Written questions by Mohamed.

How many Investor-State Dispute Settlement claims have been brought against the UK in each year since 2000.

The UK has 77 BITs with Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) provisions. The Government is defending two active arbitrations, neither of which have been settled or concluded. The Government has acted consistently with domestic and international law obligations. In view of the ongoing proceedings, it would be inappropriate for the Government to comment further at this stage.

How many Investor-State Dispute Settlement cases involving the UK (a) are ongoing, (b) have been settled and (c) have been concluded.

The UK has 77 BITs with Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) provisions. The Government is defending two active arbitrations, neither of which have been settled or concluded. The Government has acted consistently with domestic and international law obligations. In view of the ongoing proceedings, it would be inappropriate for the Government to comment further at this stage.

How much compensation has been paid to claimants as a result of Investor-State Dispute Settlement rulings and settlements.

The UK has 77 BITs with Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) provisions. The Government is defending two active arbitrations, neither of which have been settled or concluded. The Government has acted consistently with domestic and international law obligations. In view of the ongoing proceedings, it would be inappropriate for the Government to comment further at this stage.

Whether his Department has undertaken a review of the continued inclusion of Investor-State Dispute Settlement provisions in UK trade and investment agreements.

Investor State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) provides an independent means for investors to resolve disputes with states where they believe they have experienced arbitrary, discriminatory or unfair treatment or expropriation without compensation. The Government is aware of the interest in this important policy area and, in line with HMG’s Trade Strategy, the UK will continue to work with trading partners multilaterally, such as the OECD and the UN, to pursue opportunities to improve ISDS practice.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential implications for his Department’s policies of Colombia's announcement that it will withdraw from the Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) system.

The Government values the role played by the UK-Colombia Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) in the investment relationship between our countries. It includes binding investment protection provisions under the ISDS which protect both UK and Colombian investors against unfair and discriminatory treatment, and expropriation without adequate compensation. My Department has not received a formal approach from its Colombian counterparts to discuss the UK-Colombia BIT or its ISDS provisions.

With reference to the proposed Growth and Skills Levy, what formal economic impact assessment he has made on the potential impact of defunding Level 3, 5 and 6 management apprenticeships on (a) economic productivity, (b) social mobility and (c) opportunities for young people, including impacts on the NEET population.

Over the past decade we’ve seen apprenticeship starts by those aged 16-24, fall by 40%. At the same time, last year, the government spent 100% of its multi-billion pound apprenticeship budget. This Government wants to reverse that decline and support 50,000 more young people into apprenticeships. We are therefore reviewing the existing apprenticeship offer, which has grown to more than 700 standards, an outlier by international standards, to ensure it better supports young people starting their careers. From September 2026, we will withdraw funding from 16 existing apprenticeship standards.Three of these are generic leadership and management apprenticeships, which have grown significantly but are predominantly used as continuing professional development for established staff aged 25 and over. In the 2024/2025 academic year, nearly 90% of apprentices on these leadership and management standards are over 25 (compared to 50% across the programme as a whole); and 83% are long-term employees (compared to 43% across the programme as whole – which is a 10-year high). This has happened at a time when we have seen the number of young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) increase to nearly one million. Rebalancing the programme is necessary and proportionate to achieve our legitimate aim of rebalancing funding towards the government’s priorities supporting young people and delivering growth, whilst being aligned to the Youth Guarantee and the Industrial Strategy. We know that apprenticeships offer strong returns, and that is particularly true for young people. The changes to streamline the apprenticeship offer will help to create headroom to invest in more opportunities for young people and new apprenticeship units for adults. Employers who value these apprenticeship standards can continue to use them on a privately funded basis.

How much funding her Department has provided for management apprenticeships for its own staff in each of the last three financial years.

HM Treasury has spent the following on management apprenticeships:2023-24 – £195,1032024-25 - £749,3752025-26 - £615,591 HMRC has spent the following on management apprenticeships:2023-24 – £113,3432024-25 - £95,8112025-26 - £118,859 HM Treasury is reviewing its approach to apprenticeships and is looking to offer staff more opportunities in areas such as AI and digital.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of (a) trained line managers on the implementation of the Industrial Strategy and (b) trends in the level of funding for management apprenticeships on the economy.

