Written questions by Ribeiro-Addy.

What recent discussions he has had with his international counterparts on the completion of Costa Rica's accession to the CPTPP.

I attended a Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) ministerial meeting in Melbourne in November and a more recent virtual meeting, at which we discussed the progress made by Costa Rica to join the agreement. I have also spoken about this with several of my counterparts in bilateral meetings.The UK looks forward to Costa Rica’s Accession Working Group concluding soon and continuing the expansion of CPTPP.

How many applications were made to the Places of Worship Protective Security Scheme; how many were successful and whether she will provide a breakdown of applicants by religious group.

This Government is committed to protecting the right of individuals to freely practise their religion at their chosen place of worship, and to ensuring that our streets and communities remain safe.This funding is provided for all faiths except the Jewish and Muslim faiths who are funded for their protective security needs through separate schemes. In total, the Government is providing up to £70.9m to protect faith communities in 2025/26.To safeguard the integrity of the scheme and ensure the continued protection of vulnerable sites, the Home Office does not publish the total number of successful applications, or any breakdown of applicants by religious group. Disclosure of this information could inadvertently reveal sensitive details about specific communities and their security needs.

With reference to the New Approach to Africa framework, published on 9 January 2025, how his Department plans to promote UK-Africa trade interests and protect import sensitive products.

Our new approach to Africa will place mutual growth at the centre of our relationships with the region. We have strengthened UK-Africa trade by building on the Developing Countries Trading Scheme, which will simplify trading rules, boost African exports, and support growth. We support the African Continental Free Trade Area through a Regional Cumulation Group which allows producers to source inputs from up to 50 countries. Our Economic Partnership Agreements with 15 African countries support development by providing duty-free access and, boosting imports into the UK from these countries, while allowing African partners to protect sensitive products through tariffs and safeguards.

How many (a) mosques and (b) associated Muslim faith community centre have applied for the Protective Security for Mosques Scheme; and how many of them have been (i) accepted and (ii) denied.

This Government is committed to protecting the right of individuals to freely practise their religion at their chosen place of worship, and to ensuring that our streets and communities remain safe.That is why up to £39.4 million is available through the Protective Security for Mosques Scheme in 2025/26. This includes additional funding announced by the Prime Minister of £10 million to further strengthen security at mosques and other Muslim community sites. The scheme provides protective security measures (such as security personnel services, CCTV, intruder alarms and secure perimeter fencing) to mosques, Muslim faith schools and associated Muslim faith community centres.To safeguard the integrity of the scheme and ensure the continued protection of vulnerable sites, the Home Office does not publish the total number of successful applications. Disclosure of this information could inadvertently reveal sensitive details about specific communities and their security needs.

What steps her Department is taking to increase awareness of the Protective Security for Mosques Scheme in the context of rising attacks on mosques.

The Protective Security for Mosques Scheme provides successful applicants with physical protective security measures and/or security guarding, depending on individual needs. For the year 25/26, £39.4m is available for this purpose, including the £10m emergency cash injection announced by the Prime Minister in October 2025.Information on the scheme is publicly available via GOV.UK and easily accessible online.

How many (a) synagogues, (b) Jewish educational establishments and (c) community organisations have applied to the Jewish Community Protective Security Grant; and how many of them have been (i) accepted and (ii) denied.

To support Jewish communities in the UK, the Community Security Trust (CST) has been allocated £28 million in 2025/26 through the Jewish Community Protective Security (JCPS) Grant. This includes £10 million in additional emergency funding announced by the Prime Minister on 16 October following the terrorist attack at Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue. This funding enables the CST to deploy enhanced security personnel and physical security measures such as CCTV, alarms and floodlighting-across synagogues, Jewish educational establishments and other community sites.The Home Office does not publish a breakdown of recipient sites by category, nor does it publish data on applications or their outcomes. The scheme is delivered operationally by CST, and funding allocations are based on assessed security need rather than an application-based model.

Whether Government contracts were discussed with Palantir at the Prime Minister's meeting at Palantir's offices in Washington on 27 February 2025.

The visit was part of the Prime Minister's trip to Washington. During this visit the Prime Minister listened to a short presentation about Palantir’s work, followed by a tour of the premises and an introduction to members of staff. In December 2025, the MOD signed an extension to the Enterprise Agreement with Palantir that had been initially awarded in November 2022, by the previous Government, and via a direct award. This extension covered existing services and ensured there was no drop-off in MOD capability in critical areas. This contract - and all other contracts for any firm - go through the usual rigorous departmental processes and their decision makers.

What steps his Department has taken to ensure that GP practices are able to provide NHS-funded ear wax removal services, particularly for patients at risk of hearing loss.

