theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Clive Lewis:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department plans to take to monitor and report on water usage by Small Modular Reactors. \p Emma Hardy: Sustainable water usage is a crucial factor in the siting of any industry including small modular reactors, and for enabling a low carbon, secure energy infrastructure. The Environment Agency regulates water abstraction in England. The information provided therefore relates to England only.

Prospective operators of small modular reactors that plan to abstract water from inland or tidal waters are required, like any other operator, to apply to the Environment Agency for an abstraction licence (Apply for a water abstraction or impounding licence - GOV.UK).

The Environment Agency will assess whether the water catchment can support the proposed abstraction at the pre-application stage. If it determines that the catchment can support the abstraction, then it will issue a licence to the prospective operator, which will require monitoring and reporting of abstraction volumes. This data is used by its environmental planning teams in the strategic assessment of water resource availability.
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Lincoln Jopp:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to reinstate dredging to increase river capacity. \p Emma Hardy: Where watercourse maintenance is the responsibility of the Environment Agency (EA), it focuses its efforts on those activities which will achieve the greatest benefit in terms of protecting people and property from flooding. This includes dredging, which the EA will undertake an assessment of, working in close consultation with local communities.

For many locations, there are more effective ways to protect land and communities from floods as part of a catchment-based approach.
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Terry Jermy:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to tackle toxic lead pipes in housing in (a) England, (b) East Anglia and (c) South West Norfolk. \p Emma Hardy: Lead pipes have not been permitted since 1970, but they may be present in older properties.

To reduce the risk of lead leaching into water, this Government expects water companies to treat the water. Any failure of the lead standard is investigated thoroughly.

In Defra’s Strategic Policy Statement to Ofwat, we supported action by the water industry to trial approaches to reduce exposure to lead which have been agreed in water companies’ business plans for 2025-2030. Two Green Recovery projects, approved by Ofwat, are also trialling replacement of customer supply pipes made of lead.
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David Simmonds:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 7 January 2025 to Question 21148 on Air Pollution, which local authorities his Department is discussing Clean Air Zones with. \p Emma Hardy: The Government has agreed local plans with all areas in the NO2 programme except for Stoke-on-Trent/Newcastle-under-Lyme. Seven Clean Air Zones have been implemented by local authorities under the previous Government where local plans had evidenced them to achieve legal NO2 levels in the shortest possible time. Government engages with these local authorities on a range of issues, including the operation of their Clean Air Zones,

Local authorities with established Clean Air Zones are:
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Tom Tugendhat:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what statutory guidance his Department issues to water companies on issuing compensation to customers in cases where the minimum standards of service required under The Water Supply and Sewerage Services (Customer Service Standards) Regulations 2008 have not been met. \p Emma Hardy: The Water Supply and Sewerage Services (Customer Service Standards) Regulations 2008 are often referred to as the Guaranteed Standards Scheme (GSS). The GSS establishes baseline expectations for customer service and corresponding payments to be made to affected customers when the standards have not been met. The independent economic regulator Ofwat provides guidance on the scheme, as well as monitors and makes determinations to resolve disputes over GSS claims between companies and customers.

Following a public consultation, the Government confirmed on 17 December 2024 that it will introduce new and increased statutory payments of double the previous amounts or more. The changes will also see the list of circumstances that can trigger compensation expand.

Furthermore, in October 2024 UK and Welsh Governments launched what is expected to be the largest review of the water sector since privatisation, with an Independent Water Commission to examine the sector and its regulatory framework.
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Suella Braverman:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the press release entitled Reeves: I am going further and faster to kick start the economy, published on 28 January 2025, whether a new reservoir will be built in Hampshire. \p Emma Hardy: Portsmouth Water’s Havant Thicket Reservoir will be the first reservoir built in over 30 years. The Havant Thicket Reservoir is under construction. It will have a capacity of 8.7 billion litres, supply an average of 21 million litres of water per day and is forecast to be operational in 2032. The reservoir will improve the resilience of local water supplies and protect iconic chalk streams.
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Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of degraded drainage infrastructure on trends in flooding levels in rural areas. \p Emma Hardy: Protecting communities from the dangers of flooding is one of Defra’s top priorities. We have inherited flood assets in their poorest condition on record meaning approximately 60,000 properties are at a higher risk.

