Ib Mpox have been detected in the UK since 14 August.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

As of 13 September 2024, no cases of clade I or clade Ib Mpox have been detected in the United Kingdom. The risk to the UK population of being exposed to Mpox clade I is currently considered low. However, planning is underway to prepare for any cases that we might see in the UK. This includes ensuring that clinicians are aware and able to recognise cases promptly, that rapid testing is available, and that protocols are developed for the safe clinical care of people who have the infection, and to prevent onward transmission.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking alongside international partners to address what on 9 September the World Health Organisation called the "extreme health and humanitarian crisis" in Sudan.

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

The conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces has created a humanitarian disaster in Sudan, with over 9 million people facing emergency or famine like conditions. On 1 August, the Foreign Secretary tweeted to highlight the findings of the IPC Famine Review Committee (FRC) that famine existed in Northern Darfur's Zamzam IDP camp, and there was a high likelihood of its presence elsewhere. He also reiterated that the use of starvation as a weapon of warfare is a war crime. On 6 August, the UK, as United Nations Security Council (UNSC) penholder on Sudan, called an urgent Council session to discuss the FRC's findings. On 22 August, the Minister for Development announced an additional £15 million of vital assistance to Sudan, South Sudan and Chad to support vulnerable people forced to flee violence and seek safety. This brings the UK's ODA for Sudan this year to £97 million, most of which is vital humanitarian assistance.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what recent assessment they have made of the soft power value to the UK of the news programming provided by the BBC World Service; and whether they intend to fund fully the BBC World Service language services.

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

The Government strongly values the BBC World Service as a UK soft power asset. It is the world's most trusted international broadcaster. Consisting of 42 language services, it provides impartial accurate news to a global audience of 320 million across more than 120 countries.

The Government is committed to a successful BBC World Service and ensuring its financial sustainability. Ahead of Charter Review, the Government will keep an open mind about the future of the licence fee and how the World Service is funded, and engage with the BBC, the public and other stakeholders before making decisions.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they (1) are reviewing, or (2) plan to review, current Armed Services recruitment policy to allow those who have previously worked for UK forces in Afghanistan in any capacity, but who are not British or Commonwealth citizens, to apply to join the British Army if they have relocated to the UK.

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

We fully acknowledge and value the contribution of Afghan nationals who supported the UK mission in Afghanistan, and we are determined to honour our nation’s commitment to relocate and resettle eligible individuals. The nationality requirements for joining the UK Armed Forces are set out in legislation, namely the Armed Forces Act 2006. We are not currently reviewing the extant nationality requirements. Recruitment policies are reviewed regularly to ensure that Defence continues to be an employer which is representative of wider UK society.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the declaration by the WHO Director General on 14 August of Mpox cases in Africa to be a public health emergency of international concern; and what support they are providing to African countries most affected by the current outbreak.

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

We are deeply concerned by the mpox outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and other African countries. In August I visited the DRC and announced £3.1 million to UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund) for the mpox and cholera response. This will reach 4.4 million people. We have contributed £3 million to the World Health Organisation's (WHO) Regional Office for Africa for health emergency response. The UK's £340 million core voluntary contribution to the WHO supports it to allocate resources where they are needed most, including responding to health emergencies such as mpox. We are one of the largest donors to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which has unlocked $2.9 million to support the rollout of vaccines in the DRC.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what progress has been made on diplomatic efforts to secure a ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza conflict and the release of hostages since the Prime Minister spoke to Benjamin Netanyahu on 20 August.

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

Following the Prime Minister's conversation with Prime Minister Netanyahu on 20 August, the UK has been working tirelessly towards its priority of ending this conflict and securing the safe release of hostages still cruelly detained by Hamas since day one. The situation on the ground remains intolerable, and the war must end now.

The Prime Minister met President Biden in Washington on 13 September where they reiterated UK and US calls for a ceasefire that will enable the release of the hostages. We welcome the efforts of our partners in Qatar, Egypt and the United States, and fully endorse their joint statement calling for the immediate resumption of ceasefire negotiations and a hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas. We are urging all sides to show flexibility. Both the Foreign Secretary and Minister Falconer have held meetings with the families of hostages with links to the UK and reiterated our commitment to using all diplomatic avenues to secure their release.