Over the past decade we’ve seen apprenticeship starts by those aged 16-24, fall by 40%. At the same time, last year, the government spent 100% of its multi-billion pound apprenticeship budget. This Government wants to reverse that decline and support 50,000 more young people into apprenticeships. We are therefore reviewing the existing apprenticeship offer, which has grown to more than 700 standards, an outlier by international standards, to ensure it better supports young people starting their careers. From September 2026, we will withdraw funding from 16 existing apprenticeship standards.Three of these are generic leadership and management apprenticeships, which have grown significantly but are predominantly used as continuing professional development for established staff aged 25 and over. In the 2024/2025 academic year, nearly 90% of apprentices on these leadership and management standards are over 25 (compared to 50% across the programme as a whole); and 83% are long-term employees (compared to 43% across the programme as whole – which is a 10-year high). This has happened at a time when we have seen the number of young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) increase to nearly one million. Rebalancing the programme is necessary and proportionate to achieve our legitimate aim of rebalancing funding towards the government’s priorities supporting young people and delivering growth, whilst being aligned to the Youth Guarantee and the Industrial Strategy. We know that apprenticeships offer strong returns, and that is particularly true for young people. The changes to streamline the apprenticeship offer will help to create headroom to invest in more opportunities for young people and new apprenticeship units for adults. Employers who value these apprenticeship standards can continue to use them on a privately funded basis.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of trends in the level of funding for management apprenticeships on social mobility.

Over the past decade we’ve seen apprenticeship starts by those aged 16-24, fall by 40%. At the same time, last year, the government spent 100% of its multi-billion pound apprenticeship budget. This Government wants to reverse that decline and support 50,000 more young people into apprenticeships. We are therefore reviewing the existing apprenticeship offer, which has grown to more than 700 standards, an outlier by international standards, to ensure it better supports young people starting their careers. From September 2026, we will withdraw funding from 16 existing apprenticeship standards.Three of these are generic leadership and management apprenticeships, which have grown significantly but are predominantly used as continuing professional development for established staff aged 25 and over. In the 2024/2025 academic year, nearly 90% of apprentices on these leadership and management standards are over 25 (compared to 50% across the programme as a whole); and 83% are long-term employees (compared to 43% across the programme as whole – which is a 10-year high). This has happened at a time when we have seen the number of young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) increase to nearly one million. Rebalancing the programme is necessary and proportionate to achieve our legitimate aim of rebalancing funding towards the government’s priorities supporting young people and delivering growth, whilst being aligned to the Youth Guarantee and the Industrial Strategy. We know that apprenticeships offer strong returns, and that is particularly true for young people. The changes to streamline the apprenticeship offer will help to create headroom to invest in more opportunities for young people and new apprenticeship units for adults. Employers who value these apprenticeship standards can continue to use them on a privately funded basis.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of trends in the level of funding for management apprenticeships on leadership diversity.

Over the past decade we’ve seen apprenticeship starts by those aged 16-24, fall by 40%. At the same time, last year, the government spent 100% of its multi-billion pound apprenticeship budget. This Government wants to reverse that decline and support 50,000 more young people into apprenticeships. We are therefore reviewing the existing apprenticeship offer, which has grown to more than 700 standards, an outlier by international standards, to ensure it better supports young people starting their careers. From September 2026, we will withdraw funding from 16 existing apprenticeship standards.Three of these are generic leadership and management apprenticeships, which have grown significantly but are predominantly used as continuing professional development for established staff aged 25 and over. In the 2024/2025 academic year, nearly 90% of apprentices on these leadership and management standards are over 25 (compared to 50% across the programme as a whole); and 83% are long-term employees (compared to 43% across the programme as whole – which is a 10-year high). This has happened at a time when we have seen the number of young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) increase to nearly one million. Rebalancing the programme is necessary and proportionate to achieve our legitimate aim of rebalancing funding towards the government’s priorities supporting young people and delivering growth, whilst being aligned to the Youth Guarantee and the Industrial Strategy. We know that apprenticeships offer strong returns, and that is particularly true for young people. The changes to streamline the apprenticeship offer will help to create headroom to invest in more opportunities for young people and new apprenticeship units for adults. Employers who value these apprenticeship standards can continue to use them on a privately funded basis.

Who will represent the UK at the First Conference on Transitioning away from Fossil Fuels in Colombia in April 2026; and what her Department's policy is on this transition.

The UK’s Special Representative for Climate will lead the UK delegation at the Conference. The UK is fully committed to the transition away from fossil fuels, domestically and internationally, with recent events underlining once more the risks of being exposed to volatile international fossil fuel markets.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of actions taken by the Israeli authorities at Haram Al-Sharif in the last month; and whether her Department will take diplomatic steps in response.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer given on 20 April to Question 124464.

With reference to her Department's White Paper entitled Every Child Achieving and Thriving, published on 23 February 2026, how much of the teacher training will be delivered in person; who will deliver the training; and how will the training be funded.