We are taking decisive action to stop the steady decline and ensure the flood defences we already have are in good working order, protecting communities across the country from extreme weather events. We are investing a record £2.65 billion over two years for around 1000 projects, of which over £450 million will fund the repair and maintenance of existing assets. This includes re-prioritising £108 million into asset maintenance, which will ensure that an additional 14,500 properties will have their level of protection maintained or restored.

Watercourse management responsibilities fall to different bodies and we expect all those responsible to invest in ongoing maintenance and necessary repairs. Riparian landowners are required to keep watercourses clear of anything which could cause an obstruction to the flow of water on their land, or downstream if washed away.

The Environment Agency (EA) has permissive powers to undertake maintenance on main rivers and will focus its efforts on those activities which will achieve the greatest flood risk benefit. Lead local flood authorities or internal drainage boards (IDBs) have permissive powers for ordinary watercourses.

To support greater resilience for farmers and rural communities, we have also invested £50 million as part of the one-off £75 million IDB Fund. The Fund will provide opportunities to modernise and upgrade IDB assets.

The EA is working with Dorset Council on the Dorset Rural Runoff project to improve understanding of flooding causes and identify potential interventions to reduce flooding impacts.
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James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans he has to support low-income households with water bills. \p Emma Hardy: Under the Conservatives, our sewage system crumbled. They irresponsibly let water companies divert customers’ money to line the pockets of their bosses and shareholders. The public are right to be angry after they have been left to pay the price of Conservative failure.

This Government has ringfenced money earmarked for investment so it can never be diverted for bonuses and shareholder payouts. We will clean up our rivers, lakes and seas for good

The Government is committed to taking action to address water poverty and help vulnerable customers.

All water companies have measures in place for people who struggle to pay for their water and wastewater services, including measures such as WaterSure, social tariffs, payment breaks and holidays, and debt management support. We expect all companies to make sure households are aware of the measures available to them and do everything they can to support all customers who are vulnerable.

The Government is also improving protections for customers, with new and increased compensation for water companies to pay to customers and businesses in the event of issues like water supply outages, sewer flooding or low water pressure.

Furthermore, we expect companies to hold themselves accountable for their public commitment to end water poverty by 2030 and will work with the sector to ensure appropriate measures are taken to deliver this.
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Mike Amesbury:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of recent flooding response preparations. \p Emma Hardy: Protecting communities from flooding is a key priority for this Government. Defra and the Environment Agency work together and with partners to continuously assess and improve flood response preparations.

In September 2024, the Government’s new Floods Resilience Taskforce assessed the preparedness and resilience to flooding in advance of the winter. The Taskforce met again on 5 February where members discussed the impacts and learning from flooding experienced since September.
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Charlotte Cane:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to support people who become ill from sewage discharge. \p Emma Hardy: For too long, water companies have discharged record levels of sewage into our rivers, lakes and seas. The Government is committed to holding water companies to account. The Water (Special Measures) Bill will drive meaningful improvements in the performance and culture of the water industry as a first important step in enabling wider, transformative change across the water sector.

The Storm Overflow Discharge Reduction Plan sets the stretching public health target that water companies must significantly reduce harmful pathogens from storm overflows discharging near designated bathing waters to meet Environment Agency (EA) spill standards by 2035. To support this, as part of one of the most ambitious investment cycles since privatisation, investment is going in to improving storm overflows to reduce spills prioritising those affecting the most sensitive sites, including bathing waters.

Furthermore, during the bathing water season, designated sites benefit from water quality monitoring by the Environment Agency, enabling the public to make informed decisions about where to swim: Swimfo bathing waters website

Throughout the bathing season, the EA also makes daily pollution risk forecasts for a number of bathing waters where water quality may be temporarily reduced, notifying bathers of these changes.
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Robbie Moore:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of farm size on farm productivity. \p Daniel Zeichner: We collect detailed information on the financial position and physical and economic performance of farm businesses in England through the Farm Business Survey (FBS). The Farming Productivity Dashboard provides key statistics on farm performance and productivity in England (Productivity Dashboard).
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Robbie Moore:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when his Department first knew about the 7 day delay to changes in the IPAFFS IT system, following the outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Germany. \p Daniel Zeichner: We do not recognise the assertation that there was a delay in controls being implemented. The department acted quickly to stop consignments that presented a risk.

