Written questions by Obese-Jecty.

With reference to page 31 of the National Security Strategy 2025, CP 1338, published on 24 June 2025, whether he made progress on enhancing the Combined Joint Expeditionary Force with France at the France-UK summit in July 2025.

The July 2025 UK-France summit saw a complete overhaul of the Combined Joint Expeditionary Force (CJEF) into the Combined Joint Force (CJF) with significant changes to structure, focus, coordination mechanisms and leadership. This is outlined in the Lancaster House 2.0: Declaration on Modernising UK-French Defence and Security Cooperation press release of 10 July 2025.

What assessment he has made of the impact of the abolition of NHS England on the Integrated Single Financial Environment programme.

As would be expected with such significant reform, we have been carefully assessing the impact of the organisational change across the range existing systems and processes that includes the continued use of systems such as the Integrated Single Financial Environment (ISFE).The ISFE is, and will continue to be, critical to the delivery of ongoing National Health Service functions, and we are committed to ensuring that we maximise the value of the investment made in this system in the new integrated organisation.

How many life jackets given to people illegally crossing the English Channel by French authorities have been returned to those authorities since 5 July 2024.

The information requested is not held in a reportable format and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost as it would require a manual trawl of case records to retrieve.

With reference to page 27 of the National Security Strategy 2025, CP 1338, published on 24 June 2025, what recent progress he has made on establishing a new network of national biosecurity centres.

The Network of Biosecurity Centres will strengthen and formalise the strong existing collaborations between the UK Health Security Agency, the Animal and Plant Health Agency and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory. It will ensure we are better prepared for a crisis, can respond more effectively when an incident does happen, and deliver a more holistic, One Health and National Security approach to biological research.The Network will support the Centres’ development and operation, with investment in the laboratory facilities of more than £1bn over the next four years to ensure we have the capabilities we need. Initial steps will include agreeing collaboration priorities, such as operation standards and skills development.The Cabinet Office oversees implementation of the UK Biological Security Strategy. That includes ensuring we have the capabilities across government to protect the public from a spectrum of biological risks, no matter how they occur and no matter who or what they affect. Funding to tackle specific biological risks is based on the UK ‘Lead Government Department (LGD)’ model. Designated LGDs are responsible for leading work to identify serious risks, and ensuring that the right planning, response and recovery arrangements are in place - including the prioritisation of departmental spending to ensure the right capabilities are in place to mitigate risks, within allocated budgets. The UK Biological Security Strategy is clear that a thriving life sciences sector is key to our biological security. The government has committed £380 million to engineering biology and £2bn to life sciences over the spending review period. At the publication of the UK Biological Security Strategy in June 2023, we committed to update Parliament annually on the progress made to implement the Strategy. The government published its first UK Biosecurity Strategy Implementation report in July 2025, which sets out the range of short term commitments delivered. The report is available here.

With reference to page 39 of the National Security Strategy 2025, published in June 2025, CP 1338, what measures are contained within each pillar of the Strategic Framework in order to bolster overall security with respect to China.

The three pillars of the National Security Strategy 2025 set out comprehensive measures on how we will bolster the UK's overall security. Our approach to China, as a country that poses both a series of threats to UK national security and significant economic opportunities, necessarily cuts across all three pillars. From pillar one's focus on measures to bolster our security at home, to pillar two's emphasis on direct and high level engagement with China in support of UK interests to pillar three's focus on our international competitiveness and reducing our dependence on others.

With reference to page 90 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, published on 8 July 2025, whether UK plans are coherent with NATO planning.

The UK’s Home Defence planning is closely aligned and coherent with our obligations associated with NATO plans. The government takes a NATO first approach to defence planning and remains committed to our responsibilities in the alliance. Further details are set out in the Strategic Defence Review, National Security Strategy and Resilience Action Plan.

With reference to page 90 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, published on 8 July 2025, what progress has he made on codifying civilian assistance to military authorities in crisis and conflict.

Developing plans for civilian assistance to the military in a time of conflict is a key component of the Cabinet Offices Home Defence Programme (HDP). Working with the MoD and across Whitehall departments, the HDP will set a baseline understanding of the requirements of support that defence would need and how positions and roles may need to be backfilled in a conflict scenario. This work is ongoing.

With reference to page 25 of the National Security Strategy 2025, CP 1338, published on 24 June 2025, how much funding was provided to the Counter Terrorism Operations Centre in (a) 2024-25 and (b) 2025-26.

The Counter-Terrorism Operations Centre (CTOC) is the flagship of the UK's CT capability, bringing together expertise and resource across police, the intelligence agencies and the criminal justice system, enabling us to better identify and disrupt emerging threats from terrorism.We do not publish a breakdown of funding for national security reasons.

With reference to page 26 of the National Security Strategy 2025, CP 1338, published on 24 June 2025, what her planned timetable is for implementing the recommendations of the Independent Reviewer of State Threat Legislation.

