Written questions by Burghart.

Pursuant to the answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 57308, on Chagos Islands: Sovereignty, if she will place in the Library a copy of the (a) calculations and (b) analysis produced by the Government Actuary’s Department.

Details of the calculations have been agreed by the Government Actuary’s Department and are in the Explanatory Memorandum laid alongside the Treaty. However, it is not normal practice for government departments to release details of corresponding financial analysis. Any financial obligations, including departmental budgetary responsibilities, will be managed responsibly within the government’s fiscal framework. No payments will be made until the Treaty is legally binding.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Prime Minister’s oral contribution at Prime Minister's Questions on 4 June 2025, Official Report, column 302, what the evidential basis is for the statement that China opposes the Chagos Islands deal.

The deal to secure the base on Diego Garcia is vital for our national security.Our Five Eyes allies - the US, Australia, New Zealand, Canada - as well as India, South Korea and Japan, all put out formal statements welcoming the deal.There are clear safeguards in the treaty, including a clear prohibition to prevent any other foreign security forces, civilian or military - including the Chinese - from establishing themselves on the outer islands.

With reference to his Department's press release on the award of a £1.6 billion contract to Thales in Belfast for the manufacture of lightweight-multirole missiles, published on 2 March 2025, whether the contract was reviewed by the Single Source Regulations Office.

The Ukraine Government selected the lightweight-multirole missile because it has demonstrated itself to be a highly effective short range air defence capability. Because the UK Ministry of Defence is acting on behalf of the Ukrainian Government in procuring these missiles, pursuant to an international agreement between the UK and Ukraine, and the contract is being funded by the Ukraine Government with support from UK Export Finance, the procurement is excluded from the procurement legislation which would normally be applicable.

With reference to his Department's press release on the award of a £1.6 billion contract to Thales in Belfast for the manufacture of lightweight-multirole missiles, published on 2 March 2025, whether regulatory compliance audits were undertaken on the contract.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him to Question 40323 on 28 March 2025.

With reference to his Department's press release on the award of a £1.6 billion contract to Thales in Belfast for the manufacture of lightweight-multirole missiles, published on 2 March 2025, what (a) transparency reporting obligations and (b) performance milestones have been placed on Thales Northern Ireland.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him to Question 40323 on 28 March 2025.

With reference to his Department’s press release entitled Historic £1.6bn deal provides thousands of air defence missiles for Ukraine and boosts UK jobs and growth, published 2 March 2025, whether contractual contingency measures exist within the contract in the event of (a) production delays, (b) cost overruns and (c) failure to meet performance criteria.

The contract includes provisions to incentivise the specified delivery dates and, where relevant, performance criteria, with remedies available if those contractual obligations are not met. The scope will be placed in a phased manner, with the intent being that each phase is subject to a firm price.

With reference to his Department's press release on the award of a £1.6 billion contract to Thales in Belfast for the manufacture of lightweight-multirole missiles, published on 2 March 2025, whether the contract was awarded via (a) the Dynamic Purchasing System and (b) a Crown Commercial Service framework.

No. Procurement of this type of capability is not available through the Dynamic Purchasing System or a Crown Commercial Service framework.

With reference to his Department’s press release entitled Historic £1.6bn deal provides thousands of air defence missiles for Ukraine and boosts UK jobs and growth, published 2 March 2025, whether an assessment was conducted under the Public Contract Regulations 2015 to determine whether a direct award was justifiable based on (a) extreme urgency and (b) operational necessity.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him to Question 40323 on 28 March 2025.

With reference to his Department's press release on the award of a £1.6 billion contract to Thales in Belfast for the manufacture of lightweight-multirole missiles, published on 2 March 2025, whether procurement thresholds were considered when awarding the contract.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him to Question 40323 on 28 March 2025.

With reference to his Department's press release on the award of a £1.6 billion contract to Thales in Belfast for the manufacture of lightweight-multirole missiles, published on 2 March 2025, whether his Department considered procuring the contract through a competitive tendering process under the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him to Question 40323 on 28 March 2025.

With reference to his Department's press release on the award of a £1.6 billion contract to Thales in Belfast for the manufacture of lightweight-multirole missiles, published on 2 March 2025, what relative weight was given to (a) technical capability, (b) cost, (c) delivery timelines and (d) risk assessment when awarding the contract.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him to Question 35735 on 12 March 2025.

With reference to his Department's press release on the award of a £1.6 billion contract to Thales in Belfast for the manufacture of lightweight-multirole missiles, published on 2 March 2025, under what circumstances the contract could be terminated.

