Written questions by Sobel.

If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the draft guidance by the Equality and Human Rights Commission entitled Code of practice for services, public functions and associations, published on 20 May 2025, on (a) operational readiness and (b) combat effectiveness (i) of all service personnel and (ii) of service personnel who are trans.

Defence welcomes the Supreme Court's ruling and the clarity that it brings. The independent Equality and Human Rights Commission is now developing its updated statutory Code of Practice for Services, Public Functions and Associations and we will liaise with them through our engagement with the Office for Equalities and Opportunity as they progress this work. The application of the Supreme Court ruling in some settings is complex and that is why it is important we await the Code of Practice before applying the Equality Act on a day-to-day basis.

Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the EHRC draft code of practice for services, public functions and associations on LGBTQIA+ tourism to the UK.

The Government is committed to ensuring the UK remains one of the safest and most welcoming destinations in the world for all visitors, including for LGBTQIA+ tourists. Inclusivity is a key part of what we offer tourists and contributes to our global appeal.The Department has not conducted a specific assessment of the potential impact of the draft code on tourism. However, DCMS, through VisitBritain and VisitEngland, continues to support tourism businesses in this area. A new e-learning course to help the industry welcome LGBTQIA+ customers was recently launched and is being promoted through Local Visitor Economy Partnerships to their networks.To provide clarity for the sector, interim EHRC guidance relating to the recent Supreme Court ruling has also been added to the ‘Pink Book’, VisitEngland’s guide to accommodation and attraction legislation. Furthermore, VisitEngland will review its Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Toolkit for businesses and LGBTQIA+ course once the EHRC’s updated guidance is finalised.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of (a) the proposed requirement that trans people be excluded from (i) services and (ii) facilities that are designated single sex and (b) other proposals in the recent EHRC Draft Code of Practice to the Equality Act on the (A) financial and (B) operational readiness impacts of (1) his Department and (2) the armed forces.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 15 July 2025 to Question 65333 to the hon. Member for Sleaford and North Hykeham (Dr Caroline Johnson).

With reference to her Department's White Paper entitled Restoring Control over the Immigration System, published on 12 May 2025, whether her Department has undertaken an (a) equality and (b) impact assessment on the potential impact of its proposed changes to the qualifying period for settlement on (i) British Nationals (Overseas) visa holders and (ii) their family members.

The Government is committed to supporting members of the Hong Kong community who have relocated to the UK and those who may come here in future.We will be consulting on the earned settlement scheme later this year and further details of the proposed scheme will be provided at that time. An assessment of equality and other impacts will be developed alongside any finalised policy.We regularly engage with representatives of the Hong Kong diaspora in the UK on issues related to the BN(O) visa and will continue to do so.

What steps she is taking to help support migrants into work.

The Home Office keeps all aspects of the immigration and asylum system under regular review, and recently published a White Paper setting out the Government’s plans for reform in a wide range of areas, including employment opportunities for refugees, illegal working by asylum seekers, and exploitation and abuse of migrant workers.

Innovation and Technology, whether he plans to introduce mandatory requirements for AI developers to disclose information about their systems.

Artificial intelligence is the defining opportunity of our generation, and the Government is taking action to harness its economic benefits for UK citizens. As set out in the AI Opportunities Action Plan, we believe most AI systems should be regulated at the point of use, with our expert regulators best placed to do so. Departments are working proactively with regulators to provide clear strategic direction and support them on their AI capability needs. Through well-designed and implemented regulation, we can fuel fast, wide and safe development and adoption of AI.

What support her Department provides to victims of violent crimes who have been waiting more than twelve months for a decision on their Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority claim.

The Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2012 (the 2012 Scheme) does not prescribe a time limit for applications to be decided.The majority of applications are decided within 12 months. Each case must be considered on its own facts and assessed based on the information available. In almost all cases, the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) needs to get information from third parties such as the police and medical authorities to help assess applications.Some applications will by necessity take longer to decide. This could be where information is not available due to ongoing court proceedings, CICA needs time to assess the long-term impacts of complex injuries (e.g. brain injuries), or where there is an application for loss of earnings where the 2012 Scheme requires at least 28 weeks of loss.

If her Department will support the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority to reduce claim processing times.

The Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2012 (the 2012 Scheme) does not prescribe a time limit for applications to be decided.The majority of applications are decided within 12 months. Each case must be considered on its own facts and assessed based on the information available. In almost all cases, the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) needs to get information from third parties such as the police and medical authorities to help assess applications.Some applications will by necessity take longer to decide. This could be where information is not available due to ongoing court proceedings, CICA needs time to assess the long-term impacts of complex injuries (e.g. brain injuries), or where there is an application for loss of earnings where the 2012 Scheme requires at least 28 weeks of loss.

Pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 58258 on Asylum: Syria, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of granting Syrian asylum seekers in the UK the right to work throughout the period in which all asylum interviews and decisions relating to Syrian nationals are paused.

Asylum seekers who have had their claim outstanding for 12 months or more, through no fault of their own, can apply for permission to work. Those permitted to work are restricted to jobs on the Immigration Salary List. This policy applies to Syrian nationals whose asylum claims have been temporarily paused while we await reliable and objective information to enable an accurate assessment of the risk they may face upon return to Syria.The pause on Syrian asylum claims is under constant review and as soon as there is a clear basis upon which to make decisions, we will resume the processing of them.

How much of the UK's trade with Morocco is with Western Sahara.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 26th June is attached.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he had discussions with his Moroccan counterpart during the formulation of the UK-Morocco Joint Communiqué on whether Morocco’s willingness to engage in discussions in good faith extends to dialogue without restrictions.

On 1 June, the Foreign Secretary co-chaired the 5th session of the UK-Morocco Strategic Dialogue in Rabat with Minister Nasser Bourita. Discussions were wide-ranging and constructive, reflecting the strong bilateral relationship and shared commitment to a strengthened strategic partnership.The Foreign Secretary endorsed Morocco's autonomy proposal as the most credible, viable and pragmatic basis for a lasting resolution of the Western Sahara conflict. In that context, we continue to support the UN-led process to achieve a just, lasting and mutually acceptable solution, based on compromise, which conforms with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, including the principle of respect for self-determination.The Joint Communique expresses our shared conviction to renew efforts to support the UN Personal Envoy of the Secretary General for Western Sahara in the search for a solution to the Western Sahara conflict, underlining that the only viable and durable solution will be one that is mutually acceptable to the relevant parties, and is arrived at through compromise. We welcome Morocco's stated commitment to further detail and willingness to engage in good faith with all relevant parties, to expand on details of what autonomy within the Moroccan State could entail for the region, with a view to restarting serious negotiations on terms acceptable to the parties.

What steps his Department is taking to help tackle the use of Uyghur slave labour in supply chains that include critical minerals.

This Government will continue to speak up on human rights in China, including the repression of people in Xinjiang, and will continue to hold China to account. The new Critical Minerals Strategy will help secure the supply of critical minerals vital for the UK’s economic growth and clean energy transition. The strategy will promote responsible and transparent supply chains, including through greater adoption of responsible business practices to protect local communities and the environment. We will continue to assess and monitor the effectiveness of the UK’s existing measures, alongside the impacts of new policy tools to tackle forced labour in supply chains, and take action where appropriate.

When she plans to publish the evaluation of the move-on period pilot extension; and whether her Department plans to further extend the pilot.

In December, the Home Office operationalised a pilot to extend the grace period to 56 days. It is important that we take the necessary time to evaluate the impact of the interim measures, including overall net costs to taxpayers, before deciding whether to make the measures permanent. We will make further announcements in the normal way in due course.

What steps she plans to take to process the outstanding asylum applications of Syrians in the UK.

Following the fall of the Assad regime, the Home Office has withdrawn the Country Policy Information Notes and Guidance relating to Syria and has temporarily paused all asylum interviews and decisions.The pause is being kept under constant review and when there is a clear basis upon which to make decisions, we will resume the processing of them.

Media and Sport, if she will take steps to require that tipping sliders on online fundraising platforms can be dragged to zero.

Fundraising platforms are commercial organisations that provide an important service to charities and donors. Most platforms are registered with the Fundraising Regulator, which is the independent, non-statutory regulator of charitable fundraising in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. DCMS meets with the Fundraising Regulator regularly to discuss a range of issues, including fundraising platforms.The Fundraising Regulator’s new Code of Fundraising Practice, which will come into force on 1 November 2025, includes requirements for fundraising platforms to include information for donors about how fees, including any voluntary tips, are calculated. The information must be easy to find, and include details on how voluntary tips can be amended or removed altogether in a straightforward way. The Fundraising Regulator will engage with fundraising platforms to ensure they are clear on the new transparency requirements for fees and tipping sliders before the new Code comes into effect.The government has no current plans to bring forward legislation on fundraising platforms. DCMS will continue working with the Fundraising Regulator, charities, and online giving platforms to support best practice across all forms of charitable fundraising.

