Written questions by Lowe.

How many NHS staff there are whose responsibilities include addressing genetic disorders associated with consanguinity.

The National Health Service in England supports patients with a variety of conditions related to genetics. NHS England is piloting and evaluating new models of care to improve the equity of access to genetic services for the small proportion of couples at increased genetic risk due to close relative marriage. NHS England is funding additional capacity in several professions, including midwifery, genomics associates, and neonatal nurses, in nine pilot sites through the Genetic Risk Equity Project. 3.8 whole time equivalent (WTE) midwives and one WTE neonatal nurse were in post in 2024/25 to deliver the Genetic Risk Equity Project.

What criteria her Department uses to define constructive dialogue with NGOs in relation to the National Asylum Stakeholder Forum.

When engaging with the National Asylum Stakeholder Forum (NASF) and Strategic Engagement Group (SEG), minutes are taken at these meetings. There are no criteria defining ‘constructive dialogue’ with NGOs.A list of non-governmental organisations who attended NASF and SEG since January 2023 is provided below:Micro RainbowThe No Accommodation Network (NACCOM)British Red CrossRefugee ActionAsylum MattersScottish Refugee CouncilRefugee CouncilAsylum Support Appeals Project (ASAP)Freedom from TortureRainbow MigrationHelen Bamber FoundationMigrant HelpImmigration Law Practitioners Network (ILPA)United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)No formal risk assessment has been undertaken. The disclosure of meeting records is handled in the usual way taking into account the wider Home Office risk assessment framework, disclosure and data protection provisions, and, where applicable, Freedom of Information guidance.The Home Office publishes Freedom of Information (FOI) performance data, including the number of times exemptions under sections 36 and 38 of the FOI Act have been applied. This information is available at:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/government-foi-statisticsEstablishing whether these exemptions were applied for reasons relating to asylum policy or stakeholder engagement could only be obtained for the purposes of this question at disproportionate cost.

What information her Department holds on the employment rate of refugees in each of the last ten years.

The Home Office recently published “Refugee Integration Outcomes (RIO) Insights: Embarks, Economic Activity, and Housing between 2015 and 2021” on GOV.UK. This article presents analysis—including employment rate—from linked Census 2021 and administrative data for asylum and resettled refugees in England and Wales who were granted refugee status between 2015 and 2021.

Whether her Department provides guidance to public bodies on ensuring that positive action does not result in unlawful discrimination against white applicants.

Section 158 of the Equality Act 2010 permits the use of positive action measures to alleviate disadvantages experienced by people who share a protected characteristic, reduce their under-representation in relation to particular activities, and meet their particular needs. It allows measures to be targeted to particular groups, including internships and training, to enable them to gain employment. Section 159 permits an employer to take a protected characteristic into consideration when deciding whom to recruit or promote, where people who hold the protected characteristic are at a disadvantage or are under-represented. This can only be done where the candidates are as qualified as each other. The question of whether one person is as qualified as another is not a matter only of academic qualification, but a judgement based on the criteria the employer uses to establish who is best for the job. This could include matters such as suitability, competence and professional performance. Section 159 does not allow employers to have a policy or practice of automatically treating people who share a protected characteristic more favourably than those who do not have it in these circumstances; each case must be considered on its merits. Any action taken in light of either Section 158 or 159 must be a proportionate means of addressing such disadvantage or under-representation. The Equality Act 2010 provides protections for people from discrimination in the workplace and in society which make it unlawful to treat someone unfairly or discriminate against anyone based on certain personal characteristics. This includes race and ethnicity. Guidance to help employers understand the difference between positive action and positive discrimination is available on gov.uk at www.gov.uk/government/publications/positive-action-in-the-workplace-guidance-for-employers.

Whether her Department keeps formal (a) minutes and (b) other records of meetings of the National Asylum Stakeholder Forum and Strategic Engagement Group.

