Written questions by Rosindell.

What steps he has taken to improve the air-to-air refuelling capabilities of the Royal Air Force.

I refer the hon. member to the answer I gave to Question 63066 on 4 July 2025 to the hon member for Huntingdon (Ben Obese-Jecty).

What steps she has taken with relevant authorities to improve the safety of train drivers in (a) England and (b) Romford constituency.

Ensuring the continued safety of train drivers across the national rail network remains a priority for my department. Train operators are subject to strict legal duties, which are enforced by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), to ensure that the train drivers they employ can work in safety. My department works closely with the ORR, the Rail Safety and Standards Board and the wider rail industry to keep these measures under review and to identify areas for improvement. This has included supporting research to improve the industry’s understanding of issues such as fatigue management and access to welfare facilities and the development of improved standards and guidance to codify best practice.

What steps his Department is taking to mitigate the potential impact of UK visa policy changes on SMEs that trade with Colombia.

UK exporters remain able to travel to Colombia visa-free to provide their goods and services. The UK also continues to welcome Colombian nationals with visit visas travelling to the UK for business reasons.DBT supports UK businesses of all sizes to export to Colombia, including through the British Embassy in Bogota. The UK-Andean Countries trade agreement provides preferential access to both UK and Colombian businesses, while the next UK-Colombia ministerial trade dialogue will provide an opportunity to discuss how to strengthen our trade relationship further, including in light of the UK’s new industrial and trade strategies and its upcoming SME Strategy.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support banana-producing countries affected by the UK’s pesticide regulations; and whether his Department will help such countries identify sustainable alternatives to Mancozeb.

The decision to withdraw the use of the fungicide mancozeb in Great Britain does not immediately affect banana-producing countries. The UK Government recognises the importance that bilateral trade between the UK and banana-producing countries plays, in boosting growth and ensuring regional stability. The UK is open to discussing the concerns of our trade partners. The UK also supports international efforts to reduce the use of the most hazardous pesticides and promote the use of sustainable alternatives, through mechanisms such as the Global Framework on Chemicals (GFC). The GFC is a multistakeholder framework which, amongst other things, encourages the transition to safer alternatives and sustainable approaches.

Whether her Department is taking steps with the Mayor of London to help mitigate residential noise pollution from (a) the London Underground and (b) associated maintenance works.

Transport in London is devolved to the Mayor of London and Transport for London. They are responsible for the operation and maintenance of London Underground, including assessment of noise generated and any necessary mitigations.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to help prevent the sale of illegal glue traps.

The Glue Traps (Offences) Act 2022 bans glue trap use in England in all but the most exceptional, licensable circumstances. It came into force in 2024. Nothing in the law prevents sale of glue traps in England. However, only pest controllers with a licence can legally use them for rodent control. Widespread media coverage in 2022 and 2024 alerted businesses to the change in legislation in England and on-going stakeholder engagement has helped ensure pest controllers acting for businesses are cognisant of the situation. The British Independent Retailers Association has also published advice for retailers to prevent glue traps from being sold for illegal use and we know of market-leading suppliers and retailers having withdrawn them from sale.

How many people have been charged under the Modern Slavery Act 2015 in each year since 2021.

The Home Office publishes information on the number of charges for modern slavery in England and Wales. The number of individuals charged or summonsed for modern slavery offences was 226 in 2021, 192 in 2022, 167 in 2023 and 209 in 2024.More information on the latest police recorded crime data can be accessed here: Police recorded crime and outcomes open data tables - GOV.UKWhere a charge outcome has been recorded for a modern slavery crime it is not necessarily always a charge under the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the level of energy consumption required by artificial intelligence services.

The Government recognises that AI is a technology with significant energy demands.DSIT is working closely with industry to understand and forecast the future energy requirements of AI, noting that it is a rapidly evolving technology.Through the AI Energy Council, we are collaborating with DESNZ and relevant energy stakeholders to ensure our energy system is prepared to meet the needs of AI.

What estimate his Department has made of the value of trade between the UK and Tuvalu in each year since 2020.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Hon gentleman or lady Parliamentary Question of 26th June is attached.

How many people receive Universal Credit in (a) Romford constituency and (b) the London Borough of Havering.

The latest available statistics on the number of people who are on Universal Credit, by Westminster parliamentary constituency and by local authority, are published in the ‘People on Universal Credit’ dataset on Stat-Xplore. Users can log in or access Stat-Xplore as a guest and, if needed, can access general guidance on how to extract the information required. For guidance on the Universal Credit datasets on Stat-Xplore, see the Universal Credit Official Statistics Stat-Xplore User Guide.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 54689 on Dangerous Dogs: Social Rented Housing, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of being denied permission to take up residency by housing providers on people with legally exempted XL Bully dogs.