Media and Sport, whether her Department is taking steps with the Fundraising Regulator to help ensure compliance by social fundraising platforms with its guidance on the prominence of a zero fee or tip option.

Fundraising platforms are commercial organisations that provide an important service to charities and donors. Most platforms are registered with the Fundraising Regulator, which is the independent, non-statutory regulator of charitable fundraising in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. DCMS meets with the Fundraising Regulator regularly to discuss a range of issues, including fundraising platforms.The Fundraising Regulator’s new Code of Fundraising Practice, which will come into force on 1 November 2025, includes requirements for fundraising platforms to include information for donors about how fees, including any voluntary tips, are calculated. The information must be easy to find, and include details on how voluntary tips can be amended or removed altogether in a straightforward way. The Fundraising Regulator will engage with fundraising platforms to ensure they are clear on the new transparency requirements for fees and tipping sliders before the new Code comes into effect.The government has no current plans to bring forward legislation on fundraising platforms. DCMS will continue working with the Fundraising Regulator, charities, and online giving platforms to support best practice across all forms of charitable fundraising.

Media and Sport, whether she has had recent discussions with the Fundraising Regulator on the transparency of tipping sliders on online fundraising platforms.

Fundraising platforms are commercial organisations that provide an important service to charities and donors. Most platforms are registered with the Fundraising Regulator, which is the independent, non-statutory regulator of charitable fundraising in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. DCMS meets with the Fundraising Regulator regularly to discuss a range of issues, including fundraising platforms.The Fundraising Regulator’s new Code of Fundraising Practice, which will come into force on 1 November 2025, includes requirements for fundraising platforms to include information for donors about how fees, including any voluntary tips, are calculated. The information must be easy to find, and include details on how voluntary tips can be amended or removed altogether in a straightforward way. The Fundraising Regulator will engage with fundraising platforms to ensure they are clear on the new transparency requirements for fees and tipping sliders before the new Code comes into effect.The government has no current plans to bring forward legislation on fundraising platforms. DCMS will continue working with the Fundraising Regulator, charities, and online giving platforms to support best practice across all forms of charitable fundraising.

With reference to the White paper entitled Restoring Control over the Immigration System, published in May 2025, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to the settlement rule on British Nationals (Overseas) visa holders.

The British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) route was launched on 31 January 2021 in response to China’s passing of the National Security Law. The route reflects the UK’s historic and moral commitment to those people of Hong Kong who chose to retain their ties to the UK by taking up BN(O) status at the point of Hong Kong’s handover to China in 1997. The Government is committed to supporting members of the Hong Kong community who have relocated to the UK and those who may come here in future. Further details of all measures announced in the Immigration White Paper will be set out in the normal way in due course, and where necessary, will be subject to consultation.

Whether her Department plans to provide an additional resettlement quota for Afghan refugees in Pakistan identified by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for resettlement.

Between 2021 and March 2025, over 34,000 individuals have been resettled and relocated through the Afghan Resettlement Programme. The latest immigration statistics can be found here:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/immigration-system-statistics-year-ending-march-2025.The Government’s priority remains the resettlement and relocation of those already identified as eligible but who have not yet travelled.

Pursuant to the Answer of 20 May 2025 to Question 51421 on Students: Personal Independence Payment, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of consulting with students who receive Personal Independence Payment.

The Pathways to Work Green Paper set out a range of proposals to reform health and disability benefits and employment support and opened a public consultation on certain reforms. The consultation welcomes all views, and we hope that a wide range of voices, including students, will respond before it closes on the 30 June 2025. We are also running a programme of accessible public events to further facilitate input. The series of both virtual and in-person events across the country, will help us to hear from people directly. We are continuing to facilitate other ways to involve stakeholders and disabled people in our reforms. In addition to the consultation itself, we will establish ‘collaboration committees’ that bring groups, including disabled people and other experts, together for specific work areas. Our wider review of the PIP assessment, led by myself, will also bring together a range of experts, stakeholders and people with lived experience. Throughout the review, we will work closely with disabled people, the organisations that support them and others, to ensure that the voices of those who go through the PIP assessment and those with expertise in the system are embedded in the review.