Written questions by Anderson.

If she will make an estimate of the number of convicted paedophiles that upon the end of their sentence have lived within one mile of a school or park in each of the last five years.

The decision as to where to permit a convicted child sex offender to live whilst subject to licensed supervision is made by the Probation and Probation Services working together under MAPPA (Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements).Additionally, offenders subject to licensed supervision may be prohibited from entering specified geographical locations (exclusion zones) on account of the particular risks which those offenders present. A child sex offender might, for example, be prohibited from entering a specified area around a school or nursery. Exclusion zones may be reinforced in certain cases by satellite tracking, to ensure that any offender who enters an exclusion zone without permission faces being recalled immediately to custody.The data required to answer PQs 33564 and 33565 are not collated centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of establishing a ban on convicted paedophiles living within a five-mile radius of a school of park.

The decision as to where to permit a convicted child sex offender to live whilst subject to licensed supervision is made by the Probation and Probation Services working together under MAPPA (Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements).Additionally, offenders subject to licensed supervision may be prohibited from entering specified geographical locations (exclusion zones) on account of the particular risks which those offenders present. A child sex offender might, for example, be prohibited from entering a specified area around a school or nursery. Exclusion zones may be reinforced in certain cases by satellite tracking, to ensure that any offender who enters an exclusion zone without permission faces being recalled immediately to custody.The data required to answer PQs 33564 and 33565 are not collated centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

If she will make an estimate of the number of convicted paedophiles that upon the end of their sentence have lived within five miles of a school or park in each of the last five years.

The decision as to where to permit a convicted child sex offender to live whilst subject to licensed supervision is made by the Probation and Probation Services working together under MAPPA (Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements).Additionally, offenders subject to licensed supervision may be prohibited from entering specified geographical locations (exclusion zones) on account of the particular risks which those offenders present. A child sex offender might, for example, be prohibited from entering a specified area around a school or nursery. Exclusion zones may be reinforced in certain cases by satellite tracking, to ensure that any offender who enters an exclusion zone without permission faces being recalled immediately to custody.The data required to answer PQs 33564 and 33565 are not collated centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

What steps his Department is taking to shorten the diagnosis period for endometriosis.

The Government is committed to prioritising women’s health and improving the diagnosis times for gynaecological conditions, including endometriosis. We have taken urgent action to tackle gynaecology waiting lists through the Elective Reform Plan. In gynaecology, the plan supports innovative models offering patients care closer to home, and piloting gynaecology pathways in community diagnostic centres.Endometriosis is also included in the core curriculum for general practitioners, and for obstetricians and gynaecologists. The General Medical Council is introducing the Medical Licensing Assessment for most incoming doctors, including all medical students graduating from academic year 2024/25 and onwards. Within this assessment are several topics relating to women’s health, including endometriosis. This will encourage a better understanding of endometriosis among doctors as they start their careers in the United Kingdom.Clinical guidelines support healthcare professionals to diagnose and treat conditions. In November 2024, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence published updated recommendations on the diagnosis, management and treatment of endometriosis. This is available at the following link:https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng73

What steps his Department has taken to increase the number of appointments for people displaying signs of endometriosis.

Patients have been let down for too long whilst they wait for the care they need. As set out in the Plan for Change, we have committed to return to the National Health Service’s constitutional standard that 92% of patients, including those waiting for endometriosis treatment, wait no longer than 18 weeks from Referral to Treatment (RTT) by March 2029. We provided additional investment in the Autumn Budget that has enabled us to deliver an additional two million appointments as a First Step to achieving this, seven months ahead of schedule.The Elective Reform Plan, published in January 2025, sets out the productivity and reform efforts we will undertake to return to the 18-week standard and ensure patients have the best possible experience while they wait. This includes innovative models that offer care closer to home and in the community, and the piloting of gynaecology pathways in community diagnostic centres for patients with post-menopausal bleeding. We have also committed to increasing the relative funding available to support gynaecology procedures with the largest waiting lists, including for certain endometriosis pathways, and reviewing support options from the independent sector.

