Written questions by Rosindell.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to meet obligations under Article 73 of the UN Charter in respect of the British Overseas Territories; and what assessment she has made of the potential impact of (a) the costs of healthcare, fuel and electricity, (b) quality of infrastructure and (c) levels of hurricane-resilient housing in Montserrat on people in that territory.

The UK fulfils its responsibilities under Article 73 of the United Nations Charter to promote the political, economic, social, and educational advancement of the Overseas Territories. As part of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's capital allocation to Montserrat, we are investing in green energy, including solar and resilience works, as well appropriate and safe social housing.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether any patients in Montserrat who are (a) naturalised and (b) full British citizens and must travel to the United Kingdom for specialist treatment unavailable locally but fall outside the NHS–Montserrat referral scheme have been (i) denied (A) accommodation and (B) welfare support and (ii) advised to return to Montserrat.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answers he was previously provided on these issues on 6 November and 1 December 2025.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to improve emergency medical evacuation and overseas treatment on Montserrat.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answers he was previously provided on these issues on 6 November and 1 December 2025.

What the definition of substantial discount will be under the Tobacco and Vapes Act and how it will be enforced.

There is currently no restriction on the free distribution of samples of nicotine or non-nicotine vapes. It is completely unacceptable that a child could be given a harmful product that could lead them to a lifetime of addiction.That is why the Tobacco and Vapes Bill introduces a ban on businesses giving away any tobacco, herbal smoking, vaping, or nicotine products, as well as cigarette papers, to a member of the public.To support this, it will also be an offence to sell one of these products at a substantial discount. The bill does not give a definition of what constitutes a substantial discount because this will be different depending on the product and circumstances in question. However, further guidance will be provided after the bill becomes law.Enforcement action will be taken by the relevant enforcement authority if businesses do not comply.

Whether his Department has assessed the the Scottish Government’s report entitled Energy drinks: evidence brief, published on 30 May 2023.

The Government has a commitment to ban the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to children under 16 years old. This has been subject to a consultation which we ran for 12-weeks from 3 September to 26 November 2025.In the consultation, we proposed using powers under the Food Safety Act 1990 to introduce the ban, to protect children’s health, and reduce health inequalities from the negative outcomes associated with high-caffeine energy drink consumption.We considered the range of available evidence when developing the proposals. Our assessment is available in the consultation document, with further detail set out in the accompanying impact assessment. The impact assessment includes consideration of devolved governments’ policy on high-caffeine energy drinks.The impact assessment also estimates the impact of our proposals, including on the vending sector. The Department engaged with relevant stakeholders, including representatives for the vending sector, to inform this. If additional information or evidence provided through the consultation or published online becomes available, we will update our final impact assessment.The Government is considering all consultation responses and will publish its response in due course.Any legislation proposed following the consultation outcome would depend on ministerial decisions following the consultation, impact assessment requirements, and the necessary parliamentary scrutiny.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the proposed ban on the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks from vending machines on gym users during physical activity.

The Government has a commitment to ban the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to children under 16 years old. This has been subject to a consultation which we ran for 12-weeks from 3 September to 26 November 2025.In the consultation, we proposed using powers under the Food Safety Act 1990 to introduce the ban, to protect children’s health, and reduce health inequalities from the negative outcomes associated with high-caffeine energy drink consumption.We considered the range of available evidence when developing the proposals. Our assessment is available in the consultation document, with further detail set out in the accompanying impact assessment. The impact assessment includes consideration of devolved governments’ policy on high-caffeine energy drinks.The impact assessment also estimates the impact of our proposals, including on the vending sector. The Department engaged with relevant stakeholders, including representatives for the vending sector, to inform this. If additional information or evidence provided through the consultation or published online becomes available, we will update our final impact assessment.The Government is considering all consultation responses and will publish its response in due course.Any legislation proposed following the consultation outcome would depend on ministerial decisions following the consultation, impact assessment requirements, and the necessary parliamentary scrutiny.

For what reason the proposed ban of the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to people under 16 years of age will be implemented using the Food Safety Act 1990.

