Written questions by Morton.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking with African Union partners to help meet commitments under the Abuja declaration.

The UK is actively supporting African Union partners to achieve the global health commitments outlined in the Abuja Declaration and the 2023 Lusaka Agenda, including by allocating 15 per cent of their annual budget to health. We are providing ongoing support to African partners such as Ghana and Nigeria as they work to increase domestic health resourcing and maximise its effectiveness. Internationally, we are seeking to reform the global health architecture and agree a clearer approach for aligned international investments in domestic health systems; we co-sponsored a landmark resolution on health financing at the World Health Organisation last year.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the speech by the Minister of State for International Development at the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in Seville on 2 July, what reforms are required for the UK Government to support a capital increase for the World Bank’s International Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

The UK government supports a capital increase for the World Bank's International Bank for Reconstruction and Development subject to reforms in three areas. Firstly, implementation of reforms aimed at boosting lending from the Bank's existing resources. Secondly, implementation of reforms to improve the Bank's efficiency, agility, shock-responsiveness and operations in fragile settings. Thirdly, reforms to make the Bank more responsive to the voice of the lowest income and most vulnerable countries, ensuring it can support their climate and development needs.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that (a) victims and (b) witnesses of war crimes in Ukraine are protected from reprisals (i) during and (ii) after investigations.

Through our support for the Atrocity Crimes Advisory Group (ACA), the UK has worked to ensure that the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine (OPG) takes a survivor-centred justice response, rooted in international standards, in order to protect the rights of victims and witnesses. This has included supporting the establishment of the Victim and Witness Coordination Centre in the OPG, which has already provided support and protection to 1,500 people engaged in legal proceedings related to atrocity crimes. The UK is also providing capacity-building support through the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict team of experts to embed international guidance and best practice on survivor-centred approaches into the work of Ukrainian investigators, prosecutors and judges. In November 2024, the Ukrainian parliament approved a law on the legal and social protection of Conflict Related Sexual Violence victims, the development of which was supported by UK funding.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps is he taking to fund (a) disease diagnostics and (b) primary health care services in developing countries.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) supports disease diagnostics through investments in health services, and research and development. We invest in public-private Product Development Partnerships to create diagnostics for diseases like sleeping sickness, malaria, and Tuberculosis. Through our partnership with Institut Pasteur de Dakar we're advancing rapid tests for epidemic diseases such as meningitis, Marburg, and Ebola. Our investment though the Tackling Deadly Diseases in Africa programme (TDDAP) strengthens surveillance and lab systems in Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Uganda, and DRC, and our investments in the Global Fund support testing, treatment, and prevention in low and middle-income countries, with 335 million malaria tests conducted in 2023. Our investment in Gavi is enabling the vaccination of 300 million children over 2021-2025 and supports diagnostics distribution, with £1.25 billion committed for 2026-2030 as recently announced.On primary health care (PHC), the FCDO uses multilateral and bilateral investments, diplomacy and research to strengthen PHC systems. Multilateral support through Gavi, the Global Fund, WHO, UNICEF, UNITAID, and the World Bank complements bilateral partnerships. In Nigeria, for example, we're contributing £16 million with other investors to scale up PHC delivery for mothers, infants, and children, and to strengthen the health workforce.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of UK funding for global health data systems supporting future pandemic preparedness.

The UK has a strong record of partnering and supporting others to strengthen global pandemic prevention, preparedness and response, within which strengthening health surveillance and information systems is a core priority. We strengthen these systems through, for example, our support as leading donor to the Global Fund, the World Health Organisation, Gavi and the World Bank; through the deployment of UK expertise under the International Health Regulations Strengthening Programme; and through bilateral support to strengthen health systems in low- and middle-income countries.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent steps he has taken with (a) NATO, (b) the United Nations and (c) G7 partners to ensure accountability for senior Russian officials suspected of orchestrating atrocity crimes in Ukraine.

The Foreign Secretary regularly raises the issue of international criminal justice and accountability with partners, including in multilateral fora. The UK is committed to securing accountability for those responsible for atrocity crimes, and any allegations in the context of Russia's war in Ukraine must be thoroughly investigated by competent and independent courts - such as the International Criminal Court (ICC). The ICC's investigation into the situation in Ukraine is ongoing, with several arrest warrants already issued for current or former senior Russian officials.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has had recent discussions with the Yale University Humanitarian Research Lab on the future of its work monitoring the deportation of Ukrainian children by Russian forces.

Ukraine's Office of the Prosecutor General has confirmed that Yale's data on deported children has been transferred to the Ukrainian government. The data that the Yale Humanitarian Research Lab provided to Ukraine was part of a larger project, not specifically aimed at tracking deported children. We are working closely with the Government of Ukraine to identify which Open-Source Intelligence providers will best meet their needs to provide this data in future. We are supporting political efforts to return and rehabilitate forcibly deported children and, through the Partnership Fund for a Resilient Ukraine, are also funding Ukrainian organisations working to return and rehabilitate children.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he is providing support to establish a special tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine.

