Written questions by Tice.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many staff in his Department are responsible for (a) processing and (b) responding to Freedom of Information Act requests; and if he will make an estimate of the annual cost to the public purse of this work.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) does not track the costs or total staff numbers required to respond to Freedom of Information (FOIs) as the work is devolved across the department and depends on the complexity and sensitivities involved in each individual request. FOI requests submitted to the FCDO, are handled by officers from the relevant department depending on the: issue, policy or country the request relates to, with input and professional advice concerning the application of the FOI Act from the FOI team within IRU (Information Rights Unit).As such it is not possible to give an accurate number of staff working on FOIs or the total costs involved. Complex cases may also involve legal counsel from both within and without the department with associated costs.The FOI team in the IRU consists of 22 staff and deals with FOIs, Internal Reviews, ICO complaints and Tribunals.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what (a) diplomatic and (b) operational steps his Department has taken to help secure the release of (i) Emily Damari and (ii) other hostages held by Hamas in the last three months; how many (A) instances of direct engagement and (B) negotiations involving UK officials have taken place in this period; and what measurable outcomes he can provide to demonstrate progress in this area.

We have consistently supported hostage talks, and continue to work alongside our allies and partners in the region, exercising every possible diplomatic lever to see the hostages immediately and unconditionally released. Negotiations remain the best chance to get hostages home to their loved ones, and we call on all parties to return to the negotiating table. It is utterly appalling that hostages taken by Hamas terrorists on 7 October are still being held captive, including one British national, Emily Damari, and three other hostages with strong British links. In support of the ongoing hostage rescue activity, the UK Ministry of Defence conducts surveillance flights over the Eastern Mediterranean, including operating in airspace over Israel and Gaza. Surveillance aircraft are unarmed, do not have a combat role and are tasked solely to locate hostages.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department (a) is taking and (b) plans to take to help secure the release of (i) Emily Damari and (ii) other hostages held by Hamas.

We condemn Hamas' continued holding of hostages in Gaza, including Emily Damari and others with UK links, who remain cruelly detained. The Foreign Secretary and I have met all the families of hostages with links to the UK, whose loved ones have been murdered or taken by Hamas and have heard firsthand the suffering they have endured. We welcome the tireless efforts of our partners in Qatar, Egypt and the United States, and fully endorse their efforts to secure a resumption of ceasefire negotiations and a hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas.