Written questions by Ribeiro-Addy.

What steps he is taking to ensure LGBTQ+ veterans eligible for the LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme are aware of their right to claim.

As of 9 June 2025, 44 Veterans have received a financial recognition through the LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme (FRS). We have been prioritising payment to the elderly and those with serious health conditions to ensure they receive support as quickly as possible, with the first payments issued as planned within 15 weeks of the scheme going live to these prioritised groups. Some cases are more complex and require additional time due to the unique and individual circumstances involved. We envisage the scheme speeding up once the most complex cases are delt with. Payments made by the FRS are not compensation payments and do not seek to compensate for any pecuniary losses or attempt to place personnel in a financial position they could have been in, had the ban not existed. Since the Scheme was launched in December 2024, Defence’s LGBT Restorative Action Team have worked closely with external and internal Defence communications teams to deliver campaigns to drive awareness of, and encourage, eligible LGBT Veterans to make a claim. Defence continues to work with local councils, the NHS, LGBT and military charities, to better inform affected Veterans of the FRS and how to apply. Defence has also allocated £90,000 worth of grants to charities, including Fighting With Pride, to support Veterans with their FRS applications. The LGBT Restorative Action team also continues to engage with relevant Veterans networks to ensure that eligible applicants to the FRS receive the appropriate information, support, and guidance. The Government encourages those affected by the Ban to visit the following website on gov.uk for further information, guidance, and support on how to make an application: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/veterans-of-the-lgbt-ban-financial-recognition-scheme It is not possible for the LGBT FRS to estimate the number of applicants who may pass away before their application is decided. However, the scheme has processes in place to ensure that the award can delivered (to eligible next-of-kin) if a Veteran passes away after they have submitted their application. Additionally, the scheme prioritises applicants who are terminally ill or over 80.

What assessment she has made of the potential merits of using limited humanitarian visas to allow people to apply for asylum from their country of origin.

The UK has a proud history of providing protection for those who need it through a number of safe and legal routes. However, there is no provision within our Immigration Rules for someone to be allowed to travel to the UK to seek asylum or temporary refuge. Whilst we sympathise with people in many difficult situations around the world, we are not bound to consider asylum claims from the very large numbers of people overseas who might like to come here. Those who need international protection should claim asylum in the first safe country they reach – that is the fastest route to safety.The UK continues to welcome refugees and people in need through our existing global resettlement schemes which include the UK Resettlement Scheme (UKRS), Community Sponsorship and the Mandate Resettlement Scheme. Alongside these schemes, we operate specific schemes for those fleeing Ukraine and Afghanistan, and an immigration route for British National (overseas) status holders from Hong Kong.There are additional safe and legal routes for people to come to the UK should they wish to join family members here, work or study.

Pursuant to the Answer of 30 May 2025 to Question 50912 on Students: Loans, what steps her Department takes to help ensure that borrowers are adequately informed about (a) how interest accrues on student loans and (b) the potential impact of making minimum repayments.

When a borrower takes out a student loan, they are provided with the terms and conditions. These clearly set out the repayment thresholds, when a borrower will start repaying, how their repayments will be calculated, how interest is applied, and when the loan term ends. Details around the protections available for borrowers, including the fact that any outstanding balance will be written off at the end of the loan term, are also included. All student loan borrowers must confirm that they have read and understood the terms and conditions prior to signing the loan agreement.Access to this information up front ensures that prospective students can weigh up the likely overall costs and likely benefits to them of undertaking higher education, alongside the financial cost of repayment across the length of the loan period.For those who may still be unclear about the long-term commitment of a student loan, there is a range of guidance on student loans available from the Student Loans Company.Student loan borrowers may make additional, voluntary repayments at any time, if they wish to reduce their loan balance sooner or repay their loan in full. They will need to consider their personal circumstances and the fact that any outstanding loan balance, including interest accrued, will be written off at the end of the loan term. Voluntary repayments cannot be refunded.

What assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the lessons learned from international examples of the use of limited humanitarian visas to allow people to apply for asylum from their country of origin.

The UK has a proud history of providing protection for those who need it through a number of safe and legal routes. However, there is no provision within our Immigration Rules for someone to be allowed to travel to the UK to seek asylum or temporary refuge. Whilst we sympathise with people in many difficult situations around the world, we are not bound to consider asylum claims from the very large numbers of people overseas who might like to come here. Those who need international protection should claim asylum in the first safe country they reach – that is the fastest route to safety.The UK continues to welcome refugees and people in need through our existing global resettlement schemes which include the UK Resettlement Scheme (UKRS), Community Sponsorship and the Mandate Resettlement Scheme. Alongside these schemes, we operate specific schemes for those fleeing Ukraine and Afghanistan, and an immigration route for British National (overseas) status holders from Hong Kong.There are additional safe and legal routes for people to come to the UK should they wish to join family members here, work or study.

Whether her Department has made an estimate of the number of people who will be impacted by the changes to the five-year settlement.

The Government's Immigration White Paper, published on 12 May 2025, announced new measures on a wide range of issues, including indefinite leave to remain.This will include an expansion of the Point-Based System which will increase the standard qualifying period for settlement to ten years. As part of this expansion, we will reform the current rules around settlement so that individuals must earn their right to a privileged immigration status in the UK through the long-term contribution they bring to our country.We will be consulting on the earned settlement scheme later this year and will provide details of how the scheme will work after that, including on any transitional arrangements for people already in the UK.

What steps her Department is taking to ensure that (a) the age of refugee children is accurately assessed at the port of entry and (b) they are not inappropriately placed in adult (i) accommodation and (ii) detention settings.

It is Home Office policy that an individual claiming to be a child will only be treated as an adult, if two Home Office members of staff independently determine that the individual's physical appearance and demeanour very strongly suggests they are significantly over 18 years of age. The lawfulness of this process was endorsed by the Supreme Court in the case of R (on the application of BF (Eritrea)) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2021] UKSC 38.Where there remains doubt about the individual’s age, they will be transferred to a local authority for further consideration of their age, usually in the form of a holistic social worker assessment of age, referred to as a ‘Merton’ age assessment.We continue to work with local authorities and our asylum accommodation providers to ensure appropriate processes for individuals claiming to be children. For example, we have already improved information sharing with local authorities so that we are more routinely sharing reports for initial decisions on age, when required, as well as reviewing the initial decisions on age training rolled out to Home Office staff at the Western Jet Foil in Kent. We are also exploring new methods of scientific and technological age assessment, including Facial Age Estimation.

If she will consider the potential merits of establishing a safeguarding process to protect child refugees who are being mistakenly routed through the adult asylum system.

It is Home Office policy that an individual claiming to be a child will only be treated as an adult, if two Home Office members of staff independently determine that the individual's physical appearance and demeanour very strongly suggests they are significantly over 18 years of age. The lawfulness of this process was endorsed by the Supreme Court in the case of R (on the application of BF (Eritrea)) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2021] UKSC 38.Where there remains doubt about the individual’s age, they will be transferred to a local authority for further consideration of their age, usually in the form of a holistic social worker assessment of age, referred to as a ‘Merton’ age assessment.We continue to work with local authorities and our asylum accommodation providers to ensure appropriate processes for individuals claiming to be children. For example, we have already improved information sharing with local authorities so that we are more routinely sharing reports for initial decisions on age, when required, as well as reviewing the initial decisions on age training rolled out to Home Office staff at the Western Jet Foil in Kent. We are also exploring new methods of scientific and technological age assessment, including Facial Age Estimation.

What steps he plans to take through (a) dietary guidelines, (b) public health policy and (c) food strategies to (i) promote and (ii) help improve public access to (A) whole and (B) minimally processed foods.