The UK has long supported efforts to establish a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine. This is a manifesto commitment and a personal priority for the Foreign Secretary. UK experts played a key role in discussions within the 'Core Group', which devised the legal basis for the Tribunal. In May, the Foreign Secretary travelled to Lviv and endorsed the legal texts. In June, we welcomed the signing of the bilateral agreement between Ukraine and the Council of Europe. All these steps help bring us closer to making the Special Tribunal a reality. We continue to offer technical, legal and political support as work progresses through the Council of Europe.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the (a) adequacy and (b) effectiveness of the funding provided in December 2024 to help support Ukraine’s capacity to (i) investigate and (ii) prosecute war crimes.

The UK has been at the forefront of international efforts to develop Ukraine's capacity to investigate and prosecute atrocity crimes resulting from Russia's illegal invasion. Our coordinated approach with US and EU partners through the establishment of the Atrocity Crimes Advisory Group has ensured that support from international donors is efficiently coordinated and streamlined in close cooperation with the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine. We continue to review and refine our support, to ensure it is meeting Ukraine's needs.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the legal options available for (a) sanctioning and (b) prosecuting Russian officials involved in the forced (i) abduction and (ii) deportation of Ukrainian children.

We are playing our full part in international efforts to reunite these children with their families. On 3 September 2025, we announced a fourth round of sanctions targeting those attempting to forcibly deport and indoctrinate Ukrainian children. We do not comment on any potential future designations as to do so could lessen their impact. We welcome the progress the International Criminal Court is making in its active investigation, including the issuing of arrest warrants for individuals connected to the forced deportation of children. Legal action alone will not bring Ukrainian children home. We are also supporting efforts to return and rehabilitate forcibly deported children.I have regularly discussed this issue with ministerial counterparts most recently with European counterparts at the Gymnich in Copenhagen on 29 and 30 August. We also welcome the strong emphasis the United States has placed on this issue including the efforts of the First Lady.

With reference to p.12 of The UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy 2025 published on 23 June 2025, on what evidential basis his Department determined which business sectors have high potential.

Invest 2035 (published on GOV.UK in October 2024) identified 8 high-level 'growth driving' sectors (the IS-8): Advanced Manufacturing, Clean Energy Industries, Creative Industries, Defence, Digital and Technologies, Financial Services, Life Sciences, and Professional and Business Services. Pages 18-20 of the Invest 2035 green paper outline the methodology for identifying the IS-8 sectors.The Technical Annex of the Modern Industrial Strategy 2025 (published on GOV.UK in June 2025) outlines the methodology for identifying the frontier industries within the IS-8 sectors.

With reference to the oral contribution of the Secretary of State for Transport of 8 July 2025 on Road and Rail Projects, Official Report, columns 822-3, what her Department's timetable is for providing more information on its plans for the midlands rail hub.

The first phase of Midlands Rail Hub enables additional rail services between Birmingham and South Wales, and the South West, and on Birmingham’s Cross City Line. Subsequent phases are at an earlier stage of development but include the potential for additional rail services from Birmingham to the East Midlands and between Worcester and Hereford. The Government’s commitment to deliver detailed designs of the first phase of MRH will produce a more accurate delivery schedule in due course. This phase is due to enter service in the early 2030s. The delivery timescales for later phases are subject to further development work and subsequent investment decisions.

Communities and Local Government, what additional funding she plans to provide to planning departments in local authorities in 2025-26.

Supporting local planning authorities to attract, retain and develop skilled planners is crucial to ensuring they provide a proactive, efficient planning service for local communities and that new developments are well designed and facilitate local growth. The government appreciates that planning departments across the country are experiencing challenges with recruitment, retention, and skills gaps and that in many cases these issues are having a negative impact on service delivery. At the Budget last year, the Chanceller announced a £46 million package of investment into the planning system as a one-year settlement for 2025-2026. Our manifesto committed us to appointing 300 new planning officers into LPAs. We are on track to meet that commitment through two routes, namely graduate recruitment through the Pathways to Planning scheme run by the Local Government Association and mid-career recruitment through Public Practice. On 27 February 2025, the government announced funding to support salaries and complement graduate bursaries. Further information can be found in the Written Ministerial Statement I made on 27 February 2025 (HCWS480). On 25 February 2025, the draft Town and Country Planning (Fees for Applications, Deemed Applications, Requests and Site Visits) (England) (Amendment and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2025 were agreed. These regulations increase planning fees for householder and other applications, with a view to providing much-needed additional resources for hard-pressed LPAs. More broadly, the Department’s established Planning Capacity and Capability programme is also developing a wider programme of support, working with partners across the planning sector, to ensure that LPAs have the skills and capacity they need, both now and in the future, to modernise local plans and speed up decision making, including through innovative use of digital planning data and software. Lastly, the Planning and Infrastructure Bill includes provisions that will allow LPAs to set planning fees or charges at a level that reflects the individual costs to the LPA to carry out the function for which it is imposed and to ensure that the income from planning fees or charges is applied towards the delivery of the planning function.

