Written questions by Naish.

With reference to project 12 of her Department's publication entitled Non-technical summaries for project licences granted under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act between January – March 2025, what the title is of the regulations for medical device testing that do not allow safety decisions to be made on non-animal systems alone.

The legislation relating to placing a Medical Device on the market is The Medical Devices (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/1478/contents/made).We are working with regulators to see how advances in technology can and will reduce use and phase out use in some areas.Although much research can be done without using animals, there are still purposes where use of live animals is essential, as the complexity of whole biological systems cannot be reliably replicated using alternative methodologies. Animal testing is therefore often required by all global medicines regulators, including the UK’s Medicine and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).Applications for animal research must conform with all legal requirements set out in the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. This includes, applying the principles of the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction and Refinement); the replacement of animals with alternatives, the reduction of the number of animals used to the minimum possible and the refinement of any techniques to reduce the harm suffered by the animals to the minimum.

On what evidential basis there is a six second time limit per question in the national multiplication tables check; and if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of this methodology on children with (a) special educational needs or disabilities and (b) other neurodiversity issues.

The multiplication tables check (MTC) assesses fluent recall of times tables, meaning the time available is a key element. The six second time limit was decided as the most appropriate to promote effective recall following a rigorous test development process, including trials of different time allowances with over 1,000 pupils. Six seconds minimises the use of inefficient methods of working out the answer, for example counting up.For pupils with processing difficulties, additional time was considered, but this approach would provide a less valid outcome for a check of fluency of recall. A range of alternative access arrangements are available, which schools should consider for individual pupils where appropriate to their needs.Although the MTC was designed to be accessible to most pupils, if pupils are unable to engage with it, schools should explain to parents how they are helping the pupil to learn their multiplication tables. Multiplication and division in a wider context will continue to be assessed through the end of key stage 2 mathematics assessment, providing further opportunity for pupils to demonstrate their understanding of multiplication tables.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to retain civil servants in his Department with expertise in (a) maternal, (b) new born and (c) child health policy.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has a well established and highly skilled health profession made up of 61 health advisers who have been tested and accredited against a set of technical standards. These include specialist skill sets in strengthening health systems for maternal, newborn and child health. Advisers are assessed during formal accreditation exercises at either the affiliate, practitioner or expert level and deployed throughout the FCDO technical and geographical departments. For example, the FCDO deploys health advisers in Nigeria, Somalia, Malawi, and Ethiopia, to help reduce maternal and child mortality.A robust learning and professional development framework is in place and includes a comprehensive Global Health toolkit, the Global Health hub, monthly bulletins, and a dedicated communications and engagement distribution list with over 400 members. The recent Health Advisers' Professional Development Conference held 3-5 June 2025 in London provided a platform for knowledge exchange and upskilling for 85 FCDO health advisers and affiliates.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much funding he plans to provide for programmes supporting (a) nutrition and (b) primary health care services in each of the next three financial years; and if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of that funding on levels of immunisation in affected countries.

We remain committed to strengthening health systems through a Primary Health Care approach that includes nutrition. We continue to support integrating nutrition into other sector investments, with the Global Compact on Nutrition Integration an important mechanism in achieving this. Over the coming months, we will work through detailed decisions on how the Official Development Assistance budget will be used from 26/27 onwards, informed by internal and external consultation and impact assessments, ahead of publishing indicative multi-year allocations in the autumn.At the Gavi Summit on 25 June 2025, the Foreign Secretary announced an additional £1.25 billion investment in Gavi for 2026 - 2030. This commitment will help support Gavi to partner with countries to immunise up to 500 million more children and save up to 8 million more lives through a primary health care approach. We are currently working through how best to allocate our new funding across the 5-year period.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department is taking steps to support the (a) provision of (i) paediatric and (ii) neonatal services and (b) supply of fuel for (A) incubators and (B) operating theatres in Gaza.

