Written questions by Hussain.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of establishing a legal pathway for Palestinian children in Gaza to travel to the UK to receive medical treatment.

The Government is determined to secure a ceasefire in Gaza and rapidly increase aid, ensuring humanitarian support is reaching people there. We have been assisting British nationals and other eligible people to leave Gaza, liaising closely with the Israeli and Egyptian authorities. There are provisions that allow Palestinians to come to the UK for Private Medical Treatment under the Immigration Rules. Where a relevant application is made consideration will be given to exceptional circumstances or where there are compelling or compassionate grounds. The government is keeping all existing visa pathways under review in response to events in Gaza. Israel should engage with its partners to urgently establish sustained, safe and timely passage for patients who need medical or surgical interventions not available in Gaza. The UK is supporting the provision of essential healthcare to civilians in Gaza, including support to UK-Med for operating their field hospitals. On 16 October, Minister Falconer announced £1m for WHO Egypt to help Egypt’s Ministry of Health support medically evacuated civilians from Gaza who are receiving care in Egypt. It should be noted that the World Health Organisation (WHO) position is that people who are medically evacuated should stay as close to home as possible, so that they remain amongst those who are more likely to understand their language and culture, and so that their return home, when ready, is easier.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the decision to continue issuing licenses for F-35 fighter jet components that are sold indirectly to Israel through an intermediary country on human rights in (a) Gaza and (b) the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

The F35 programme has a significant dependence on the UK, which provides unique and critical components. At the present time, any suspension of F-35 components to Israel through the programme is not possible without undermining the programme overall, and the government’s judgement is that this would have a significant negative impact on international peace and security. Therefore, at the present time, exports to the F-35 programme are excluded from the current suspension of export licences. We are keeping this under close review.The Secretary of State for Business and Trade has set out this decision in further detail to the House in his written ministerial statement on 2 September 2024: https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2024-09-02/hcws64

If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of section V of the International Court of Justice, Advisory Opinion, Legal Consequences arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, published by the United Nations Palestinian Rights Committee on 18 October 2024 on the issuing of export licenses for F-35 fighter jet components to be sold indirectly to Israel through an intermediary country.

The UK is fully committed to international law and fully respects the independence of the International Court of Justice.  We continue to consider the Court’s Advisory Opinion carefully, with the seriousness and rigour it deserves. The F35 programme has a significant dependence on the UK, which provides unique and critical components. At the present time, any suspension of F-35 components to Israel through the programme is not possible without undermining the programme overall, and the government’s judgement is that this would have a significant negative impact on international peace and security. Therefore, at the present time, exports to the F-35 programme are excluded from the current suspension of export licences. We are keeping this under close review.

What steps he is taking to support the International Criminal Court investigation into the situation in the state of Palestine.

The UK is fully committed to international law. We respect the independence of the International Criminal Court, and respect their independence in investigating the situation in Israel and the OPTs. UK practical support to the ICC includes: witness protection; sentence enforcement; commitment to the ICC’s reform process; and secondment of staff. The UK is also one of the Court’s major funders, providing support of £13.2 mill to the ICC’s annual (2024) budget. This Government is clear that International Humanitarian Law must be upheld, and civilians protected.

If he will include support for homeowners in removing and replacing (a) wrongfully installed and (b) defective cavity wall insulation in their homes as part of his warm homes plan.

As part of the work on the Government’s Warm Homes Plan, we will set out our approach to consumer protection when issues arise with insulation.

If he will include (a) home insulation retrofit schemes, (b) the removal of defective home insulation installed under Government home insulation schemes and (c) measures to promote confidence in green home schemes as objectives to improve energy efficiency in the proposed Great British Energy Bill.

The Great British Energy Bill is focused on making provisions related to the setting up of Great British Energy only. It is intentionally broad in scope so Great British Energy can operate flexibly, responding to any future changes in the energy market. As part of the Warm Homes Plan, the Government has announced a new Warm Homes: Local Grant to help low-income homeowners and private tenants with energy performance upgrades including insulation, as well as the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund, to support social housing providers and tenants. More detail will be provided in due course, including our approach to consumer protection when issues arise with insulation.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support the International Criminal Court in respect of its investigation into the Situation in the State of Palestine; and whether he plans to increase support for that investigation in the context of the Government's assessment that there is clear risk of certain military exports to Israel being used in violations of international humanitarian law.

