Written questions by Khan.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of conducting a review of language professionals’ (a) minimum pay rates, (b) cancellation fees and (c) working conditions on the long-term (i) procurement and (ii) retention of public service interpreters.

The Ministry of Justice has undertaken a review of interpreter remuneration and conditions as part of the current procurement exercise for the interpreting service. This included a Delivery Model Assessment and extensive market engagement. The House of Lords Public Services Committee (PSC) also conducted an inquiry into the interpreting service in courts and published their subsequent report in March 2025.The Ministry of Justice has drawn on the valuable learning and insights from these reviews which informed the Department’s response to the House of Lords PSC report. The response, which covers the topics raised in more detail, can be accessed via this link: committees.parliament.uk/publications/48172/documents/252233/default/.

Pursuant to the Answer of 1 July 2025 to Question 62414 on Funeral Payments, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of (a) amending the family-related questions for the application process and (b) reviewing the eligibility criteria for the Social Fund Funeral Expenses Payment, in the context of situations in which the next of kin has refused to pay for the funeral.

The long standing state position is that individuals should look to make financial provision for their own funeral, and that where this has not happened family or friends who can take part or all of the responsibility for the cost of funeral arrangements should do so. Where responsibility for organising a funeral falls to those on qualifying benefits a Funeral Expenses Payment may be available, but eligibility criteria are designed to ensure the scheme is fair for taxpayers while supporting the most vulnerable with these costs. We continue to keep the Funeral Expenses Payment scheme under review to ensure it remains effective and sustainable within current budgetary constraints. This includes the eligibility criteria, application process, customer experience and administrative costs. We have not made a specific assessment of the impact of Funeral Expenses Payment eligibility criteria on the finances of local authorities.

Whether her Department has set a deadline for introducing a comprehensive remuneration and conditions framework set for implementation from October 2026 for public service interpreters.

The Ministry of Justice has provided a comprehensive response to the Public Services Committee inquiry and report into interpreter and translation services in the courts, published in June 2025, which covers this topic. The Ministry of Justice is procuring new interpreter contracts to commence in October 2026, which include improvements to the service, interpreter remuneration, and conditions. The Department considered mandating payment rates for interpreters during market engagement but concluded that suppliers (as experts in the market) are best placed to set payment rates. The Ministry of Justice’s role, as the commissioning body, is to ensure that these rates are fair and deliver value for money to the taxpayer. The Ministry of Justice has already taken steps to improve interpreter remuneration, such as increasing the minimum face to face booking duration to two hours in October 2024, which has led to improved contract fulfilment rates and a reduction in off contract requests. From October 2026, the new contracts will introduce improvements to interpreter remuneration and conditions. This includes:Strengthening safeguarding provisions to support interpreter wellbeingChanging the cancellation cut-off time meaning more cancellations will fall into the ‘short notice’ category and attract a fee payable to interpretersMaintaining the two-hour minimum booking duration

Whether her Department has considered the potential merits of introducing an independent regulator to oversee the commercial agencies it appoints for the provision of interpreting and translation services.

The Ministry of Justice does not require the introduction of an independent regulator due to the existing, robust assurance procedures in place. All interpreters under the Ministry of Justice contracts are subject to a quality assurance regime, which is independent of the suppliers that provide our interpreters. The Department has a dedicated Commercial and Contract Management team that oversees the quality assurance provider and the suppliers of interpreters. Their work includes conducting audits to ensure that data is reliable and reviewing quality and complaints data to ensure that the service is delivering for the taxpayer. Performance data for the language interpreter and translation services is published on the GOV.UK website.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the Funeral Expenses Payment's eligibility criteria on the finances of local authorities.

The long standing state position is that individuals should look to make financial provision for their own funeral, and that where this has not happened family or friends who can take part or all of the responsibility for the cost of funeral arrangements should do so. Where responsibility for organising a funeral falls to those on qualifying benefits a Funeral Expenses Payment may be available, but eligibility criteria are designed to ensure the scheme is fair for taxpayers while supporting the most vulnerable with these costs. We continue to keep the Funeral Expenses Payment scheme under review to ensure it remains effective and sustainable within current budgetary constraints. This includes the eligibility criteria, application process, customer experience and administrative costs. We have not made a specific assessment of the impact of Funeral Expenses Payment eligibility criteria on the finances of local authorities.

