Written questions by O'Hara.

Whether he has undertaken (a) investigations and (b) enforcement measures as a result of goods originating from Israeli settlements being labelled as originating from within Israel’s pre-1967 borders.

The UK Government has a clear position that Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories are illegal under international law. Goods produced in these settlements are not entitled to benefit from preferential tariff treatment under the UK’s current trade agreements with the Palestinian Authority and Government of Israel. Where there are doubts about the declared origin of goods, HMRC will undertake checks to verify the origin of those goods to ensure compliance. The overseas business risk guidance, available on gov.uk, provides information for UK operators on how goods from Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories should be labelled.

What information her Department holds on whether any police forces have sent officers to Israel since October 2023.

We do not share details of operational policing deployments.

When an RAF aircraft was last deployed from RAF Akrotiri on a strike mission; and what the intended target was.

On 29 April 2025, RAF Typhoon FGR4s deploying from RAF Akrotiri conducted strikes against Houthi weapons manufacture facilities in Yemen. This action was in line with long-standing policy of the UK Government to support wider efforts to uphold freedom of navigation within the Red Sea. It was reported to Parliament on 30 April 2025.

Whether the RAF has deployed Shadow R1 surveillance flights to Gaza since 15 January 2025.

Since the terrorist attacks against Israel on 7 October 2023, the UK Government has been working with partners across the region to secure the release of hostages, including British nationals. In support of this, the Royal Air Force has been conducting unarmed surveillance flights over the Eastern Mediterranean, including in airspace over Israel and Gaza. For the avoidance of doubt, our mandate is narrowly defined to focus on securing the release of hostages only. I cannot comment further on detailed intelligence matters for reasons of operational security.

What the Prime Minister's specific duties are in his role as the Minister for the Union.

As Minister for the Union, the Prime Minister works to ensure that all of government is acting on behalf of the entire United Kingdom: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made representations to his Bangladeshi counterpart on the attack on the 98th Annual Convention of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Panchagarh district.

The UK has a long-standing commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights, including Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB). Our support in Bangladesh aims to ensure that the rights of religious minorities, including the Ahmadiyya community, are respected, and that these communities are protected from discrimination. At the time of the attack, the previous UK Government raised the importance of FoRB with the former Bangladesh Government. In November 2024, I visited Bangladesh and discussed the importance of the protection of religious minorities with Chief Adviser Yunus. The UK will continue to support FoRB through regular dialogue with the Interim Government of Bangladesh and through our development programme funding.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much direct bilateral financial aid to Rwanda has been paused; and whether this funding will be reallocated for urgent humanitarian assistance in Eastern DRC.

The UK has called for an immediate cessation of hostilities, humanitarian access, respect for international humanitarian law, meaningful engagement with African-led peace processes, and the withdrawal of all Rwanda Defence Forces from Congolese territory.Until significant progress is made towards this, we have made the decision to pause direct bilateral financial aid to the Government of Rwanda, excluding support to the poorest and most vulnerable. In this financial year (2024/25), we have paused £3 million in direct bilateral financial aid. Future financial years' budgets are yet to be confirmed and subject to the outcome of the current Spending Review.The humanitarian situation in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is critical. We remain committed to supporting those most in need and are providing over £80 million in lifesaving humanitarian assistance to the DRC this year.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan last visited the Middle East.

I have conducted several visits to the region since my appointment in July 2024, most recently a visit to Ankara on 2-4 March for a UK-Turkey ministerial dialogue focused on the current situation in Syria.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking with international partners to support (a) individuals and (b) communities facing religious persecution in China.

The environment for freedom of religion or belief in China is restrictive, which includes the persecution of Uyghur Muslims, Tibetan Buddhists, Falun Gong practitioners, and Christians. This Government stands firm on human rights, including the right to freedom of religion or belief. We raise our concerns at the highest levels: the Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary and Chancellor have all raised human rights recently with their counterparts.More broadly, this Government champions freedom of religion or belief for all abroad. We work to uphold the right to freedom of religion or belief through our position at the UN, G7 and other multilateral fora.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether UK surveillance drones have been flown from Jordan over (a) Gaza and (b) the West Bank in Occupied Palestine.

We are unable to comment on the detail of intelligence matters, for operational security reasons.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of the UK joining the Hague Group.

The UK has no current plans to join the Hague Group. The UK is fully committed to international law and respects the independence of the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions the Prime Minister has had with his Israeli counterpart on adhering to international law in the Occupied West Bank.

This Government is clear that International Humanitarian Law (IHL) must be upheld, and civilians protected, and the Government continues to press Israeli counterparts on issues of international law compliance. Stability in the West Bank is crucial to ensure the fragile ceasefire in Gaza can last.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Israeli counterparts on the right to return by Palestinians who have left Gaza since 7 October 2023.

There must be no forced displacement of Palestinians, nor any reduction in the territory of the Gaza strip. Palestinian civilians, including those evacuated from northern Gaza, must be permitted to return to their communities and rebuild. Our position is clear - we want to see a negotiated two-state solution that guarantees security and stability for both the Israeli and Palestinian people, with a sovereign Palestinian state, which includes the West Bank and Gaza, alongside a safe and secure Israel.

If he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the report by the British Palestinian Committee entitled British Military Collaboration with Israel, published on 28 January 2025.

We will consider the report and continue to act in line with our obligations to International Law.

With reference to the Answer of 17 May 2024 to Question 26173 on Civil Partnerships: Scotland, whether he will permit the Scottish Government to legislate accordingly.

I can confirm the UK Government’s in-principle agreement to proceed with a Scotland Act Order Civil Partnerships, and will write to the Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary on this matter.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the legal case in Argentina implicating former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe Vélez for human rights violations; and whether he plans to make representations to his Argentinian counterpart on the (a) protection of (i) lawyers and (ii) victims involved in and (b) eventual outcome of the case.

It is not appropriate to comment on an ongoing legal case. The UK remains committed to upholding human rights and international law, including through its international engagement.

Whether he met General Oded Basyuk of the Israel Defense Forces in January 2025.

No.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to consult survivors of human rights violations on his Department's human rights strategy.

On 10 December 2024, the Foreign Secretary and the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Lord Collins, set out their five priorities for promoting and protecting human rights, rule of law and democratic governance. The UK recognises that meaningful engagement with survivors of human rights violations improves the effectiveness of our policies and programmes. We are committed to empowering and engaging survivors, including people with lived experience of modern slavery and business-related human rights abuses for the National Baseline Assessment on the implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. We also engage survivors of conflict-related sexual violence through the Survivor Advisory Group for Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict.

How many meetings his Department has had with Israel Defense Forces personnel since 5 July 2024; who participated in those meetings; and when those meetings took place.

Israel is an important regional partner for the UK and we have a broad relationship including on Defence. The Ministry of Defence routinely conducts bilateral Defence engagement with the Israel Defense Forces, the Palestinian Authority, and the US, as part of the concerted UK effort to reduce the risk of escalation in the Middle East.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to incorporate the UK’s obligation to prevent and prohibit torture into the Government’s human rights strategy.

Upholding the rule of law is central to the strategic approach to human rights and democratic governance, set out by the Foreign Secretary and the Minister for Africa on 10 December 2024. We unreservedly condemn the use of torture for any purpose and regularly call on States to ensure that those in detention are treated in line with international human rights law. The UK is a state party to the UN Convention against Torture. The FCDO is proud to work with the Association for the Prevention of Torture and Advocates for International Development to deliver training and advocacy work, globally.