Written questions by Ribeiro-Addy.

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.

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 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.

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.

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, 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.

Pursuant to the Answer of 12 May 2025 to Question 50209 on British Nationality: Children, what the reason was of the increase in administrative cost for child citizenship applications since 2021-22.

The published administrative cost of processing immigration and nationality applications reflects the full financial cost of providing the relevant service which includes direct costs, relevant local and central overheads, (e.g. accommodation, HR, Finance and IT), depreciation, cost of capital employed, and other factors that are in connection to immigration and nationality. The Home Office keeps the cost of processing applications under review and where costs associated with processing applications change, published fee tables will be updated accordingly.The cost base that is apportioned to setting the unit cost has increased year on year. This is due to factors such as inflation.

Innovation and Technology, what research his Department is supporting into the potential impact of Arctic warming on (a) the UK climate system, (b) shifts in the jet stream and (c) weather patterns.

UK Research and Innovation’s Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) has a range of vessels, aircraft, and autonomous underwater and aerial vehicles which capture data to help better understand the potential climate impact of Arctic warming. There are a number of research initiatives across the region contributing information into datasets and models to improve predictions. This includes CANARI, a £12 million collaborative research programme to improve knowledge about how climate variability and change in the Arctic-North Atlantic region will impact the UK, with a focus on extreme weather and rapid, disruptive change.Through the Met Office, DSIT supported the Polar Amplification Model Intercomparison Project, within the Hadley Centre Climate Programme, which investigated factors driving polar amplification and how the global climate system responds to changes in Arctic and Antarctic sea ice.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of recent developments in Tanzania on (a) regional stability and (b) democratic governance in East Africa.

The UK recognises Tanzania's role in the region, as a convenor and leader on climate, tackling serious and organised crime, and boosting growth and prosperity. We are following reports of recent arrests of political leaders and the treatment of opposition activists with concern. The British High Commission continues to engage with the Government of Tanzania and has called for due process to be followed accordingly.We will continue to keep issues of regional stability and democratic governance in Tanzania, and wider East Africa, under review.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the his Department plans to review its (a) bilateral relations and (b) aid commitments to Tanzania, in the context of concerns over political repression and human rights violations.

The UK continuously keeps bilateral relations and national interests under review with partner countries throughout the world. We are closely monitoring the recent arrest of opposition figures in Tanzania, and we will continue to raise Tanzania's political environment with ministerial counterparts.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to help mitigate the risks of coastal flooding associated with rising sea levels.

We are committed to supporting coastal communities and ensuring flood risk management is fit for the challenges we face now and in the future.Delivering on the Government’s Plan for Change, this government is investing a record £2.65 billion over 2024/25 and 2025/26 for the construction of new flood schemes, and the maintenance and repair of existing ones.With this funding, 1,000 flood schemes have been or will continue to be supported, better protecting 52,000 properties by March 2026.

Whether she plans to retrospectively move people on the five-year settlement route to the ten-year settlement route.

We will be consulting on the earned settlement scheme later this year and further details on the proposed scheme will be provided at that time.

Whether she has consulted (a) medical professionals and (b) women’s rights organisations on the potential impact of the National Police Chiefs’ Council's guidance entitled Practice Advice on Child Death Investigation, published in February 2025, on (i) Black women, (ii) migrant women and (iii) other marginalised groups.

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

If she will review the National Police Chiefs' Council's guidance on investigating stillbirths.

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

What estimate she has made of the number of Commonwealth citizens who are on the five-year settlement route.

The information requested is not centrally held, and could only be collected and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.

When she plans to extend the permanent settlement wait time from five to ten years.

We will be consulting on the earned settlement scheme later this year and further details on the proposed scheme will be provided at that time.

How many people will qualify for Indefinite Leave to Remain under the five-year Settlement Route in the next 12 months.

The information requested is not centrally held, and could only be collected and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.

Innovation and Technology, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of reviewing the 48-hour broadband outage window in the Automatic Compensation Scheme.

The government recognises that access to high-quality and reliable broadband is essential.Operators have a statutory responsibility to take measures to identify, prepare for and reduce anything that compromises the availability, performance or functionality of their networks and services.DSIT regularly engages Ofcom, the independent regulator of telecommunications services, who created the voluntary compensation scheme and any changes to the scheme is a decision for Ofcom.We will continue to work with Ofcom to monitor the market to ensure that consumers are receiving reliable services and recourse for when things go wrong.