Topical Questions 2024-04-30
2024-04-30
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
▸
Context
The World Food Programme reports that 90% of people in northern Gaza are living on less than a meal a day, and the water supply has not been fully restored.
Conditions in Gaza are desperate and civilians are suffering. It is now an immense issue. Water has still not been fully switched back on and famine is taking hold. The World Food Programme reports that 90% of people in northern Gaza are living on less than a meal a day. Will the right hon. Gentleman clearly outline what his Government are doing to alleviate the threat of famine and prevent its further spread?
We are trying to make sure that the water is restored, as I set out earlier, and we are championing the provision of aid by land, sea and air, and I set out the help we have received from the Royal Air Force in that respect. But at the end of the day, the right way to get aid into Gaza is by road and we are pressing in every way we can to ensure that that access is restored.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2
Direct Answer
▸
Context
Sometimes conventional methods fail, necessitating innovative approaches such as maritime corridors.
Following on from that discussion about getting aid into Gaza, sometimes we need novel ways of thinking about doing that, so what conversations is my right hon. Friend having with other countries and counterparts about opening a new maritime corridor if the road routes are failing?
My hon. Friend makes a good point. We are working closely with a number of partner Governments, including the United States of America, Cyprus and the United Nations. Maritime discussions include corridor planning for the delivery of UK aid and our package of support including equipment and the use of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Cardigan Bay.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q3
Direct Answer
▸
Context
The US Congress agreed a new $61 billion aid package for Ukraine to support its defence against Putin's invasion.
Last week the US Congress agreed a new $61 billion aid package for Ukraine. The bipartisan co-operation led by Mike Johnson is essential if Ukraine is to continue to defend against Putin's illegal invasion. I am proud that this House will stand united on Ukraine for as long as it takes to win. Will the Minister update the House on progress with our G7 allies to seize and repurpose frozen Russian state assets in the UK, to support the reconstruction of Ukraine?
The Government are seeking agreement on a way of advancing this matter with the G7. The right hon. Gentleman is right about the mechanism, and we are doing everything we can with our allies to achieve precisely what he describes.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q4
Direct Answer
▸
Context
Hamas is an internationally proscribed organisation, but the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which funds and supports Hamas, is not.
Hamas are rightly an internationally proscribed organisation, yet the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which funds and supports Hamas, is not. Should it not be?
The list of proscribed organisations is kept under review, but we do not comment on whether any particular organisation is being considered for proscription. However, the Government have taken measures to counter the threat from Iran, including sanctioning the IRGC in its entirety.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q5
Direct Answer
▸
Context
There are credible reports of torture, extrajudicial killings and serious restrictions on freedom of expression in Tibet.
Tibet is currently ranked as the least free place for civil and political rights by Freedom House, alongside Syria. There are credible reports of torture, extrajudicial killings and serious restrictions on freedom of expression and freedom of the media. Last year, three independent UN experts warned that almost a million Tibetan children are coerced into a residential schools system designed to systematically assimilate them into Han culture. What diplomatic steps have the Government taken to hold the Chinese Government to account for these grievous violations?
The Government consistently raise human rights issues with the Chinese authorities, as I did during my visit last week, as I have mentioned. We also regularly raise Tibet in multilateral fora, such as in January at China's universal periodic review and in March as part of our item 4 statement at the UN Human Rights Council.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q6
Direct Answer
▸
Context
Many people in Aylesbury are concerned about the plight of Palestinians in Gaza and want the UK to provide more aid.
Many people in the Aylesbury constituency are understandably concerned about the plight of Palestinians in Gaza. They condemn the appalling actions of Hamas, but at the same time want the UK to do everything possible to get more aid in. Can my right hon. Friend let them know what further plans he has to provide more aid directly, especially with our friends in the region, including Egypt, Qatar and Jordan?
I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his thoughts and ideas, which he came and spoke to me about last week. He was conveying the views of the mosques in Aylesbury. We are pursuing many of the ideas that he set out, as he knows, especially on meeting the evident humanitarian needs that have rightly preoccupied the House today.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q7
Direct Answer
▸
Context
Resolution calls for immediate ceasefire in Gaza, compliance with international law, hostage release and aid passage.
One month since UN Security Council resolution 2728 passed with UK support, what are our Government doing to bring about the immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the compliance with international law, the release of hostages and the passage of aid that it calls for? What are the consequences for non-compliance, apart from more death and destruction?