We await the Pre-Trial Chamber's decision on the Prosecutor's application for arrest warrants, after which all normal procedural steps would need to take their course. The UK respects the independence of the Court in investigating the situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. We support Israel's right to act in self-defence, in line with international humanitarian law.

What assessment his Department has made of the impact of (a) wrongfully installed and (b) defective cavity wall insulation on the energy efficiency of homes.

Cavity wall insulation is one the most cost-effective energy efficiency measures, saving up to £300 a year on occupants’ energy bills. However, Government recognises that there are instances of cavity wall insulation being defective or installed in unsuitable homes which may reduce its energy efficiency performance. As part of the work on the Government’s Warm Homes Plan, we will set out our approach to consumer protection when issues arise with insulation.

What steps he is taking to ensure compliance by personnel with the Government's Principles relating to the detention and interviewing of detainees overseas and the passing and receipt of intelligence relating to detainees, published in July 2019, in the context of intelligence received from Israeli sources.

The Principles relating to the detention and interviewing of detainees oversees, which replaced the Cabinet Office Consolidated Guidance, apply to and must be followed by members of the Armed Forces and Ministry of Defence employees. The Principles apply to all nations.As part of pre-deployment procedures, Defence personnel receive theatre specific training, which includes guidance and training on The Principles for personnel who may need to apply it in their work.If Defence personnel receive intelligence from a foreign authority that has originated from a detainee and there is a risk the detainee has been or will be subject to human rights violations, then a formal assessment of the situation is undertaken and if the concerns remain valid, Defence Ministers will consider a full range of appropriate actions.

Whether information from Israeli sources has been used to inform the operation of surveillance flights conducted by the RAF over Gaza since 1 December 2023.

The unarmed UK surveillance aircraft are employed for the sole purpose of increasing our chances of locating the hostages. We are unable comment further on detailed intelligence matters for operational security reasons.

What steps he is taking to ensure compliance by personnel with the Government's Consolidated Guidance to Intelligence Officers and Service Personnel on the Detention and Interviewing of Detainees Overseas, and on the Passing and Receipt of Intelligence Relating to Detainees, published in July 2010, in the context of intelligence received from Israeli sources.

The Principles relating to the detention and interviewing of detainees oversees, which replaced the Cabinet Office Consolidated Guidance, apply to and must be followed by members of the Armed Forces and Ministry of Defence employees. The Principles apply to all nations.As part of pre-deployment procedures, Defence personnel receive theatre specific training, which includes guidance and training on The Principles for personnel who may need to apply it in their work.If Defence personnel receive intelligence from a foreign authority that has originated from a detainee and there is a risk the detainee has been or will be subject to human rights violations, then a formal assessment of the situation is undertaken and if the concerns remain valid, Defence Ministers will consider a full range of appropriate actions.

With reference to the press release entitled UK suspends around 30 arms export licences to Israel for use in Gaza over International Humanitarian Law concerns, published on 2 September 2024, what the value is of each arms export licence that has been suspended.

We have suspended export licences for Israel where these relate to items for use in military operations in Gaza. It includes licences for components for fighter aircraft, helicopters and drones, naval systems and targeting equipment. The details of individual suspended licences contain sensitive information relevant to the individual exporter companies, and therefore the government is not providing further comment on them.

With reference to the press release entitled UK suspends around 30 arms export licences to Israel for use in Gaza over International Humanitarian Law concerns, published on 2 September 2024, which companies have had arms export licences suspended.

We have suspended export licences for Israel where these relate to items for use in military operations in Gaza. It includes licences for components for fighter aircraft, helicopters and drones, naval systems and targeting equipment. The details of individual suspended licences contain sensitive information relevant to the individual exporter companies, and therefore the government is not providing further comment on them.