Oral Answers to Questions

Kerry McCarthy Excerpts

Monday 8th January 2024 Commons Chamber

[Beth Winter (Cynon Valley) (Lab)]

5. What steps he is taking to support the delivery of UK aid to Gaza.

[Kerry McCarthy (Bristol East) (Lab)]

15. What steps he is taking to support the delivery of UK aid to Gaza.

[Andrew Gwynne (Denton and Reddish) (Lab)]

16. What steps he is taking to support the delivery of UK aid to Gaza.

--- Later in debate ---

[James Heappey]

I will have to write to the hon. Lady on her exact point about the tracker. I am not aware of one, but that does not necessarily mean there is not one. I will write to her.

Although humanitarian aid is a Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office lead, we continue to work with partners and allies to advocate for other crossings to be opened and to increase the volume of aid delivered into Gaza.

[Kerry McCarthy]

I welcome the news that RFA Lyme Bay has delivered aid to Egypt, so it is very disappointing to know that aid is still being held up. Given Israel’s activity in Gaza, the only way we can make sure that humanitarian aid gets to the people who need it is by trying to secure another cessation in hostilities. What role is the MOD playing in trying to make that happen?

[James Heappey]

The MOD has put its shoulder to the wheel in support of the Government’s wider diplomatic effort but, obviously, the negotiation of a pause such as the one that the hon. Lady rightly says is necessary to deliver aid in greater volumes is a Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office lead. Mr Speaker, I believe you have had the foresight to grant an urgent question in which such questions may well be answered shortly by a Minister from that Department.