Written questions by Wrigley.

If he will take steps to divest from defence procurement from the US.

This Government is committed to improving the UK defence industrial base to ensure a robust defence sector, support economic growth and provide greater certainty in procurement processes.The United States is the United Kingdom's primary defence and security ally. Our collaboration in defence is mutually beneficial, and we maintain robust working partnerships in the areas of intelligence, nuclear, science and technology, and operations.The UK and US share a strong economic relationship that is equitable, balanced, and reciprocal. With $1.5 trillion invested in each other's economies and supporting over 2.5 million jobs collectively, our economic ties are significant.

How much the (a) UK pays the US and (b) US pays the UK in defence-related expenditure each year.

The Department routinely publishes its regional spend with industry, including North America. In financial year 2023-24 the Department's defence related expenditure with North America was £2.48 billion, of which £2.38 billion was for work taking place in the US. This is just one example of the special relationship between the UK and the US on Defence.US defence-related expenditure with the UK is not captured centrally and cannot be provided.

What munitions the UK sources (a) directly and (b) via supply chains from the United States.

The UK’s munitions stockpile is maintained through the procurement of new rounds and the refurbishment or upgrading of existing munitions. Many types of in-service munitions are from UK suppliers, and many components of systems procured from overseas are manufactured in the UK. Munitions procured directly through the United States through Foreign Military Sale include complex weapons such as cruise missiles, anti-armour and anti-air weaponry. Munitions procured by the Ministry of Defence from the United States via supply chains through other contractual arrangements include Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) rounds, an Extended Range variant of GMLRS rounds, a range of small arms ammunition and explosive charges, and the Trident nuclear deterrent.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department made an assessment of the potential merits of holding a public consultation prior to the passing of the 2022 Private Parking Code of Practice.

The Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019 places a duty on the Government to prepare a code of practice containing guidance about the operation and management of private parking facilities. This includes a duty to consult with relevant stakeholders on the measures within this Code. This government is determined to drive up standards in the private parking sector and will announce its plans for the new Code and related consultation in due course.

Food and Rural Affairs, what plans he has to establish new offshore Marine Protected Areas.

In January 2025, Minister Hardy tabled a Written Statement committing to designating new Marine Protected Areas and/or extending existing Marine Protected Areas in Secretary of State waters to deliver strategic environmental compensation for unavoidable damage caused by offshore wind developments to seabed habitats. The location of these Marine Protected Areas is not yet known but some may be in the offshore area. There is a comprehensive legislative process required to designate Marine Protected Areas which includes gathering evidence through the Joint Nature Conservation Committee and Natural England, and consulting with affected industries and communities before taking designation decisions. We will work closely and openly with stakeholders throughout this process.

If his Department will fully implement the findings of the Etherton Review.

The Government accepts the intent behind all of Lord Etherton’s recommendations and Defence continues to work at pace to deliver them. As of 4 March 2025, 42 of the 49 recommendations have been implemented, with work to implement the outstanding seven recommendations underway, demonstrating our commitment to supporting the LGBT veteran community. Out of the seven remaining recommendations, two are for Defence and five are for Department of Health and Social Care. The two for Defence include recommendation 44 focusing on female veterans affected by the ban; this will be implemented as part of the new inclusive veterans’ strategy. Recommendation 17 to implement a dedicated memorial to LGBT personnel at the National Memorial Arboretum; this is expected to be unveiled before the end of the 2025. Defence officials are also supporting Department of Health and Social Care colleagues with progressing their five remaining recommendations (recommendations 31, 35, 36, 38 and 42), which are all for the NHS. Defence encourages those affected to apply for non-financial restorative measures and the LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme by completing the application forms available at the following address: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/lgbt-veterans-support-and-next-steps.

If she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the adoption and special guardianship support fund on families.

Adoption England is committed to improving support for families and is working to ensure every child has an individual adoption support plan at the point of placement, which will identify current and future needs. The adoption and special guardianship support fund (ASGSF) provides trauma and attachment support for adoptive children, many of whom will have suffered abuse, neglect and violence before adoption. Previously, the Institute of Public Care (IPC), at Oxford Brookes University carried out a three-year mixed-method evaluation on behalf of the department between 2018 and 2021. Their report can be accessed at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6391c41a8fa8f53ba783e8ad/Evaluation_of_the_Adoption_Support_Fund_2018_to_2022_-_summary_.pdf. The report found that “a high proportion (83%) parents and guardians participating in the longitudinal survey found the funded support helpful or very helpful overall”. The IPC report also found “a statistically significant (substantial, with large effect size) improvement in parent and guardian estimates of the extent to which the main aim of the funded support had been met by the end of the intervention” and reported that parents and guardians scored on average “7 out of 10 in relation to a question about the extent to which positive change(s) for their child and/or family had been sustained 6 months since the conclusion of ASF-funded support”. The impact of the therapies available within the ASGSF is currently being assessed from multiple angles. The National Institute for Health Research is currently conducting a randomised control trial into Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP), one of the main therapies the ASGSF funds. This research is currently in its third and final phase and it will provide robust evidence regarding the effectiveness of DDP. The department started to collect data from outcomes measurement tools for ASGSF-funded therapies in December 2023. As therapy treatment comes to an end, this data will give an overall picture of the impact and adequacy of individual ASGSF-funded therapies.

