Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he plans to make an assessment of Israel's compliance with international humanitarian law in the context of its airstrikes in the Israeli-designated safe zone in Al-Mawasi in southern Gaza on 13 July 2024.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

On 2 September 2024 we suspended export licences to Israel for use in military operations in Gaza, following a review into Israel's compliance with International Humanitarian Law (IHL) which concluded there was a clear risk that some UK exports might be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of IHL. Our ongoing IHL assessments are informed by legal advice, and supported by a detailed evidence base, including reporting and analysis from international bodies, Non-Governmental Organisations and partner countries and analysis of military incidents - including airstrikes - verified through an independent third-party provider. The assessments continue to raise concerns about possible breaches of IHL in the areas of humanitarian access and in the treatment of detainees. The lack of sufficient verifiable evidence about individual incidents means that in the majority of cases we are unable to reach a determination of Israel's compliance. However, our findings in relation to conduct in other areas give us cause for concern about Israel's overall commitment to IHL, including in the conduct of hostilities.

We are appalled by civilian casualties in Gaza and urgently call for an immediate return to a ceasefire. All parties must re-engage with negotiations to get hostages out, surge aid, and secure a permanent end to this conflict.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to increase (a) transparency and (b) control for consumers in the defined contribution pension transfer process, in relation to the inability of Independent Financial Advisers or pension holders to execute transfers based on a specified date or value.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Department is working with regulatory bodies, the pensions industry and other stakeholders to identify and explore potential changes to pension transfer processes that will enable greater efficiency, whilst providing savers with effective consumer protection.

In December 2024, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) published a discussion paper (DP24/3). The document sought views on how to ensure that consumers who ask to transfer or consolidate, do so on a well-informed basis. It also explores how pension providers can action these requests both diligently and efficiently.

The FCA is working closely with the Department for Work and Pensions as it analyses the feedback received and determines next steps.

Additionally, DWP officials have conducted work with other government departments, pensions institutions, consumer organisations and the pensions industry to consider if the practical application of the Conditions for Pension Transfer regulations could be improved, whilst retaining appropriate levels of protection for pension scheme members.

We will look to share the outcome of these areas of work as soon as it is practical to do so.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will publish a list of all previously controlled goods removed from the UK Strategic Export Control Lists in the last 10 years.

Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

The Export Control Act 2002 and the Export Control Order 2008 provide the legal framework for the UK’s strategic export controls.

Through this, HM Government controls the export of a range of military and “dual-use” items in the UK Strategic Export Control Lists. Changes to the UK’s control lists are made periodically primarily to implement our obligations under multi-lateral export control regimes, but also to introduce or amend national controls.

Changes to the list are published on legislation.gov.uk.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department has exempted the company RCV Engines Ltd from applying for arms export licenses for the sale of (a) engines and (b) engine parts.

Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

The requirement for an export licence for military and dual-use goods is set out in the Export Control Order 2008. Export licence applications for all controlled goods are rigorously assessed on a case-by-case basis against strict assessment criteria, the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria.

The Export Control Joint Unit does not issue exemptions from requirements for export licences except those specifically prescribed in law (e.g. the list of controlled goods under the 2008 Order exempts any engine manufactured before 1946). Where individual licence applications include items that are not covered by the 2008 Order, exporters can be informed that no licence is required.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether any types of unmanned aerial vehicle engines have been removed from (a) ML10d and (b) 9A001 of the UK Strategic Export Control Lists since 2020.

Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

Since 2020 the only changes made to the ML10d & 9A001 control entries were, respectively, to exclude aero engines originally manufactured prior to 1946 and to delete the control on aero gas turbine engines for aircraft able to cruise above Mach 1. It is considered that these changes do not substantively alter the extent of the controls that apply to engines designed for unmanned aerial vehicles.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many and what proportion of the potential violations of international humanitarian law that have been assessed by the Government in relation to Israel’s actions in Gaza involved (a) F-35 jets and (b) 2000lb bombs.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

On 2 September 2024 we suspended export licences to Israel for use in military operations in Gaza, following a review into Israel's compliance with International Humanitarian Law (IHL) which concluded there was a clear risk that some UK exports might be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of IHL. It was necessary to exclude exports to the F-35 programme from the suspension, as previously set out to Parliament. This is due to the F-35 programme's broader strategic role in North Atlantic Treaty Organization and wider implications for international peace and security.

Our ongoing IHL assessments continue to raise concerns about possible breaches of IHL in the areas of humanitarian access and in the treatment of detainees. The lack of sufficient verifiable evidence means that we have not been able to reach a determination regarding Israel's IHL compliance in the conduct of hostilities. Our assessment findings give cause for concern about Israel's commitment to IHL generally, including in the conduct of hostilities.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's letter dated 13 May 2025, reference MC2025/08064, how he decides whether intelligence collected by Royal Air Force surveillance missions over Gaza and shared with Israeli authorities will be used in accordance with international humanitarian law.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

Defence activity with Israel, as with any other State, is subject to rigorous processes to ensure that it is compliant with domestic and international law.

Arms exports to Israel

Climate Finance Fund (Fossil Fuels and Pollution) Bill

Gary Lineker's contribution to Match of the Day

Securing habitat for endangered swifts and other cavity nesting birds

Pesticides in public spaces

Cap exemption under Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme

Found: Jardine Emily Darlington Sarah Champion Daisy Cooper Sarah Dyke Antonia Bance Wera Hobhouse Zarah Sultana

Found: Jardine Emily Darlington Sarah Champion Daisy Cooper Sarah Dyke Antonia Bance Wera Hobhouse Zarah Sultana

Found: Jardine Emily Darlington Sarah Champion Daisy Cooper Sarah Dyke Antonia Bance Wera Hobhouse Zarah Sultana

Found: Jardine Emily Darlington Sarah Champion Daisy Cooper Sarah Dyke Antonia Bance Wera Hobhouse Zarah Sultana

Found: Jardine Emily Darlington Sarah Champion Daisy Cooper Sarah Dyke Antonia Bance Wera Hobhouse Zarah Sultana

Found: Jardine Emily Darlington Sarah Champion Daisy Cooper Sarah Dyke Antonia Bance Wera Hobhouse Zarah Sultana

Found: Andrew Mitchell Liz Saville Roberts Siân Berry Carla Denyer Bell Ribeiro-Addy Dr Simon Opher Zarah Sultana

Found: Andrew Mitchell Liz Saville Roberts Siân Berry Carla Denyer Bell Ribeiro-Addy Dr Simon Opher Zarah Sultana

Found: REPORT STAGE Monday 12 May 2025 14 _NC1 Nadia Whittome Bell Ribeiro-Addy Zarah Sultana Olivia Blake

Found: Trickett Dawn Butler Clive Lewis Ms Diane Abbott John McDonnell Apsana Begum Ayoub Khan Zarah Sultana