The Government is promoting access to healthy food through dietary guidelines which are presented to the public through the Government’s Eatwell Guide. The terms ‘whole’ and ‘minimally processed’ are not used because they are difficult to define and could be interpreted as including foods that we are advised to eat less often and/or in small amounts, such as butter. The Eatwell Guide already advises that people should eat more fruit and vegetables, and more wholegrain or higher-fibre foods, as well as less processed meat, and less food and drink that is high in sugar, calories, saturated fat, and salt.The Eatwell Guide principles are communicated through a variety of channels, including the NHS.UK website and Government social marketing campaigns. For example, the Better Health Healthier Families website and the Healthy Steps email programme, which aims to help families with primary aged children in England to eat well and move more.Policies to promote and improve public access to whole and minimally processed foods include:- the Healthy Start scheme, which supported over 361,000 people in April 2025;- the Nursery Milk Scheme, which provides a reimbursement to childcare providers in England and Wales for a daily 1/3 pint portion of milk to children and babies; and- the School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme, which provides approximately 2.2 million children in Key Stage 1 with a portion of fresh fruit or vegetables per day at school.The Government has announced a new cross-Government Food Strategy. The Food Strategy aims to provide more easily accessible and affordable, safe, nutritious, healthy food to tackle diet-related ill health, helping to give children the best start in life and helping adults live longer, healthier lives.

Pursuant to the Answer of 30 May 2025 to Question 50912 on Students: Loans, what demographic data her Department holds on borrowers whose loan balances have increased.

Below is a table of the number of borrowers whose loan balance has increased between the start and end of the financial year 2024/25, broken down by age group and sex. This table covers Student Finance England loan borrowers only, whereas the previous number provided to Question 50912 included borrowers from all UK funding bodies.Age groupSex25 and under26 - 35 36 - 45 46 and overFemale279,484806,398235,59897,671Male204,496603,617132,56349,426 These figures cover Plan 2, 5 and 3 undergraduate and postgraduate loan borrowers funded by Student Finance England. It has been generated by comparing borrowers’ loan balances on 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025. These numbers include all borrowers whose loan balance has increased, regardless of the number of payments they have made across the financial year. There were a small number of borrowers (<5) for whom age and sex were unknown. These borrowers have been suppressed. At the end of a borrower’s loan term, any outstanding loan balance, including interest built up, will be written off. This write-off, a government subsidy, is a deliberate investment in our people and the economy.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the National Police Chiefs’ Council's guidance entitled Practice Advice on Child Death Investigation, published in February 2025, on (a) bereaved families and (b) trust in maternity services.

Guidance to support operational policing in discharging their duties is a matter for the National Police Chiefs’ Council.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of recent political arrests in Tanzania on (a) the rule of law and (b) judicial independence in that country.

Globally, the UK continuously keeps the security and justice situation in partner countries under review through the Overseas Security and Justice Assistance process.Representatives of our High Commission in Dar es Salaam are attending the trial of opposition leader Tundu Lissu as observers. Our High Commission has raised recent arrests of political leaders with the Government of Tanzania and has called for due process to be followed accordingly.

Pursuant to the Answer of 5 March 2025 to Question 33072 on Stem Cell: Donors, if he will make it his policy to help develop a (a) sustainable and (b) resilient supply of stem cells from UK based donors; and whether he will commission an independent review of the (i) supply and (ii) use of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Between 2022 and 2025, the Department’s Stem Cell Programme has provided £2.4 million of funding to Anthony Nolan and NHS Blood and Transplant for a three-year targeted stem cell donor recruitment campaign. The approach has focused on increasing the sustainability and resilience of the United Kingdom’s stem cell supply by recruiting donors most likely to donate, those being male donors aged 16 to 30 years old, and addressing health inequalities, with targeted campaigns to recruit donors from ethnic minorities. Funding to both organisations has been extended by one year, to 2025/26.The Department recognises the need to ensure stem cell supply and use for transplantation is optimised. However, there are no imminent plans to undertake an independent review.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent representations he has made to the Government of Tanzania on the arrest and prosecution of opposition political leaders on charges of treason.

