Written questions by Heylings.

With reference to United States' Department of the Interior's letter to Orsted North America Inc, dated 22 August 2025, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of that letter on international investor confidence in UK offshore wind projects.

The Government is aware of the US Department of the Interior’s 22 August 2025 letter to Ørsted North America. Overseas regulatory decisions are for those authorities; the UK is a separate market with our own regulatory framework. The Government remains confident in the UK’s ability to attract international investment in the clean energy mission. We will achieve this by driving investment certainty, delivering targeted catalytic public investment, investing alongside industry where necessary, and breaking down barriers to investment.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Atlantic Partnership for Advanced Nuclear Energy on the Office for Nuclear Regulation’s (a) safety standards and (b) independence and impartiality.

The Atlantic Partnership for Advanced Nuclear Energy builds on existing collaboration and will accelerate licensing and reactor design checks, provide certainty to industry and uphold safety standards, while making both the UK and US an attractive place to invest. The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR), the UKs independent regulator, will need to be satisfied that any design to be deployed in the UK meets UK safety standards and complies with UK law. By working with the US the ONR will streamline processes, while continuing to maintain rigorous UK regulatory standards and its independent decision making.

What steps he plans to take to increase awareness of aerobic vaginitis.

The Government is committed to prioritising women’s health as we build a National Health Service fit for the future.Professional bodies, including the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV, are considering how to raise awareness and make more information available about aerobic vaginitis.Additionally, we have supported the system to improve access to more specialised and multidisciplinary teams in the community through the introduction of women’s health hubs. Women’s health hubs provide better integrated care for women with a range of different conditions.

What steps he plans to take to help increase awareness of irritable bowel syndrome.

We recognise the significant impact that irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can have on a person’s quality of life. We want a society where every person, including those with one or more long-term conditions, receives high-quality, compassionate continuity of care.To support early diagnosis and effective management of IBS, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has produced guidance, which is available at the following link:https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg61To raise awareness of IBS among general practitioners and other primary care staff, the Royal College of General Practitioners has produced an e-learning module on the IBS pathway. The course covers the investigation of patients who present with lower gastrointestinal symptoms that are likely to be IBS, the red flags to look out for, how to make a confident diagnosis in primary care, and how to manage patients in line with NICE guidance.

Whether he plans to take steps to raise awareness on the potential impact of self-swab rape kits being used to collect DNA on criminal prosecutions.

The Ministry of Justice is aware of self-swab kits being marketed to the public as a means of collecting DNA following sexual violence. These kits are in no way associated with any government department or criminal justice agency, or the Government’s wider VAWG mission. We recommend that victims of sexual violence attend a Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC), where trained clinicians can provide holistic care and forensic evidence can be collected in accordance with established standards. We are also aware of concerns raised about the promotion of self-swab kits, including those outlined in position statements by the Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine and Rape Crisis England & Wales. Support is available for victims of rape through SARCs and the 24-7 Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Line. We are committed to tackling sexual violence and achieving the best outcome for all victims, in line with our goal to halve VAWG within a decade.

Whether his Department plans to take steps to prevent the closure of The Clink Restaurant in HMP Brixton.

We value the Clink’s longstanding partnership with His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service.The current contract at HMP Brixton will terminate on 30 September 2026, and in line with public procurement regulations a tendering process for the new contract is now in progress. Recommissioning this service provides an opportunity to update the specification that reflects the changing needs of the prison population at Brixton since the original contract was agreed over a decade ago.As the incumbent supplier, the Clink has direct experience of operating this service and will be able to draw on this in its bid to operate the new contract. It is important that all government opportunities are subject to fair and open competition to ensure value for money.The specification for the new contract continues to require delivery of independently accredited training, with a defined programme of learning that prepares prisoners for work after release. Prisoners will be able to acquire accredited and non-accredited qualifications that are relevant to the current needs of the labour market.

What steps her Department plans to take to help protect (a) female and (b) child asylum seekers against (i) sexual violence and (ii) other abuse in hotel accommodation.

Tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG) is a top priority for this Government and our manifesto included the mission to halve violence against women and girls in a decade.The Home Office will also go further than before to deliver a cross-government transformative approach to halve violence against women and girls, underpinned by a new VAWG strategy to be published this year.The Home Office works carefully to ensure that the needs and vulnerabilities of those residing in asylum accommodation are identified and considered, including those needs related to mental health and trauma and will use every tool available to target perpetrators and address the root causes of abuse and violence wherever it occurs, including in asylum accommodation.This government also state our commitment to a gender sensitive asylum system and that we carefully consider the vulnerabilities of all those in our care, which includes previous trauma.

What steps her Department is taking to provide (a) safe and (b) supportive accommodation for female asylum seekers.

Tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG) is a top priority for this Government and our manifesto included the mission to halve violence against women and girls in a decade.The Home Office will also go further than before to deliver a cross-government transformative approach to halve violence against women and girls, underpinned by a new VAWG strategy to be published this year.The Home Office works carefully to ensure that the needs and vulnerabilities of those residing in asylum accommodation are identified and considered, including those needs related to mental health and trauma and will use every tool available to target perpetrators and address the root causes of abuse and violence wherever it occurs, including in asylum accommodation.This government also state our commitment to a gender sensitive asylum system and that we carefully consider the vulnerabilities of all those in our care, which includes previous trauma.

With reference to the United States' Department of Energy's press release entitled Energy Department returns $13 billion in unobligated wasteful spending to American taxpayers, published on 24 September 2025, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of that announcement on international investment confidence in UK renewable energy developments.

Government remains confident in the UK’s ability to attract international investment in the clean energy mission. We will achieve this by driving investment certainty, delivering targeted catalytic public investment, and breaking down barriers to investment.Since July 2024, over £50 billion of private investment has been announced into the UK’s clean energy industries.

What steps her Department are taking to tackle (a) modern slavery and (b) human trafficking through (i) earlier identification and (ii) long term support for victims.

The Government is committed to tackling modern slavery and human trafficking in all its forms and to giving survivors the support they need to recover. The National Referral Mechanism (NRM) is the UK’s framework for identifying and supporting potential victims of modern slavery. In July 2025, the Home Office launched a public Call for Evidence on how the Government can improve the process of identifying victims of modern slavery, human trafficking and exploitation. This closed on 8 October 2025, and we are now analysing the responses received.The Home Office is in the process of procuring the new Support for Victims of Modern Slavery contract, which aims to deliver positive outcomes for adult survivors, supporting them to achieve long-term stability, live independently and reduce their risk of re-exploitationIn September, the Home Office also launched the tender for the new Independent Child Trafficking Guardianship contract, which will expand the service coverage from two-thirds of local authorities in England and Wales to provide support to all child victims referred into the NRM in England and Wales.

When she will publish the formal consultation on proposals to change the qualifying period for Indefinite Leave to Remain from 5 years to 10 years.

We will be consulting on the new settlement rules later this year.

Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to support universities affected by the withdrawal of Medical Research Council funding.

Following a review, the Medical Research Council (MRC) is changing how it supports research within its units and centres to maximise impact. New MRC Centres of Research Excellence (CoRE) investments will improve how MRC coalesces the best science, skills, and leadership and focus on the challenges that will transform biomedical and health research. All existing units can seek funding through the MRC CoRE model and/or transition into regular MRC grant funding. MRC continues to engage with unit staff and their host universities to best support them during this transition.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the ability of overseas producers to label their products as alcohol free at up to 0.5% ABV in the UK on UK-based brewers that are restricted to 0.05% ABV.

DBT is working closely with DHSC on the Government’s ‘Fit for the Future: 10 Year Health Plan’, which includes a commitment to consult consumers and industry on raising the upper alcohol limit for drinks labelled as alcohol-free to 0.5% alcohol by volume (ABV) from 0.05% ABV. This proposal would align UK brewers with international standards and support the growth of the sector, in addition to providing clarity to consumers and producers.

What steps he is taking to help reduce the number of patients having to be treated in (a) corridors, (b) converted office spaces, (c) gyms and (d) other spaces this winter.

We are doing everything we can as fast as we can to tackle and eliminate corridor care. The Government is determined to get the National Health Service back on its feet, so patients can be treated with dignity. Our Urgent and Emergency Care Plan, published in June 2025, set out the steps we are taking to ensure that patients will receive better, faster, and more appropriate emergency care this winter, backed by a total of nearly £450 million of funding. This includes a commitment to publish data on the prevalence of corridor care. We have been taking key steps to ensure that the health service is prepared for the colder months. This includes taking actions to try to reduce the demand pressure on accident and emergency departments, increase vaccination rates, and offer health checks to the most vulnerable, as well as stress-testing integrated care board and trust winter plans to confirm they are able to meet demand and support patient flow.

