Asked by: Tommy Sheppard (Scottish National Party - Edinburgh East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, what diplomatic steps his Department is taking to help increase access to medical care for children in Gaza.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
We are doing all we can to get more aid into Gaza by land, air and sea. A UK Med field hospital, funded by the UK, is up and running in Gaza. This facility is staffed by UK and local medics and has already treated thousands of patients.
We have provided targeted support for children through a £5.75 million contribution. This is supporting work to assist over 5,800 children with severe malnourishment and 853,000 children, adolescents and caregivers affected by the conflict to receive emergency and child protection services, including mental health and psychosocial support.
The Foreign Secretary and Prime Minister have also underlined the need for Israel to ensure effective deconfliction in Gaza, and to take all possible measures to ensure the safety of medical personnel and facilities.
Asked by: Baroness Goldie (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the recent participation of the RAF in intercepting Iranian drones aimed at Israel required UK military assets to be withdrawn from any other exercise or deployment.
Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
We already have a significant presence in the region, but as a prudent measure a number of aircraft were temporarily moved from our NATO operations in Romania to bolster our existing presence. We coordinated with NATO and our Allies to ensure there was no impact to existing operations.
Asked by: Baroness Goldie (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the total cost to all parties of intercepting Iranian drones launched against Israel on 13 April; and what proportion of that cost was borne by the UK.
Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Net Additional Costs of Military Operations will be identified and reported in the Annual Report and Accounts in due course.
Asked by: Baroness Goldie (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the recent interception of Iranian drones by the RAF was part of Operation Shader; if so, whether the remit of Operation Shader has been expanded; and if so, in what way.
Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The deployment of additional RAF aircraft to the region was authorised to intercept any attacks within range of existing missions. The remit of Op SHADER has not changed, it remains focused solely on countering Daesh.
Asked by: Kenny MacAskill (Alba Party - East Lothian)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has shared information gathered by RAF Shadow R1 flights over Gaza with the International Criminal Court.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
The unarmed UK reconnaissance aircraft are employed solely for the purpose of locating the remaining hostages.
Asked by: Kenny MacAskill (Alba Party - East Lothian)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether RAF Shadow R1 flights over Gaza have recorded evidence of mass graves at (a) Nasser and (b) Al-Shifa Hospital.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
The unarmed UK reconnaissance aircraft are employed solely for the purpose of locating the remaining hostages.
Asked by: Kenny MacAskill (Alba Party - East Lothian)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what military aid the UK has provided to Israel since 7 October 2023.
Answered by Leo Docherty - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for the Armed Forces)
Since 7 October 2023 the UK Government has provided non-lethal aid including medical aid.
Asked by: Marsha De Cordova (Labour - Battersea)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether she has had discussions with her Israeli counterpart on the application of the UK-Israel Free Trade Agreement to the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The UK’s position on settlements within the Occupied Palestinian Territories is clear: they are illegal under international law and undermine the prospect of a two-state solution.
Under the existing UK-Israel trade agreement, goods originating from illegal Israeli settlements are not entitled to tariff and trade preferences under either the agreement between the UK and Israel, or the agreement between the UK and the Palestinian Authority.
This will not change in the Israel FTA. The UK will maintain its long-standing foreign policy positions throughout this negotiation, including with respect to settlements.
Asked by: Marsha De Cordova (Labour - Battersea)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether she has (a) requested and (b) received legal advice on allowing imports from illegal Israeli settlements.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The UK’s position on settlements within the Occupied Palestinian Territories is clear: they are illegal under international law and undermine the prospect of a two-state solution.
Under the existing UK-Israel trade agreement, goods originating from illegal Israeli settlements are not entitled to tariff and trade preferences under either the agreement between the UK and Israel, or the agreement between the UK and the Palestinian Authority.
This will not change in the Israel FTA. The UK will maintain its long-standing foreign policy positions throughout this negotiation, including with respect to settlements.
Asked by: Owen Thompson (Scottish National Party - Midlothian)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether she is taking steps in the negotiations on the UK-Israel Free Trade Agreement to ensure that any such agreement includes a clear definition of the territory to which it applies.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The UK’s position on settlements within the Occupied Palestinian Territories is clear: they are illegal under international law and undermine the prospect of a two-state solution.
Under the existing UK-Israel trade agreement, goods originating from illegal Israeli settlements are not entitled to tariff and trade preferences under either the agreement between the UK and Israel, or the agreement between the UK and the Palestinian Authority.
This will not change in the Israel FTA. The UK will maintain its long-standing foreign policy positions throughout this negotiation, including with respect to settlements.