Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether he has had discussions with the British Council on the reunification of families of Palestinians in the UK on a British Council(a) programme and (b) scholarship.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
I refer the honourable Member to the answer given on 12 March to Question 16815, which can be found on the Q&A webpages: https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2024-03-04/16815.
Palestinians who wish to join family members in the UK must do so via the existing range of routes available.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether he has had recent discussions with his (a) Palestinian and (b) Israeli counterparts on the reunification of Palestinian families.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
I refer the honourable Member to the answer given on 12 March to Question 16815, which can be found on the Q&A webpages: https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2024-03-04/16815.
Palestinians who wish to join family members in the UK must do so via the existing range of routes available.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether he has had recent discussions with the (a) Palestinian and (b) Israeli ambassadors on the reunification of Palestinian families.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
I refer the honourable Member to the answer given on 12 March to Question 16815, which can be found on the Q&A webpages: https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2024-03-04/16815.
Palestinians who wish to join family members in the UK must do so via the existing range of routes available.
Asked by: Rupa Huq (Labour - Ealing Central and Acton)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what recent steps his Department has taken to help evacuate people in Gaza who have permission to enter the UK.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
FCDO staff are working with the Israeli and Egyptian authorities to ensure any remaining British nationals and eligible persons that want to leave Gaza are cleared to cross as soon as possible. The Rafah border crossing continues to be open for controlled and time-limited periods to allow specific groups of foreign nationals to cross. Whilst it is for the Egyptian and Israeli authorities to determine who is permitted to cross, and when, we have assisted over 300 people to leave so far.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether he plans to collect data on the number of UK citizens travelling to fight for the Israel Defence Force.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
The UK recognises the right of British nationals with more than one nationality to serve in the legitimately recognised armed forces of their additional nationalities.
We are aware of reports of UK citizens travelling to fight for the Israel Defence Force (IDF), but the Government does not estimate the numbers of those who have done so.
Asked by: Philippa Whitford (Scottish National Party - Central Ayrshire)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, whether he has made representations to his German counterpart on Germany's refusal to permit the entry of British-Palestinian surgeon Dr. Ghassan Abu Sittah.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
I have not made representations on this matter.
Asked by: Fabian Hamilton (Labour - Leeds North East)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether he has made an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the estimate made by the government of Mozambique on 20 March 2024 of the number of people facing food insecurity as a result of floods and drought in that country over the last five months.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
The UK is responding to the ongoing humanitarian crises in Mozambique both through direct programming and diplomatic channels. This includes prepositioning of vital supplies and, through our partnership with the World Food Programme, supporting the Government of Mozambique initiatives to give farmers cash and seeds to reduce the impacts of drought. The UK is concerned about the effects of El Nino in Mozambique, along with recent flooding, and is closely monitoring the impacts. Our High Commissioner recently met with the head of the national disaster management authority (INGD) to discuss their response and linkages with UK intervention.
Asked by: Julian Knight (Independent - Solihull)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, how many staff have left his Department since its creation.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
2,350 UK based staff have left the FCDO between the data of the merger and 31st December 2023. This includes staff who have moved to other Government Departments. As of 31st March 2024 we have 8,167 UK based staff.
Asked by: Chi Onwurah (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne Central)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, which Department is responsible for foreign direct investment into research and development in the UK.
Answered by Andrew Griffith - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is responsible for the promotion and facilitation for foreign direct investment (FDI). DSIT works closely with DBT to promote global collaboration and investment opportunities in R&D.
FDI is a key source of R&D funding, accounting for 14% of UK R&D investment. Our collaborative approach resulted in the successful 2023 Global Investment Summit, securing over £29 billion, including investments in AI, life sciences and quantum.
Asked by: Caroline Lucas (Green Party - Brighton, Pavilion)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what steps his Department is taking as Penholder on Sudan at the UN Security Council to draw attention to the humanitarian crisis in Sudan; and if he will make it his policy to request (a) regular humanitarian briefings on Sudan at the Security Council and (b) a report to the Council with options for civilian protection mechanisms in Sudan in the absence of a political or peacekeeping mission.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
The UK has used its position as a Permanent Member of the UN Security Council and penholder on Sudan to call multiple meetings to take action in response to the conflict, to call for a ceasefire, and to discuss the dire humanitarian and human rights situation On 27 February, we called for the UN Security Council to convene for a closed consultation in response to the SAF's decision to withdraw permission for the movement of aid into Sudan from the Adre border crossing in Chad. On 8 March, the UK-led UN Security Council Resolution 2724 called for an immediate cessation of hostilities; unhindered humanitarian access; and for the UN Secretary-General Personal Envoy Ramtane Lamamra to complement and coordinate regional peace efforts. We continue to work with Council members to keep Sudan on the UNSC's agenda and to call for a cessation of hostilities, protection of civilians, and unhindered humanitarian access including at the next UK-requested Sudan Security Council meeting on 19 April.