The ‘Every Child Achieving and Thriving’ White Paper set out proposals for a package of professional development on special educational needs and disabilities, backed by over £200 million of funding. The department is currently in the design phase, listening to feedback coming through the special educational needs and disabilities consultation and working with a wide range of experts to identify what will be most impactful in supporting settings to be more inclusive. More information on the structure of the training will be released in due course.The department has confirmed that the courses for teachers and leaders in schools and colleges will include a mixture of flexible online self-study sessions and live facilitated sessions, which may be in-person or online to support access. We have also announced a package of materials for schools and colleges to support the development and delivery of in-house, in-person training.We will adhere to public sector procurement regulations to select suitable providers to deliver the different elements of the package.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the Report of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel published in June 2025; and what diplomatic steps her Department is taking to help prevent attacks on cultural, educational, and religious sites in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

We are aware of this report. Our focus remains on the humanitarian situation in Gaza and how best to support its recovery and reconstruction.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of reports of Israeli settlers carrying out attacks on mosques in the West Bank, including incidents in Marda village and Al-Mu’arrajat; and what diplomatic steps her Department has taken to help prevent attacks on mosques in the West Bank.

I refer the Hon Member to the answers I gave on this issue in Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office oral questions on 3 March, and to the joint statement issued by the Foreign Secretary and fourteen of her overseas counterparts on 24 December 2025 condemning the approval by the Israeli security cabinet of 19 new settlements in the occupied West Bank. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/statement-on-israeli-settlement-expansion-in-the-west-bank.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps she is taking to help ensure access to Haram Al-Sharif.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer given on 20 April to Question 124464.

Whether any policy decisions relating to SEND reform were taken prior to the conclusion of formal consultation exercises; and whether stakeholders were informed where consultation did not extend to specific proposals.

Listening to the views of families and experts has been critical as the department has developed special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) reforms, and it is more important than ever now our formal consultation is open.As is set out clearly on GOV.UK, we welcome views across the full set of proposals relating to SEND reform and we will consider views on all aspects of SEND reform.

If she will make it her policy to publish the number and proportion of responses to the consultation entitled SEND reform: putting children and young people first, published on 23 February 2026, that supported the proposed changes to tribunal arrangements.

On Monday 23 February, we launched a 12‑week national consultation on our special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) reforms, so we can hear directly from people across the country with an interest in these changes.To do this, we are building on our national conversation and delivering one of the broadest engagement programmes we have ever run, bringing together professionals, families, children, and young people to help shape these reforms.We are hosting a series of online and in‑person events throughout the 12-week consultation period, including sessions delivered in partnership with the Council for Disabled Children (CDC). This includes:​9 regional events,​24 children and young people–led sessions (including those delivered with CDC), and​6 information webinars for health, education, local authority leaders, social care and parent carers.​Since ​the Consultation launched, there have been more than 100 engagement events across a broad spectrum of sectors.​​The consultation, including an equalities impact assessment and children’s right impact assessment of the reform proposals, can be accessed at: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/send-reform-putting-children-and-young-people-first. We will publish a response once the consultation has closed.

How many children with Education, Health and Care Plans are not currently receiving education in formal school settings; and what steps she is taking to consider this cohort in the development of SEND policy reforms.

Information on the placements of children and young people with an education, health and care (EHC) plan, including those not in formal education settings, is published annually here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/education-health-and-care-plans. The most recent data was published on 26 June 2025 and the next publication is scheduled for summer 2026.

If she will publish all (a) analysis, (b) impact assessments and (c) internal summaries of stakeholder responses used to inform decisions on SEND reform proposals.

On Monday 23 February, we launched a 12‑week national consultation on our special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) reforms, so we can hear directly from people across the country with an interest in these changes.To do this, we are building on our national conversation and delivering one of the broadest engagement programmes we have ever run, bringing together professionals, families, children, and young people to help shape these reforms.We are hosting a series of online and in‑person events throughout the 12-week consultation period, including sessions delivered in partnership with the Council for Disabled Children (CDC). This includes:​9 regional events,​24 children and young people–led sessions (including those delivered with CDC), and​6 information webinars for health, education, local authority leaders, social care and parent carers.​Since ​the Consultation launched, there have been more than 100 engagement events across a broad spectrum of sectors.​​The consultation, including an equalities impact assessment and children’s right impact assessment of the reform proposals, can be accessed at: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/send-reform-putting-children-and-young-people-first. We will publish a response once the consultation has closed.