Written questions by Sobel.

Whether her Department plans to provide the UNHCR with a renewed quota under Pathway 2 of the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme.

The UK has made an important commitment to resettle Afghans fleeing persecution and those who served alongside the UK.As of the end of June 2024, the latest published Immigration Statistics show that around 30,100 people had been brought to safety from Afghanistan and the region. The latest release is available at:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/immigration-system-statistics-data-tables#asylum-and-resettlementThe Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS), designed to support those who have assisted UK efforts in Afghanistan and stood up for UK values, as well as vulnerable people, has seen 12,131 individuals resettled to the UK, as of 30 June 2024.Our immediate priority for the ACRS is the relocation of those individuals who have already been identified as eligible for resettlement under our resettlement schemes but have not yet travelled.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 12 September 2024 to Question 3774 on Plastics: EU Law, whether he plans to sign the Bridge to Busan declaration.

On the 24 September in New York, the Foreign Secretary announced the UK had endorsed the Bridge to Busan declaration to support greater ambition on addressing unsustainable levels of primary plastic production in the negotiations for a new treaty to end plastic pollution. Further information, including the full list of signatories to the Bridge to Busan declaration can be found at the following address: https://www.bridgetobusan.com.

Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to use modular housing to increase the amount of available housing stock.

Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) can quickly deliver high-quality, energy efficient homes and they provide an important opportunity to improve productivity in the construction sector. MHCLG supports the use of all types of MMC, and we will share our approach to increase its use in housebuilding as part of the Government’s wider housing strategy.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 12 September 2024 to Question 3775 on Plastics: Treaties, which Ministers from his Department will attend the fifth intergovernmental negotiation meeting for the Global Plastics Treaty in November 2024.

The host country and Secretariat for the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution have confirmed there will not be a dedicated Ministerial segment at the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee. As with previous negotiating committee sessions, the UK plans to have a strong negotiating presence to pursue our aims of an ambitious Treaty covering the full plastics life cycle.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 12 September 2024 to Question 3775 on Plastics: Treaties, whether he plans to personally attend the fifth intergovernmental negotiation meeting for the Global Plastics Treaty in November 2024.

The host country and Secretariat for the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution have confirmed there will not be a dedicated Ministerial segment at the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee. As with previous negotiating committee sessions, the UK plans to have a strong negotiating presence to pursue our aims of an ambitious Treaty covering the full plastics life cycle.

Whether his Department plans to introduce social energy tariffs.

The Government has no plans to introduce an energy social tariff this winter. However, we are committed to ensuring vulnerable households are supported with their energy bills and we are looking at all options on how to support these households.The Government is continuing to deliver the Warm Home Discount which provides a £150 rebate off energy bills to over 3 million eligible low-income households. We are also working with energy suppliers to ensure they are providing additional support to vulnerable customers. The Government has also extended the Household Support Fund for an additional 6 months until 31 March 2025 with an extra £500 million in funding, and I encourage any individual who is struggling to pay their bills contacts their local authority to see if they are eligible for this support.

When private schools should become VAT registered.

On 29 July, the Government announced that, as of 1 January 2025, all education services and vocational training provided by a private school in the UK for a charge will be subject to VAT at the standard rate of 20 per cent. This will also apply to boarding services provided by private schools.Any fees paid from 29 July 2024 relating to the term starting in January 2025 onwards will be subject to VAT. Private schools that are not currently registered for VAT will be able to register after 30 October. Further guidance can be found on the GOV.UK website here: Charging and reclaiming VAT on goods and services related to private school fees - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) The Government’s forecast of the revenue raised from these changes will be scrutinized by the independent Office for Budget Responsibility before being published at Budget on 30 October. Details of the Government’s assessment of the expected impacts of these policy changes will also be published at Budget in the usual way. The Government has considered the policy’s interaction with Human Rights law, and is confident that it is compatible with the UK’s obligations under the Human Rights Act.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Indonesian counterpart on the human rights situation in West Papua.

The Foreign Secretary and have raised concerns publicly about reports of human rights abuses during the protests in Bangladesh. We have urged an end to the violence and stressed the need for the right to assemble peacefully and express different political views to be protected.We continue to engage with the Bangladesh government including the Foreign Secretary on the importance of respect for human rights.