Written questions by Sobel.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will consider the potential merits of adding Iraq to the list of countries where British nationals can register their presence with her Department.

The safety and security of British nationals is our top priority, and on that basis, we continue to recommend against all travel to all regions of Iraq. We keep our travel advice and our response to the current crisis under constant review, but there are no plans to launch the Register My Presence service for Iraq at this time.

Pursuant to his answer of 27 February 2026 to Question 113391 regarding the impact of Drax’s burning of wood on carbon sequestration, what is his calculation for the number of years it takes for the carbon debt to be paid off by replacement trees.

Biomass feedstocks for power production at Drax utilise waste wood and residues from productive forestry for other wood products. The carbon balance of these depends on forest type and management, amongst other variables, and cannot be attributed to the growth of replacement trees alone. The Government only supports the use of sustainable biomass and operators only receive subsidies for biomass that meets our sustainability criteria. UK sustainability criteria include requirements on sustainable forest management in the sourcing region, which applies to both domestically sourced and imported biomass.

Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate her Department has made of the annual cost to the economy of battery fires in waste centres.

The department is aware from ongoing discussions with industry that the reported costs of battery fires in waste centres are significant, and this is a major concern. Defra is currently considering options for reforms of the batteries regulations that would help to address this issue, and as part of this we will include our own assessment of the cost to the economy of battery fires in waste centres. Defra will continue to work with industry on this matter.

Food and Rural Affairs, what interventions she plans to put in place to mitigate the public safety and economic risks posed by batter fires in waste centres.

The department is aware from ongoing discussions with industry that the reported costs of battery fires in waste centres are significant, and this is a major concern. Defra is currently considering options for reforms of the batteries regulations that would help to address this issue, and as part of this we will include our own assessment of the cost to the economy of battery fires in waste centres. Defra will continue to work with industry on this matter.

What assessment he has made of the potential risks posed by lithium-ion batteries on public safety.

Product safety laws require consumer products containing lithium-ion batteries, and batteries themselves, to be safe when they are placed on the market. Businesses have obligations to ensure the safety of products they manufacturer or import, and regulators have powers to act when products do not comply. In 2024, my department published statutory guidelines covering the safety of lithium-ion e-bike batteries. In 2025 the Office for Product Safety and Standards published research by Warwick Manufacturing Group into e-bike battery safety, which provides new insight into how lithium-ion batteries fail in real-world scenarios, and best practices for safer battery design.

Pursuant to his Answer of 27 February 2026 to Question 113391 on the role of Drax in the power system, including its private sector clients, how many tonnes of wood were burned by Drax in each of the last five years and how many he expects to burned in each of the next five years.

Government does not gather or hold information on fuel used by Drax each year, however this data is published by Drax in the company’s annual ESG report, ESG Performance Report - Drax Global. Fuel use is also monitored and assured as part of the operation of subsidy schemes for large-scale electricity generation. This includes Ofgem, for Drax’s units under the Renewables Obligation, and the Low Carbon Contracts Company, for Drax’s unit currently operating on a Contract for Difference.Future fuel use at Drax will depend on demand at the station, linked to its new dispatchable operation under the Low Carbon Dispatchable Contract for Difference from 2027. Drax will play a much more limited role in the system, providing dispatchable power only when the system really needs it. It will be supported to operate at a maximum load factor of 27%, operating less than half as often as it currently does. Accordingly, we anticipate that fuel use will reduce substantially under the new contract running from 2027-2031.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the number of lithium-ion battery-related fire incidents recorded in 2023–24 on the environment.

Defra has not carried out a formal assessment of the potential impact on the environment of lithium-ion battery-related fires recorded between 2023 and 2024. Battery-related fire incidents are a significant concern, and we remain engaged with wider Government and with industry, including waste disposal operators, on this issue. We are currently considering options for reform of the batteries regulations in the UK as a means to address a range of issues, including fires, and we are in the process of engaging further with industry and other stakeholders on those options. In relation to battery energy storage systems sites, which can use large numbers of lithium-ion batteries, the Government has consulted on the principle of including these within environmental permitting regulations to manage the potential environmental and public health risks from fires at these facilities. The Government response to this consultation will be published at the earliest opportunity.

