Written questions by Dewhirst.

What is the current policy of HM Courts & Tribunals Service on ensuring its courts facilities for (a) the public and (b) staff are compliant with the Supreme Court ruling in the case of For Women Scotland v. The Scottish Ministers regarding the meaning of “sex” in the Equality Act 2010.

HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) works to ensure its facilities comply with equalities law, in relation to the interpretation of sex under the Equality Act 2010.HMCTS is presently awaiting updated cross-government guidance from the Office for Equality and Opportunity.

Pursuant to the answer of 23 January 2026, to Question 105913, on Revenue and Customs: Social Media, if she will name the social media influencers who were used, including their social media handles.

The social media influencers used across all of these campaigns were commissioned and managed by a specialist agency, who identify, contract and oversee creators on HMRC's behalf based on the objectives set for reaching and engaging with specific audiences.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 8 January 2026 to Question 101383 on Government Actuary’s Department: Freedom of Information, what the cash terms monetary cost to the UK is of the Chagos Islands deal before the application of the assumed GDP deflator rate and social time discounting.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 3 February in response to Question 108232.

Pursuant to the answer of 17 November 2025, to Question 88685, on Coinage: Design, on what dates the Committee and Sub-Committee have met since July 2024; and what changes have been made to coinage theme and design policy since July 2024.

Following the conclusion of each financial year, the Royal Mint Advisory Committee publishes its annual report on the Royal Mint Museum website. These reports contain detail on when the Committee and the Sub-Committee on the selection of themes met over the financial year and themes that were recommended to the Chancellor of the Exchequer in her capacity as Master of the Mint and HM The King. The annual report for 2024-25 can be found here: www.royalmintmuseum.org.uk/siteassets/about-us/rmac-annual-report-2024-25.pdf The annual report for 2025-26 will be published later this year. All designs for the themes recommended by the Committee can be found on The Royal Mint website, here: Coin Designs and Specifications | The Royal Mint

Further to the UK-EU Summit - Common Understanding, 22 December 2025, whether he intends that the UK Government will make additional financial contributions to the European Union as a consequence of the new provisions on (a) reinforced law enforcement and judicial cooperation in criminal matters, and (b) judicial cooperation in civil and commercial matters.

The Government has agreed that when the UK participates in an EU instrument, programme or other activity, the UK will make a fair financial contribution to cover the costs of our participation. No decisions have yet been taken as to whether the UK will make additional financial contributions to the European Union as a consequence of the new provisions set out in the Common Understanding of 19 May 2025 on a) reinforced law enforcement and judicial cooperation in criminal matters, and (b) judicial cooperation in civil and commercial matters. Any decisions on such matters will be assessed in accordance with Government Accounting Officer rules, including value for money. The UK Government remains committed to close and effective collaboration with EU and EFTA countries in these matters.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what funding has been provided to (a) Torchlight, (b) Torchlight Group, (c) Torchlight Solutions and (d) TAG International since July 2024.

Details of all central government commercial contracts above a value of £12,000 are routinely published on the Contract Finder website.

Pursuant to the answer of 16 January 2026, to Question 103793, on Cabinet Office: Electronic Purchasing Card Solution, if she will place in the Library a copy of the invoice and receipt from TasteThatLove.

Government Procurement Card spend data is declared in relevant transparency publications.

Pursuant to the answer of 11 November 2025 to Question 87342 on Chagos Islands: Sovereignty, what his planned timetable is for deciding whether the Chagos Islands Treaty will be scored against the 5% NATO targets.

Decisions on the NATO qualifying status of these costs will be considered in the usual way, once the Treaty has entered into force.

Pursuant to the answer of 3 December 2025 to Question 75027 on Military Aircraft: Ministers, how much of the cost was spent on catering.

The total cost of catering on CSAT fights between 5 July 2024 and 4 July 2025 was £91,714.15.In Question 75027 which the hon. member refers to, the date range was incorrect. It should have stated 5 July 2024 to 4 July 2025.

