Written questions by Morton.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to proposals to modernise planning committees and introduce a national scheme of delegation, whether applications affecting green belt land could be determined by officers rather than elected members; what criteria will determine whether such applications are considered strategic; and how he will ensure democratic accountability for decisions involving the loss of green space.

On 28 May 2025, my Department published a technical consultation on proposals for reform of planning committees. It can be found on gov.uk here. The consultation has now closed, and we are analysing the responses with a view to consulting on draft regulations for such a National Scheme of Delegation in the coming months.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to HCWS1230, how her Department will define small farms for the purposes of reopening the Sustainable Farming Incentive; what assessment she has made of barriers to participation for small and family-run farms under previous schemes; and how her Department will measure whether access to support has improved.

The Government will publish a precise definition of a small farm before the first application window opens in June. This is one of the details the Government will be testing with key stakeholders. As confirmed at the Oxford Farming Conference, the Government will open two Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) application windows in 2026: an initial window from June for small farms, and also those without existing Environmental Land Management agreementsa second window opening from September for all other farmers The Government will provide more detail on the new SFI offer ahead of publishing the full scheme details before the first application window opens in June.

Pursuant to the Answer of 25 November 2025 to Question 90706, what funding has been allocated to each West Midlands area participating in wave 1 of the National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme; how much of that funding represents new investment rather than existing budgets; what assessment he has made of the programme’s impact on GP access, community nursing capacity and waiting times in Walsall, Coventry, Shropshire, East Birmingham, Solihull and Herefordshire; and what metrics will be used to evaluate success, including whether place-level data will be published.

National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme (NNHIP) sites have not been allocated additional funding. NNHIP sites have been provided with expert and peer support to facilitate learning and sharing solutions. This support helps sites tackle challenges, deliver improvements, adapt solutions to their own circumstances, and spread best practices across all sites.Collection of outcome metrics is currently being piloted across NNHIP sites. A measurement guide has been co-produced with NNHIP sites. Data collection for this will begin in early 2026 which will take some time to embed and then analyse. In the interim, sites are producing case studies showcasing what has worked for their populations and the learning from these case studies are shared as part of the improvement programme with the 43 sites, as well as the national community of practice, open to all places. In addition, four deep-dive case studies are planned, providing an in-depth view of the conditions for success across four geographically and demographically different places across the country.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Impact Assessment accompanying the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, what assessment he has made of the proportion of additional housing delivery expected to arise from development on green belt land; what safeguards will apply to ensure that the Bill does not result in unnecessary or irreversible loss of protected green spaces; and if he will publish an analysis of whether housing targets can be met through brownfield and urban regeneration before green belt release is considered.

The Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 requires strategic planning authorities to have regard to the need to ensure their spatial development strategies are consistent with national policies, including those relating to Green Belt and green spaces. There are no other provisions relating to Green Belt land in the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025. I otherwise refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answers given to Questions UIN 84470 on 30 October 2025, UIN 94689 on 5 December 2025, UIN 98288 on 5 January 2026, UIN 102192 on 12 January 2026, UIN 105177 on 20 January 2026, UIN 106373 on 26 January 2026.

Pursuant to the Answer of 25 November 2025 to Question 90706, how neighbourhood health services in the West Midlands will be staffed in practice; what steps are being taken to address workforce shortages in general practice, community nursing and district nursing; what role Integrated Care Boards and elected local authorities will play in the design and oversight of neighbourhood health services; and how democratic accountability will be ensured.

The 10 Year Workforce Plan will ensure the National Health Service has the right people in the right places, with the right skills to care for patients, when they need it.Neighbourhood health services will bring together integrated neighbourhood teams of professionals and partners closer to people’s home, including nurses, doctors, social care workers, pharmacists, health visitors, employment support, children’s services, and more, to work together to support people and places to improve their health and wellbeing.Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning, which includes planning, securing, and monitoring, general practice services within their health systems through delegated responsibility from NHS England. Both ICBs and local health systems will be responsible for designing neighbourhood health services and centres that reflect the needs of their local populations. This will be the case for determining neighbourhood health services and staffing in the West Midlands.The 10-Year Health Plan committed to neighbourhood health plans that will be drawn up in partnership with ICBs, local authorities, and partners.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the new cross-boundary strategic planning mechanisms proposed in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, what assessment he has made of the level of the risk that strategic housing targets could concentrate development pressure on green belt land in authorities with strong environmental protections; what role local communities and elected councillors will retain in decision-making on green belt development; and if he will ensure that strategic planning does not override locally designated green spaces valued by residents.

The Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 requires strategic planning authorities to have regard to the need to ensure their spatial development strategies are consistent with national policies, including those relating to Green Belt and green spaces. There are no other provisions relating to Green Belt land in the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025. I otherwise refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answers given to Questions UIN 84470 on 30 October 2025, UIN 94689 on 5 December 2025, UIN 98288 on 5 January 2026, UIN 102192 on 12 January 2026, UIN 105177 on 20 January 2026, UIN 106373 on 26 January 2026.

What estimate has she made of the number of places that will be available for a) young British nationals and b) young EU nationals in each of the next five years under the new Erasmus scheme; and what assessment has she made of the expected regional allocation and breakdown of places.

We have now concluded negotiations with the European Commission on the UK’s association to Erasmus+ in 2027. This commitment covers the 2027/28 academic year. Any participation in Erasmus+ into the next Multiannual Financial Framework from 2028/34 will need to be agreed in the future and be based on a fair and balanced contribution.We expect that over 100,000 people could benefit from mobility and partnership opportunities from participation in 2027.We will have detailed information on the UK’s Erasmus+ beneficiaries after our first year of participation.

