Written questions by Ribeiro-Addy.

What steps her Department is taking to ensure that UK-backed international development finance does not contribute to unsustainable debt in recipient countries.

The UK government is focused on delivering an international financial system that better finances development needs, reduces debt vulnerabilities, and supports relevant countries to be more resilient to shocks, including those caused by climate change and nature loss. We are working with all our partners to tackle unsustainable debt and ensure all countries can invest and grow. I am co-chairing the 'London Coalition on Sustainable Sovereign Debt', launched in June to work with private creditors on sovereign debt issues, and at the UN Fourth Conference on Financing for Development, the UK co-led the launch of the Debt Pause Clause Alliance. We continue to drive progress in the G20 on strengthening and accelerating debt restructurings via the G20 Common Framework. The UK government is committed to playing our part alongside other developed countries and providers to deliver our international climate finance commitments, including through our shareholdings at the Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), the largest providers of public climate finance. We are also pushing for new sources of funding such as agreement on the International Maritime Organisation's Net Zero Framework alongside efforts to mobilise more private capital. In line with the UK's commitment to the OECD's sustainable lending practices, the UK government considers debt sustainability when providing financing, particularly in cases of lending to countries deemed at high risk of debt distress. In such cases, the UK only supports projects in line with limits set by the IMF and World Bank. We also follow best practice under the G20 Official Guidelines on Sustainable Finance, including strong commitments to debt transparency, and recently published our own self-assessment against these guidelines.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to provide financial or technical assistance to nations affected by climate change.

The UK is a leading player in global efforts to support indigenous communities, and tackle climate change and nature loss, including contributing £40 million to help operationalise the Fund for responding to Loss and Damage in 2025. Our International Climate Finance has helped 137 million people adapt to the effects of climate change, provided 89 million people with improved access to clean energy, and helped to mobilise billions in private investment.We also continue to support initiatives which strengthen climate resilience in small island developing states (SIDS). This includes the Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub and Commonwealth Investment Network. These initiatives were discussed at the 2025 Commonwealth Trade Ministers Meeting on 25 November.On proposals for reparations, I refer the Hon Member to the response provided on 10 March 2025 to Question 32987.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department plans to establish a dedicated fund to support nations experiencing climate-related loss and damage linked to the UK’s historical industrial emissions.

The UK is a leading player in global efforts to support indigenous communities, and tackle climate change and nature loss, including contributing £40 million to help operationalise the Fund for responding to Loss and Damage in 2025. Our International Climate Finance has helped 137 million people adapt to the effects of climate change, provided 89 million people with improved access to clean energy, and helped to mobilise billions in private investment.We also continue to support initiatives which strengthen climate resilience in small island developing states (SIDS). This includes the Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub and Commonwealth Investment Network. These initiatives were discussed at the 2025 Commonwealth Trade Ministers Meeting on 25 November.On proposals for reparations, I refer the Hon Member to the response provided on 10 March 2025 to Question 32987.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of holding discussions with financial institutions on reparatory (a) funds and (b) initiatives relating to the transatlantic slave trade.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 10 March 2025 to Question 32987.

Whether there are any Australian naval personnel sited at any U.K. Defence Nuclear Enterprise establishment as part of the AUKUS collaboration in nuclear-propelled submarines.

The Ministry of Defence is working closely with Australia and the United States under the AUKUS partnership to deliver conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines for Australia. As part of this collaboration, Australian naval personnel are embedded with the Defence Nuclear Enterprise (DNE) including the Royal Navy, Defence Nuclear Organisation (DNO), Submarine Delivery Agency (SDA), and UK Industry to gain the skills and experience required to operate and sustain nuclear-powered submarines. This activity is essential to building Australia's sovereign capability.

What steps her Department is taking to ensure that the history of Britain's involvement in the transatlantic slave trade and colonialism is accurately and thoroughly taught in schools.

The history curriculum includes a statutory time period at key stage 3 titled “ideas, political power, industry and empire: Britain, 1745-1901” which includes the non-statutory example of Britain’s transatlantic slave trade. Due to the flexibility of the history curriculum, these topics can also be taught, where relevant, across the three key stages.Schools can access resources from bodies such as Oak National Academy, the Historical Association and others to ensure their teaching is accurate and thorough.In reforming the curriculum following the Curriculum and Assessment Review, we are clear that all pupils should have a robust understanding of our nation’s history.

If he will list the university departments where his Department is currently funding PhD students under the Nuclear Skills Plan working on projects in support of the Defence Nuclear Enterprise.

The Ministry of Defence is working jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero to deliver the Nuclear Skills Plan, a collaboration between defence and civil sectors. Through this plan, an additional 26 PhD students have been funded across the Universities of Manchester, Lancaster, Leeds, Liverpool, Sheffield, Strathclyde, Bangor, Bristol, Cambridge, Imperial College London and The Open University, in support of the Defence Nuclear Enterprise.

What has been the cost to date of the Astraea nuclear warhead design and production programme.

The UK’s replacement warhead, Astraea, remains in the concept phase. I am withholding details on cost for purpose of safeguarding national security.

If he will publish the details and values of contracts his Department has placed with a) universities and b) private research organisations in respect of work for the Defence Nuclear Enterprise since 2015.

