Written questions by Wilson.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with his Pakistani counterpart following the assassination of Dr Sheikh Mahmood in Sargodha, Punjab, in May; and what steps he is taking to help ensure the protection of the Ahmadiyya community in Pakistan.

Promoting the rights of religious minorities is a core part of the UK's diplomatic engagement in Pakistan. On 31 March 2025, I discussed the deteriorating situation for Ahmadi Muslims with Pakistan's Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry. On 5 June 2025, ahead of Eid al-Adha, I also raised the need to protect Ahmadis seeking to practise their faith with Pakistan's Human Rights Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar. Our High Commission in Islamabad has raised the tragic killing of Dr Sheikh Mahmood with Minister Tarar and Punjab's Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, and continues to regularly engage on these issues. We will continue to urge the government of Pakistan to fully investigate incidents of violence, prosecute those responsible and provide justice to victims and their families.

Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to phase out the use of animals for the production of antibodies.

I refer the hon. Member for East Antrim to the answer of 23rd of June 2025 to Question 59903.

Food and Rural Affairs, what plans his Department has to ensure that approved methods of killing piglets on farms are being adhered to through proactive inspections.

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has legal powers under Section 28 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 to inspect farm premises. These inspections help ensure that animals bred or kept for farming purposes are treated in accordance with welfare regulations. APHA conducts a set number of welfare inspections on farms each year. These visits are often unannounced and are intended to assess compliance with animal welfare legislation. In addition, APHA investigates complaints of the illegal slaughter or killing on farms. APHA provides advice on how to achieve compliance and where necessary, APHA supports the local authority in carrying enforcement actions, including prosecutions, to ensure compliance.

Food and Rural Affairs, in what way is the Animal and Plant Health Agency verifying that approved methods are used in (a) farms with large integrated businesses and (b) other sized farms.

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has legal powers under Section 28 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 to inspect farm premises. These inspections help ensure that animals bred or kept for farming purposes are treated in accordance with welfare regulations. APHA conducts a set number of welfare inspections on farms each year. These visits are often unannounced and are intended to assess compliance with animal welfare legislation. In addition, APHA investigates complaints of the illegal slaughter or killing on farms. APHA provides advice on how to achieve compliance and where necessary, APHA supports the local authority in carrying enforcement actions, including prosecutions, to ensure compliance.

What steps his Department is taking to include motorcycling in its planned Integrated National Transport Strategy.

Later this year, the department will publish the Integrated National Transport Strategy (INTS) and set the long-term vision for transport across England, placing people at the heart of how we plan, build, and operate transport. The Strategy will aim to address fragmentation and inefficiency across the transport system to ensure that people can easily, reliably, and safely carry out the journeys they want to make, however they choose to travel. We have conducted extensive engagement with stakeholders and members of the public, including motorcyclists and motorcycle user representative groups, through a Call for Ideas, Regional Roadshows, and targeted sessions with seldom heard groups. As the Strategy is still in development, I am unable to comment on specific policy questions, but all the insights gathered through our engagement activities have been analysed and are being considered as the Strategy continues to evolve.

Food and Rural Affairs, for what reason his Department is consulting on proposals to change Biodiversity Net Gain requirements for small sites and medium sites one year after Biodiversity Net Gain became mandatory; and what evidence he has used to inform this approach.

The Government has been working closely with stakeholders to gather feedback and evidence on how BNG is being implemented. Early information suggests BNG implementation is largely working as intended, but there is emerging evidence that some smaller developments and specific types of development are finding BNG more challenging than anticipated. The proposals in the consultation seek feedback on potential changes to make it quicker, cheaper and easier for developers to deliver BNG obligations, while broadly maintaining environmental outcomes.

Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of changes to Biodiversity Net Gain requirements for small and medium sites on nature.

The Government will publish an impact assessment alongside its response to the consultation ‘Improving biodiversity net gain for minor, medium and brownfield development’.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has considered the potential impact of the recent consultation on Biodiversity Net Gain on (a) investors and (b) developers.

We are mindful of the impacts of any changes to Biodiversity Net Gain on all those involved, especially developers and investors. Government remains fully committed to BNG and will work closely with stakeholders to provide policy clarity and certainty.

