theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Kim Johnson:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people serving imprisonment for public protection sentences were (a) classified as Category A prisoners and (b) in Category A prisons on 11 March 2025. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: Category A prisoners are those that are considered to pose the highest risk to the public, the Police or national security. High security establishments are designed to mitigate those risks and to prevent escape.

Some Category B prisoners are held in high security prisons, though they are not treated as Category A prisoners. They are assessed as posing a high or very high risk to the public if held in other types of establishments. High security prisons also provide specific interventions that are only provided within these establishments and therefore IPP prisoners are there to receive the support required to progress or manage the continued risk that they pose. This Government is committed to ensuring those who can make progress through their sentence are supported to do so, but not in a way that impacts public protection.

The information provided below is from the latest published snapshot for breakdowns of the prison population, as at 31 December 2024. More recent data cannot be provided because it could give an early indication of future Accredited Official Statistics.

Table 1: Number of IPP (Imprisonment for Public Protection) prisoners(1) classified as Category A prisoners(2), as at 31st December 2024, in England and Wales

Number of Category A IPP prisoners(3)

20

Table 2: Number of IPP prisoners(1) held in predominant function Category A (High security) establishments(4), as at 31st December 2024, in England and Wales

Number of prisoners

154

Notes:

1.The figures presented in these tables include both unreleased and recalled IPP prisoners.

2. The data presented in this table includes prisoners classified as Provisional category A.

3. The figure presented in this table constitute a subset of the figure presented in Table 2.

4. A number of prisons have multiple functions (e.g. a prison could have both "Reception" and "Category C" functions). For these prisons, the predominant function has been used.

5. For more information see: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/prisons-and-their-resettlement-providers.

6. Data sources and quality: The figures in these tables have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing. Source: Prison NOMIS.
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Anna Sabine:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps she plans to take to increase jurors' compensation in line with inflation. \p Sarah Sackman: Jury service is an important civic duty, and we want to help jurors feel supported as they undertake this important job. The Government will keep under review all support provided to jurors throughout their service. This includes measures to assist those who may suffer financial hardship. People who are not paid by their employer whilst they are on jury service can claim a loss of earnings allowance from the court, and jurors can apply for a deferral or excusal based upon financial hardship.
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Munira Wilson:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether the pilot scheme to provide support for jurors on the most traumatic cases will be (a) continued and (b) widened to include more courts. \p Sarah Sackman: The pilot to test the need for enhanced support will conclude at the end of March and the results will be evaluated to help assess long term support needs for jurors. Those suffering distress as a result of their service are provided with guidance advising them of other services they can access, including the NHS 111 National Mental Health Helpline.
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Tony Vaughan:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps she is taking to support victims of stalking through the criminal justice system. \p Alex Davies-Jones: The Government was elected with a landmark mission to halve violence against women and girls (VAWG) in the next decade. To do so, the Government is committed to better supporting and protecting victims and survivors of VAWG, including stalking.

The Ministry of Justice provides funding for victim and witness support services. This includes community-based domestic abuse and sexual violence services, in addition to the core funding the Ministry of Justice provides to Police and Crime Commissioners to allocate at their discretion, based on their assessment of local need. This can include services specifically for victims of stalking.

On 3 December, the Government announced a raft of new measures to tackle stalking by putting victims first and making sure they can be protected at the earliest opportunity. Through the Crime and Policing Bill, the Government is introducing provisions which, once implemented, would provide for the courts to impose Stalking Protection Orders (SPOs) on conviction and acquittal of their own volition. SPOs are an essential tool that are designed to protect victims of stalking at the earliest possible opportunity and address the perpetrator’s behaviours before they become entrenched or escalate in severity.

The Government is also introducing provisions to issue: multi-agency statutory guidance on stalking to set out for the first time a robust framework for how agencies such as the police, local authorities and healthcare should define stalking and work together to pursue perpetrators and support victims; and statutory guidance to set out the process by which the police should release identifying information about online stalking perpetrators to victims so appropriate safeguards can be put in place. In addition, the Government is conducting a review of the stalking legislation to determine whether the law could be changed to support a better understanding and better identification of stalking.
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Joe Robertson:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to his Answer to the Question from the hon. Member for Isle of Wight East of 6 March 2025, Official Report, if he will publish the letter. \p Pat McFadden: Yes, please find the letter attached.