If she will provide additional support for adopted children impacted by (a) abuse, (b) neglect and (c) violence before adoption.

Adoption England is committed to improving support for families and is working to ensure every child has an individual adoption support plan at the point of placement, which will identify current and future needs. The adoption and special guardianship support fund (ASGSF) provides trauma and attachment support for adoptive children, many of whom will have suffered abuse, neglect and violence before adoption. Previously, the Institute of Public Care (IPC), at Oxford Brookes University carried out a three-year mixed-method evaluation on behalf of the department between 2018 and 2021. Their report can be accessed at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6391c41a8fa8f53ba783e8ad/Evaluation_of_the_Adoption_Support_Fund_2018_to_2022_-_summary_.pdf. The report found that “a high proportion (83%) parents and guardians participating in the longitudinal survey found the funded support helpful or very helpful overall”. The IPC report also found “a statistically significant (substantial, with large effect size) improvement in parent and guardian estimates of the extent to which the main aim of the funded support had been met by the end of the intervention” and reported that parents and guardians scored on average “7 out of 10 in relation to a question about the extent to which positive change(s) for their child and/or family had been sustained 6 months since the conclusion of ASF-funded support”. The impact of the therapies available within the ASGSF is currently being assessed from multiple angles. The National Institute for Health Research is currently conducting a randomised control trial into Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP), one of the main therapies the ASGSF funds. This research is currently in its third and final phase and it will provide robust evidence regarding the effectiveness of DDP. The department started to collect data from outcomes measurement tools for ASGSF-funded therapies in December 2023. As therapy treatment comes to an end, this data will give an overall picture of the impact and adequacy of individual ASGSF-funded therapies.

If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of changes to (a) the minimum wage and (b) employer National Insurance contributions on the ability of companies to hire workers for long term skills investment.

We are committed to building an economy that works for everyone and considers the impacts of all policies that we introduce.We accepted in full the recommendations of the Low Pay Commission who considered the impact on business, competitiveness, the labour market, wider economy and the cost of living. A full Impact Assessment on NMW was published and received a Green ‘fit for purpose’ from the Regulatory Policy Committee on Tuesday 4 February 2025.The Office for Budget Responsibility’s October 2024 forecast includes the impact to changing employer National Insurance contributions and expects the unemployment rate will fall to 4.1% next year and remain low until 2029. Employers of those under the age of 21 and apprentices under the age of 25 receive 100% employer National Insurance relief on salaries up to £50,270.

If he will hold discussions with PTSD Resolution on tackling (a) harassment and (b) sexual assault in the armed forces.

There is no place for harassment or any form of abuse within the Armed Forces – or anywhere within Defence. I am deeply concerned that Service women in particular have been – and continue to be- subject to sexual harassment, sexual assault, and other unacceptable behaviours as they carry out the vital role of protecting the nation. Our Ministerial team and Service Chiefs are committed to making changes that hold people to account for their actions and to also create a more inclusive environment. We have a range of robust policies in place with powerful sanctions to tackle harassment and unacceptable sexual behaviour and these are kept under continuous review. Where behaviour involves sexual offending, the Defence Serious Crime Unit and the Victim and Witness Care Unit carry out an independent investigation and provide confidential and professional support and guidance to those affected. This Government is also establishing an Armed Forces Commissioner as a new independent champion with the power to investigate issues raised by Service personnel and their families.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of social supermarkets on (a) alleviating food poverty and (b) supporting community activities.

Social supermarkets are independent organisations and Department for Work and Pensions does not hold data on their operation. We are committed to tackling food poverty and ending mass dependence of emergency food parcels. To inform this work DWP officials have engaged with a range of organisations including social supermarkets to better understand the complex food poverty landscape. Voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations like social supermarkets play a unique role in driving community cohesion and giving voice to communities' agency and opportunity to serve. This is why this government has announced a new Civil Society Covenant, to reset the relationship with civil society and build a new partnership that can harness the sector's full potential to rebuild our country and deliver against the government’s 5 missions.

