Written questions by Maskell.

What comparative assessment she has made of the adequacy of the amount of funding available for (a) diplomacy in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and (b) defence in the Ministry of Defence.

Both the MOD and FCDO have recently had future budgets confirmed through Spending Review 25, where Government priorities are considered in the round. Whilst the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has seen ODA reductions, they have been funded to pursue a variety of programming ambitions, reforms, and operating costs. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) budget is growing by £10.9bn in real terms from 2023-24 to 2028-29 and provides the resources and capital necessary for MOD to start delivering on the vision for defence set out in the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) which was published on 2 June 2025.

What fiscal criteria she is using to determine when overseas development funding can be restored to previous levels.

To enable the government to invest more on security and defence, while remaining committed to our fiscal rules, the Prime Minister has taken the difficult decision to reduce Official Development Assistance (ODA) to the equivalent of 0.3% of GNI by 2027. The Spending Review (SR) 2025 ODA settlement delivers on this. The government remains committed to returning spending on ODA to 0.7% of GNI when the fiscal circumstances allow. The OBR’s latest forecast shows that the ODA fiscal tests are not due to be met within the Parliament. 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.

Whether groomed children have been placed on the sex offenders register.

Baroness Casey's Audit signalled concerns that victims of child sexual exploitation have been unjustly criminalised and treated as perpetrators for actions taken whilst under the coercion of groomers. As an immediate first step, we will legislate in the Crime and Policing Bill to introduce a disregard scheme for individuals who as children were convicted or cautioned for the offence of loitering or soliciting for the purposes of prostitution. We will work with relevant bodies across the criminal justice system to ensure any such cases are identified, reviewed and that victims are properly supported.The notification requirements for sex offenders (often referred to as "the sex offenders' register") are an automatic consequence of a conviction or caution for an offence in Schedule 3 to the Sexual Offences Act 2003. Offenders subject to the notification requirements must notify their personal details (e.g., their name(s), address(es) and national insurance number) to the police annually or whenever their details change. The notification requirements apply to adult and juvenile offenders, although their duration is halved for juveniles.The offence of loitering or soliciting for the purposes of prostitution has never been in Schedule 3 to the 2003 Act, so convictions or cautions for that offence have not triggered the notification requirements for sex offenders.

What discussions he has had with NHS Trusts on ensuring that community rehabilitation is offered as a viable alternative to (a) medicine and (b) surgery.

NHS England has published guidance setting out five core perioperative requirements relating to the care of adult patients awaiting planned inpatient surgery. As part of the core requirements, patients must be involved in shared decision-making conversations to discuss the benefits, risks, alternatives, and likely outcomes of the surgery. This could involve discussing whether community rehabilitation is offered as a viable alternative to surgery. This allows patients to confirm their decision to proceed with the surgery, seek further specialist advice if required, or make the informed choice to pursue alternative options.Local providers are best placed to decide how to embed and maintain perioperative care approaches into their organisations, to reflect local needs and circumstances. The national elective recovery and outpatients programme is working with NHS England’s regional teams to help oversee and support compliance, and will continue to do so throughout 2024/25.

If she will ensure that people in receipt of Carers Allowance will to continue to receive that allowance if the person being cared for is no longer in receipt of social security support.

Unpaid carers play a vital role in supporting people with long-term health conditions and disabilities, and this Government recognises and appreciates the vital contribution made by all unpaid carers. Carer’s Allowance recognises this contribution and reflects the reduced earnings potential of people providing unpaid care to a friend, neighbour or relative who is in receipt of an additional-needs disability benefit such as Attendance Allowance or Personal Independence Payment (PIP). As the Government introduces changes to PIP eligibility, it is mindful of the potential impact on unpaid carers. Under the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill we have committed to introduce a new requirement that claimants must score a minimum of four points in at least one daily living activity to be eligible for the daily living component of PIP. This will target payments at people who have a higher level of functional need in at least one area. Our intention is that the changes will apply to new claims and award reviews from November 2026, subject to parliamentary approval. It also commits to providing a 13-week run-on for existing PIP claimants who – at their next award review – are no longer eligible for that benefit as a result of these changes. This is to allow for a longer period of adjustment. During this period, Carer’s Allowance will also continue to be payable where a friend, neighbour or relative is providing 35 hours or more of care to the PIP recipient. The Government will continue to listen to views on wider support for people with long-term health conditions and disabilities, including support provided to them by unpaid carers.