Letter to Joe Robertson MP (pdf, 119.7KB)
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Charlie Dewhirst:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the status is of the industrial action in the Office for National Statistics over workplace attendance. \p Georgia Gould: The Trade Unions PCS and Prospect are currently taking industrial action short of a strike with the Office for National Statistics.
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Jim Shannon:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he has taken to improve national resilience to global events. \p Ms Abena Oppong-Asare: The first duty of the Government is to keep the country safe and we are working to strengthen our national resilience, including by working with international partners.

In April the UK Resilience Academy will be launched and will train over 4000 people a year and later this year we will undertake a full national pandemic response exercise.

The review of national resilience continues. Updates will be given in due course.
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Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what changes he is making through the Performance management framework for the Senior Civil Service for 2025-26. \p Georgia Gould: The Senior Civil Service (SCS) performance management framework for the 2025-26 performance year has been published and the changes have been set out within the document. They will take effect from the 1st April 2025.
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Chi Onwurah:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 3 March 2025 to Question 33871 on Government Departments: Digital Technology,  whether these discussions included the digitalisation of Government. \p Georgia Gould: As per the previous answer, the Cabinet Office regularly discusses Civil Service workforce matters with trade unions. These matters are wide ranging and include the use of new technology.
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Tonia Antoniazzi:To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when he has held meetings with the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland to discuss his policy on legacy since July 2024; and what was discussed at each meeting. \p Hilary Benn: I have met the Chief Constable of the PSNI on a number of occasions since I was appointed Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, including this week, to discuss a range of issues including the Government’s approach to legacy reform. This is in addition to written correspondence between the Chief Constable and I regarding legacy matters.

Northern Ireland Office officials have also regularly met police officers in the PSNI’s Legacy Investigation Branch to discuss mutually relevant issues relating to legacy.
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Robin Swann:To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the Answer of 4 March 2025 to Question 34541 on Business: Northern Ireland, whether the Northern Ireland Office Permanent Secretary briefed him on Board meetings prior to the announcement of Transformation Funding. \p Fleur Anderson: Officials advised the Secretary of State on the recommendations made by the interim Board to the Northern Ireland Executive on transformation projects. These projects and their respective funding allocations were announced by the Northern Ireland Minister of Finance on 4 March.
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Robin Swann:To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the Answer of 4 March 2025 to Question 34541 on Business: Northern Ireland, when the remainder of the Transformation Fund will be allocated. \p Fleur Anderson: The Public Sector Transformation Board will run a further process to assess proposals from Northern Ireland departments and will make recommendations on those that are judged to have potential for transformation. Following a decision by the Executive, the remainder of the Government’s funding for transformation can be allocated.
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Rebecca Smith:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what plans he has to strengthen the regulation of online pornography platforms hosting violent and extreme content. \p Feryal Clark: From 17 March 2025 services in scope of the Online Safety Act must take action to tackle illegal pornographic content. Publishers of pornography online also have a duty to use highly effective age assurance to prevent children from accessing pornographic content. By summer, all user-to-user services that allow sharing of pornographic content should also use highly effective age assurance if necessary to prevent children from accessing such content.

The Government published the final report of the Independent Pornography Review on 27 February 2025 and issued an initial statement in response addressing the important issues it raised. A further update will be provided in due course.
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Ben Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to prevent foreign actors from influencing UK democratic processes through social media. \p Feryal Clark: The Government takes the integrity and security of our democratic processes seriously, including the threat of influence from foreign actors.

The UK’s Online Safety Act, will capture disinformation aimed at disrupting elections where it is a criminal offence in the scope of the regulatory framework. This includes the Foreign Interference Offence, which will shortly be in force, requiring all in-scope companies to take action against a range of state-linked disinformation and interference online.

DSIT, as a member of the government’s Defending Democracy Taskforce, also supports ongoing work to protect the democratic integrity of the UK from threats of foreign interference.
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Terry Jermy:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to help protect the use of children’s personal data on social media. \p Chris Bryant: We are taking steps in the Data (Use and Access Bill) to require the ICO to have regard to the fact that children merit specific protection because they may be less aware of the risks in relation to the processing of their personal data. The ICO will need to take account of the new duty when carrying out its regulatory functions – for example, when providing guidance for organisations and enforcing the legislation.