The Ministry of Defence (specifically the Defence Nuclear Organisation and Submarine Delivery Agency) has placed 25 contracts at a cumulative contract value of £4.456 million with universities and private research organisations for work relating to the Defence Nuclear Enterprise since 2015. Specific contract details may be exempt from publication due to National Security. Where applicable, contracts have been published and can be found on Contracts Finder. Further details are not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

What consideration his Department has given to aligning the UK’s net zero policies with commitments to communities impacted by historical UK-linked emissions.

The Carbon Budget and Growth Delivery Plan, published on 29 October, sets out how the UK will continue to reduce emissions in line with the landmark 2008 Climate Change Act. In the UK, the Government’s approach to the transition is built on the principle of fairness – for households by ensuring energy security and protecting billpayers, and for workers by ensuring decarbonisation is a route to reindustrialisation. The UK is committed to working with other countries and groups across the world to maintain momentum on climate change, and also to ensure that workers and communities globally benefit from the economic transition to net zero.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of historical UK-linked deforestation and extractive industries on biodiversity loss in the Global South; and whether her Department supports global ecological restoration initiatives.

Global deforestation rates peaked in the 1980s at around 15 million hectares per year, driven by a range of factors, including global demand for agricultural commodities, timber and wood products. Deforestation rates have since declined to around 10 million hectares a year but much more needs to be done to protect forests, which are a vital refuge for biodiversity, support the livelihoods of over one billion people worldwide and are crucial to limiting the damaging effects of climate change.The UK is supporting efforts to restore critical global ecosystems and is on track to deliver £3 billion in International Climate Finance for nature and biodiversity by March 2026. This includes funding to international initiatives such as the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund, which aims to restore 30 per cent of degraded ecosystems globally by 2030.

What quantity of plutonium has been recovered from the dismantling of the Mk4A Trident warheads since the start of the dismantlement programme; what proportion has been re-cycled and re-used in new warheads; where is the surplus plutonium currently stored; and what has been the cost to date of the dismantlement programme.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer provided to the hon, Member for Newton Abbott (Martin Wrigley) on 1 September 2025 to Question 70223.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department plans to increase support for women and girls in conflict-affected and climate-vulnerable regions.

The UK continues to place women and girls at the heart of our international work, including playing a key role in the global effort to tackle violence against women and girls. We are also continuing to support countries to build resilient and sustainable health systems, and partner with governments to strengthen their own education systems. Detailed decisions on how the ODA budget will be used from 2026/27 to 2028/29 will be announced in due course.

Media and Sport, with reference to the All Party-Parliamentary Group on Afrikan-Reparations's report entitled Laying Ancestors to Rest, published in March 2025, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of banning the (a) sale and (b) public display in UK institutions of African ancestral remains.

The Government is aware of the issues this report raises and, whilst no such assessments have been made, The Museums Minister met separately recently with DHSC to discuss options on the sale of human remains following the Minister for Museums, Heritage and Gambling’s commitment in a Lords debate in March. Under the current framework it is for businesses to decide whether to prohibit sales of human remains, while taking into account provisions in the Human Tissue Act 2004 and their own professional standards. We would however expect those involved to consider the ethical implications of this activity. All human remains should be treated with respect and dignity. DCMS issued Guidance for the Care of Human Remains in Museums in 2005 which covers the curation, care and display of human remains in museums. We are considering how best to update the guidance, which is now 20 years old. Museums are independent of the government and are responsible for decisions relating to the care and management of their collections, including the display of human remains, and publish policies on their approach, based on the legal and ethical framework set out in the DCMS guidance.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions her Department has had with CARICOM member states regarding the ten-point reparations plan put forward by the CARICOM Reparations Commission.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 10 March 2025 to Question 32987.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions her Department has had with international bodies, including the United Nations, on the issue of reparations for historical injustices.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 10 March 2025 to Question 32987.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions her Department has had with international financial institutions, including the IMF and World Bank, on cancelling or restructuring debt for Global South countries facing economic crises.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 14 July 2025 to Question HL9091.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions her Department has had with the G7 and G20 on the expansion of the Common Framework for Debt Treatments to provide deeper and more timely debt cancellation for highly indebted countries.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 14 July 2025 to Question HL9091.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the feasibility of a UK-supported debt-for-climate swap programme to help low-income countries finance climate resilience projects.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 14 July 2025 to Question HL9091.

Media and Sport, with reference to the All Party-Parliamentary Group on Afrikan-Reparations's report entitled Laying Ancestors to Rest, published in March 2025, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of reviewing the Human Tissue Act 2004 to require the repatriation of human remains over 100 years old.

Museums are independent of the government and are responsible for decisions relating to the care and management of their collections, including the return of human remains, therefore no such assessment has been undertaken. However, DCMS has previously issued Guidance for the Care of Human Remains in Museums which encouraged museums to establish an advisory framework to assist in determining repatriation claims and provided a set of criteria which need to be taken into account in assessing claims. Individual museums publish policies on their approach. We are considering how best to update the guidance, which is now 20 years old.A number of museums, including the Natural History Museum, the Horniman Museum, and the Pitt Rivers Museum, working in close partnership with the communities or countries of origin, have returned human remains. Separately, the Museums Minister met this month with DHSC to discuss broader issues of human remains including those relating to the Human Tissue Act 2004.