Written questions by Morton.

What steps she is taking to reduce the burden of (a) food costs, (b) energy bills and (c) credit costs on households.

We know increased costs in essential areas are worrying and cause hardship for many families with children. That is why the Government is taking a comprehensive approach—supporting those in immediate need while addressing the structural changes necessary to fix the country's foundations. Food, energy and credit costs are a function of a variety of factors including international agricultural commodity prices, the exchange rate, wholesale energy prices, and interest rates. The best way to help with the cost of living is by reducing overall inflation. The Bank of England has the responsibility of controlling inflation, and the Government fully supports them as they take action to sustainably return inflation to 2%. The independent Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has cut Bank Rate four times since August. The effective interest rate – the actual interest paid by a borrower - on new a 2-year fixed rate mortgage has fallen 46 basis points since the election (May 2025 vs June 2024). The government is committed to helping those in need due to the rising cost of living. An uplift to the Universal Credit Standard Allowance will see it rise to 5% above inflation by 2029-30. The government is also investing £1 billion a year (including Barnett impact) in a multi-year settlement for crisis support, which includes funding for councils to support some of the poorest households so that their children do not go hungry outside of term time. From the start of the 2026 school year, the government will expand Free School Meals to all pupils with a parent receiving Universal Credit. This will put £500 back into parents’ pockets every year. The most recent Ofgem energy price cap, in place until September is 7% lower than the previous cap, reducing annual energy bills for a typical home by £129. Additionally, the Warm Home Discount is being expanded to every billpayer on means-tested benefits, meaning 2.7 million extra households will receive £150 off their energy bills next winter, helping reduce energy costs for around 6 million households. From this winter (2025-26), pensioners with incomes up to and including £35,000 will benefit a Winter Fuel Payment. This will mean that the vast majority — over three quarters, or 9 million pensioners in England and Wakes — will benefit. This change ensures that the means-testing of winter fuel payments has no effect on pensioner poverty. The government’s top priority is to deliver strong, sustainable growth that raises living standards across the UK. A growing economy plays a key role in providing greater financial security for households and helping to make food, energy and credit more affordable.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Women, Peace and Security National Action Plan, report to Parliament 2024 to 2025, published on 17 June 2025, what representations were made to the Special Envoy for Women and Girls by the women human rights defenders (WHRDs) from (a) Afghanistan, (b) Sudan and (c) Syria on potential steps the government might take to tackle threats and reprisals against WHRDs.

In March, during the UN Commission on the Status of Women, the UK Special Envoy for Women and Girls, Baroness Harman, hosted a closed meeting which gathered States, UN, and civil society representatives to highlight the shocking level of threats and reprisals against women human rights defenders (WHRDs). Baroness Harman heard powerful testimonies from WHRDs from Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, and Syria who called on the international community to take greater action to support women's participation free from reprisals, and to condemn the alarming prevalence of such retaliatory acts.The UK recognises the essential role that WHRDs play in promoting and protecting human rights, democracy, and the rule of law and is steadfast in its commitment to women's full, equal, meaningful and safe participation in all spheres of decision-making.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the UN Human Rights Council 59: UK Statement on the report of the Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan, published on 16 June 2025, what steps he is taking to support access to (a) education, (b) employment, (c) freedom of movement and (d) expression for Afghan women and girls.

The Government condemns the Taliban's appalling repression of Afghan women and girls. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office officials regularly press the Taliban to respect the human rights of all Afghans, including women and girls, especially the right to education. We support access to education, through our international partners. At least 50 per cent of people reached by UK aid in Afghanistan are women and girls and our aid supports livelihood opportunities for women. We continue to engage directly with Afghans to help shape our policy and programmes. Upholding human rights and gender equality is not only a moral imperative but also essential for building a stable, inclusive, and prosperous country for all Afghans.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to support British farmers producing (a) cereal, (b) milk, (c) butter, (d) beef and (e) other staple food items.

Ministers and Defra officials regularly engage with food retailers and producers on a wide range of food supply issues, including affordability and access to staple items such as cereal, milk, butter, and beef. These discussions form part of our ongoing efforts to ensure a resilient and fair food supply chain. While pricing decisions remain a matter for individual businesses, we recognise the pressures facing both consumers and retailers. The Government continues to monitor food price trends closely and Defra’s Food Strategy, announced in December, will be considering how easily our citizens can access affordable, safe, nutritious, healthy food and we’ll be working across government and with the food supply chain to find solutions.

What steps her Department is taking to ensure that inflation on essential food items does not disproportionately impact low and middle income households.

