Written questions by Law.

If she will make an estimate of the number of people with Multiple Sclerosis who are in the Employment and Support Allowance Support Group due to scoring 15 points on the Support Group Mobilising activity.

The group of Universal Credit and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) customers affected by the most severe health conditions or disabilities are considered to have limited capability for work-related activity (LCWRA). The Work Capability Assessment (WCA) criteria for assessing whether someone has LCWRA is not determined by a point score. To be found to have LCWRA, someone must be assessed as meeting one or more of the LCWRA criteria, which are set out in legislation. Scoring 15 points against the WCA Limited Capability for Work (LCW) criteria, be that any single WCA activity or in total across the activities, would result in somebody being found to have LCW/being placed in the ESA Work-Related Activity Group.

If she will make an estimate of the number of people with Multiple Sclerosis who are in the Employment and Support Allowance (a) Support Group and (b) Work-Related Activity Group.

In May 2024 there were around 19,500 people on ESA whose main condition was multiple sclerosis. Of these, around 300 were in the Work-Related Activity Group and around 18,000 were in the Support Group, with the remainder being in the Assessment Phase or receiving National Insurance credits only, and not assigned to a particular group.

If she will make an estimate of the number of people with Multiple Sclerosis who are in the Universal Credit Limited Capacity for Work-Related Activity group due to scoring 15 points on the LCWRA Mobilising activity.

The group of Universal Credit and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) customers affected by the most severe health conditions or disabilities are considered to have limited capability for work-related activity (LCWRA). The Work Capability Assessment (WCA) criteria for assessing whether someone has LCWRA is not determined by a point score. To be found to have LCWRA, someone must be assessed as meeting one or more of the LCWRA criteria, which are set out in legislation. Scoring 15 points against the WCA Limited Capability for Work (LCW) criteria, be that any single WCA activity or in total across the activities, would result in somebody being found to have LCW/being placed in the ESA Work-Related Activity Group.

If she will make an estimate of the number of people with Multiple Sclerosis who are in the Universal Credit (a) Limited Capacity for Work-Related Activity group and (b) Limited Capability for Work group.

The specific information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make it his policy that Palestinian detainees in Israeli custody with strong British connections are treated as British citizens.

We are deeply concerned by reports of the mistreatment of detainees. The UK continues to reiterate calls for Israel to allow the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) unfettered and immediate access to detention facilities. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and our Embassies, High Commissions and Consulates worldwide provide consular assistance to British nationals abroad. Types of British citizenship are set out on Gov.UK

Innovation and Technology, whether his Department supervises data stored by (a) Amazon AWS and (b) Microsoft Azure at data centres located on UK territory.

DSIT does not directly supervise the storage of data in specific UK data centres by specific companies.

Communities and Local Government, whether the Government plans to formally adopt a definition of anti-Palestinian racism.

The government condemns all forms of racism, racial discrimination and related forms of intolerance. We are committed to combatting it. We have a strong legal framework in place to deal with the perpetrators of racist and other forms of hate crime and expect the perpetrators of such offences to be brought to justice.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if the Government will meet with family members of Palestinian (a) abductees and (b) hostages held without (i) charge and (ii) trial in Israeli detention facilities.

We are deeply concerned by reports of the mistreatment of Palestinian detainees held in Israeli detention centres. The UK continues to reiterate calls for Israel to allow the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) unfettered and immediate access to detention facilities. We continue to raise this with the Israeli government as a priority. The Foreign Secretary, the Minister for Development, the Foreign Secretary's Representative for Humanitarian Affairs in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (FSRHA) and I regularly meet NGOs to discuss topics including prisoners and detainees. The UK has always been clear that an immediate ceasefire is just the first step towards a lasting solution to this crisis. We are closely monitoring the situation and will continue to engage with international partners to ensure full implementation of the agreement, including the release of all hostages.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department holds information on whether Yoav Gallant travelled through British airspace in December 2024.

We do not hold this information.

How many Israeli Air Force operated planes have (a) landed and (b) taken off from British territory since 6 February 2024.

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.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his Israeli counterpart on UNRWA’s operations in (a) Gaza and (b) the West Bank.