We have also placed a similar duty on Information Society Service providers likely to be accessed by children. These providers will now have clear legal duties to consider how best to protect and support children when designing their data processing activities. Providers will be assisted to comply with the new duty by the ICO’s Age Appropriate Design Code, which provides practical guidance for relevant providers on complying with their obligations under the data protection legislation in relation to children who are likely to access those services.
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John Lamont:To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what he last met with representatives of the Scottish farming sector in Scotland. \p Ian Murray: Supporting Scottish farmers and crofters is a priority for this Government and my department regularly engages with the industry at Ministerial and official levels. Most recently, Minister McNeill delivered a keynote speech at the National Farmers’ Union Scotland annual conference, where she announced that the Scotland Office would host a Food and Farming roundtable soon. Preparations for it are ongoing, in collaboration with the Scottish Government.

Earlier that same week, Minister McNeill accompanied Home Office Minister Seema Malhotra on a visit to a farm in Aberdeenshire, accompanied by NFUS representatives. Prior to that she met with crofters' representatives in Stornoway.
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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what proportion of food procured by his Department is sourced in (a) the UK and (b) Scotland. \p Ian Murray: The Department does not operate any catering outlets. It holds a small number of official functions for which food is served. Catering for these is provided by third parties, who source and procure all supplies. The Department does not hold any data about the origin of any of the food procured or served by those third parties.

The Department hosts trade promotional events supporting Brand Scotland, where Scottish food producers and suppliers serve their products to invited guests.
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John Lamont:To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, when he last met with representatives of the Scottish seafood sector in Scotland. \p Ian Murray: Scotland Office Ministers regularly engage with a range of stakeholders from the sector. I spoke at a Seafood Scotland event in the House of Commons on 26 February. That same day, Minister McNeill met the Scottish Fisherman’s Federation as a follow up from a joint visit organised between her and Home Office Minister Seema Malhotra on 3 February, where they met a number of industry representatives and discussed issues such as access to labour at length.

My department remains committed to continuing to engage with both the wild caught and aquaculture sectors to support the seafood industry in Scotland, and I continue to promote the sector around the world through my Brand Scotland work.
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John Lamont:To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what meetings he has had with Cabinet colleagues on increased Government defence spending in Scotland. \p Ian Murray: The Prime Minister has made it clear that we must strengthen our defence capabilities, which is why this Government has committed to increasing defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027.

Scotland’s world-class defence industry is well-positioned to meet the growing demands for national security. This increase in defence spending will support highly skilled jobs and apprenticeships across the UK, including in Scotland.

The new UK Government support for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) will include specific SME spending targets for defence.

I recently had the pleasure of visiting JFD, a Scottish SME and world leader in underwater capabilities. This visit underscored our commitment to ensuring that these businesses benefit from the historic increase in defence spending. I am proud of Scotland's defence sector and will continue to advocate for the industry and its workforce.
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John Lamont:To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what recent discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on infected blood compensation payments. \p Ian Murray: The UK Government is working closely with devolved governments and existing support schemes in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Minister for the Cabinet Office met the Scottish Minister for Public Health on 3 March 2025 to discuss compensation payments for victims of the infected blood scandal, and he is committed to engaging further with the Scottish Government as we progress this work.
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Mr Paul Kohler:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential causes of the underspend of the Access of All Scheme. \p Simon Lightwood: After Network Rail’s failure to deliver a large number of Access for All projects between 2014 and 2019, various reviews of the Access for All programme have been undertake by the Department for Transport and Network Rail. A number of changes to the programme have been implemented around Network Rail resourcing, governance and supply chain engagement. We are starting to see the benefits of these changes with the programme due to complete 27 projects in financial year 24/25.
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Helen Morgan:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of (a) 24 July 2024 to Question 835 and (b) 25 November 2024 to Question 15073 on Whitchurch (Shropshire) Station: Access, what progress she has made on providing step-free access at Whitchurch Railway Station in Shropshire. \p Simon Lightwood: Network Rail have completed an option selection report for step-free access at Whitchurch railway station. This will be reviewed alongside 49 other stations across Britain to determine which should progress.
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Helen Morgan:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will hold discussions with rail companies on reopening of the Oswestry to Gobowen railway line. \p Simon Lightwood: The Chancellor’s statement of 29 July 2024 confirmed that the Restoring Your Railway programme would be brought to a close, which included the proposed scheme to reopen the line between Oswestry and Gobowen. Proposals from the former Restoring Your Railway programme will be considered in the current Spending Review. There are no proposals to consult with rail operators on schemes whilst the Spending Review is ongoing.
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Mr Paul Kohler:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to publish her Department's review of the Access for All Scheme. \p Simon Lightwood: Various reviews of the Access for All programme have been undertake by the Department for Transport, the Government Internal Audit Agency and Network Rail. A number of changes to the programme have been implemented around Network Rail resourcing, governance and supply chain engagement. We are starting to see the benefits of these changes with the programme due to complete 27 projects in financial year 24/25.

