Written questions by Gelderd.

Communities and Local Government, if her Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of creating a coastal strategy which includes the Cornish language.

The government is committed to promoting economic growth in all parts of the country including coastal communities. It has introduced a new, targeted approach to support regional growth, tackle deprivation, and restore pride to communities. These new programmes are just one component of the government’s strategy, which also includes the publishing of the Industrial Strategy; and the expansion of devolution.MHCLG Area Teams will continue to work with local stakeholders to understand challenges and opportunities from across all communities, reflecting these into the relevant government departments and policy teams.On 19 May, Defra launched the “Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund” that will invest £360 million over the next 12 years to help support the UK fishing industry and revitalise coastal communities. Defra will be engaging with stakeholders to understand how to target this funding where it matters most.MHCLG will continue to work with Cornwall Council and its partners to encourage the further development of Cornish culture and heritage. This will follow up work including the funding of £500,000 for Cornish language and culture as part of Cornwall’s Devolution Deal in 2023.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Malaysian counterpart on (a) protecting tropical forests and (b)(i) safeguarding and (ii) recognising the rights of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities.

The Foreign Secretary met Malaysian PM Anwar on 11 July and discussed Malaysia's climate commitments.Tackling deforestation and safeguarding the role of local smallholder communities was the focal point of the Minister for Climate's visit in April 2025 when she and Malaysian Minister for Plantations launched the Forest, Agriculture and Commodity Trade (FACT) Dialogue Forum promoting deforestation-free crop production.In March 2025, I launched the UK International Climate Fund (ICF) programme 'Seed to Tree'. I engaged with the indigenous community on establishing seed banks, plant nurseries and translocating saplings for wider forest restoration efforts in Malaysia to combat climate change.The UK is working with Malaysia and the Netherlands under a UK ICF programme where smallholders (comprising indigenous and local community groups) from across Malaysia are trained to be market-ready producers of sustainable palm oil and deforestation free crops.

Communities and Local Government, what support is available to local authorities to improve community (a) libraries, (b) banking hubs and (c) other digital access points for residents lacking reliable home internet access.

The final Local Government Finance Settlement for 2025-26 makes available over £69 billion for local government, which is a 6.8% cash terms increase on 2024-25. The majority of funding in the Local Government Finance Settlement is unringfenced recognising that local leaders are best placed to identify local priorities. This government is also taking direct steps to support libraries, banks and digital inclusion. The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport announced in February 2025 a further £5.5 million of the Libraries Improvement Fund for 2025-26 The Government is also working closely with industry to roll out 350 banking hubs across the UK. Over 230 hubs have been announced so far, and over 170 are already open. Finally, the Government published the Digital Inclusion Action Plan: First Steps in February 2025, which outlines the first five actions we are taking over the next year on digital inclusion.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what financial support his Department provides for the protection of (a) rainforests and (b) Indigenous People and Local Communities in a context of aid cuts.

It remains the Government's ambition to deliver £11.6 billion of International Climate Finance between April 2021 and March 2026, of which £1.5 billion should be for forests. In the context of aid cuts, we will sharpen the focus of our Official Development Assistance investments onto three priorities where we can drive real change: humanitarian, health, and climate and nature.At COP26 in Glasgow, the UK mobilised the $1.7 billion Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLC) Forest Tenure Pledge and committed £163 million to advance IPLC tenure rights. We continue to prioritise supporting IPLCs, recognising their vital role in tackling the climate and nature crises. We do this through flagship Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office programmes, including on forest governance and land tenure in the Amazon, and as co-chair of the Forest and Climate Leaders' Partnership ahead of COP30 in Brazil later this year.

Innovation and Technology, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of current digital infrastructure in supporting online (a) healthcare, (b) education and (c) banking services in rural villages.

Digital infrastructure underpins all aspects of modern life, including access to GP, educational and banking services.Through Project Gigabit and the Shared Rural Network, we are continuing to deliver improvements in broadband and mobile connectivity to areas with limited coverage, including in rural villages.The Government remains committed to ensuring at least 99% of UK premises receive gigabit coverage by 2032. Over 88% of UK premises can already access gigabit capable broadband.4G coverage from at least one mobile operator has now reached over 95% of the UK landmass as a result of the Shared Rural Network, while 4G is also available inside almost 100% of UK premises from one operator. Our ambition is to go further and for all populated areas to benefit from higher-quality standalone 5G by 2030.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his Israeli counterparts on levels of (a) child malnutrition and (b) access to baby formula in Gaza.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire, and the suffering of so many children there is heartbreaking. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) reported on 15 July that one in ten children screened in UNRWA medical facilities is malnourished. We highlighted the critical situation for Gaza's children at a session of the UN Security Council which we co-called on 16 July, and at the International Development Committee on 16 July. The Foreign Secretary spoke to Israeli Foreign Minister Sa'ar about the humanitarian situation in Gaza on 21 July. The UK continues to demand that a full and unhindered resumption of aid into Gaza takes place immediately. Israel must immediately allow the UN and aid partners to safely deliver aid at scale and in line with humanitarian principles.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with Cabinet colleagues on UK military involvement in the event of an escalation in conflict between Iran and Israel.