What steps her Department is taking to ensure that female asylum seekers who are victims of gender-based violence have access to (a) mental health support and (b) trauma-informed care.

This Government has set out our ambition to halve violence against women and girls within a decade, using every tool available to target perpetrators and address the root causes of violence.Recognising the mental health challenges faced by people seeking asylum the Home Office has a strategic team focussing on asylum seeker mental health working closely with accommodation providers, NGOs, health partners and lived experience groups to formulate a preventative approach.This approach consists of mental health and wellbeing grant funding that is disseminated across the UK through Strategic Migration Partnerships and the rollout of a trauma-informed practice programme.For further information on initiatives please see Asylum mental health: workstreams, tools and case studies (GOV.UK)

Whether his Department plans to respond to the consultation entitled Updating labelling guidance for no and low-alcohol alternatives, published on 28 September 2023.

In our 10-Year Health Plan, the Government committed to exploring whether to raise the upper alcohol limit for drinks labelled as alcohol-free to 0.5% alcohol by volume (ABV) from 0.05% ABV, as set out in the current labelling guidance for no and low (NoLo) alcohol drink alternatives. Our 10-Year Health Plan also included a commitment to strengthen and expand on existing voluntary guidelines for alcohol labelling by introducing a mandatory requirement for alcoholic drinks to display consistent nutritional information and health warning messages. My officials are progressing work to take forward these commitments and we will update stakeholders in due course. The timelines for delivery are yet to be determined. Alongside the plan, a large, multi-year National Institute for Health and Care Research study is underway to examine the public health impacts of NoLo products, and we look forward to the findings of the study being available in the coming year.

What steps she is taking to protect civil liberties.

The right to peaceful protest is fundamental to UK democracy but must be balanced with the need to maintain public safety. To achieve this, public order legislation has been developed that both safeguards freedoms of expression and assembly and upholds the UK’s obligations under the European Convention on Human RightsUltimately, operational decisions lie with the police, who are required to act lawfully and proportionately at all times.

What steps she plans to take to allow for the provision of parliamentary scrutiny of the revised draft Equality and Human Rights Commission code of practice.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has submitted the draft updated Code of Practice for Services, Public Functions and Associations to the Minister for Women and Equalities. The Government is considering the draft updated Code and, if the decision is taken to approve it, the Minister will lay it before Parliament. Parliament will then have 40 sitting days to consider the Code, as per the process set out in Section 14 of the Equality Act 2006.

If she will exempt full time students from paying Court of Protection Fees.

There are currently no fee exemptions in the courts and tribunals system based on student status. The Help with Fees scheme is available to ensure that court users who may be unable to afford a court fee are not denied access to justice. Full time students may be eligible for full or partial remission of fees in the Court of Protection if they have low savings and are in receipt of qualifying benefits, or are on a low income. Student loans are excluded from the calculation when determining eligibility for fee remission.

Whether she has considered the risks posed by (a) climate change and (b) nature destruction as factors for the Pensions Commission to take into account.

The Climate Change Governance and Reporting Regulations in the UK already require trustees of larger occupational pension schemes to identify, assess, and manage climate-related risks and opportunities, and to report on these actions in a manner aligned with the Task Force Climate Related Disclosures TCFD recommendations. Regulations do not currently cover nature risks, but in line with guidance from the Pensions Regulator pension schemes should be placing greater consideration on nature-related risks, including familiarisation with the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures framework. My department is legislating through the Pensions Scheme Bill for a larger, more consolidated pensions system, which will be better equipped to manage systemic risks such as those posed by climate change and biodiversity loss, and to invest in projects and businesses that contribute to climate solutions and environmental resilience. Separately, the Government is currently consulting on UK Sustainability Reporting Standards aligned with international sustainability standards, and Climate Transition Plans. Together these initiatives will support the UK’s net-zero goals and broader green agenda and are expected to influence the investment landscape in which pension schemes operate. The Government has asked the Pensions Commission to examine the pensions system as a whole and look at what is required to build a future-proof pensions system that is strong, fair and sustainable.