Defra undertook an impact assessment when developing legislation to ban XL Bully dogs. This assessment recognised that some housing providers would not allow owners to keep XL bullies. It is for the housing provider to decide their own policies on whether they permit tenants to keep exempted banned breed types.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 18 June 2025 to Question 58607 on Saint Helena: Politics and Government, how many of those constitutions include a provision for special responsibility for finance being vested in the Governor; and for what reason such wording is retained in the Constitution of Saint Helena in the context of its ministerial system of government.

Each Overseas Territory's constitution is unique. In relation to the 2021 amendment to the Constitution of Saint Helena, the Governor, in concert with the Legislative Council, commissioned an independent review of governance arrangements by the Westminster Foundation of Democracy. The findings are now with the Legislative Council for consideration and to determine if further constitutional amendment is required.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he plans to make representations to Reza Pahlavi on the conflict between Iran and Israel.

The Foreign Secretary has already spoken to his Israeli, American, and Iranian counterparts and will continue to call for restraint and for all parties to step back. Now is the time for restrain, calm and a return to diplomacy. Our priority is stability in the Middle East. We are clear that a widening of this conflict is in nobody's interests, and that immediate de-escalation is vital for both regional stability and global security.

Pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 54690 on Tobacco: Excise Duties, whether her Department has undertaken analysis on the reasons for the 10% fall in tobacco duty receipts.

HMRC publishes commentary on tobacco duty receipts with the Tobacco Bulletin - Tobacco statistics commentary April 2025 - GOV.UK. The 10% decrease in tobacco duty receipts between 2023/24 and 2024/25 was primarily driven by falling cigarette and hand rolling tobacco receipts. The Office for Budget Responsibility also discuss drivers of tobacco duty receipts in relation to the tobacco duty forecast on their webpage - Tobacco duties - Office for Budget Responsibility. Receipts are driven by inflation (CPI and RPI), real household consumption and underlying trends in tobacco consumption. The downward trend in tobacco consumption has accelerated in recent years, partly reflecting changing attitudes and the increasing popularity of e-cigarettes.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what changes he plans to make to the British Indian Ocean Territory (Constitution) Order 2004 following the Treaty with Mauritius.

Following entry into force of the Treaty, Mauritius will be sovereign over the Chagos Archipelago and the British Indian Ocean Territory will no longer exist. The Government will bring forward a Bill as soon as parliamentary time allows, which will make provision inter alia for the ongoing governance of Diego Garcia.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether it his Departments policy to permit the Chagossian people a say over their self-determination.

These negotiations were necessarily between the UK and Mauritius. We continue to engage with Chagossian communities. The Foreign Secretary and I met groups on 22 May 2025.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department defines the Chagossian people as a distinct racial group of shared ethnic and cultural origin who are entitled to (a) recognition, (b) consideration and (c) treatment as such.

The UK government provides a range of support to people who were born on the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) / Chagos Archipelago and their descendants. The government has also maintained the current route to British citizenship for Chagossians until it expires in 23 Nov 2027.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 6 June 2025 to Question 54687 on St Helena: Bank Services and Financial Services, which of the areas set out will help support Saint Helena to provide (a) financial and (b) banking services to non-residents; and whether it is his policy to encourage the provision of such services, in the context of the steps taken by the Saint Helena government to become economically self-sufficient.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) continues to support the St Helena Government to help strengthen its financial and banking sectors. This includes assistance to modernise financial infrastructure, enhance regulatory frameworks, and ensure compliance with international standards.The provision of banking and financial services to non-residents is a matter for the St Helena Government. UK Government support has been designed to help St Helena ensure any expansion of services is carefully managed to mitigate reputational and financial crime risks. The FCDO remains engaged with the St Helena Government and the St Helena Financial Services Regulatory Authority to explore opportunities that support the goal of greater economic self-sufficiency, including through the responsible development of its financial services sector.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make provision for legally binding agreement protections for Chagossian (a) cultural and (b) historical locations following implementation of the agreement with Mauritius on the British Indian Ocean Territory.

I refer the Hon Member to the reply given to his previous question 59998.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if his Department will make provision to ensure that the current availability of visitation by UK Chagossians to their ancestral islands will continue after any transfer of sovereignty.

I refer the Hon Member to the reply to his previous question 59998.