Written questions by Leishman.

For what reason the Royal Air Force stopped airdropping aid to Gaza; whether he has had recent discussions with his Israeli counterpart on this issue; if he will make it his policy to restart airdropping aid to Gaza.

Humanitarian aid should never be contingent on a ceasefire or used as a political tool. On 13 May 2025, along with European partners, the UK convened a UN Security Council meeting to call for Israel to lift its block on aid into Gaza. We will continue to make our views clear, both in public and in private to the Israeli government and work with our partners to achieve an enduring and sustainable end to the hostilities. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office leads on coordinating the Government’s humanitarian response to deliver lifesaving assistance to the civilian population in Gaza. The Ministry of Defence has provided military support when requested to facilitate the delivery of this assistance, including participating in airdropping aid as part of the Jordanian international coalition in 2024. Currently land routes are the only viable option for delivering aid at scale into Gaza. We remain ready to support as required.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 25 November 2024 to Question 15836 on Israel: F-35 Aircraft, when F-35 components were sent from RAF Marham to Israel between October 2023 and August 2024.

I am unable to release this information due to operational security.

Pursuant to the Answer of 25 November 2024 to Question 15836 on Israel: F-35 Aircraft, how many F-35 components were sent from RAF Marham to Israel between January 2022 and October 2023; and when each component was sent.

I am unable to release this information due to operational security.

How many arms export licences to Israel were approved and subsequently (a) adjusted and (b) rejected between September and December 2024.

On 2 September, the Government announced the suspension of certain export licences to Israel, related to items for use in military operations in Gaza. New licence applications for such items were also refused on the same basis following this decision.Detail on individual licences are published periodically by the Export Control Joint Unit. On 10 December, an ad hoc data release was published on ‘Export control licensing management information for Israel’. These figures show that in addition to the 29 licences issued prior to September 2024 that were suspended or amended as a consequence of the suspension, between 2 September and 6 December 2024, 34 military licences were issued, 17 were refused and none were revoked.Examples of licence applications issued during this period include items for academic research, items for commercial aircraft, military equipment for re-export, and components for trainer aircraft, not assessed to be used in relation to current military operations in Gaza. (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/export-control-licensing-management-information-for-israel/israel-export-control-licensing-data-6-december-2024).

What the purpose was of Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton’s visit to Israel between 9 and 11 January 2024.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 21 January 2025 to Question 24182.

When an Israeli Air Force aircraft last landed at an RAF station in the UK; and what its purpose was.

For operational security reasons and as a matter of policy, the Ministry of Defence will neither confirm, deny, nor comment on any foreign nations’ military aircraft movement or operations within UK airspace or UK overseas bases, whether they may or may not have happened.

Pursuant to the Answer of 14 March 2025 to Question 36262 on Ministry of Defence: Israel, what the purpose of the meeting was; and who the senior British official was who attended.

The Israeli Air Force delegation, led by their Head of Personnel Division, visited Ministry of Defence Main Building to meet and receive a briefing from the Defence Human Resources Transformation Team, as part of their visit to the UK focussing on HR and People issues.

For what reasons officials in her Department met with Elbit Systems on 16 December 2024.

Officials met with Elbit Systems with regards to the UK Coastal Radar Data Integrator procurement. Content of these meetings are commercially sensitive.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, for what reasons his Department took seven years to respond to freedom of information request entitled FCO 37/3979 Training of the Sri Lankan military in the UK.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) received a request for access to information held on file reference FCO 37/3979 in June 2018. A response was issued four months later in October 2018. The material in question is subject to ongoing legal proceedings under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. We cannot comment on ongoing legal cases.

What the purpose is of Project HEZUK; and whether that project (a) is ongoing or (b) has been discontinued.

The Ministry of Defence has a number of active and retired project names, I will not comment further for security reasons.

Whether she has had meetings to discuss Palestine Action since July 2024.

Home Office ministers regularly meet with officials to discuss the safety and security of the public.

Which company was awarded the contract for Coastal Radar Data Integration, advertised on 26 September 2023.

No contract was awarded as result of the notice posted on 26 September 2023.During the tendering process the Authority made the decision that the procurement would not achieve the requirement outcome and ended the procurement. The Authority is now in the process of reviewing its requirements and options for the future.

For what reason Ministers in her Department met with Elbit Systems on 16 December 2024.

No ministers have met Elbit Systems on 16th December 2024.

When the UK last supplied Ukraine with tank shells containing depleted uranium.

We have sent thousands of rounds of Challenger 2 ammunition to Ukraine, including depleted uranium armour-piercing rounds. For operational security reasons, we will not comment on Ukrainian usage rates for the rounds provided.

Where his Department has recently published information about the British Support Team Ramallah.

The Ministry of Defence has not published information about the British Support Team in Ramallah.

Pursuant to the Answer of 14 February 2025 to Question 29341 on Ministry of Defence: Israel, which Israeli officials visited his Department on 5 February 2025.

Brigadier General Yaval Harel, Israeli Air Force Head of Personnel Division, led an Israeli Air Force delegation of nine personnel as part of a three-day HR-focussed visit to the UK.

What the (a) purpose, (b) strength and (c) budget is of the British Support Team in Ramallah.

As part of our commitment to stability in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, the UK provides the Palestinian Authority with professional support in helping develop capable and responsible security institutions that respect human rights and are accountable to the Palestinian people. Support to the Palestinian Authority Security Forces is paid for by Ministry of Defence core funds and the UK's Integrated Security Fund (ISF). The amount spent by the UK's ISF in the Financial Year 2024-25 will be published in due course in the respective ISF annual review of 2024-25. The number of personnel is being withheld in order to protect the security of those personnel and to avoid prejudicing international relations.

Whether UK-supplied Challenger tanks being deployed by Ukraine in the Kursk region of Russia are equipped with shells containing depleted uranium.

We have sent thousands of rounds of Challenger 2 ammunition to Ukraine, including depleted uranium armour-piercing rounds. For operational security reasons, we will not comment on Ukrainian usage rates for the rounds provided.

Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to help local authorities deliver essential services following changes to employer National Insurance contributions.

Raising the revenue required to fund public services and restore economic stability requires difficult decisions on tax.The government is providing an additional £2 billion in grant funding through the Settlement, including £502 million to address the impact of employer National Insurance Contributions (NICs) changes on council budgets. A further £13 million has been allocated to Mayoral Combined Authorities, totalling £515 million.Payments will be unringfenced to allow funding to be used across direct, commissioned, and externally provided local services.Spending decisions beyond 2025-26 are a matter for the upcoming Spending Review.

Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to mitigate the impact of changes to employer National Insurance contributions for local authorities.

Raising the revenue required to fund public services and restore economic stability requires difficult decisions on tax.The government is providing an additional £2 billion in grant funding through the Settlement, including £502 million to address the impact of employer National Insurance Contributions (NICs) changes on council budgets. A further £13 million has been allocated to Mayoral Combined Authorities, totalling £515 million.Payments will be unringfenced to allow funding to be used across direct, commissioned, and externally provided local services.Spending decisions beyond 2025-26 are a matter for the upcoming Spending Review.