The review has been completed in full. However, any decision regarding its publication will be a matter for the Government Internal Audit Agency (GIAA). The report has found that the governance structures are generally strong, with only minor recommendations for improvement.
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Anna Sabine:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress her Department has made on the electrification of the line between Bristol and Chippenham. \p Lilian Greenwood: Passengers using the line between Bristol Temple Meads and Chippenham are benefiting from the bi-mode rolling stock introduced in 2019 as part of the Great Western Route Modernisation programme. These trains are delivering faster and more reliable end to end journeys for passengers.
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Anna Sabine:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the (a) financial and (b) time impact of the deferred electrification between Bristol and Chippenham on commuters. \p Lilian Greenwood: Electrification of the line between Bristol Temple Meads and Chippenham was deferred in 2016. Passengers on this line are benefiting from the bi-mode rolling stock introduced in 2019 which are delivering faster and more reliable end to end journeys. No subsequent assessment has been made since the deferral of electrification on this line.
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Mr Paul Kohler:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many and what proportion of train platforms have tactile platforms. \p Simon Lightwood: Using £75m of government funding, Network Rail have recently completed a programme to install platform edge tactiles at all mainline stations that did not have them in place or where they were planned to be installed as part of another enhancement or renewal project. This leaves 20 stations across Britain without tactiles out of a total of 2585 stations, with the majority of these to be installed this year or early in 2026.
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Mr Paul Kohler:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress she has made on the feasibility study for installing lifts at Raynes Park station under the Access for All programme; and what her planned timetable is for the completion of those lifts. \p Simon Lightwood: Feasibility work for step free access at Raynes Park station is underway. We expect all 50 of the feasibility studies announced last year to be complete in April. We expect to be able to confirm which stations will move forward over the summer.
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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if her Department will make an assessment of the potential impact of rail delays on the West Coast Mainline on the economy of Fylde constituency. \p Simon Lightwood: Ministers have been clear that rail services have been failing passengers; we need to improve services for passengers and deliver better value for money for the taxpayer. The Rail Minister is meeting with the Managing Directors of all train operators, and their Network Rail counterparts, to address poor performance and demand immediate action to raise standards. The Department is in regular contact with local stakeholders, including Lancashire County Council and Transport for the North, on how to improve rail services to support the growth of the regional economy.
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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to ensure reliable Sunday services on Northern Rail train services in Fylde constituency. \p Simon Lightwood: The Rail North Partnership, through which the department and Transport for the North manages Northern’s contract, required the operator to produce a detailed improvement plan. The plan includes:

Northern is in regular discussions with its staff and the unions and ministers are monitoring this progress closely.
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Zöe Franklin:To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she plans to provide support to local businesses potentially impacted by delays to the completion of M25 junction 10 works. \p Lilian Greenwood: The project has been delayed due to a number of factors. Severe weather, with unexpected heavy rainfall since October 2023 caused poor ground conditions. This postponed planned winter work and required a redesign of embankments and drainage. Additionally, the discovery of unexpected underground utilities along the A3 have further complicated progress, leading to extended relocation and design adjustments. Works on the M25 at junction 10 are expected to complete by late summer 2025, helping to alleviate traffic queues. The scheme is due to complete in Spring 2026. National Highways is working with its supplier to assess the full impact of delays and to minimise costs. Given the project's scale and complexity, the final cost will only be determined upon completion.

