Written questions by Murrison.

Communities and Local Government, whether the Housing Strategy will include a plan for Integrated Retirement Communities.

I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 87630 on 11 November 2025.

Communities and Local Government, whether he will make an assessment of the potential merits of the New Zealand model of Integrated Retirement Communities in formulating the Housing Strategy.

I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 87630 on 11 November 2025.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Government plans to reopen (a) military and (b) non-military government training opportunities to Israelis following the ceasefire in Gaza.

The UK has a long history of providing assistance to other nations in the security and justice fields and continues to do so around the world. UK training courses promote British values, including human rights, democracy, and compliance with international humanitarian law.The Ministry of Defence decided to pause future Israeli participation on UK training and education courses until the situation in Gaza and the West Bank had been satisfactorily addressed. Since the ceasefire we have continued to monitor the situation in Gaza and the West Bank, and the Government will keep this decision under review.

Pursuant to his Answer of 17 October 2025 to Question 77029 on Israel: Military Aid, following the ceasefire in Gaza, when he will review his decision on Israeli defence personnel attendance on UK courses.

The Ministry of Defence decided to pause future Israeli participation on UK training and education courses until the situation in Gaza and the West Bank had been satisfactorily addressed We will keep this decision under review.

How much his Department spent on (a) external tenders and (b) contracts for (i) translation and (ii) interpretation services in the NHS in the last 12 months for which information is available.

The Department’s expenditure with external suppliers of translation or interpretation services from 1 October 2024 to 1 October 2025 was £32,442.

If he will list military training courses booked for Israelis that have been cancelled by the UK in each of the last 5 years.

The Ministry of Defence has not withdrawn any places allocated to Israel on UK training or education courses in the last five years. As you will be aware, the Government took the decision to pause Israeli attendance on UK professional military education given our concerns about the on-going Israeli campaign in Gaza. We will keep this decision under review.

If he will publish his Department's impact assessment for the removal of UK military courses from Israeli nationals.

To protect formulation of Government policy, advice provided to Ministers on this matter will not be published. Given our concerns regarding the Israeli Defence Force’s conduct in Palestine, particularly following the Government of Israel’s decision to escalate its offensive in Gaza City, the Ministry of Defence decided to pause future Israeli participation on UK training and education courses. To avoid significant disruption to students and their families, any students on UK courses that are currently running have been permitted to continue. We are keeping this decision under review and are mindful of the potential prospects for a ceasefire and long-term resolution to the conflict.

If he will list the countries that are barred from accessing UK military training.

Any decision to provide professional military education or training to a partner nation is made on a case-by-case basis and is underpinned by a robust assessment as to the benefits, risks, and compliance with international human rights law. In the interests of national security and upholding trust and confidentiality in our international partnerships, it is not appropriate for the Government to comment on the provision of training to individual countries.

How many Israeli (a) civilians, (b) military officers, (c) military other ranks and (d) defence healthcare workers have previously accessed UK (i) defence courses (ii) training in each year for which records are available.

Our records indicate 174 Israelis have previously accessed UK-based defence courses and training, between the years of 1976 and 2024. Further detail is provided in the attached Annex. Data has been obtained from all available sources but is not guaranteed to be exhaustive given the length of time and because training data is not held in a central database. The data obtained does not differentiate between defence courses and training. I would also note that positions on some UK courses are offered to the Israeli Ministry of Defence – who then allocate positions across the Israel Defence Force. As you will be aware, the Government took the decision to pause Israeli Defence attendance on UK professional military education given our concerns about the military operation in Gaza. We are keeping this decision under review.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Prime Minister's oral contributions during Prime Minister's Questions on 10 September 2025, Official Report, if she will publish (a) the procedure followed for the appointment of Ambassadors and High Commissioners that are not career diplomats, (b) details of the independent element and (c) a list of the due diligence measures that are applied in such cases.

