Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Yemen

Tuesday 25 January 2022 · 4 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • UK Minister reiterated support for the UN-led peace process in Yemen on 10 January.
  • The UK cannot effectively aid Yemen until the ongoing conflict ends.
  • Recent airstrikes in Yemen and their humanitarian impact were condemned by the UN.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Gill Furniss Lab Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough
Foreign Affairs
Context

The question arises from the ongoing civil war in Yemen, now entering its ninth year. The conflict has resulted in significant humanitarian crises, including civilian casualties.

Question

What recent assessment has she made of the implications for her policies of the civil war in Yemen?

Answer from James Cleverly

A negotiated political settlement is the only way to bring long-term stability to Yemen. On 10 January, I hosted the UN special envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, here in London and reiterated UK support for the UN-led peace process to drive forward the political process in Yemen. We urge the parties to engage constructively in negotiations to end this conflict, which is bringing death and suffering on an appalling scale.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific implications of the Yemen civil war for UK policies are not detailed.

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Q2 Emma Lewell Lab South Shields
Ukraine Foreign Affairs
Context

Recent coalition-led attacks in Yemen have raised concerns about the effectiveness of current diplomatic efforts, particularly given that the UK is a key player at the UN for Yemen.

Question

I thank the Minister for that answer, but this brutal conflict is in its ninth year. Recent deadly coalition-led attacks on children and civilians have rightly been condemned by the UN General Secretary. As the UK is the penholder at the UN for Yemen, does he believe that the continued sales of arms from the UK and the recent withdrawal of UK aid are helping or hindering diplomatic efforts?

Answer from James Cleverly

The money that the UK has allocated and distributed in Yemen has helped to protect lives and feed children, and I am incredibly proud of the work we have done. The fact of the matter, however, is that we cannot properly help the people of Yemen until this conflict has come to a conclusion. That is why we continue to work with the United Nations special envoy, Hans Grundberg.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not directly address whether arms sales and aid withdrawal are helping or hindering peace efforts.

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Q3 Gill Furniss Lab Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough
Foreign Affairs
Context

Recent attacks, such as those in Hodeidah and Saada that killed dozens including children playing football, underscore the ongoing deterioration and brutality of the conflict.

Question

The situation in Yemen continues to deteriorate, and the attacks are ever more brutal. Just last week, three children who were out playing football were among 60 people killed when missiles struck Hodeidah and Saada. Does the Minister agree that this demonstrates the importance of re-establishing the group of eminent experts? What fresh efforts does he believe are needed within the UN Security Council to end this terrible conflict?

Answer from James Cleverly

The recent loss of life in Yemen, and in the nations surrounding Yemen that have received attacks emanating from the Houthis, is terrible. Ultimately, the best thing we can do as a leading member of the international community and the penholder at the United Nations is to push for peace in Yemen.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific actions or commitments for UN Security Council involvement.

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Q4 Bambos Charalambous Lab Southgate and Wood Green
Ukraine Foreign Affairs
Context

The Saudi-led coalition's air and sea blockade has severely hampered humanitarian aid efforts, exacerbating the already dire humanitarian situation in Yemen.

Question

We were all horrified by the atrocities of the airstrike on Friday, which led to dozens of deaths and was another horrific incident in this conflict. It adds to one of the world's greatest humanitarian disasters, with an estimated 20 million Yemenis in need of assistance. As the Minister knows, the Saudi air and sea blockade means that hardly any humanitarian aid is getting through, so I ask him: what influence are the Government using to bring about a peace conference to end the blockade, so that people on the brink of starvation can get the humanitarian aid they need?

Answer from James Cleverly

I have in the past spoken both with the Government of Yemen and with countries in the region to ensure that fuel supplies that are needed, both to transport grain and also for grain milling for bread, have been made available, and I am pleased that the UK intervention at those times facilitated the distribution of aid to Yemen.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not address the specific use of influence to end the blockade or convene a peace conference.

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