Britain’s foreign minister, David Lammy, has told parliament he is reassured that the UN Palestinian refugee agency had taken steps to “ensure it meets the highest standards of neutrality”.

Britain was one of several countries to halt their funding to the UN Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA following accusations by Israel that some of the agency’s staff were involved in the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel that triggered the Gaza war.

“I can confirm to the house that we are overturning the suspension of UNRWA funding, Britain will provide 21 million [pounds, $27m] in funds” to the agency, he said.