Written questions by Wrigley.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will take steps to ensure that Ukraine continues to receive adequate military support.

The UK will deliver £3 billion of military assistance to Ukraine this year and every year until at least 2030. The UK-administered International Fund for Ukraine to procure military equipment now stands at over £1.3 billion. The UK will also provide £2.26 billion to the G7 Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration (ERA) Loans to Ukraine scheme, in which $50 billion from G7 countries will be delivered to Ukraine for its military, budget, and reconstruction needs.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the potential deployment of a European peacekeeping force to Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire.

The Foreign Secretary is in close contact with his Cabinet colleagues. As the Prime Minister has said, the UK is ready to play a leading role in accelerating work on security guarantees for Ukraine, including being ready and willing to contribute to security guarantees to Ukraine by putting our own troops on the ground in the future if necessary. Until then, we remain focused on putting Ukraine in the strongest possible position.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with the French ambassador on a European peacekeeping force in Ukraine.

We are in close touch with our European partners, including France, to help defend Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression. As the Prime Minister has said, the UK is ready to play a leading role in accelerating work on security guarantees for Ukraine, including being ready and willing to contribute to security guarantees to Ukraine by putting our own troops on the ground if necessary.

When GP practices will be informed about the funding settlement details for the next financial year.

We are investing an additional £889 million in general practice (GP) to reinforce the front door of the National Health Service and bring back the family doctor, bringing total spend on the GP Contract to £13.2 billion in 2025/26. This is the biggest increase in over a decade and means we are reversing the recent trend with a rising share of total NHS resources going to GPs. Details of the contract were announced on 28 February 2025.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the withdrawal of US support on Ukrainian independence.

Europe has provided two thirds of all aid, and over half of all military aid to Ukraine. The $50 billion G7 ERA loans puts Ukraine in a good position for 2025, of which the UK's $3 billion contribution will be earmarked for military spending, giving Ukraine more of the vital kit it needs to fight off Russian aggression.A just and lasting peace is only possible if we continue to show strength and provide Ukraine with the support it needs. There will be no let-up in our support, which we will continue for as long as it is necessary.The UK notes the US decision to pause foreign aid funding for 3 months, pending a review. This is a matter for the US. We are currently working to assess the implications and are working with other partners to share analysis of the pause. We continue to engage with the US Administration at the highest levels on Ukraine.

How many and what proportion of NHS hospitals use private parking companies.

No assessment has been made of the potential impact of parking costs on National Health Service staff in Devon. All NHS trusts that charge for hospital car parking provide free parking for those ‘in-most need’. This includes frequent outpatient attenders, parents of sick children staying overnight, blue badge disabled holders, and NHS staff working overnight.Data on the income from car parking charges is published annually through the NHS Estates Return Information Collection. Data on the income from patients and visitors is combined. The latest figures, from 2023/24, show that the income received from patients and visitors for parking on NHS hospital sites was £101,812,089. The income received from staff for parking on NHS hospital sites in 2023/24 was £70,510,110. Data for the income from NHS trusts for carparking is available at the following link:https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/estates-returns-information-collection/summary-page-and-dataset-for-eric-2023-24No data is collected on the income generated by the number of parking fines issued or the amount of annual income received by parking companies from the NHS. No data is collected to determine the number of NHS hospitals that use a private parking company.My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has had no recent discussions with NHS England on private parking companies. NHS trusts are expected to comply with the NHS car parking guidance 2022 for NHS trusts and NHS foundation trusts. This applies to all NHS trusts, including those that use private parking companies to operate their hospital car parks.

If he will make an estimate of annual income received by the NHS from parking fines.

No assessment has been made of the potential impact of parking costs on National Health Service staff in Devon. All NHS trusts that charge for hospital car parking provide free parking for those ‘in-most need’. This includes frequent outpatient attenders, parents of sick children staying overnight, blue badge disabled holders, and NHS staff working overnight.Data on the income from car parking charges is published annually through the NHS Estates Return Information Collection. Data on the income from patients and visitors is combined. The latest figures, from 2023/24, show that the income received from patients and visitors for parking on NHS hospital sites was £101,812,089. The income received from staff for parking on NHS hospital sites in 2023/24 was £70,510,110. Data for the income from NHS trusts for carparking is available at the following link:https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/estates-returns-information-collection/summary-page-and-dataset-for-eric-2023-24No data is collected on the income generated by the number of parking fines issued or the amount of annual income received by parking companies from the NHS. No data is collected to determine the number of NHS hospitals that use a private parking company.My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has had no recent discussions with NHS England on private parking companies. NHS trusts are expected to comply with the NHS car parking guidance 2022 for NHS trusts and NHS foundation trusts. This applies to all NHS trusts, including those that use private parking companies to operate their hospital car parks.

