Written questions by Wild.

Representing the House of Commons Commission, for what reasons changes have been made to the contract to limit printing to only green stationery.

The stationery rules, and rules on the use of the Crowned Portcullis, govern the use Members make of stationery bearing the Crowned Portcullis. They are published on Parlinet and were last updated in November 2023. The default colour for the Crowned Portcullis is green, and that is the only colour permitted on House supplied stationery. It may be used in a party colour on small communications and on those webpages where its use is permitted.

If it is his policy to make interim payments to valporate and pelvic mesh victims this calendar year.

The Government is carefully considering the work done by the Patient Safety Commissioner and her report, which set out recommendations for redress for those harmed by valproate and pelvic mesh, including options for interim payments.The Government has deep sympathy for all those affected and recognises the profound impact that these harms have had on individuals and their families.My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has been clear that he wants to make meaningful progress during this Parliament, although a decision to provide compensation has not yet been made. We recognise how difficult and disappointing this uncertainty is for those affected, and will ensure that the public is kept informed as soon as any decision on redress is made.I met with the Patient Safety Commissioner, Dr Henrietta Hughes since I have been in post, and had a very productive discussion about the ongoing health initiatives led by the Department regarding sodium valproate and pelvic mesh. Details of the Government’s work to date are set out in recent letters to the Dr Hughes, which are published on her website.

How many HMRC investigations into the potential underpayment of stamp duty land tax are ongoing.

HMRC are unable to provide the current number of ongoing Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) investigations because live case data isn’t routinely released. This is due to the way in which enquiries are handled and categorised, as they have not been through the end of year assurance process.

What funding he plans to allocate from the Victims General Fund to the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Norfolk in 2026/27, and when he plans to publish details of that funding.

The Ministry of Justice is investing £550 million in victim support services over the next three years – the biggest investment in victim support services to date. We will be increasing funding for victim support services year on year, from 2026 to 2029, recognising the need to meet the rising cost pressures of delivery. The Ministry of Justice provides all Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) in England and Wales with annual grant funding to commission local practical, emotional, and therapeutic support services for victims of all crime types. In 2025/26, the funding from MOJ to Norfolk PCC included £0.78 million in ring-fenced funding specifically to support victims of sexual violence and domestic abuse. For 2026/27, we have allocated £1.83 million in victims funding to the PCC for Norfolk, which includes £0.8 million of ring-fenced funding for sexual violence and domestic abuse services. The budgets for individual PCC areas are routinely published on each area’s website.

How much ringfenced funding (a) Norfolk Constabulary, and (b) the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Norfolk received for Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence victim support services in 2025/26.

The Ministry of Justice is investing £550 million in victim support services over the next three years – the biggest investment in victim support services to date. We will be increasing funding for victim support services year on year, from 2026 to 2029, recognising the need to meet the rising cost pressures of delivery. The Ministry of Justice provides all Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) in England and Wales with annual grant funding to commission local practical, emotional, and therapeutic support services for victims of all crime types. In 2025/26, the funding from MOJ to Norfolk PCC included £0.78 million in ring-fenced funding specifically to support victims of sexual violence and domestic abuse. For 2026/27, we have allocated £1.83 million in victims funding to the PCC for Norfolk, which includes £0.8 million of ring-fenced funding for sexual violence and domestic abuse services. The budgets for individual PCC areas are routinely published on each area’s website.

How many foreign national offenders in UK prisons have been sentenced for causing the death of one or more people.

As of 30 June 2025, there were 989 Foreign National Offenders (FNOs) in prison in England and Wales serving a sentence for a principal offence involving ‘causing death’.All FNOs who receive a prison sentence in the UK are referred for deportation at the earliest opportunity including via the Early Removal Scheme for eligible determinate sentenced prisoners, Tariff Expired Removal Scheme for those serving indeterminate sentences, or via Prisoner Transfer Agreement where one is in place and the offender meets the relevant requirements. In all cases they will be barred from ever returning to the UK.Deportations of FNOs, including murderers and rapists, are up 32%, with more than 8,700 deported since this Government came into power.Returns of FNOs in the year-ending December 2025 are higher than any levels of returns observed since 2018.

