Written questions by Kearns.

What assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the Ambulance Response Programme in the East Midlands Ambulance Service .

The Government accepts that urgent and emergency care performance has, in recent years, been short of the standards the public rightly expect. We are determined to put things right.Our Urgent and Emergency Care Delivery Plan for 2025/26 commits to reducing ambulance response times for Category 2 incidents to 30 minutes on average this year. We are also tackling unacceptable ambulance handover delays by introducing a maximum 45-minute standard, ensuring ambulances are released more quickly and get back on the road to treat patients.We have already seen improvements in response times across the country, including in the East Midlands. The latest national figures for the East Midlands show that Category 2 'emergency incidents' were responded to in 32 minutes 35 seconds on average. This is faster than the 36 minutes 8 seconds seen in July 2024.

What estimate he has made of the number of living LGBT veterans dismissed from the Armed Forces before 1967 who are excluded from the reparations recommended by the LGBT Veterans Independent Review; and what assessment he has made of the potential merits of extending the scope of the reparations to include those veterans.

The Government recognises the profound impact that historic criminal and Service law had on LGBT veterans and is committed to ensuring fairness and inclusivity in its restorative measures. While the current scope of the LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme (FRS) is based on the recommendations of the LGBT Veterans Independent Review, the Government acknowledges the concerns raised regarding veterans dismissed before 1967. We therefore extended four restorative measures to those who served before 1967. They can apply to have administrative discharges qualified, their rank restored, Certificates of Service re-issued, and former Officers may apply to have Service details published in The Gazette, as part of the official record. At present, the Government has not conducted, nor does it have plans to conduct, a formal assessment of the potential merits of extending the FRS to include veterans dismissed or discharged before 1967. This is because the Scheme was set up specifically to respond to the period when Service law was different to civilian law. We do not know how many living veterans were dismissed or discharged from the Armed Forces because of their sexual orientation or gender identity before 1967. The forthcoming Veterans Strategy will set out this government’s vision for the remarkable men and women that have served in this country’s Armed Forces. Through this new strategy, we will ensure all veterans’– including LGBT – service is celebrated, their potential to make further contributions is realised and, for those that need it, that the right support is available to them.

Whether she has had discussions with police forces on moving the criminal investigation by South Yorkshire Police into the alleged abuse of grooming gang victims by South Yorkshire Police officers to an independent body.

Following discussions between the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), South Yorkshire Police, and the National Crime Agency (NCA), it has been formally agreed that the investigation will now be carried out by the NCA under the direction and control of the IOPC.In line with the Inquiries Act 2005, the Chair of the National Inquiry into Group-based Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, once appointed, will play a central role in shaping the inquiry’s Terms of Reference. These will be published in draft and consulted on with stakeholders, including victims and survivors, before being finalised. The Inquiry will have full statutory powers to investigate systemic and institutional failings wherever they are found. Where the Inquiry finds evidence of potential criminal wrongdoing, it will provide the material to the relevant police force for investigation.

With reference to FOI2024/01172, if HMRC will now extend 85% discounts to individual taxpayers affected by the Loan Charge.

The Government commissioned an independent review of the Loan Charge to help bring the matter to a close for those affected whilst ensuring fairness for all taxpayers. The Government will respond by Autumn Budget 2025.During Oral Questions on 1 July 2025, the honourable member for Mid Buckinghamshire referred to comments made by an external stakeholder that were shared under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. HMRC Officials do not recognise the allegation that HMRC agreed deals with large employers allowing them to settle disguised remuneration liabilities for less than was legally due.

Whether her Department plans to review the monthly salary sacrifice cap for existing users of the childcare voucher scheme, in the context of (a) cumulative inflation and (b) increased average childcare costs since the threshold was last set.

Childcare Vouchers are now closed to new entrants, and the Government has no plans to reopen or reform them. Existing users can continue to use them as long as they remain with their current employer, the employer continues to offer Vouchers, and their contract of employment remains the same. Tax-Free Childcare has been introduced to replace Childcare Vouchers. Tax-Free Childcare is a fairer scheme than Childcare Vouchers, as it broadens access to childcare to all families who meet the eligibility criteria, whether they are an employee or self-employed and regardless of who their employer is.

What the immigration status was for Ayman Adams when he sentenced for a sexual assault in Wakefield.

We do not comment on individual cases. We have a responsibility not to disclose any information relating to an individual's immigration or citizenship status, as well as complying with our general duty of confidentiality.

Pursuant to the Answer of 19 December 2024 to Question 20277 on Mohamed Iidow, what the immigration status was for Mohamed Lidow at the time he committed the manslaughter and rape of Natalie Shotter.

We do not comment on individual cases. We have a responsibility not to disclose any information relating to an individual's immigration or citizenship status, as well as complying with our general duty of confidentiality.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Government accepts the Chinese Communist Party's claim to be able to appoint the next Dalai Lama as legitimate.

