Written questions by Whittome.

What recent discussions she has had with the Minister for Women and Equalities on (a) the review of the Adults at Risk in Immigration Detention policy and (b) detention for vulnerable people.

The review of the Adults at Risk in Immigration Detention policy is ongoing and external engagement is taking place during the first quarter of 2025. A range of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), will be invited to view and comment on any proposals for reform, as part of this external engagement work.

Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to establish regulations for AI companies which (a) guarantee ethical practices, (b) safeguard protections for workers and communities and (c) ensure accountability.

The vast majority of AI systems are regulated at the point of use, and the UK's existing expert regulators are best placed to do this. In response to the AI Action Plan, the government has committed to supporting regulators in evaluating their AI capabilities and understanding how these can be strengthened.The government is also developing legislative proposals which will allow the UK to safely realise the benefits of the most powerful AI systems. These proposals will be highly targeted, build on the voluntary commitments secured at the Seoul and Bletchley AI Summits, and be future-proofed against this fast-evolving technology.

If she will make it her policy to establish a commission that includes (a) trade unions, (b) campaign organisations and (c) community groups to help implement the socio-economic duty.

The Government is committed to commencing the socio-economic duty in the Equality Act 2010. The duty will require specified public bodies, when making strategic decisions, to consider actively how their decisions might help to reduce the inequalities associated with socio-economic disadvantage. We know that the duty will only succeed if central Government works in partnership with public sector leaders, communities and other partners up and down the country. We will therefore work closely with relevant organisations to ensure that implementation of the duty is as effective as possible. We will update further on our work to commence the socio-economic duty in due course.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make it his policy to (a) establish and (b) support negotiations for a ceasefire in (i) the West Bank and (ii) East Jerusalem.

Stability in the West Bank and East Jerusalem is crucial to ensure that the fragile ceasefire in Gaza can last. The UK will continue to work with Israel, the Palestinian Authority, the US, and regional partners to build consensus for a post-conflict Gaza governance and security framework that supports conditions for a permanent and sustainable peace.The ceasefire marks the first step in ensuring long-term peace and security for Israelis, Palestinians, and the wider region, bringing much-needed stability. Our attention must turn to how we secure a permanently better future for the Israeli and Palestinian people - grounded in a two-state solution that will guarantee security and stability for Israel, alongside a sovereign and viable Palestinian state.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of the Renewable Obligation system of (a) subsidies and (b) regulation in the context of the Ofgem investigation into Drax Power Limited.

Ofgem’s recent investigation related to a breach of annual profiling reporting requirements. Whilst Drax complied with sustainability standards, it had failed to report data accurately. This is a serious matter and Government expects full compliance with all regulatory obligations. Drax’s subsequent £25 million redress payment underscores the robustness of the regulatory system.

What recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of access to hormone replacement therapy prescriptions through GPs for trans patients; and what steps he is taking to support trans patients' access to hormone replacement therapy prescriptions through GPs.

NHS England is currently carrying out a review of adult gender services which will look at how to overcome the challenges that some individuals face in accessing a timely prescription.NHS England has more than doubled investment in gender dysphoria services, increasing the number of adult Gender Dysphoria Clinics in England from seven to 12 since July 2020, with the rollout of five new adult gender pilot clinics. This will help tackle long waiting times, which have increased due to a shortage of specialist clinical staff to meet the rapidly rising demand. To support general practitioners (GPs) in prescribing for adults with gender dysphoria, these pilot clinics are led by primary care and staffed by specialist GPs who are available to provide quick and effective support to colleagues.The Royal College of General Practitioners’ position statement on the role of the GP in transgender healthcare sets out that GPs should liaise and work with Gender Identity Clinics in the same way as with any other specialist. This includes consideration of prescribing under a shared care agreement.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make it her policy to seize UK-based assets of Bashar al-Assad and redirect the funds to Syrian civil society.

After decades of atrocities committed by the Assad regime, we stand with the people of Syria.UK-based assets of the Assad regime remain frozen. As with all our sanctions, we keep our approach under review. We do not comment on future designations as to do so lessens their potential impact.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the level of risk to the safety of health workers in Gaza; and what steps he is taking to help protect those workers.