Integrated care boards (ICBs) have a statutory responsibility to commission cost-effective healthcare to meet the needs of their local population. This includes commissioning ear wax removal services in line with the recommendations for ear wax removal as set out in guidance produced by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), which is available at the following link: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng98/chapter/Recommendations This may involve commissioning general practices (GPs) or other providers, to whom GPs may refer patients, to provide ear wax removal services. Manual ear syringing is no longer advised by NICE due to the risks associated with it, such as trauma to their ear drum or infection, so GPs will often recommend home treatment remedies to alleviate ear wax build-up. However, in line with the NICE’s guidance, a person may require ear wax removal treatment if the build-up of earwax is linked with hearing loss. A GP may then refer the patient into audiology services, which ICBs are responsible for commissioning.

What steps she is taking to help ensure that children eligible for British citizenship are able to afford the application fee for citizenship.

Children seeking to register as a British citizen will have the fee waived if they are able to credibly demonstrate that they cannot afford the fee. In addition, where an application has been made by or on behalf of a child who is looked after by a Local Authority, no fee is payable and it is not necessary for the child’s financial circumstances to be evidenced.Since 16 June 2022, when the fee exemption for registering looked after children as British citizens was introduced, the Home Office has proactively engaged with every local authority. This work has focused on informing and supporting them to understand the exemption and the full range of citizenship registration options available to children under local authority care and supporting them with bespoke communication channels for local authorities to assist on a case-by-case basis.In addition, a person over the age of 18 who missed out on becoming a British citizen as a child may qualify for registration under section 4L of the British Nationality Act 1981 in certain circumstances. That provision can be used where an applicant can demonstrate that they would have been able to become British while a child in care.In the Restoring control over the immigration system: white paper, which was published on 12 May 2025, we stated that consideration will be made to removing financial barriers to acquiring British citizenship for young adults who have lived their entire lives in the UK.

What steps her Department is taking to help ensure that children in care have their citizenship status resolved before turning 18.

Children seeking to register as a British citizen will have the fee waived if they are able to credibly demonstrate that they cannot afford the fee. In addition, where an application has been made by or on behalf of a child who is looked after by a Local Authority, no fee is payable and it is not necessary for the child’s financial circumstances to be evidenced.Since 16 June 2022, when the fee exemption for registering looked after children as British citizens was introduced, the Home Office has proactively engaged with every local authority. This work has focused on informing and supporting them to understand the exemption and the full range of citizenship registration options available to children under local authority care and supporting them with bespoke communication channels for local authorities to assist on a case-by-case basis.In addition, a person over the age of 18 who missed out on becoming a British citizen as a child may qualify for registration under section 4L of the British Nationality Act 1981 in certain circumstances. That provision can be used where an applicant can demonstrate that they would have been able to become British while a child in care.In the Restoring control over the immigration system: white paper, which was published on 12 May 2025, we stated that consideration will be made to removing financial barriers to acquiring British citizenship for young adults who have lived their entire lives in the UK.

Whether his Department plans to (a) reinstate and (b) standardise NHS provision of ear wax removal in primary care.

Integrated care boards (ICBs) have a statutory responsibility to commission cost-effective healthcare to meet the needs of their local population. This includes commissioning ear wax removal services in line with the recommendations for ear wax removal as set out in guidance produced by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), which is available at the following link: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng98/chapter/Recommendations This may involve commissioning general practices (GPs) or other providers, to whom GPs may refer patients, to provide ear wax removal services. Manual ear syringing is no longer advised by NICE due to the risks associated with it, such as trauma to their ear drum or infection, so GPs will often recommend home treatment remedies to alleviate ear wax build-up. However, in line with the NICE’s guidance, a person may require ear wax removal treatment if the build-up of earwax is linked with hearing loss. A GP may then refer the patient into audiology services, which ICBs are responsible for commissioning.

What assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of trends in the number of children in care whose citizenship status is not resolved before turning 18.

Since 16 June 2022, when the fee‑exemption for registering looked‑after children as British citizens was introduced, the Home Office has proactively engaged with every local authority. This work has focused on informing and supporting them to understand the exemption and the full range of citizenship registration options available to children under local authority care and supporting them with bespoke communication channels for local authorities to assist on a case-by-case basis.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of amending the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953 to include registration of the father during a registration of birth, unless reason to omit this information is given.

There are currently no plans to change the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953 to amend the circumstances in which the father’s details may be entered on a birth registration. The latest available data from the Office for National Statistics shows that, in 2024, over 95% of registrations included the details of both parents.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of trends in the level of access to NHS ear wax removal services on long-term costs to the NHS associated with avoidable hearing loss, including on a) mental health and b) falls of elderly persons.

The Department has not made a specific assessment. Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning local National Health Servies, including ear wax removal services, and must consider how best to improve population health and achieve best value for money.ICBs commission these services in line with the recommendations for ear wax removal as set out in guidance produced by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, which is available at the following link:https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng98/chapter/Recommendations

Whether he is taking steps to prevent landlords from raising rents after using grants and loans in the Warm Homes plan to fund energy efficiency measures.