The Government has a commitment to ban the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to children under 16 years old. This has been subject to a consultation which we ran for 12-weeks from 3 September to 26 November 2025.In the consultation, we proposed using powers under the Food Safety Act 1990 to introduce the ban, to protect children’s health, and reduce health inequalities from the negative outcomes associated with high-caffeine energy drink consumption.We considered the range of available evidence when developing the proposals. Our assessment is available in the consultation document, with further detail set out in the accompanying impact assessment. The impact assessment includes consideration of devolved governments’ policy on high-caffeine energy drinks.The impact assessment also estimates the impact of our proposals, including on the vending sector. The Department engaged with relevant stakeholders, including representatives for the vending sector, to inform this. If additional information or evidence provided through the consultation or published online becomes available, we will update our final impact assessment.The Government is considering all consultation responses and will publish its response in due course.Any legislation proposed following the consultation outcome would depend on ministerial decisions following the consultation, impact assessment requirements, and the necessary parliamentary scrutiny.

Whether the Government has alternative contingency arrangements in place to ensure uninterrupted defence and security support for Gibraltar should allied access through Spanish airspace or facilities be restricted.

RAF Gibraltar continues to operate as a sovereign UK military airfield, and the current overflight restrictions by Spain does not impede our operational freedom with respect to aircraft movements and does not impact NATO interoperability in the region.

What assessment he has made of the implications of Spain’s current airspace policy for NATO interoperability and collective defence in the Western Mediterranean region.

RAF Gibraltar continues to operate as a sovereign UK military airfield, and the current overflight restrictions by Spain does not impede our operational freedom with respect to aircraft movements and does not impact NATO interoperability in the region.

Communities and Local Government, how many building control applications made under regulation 3 or 11 of the Building (Higher-Risk Buildings Procedures) (England) Regulations 2023 were determined by the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) within the respective statutory 8 or 12 week period in March 2025.

“Complex Cases” has replaced the term for cases previously referred to as being with an Account Manager. The change in name is representative of the nature of these cases. These cases can include:Large and/or multi-building developmentsCases where the construction systems, materials or design approaches that are proposed give rise to a new technical or operational policy issue that requires extra consultation with subject matter expertsCases that contain disputable design solutions that cannot be fully resolved through the normal MDT processThese criteria mean the application may take longer than a standard case to work to completion.The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) can confirm that 100 Gateway Two applications were completed in March 2025, with 40 of these being determined within the 8 or 12-week statutory period.Between 1st January 2026 and 13th April 2026 there have been 38 formal complaints raised to the BSR. Within these complaints, 8 have been upheld, and 11 have been partially upheld. Of the remainder, 11 were not upheld and 8 are still live.

Communities and Local Government, how many formal complaints the Building Safety Regulator received this year; and how many of these complaints were upheld.

“Complex Cases” has replaced the term for cases previously referred to as being with an Account Manager. The change in name is representative of the nature of these cases. These cases can include:Large and/or multi-building developmentsCases where the construction systems, materials or design approaches that are proposed give rise to a new technical or operational policy issue that requires extra consultation with subject matter expertsCases that contain disputable design solutions that cannot be fully resolved through the normal MDT processThese criteria mean the application may take longer than a standard case to work to completion.The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) can confirm that 100 Gateway Two applications were completed in March 2025, with 40 of these being determined within the 8 or 12-week statutory period.Between 1st January 2026 and 13th April 2026 there have been 38 formal complaints raised to the BSR. Within these complaints, 8 have been upheld, and 11 have been partially upheld. Of the remainder, 11 were not upheld and 8 are still live.

What discussions he has held with his Spanish counterpart regarding the application of Spanish airspace or basing policies in ways that could affect Gibraltar or UK access to the territory.

The Defence and Foreign Secretaries meet regularly with their Spanish counterparts to discuss a range of issues of shared strategic interest. These recent interactions have not included discussion on the transit through Spanish airspace of UK military aircraft arriving at or departing from RAF Gibraltar.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Spanish Government's decision to restrict the use of Spanish airspace and military facilities for certain allied military operations on the UK’s defence, security and diplomatic interests relating to Gibraltar.

RAF Gibraltar continues to operate as a sovereign UK military airfield, and the current overflight restrictions by Spain does not impede our operational freedom with respect to aircraft movements and does not impact NATO interoperability in the region.

Whether his Department has assessed the potential operational impact of Spanish restrictions on allied military aircraft on UK military mobility or contingency planning in the Western Mediterranean, including in relation to Gibraltar.

