Written questions by Denyer.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much and what proportion of the £120m funding increase for Sudan is going to (a) local and (b) national organisations; and what steps he is taking to ensure that the funding strengthens the longer-term resilience of communities.

National organisations in Sudan are leading the humanitarian response to the brutal conflict. Recognising their critical role in delivery, the UK's humanitarian programme partners with national organisations. For example, the UK is one of the largest contributors to the UN's Sudan Humanitarian Fund and the Mercy Corps Cash Consortium, which provides vital support to Mutual Aid Groups and Emergency Response Rooms who operate on the ground. In addition, through our Sudan Stability and Growth Programme, we are supporting long-term efforts to promote community resilience and poverty reduction by enabling reforms in economic growth, governance, and local conflict management.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to (a) respond to the humanitarian situation in Somalia and (b) help mitigate (i) regional and (ii) humanitarian impacts.

The UK is a major humanitarian donor to Somalia. Last financial year the UK contributed £65 million to humanitarian efforts in Somalia, reaching over 1.6 million people. These funds provide emergency cash support, water and sanitation services and specialised health and nutrition treatment. They will also fund efforts to boost the climate resilience of communities, to mitigate the risk of natural disaster, and provide assistance for people already displaced by extreme weather. The UK is driving efforts to reform the humanitarian system in Somalia to improve impact and value for money, including increasing Somalia's access to international climate finance.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will summon the United States Ambassador to discuss President Trump's proposals on Gaza.

We will continue to engage with the US Administration on all our priorities, including the situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs). We look forward to working with the incoming US Ambassador to London, once confirmed by the Senate. We have no plans to summon the Chargé d'Affaires.We would oppose any effort to move Palestinians in Gaza to neighbouring Arab states against their will. There must be no forced displacement of Palestinians, nor any reduction in the territory of the Gaza Strip. Palestinian civilians should be able to return to, and rebuild, their homes and their lives. That is a right guaranteed under international law.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will take steps to oppose any (a) forcible displacement and (b) ethnic cleansing of Palestinians from Gaza.

The Government's objective remans a negotiated two-state solution, with a sovereign Palestinian state, which includes the West Bank and Gaza, alongside a safe and secure Israel. In order to deliver this, it is clear that Palestinian civilians must be permitted to return to their communities in Gaza and rebuild and that there can be no forcible transfer of Gazans from or within Gaza, nor any reduction in the territory of the Gaza Strip. The new US administration played an integral role in negotiating the ceasefire agreement, alongside Qatar and Egypt. The UK will continue to work closely with the US to sustain the fragile ceasefire, ensure that all the hostages are released, increase the supply of aid, and break the ongoing cycle of violence in pursuit of a permanent, sustainable peace.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will take steps to sanction the shipping of Russian Liquified Natural Gas by UK-based businesses to (a) the EU and (b) other third countries.

The UK has taken extensive action to limit energy revenues that fund Russia's war in Ukraine. This includes Russian Liquified Natural Gas (LNG). UK persons are prohibited from importing Russian LNG and acquiring Russian LNG with the intention of entering ...

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will have discussions with the Scottish Government's (a) Energy and Climate change directorate and (b) External Affairs directorate on whether any Scotland based compan

The UK has taken extensive action to limit energy revenues that fund Russia's war. The UK prohibited the import of Russian LNG in January 2023 and banned the export of energy related goods, including those that support LNG production. We continue to consi...

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will take steps to sanction UK based insurance firms providing insurance to tankers engaged in shipping Russian Liquified Natural Gas.

The UK has taken extensive action to limit energy revenues that fund Russia's war. UK persons are prohibited from importing Russian Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) and acquiring Russian LNG with the intention of entering the UK. This prohibition also covers t...

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the oral contribution of the Minister for Development in response to the question from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire, during the Urgent Question o

As of the end of September 2024, £70 million of this year's £97 million bilateral Official Development Assistance (ODA) for Sudan had been disbursed. The rest of the UK's funding to Sudan this year will be distributed by the end of the financial year. The...

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs' Humanitarian Situation Update No. 221 on the Gaza Strip, if he will have discussions wit

The UK Government is closely monitoring the impact of the conflict and is deeply concerned by UN reports that humanitarian access is becoming ever more difficult, particularly to northern Gaza. As set out in the Foreign Secretary's statement on 2 Septembe...

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 26 July 2024 to Question 1338 on British Nationals Abroad: Detainees, what response he has received to his request for consular access to Alaa Abd E

HMG Ministers and officials at the British Embassy in Cairo continue to raise Mr Alaa Abd El-Fattah's case with the Egyptian government at the highest levels. They have been consistently clear in calling for his release and continue to press for urgent co...