Question
The Foreign Secretary mentions people running the risk of the full force of the sanctions regime, given the new powers that the Government have to sanction companies funding and building illegal settlements. The E1 tenders will open on 19 November. Will he commit to sanctioning those companies bidding before that date, not once the bulldozers arrive?
Answer
Governments of both parties have had a general approach, which is not to speculate on sanctions and designations before we actually do them, but I am glad that the hon. Lady has raised this issue. Let me say very clearly to her that we are determined to do all we can to prevent the settlement building in E1 from happening. We have brought the sanctions regime—not the sanctions regime that is coming in the next six months, but the extension of the GHR sanctions regime—precisely so that we can take swift action.20% vibes
Verdict: AMBER (30/100)
The question asked whether companies will be sanctioned before tenders open on 19 November, rather than only at the construction stage. The reply declines to speculate about future sanctions and says the government is determined to prevent E1 and has extended the GHR regime for swift action, but it never states whether sanctions will apply before the tenders open. The answer is therefore mostly hedged and general, and the specific timing question remains unresolved, so the asker would likely need to follow up.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Will the Foreign Secretary commit to sanctioning the companies bidding for the E1 settlement tenders before they open on 19 November, rather than waiting until construction begins? | Partially Addressed | Hedged | The reply declines to speculate on sanctions before they are made, and says the government is determined to prevent E1 and has extended the GHR regime for swift action, but it never says whether companies will be sanctioned before the tenders open on 19 November rather than at construction. The timing question is therefore left unresolved, and the commitment is a general gesture. |