As the hon. Lady knows, UN resolution 2728, which was passed on 25 March, reflected the international consensus behind the UK's position about the importance of getting aid in and the hostages out. That is what we are bending every sinew to achieve.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q8
Partial Answer
▸
Context
There is significant fraud from the sale of oil by the Libyan state oil company.
Bearing in mind Lord Cameron's unique responsibility for Libya, following our intervention in that country during the Arab spring, what are the Government doing to help the Libyan Government to tackle the enormous fraud that is taking place from the sale of oil from the Libyan state oil company?
We continue to work closely with the Government in Libya. Lord Ahmad and I keep in touch on these matters, and I will update my hon. Friend further.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Specific measures against oil fraud not addressed
Working With Partners
Response accuracy
Q9
Partial Answer
▸
Context
The International Court of Justice sent Israel for trial on charges that could include genocide. The British Government dismissed the court's involvement.
When the International Court of Justice, almost 100 days ago, sent Israel for trial, plausibly on charges of genocide, the British Government called it a foreign court. What attitude will the Government take if, as is widely reported, the British King's Counsel chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court issues an arrest warrant for Benjamin Netanyahu?
I think the hon. Gentleman is speculating in an extraordinary manner. What the Court said at the time was that the hostages should be released, that there should be more aid into Gaza and that Israel should not commit acts that violate the rights of Palestinians.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Specific attitude regarding potential arrest warrant
Speculating In An Extraordinary Manner
Response accuracy
Q10
Partial Answer
▸
Context
Ahead of the UN General Assembly high-level meeting on antimicrobial resistance, discussions are ongoing to build political will in developed and developing countries.
Does my right hon. Friend agree that it is vital to build the political will of developed and developing countries to prioritise tackling AMR? What discussions has he had with his counterparts coming up to this high-level meeting?
My hon. Friend is right. An enormous amount of work is going on in respect of AMR, which is being discussed extensively this year at the United Nations.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Specific discussions with counterparts
Enormous Amount Of Work
Response accuracy
Q11
Partial Answer
▸
Context
Eight field hospitals in the Gaza strip are operating at high capacity, with shortages of medication and supplies.
As of 9 April, eight field hospitals are reportedly active inside the Gaza strip, with some operating at 265% of their capacity and with a shortage of medication and supplies. What are the UK Government doing to help facilitate medical evacuations, particularly of children?
We have worked extensively with our partners in the Gulf on evacuations, and Britain is doing a great deal through our medical support for the field hospital we have in Gaza as well as to support other humanitarian and medical activities.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Specific actions supporting medical evacuations
Great Deal
Response accuracy
Q12
Partial Answer
▸
Context
British citizen Ryan Cornelius has been imprisoned in the United Arab Emirates for 16 years. He was determined to be arbitrarily detained by the UN.
British citizen Ryan Cornelius has now been imprisoned in the United Arab Emirates for 16 years. In 2022, the UN determined that he was “arbitrarily detained”, and before the Deputy Foreign Secretary came to his current position, he signed a letter calling for his immediate release. On Saturday, Ryan turned 70, and his children have grown up without him. Will the Government please update us on what they are doing to get him home and whether they will lodge a plea for clemency, given his age and ill health?
I assure my hon. Friend that FCDO Ministers and officials continue to raise the cases of both Mr Cornelius and Mr Ridley with the UAE authorities.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Specific actions for clemency plea
Continue To Raise
Response accuracy
Q13
Partial Answer
▸
Context
The proposed EU-UK youth mobility scheme would allow UK citizens aged 18-30 to work and study in the EU without barriers.
The proposed EU-UK youth mobility scheme would have allowed 18 to 30-year-old UK citizens to work and study in the EU without barriers that the Government's Brexit have created, yet the Tories and the Labour party immediately rebuffed the offer. What is the message to young people across the UK who are watching opportunities being blocked by Westminster?
The EU scheme requires people between the ages of 18 and 35—I did not realise that you were still a young person at 35—to have absolutely free movement.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Message to young people about missed opportunities
Free Movement Requirements
Response accuracy
Q14
Partial Answer
▸
Context
The UK is currently negotiating with the EU on Gibraltar, with the aim of safeguarding its sovereignty.
On Gibraltar, the Minister has stated that our current EU negotiations are consistent with UK sovereignty. How will that be achieved, given our defence and RAF assets as well as any nuclear naval capability that the UK has in that region? How will our sovereignty be guaranteed at the border if there is a Schengen border post on the soil of Gibraltar?