Following the confirmation of outbreak, we immediately instructed Port Health Authorities (PHAs) across Great Britain to suspend susceptible FMD imports that posed a risk to UK biosecurity. Additionally, we immediately informed border authorities, including Dover Port Health Authority and businesses, with the first communications issued at 17:42 and 21:00 on 10 January, and implemented measures to suspend commercial and personal imports of commodities from susceptible animals.
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Mr Mark Francois:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether it remains his Department's policy to deploy the Carrier Strike Group to the Indo-Pacific this year. \p Luke Pollard: Defence is planning to deploy the Carrier Strike Group to the Indo-Pacific where it will be the focal point for numerous exercises, operations, and engagements in the region.
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Dr Roz Savage:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department plans to (a) review and (b) release (i) underused and (ii) surplus land to help meet housing targets in South and North Cotswolds. \p Maria Eagle: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is committed to reviewing its estate to ensure it is of the right size and suitable for Defence purposes, whilst supporting wider Government house building initiatives.

On average, the MOD releases enough surplus land for over 3,500 new homes a year.

Any new sites identified as surplus would be disposed in the usual way.

As set out in December, the Government has purchased over 36,000 military homes through a landmark deal to bring the military housing estate back into public ownership.

Alongside this, the Government kickstarted work on a new military housing strategy which will explore better use of MOD land to support the delivery of affordable homes.
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Alison Taylor:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps he is taking to help ensure the protection of (a) medical equipment in hospitals in Gaza and (b) medical facilities in conflict zones. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: We remain gravely concerned by the lack of adequate medical care in Gaza. Nearly all of Gaza's hospitals are damaged or partly destroyed, according to the World Health Organization. I have raised our concern about the ability of civilians safely to access medical treatment with the Government of Israel, and we highlighted our concerns at the recent UN Security Council meeting on healthcare in Gaza. International Humanitarian Law (IHL) gives special protection to medical missions, health facilities, their staff and equipment and to humanitarian personnel exclusively engaged in medical duties. We will continue to use our permanent seat on the UN Security Council to promote compliance with IHL, seek accountability for violations, and implement existing UN Security Council Resolutions (UNSCR) - including UNSCR 2286 on Healthcare in Armed Conflict, which the UK co-sponsored.
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Tom Morrison:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of establishing a medical evacuation scheme for children in Gaza. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: We continue to support the provision of healthcare in Gaza and the region, and officials from all relevant Government departments are exploring avenues to ensure our support best meets the needs of the critically ill in Gaza. The Government is keeping our humanitarian programme and existing policies on medical evacuations and visa pathways under review in response to events in Gaza.

The ceasefire provides a vital opportunity to increase the number of medical evacuations from Gaza. It is very positive that the Rafah crossing has reopened to support this. It is vital that Israel ensures that there is a sustained passage for patients who need treatment not available in Gaza, and the UK frequently engages with Israel to ensure critically ill patients receive the medical treatment they need.

