Written questions by McDonald.

What assessment she has made of the adequacy of the PIP application system; and if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of (a) simplifying the application process and (b) introducing measures to reduce waiting times for decisions.

The Personal Independence Payment application process, which was developed with the assistance of disabled people, is kept under constant review. This is to ensure that it is accessible to claimants, and that it helps the Department reach an accurate assessment of an individual’s entitlement. The Health Transformation Programme (HTP) is modernising Health and Disability benefit services. It is developing a PIP service which will ultimately offer online application and reduce journey times, providing a more efficient service and an enhanced customer experience.

What the average length of time is for a PIP assessment to be completed; and what assessment she has made of the potential impact of these waiting times on applications for the carers allowance.

The median clearance time from a Personal Independence Payment (PIP) registration to a DWP decision is 15 weeks for both new claims under normal rules and reassessments from Disability Living Allowance, as of July 2024. For new claims with Special Rules, there is a median time of 3 working days from registration to clearance. Delays in assessing PIP claims should not affect the amount of Carer’s Allowance paid to the carer as the Carer’s Allowance claim can be backdated to the date PIP is awarded from.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with (a) his US counterparts and (b) the F-35 Joint Programme Office on the steps necessary to limit the availability of UK component parts in the F-35 Global Supply Chain to exclude Israel without impacting other partner nations.

We have regular discussions with our international counterparts, including the US, on a range of issues relating to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Our licensing decisions are based on our own processes. As the Foreign Secretary made clear in his statement on 2 September to Parliament, exports to the F-35 Programme are excluded from this suspension.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make representations to his Israeli counterpart to urge that government to not implement the Knesset legislation on UNRWA passed on 28 October 2024.

The Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary have expressed serious concern at the UNRWA bills that Israel's Knesset has now passed. This legislation risks making UNRWA's essential work for Palestinians impossible, jeopardising the entire international humanitarian response in Gaza and delivery of essential health and education services in the West Bank. The UK and six allies issued a joint statement on 27 October expressing our grave concern and urging Israel to ensure UNRWA can continue its lifesaving work. The Foreign Secretary reiterated this to Israel's Foreign Minister Katz on 27 October. We will continue working with our international partners and through the UN to press Israel to ensure that UNRWA can continue its vital operations.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with F-35 Global Supply Chain partner nations on the (a) management of the Global Supply Chain and (b) sale of F-35s and UK-made F-35 components to Israel.

We have regular discussions with our international counterparts, including the US, on a range of issues relating to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Our licensing decisions are based on our own processes. As the Foreign Secretary made clear in his statement on 2 September to Parliament, exports to the F-35 Programme are excluded from this suspension.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with his (a) US counterpart and (b) the F-35 Joint Programme Office on the (i) management of the global supply chain and (ii) sale of (A) F-35s and (B) UK-made F-35 components to Israel.

We have regular discussions with our international counterparts, including the US, on a range of issues relating to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Our licensing decisions are based on our own processes. As the Foreign Secretary made clear in his statement on 2 September to Parliament, exports to the F-35 Programme are excluded from this suspension.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to his Oral Statement of 28 October 2024 on Middle East, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of the application of additional sanctions to further extremist illegal settlers and illegal settlement-related organisations.

Our position on Israeli settlements in the West Bank is clear. They are illegal under international law, an obstacle to peace and threaten the physical viability of a two-state solution. We strongly condemn settler violence and the actions of those who seek to incite violence and inflame tensions, and we call on Israel to act accordingly. As the occupying power, Israel has an obligation to protect the civilian Palestinian population in the West Bank.  On 15 October we sanctioned three outposts and four entities linked to West Bank violence, under the Global Human Rights regime. The UK is considering all options to support a more stable West Bank. It would not be appropriate to speculate about future sanctions designations as to do so could reduce their impact.