Pursuant to his answer of 27 February 2026 to question 113391 regarding the climate impact of Drax’s burning of wood, how many years it takes for the carbon debt to be paid off by replacement trees.

Biomass feedstocks for power production at Drax utilise waste wood and residues from productive forestry for other wood products. The carbon balance of these depends on forest type and management, amongst other variables, and cannot be attributed to the growth of replacement trees alone. The Government only supports the use of sustainable biomass and operators only receive subsidies for biomass that meets our sustainability criteria. UK sustainability criteria include requirements on sustainable forest management in the sourcing region, which applies to both domestically sourced and imported biomass.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 4 of March 2026 to Question 115500 on Private Rented Housing: Repairs and Maintenance, what steps his Department is taking to encourage private landlords to bring properties up to the Decent Homes Standard before the 2035 deadline.

The government encourages landlords to consider the benefits and feasibility of bringing properties up to our new Decent Homes Standard (DHS) at the earliest opportunity. By publishing the standard now, we are providing a clear framework for landlords to do this. We will begin monitoring rates of compliance with the new DHS ahead of the final deadline and will work with the sector to ensure that landlords are clear about the new requirements the DHS places on them.

How many visas were issued to Russian citizens in each of the last three years.

The Home Office publishes data on entry clearance visas by nationality in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on the outcomes of visa applications are published in table ‘Vis_D02’ of the detailed entry clearance visas dataset. Information on how to use the dataset can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbook. The latest data is from January 2005 up to the end of December 2025.Information on future Home Office statistical release dates can be found in the ‘Research and statistics calendar’.

What the funding commitments are for the STEP programme.

The Government is making a record investment of over £2.5 billion over five years in fusion energy, including funding for STEP, the UK’s world-leading programme to design and build a prototype power plant in Nottinghamshire. As set out in the Industrial Strategy, this will support thousands of jobs and is key to growing UK fusion supply chains and building commercial partnerships with industry. The Government is also creating a pro-innovation policy environment, providing ongoing support for fusion R&D, skills development and supply chain growth. Further detail on Government support for fusion will be set out in the forthcoming UK Fusion Strategy.

How much funding he has allocated to fusion energy research and development.

The Government is making a record investment of over £2.5 billion over five years in fusion energy, including funding for STEP, the UK’s world-leading programme to design and build a prototype power plant in Nottinghamshire. As set out in the Industrial Strategy, this will support thousands of jobs and is key to growing UK fusion supply chains and building commercial partnerships with industry. The Government is also creating a pro-innovation policy environment, providing ongoing support for fusion R&D, skills development and supply chain growth. Further detail on Government support for fusion will be set out in the forthcoming UK Fusion Strategy.

What steps the Government is taking to support the development of UK-based fusion supply chains.

The Government is making a record investment of over £2.5 billion over five years in fusion energy, including funding for STEP, the UK’s world-leading programme to design and build a prototype power plant in Nottinghamshire. As set out in the Industrial Strategy, this will support thousands of jobs and is key to growing UK fusion supply chains and building commercial partnerships with industry. The Government is also creating a pro-innovation policy environment, providing ongoing support for fusion R&D, skills development and supply chain growth. Further detail on Government support for fusion will be set out in the forthcoming UK Fusion Strategy.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has reviewed the UN Secretary-General’s report to the Security Council noting the construction by Morocco of a second additional crossing from occupied Western Sahara into Mauritania.

The UK Government consistently urges all states to uphold international law, and we continue to encourage constructive engagement with the political process led by the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General Mr Staffan de Mistura in support of finding a just, lasting, and mutually agreed resolution to the Western Sahara dispute. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office closely reviews the UN Secretary General's reports on the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has reviewed the UN Secretary-General’s report to the Security Council noting Morocco’s requirement that MINURSO use Moroccan vehicle number plates west of the berm.

The UK Government consistently urges all states to uphold international law, and we continue to encourage constructive engagement with the political process led by the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General Mr Staffan de Mistura in support of finding a just, lasting, and mutually agreed resolution to the Western Sahara dispute. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office closely reviews the UN Secretary General's reports on the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara.