My hon. Friend can be assured that we will continue to safeguard the sovereignty of Gibraltar, which is much cherished.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Specific measures ensuring sovereignty
Cherished
Response accuracy
Q15
Partial Answer
▸
Context
Despite promises, Saudi authorities continue to sentence child defendants to death.
Despite repeated claims by the Saudi authorities that they would abolish the death penalty for children, child defendants are still regularly sentenced to death. Some 11 have been executed since 2015. Child defendants Abdullah al-Howaiti, Abdullah al-Derazi and Youssef al-Manasif have all received death sentences for crimes allegedly committed before the age of 18. In April 2020, Saudi authorities issued a royal decree purporting to abolish the death penalty, but that appears to have been an empty promise. Will the Minister intervene and impress on them their human rights obligations?
We continue to engage with the Saudi authorities on this and, as the hon. Member knows, we push back on the death penalty being used in any country around the world.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Specific intervention methods
Engage
Push Back
Response accuracy
Q16
Partial Answer
▸
Context
The Foreign Office and Home Office are preventing the return of women and children from northern Syria, despite opposition to this policy by allies.
When will the Foreign Office and the Home Office abandon their ridiculous pseudo security argument that is preventing the return of Shamima Begum and other women and children from northern Syria? Our allies oppose that policy because they know that it risks turning those children into tomorrow's terrorists.
My right hon. Friend, who knows a great deal about this matter, speaks with considerable authority on it.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Policy change timeline
Great Deal
Considerable Authority
Response accuracy
Q17
Partial Answer
▸
Context
Spain, Norway, Ireland, France and other European countries are ready to recognise Palestine as a state.
Spain, Norway and Ireland are ready jointly to recognise Palestine as a state within weeks. Four other European countries look likely to follow suit, and France recently voted to admit Palestine as a full member of the UN. Is it not time that the UK Government joined their European partners in recognising Palestine?
As we have made clear, recognition of a Palestinian state cannot come at the beginning of the process, but it does not have to come at the end.
▸
Assessment & feedback
UK's stance on Palestine recognition
Cannot Come At The Beginning
Does Not Have To Come At The End
Response accuracy
Q18
Partial Answer
▸
Context
Djibouti's relationship with the UK is under scrutiny due to recent developments involving Ethiopia and Somalia. The question addresses the impact of UK recognising a memorandum between these two countries on Djiboutian ports.
Could the Deputy Foreign Secretary update us on the state of our relations with Djibouti, and his assessment of the impact of the UK recognising the memorandum of understanding between Ethiopia and Somalia on the development of the port of Berbera? Does he have any plans to visit Djibouti?
I am pleased to tell my hon. Friend that I have visited Djibouti, without suffering the fate that I am so sorry he suffered. As he knows, we are taking up this matter with the authorities in Djibouti.
▸
Assessment & feedback
The assessment of the impact on the port of Berbera and concrete plans for a visit were not addressed.
Response accuracy
Q19
Partial Answer
▸
Context
The UK's decision to not restore UNRWA funding is under scrutiny. The question addresses potential implications of this decision in the context of ongoing Israeli actions against Gaza.
Israel's deliberate and wilful starvation of Gaza is a war crime, yet the Government deflect all questions on UNRWA funding by saying that it runs until the end of April. We are here—today is the last day of April. If the Government do not restore UNRWA funding, are they not aiding and abetting Israeli war crimes?
I have made very clear the Government's position on UNRWA. We are in a process, and after it has been completed I will report to the House.
▸
Assessment & feedback
The specific implications of not restoring funding were not addressed, only mentioning that a process is underway without providing substantive information.
Response accuracy
Q20
Partial Answer
▸
Context
A Moroccan asylum seeker convicted of murder raises concerns about the UK's ability to vet asylum seekers effectively. The question addresses whether efforts should be redoubled with international allies.
Ahmed Ali Alid, the Moroccan asylum seeker convicted last week of murdering 70-year-old Terence Carney, wandered through 13 European countries before entering the UK illegally and claiming asylum. Does the Minister agree that we must redouble our efforts and work with international allies, and that we do not want criminals like that in our country?
I understand the hon. Lady's concerns. I am not familiar with the case, but I will follow up and get back to her.
▸
Assessment & feedback
The Minister did not address the specific ask about redoubling efforts or working with international allies.
Response accuracy