I refer the Honourable Member to the points I made on 8 September during the Westminster Hall debate on the conflict in Sudan, and to the answers provided to questions 21354 on 8 September on humanitarian access and HL417 on 9 June on the use of drone warfare in Sudan....

I refer the Honourable Member to the points I made on 8 September during the Westminster Hall debate on the conflict in Sudan, and to the answers provided to questions 21354 on 8 September on humanitarian access and HL417 on 9 June on the use of drone warfare in Sudan....

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department (a) is taking and (b) plans to take in response to recent developments in Sudan, including the reported encirclement of El Obeid by the Rapid Support Forces, to (i) protect civilians from atrocities, (ii)...

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department (a) is taking and (b) plans to take in response to recent developments in Sudan, including the reported encirclement of El Obeid by the Rapid Support Forces, to (i) protect civilians from atrocities, (ii)...

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support people fleeing violence around El Obeid and in the Blue Nile State.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support people fleeing violence around El Obeid and in the Blue Nile State.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic and humanitarian aid response steps he is taking to prevent loss of life in the city of El Obeid.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic and humanitarian aid response steps he is taking to prevent loss of life in the city of El Obeid.

To ask His Majesty's Government, in light of the statement published by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office on 23 July about the UN Integrated Food Security Phase Classification snapshot for Gaza, what assessment they have made of the levels of acute malnutrition under five in Gaza; and how this...

To ask His Majesty's Government, in light of the statement published by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office on 23 July about the UN Integrated Food Security Phase Classification snapshot for Gaza, what assessment they have made of the levels of acute malnutrition under five in Gaza; and how this...

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Baroness Chapman of Darlington on 9 July (HL Deb col 199GC), when they expect to conclude their consideration of proposals for a public register of UK-Ukraine local and regional partnerships, a municipal partnership platform, a municipal aid corridor, and a local...

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Baroness Chapman of Darlington on 9 July (HL Deb col 199GC), when they expect to conclude their consideration of proposals for a public register of UK-Ukraine local and regional partnerships, a municipal partnership platform, a municipal aid corridor, and a local...

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with local authorities, fire and rescue authorities, police constabularies, NHS bodies, and other public bodies about barriers to the donation of surplus vehicles and equipment to Ukraine.

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with local authorities, fire and rescue authorities, police constabularies, NHS bodies, and other public bodies about barriers to the donation of surplus vehicles and equipment to Ukraine.

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to reduce the barriers for public bodies donating surplus vehicles and equipment to Ukraine.

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to reduce the barriers for public bodies donating surplus vehicles and equipment to Ukraine.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when he will respond to correspondence sent to his Department on 12th May with the reference number SL06410/dw regarding the small boat flotilla with aid for Gaza.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when he will respond to correspondence sent to his Department on 12th May with the reference number SL06410/dw regarding the small boat flotilla with aid for Gaza.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the statement entitled The United Kingdom strongly condemns the Houthis’ decision to resume conflict in Yemen and their continued strikes on Saudi Arabia: UK statement at the UN Security Council, published on 10 September 2026,...

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the statement entitled The United Kingdom strongly condemns the Houthis’ decision to resume conflict in Yemen and their continued strikes on Saudi Arabia: UK statement at the UN Security Council, published on 10 September 2026,...

As the United Nation's 80th year draws to a close, this briefing highlights the work of the UK Missions to the United Nations

As the United Nation's 80th year draws to a close, this briefing highlights the work of the UK Missions to the United Nations

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to share technical expertise and threat intelligence with humanitarian mine action organisations in Ukraine to protect personnel from targeted missile and artillery strikes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to share technical expertise and threat intelligence with humanitarian mine action organisations in Ukraine to protect personnel from targeted missile and artillery strikes.

To ask His Majesty's Government what specific help has been offered to Nepal following the recent floods.

