Written questions by Rosindell.

What steps her Department is taking to encourage employers to hire people with disabilities.

Employers are crucial in enhancing employment opportunities and supporting disabled people and those with health conditions to thrive in the workforce. Our forthcoming employment White Paper explores ways to improve employment outcomes and experiences for these groups. Current support to employers includes the Disability Confident scheme which provides advice, support, and free resources to help employers attract, recruit, retain and develop disabled people in the workplace. The scheme encourages employers to think differently about disability and to take positive action to address the issues disabled employees face in the workplace. As of the 31 October 2024 there are over 19,000 employer members of the scheme and they report over 12 million employees working in their organisations. At a local level, as part of their duties, Disability Employment Advisers promote, collaborate and advocate for our customers and department services, such as the Disability Confident scheme, with external partners, service providers and employers. Nationally, DWP Strategic Relationship Team work with Disability Confident employers to demonstrate actively how they are bringing their Disability Confident commitments to life as part of their recruitment arrangements. Current support to employers also includes a digital information service for employers which offers tailored guidance on supporting health and disability in the workplace.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure that no fishing boats operate within the British Indian Ocean Territory Marine Protected Area.

The Blue Belt Ocean Shield Programme provides maritime domain awareness capabilities to tackle Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing activities within BIOT. This includes extensive, risk-based, remote satellite surveillance, tasking of satellite imagery to detect illegal activity, frequent intelligence support and providing training for fisheries patrols. The Programme also provides regional coordination to tackle IUU fishing through relevant Regional Fisheries Management Organisations and Flag States (Including bilateral engagement with relevant Flag States), and comprehensive compliance and enforcement frameworks to deter IUU activity.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure a sustainable approach to fishing in the Overseas Territories.

Working together with the Overseas Territories , the UK Government is supporting the development of sustainable marine management practices within the OTs through the Blue Belt Programme. Since 2016, this support has included development of appropriate monitoring and enforcement frameworks to manage fishing activities; scientific monitoring and advice to provide precautionary catch limits; development of risk management tools to ensure fisheries are managed sustainably with minimal impact on associated or dependent ecosystems; training and capacity building within OTs to effectively manage fisheries; remote monitoring and surveillance to tackle potential illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing activities; and ensuring OTs meet requirements of relevant Regional Fisheries Management Organisations. I recently discussed these issues on my visit to OTs in the Caribbean and will discuss them again with Leaders at the upcoming Joint Ministerial Council.

Whether the MHRA is considering the approval of vorasidenib for the treatment of low grade gliomas.

It is critical that medicines used in the United Kingdom are safe and effective and as such, medicines cannot be marketed in the UK without a marketing authorisation. These are granted by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) which assesses all medicines with regard to their quality, safety, and efficacy. Vorasidenib, sold under the brand name Voranigo, has not been licensed by the MHRA as a treatment for low-grade gliomas. It is the responsibility of the company to apply to the MHRA for the relevant marketing authorisation. Should an application for it be received, the MHRA will consider this accordingly.In England, newly licensed medicines are also appraised by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) to determine whether they represent a clinically and cost-effective use of National Health Service resources. If the manufacturer of vorasidenib seeks a licence from the MHRA for the treatment of low-grade gliomas, then the NICE will consider it through the Technology Appraisal programme.

What the joint sex and age-at-death distribution was for Covid-19 deaths in 2020 in England that were subject to inquest and have since been registered with ONS for which the interval from date of death to date of registration as a Covid-19 death was (a) one year or less, (b) one to two years and (c) more than two years.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 4th November is attached.

What funding he is providing for people with brain tumours in financial year 2024/25.

As part of the November 2021 Budget and Spending review, the Department allocated £14 billion to NHS England from 2022/23 to 2024/25 specifically for the National Health Service in England to recover elective and cancer care, including for brain tumours. This comprised of £8 billion of resource funding and £5.9 billion of capital funding, as described in the November 2021 Budget and Spending Review.As set out in the recent October Budget, we are providing an additional £1.8 billion to directly support elective recovery and activity in 2024/25, which includes cancer care. This funding is being provided to reduce waiting times and support the NHS to deliver 40,000 additional appointments each week.To support delivery of the operational priorities for cancer, including early diagnosis, NHS England is providing over £250 million in cancer service development funding to Cancer Alliances.Further to this, in September 2024, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) announced new research funding opportunities for brain cancer research, spanning both adult and paediatric populations. This includes a national NIHR Brain Tumour Research Consortium, to ensure the most promising research opportunities are made available to adult and child patients, and a new funding call to generate high quality evidence in brain tumour care, support, and rehabilitation.Lord Darzi’s report has set out the scale of the challenges we face in fixing the NHS in England, and the need to improve cancer waiting time performance and cancer survival. The report will inform the Government’s 10-Year Health Plan to reform the NHS in England, including further detail on how we will improve outcomes for cancer.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many cases of gun crime were reported in the Turks and Caicos Islands in each of the last five years.

The FCDO does not hold this data. The Royal Turks and Caicos Island Police Force (RTCIPF), who hold this data, is regulated under Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) law and is independent of the UK Government. However, we are acutely aware of the increase in gun crime in TCI, as well as the rising number of fatal shootings in TCI. I have already responded to a clear request for additional support from the Governor, Premier and local authorities, and visited in person last week to see the situation on the ground, including undertaking a patrol with police and to view training of the Royal TCI Regiment in support of local police. Our support has included deploying externally contracted Authorised Firearms Officers to boost police numbers and embedding investigators within the RTCIPF to support the investigation of cases of fatal shootings and to build long-term local capability. I was also able to announce our plans to provide two additional vessels to enhance maritime patrols by the police. I will continue to discuss additional ways we can provide sustainable support with ministerial colleagues.