As the previous Home Secretary set out in her oral statement on 19 May 2025, the Government is committed to taking forward legislation to implement all of the recommendations made by Jonathan Hall KC, Independent Reviewer of State Threats Legislation, in his review of legislation to address state-based security threats to the UK.One of the recommendations made by Jonathan Hall KC, was to create a State Threats Proscription-Style Tool which will more appropriately tackle threats from state-linked entities, and which will provide operational partners with enhanced capabilities to disrupt the activities of the most egregious organisations. We will bring forward legislation as soon as Parliamentary time allows.

With reference to page 25 of the National Security Strategy 2025, CP 1338, published on 24 June 2025, when she plans to introduce new powers to help tackle state threats.

As the previous Home Secretary set out in her oral statement on 19 May 2025, the Government is committed to taking forward legislation to implement all of the recommendations made by Jonathan Hall KC, Independent Reviewer of State Threats Legislation, in his review of legislation to address state-based security threats to the UK.One of the recommendations made by Jonathan Hall KC, was to create a State Threats Proscription-Style Tool which will more appropriately tackle threats from state-linked entities, and which will provide operational partners with enhanced capabilities to disrupt the activities of the most egregious organisations. We will bring forward legislation as soon as Parliamentary time allows.

With reference to the news story entitled Live Facial Recognition technology to catch high-harm offenders, published on 13 August 2025, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of using live facial recognition vans to identify people involved with hare-coursing.

The Government is committed to equipping police forces with the tools they need to tackle serious crimes, locate offenders and bring them to justice.As part of this commitment, the Home Office has funded the roll-out of ten live facial recognition (LFR) vans to seven host police forces, with access available to all forces across the country.Hare coursing is a serious criminal offence that causes harm to rural communities. Police forces across the UK have launched Operation Galileo, a national initiative aimed at tackling hare coursing through increased patrols, surveillance and tougher legal penalties. The Government takes this issue very seriously and will continue to support police efforts to tackle it.While LFR technology has proven effective in locating individuals wanted for high harm offences, the government has made no formal assessment regarding its potential use in addressing hare coursing. LFR deployment decisions rest with individual police forces, and any future consideration of its use must be intelligence-led and compliant with the legal framework.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 19 September 2025 to Question 74067 on Primates: Imports, how many import licences have been issued for macaques since 5 July 2024; and for what purposes each import licence was issued.

This information is not available in the public domain.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what progress has she made on renewing the New START Treaty before its expiration in February 2026.

The New START Treaty is a bilateral agreement between the United States and Russian Federation; any replacement treaty is a matter for the US and Russia. The UK regularly raises issues related to strategic risk reduction, including arms control with the USA and Russia through the expert-level P5 process. Genuine and verifiable strategic arms control among the largest Nuclear Weapons States can be a positive step for global security. However, following Russia's decision to suspend participation in New START verification measures in 2023, future approaches need to be based on concrete, and verifiable actions.

If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of abolishing (a) NHS England and (b) some integrated care boards on (i) veteran-focussed services provided by NHS England and (ii) veteran-tailored healthcare provision.

Following the announcement on the abolition of NHS England, work is progressing to develop the design and operating model for the new integrated organisation, and to plan for the smooth transfer of people, functions, and responsibilities from NHS England to the Department.The Department is committed to carefully assessing and understanding the potential impacts, and these ongoing assessments will inform the programme as it progresses. NHS England will continue to undertake its statutory functions until parliamentary time allows for legislative changes to be made.Whilst this transformation takes place, the Department will ensure that it continues to evaluate impacts and work collaboratively to ensure continuity of care within veteran focussed services.

With reference to recommendation 22 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, what progress he has made on strengthening Europe’s collective industrial base.

The UK recently launched its Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS) which reaffirms our belief that close cooperation with our European allies is essential. We remain clear that, in order to effectively deter and defence against increased aggression, we need to strengthen our shared defence industrial base to ensure Europe is able to secure the critical capabilities needed at the necessary speed, scale and value for money. As part of these efforts, we have set out our ambition to explore the potential for enhanced cooperation through the EU’s SAFE instrument. We have also re-set our bilateral relationships with France, helping to strengthen the European complex weapons industrial base through Lancaster House 2.0, and with Germany, strengthening the land combat industrial sector, through the Trinity House agreement. While the new UK-Norway defence partnership, including the Type 26 procurement, will sustain 4.000 jobs in the UK.

How many people who illegally crossed the English Channel were brought ashore by (a) Border Force, (b) the Royal Navy and (c) Royal National Lifeboat Institution since 5 July 2024.