Food prices in the UK are a function of a variety of factors including international agricultural commodity prices, the exchange rate and energy prices. The government is committed to helping those in need due to the rising cost of living. An uplift to the Universal Credit Standard Allowance will see it rise to 5% above inflation by 2029-30. The government is also investing £1 billion a year (including Barnett impact) in a multi-year settlement for crisis support, which includes funding for councils to support some of the poorest households so that their children do not go hungry outside of term time. From the start of the 2026 school year, the government will expand Free School Meals to all pupils with a parent receiving Universal Credit. This puts £500 back into these parents’ pockets every year. In addition, from the start of this academic term, 750 schools are receiving funding to deliver a free breakfast club as Early Adopters, reaching more than 180,000 children and 70,000 pupils from schools in the most deprived parts of the country. The government’s top priority is to deliver strong, sustainable growth that raises living standards across the UK. A growing economy plays a key role in providing greater financial security for households and helping to make food more affordable.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of Government fiscal policies on levels of food inflation.

HM Treasury does not produce forecasts of the UK economy. Forecasting the economy, including the impact of Government policy decisions, is the responsibility of independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR). The OBR does not publish estimates of the impact of policy decisions on levels of food inflation.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to table 2.6 of HM Treasury's document entitled Spending Review 2025: Departmental Efficiency Plans, published on 11 June 2025, whether he has had discussions with the BBC on proposals for potential costs savings of the BBC World Service.

No decisions have been taken on the World Service Grant-in-Aid funding for the next three years (2026/27 and beyond). This was not settled in the Spending Review and will be determined alongside our other Official Development Assistance and Non-ODA allocations, in the autumn.For the Spending Review, the Treasury asked the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (along with most departments) to identify efficiency savings and to model certain budget scenarios. The request we made - to model scenarios equivalent to flat cash and a 2 per cent per year budget reduction, equating to around £3 million per year - was in line with that Treasury request.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Written Ministerial Statement of 17 June 2025 on Afghanistan, HCWS703, what (a) recommendations and (b) actions were agreed as part of the dialogue on food insecurity.

As part of its response to the dire food security and nutrition situation in Afghanistan, the UK is convening a range of stakeholders to explore how we can collectively maximise the impact of our work on this issue. These discussions are ongoing and will conclude in October where we hope to secure joint commitments from donors and partners to work together to improve the situation, particularly for women and children.As part of this initiative, my colleague the Minister of State for International Development has invited you and fellow interested MPs and Peers to join the United Nations Children's Fund, and partners for the UK Launch of First Foods Afghanistan in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office on 17 July - I do hope you will be able to join this important presentation and discussion.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of increases in (a) National Insurance Contributions and (b) the National Minimum Wage on food price inflation.

It is in the remit of the Low Pay Commission, who advise the Government on the minimum wage rates, to consider the impact of changes to the minimum wage on inflation, alongside the wider economy and the labour market. The Government knows that employers respond to increases in minimum wage rates in a range of ways, but existing evidence finds that the impact on inflation is small. Additionally, assessments made by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) in March 2025 suggest that policy changes made at the 2024 Autumn Budget will lead to very small increases in CPI inflation, increasing the price level by less than 0.1 per cent by the end of the parliament. Throughout the forecast period, the OBR expect CPI inflation to remain close to the 2 per cent target. The OBR does not publish estimates of the impact of policy changes on food price inflation.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to paragraphs 2.48 and 2.56 of the Spending Review Departmental Efficiency Plans 2025, what operational reforms will be delivered by the British Council; and what the cost of those reforms will be.

No decisions have been taken for the British Council's Grant-in-Aid funding for the next three years (2026/27 and beyond). This was not settled in the Spending Review and will be determined in the round, alongside our other Official Development Assistance (ODA) and Non-ODA allocations, in the autumn.In the Spending Review, the Treasury asked the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) (along with most departments) to identify efficiency savings and model certain budget scenarios. The request we made of the British Council, to model scenarios equivalent to flat cash and a 2 per cent per year budget reduction, was in line with that Treasury request. No decisions on the British Council's global footprint have been taken.The FCDO is supporting the British Council to deliver a financial turnaround plan to ensure the British Council's finances are returned to a stable footing.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to address pay grade inflation.

All roles advertised in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) are systematically, objectively, and consistently evaluated to ensure there is a fair basis for determining the grading of a role relative to other roles in the organisation and other government departments. Job evaluation and grading conducted by the FCDO supports high-quality and consistent job design, based on objective evidence. Although 'titles' of roles may vary, grading of a position is determined by the responsibilities and job weighting of the role.We are also looking at ways of incentivising staff to stay in grade longer by financial and learning and development means. This will allow staff to develop deep knowledge and expertise and ensuring they are ready for promotion and able to perform a full range of roles at the higher grade.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to paragraph 2.54 of the Spending Review Departmental Efficiency Plans 2025, if he will make an estimate of the annual cost of contingent labour costs for digital services.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is implementing a strategy to reduce reliance on contingent labour in digital services. As set out in the Department's internal planning, the annual cost of contingent labour identified for insourcing is estimated at £17.6 million. This forms part of a wider programme to rebalance the workforce and invest in permanent digital, data and cyber capability. The Department is transitioning funding from non-pay to pay to support this shift, with a projected increase in civil servant roles and a corresponding reduction in contingent labour. This approach aligns with the Government's strategic direction to improve efficiency and resilience in digital delivery.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to provide multi-year environmental funding for the Falkland Islands.