Pursuant to the Answer of 17 July to Question 68960 on Asthma: Medical Equipment, how many NHS-prescribed (a) dry powder inhalers and (b) pressurised metered dose inhalers were purchased from each of the relevant Market Authorisation Holders in the latest three periods for which data is available.

The NHS Business Services Authority (NHS BSA) produces official statistics on Prescription Cost Analysis (PCA) which show the total volume and cost for drugs, dressings, appliances, and medical devices that have been dispensed in the community in England. These statistics cannot be specifically linked to the marketing authorisations, but they can be linked to pharmaceutical product suppliers using the NHS Dictionary of Medicines and Devices. Suppliers may be distributors, manufacturers, or wholesalers. The following table shows the quantity supplied for National Health Service prescriptions of dry powder inhalers of salbutamol and terbutaline by supplier, for April, May, and June 2025:Chemical substanceSupplierPharmaceutical presentationApril 2025May 2025June 2025SalbutamolOrion Pharma (UK) LtdEasyhaler Salbutamol sulfate 100micrograms/dose dry powder inhaler80,70083,20379,832Easyhaler Salbutamol sulfate 200micrograms/dose dry powder inhaler7,2487,2876,961GlaxoSmithKline UK LtdVentolin 200micrograms/dose Accuhaler36,03934,64436,302Viatris UK Healthcare LtdSalbulin Novolizer 100micrograms/dose inhalation powder179152187Salbulin Novolizer 100micrograms/dose inhalation powder refill785648Terbutaline sulphateAstraZeneca UK LtdBricanyl 500micrograms/dose Turbohaler29,81829,93828,678Source: NHS BSA Open Data Portal, PCA data, with further information available at the following link: https://opendata.nhsbsa.net/.In addition, the following table shows the quantity supplied for NHS prescriptions of pressurised metered dose inhalers of salbutamol by supplier for April to June 2025:Chemical SubstanceSupplierPharmaceutical presentationApril 2025May 2025June 2025SalbutamolTeva UK LtdSalamol 100micrograms/dose inhaler CFC free (Teva)699,675710,174672,394Salamol 100micrograms/dose Easi-Breathe inhaler61,65369,18263,136Airomir 100micrograms/dose inhaler4,4673,4351,899Airomir 100micrograms/dose Autohaler3,9042,9492,423Salbutamol 100micrograms/dose inhaler CFC free2429534Generic supplierSalbutamol 100micrograms/dose inhaler CFC free487,491485,820458,946GlaxoSmithKline UK LtdVentolin 100micrograms/dose Evohaler301,060305,766290,367A A H Pharmaceuticals LtdSalbutamol 100micrograms/dose inhaler1015663M Health Care LtdAerolin 100micrograms/dose Autohaler21 Source: NHS BSA Open Data Portal, PCA data, with further information available at the following link: https://opendata.nhsbsa.net/‘Salbutamol 100micrograms/dose inhaler CFC free’ is reimbursed generically according to the Drug Tariff Part VIIIA, so it is not necessary for pharmacy reimbursement claims to state the supplier. In cases where the NHS BSA has no supplier information, these items are classified as ‘Generic Supplier’.As set out in the answer I gave on 23 July 2025 to Question 68960, we do not hold prescribing data that specifically differentiates inhalers based on whether they have dosage counters. We note, however, that most dry powder inhalers have dosage counters, whilst most pressurised inhalers do not. In June 2025 the proportion of salbutamol and terbutaline sulphate inhalers that were dry powder inhalers was 9.3%.

How many emergency inhalers with dosage counters were prescribed by the NHS in the latest period for which data is available; and what proportion of the total number of emergency inhalers prescribed by the NHS in this period had dosage counters.