What steps she is taking to support existing neighbourhood watch organisations.

This Government hugely values the work of local Neighbourhood Watch groups and the role they play in making our communities feel safe.The Home Office has provided funding for Neighbourhood Watch for the last 20 years, including providing £280,000 in funding per year in each of the last five years.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of requiring all local authorities to provide drivers with the option of paying for parking by cash.

There is no guidance or legislation currently which specifies that local authority parking should be available in cash. However, all local authorities have statutory duties to ensure that they do not discriminate in their decision making against older people or those with vulnerabilities. Cash remains legal tender and it will continue to be used by people who favour its accessibility and ease. Local authorities should ensure that there are alternative provisions for parking payments available so that no part of society is digitally excluded.

Media and Sport, if she will make an estimate of the economic contribution of adult gaming centres to (a) high streets and (b) town centres.

Official statistics from a range of sources provide the Government with insights into the economic contribution of the betting and gaming industry as a whole. The latest headline statistics show that the gambling sector contributed £4.9bn to Gross Value Added (GVA) in 2022, accounting for 0.2% of UK GVA. In the financial year 2023/24, the gambling sector employed around 94,000 people in Britain (provisional), accounting for 0.2% of UK jobs and paid approximately £3.4bn in betting and gaming duty.The Gambling Commission’s industry statistics show that between April 2022 and March 2023, gross gambling yield for adult gaming centres was £533m. This represented c. 11% of gross gambling yield generated by non-remote casinos, arcades, betting and bingo.

Food and Rural Affairs, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending the Thames Path to Essex along the Thames Estuary.

There are no plans to extend the Thames Path National Trail to Essex along the Thames Estuary at this time.

What recent discussions she has had with the Metropolitan Police on investigating shoplifting offences where the value of goods stolen is less than £200.

Shoplifting is a damaging crime, which soared under the previous government, and we are determined to remove any perception that offenders will escape punishment.To that end, this Government will end the effective immunity, introduced by the previous Government, granted to shoplifting of goods under £200.This Government regularly engages with National Police Chiefs' Council retail crime leads, ensuring effective collaboration to help combat retail crime.Operational commitments were made by the police in its October 2023 Retail Crime Action Plan. The plan contains a commitment for police across England and Wales to prioritise attendance where violence has been used towards shop staff, where an offender has been detained by store security, and where evidence needs to be secured by police personnel.This Government will also introduce a new offence of assaulting a retail worker to protect the hardworking and dedicated staff that work in stores.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has met with the administrators of (a) Tristan da Cunha and (b) Ascension Island since the Government’s asylum agreement with St Helena was concluded.

The new arrangement with St Helena does not apply to Tristan da Cunha or Ascension Island. The Chief Islander from Tristan da Cunha and Councillors from Ascension Island will attend the UK Overseas Territories Joint Ministerial Council (JMC) in London later this month. I have also met virtually with the Chief Islander and members of the Ascension Islands Council.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has met with his Bangladeshi counterpart since 4 August 2024.

The UK Government is supporting Bangladesh's Interim Government as it works to create a pathway to a more inclusive, democratic and prosperous future for the people of Bangladesh. In October, the Foreign Secretary met with Bangladesh's Foreign Affairs Adviser during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting and discussed democracy in Bangladesh, climate and the Rohingya. The British High Commission in Dhaka will continue to engage with the Interim Government in Bangladesh on mutual key priorities.

Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to meet with the Chief Executive of London Councils in the next 12 months.

I am clear that resetting the relationship with local government is a priority. I was pleased to be joined at the Leader’s Council meeting two weeks ago by the Chair of London Councils, Cllr Claire Holland, alongside colleagues from across local government. My department, both ministers and officials, regularly meet with senior leaders from across local government, including London Councils.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with his counterparts in the Pacific region on the potential merits of upgrading Honorary Consulates in (a) the Solomon Islands, (b) Vanuatu and (c) Tuvalu to High Commissions.

The UK has High Commissions with accredited resident High Commissioners in the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, the latter of which was opened in 2019. The UK High Commissioner to Fiji is also the accredited non-resident High Commissioner to Tuvalu. The UK does not have Honorary Consulates in the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu or Tuvalu.

Pursuant to the Answer of 14 October 2024 to Question 5919 on Financial Services: Liechtenstein, whether he has had any meetings with his Liechtenstein counterpart.

The Secretary of State for Business and Trade has not met with his Liechtenstein counterpart.

Whether he has met with his New Zealand counterpart.

The Secretary of State has met the Defence Minister for New Zealand, and looks forward to our countries working together on a range of defence and security issues.

Whether he has met with the Agent-General of (a) New South Wales, (b) Queensland, (c) South Australia, (d) Tasmania, (e) Victoria, and (f) Western Australia.

The Department for Business and Trade is working in close partnership with Australia across a range of areas, most notably on the implementation and utilisation of the UK-Australia Free Trade Agreement. This engagement has not included meetings by the Secretary of State with any of the Agent-Generals in Australia.

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of New Zealand joining the AUKUS partnership.

Our ambition to deliver nuclear-powered submarines for Australia under AUKUS Pillar One will remain trilateral, however AUKUS nations are seeking opportunities to engage key partners and allies on discrete advanced capability projects under AUKUS Pillar Two. Recognising New Zealand’s close bilateral defence partnerships with the AUKUS nations, we have commenced consultations with New Zealand to identify possibilities for collaboration on advanced capabilities, on a project-by-project basis. We cannot prejudge the outcome of those consultations.