Written questions by Foy.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help improve the humanitarian situation in Palestine.

Under the 20-point Gaza Peace Plan, the Government of Israel committed to the full entry of aid without interference. It is unacceptable that over the last 6 weeks, volumes entering Gaza are only 35 per cent of the minimum targets agreed in the Plan.This is exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and risks undermining the Peace Plan. More crossings and aid corridors must therefore be reopened, and restrictions on humanitarian partners and supplies must be lifted. We will continue to raise these issues directly with the Government of Israel.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential humanitarian impact of the reported demolition issued against 13 residential houses and a community centre in the village of Um al Khair in the occupied West Bank.

We are deeply concerned by the levels of settler violence, settlement growth, and demolition of Palestinian homes in the West Bank. In all but the most exceptional cases, demolitions by an occupying power are contrary to international law. We urge Israel to halt demolitions and evictions of Palestinian communities. The UK Government supports Bedouin and Palestinian communities facing demolition or eviction in Area C of the West Bank through access to legal aid programmes and outreach to vulnerable and remote areas. Our officials in Jerusalem will continue to meet communities at risk of demolition and displacement.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps he is taking to help protect democratic processes in Turkey.

As a close friend and ally of Turkey, the Government is closely monitoring the situation and expects Turkey to uphold its international commitments and the rule of law. We regularly engage with the Turkish Government and the Foreign Secretary spoke with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on 29 March to express the UK's concern about the recent arrests and protests in Turkey. The UK is a staunch supporter of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law across the world and will always support the fundamental rights to free speech, peaceful assembly, and media freedom.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of reports of alleged settler violence in the village of Umm al-Khair in the southern West Bank.

As the Prime Minister said in the House on 22 January, we are deeply concerned by events in the West Bank. We have raised this several times in exchanges that we have had with Israel at both ministerial and official level. It is in no one's interest for further conflict and instability to spread in the West Bank. We are clear that Israeli settlements are illegal under international law and harm prospects for a two-state solution. The UK strongly condemns settler violence and provocative remarks. On 15 October, the Foreign Secretary announced new sanctions targeting three illegal settler outposts and four organisations that have supported and sponsored violence against communities in the West Bank. These measures will help bring accountability to those who have supported and perpetrated such heinous abuses of human rights.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will hold discussions with his international counterparts on taking steps to protect places of worship in Palestine.

The UK has always been clear that a ceasefire is just the first step towards a lasting solution to this crisis. We remain focused on pushing for an end to the devastating violence in Gaza, protecting civilians, ensuring the release of all hostages and an increase in humanitarian aid into Gaza. The UK champions, and remains strongly committed to, freedom of religious belief for all. It is our firm opinion that no one should live in fear because of what they do or do not believe in. We are championing the right to Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) and promoting tolerance and mutual respect through our engagement in multilateral organisations, our bilateral work, and our programme funding. The UK is a strong supporter of freedom of religion and belief and calls for places of worship to be respected.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make representations at the United Nations on the potential merits of a UN convention on the rights of older persons.

The UK is fully committed to promoting and protecting the rights of all people, including older people. Building stronger legal frameworks at the domestic and international level is key. We were an active participant in the work of the UN's Open-Ended Working Group on Ageing, and we welcomed the consensus adoption by the General Assembly in September of its recommendations. The UK seeks to play a constructive role on these issues, and we are open to considering further standard-setting, including the possibility of a multilateral instrument, to help further address the issues faced by older people.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department has taken to provide assistance to (a) Ecuador, (b) Paraguay, (c) Peru and (d) Brazil following forest fires in those countries.

The UK has closely monitored recent forest fires in Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru and Brazil. The UK's support for sustainable development and climate change adaptation should reduce drought impacts and wildfires long-term. In Ecuador and Peru, we are contributing up to £12.3 million through the Andes-Amazon Biodiverse Landscape Fund and in Brazil, through the Amazon Fund (£80 million contributed, with a further £35 million committed). In Paraguay, we support capacity building on forest fire mitigation and response amongst indigenous and local communities. Climate Minister Kerry McCarthy MP visited the Amazon Rainforest last week, meeting firefighters on the front-line using equipment purchased through the Amazon Fund.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support countries affected by Typhoon Yagi.

Typhoon Yagi has had a major impact in many countries in South-East Asia. The UK Government has provided £1m to support the humanitarian response in northern Vietnam and £1.3m to help address the impact of severe flooding in Myanmar. The UK is also a major contributor to two global funds that have allocated funding. These are the UN's Central Emergency Response Fund that has released funds for the Myanmar response; and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies' Disaster Relief Emergency Fund that is assisting those most affected in Vietnam and Myanmar.