RAF Gibraltar continues to operate as a sovereign UK military airfield, and the current overflight restrictions by Spain does not impede our operational freedom with respect to aircraft movements and does not impact NATO interoperability in the region.

Whether he has (a) sought and (b) received reassurances from the Spanish Government that recent restrictions on military airspace use will not be applied in a manner that could prejudice the UK's (i) ongoing and (ii) future arrangements concerning Gibraltar.

The draft Agreement reached between the UK and the European Union in respect of Gibraltar fully protects the UK's ability to operate to, through, and from our military facilities in Gibraltar.RAF Gibraltar continues to operate as a sovereign UK military airfield, and the current overflight ban by Spain does not impede our operational freedom with respect to aircraft movements.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Building Safety Regulator’s (BSR) report entitled Building control approval application data January to March 2026, published on 31 March 2026, what is the BSR’s definition of a complex case; and for what reasons has the complex cases category been created in the January to March 2026 data.

“Complex Cases” has replaced the term for cases previously referred to as being with an Account Manager. The change in name is representative of the nature of these cases. These cases can include:Large and/or multi-building developmentsCases where the construction systems, materials or design approaches that are proposed give rise to a new technical or operational policy issue that requires extra consultation with subject matter expertsCases that contain disputable design solutions that cannot be fully resolved through the normal MDT processThese criteria mean the application may take longer than a standard case to work to completion.The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) can confirm that 100 Gateway Two applications were completed in March 2025, with 40 of these being determined within the 8 or 12-week statutory period.Between 1st January 2026 and 13th April 2026 there have been 38 formal complaints raised to the BSR. Within these complaints, 8 have been upheld, and 11 have been partially upheld. Of the remainder, 11 were not upheld and 8 are still live.

What steps the Government is taking to ensure that UK sovereignty, access and operational freedom in Gibraltar are not indirectly affected by unilateral policy decisions taken by neighbouring states.

The draft Agreement reached between the UK and the European Union in respect of Gibraltar fully protects the UK’s sovereignty, access and operational freedom in Gibraltar.

What plans he has to publish an implementation timetable for the regulations under the Tobacco and Vapes Bill.

The Tobacco and Vapes Bill is in its final stages, awaiting Royal Assent. We published a call for evidence to inform future regulations on licensing, registration, vape flavours, and appearance, which closed on 3 December 2025. On 13 February, we launched the consultation on smoke-free, heated tobacco-free, and vape-free places in England, which closes on 8 May, and which is available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/smoke-free-heated-tobacco-free-and-vape-free-places-in-england/smoke-free-heated-tobacco-free-and-vape-free-places-in-england The devolved administrations will run separate consultations. Following Royal Assent of the bill, we will further develop proposals for secondary legislation, including public consultation. This will help to inform our implementation schedule, and we will update on it in due course.

What data her Department collects on children’s education, including pupil attainment and characteristics, and how this information is used to inform policy.

The department collects different categories of data for different cohorts of individuals depending on their interaction with the education and children’s services system in England. These data are collected through statutory data collections with categories including:Identifiers such as name and address.Characteristics such as sex or ethnicity.Details of any special educational needs.Details of schools attended.Information on absence and exclusions.Information relating to academic performance.Information relating to any contact with children’s services.Information relating to destinations after finishing school.This data provides a robust evidence base that enables the department to understand how well the education and children’s services sectors are functioning and ensure policy interventions are effectively targeted. The data also supports essential functions such as allocating school funding fairly and enabling parents, Parliament and the wider public to access clear information about educational outcomes and system performance.

What data her Department gathers on the educational outcomes of children with dyslexia and other literacy challenges in the Key Stage 1 phonics screening check.

The department holds information on pupils’ special educational needs and their attainment by 14 types of primary need. Dyslexia is usually included in the wider category of primary need ‘specific learning difficulty’. In 2025, 33% of pupils with ‘specific learning difficulty’ recorded as their primary need met the expected standard in the phonics screening check in year 1. The English Hubs programme is dedicated to improving the teaching of reading, with a focus on supporting children making the slowest progress. ‘Reading Ambition for All’, developed with input from the British Dyslexia Association, is a continuous professional development programme to support schools help struggling readers, delivered by our 34 English Hubs, reaching more than 600 schools this academic year.