What steps she plans to take to help ensure that children who experience child sexual abuse feel more confident (a) to report that abuse and (b) that all reports will be listened to and taken seriously.

Through the Crime and Policing Bill, the Government is legislating to introduce a mandatory duty to report child sexual abuse for those undertaking regulated activity with children in England.It will ensure that the words of children who are seeking help are heard, and it will provide much-needed clarity for those working with young people on how to respond appropriately when faced with these concerns. It will also apply the strongest possible measures to anyone who seeks to cover up abuse of this kind.The introduction of this measure will be an important moment for young people who do not speak out because of fears they would not be listened to – a mandatory duty to report means they can speak to trusted adults with confidence on the next steps that will be taken.Since 2016, the Home Office has also funded the independent Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse (‘CSA Centre’) to improve understanding of the scale and nature of child sexual abuse, and strengthen the ability of professionals to identify and respond effectively to it through the provision of evidence-based training and practice resources. The CSA Centre supports professionals across policing, justice, children’s services, education, health and the third-sector.Its resources include a ‘Signs and Indicators’ template, which supports professionals in recording and communicating their concerns about possible child sexual abuse and a ‘Communicating with Children’ guide, which provides guidance on how to talk to children about child sexual abuse, and what professionals can do to help children communicate what is happening.

What steps she is taking to support children of disabled people who have had PIP removed.

PIP provides a contribution to the extra costs an individual faces as a result of needs arising from a long-term health condition or disability. It is not an income replacement benefit.We have committed to introduce a new requirement that claimants must score a minimum of four points in at least one daily living activity to be eligible for the daily living component of PIP. This will target PIP at people who have a higher level of functional need in at least one area. Our intention is that the changes will apply to new claims and award reviews from November 2026, subject to parliamentary approval.We are mindful of the impact this change to PIP eligibility could have on people. That is why we have committed that existing claimants who lose eligibility as a result of these changes will continue to receive PIP and its associated benefits and entitlements for 13 weeks following their award review. This protection is non-negotiable and will be included on the face of the Bill. This transitional cover is one of the most generous ever and more than three times the length of protection provided for the transition from DLA to PIP.Delivering our manifesto commitment to tackle child poverty is a priority for this Government, and we will bring forward the Child Poverty Strategy in the Autumn, exploring all available levers to drive forward short and long-term actions across government to reduce child poverty.Further steps are being taken to support households facing the greatest hardship and financial crisis. We provided £1 billion, including Barnett impact, to extend the Household Support Fund in England and Discretionary Housing Payments in England and Wales in 2025-2026. And we have now announced reform to crisis support, including the first multi-year settlement for a new Crisis and Resilience Fund in England.We are increasing the Living Wage, uprating benefits and supporting 700,000 of the poorest families by introducing a Fair Repayment Rate on Universal Credit deductions to help low-income households. We also recognise that the basic rate of Universal Credit is too low. That is why for the first time since 1980 we are increasing the core unemployment benefit by more than inflation on a sustained and permanent basis, subject to parliamentary approval, as part of our welfare reform.

With reference to the Government's response to Recommendation 3 of the report entitled National Audit on Group-based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, published on 16 June 2025, what her planned timetable is for introducing a disregard for convictions of people who were (a) groomed and (b) convicted of prostitution as children.

The Government has announced its intention to implement a disregard scheme for convictions and cautions issued to under 18s for the offence of persistently loitering or soliciting in a street or public place for the purpose of prostitution (Section 1 of Street Offences Act, 1959).Any individual who has received convictions or cautions while under 18 for this offence will be able to apply to the scheme, regardless of whether they have been a victim of ‘grooming’ or ‘group-based child sexual exploitation’.This reflects the Government’s belief that any procurement of sex from an individual aged under 18 is sexual exploitation of children.The Government is collaborating now with relevant authorities to determine the implementation timeframe for this scheme and will announce this in due course.

What support will be available to disabled people that are unable to secure employment after the implementation of planned changes to Pathways to Work.