The NHS Business Services Authority (NHS BSA) produces official statistics on Prescription Cost Analysis (PCA) which show the total volume and cost for drugs, dressings, appliances, and medical devices that have been dispensed in the community in England. These statistics cannot be specifically linked to the marketing authorisations, but they can be linked to pharmaceutical product suppliers using the NHS Dictionary of Medicines and Devices. Suppliers may be distributors, manufacturers, or wholesalers. The following table shows the quantity supplied for National Health Service prescriptions of dry powder inhalers of salbutamol and terbutaline by supplier, for April, May, and June 2025:Chemical substanceSupplierPharmaceutical presentationApril 2025May 2025June 2025SalbutamolOrion Pharma (UK) LtdEasyhaler Salbutamol sulfate 100micrograms/dose dry powder inhaler80,70083,20379,832Easyhaler Salbutamol sulfate 200micrograms/dose dry powder inhaler7,2487,2876,961GlaxoSmithKline UK LtdVentolin 200micrograms/dose Accuhaler36,03934,64436,302Viatris UK Healthcare LtdSalbulin Novolizer 100micrograms/dose inhalation powder179152187Salbulin Novolizer 100micrograms/dose inhalation powder refill785648Terbutaline sulphateAstraZeneca UK LtdBricanyl 500micrograms/dose Turbohaler29,81829,93828,678Source: NHS BSA Open Data Portal, PCA data, with further information available at the following link: https://opendata.nhsbsa.net/.In addition, the following table shows the quantity supplied for NHS prescriptions of pressurised metered dose inhalers of salbutamol by supplier for April to June 2025:Chemical SubstanceSupplierPharmaceutical presentationApril 2025May 2025June 2025SalbutamolTeva UK LtdSalamol 100micrograms/dose inhaler CFC free (Teva)699,675710,174672,394Salamol 100micrograms/dose Easi-Breathe inhaler61,65369,18263,136Airomir 100micrograms/dose inhaler4,4673,4351,899Airomir 100micrograms/dose Autohaler3,9042,9492,423Salbutamol 100micrograms/dose inhaler CFC free2429534Generic supplierSalbutamol 100micrograms/dose inhaler CFC free487,491485,820458,946GlaxoSmithKline UK LtdVentolin 100micrograms/dose Evohaler301,060305,766290,367A A H Pharmaceuticals LtdSalbutamol 100micrograms/dose inhaler1015663M Health Care LtdAerolin 100micrograms/dose Autohaler21 Source: NHS BSA Open Data Portal, PCA data, with further information available at the following link: https://opendata.nhsbsa.net/‘Salbutamol 100micrograms/dose inhaler CFC free’ is reimbursed generically according to the Drug Tariff Part VIIIA, so it is not necessary for pharmacy reimbursement claims to state the supplier. In cases where the NHS BSA has no supplier information, these items are classified as ‘Generic Supplier’.As set out in the answer I gave on 23 July 2025 to Question 68960, we do not hold prescribing data that specifically differentiates inhalers based on whether they have dosage counters. We note, however, that most dry powder inhalers have dosage counters, whilst most pressurised inhalers do not. In June 2025 the proportion of salbutamol and terbutaline sulphate inhalers that were dry powder inhalers was 9.3%.

What assessment she has made of the potential cumulative impact of (a) proposed changes to the Soft Drinks Industry Levy thresholds, (b) the extended producer responsibility scheme and (c) the Deposit Return Scheme on the financial sustainability of the soft drink industry.

Implementing the Collection and Packaging Reforms is a critical step in the transition to a circular economy that delivers sustainable growth and produces less waste, rubbish and litter.The Government believes it is right that the costs of dealing with household packaging waste are moved away from taxpayers and onto the businesses that place packaging on the market.The extended producer responsibility (pEPR) scheme is designed to incentivise businesses to redesign and use more sustainable packaging materials, resulting in lower pEPR fees.An assessment of impacts – including economic impacts for businesses – has been conducted in relation to (i) the proposed changes to the Soft Drinks Industry Levy, (ii) the extended producer responsibility scheme and (iii) the Deposit Return Scheme. These impact assessments are available here:https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/strengthening-the-soft-drinks-industry-levyhttps://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2024/1332/impactshttps://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukia/2024/167/pdfs/ukia_20240167_en.pdf If the Government decides to make changes to the Soft Drinks Industry levy, it will also publish a tax information and impact note (TIIN) to give account of the confirmed policy’s impacts.Following the 'Strengthening the Soft Drinks Industry Levy' consultation, the government expects to confirm the final policy at Autumn Budget 2025'.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to his oral statement of 21 July 2025 on Middle East, Official Report, column 595, whether UK made arms components were used in the incident at the Project HOPE health clinic in Deir al Balah.

