Asked by: Jeremy Corbyn (Independent - Islington North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, if he will make representations to the Israeli authorities on lifting restrictions on (a) water and (b) fuel reaching internally displaced refugees.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We are deeply concerned about the fuel shortages in Gaza. Fuel is necessary to allow humanitarian organisations to deliver assistance, power hospitals and operate desalinisation plants. The Government of Israel must allow sufficient aid and fuel into Gaza to meet the needs of civilians. We support any action that aims to keep civilians safe and protected. The pause that took place last week for hostage and prisoner releases demonstrated what can be achieved when there is political agreement to allow more vital aid and fuel into Gaza. This should be sustained and built on now that the pause has ended.
We have urged Israel to take action to limit civilian casualties, prevent mass displacement and ensure viable safe areas. About 1.8 million people in Gaza, or nearly 80 per cent of the population, are estimated to be internally displaced. However, obtaining an accurate count is challenging, especially given difficulties in tracking Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) staying with host families, movement of IDPs following evacuation orders since 1 December, and access restrictions. The UK Government has already announced £60 million in humanitarian funding and has sent more than 74 tonnes of emergency relief for civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. This funding will help support the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in responding to critical food, fuel, water, health, shelter and security needs in Gaza.
Asked by: Jeremy Corbyn (Independent - Islington North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether he has had discussions with the Israeli Government on reopening the Kerem Shalom border crossing.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The FCDO is actively engaging with international partners and those operating on the ground to do all we can to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary engage regularly and closely with regional counterparts including Israel and Egypt on the humanitarian response. However, the flow of aid into and through Gaza continues to be insufficient and we are urgently exploring all diplomatic options to increase this, including urging Israel to open other existing land border crossings such as Kerem Shalom. Fuel remains a critical component, without sufficient aid, fuel cannot be distributed by humanitarian organisations and hospitals, bakeries as well as desalination plants cannot operate. We are also actively exploring other routes for aid to get into Gaza. The UK Government has already announced £60 million in humanitarian funding and has sent more than 74 tonnes of emergency relief for civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Asked by: Jeremy Corbyn (Independent - Islington North)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent estimate he has made of the (a) cost and (b) projected in-service date for each of the new build projects in the Devonport Royal Dockyard site development plan.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Devonport Submarine Infrastructure Programme will involve the investment of approximately £2.5 billion to provide new and refurbished facilities at HM Naval Base Devonport. The Department expects to gain beneficial use of the facilities currently under construction in 2024 (9, 14 and 15 Docks) and 2027 (10 Dock). The estimated costs for each project are commercially sensitive but they fall within the overall estimate of £2.5 billion.
Asked by: Jeremy Corbyn (Independent - Islington North)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the parent project for each of the new build projects in the Devonport Royal Dockyard site plan; and what recent estimate he has made of the cost of each parent project.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Devonport Submarine Infrastructure Programme will involve the investment of approximately £2.5 billion to provide new and refurbished facilities at HM Naval Base Devonport. The Department expects to gain beneficial use of the facilities currently under construction in 2024 (9, 14 and 15 Docks) and 2027 (10 Dock). The estimated costs for each project are commercially sensitive but they fall within the overall estimate of £2.5 billion.
Asked by: Jeremy Corbyn (Independent - Islington North)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the cost was of the Long Overhaul Period and Refuel (LOP(R)) for HMS Vanguard.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
I am withholding the estimated cost of HMS Vanguard's Deep Maintenance Project (Refuel) as its disclosure would prejudice commercial interests.
Asked by: Jeremy Corbyn (Independent - Islington North)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, when he plans to respond to the correspondence of 17 February, 21 March and 14 April 2023 from the Rt hon. Member for Islington North on cladding.
Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)
A response has been issued to the Rt. Hon. Member's correspondence. I apologise for the delay in responding.
Asked by: Jeremy Corbyn (Independent - Islington North)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what evidence his Department holds on the causes of crooked teeth requiring orthodontic treatment in children.
Answered by Neil O'Brien
The information requested is not held centrally.
Asked by: Jeremy Corbyn (Independent - Islington North)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what proportion of children are judged to have crooked teeth requiring orthodontic treatment.
Answered by Neil O'Brien
The information requested is not held centrally.
Asked by: Jeremy Corbyn (Independent - Islington North)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to prevent discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity in the application of the new asylum assessment rules under the Nationality and Borders Act 2022.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
This Government is committed to advancing the rights of individuals who are LGBT. The welfare and dignity of all claimants, including those who are LGBT, remains central to our decision-making processes.
One of the key objectives of the Nationality and Borders Act 2022 is to increase the fairness and efficacy of our asylum system so that we can better protect and support those in genuine need of asylum. In September 2021, we published an Equality Impact Assessment for the policies being taken forward through the then Bill which included an assessment on potential impacts on people who may face persecution because of the protected characteristics of sex, sexual orientation and gender reassignment.
Asked by: Jeremy Corbyn (Independent - Islington North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that (a) medical supplies and (b) other aid to Tigray are delivered effectively to the people of Tigray.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
We welcome the peace agreement and cessation of hostilities announced on 2 November between the Government of Ethiopia and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), and their commitment to scale-up the delivery of life-saving aid to Tigray. As the new agreement includes restoration of services and unhindered access to humanitarian supplies, it is imperative that access is facilitated without delay so medical and other supplies can reach the people of Tigray. The UK is committed to working with the Government of Ethiopia and authorities in Tigray to expand aid deliveries to areas affected by the conflict and to promote long-term peace and security.