Asked by: Rachel Hopkins (Labour - Luton South and South Bedfordshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assistance his Department has offered to the Spanish government, in the context of recent floods in that country.
Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign Secretary and I were shocked and saddened to see the devastating scenes in Spain, and by the deaths and damage caused by heavy flooding. The Foreign Secretary has been in touch with the Foreign Minister of Spain to express the UK's condolences and offer our support; the Prime Minister and I have also contacted our counterparts. Our thoughts are with all those who have been affected. The British Embassy in Madrid and Consulates in affected areas are providing consular support to affected British Nationals.
Asked by: Rachel Hopkins (Labour - Luton South and South Bedfordshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, what steps his Department is taking with the UK Embassy in Colombia to support the peace talks between the Colombian government and the Segunda Marquetalia.
Answered by David Rutley
In February the UK jointly led the third UN Security Council (UNSC) visit to Colombia in support of the 2016 peace process. The Council met with President Petro and the Colombian High Commissioner for Peace to discuss the Colombian Government's vision to broaden peace through dialogue with armed groups, including Segunda Marquetalia. Through our role as penholder at the UN Security Council (UNSC), the UK will continue to work closely with international partners in support of the peace process in Colombia and the Colombian Government's efforts to expand the scope of peace in Colombia through dialogue and through comprehensive implementation of the Final Peace Agreement.
Asked by: Rachel Hopkins (Labour - Luton South and South Bedfordshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what discussions he has had with his (a) Israeli counterpart and (b) the UK’s international allies on 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 - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
The FCDO has welcomed the Court's call for the immediate release of hostages and the need to get more aid into Gaza.
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.
We respect the role and independence of the International Court of Justice (ICJ). However, we have also stated that we have considerable concerns about this case. 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.
Asked by: Rachel Hopkins (Labour - Luton South and South Bedfordshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure implementation in full 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 Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
The FCDO has welcomed the Court's call for the immediate release of hostages and the need to get more aid into Gaza.
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.
We respect the role and independence of the ICJ. However, we have also stated that we have considerable concerns about this case. 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.
Asked by: Rachel Hopkins (Labour - Luton South and South Bedfordshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether his Department forecasted aid funding for agencies supporting people in Palestine for the financial year 2024-2025.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
We trebled our aid commitment this financial year and we are doing everything we can to get more aid in and open more crossings. 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.
We will continue to support and have supported the United Nations World Food Programme to deliver a new humanitarian land corridor from Jordan into Gaza. 750 tonnes of life-saving food aid arrived in the first delivery and 315 tonnes in the second delivery.
Asked by: Rachel Hopkins (Labour - Luton South and South Bedfordshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether his Department forecasted aid funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees for the financial year 2024-25.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
We are appalled by allegations that 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. As we have said, we are pausing any future funding of UNRWA, whilst we review these concerning allegations. The pause will remain in place until we review the allegations, and any future funding decisions will be taken after this point. We are looking to our partners in the UN to carry out a robust and comprehensive investigation.
We remain committed to getting humanitarian aid to people in Gaza who desperately need it.
Asked by: Rachel Hopkins (Labour - Luton South and South Bedfordshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the (a) arrest, (b) imprisonment and (c) sentencing of Yasin Malik in India.
Answered by Vicky Ford
We note that Yasin Malik was convicted and sentenced to two consecutive life sentences for a number of charges under Indian law. We expect all countries to respect and uphold their international obligations regarding the treatment of detainees and raise cases where necessary.
Asked by: Rachel Hopkins (Labour - Luton South and South Bedfordshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the impact of increased homeworking during the covid-19 outbreak on her Department’s carbon footprint.
Answered by Vicky Ford
The FCDO monitors and reports on its greenhouse gas emissions quarterly. Details are published annually in the Sustainability Report sections of FCDO's Annual Report and Accounts (page 57-73) https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1019938/FCDO_annual_report_and_accounts_2020_to_2021_accessible.pdf and the Greening Government Commitments Annual Reports. https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/greening-government-commitments#annual-reports
Asked by: Rachel Hopkins (Labour - Luton South and South Bedfordshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 18 October 2021 to Question 53270, what recent contact she has had with the Sri Lankan authorities about clean water provision in the north of the country since COP26; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Vicky Ford
The UK Government maintains regular contact with the Government of Sri Lanka on a wide range of environmental issues. The Minister for South Asia, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, discussed opportunities for joint cooperation on environmental protection during his visit to Sri Lanka in January. We are supporting Sri Lanka through the new 7 year Climate Action for a Resilient Asia (CARA) programme. We will continue to engage with the Sri Lankan authorities in support of improved environmental conditions, including support of clean water provisions.
Asked by: Rachel Hopkins (Labour - Luton South and South Bedfordshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to measure its carbon footprint.
Answered by Vicky Ford
FCDO's greenhouse gas emissions are published annually in the Sustainability Report sections of FCDO's Annual Report and Accounts (page 57-73) and the Greening Government Commitments Annual Reports.