Food and Rural Affairs, for what reason two pages were redacted in Natural England’s response to EIR2026/00223 on its report on managed burning.

The redactions made to Natural England’s response to EIR2026/00223, were applied because the material contained third-party personal data, which is exempt from disclosure under the Environmental Information Regulations. In addition, some material was outside the scope of the requestor’s EIR enquiry and was removed on that basis. The Department does not consider it necessary to place the requested documents in the Library. The NEER155 evidence review was carried out by Natural England, the Government’s statutory adviser on nature. As the statutory adviser responsible for the review, the tasks associated with carrying out that review including the peer review element were matters for Natural England. NEER155 built on Natural England’s 2013 review (NEER004) by incorporating 102 new studies on the effects of burning on peatlands. The external peer reviewers for NEER155 were leading peatland experts at major universities and other expert institutions.

Food and Rural Affairs, if she will place in the Library Defra-held correspondence and assessments supporting the evidential basis that NEER155 underwent rigorous peer review.

The redactions made to Natural England’s response to EIR2026/00223, were applied because the material contained third-party personal data, which is exempt from disclosure under the Environmental Information Regulations. In addition, some material was outside the scope of the requestor’s EIR enquiry and was removed on that basis. The Department does not consider it necessary to place the requested documents in the Library. The NEER155 evidence review was carried out by Natural England, the Government’s statutory adviser on nature. As the statutory adviser responsible for the review, the tasks associated with carrying out that review including the peer review element were matters for Natural England. NEER155 built on Natural England’s 2013 review (NEER004) by incorporating 102 new studies on the effects of burning on peatlands. The external peer reviewers for NEER155 were leading peatland experts at major universities and other expert institutions.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the peer review for the Natural England Evidence Review with reference NEER155.

The redactions made to Natural England’s response to EIR2026/00223, were applied because the material contained third-party personal data, which is exempt from disclosure under the Environmental Information Regulations. In addition, some material was outside the scope of the requestor’s EIR enquiry and was removed on that basis. The Department does not consider it necessary to place the requested documents in the Library. The NEER155 evidence review was carried out by Natural England, the Government’s statutory adviser on nature. As the statutory adviser responsible for the review, the tasks associated with carrying out that review including the peer review element were matters for Natural England. NEER155 built on Natural England’s 2013 review (NEER004) by incorporating 102 new studies on the effects of burning on peatlands. The external peer reviewers for NEER155 were leading peatland experts at major universities and other expert institutions.

Food and Rural Affairs, if she will meet with manufacturers from the heating, refrigeration and air conditioning industries to discuss mandatory training on flammable refrigerants as part of the GB F Gas consultation process.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 10 February 2026 to the honourable Member for Bridlington and The Wolds in PQ UIN 111494.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the necessary safety measures required for the transition to alternative refrigerants with flammability or toxicity characteristics.

I refer the honourable Member to the answer given on 10 February to the honourable Member for Newbury, PQs 111542 and 111543.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of reducing upfront VCT income tax relief on (a) future Venture Capital Trust fundraising and (b) investor behaviour across other tax-advantaged investment schemes, including EIS and SEIS.

At Budget, the government announced a comprehensive package of entrepreneurship tax measures designed to provide substantially enhanced support for scaling businesses across the UK. This includes doubling the maximum amount that a company can raise through the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) and the Venture Capital Trust (VCT) scheme. These increases are expected to lead to around £100 million per year of extra investment into the most successful scaling companies, supporting their further growth and development. The Government recognises that there may be other ways we could support companies to scale in the UK. We have therefore launched a Call for Evidence on tax policy support to gather views and evidence from founders, entrepreneurs, scaling companies and investors. This will assess the impact, accessibility, and generosity of existing schemes, and explore potential policy options to go-further. A Tax Information and Impact Note published at Budget outlines the policy rationale and expected impacts of these measures. It can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/enterprise-investment-scheme-eis-and-venture-capital-trusts-vct-changes/venture-capital-trusts-enterprise-investment-scheme-investment-limit-increase-and-restructure The Policy Costings document contains further information on the costing methodology. This can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/692872fd2a37784b16ecf676/Budget_2025-Policy_Costings.pdf

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of reducing VCT Income Tax relief on the outcomes from doubling the lifetime investment limit for qualifying companies.

