people together to the common bring people together to the common position which i set out earlier this afternoon and we will continue to do so in respect of future united nations security resolutions whenever we can.— nations security resolutions whenever we can. tomas is a terrorist _ whenever we can. tomas is a terrorist organisation -- - whenever we can. tomas is a i terrorist organisation -- hamas whenever we can. tomas is a - terrorist organisation -- hamas is a terrorist organisation —— hamas is a terrorist organisation —— hamas is a terrorist organisation —— hamas is a terrorist organisation and that cannot be overlooked in these conversations. the reality is that the gaza area has had hundreds of millions of dollars in currency invested in it. i associate myself with everything he says and the rebuilding, can i make sure that as part of the rebuilding, the aid money can be used to make this a prosperous area when it is free of these terrorists? mr; prosperous area when it is free of these terrorists?— these terrorists? my honourable friend sets _

these terrorists? my honourable friend sets out _ these terrorists? my honourable friend sets out very _ these terrorists? my honourable friend sets out very well - these terrorists? my honourable friend sets out very well the - these terrorists? my honourable friend sets out very well the key| friend sets out very well the key aspects of the five—point plan which britain is doing everything we can to see implemented. eight britain is doing everything we can to see implemented.— to see implemented. eight a few weeks ago. _ to see implemented. eight a few weeks ago. the _ to see implemented. eight a few weeks ago, the minister - to see implemented. eight a few weeks ago, the minister for - to see implemented. eight a few| weeks ago, the minister for trade policy told a debate that we take our obligations in this space exceptionally seriously and have acted to change policy in relation to changing circumstances on the ground. the circumstances are tragic and brutal and crystal clear to anyone willing to see them. gaza raised to the ground, civilians actively targeted, potentially using the very equipment the uk is exporting to israel. over 12,000 children butchered with exporting to israel. 0ver12,000 children butchered with the idea of taking selfies over the ruins and bodies. what will it take for this government to suspend arms exports to israel? the government to suspend arms exports to israel? ,.,, ., ~ , to israel? the position the minister set out in westminster—

to israel? the position the minister set out in westminster hall- to israel? the position the minister set out in westminster hall was - set out in westminster hall was absolutely correct, the government takes legal advice on this matter, the arm's committee does its work effectively, the export committee, and we will continue to act on the advice that we are given when we are given it. e, advice that we are given when we are riven it. �* . .,, advice that we are given when we are iven it. �* . , advice that we are given when we are iven it. ~ . , ., advice that we are given when we are rivenit. �* . given it. a ceasefire is a contract between two _ given it. a ceasefire is a contract between two sides _ given it. a ceasefire is a contract between two sides and _ given it. a ceasefire is a contract between two sides and it - given it. a ceasefire is a contract between two sides and it is - given it. a ceasefire is a contract - between two sides and it is overseen by a third party. neither side right now are agreeing to a ceasefire, not as there are third—party in place to it. i'm happy to say today i want a ceasefire and the steps to get as there. i also want parliament to speak with one single voice. it's so much more powerful than is having motions that we divide this house upon. it will require consensus and compromise so before we risk repeating the fiasco of last week which saw tensions rise, could i invite the minister as he has alluded to in his remarks so far to bring together the parties from each

side to see whether consensus lines can be agreed before this house returns back to the circuits that we saw last week? i returns back to the circuits that we saw last week?— returns back to the circuits that we saw last week? i want to thank the former chairman _ saw last week? i want to thank the former chairman of _ saw last week? i want to thank the former chairman of the _ saw last week? i want to thank the former chairman of the defence i former chairman of the defence select committee for his wives and sensible approach. as i said to the shadow foreign secretary and the snp spokesman earlier, i think if you study carefully the government amendment last week that was tabled in the snp debate you see a very substantial degree of agreement and we must try very hard to build on that so that the house does speak with one voice. it that so that the house does speak with one voice.— with one voice. it has been three months since _ with one voice. it has been three months since the _ with one voice. it has been three months since the pause - with one voice. it has been three months since the pause between with one voice. it has been three - months since the pause between the 24th and 30th of november. we know at that point that aid can reach people because of the infrastructure

