To match an exact phrase, use quotation marks around the search term. eg. "Parliamentary Estate". Use "OR" or "AND" as link words to form more complex queries.


Keep yourself up-to-date with the latest developments by exploring our subscription options to receive notifications direct to your inbox

Written Question
Gaza: Disability
Wednesday 25th October 2023

Asked by: Cat Smith (Labour - Lancaster and Fleetwood)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations he has made to his Israeli counterparts on the welfare of people with disabilities in Gaza.

Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

While the UK has not made specific representations on the welfare of people with disabilities in Gaza, we have been clear about the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza for all civilians there. The UK is steadfast in its position that all states should uphold international humanitarian law and we call on our friends and partners to do so. Israel has the right to defend itself proportionately and its military operations must be conducted in accordance with international humanitarian law. Civilians must be respected and protected. Both the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary have, in their discussions with their Israeli counterparts, emphasised the importance of taking all possible measures to protect innocent civilians.


Written Question
Israel: Palestinians
Wednesday 12th July 2023

Asked by: Cat Smith (Labour - Lancaster and Fleetwood)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations he is making to his Israeli counterparts on the protection of Palestinian (a) healthcare and (b) civilians in the West Bank from Israeli military operations.

Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Israel must abide by its obligations under international humanitarian law, including the principles of proportionality, distinction and necessity. The British Embassy in Tel Aviv regularly raises the importance of regularised access to healthcare with the Israeli authorities. Israel, as the occupying power, has a duty to ensure and maintain public health to the fullest extent possible. During his call on 4 July with the Israeli chargé d'affaires in London, the Minister of State for the Middle East, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, urged Israel to safeguard access to healthcare and take proactive steps to guarantee the safety of civilians during Israeli operations in the West Bank. The Foreign Secretary emphasised the importance of the proactive protection of civilians during his call with Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen on 5 July.


Written Question
Israel: Palestinians
Tuesday 11th July 2023

Asked by: Cat Smith (Labour - Lancaster and Fleetwood)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the adequacy of the treatment of Palestinian children detained by the Israeli military.

Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

We repeatedly call on Israel to abide by its obligations under international law and have a regular dialogue with Israel on legal issues relating to the occupation, including the treatment of Palestinian children. We continue to monitor Israel's extensive use of administrative detention which, according to international law, should be used only when security makes this absolutely necessary rather than as routine practice and as a preventive rather than a punitive measure. We remain committed to working with the Israeli Government to secure improvements to the practices surrounding children in detention and continue to raise this with the Israeli Ministry of Justice through our embassy in Tel Aviv. The Minister of State for the Middle East, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, also frequently meets with charities and NGOs regarding issues relating to the occupation. He most recently discussed child detention in a meeting with representatives of Save The Children, Oxfam GB, Medical Aid for Palestinians, and Christian Aid on 4 July.


Written Question
Climate Change: Finance
Wednesday 31st May 2023

Asked by: Cat Smith (Labour - Lancaster and Fleetwood)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure that funding for climate adaptation is directed to countries that need it most.

Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

At COP27 the UK committed to triple its adaptation climate finance from £500 million in 2019 to £1.5 billion a year by 2025, building on £2.4 billion of International Climate Finance spent from 2016-2020 on climate adaptation. The UK also committed to helping climate vulnerable countries to better access finance through a new approach being pioneered by the UK co-led Taskforce on Access to Climate Finance. These investments are helping the most vulnerable adapt and build resilience to climate change.


Written Question
Israel: Palestinians
Thursday 27th April 2023

Asked by: Cat Smith (Labour - Lancaster and Fleetwood)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the implications for his policies of the use of administrative detention by Israel against Palestinians.

Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

We remain concerned about Israel's extensive use of administrative detention which, according to international law, should be used only when security makes this absolutely necessary. We continue to call on the Israeli authorities to comply with their obligations under international law. The UK is a constructive partner to Israel and we will continue to raise these issues with the Israeli authorities at every opportunity.


Written Question
Israel: Palestinians
Thursday 27th April 2023

Asked by: Cat Smith (Labour - Lancaster and Fleetwood)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the treatment of Palestinian political prisoners in Israeli prisons.

Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

We remain concerned about Israel's extensive use of administrative detention which, according to international law, should be used only when security makes this absolutely necessary. We continue to call on the Israeli authorities to comply with their obligations under international law. The UK is a constructive partner to Israel and we will continue to raise these issues with the Israeli authorities at every opportunity.


Written Question
East Africa: Food Supply
Monday 17th April 2023

Asked by: Cat Smith (Labour - Lancaster and Fleetwood)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking with his international counterparts to help tackle the hunger crisis in East Africa.

Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)

The UK is committed to addressing the deteriorating food security situation across East Africa. In financial year 2022/2023 the UK met its £156 million commitment to provide life-saving aid for people across East Africa. The UK is working to raise the profile of the crisis with our international partners and to ensure a robust response from humanitarian and development actors.


Written Question
Iran: Children
Monday 5th December 2022

Asked by: Cat Smith (Labour - Lancaster and Fleetwood)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps the Government is taking (a) at the UN Security Council and (b) bilaterally to raise the issue of human right abuses against children occurring in Iran and on holding the perpetrators to account.

Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK is committed to holding Iran to account on a wide range of human rights issues, including the appalling treatment of children throughout Iran's brutal crackdown of protests. The UK supported a successful Human Rights Council resolution to establish a UN investigation into the regime's appalling human rights violations. We are working closely with partners to remove Iran from the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. The FCDO has called on Iranian authorities in multiple international fora to abide by its obligations under international law to improve the practices surrounding children in detention.


Written Question
Iran: Children
Monday 5th December 2022

Asked by: Cat Smith (Labour - Lancaster and Fleetwood)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to help ensure that all children detained in Iran are released.

Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK is committed to holding Iran to account on a wide range of human rights issues, including the appalling treatment of children throughout Iran's brutal crackdown of protests. The UK supported a successful Human Rights Council resolution to establish a UN investigation into the regime's appalling human rights violations. We are working closely with partners to remove Iran from the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. The FCDO has called on Iranian authorities in multiple international fora to abide by its obligations under international law to improve the practices surrounding children in detention.


Written Question
Iran: Children
Monday 5th December 2022

Asked by: Cat Smith (Labour - Lancaster and Fleetwood)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made recent representations to his Iranian counterpart on ending human rights violations against children in that country.

Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK is committed to holding Iran to account on a wide range of human rights issues, including the appalling treatment of children throughout Iran's brutal crackdown of protests. The UK supported a successful Human Rights Council resolution to establish a UN investigation into the regime's appalling human rights violations. We are working closely with partners to remove Iran from the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. The FCDO has called on Iranian authorities in multiple international fora to abide by its obligations under international law to improve the practices surrounding children in detention.