The UK continues to support diplomatic efforts to normalise relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia. The UK is a firm supporter of Israel's normalisation agreements, including the Abraham Accords. We continue to encourage close regional cooperation in order to tackle regional challenges and we encourage those countries with whom Israel does not yet have diplomatic relations to recognise the economic, cultural and security benefits of cooperation with Israel.

We closely monitor the security situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs) and are aware of the strategic partnership signed between China and the Palestinian Authority (PA). The UK continues to urge the Israeli and Palestinian leadership to engage in meaningful dialogue to further the cause of peace at every opportunity. I, as Minister for the Middle East, met with Palestinian Authority Foreign Minister Riad Malki on 5 May. I reaffirmed the UK's commitment to the Middle East peace process and the two state solution. The UK engages with the Palestinian Authority at the highest levels through the British Consulate General Jerusalem and at ministerial level.

The FCDO welcomes the agreement if it leads to a de-escalation of tension and a reduction of Iran's destabilising activity in the region. The long-term stability of the Gulf is important to everyone. The onus is on Iran to honour its commitment in the joint trilateral statement to respect the principles of sovereignty and non-interference.

The UK welcomes refugees and people in need of protection through its existing resettlement schemes. The government encourages eligible individuals to use established safe and legal pathways. These include the UK Resettlement Scheme, Community Sponsorship, Mandate Resettlement Scheme, the Afghanistan Citizens Resettlement Scheme and the Afghanistan Relocations and Assistance Policy.

In addition to our refugee resettlement schemes, family reunion policy allows a spouse/partner and children under 18 of those granted protection in the UK to join them here if they formed part of the family unit before the sponsor fled their country.

With worldwide displacement now standing at around 80 million people we cannot help everyone. We will, however, continue to maintain clear, well-defined safe, and legal routes for people who need protection. Access to the UK’s asylum system should be based on need, not on the ability to pay people smugglers. Those already in a safe country should claim asylum there.

While we do not allow asylum claims from abroad, all asylum claims lodged from within the UK and admitted to the UK asylum system are given full and careful consideration so that we do not remove anyone who faces persecution or serious harm on return to their country of origin.

Our guidance for considering asylum claims is available on GOV.UK.

More information on safe and legal routes is available via the link below:

Nationality and Borders Bill: Factsheet Safe and Legal Routes - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The unfolding crisis in Ukraine will affect food and input supplies, and further threaten already high food prices. There is also a risk that it will exacerbate food insecurity in already vulnerable countries. Countries immediately affected are those most dependent on imports from Ukraine and Russia, such as Turkey, Lebanon and other countries in the Middle East, and in particular those that may not have sufficient options for substitution in the short term. The UK is monitoring developments closely and is encouraging the relevant multilateral institutions to prioritise rapid information, analysis, and response options. We have also encouraged the G7 to consider a policy and programming response that mitigates the risk of a global food price crisis and protects food security.

The UK is committed to making progress towards a twostate solution. We believe that negotiations will only succeed when they are conducted between Israelis and Palestinians, supported by the international community. The UK is supportive of a regional approach to peace and we have actively encouraged the parties back to dialogue. The UK joined a UN Security Council session, attended by the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States on the 26 January. The Arab League and Arab states have a key role in the peace process and we are in close contact on this issue.

Whilst we have not made any specific assessment of this issue, we are aware of the offer and will continue to monitor any developments.

The UK Government supports the right to freedom of religion or belief for Christian communities in the Middle East and North Africa. We do this by regularly urging governments at senior levels to uphold the rights of all minorities; building international consensus on freedom of religion or belief, including by holding a major conference in October on the synergy between this human right and countering violent extremism; and supporting practical projects, for example, a project inspiring key leaders in Iraqi society to become defenders of freedom of religion or belief.

We are also working closely with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to identify vulnerable refugees that they deem to be in need of resettlement. The UNHCR is intensifying outreach to groups that might otherwise be reluctant to register for fear of discrimination and unaware of the options available to them. This includes Christian and all other religious minorities.

I refer the noble Lord to the answer I gave to the noble Viscount Waverley on 28 April 2016 (HL7839), namely that, in the Middle East and North Africa region approximately 95 per cent of our Heads of Mission speak Arabic or other local languages (e.g. French or Hebrew).

The Scan Eagle Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) offers enhanced maritime surveillance and is used to provide situational awareness to Royal Navy ships deployed to the Arabian Peninsula. In addition, a number of Reaper Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) are currently operating in the Middle East in support of the Iraqi Government and International Coalition's ongoing operation to counter the threat of ISIL.

Regardless of asset type or location, it is departmental policy not to confirm specific numbers of equipment platforms deployed on operations. Therefore, I am withholding the exact number of UAS/RPAS deployed on operations to safeguard operational security.

The humanitarian reports from Iraq, Syria and elsewhere in the region are deeply concerning. The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and associated armed groups continue to commit atrocities against Muslims, Christians, Yezidis, Turkmen and other communities throughout the areas under their control. We condemn any and all abuses of human rights, including those against Christians.

We are working closely with our international partners, including in the region, to try to assist and protect civilians - including Christians - from ISIL through a long-term, comprehensive strategy to degrade and defeat this terrorist organisation.

This strategy is being delivered by a large international coalition, where UK actions complement, and are coordinated with, those of other actors. It has security, political and humanitarian dimensions. For example, in Iraq, we are carrying out airstrikes against ISIL and are providing military assistance to the Kurdish Peshmerga forces so that they can restore control over the areas taken by ISIL. In Syria, we support military action by the US and five Arab states against ISIL; we are supporting the Syrian moderate opposition, who are fighting ISIL; and we continue to work for a political transition: when it comes to tackling ISIL, Assad is part of the problem, not part of the solution. In Lebanon, we continue to press for the election of a President, strengthen municipalities and support the Lebanese Armed Forces reassert state authority in their border regions On the humanitarian front, we continue to provide swift and substantial assistance to those who have fled areas controlled by ISIL, including air drops to deliver aid to those trapped by ISIL. On the diplomatic front, at the Human Rights Council in September we, alongside our international partners, secured a resolution strongly condemning ISIL and stressing the need for accountability.

Our ambassador in Tel Aviv most recently raised the issue of Gaza with the Israeli National Security Adviser on 15 September. They discussed Israel permitting the transfer of goods to the West Bank, and exports to Israel. Since the 26 August ceasefire our Ambassador has also made the case to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s Middle East Peace Process negotiator, his Cabinet Secretary, his National Security Advisor, his Chief of Staff, and his Trade, Finance and Justice Ministers, that the opening up of transfers/exports from the private sector in Gaza and a broader lifting of restrictions would address one of the fundamental drivers of instability in Gaza.

Our officials in Tel Aviv will continue to lobby Israeli officials in future meetings on the issue of movement and access in Gaza.

The Government's policy towards Hamas is clear - the UK does not talk to Hamas, which is a proscribed terrorist organisation.