Written questions by Mohamed.

With reference to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman report on changes to women's State Pension age, published on 21 March 2024, if he will make an estimate of the cost of providing compensation to impacted women in Dewsbury & Batley; and if he will consider the potential mechanisms for doing so.

The Government has made its decision on this case based on due process and careful consideration of the body of evidence. We have decided it would not be appropriate to pay compensation and the detailed reasons for this decision have been placed in the House library.

Food and Rural Affairs, how much the proposed new water regulator will cost; who will pay these costs; and what assessment she has made of the potential for these costs to be passed onto consumers in the form of higher bills.

Across all our reforms the goal is to deliver our key outcomes – environment, customers, investability – in the most effective and efficient way possible to ensure lasting value.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of prohibiting the sale of overseas hunting trips.

Whilst no assessment has been made of the merits of prohibiting overseas hunting trips, the Government is committed to banning the import of hunting trophies from species of conservation concern. The Department continues to engage with relevant stakeholders to ensure that we can implement a robust import ban. Timeframes for introducing legislation will be provided once the Parliamentary timetable for future sessions is determined.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of whether CEOs of water have enhanced their salaries through other means, such as additional payments and salary rises, in the context of her Department's ban of unfair bonuses.

On 5 November 2025, Ofwat published its 2024-25 Performance related executive pay (PRP) assessment, which confirmed more than £4 million of unfair bonuses were blocked for 2024-25. The PRP assessment highlighted a lack of transparency around executive pay in the water sector. To address this, Ofwat has confirmed its intention to update the requirements for companies' annual regulatory reporting to require companies to publicly report in full the details of remuneration received by directors from the regulated, group and parent companies, including explanations of what the remuneration relates to. Ofwat will consult on these changes with the intention that it applies to company accounts for 2025-26. The Government expects companies to abide by both the letter and spirit of the bonus rule.

What steps he is taking to improve the provision of NHS audiology services in Dewsbury and Batley constituency.

NHS England is supporting provider organisations and integrated care boards who are the commissioners of audiology services to improve performance and reduce waiting lists for appointments and assessments for hearing services. This includes capital investment to upgrade audiology facilities in National Health Service trusts, expanding audiology testing capacity via community diagnostic centres, and direct support through a national audiology improvement collaborative.Data is also published on community health services waiting lists, which includes waiting times for community audiology services. This is published at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/community-health-services-waiting-lists/

Food and Rural Affairs, if she will undertake an updated feasibility review of all the different ownership models relating to the provision of water in the United Kingdom.

There are several different ownership models in the companies providing water in the United Kingdom. Where a company requests to transition to a new ownership model, we have committed in the White Paper that the regulator will develop a transparent process. This process will assess whether the change should go ahead and ensure customer interests are properly reflected in the decision.

What the annual cost is of Government contracts for the licensing of a) Zoom, b) Microsoft, c) Amazon d) Google computing platforms for the civil service.

Information on the annual cost of Government contracts for licensing across the Civil Service is not held centrally.

Whether his Department plans to publish an impact assessment for the US-UK Pharmaceuticals deal.

Costs of the United States and United Kingdom pharmaceuticals trade deal will start smaller but will increase over time as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) approves more medicines. Total costs over the spending review period are expected to be approximately £1 billion. However, the final costs will depend on which medicines NICE decides to approve and the actual uptake.We have no plans to publish an impact assessment for the deal. Innovative medicines are critical to the future success and sustainability of the National Health Service. It is only by harnessing the power of new technologies that we can transform the lives of patients with currently untreatable conditions. Medicines are more than just a cost, bringing major societal and economic benefits, helping people stay in work, reducing pressure on public services, or giving patients a second chance at life.The deal will be funded by allocations made at the Spending Review, where record funding for the NHS was secured. Future funding will be settled at the next Spending Review.Ministerial meetings with external stakeholders are routinely published quarterly on the GOV.UK website in arrears. Officials from the Department have engaged extensively with patient groups, pharmaceutical companies and trade bodies. The Government has committed to working with industry in the coming months on the future of medicines pricing and will also engage patient groups in this process.

What discussions he has held with a) Pharmaceutical companies, b) Pharmaceutical industry groups and c) patient groups and charities on the US-UK Pharmaceuticals deal.

Costs of the United States and United Kingdom pharmaceuticals trade deal will start smaller but will increase over time as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) approves more medicines. Total costs over the spending review period are expected to be approximately £1 billion. However, the final costs will depend on which medicines NICE decides to approve and the actual uptake.We have no plans to publish an impact assessment for the deal. Innovative medicines are critical to the future success and sustainability of the National Health Service. It is only by harnessing the power of new technologies that we can transform the lives of patients with currently untreatable conditions. Medicines are more than just a cost, bringing major societal and economic benefits, helping people stay in work, reducing pressure on public services, or giving patients a second chance at life.The deal will be funded by allocations made at the Spending Review, where record funding for the NHS was secured. Future funding will be settled at the next Spending Review.Ministerial meetings with external stakeholders are routinely published quarterly on the GOV.UK website in arrears. Officials from the Department have engaged extensively with patient groups, pharmaceutical companies and trade bodies. The Government has committed to working with industry in the coming months on the future of medicines pricing and will also engage patient groups in this process.

Whether he plans to provide extra resource to the NHS to offset changes to drug prices under US-UK trade agreements.

