Written questions by MacDonald.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what support she provides through international partners for people impacted by violence and displacement in Nigeria.

I refer the Hon Member to the Written Ministerial Statement of 27 November 2025.

What recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of the broadcaster LuaLua TV on national security.

We do not routinely comment on the detail of operational matters or specific threats. But national security is the first duty of any government, and we take any malicious activity that might pose a threat to our security extremely seriously.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of reports of increased kidnappings for ransom in Nigeria.

I refer the Hon Member to the Written Ministerial Statement of 27 November 2025.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has had recent discussions with her Nigerian counterpart on protection of civilians in areas affected by armed militant activity.

I refer the Hon Member to the Written Ministerial Statement of 27 November 2025.

Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to support cultural engagement with the Indian community.

Our relationship with India is a priority for this Government. Our shared culture and heritage provides a foundation for mutual benefits and economic growth. India is a priority for our Creative Industries Sector Plan and our people to people engagement.During her visit to India in May, my Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State signed on behalf of DCMS a five year cultural agreement with the Indian Minister of Culture. This is a key element of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with India announced by the Prime Minister in July and will support a broad range of activity embracing the Indian community across the UK. We regularly meet cultural leaders from the Indian and wider South Asian diaspora.During the Prime Minister’s visit to India last month, he announced that three new Bollywood films will be made in the UK, supporting economic growth, job creation and cultural exchange. My Department is working closely with Yash Raj Films to realise this ambition.From Gurinder Chadha and Civic Studios’ Christmas Karma to a major Chila Kumari Singh Burman retrospective to reopen Tate Liverpool in 2027, British and Indian cultural creativity is thriving across the country.

Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to support cultural engagement with the Irish community.

I value the UK’s strong cultural relationship with Ireland which has been developed over many years of successful partnerships between UK and Irish arts and cultural organisations and I recognise the substantial contribution that the Irish community makes to British cultural life.Since the start of the current parliament, The National Lottery Heritage Fund has awarded three grants totalling £290,074 to projects which explore the history and the experiences of the Irish diaspora in Britain.In a joint statement at the UK-Ireland summit in March, the Prime Minister and the Taoiseach announced a further programme of cultural cooperation between the two countries. My Department developing a programme to support new projects between the Irish national cultural institutions and leading UK counterparts.Further commitments made by the PM and Taoiseach include establishing an Ireland-UK Youth Forum as a way to bring together young people to understand, discuss and respond to their views on how they can be considered by both of our governments.We also look forward to jointly hosting the upcoming EURO2028 Men’s Football Championships and the 2030 T20 Men’s Cricket World Cup.

Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to support cultural engagement with the Pakistani community.

Through a broad range of activity largely delivered by our Arm’s-Length bodies, my Department supports engagement with the Pakistani community, and indeed the wider South Asian community, as we believe community cohesion is better served by providing universal access to culture, rather than targeting audiences based on their identity. In 2022, the British Council delivered a six month cultural showcase to mark the 75th anniversary of Pakistan. Pakistan/UK: New Perspectives illuminated the cultural wealth and contemporary creativity of both countries and facilitated professional collaboration for culture, creative and education sectors; and focused on a shared future through building lasting partnerships. The programme also focused on changing perceptions, particularly amongst the younger generation in both countries, with a particular focus on young women and girls.

What assessment her Department has made of the national security implications of foreign-state-linked companies supplying components for renewable energy infrastructure.

The Government takes the security and resilience of UK energy infrastructure very seriously. The department works closely with other government departments, agencies and industry partners to understand, assess and mitigate threats to energy infrastructure. The department is committed to working closely across Government and industry stakeholders to take forward the actions needed to develop supply chains that are resilient, sustainable, innovative and secure.

What guidance his Department provides to developers on national security considerations when selecting suppliers for critical energy infrastructure.

The Government takes the security and resilience of UK energy infrastructure very seriously. The department works closely with other government departments, agencies and industry partners to understand, assess and mitigate threats to energy infrastructure. Where necessary this includes written guidance, for example in relation to the Procurement Act 2023, or clear and robust regulatory standards, for example for cyber resilience through the Network and Information Systems Regulations. The department is committed to working closely across Government and industry stakeholders to take forward the actions needed to develop supply chains that are resilient, sustainable, innovative and secure.

Whether his Department has made an assessment of the level of dependence on overseas suppliers for wind turbine components and its potential implications for energy security.

The Government takes the security and resilience of UK energy infrastructure very seriously. The department is committed to working closely across Government and industry stakeholders to take forward the actions needed to develop supply chains that are resilient, sustainable, innovative and secure. The Government is clear that the greatest risk to our energy security is from failing to decarbonise and continuing to be overly dependent on fossil fuels, exposing household bills to the rollercoaster of fossil fuel prices.

What discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Defence on the national security considerations relevant to renewable energy developments in proximity to defence sites.