To ask His Majesty's Government what specific help has been offered to Nepal following the recent floods.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the level of risk of further humanitarian disasters due to flooding around the Nepal-Tibet border 1) in the rest of 2026 and 2) in future years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the level of risk of further humanitarian disasters due to flooding around the Nepal-Tibet border 1) in the rest of 2026 and 2) in future years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department has taken and plans to take to support rescue efforts and humanitarian relief following the flooding on the Nepal-Tibet border.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department has taken and plans to take to support rescue efforts and humanitarian relief following the flooding on the Nepal-Tibet border.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what humanitarian support his Department is providing to civilians in frontline Ukrainian cities, including Zaporizhzhia.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what humanitarian support his Department is providing to civilians in frontline Ukrainian cities, including Zaporizhzhia.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with international counterparts on coordinated assistance for frontline Ukrainian cities, including Zaporizhzhia.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with international counterparts on coordinated assistance for frontline Ukrainian cities, including Zaporizhzhia.

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure they support pragmatic solutions for the delivery of aid in Myanmar, including in areas not in the control of authorities; and what steps they are taking to ensure the decriminalisation of humanitarian aid.

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure they support pragmatic solutions for the delivery of aid in Myanmar, including in areas not in the control of authorities; and what steps they are taking to ensure the decriminalisation of humanitarian aid.

Lords statement on Israel and Palestine.

Lords statement on Israel and Palestine.

My Lords, I thank the Minister for granting us the opportunity to ask questions on this important Statement. These measures amount to a major change in the UK’s approach to the region, so it is right that we are scrutinising them in your Lordships’ House today.

In the other place, the...

My Lords, I thank the Minister for granting us the opportunity to ask questions on this important Statement. These measures amount to a major change in the UK’s approach to the region, so it is right that we are scrutinising them in your Lordships’ House today.

In the other place, the...

My Lords, the choice of who forms the Israeli Government is for the Israeli people and them alone. Our foreign policy is for our Government, and our legislation is for this Parliament. No British Jewish person should be held to account for the actions of another Government—an Israeli Government. Antisemitism,...

My Lords, the choice of who forms the Israeli Government is for the Israeli people and them alone. Our foreign policy is for our Government, and our legislation is for this Parliament. No British Jewish person should be held to account for the actions of another Government—an Israeli Government. Antisemitism,...

I thank the noble Lords, Lord Callanan and Lord Purvis, for their comments. I will answer their questions in a minute, but I think it might be helpful to give a little bit of context that will help me provide some of the answers they are looking for.

This Government think...

I thank the noble Lords, Lord Callanan and Lord Purvis, for their comments. I will answer their questions in a minute, but I think it might be helpful to give a little bit of context that will help me provide some of the answers they are looking for.

This Government think...

My Lords, I thank the Minister for his answers to the two Front Benches, and note the proud tradition of the Conservative Party —not just Lord Carrington, who called out the E1 settlement which was the trigger here, but successive Conservative Prime Ministers also. I declare my interests in working...

My Lords, I thank the Minister for his answers to the two Front Benches, and note the proud tradition of the Conservative Party —not just Lord Carrington, who called out the E1 settlement which was the trigger here, but successive Conservative Prime Ministers also. I declare my interests in working...

I thank the noble Lord for that question. He is right that we were disappointed that the Israeli response was to close the UK consulate in East Jerusalem, with a 30-day notice period. We will continue to endeavour to provide in other ways the kind of activities that the consulate...

I thank the noble Lord for that question. He is right that we were disappointed that the Israeli response was to close the UK consulate in East Jerusalem, with a 30-day notice period. We will continue to endeavour to provide in other ways the kind of activities that the consulate...

My Lords, I declare an interest as the president of the Liberal Democrat Friends of Israel. In that context, we unequivocally oppose the expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and condemn settler violence. Those responsible for the violence should face the full force of the law. However, the...

My Lords, I declare an interest as the president of the Liberal Democrat Friends of Israel. In that context, we unequivocally oppose the expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and condemn settler violence. Those responsible for the violence should face the full force of the law. However, the...

Question!

Question!

Could the Minister confirm that we should be supporting moderates like Yair Lapid’s Yesh Atid party and Samer Sinijlawi’s new party challenging the Fatah-PA, which has not held an election for decades? Will the Minister also confirm that we need to safeguard the UK’s vital security and intelligence relationship with...