If he will make an estimate of the cost to UK businesses of having agents in individual EU member states.

The European Commission is responsible for interpreting EU legislation and has published business guidance and an impact assessment of the EU General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR). We recommend businesses refer to this guidance for advice on the requirement for an EU based ‘agent’, referred to as a Responsible Economic Operator or responsible person, by the European Commission.DBT have published guidance on the application of GPSR in Northern Ireland, which we will keep under review. We continue to engage businesses directly to assess the regulation’s impact and ensure they are supported to trade across the UK and with the EU.

What assessment she has made of the potential merits of specialist therapeutic providers.

The department knows that children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) frequently require access to additional support from a broad specialist workforce across education, health and care, including speech and language therapists and other therapy services. Across England, community health services, including therapies, are locally commissioned to enable systems to best meet the needs of their communities. The department is working closely with NHS England to improve access to community health services. As part of the government’s mission to build an NHS that is fit for the future, the department will also provide access to specialist mental health professionals in every school through expanding Mental Health Support Teams, so every young person has access to early support to address problems before they escalate.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make it his policy to report on the (a) adequacy of and (b) potential impact of new free trade agreements on (i) fishing stocks, (ii) fishing fleets, (iii) nature conservation and (iv) natural capital at the outset of each new trade negotiation.

It is always the UK’s intention to enter into FTA negotiations seeking ambitious outcomes with regard to the sustainability and conservation of fish stocks and wider marine environment. The Department for Business and Trade’s impact assessments set out the potential long-run impacts of FTAs; including the associated environmental impacts on natural capital and fisheries.

What information his Department holds on the amount of trade insured by UK-based companies with a final destination in Russia.

The Department does not hold information concerning the amount of trade insured by UK-based companies with a final destination in Russia. The government has sanctioned the provision of insurance in certain circumstances and it is a criminal offence to breach these sanctions unless a licence has been granted for the activity.

If she will make an estimate of the value of goods traded from the UK to third countries with a final destination in Russia.

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is responsible for the collection and publication of data on imports and exports of goods to and from the UK. HMRC only holds information on the initial country of destination for exports, that is the country which the goods first move to. Information on whether goods then move on to a further country, such as Russia, is not collected and no estimate can be produced. The information we have on UK trade is released monthly, as an accredited Official Statistic called the Overseas Trade in Goods Statistics (OTS), which is available via their dedicated website (www.uktradeinfo.com). From this website, it is possible to build your own data tables based upon bespoke search criteria. If you need help or support in constructing a table from the data on uktradeinfo, please contact uktradeinfo@hmrc.gov.uk.

Whether he plans to place further restrictions on trade with Russia.

The Government does not speculate on specific future sanctions measures as to do so could reduce their impact. Most recently, plans for new trade sanctions were set out by the Foreign Secretary on 24 February. Together with our international partners, we have put in place the largest and most severe package of sanctions ever imposed on a major economy. Over the past three years, the UK has sanctioned over £20 billion (97%) worth of goods trade with Russia, and £375 million worth of services.

If she will make it her policy to introduce measures to limit the brightness of LED car headlights.

All headlamps are designed and tested to international standards to ensure they are bright enough to light the road ahead but not so bright as to dazzle other road users. The standards define the beam pattern and maximum and minimum light intensities. However, noting increased public concern, Government has commissioned independent research to better understand the root causes of headlamp glare and develop potential countermeasures. The work is underway and is due to deliver in summer 2025. Government will consider carefully the outcome of that research to determine what action might be appropriate.

If he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the level of US government control of Starlink in Ukraine.

The Ministry of Defence has assessed the implications of a disruption to Starlink services to Ukraine. The large number of Starlink terminals (reported at over 40,000) means Starlink makes a significant contribution to Ukraine civil and military sectors. As per Starlink terms and conditions, off-the-shelf purchases of Starlink terminals are not subject to US Government export regulations.

Pursuant to the Answer of 10 February 2025 to Question 28323 on Post Boxes, if he will hold discussions with Ofcom on the potential merits of implementing an enforcement mechanism to require Royal Mail to (a) replace post boxes quickly and (b) install post boxes on new estates.

Ofcom is the independent regulator for the postal sector, and it sets and monitors the network access requirements that Royal Mail must provide to meet the reasonable needs of customers. The government meets with Ofcom regularly but has no role in Ofcom's regulatory decisions.