challenges —— could not reach people. today, those challenges are escalated and a pause would not serve to get —— would serve to get that aid into places it needs to go so why won't the minister review the situation in the light that the position hasn't achieved what it needs to today, which is that your monetary and aid reaches all the people it needs —— that need it? accurately sets out that what was hoped for some weeks and months ago has not been realised but that should really incentivise us to redouble our efforts to get the necessary aid and support into gaza and i would point out thatjamie mcgoldrick, the highly experienced un resident coordinator did say over the weekend that he hopes it will be possible for the united nations to return to khan yunis when military operations and their which shows that the situation is dynamic and we are doing everything we can to move

with it to achieve the results that she and i both want.— she and i both want. given the humanitarian _ she and i both want. given the humanitarian situation - she and i both want. given the humanitarian situation in - she and i both want. given the | humanitarian situation in gaza, she and i both want. given the - humanitarian situation in gaza, what does andrew mitchell said the government believe the negotiated pause in the fighting in gaza was within reach and went on to say the government did not believe in calling for a ceasefire now as there was a different and better way to stop the fighting and in the pause, he said that they could work to get a sustainable long—term ceasefire. mr mitchell said the path to the long—term solution would not be easy and reiterated a two state solution was the way forward and also said that the government wanted to see a time when israelis and palestinians could live with dignity and security and to see an end to the fighting and to see an end to the fighting and a permanent peace. the shadow foreign secretary urged the government to call for an immediate

humanitarian ceasefire now. let's go to westminster and our political correspondent ben wright, who was listening. yet again, the difference between what the government is saying about the humanitarian pause in what labour are saying about a ceasefire. it is a fairly semantic difference and david lammy argued that the government and opposition were broadly on the same page, in his word and andrew mitchell agreed. they have a shared view on how to get to a ceasefire and how it can be achieved. i get to a ceasefire and how it can be achieved. ., ., ., achieved. i thought overall the short debate _ achieved. i thought overall the short debate they _ achieved. i thought overall the short debate they are - achieved. i thought overall the short debate they are having l achieved. i thought overall the i short debate they are having now achieved. i thought overall the - short debate they are having now was in stark contrast to the chaos and recriminations we saw last week when the massive row blew up after the speaker lindsay hoyle a lout —— announced a vote to the snp motion

calling for a ceasefire in gaza. that plunged the commons into huge recriminations. and the fact and he had suspended parliamentary procedure to allow that. and in the short debate today they wanted a fresh motion to be debated that could have mandated. it is inadmissible and the snp accused of lindsay hoyle of effectively lying and in terms of the promise we made last week. there remain special —— pressure on the speaker because 80 mps signed a no—confidence motion in sir lindsay hoyle but this debate has shown there is a lot of common ground across the came —— chamber on how to achieve a ceasefire and earlier today downing street said they felt a ceasefire in gaza is now

within reach. they felt a ceasefire in gaza is now within reach-— within reach. president biden said it could come _ within reach. president biden said it could come as _ within reach. president biden said it could come as early _ within reach. president biden said it could come as early as - within reach. president biden said it could come as early as next - within reach. president biden said | it could come as early as next week after the talks that have been going on in paris and qatar.— on in paris and qatar. that's right, and i on in paris and qatar. that's right, and i think— on in paris and qatar. that's right, and i think it _ on in paris and qatar. that's right, and i think it framed _ on in paris and qatar. that's right, and i think it framed the _ and i think it framed the discussions we heard today. the fact that behind the scenes the diplomatic moves to achieve a ceasefire are moving and there is optimism in capitals that a ceasefire could be coming and that has taken the heat out of the debate we've heard. mr has taken the heat out of the debate we've heard-— has taken the heat out of the debate we've heard. mr mitchell was making the oint we've heard. mr mitchell was making the point that — we've heard. mr mitchell was making the point that the _ we've heard. mr mitchell was making the point that the government - we've heard. mr mitchell was making the point that the government was i the point that the government was providing aid and agreeing with david lammy about getting visas for humanitarian workers through and pushing israel to do that.— pushing israel to do that. that's ri . ht pushing israel to do that. that's riaht he pushing israel to do that. that's right he said — pushing israel to do that. that's right he said that _ pushing israel to do that. that's right he said that effectively - pushing israel to do that. that's right he said that effectively the labour position was looking for an immediate ceasefire or pause to get

