Written questions by Barros-Curtis.

What steps he is taking to help deter grey zone activity.

Following the Strategic Defence Review, Defence is focusing on transformation into an organisation ready for warfighting. This includes a renewed emphasis on home defence and resilience to grey zone threats to ensure effective deterrence. We will protect the UK from threats that undermine our sovereignty. There are also efforts on possessing military capabilities in sufficient quantities, and signalling a willingness to use those to either deny or to punish those undertaking or authorising grey zone attacks.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she is taking steps to encourage the United Nations to assume direct operational oversight of humanitarian-aid delivery in Gaza.

I refer the Hon Member to the statement made by the Foreign Secretary to the House on 18 November 2025, regarding the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Our position remains that only the United Nations and their partners can deliver the scale of aid required.

Food and Rural Affairs, what her Department's planned budget is for the Darwin Plus programme in financial year 2025-26.

The Darwin Plus budget for 2025-26 is maintaining spending levels to support biodiversity across the UK Overseas Territories. This includes funding to sustain existing projects and award new projects. The Secretary of State announced funding to 43 new Darwin Plus projects with a lifetime value of £7.9 million in her speech at Countdown to COP30 on 9 October. Funding for Darwin Plus beyond March 2026 remains subject to Defra business planning processes. Updates on future funding rounds will be published on the Darwin Plus website as soon as more information becomes available.

Food and Rural Affairs, when her Department plans to publish the revised Environmental Improvement Plan.

The government concluded a rapid review of the existing Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP23) and published a statement of the rapid review’s key findings on 30 January 2025. It is our intention to publish a revised EIP in due course, which will be our long-term plan for improving the natural environment and people’s enjoyment of it.

Whether his Department is taking steps to increase research funding into the development of anti-epileptic drugs with fewer side effects and greater efficacy.

The Department funds research on health and social care through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health and care including epilepsy treatment and side effects.These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money, and scientific quality. Welcoming applications on epilepsy to all NIHR programmes enables maximum flexibility both in terms of the amount of research funding a particular area can be awarded, and the type of research which can be funded.Details of NIHR funding allocated to individual research awards are openly published and updated quarterly on the NIHR’s Open Data website, at the following link:https://nihr.opendatasoft.com/explore/The NIHR also works closely with other Government funders, including UK Research and Innovation, which is funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and which includes the Medical Research Council, to fund research into a range of conditions, including epilepsy.

What steps her Department is taking to support access to (a) public transport and (b) mobility schemes for people with epilepsy who are unable to drive.

The government wants everyone to have access to reliable and affordable public transport, and we appreciate how important this is for people who are unable to drive.We are committed to improving bus services, so they are more inclusive and enable everyone to travel safely and confidently. In December last year, the government introduced the Bus Services (No.2) Bill which includes a comprehensive package of measures to improve the accessibility and inclusivity of local bus services. From safer and more accessible bus stops and stations, to more comprehensive disability training for drivers and frontline staff and a new requirement for local authorities to regularly review the accessibility of their bus networks, the Bill will help ensure that local bus services better meet the needs of the communities who rely on them, including disabled people who are unable to drive.The English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) provides free bus travel in England, to those of state pension age and those with eligible disabilities between 9:30 and 23:00 on weekdays, and all day at weekends and bank holidays. Those who would, if they applied for a driving licence, have their application refused on the grounds of medical fitness, are eligible for an ENCTS bus pass.The government also has ambitious plans to reform the rail sector, unifying track and train under one organisation. The cornerstone of the Government’s plan for rail reform is to establish Great British Railways (GBR), a publicly owned arm’s length body charged with running Britain’s railways in the public interest. GBR will be a new, publicly owned company with accountable, integrated leadership across track and train, sitting at the heart of the reformed rail sector. This will help drive a more consistent passenger experience ensuring a relentless focus on high performance and service standards for Britain’s railways.Accessibility is one of the Government’s six priorities for the railway and will be central to GBR. To support this, the Railways Bill includes legal requirements relating to accessibility that will ensure that the interests of passengers, including those with accessibility needs, will be a fundamental part of decision-making on the railways.We are already taking action ahead of the establishment of GBR to make rail travel easier and more reliable for disabled passengers, including investing over £10 million in upgrades to the Passenger Assist Scheme which supports disabled passengers and those with additional needs to use the rail network with confidence and in safety. We have improved information about the facilities available to provide support to passengers at stations and will be publishing a rail accessibility roadmap which sets out the actions we are taking to make the railway more accessible ahead of GBR being established.

What steps her Department is taking to introduce robust human rights and environmental due diligence legislation for UK businesses operating within global supply chains.

The UK has a range of measures in place to promote responsible business conduct. In the Trade Strategy, the Government launched a review into the UK’s approach to responsible business conduct, focused on tackling human rights and labour abuses and environmental harms in global supply chains. The review will be a neutral, objective appraisal of policy, led by departmental officials. It will consider the effectiveness of the UK’s current regime and alternative measures to support responsible business practices, including mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence. It will have due regard to the effectiveness of any measures on supply chain resilience and the livelihoods of global producers.

What progress the Government has made on (a) ensuring equal treatment for BCSSS members and (b) transferring the whole of the investment reserve to the benefit of all members.

The previous Minister of State for Industry met the BCSSS Trustees on 22 April, 11 June and 22 July and confirmed the Government’s commitment to considering their proposals regarding the reserve and the future of the scheme. DESNZ will now engage HM Treasury with a view to agreeing a way forward on the transfer of the reserve to members.The Government is aiming to reach agreement on an outcome that can be implemented later this year which will benefit scheme members.

What steps she is taking to prevent people who have committed sexual offences from obtaining parental responsibility or contact orders for children conceived as a result of their crimes; and whether she plans to introduce amendments to the Children Act to close this loophole.

The Government has included a measure in the Victim and Courts Bill which will restrict the exercise of an offender’s parental responsibility where they are sentenced to four or more years imprisonment for a serious child sexual abuse offence against a child for whom they hold parental responsibility. Given these changes are untested, the Government has chosen to focus on the cases involving the highest degree of direct risk to children first.However, the Government recognises the discussions around the appropriate scope of the measure, including whether to extend it to offenders convicted of rape where a child has been conceived as a result. We are looking at this closely and will continue to work across Parliament as the Bill progresses.The welfare of a child must be the court’s paramount consideration when making decisions about that child’s life. Courts already have powers under the Children Act 1989 to restrict the exercise of parental responsibility and to control who the child should live or spend time with, if it is in the child’s best interest to do so. When considering arrangements to be made for a child, including the extent to which parental responsibility should be exercisable and who exactly the child should live or spent time with, the court must have particular regard to a list of welfare factors, including any harm the child has suffered or is at risk of suffering.

How many football bans have been given to offenders in the last (a) 12 and (b) 18 months.

The Home Office publishes annual statistics on football banning orders in England and Wales in the ‘Football-related arrests and banning orders, England and Wales’ Official Statistics release. The most recent data covering the 2023 to 2024 football season and can be accessed at the following link: Football-related arrests and banning orders: 2023 to 2024 season - GOV.UKData on football banning orders for the 2023 to 2024 domestic season are available in the accompanying ‘detailed football banning order statistics data tables’.Data for the 2024 to 2025 football season will be released on 17 July 2025: Football-related arrests, banning orders: 2024/25 domestic season - Official statistics announcement - GOV.UK.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that humanitarian aid is being received into the Gaza Strip.

The UK continues pushing for safe, unhindered humanitarian access to Gaza, in line with international law. A significant portion of our Financial Year 2024/25 funding has already reached Gaza, including life-saving medical supplies. Some remain prepositioned at border crossings or in regional warehouses due to access constraints. We also announced an additional £7.5 million support package to bolster medical care in Gaza and the region, including further funding for UK-Med, World Health Organization Egypt, and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Occupied Palestinian Territories Humanitarian Fund. On 19 May, the UK issued a joint statement urging Israel to allow full aid resumption and independent access for humanitarian actors.

Whether he plans to close existing loopholes which enable taxi drivers to work cross border.

Responsibility for taxi and private hire vehicle policy is devolved to the Welsh Assembly. It is therefore for the Welsh Government to consider any changes to the regulation of the sector in Wales.

What are the average time is for applications submitted to the Access to Work scheme between 1st November 2024 to 21st May 2025 to be (a) completed and (b) awarded.

The average time taken from an application being submitted to a decision being made for both support being approved and support not approved from November 2024 to April 2025 (May 2025 not available until month end) November 2024 = 75.4 daysDecember 2024 = 77.3 daysJanuary 2025 = 80.3 daysFebruary 2025 = 84.6 daysMarch 2025 = 85.9 daysApril 2025 = 94.2 days Please note that the data supplied is derived from unpublished management information, which was collected for internal Departmental use only, and have not been quality assured to National Statistics or Official Statistics publication standard. They should therefore be treated with caution.

Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of including the Six Nations as part of the listed events regime.

The Government recognises the importance of ensuring access to sporting events, including the Six Nations, so that they can be enjoyed by a wide audience. However, this must also be balanced with the ability of sports national governing bodies to generate essential broadcast revenue to invest in their sports at all levels.The Six Nations is listed under the Broadcasting Act 1996 Act as a “Group B” protected event, meaning secondary coverage must be offered to free-to-air broadcasters.The Government believes that the current list of events works well and that it strikes an appropriate balance between access to sporting events and allowing sports to maximise broadcasting revenue.I am pleased that Six Nations Rugby have recently agreed a deal to broadcast the Six Nations on free-to-air broadcasters until 2029.

What progress she has made on bringing forward the Conversion Practices Bill to ban conversion therapy for LGBTQ+ people; and whether there is a timeline for its introduction.

This Government’s position is that conversion practices are abuse.Through the development of the draft Conversion Practices Bill, we will deliver on our manifesto commitment to bring forward a full, trans-inclusive ban on conversion practices. My officials and I are working at pace to ensure we get legislation right and protect LGBT individuals from these harmful practices.We are also committed to preserving the freedom for individuals to explore their identity and sexuality, and respecting the important roles of those supporting them.We will publish our draft Bill later this session, as outlined in the King’s Speech.

What service standard the Child Maintenance Service has to respond to (a) complex casework and (b) complaints submitted between 30 August 2024 to 24 January 2025.

The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) have service standards for all change of circumstances, these are not categorised as complex as there is no specific criteria to meet, each case is considered on its own merit and circumstances of the case. Caseworkers strive to manage all casework within the expected service standard time period. If the caseworker has any concerns about making a discretionary decision in cases with unusual or particularly complex circumstances involved, they have access to policy and procedures or may seek appropriate advice from the Advice and Guidance Team. DWP complaints service standard aim is to contact a customer within 15 working days to tell them of the outcome of their complaint or when they can expect a response if the complaint is complex and will take longer.

What recent progress her Department has made with the (a) Defending Democracy Taskforce and (b) Welsh Government on protecting all levels of democracy from harm.

It is vital that elected representatives and their staff can discharge their duties without threat of intimidation or assault. We have seen wholly unacceptable behaviour, especially during the general election.The Defending Democracy Taskforce is looking urgently at these issues, and I will update the House further in due course.The Taskforce also regularly engages with all devolved administrations including Wales, on tackling our shared threats including protective security. Officials will be holding their next meeting with devolved administrations following the next Taskforce due to be held in early 2025.

What recent progress the Defending Democracy Taskforce has made.

Mr Speaker, it is vital that elected representatives and their staff can discharge their duties without threat of intimidation or assault.We have seen wholly unacceptable behaviour, especially around the general election.The Defending Democracy Taskforce is looking urgently at these issues and I will update the House further in due course.

Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to help increase levels of innovation in Cardiff West constituency.

The Spending Review supports the UK’s R&D ambitions, with total Government investment in R&D rising to a record £20.4 billion in 2025/26This will build on the investments we have already made in the Cardiff region such as £25 million through the Strength in Places Fund to build on regional strengths in advanced semiconductor materials and manufacturing, and £22 million to accelerate growth in the Cardiff Capital Region's media sector.

What technical support her Department offers to people applying for eVisas to replace their Biometric Residence Permit.

Our Assisted Digital service (https://www.gov.uk/assisted-digital-help-online-applications) is available in the UK to provide support by phone and email to those who need help with IT-related aspects of creating a UKVI account. Customers can also contact the UK Visas and Immigration Resolution Centre (https://www.gov.uk/contact-ukvi-inside-outside-uk for support via email and webchat, and telephone. They also support people through the online journey by: helping them to access or recover their accounthelping them to update their personal detailssharing status on behalf of people if they are unable to do so themselves. The UK Visas and Immigration Resolution Centre can also help people with any technical issues with their online immigration status, and, where necessary, verify the person’s status through alternative means. The Home Office is committed to ensuring everyone, including the most vulnerable, are properly supported as we transform our immigration system. On 18 September 2024, we announced that the Government is providing up to £4m in dedicated grant funding to a UK wide network of voluntary and community sector organisations to deliver valuable support to those who need it, during the transition from physical immigration documents to eVisas. To date, grant funding agreements are in place with four organisations that will provide national coverage.