Our High Commission in Dar es Salaam regularly discusses issues of governance with the Government of Tanzania and has raised the case of opposition leader Tundu Lissu at senior levels. The Government supports due process and the rule of law in all legal cases.During his visit to Tanzania this February, the Minister for Africa discussed Tanzania's political environment in his engagements with ministerial counterparts.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the safety of non-governmental organisations and journalists operating in Tanzania.

The UK is committed to defending civic space and fundamental freedoms. Our High Commission regularly engages with non-governmental organisations and journalists in Tanzania. The Minister for Africa will continue to raise specific concerns with his ministerial counterparts.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to raise the reported deportation of legal observers and human rights defenders from Tanzania with the Tanzanian authorities.

We are concerned by the reported treatment of activists seeking to observe the trial of Tundu Lissu. Our High Commission in Dar es Salaam has raised the cases of Boniface Mwangi and Agather Atuhaire with the Government of Tanzania.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has raised concerns with the Tanzanian Government on the denial of consular access to foreign nationals detained in Tanzania.

Our High Commissioner in Dar es Salaam has raised concerns with senior officials of the Government of Tanzania regarding consular access for foreign national activists recently deported from Tanzania.

What steps he is taking to help tackle (a) emerging security challenges from melting of Arctic sea ice and (b) related potential threats to critical infrastructure.

The Strategic Defence Review (SDR) recognises the challenges that climate change poses; in particular, the likelihood that the Arctic will be ice-free each summer by 2040. The UK will continue to work closely with our Allies, including through the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), to maintain access, basing, overflight, and sea lines of communication in the region. Similarly, the SDR highlights an increasing role for Defence in contributing to the protection of its Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) and recommends strengthening Government powers to protect CNI through legislation and exploring options for a ‘new deal’ for the protection of CNI in partnership with private-sector and allied operators. Working with our Allies in this area is also key, and the JEF has already proved its worth having activated a JEF Response Option, known as NORDIC WARDEN, in January to track potential threats to critical undersea infrastructure and monitor the Russian shadow fleet.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of warming in the Arctic on (a) UK national security interests and (b) geopolitical activity in the region.

As it warms, the Arctic is becoming increasingly contested, increasing the threats to UK national security. We collaborate closely with likeminded partners to better understand the impact of climate change in the Arctic, and the Foreign Secretary announced new funding to support UK polar scientific collaboration on his recent visit to the region. The melting ice is attracting growing global interest in the Arctic's economic resources, with implications for the UK's security. The Strategic Defence Review recognises the need to step up its efforts to respond to this in order to defend our national values and interests at home and overseas.I set out the UK's approach in my visit and speech to the Arctic Circle Assembly on 18 October 2024 and have established a new cross-Whitehall Polar Ministerial Group.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps he is taking with Arctic nations to (a) monitor and (b) help tackle potential (i) security and (ii) environmental challenges from Arctic warming.

On his recent visit to Norway and Iceland, the Foreign Secretary saw first-hand how the Arctic has a direct bearing on the security and resilience of the UK. We are working with allies to better monitor and tackle growing threats in the Arctic including by enhancing patrols and studying the impacts of climate change. The Foreign Secretary announced new funding to use cutting edge AI technology to monitor hostile activity, and to support UK scientific collaboration in the region, while underlining the UK's commitment to the Arctic Council as the leading intergovernmental forum for Arctic cooperation.I set out the UK's approach to the Arctic during my visit and speech to the Arctic Circle Assembly on 18 October 2024 and have established a new cross-Whitehall Polar Ministerial Group to support the development and implementation of a robust and coordinated UK policy in the Polar Regions, particularly concerning the Arctic.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has raised concerns with the Tanzanian Government on the denial of consular access to foreign nationals detained in Tanzania.

Our High Commissioner in Dar es Salaam has raised concerns with senior officials of the Government of Tanzania regarding consular access for foreign national activists recently deported from Tanzania.