those israeli hostages out and to get aid into gaza and it felt, listening to andrew mitchell that he was optimistic that we are getting to that point quickly. ben was optimistic that we are getting to that point quickly.— to that point quickly. ben wright, thank ou to that point quickly. ben wright, thank you very — to that point quickly. ben wright, thank you very much. _ to that point quickly. ben wright, thank you very much. the - to that point quickly. ben wright, thank you very much. the other l to that point quickly. ben wright, i thank you very much. the other big story we've been following today is over the post office and the former post office chairman henry staunton is due to appear before mps shortly to answer questions about compensation for victims of the horizon it scandal. it's the first time in steve staunton has spoken publicly since he was told to delay compensation to sub postmasters. that triggered a row with a the business secretary. on their way to talk to mps. horizon victims and their lawyer. the issue, compensation. and how it is all going. 15 compensation. and how it is all anoin. , , , compensation. and how it is all oaian. , , , ., , going. is the redress getting faster and fairer? speaking _ going. is the redress getting faster and fairer? speaking personally, i

going. is the redress getting fasteri and fairer? speaking personally, of m claim, and fairer? speaking personally, of my claim. i — and fairer? speaking personally, of my claim. i can _ and fairer? speaking personally, of my claim. i can say _ and fairer? speaking personally, of my claim, i can say no. _ and fairer? speaking personally, of my claim, i can say no. no? - and fairer? speaking personally, of my claim, i can say no. no? after. my claim, i can say no. no? after everything _ my claim, i can say no. no? after everything you — my claim, i can say no. no? after everything you have _ my claim, i can say no. no? after everything you have been - my claim, i can say no. no? afterl everything you have been through. yes, as far as i know it is still sat there _ yes, as far as i know it is still sat there. we have refused it and that is— sat there. we have refused it and that is it — sat there. we have refused it and that is it. my sat there. we have refused it and that is it. y . ., sat there. we have refused it and thatisit. g . . _, sat there. we have refused it and thatisit. h that is it. my claim started 16 months ago _ that is it. my claim started 16 months ago and _ that is it. my claim started 16 months ago and i _ that is it. my claim started 16 months ago and i got - that is it. my claim started 16 months ago and i got an - that is it. my claim started 16 | months ago and i got an offer that is it. my claim started 16 - months ago and i got an offer after eight _ months ago and i got an offer after eight months — months ago and i got an offer after eight months no _ months ago and i got an offer after eight months no where _ months ago and i got an offer after eight months no where near- months ago and i got an offer after eight months no where near what i months ago and i got an offer after| eight months no where near what it should _ eight months no where near what it should have — eight months no where near what it should have been. _ eight months no where near what it should have been. mgr— eight months no where near what it should have been.— eight months no where near what it should have been. my claim has not been submitted _ should have been. my claim has not been submitted yet _ should have been. my claim has not been submitted yet because - should have been. my claim has not been submitted yet because i - should have been. my claim has not been submitted yet because i have l should have been. my claim has not i been submitted yet because i have an overturned conviction that was squashed —— quashed in 2021 and it has taken me the last three years just building the claim because of the amount of detail and information that the post office insist we put into it. bill that the post office insist we put into it. �* , ., ., into it. all three still waiting for what they are — into it. all three still waiting for what they are owed, _ into it. all three still waiting for what they are owed, but - into it. all three still waiting for what they are owed, but this i into it. all three still waiting for - what they are owed, but this morning mps have also been asking if the government wanted to go slow on payouts. enter henry staunton, the former post office chairman sacked last month. he claimed a senior civil servant told him to stall spending on compensation ahead of the election. that prompted a