What guidance is provided to the Chief Executive of HMPPS regarding assessing the potential impact on public confidence in the Early Removal Scheme or the criminal justice system of a decision to authorise removal of a foreign national offender.

We do not collate information on how many cases are referred to the Chief Executive of HMPPS under the Early Removal Scheme or the outcome of such referrals.Guidance to Prison Governors, and all those involved in administering the scheme including the Chief Executive, is contained in the Prison Service Instruction: The Early Removal Scheme and Release of Foreign National Prisoners (PSI 04/2013) which was last updated on 23 September 2025 and is available at the following link: Early removal scheme and release of foreign national prisoners.This gives information on the circumstances where removal might undermine the Scheme or public confidence in the criminal justice system.

What guidance is provided to Prison Governors considering authorising the removal of foreign national offenders to assess the potential impact on public confidence in the Early Removal Scheme or the criminal justice system.

We do not collate information on how many cases are referred to the Chief Executive of HMPPS under the Early Removal Scheme or the outcome of such referrals.Guidance to Prison Governors, and all those involved in administering the scheme including the Chief Executive, is contained in the Prison Service Instruction: The Early Removal Scheme and Release of Foreign National Prisoners (PSI 04/2013) which was last updated on 23 September 2025 and is available at the following link: Early removal scheme and release of foreign national prisoners.This gives information on the circumstances where removal might undermine the Scheme or public confidence in the criminal justice system.

How many cases under the Early Removal Scheme where the removal may undermine confidence in the scheme or criminal justice system were referred to the Chief Executive of HMPPS for decision in each of the last five years; and what was the outcome in each case.

We do not collate information on how many cases are referred to the Chief Executive of HMPPS under the Early Removal Scheme or the outcome of such referrals.Guidance to Prison Governors, and all those involved in administering the scheme including the Chief Executive, is contained in the Prison Service Instruction: The Early Removal Scheme and Release of Foreign National Prisoners (PSI 04/2013) which was last updated on 23 September 2025 and is available at the following link: Early removal scheme and release of foreign national prisoners.This gives information on the circumstances where removal might undermine the Scheme or public confidence in the criminal justice system.

Innovation and Technology, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of the application of data protection law to the collection and retention of personal data in connection with infant baptisms and other religious rites; and whether she plans to review the compatibility of such practices with principles of (a) consent and (b) children’s data rights.

Under the UK’s data protection legislation, religious organisations have obligations to process personal data lawfully, fairly and transparently. Personal data should also be kept secure, its accuracy should be maintained where appropriate, and it should not be processed for longer than is necessary.The legislation is monitored and enforced independently of government by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), which has published guidance for organisations on complying with the legislation in respect of children's data, including the circumstances where it would be appropriate to seek parental consent to the intended processing: Children and the UK GDPR | ICO.The government has no plans to carry out an assessment of whether and how religious organisations collect and retain personal data relating to infant baptisms and other rites, but anyone who has concerns about the handling of their personal data can raise the matter with the ICO via https://ico.org.uk/for-the-public/.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has held discussions with Eurostar on the carriage of musical instruments on cross border services.

There have been no recent ministerial‑level discussions with Eurostar on the carriage of musical instruments on cross‑border services. However, the Government, including UK Border Force officials, regularly reviews the feasibility of potential UK CITES Points of Entry and Exit, including Eurostar terminals.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with representatives of the music sector on delays at UK ports linked to the inspection of CITES regulated instruments.

There have been no recent ministerial‑level discussions with representatives of the music sector on delays at UK ports arising from the inspection of CITES‑regulated instruments. Defra and its agencies regularly discuss the implementation of CITES requirements with representatives of the music sector, and no concerns about delays have been raised in these discussions. Defra works closely with UK Border Force to deliver CITES controls and enforcement at the border. We remain committed to ensuring essential checks are conducted to prevent wildlife crime while minimising delays.

