Written questions by Rosindell.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she plans to support representations for an independent investigation into alleged extrajudicial killings in Tanzania since October 2025.

Alongside her counterparts from Canada and Norway, the Foreign Secretary published a statement on 31 October, stating: "We are concerned by the situation in Tanzania following the national elections of 28 and 29 October. There are credible reports of a large number of fatalities and significant injuries, as a result of the security response to protests, which began on 29 October. We urge the authorities - as previously discussed with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs - to act with maximum restraint and respect the right of assembly and freedom of expression. We remain concerned that the run-up to the elections was marked by harassment, abductions and intimidation of opposition figures, journalists and civil society actors. We call on the Tanzanian authorities to uphold their international commitments and ensure that all citizens can participate freely and safely in public life." We are continuing to monitor the situation.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking with international partners to help tackle (a) religious persecution and (b) violence in (i) northern and (ii) central Nigeria.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 3 November to Question 85661.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the designation of Nigeria as a country of particular concern by the United States.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 3 November to Question 85661.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the legitimacy of the general election in Tanzania in October 2025.

Alongside her counterparts from Canada and Norway, the Foreign Secretary published a statement on 31 October, stating: "We are concerned by the situation in Tanzania following the national elections of 28 and 29 October. There are credible reports of a large number of fatalities and significant injuries, as a result of the security response to protests, which began on 29 October. We urge the authorities - as previously discussed with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs - to act with maximum restraint and respect the right of assembly and freedom of expression. We remain concerned that the run-up to the elections was marked by harassment, abductions and intimidation of opposition figures, journalists and civil society actors. We call on the Tanzanian authorities to uphold their international commitments and ensure that all citizens can participate freely and safely in public life." We are continuing to monitor the situation.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has raised the case of British citizen Nnamdi Kanu with the Nigerian authorities.

The UK Government takes all allegations of human rights violations and due process concerns very seriously including raising with local authorities where appropriate. We assess what action is appropriate to take on the specific facts of the case. The UK Government has raised Mr Kanu's case with the Nigerian authorities on multiple occasions, most recently on 11 November 2025 when Baroness Chapman, Minister for Africa met with Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar. Consular officials visit Mr Kanu and attend his trial hearings on a regular basis and remain in contact with his family and legal representatives.The UK respects the territorial integrity of Nigeria. We encourage dialogue between the many ethnic groups and communities that make up and contribute to the strength and diversity of Nigeria. The UK supports and respects the Nigerian Government's commitment to work for a secure and prosperous Nigeria for all its citizens and is committed to working with Nigeria in support of this objective.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with the Nigerian Government on (a) arbitrary detentions and (b) due process.

The UK Government takes all allegations of human rights violations and due process concerns very seriously including raising with local authorities where appropriate. We assess what action is appropriate to take on the specific facts of the case. The UK Government has raised Mr Kanu's case with the Nigerian authorities on multiple occasions, most recently on 11 November 2025 when Baroness Chapman, Minister for Africa met with Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar. Consular officials visit Mr Kanu and attend his trial hearings on a regular basis and remain in contact with his family and legal representatives.The UK respects the territorial integrity of Nigeria. We encourage dialogue between the many ethnic groups and communities that make up and contribute to the strength and diversity of Nigeria. The UK supports and respects the Nigerian Government's commitment to work for a secure and prosperous Nigeria for all its citizens and is committed to working with Nigeria in support of this objective.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the treatment of members of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra in Nigeria.

The UK Government takes all allegations of human rights violations and due process concerns very seriously including raising with local authorities where appropriate. We assess what action is appropriate to take on the specific facts of the case. The UK Government has raised Mr Kanu's case with the Nigerian authorities on multiple occasions, most recently on 11 November 2025 when Baroness Chapman, Minister for Africa met with Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar. Consular officials visit Mr Kanu and attend his trial hearings on a regular basis and remain in contact with his family and legal representatives.The UK respects the territorial integrity of Nigeria. We encourage dialogue between the many ethnic groups and communities that make up and contribute to the strength and diversity of Nigeria. The UK supports and respects the Nigerian Government's commitment to work for a secure and prosperous Nigeria for all its citizens and is committed to working with Nigeria in support of this objective.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent diplomatic discussions she has had with her Chinese counterparts on the detention of Church leader Zhang Chunlei; and what steps she is taking to ensure his release.