This Government champions freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all in the UK and abroad, working to uphold the right to FoRB through the UN, G7 and other multilateral fora, and through bilateral engagement. For example, on July 2 the UK convened an event in Geneva to reaffirm the right to FoRB for all, including Tibetan Buddhists and the right to choose their own religious leaders.The UK views the Dalai Lama as a respected spiritual leader and strong human rights advocate. It is our longstanding position that the appointment of the next Dalai Lama is a matter for the Tibetan Buddhist community across the world, in line with FoRB.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Government has raised Chinese claims on the Indian territory of Arunachal Pradesh with his counterparts in the Chinese Government.

The UK's position is that it is for relevant parties to resolve border disputes bilaterally. We support all peaceful means to do so and oppose any attempts to use or threaten the use of force to change the status quo. The UK Government welcomes recent discussions between India and China over the Line of Actual Control (LAC), and agreements to deescalate tensions. We continue to support a peaceful resolution between India and China on the border question.

Whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of including Level 2 qualifications for butchery and poultry dressing on the Free Courses for Jobs scheme.

The core Adult Skills Fund covers a very wide breadth of qualifications including those related to butchery and poultry dressing (for example the Level 2 Certificate for Proficiency in Meat and Poultry Industry Skills). The department sets funding rates which are designed to incentivise the delivery of “high value” courses in the Adult Skills Fund. Butchery courses (insofar as they are included in the Manufacturing Technologies Sector Subject Area) are in the “High” funding band which means providers receive more funding per learner than courses relating to other industries.The government also funds training through the Level 2 Butcher apprenticeship standard and the Level 3 Advanced Butcher apprenticeship standard.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Government recognises Milorad Dodik as the President of the Repulika Srpska Entity following the upholding of his prison sentence and ban on holding office.

The UK does not recognise Milorad Dodik as the current President of the Republika Srpska Entity. The Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) has upheld the decision of the Central Election Commission to remove Dodik's mandate, following his conviction, and this decision is final. The UK remains committed to the sovereignty, stability, constitutional order and fully supports local institutions in upholding the rule of law in BiH. Our Ambassador in BiH has made this clear in public statements. We call on all actors to respect the decisions of judicial authorities in BiH.

What steps he is taking to support the use of subsea cables for energy transmission.

An extensive offshore network is being built to meet the rising demand for electricity and connect new renewable generation. The strategic, coordinated approach National Energy System Operator (NESO) is taking to network planning has allowed them to recommend extensive use of offshore “bootstraps” to reinforce the onshore grid, and design integrated offshore networks in some areas, where they are the most optimised designs. The recommendations in NESO’s recent strategic network plans (‘Pathway to 2030’ (2022) and ‘Beyond 2030’ (2024)) could mean that by 2035, three times as much undersea cabling could be laid than new pylons across Britain.

What comparative estimate his Department has made of the costs of transmitting energy by (a) undersea cables and (b) pylon networks.

The Department has not conducted its own assessment of the comparative costs of undersea cables and pylon networks. However, in April 2025, the Institution of Engineering and Technology published average lifetime cost estimates which suggest that 400kV AC overhead lines cost approximately £1,190/Megawatt-kilometre (MWkm), while subsea HVDC connections between onshore substations cost around £6,170/MWkm—over 5.2 times more.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the China Audit made an assessment of the proposal for a new Chinese Embassy.

No. The determination of the Chinese planning application is an independent process. The decision will be made by Ministers in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government in their quasi-judicial capacity.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has (a) accepted and (b) implemented all recommendations from the China Audit.

The Government will take forward work to deliver each of the actions recommended by the China Audit. These will be delivered as part of the Government's broader strategic approach to China.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the China Audit recommended placing China in the enhanced tier of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme.

The Audit examined the full range of considerations in our relationship with China, including National Security. We keep all designations on the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme Enhanced Tier under review.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether Members of Parliament will be given the opportunity to read the China Audit in a secure location.

There are mechanisms in place for certain parliamentarians to have access to classified Government material. The Government will not be releasing the full details of the findings of the Audit as it was conducted at a higher security classification.

Pursuant to the Answer of 16 June 2025 to Question 58269 on Winter Fuel Payment: Rutland and Stamford, how many people will be eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment following the proposed changes in Rutland and Stamford constituency.

It is not possible to provide an estimate of such figures at a constituency level. I refer the member back to the answer of 16 June to Question 58269 for further detail on the national impact of the changes to the eligibility criteria.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Saudi Arabian counterpart on the case of Ahmed al-Doush.

We are providing consular support to Mr Al-Doush and his family and are in contact with the Saudi Arabian authorities. I met the family on 8 July 2025 to discuss the case.

Representing the House of Commons Commission, if the Commission will provide a summary of the conclusions of the review into the delivery of the China Daily paper to MPs offices.

The Administration Committee undertook a review of unsolicited material that is delivered to the House of Commons for distribution to all Members. The conclusion of that review limited the distribution of bulk mailings to letters and reports only with a size and weight restriction. Members must now opt-in to continue to receive specific mailings, such as the China Daily. At the present time, no Members subscribe to the China Daily.