If he will make an estimate of annual income received by the NHS from parking payments from staff.

No assessment has been made of the potential impact of parking costs on National Health Service staff in Devon. All NHS trusts that charge for hospital car parking provide free parking for those ‘in-most need’. This includes frequent outpatient attenders, parents of sick children staying overnight, blue badge disabled holders, and NHS staff working overnight.Data on the income from car parking charges is published annually through the NHS Estates Return Information Collection. Data on the income from patients and visitors is combined. The latest figures, from 2023/24, show that the income received from patients and visitors for parking on NHS hospital sites was £101,812,089. The income received from staff for parking on NHS hospital sites in 2023/24 was £70,510,110. Data for the income from NHS trusts for carparking is available at the following link:https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/estates-returns-information-collection/summary-page-and-dataset-for-eric-2023-24No data is collected on the income generated by the number of parking fines issued or the amount of annual income received by parking companies from the NHS. No data is collected to determine the number of NHS hospitals that use a private parking company.My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has had no recent discussions with NHS England on private parking companies. NHS trusts are expected to comply with the NHS car parking guidance 2022 for NHS trusts and NHS foundation trusts. This applies to all NHS trusts, including those that use private parking companies to operate their hospital car parks.

What recent discussions he has had with NHS England on private parking companies.

No assessment has been made of the potential impact of parking costs on National Health Service staff in Devon. All NHS trusts that charge for hospital car parking provide free parking for those ‘in-most need’. This includes frequent outpatient attenders, parents of sick children staying overnight, blue badge disabled holders, and NHS staff working overnight.Data on the income from car parking charges is published annually through the NHS Estates Return Information Collection. Data on the income from patients and visitors is combined. The latest figures, from 2023/24, show that the income received from patients and visitors for parking on NHS hospital sites was £101,812,089. The income received from staff for parking on NHS hospital sites in 2023/24 was £70,510,110. Data for the income from NHS trusts for carparking is available at the following link:https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/estates-returns-information-collection/summary-page-and-dataset-for-eric-2023-24No data is collected on the income generated by the number of parking fines issued or the amount of annual income received by parking companies from the NHS. No data is collected to determine the number of NHS hospitals that use a private parking company.My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has had no recent discussions with NHS England on private parking companies. NHS trusts are expected to comply with the NHS car parking guidance 2022 for NHS trusts and NHS foundation trusts. This applies to all NHS trusts, including those that use private parking companies to operate their hospital car parks.

If he will make an estimate of annual income received by the NHS from parking payments from visitors.

No assessment has been made of the potential impact of parking costs on National Health Service staff in Devon. All NHS trusts that charge for hospital car parking provide free parking for those ‘in-most need’. This includes frequent outpatient attenders, parents of sick children staying overnight, blue badge disabled holders, and NHS staff working overnight.Data on the income from car parking charges is published annually through the NHS Estates Return Information Collection. Data on the income from patients and visitors is combined. The latest figures, from 2023/24, show that the income received from patients and visitors for parking on NHS hospital sites was £101,812,089. The income received from staff for parking on NHS hospital sites in 2023/24 was £70,510,110. Data for the income from NHS trusts for carparking is available at the following link:https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/estates-returns-information-collection/summary-page-and-dataset-for-eric-2023-24No data is collected on the income generated by the number of parking fines issued or the amount of annual income received by parking companies from the NHS. No data is collected to determine the number of NHS hospitals that use a private parking company.My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has had no recent discussions with NHS England on private parking companies. NHS trusts are expected to comply with the NHS car parking guidance 2022 for NHS trusts and NHS foundation trusts. This applies to all NHS trusts, including those that use private parking companies to operate their hospital car parks.

If he will make an estimate of annual income received by parking companies from the NHS.