Healthcare in Gaza is on the brink following Israel's expanded military operations.  It is appalling that nearly all Gaza's hospitals are damaged or partly destroyed according to the World Health Organization (WHO). We recently announced a £7.5 million package to strengthen medical care for Gazan civilians in Gaza and the wider region, including additional funding for UK-Med and WHO Egypt. The UK is supporting the WHO to deliver vital care to some of the almost 8,000 Gazans who have been medically evacuated to Egypt.Through our partnership with UK-Med, they have provided over 500,000 patient consultations in Gaza since January 2024. But we urgently need more supplies reaching healthcare facilities and better protections for aid workers.The UK has also supported delivery of Polio vaccination protecting over 600,000 vulnerable children across Gaza.The UK continues to demand that a full and unhindered resumption of aid into Gaza takes place immediately, including fuel essential for water supply, hospitals and ambulances. We continue to raise this issue as a matter of priority with our Israeli counterparts.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent diplomatic steps he has taken to help support the (a) repair of damaged water pipelines and (b) continued operation of desalination plants in Gaza.

Gaza's desalination plants rely on fuel and hardly any fuel has been allowed to enter Gaza for over 4 months. The acute shortage is threatening to shut down water supply, hospitals and ambulances. The UK continues to demand a full and unhindered resumption of aid, including fuel, into Gaza immediately, and for the repair and protection of essential civilian infrastructure. We continue to raise this issue as a matter of priority with our Israeli counterparts.Recognising the vital role that desalination plants play in providing clean drinking water to civilians in Gaza, the UK supported efforts to establish a Gaza Central Desalination Programme through the World Bank. This work is currently on hold due to the conflict, and the programme has been restructured to meet urgent, short-term water needs in Gaza.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he plans to take to ensure that the Government meets its international climate-finance pledge by March 2026.

The UK remains committed to providing International Climate Finance now and in the future, and to playing our part alongside other developed countries and climate finance providers to deliver our international obligations. It remains our ambition to deliver £11.6 billion of International Climate Finance between April 2021 and March 2026. Climate and nature are top priorities for the UK's Official Development Assistance budget, alongside humanitarian and health.

With reference to his Department's policy paper entitled Fit for the future: 10 year health plan for England, published in July 2025, when he expects David Lock KC’s review of clinical-negligence costs to (a) commence and (b) publish its findings.

David Lock KC was appointed on 30 June 2025 to provide expert advice on the rising legal costs of clinical negligence, and on how to improve patients’ experiences of claims, ahead of a review by the Department in the autumn. He has commenced work on this review and expects to be in a position to provide advice to ministers in the early autumn. No decisions have yet been made as to whether any review will be published.Details of the outcome of the Department’s review will be announced at the earliest opportunity.

Whether she plans to introduce battery-electric regional trains on East Midlands train routes.

The Government has committed to develop a long-term strategy for rolling stock and associated infrastructure. This work will include consideration of the likely long-term future rolling stock needs across the network, including the East Midlands, and the opportunities for different traction types including battery electric trains.

With reference to NHS England's website entitled Health and wellbeing programmes, what steps he is taking to improve (a) rest areas and (b) catering facilities for NHS staff.

The NHS Health and Wellbeing Framework highlights the importance of getting the basics right, such as providing access to good quality rest areas, food, and drink options. Through the Independent Review of NHS Hospital Food, officials have had, and continue to have, discussions in relation to improving catering for National Health Service staff in NHS hospital settings. The NHS Food and Drink Standards also contains detailed information for catering managers about sourcing and serving high quality, nutritious food to patients and staff. As set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, we will work with the Social Partnership Forum to introduce a new set of staff standards for modern employment, covering issues such as access to healthy meals and support to work healthily and flexibly. The New Hospital Programme will mandate that staff welfare spaces must occupy at least 6% to 7% of the total net internal area footprint for schemes that are fully compliant with the new standardised designs. This 6% to 7% minimum allocation will continue to be protected and maintained through the full life cycle of the building.

What assessment he has made of the National Skills Academy for Rail’s finding that completing Midland Main Line electrification would create up to 4,300 jobs and more than 100 apprenticeships in the East Midlands.

I appreciate the investment opportunities that further electrification of the Midland Main Line could bring to the East Midlands but schemes that would have a more significant impact on economic growth have been prioritised as part of this Spending Review. There is still significant investment being made in rail. We also need a resilient and productive rail supply chain that invests in skills, technology, and innovation to reduce costs and increase competitiveness.

Whether her Department has undertaken a cost–benefit analysis of (a) pausing and (b) completing the third phase of Midland Main Line electrification within the period covered by the Spending Review 2025.

Midland Main Line electrification was considered as part of the Spending Review, which prioritised investment across all Government spending, taking account of business cases and affordability, including cost-benefit analysis. Continuing electrification to Nottingham and Sheffield is lower value for money, partly due to rising costs and partly as a consequence of having already delivered substantial electrification. We will continue to keep this project under review as part of our longer-term pipeline of schemes.