When engaging with the National Asylum Stakeholder Forum (NASF) and Strategic Engagement Group (SEG), minutes are taken at these meetings. There are no criteria defining ‘constructive dialogue’ with NGOs.A list of non-governmental organisations who attended NASF and SEG since January 2023 is provided below:Micro RainbowThe No Accommodation Network (NACCOM)British Red CrossRefugee ActionAsylum MattersScottish Refugee CouncilRefugee CouncilAsylum Support Appeals Project (ASAP)Freedom from TortureRainbow MigrationHelen Bamber FoundationMigrant HelpImmigration Law Practitioners Network (ILPA)United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)No formal risk assessment has been undertaken. The disclosure of meeting records is handled in the usual way taking into account the wider Home Office risk assessment framework, disclosure and data protection provisions, and, where applicable, Freedom of Information guidance.The Home Office publishes Freedom of Information (FOI) performance data, including the number of times exemptions under sections 36 and 38 of the FOI Act have been applied. This information is available at:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/government-foi-statisticsEstablishing whether these exemptions were applied for reasons relating to asylum policy or stakeholder engagement could only be obtained for the purposes of this question at disproportionate cost.

If she will publish a list of non-governmental organisations who attended meetings of the National Asylum Stakeholder Forum and Strategic Employment Group since January 2023.

When engaging with the National Asylum Stakeholder Forum (NASF) and Strategic Engagement Group (SEG), minutes are taken at these meetings. There are no criteria defining ‘constructive dialogue’ with NGOs.A list of non-governmental organisations who attended NASF and SEG since January 2023 is provided below:Micro RainbowThe No Accommodation Network (NACCOM)British Red CrossRefugee ActionAsylum MattersScottish Refugee CouncilRefugee CouncilAsylum Support Appeals Project (ASAP)Freedom from TortureRainbow MigrationHelen Bamber FoundationMigrant HelpImmigration Law Practitioners Network (ILPA)United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)No formal risk assessment has been undertaken. The disclosure of meeting records is handled in the usual way taking into account the wider Home Office risk assessment framework, disclosure and data protection provisions, and, where applicable, Freedom of Information guidance.The Home Office publishes Freedom of Information (FOI) performance data, including the number of times exemptions under sections 36 and 38 of the FOI Act have been applied. This information is available at:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/government-foi-statisticsEstablishing whether these exemptions were applied for reasons relating to asylum policy or stakeholder engagement could only be obtained for the purposes of this question at disproportionate cost.

What recent estimate she has made of the number of farms that could be affected by proposed changes to inheritance tax.

The Government believes its reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief from 6 April 2026 get the balance right between supporting farms and businesses, fixing the public finances, and funding public services. The reforms reduce the inheritance tax advantages available to owners of agricultural and business assets, but still mean those assets will be taxed at a much lower effective rate than most other assets. Despite a tough fiscal context, the Government will maintain very significant levels of relief from inheritance tax beyond what is available to others and compared to the position before 1992. Where inheritance tax is due, those liable for a charge can pay any liability on the relevant assets over 10 annual instalments, interest-free. The Government has set out that the reforms are expected to result in up to 520 estates across the UK claiming agricultural property relief, including those also claiming business property relief, paying more inheritance tax in 2026-27. Almost three-quarters of estates claiming agricultural property relief, including those that also claim for business property relief, will not pay any more tax as a result of the changes in 2026-27, based on the latest available data. The Government published a tax information and impact note on 21 July 2025 and this is available at www.gov.uk/government/publications/reforms-to-agricultural-property-relief-and-business-property-relief/agricultural-property-relief-and-business-property-relief-reforms. The Government will invest more than £2.7 billion a year in sustainable farming and nature recovery from 2026-27 until 2028-29. This includes the largest financial investment into nature-friendly farming ever.

How many refugees there are by nationality.