Could the Minister confirm that we should be supporting moderates like Yair Lapid’s Yesh Atid party and Samer Sinijlawi’s new party challenging the Fatah-PA, which has not held an election for decades? Will the Minister also confirm that we need to safeguard the UK’s vital security and intelligence relationship with...

No!

No!

I thank the noble Lord for those comments. He obviously speaks with great authority and passionate interest in this subject. I agree that we should be supporting moderates—not intervening politically to support them, but supporting moderate voices across Israeli society and within the Palestinian Authority. Serious reform needs to be...

I thank the noble Lord for those comments. He obviously speaks with great authority and passionate interest in this subject. I agree that we should be supporting moderates—not intervening politically to support them, but supporting moderate voices across Israeli society and within the Palestinian Authority. Serious reform needs to be...

Will the Minister recognise the wisdom of the statement yesterday by the much-respected president of the State of Israel, Isaac Herzog, who said that what is needed in this context is constructive dialogue, not gesture politics. Is it not therefore most unfortunate that, since the appointment of Prime Minister Burnham...

Will the Minister recognise the wisdom of the statement yesterday by the much-respected president of the State of Israel, Isaac Herzog, who said that what is needed in this context is constructive dialogue, not gesture politics. Is it not therefore most unfortunate that, since the appointment of Prime Minister Burnham...

I thank the noble Lord for that question. Dialogue is, of course, fundamental to the way forward in this as in any comparable crisis, and in any complex situation like this. President Herzog urged dialogue. When it comes to the expansion of settlements, though, there seems to be precious little...

I thank the noble Lord for that question. Dialogue is, of course, fundamental to the way forward in this as in any comparable crisis, and in any complex situation like this. President Herzog urged dialogue. When it comes to the expansion of settlements, though, there seems to be precious little...

My Lords, I warmly welcome the Statement by the Foreign Secretary yesterday, particularly the tone in which he delivered it. I truly believe that the calling out of the illegal occupation, and the sanctions on the illegal settlements, is a game-changer in progressing towards peace in the region. While that...

My Lords, I warmly welcome the Statement by the Foreign Secretary yesterday, particularly the tone in which he delivered it. I truly believe that the calling out of the illegal occupation, and the sanctions on the illegal settlements, is a game-changer in progressing towards peace in the region. While that...

I thank my noble friend for that question. It is absolutely right that the action we took yesterday, in announcing a new policy on sanctions with regard to the West Bank, was accompanied by further strong action against Iran, in particular by taking action against the supply chain for its...

I thank my noble friend for that question. It is absolutely right that the action we took yesterday, in announcing a new policy on sanctions with regard to the West Bank, was accompanied by further strong action against Iran, in particular by taking action against the supply chain for its...

My Lords, like others in this House, I came face to face with settler militia and the impact on settlements while visiting the south Hebron hills last year. Therefore, with many on these Benches, I welcome this Statement. We have called for such principled action over many years. We believe...

My Lords, like others in this House, I came face to face with settler militia and the impact on settlements while visiting the south Hebron hills last year. Therefore, with many on these Benches, I welcome this Statement. We have called for such principled action over many years. We believe...

I thank the most reverend Primate for those comments. He is right that the E1 settlement tender process finishes on 19 October. Our announcement yesterday is a signal that any company which wants to take part in any of the construction-related processes in that tender should think twice, because we...

I thank the most reverend Primate for those comments. He is right that the E1 settlement tender process finishes on 19 October. Our announcement yesterday is a signal that any company which wants to take part in any of the construction-related processes in that tender should think twice, because we...

My Lords—

My Lords—

My Lords—

My Lords—

My Lords—

My Lords—

Shinkwin!

Shinkwin!

My Lords, the Statement refers to an additional £250 million of investment for community security. Is that not an implicit recognition that this announcement on the boycott will fuel, and indeed legitimise, further anti-Jewish racism directed against British citizens?

My Lords, the Statement refers to an additional £250 million of investment for community security. Is that not an implicit recognition that this announcement on the boycott will fuel, and indeed legitimise, further anti-Jewish racism directed against British citizens?