We are delivering the biggest investment in support for disabled people and those with health conditions in at least a generation – a total of £1.9bn over 4 years. Our Pathways to Work Guarantee will provide work, health and skills support for disabled people and those with health conditions claiming out of work benefits. Our new support offer will begin to roll out next year backed by £200 million - to ensure that those affected by the benefit changes in England, Scotland and Wales will be offered support by one of 1,000 dedicated Pathways to Work advisors. This will include access to a conversation about needs, goals and aspirations; an offer of one-to-one follow-on support; and help to access additional work, health and skills support through dedicated programmes. These programmes include Connect to Work, which will support around 100,000 people with disabilities, health conditions or other complex barriers to employment in 2026/27, Trailblazers and WorkWell, which join up health and employment support at a local level. This will be a guarantee of support to address work, health and skills needs, available to claimants as long as they need it. The social security system will always be there for those who cannot work. We are committed to ensuring that the most vulnerable and severely disabled people are protected, so they can live with dignity and security, while supporting those who can work to do so. That is why we are legislating for people with the most severe, lifelong conditions to be protected from future reassessment for Universal Credit entitlement and paid the higher rate of the Universal Credit health top-up.

If she will take steps to ensure that all taxi drivers undertake safeguarding training.

The Department for Transport’s statutory guidance, published in 2020, to licensing authorities on how they should use their powers to protect children and vulnerable adults recommends that they should require taxi and private hire vehicle drivers to undertake safeguarding training. Licensing authorities must have regard to the statutory guidance, and we expect the recommendations to be implemented unless there is a compelling local reason not to. As of 1 April 2024, 96% of licensing authorities in England required the taxi and private hire vehicle drivers they license to undergo awareness training on child sexual abuse and child sexual exploitation. We are currently reviewing licensing authorities’ compliance with existing DfT guidance and will hold those who do not follow it to account. In response to the recommendation made in Baroness Casey’s National Audit on Group-Based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Report in respect of taxis and private hire vehicles, my department has committed to legislate to address the important issues raised in the report, tackling the inconsistent standards of taxi and private hire vehicle driver licensing. We are working quickly to consider all options, including national standards, seeking the best overall outcomes for passenger safety. It is highly likely that any national standards would be subject to consultation, with the existing statutory guidance recommendations, including safeguarding training for drivers, providing the starting point for any future national standards.

Whether she plans to take steps to ensure that work-trial schemes allow people to return to previous levels of social security if they are not successful.

The DWP Work Trial scheme is one of several DWP initiatives that support jobseekers into sustainable work. Allowing some jobseekers who have successfully applied for a job, to do that job for a short unpaid period, whilst retaining benefits. Specifically, a Work Trial can help jobseekers overcome any doubts about whether they can manage their new job alongside other commitments such as caring responsibilities or managing their disability or health condition. On top of this, DWP will offer to support the jobseeker with certain expenses incurred for the duration of the Work Trial. Work Trials allow both the jobseeker and employer to ensure the job fits both parties before becoming an employee. If the Work Trial does not result in ongoing employment the jobseeker will retain their benefit, and their entitlement does not change unless their circumstances do. More information on Work Trials can be found at https://www.gov.uk/jobcentre-plus-help-for-rcruiters/work-trials.

What steps she is taking to support disabled people who (a) are too ill to work and (b) score less than 3 points under Pathways to Work.

We have committed to introduce a new requirement that claimants must score a minimum of four points in at least one daily living activity to be eligible for the daily living component of PIP. This will target PIP at people who have a higher level of functional need in at least one area. Our intention is that the changes will apply to new claims and award reviews from November 2026, subject to parliamentary approval. We are mindful of the impact this change to PIP eligibility could have on people. That is why we have committed that existing claimants who lose eligibility as a result of these changes will continue to receive PIP and its associated benefits and entitlements for 13 weeks following their award review. This protection is non-negotiable and will be included on the face of the Bill. This transitional cover is one of the most generous ever and more than three times the length of protection provided for the transition from DLA to PIP. Meanwhile, in the Green Paper we are consulting on what else is needed to support those who lose entitlement due to the reforms, including how to make sure that health and eligible care needs are met.

