Question

Asked by Vikki Slade to Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office on 27 October 2026 — tabled under the Andy Burnham government

My hon. Friend the Member for Esher and Walton (Monica Harding) talked about the impact on children, but there is also a significant impact on reproductive facilities, which means that there are more miscarriages and more children dying at birth. Effectively, it is the erasing of the next generation in Gaza. That must surely constitute a war crime. How are the Government working with international partners to ensure the future of Gaza, given the threat of there being no children?

Answer

Answered by Kirsty McNeill (Labour (Co-op))

We held an event at UNGA on precisely this matter. Maternal, newborn and child health will continue to be a priority for the UK Government. As the hon. Lady will be aware, the UK has acted fast to try to get sick children to the UK for treatment; a cross-Government taskforce supported 50 critically ill and injured children and their immediate families in leaving Gaza and receiving specialist support in NHS hospitals. As I am sure she will agree, however, that action is no substitute for ensuring that people can access their healthcare rights in the country where they live and were born, and where we hope to provide them with safety and security through a two-state solution in the end.
33% vibes

Verdict: AMBER (55/100)

The reply addresses the question's single component: it gives a concrete example of working with international partners, namely a UN General Assembly event on Gaza's future. The rest of the answer is a general aspiration toward a two-state solution, so it does not explain how the Government works with partners on an ongoing basis. A member of the public would learn one specific example but would likely need to ask for more detail on the day-to-day engagement.

How we got there

Question itemCoverageSpecificityRationale
How is the Government working with international partners to ensure the future of Gaza? Addressed Direct Statement 1 names a concrete multilateral mechanism, an event at UNGA held on precisely the future of Gaza, which answers how the Government works with international partners on this issue. Statement 6 adds only a vague aspiration toward a two-state solution, so the answer is thin and rests mainly on one example.

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