What training is provided to Border Force officers on the handling of CITES documentation for musical instruments.

All Border Force officers receive relevant mandatory training on dealing with international trade documentation, which includes CITES permits, to aid the detection of illicit goods linked to the illegal wildlife trade, including musical instruments.

With reference to the oral contribution of the Chief Secretary to the Treasury in the urgent question on the resignation of the chair of the OBR at column 991, 3 December 2025, whether special advisers have been required to provide access to the leak inquiry to communications on personal and government issued mobile devices and computers.

On 9 February, the Government published its Review of Budget information security. This includes the outcomes and recommendations of the Cabinet Office’s leak inquiry. All individuals and organisations in government who had access to the relevant information were in scope, including special advisers.

With reference to the oral contribution of the Chief Secretary to the Treasury of 3 December 2025 on OBR: Resignation of Chair, Official Report, column 991, if she will provide an update on the progress of the leak inquiry.

On 9 February, the Government published its Review of Budget information security. This includes the outcomes and recommendations of the Cabinet Office’s leak inquiry. The recommendations will be implemented in full.

Pursuant to the oral answer of 25 November 2025, Official Report Column 201, on NHS Dental Services in Norfolk, when he will issue a direction to the Office for Students.

We intend to set out next steps on the dental workforce soon.The independent Office for Students (OfS) has statutory responsibility for allocating funding for dental school places. Allocation outcomes are based on guidance issued by the Government, alongside an OfS assessment of provider capability.

How many emergency dental appointments have been delivered under the Urgent Dental Care Incentive Scheme in (a) Norfolk and Waveney and (b) North West Norfolk; and (b) what progress his Department has made on helping to deliver 21,520 additional urgent care appointments for Norfolk and Waveney ICB.

We have asked integrated care boards (ICBs) to commission extra urgent dental appointments to make sure that patients with urgent dental needs can get the treatment they require. ICBs have been making extra appointments available from April 2025.These appointments are available across the country, with specific expectations for each region. These appointments are more heavily weighted towards those areas where they are needed the most. The Norfolk and Waveney ICB, which includes the North West Norfolk constituency, has been asked to deliver 21,520 additional urgent dental appointments as part of the scheme.We are also incentivising high street dentists to offer even more appointments to maximise the availability to those in need of urgent care.Data on delivery of urgent dental care, will be published annually as part of the NHS Dental Statistics England Official Statistics series. These statistics are released each August and are the primary source of data on the delivery of National Health Service dental care.

How many full time equivalent police officers there were in Norfolk Constabulary on (a) 1 September 2024 and (b) 1 September 2025.

The Home Office collects and publishes data on the size of the police workforce in England and Wales, on a bi-annual basis, as at 31 March and 30 September each year in the ‘Police Workforce, England and Wales’ statistical bulletin, available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/police-workforce-england-and-wales.The latest information on the number of police officers, as at 30 September 2025, is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-workforce-england-and-wales-30-september-2025.Table 1 of the data tables accompanying the release includes information on full-time equivalent police officers in England and Wales, broken down by Police Force Area, as at 30 September 2024 and 2025.

What assessment her Department has made on the potential impact of the Police Funding Settlement (England and Wales) 2026-27 on the number of police officers in North West Norfolk constituency.

As a result of the 2026-27 police funding settlement, Norfolk Police will receive up to £248.7 million in 2026-27, which is an increase of £9.5 million on the previous year. This equates to a 4.0% cash increase in funding.Forces are operationally independent, and the deployment of officers and staff remains an operational decision for Chief Constables.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact on the Police Funding Settlement (England and Wales) 2026-27 on the provisions for tackling fly tipping in rural areas.

As a result of the 2026-27 police funding settlement, Norfolk Police will receive up to £248.7 million in 2026-27, which is an increase of £9.5 million on the previous year. This equates to a 4.0% cash increase in funding.Forces are operationally independent, and the deployment of officers and staff remains an operational decision for Chief Constables.