Media and Sport, what additional support her Department is providing to churches, in the context of the decrease in funding for the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme.

As well as the continuing Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme, the Secretary of State has recently announced £15 million of additional funding for Heritage at Risk, building on Historic England's existing Repair Grants for Heritage at Risk programme.Alongside this, the National Lottery Heritage Fund has committed to investing around £100m between 2023 and 2026 to support places of worship, including churches.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of halving the foreign aid budget.

On Tuesday 25 February, Prime Minister announced that we will increase defence spending to 2.5% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2027; the security of the UK is the first duty of government.Doing so demands the difficult but necessary decision to reduce our Official Development Assistance (ODA) spending from 0.5% to 0.3% of Gross National Income (GNI).While we will of course face tough choices resulting from the reduced ODA available, this government remains fully committed to a globally significant role on development. It is both in our national interest and in the interest of our partners across the globe.The prime minister has set out a new strategic vision for government spending on defence and security, and official development assistance. Specific allocations will be worked through as part of the ongoing spending review on the basis of various factors including impact assessments.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of proposals to move the Chinese Embassy to the former Royal Mint building on security.

As set out in a joint letter by the Foreign Secretary and Home Secretary to the Planning Inspector on 14 January, the Home Office has considered the breadth of national security issues in relation to the planning application.It would not be appropriate to comment in further detail on specific matters relating to national security.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the cost effectiveness of foreign aid.

We work hard to ensure that our development assistance reaches those who need it most, where and when it is most effective, delivering value for money for the British taxpayer.To support effective programme delivery, the publicly available FCDO Programme Operating Framework sets out the mandatory rules and the principles, controls, roles, and responsibilities for programme teams. We ensure delivery represents value for money by measuring and assessing programmes throughout their lifecycle and will work with the Independent Commission for Aid Impact to apply the highest standard to our Official Development Assistance (ODA) spend, including robust measures of development effectiveness.

What discussions his Department has had with the NHS on lower rates of (a) adults and (b) children having seen a dentist in Nottinghamshire in the last two years than the equivalent average rates for England, as of March 2024.

In the NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Integrated Care Board (ICB), in the 24 months to June 2024, 42% of adults were seen by a National Health Service dentist, compared to 40% in England. In the 12 months to June 2024, 60% of children were seen by an NHS dentist in the ICB, compared to 56% nationally.The Government plans to tackle the challenges for patients trying to access NHS dental care with a rescue plan to provide 700,000 more urgent dental appointments and recruit new dentists to the areas that need them most. To rebuild dentistry in the long term, we will reform the dental contract with the sector, with a shift to focus on prevention and the retention of NHS dentists.The responsibility for commissioning primary care services, including NHS dentistry, to meet the needs of the local population has been delegated to the ICBs across England. For the Ashfield constituency, this is the NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire ICB.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of reviewing changes to the Agricultural Property Relief threshold.

The Government believes its reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief from 6 April 2026 get the balance right between supporting farms and fixing the public finances in a fair way. The reforms reduce the inheritance tax advantages available to owners of agricultural and business assets, but still mean those assets will be taxed at a much lower effective rate than most other assets. Despite a tough fiscal context, the Government will maintain very significant levels of relief from inheritance tax beyond what is available to others and compared to the position before 1992.

What recent discussions officials in his Department have had with the manufacturers of Creon.

The Department monitors and manages medicine supply at a national level so that stocks remain available to meet regional and local demand. Information on stock levels within local areas is not held centrally.The Department is continuing to engage with all suppliers of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) to boost production and mitigate the supply issue. Suppliers have managed to secure additional pharmaceutical ingredients resulting in expected increased volumes of PERT for 2025. The Department has also reached out to specialist importers who have sourced unlicensed stock to assist in covering the gap in the market. In December 2024, the Department issued further management advice to healthcare professionals. This directs clinicians to prescribe unlicensed imports when licensed stock is unavailable, and includes actions for integrated care boards to ensure that local mitigation plans are put in place and implemented. The Department, in collaboration with NHS England, has created a webpage to include the latest updates on PERT availability and easily accessible advice on the prescribing and ordering of alternative PERT products.

