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
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
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
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
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 Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if his Department will commission research into the potential work-related causes of police officer suicides and attempted suicides.
Answered by Chris Philp - Shadow Home Secretary
This Government takes the physical and mental health of the police workforce very seriously and we are committed to making improvements in wellbeing support for officers and staff. Since 2019, the Home Office has provided over £14m to the National Police Wellbeing Service. The Service is helping forces to identify where there is most risk of impacts on mental health, and developing work around building resilience, as well as putting in place support for those who need it in response to traumatic events.
Through the Police Covenant, we continue to work with policing partners to ensure those who work in policing and their families get the support and protection they need. We have already delivered pre-deployment mental health support for all new starters, established a Chief Medical Officer for policing and set an initial priority work stream on suicide prevention.
The Home Office is also providing funding to establish and run the first year of a 24/7 Mental Health Crisis Support line for current and former members of the police workforce. This will provide urgent support for our police when they need it the most and can be accessed from any area at any time.
Asked by: Rachel Hopkins (Labour - Luton South and South Bedfordshire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much funding his Department provided to help support police officers' mental health in each year since 2019.
Answered by Chris Philp - Shadow Home Secretary
This Government takes the physical and mental health of the police workforce very seriously and we are committed to making improvements in wellbeing support for officers and staff. Since 2019, the Home Office has provided over £14m to the National Police Wellbeing Service. The Service is helping forces to identify where there is most risk of impacts on mental health, and developing work around building resilience, as well as putting in place support for those who need it in response to traumatic events.
Through the Police Covenant, we continue to work with policing partners to ensure those who work in policing and their families get the support and protection they need. We have already delivered pre-deployment mental health support for all new starters, established a Chief Medical Officer for policing and set an initial priority work stream on suicide prevention.
The Home Office is also providing funding to establish and run the first year of a 24/7 Mental Health Crisis Support line for current and former members of the police workforce. This will provide urgent support for our police when they need it the most and can be accessed from any area at any time.
Asked by: Rachel Hopkins (Labour - Luton South and South Bedfordshire)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps his Department is taking to help support police officers with mental health issues.
Answered by Chris Philp - Shadow Home Secretary
This Government takes the physical and mental health of the police workforce very seriously and we are committed to making improvements in wellbeing support for officers and staff. Since 2019, the Home Office has provided over £14m to the National Police Wellbeing Service. The Service is helping forces to identify where there is most risk of impacts on mental health, and developing work around building resilience, as well as putting in place support for those who need it in response to traumatic events.
Through the Police Covenant, we continue to work with policing partners to ensure those who work in policing and their families get the support and protection they need. We have already delivered pre-deployment mental health support for all new starters, established a Chief Medical Officer for policing and set an initial priority work stream on suicide prevention.
The Home Office is also providing funding to establish and run the first year of a 24/7 Mental Health Crisis Support line for current and former members of the police workforce. This will provide urgent support for our police when they need it the most and can be accessed from any area at any time.
Asked by: Rachel Hopkins (Labour - Luton South and South Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many full time equivalent employees of her Department work on the delivery of Op Courage.
Answered by Maria Caulfield
Op COURAGE is a bespoke National Health Service commissioned service for veterans, delivering a comprehensive mental health treatment pathway. The Department retains oversight of the service with 1.4 full time equivalent (FTE) supporting policy delivery on Armed Forces and Veterans Health.
Asked by: Rachel Hopkins (Labour - Luton South and South Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many full time equivalent employees in her Department work on the delivery of Op Restore.
Answered by Maria Caulfield
Op Restore is a bespoke National Health Service-commissioned physical health and wellbeing service, which supports individuals who have served in, or are leaving, the British Armed Forces and have continuing, physical health injuries and related medical problems attributed to their time in the Armed Forces.
Op Nova provides support for those who have served in the British Armed Forces and who are in contact with the justice system, enabling them to access the services they need.
The Department retains oversight of these services, with 1.4 full time equivalent employees supporting policy delivery on armed forces and veterans’ health.
Asked by: Rachel Hopkins (Labour - Luton South and South Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many full time equivalent employees in her Department work on the delivery of Op Nova.
Answered by Maria Caulfield
Op Restore is a bespoke National Health Service-commissioned physical health and wellbeing service, which supports individuals who have served in, or are leaving, the British Armed Forces and have continuing, physical health injuries and related medical problems attributed to their time in the Armed Forces.
Op Nova provides support for those who have served in the British Armed Forces and who are in contact with the justice system, enabling them to access the services they need.
The Department retains oversight of these services, with 1.4 full time equivalent employees supporting policy delivery on armed forces and veterans’ health.