In terms of the support available for local businesses, National Highways provides compensation as established in legislation across all its projects, ensuring appropriate use of taxpayers’ money. National Highways can only consider compensation in line with legislation, for example where it takes land during scheme delivery, but not for loss of earnings during temporary road works.
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David Chadwick:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will consider a permanent fund for therapeutic support for adoptive and special guardship families. \p Janet Daby: I refer the hon. Member for Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe to the answer of 29 January 2025 to Question 26025.
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Tony Vaughan:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to work with Local Authorities to improve the teaching quality of Education otherwise than in a school packages. \p Catherine McKinnell: This government’s ambition is that all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities or who are in alternative provision, including those receiving education otherwise than in a school (EOTAS), receive the right support to succeed in their education and as they move into adult life.

Last year, the department published a consultation titled ‘Strengthening protections in unregistered alternative provision’, which sought views on proposals intended to improve practice and raise standards for children in non-school settings, including those with education, health and care plans that gave them support through EOTAS. We are committed to improving the outcomes for vulnerable children being educated in this way and will set out the government’s response to the consultation and next steps in due course.
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Pippa Heylings:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of children travelling to school by (a) walking, (b) wheeling and (c) cycling on learning. \p Catherine McKinnell: The publication ’Physical activity guidelines: UK Chief Medical Officers' report’, states that the benefits for young people of doing regular physical exercise include improved learning and attainment. The full publication can be read here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5d839543ed915d52428dc134/uk-chief-medical-officers-physical-activity-guidelines.pdf.

Active Travel England (ATE) is the government’s executive agency responsible for promoting walking, wheeling and cycling as the preferred choice of travel in England. They are responsible for a number of schemes which promote active travel to school. For instance, ATE has published School Streets guidance for local authorities in England. A School Street is a road outside a school with a restriction on motorised traffic at the start and end of the school day. The guidance can be found online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-streets-how-to-set-up-and-manage-a-scheme.

Additionally, they provide funding for the Modeshift STARS education scheme, which recognises schools and other educational establishments that have shown excellence in supporting cycling, walking and other forms of sustainable and active travel. More information on the Modeshift STARS education scheme can be found here: https://modeshiftstars.org/education/.

ATE also provides funding for Bikeability, the government’s national cycle training programme. More information on Bikeability can be found here: https://www.bikeability.org.uk/.

Local authorities have a duty to promote the use of sustainable travel on journeys to and from places of education in their area. They must publish a sustainable modes of travel strategy which aims to provide health benefits for children and their families through active journeys and environmental improvements through reduced congestion and improved air quality. Further information is available in the department's statutory guidance for local authorities, which can be accessed at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/home-to-school-travel-and-transport-guidance.
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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what proportion of food procured by her Department is sourced in (a) the UK and (b) Wales. \p Jo Stevens: The Wales Office does not procure food directly.
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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, what guidance the Commission has provided on whether the provisions on hon. Members being required to report linked donations and declaring the identity of the ultimate donor, under Category 2(a), includes donations made through unincorporated associations or members' associations which in turn have been funded by a third party donor; and whether such ultimate donors should be permissible donors. \p Nick Smith: The Commission does not issue guidance on the registration of Members’ Financial interests. The Committee on Standards periodically reviews the Code of Conduct and Guide to the Rules relating to the Conduct of Members and makes recommendations for changes for the House to consider.

The rules on registering donations under both Category 2(a) and 2(b) are set out in paragraphs 14 to 20 of The Guide to the Rules relating to the Conduct of Members. Those rules do not require the provision of information on individuals or organisations that donate to unincorporated associations or members’ associations which in turn, make donations to Members.

The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards has issued an Advice Note on the transparency of registration of income, donations and other financial interests which explains the importance of transparency when registering financial interests. Advice Notes are designed to supplement, and not supersede or contradict, specific provisions of the Code.

