Asked by: Siân Berry (Green Party - Brighton Pavilion)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his US counterpart on the US President's proposals on the transfer of Palestinians from Gaza.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign Secretary had a call with Secretary of State Marco Rubio on 27 January, prior to President Trump's comments on Gaza. The readout is available on gov.uk. We continue to engage closely with the US Administration across the spectrum of issues related to the situation in Gaza and the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs). Our priority in Gaza remains sustaining the fragile ceasefire, ensuring that all the hostages are released, increasing the supply of aid, and breaking the ongoing cycle of violence in pursuit of a permanent, sustainable peace.
Asked by: Siân Berry (Green Party - Brighton Pavilion)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to his speech entitled The Kew Lecture: Foreign Secretary's speech on the climate crisis, given on 17 September 2024, whether he has made any changes to staffing organisation in his Department to reflect the new priorities set out in that speech; and how many staff in his Department are working primarily on global ocean protection.
Answered by Anneliese Dodds - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Kew Lecture announced that UK Special Representatives for Climate and Nature would be appointed. Rachel Kyte CMG and Ruth Davis OBE took up these roles on 21 October and 15 November, respectively. In addition, several Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) roles have been created or amended to reflect the priorities set out in the Kew Lecture, for example to drive forward the new Global Clean Power Alliance.
Full information on how many FCDO staff work on energy, climate and environmental issues is not held centrally. Based on self-reported information, around 400 staff overseas, and around 330 staff in HQ roles, currently work on these issues, either full-time or along with other responsibilities. This includes 12 staff in HQ roles working primarily on different aspects of global ocean protection.
Asked by: Siân Berry (Green Party - Brighton Pavilion)
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 potential impact of comments by President Trump on Gaza on the (a) Camp David Accords and (b) Wadi Araba Treaty.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Egypt-Israel (Camp David) and Jordan-Israel (Wadi Araba) peace treaties were historic achievements. The US played an integral part in facilitating negotiations between Israel, Jordan and Egypt that has resulted in lasting peace. That is why we support a negotiated two-state solution between the Palestinians and Israel, that agrees a sovereign Palestinian state including the West Bank and Gaza, alongside a safe and secure Israel, with Jerusalem as a shared capital. The UK will continue to work with the US and regional partners to build consensus and identify solutions towards this aim that will deliver long-term peace and security for Israelis, Palestinians and the wider region.
Asked by: Siân Berry (Green Party - Brighton Pavilion)
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 help secure the release of Alaa Abd El-Fattah.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We are committed to securing Mr El-Fattah’s release so he can be reunited with his family and we continue to raise his case at the highest levels of the Egyptian government. The Prime Minister wrote to President Sisi on 26 December 2024 and 8 January 2025. The Foreign Secretary and National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell raised this case with Egyptian Foreign Minister Abdelatty on 12 January and 2 January respectively.
Asked by: Siân Berry (Green Party - Brighton Pavilion)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Answer of 19 September 2024 to Question HL704 on Afghanistan: Chevening Scholarships Programme, when a final decision will be taken on the Afghanistan Chevening programme for academic year 2025-26.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Chevening Scholarship Programme opened for applications from Afghans on Thursday 14 November 2024.
Asked by: Siân Berry (Green Party - Brighton Pavilion)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to UNICEF's State of Palestine Nutrition Cluster Dashboard, updated 29 September 2024, whether he has had discussions with his Israeli counterpart on steps to increase access to (a) medical treatment and (b) food for children in Gaza.
Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The people of Gaza face a humanitarian catastrophe. The whole population faces the risk of famine. As set out in the Foreign Secretary's statement on 2 September, Israel could and must do more to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches civilians in Gaza. The Prime Minister reaffirmed the need for greater aid access in his statement to the UN General Assembly on 26 September. The Foreign Secretary also continues to press Israeli leaders to ensure aid can flow freely into and within Gaza.
Through our support for UK-Med, (including a further £5.5 million announced on 14 July) we are helping to run field hospitals in Gaza. We are also supporting other agencies such as United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund and World Food Programme to provide health and nutrition surveillance and interventions.