We welcome the agreement to end the fighting in Gaza. It is the first step in ensuring long-term peace and security for Israelis, Palestinians and the wider region, bringing much-needed stability, but we have always been clear that an immediate ceasefire is just the first step towards a lasting solution to this crisis. Gazan civilians must be protected, and able to access effective healthcare. The UK has consistently raised concerns about the impact of this conflict on Gaza's healthcare system and medical staff, including reiterating the requirement for all parties to comply with International Humanitarian Law. Israel must allow medical staff to carry out their work unimpeded, and to travel around Gaza as needed. On 27 December I made clear to Israel's government that the situation in northern Gaza cannot continue and raised our serious concern about repeated strikes on Kamal Adwan hospital, and the safety of civilians and medical workers there. In recent weeks, I have raised the need to ensure healthcare facilities in North Gaza are protected, and to enable World Health Organization and International Committee of the Red Cross access, with both the Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister and Israel's Ambassador to the UK.

What recent assessment her Department has made of the (a) equitability and (b) affordability of fees for citizenship applications; and whether she plans to review those fees.

The Home Office routinely considered issues around equitability and affordability, among other considerations, when making determinations on the appropriate level of fees to charge for immigration and nationality applications. The Home Office previously published an Equality Impact Assessment which includes considerations in respect of citizenship fees: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2023/1004/pdfs/uksiod_20231004_en_001.pdf.

Whether if Further Education colleges will be eligible to o reclaim VAT for renewable energy installations.

Further Education (FE) colleges cannot reclaim the VAT they pay on goods and services.However, FE colleges benefit from a zero rate of VAT on installations of qualifying energy-saving materials if their buildings meet the definition of being used “solely for a relevant charitable purpose”. This VAT zero rate is in place until March 2027, after which it will revert to the reduced rate of VAT at five per cent. This relief – worth over £1 billion – will aid households and charities in improving the energy efficiency of their buildings, help to reduce carbon emissions, and ultimately help us to reach our ambitious Net Zero by 2050 target.

What steps she is taking to support further education colleges to invest in low-carbon (a) technology and (b) infrastructure.

Ensuring that every young person has a pathway through further and higher education and into employment is a key pillar of the government’s opportunity and growth missions. The department wants to build a world class further education (FE) system which delivers for the whole nation and supports these missions. A key part of this is ensuring colleges are fit for the future, with better facilities and good quality, sustainable buildings.At the Autumn Budget 2024, the department announced £950 million of skills capital funding for 2025/26, including £300 million of new funding to support FE colleges to maintain, improve and ensure suitability of their estate. It will be for colleges to decide how to prioritise funding in line with guidance which the department will publish. However, spend could include investment in low-carbon infrastructure in line with the Further Education Generic Design Brief and Technical Annexes, which can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/employers-requirements-for-college-projects-part-a-and-part-b.As part of the FE Capital Transformation Programme, which is a six-year programme investing more than £1.5 billion to upgrade the FE college estate, the department is working in partnership with sixteen colleges to address some of the worst condition sites in the country. These schemes are being built to the above specifications. One of these projects is the Ashington Campus of Northumberland College, which is a Gen-Zero development, designed to be ultra-low carbon in both construction and operation.FE colleges are also able to apply to the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, administered by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. A number of FE colleges have benefitted from this scheme to invest in measures to achieve net zero in operation at some or all of their sites.Future investment will depend on the outcomes of the spending review which will be announced later this year.

Communities and Local Government, if her Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of assessing council tax value based on the number of bedrooms within a property.

The Valuation Office Agency considers a range of factors in determining a dwelling’s council tax band, including the size, layout, location and character of the dwelling. The government has no plans to change how dwellings are assessed for council tax.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Government plans to raise case of Alaa Abd el-Fattah at the upcoming Universal Periodic Review session for Egypt at the United Nations.

