Written questions by Rankin.

Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 20 December to Question 19589 on Newspaper Press: Foreign Investment in UK, what level of indirect investment by foreign states will trigger the issuing of a Foreign State Intervention Notice.

The Consultation on The Enterprise Act 2002 (Mergers Involving Newspaper Enterprises and Foreign Powers) Regulations 2024 closed on 9 July 2024. Ministers recognise the high importance of this issue and are considering the responses carefully. Ministers take into account a wide range of issues and evidence when making a decision, and will publish the response in due course.

Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 20 December to Question 19589 on Newspaper Press: Foreign Investment in UK, whether her Department has (a) considered and (b) taken legal advice on issuing Foreign State Intervention Notices in the last six months.

The Secretary of State has a quasi-judicial role when considering foreign state ownership, influence and control in newspapers and news magazines, and as such we cannot comment further.

Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 16 December 2024 to Question 19590 on Newspaper Press: Foreign Investment in UK, whether the response to the consultation is contingent on free trade negotiations.

The Consultation on The Enterprise Act 2002 (Mergers Involving Newspaper Enterprises and Foreign Powers) Regulations 2024 closed on 9 July 2024. Ministers recognise the high importance of this issue and are considering the responses carefully. Ministers take into account a wide range of issues and evidence when making a decision, and will publish the response in due course.

Media and Sport, if she will make it her policy to reintroduce The Enterprise Act 2002 (Mergers Involving Newspaper Enterprises and Foreign Powers) Regulations 2024.

We are currently considering responses to the consultation, and hope to publish a response in the near future.

Media and Sport, how many Foreign State Intervention Notices have been issued in the last six months.

There have been no Foreign State Intervention Notices issued in the last six months.

Media and Sport, when she plans to respond to the consultation on the Enterprise Act 2002 (Mergers Involving Newspaper Enterprises and Foreign Powers) Regulations 2024, published in May 2024.

We are currently considering responses to the consultation, and hope to publish a response in the near future.

What steps he is taking to support hospices that rely on charitable donations, in the context of changes to National Insurance thresholds.

We have taken necessary decisions to fix the foundations in the public finances at the Autumn Budget, which enabled the Spending Review settlement of a £22.6 billion increase in resource spending for the Department from 2023/24 outturn to 2025/26. The emp...

What steps she is taking to improve (a) management accountability and (b) the complaints and oversight system for staff at multi-academy trusts.

All school staff should feel safe and supported at work, and confident in being able to report concerns. We expect school leaders, as employers, to take appropriate action to tackle any issues that are raised.All school employers, including trusts, have a...

Whether she is aware of any situations in which SEND money is being used by schools for (a) non-SEND related facilities and (b) on non-SEND pupils.

The department does not collect data from schools which specifically distinguishes spending on non-special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) related facilities or non-SEND pupils.Local authorities retain the legal duty to ensure appropriate suppor...

Communities and Local Government, if she will (a) publish proposals for the use of special development order powers under Section 59 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to grant planning permission for comm

Special Development Orders are a long-established part of the planning system. Each case is considered on its individual merits. The government have no plans to change the current arrangements.

Media and Sport, what her Department’s criteria are for sponsoring visitor attractions through the special development order process.

DCMS works to support the growth of the visitor economy as part of the Government's Growth Mission. Special Development Orders are a long-established part of the planning system. Each case is considered on its individual merits.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to prevent (a) illicit weapons smuggling and (b) the destabilisation of the Middle East by Iran.

Iran has long proliferated weapons across the Middle East, and continues to provide military, financial and political support to its proxies and partners - destabilising the region and jeopardising international security. The Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary have made clear to their Iranian counterparts that Iran must restrain its proxies and partners and take action to avoid regional escalation.We will continue to work with our international partners to tackle Iran's malign behaviour. This includes holding them to account in multilateral fora, using sanctions regimes to target Iranian support to its proxies, and by maintaining our permanent defence presence in the region.The Prime Minister spoke with Iranian President Pezeshkian on 12 August, warning against the risk of regional escalation. The Foreign Secretary has also spoken with both former Acting Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri-Kani, on 7 August, and Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi, on 23 August.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Israeli counterpart on the Hezbollah attack on Majdal Shams on 27 July 2024.

The UK unequivocally condemns the strike in Golan Heights that has tragically claimed at least 12 lives. Hizballah must cease their indiscriminate attacks and their destabilising activity. The Foreign Secretary spoke with Israel's Foreign Minister Katz on 4 August following the attack, offering his condolences for the death of innocent children in Madj al Shams. He expressed the Government's concern about the escalation in tensions and the growing potential for miscalculation across the de-facto border between Lebanon and Israel. We continue to urge both Israel and Lebanon to engage with the US led discussions to reach a political settlement and resolve their tensions diplomatically.   A widening of the conflict is in nobody's interest. The Government is working in lockstep with our allies to deescalate tensions and urge all parties to end the destructive cycle of retaliatory violence.