Information of this kind is only readily available for whole calendar years and the current year to date, rather than the part year commencing 5 July 2024 when the present Government came into office. The specific information requested could therefore only be obtained at a disproportionate cost as it would require a manual trawl of case records to retrieve.The Royal Navy does not, and has never, rescued migrants from small boats. The vast majority of rescues of migrants in small boats in the Channel have been made by Border Force vessels, including during the period when MOD had primacy for the operational response to Channel crossings in 2022-23. The split between Border Force rescues and those made by RNLI in the years 2023, 2024, and to date in 2025 is: % of Migrants recovered on RNLI Vessels% of Migrants recovered on BF Vessels20256%94%20247%93%20238%92%It should be noted that these figures come from management information, and should be viewed as indicative only and not assured data.

With reference to page 26 of the National Security Strategy 2025, CP 1338, published on 24 June 2025, what recent steps her Department has taken to remove (a) platforms and (b) privileges to people who do not follow those rules.

The information requested on visa data is not centrally held and could only be collected and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.The Home Office is committed to countering extremism in all its forms where it divides communities and inflames tensions. Regardless of the worldview it draws from, if an ideology is causing harm by radicalising others into hatred, violence and extremism we will take action to prevent this and to safeguard susceptible individuals.It is a privilege to participate in and be a part of UK society. The Government is improving our range of powers to ensure those who abuse this privilege will be penalised. We have introduced a pilot to improve our ability to stop those intent on promoting extreme ideologies from traveling to the UK from overseas, and we are currently drafting proposed secondary legislation to further strengthen the Charity Commission’s powers around disqualification and discretionary powers.

With reference to page 27 of the National Security Strategy 2025, CP 1338, published on 24 June 2025, when he plans to publish the report on the biological security strategy.

The Network of Biosecurity Centres will strengthen and formalise the strong existing collaborations between the UK Health Security Agency, the Animal and Plant Health Agency and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory. It will ensure we are better prepared for a crisis, can respond more effectively when an incident does happen, and deliver a more holistic, One Health and National Security approach to biological research.The Network will support the Centres’ development and operation, with investment in the laboratory facilities of more than £1bn over the next four years to ensure we have the capabilities we need. Initial steps will include agreeing collaboration priorities, such as operation standards and skills development.The Cabinet Office oversees implementation of the UK Biological Security Strategy. That includes ensuring we have the capabilities across government to protect the public from a spectrum of biological risks, no matter how they occur and no matter who or what they affect. Funding to tackle specific biological risks is based on the UK ‘Lead Government Department (LGD)’ model. Designated LGDs are responsible for leading work to identify serious risks, and ensuring that the right planning, response and recovery arrangements are in place - including the prioritisation of departmental spending to ensure the right capabilities are in place to mitigate risks, within allocated budgets. The UK Biological Security Strategy is clear that a thriving life sciences sector is key to our biological security. The government has committed £380 million to engineering biology and £2bn to life sciences over the spending review period. At the publication of the UK Biological Security Strategy in June 2023, we committed to update Parliament annually on the progress made to implement the Strategy. The government published its first UK Biosecurity Strategy Implementation report in July 2025, which sets out the range of short term commitments delivered. The report is available here.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential need for additional financial support to local authorities to offset revenue losses during the equalisation process of Council Tax rates.

Council tax is managed by local authorities, who decide what level of council tax they wish to set. There is an established system for the locally-led harmonisation of council tax levels across the restructured local authority area, no later than the start of the eighth year after reorganisation. The Government will continue to set referendum principles each year and any authority which sets a council tax increase above the principles must have it approved by voters.The government is committed to ensuring that funding is targeted effectively at the places and services that need it most and allocated in a way that empowers local leaders to deliver against local priorities. This includes committing to multi-year allocations for each council through the upcoming 2026-27 Local Government Finance Settlement (LGFS) and moving to a more up-to-date assessment of each council’s needs and resources.

With reference to page 27 of the National Security Strategy 2025, CP 1338, published on 24 June 2025, when the next national exercise to test whole-of-society preparedness will take place.

The Government’s Resilience Action Plan has committed to the delivery of the National Exercise Programme (NEP). This covers a range of whole-system risks, with the priority areas for testing informed by our assessment of cross-cutting and systemic vulnerabilities and capability gaps. The NEP sets out a timetable of annual Tier 1 exercises requiring a central response and cross-government coordination. Tier 1 exercises are scalable national exercises involving devolved governments and regional and local tier responders, as well as relevant industry engagement such as critical businesses and voluntary and community organisations. Government departments fully participate at senior official and ministerial levels. The national exercise for 2025 is a pandemic preparedness exercise led by the Department of Health and Social Care. It is the first of its kind in nearly a decade and is set to be the biggest in UK history. It aims to test our ability to respond to a pandemic arising from a novel infectious disease, involving all regions and nations of the UK and thousands of participants. It is currently underway, with every UK government department participating. As part of the National Exercise Programme future government exercises are being coordinated to test all levels of government and those from across society to increase preparedness across the whole of society.