Written questions by Anderson.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps the Government it taking to strengthen international relations with Japan.

The UK-Japan bilateral relationship is at its strongest in decades, underpinned by our enhanced Global Strategic Partnership. As the Prime Minister set out in his statement to the House on 2 February, our priorities for deepening our partnership further include working together for peace and security and boosting growth and resilience through cooperation in tech and innovation, energy, and trade. I also refer him to the details of my own visit to Japan in December, including the speech I made to the Tokyo Economic Security Forum on 15 December.www.gov.uk/government/news/indo-pacific-minister-seema-malhotra-visits-japanwww.gov.uk/government/speeches/tokyo-economic-security-forum-keynote-address

What recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of costs for businesses on unemployment levels.

Economic growth is this government’s number one priority. Businesses have choices about how they respond to changes in their costs, including through adjusting profits, prices, and patterns of employment, meaning employment is not mechanically affected by any increase in costs. The OBR’s November forecast, which accounts for the impacts of government policy, judge that employment will increase in every year of the forecast, and will be higher in every year, than in their Spring 2025 forecast.

Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to reduce digital exclusion.

Everyone should be able to benefit from the digital world – helping families save money, get a better job, and access services like the NHS more easily.But we know some people face real barriers. In 2025, 5% of UK adults were offline and many homes don’t have a suitable device: 6% of UK households didn’t have a smartphone, and 26% didn’t have a laptop. Whilst 8% of adults in the UK lack the essential digital skills for life.That's why we published the Digital Inclusion Action Plan, and why we’re now delivering the foundations: better connectivity with a range of affordable options, direct support to build digital access, skills and confidence in communities across the UK, and more devices reaching people who need them. The Government is clear that everyone should be able to benefit from the digital world – and more is needed to ensure this.Findings from DSIT’s Public Engagement Survey, which will be published in summer 2026, will provide updated, high-quality evidence on the incidence and drivers of digital exclusion across the UK.

What recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of AI use on academic integrity.

The department monitors the emerging impacts of artificial intelligence (AI) on education, including risks to academic integrity. Our published policy position on generative AI is evidence-based and sets out clear expectations for schools and colleges on safe, responsible and ethical use.We work closely with regulators to ensure that academic integrity is protected and that providers have the support they need to prevent and respond to misuse of AI. In 2025 the Joint Council for Qualifications supported by Ofqual updated their guidance for schools on AI use in assessments. This provides clarity for teachers and assessors in identifying and managing potential malpractice and maintaining integrity of assessment. We have also made wider support materials publicly available that help education staff manage risks, promote ethical use, and reinforce robust approaches to detecting and addressing issues.

Communities and Local Government, what recent estimate he has made of levels of homelessness.

The government regularly publishes data on homelessness on gov.uk here.

What procedures are in place to help prevent the inward transmission of diseases to through international airports.

The UK Biological Security Strategy provides the overarching national strategic framework for biological risks.The Public Health Aircraft Regulations (1979) require commanders of incoming aircraft to notify authorities if there is any suspicion of infectious disease. In England, Port Health Authorities and local authorities have statutory responsibility for public health, which includes ensuring that arrangements are in place to help prevent the inward transmission of disease entering their respective ports. An example is monitoring vector control measures such as disinsection, or the measures to kill insect vectors of human disease.In English airports, the authorities appoint Medical Officers responsible for notifying, coordinating, investigating, and responding to public health risks in collaboration with UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) regional health protection teams. UKHSA regional health protection teams plan for and respond to incidents for health hazards at ports of entry, supported by the national UKHSA Border Health team. Assessment, treatment, and care of patients is undertaken by the National Health Service through routine pathways.Additional proportionate measures may be put in place in response to significant incidents or outbreaks which are coordinated nationally. Pre-entry screening for tuberculosis (TB) is also compulsory for those who wish to stay in the United Kingdom for over six months and are travelling from a country where TB is common. Information on TB Screening for the UK is published at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tuberculosis-tb-screening-for-the-uk-leaflet/tb-screening-for-the-uk

What steps his Department is taking to increase the number of available prison spaces.

As set out in the December 2024 10-Year Prison Capacity Strategy, this Government is committed to delivering an additional 14,000 prison places and aims to do so by 2031. Our build programme consists of the construction of four new prisons, including HMP Millsike delivered in March 2025, as well as the expansion and refurbishment of the existing estate. We broke ground at the site of the new prison HMP Welland Oaks in Leicestershire in November 2025.This Government has invested £4.7 billion over the spending review period (2026/27 to 2028/29) to enable the delivery of these additional prison places at pace, and we have already delivered c.3,100 since taking office. We are also committed to undertaking critical maintenance work and the ambition to acquire more land for future prisons, should they be required.

If he will commit to increasing domestic steel production.

The steel strategy, to be published in early 2026, will set out a long-term vision for a competitive, decarbonised sector, with the aim of attracting new private investment to secure UK steelmaking and increasing overall levels of UK based production.We’re providing up to £2.5 billion to rebuild the steel sector, delivered in part through the National Wealth Fund. This is in addition to the £500m we have invested in the transformation of Port Talbot. We have also taken direct action to protect steel production at British Steel and provided a £400 million increase to the investment at Sheffield Forgemasters.

What recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of guidelines on support for SEND children in the mainstream education system.

