Written questions by Arthur.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he plans to maintain the level of UK funding for GAVI.

The UK remains committed to tackling global health challenges and will continue to work with all international partners towards the collective goal of a healthier, safer and more prosperous world. As part of this, we are proud to be co-hosting the 8th replenishment of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria with South Africa and we look forward to the Gavi replenishment on 25 June. Decisions on how the Official Development Assistance budget will be used will be worked through as part of the ongoing Spending Review.

Whether he has had discussions with (a) Cabinet colleagues and (b) the Scottish Government on support for students who where studying at the Scottish Institute of Theatre, Dance, Film and Television when it went into administration.

I was shocked and saddened to hear that the Scottish Institute of Theatre, Dance, Film and Television had gone into administration. My sympathy goes out to the staff that worked there and to the students who are facing considerable uncertainty over the future of their studies.As education is a devolved matter, I would urge the Scottish Government to work with the administrators and the wider sector to ensure that affected students are able to continue their degrees.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he plans to maintain the level of UK funding for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria.

The UK remains committed to tackling global health challenges and will continue to work with all international partners towards the collective goal of a healthier, safer and more prosperous world. As part of this, we are proud to be co-hosting the 8th replenishment of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria with South Africa and we look forward to the Gavi replenishment on 25 June. Decisions on how the Official Development Assistance budget will be used will be worked through as part of the ongoing Spending Review.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of age-related pay for workers on the Skilled Worker Visa on exploitation in the airline industry.

The Immigration White Paper, published on 12 May, sets out the Home Office’s proposals for reform in a number of areas, including exploitation of individuals on worker visas.

Whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of age-related pay for people with Skilled Worker visas on opportunities for exploitation by unscrupulous employers.

The Immigration White Paper, published on 12 May, sets out the Home Office’s proposals for reform in a number of areas, including exploitation of individuals on worker visas.

What steps she plans to take to evaluate the effectiveness of her Department's Enough campaign at tackling violence against women and girls.

To evaluate communications activity, including the Enough campaign to help tackle violence against women and girls, the Department follows the steps set out by the Government Communication Service: GCS Evaluation Cycle - UK Government Communications.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with UK regional allies on alternative aid routes into Gaza.

All routes to deliver humanitarian aid into Gaza must be approved by the Government of Israel. The UK has previously collaborated with regional partners on alternative routes, including air drops and a maritime corridor. However, these cannot substitute delivery by land, which remains the best way to get aid in at the scale required. On 19 May, the UK signed a joint donor statement on the humanitarian situation in Gaza calling for a full resumption of aid and for Israel to allow the UN and other aid organisations to operate independently. The Government of Israel must abide by its international obligations to ensure full, rapid, safe and unhindered provision of humanitarian assistance to the population in Gaza.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with NGOs on alternative aid routes into Gaza.

All routes to deliver humanitarian aid into Gaza must be approved by the Government of Israel. The UK regularly engages with the United Nations, humanitarian partners and Non-Governmental Organisations, who provide insights into the challenges facing the humanitarian response in Gaza, informing UK policy. The UK has previously collaborated with regional partners on alternative routes, including air drops and a maritime corridor. However these cannot substitute delivery by land, which remains the best way to get aid in at the scale required. On 19 May, the UK signed a joint donor statement on the humanitarian situation in Gaza calling for a full resumption of aid and for Israel to allow the UN and other aid organisations to operate independently. The Government of Israel must abide by its international obligations to ensure full, rapid, safe and unhindered provision of humanitarian assistance to the population in Gaza.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with international partners on the Israeli government's proposals to permanently (a) occupy Gaza and (b) displace its population.

The Prime Minister has been clear that the UK strongly opposes the expansion of Israel's operations in Gaza. We have repeatedly stated that Palestinian territory must not be reduced in the conduct of this war or subjected to demographic change, and that there must be no forced displacement of people from Gaza. Ministers have made these views clear in their contacts with Israeli counterparts. We have worked closely with international partners to set out our concerns in joint statements, including the Prime Minister's joint statement with his Canadian and French counterparts on 19 May. We have also clearly set out our concerns at the UN Security Council. On 20 May, the Foreign Secretary set out the Government's latest steps in response to the situation in Gaza, including suspending negotiations with this Israeli government on a new free trade agreement. He also made clear that if Israel pursues this military offensive as it has threatened, failing to ensure the unhindered provision of aid, we will take further actions in response.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

On 28 April, the UK announced a package of support for the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including £101 million for humanitarian aid, support for Palestinian economic development, and strengthening Palestinian Authority governance and reform. As part of this package, on 21 May the Minister for Development announced a £4 million contribution to the British Red Cross to deliver humanitarian relief in Gaza through their partner the Palestinian Red Crescent Society. On 19 May we issued a statement, with France and Canada, calling on the Israeli Government to stop its military operations in Gaza and immediately allow humanitarian aid to enter. We also issued a joint donor statement with 26 other signatories calling for a full resumption of aid into Gaza and for Israel to allow the UN and other aid organisations to operate independently. We continue to call on Israel to allow for a full resumption in the flow of aid into Gaza.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what economic steps he is taking to encourage Israel to allow aid into Gaza.

