Written questions by Kearns.

If she will take steps to exempt emergency service providers from business rates.

Certain properties are exempt from business rates. Details on exemptions can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-business-rate-relief/exempt-properties. Any decisions on future tax policy will be announced by the Chancellor at a fiscal event.

Communities and Local Government, whether (a) Ministers and (b) officials in her Department have had discussions with representatives of the Chinese government on the application to build a new Chinese Embassy in Tower Hamlets.

Officials in my Department have met with representatives of the People’s Republic of China. The purpose of this engagement was to explain the operation of the UK planning system. Details of the application for a new Chinese embassy were not discussed.

What the immigration status was for Mohamed Lidow at the time he committed the manslaughter and rape of Natalie Shotter.

My thoughts are with the victims of these appalling crimes and their families, and I applaud the work of the police forces who brought perpetrators for these crimes to justice.The Honourable Member will understand that, even in such appalling cases, the personal data of the perpetrators, including immigration and citizenship status, is exempt from release if disclosure would contravene any of the data protection principles in Article 5(1) of the UK General Data Protection Regulation and section 34(1) of the Data Protection Act 2018.

When she plans to announce which countries will be included in the enhanced tier of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme.

Work is underway to identify which foreign powers will be placed on the enhanced tier, based on robust security and intelligence analysis.We will set out our approach to the use of the enhanced tier, including which foreign powers and foreign power-controlled entities will be specified, in due course.

Communities and Local Government, whether the Prime Minister requested she call-in the application for a new Chinese Embassy in Tower Hamlets after his phone call with the President of China on 23 August 2024.

I refer the hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN 17009 on 6 December 2024.

How many solar companies based in the UK his Department has assessed to have supply chain links to forced labour.

The UK Government does not hold data about the supply chains of individual companies. The Solar Roadmap, to be published in Spring 2025, will outline the actions required develop supply chains that are resilient, sustainable, and free from forced labour. The UK’s main solar industry trade association – Solar Energy UK, who co-chair the Solar Taskforce - is leading the industry’s response on this matter by developing and launching the Solar Stewardship Initiative (SSI), in partnership with Solar Power Europe. Members of the SSI have committed to applying its traceability standards and audits, while encouraging its adoption throughout their supply chain.

What assessment process his Department uses to determine if solar companies operating in the UK have supply chain links to forced labour.

The Government opposes all forms of forced labour and is determined to ensure that all UK business do everything in their power to remove any instances of it from their supply chains. However, the UK Government does not hold data about the supply chains of individual companies. Solar Energy UK, who co-chair the Solar Taskforce, is leading the industry’s response on this matter by developing and launching the Solar Stewardship Initiative (SSI), in partnership with Solar Power Europe. Members of the SSI have committed to applying its traceability standards and audits, while encouraging its adoption throughout their supply chain.

Whether his plans for a National Care Service include a review of training for carers in the use of musical techniques to help support people living with dementia.

There are no current plans for a review of training for carers in the use of musical techniques to help support people living with dementia. However, the Department currently funds research on the use of musical techniques for people living with dementia via the National Institute for Health and Care Research. This includes a major study investigating how music therapy can reduce patient distress and physical assaults on National Health Service inpatient wards for people with dementia. The study is called MELODIC and will create a programme of music therapy which will be piloted in two NHS mental health wards at the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust.

How many people worked in the No. 10 foreign policy team on (a) 31 October 2024 and (b) 11 December 2024.

For management and staffing purposes the Prime Minister’s Office is part of the Cabinet Office. All staff in the Prime Minister’s Office support the work of the Prime Minister to ensure the effective running of government.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his international counterparts on the (a) identification and (b) destruction of Captagon production facilities in Syria.

We are concerned by the growth of the Captagon industry, which as well as enriching the former Assad regime is fuelling regional instability and generating vast revenues for criminal gangs and armed groups in Syria and across the region. We are working with international partners, including partners in the region, to raise awareness of the risks posed by Captagon. The UK has imposed sanctions on 11 individuals involved in facilitating the Captagon industry in Syria.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the UK is participating in international action to (a) identify and (b) destroy chemical weapon (i) production sites and (ii) depots in Syria.

The brutal history of chemical weapons use in Syria must never be repeated. We have been closely monitoring developments as they unfold and engaging with partners in the region and with the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). We welcome Hayat Tahrir al-Sham's (HTS) statement that it will protect chemical weapons sites and will not use chemical weapons under any circumstances. Syria must now take the next step, which is to comply with the obligations set out under UN Security Council Resolution 2118 and the Chemical Weapons Convention and engage with the OPCW to declare fully its chemical weapons programme so that it can finally, and verifiably, be completely destroyed.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to (a) identify and (b) destroy Captagon (i) production and (ii) distribution facilities in Syria.