All appointees for Ambassador and High Commissioner roles are subject to the same standard of background and vetting procedures. Pre-posting processes, including security vetting, are conducted for each appointment. We do not comment on the details of individual clearances or national security as a matter of course.

Whether the King's Gurkha Artillery will recruit female Nepali citizens.

Gurkhas have made an outstanding contribution to the UK through their years of dedicated service to the Crown and are held in high esteem by the British Army and public alike. The number of recruits required for the Brigade of Gurkhas is managed on an annual basis and depends on factors such as retirements, transfers and any changes in unit Order of Battles. Therefore, the Army cannot provide confirmation on the likely number of Gurkha recruits for each of the next five years. The British Army’s wish to recruit women has been communicated to the Government of Nepal and we will continue to engage them on this subject.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of amending the planning system to encourage the building of integrated retirement communities.

The National Planning Policy Framework is clear that local authorities should assess the size, type, and tenure of housing needed for different groups, including older people, and reflect this in their planning policies. Plan making authorities should also set clear policies to address the housing needs of older people and, where there is an identified unmet need for specialist housing for older people, local authorities should take a positive approach to schemes that propose to meet this need, including integrated retirement communities. The government is committed to enhancing provision and choice for older people in the housing market and we will continue to consider this issue as we develop our long-term housing strategy, which will be published later this year. As set out in the Written Ministerial Statement I made on 26 November 2024 (HCWS249), the government is giving careful consideration to the recommendations from the Older People’s Housing Taskforce report including in relation to specialist accommodation for older people.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of introducing license-based occupancy contracts for specialist housing for older people.

The government is committed to enhancing provision and choice for older people in the housing market and we will continue to consider this issue as we develop our long-term housing strategy, which will be published later this year. As set out in the Written Ministerial Statement I made on 26 November 2024 (HCWS249), the government is giving careful consideration to the recommendations from the Older People’s Housing Taskforce report including in relation to specialist accommodation for older people.

How many claims were made for (a) delayed or (b) cancelled journeys by railway companies in public ownership in each month for which records are available; and what was the value of those claims.

Most train operating companies publish on their website Delay Repay compensation data on the number of claims submitted, the number of claims approved and the value of these claims. Delay Repay compensation is paid for eligible delays regardless of the reason for the delay. See below, for the most recent rail period available, the relevant data for Southeastern, South Western Railway, Northern and TransPennine Trains and a link to their website. Train Operating CompanyClaims ReceivedClaims ApprovedValue of ClaimsAverage Value Per Approved ClaimWebsiteSoutheastern35,44727,808£234,212.50£8.42SoutheasternSouth Western Railway24,66218,488£187,488.00£10.14South WesternNorthern55,80143,455£382,782.00£8.81NorthernTransPennine Trains25,29219,728£349,867.88£17.73TransPennine We are unable to provide London North Eastern Railway’s (LNER’s) data as it is not something it currently publishes on its website. The figures provided below from the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) covers a period longer than one month and is also the number of claims closed, not received, or approved. We have included its approval rate, along with the link to the ORR data. LNER - 05/01/25 to 31/03/25 - 117,948 Claims Closed – Approval Rate of 79.5 per cent. https://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/statistics/passenger-experience/delay-compensation-claims/.

With reference to the press release entitled UK-Morocco Joint Communiqué: Strategic Dialogue 2025, published on 1 June 2025, whether he has issued guidance to (a) UK Export Finance and (b) UK businesses on investments in Western Sahara.

Following the Foreign Secretary’s recent visit to Morocco, both Kingdoms signed several Memoranda of Understanding to drive cross-sectoral partnerships. The Department for Business and Trade and the UK’s Trade Envoy will be working with Morocco to deepen ties, including developing partnerships to support Morocco’s infrastructure programme — ahead of the 2030 Football World Cup — and advancing an Agriculture Review. Bilateral trade has been rising and reached £4.2 billion in 2024. These partnerships will boost trade and investment over the next decade. UK Export Finance offers £5bn finance and can support projects in Western Sahara, subject to meeting UKEF’s due diligence requirements.