We will not comment on discussions in relation to matters of national security. But as we have made clear, we were not involved in US strikes on Iran, just as we were not involved in Israel's operations.

Innovation and Technology, what discussions he has had with his counterparts in (a) the USA and (b) South Korea on alternative methods to replace animal experiments in medical research.

Many animal testing regulations are backed by international agreements and the Government works to ensure regulatory alignment where appropriate. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) represent the UK at the International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use, on accelerating acceptance of data from non-animal methods for drug safety decision making. Officials engage with international partners such as the United States Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) and attend international meetings to share best practice and consider approaches that reduce reliance on animal testing.

What steps her Department is taking to simplify the renewal process for Blue Badge holders.

Local authorities are responsible for the day-to-day administration and enforcement of the Blue Badge scheme. They are responsible for determining and implementing the administrative, assessment, and enforcement procedures which they believe are in accordance with the governing legislation.Whilst it remains a matter for each individual local authority to decide on and to produce application form(s) for their area, to assist local authorities in deciding whether an applicant meets the eligibility criteria, the DfT has produced a model application form with accompanying guidance notes for applicants on how to complete the form.The Department also recommends that authorities provide the guidance notes as a separate document to the application form so that they can be retained by the applicant for future reference after their application has been submitted.In addition, the Department works closely with its Blue Badge Digital Service supplier to identify possible improvements to the online application and renewal process as part of its continuous improvement programme.

What discussions she has had with civil society organisations on the proscription of Palestine Action.

Every proscription decision is made through careful consideration by the Home Secretary and follows advice from the cross-government Proscription Review Group, which involves technical assessments and deep engagement with subject matter experts including policy officials and law enforcement.

Whether his Department plans to introduce legislation to ban the importation of goods produced in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.

The UK Government has a clear position that Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories are illegal under international law. Goods originating in these settlements are not entitled to benefit from preferential tariff treatment under the UK's current trade agreements with the Palestinian Authority and Israel.There are clear risks related to economic and financial activities in the settlements, and we do not encourage or offer support to such activity. UK Government guidance equips individuals and businesses to make their own informed choices regarding such commercial activities.

How many licences have been granted for experiments using (a) dogs,(b) cats and (c) primates since 4 July 2025.

Since 4 July 2025 to the present day, no new project licences have been granted that authorise the use of dogs, cats or primates under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing vehicle tax reductions for people in receipt of attendance allowance.

Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) applies to vehicles used or kept on public roads. Different rates apply to cars, vans, and motorcycles, and the rate for each vehicle is calculated according to a range of factors, such as its date of first registration, weight, or CO2 emissions. For individuals who develop a disability after the State Pension age, Attendance Allowance (AA) is a non means-tested benefit which provides targeted help with the extra costs of disability and helps them maintain their independence. While the intention is for AA to cover the need for care or supervision an individual requires as a result of their disability, individuals may choose to use their AA to fund mobility aids.However, AA does not have a specific mobility component, and therefore does not include an exemption from or reduction in VED. The government has no current plans to review or amend this longstanding policy.

Communities and Local Government, what role Natural England will play under the Planning and Infrastructure Bill in ensuring improvements to nature are delivered; and what statutory powers and funding will be granted to support that role.

Natural England will be responsible for producing Environmental Delivery Plans (EDPs) and for delivering the conservation measures set out in them.While Natural England will generally be the delivery body for EDPs, the Bill contains provision to allow for another body to be designated to exercise functions in relation to the Nature Restoration Fund, should this be necessary.Natural England will have compulsory purchase powers to enable them to secure and implement the conservation measures needed to protect the environment. The use of Natural England’s compulsory purchase power will be subject to appropriate scrutiny and oversight and must be authorised by the Secretary of State.In order to fund the conservation measures set out in any given EDP, Natural England will apply a levy to developers whose developments are covered it, as set out in the EDP’s charging schedule.The government will ensure that appropriate resources are in place to administer the Nature Restoration Fund which will run on a cost recovery basis when fully operational. The Budget allocated £14 million to support initial deployment of the Fund.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill on the (a) duties and (b) targets set in the Environment Act 2021.