As the Foreign Secretary has said, we utterly condemn the killing of civilians seeking to meet their basic needs. Our assessment of this strike, drawing on the available evidence, including eyewitness reports in the media, is that it was a drone strike. The Government suspended all export licences for IDF drones on 2 September 2024, and we categorically do not export any bombs or ammunition for use in military operations in Gaza.

Communities and Local Government, whether the Government has funded any (a) local authorities and (b) arm’s length bodies for the purposes of waste management in the jurisdiction of Birmingham City Council from 11 March 2025.

Councils in England, including Birmingham City Council, are funded for waste services via the Local Government Finance Settlement. In the Settlement for 2025-26, Birmingham City Council received an overall 9.8% increase in Core Spending Power from £1,337.5 million in 2024-25 to £1,468.8 million in 2025-26. Details of the 2025-26 Settlement can be found here. The Government also agreed Exceptional Financial Support in-principle for Birmingham City Council of £180 million for 2025-26.In addition to this, local government in England is expected to receive £1.1 billion of new funding in 2025-26 through the implementation of the Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging (pEPR) scheme to support local collection and disposal services, including recycling services.The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is also providing transitional resource funding to councils in England, including Birmingham City Council, for weekly food waste collections. Councils will receive their allocations for this financial year in the coming weeks.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of (a) reducing the remit of the Commissioners appointed to oversee Birmingham City Council and (b) recalling them with immediate effect.

Commissioners appointed to Birmingham City Council play a key role in supporting the Council’s recovery and ensuring it returns to a sustainable footing. They provide oversight, advice and challenge across the Council’s operations and exercise all functions associated with the Council’s governance and scrutiny of strategic decision making, and all functions relating to senior appointments. They have powers to make decisions directly should they deem that necessary.There are currently no plans to make changes to the Commissioner team.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the Commissioners appointed to oversee Birmingham City Council in reaching a negotiated settlement of the Birmingham bin strikes.

Commissioners appointed to Birmingham City Council play a key role in supporting the Council’s recovery and ensuring it returns to a sustainable footing. They provide oversight, advice and challenge across the Council’s operations and exercise all functions associated with the Council’s governance and scrutiny of strategic decision making, and all functions relating to senior appointments. They have powers to make decisions directly should they deem that necessary.There are currently no plans to make changes to the Commissioner team.

Pursuant to the Answer of 11 July 2025 to Question 65186 on Asthma: Medical Equipment, which pharmaceutical companies are registered as marketing authorisation holders for (a) dry powder inhalers containing (i) salbutamol and (ii) terbutaline and (b) pressurised metered dose inhalers containing salbutamol.

The following table shows the four market authorisation holders (MAH) for dry power inhalers (DPIs) containing salbutamol and terbutaline, along with the three MAHs for pressurised metered dose inhalers (pMDIs):Pharmaceutical companyInhaler typeMedicineGlaxo Wellcome UK LtdDPISalbutamolOrion CorpDPISalbutamolMaylan Products LtdDPISalbutamolAstrazeneca UK Ltd PharmacovigilanceDPITerbutalineSandoz B.V.pMDISalbutamolKent Pharma UK LtdpMDISalbutamolCipla (EU) LtdpMDISalbutamol

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make representations to his Israeli counterpart to ascertain information on the (a) status and (b) wellbeing of Dr Abu Safiya.

I remain deeply disturbed by the ongoing detention of Dr Hussam Abu Safiya and other medical staff from Gaza. We continue to call on Israel to clarify the reasons for the detention of Dr Abu Safiya and other medical personnel, and to allow the International Committee of the Red Cross unfettered and immediate access to detention facilities.I have specifically raised Dr Hussam Abu Safiya's case with both the Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister and Israel's ambassador to the UK. We are urging Israel to clarify the reasons for his detention, to allow medical workers to carry out their work safely and without hindrance, and to provide detainees with access to legal representation.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has cooperated with the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation; whether his Department plans to cooperate with this organisation; and whether it is his policy that UK humanitarian aid support for Palestine should be delivered solely by (a) the UN and (b) established humanitarian partners.