I refer the Hon. Member to my answer to question 83339 on 23 October.

What steps she has taken with relevant stakeholders to help tackle illegal car sales.

While the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has no powers to govern how cars are bought and sold, it does play a key role in maintaining accurate records of vehicles and their registered keepers to support wider efforts to tackle vehicle-related crime. It is a legal requirement to notify the DVLA when a vehicle is bought or sold. The latest available data shows that more than 93 per cent of vehicle keepers are contactable and traceable from the information held on the DVLA’s records. Of the remainder, around six per cent are in the motor trade where a vehicle may legitimately have no registered keeper.

What assessment he has made of the contribution of the UK to national security in Northern Ireland.

The Government remains committed to keeping people safe. I pay tribute to those who work so hard to ensure peace and security across the United Kingdom. In relation to national security in Northern Ireland, the fact that the Northern Ireland Related Terrorism threat level was reduced in March 2024 to SUBSTANTIAL and remains there is testament to the tremendous efforts of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and security partners. In recognition of the security situation in Northern Ireland, the Government is providing the PSNI with £113 million over three years in Additional Security Funding to help address Northern Ireland’s specific security challenges and continue keeping people safe.

With reference to her Department's report entitled Scientific procedures on living animals, Great Britain: 2024, published on 23 October 2025, what assessment she has made of (a) the number of animals used in experiments in British laboratories for (i) basic and (ii) applied research in 2024 and (b) trends in the number of animals used in experiments in British laboratories for (A) basic and (B) applied research.

In 2024, there were 2.64 million regulated scientific procedures carried out in Great Britain involving living animals. This is a decrease of 1% on the previous year, and the lowest number since 2001.The trends in the number of animals and types of procedures carried out each year are influenced by a range of extraneous factors, for example requirements for research and testing which include products being brought to market.The Home Office is responsible for regulating under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA) to assure compliance with protections afforded to animals used in science and to administrate the licensing framework. Data trends and requirements will be assessed by the authorities whom have particular responsibilities and requirements for the use of animals of science.

With reference to her Department's report entitled Scientific procedures on living animals, Great Britain: 2024, published on 23 October 2025, what assessment she has made of (a) the number of animals used in experiments in British laboratories in 2024 and (b) trends in the number of animals used in experiments in British laboratories.

In 2024, there were 2.64 million regulated scientific procedures carried out in Great Britain involving living animals. This is a decrease of 1% on the previous year, and the lowest number since 2001.The trends in the number of animals and types of procedures carried out each year are influenced by a range of extraneous factors, for example requirements for research and testing which include products being brought to market.The Home Office is responsible for regulating under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA) to assure compliance with protections afforded to animals used in science and to administrate the licensing framework. Data trends and requirements will be assessed by the authorities whom have particular responsibilities and requirements for the use of animals of science.

What fiscal steps she has taken to support the pub sector in (a) England and (b) Romford constituency.

The Government recognises the vital role that hospitality businesses such as restaurants and pubs play in supporting the UK’s economy and communities, including in Romford. As announced at Autumn Budget 2024, the Government will introduce permanently lower business rates multipliers for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties with ratable values (RVs) below £500,000 from 2026/27. This permanent tax cut will ensure that small hospitality businesses benefit from much-needed certainty and support.In addition, weincreased the Employment Allowance to £10,500 which should benefit small Romford pubs and restaurants;established the Licensing Taskforce and issued a call for evidence on a National Licensing Policy Framework which will set out national direction for licensing authorities to consider economic growth and cultural value,introduced the English Devolution Bill, which will protect hospitality businesses from upward only rent clauses, and;are introducing a strong new ‘Community Right to Buy’ to help communities safeguard valued community assets – such as pubs.

If he will estimate the number of people who have died due to mercury poisoning in (a) England and (b) Romford constituency in every year since 2010.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 31st October is attached.

If she will take steps to commission an independent review of the Public Order Act 1986.

The Home Secretary launched a review of public order legislation on 5 October, including the Public Order Act 1986The review will ensure police powers remain fit for purpose, are used consistently, and strike the right balance between protecting the public and upholding the right to lawful protest. Further details of the review will be announced in due course.