The UK remains opposed to the Israeli Knesset legislation suspending UNRWA operations, which came in to force on 30 January. The vital work of UNRWA in ensuring that Palestinians have access to education, healthcare and other essential services must be protected across Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem. On 31 January, we joined with Germany and France to call on Israel to abide by its international obligations and live up to its responsibility to ensure full, rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian assistance and the provision of basic services to the civilian population. The Foreign Secretary also raised this on 13 January with Foreign Minister Sa'ar, during his visit to the region. The Minister for Development set out our concerns with Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Haskel on 4 December, while the Foreign Secretary's Representative for Humanitarian Affairs in the Occupied Palestinian Territories raised this with the Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs on 23 January.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent representations he has made to his Israeli counterparts on the detention of Dr Hussam Abu Safiya.

We are concerned by the reports of the detention of Dr Hussam Abu Safiya and others. In recent weeks, I have raised this case with both Israel's Ambassador to the UK, and Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Haskel. Israel must allow medical staff to carry out their work unimpeded, and to travel around Gaza as needed. Whilst we don't comment on specific non UK national cases, the government does raise international humanitarian law compliance regularly with Israel.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to support the delivery of aid in (a) Gaza and (b) the West Bank after 30 January 2025.

The UK is investing in the ceasefire, which is why the Minister for Development announced £17 million in humanitarian funding on 28 January to ensure healthcare, food and shelter reaches tens of thousands of civilians, and to rebuild vital infrastructure across the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs). The UK has now announced £129 million for the OPTs this financial year, including £41 million for the United Nations Relief and Work Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), providing essential services to civilians in Gaza, the West Bank, and Palestinian refugees across the region delivered through partner agencies. We remain opposed to the anti-UNRWA Knesset legislation and reiterate that the vital work of UNRWA must be protected across Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The UK continues to lead international action to press for a resolution to this urgent issue. On 31 January, we joined with Germany and France to call on Israel to abide by its international obligations and live up to its responsibility to ensure full, rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian assistance and the provision of basic services to the civilian population.

How many Royal Air Force operated planes flew to Israel between 9 May 2024 and 19 January 2025.

19 Royal Air Force operated aircraft flew to Israel between 9 May 2024 and 19 January 2025.

Whether compliance with international humanitarian law was raised during meetings between (a) his officials, (b) General Oded Basyuk and (c) Israeli army officials on 22 January 2025.

Yes.

Pursuant to question 26214 tabled on 23 January 2025 on Oded Basyuk, if he will publish transcripts of these meetings.

Major General Basyuk visited the UK as part of our concerted effort to reduce the risk of escalation in the Middle East and to achieve a peaceful resolution in Gaza and Lebanon. Discussions focussed on regional security concerns and included UK calls to implement all phases of the Gaza ceasefire deal in full and establish a pathway to lasting peace and security for the region. Unfortunately, it is not possible to publish the minutes from the meeting as they discuss operationally sensitive matters.

What discussions she has had with the Welsh Government on the potential merits of devolving the Crown Estate to Wales.

The Crown Estate is key to the £1.4 billion investment and over 5,000 jobs that this government wants to secure from floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea. It works closely with the Welsh Government to ensure Wales is at the cutting edge of this growing sector. Our total focus is on taking maximum advantage of this opportunity for Wales, using levers within the existing devolution settlement.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, which Israeli officials he met on his visit to Israel in January 2025; what topics were discussed; and which issues he raised.

When the Foreign Secretary travelled to Israel earlier this month, he met Foreign Minister Sa'ar and Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer, and discussed ceasefire and hostage negotiations, humanitarian aid into Gaza, as well as other regional issues.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will increase multi-year funding to support (a) the most food-insecure people in Sudan and (b) Sudanese refugees in neighbouring countries.

Ministers will consider Official Development Assistance allocations for 2025/26 over the coming months, and we will publish them in the Annual Report & Accounts in summer 2025. The next phase of the Spending Review will set departmental budgets from 2026/27 to 2029/30.In November 2024, the UK announced a further £113 million of aid. With this announcement, the UK has doubled our aid to £226.5 million.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent steps he has taken to help secure guarantees from Sudan’s warring parties of the safe and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian assistance to conflict-affected populations.

The UK continues to raise the critical issue of humanitarian access. We did this recently at the UN Security Council on 19 December 2024 and 6 January 2025, where we called for the warring parties to lift bureaucratic impediments and let aid get to those who need it. I have also engaged directly with the new Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, on the UN response. The UK Special Representative, Richard Crowder, met the head of the Sudanese Armed Forces, General Burhan, during his first visit to Sudan and lobbied against current impediments such as visas. On 25 November 2024, the Foreign Secretary chaired a Sudan meeting with G7 and Arab Quint Foreign Ministers to discuss joint steps to improve humanitarian access and increase aid.