The permissibility of donors is a matter for the Electoral Commission, not the Commission.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-14)

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Mark Pritchard:To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission,  if the Commission will bring forward proposals to agree sanctions against (a) hon. Members and (b) members of staff employed by (i) the House of Commons and (ii) hon. Members who share security advice received from House authorities with (A) media organisations, (B) third parties and (C) other external audiences. \p Nick Smith: The security of Parliament and its Members is a priority for the Commission, and it expects everyone in the parliamentary community, including Members, Members’ staff and House Administration staff, to support this aim and manage sensitive information appropriately. As the Commission and parliamentary authorities have repeatedly made clear, unauthorised disclosure of confidential security advice can pose a direct risk to the security of those we are trying to protect.

The House of Commons Commission has not discussed sanctions on Members who share security advice. However, unauthorised disclosures may also amount to a breach of the Code of Conduct for Members, in which case it would be for the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards or the Committee on Standards to consider penalties on a case-by-case basis.

House Administration staff who make an unauthorised disclosure would be subject to disciplinary action as set out in the House of Commons staff handbook.

Staff employed by Members are not the direct responsibility of the Commission, as they are employed by their Member. However, the Commission would call upon the Member to set standards for conduct and behaviour, and to determine disciplinary action where appropriate. Unauthorised disclosure of confidential information by their staff could be considered gross misconduct.

Beyond formal sanctions, the Parliamentary Authorities engage extensively with Members, their staff and House Administration staff to ensure they understand the crucial role they have to play in the security of the parliamentary community, including information security.
wrans/answers2025-04-10 conversation_1
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-10 conversation_1

Mr James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of reductions in Official Development Assistance on UNICEF’s ability to deliver services to vulnerable children. \p Stephen Doughty: The United Nations Children's Fund remains a key partner for delivery of the Foreign Secretary's priorities such as education, health, and humanitarian, including Gaza, Ukraine, and Sudan. Decisions on how the Official Development Assistance budget will be used will be worked through as part of the ongoing Spending Review, based on various factors including impact assessments.
wrans/answers2025-04-10 conversation_2
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-10 conversation_2

Mr James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact in changes to Official Development Assistance provided to Jordan on regional stability. \p Stephen Doughty: The UK's Official Development Assistance (ODA) supports Jordan's transition towards economic self-sufficiency, helps reduce the drivers of migration and has supported Jordan as it delivered humanitarian assistance to Gaza. The Minister for International Development made Jordan her first official visit overseas in her new role from 23-25 March. She announced that UK funding for the Global Concessional Financing Facility will support Jordan's efforts to host its 3.5 million refugee population. Reducing the overall size of our ODA budget will necessarily have an impact on the scale and shape of the work we do globally. Decisions on how the ODA budget will be used will be worked through as part of the ongoing Spending Review and resource allocation processes, based on various factors including impact assessments.
wrans/answers2025-04-10 conversation_3
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-10 conversation_3

Mr James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much Official Development Assistance was allocated to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency in each of the last five financial years. \p Stephen Doughty: The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) plays a vital role in delivering humanitarian assistance in Gaza and enabling the broader international response through its logistics and distribution network. Figures for the UK Funding to UNRWA for the last five financial years can be found below. The decrease in funding from the Financial Year 2020/21 to Financial Year 2021/22 was due to the move from 0.7 per cent to 0.5 per cent Official Development Assistance.

Financial Year

Total Funding

2024/25

£41,000,000

2023/24

£35,000,000

2022/23

£18,700,000

2021/22

£15,920,000

2020/21

£63,685,574
wrans/answers2025-04-10 conversation_4
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-10 conversation_4

Fabian Hamilton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure the delivery of freedom of religion or belief work in his Department's (a) diplomatic and (b) development efforts. \p Stephen Doughty: The UK is championing the right to freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) and promoting tolerance and mutual respect through our engagement in multilateral fora - including our position at the United Nations (UN) and Article 18 Alliance - through our important bilateral work, working collaboratively with the Special Envoy for FoRB, David Smith, and our programme funding. This includes the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office's (FCDO) designated programme for FoRB-focused projects overseas, the John Bunyan Fund (JBF).