The information you have requested is published in the Immigration system statistics quarterly release - GOV.UK. Data on asylum seekers who have been granted refugee permission at initial decision is published in table Asy_D02 of the asylum detailed datasets. Data on resettled refugees is published in table Res_D02 of the resettlement detailed datasets. The latest data is available up to the end of June 2025 and includes breakdowns by nationality. Information on how to use the datasets can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbook.

Whether her Department has undertaken any formal risk assessments which have concluded that the disclosure of meeting records with NGOs on asylum accommodation policy would endanger the safety of (a) NGO staff and (b) Government officials.

When engaging with the National Asylum Stakeholder Forum (NASF) and Strategic Engagement Group (SEG), minutes are taken at these meetings. There are no criteria defining ‘constructive dialogue’ with NGOs.A list of non-governmental organisations who attended NASF and SEG since January 2023 is provided below:Micro RainbowThe No Accommodation Network (NACCOM)British Red CrossRefugee ActionAsylum MattersScottish Refugee CouncilRefugee CouncilAsylum Support Appeals Project (ASAP)Freedom from TortureRainbow MigrationHelen Bamber FoundationMigrant HelpImmigration Law Practitioners Network (ILPA)United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)No formal risk assessment has been undertaken. The disclosure of meeting records is handled in the usual way taking into account the wider Home Office risk assessment framework, disclosure and data protection provisions, and, where applicable, Freedom of Information guidance.The Home Office publishes Freedom of Information (FOI) performance data, including the number of times exemptions under sections 36 and 38 of the FOI Act have been applied. This information is available at:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/government-foi-statisticsEstablishing whether these exemptions were applied for reasons relating to asylum policy or stakeholder engagement could only be obtained for the purposes of this question at disproportionate cost.

What information her Department holds on the initial grant rate of asylum applications by the (a) ethnicity (b) nationality of the decision makers.

The Home Office collates and publishes diversity data on staff, this can be accessed via Home Office workforce diversity statistics - GOV.UK.However, the relevant data could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.

How many freedom of information requests have been refused by her Department under section (a) 36 (b) 38 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 on grounds relating to (i) asylum policy and (ii) stakeholder engagement since January 2023.

When engaging with the National Asylum Stakeholder Forum (NASF) and Strategic Engagement Group (SEG), minutes are taken at these meetings. There are no criteria defining ‘constructive dialogue’ with NGOs.A list of non-governmental organisations who attended NASF and SEG since January 2023 is provided below:Micro RainbowThe No Accommodation Network (NACCOM)British Red CrossRefugee ActionAsylum MattersScottish Refugee CouncilRefugee CouncilAsylum Support Appeals Project (ASAP)Freedom from TortureRainbow MigrationHelen Bamber FoundationMigrant HelpImmigration Law Practitioners Network (ILPA)United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)No formal risk assessment has been undertaken. The disclosure of meeting records is handled in the usual way taking into account the wider Home Office risk assessment framework, disclosure and data protection provisions, and, where applicable, Freedom of Information guidance.The Home Office publishes Freedom of Information (FOI) performance data, including the number of times exemptions under sections 36 and 38 of the FOI Act have been applied. This information is available at:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/government-foi-statisticsEstablishing whether these exemptions were applied for reasons relating to asylum policy or stakeholder engagement could only be obtained for the purposes of this question at disproportionate cost.

If she will commission a review into the equality of protections for white British victims of hate crimes.

The Government is determined to tackle all forms of hate crime wherever in the country it occurs, and whoever is responsible for committing it.Race is already a protected characteristic in hate crime legislation in England and Wales - for example, the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 creates specific racially-aggravated offences, and defines a “racial group” as “a group of persons defined by reference to race, colour, nationality (including citizenship) or ethnic or national origins”, which covers white British individuals.Accordingly, if someone commits a crime against a white British person and the perpetrator is motivated by - or demonstrates - racial hostility, the crime can be prosecuted as a hate crime. As such, the Government does not consider it necessary to commission a review into the equality of protections for white British victims of hate crimes.

Whether the Government collects data on complaints of racial discrimination made by white British employees in the public sector.