The contract includes provisions for termination in a range of circumstances. Releasing the detail of those provisions could potentially harm our relations with the Government of Ukraine, noting that the contract was placed on its behalf pursuant to an international agreement between the UK and Ukraine and is being funded by the Ukraine Government, with support from UK Export Finance.

If she will make an estimate of the average time taken for applicants to the Duty Reimbursement Scheme to be reimbursed for duty paid on goods brought into Northern Ireland.

The Duty Reimbursement Scheme (DRS) has been operational since June 2023, allowing businesses who move goods into Northern Ireland to reclaim or remit duty provided that the goods can be shown not to have subsequently entered the EU. DRS claims are processed within 120 days of receipt, although generally the processing time for claims is much shorter. As of 14 March 2025, the average processing time for a DRS claim is 16 days. Businesses also have a three-year window from the date they were notified of the duty being owed to make a claim under the DRS. HMRC has published extensive guidance and will continue to support businesses to use the scheme effectively, as well as other schemes such as the Customs Duty Waiver Scheme.

If she will make an estimate of the number of claims that have been (a) made and (b) paid under the Duty Reimbursement Scheme for goods brought into Northern Ireland since the scheme was established.

The Duty Reimbursement Scheme (DRS) has been operational since June 2023, allowing businesses who move goods into Northern Ireland to reclaim or remit duty provided that the goods can be shown not to have subsequently entered the EU. DRS claims are processed within 120 days of receipt, although generally the processing time for claims is much shorter. As of 14 March 2025, the average processing time for a DRS claim is 16 days. Businesses also have a three-year window from the date they were notified of the duty being owed to make a claim under the DRS. HMRC has published extensive guidance and will continue to support businesses to use the scheme effectively, as well as other schemes such as the Customs Duty Waiver Scheme.

With reference to his Department's press release on the award of a £1.6 billion contract to Thales in Belfast for the manufacture of lightweight-multirole missiles, published on 2 March 2025, whether a value-for-money assessment was conducted before awarding the contract.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him to Question 35734 on 10 March 2025.

With reference to his Department's press release on the award of a £1.6 billion contract to Thales in Belfast for the manufacture of lightweight-multirole missiles, published on 2 March 2025, whether the contract was awarded under a single-source procurement route.

The Ukraine Government has selected the Lightweight Multi-role Missile because it has demonstrated itself to be a highly effective short-range air defence capability. This procurement was not subject to competition, noting that it is excluded from applicable procurement legislation as we are acting on behalf of the Ukraine Government pursuant to an international agreement between the UK and Ukraine.

With reference to his Department's press release on the award of a £1.6 billion contract to Thales in Belfast for the manufacture of lightweight-multirole missiles, published on 2 March 2025, whether specific contractual provisions allow for the potential extension of the contract.

The contract does not include executable options to extend its duration. The scope will be awarded in a phased manner, and the contract does include provisions to extend specific delivery dates in certain circumstances.

With reference to his Department's press release on the award of a £1.6 billion contract to Thales in Belfast for the manufacture of lightweight-multirole missiles, published on 2 March 2025, whether (a) an open prior information notice or (b) a voluntary ex-ante transparency notice was published in relation to the procurement.

Neither a Prior Information Notice nor voluntary ex-ante transparency notice were published, noting that this procurement is excluded from applicable procurement legislation as it is pursuant to an international agreement between the UK and Ukraine.

How many people residing in the UK have indefinite leave to remain.

The Home Office publishes statistics relating to indefinite leave to remain in the Immigration system statistics publication.Data on grants and refusals of settlement can be found in the Settlement data tables. The latest data relates up to the end of 2024.

With reference to his oral contribution of 26 February 2025, Official Report, column 763, by when he plans to have signed a memorandum of understanding with the Irish government on their co-operation with the Omagh Inquiry.

The Government has the deepest sympathy for all of those affected by the Omagh bomb in August 1998. It was a terrible atrocity committed by the Real IRA at a time when the people of Northern Ireland were looking to a future without violence, causing immeasurable damage to the families who lost loved ones and those who were injured.I welcome the Irish Government's public commitments to cooperate with the Omagh Bombing Inquiry, through the memorandum of understanding which will be agreed directly between the Inquiry and Irish Government in the coming weeks. The Inquiry is independent of Government, however as sponsoring Minister, I see this as a positive step in enabling the Inquiry to fulfil its important role.