To support children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), we will help mainstream settings to make the necessary changes to embed inclusive practice. We will develop new National Inclusion Standards to bring greater clarity and evidence to this space. These will set out, for the first time, support that should be available in every mainstream setting, and we will appoint an expert panel to develop and make recommendations regarding the content of the National Inclusion Standards. The SEND Code of Practice provides statutory guidance for organisations supporting children with SEND. We have committed to updating the Code to reflect changes in the SEND system and findings of recent independent scrutiny, including from the Education Select Committee. The updated Code will clarify responsibilities for mainstream settings and establish a consistent approach to supporting children with SEND. We are consulting on proposals to reform the SEND system, and the consultation is accessible at: https://consult.education.gov.uk/send-strategy-division/send-reform-putting-children-and-young-people-firs/. We will undertake a separate, full public consultation on the proposed changes to the Code of Practice to reflect best practice and the views of children and young people, families and professionals.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what (a) cultural and (b) arts related projects have received UK foreign aid funding in the last year.

The Hon Member can find details of all projects funded through Official Development Assistance on the Development Tracker website.

Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to support elderly people with technology.

Everyone should be able to benefit from the digital world – helping families save money, get a better job, and access services like the NHS more easily.But we know some people face real barriers and older people are more likely to be offline: data from 2025 shows that 13% of adults aged 65+ did not have home internet access, compared to 3% of adults aged 16-64.That’s why we published the Digital Inclusion Action Plan and launched the £11.9 million Digital Inclusion Innovation Fund - helping more people, including older people, across the UK get the access, skills and confidence to get online. We are also committed to making digital public services simple and accessible for everyone, by working on renewed digital standards for essential public services and stronger accountability, alongside well‑supported offline routes.In February, major telecoms providers signed a new charter to end unexpected mid-contract price rises and make social tariffs easier to access, helping millions manage living costs.

Innovation and Technology, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of economic deprivation on digital exclusion.

Everyone should be able to benefit from the digital world – helping families save money, get a better job, and access services like the NHS more easily.But we know some people face barriers - and digital exclusion is more prominent amongst those of low income. Among those aged 16 or above, 17% of those that live in a household with an income below £10.4k did not have home internet access compared to 1% of those who live in a household with an income of £26k or above. That’s why we published the Digital Inclusion Action Plan, and why we’re now delivering the foundations.We launched the £11.9 million Digital Inclusion Innovation Fund, helping more people across the UK get the access, skills and confidence to get online. Earlier this month, major telecoms providers signed a new charter to end unexpected mid-contract price rises and make social tariffs easier to access, helping millions manage living costs. We are also getting more free devices in the hands of those that need them through government and industry device donation efforts.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of digital health forms on elderly people's access to health services.

National Health Service organisations must ensure all patients have equitable access to care, and that decisions or policies do not unfairly disadvantage people or lead to an increase in inequalities. All NHS organisations are legally obliged to not discriminate.This means that although we promote digital first services to those who choose to use them, a non-digital solution should be available for those patients who cannot or do not wish to engage digitally, which may include elderly people, to ensure continued, equitable access to care.These non-digital routes must be available for all services provided by NHS organisations.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with members of the Chagossian community in Britain.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office officials have met Chagossian individuals and groups over 30 times since 2024. I have met with Chagossian groups and individuals four times. The new Chagossian Contact Group has held meetings in September and December 2025, and again in January. The group will continue to meet quarterly.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what estimate she has made of the cost of the public purse of the Diego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory Bill.

I refer the Hon Member to the details of the forecast cost at the time, and duration of the treaty set out in the Explanatory Memorandum published on 22 May 2025, and to the extensive discussion of all these issues and methodologies that has subsequently taken place during the passage of the Bill.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what security assessments her Department undertook ahead of the approval of the planned Chinese Embassy by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government.

I refer the Hon Member to the statement made by the Security Minister on 20 January.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she engaged with (a) the Security Service and (b) other security agencies prior to the approval of the planned Chinese Embassy by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government.

I refer the Hon Member to the statement made by the Security Minister on 20 January.

What steps his Department is taking to increase the number of in person GP appointments.

The Government has committed to guarantee a face-to-face appointment for all those who want one. The National Health Service is clear that general practices must provide face-to-face appointments, alongside remote consultations, and patients’ input into consultation type should be sought and their preferences for face-to-face care respected unless there are good clinical reasons to the contrary.We are boosting capacity in general practice so patients can get the appointments they need, including face‑to‑face. We have invested £160 million through the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme to bring over 2,000 extra General Practitioners (GPs) into Primary Care Networks, increasing appointment availability across England.We are investing a further £485 million in 2026/27, bringing the total spend on the GP contract to over £13.8 billion and introducing a new practice‑level GP reimbursement scheme. The scheme, worth £292 million, will fund additional GPs or more GP sessions with existing GPs, equivalent to around 1,600 full‑time GPs nationally. This will strengthen capacity, improve access to face-to-face appointments and improve patient satisfaction.

What steps his Department is taking to help ensure backup energy generators at hospitals are well maintained.

It is the responsibility of each National Health Service provider to have resilience plans and procedures in place. Guidance is provided to the NHS within the Health Technical Memorandum 06 series, namely Health Technical Memorandum 06-01: Electrical services supply and distribution, Health Technical Memorandum 06-02: Electrical safety guidance for low voltage systems, and Health Technical Memorandum 06-03: Electrical safety guidance for high voltage systems, which are all respectively available at the following three links:https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/electrical-services-supply-and-distribution-htm-06-01/https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/electrical-safety-guidance-for-low-voltage-systems-htm-06-02/https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/electrical-safety-guidance-for-high-voltage-systems-in-healthcare-premises-htm-06-03/This guidance is for healthcare organisations, defined as organisations that provide or intends to provide healthcare services, and is therefore applicable to primary and secondary care providers.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she considered the the future of Diego Garcia after the 99-year lease agreed in the Diego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory Bill expires.

I refer the Hon Member to the details of the duration of the treaty set out in the Explanatory Memorandum published on 22 May 2025, and to the extensive discussion of all these issues that has subsequently taken place during the passage of the Bill.