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1695966

registered interest
date	13/03/2024
answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept id	208
answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
hansard heading	Israel: Arms Trade
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have raised with the government of the United States the number of weapons packages to Israel it has approved since October 2023; and whether these include (1) precision-guided munitions, (2) small-diameter bombs, (3) bunker busters, (4) small arms, and (5) other lethal aid.
tabling member printed	The Marquess of Lothian
uin	HL3251
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/03/2024 answer text <p>The US has its own domestic export licensing criteria and processes. We have been clear that all parties to the conflict in Gaza must respect International Humanitarian Law and protect civilians. We have regular engagement with our allies, included the US, on the conflict.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 28/03/2024 13:01:36 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	259 label Biography information for The Marquess of Lothian

1694825

registered interest
date	08/03/2024
answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept id	208
answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
hansard heading	Gaza: Israel
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government, following the deaths of people in Gaza waiting for an aid convoy on 29 February, and the public statement on 1 March by the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs calling for "an urgent investigation and accountability", how many Gazans (1) died, or (2) were injured; and whether such an investigation is under way.
tabling member printed	The Marquess of Lothian
uin	HL3155
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/03/2024 answer text <p>As the Foreign Secretary has said, the deaths of people in Gaza waiting for an aid convoy on 29 February were horrific. We have been clear that an urgent investigation and accountability are needed, and that this must not happen again.</p><p>We continue to call for International Humanitarian Law to be respected and civilians to be protected. A shocking number of civilians have been killed. The Foreign Secretary raised the above issues with Israeli Minister Benny Gantz on 6 March.</p><p>We are calling on Israel to increase access for aid through land routes and fully open Ashdod Port, scale up the Jordan corridor with a streamlined screening and delivery process, open a crossing in northern Gaza (Karni, Erez or a new crossing point), fully open Ashdod Port for aid delivery and increase screening capacity at Kerem Shalom and Nitzana to seven days a week and extended hours.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 22/03/2024 14:51:32 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	259 label Biography information for The Marquess of Lothian

1694826

registered interest
date	08/03/2024
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Universities: Antisemitism
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support Jewish university students following recent increases in incidents of antisemitism on campuses.
tabling member printed	The Marquess of Lothian
uin	HL3156
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/03/2024 answer text <p>Antisemitism, intimidation, and threats of violence must never be tolerated on university campuses. The Community Security Trust 2023 annual report highlights the unprecedented increase in antisemitic incidents in higher education (HE) and this unacceptable rise is deeply concerning. All antisemitism is abhorrent and universities should have robust systems to deal with incidents of support for unlawful antisemitic abuse and harassment. We will not tolerate unlawful harassment or the glorification of terrorism.</p><p>Since the 7 October attacks, we have actively intervened to ensure that universities act swiftly and appropriately to deal with incidents of antisemitism.</p><p>The Secretary of State for Education and the Minister for Skills wrote to all universities on 11 October 2023, urging them to respond swiftly to hate-related incidents, and actively reassure Jewish students that they can study without fear of harassment or intimidation. The Minister wrote again to Vice Chancellors on 16 November 2023, emphasising that they must use disciplinary measures wherever appropriate, highlighting the importance of police engagement, and reiterating that student visas could be suspended where a foreign national is found to have committed or incited acts of racial hatred. This was one of the key actions set out in the five point plan for tackling antisemitism in HE, which was published on 5 November 2023. The plan also involves:</p><ul><li>Calling for visas to be withdrawn from international students who incite racial hatred. Visas are a privilege, not a right, and we will not hesitate to remove them from people who abuse them.</li><li>Logging specific cases and sharing them with the Office for Students for their consideration.</li><li>Continuing to make it clear in all discussions that acts that may be criminal should be referred to the police.</li><li>Establishing a Tackling Antisemitism Quality Seal which will be an award available to universities who can demonstrate the highest standards in tackling antisemitism.</li></ul><p> </p><p>On 22 November 2023, the department announced in the Autumn Statement an additional £7 million over three years to tackle antisemitism in education. The Quality Seal will be the cornerstone of this package for universities, providing a framework of measures that will make clear what good practice is in tackling antisemitism in HE, and making sure that our universities are a safe and welcoming space for Jewish students and staff.</p><p>The department will not hesitate to take further action across education to stamp out antisemitism and harassment of Jewish pupils, students and staff.</p> answering member printed Baroness Barran question first answered 15/03/2024 14:38:42 answering member 4703 label Biography information for Baroness Barran
tabling member	259 label Biography information for The Marquess of Lothian