We have announced £1 million for the Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population, delivered through World Health Organisation (WHO) Egypt, to support medically evacuated Palestinians from Gaza. The UK is also supporting the provision of essential healthcare to civilians in Gaza, including support to UK-MED who have now provided vital care to over 330,000 Gazans since the start of the conflict.
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Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will take steps with Cabinet colleagues to ensure that UK (a) defence equipment supplied to and (b) trade with Israel is not used to support the continued presence of Israel in the Palestinian Occupied Territories. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The UK's robust export licensing criteria states that the Government will not issue export licences if there is a clear risk that the items might be used to commit or facilitate serious violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL). In September 2024, following an IHL review, we have suspended certain export licences to Israel where we have assessed there is a clear risk that they might be used to commit or facilitate serious violations of IHL. We do not encourage or offer support to economic and financial activity in the settlements, and our commitment to a two-state solution is unwavering, as is our commitment to international law. We advise British businesses to consider the UK government's stance towards settlements when considering their investments and activities in the region.
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Steve Witherden:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with his Israeli counterpart on its international obligations on the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The UK remains opposed to anti-United Nations Relief and Work Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) Knesset legislation which came into force on 30 January, and unequivocally rejects attempts to undermine or degrade UNRWA. UNRWA plays a vital role in delivering humanitarian assistance in Gaza and enabling the broader international response through its logistics and distribution network. We reiterated this position in our E3 joint Foreign Ministers' statement of 31 January, alongside France and Germany. The Foreign Secretary's Representative for Humanitarian Affairs in the Occupied Palestinian Territories also raised this with the Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs on 23 January.
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Ayoub Khan:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many medical evacuations from Gaza to the UK have been (a) requested by the UK and (b) successfully conducted since 7 October 2023. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: Officials from all relevant Whitehall departments are exploring avenues to ensure our support best meets the needs of the critically ill in Gaza, and we continue to support the provision of healthcare in Gaza and the region. The Government is keeping our humanitarian programme and existing policies on medical evacuations and visa pathways under review in response to events in Gaza.

The ceasefire provides a vital opportunity to increase the number of medical evacuations from Gaza. It is very positive that the Rafah crossing has reopened to support this. It is vital that Israel ensures that there is a sustained passage for patients who need treatment not available in Gaza, and the UK frequently engages with Israel to ensure critically ill patients receive the medical treatment they need.

We have announced £1 million for the Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population, delivered through World Health Organisation (WHO) Egypt, to support medically evacuated Palestinians from Gaza. The UK is also supporting the provision of essential healthcare to civilians in Gaza, including support to UK-MED who have now provided vital care to over 330,000 Gazans since the start of the conflict.
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Ayoub Khan:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to his correspondence of 8 January 2024 to the Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, if he will list the steps his Department takes to monitor the risk of genocide being committed as part of the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria process. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: Criterion 1 of the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria states that the Government will not grant a licence if to do so would be inconsistent with the UK's international obligations and commitments. This includes the duty to prevent genocide under Article 1 of the Genocide Convention. We draw on a range of sources in making assessments, including NGOs, international organisations, and reporting from our overseas network. All licences are kept under careful and continual review as standard.
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Ayoub Khan:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of making Israel a Human Rights Priority country. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The UK is committed to promoting and protecting human rights and rule of law around the world. On 10 December 2024, the Foreign Secretary and Lord Collins, Minister for Human Rights, set out their five priorities on human rights and democratic governance. Central to the strategic approach is the principle that human rights matter everywhere.