Costs of the United States and United Kingdom pharmaceuticals trade deal will start smaller but will increase over time as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) approves more medicines. Total costs over the spending review period are expected to be approximately £1 billion. However, the final costs will depend on which medicines NICE decides to approve and the actual uptake.We have no plans to publish an impact assessment for the deal. Innovative medicines are critical to the future success and sustainability of the National Health Service. It is only by harnessing the power of new technologies that we can transform the lives of patients with currently untreatable conditions. Medicines are more than just a cost, bringing major societal and economic benefits, helping people stay in work, reducing pressure on public services, or giving patients a second chance at life.The deal will be funded by allocations made at the Spending Review, where record funding for the NHS was secured. Future funding will be settled at the next Spending Review.Ministerial meetings with external stakeholders are routinely published quarterly on the GOV.UK website in arrears. Officials from the Department have engaged extensively with patient groups, pharmaceutical companies and trade bodies. The Government has committed to working with industry in the coming months on the future of medicines pricing and will also engage patient groups in this process.

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of US-UK trade agreements on (a) drug prices and (b) levels of excess deaths in the NHS.

Costs of the United States and United Kingdom pharmaceuticals trade deal will start smaller but will increase over time as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) approves more medicines. Total costs over the spending review period are expected to be approximately £1 billion. However, the final costs will depend on which medicines NICE decides to approve and the actual uptake.We have no plans to publish an impact assessment for the deal. Innovative medicines are critical to the future success and sustainability of the National Health Service. It is only by harnessing the power of new technologies that we can transform the lives of patients with currently untreatable conditions. Medicines are more than just a cost, bringing major societal and economic benefits, helping people stay in work, reducing pressure on public services, or giving patients a second chance at life.The deal will be funded by allocations made at the Spending Review, where record funding for the NHS was secured. Future funding will be settled at the next Spending Review.Ministerial meetings with external stakeholders are routinely published quarterly on the GOV.UK website in arrears. Officials from the Department have engaged extensively with patient groups, pharmaceutical companies and trade bodies. The Government has committed to working with industry in the coming months on the future of medicines pricing and will also engage patient groups in this process.

What advice or guidance her Department provides on compliance with sanctions imposed by the United States against judges, lawyers, and officials of the International Criminal Court to banks and firms providing financial services.

The Government has not issued specific advice or guidance to banks or financial services firms on complying with United States sanctions imposed on individuals associated with the International Criminal Court. The action taken by the United States under Executive Order 14203 is limited to the jurisdiction of the United States and does not reflect any legal action or domestic sanction taken by the UK. The UK respects the independence of the International Criminal Court and does not support sanctioning individuals or organisations associated with the Court.

If she will amend the Protective Security for Mosques scheme to remove the requirement for a hate crime to have already been committed in order to qualify for protective security.

Mosques and associated Muslim community centres where regular worship takes place are eligible to apply for the Protective Security for Mosques scheme through the application form on gov.uk.Applicants are asked to provide a summary of any security concerns or hate crime experienced at their mosque or community centre, and the impact these have on the people who use it.Applicants are also asked to provide further details or evidence of any incidents of hate crime, where relevant. This will be considered as part of their application alongside other factors set out in the guidance.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her department intends to take in response to the Israeli government's registration of occupied territory in the Palestinian West Bank as state property; and what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of this move.

I refer the Hon Member to my remarks in the Westminster Hall Debate on the Gaza Healthcare System on 24 February 2026.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether legal, financial, diplomatic and technological support has been offered to UK nationals who have been sanctioned by the United States in relation to the International Criminal Court's investigation into war crimes in the State of Palestine.

The UK respects the independence of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and does not support sanctioning individuals or organisations associated with the Court. We are in touch with the ICC about this matter, and have also raised our concerns with the US Administration.

Whether the House will be given an opportunity to debate and vote on UK support for US operations in Iran.

The Prime Minister has provided an update to Parliament through an oral statement on 2 March 2026.

Whether RAF Fairford and Diego Garcia (a) are being used and (b) will be used in the future by the United States for military operations against Iran; and whether operations from these bases are involved in offensive strikes.

As announced by the Prime Minister on 1 March 2026, the Government agreed to a US request to use British bases for specific and limited defensive purposes. The agreement allowing the US to use UK miliary bases is for specific and limited defensive action against missile facilities in Iran

Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has had discussions with the Electoral Commission on reporting by Labour Together between 2017 and 2020.

The Electoral Commission is the independent body which regulates elections and political finance in the UK. The Department does not intervene in, or comment on, the handling of individual cases or the regulatory decisions of the Electoral Commission. Officials regularly engage with the Electoral Commission on matters of policy development and the operation of the electoral and political finance framework.

What legal advice he has received on the compatibility of allowing US use of RAF Fairford and Diego Garcia with the United Nations Charter, including Articles 2(4) and 51.

A summary of the Government’s legal position was published on gov.uk on 1 March 2026. This can be found at the followed address: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/summary-of-the-uk-government-legal-position-the-legality-of-defensive-action-in-respect-of-iranian-regional-attacks. Since this has been published, the Government has notified the United Nations Security Council of relevant actions taken under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter.

Innovation and Technology, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of creating a UK Government cloud computing system independent from technology multinationals' services.

The Government recognises the importance of a secure and resilient cloud infrastructure for the delivery of digital public services. As set out in the Roadmap for Modern Digital Government (2026), the government is developing a National Cloud Strategy. As part of this, the government will assess how to strengthen the security and resilience of UK cloud infrastructure and improve the cloud ecosystem.