Pursuant to the Answer of 25 November 2025 to Question 90706, how the Neighbourhood Health Service will improve access to care in rural areas and communities with poor digital connectivity or low digital confidence in the West Midlands; what safeguards are in place to ensure that neighbourhood health centres do not lead to the downgrading or closure of existing GP surgeries or community hospitals; what evaluation he has made of previous neighbourhood care pilots in the region; and what timetable he has set for expanding the programme beyond wave 1, including the inclusion of additional West Midlands areas.

The Neighbourhood Health Service will make it easier for people to access care closer to where they live, including in neighbourhood health centres. Delivery will be locally led, with systems determining how neighbourhood health is designed to meet local population need. This will factor in how services may need to look different across rural and urban areas.The Neighbourhood Health Service will also move us towards a fully digitally enabled health service. We are striving for digital services to improve access, experiences, and outcomes for the widest range of people, based on their preferences, as any digital healthcare benefits will be limited if people remain digitally excluded.Neighbourhood health provides the unifying framework that brings together what is already underway across primary care, community services, urgent care, prevention, digital, estates, and population health, and will build on existing assets and services rather than replacing them. We are intending to publish further guidance that will set-out how areas should work together to design neighbourhood health services around local needs and different population cohorts.In September 2025, we launched the National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme (NNHIP) in 43 places across England, including in East Birmingham. Collection of metrics is currently being piloted across all NNHIP sites. Systems are also encouraged to participate in the monthly Community of Practice, that aims to share learning and strengthen collective delivery.Work is underway to consider the future direction of the NNHIP, and we will share an update on this as soon as we can.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she plans to make a written or oral statement to the House on progress towards ratification of the UK-EU Treaty on Gibraltar, including the remaining steps and expected timescales.

The final text will be brought before the House in due course for scrutiny in the normal way pursuant to the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what the Government’s anticipated timetable is for laying the UK-EU Treaty on Gibraltar before Parliament for scrutiny and ratification.

The final text will be brought before the House in due course for scrutiny in the normal way pursuant to the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Government intends to publish an Explanatory Memorandum alongside the UK-EU Treaty on Gibraltar addressing its constitutional, economic and security implications.

The final text will be brought before the House in due course for scrutiny in the normal way pursuant to the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she has taken with allies to co-ordinate the countering of Iran’s ballistic missile programme.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the statement on Iran made to the House by the Foreign Secretary on 13 January, and her responses to the questions raised in that debate, in which these and other issues were addressed at length.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what information her Department holds on Iran's role in supporting proxy groups that threaten UK and allied interests in the Middle East.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the statement on Iran made to the House by the Foreign Secretary on 13 January, and her responses to the questions raised in that debate, in which these and other issues were addressed at length.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking with African Union partners to help secure the safe passage of people leaving Sudan.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer provided on 21 January to Questions 106571-78.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she has taken to help support democratic reforms in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer provided on 9 September 2025 to Question 74449. Subsequent to that, in December 2025, the Peace Implementation Council and representatives of political parties in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) met to discuss long‑term solutions to BiH's challenges, including democratic reform. The UK will continue to work with international partners, including the Council of Europe and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, and local actors in BiH to promote democratic rights and support reform.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what role her Department had in the decision to deproscribe Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham.

In the case of the de-proscription of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), I refer the Rt Hon Member to the written ministerial statement provided by the Security Minister on 22 October 2025, setting out the process leading up to that decision. De-proscription decisions are made by the Home Secretary following an extensive process of consideration and assessment of all available information, to which the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office contributes.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of restrictions on fuel entering Gaza on civilians in Gaza.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to: (a) the statement I made to the House on the Middle East on 5 January, (b) the joint statement on humanitarian access issued by the Foreign Secretary and nine of her international counterparts on 30 December, (c) the answers that the Foreign Secretary and I gave on these issues at oral questions on 2 December, and (d) the statement that the Foreign Secretary made to the House on Gaza on 18 November. We will continue to update the House on these issues on a similarly regular basis over the weeks and months to come.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she has taken to strengthen the UK's relationship with Indo-Pacific partners.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to my speech at the launch of the Asia House Outlook 2026 on 15 January, available on GOV.UK here: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/asia-house-outlook-2026-keynote-speech. Additionally, my speech at the 2025 Indo-Pacific Conference at King's College London is available on GOV.UK here: 2025 Indo-Pacific Conference: Minister Malhotra keynote speech - GOV.UK

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps she is taking with regional partners to prevent the re-armament of Hamas in Gaza.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to: (a) the statement I made to the House on the Middle East on 5 January, (b) the joint statement on humanitarian access issued by the Foreign Secretary and nine of her international counterparts on 30 December, (c) the answers that the Foreign Secretary and I gave on these issues at oral questions on 2 December, and (d) the statement that the Foreign Secretary made to the House on Gaza on 18 November. We will continue to update the House on these issues on a similarly regular basis over the weeks and months to come.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she has taken with international partners to help limit the sale of Russian oil.

The Government is taking decisive action alongside international partners to increase pressure on Russian energy revenues. Last year, the UK and US sanctioned Russia's four oil majors. Russia's oil export revenues are now at their lowest since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022. On 15 January, the Government announced that we would move alongside the EU in lowering the Oil Price Cap on Russia crude from $47.60 to $44.10 per barrel. The UK and EU have both announced bans on the import of refined oil of Russian origin and both will introduce maritime services bans relating to Russian Liquefied Natural Gas.We have led international efforts to disrupt Russia's shadow fleet. The UK has now specified 545 vessels under the Russia sanctions regime, including 520 oil tankers and 16 liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers.