My hon. Friend Lord Vallance of Balham, Minister of State for Science, Research and Innovation has today made the following statement:

I wish to inform the House that the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero intends to undertake a contingent liability to provide the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority with an indemnity to cover risks arising from losses and damages to construction projects across NDA sites. The indemnity is expected to save the NDA at least £1 million per year compared to insurance premiums and will provide certainty of cover.

It is normal practice, when a Government Department proposes to undertake a contingent liability in excess of £300,000 for which there is no specific statutory authority, for the Minister concerned to present a departmental minute to Parliament giving particulars of the liability created and explaining the circumstances; and to refrain from incurring the liability until 14 parliamentary sitting days after the issue of the minute, except in cases of special urgency in line with “Managing Public Money”.

The indemnity covers construction projects on NDA sites against damage from terrorism, fire, flood or other natural hazards. The probability of crystallisation is low and mitigated by robust risk assessments, site access restrictions, rigid safety controls and regulations. It will cover only non-Nuclear Installation Act 1965 risks, as those are covered under the nuclear indemnity.

Construction insurance is an industry norm and the NDA has previously procured this at considerable cost. The indemnity will provide joint protection to all procured construction contractors and the NDA, but the NDA is the only one being indemnified.

The indemnity will be enduring from 1 October 2026, covering claims over £20 million up to a £650 million cap per year and with a £650 million cap per claim. Insurance will cover all claims up to £20 million. If the liability is called, provision for any payment will be sought through the normal supply procedure.

A departmental minute has today been laid before Parliament setting out full details of this contingent liability. The Treasury has approved this liability in principle. My Department will keep Parliament informed of any changes to this contingent liability as appropriate.

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I shall be making an oral statement on this subject later today.

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Today, with the agreement of the Secretary of State for Education, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, the Secretary of State for the Home Department and the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, I am making the following statement.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains deeply concerning. The Government are committed to providing practical support to those most affected by the conflict and to contributing to the longer term recovery of Palestinian society.

Student departures

The UK Government have confirmed renewed support for high-achieving students from Gaza to take up fully funded scholarships at UK universities for the 2026-27 academic year.

This will build on support already provided by the Government in the current academic year, through which we have enabled over 100 students from Gaza to travel to the UK to pursue their studies. The Government will continue to prioritise students who hold fully funded and verifiable scholarships, and who meet the requirements of the immigration rules.

This targeted approach ensures that students supported will have the financial means to study and live in the UK. Eligible dependants will be supported in line with the immigration rules.

This also includes eligible Chevening scholars, who will be supported to take up their places at UK universities where possible, recognising their leadership potential and the important role they can play in the future of Palestinian society.

The Government will work closely with devolved Governments, universities, international partners and relevant authorities to facilitate departures and onward travel. However, departures from Gaza remain highly complex and dependent on factors outside the UK Government’s control. As such, travel and timelines cannot be guaranteed.

All individuals travelling to the UK under this route will be subject to robust security and immigration checks, including the provision of biometric data prior to travel.

This programme reflects the UK’s enduring commitment to education as a driver of opportunity, stability and future leadership, and forms part of broader efforts to support the development of a future Palestinian state.

Medical evacuations (MedEvac)

The Government have also confirmed the resumption of UK-supported medical evacuations of critically ill and injured children and their immediate families from Gaza, following a pause due to the regional conflict.

In 2025, a cross-Government effort supported the evacuation of 50 children, alongside their immediate family members, to receive specialist treatment in NHS hospitals across the United Kingdom. Building on this, the Government will now facilitate further evacuations for those identified as in need of urgent medical care.

Patients will be identified through established processes, including collaboration with the World Health Organisation to match children with specialist care teams within the NHS.

Recognising the severe degradation of healthcare provision in Gaza, this programme enables access to specialist treatment that is not currently available locally. It also reflects the compassion and expertise of the NHS in supporting some of the most vulnerable children affected by the conflict.

Individuals arriving under this scheme will be granted temporary permission to stay in the UK, including access to appropriate healthcare and support. All arrivals will be subject to stringent security screening, including biometric checks, in line with standard requirements to protect the public.

Conclusion

Together, these measures demonstrate the Government’s continued commitment to providing immediate humanitarian assistance, while supporting the longer-term resilience and recovery of Palestinian society through education and healthcare.

A policy statement setting out more details will shortly be published on gov.uk. The Government will keep these arrangements under close review in light of ongoing developments.

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I refer hon. Members to the oral statement I made in the House today, 24 June 2026, on the publication of the report from the independent maternity and neonatal review of Nottingham University hospitals NHS trust.

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