The UK Government remains committed to securing the release of Alaa Abd El-Fattah. We continue to raise Mr El-Fattah's case at the highest levels with the Egyptian Government.The FCDO will use the upcoming Universal Periodic Review session on Egypt in January to raise issues relating to human rights.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the overseas development assistance budget to 0.7% of gross national income without applying a fiscal test.

The Government remains committed to international development. This is why we allocated £13.3 billion to ODA in 2024/25 and £13.7 billion in 2025/26 at Autumn Budget 2024. We will restore Official Development Assistance (ODA) spending to the level of 0.7 percent of GNI as soon as the fiscal circumstances allow, but this isn’t currently affordable. The government will continue to monitor future forecasts closely, and each year will review and confirm, in accordance with the International Development (Official Development Assistance Target) Act 2015, whether a return to spending 0.7% of GNI on ODA is possible against the latest fiscal forecast.

If she will embed youth work in A&Es.

Halving knife crime over the next decade is a key part of the Government’s Safe Streets mission. We are taking a range of steps to realise this ambition, including creating a new Young Futures Programme to intervene earlier to stop young people being drawn into violent crime. It is vital we have a system that can identify and support those young people who need it most.As part of this, the Government’s manifesto committed to offering young people a pathway out of violence by placing youth workers and mentors in A&E units and Alternative Provision Schools (formally called Pupil Referral units).A&E navigator programmes are currently funded in all 20 VRU areas. These programmes place navigators, such as youth workers, in hospital emergency rooms to support children and young people with a violence-related injury and offer a pathway out of violence. The proposed Police Settlement for 2025/26 includes £49.7m for the continuation of the VRU programme. We will continue to build on, and learn from, the work already underway.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with international allies on efforts to help secure the release of Alaa Abd el-Fattah in Egypt.

The UK Government remains committed to securing the release of Alaa Abd El-Fattah. We continue to raise Mr El-Fattah's case at the highest levels of the Egyptian Government.FCDO officials speak regularly with likeminded partners on how to enhance international cooperation and end the practice of arbitrary arrest, detention or sentencing.The Prime Minister wrote to President Sisi to raise Mr El-Fattah's case on 26 December. The Foreign Secretary also raised the case with Egyptian Foreign Minister Abdelatty most recently on 20 December 2024. The National Security Adviser, Jonathan Powell raised this with the Foreign Minister on 2 January 2025.

When she expects to resume processing asylum applications from Syrian nationals.

We keep all country guidance relating to asylum claims under constant review, so we can respond to emerging issues. Following the fall of the Assad regime in Syria, the Home Office has withdrawn the Country Policy Information Notes and Guidance relating to Syria. Consequently, as the Home Office continues to assess the current situation in Syria, the Home Office has temporarily paused decisions on Syrian asylum claims. We will provide a further update to Parliament as soon as possible.

What steps he is taking to improve the availability of GP appointments in Nottingham East constituency.

We are committed to improving capacity and access to local services across the country, including in Nottingham East. That is why we have already begun recruiting 1,000 newly qualified general practitioners (GPs) through an £82 million boost to the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme, enabling the recruitment of 1,000 newly qualified GPs across England. This will increase the number of appointments delivered in general practice, which will benefit thousands of patients that are struggling to care the care they desperately need. This will also secure the future supply of GPs and take pressure off those currently working in the system. Additionally, we have announced a proposed £889 million uplift to the GP contract, with a rising share of total National Health Service resources going to general practice. We are currently consulting on key proposals to improve access, continuity of care and GP recruitment.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the sale of Royal Mail on its (a) workforce and (b) customers.

The Government has ensured that the potential takeover of Royal Mail has been properly scrutinised and that appropriate guarantees have been put in place to protect the interests of the workforce, customers and the country. These guarantees include the bidder’s agreements with the unions and commitments to the Government to ensure the ongoing provision of services and the protection of the network required to deliver those services. Additionally, the company has an ongoing requirement to fulfil its statutory and regulatory responsibilities, regardless of its ownership.

What steps she is taking to protect teenagers from violence and abuse in relationships.

This Government is considering a wide range of actions to address teenage relationship violence and abuse, including assessing whether any changes to the law are needed and supporting our education system to teach children about respectful and healthy relationships and consent.