Written questions by Jardine.

Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to reduce duplication in animal testing.

Awaiting answer.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to prioritise issues concerning freedom of religion or belief in future Human Rights and Democracy Reports.

Awaiting answer.

Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of setting annual targets for reducing the number of instances of animal testing.

Awaiting answer.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure that Freedom of Religion and Belief is integrated into UK aid programmes that promote gender equality, the rights of disabled people and assistance to other groups in Central Asia.

Awaiting answer.

Innovation and Technology, when she plans to set out a timetable for phasing out animal testing where alternatives are viable.

Awaiting answer.

Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to help protect intellectual property rights in the training of AI models.

Awaiting answer.

Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to secure multilateral and bilateral agreements for relaxed cabotage rules for the cultural sector.

The Government is aware of concerns raised by the cultural and creative sectors regarding the impact that cabotage arrangements can have for the cultural sector.Cabotage terms are governed by international agreements, including the UK‑EU Trade and Coopera...

Media and Sport, what consideration she has given to rejoining Creative Europe.

We recognise the UK’s creative and cultural sectors provide a unique and valuable contribution to Europe’s rich culture. We also understand the value of UK–EU cooperation through EU programmes – this is why we have associated to Horizon Europe, Copernicus...

What consideration she has given to negotiating a short-term mobility and work framework for touring creatives.

The UK has an excellent immigration offer for touring artists. The UK visitor route is among the most liberal routes globally, and creative workers can undertake a range of permitted activities, including some paid activities.The Creative Worker visa allo...

What proportion of Government IT contracts have been granted to companies predominantly based outside the UK since 2024.

This Government is committed to supporting British industries and making best use of our procurement and spending power to drive economic growth across the United Kingdom. The vast majority of Government contracts are awarded to UK firms and those with a ...

What steps the Government is taking to promote youth employment in the IT sector.

With over one million young people not in education, employment and training, this Government will not leave an entire generation of young people behind. The Government is investing an additional £2.5 billion over the next three years into the Youth Guara...

What steps he is taking to reduce the gender pay gap in the civil service.

The Civil Service is committed to being an inclusive employer. Departments report annually on their gender pay gap producing action plans to specifically target drivers of GPG and pay disparities within their respective organisations. 2025 data shows the ...

What assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of increasing levels of defence co-operation with the EU.

There is no European security without the UK. With our rapidly deployable capabilities and nuclear deterrent, we are a critical component of European Defence against an increasingly aggressive Russia. That is why, in May 2025, the UK and EU agreed a landm...

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of proposed union access rules on small businesses; and if he will consider exemptions.

The government is introducing the new trade union right of access in a regulated and responsible manner, ensuring it is proportionate and workable for employers and unions. We recognise that smaller employers may find it more difficult to facilitate trade...

What assessment has been made of the potential impact on job losses in the independent school sector over the next five years following the removal of eligibility for business rates charitable relief for private sch

The impact note on the removal of eligibility for business rates charitable relief for private schools can be found online here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/removal-of-eligibility-of-private-schools-for-business-rates-charitable-relief

What assessment she has made of the adequacy of Plan 2 student loan interest rates, particularly for graduates from less advantaged backgrounds; and whether she is considering further reforms.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that public investment in sports facilities supports a balanced range of sports, including court-based activities such as tennis and padel, to maximise participation among women, disabled people, and inactive communities.

The Government is investing at least £400 million in new and upgraded grassroots sport facilities over the next four years, promoting health, wellbeing and community cohesion, while removing the barriers to physical activity for under-represented groups, such as women and girls and people with disabilities. £15 million is being invested into new delivery models across England in 2026/27, to allow more people to participate in sports they wish to. At least £2.5 million will be invested through the LTA for covered courts in England for tennis, padel and other activities, and additional funding will also enable a wider range of sporting bodies to trial innovative funding pathways.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has made representations to the Government of Saudi Arabia on the application of the death penalty to child defendants.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 11 December 2025 in response to Question 97116. The UK continues to oppose the use of capital punishment in all circumstances.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Animal welfare strategy for England, published on 22 December 2025, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of dolphin hunting in the Faroe Islands on marine mammals in UK waters.

We remain committed to meeting our international obligations and continue to have concerns about the welfare and sustainability of these hunts. In December 2025 we published the UK Cetacean Conservation Strategy with devolved governments. This includes species hunted in the Faroe Islands and aims to improve the conservation status of cetaceans in UK waters. UK ministers and officials consistently call for an end to cetacean hunts in the Faroe Islands. As Chair of the International Whaling Commission’s Conservation Committee and Intersessional Working Group on Welfare, the UK promotes stronger protection and improved welfare for small cetaceans.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the requirement to pay childcare costs in advance prior to reimbursement through Universal Credit on levels of employment; and what steps she is taking to support affected families.

The Office for Budget Responsibility, in their Spring 2023 and October 2024 Economic and Fiscal Outlook, published their economic impacts of various policy measures, including childcare. These can be found here: The economic effects of policy measures - Office for Budget Responsibility, Monitoring and evaluating the supply-side effects of policy measures - Office for Budget Responsibility. Parents who need help with their upfront childcare costs to move into work or increase their working hours may be eligible for support from the Flexible Support Fund. The Flexible Support Fund’s Upfront Childcare Costs can be used to pay 100% of the upfront costs of up to one month of childcare. This is designed to ensure that any costs that the Universal Credit customer incurs in relation to childcare when starting work or increasing their hours is not a barrier to taking up this work. We are streamlining the process and extending eligibility to parents returning from parental leave to improve access to upfront childcare support. We will also extend eligibility to parents returning from parental leave to ease the difficult transition back to work.