The JBF supports a range of projects aimed at protecting and promoting FoRB. The FCDO works to ensure that Official Development Assistance (ODA) is allocated to support those who are most vulnerable and most in need of this assistance irrespective of race, religion, or ethnicity. This includes minority religious or belief communities, who are assessed by our partners when determining those most in need of protection and assistance.
wrans/answers2025-04-10 conversation_5
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-10 conversation_5

Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when he last had discussions with his French counterpart on the right to freedom of religion or belief in France. \p Stephen Doughty: The UK is strongly committed to freedom of religion or belief for all abroad. The UK champions the right to freedom of religion or belief and promoting tolerance and mutual respect through our position at the UN, G7 and other multilateral fora, and in our bilateral work. Ministers and officials engage with their French counterparts on a broad range of issues, for example at the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe's Conference on Addressing Antisemitism (10-11 February 2025). Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office officials also engage with faith leaders in France.
wrans/answers2025-04-10 conversation_6
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-10 conversation_6

Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will publish the criteria to determine the prioritisation of Official Development Assistance funding in 2025-26; and what steps is he taking to ensure such spending optimises value for money. \p Stephen Doughty: We are committed to modernising our approach to development to help provide the best value for money for UK taxpayers and deliver mutual benefits at home and overseas. We will work with our partners in new ways to maximise our impact.

To enable us to deliver the transition to spending 0.3 per cent of gross national income on Official Development Assistance effectively, in 2025/26 we are prioritising meeting legally binding commitments and delivering work already underway, as well as planned humanitarian spend. This will help deliver the flexibility the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office requires to set a transitional set of final allocations following the Spending Review. We have also established an exemptions process to allow for critical new development work to continue.

Full detail is set out in Baroness Chapman's 27 March letter to the International Development Committee [https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/47275/documents/245059/default/].
wrans/answers2025-04-10 conversation_7
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-10 conversation_7

Chris Evans:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking with international partners to help tackle the digital persecution of Christians. \p Stephen Doughty: There is no space for religious intolerance in pluralistic, modern societies. We are championing the right to freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all and promoting tolerance and mutual respect through our engagement in multilateral fora, our bilateral work, working collaboratively with the Special Envoy for FoRB, David Smith, and our programme funding.

The development and use of digital technology presents both opportunities and risks for the enjoyment of human rights, including FoRB. It is important that we champion the positive potential of technology, whilst taking action to mitigate risks. We do this by working with international partners and through multilateral fora including the United Nations and the Article 18 Alliance which has a workstream, co-chaired by the UK, focused on FoRB and Artificial Intelligence.
wrans/answers2025-04-10 conversation_8
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-10 conversation_8

Fabian Hamilton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure UK aid supports women facing persecution due to both their faith and gender. \p Stephen Doughty: The UK remains strongly committed to freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all abroad. It is our firm opinion that no one should live in fear because of what they do or do not believe in. We are championing the right to FoRB and promoting tolerance and mutual respect through our engagement in multilateral fora, our bilateral work, and our programme funding.

We are clear, too, that we will work to advance gender equality and empower women and girls through our international action. We focus on those with intersecting forms of disadvantage where the risks are extreme.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office works to ensure that Official Development Assistance (ODA) is allocated to support those who are most vulnerable and most in need of this assistance irrespective of race, religion, or ethnicity. This includes minority religious or belief communities, who are assessed by our partners when determining those most in need of protection and assistance.
wrans/answers2025-04-10 conversation_9
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-10 conversation_9

Sarah Champion:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the proposed reduction in Official Development Assistance from 2027 on people with disabilities; and what steps he is taking to (a) fund and (b) otherwise resource the FCDO Disability Inclusion and Rights Strategy to 2030. \p Stephen Doughty: Official Development Assistance (ODA) allocations and the impact on programmes are being worked through following the decision to reduce UK ODA from 0.5 per cent of gross national income to 0.3 per cent in 2027. Equality Impact Assessments - which consider impacts on people with disabilities - are an essential part of how we make decisions, including on ODA allocations. We will set out our spending plans following the completion of the spending review.

At 16 per cent of the global population, people with disabilities are among the world's most vulnerable, particularly at times of crisis. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office is committed to mainstreaming a disability inclusion and rights approach across our work and we will also drive stronger international coordination to advance global disability inclusion progress.