The Environment Act 2021 requires Ministers to have ‘due regard’ to the policy statement on environmental principles when making policy. This is to ensure that environmental considerations are at the heart of policymaking across government.Environmental considerations in respect of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill were given due regard in line with the requirements of the Environment Act 2021.

Whether Project Reach will include enhancements to on-train Wi-Fi and mobile signal coverage for passengers travelling to and from Cornwall.

The Reach solution is focused on improving mobile signal coverage and the list of tunnels interventions includes the following locations in Devon and Cornwall: Whiteball TunnelMarley TunnelPolperro TunnelTreverin TunnelParsons TunnelWiveliscombe TunnelBuckshead Tunnel.

What steps her Department is taking to support journalism training that helps future journalists deal with AI-generated content and misinformation.

Higher education providers are independent bodies responsible for designing their own journalism qualifications. However, the quality of courses is regulated by the independent regulator the Office for Students (OfS). Courses must be up-to-date and teach students skills relevant to the subject and level of the course. Relevant skills could include, but not be limited to, cognitive skills, practical skills, transferable skills and professional competences.A course designed to lead to a particular profession should require students to demonstrate the skills necessary for success in that profession, including where specific skills are required for accreditation by a professional body.For example, the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) and the Broadcast Journalism Training Council accredit courses delivered by providers in the UK. In addition, the NCTJ offers its own popular journalism diploma, which is also delivered in some further education colleges as well as other level 3 provision. It is for employers, providers and sector bodies to ensure that content meets learner and employer needs.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the removal of Strategic Priorities Grant funding from journalism courses in the 2025–26 academic year on the accessibility of journalism education.

The government provides funding through the Strategic Priorities Grant (SPG) on an annual basis to support teaching and students in higher education (HE). We are prioritising support for high-cost subjects that are essential to the delivery of our Industrial Strategy and for access to HE for disadvantaged groups. The removal of SPG funding for journalism courses aligns with this.We are prioritising investment in science, engineering and technology subjects. Media studies, journalism, publishing and information services are all important and valued subjects, and the government acknowledges their importance, alongside numerous other subjects that do not attract SPG high-cost subject funding, such as history, languages, economics, mathematics and law.Funding for all subjects, including journalism, will benefit from the increase in tuition fee limits in line with inflation. The maximum fee for a standard full-time undergraduate course in the 2025/26 academic year will increase by 3.1%, from £9,250 to £9,535.HE providers are autonomous bodies, independent from government, and are responsible for deciding which courses to offer.

What the evidential basis was for the decision to remove Strategic Priorities Grant funding from journalism courses.

The government provides funding through the Strategic Priorities Grant (SPG) on an annual basis to support teaching and students in higher education (HE). We are prioritising support for high-cost subjects that are essential to the delivery of our Industrial Strategy and for access to HE for disadvantaged groups. The removal of SPG funding for journalism courses aligns with this.We are prioritising investment in science, engineering and technology subjects. Media studies, journalism, publishing and information services are all important and valued subjects, and the government acknowledges their importance, alongside numerous other subjects that do not attract SPG high-cost subject funding, such as history, languages, economics, mathematics and law.Funding for all subjects, including journalism, will benefit from the increase in tuition fee limits in line with inflation. The maximum fee for a standard full-time undergraduate course in the 2025/26 academic year will increase by 3.1%, from £9,250 to £9,535.HE providers are autonomous bodies, independent from government, and are responsible for deciding which courses to offer.

What estimate she has made of the number of students likely to be affected by the withdrawal of Strategic Priorities Grant funding for journalism courses in 2025–26.

The government provides funding through the Strategic Priorities Grant (SPG) on an annual basis to support teaching and students in higher education (HE). We are prioritising support for high-cost subjects that are essential to the delivery of our Industrial Strategy and for access to HE for disadvantaged groups. The removal of SPG funding for journalism courses aligns with this.We are prioritising investment in science, engineering and technology subjects. Media studies, journalism, publishing and information services are all important and valued subjects, and the government acknowledges their importance, alongside numerous other subjects that do not attract SPG high-cost subject funding, such as history, languages, economics, mathematics and law.Funding for all subjects, including journalism, will benefit from the increase in tuition fee limits in line with inflation. The maximum fee for a standard full-time undergraduate course in the 2025/26 academic year will increase by 3.1%, from £9,250 to £9,535.HE providers are autonomous bodies, independent from government, and are responsible for deciding which courses to offer.