On 20 May, the Foreign Secretary announced that we have suspended negotiations with this Israeli Government on a new free trade agreement. We will be reviewing cooperation with them under the 2030 Bilateral Roadmap. On 19 May we issued a statement, with France and Canada, calling on the Israeli Government to stop its military operations in Gaza and immediately allow humanitarian aid to enter. We continue to call on Israel to allow for a full resumption in the flow of aid into Gaza.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether RAF surveillance flights over Gaza have uncovered evidence of breaches of international law.

The operational mandate for these flights, have been narrowly defined to focus on securing the release of the hostages only. These Royal Air Force surveillance flights are unarmed and do not have a combat role. We will not comment further on detailed intelligence matters to protect operational security.Our International Humanitarian Law (IHL) assessments include information from a wide range of sources, including a third-party contractor specialising in geolocation verification and consider analysis from a wide range of sources including the United Nations, Non-Governmental Organisations, media and organisations on the ground.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps he is taking to help restrict the expansion of illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank.

We are clear that settlements are illegal under international law and undermine the prospects for peace. I have condemned the 22 new settlements announced by Israel on 29 May and we regularly urge Israel to halt settlement expansion in our diplomatic engagements. As I said to the House on 4 June, the viability of a two-state solution, and of the two states living side by side, is being undermined, and we will continue to take action to avert that.

What steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to improve broadband (a) connectivity and (b) speeds in Scotland.

Our Plan for Change recognises the importance of ensuring people across Scotland have access to the fastest broadband networks on the market to level the playing field and realise our mission to boost economic growth and improve living standards. Earlier in May, we announced the largest single UK Government Project Gigabit contract to date with Openreach: £157 million to bring gigabit-capable internet to 65,000 homes and businesses across the Highlands, Outer Hebrides and other hard-to-reach areas across Scotland. In February, the Hon Member for Rhondda and Ogmore announced the first Project Gigabit contract signed in Scotland. 11,000 homes and businesses in the Scottish Borders and East Lothian will benefit from the Scotland-wide roll out with further contracts planned for other parts of Scotland this year.

What assessment she has made of the potential role of technology in the decarbonisation of the transport sector.

Technological solutions will play a critical role in decarbonising transport across all modes, including through accelerated electric vehicle rollout and low carbon fuel deployment in shipping and aviation. Government will produce a plan later this year for reducing emissions from all sectors, including transport, in line with legislated carbon budgets.

What assessment he has made of the potential contribution of drone technology to the net zero strategy.

Drones are useful in inspecting energy infrastructure such as offshore wind turbines and overhead electrification lines which are difficult to reach using other means. As part of DESNZ’s Net Zero Innovation Programme, we have funded UK companies looking to develop drones for these types of inspections.

How many and what proportion of people on the Skilled Worker visa have had their employment extended beyond their 26th birthday with pay meeting the standard salary threshold for the most recent year for which data is available.

The information requested is not available from published statistics and the relevant data could only be collated and verified from multiple systems owned by multiple teams across the Home Office for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.

Whether she has made an estimate of the potential impact of her Department's White Paper entitled Restoring control over the immigration system, published on 12 May 2025, on the number of student visas issued.

Provisional estimates on the potential impact on future student visa demand are published in the Technical Annex accompanying the Immigration White Paper: restoring-control-over-the-immigration-system-technical-annex.pdf

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure that UK exports are not used to help facilitate potential human rights abuses.

Each export licence application is assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria, which provides a thorough risk assessment framework. The Government will not grant an export licence if to do so would be inconsistent with the Criteria for a controlled item. The Criteria require us to carefully consider the impact of the export of items and their capabilities. Risks around human rights violations and abuses are a key part of our assessment. The Government will not grant a licence for items where we determine there is a clear risk that the items might be used to commit or facilitate internal repression which includes a serious violation of human rights.Legislation also expressly provides for these stringent processes and standards to be applied to non-controlled goods on a case-by-case basis, items intended for use by the military, paramilitary, security forces (including government intelligence organisations), or police forces of a destination, subject to an arms embargo.We can and do respond quickly and flexibly to changing or fluid international situations. All licences are kept under review as standard.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the level of statutory maternity pay.

Government spends approximately £3 billion a year on parental payments. When considering calls to increase the level of parental benefits, the Government must balance a range of factors including the needs of parents, the impact on employers, and affordability for taxpayers. This is particularly true in today’s challenging economic climate. As such, any changes would need to be carefully considered, taking into account views from businesses and other stakeholders. The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions is required by law to undertake an annual review of benefits and State Pensions, including Statutory Maternity Pay and Maternity Allowance. She announced her decision from the latest review of benefits in a Written Ministerial Statement to Parliament on 30 October. From April 2025, the rate increased by September 2024's CPI figure of 1.7%, from £184.03 to £187.18 per week. Depending on individual circumstances, additional financial support, for example, Universal Credit, Child Benefit and the Sure Start Maternity Grant (a lump sum payment of £500) may also be available.