The Warm Homes Plan will lift up to one million households out of fuel poverty through public investment and new minimum energy efficiency standards for private landlords and proposed standard for social landlords. These changes do not require landlords to increase rents. Instead, they will help tenants cut their energy bills by delivering more energy efficient homes.There is support available for landlords, financing options, as well as new protections for renters in the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 to challenge above-market rent increases. As now, landlords will still be able to increase rents to market price for their properties and an independent tribunal will make a judgement on this, if needed.Landlords will have discretion between meeting the heating system standard and the smart readiness standard so that they can choose what is most appropriate for their property.We estimate the new private rented sector MEES could lift approximately 415,000 households out of fuel poverty by 2030. A cost cap of £10,000, compared to £15,000, reduces the risk of cost pass through to tenants whilst still delivering substantial improvements to homes.

For what reason the Sickle Cell day unit in Whitechapel was closed.

The same day emergency care pilot for sickle cell patients at the Royal London Hospital was commissioned locally, via the NHS North East London Integrated Care Board. The pilot finished in January 2026 as planned. The pilot was testing an alternative route for treating emergency patients with sickle cell disease who were experiencing acute pain. This was alongside the normal route of being treated through accident and emergency, which patients can still access. During the pilot, the trust has gathered internal evaluation data to monitor the impact of the pilot for patients locally, allowing them to plan for the delivery of future sickle cell services. Although NHS England did not commission this pilot, they remain committed to the reducing health inequalities faced by people living with sickle cell and will continue to work in collaboration with system partners to address these inequalities through evidence-based approach.Sickle cell disease patients still receive specialist care through the Haematology Day Unit at the Royal London Hospital, and this remains open. There has been no change for patients with regards to routine or emergency management of their condition. There are several innovations in the sickle cell service currently being implemented such as the expansion of the red cell exchange transfusion service and the delivery of novel curative gene therapies.

How many sickle cell day centres have closed in the last 5 years; and how many sickle cell day centres remain operational.

The same day emergency care pilot for sickle cell patients at the Royal London Hospital was commissioned locally, via the NHS North East London Integrated Care Board. The pilot finished in January 2026 as planned. The pilot was testing an alternative route for treating emergency patients with sickle cell disease who were experiencing acute pain. This was alongside the normal route of being treated through accident and emergency, which patients can still access. During the pilot, the trust has gathered internal evaluation data to monitor the impact of the pilot for patients locally, allowing them to plan for the delivery of future sickle cell services. Although NHS England did not commission this pilot, they remain committed to the reducing health inequalities faced by people living with sickle cell and will continue to work in collaboration with system partners to address these inequalities through evidence-based approach.Sickle cell disease patients still receive specialist care through the Haematology Day Unit at the Royal London Hospital, and this remains open. There has been no change for patients with regards to routine or emergency management of their condition. There are several innovations in the sickle cell service currently being implemented such as the expansion of the red cell exchange transfusion service and the delivery of novel curative gene therapies.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of the accessibility of other Sickle Cell Day units in the context of the closure of the Whitechapel unit.

The same day emergency care pilot for sickle cell patients at the Royal London Hospital was commissioned locally, via the NHS North East London Integrated Care Board. The pilot finished in January 2026 as planned. The pilot was testing an alternative route for treating emergency patients with sickle cell disease who were experiencing acute pain. This was alongside the normal route of being treated through accident and emergency, which patients can still access. During the pilot, the trust has gathered internal evaluation data to monitor the impact of the pilot for patients locally, allowing them to plan for the delivery of future sickle cell services. Although NHS England did not commission this pilot, they remain committed to the reducing health inequalities faced by people living with sickle cell and will continue to work in collaboration with system partners to address these inequalities through evidence-based approach.Sickle cell disease patients still receive specialist care through the Haematology Day Unit at the Royal London Hospital, and this remains open. There has been no change for patients with regards to routine or emergency management of their condition. There are several innovations in the sickle cell service currently being implemented such as the expansion of the red cell exchange transfusion service and the delivery of novel curative gene therapies.

What steps she is taking to a) reduce public access to and b) ensure the online security of the Children Not in School Register proposed in the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill.

Section 436C of the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill prohibits information from a local authority Children Not in School register being published or made public in a way that would include the name or address of a parent or eligible child or that would identify them. The department will highlight in statutory guidance that we expect registers to be held securely on local authority systems. Local authorities should have an appropriate data protection policy document and privacy notice regarding the processing of personal data and its secure storage and destruction. We are continuing to engage with the Information Commissioner’s office to ensure that appropriate mitigations are in place for any risks identified.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of proposed changes to funding for non-clinical NHS departments on a) patient wait times, b) hospital running costs and c) hospital administration.

National Health Service providers are funded under the NHS payment scheme. When providing funding for services, the clinical and non-clinical elements of service provision are not distinguished, as a single overall price is provided.We have, however, been clear about the need for providers to reverse the growth in corporate costs, which since 2018/19 have risen by 40%, or £1.85 billion, excluding pay and pensions. Providers have been asked to reduce that growth in corporate costs by half.Those savings can then be reinvested in patient care, including to improve patient wait times.