The UK is committed to improving the human rights situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. We regularly call on Israel to abide by its obligations under international law.
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Ayoub Khan:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made representations to his Israeli counterpart on (a) the killing of Sondos Jamal Muhammed Shalabi and (b) other actions in Nur Shams refugee camp. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: We cannot comment on individual cases, but we remain concerned by the situation in the West Bank and reiterate that Israel must ensure that civilians are protected. The Foreign Secretary has raised the situation in the West Bank and issues of international law compliance directly at the highest levels of the Israeli Government. This government is clear that international law must be upheld, and civilians protected.
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Laura Kyrke-Smith:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his international counterparts on tackling irregular migration to the UK. \p Anneliese Dodds: The Foreign Secretary has made migration a top Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office priority. On 31 January, the Foreign Secretary travelled to Tunisia to see UK programming addressing the upstream drivers of migration. On 15 February, the Foreign Secretary met key European partners at the Munich Security Conference to discuss how to use sanctions to tackle people smuggling and Organised Immigration Crime.
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Dr Al Pinkerton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of integrating carbon monoxide risks into country-based travel advisories. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: We are now adding information to our dedicated page for independent travellers to highlight the risks of carbon monoxide poisoning globally. We will continue to include information about carbon monoxide in specific country travel advice where there is evidence of significant and enduring risk to British people. Currently that is China and Nepal. We keep this under regular review.
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Sadik Al-Hassan:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his Iraqi counterpart on strengthening UK-Iraq relations. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: I met Iraqi Foreign Minister Dr Fuad Husein during the official visit of his Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani to the UK from 14-16 January. During the visit, our Prime Ministers signed the landmark Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, a wide-ranging treaty on trade and strategic cooperation, and announced a trade package worth up to £12.3 billion.
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Sonia Kumar:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of supporting the establishment of a medical evacuation scheme for children in Gaza requiring urgent treatment. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: We have announced £1 million for the Egyptian Ministry of Health, delivered through World Health Organisation (WHO) Egypt, to support medically evacuated Palestinians from Gaza. Israel must ensure sustained passage through the now open Rafah crossing, for those needing treatment unavailable in Gaza, during the first phase of the ceasefire.
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Robin Swann:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with the Northern Ireland Executive on the development of its international relations strategy. \p Mr Hamish Falconer: The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has held official-level discussions with the Northern Ireland Executive (NIE) on their proposal to develop an international relations strategy. We look forward to continuing that engagement with the NIE in due course as its Strategy is further developed.
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Mr Mark Francois:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an estimate of the projected financial commitments within the revised agreement with Mauritius on the Chagos Islands including adjustments for (a) inflation and (b) exchange rate fluctuations. \p Stephen Doughty: Once the treaty is signed it will be put before both Houses for scrutiny before ratification in the usual way.
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Mr Mark Francois:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has withdrawn the veto on the compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice on disputes with countries that (a) are and (b) have been Commonwealth members. \p Stephen Doughty: The position around the International Court of Justice compulsory jurisdiction remains as per the UK's deceleration of 22 February 2017.
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Ayoub Khan:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made representations to his US counterpart on British citizens and their families impacted by that country's sanctions on the International Criminal Court. \p Stephen Doughty: Successive UK and US administrations have taken a different view on the ICC - for example, the UK are signatories to the Rome Statute, the US are not. We support the independence of the ICC. Imposing sanctions against ICC officials impedes the Court's ability to carry out its important work prosecuting the most serious crimes of international concern. We will continue to engage with the US administration on all our priorities.
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he plans to take with his (a) US and (b) EU counterparts to provide additional support to Ukraine. \p Stephen Doughty: We are in constant contact with our US and European partners to ensure that Ukraine has the support it needs. The Foreign Secretary led a senior UK delegation at the Munich Security Conference focussed on bolstering joint efforts to address the challenges of Russia's illegal war in Ukraine. On 17 February the Prime Minister travelled to Paris to meet with President Macron and other European leaders to review the situation in Ukraine and security issues in Europe. We are also working with G7 partners, including the US and EU, to implement the $50 billion Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration Loan by advancing the extraordinary profits generated by immobilized Russian Assets. We are working with Europe, stepping up our collective defence spending and support to Ukraine. Europe now provides 60 percent of all aid to Ukraine, and over half of all military aid. The UK will spend £4.5 billion on lethal aid for Ukraine this year - more than ever before, and we will set out a pathway to increase Defence spending to 2.5 percent in the spring.
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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of recent attempts by Russia to destabilise democracies in the Eastern Caucasian region; and what steps he is taking to support that region to counter those attempts. \p Stephen Doughty: Countering Russia's efforts to destabilise democracies in the South Caucasus, such as Armenia and Georgia, is a priority for the UK. We have previously supported Georgia in combatting Russian hybrid aggression by helping increase Georgia's cyber resilience. We took all opportunities to condemn Russia's illegal presence in Georgian territories including through the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolutions. We have supported Armenia's efforts to remove itself from Russia's orbit, including through support for Armenia's reform agenda and efforts to building institutional resilience and to strengthen cyber and border management.
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Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what the total cost is of the financial settlement for the transfer of sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. \p Stephen Doughty: Details of the proposed treaty will be set out when it is laid before Parliament.
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Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, which groups of Chagossians he has met with; and when he met them. \p Stephen Doughty: As Minister for the Overseas Territories, I have met with members of the Chagossian community on 30 September and 3 October, and officials have also been in regular contact with Chagossians on a range of issues. We recognise the importance of the British Indian Ocean Territory / Chagos Archipelago to Chagossians and have worked to ensure the sovereignty agreement reflects their interests.
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Priti Patel:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many counter proposals the Government has received from the Mauritian Government on the future sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory since 3 October 2024. \p Stephen Doughty: It would not have been, nor would it be appropriate to provide a running commentary on private negotiations, not least given the national security issues involved. When the treaty text is finalised and agreed, it will be laid before Parliament, which will be the right time for scrutiny and discussion.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-25)