At Budget, the government announced a comprehensive package of entrepreneurship tax measures designed to provide substantially enhanced support for scaling businesses across the UK. This includes doubling the maximum amount that a company can raise through the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) and the Venture Capital Trust (VCT) scheme. These increases are expected to lead to around £100 million per year of extra investment into the most successful scaling companies, supporting their further growth and development. The Government recognises that there may be other ways we could support companies to scale in the UK. We have therefore launched a Call for Evidence on tax policy support to gather views and evidence from founders, entrepreneurs, scaling companies and investors. This will assess the impact, accessibility, and generosity of existing schemes, and explore potential policy options to go-further. A Tax Information and Impact Note published at Budget outlines the policy rationale and expected impacts of these measures. It can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/enterprise-investment-scheme-eis-and-venture-capital-trusts-vct-changes/venture-capital-trusts-enterprise-investment-scheme-investment-limit-increase-and-restructure The Policy Costings document contains further information on the costing methodology. This can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/692872fd2a37784b16ecf676/Budget_2025-Policy_Costings.pdf

Whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of changes to Venture Capital Trust tax relief and lifetime investment limits on investment in qualifying companies.

At Budget, the government announced a comprehensive package of entrepreneurship tax measures designed to provide substantially enhanced support for scaling businesses across the UK. This includes doubling the maximum amount that a company can raise through the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) and the Venture Capital Trust (VCT) scheme. These increases are expected to lead to around £100 million per year of extra investment into the most successful scaling companies, supporting their further growth and development. The Government recognises that there may be other ways we could support companies to scale in the UK. We have therefore launched a Call for Evidence on tax policy support to gather views and evidence from founders, entrepreneurs, scaling companies and investors. This will assess the impact, accessibility, and generosity of existing schemes, and explore potential policy options to go-further. A Tax Information and Impact Note published at Budget outlines the policy rationale and expected impacts of these measures. It can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/enterprise-investment-scheme-eis-and-venture-capital-trusts-vct-changes/venture-capital-trusts-enterprise-investment-scheme-investment-limit-increase-and-restructure The Policy Costings document contains further information on the costing methodology. This can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/692872fd2a37784b16ecf676/Budget_2025-Policy_Costings.pdf

What information her Department holds on seating capacity on all routes operated by London North Eastern Railway in each of the last 12 months, broken down by month.

The Department does not hold information on seating capacity on all routes operated by London North Eastern Railway in each of the last 12 months, broken down by month.

Food and Rural Affairs, how many responses her Department received to the consultation entitled Amending the hydrofluorocarbon phasedown schedule.

137 responses to the consultation were received. Defra is currently considering their contents.

Media and Sport, with reference to her Department's press release entitled Game changer for the nation, published on 19 June 2025, how much and what proportion of the funding for new and upgraded grassroots sport facilities will be allocated to support (a) gyms, (b) swimming pools and (c) leisure centres; and what his planned timetable is for the allocation of this funding.

The Government recognises the importance of ensuring public access to grassroots sports facilities, including gyms, pools and leisure centres, which are vital spaces for people of all ages to stay fit and healthy, and which play an important role within communities. The £400 million funding announced last June will support facilities across the country. We will ensure that this funding promotes health and wellbeing, and helps to remove the barriers to physical activity for under-represented groups. We are working with sporting bodies and local leaders to establish what communities need, before setting out further plans on how future funding will be allocated.