Written questions by Stephenson.

With reference to the press release entitled First-time buyers to benefit from 40,000 new homes on brownfield railway land, published on 30 June 2025, whether these properties will be earmarked for first-time buyers.

First time buyers will be amongst those to benefit from the 40,000 homes unlocked over the next decade on a mix of surplus Department for Transport land and third-party land. Platform4 is committed to providing a mix of housing, including affordable and build to rent. Planning policy on first time buyers will be locally led.

If he will make an estimate of the cost to the public purse of (a) consultations and (b) reviews conducted by their Department since 4 July 2024.

The information requested is not centrally held in an easily accessible form as there are no expenditure categories that just cover consultations or reviews.Due to this any response could only be collated and verified for the purposes of answering this question at disproportionate cost.

If he will make an estimate of the cost to the public purse of (a) consultations and (b) reviews conducted by his Department since 4 July 2024.

The information requested is not held centrally and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

If she will make an estimate of the annual cost to the public purse of the Office for Value for Money.

The Office for Value for Money's (OVfM) has successfully delivered on its remit, including working with departments to identify credible plans to deliver almost £14 billion of efficiencies per year by 2028-29 as well as wider reforms to improve value for money across government. Its functions will be embedded within the Treasury, leaving a legacy of value for money improvements across the public sector. The OVfM's budget and total spend for 2024-25 is set out in HM Treasury’s 2024-25 Annual Report and Accounts (ARA). The OVfM's outturn cost for 2025-26 will be published in HM Treasury's 2025-26 ARA.

Pursuant to the Answer to Question 50271 on Holiday Accommodation: Bedfordshire, when he expects to publish that impact assessment.

The consultation- Package travel – updating the framework 2025 - GOV.UK closed 30 June 2025. The government is now analysing responses.The government response will be published by the end of the year.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to support the restoration of critical infrastructure in Jamaica following Hurricane Melissa: and what assessment she has made of the potential role of UK companies.

I refer the hon. member to the written ministerial statement published on 4 November.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what support she will provide to British citizens who have (a) family, (b) property and (c) businesses impacted by Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica.

I refer the hon. member to the written ministerial statement published on 4 November.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department plans to take to support Jamaican authorities to ensure that (a) search and rescue efforts and (b) UK aid are able to access the hardest hit areas of Jamaica following Hurricane Melissa.

I refer the hon. member to the written ministerial statement published on 4 November.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to coordinate with the (a) Jamaican authorities and (b) regional disaster-management agencies to help ensure that UK assistance is (i) effective and (ii) reaches the most impacted communities.

I refer the hon. member to the written ministerial statement published on 4 November.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to support British citizens who (a) live in Jamaica and (b) are travelling in Jamaica following Hurricane Melissa.

I refer the hon. member to the written ministerial statement published on 4 November.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she made continued access for Jewish and Christian communities to holy sites in the State of Palestine a condition of UK recognition.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 29 October to Question 83047.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she made the proscription of Hamas by the Government of the State of Palestine a condition of UK recognition.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 29 October to Question 83047.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has made free and fair elections a condition of the UK's recognition of the State of Palestine.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 29 October to Question 83047.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the level of (a) human rights and (b) democracy in the State of Palestine.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 29 October to Question 83047.

How many newly arrived illegal migrants have been provided Government funded accommodation since 4 August 2025.

In accordance with the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, the Home Office has a statutory obligation to provide destitute asylum seekers with accommodation and subsistence support whilst their application for asylum is being considered.Data, published quarterly, on the number of supported asylum seekers in accommodation, including accommodation type, can be found within the Asy_D11 tab of our most recent statistics release. Immigration system statistics data tables - www.gov.uk/government/collections/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release, with the latest information published 30 June 2025, and the next quarterly figures are due to be released later this month in November 2025.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what her Department's policy is on the status of East Jerusalem, in the context of the UK's recognition of the State of Palestine.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 29 October to Question 83047.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she plans to withdraw recognition of the State of Palestine in the event that Hamas break any conditions of that recognition.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 29 October to Question 83047.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the UK will support Palestinian membership of the United Nations, in the context of UK recognition of the State of Palestine.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 29 October to Question 83047.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she plans to formally recognise Taiwan.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 19 December 2024 to Question 19224.

If he will make an estimate of the cost to the public purse of Ministerial severance packages between 1 September and 8 September 2025.

Departments are responsible for making salary and loss of office payments to their Ministers. This information would only be held by individual departments.