We are committed to upholding Britain’s long-standing record of protecting the rights of individuals against unlawful discrimination, and ensuring the Equality Act 2010 protects everyone. The government does not hold this data centrally. The Courts and Tribunal Service collects data on claims made to Employment Tribunals relating to discrimination in the workplace, including racial discrimination. However, it is not possible to disaggregate this by the specific ethnic group of complainants in the public sector.

Whether her Department has provided funding to universities for schemes that exclude white applicants.

The department has not directly awarded funding to any such schemes within higher education.

Whether her Department has had discussions with the (a) Confederation of British Industry and (b) other trade associations on anti-white discrimination in workplace diversity schemes.

The Equality Act 2010 provides protections in the workplace and in society which generally make it unlawful to discriminate against someone because of, or in relation to, their protected characteristics. For example, if an employer were to discriminate against someone because of their ethnicity, this would be unlawful discrimination on the basis of the protected characteristic of race. The Equality Act 2010 does allow employers to take proportionate action that aims to reduce disadvantage, meet different needs and increase participation for groups of people who share a protected characteristic, where that is in order to level the playing field. If an action treating a particular group more favourably does not meet the statutory requirements in the Equality Act 2010, then it is likely to be unlawful direct discrimination. Guidance to help employers understand the difference between positive action and positive discrimination is available on gov.uk at www.gov.uk/government/publications/positive-action-in-the-workplace-guidance-for-employers. The Government engages closely with the CBI and a range of other trade bodies on numerous policy areas.

Food and Rural Affairs, how many and what proportion of animals were slaughtered without being stunned for the production of Halal meat in the UK in each year since 2005.

UK data regarding the number or proportion of animals slaughtered using the halal method without prior stunning is not collected. The Food Standards Agency carries out a periodic slaughter sector survey in England and Wales, which started in 2011. The latest 2024 survey is available: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/farm-animals-slaughter-sector-survey-2024.

Communities and Local Government, if he will take steps to ensure that the local elections in Norfolk take place on 7 May 2026.

The starting point is for all elections to go ahead, unless there is strong justification. We intend for the mayoral election for the new strategic authority to take place in May 2026, alongside the scheduled elections to Norwich City Council and the County Council elections postponed from May 2025.

Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions (a) his Department and (b) the Food Standards Agency have had since January 2023 with (a) the Carbon Trust and (b) major food retailers on the introduction of carbon ratings on (i) food labels, (ii) menus and (iii) product packaging; and what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact on consumers of introducing such a rating system.

Eco-labels on food are used by some businesses on a voluntary basis to help consumers make more sustainable choices. Eco-labels based on robust environmental impact data could support informed consumer choices and business competition based on sustainability. Through the Food Data Transparency Partnership, Defra and the Food Standards Agency have conducted engagement on eco-labelling across the food and drink sector in a range of settings including packaging and menus.

Communities and Local Government, whether his Department records the (a) nationality and (b) immigration status of tenants who purchase their homes under the Right to Buy scheme; and how many Right to Buy sales have been made by non-British nationals in each of the last five years.

My Department does not record the nationality or immigration status of tenants who have purchased their homes under the Right to Buy scheme, nor how many Right to Buy sales have been made to non-British nationals. Eligibility for social housing is already tightly controlled. If a person’s visa means that they cannot access state benefits or local authority housing assistance, they are not eligible for an allocation of social housing. Migrants arriving in the UK on student or work visas are not eligible and nor are those who arrive in the country illegally with no leave to remain. On 2 July, the government announced further reforms to the Right to Buy, including increasing the length of time someone needs to have been a public sector tenant to qualify for Right to Buy from 3 to 10 years. Further detail can be found in the Written Ministerial Statement made on that day (HCWS771).

How much was overpaid to Universal Credit recipients in each of the last ten financial years.

This information was published earlier this year and can be found via the following link:Fraud and error in the benefit system: financial year 2024 to 2025 estimates - GOV.UK.