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Priti Patel:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Government has agreed any changes to (a) the proposed treaty and (b) financial arrangements connected to the agreement with Mauritius announced on 3 October 2024 on the future sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory. \p Stephen Doughty: In the house I have said repeatedly that I will not provide a running commentary on this matter. We have reached an agreement with Mauritius, but the final text of the proposed treaty, as well as the financial arrangements are still being finalised and it is only when they are concluded that we will be in a position to put them before Parliament, in line with the normal procedures, for scrutiny and debate.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-25 conversation_139

Mr Mark Francois:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much his Department has incurred in legal costs on the Chagos Islands since 5 July 2024. \p Stephen Doughty: It is not possible to provide a single figure for the amount the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has incurred in legal costs on the Chagos Islands since 5 July 2024. Legal costs would include the costs of FCDO lawyers, who are paid salaries and do not charge by workstream. However, the FCDO has incurred £28,367.35 in external legal costs in relation to matters concerning the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands since 5 July 2024, including in respect of defending relevant litigation. There may be additional costs for January that have not yet been invoiced. The FCDO has also incurred external legal costs in respect of migration issues on Diego Garcia. As the FCDO is still to receive a number of invoices for these costs, it is not possible to provide an accurate figure at this time.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-25 conversation_140

Robbie Moore:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate her Department has made of the number of (a) victims and (b) perpetrators of live cases of gang-based child sexual exploitation. \p Jess Phillips: The Child Sexual Exploitation Police Taskforce has brought together the best police data that is currently available on group-based offending. This was published in November 2024: https://www.hydrantprogramme.co.uk/publications/hydrant-publications#LatestNews).

The taskforce reports that 127 major police investigations across 29 police forces are currently under way into child sexual exploitation and gang grooming. However, as the Home Secretary set out in her statement on 16 January, the Home Office will overhaul the data that we expect local areas to collect on child sexual exploitation and abuse as part of a new performance framework for policing, and we have already asked the Taskforce to immediately expand the data it collects and publishes, including on ethnicity.

To go further, the Home Secretary has asked Baroness Louise Casey to oversee a rapid audit of the current scale and nature of gang-based child sexual exploitation across the country. That work is currently underway.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-25 conversation_141

Sarah Hall:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to (a) reduce missing incidents and (b) provide additional support to people at risk of going missing who are care experienced. \p Jess Phillips: Effective multi-agency working is the key to reducing missing person incidents, particularly for vulnerable cohorts, such as children with care experience who are at more likely to go missing repeatedly.

The Missing Persons Authorised Professional Practice (APP), issued by the College of Policing, sets out best practice guidance for all missing person investigations for police forces in England and Wales in order to prevent missing incidents as well as ensure that all safeguarding partners play a role in an investigation; this includes multi-agency enquiries. The APP for missing persons is publicly available on the College’s website.

In addition to the APP, the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) lead for Missing Persons has developed the ‘Multi-agency response for adults missing from health and care settings’ framework, which is being rolled out, and the ‘Missing Children from Care’ framework, which has been piloted in West Yorkshire. These frameworks outline good practice that can be adopted by local areas when setting up their own multi-agency protocols for the strategic and operational response to a missing incident, with an aim to ensure that the appropriate safeguarding partner responds in the best interest of the missing person.

In response to concerns about unconscious bias in the police response to missing persons from BAME communities, the Home Office has funded the NPCC for Missing Persons to conduct research to explore disproportionality and discrimination in police missing persons investigations; comparing how risk is categorised in different ethnic groups. The final report is nearing completion. The NPCC lead for Missing Persons is committed to working with partner agencies to understand issues of disproportionality and addressing any issues. I will continue to monitor developments and insights from partners to ensure our response remains effective.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-25 conversation_142

Tony Vaughan:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to support organisations that help victims of (a) gender based violence and (b) domestic abuse. \p Jess Phillips: Tackling Violence Agains Women and Girls (VAWG), including domestic abuse is a top priority for this Government. We will deliver a cross-Government transformative approach, utilising every tool available to target perpetrators and address the root causes of abuse and violence.