With reference to page 141 of the report entitled National Audit on Group-Based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, published on 16 June 2025, what steps she plans to take to close the loophole that enables taxi drivers to apply for a license in one area and operate in another.

The Department for Transport will legislate to address the important issues raised in the report, tackling the inconsistent standards of taxi and private hire vehicle driver licensing. We will work as quickly as possible and consider all options – including out of area working, national standards and enforcement – seeking the best overall outcomes for passenger safety.In the interim we will act urgently to make improvements, including consulting on making local transport authorities, including combined authorities, responsible for taxi and private hire vehicle licensing, and determining how existing statutory guidance can be strengthened to further protect the public. We are also reviewing authorities’ compliance with existing guidance and will hold those who do not follow it to account.Some important protections have already been put in place since earlier inquiries into Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation. All licensing authorities in England now undertake extensive driver background checks, and since 2023 they are required to use a single database to prevent a driver refused a licence in one area on safety grounds going elsewhere. Careful consideration of the options is needed as we do not want any change to decrease the availability of highly vetted licensed drivers and vehicles and inadvertently increase the use of those offering illegal services that evade these licensing checks.

What recent assessment she has made of the safety of judges.

The Secretary of State for Justice regards judicial office holders' safety with great importance. This is a matter that the Ministry of Justice takes very seriously. There are a range of judicial security policies and procedures in place to protect judicial office holders inside of court, outside of court and online. HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) works jointly with both the Judicial Office and the Police to deliver these. Over £20m in additional funding in 2025/26 has been allocated to a programme of works to further strengthen the existing arrangements, and Ministry of Justice and HMCTS are working with the Security Taskforce, commissioned by the Lady Chief Justice and chaired by Deputy Senior Presiding Judge Mrs Justice Yip, to consider opportunities for further improvement.

If she will take steps to ensure that only taxis regulated in a specific (a) combined authority or (b) local authority area will be able to pick up customers from that area.

The Department for Transport will legislate to address the important issues raised in the report, tackling the inconsistent standards of taxi and private hire vehicle driver licensing. We will work as quickly as possible and consider all options – including out of area working, national standards and enforcement – seeking the best overall outcomes for passenger safety.In the interim we will act urgently to make improvements, including consulting on making local transport authorities, including combined authorities, responsible for taxi and private hire vehicle licensing, and determining how existing statutory guidance can be strengthened to further protect the public. We are also reviewing authorities’ compliance with existing guidance and will hold those who do not follow it to account.Some important protections have already been put in place since earlier inquiries into Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation. All licensing authorities in England now undertake extensive driver background checks, and since 2023 they are required to use a single database to prevent a driver refused a licence in one area on safety grounds going elsewhere. Careful consideration of the options is needed as we do not want any change to decrease the availability of highly vetted licensed drivers and vehicles and inadvertently increase the use of those offering illegal services that evade these licensing checks.

If he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies on neighbourhood health of the York Frailty Hub.

We are committed to moving towards a Neighbourhood Health Service, with more care delivered locally to create healthier communities, spot problems earlier, and support people to stay healthier and maintain their independence for longer. Moving care from hospitals into the community will be at the heart of the 10-Year Health Plan.Many places have already made progress in developing an integrated local approach to National Health Service and social care delivery, and there are excellent examples, such as the York Frailty Hub, of partnership working between the health and care system and its partners, including local government, other statutory services, the voluntary sector, and communities themselves.Moving to a Neighbourhood Health Service will build on this good practice and will reinforce a new way of working for the NHS, local government, social care, and their partners, where integrated working is the norm and not the exceptionIn advance of the publication of the plan, NHS England published Neighbourhood Health Guidelines to help integrated care boards, local authorities, and health and care providers to continue to progress neighbourhood health in 2025/26.

Pursuant to the Answer of 11 June to Question 56822 on Israel: Military Aid, whether it is his policy to take UK International Humanitarian Law assessments into account when offering Israeli defense forces personnel training courses in the UK.

Fewer than five IDF personnel are currently enrolled in non-combat military academic courses in the UK. The UK has a long history of providing assistance to other nations in the security and justice fields and continues to do so around the world. The Ministry of Defence’s provision of such assistance is assessed carefully on a case-by-case basis. UK training courses promote British values, including human rights, democracy and compliance with international humanitarian law.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to social security payments after a three month transition period on disabled people.