Media and Sport, what obligations adult gaming centre operators have to report (a) antisocial behaviour and (b) violence on their premises to the police.

DCMS and the Gambling Commission do not hold data on the number or nature of police call outs to adult gaming centres. All licensed gambling operators must uphold the licensing objectives set out in the Gambling Act, which include preventing gambling from being a source of, or associated with, crime or disorder. Licensing authorities are also able to set specific conditions on premises licences to mitigate risks posed by antisocial behaviour and crime, such as enhanced security requirements. Premises licence holders must also conduct a local area risk assessment for each of their premises, which includes risk mitigation related to crime and anti-social behaviour. Additionally, schemes such as Betwatch, a community-based crime prevention scheme, are designed to tackle localised anti-social and criminal behaviour in and around betting shops.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his counterpart in Turkey on the treatment of (a) Alevis, (b) Kurds and (c) Christian minorities in that country.

The Government maintains a regular dialogue with Turkey, a key North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) ally and strategic partner. The UK supports the rights of all minority groups in Turkey, including Alevis, Jews, Christians, Kurds and others. The right to freedom of religion or belief is clearly enshrined in the Turkish constitution and both Ministers and officials have raised the treatment of minority groups with their Turkish counterparts.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Indian counterpart on (a) violence against and (b) the effect of anti-conversion laws on Christians in India.

The UK Government is committed to promoting and protecting the right to freedom of religion or belief globally. We continue to monitor developments affecting religious communities in India, including Christians, and consider these issues as part of our broader human rights work. We support efforts to uphold inclusive societies and the rule of law, and we regularly engage with international partners and stakeholders on matters relating to human rights.The British High Commission in New Delhi and Deputy High Commissions across India regularly meet with religious representatives from different faith communities and monitor the situation closely.

Media and Sport, what information her Department holds on the (a) number and (b) nature of police call outs to adult gaming centres.

DCMS and the Gambling Commission do not hold data on the number or nature of police call outs to adult gaming centres. All licensed gambling operators must uphold the licensing objectives set out in the Gambling Act, which include preventing gambling from being a source of, or associated with, crime or disorder. Licensing authorities are also able to set specific conditions on premises licences to mitigate risks posed by antisocial behaviour and crime, such as enhanced security requirements. Premises licence holders must also conduct a local area risk assessment for each of their premises, which includes risk mitigation related to crime and anti-social behaviour. Additionally, schemes such as Betwatch, a community-based crime prevention scheme, are designed to tackle localised anti-social and criminal behaviour in and around betting shops.

What steps her Department is taking to help support schools to (a) identify and (b) manage risks related to children and young people accessing gambling content through (i) websites, (ii) apps and (iii) social media.

Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.The department is committed to helping schools in England protect pupils from online harms, including gambling content accessed via websites, apps, and social media.The ‘keeping children safe in education’ guidance makes clear that schools and colleges should ensure appropriate filtering and monitoring systems are in place and their effectiveness is regularly reviewed. This limits children's exposure to harmful content, including gambling, while on school-managed computers.To help schools meet their safeguarding obligations, the department has published filtering and monitoring standards. These standards set out how schools can effectively assign roles and responsibilities, review filtering and monitoring annually, block harmful illegal and inappropriate content, and implement monitoring strategies.Online safety is also embedded in the curriculum through relationships, sex and health education, where pupils are taught about the risks of harmful online behaviours, including gambling.The department continues to share best practice with counterparts across the UK.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has submitted any recent human rights reports to the UN on China's regulation of (a) religious education and (b) clergy training.

Chinese regulations on religious activity severely restrict religious and cultural expression in China. This Government stands firm on human rights, including the right to freedom of religion or belief.We continue to uphold the right to freedom of religion or belief through our position at the UN, G7 and other multilateral fora. We have raised these concerns recently with the Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights. We also joined an Australia-led joint statement at the UN General Assembly in October 2024 on freedoms in the Xinjiang and Tibetan regions, calling out the erosion of educational and religious rights and freedoms in China.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his counterpart in Armenia on tackling the transit of goods from (a) western countries to Russia and (b) Russia to western countries through Armenia in order to circumvent sanctions.