Whether his Department plans to extend funding for the NHS Practitioner Health programme beyond March 2026.

Looking after the mental health of our hardworking National Health Service staff is a priority for the Government.The NHS Practitioner Health programme is funded until March 2026, and more recently the 10-Year Health Plan committed to rolling out Staff Treatment Hubs. These hubs will provide a high-quality occupational health service for all NHS staff, which includes support for mental health issues.

What estimate she has made of the level of greenhouse-gas emissions from diesel operation on the Midland Main Line in the next ten years.

Significant benefits have been delivered through electrification of the Midland Main Line. Electrification between Kettering and Wigston was completed earlier this year and, together with enhancements south of Bedford due to complete in August, will enable the bi-mode intercity services being introduced by East Midlands Railway to operate using electric traction. As part of the close out of these schemes, we will establish the projected reduction in greenhouse gas emissions due to the switch from diesel to electric operation on the route.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of pausing Midland Main Line electrification on rail supply chain companies in the East Midlands.

I am aware that a clear pipeline of infrastructure investment supports the supply chain in planning resources effectively and ensures skilled workers can be retained. While further electrification of the Midland Main Line has been paused, there is still significant investment being made in rail. The Spending Review has ensured an affordable and credible network-wide programme of works has been established to support the Government’s mission to improve the railway for passengers and freight operators.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Government plans to adopt a new target that would triple UK international climate finance to 2035 in line with the global goal agreed at COP28.

The UK remains committed to providing International Climate Finance (ICF) now and in the future, and to playing our part alongside other developed countries and climate finance providers to deliver our international obligations. Climate and nature are top priorities for the UK's Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget, alongside humanitarian and health. Meeting the £11.6 billion ICF commitment by March 2026 remains the Government's ambition. Detailed decisions on how the ODA budget will be used are being worked through as part of the ongoing Departmental resource allocation processes. The Government will set out spending plans following the completion of these resource allocation processes.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the proposed changes to funding of Official Development Assistance from the 2027-28 financial year on (a) gender equality and (b) inclusion.

Detailed decisions on the Official Development Assistance (ODA) allocations and the impact on programmes are being worked through. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is taking a rigorous approach to ensure all ODA delivers value for money. Equality impact assessments - which consider impacts on those with protected characteristics, including gender - are an essential part of this process. The FCDO will share the conclusions of the Equality Impact Assessment of the 2025/26 ODA allocations alongside the final allocations which will be published in the FCDO Annual Report and Accounts this summer.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he plans to pledge of £1.45 billion to the twentieth-first replenishment of the International Development Association.

The UK remains committed to the International Development Association (IDA). As the Minister for International Development, Latin America and the Caribbean has said, we will prioritise spending our ODA budget through multilaterals which deliver most impact, like IDA.Following the decision to reduce our Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget, allocations and the impact on programmes are being worked through. We will set out our spending plans following the completion of resource allocation processes.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much funding his Department has allocated to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative in each of the next three years.

The UK is a longstanding supporter of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), having contributed £1.4 billion since 1995. This has enabled GPEI to reduce wild poliovirus cases by over 99 per cent. The UK is also the largest donor to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. We recently announced a new investment of £1.25 billion for 2026 - 2030 that will support eligible countries with polio vaccines as part of an essential package of childhood immunisation. The UK is working with international partners to ensure sustainable resources for global health. We are reviewing our spending - including for GPEI - following the outcome of the Spending Review to ensure that every pound of development assistance is spent in the most impactful way.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when he plans to announce the UK’s financial commitment to the 2025 Global Fund replenishment.

The UK has long been a strong supporter of the Global Fund and we are proud to be co-hosting the 8th replenishment this year in partnership with South Africa. Except for a few time-sensitive decisions, such as our pledge at the Gavi replenishment conference, we will be working through decisions on future multi-year Official Development Assistance allocations over the coming months, including our Global Fund pledge and announcement timing.The Global Fund is the primary channel for UK support to fight HIV, TB, and Malaria. It currently invests approximately $5 billion a year to defeat the three diseases and strengthen health systems. In 2023, the Global Fund accounted for 28% of all international financing for HIV, 76% for TB and 62% for malaria.