How much funding her Department has allocated to the M54 to M6 link road in Staffordshire; and how she plans to allocate this funding across the Spending Review period.

On the 8th July, the Transport Secretary announced that the scheme will be progressing, following on from the Spending Review in June. £24 billion of capital funding is being provided between 2026-27 and 2029-30 to maintain and improve motorways and local roads. Scheme costs for the Strategic Road Network schemes including the M54 to M6 Link Road will be confirmed as part of the setting of the third road investment strategy (RIS3), planned to be published by the end of March next year. The delivery timetable for the scheme will also be confirmed during the setting of the next Road Investment Strategy [RIS3], which begins in April 2026.

With reference to The UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy 2025 published on 23 June 2025, what plans he has to develop clusters of excellence in the West Midlands.

The Industrial Strategy highlights the West Midlands' strengths in all eight Industrial Strategy growth-driving sectors.The Strategy's UK-wide measures will make it quicker and easier to do business, including in the West Midlands. Specific Industrial Strategy interventions for the West Midlands include devolved funding from the £150m Creative Places Growth Fund, a co-created Professional and Business Services Hub and exploring a pilot initiative for an Electric Vehicles manufacturing cluster. The West Midlands will also receive £30m through the Local Innovation Partnerships Fund, a British Business Bank Cluster Champion to coordinate investment and a strategic partnership with the National Wealth Fund.

What discussions he had with the Mayor of the West Midlands during the development of The UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy 2025, published on 23 June 2025.

The government is committed to working in partnership with Mayoral Strategic Authorities (MSAs) as part of delivering the Industrial Strategy's regional growth objective. We have engaged regularly with the West Midlands Combined Authority, at official and Mayoral level, to reflect and support its significant strengths in the Industrial Strategy and to coordinate local and national policies ahead of the publication of the West Midlands' forthcoming Local Growth Plan.Regular engagement at Ministerial and official level will continue as we implement the Industrial Strategy, including the delivery of Sector Plans, which the government has committed to implement in partnership with MSAs.

With reference to The UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy 2025, published on 23 June 2025, which sectors in the West Midlands he consulted with during the development of the Industrial Strategy.

The government engaged widely throughout the development of the Industrial Strategy, including with businesses, business representation organisations, and trade unions.In the West Midlands, this included roundtables and discussions with businesses, engagement with the Midlands Engine Partnership, written consultation on our Green Paper Invest 2035 and close working with the West Midlands Mayoral Strategic Authority to understand the strengths and barriers to growth in the region. Additionally, the department's regionally based teams sought input from SME businesses across a range of sectors.We will continue engaging widely throughout Industrial Strategy implementation.

How much funding her Department plans to allocate to Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council for fixing potholes in each of the next three financial years.

The West Midlands Combined Authority, of which Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council is a constituent authority, is in receipt of £1.05bn of devolved City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements (CRSTS) funding for the period 2022/23 to 2026/27, and has been allocated £2.4bn of Transport for City Regions (TCR) funding for the period up until 2031/32. These funding settlements are for investment in the West Midlands’ local transport network and consolidate local highways maintenance funding. It is for the Combined Authority to determine how this funding is allocated across the city region in line with local priorities.

Pursuant to the Answer of 10 July 2025 to Question 65283 on Railways: Electrification, how many miles of electrification will be delivered from that funding in each of those three years.

The Department does not hold estimates for how much electrification will be delivered on a yearly basis, as the rate of delivery can vary as projects progress and proposals are finalised in the development stage. Network Rail publishes yearly statistics for electrification delivered annually in Great Britain as part of their annual return. These returns can be found here: https://www.networkrail.co.uk/who-we-are/publications-and-resources/regulatory-and-licensing/annual-return/ Electrification delivery over the course of the coming three years will be published here in the normal way.

What her Department's planned timetable is for completing the M54 to M6 link road in Staffordshire.

On the 8th July, the Transport Secretary announced that the scheme will be progressing, following on from the Spending Review in June. £24 billion of capital funding is being provided between 2026-27 and 2029-30 to maintain and improve motorways and local roads. Scheme costs for the Strategic Road Network schemes including the M54 to M6 Link Road will be confirmed as part of the setting of the third road investment strategy (RIS3), planned to be published by the end of March next year. The delivery timetable for the scheme will also be confirmed during the setting of the next Road Investment Strategy [RIS3], which begins in April 2026.