Asked by: Alan Brown (Scottish National Party - Kilmarnock and Loudoun)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what recent discussions he has had with his counterpart in Israel on the potential involvement of United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) staff in the attacks in Israel by Hamas on 7 October 2023.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell
We are appalled by allegations that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) staff were involved in the 7 October attack against Israel. We are pressing the UN Office of Internal Oversight and Catherine Colonna, who is leading the independent Review Group appointed by the UN Secretary-General, to produce a rapid interim report. We have urged Israel to cooperate fully with the investigation.
Asked by: Alan Brown (Scottish National Party - Kilmarnock and Loudoun)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether he has had discussions with his Israeli counterpart on the recent announcement on Israel's intentions relating to the construction of additional settlement units in the West Bank.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell
The recent announcement of plans to build over 3000 new settlement homes in the occupied West Bank is deeply concerning. The UK position on settlements is clear and longstanding. They are illegal under international law. We have repeatedly called for Israel to halt settlement expansion.
Asked by: Alan Brown (Scottish National Party - Kilmarnock and Loudoun)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of prioritising sustainable aviation fuel when securing non-recyclable municipal solid waste as a feedstock, in the context of the number of available near-term options for decarbonising the aviation sector.
Answered by Robbie Moore - Shadow Minister (Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government confirmed that a Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) mandate would be introduced in 2025 requiring at least 10% (around 1.5 billion litres) of jet fuel to be made from sustainable feedstocks by 2030. Recycled carbon fuels such as non-recyclable municipal solid waste have the potential to become a key feedstock for UK produced SAF, and supporting them via the SAF mandate will broaden the existing feedstock pool. This is consistent with the Government’s approach to waste policy as guided by the waste hierarchy, where the best environmental outcome for waste that cannot be either prevented or prepared for reuse is for material to be recycled. Where waste cannot be prevented, reused or recycled, the Government supports maximising the value of residual waste through recovering energy, including supplying electricity or heat, or through use as, or conversion into, a fuel. There are a range of recovery options - both established and emerging - available to waste handling operators, which will be selected according to market conditions and local needs, taking account of the waste hierarchy and the need to ensure the best available environmental outcome for the waste. There is nothing preventing the production of fuel from residual waste if this is determined, by local authorities or other waste handlers, to be the best overall value for money and environmental outcome for such waste.
Asked by: Alan Brown (Scottish National Party - Kilmarnock and Loudoun)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment she has made of the impact of different levies for gas and electricity on heating bills.
Answered by Amanda Solloway
Several crucial environmental and social policy costs are funded ('levied') through consumer bills to reduce the burden on the taxpayer. These schemes are vital to developing domestic sources of low-carbon electricity to reduce our exposure to volatile global fossil fuel markets and protect consumers in the long term.
A list of the current schemes that are funded through households and business energy bills is on the Ofgem website. https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/environmental-and-social-schemes
For households on default tariffs, Ofgem's published methodology for the price cap sets out how these costs should be passed to consumers, for instance the split between electricity and gas. https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/energy-price-cap
Asked by: Alan Brown (Scottish National Party - Kilmarnock and Loudoun)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, if he will take steps to help ensure the Israeli government's compliance with the provisional measures set forth by the International Court of Justice in the case concerning Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip (South Africa v. Israel).
Answered by Andrew Mitchell
FCDO Ministers hold regular meetings with their counterparts, including the Foreign Secretary's meetings with the Israeli Prime Minister and Foreign Minister during his visit to Israel on 24 January.
We respect the role and independence of the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The ICJ's ruling is binding.
We respect the role and independence of the ICJ. However, we have stated that we have considerable concerns about this case, which is not helpful in the goal of achieving a sustainable ceasefire. Israel has the right to defend itself against Hamas in line with International Law, as we have said from the outset. Our view is that Israel's actions in Gaza cannot be described as a genocide, which is why we thought South Africa's decision to bring the case was wrong and provocative.
The court's call for the immediate release of hostages and the need to get more aid into Gaza is a position we have long advocated.
We are clear that an immediate pause is necessary to get aid in and hostages out, and then we want to build towards a sustainable, permanent ceasefire, without a return to the fighting.
Asked by: Alan Brown (Scottish National Party - Kilmarnock and Loudoun)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether his Department is taking steps to help support self-determination for people in Western Sahara.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell
The UK continues to support UN-led efforts to reach a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution, based on compromise, which will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara. We strongly support the work of Staffan de Mistura as Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General to Western Sahara and will continue to encourage constructive engagement with the political process and monitor progress.
Asked by: Alan Brown (Scottish National Party - Kilmarnock and Loudoun)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what value of goods was (a) imported from and (b) exported to the Kingdom of Morocco in (i) 2021, (ii) 2022 and (iii) 2023.
Answered by John Glen
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.
A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 1st February is attached.
Asked by: Alan Brown (Scottish National Party - Kilmarnock and Loudoun)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether he has made an assessment of the consistency of (a) the decision to pause future funding to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East and (b) paragraph 80 of the International Court of Justice's Order relating to the case of the Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip (South Africa v Israel), published on 26 January 2024.
Answered by Leo Docherty
We are appalled by allegations that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) staff were involved in the 7 October attack against Israel, a heinous act of terrorism that the UK Government has repeatedly condemned. The UK is pausing any future funding of UNRWA whilst we review these concerning allegations.
However, we remain committed to getting humanitarian aid to the people in Gaza who desperately need it, and our decision to pause future funding to UNRWA has no impact on the UK's contribution to the humanitarian response. Our commitment to trebling aid to Gaza still stands, and we are getting on with aid delivery through funding multiple implementing partners including other UN agencies and international and UK NGOs. This support is helping people in Gaza get food, water, shelter and medicines.
We are also clear that an immediate pause is necessary to get aid in and hostages out, and then progress towards a sustainable, permanent ceasefire, without a return to destruction, fighting and loss of life.
Asked by: Alan Brown (Scottish National Party - Kilmarnock and Loudoun)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what assessment he has made of the impact of a pause in future funding for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) on the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
Answered by Leo Docherty
The UK is appalled by allegations that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) staff were involved in the 7 October attack against Israel, a heinous act of terrorism that the UK Government has repeatedly condemned. The UK is pausing any future funding of UNRWA whilst we review these concerning allegations.
We remain committed to getting humanitarian aid to the people in Gaza who desperately need it. Our commitment to trebling aid to Gaza still stands, and we are helping people in Gaza get food, water, shelter and medicines. The UK is providing £60 million in humanitarian assistance to support partners including the British Red Cross, UNICEF, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) and Egyptian Red Crescent Society (ERCS) to respond to critical food, fuel, water, health, shelter and security needs in Gaza.
Asked by: Alan Brown (Scottish National Party - Kilmarnock and Loudoun)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of a reduction in future funding to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) on the effectiveness of international NGOs operating in the occupied Palestinian territory.
Answered by Leo Docherty
The UK is appalled by allegations that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) staff were involved in the 7 October attack against Israel, a heinous act of terrorism that the UK Government has repeatedly condemned. The UK is pausing any future funding of UNRWA whilst we review these concerning allegations.
We remain committed to getting humanitarian aid to the people in Gaza who desperately need it. Our commitment to trebling aid to Gaza still stands, and we are helping people in Gaza get food, water, shelter and medicines. The UK is providing £60 million in humanitarian assistance to support partners including the British Red Cross, UNICEF, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) and Egyptian Red Crescent Society (ERCS) to respond to critical food, fuel, water, health, shelter and security needs in Gaza.