We are concerned by the growth of the Captagon industry, which as well as enriching the former Assad regime, is fuelling regional instability and generating vast revenues for criminal gangs and armed groups in Syria and across the region. We are working with international partners, including partners in the region, to raise awareness of the risks posed by Captagon. The UK has imposed sanctions on 11 individuals involved in facilitating the Captagon industry in Syria.

What steps her Department is taking to prevent domestic abusers convicted of other offences from being released early.

This Government inherited a criminal justice system on the brink of collapse, with prisons weeks away from overflowing. This would have meant complete gridlock of the system and impacted the police’s ability to arrest people. As a result, we were forced to bring in emergency measures that see the automatic release points for standard determinate sentences reduced to 40%.There are a number of offences excluded from this change including serious violent offences with sentences of four years or more, sex offences and a series of offences connected to domestic abuse. Exempting domestic abuse related offences and allowing probation a number of weeks to prepare is a significant departure from the previous Government’s End of Custody Licence scheme which saw c13,000 offenders released early.It is only possible to legally exempt specific offences and domestic abusers are prosecuted under many crimes. Our exclusions send a very clear message about how seriously this Government takes domestic abuse.

If she will make it her policy to reject asylum applications from former government officials of the Syrian regime led by Bashar al-Assad.

The Home Office acted swiftly to temporarily pause decisions on Syrian asylum claims whilst we assess the current situation.We keep all country guidance relating to asylum claims under constant review so we can respond to emerging issues.While all asylum claims are routinely considered on their individual merits, it is standard procedure to deny protection to anyone who has committed crimes against peace, war crimes, crimes against humanity, other serious crimes abroad or acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will take steps to send justice and accountability experts to Syria to collect evidence of (a) war crimes and (b) crimes against humanity by the regime led by Bashar Al-Assad.

We are currently considering options for building on our ongoing accountability work in Syria. In the meantime, we will continue to support partners who are playing a pivotal role in developing a credible evidence base to record atrocities committed by the former regime and others. This year alone, we have committed £1.15 million to accountability and documentation related programmes. In addition, we will continue to work with our international partners and civil society to advocate for and support mechanisms such as the UN International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism (IIIM) and Independent Institution for Missing Persons (IIMP) to ensure that accountability is a core part of the transitional process.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will designate Fawaz Al-Akhras for providing support to the Bashar Al-Assad regime.

The FCDO keeps all sanctions listings and evidence under close review. It is not appropriate to speculate on potential future designations, as to do so could reduce their impact.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the United States’ designation of Fawaz Al-Akhras for materially assisting, sponsoring, or providing financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Bashar Al-Assad.

The Government's priority is to work closely with our allies, including the US, to prevent instability in Syria, ensure civilians are protected and provide humanitarian assistance to those who need it, while shaping an inclusive and peaceful transfer of power following the fall of Assad's brutal regime. The FCDO keeps all sanctions listings and evidence under close review.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has discussed the attack on the Iber Lepenci water canal in Kosovo with the Foreign Ministers of (a) the EU, (b) the USA, (c) France, (d) Italy and (e) Germany.

I discussed the attack on critical infrastructure in northern Kosovo on 3 December with French Minister for European Affairs. I also discussed the situation with fellow NATO members at the NATO Foreign Ministerial Meeting on 3 December. On the same day, the Prime Minister's Special Envoy, Lord Peach, discussed the attack with EU Special Representative Lajcak. This followed the immediate engagement of our Ambassadors in Pristina and Belgrade with their EU, French, Italian, US and German counterparts, with whom we are working to encourage a full and evidence-based investigation to establish the facts of the attack, and to urge against rhetoric that heightens tensions. I will continue to engage with counterparts.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the attack on the Iber Lepenci water canal in Kosovo on 28 November 2024.

Following the 29 November attack on critical infrastructure in northern Kosovo, our immediate priorities are to demonstrate our support and solidarity with Kosovo; to work with Kosovo and international partners to ensure a credible, evidence-based investigation is conducted; and to manage down risks of escalation. I spoke to Kosovo's Prime Minister Kurti and Serbia's Foreign Minister Djuric on 1 December and urged against rhetoric that increases tensions.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will increase the number of British military personnel deployed to KFOR following the attack on the Iber Lepenci water canal on 28 November 2024.

The size and shape of NATO's Kosovo Force (KFOR) mission is an operational matter for NATO. The UK would consider any request from NATO, through its established process and procedure, for an increase in the number of military personnel deployed to Kosovo. We remain a key part of KFOR - including with our Strategic Reserve, which deployed for three months at less than five days' notice after the attack at Banjska in the north of Kosovo in September 2023.