Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what support they are providing, and what practical steps they are are taking, to ensure civil society, including women's rights organisations, women’s human rights defenders and youth organisations, are involved in Yemen's peace process.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Yemen is a focus country in the new HMG national action plan on Women, Peace, and Security for 2023-27 and is one of our human rights priority countries.

We champion and support the important role women, youth and civil society can play in securing lasting peace in Yemen, recognising the need for an inclusive peace process and consideration for marginalised groups.

As a global leader on the Women Peace, and Security agenda, the UK funds projects supporting the work of grassroots women leaders and civil society organisations in communities across Yemen. For example, we supported the Yemeni Women's Pact for Peace and Security (through UN Women), which aimed to increase female leadership and inclusion in the peace processes.

We continue to support the UN Special Envoy, who is actively engaging women in the peace process and involving a wide range of Yemenis. We fund a Senior Gender Adviser position and an Economist position in his office. Complementing the UN's efforts to deliver a durable and sustainable peace deal, the UK's Conflict Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) has supported a range of Track II (Influential Figures) and Track III (Civil Society and Local Groups) initiatives which promote a more inclusive political dialogue, including at the subnational level.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support the renewal of the truce in Yemen.

Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

A political settlement is the only way to bring long-term stability to Yemen and to address the humanitarian crisis. There is no military solution to the conflict. We encourage all parties to continue engaging with UN Special Envoy Hans Grundberg to find a peaceful solution. We use our role as penholder on Yemen at the UN Security Council and work with our international partners to help move the Yemen peace process forward. On February 15, the Minister of State for the Middle East, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon met Mohammed al-Jabr, Saudi Arabia's Ambassador to Yemen and the Yemeni Prime Minister, Maeen Abdulmalik Saeed on 28 April.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent steps he has taken to work with his international counterparts to support work towards a lasting peace in Yemen.

Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

We are clear that a political settlement is the only way to bring long-term stability to Yemen and to address the worsening humanitarian crisis. There is no military solution to the conflict. We encourage all parties to continue engaging with UN Special Envoy Hans Grundberg to find a peaceful solution. We use our role as penholder on Yemen at the UN Security Council, alongside our international partners, to help move the Yemen peace process forward. On February 15, Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon met Mohammed al-Jabr, Saudi Arabia's Ambassador to Yemen and there are further ministerial engagements being held in the coming days and weeks.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the truce in the Yemen conflict which expired on 2 October 2022, what steps his Department is taking to support a further truce.

Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK plays a leading diplomatic role in Yemen, we continue to encourage the parties to engage in the UN-led peace process and maximise our role as the penholder at the UN Security Council to extend the truce. We are providing technical advice, engaging with regional actors and the UN and supporting discussions on the economic, security and political future of Yemen. Yemenis experienced significant tangible benefits from the truce and the UK urges all parties to refrain from provocations, engage with the Special Envoy on his proposals and protect progress so far.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support negotiations to extend the truce in Yemen before it expires, to release relief supplies.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK welcomes the two-month truce in Yemen, brokered by the UN on 1 April and the creation of a Presidential Leadership Council on 6 April. After over seven long years of conflict, a negotiated political settlement is the only way to bring long-term stability to Yemen and end the humanitarian suffering. The UK will continue to use its diplomatic relations and role as penholder on Yemen in the UN Security Council to support efforts towards political dialogue and peace. The UK continues to encourage the conflict parties to engage constructively with UN-led peace efforts. As part of the truce agreement, there has been an increase in the number of fuel ships entering Yemeni ports, bringing much needed relief to the Yemeni population.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the peace talks in Yemen; and what steps she is taking to help secure lasting peace in that country.

Answered by Amanda Milling - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

The UK welcomes the two-month truce in Yemen, brokered by the UN on 1 April, and the creation of a Presidential Leadership Council on 6 April. After over seven long years of conflict, a negotiated political settlement is the only way to bring long-term stability to Yemen and end the humanitarian suffering. The UK will continue to use its diplomatic relations and role as penholder on Yemen in the UN Security Council to support efforts towards political dialogue and peace. The UK continues to encourage the conflict parties to engage constructively with UN-led peace efforts.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps the Government is taking in its role as penholder on Yemen at the UN Security Council to help secure international support for an end to violence in that country.