With reference to the UK-Morocco Joint Communique: Enhanced Strategic Partnership, published on 1 June 2025, what steps his Department is taking to encourage UK businesses to invest in Western Sahara.

Following the Foreign Secretary’s recent visit to Morocco, both Kingdoms signed several Memoranda of Understanding to drive cross-sectoral partnerships. The Department for Business and Trade and the UK’s Trade Envoy will be working with Morocco to deepen ties, including developing partnerships to support Morocco’s infrastructure programme — ahead of the 2030 Football World Cup — and advancing an Agriculture Review. Bilateral trade has been rising and reached £4.2 billion in 2024. These partnerships will boost trade and investment over the next decade. UK Export Finance offers £5bn finance and can support projects in Western Sahara, subject to meeting UKEF’s due diligence requirements.

If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the comments of 1 June 2025 of the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs on the Moroccan Autonomy Plan for Western Sahara on UK-Morocco trade.

Following the Foreign Secretary’s recent visit to Morocco, both Kingdoms signed several Memoranda of Understanding to drive cross-sectoral partnerships. The Department for Business and Trade and the UK’s Trade Envoy will be working with Morocco to deepen ties, including developing partnerships to support Morocco’s infrastructure programme — ahead of the 2030 Football World Cup — and advancing an Agriculture Review. Bilateral trade has been rising and reached £4.2 billion in 2024. These partnerships will boost trade and investment over the next decade. UK Export Finance offers £5bn finance and can support projects in Western Sahara, subject to meeting UKEF’s due diligence requirements.

What estimate his Department has made of the potential impact of the UK-Morocco Enhanced Strategic Partnership, signed on 1 June 2025, on levels of trade with Morocco in the next ten years.

Following the Foreign Secretary’s recent visit to Morocco, both Kingdoms signed several Memoranda of Understanding to drive cross-sectoral partnerships. The Department for Business and Trade and the UK’s Trade Envoy will be working with Morocco to deepen ties, including developing partnerships to support Morocco’s infrastructure programme — ahead of the 2030 Football World Cup — and advancing an Agriculture Review. Bilateral trade has been rising and reached £4.2 billion in 2024. These partnerships will boost trade and investment over the next decade. UK Export Finance offers £5bn finance and can support projects in Western Sahara, subject to meeting UKEF’s due diligence requirements.

If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the comments of 1 June 2025 of the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs on the Moroccan Autonomy Plan for Western Sahara on UK trade.

Following the Foreign Secretary’s recent visit to Morocco, both Kingdoms signed several Memoranda of Understanding to drive cross-sectoral partnerships. The Department for Business and Trade and the UK’s Trade Envoy will be working with Morocco to deepen ties, including developing partnerships to support Morocco’s infrastructure programme — ahead of the 2030 Football World Cup — and advancing an Agriculture Review. Bilateral trade has been rising and reached £4.2 billion in 2024. These partnerships will boost trade and investment over the next decade. UK Export Finance offers £5bn finance and can support projects in Western Sahara, subject to meeting UKEF’s due diligence requirements.

What steps his Department is taking to encourage trade with Morocco.

Following the Foreign Secretary’s recent visit to Morocco, both Kingdoms signed several Memoranda of Understanding to drive cross-sectoral partnerships. The Department for Business and Trade and the UK’s Trade Envoy will be working with Morocco to deepen ties, including developing partnerships to support Morocco’s infrastructure programme — ahead of the 2030 Football World Cup — and advancing an Agriculture Review. Bilateral trade has been rising and reached £4.2 billion in 2024. These partnerships will boost trade and investment over the next decade. UK Export Finance offers £5bn finance and can support projects in Western Sahara, subject to meeting UKEF’s due diligence requirements.