I raised the issue of Russian sanctions evasion with the Armenian Foreign Minister on 11 April, in the margins of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, as I have with other international partners. The UK Government has issued tailored guidance to UK exporters working with businesses in several countries, including Armenia, to raise awareness of the risks associated with sanctions circumvention and to support compliance with UK sanctions law. The UK Government has also recently published guidance for non-UK businesses operating in countries where there is a heightened risk of circumvention of UK sanctions. This guidance has been translated into local languages including Armenian.As I have reiterated in my conversations with international partners, including Armenia, maintaining vigilance against Russian sanctions evasion is critical. Any circumvention undermines the effectiveness of international pressure on Russia and risks prolonging the war in Ukraine. I am pleased to see an ongoing decrease in Common High Priority (CHP) items exported from Armenia to Russia over the course of the past year.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic conditions his Department has attached to engaging with the transitional authorities in Sudan on freedom of religion or belief.

We will continue to recognise the persecution of individuals on the basis of their religion or belief. On 8 July, the Minister for Africa co-hosted the launch of the UK Approach to Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) with David Smith MP, UK Special Envoy for FoRB, with the overarching goal to reduce the number of countries in which the right to FoRB is significantly curtailed. The Minister for Africa expressed concern about the situation for religious and ethnic minorities impacted by Sudan's war. David Smith MP also made a statement at the UN Human Rights Council on 4 March, highlighting our unease about the coercion of non-Muslims in Sudan to change their beliefs through denial of work, food aid, and education. The UK's Special Representative for Sudan has visited Port Sudan three times since December 2024 to press the Sudanese Armed Forces to comply with the Jeddah Declaration of Commitments to Protect Civilians from continued atrocities. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office officials have raised similar issues in communication with representatives from the Rapid Support Forces on different occasions since the start of the conflict. We have used these exchanges to request that their leadership make every effort to protect civilians and cease atrocities.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of family hubs on (a) neighbourhood health and (b) the delivery of integrated community-based health services.

The 10-Year Health Plan outlined proposals for a new Neighbourhood Health Service, which embodies our preventative principle, that care should happen as locally as it can. Neighbourhood health services will build on, and will coordinate with Best Start Family Hubs and Start for Life services to continue to integrate children’s services, National Health Services, and public health.The Neighbourhood Health Service will mean that millions of patients are treated and cared for closer to their home by new teams of health professionals, providing easier, more convenient access to a full range of healthcare services on people’s doorsteps.The impact of Family Hubs and Start for Life services will take time to be realised. The current Family Hubs and Start for Life programme is subject to two national, independent evaluations to understand its implementation and impact.

With reference to the report by Barnardo's entitled Building Families, Building Futures, published on 24 June 2025, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing family hubs to support families.

On 11 June 2025, my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, set out plans for spending and public sector reforms through the Spending Review 2025. This announcement confirmed departmental budgets for 2026/27 onwards and committed that the government will continue to invest in and expand the Family Hubs programme, working with parents to help give children the best start in life.On 7 July 2025, the government published the policy paper ‘Giving every child the best start in life’, which is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/giving-every-child-the-best-start-in-life.This outlines the government’s commitment to delivering a new Best Start Family Service to bring together parenting, healthcare and education support services, as well as creating and funding Best Start Family Hubs in every local authority to give children the best start in life by strengthening and joining up family services.

What discussions she has had with the Child Poverty Taskforce on family hubs, in the context of the development of the Child Poverty Strategy.

I refer the hon. member for East Antrim to the answer of 3 July 2025 to Question 63139. The information given in the linked response relates to England only.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to oblige local authorities to provide family hubs.

On 11 June 2025, my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, set out plans for spending and public sector reforms through the Spending Review 2025. This announcement confirmed departmental budgets for 2026/27 onwards and committed that the government will continue to invest in and expand the Family Hubs programme, working with parents to help give children the best start in life.On 7 July 2025, the government published the policy paper ‘Giving every child the best start in life’, which is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/giving-every-child-the-best-start-in-life.This outlines the government’s commitment to delivering a new Best Start Family Service to bring together parenting, healthcare and education support services, as well as creating and funding Best Start Family Hubs in every local authority to give children the best start in life by strengthening and joining up family services.