Defra primarily supports the UK Overseas Territories, including the Falkland Islands, in protecting their unique biodiversity and natural environments through the Darwin Plus programme. Over the past five years, Darwin Plus has awarded funding to 28 projects benefiting the Falkland Islands, with a total value exceeding £4 million. This includes several multi-year projects. Defra will shortly be finalising plans to fund new Darwin Plus projects, including multiyear projects, across the UK Overseas Territories. Project applicants have been advised to expect updates over the summer. Updates will also be made available on the Darwin Plus website at: www.darwinplus.org.uk.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Employment Rights Bill on (a) average wages and (b) inflation.

My department has published a set of Impact Assessments that provide a comprehensive analysis on the potential impact of the Employment Rights Bill. This analysis includes con-sideration of impacts on wages and macro-economic impacts. This analysis is available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/employment-rights-bill-impact-assessments This represents the best estimate for the likely impacts, including on wages and the wider economy, given the current stage of policy development. We are refining our analysis as policy development continues, working closely with external experts, businesses and trade unions.

What progress his Department has made on securing integrated tariff treatment for the Falkland Islands, in the context of the UK-EU reset.

We recognise the challenges these tariffs pose for the Falkland Islands. They stem from the fact the previous Government’s Brexit deal does not cover the Overseas Territories. The EU has been clear that they are not willing to re-open the fundamental terms of that deal. However, the UK and Falkland Islands governments have been working together on supporting the seafood sector, including securing US agreement to consider reducing tariffs on Falklands exports.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he made of the potential impact changes to the level of UK funding for Gavi on vaccine access in low-income countries.

At the Gavi Summit on 25 June, the Foreign Secretary announced that the UK will invest an additional £1.25 billion in Gavi's 2026 - 2030 programme. This commitment will help deliver Gavi to partner with countries to immunise up to 500 million more children and save up to 8 million more lives. With a smaller aid budget, we are prioritising global health, humanitarian response, and climate and nature - areas where the UK can drive the greatest impact. We are also pushing for multilateral reform to ensure every pound delivers the best outcomes for the world's most vulnerable people.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 24 June 2025 to Question 59016 on Development Aid: Education, what his target date is for the publication of the Annual Report and Accounts.

We expect to publish the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's Annual Report and Accounts on the 21 July.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Women, Peace and Security National Action Plan, report to Parliament 2024 to 2025, published on 17 June 2025, what steps he is taking to ensure the UK has a leading role in the drafting of the future UN Crimes Against Humanity Convention.

The UK welcomed the United Nations (UN) Sixth Committee's unanimous agreement in November 2024 to move to the negotiation of a legally binding Convention on Crimes Against Humanity. The UK sees real benefit in developing such a Convention, which has the potential to strengthen the domestic and international legal architecture on preventing and prosecuting conflict-related sexual violence and other atrocity crimes. The UK is unwavering in its leadership of the UN's Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda and is committed to accelerating progress on the Crimes Against Humanity Convention through the UN, as outlined in our WPS National Action Plan.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to support (a) food producers and (b) suppliers facing rising input costs.

Annual variations in farm input costs are driven by global markets. UK fertiliser farm gate prices are tied to movements in the international market, and UK fertiliser suppliers compete for market share providing the best price they can for farmers. In the 12 months to April 2025, the price index for agricultural inputs decreased by 0.4%. We are also working with colleagues in DESNZ to ensure all farmers can reap the benefits from clean energy. The Government’s Farming Productivity Review is currently being led by Minette Batters and will culminate after 6 months in a report setting out recommendations to Government, industry, and farmers to support profitability in farming.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of using (a) savings groups and (b) other asset-based community development strategies to complement his wider humanitarian aid objectives.

Community-led approaches are effective and sustainable ways to provide assistance. People in crisis often rely on social support networks and the informal economy to survive. From savings groups and informal credit systems to community food-sharing, these systems can often be more resilient and trusted than formal ones.This is already integrated in our approach; in Yemen our Food Security Safety Nets programme supports Village Savings and Loans Associations to improve individual and community resilience. Our Building Resilient Communities in Somalia programme supports Self Help Groups which include savings and lending alongside wider interventions to foster leadership, social cohesion, and collective action to tackle community challenges and improve livelihoods.We continue to build our knowledge and evidence of these approaches as we support broader reform of the humanitarian system to ensure a more people-centred, inclusive and locally-led response.