We are aware from working closely with health colleagues that there is increased anxiety relating to the Green Paper changes resulting in people seeking health related support.We want to reassure people that the changes to PIP will not come into effect immediately. The changes will apply from November 2026 at a person’s next award review. If an existing claimant loses eligibility to PIP, they will continue to receive their full entitlement for 13 weeks after their award review. This will provide time for individuals to respond to their new situation, including accessing employment support if appropriate. This transitional cover is more than three times the length of protection provided for the transition from DLA to PIP.Through the Pathways to Work Green Paper, the Department is consulting on what else is needed to support those who lose entitlement due to the reforms, including how to make sure that health and eligible care needs are met. The Department has secured the first ever multi year settlement for the household support fund – now the crisis and resilience fund, which gives councils certainty about the money they are getting to help people struggling. Guidance has been issued strongly encouraging Local Authorities in England to support disabled people using the Household Support Fund through the new Crisis and Resilience Fund which starts from April 2026However, we do recognise this will still be concerning for people - and that, as a department, we come into contact with some claimants who have complex needs or are vulnerable. The department already has processes in place to support and safeguard people who use our services, and we will continue to provide this support as changes are taken forward.If someone within a job centre is identified as being at risk of suicide, there is the 6-point plan that will be invoked. We already have robust safeguarding processes in place during the assessments where our trained health care professionals can make contact with the claimant’s GP or mental health team if they are concerned that there has been or is a risk of deterioration to the mental or physical health of an individual.We want to go further so that there is a clear and transparent process in place to ensure vulnerable individuals are adequately supported. In the Green Paper Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working published on 18 March we have committed to undertaking a thorough review of our current approach to safeguarding, with the aim of developing and implementing a new departmental-wide approach.

What steps she is planning to take to support disabled people following the potential loss of (a) Universal Credit and (b) PIP.

Our plans are designed to protect the most vulnerable and give disabled people equal chances and choices to work. We will always work to ensure that the most vulnerable and severely disabled people are protected and consider how best we can support people as we bring forward reforms – which is why we have put protections on the face of our Bill. We are very mindful of the impacts of PIP eligibility changes and that is why we are consulting on how best to support those who may lose entitlement. It is why we have committed that existing claimants who lose eligibility as a result of these changes will continue to receive PIP and its associated benefits and entitlements for 13 weeks following their award review. This transitional cover is one of the most generous ever and more than three times the length of protection provided for the transition from DLA to PIP. We are investing £200 million in 2026/27 to ensure everyone who loses PIP is guaranteed access to an adviser to help with work, health and skills support. As set out in the Green Paper and the Bill, we are taking further action to protect people with most severe, lifelong conditions. We will ensure this group are protected from future reassessment for Universal Credit entitlement and paid the higher rate of the Universal Credit health top-up so they can live with dignity and security. We are also working closely with DHSC as we develop the detail on these policies, to ensure eligible health and care needs are met. We will continue to consider the wider impacts of reforms including on local authorities. Further details on these changes will be set out in a White Paper in the Autumn.

What plans her Department has to provide support to people who are unable to secure employment after the transition period.

We are delivering the biggest investment in support for disabled people and those with health conditions in at least a generation. Our Pathways to Work Guarantee will provide work, health and skills support for disabled people and those with health conditions claiming out of work benefits.We are increasing funding each year up to £1billion a year by the end of the scorecard. This includes additional funding in 2026/27 to ensure that those affected by benefit changes in England, Scotland and Wales will be offered support with their work, health and skills needs. We anticipate this support will include: access to a conversation about needs, goals and aspirations from one of our 1,000 dedicated Pathways to Work advisors; an offer of one-to-one follow-on support; and help to access additional work, health and skills support through dedicated programmes.These programmes include Connect to Work, which is already rolling out and will support around 100,000 disabled people, people with health conditions or other complex barriers to employment in 2026/27, Trailblazers and WorkWell, which join up health and employment support at a local level.We are also consulting on what broader support might be needed for those affected by PIP changes, including improving their experiences of the health and social care system, and will consider these responses as we develop detailed proposals for change.