If she will take steps to increase the age cap on the opening of Lifetime ISAs.

On the Government LISA contribution, LISA holders can receive a generous 25% government bonus on contributions up to £4,000 per year. This means an individual who made the full contribution would receive a £1,000 bonus from the Government. On the age limits, the LISA is designed to encourage younger people to get into the habit of saving for the longer-term. Individuals who did not open a LISA before the age of 40 are still able to save in another ISA type and benefit from the annual subscription limit of £20,000. They can also contribute to a pension, where their contributions will generally receive significant tax relief from the Government. Those who opened a LISA before their 40th birthday can continue to subscribe until they are 50 and can continue managing their account beyond that date. This includes transferring the account to another LISA manager and changing their investment profile from cash to stocks and shares or vice versa. The Government keeps all aspects of savings tax policy under review, and considers all representations made carefully, with any changes made as part of the Budget process.

If she will take steps to increase the Government contribution to savings in Lifetime ISAs.

On the Government LISA contribution, LISA holders can receive a generous 25% government bonus on contributions up to £4,000 per year. This means an individual who made the full contribution would receive a £1,000 bonus from the Government. On the age limits, the LISA is designed to encourage younger people to get into the habit of saving for the longer-term. Individuals who did not open a LISA before the age of 40 are still able to save in another ISA type and benefit from the annual subscription limit of £20,000. They can also contribute to a pension, where their contributions will generally receive significant tax relief from the Government. Those who opened a LISA before their 40th birthday can continue to subscribe until they are 50 and can continue managing their account beyond that date. This includes transferring the account to another LISA manager and changing their investment profile from cash to stocks and shares or vice versa. The Government keeps all aspects of savings tax policy under review, and considers all representations made carefully, with any changes made as part of the Budget process.

How many prisoners have been released from prison in error in (a) England and (b) Essex in every year since 2010.

Releases in error have been increasing for several years and are another symptom of the prison system crisis inherited by this Government.While the overwhelming majority of offenders are released correctly, we’re clamping down on those releases in error that do occur – including through improved staff training and establishing a new specialist unit. A joint protocol between HMPPS and NPCC is in place, to ensure effective and timely communication between partner agencies when an individual is released in error to rearrest them as quickly as possible.We have gripped this chaos – by building more prison places, ending the last Government’s early release scheme, being transparent with the public, immediately making changes to sentences to ease pressure on the system and now, taking landmark reforms through our Sentencing Bill to make sure that prisons never run out of places again.The Ministry of Justice publishes annual data on prisoners released in error in England and Wales in the HMPPS Annual Digest available via HMPPS Annual Digest, April 2024 to March 2025 - GOV.UK.These figures can be found under Chapter 1 Tables – Escape data tool; showing data up to March 2025.

What fiscal steps she has taken to support the restaurant sector in (a) England and (b) Romford constituency.

The Government recognises the vital role that hospitality businesses such as restaurants and pubs play in supporting the UK’s economy and communities, including in Romford. As announced at Autumn Budget 2024, the Government will introduce permanently lower business rates multipliers for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties with ratable values (RVs) below £500,000 from 2026/27. This permanent tax cut will ensure that small hospitality businesses benefit from much-needed certainty and support.In addition, weincreased the Employment Allowance to £10,500 which should benefit small Romford pubs and restaurants;established the Licensing Taskforce and issued a call for evidence on a National Licensing Policy Framework which will set out national direction for licensing authorities to consider economic growth and cultural value,introduced the English Devolution Bill, which will protect hospitality businesses from upward only rent clauses, and;are introducing a strong new ‘Community Right to Buy’ to help communities safeguard valued community assets – such as pubs.

If she will take steps to commission an independent review of the Serious Crime Act 2007.

This Government remains firmly committed to tackling serious and organised crime and the significant threat it poses to communities across the UK. It is essential that law enforcement agencies are equipped with robust and effective tools to respond to this challenge.The Serious Crime Act 2007 was subject to full parliamentary scrutiny during its passage in Parliament. In addition, the Act underwent post-legislative scrutiny in 2012, the findings of which are publicly available.This review assessed the implementation and impact of the Act and can be accessed via the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/post-legislative-scrutiny-of-the-serious-crime-act-2007.