1694827

registered interest
date	08/03/2024
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Bassem Abudagga
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking in the case of the Palestinian academic Bassem Abudagga, currently studying for his PhD at York St John University, to expedite the visa application process so that his wife and two young children can come from Gaza to the UK.
tabling member printed	The Marquess of Lothian
uin	HL3157
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/03/2024 answer text <p>We strive to conclude cases within the published guidance and information on study processing times and service standards can be found here:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/visa-decision-waiting-times-applications-outside-the-uk#faster" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/visa-decision-waiting-times-applications-outside-the-uk#faster</a>.</p><p>Unfortunately, UKVI cannot comment on individual cases or provide information regarding UK visa applications via this channel.</p> answering member printed Lord Sharpe of Epsom question first answered 22/03/2024 12:19:57 answering member 4888 label Biography information for Lord Sharpe of Epsom
tabling member	259 label Biography information for The Marquess of Lothian

1694828

registered interest
date	08/03/2024
answering body	Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
answering dept id	215
answering dept short name	Energy Security and Net Zero
answering dept sort name	Energy Security and Net Zero
hansard heading	Climate Change: Arctic
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the scale of the threat to the earth’s climate posed by shrinking Arctic sea ice, in the light of a study by the University of Colorado Boulder, published in Nature on 4 March, which found that the Arctic’s first ice-free period could happen within a decade.
tabling member printed	The Marquess of Lothian
uin	HL3158
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/03/2024 answer text <p>The Government has not assessed this review, however, its findings are consistent with the existing scientific literature and conclusions of the Sixth Assessment Report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). This stated that the Arctic will likely be practically ice-free at least once before 2050 with more frequent occurrences under higher warming scenarios. The IPCC concluded that it is virtually certain the Arctic will continue to warm at least two times faster than the rest of the globe. Arctic sea ice retreat has and will lead to a range of impacts, including loss in biodiversity and coastal erosion.</p> answering member printed Lord Callanan question first answered 22/03/2024 11:23:30 answering member 4336 label Biography information for Lord Callanan
tabling member	259 label Biography information for The Marquess of Lothian

1694829

registered interest
date	08/03/2024
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Agriculture and Food Supply: Floods
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of flooded and saturated farmland on farming and food production, following recent data from the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, which show that soil moisture levels at most of the sites it monitors were at high or above capacity in December 2023 and January 2024.
tabling member printed	The Marquess of Lothian
uin	HL3159
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/04/2024 answer text <p>The Government recognises the impact flooded and saturated farmland has on farming and food production and sympathises with those affected.</p><p> </p><p>On 6 January, we announced we would set up the Farming Recovery Fund to support farmers affected by exceptional flooding. The focus of the Fund is in those local authority areas where the Flood Recovery Framework has been activated. Farmers who have been impacted by flooding in these areas will be written to by the Rural Payments Agency inviting them to apply for a grant of up to £25,000 to support them in restoring agricultural land to the conditions it was in before the flooding.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has recently announced £75 million funding for Internal Drainage Boards to protect agricultural land and rural communities from flooding, helping areas recover from recent flooding events and modernising infrastructure to lower costs for farmers and increase their resilience to climate change.</p> answering member printed Lord Douglas-Miller question first answered 02/04/2024 13:18:00 answering member 5006 label Biography information for Lord Douglas-Miller
tabling member	259 label Biography information for The Marquess of Lothian

1694830

registered interest
date	08/03/2024
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Hawk Aircraft: Training
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what action they are taking to resolve the engine fault on the RAF Hawk T2 advanced jet trainers; how many Hawk T2 jets are currently unavailable for fast-jet pilot training; what delays to fast-jet pilot training have been caused by that engine fault; and what is the additional cost of training pilots overseas as a result.
tabling member printed	The Marquess of Lothian
uin	HL3160
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/03/2024 answer text <p>Defence Equipment &amp; Support is closely engaged with industry to increase the number of serviceable engines through the delivery of the required new component parts and engine upgrade work to address the current limitations.</p><p> </p><p>As at 11 March 2024, 16 Hawk T2 aircraft were currently unavailable for fast jet pilot training<strong>.</strong></p><p> </p><p>There have been minimal delays to Fast Jet pilot training as a result of the Hawk T2 engine issue. Despite the seriousness of the engineering issue, the implementation of mitigation measures such as the international outsourcing of Fast Jet training have reduced the impact to a minimal level. Those trainees on course at the time of the engine issue being discovered were delayed by up to 2-months maximum; no other trainees in the Fast Jet pipeline were adversely impacted or delayed. There has been no impact to the number of ab-initio Fast Jet pilots delivered to the Front Line as a result of the Hawk T2 engine issue and the forecast Fast Jet training requirement for the Front Line will continue to be met.</p><p> </p><p>The cost per trainee of contracts with NATO allies are already a matter of public record. The Department is unable to disclose the full value of all contracts, as doing so would prejudice international relations and compromise our friendship with partners and allies.</p> answering member printed The Earl of Minto question first answered 22/03/2024 12:09:09 answering member 4952 label Biography information for The Earl of Minto
tabling member	259 label Biography information for The Marquess of Lothian