What steps his Department taking to improve access to dentistry care in Nottinghamshire.

In the NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Integrated Care Board (ICB), in the 24 months to June 2024, 42% of adults were seen by a National Health Service dentist, compared to 40% in England. In the 12 months to June 2024, 60% of children were seen by an NHS dentist in the ICB, compared to 56% nationally.The Government plans to tackle the challenges for patients trying to access NHS dental care with a rescue plan to provide 700,000 more urgent dental appointments and recruit new dentists to the areas that need them most. To rebuild dentistry in the long term, we will reform the dental contract with the sector, with a shift to focus on prevention and the retention of NHS dentists.The responsibility for commissioning primary care services, including NHS dentistry, to meet the needs of the local population has been delegated to the ICBs across England. For the Ashfield constituency, this is the NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire ICB.

What steps his Department has taken to help tackle shortages of Creon.

The Department monitors and manages medicine supply at a national level so that stocks remain available to meet regional and local demand. Information on stock levels within local areas is not held centrally.The Department is continuing to engage with all suppliers of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) to boost production and mitigate the supply issue. Suppliers have managed to secure additional pharmaceutical ingredients resulting in expected increased volumes of PERT for 2025. The Department has also reached out to specialist importers who have sourced unlicensed stock to assist in covering the gap in the market. In December 2024, the Department issued further management advice to healthcare professionals. This directs clinicians to prescribe unlicensed imports when licensed stock is unavailable, and includes actions for integrated care boards to ensure that local mitigation plans are put in place and implemented. The Department, in collaboration with NHS England, has created a webpage to include the latest updates on PERT availability and easily accessible advice on the prescribing and ordering of alternative PERT products.

Whether her Department has made an estimate of the number of people that may be eligible to settle in the UK whose cases are being assessed by UK courts.

It is not possible to make any such estimate as we cannot predict the outcome of a legal case.The information requested is not currently available from published statistics, and the relevant data could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost. Official statistics published by the Home Office are kept under review in line with the code of practice for statistics, taking into account a number of factors including user needs, the resources required to compile the statistics, as well as quality and availability of data

With reference to the Upper Tribunal Immigration and Asylum Chamber ruling UI-2024-005295 & Ors, whether the appellants will be entitled to the same access to public funds as people granted permission to stay under the Ukraine Family Scheme.

No Palestinians have been granted permission to stay in the UK under the Ukrainian Family Scheme. The Home Office does not routinely comment on individual cases.

Whether Palestinians granted permission to stay in the UK under the Ukraine Family Scheme will be eligible for indefinite leave to remain.

No Palestinians have been granted permission to stay in the UK under the Ukrainian Family Scheme. The Home Office does not routinely comment on individual cases.

With reference to the Upper Tribunal Immigration and Asylum Chamber ruling UI-2024-005295 & Ors, whether foreign nationals of any nationality with a family member residing in the UK have the right to settle in the UK.

No Palestinians have been granted permission to stay in the UK under the Ukrainian Family Scheme. The Home Office does not routinely comment on individual cases.

What support her Department is providing to fire and rescue services, in the context of levels of increases in central funding.

Overall, fire and rescue authorities will receive around £2.87 billion in 2024/25. Decisions on how their resources are best deployed to meet their core functions are a matter for each fire and rescue authority based on its analysis of risk and local circumstances.The Home Office will continue to work closely with stakeholders across the sector to ensure fire and rescue services can protect local communities.

With reference to the Upper Tribunal Immigration and Asylum Chamber ruling UI-2024-005295 & Ors, whether the appellants will be (a) granted indefinite leave to remain and (b) eligible for citizenship.

No Palestinians have been granted permission to stay in the UK under the Ukrainian Family Scheme. The Home Office does not routinely comment on individual cases.