No assessment has been made of the potential impact of parking costs on National Health Service staff in Devon. All NHS trusts that charge for hospital car parking provide free parking for those ‘in-most need’. This includes frequent outpatient attenders, parents of sick children staying overnight, blue badge disabled holders, and NHS staff working overnight.Data on the income from car parking charges is published annually through the NHS Estates Return Information Collection. Data on the income from patients and visitors is combined. The latest figures, from 2023/24, show that the income received from patients and visitors for parking on NHS hospital sites was £101,812,089. The income received from staff for parking on NHS hospital sites in 2023/24 was £70,510,110. Data for the income from NHS trusts for carparking is available at the following link:https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/estates-returns-information-collection/summary-page-and-dataset-for-eric-2023-24No data is collected on the income generated by the number of parking fines issued or the amount of annual income received by parking companies from the NHS. No data is collected to determine the number of NHS hospitals that use a private parking company.My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has had no recent discussions with NHS England on private parking companies. NHS trusts are expected to comply with the NHS car parking guidance 2022 for NHS trusts and NHS foundation trusts. This applies to all NHS trusts, including those that use private parking companies to operate their hospital car parks.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Social Security Act 1973 on veterans who served before 6 April 1975 but did not meet the qualifying service threshold.

This Government will always stand up for those who have served our country, and I am leading work across Government and with civil society to look at the best ways to ensure all veterans get access to the support and opportunities they need and deserve. This year, we will set out our plans for veterans in our updated Veterans’ Strategy. It is a principle of public service pensions policy, and one that has been upheld by successive Governments, that improvements to pension schemes are not made retrospective. The legacy issues of the Armed Forces Pension Scheme 1975 are replicated in other public sector schemes in existence prior to the Social Security Act 1973. Accordingly, a retrospective change implemented for the Armed Forces would certainly result in pressure from other public sector schemes for similar treatment. Although no specific estimate has been made, resolving legacy issues across the board would cost the tax-payer billions of pounds and render future meaningful improvements to pension schemes for current employees unaffordable.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of parking costs on NHS staff in Devon.

No assessment has been made of the potential impact of parking costs on National Health Service staff in Devon. All NHS trusts that charge for hospital car parking provide free parking for those ‘in-most need’. This includes frequent outpatient attenders, parents of sick children staying overnight, blue badge disabled holders, and NHS staff working overnight.Data on the income from car parking charges is published annually through the NHS Estates Return Information Collection. Data on the income from patients and visitors is combined. The latest figures, from 2023/24, show that the income received from patients and visitors for parking on NHS hospital sites was £172,322,199. The income received from staff for parking on NHS hospital sites in 2023/24 was £70,510,110. Data for the income from NHS trusts for carparking is available at the following link:https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/estates-returns-information-collection/summary-page-and-dataset-for-eric-2023-24No data is collected on the income generated by the number of parking fines issued or the amount of annual income received by parking companies from the NHS. No data is collected to determine the number of NHS hospitals that use a private parking company.My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has had no recent discussions with NHS England on private parking companies. NHS trusts are expected to comply with the NHS car parking guidance 2022 for NHS trusts and NHS foundation trusts. This applies to all NHS trusts, including those that use private parking companies to operate their hospital car parks.

Pursuant of the Answer of 17 January 2025 to Question 22412 on Childcare: Finance, how many and what proportion of childcare providers allow parents to stretch the 38 weeks of paid childcare to cover 52 weeks.

The department does not collect data on how childcare providers deliver the entitlements. Therefore, we cannot provide detail on the numbers and proportion of childcare providers that allow parents to stretch the 38 weeks of paid childcare over 52 weeks.Parents are able to stretch their child’s entitlement by taking fewer hours per week over more weeks of the year, although hours cannot be compressed into fewer than 38 weeks per year. This means, where possible, parents can use their funded hours of childcare all year round alongside Tax-Free Childcare or Universal Credit. Local authorities are able to help parents by providing details of childcare settings who offer this option.There is no requirement for childcare providers to deliver funded hours at particular times of the day or on particular days of the week. Providers are free to choose when to deliver funded hours, as long as they comply with the terms of their arrangements with the local authority.

Communities and Local Government, if she will ensure that her Department does not close its regional office in Exeter.