The Government takes the security and resilience of UK energy infrastructure very seriously. The Department collaborates with government departments – including the Ministry of Defence – other agencies and industry partners on a regular and ongoing basis to understand, assess and mitigate threats to both energy infrastructure and sensitive sites.

Pursuant to the Answer of 23 June 2025 to Question 60696, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies on the independence of the Independent Review of the Loan Charge of comments made by Ray McCann in August 2019 on his level of independence.

At Autumn Budget 2024, the Government committed to holding an independent review of the Loan Charge to bring this matter to a close for those affected. The review has now concluded and the Government will respond at Budget. Ray McCann was suggested as a potential reviewer by one of the Loan Charge campaigners. During the review, Mr McCann was supported by a team of officials who had not previously worked for the Treasury or HMRC. The reviewer decided how to conduct the review and had the final say on what was included in his report.

Whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of rural depopulation on levels of transport-related emissions in remote communities.

The Department for Transport has not made an assessment of the potential impact of rural depopulation on levels of transport-related emissions in remote communities.

Media and Sport, what recent assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of media ownership rules in relation to companies with headquarters outside the UK.

The UK is open for investment from people around the world, provided that, in the case of investment in media sectors, their investment complies with the foreign state influence and public interest media merger regimes.The Culture Secretary considers all mergers involving any newspaper, broadcaster or news media enterprise that reach certain thresholds as set out in the Enterprise Act 2002. This legislation applies to all relevant investors, wherever they are based, or - in the case of companies - wherever their headquarters are located. We consider these regimes to be sufficient, but continue to keep them under review to ensure their effectiveness.

Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to support cultural engagement with the Polish community.

I value the close cultural partnership we share with Poland and recognise the rich cultural offering the Polish diaspora brings to the UK, which sustains Polish language and traditions and facilitates cultural enrichment through cultural events, festivals, and exhibitions, supported by arms length bodies such as Arts Council England. Since July 2024, The National Lottery Heritage Fund has awarded £346,427 across three projects that explore the history of, or directly engage, the UK's Polish population. This year we have also supported the UK/Poland Season 2025, a programme of over 100 events taking place in both countries across 40 cities, linking institutions and people to collaborate in the visual arts, film and music. Events in Poland are organised and funded by the British Council, while in the UK they are led by the Adam Mickiewicz Institute, the Polish Cultural Institute, and the British Council.

What assessment his Department has made of the merits of regulating the use of (a) workplace culture and (b) employer-of-the-year award to ensure such awards do not misrepresent compliance with equality and employment law.

The Government has no plans to regulate the use of such awards.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with stakeholders on the potential impact of rural depopulation on land management, biodiversity and progress towards national climate targets.

Rural policy is a devolved matter. Defra regularly publishes statistics on a range of social and economic topics including rural population trends, and rural service provision in The Statistical Digest for Rural England. Net internal migration within England tends to be towards rural authorities, and in 2023 the rate of this migration was higher than in 2013; the exception to this is 15- to- 19- year-olds for which there is net migration from rural authorities, reflecting the movement of students. Defra has not had specific discussions with rural stakeholders on the potential impact of rural depopulation on land management, biodiversity and progress towards national climate targets.

Communities and Local Government, whether his Department plans to update the regulation of third-party political campaigning.

As set out in our Strategy for Modern Elections, we are taking forward a package of measures to strengthen the rules around political finance, some of which will apply to third-party campaigners. This includes requiring recipients of donations to consider the risk of political donations being illegitimate, ensure political donors declare any benefit or sources of funding connected to their donation and tighten the rules around company donations by allowing them to donate only if they have a genuine connection to the UK or Ireland. By taking action to address vulnerabilities and close loopholes in the existing system, we will strengthen and protect the integrity of our democracy.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of rural depopulation on the energy efficiency and maintenance of housing stock in remote areas.

The UK has the oldest housing stock in Europe and we are aware of the complexities involved in decarbonising rural and off-gas grid homes. This government is committed to ensuring that no-one is left behind in the transition to Net Zero, supplying solutions that work for all buildings. Our Warm Homes Plan will help households, including rural off-gas grid households, take up measures like solar panels, heat pumps, batteries and insulation, helping them save money on their bills and benefit from cleaner, cheaper heating. The Department has partnered with combined authorities and local and devolved governments to roll out this plan. Details of the plan will be published soon.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the effect of rural depopulation on the carbon intensity of delivering public services in remote and sparsely populated areas.

Rural policy is a devolved matter. Defra regularly publishes statistics on a range of social and economic topics including rural population trends, and rural service provision in The Statistical Digest for Rural England. Net internal migration within England tends to be towards rural authorities, and in 2023 the rate of this migration was higher than in 2013; the exception to this is 15- to- 19- year-olds for which there is net migration from rural authorities, reflecting the movement of students. Defra has not made a specific assessment of the effect of rural population decreases - or increases - on the carbon intensity of delivering public services.