The UK has not cooperated with the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, and we will not cooperate with any aid delivery mechanism that does not fully respect humanitarian principles.Since its inception, we have highlighted repeatedly our concerns that Israel's new mechanisms for aid delivery in Gaza places beneficiaries and aid workers at risk, undermines the role and independence of the UN and our trusted partners, and links humanitarian aid to political and military objectives. We continue to call on Israel to enable the UN and humanitarian non-governmental organisations to do their work safely and effectively, in line with the humanitarian principles.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department plans to pursue (a) multilateral action and (b) a peacekeeping mandate at the United Nations Security Council to protect the provision of UN-delivered aid to Gaza.

On 4 June, the UK voted in favour of a UN Security Council Resolution calling for urgent improvements to the humanitarian situation in Gaza. We co-called a meeting of the UN Security Council on 16 July where we reiterated calls for a ceasefire and for Israel to lift its restrictions on aid, raising serious concerns about the imminent collapse of basic services in Gaza. On 21 July, together with 30 international partners, we released a statement condemning the appalling humanitarian conditions in Gaza, the killing of civilians, and called for the war to end immediately. On 25 July we released a statement, together with France and Germany, calling on Israel to immediately lift restrictions on the flow of aid into Gaza.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has had any engagement with (a) the Tony Blair Institute and (b) the Boston Consulting Group on the situation in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories since 7 October 2023.

Officials have met with the Tony Blair Institute to discuss Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories since 7 October 2023. We have no record of meetings with the Boston Consulting Group. We continue to call for a ceasefire in Gaza, for the release of the hostages and for Israel to allow for a full and unhindered resumption in the flow of aid, including allowing the entry of more types of aid such as medicine, fuel and shelter.

Whether she has considered the merits of a Palestinian refugee visa scheme.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave on 13 March to Question 35970.

If he will take steps to incorporate targets to provide asthma sufferers with a Personalised Asthma Action Plan into future iterations of the 10 Year Health Plan for England.

The provision of Personalised Asthma Action Plans is already incentivised by the Quality Outcomes Framework (QOF) indicator AST007. This indicator measures the percentage of patients on the asthma register who have had a review in the past 12 months. This review must include:- an assessment using a validated asthma control questionnaire;- a record of the number of exacerbations;- an assessment of inhaler technique; and- a written personalised asthma plan.The latest QOF data shows that for England, the percentage of asthma patients on the register receiving this care has increased from 52.5% in 2021/22 to 64.6% in 2023/24.Further details on the QOF asthma indicators are available on pages 41 to 46 of NHS England’s 2025/26 QOF guidance, which is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/quality-outcomes-framework-guidance-for-2025-26.pdfTherefore, there are currently no plans for future iterations of the 10-Year Health Plan for England.

Pursuant to the Answer of 1 July 2025 to Question 62448 on Asthma: Medical Equipment, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of prescription charges on the health outcomes of people with asthma.

No assessment has been made of the potential impact of prescription charges on the health outcomes of people with asthma. However, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, the British Thoracic Society, and the Scottish Intercollegiate Guideline Network published a new collaborative guideline for asthma in November 2024. The guideline covers diagnosing, monitoring, and managing asthma in adults, young people, and children. It aims to improve the accuracy of diagnosis, help people to control their asthma, and reduce the risk of asthma attacks. The recommendations offer the opportunity to simplify diagnostic processes and improve the treatment of people with asthma, and NHS England is working with specialist groups and partners to encourage a joined-up approach to implementation. Through its national respiratory programme and focused work on children and young people with asthma, NHS England is already supporting systems to improve outcomes for people with asthma.While there are no plans to amend the criteria for eligibility for free prescriptions, approximately 89% of prescription items are dispensed free of charge in the community in England, and there are a wide range of exemptions from prescription charges already in place for which those with asthma may be eligible. Eligibility depends on the patient’s age, whether they are in qualifying full-time education, whether they are pregnant or have recently given birth, or whether they are in receipt of certain benefits or a war pension.People on low incomes can apply for help with their health costs through the NHS Low Income Scheme. Prescription prepayment certificates (PPCs) are also available. PPCs allow people to claim as many prescriptions as they need for a set cost, with three month and 12-month certificates available, and PPCs can be paid for in instalments.