The department has made the decision to close six offices over the next two years, including its office in Exeter, in order to create a more coherent office estate across the UK. The department will continue to have an office in every English region, and in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and that will include an office in Plymouth, to ensure we maintain a presence in Devon.The department has recently invested in a new office in Plymouth, giving our staff based there a more modern working experience. The new office also has a greater capacity than our previous office in Plymouth, which will allow any staff who are currently based in Exeter the opportunity to work from there should they wish. We will provide a package of measures to support Exeter-based staff who want to transition to Plymouth. All staff in the six offices which will close will be able to continue in their roles and there will be no compulsory redundancies.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the closure of her Department's Exeter regional office on the career prospects of civil servants in the South West.

The department has made the decision to close six offices over the next two years, including its office in Exeter, in order to create a more coherent office estate across the UK. The department will continue to have an office in every English region, and in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and that will include an office in Plymouth, to ensure we maintain a presence in Devon.The department has recently invested in a new office in Plymouth, giving our staff based there a more modern working experience. The new office also has a greater capacity than our previous office in Plymouth, which will allow any staff who are currently based in Exeter the opportunity to work from there should they wish. We will provide a package of measures to support Exeter-based staff who want to transition to Plymouth. All staff in the six offices which will close will be able to continue in their roles and there will be no compulsory redundancies.

If he will make a comparative assessment of the potential impact of (a) the Drax power station and (b) coal-fired power stations on UK carbon emissions in the last five years.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) publishes UK territorial greenhouse gas emissions statistics. They can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/final-uk-greenhouse-gas-emissions-statistics-1990-to-2023 DESNZ also publishes carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from the combustion of fossil fuels reported by industrial sites, including those covered by the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). CO2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion at the Drax site can be found here: https://naei.energysecurity.gov.uk/data/maps/emissions-point-sources, https://reports.view-emissions-trading-registry.service.gov.uk/ets-reports.html UK reporting is consistent with international guidelines established by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which require CO2 emissions from the combustion of biomass to be accounted for in the land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF) sector of the country in which the biomass was harvested, rather than at the point of release to the atmosphere.

If he will make a comparative assessment of the potential impact of (a) the Drax power station and (b) renewable energy sources on UK carbon emissions in the last five years.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) publishes UK territorial greenhouse gas emissions statistics. They can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/final-uk-greenhouse-gas-emissions-statistics-1990-to-2023 DESNZ also publishes carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from the combustion of fossil fuels reported by industrial sites, including those covered by the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). CO2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion at the Drax site can be found here: https://naei.energysecurity.gov.uk/data/maps/emissions-point-sources, https://reports.view-emissions-trading-registry.service.gov.uk/ets-reports.html UK reporting is consistent with international guidelines established by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which require CO2 emissions from the combustion of biomass to be accounted for in the land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF) sector of the country in which the biomass was harvested, rather than at the point of release to the atmosphere.

Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of the decision to close her Department's regional office in Exeter on civil servants in Devon.

The department has made the decision to close six offices over the next two years, including its office in Exeter, in order to create a more coherent office estate across the UK. The department will continue to have an office in every English region, and in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and that will include an office in Plymouth, to ensure we maintain a presence in Devon.The department has recently invested in a new office in Plymouth, giving our staff based there a more modern working experience. The new office also has a greater capacity than our previous office in Plymouth, which will allow any staff who are currently based in Exeter the opportunity to work from there should they wish. We will provide a package of measures to support Exeter-based staff who want to transition to Plymouth. All staff in the six offices which will close will be able to continue in their roles and there will be no compulsory redundancies.

Communities and Local Government, for what reason she decided to close the Department's regional office in Exeter.

The department has made the decision to close six offices over the next two years, including its office in Exeter, in order to create a more coherent office estate across the UK. The department will continue to have an office in every English region, and in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and that will include an office in Plymouth, to ensure we maintain a presence in Devon.The department has recently invested in a new office in Plymouth, giving our staff based there a more modern working experience. The new office also has a greater capacity than our previous office in Plymouth, which will allow any staff who are currently based in Exeter the opportunity to work from there should they wish. We will provide a package of measures to support Exeter-based staff who want to transition to Plymouth. All staff in the six offices which will close will be able to continue in their roles and there will be no compulsory redundancies.