Answered by Amanda Milling - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

The UK welcomes the UN-brokered two-month truce in Yemen, which began on 2 April, and the creation of a Presidential Leadership Council in Yemen on 6 April. After seven long years of conflict, a negotiated political settlement is the only way to bring long-term stability to Yemen and end the humanitarian suffering. The UK will continue to use its diplomatic relations and role as penholder on Yemen in the UN Security Council to support efforts towards political dialogue and peace, including through coordinated statements, regular briefings of the UN Special Envoy and through the targeted use of sanctions. The UK continues to encourage the conflict parties to engage constructively with UN-led peace efforts.

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 help secure a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Yemen.

Answered by Amanda Milling - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

The UK welcomes the UN-brokered two-month truce in Yemen, which began on 2 April, and the creation of a Presidential Leadership Council in Yemen on 6 April. After seven long years of conflict, a negotiated political settlement is the only way to bring long-term stability to Yemen and end the humanitarian suffering. The UK will continue to use its diplomatic relations and role as penholder on Yemen in the UN Security Council to support efforts towards political dialogue and peace, including through coordinated statements, regular briefings of the UN Special Envoy and through the targeted use of sanctions. The UK continues to encourage the conflict parties to engage constructively with UN-led peace efforts.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

What diplomatic steps the Government is taking to help support a negotiated peace settlement in Yemen.

Answered by Amanda Milling - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

The UK continues to support the UN Special Envoy and coordinate closely with international and regional partners, including through Ministerial engagement. Minister Cleverly hosted a Quint meeting in January.

In February the UK led negotiations on UNSCR 2624 imposing the arms embargo on the Houthi movement.

We continue to urge all parties to engage constructively in UN-led negotiations to end the conflict and alleviate the humanitarian crisis.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made, as penholders for Yemen in the UN Security Council, in improving accountability in Yemen and the prospects for peace.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK continues to use its role as penholder to support UN-led efforts towards peace in Yemen. Most recently, on 28 February the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2624, which reiterated calls for a nationwide ceasefire and for all parties to participate constructively in UN-led consultations. Resolution 2624 listed the Houthi movement under the UN arms embargo for the first time and renewed the mandate of the UN Panel of Experts. In January the former Minister for the Middle East hosted the UN Special Envoy for Yemen in London and also convened discussions amongst the UN, US, Oman, Saudi Arabia and UAE to coordinate efforts to drive forward political dialogue in Yemen.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Prime Minister offered any assistance to the proposed Yemen peace talks at his meeting with the Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, in Riyadh on 16 March.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

A negotiated political settlement is the only way to bring long-term stability to Yemen and end the humanitarian suffering. The UK will continue to use its diplomatic relations and role as penholder on Yemen in the UN Security Council to support efforts towards political dialogue and peace. The UK supports fully the efforts of the UN Special Envoy, and the UK continues to encourage the parties to engage constructively with those efforts.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the potential for a ceasefire and peace talks in Yemen.

Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent progress has been made by the UN special envoy, Martin Griffiths, on helping to restore the peace process in Yemen.

Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary

The UK supports fully the efforts of UN Special Envoy Hans Grundberg, appointed on 6 August, to drive forward the political process in Yemen. We urge the parties to engage constructively in negotiations to end the conflict and alleviate the dire humanitarian crisis.

A record and summary of the Special Envoy's latest briefing on 14 December to an open session of the UN Security Council can be found at

https://media.un.org/en/asset/k1c/k1cjfioqd5

and https://www.un.org/press/en/2021/sc14735.doc.htm

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the prospects for a negotiated peace settlement in Yemen.

Answered by James Cleverly - Home Secretary

A negotiated political settlement is the only way to bring long-term stability to Yemen. The UK supports fully the efforts of the UN Special Envoy, Hans Grundberg, to drive forward the political process in Yemen. We urge the parties to engage constructively in negotiations to end the conflict and alleviate the dire humanitarian crisis.

On 20 October the UK supported a UN Security Council Press Statement calling for an immediate end to the Houthi escalation in Marib. The Foreign Secretary also visited Riyadh in October where she discussed the conflict in Yemen with Saudi counterparts.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the prospects for a negotiated peace settlement in Yemen.

Answered by Amanda Milling - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

A negotiated political settlement is the only way to bring long-term stability to Yemen. The UK supports fully the efforts of the UN Special Envoy, Hans Grundberg, to drive forward the political process in Yemen. We urge the parties to engage constructively in negotiations to end the conflict.