1693096

registered interest
date	01/03/2024
answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept id	208
answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
hansard heading	Russia: Palestinians
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the purpose of the meeting held from 29 February to 2 March in Moscow between Palestinian organisations; and what new diplomatic initiatives they are pursuing to end the Israel/Gaza conflict.
tabling member printed	The Marquess of Lothian
uin	HL2952
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/03/2024 answer text <p>We are aware of the meeting that took place recently in Moscow between Palestinian groups.</p><p>We continue to call for an immediate pause to get aid in and hostages out, then progress towards a sustainable, permanent ceasefire, without a return to destruction, fighting and loss of life.</p><p>Vital elements for a lasting peace include the release of all hostages; the formation of a new Palestinian Government for the West Bank and Gaza, accompanied by an international support package; removing Hamas's capacity to launch attacks against Israel; Hamas no longer being in charge of Gaza; and a political horizon which provides a credible and irreversible pathway towards a two-state solution.</p><p>The Foreign Secretary and Prime Minister have reiterated these messages in their contacts with Prime Minister Netanyahu and other senior Israeli political leaders, as well as leaders in Qatar, Jordan, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Lebanon in recent weeks.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 18/03/2024 16:14:05 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	259 label Biography information for The Marquess of Lothian

1693097

registered interest
date	01/03/2024
answering body	Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
answering dept id	216
answering dept short name	Science, Innovation and Technology
answering dept sort name	Science, Innovation and Technology
hansard heading	Social Media: Disinformation
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of which foreign governments have used organised social media disinformation and computational propaganda to manipulate public opinion in the past five years; and what steps they are taking, together with international partners, to combat the threat to democracy from the use of organised computational propaganda, including the employment of private companies by governments in delivering disinformation campaigns.
tabling member printed	The Marquess of Lothian
uin	HL2953
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/03/2024 answer text <p>The Government takes the issue of information threats to national security seriously, including the risk posed by state-sponsored disinformation to democracy. It recognises that some foreign states attempt to manipulate information online to undermine the UK’s interests and weaken the integrity of our democratic institutions. The UK has a strong record of working closely with a wide range of different partners to tackle these risks.</p><p> </p><p>For example, our Defending Democracy Taskforce works to protect the democratic integrity of the UK from threats of foreign interference, by engaging across government and with Parliament, the UK’s intelligence community, the devolved administrations, local authorities, the private sector, and civil society.</p><p> </p><p>More broadly, the Online Safety Act will address a range of online manipulation tactics which pose a threat to UK democratic integrity. The Foreign Interference Offence has been added as a priority offence in the Act and will require companies to take action against a wide range of state-sponsored disinformation and state-linked interference targeted at the UK. Platforms will be required to take steps to remove content which amounts to foreign interference - including where it is produced by AI bots - if they become aware of it on their services.</p><p> </p><p>Finally, we are working in collaboration with international partners to tackle this shared challenge. The UK recently issued a joint statement alongside the US and Canada on our coordinated efforts to counter foreign state information manipulation and is engaging internationally to manage risks on AI-enabled foreign interference, including disinformation. Government is also working to increase cooperation between like-minded international partners and the tech industry to safeguard forthcoming elections from state manipulation, including through the AI Summit.</p> answering member printed Viscount Camrose question first answered 15/03/2024 11:43:45 answering member 4939 label Biography information for Viscount Camrose
tabling member	259 label Biography information for The Marquess of Lothian

1693098

registered interest
date	01/03/2024
answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept id	208
answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
hansard heading	Egypt: Gaza
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports of a new construction site, which includes a high wall, on the border between Gaza and Egypt; and what discussions they have had with the government of Egypt about this construction.
tabling member printed	The Marquess of Lothian
uin	HL2954
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/03/2024 answer text <p>We have not had discussions with the Egyptian government on the subject of these reports.</p><p>Egypt is a key regional partner in supporting the Government's response to the crisis, and we welcome efforts by Egypt in getting aid into, and British Nationals out of, Gaza.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 18/03/2024 16:35:14 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	259 label Biography information for The Marquess of Lothian