What information his Department holds on the (a) renewable subsidies received, (b) wood pellets burnt and (c) carbon dioxide emitted by the Drax power station since 2012.

Drax has received almost £6.5bn in subsidy from to 2024 inclusive. Under the new contract from 2027, Drax will play a much more limited role in the power system, operating only when cheaper renewable power is not available. This new deal halves the subsidies for Drax – equivalent to saving billpayers around £6 per household per year.Material for the wood pellets used in UK biomass electricity generation is sourced from forests which are sustainably managed to supply timber for housebuilding and furniture. Material removed that is unsuitable for other uses, together with sawmill residues, are a low-value by-product of sustainable forest management practices.Stack emissions from biomass electricity generation should be considered as part of a wider picture, taking into account carbon sequestration in the short carbon cycle. This makes biomass significantly cleaner than fossil fuel alternatives, as emissions are netted off by the carbon absorbed from growing sustainable biomass.

If she will bring forward legislative proposals to classify misogyny as a hate crime.

The Government is committed to ensuring that all victims of hate crime receive equal protection under the law.That is why we tabled an amendment at Lords Report Stage to the Crime and Policing Bill, extending the aggravated offences in sections 28 to 32 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. This will level up protections by adding transgender identity, sexual orientation, disability and sex to the existing framework, ensuring that hostility based on any of these characteristics is treated with the same seriousness as racially or religiously aggravated offending.

If her Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of allowing partial refunds for overlapping immigration health surcharges in cases where the applicant has applied to (a) extend and (b) switch their visa from outside the UK and are able to demonstrate evidence of financial harm as a result.

The new guidance being produced by the Home Office is designed to assist local authorities in supporting families with NRPF, as set out in the Child Poverty Strategy. The guidance will provide clarity around statutory duties and key safeguards for local authorities, ensuring a clear and consistent approach. The guidance does not alter the eligibility criteria for any current schemes or benefits.Children whose families are subject to the ‘no recourse to public funds’ condition (NRPF) can currently access schemes and benefits such as free school meals, 15 hours of free childcare for disadvantaged two-year-olds and15 hours free childcare for three- to four-year-old.The Home Office will continue to work across government where relevant to ensure that migrant children with NRPF are specifically considered when reviewing or deciding on eligibility for schemes and benefits.

If her Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of reviewing the immigration health surcharge refund policy to allow for partial refunds to be made for periods of overlapping payments in cases where the applicant has applied to (a) extend and (b) switch their visa from outside the UK.

The new guidance being produced by the Home Office is designed to assist local authorities in supporting families with NRPF, as set out in the Child Poverty Strategy. The guidance will provide clarity around statutory duties and key safeguards for local authorities, ensuring a clear and consistent approach. The guidance does not alter the eligibility criteria for any current schemes or benefits.Children whose families are subject to the ‘no recourse to public funds’ condition (NRPF) can currently access schemes and benefits such as free school meals, 15 hours of free childcare for disadvantaged two-year-olds and15 hours free childcare for three- to four-year-old.The Home Office will continue to work across government where relevant to ensure that migrant children with NRPF are specifically considered when reviewing or deciding on eligibility for schemes and benefits.

Whether alternative reporting frequencies were considered under Making Tax Digital for self-employed workers whose income is irregular or seasonal.

The government has worked extensively with taxpayers, representative bodies and software developers to ensure Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax works well for businesses of all types and sizes. For most users, MTD for Income Tax will involve keeping digital records and submitting four light-touch quarterly updates during the tax year. MTD quarterly updates are not tax returns. They are simple summaries of business income and expenses and are populated automatically through software that draws the relevant data from digital records. Quarterly updates allow taxpayers with irregular or seasonal income to see an emerging view of their likely tax position as the year progresses, supporting better business planning. The updates can also enable HMRC to deliver targeted digital prompts to users throughout the tax year, ensuring reporting is accurate and timely by pointing out errors or missing entries. With accurate records captured digitally in software, preparing the end-of-year return should be simpler, as the information needed is already available.