The Home Office has provided £2.025m for the national VAWG Helplines this financial year (24/25), which offer specialist support to victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence, victims of revenge porn, stalking and ‘honour’ based abuse.

On 28th November 2024, the government announced a funding increase of £30 million, meaning a total investment of £160 million in the Domestic Abuse Safe Accommodation Grant in 2025-26.

We have been able to secure decisions on the majority of grants for the next financial year 2025-26. We have sought to protect frontline services and give them certainty, so they can plan for the next financial year ahead of the full budget-decision making process concluding.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-25 conversation_143

Bell Ribeiro-Addy:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to protect women and girls in or around parks and commons in Clapham and Brixton Hill constituency. \p Jess Phillips: We have set out an unprecedented mission to halve the level of violence against women and girls (VAWG) in a decade. That means working across Government departments to tackle threats to women’s safety in all areas of their lives, including in public spaces like parks and commons.

We recognise the devastating impact crimes such as harassment and sexual violence can have and we expect every such offence to be treated seriously from the point of disclosure, every victim to be treated with dignity and every investigation and every prosecution to be conducted thoroughly and professionally.

On 2 February 2025, we announced a new National Centre for VAWG and Public Protection to improve the police response to these crimes, backed by £13.1m of Home Office funding. Centralising policing expertise will drive national coordination and action by the Centre, which will include the development of strengthened specialist training for officers across the country, helping to ensure they offer consistent protection for victims and relentlessly pursue perpetrators of these vile crimes; including those which take place in public spaces.

We will set out more detail on our approach to halving VAWG in a new cross-government strategy to be published later this year.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-25 conversation_144

Steve Witherden:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reason her Department increased firearms license fees for option (a) one, (b) two and (c) three. \p Dame Diana Johnson: On 5 February 2025, increased fees came into effect to provide full-cost recovery for firearms licensing applications processed by police forces. This gave effect to a commitment in the Government’s manifesto.

A full impact assessment was published alongside the Firearms (Variation of Fees) Order 2025, the Statutory Instrument that brought the new fees into effect. The impact assessment set out that the Government’s preferred option was to increase fees to achieve full-cost recovery based on 2024 costs to the police, rather than the other options set out, which were to increase fees in line with inflation since 2014. This was to ensure that the objective of increasing licensing fees to secure full cost recovery was achieved.

The impact assessment also covers the impact of increased fees on farmers and rural communities.

It is essential for both public safety and police efficiency that full cost recovery fees were introduced. I have written to all Police and Crime Commissioners and Chief Constables to make clear that the income from increased fees must be invested into their firearms licensing operations, in the interests of both public safety and to support improvements in the service provided by their firearms licensing teams.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-02-25)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-02-25 conversation_145

Laura Kyrke-Smith:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of changes made to her Department's guidance entitled Nationality: good character requirement, published on 10 February 2025, on (a) refugees already granted indefinite leave to remain and (b) the integration of people with refugee status. \p Seema Malhotra: The previous government's Illegal Migration Act introduced a statutory ban on granting citizenship to anyone who has arrived in the country through irregular routes, a measure that proved completely unworkable, contained minimal discretion to recognise exceptional circumstances, and was never properly implemented. That measure is being repealed, and replaced with clearer rules in the caseworker guidance, including provision to exercise discretion where appropriate.

For many generations refugees who have arrived on resettlement and who have settled in the UK have been able to apply for British citizenship if they meet the conditions, and that continues to be the case. The UK must always do its bit to support those fleeing persecution. But we are also clear that we must also do all we can to prevent people making dangerous small boat crossings, risking their lives in the arms of criminal gangs.

This government is absolutely committed to fostering and supporting integration; that will be an important area of focus for the White Paper currently under development.