furious response with the business secretary, kemi badenoch, who accused him of spreading falsehoods in a blatant attempt at revenge. the government official in charge of horizon told mps there was no order to slow compensation but it was aware of issues regarding mr staunton's behaviour. concerns had been raised — staunton's behaviour. concerns had been raised with _ staunton's behaviour. concerns had been raised with me _ staunton's behaviour. concerns had been raised with me by _ staunton's behaviour. concerns had been raised with me by the - been raised with me by the shareholder executive about some aspects about the chair�*s performance in terms of his grip on his brief and whether he was alert in meetings. i was aware of the broader concerns but i regarded them as less serious than the allegations that then came to me in early january. that then came to me in early janua . �* , ., , january. and they were that henry staunton allegedly _ january. and they were that henry staunton allegedly tried _ january. and they were that henry staunton allegedly tried to - january. and they were that henry staunton allegedly tried to stop i january. and they were that henry staunton allegedly tried to stop a | staunton allegedly tried to stop a whistle—blower complaining about him and problems with how he ran the board. and then the ceo of the post office weighed in. i board. and then the ceo of the post office weighed in.— office weighed in. i can categorically _ office weighed in. i can categorically say - office weighed in. i can categorically say that i office weighed in. i can - categorically say that nobody in office weighed in. i can _ categorically say that nobody in my team or myself has received any

instruction from the government about slowing down the compensation. all eyes now on what henry staunton has to say this afternoon. we will return to westminster when henry staunton gives the evidence before mps but i want to remind you another story developing through the day. kensington palace says the prince of wales has pulled out of attending the memorial service for the late king constantine of greece at windsor castle due to a personal matter. our royal correspondent gave us the latest. it was quite a surprise withdrawal from the service for his godfather which was taking place at windsor castle, st george's chapel and we don't know what has prompted it. it's been said to be a personal matter that prince william cannot be in attendance and he was due to give a reading, so are busily something preplanned and he was expected to be there. but i would

say the messages we are hearing from royal sources is not to panic or over worry or send too many hares running. we had a number of high—profile royal health stories so perhaps people are hyper aware and sensitive to concerns about royal health but we are told this is not something we should panic about as it were, and it was said his wife, the princess of wales, is continuing to do well. she had abdominal surgery injanuary and has been recuperating and her progress continues to be good. so that's another soothing message we are getting. we are also seeing queen camilla, prince andrew and mike and zara tindall have been filmed going into the ceremony as well.— into the ceremony as well. that's ri a ht. into the ceremony as well. that's right- the — into the ceremony as well. that's right. the royal— into the ceremony as well. that's right. the royal family _ into the ceremony as well. that's right. the royal family will - into the ceremony as well. that's right. the royal family will be . right. the royal family will be headed today by queen camilla because king charles is also absent

because king charles is also absent because of his cancer treatment, which is perhaps another reason why people are setting their hearts a flutter with more health anxiety. we were told in terms of the absence of prince william not to over worry that. it's been a time of great concern about the health of the royal family and there will be a gathering of relations for those who died last year. you would have expected both king charles and prince william to be present. you can aet prince william to be present. you can get more _ prince william to be present. you can get more on _ prince william to be present. you can get more on that story on the bbc news website. if you are just joining us, you are watching bbc news and it'sjust joining us, you are watching bbc news and it's just coming up to 2pm and we are waiting for the former chair of the post office, henry staunton, to give evidence to mps at westminster. they've been hearing evidence from a range of people throughout the day about the compensation scheme that the victims of the horizon it scandal have been looking at and at the start of the select committee hearing, we heard

from carl cresswell from the department for business and trade who, with advice from lawyers, is responsible for deciding on the level of compensation for sub postmasters. he was asked how many claims had so far been settled. we published data at the end of january, at that .58 full claims had been received, 52 had been issued, 41 had been accepted on 28 paid. this was via memorandum that we sent your committee today. as of the end of last week, my team gave me the data last night, we have received 156 full claims, we had made 104 offers... ., .,, 156 full claims, we had made 104 offers... . ., ., ,, offers... that was him talking earlier. offers... that was him talking earlier- i _ offers... that was him talking earlier. iwill_ offers... that was him talking earlier. i will take _ offers... that was him talking earlier. i will take you - offers... that was him talking earlier. i will take you back. offers... that was him talking earlier. i will take you back to westminster, henry strong, the former chair of the post office, has just been sworn in at that session at westminster, let's listening and hear what the mps ask him.- hear what the mps ask him. thank ou, mr hear what the mps ask him. thank you, mr staunton. _ hear what the mps ask him. thank you, mr staunton. i— hear what the mps ask him. thank you, mr staunton. iwill_ hear what the mps ask him. thank you, mr staunton. i will come - you, mr staunton. iwill come

straight to the heart of the questions, which is,