Absolutely not. There is and must be no connection between the actions of the Israeli Government and any attribution of responsibility to British Jews. That is a connection that we totally deny. The new Prime Minister has shown his commitment. The reason why this investment needs to be provided is...

Absolutely not. There is and must be no connection between the actions of the Israeli Government and any attribution of responsibility to British Jews. That is a connection that we totally deny. The new Prime Minister has shown his commitment. The reason why this investment needs to be provided is...

My Lords, I welcome the Foreign Secretary’s Statement. Ever since Mr Rabin’s tragic death in the mid-1990s, the Palestinians have been strung along with the hope of an independent state, and people such as Mr Netanyahu have done everything possible to hinder it. This E1 is the final straw that...

My Lords, I welcome the Foreign Secretary’s Statement. Ever since Mr Rabin’s tragic death in the mid-1990s, the Palestinians have been strung along with the hope of an independent state, and people such as Mr Netanyahu have done everything possible to hinder it. This E1 is the final straw that...

I thank the noble Lord for those questions. He is absolutely right that the cause of the overwhelming majority of decent Palestinians has been neglected for too long. I hope this starts to correct some of that. On global human rights reforms, we are beefing up the existing regime—by the...

I thank the noble Lord for those questions. He is absolutely right that the cause of the overwhelming majority of decent Palestinians has been neglected for too long. I hope this starts to correct some of that. On global human rights reforms, we are beefing up the existing regime—by the...

My Lords, do the Government consider that the Government of Israel have the right to order us to close the consulate in east Jerusalem, given that it is situated in east Jerusalem, which is recognised by the United Nations and practically all its members as being occupied Palestinian territory over...

My Lords, do the Government consider that the Government of Israel have the right to order us to close the consulate in east Jerusalem, given that it is situated in east Jerusalem, which is recognised by the United Nations and practically all its members as being occupied Palestinian territory over...

The noble Lord, Lord Hannay, knows much more about this than I do; I feel like I am in my introductory day at the Foreign Office, trying to work out difficult questions. He may have a point; it is an interesting point on the legality. De facto, Israel can prevent...

The noble Lord, Lord Hannay, knows much more about this than I do; I feel like I am in my introductory day at the Foreign Office, trying to work out difficult questions. He may have a point; it is an interesting point on the legality. De facto, Israel can prevent...

My Lords, can the noble Lord give us some examples of where the Palestinians have accepted a two-state solution? Israel has accepted it. As a British Jew, I would welcome it. The Government must know—if they do not, they should, I hope, take note—that the Jews in this country have...

My Lords, can the noble Lord give us some examples of where the Palestinians have accepted a two-state solution? Israel has accepted it. As a British Jew, I would welcome it. The Government must know—if they do not, they should, I hope, take note—that the Jews in this country have...

I thank the noble Baroness for her question; she has great interest and expertise in this issue. The two-state solution is expected on all parties—Palestinians and Israelis. It is something we expect the leaders of the Palestinian Authority and of Israel to support, and we want their actions to match...

I thank the noble Baroness for her question; she has great interest and expertise in this issue. The two-state solution is expected on all parties—Palestinians and Israelis. It is something we expect the leaders of the Palestinian Authority and of Israel to support, and we want their actions to match...

My Lords, I commend the Foreign Secretary on both the tone and content of his Statement on the West Bank and Gaza. Moreover, I regret the hypocrisy of those opposite who claim to support a two-state solution yet refuse to endorse actions against the Israeli Government, whose settlement policy is...

My Lords, I commend the Foreign Secretary on both the tone and content of his Statement on the West Bank and Gaza. Moreover, I regret the hypocrisy of those opposite who claim to support a two-state solution yet refuse to endorse actions against the Israeli Government, whose settlement policy is...

I thank the noble Baroness for those questions; she has raised an important point. Down the line, I would be interested to find out whether the Conservative Party agrees with the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice in 2024. We have made our decision; I would be interested...

I thank the noble Baroness for those questions; she has raised an important point. Down the line, I would be interested to find out whether the Conservative Party agrees with the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice in 2024. We have made our decision; I would be interested...