Written questions by Obese-Jecty.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether Gordon Brown held discussions with the government of Mauritius in 2009 during which the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands was raised.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 9 February to Question 109314.

Pursuant to the Answer of 20 April 2026 to Question 125362 on USA:Anniversaries, whether his Department has accepted the invitation by Sail Boston to showcase a Daring Class Destroyer between 11 to 16 July 2026.

HM Government continues to support the USA in the celebration of their 250th anniversary, highlighted through the State Visit of His Majesty the King. The Ministry of Defence does not comment on future ship movements or commitments for reasons of operational security.

With reference to the answer of 27 April 2026, to question 118987 on Iran: RAF Akrotiri, what ballistic missile interception capability was deployed in defence of RAF Akrotiri during HMS Dragon’s maintenance in Crete.

Awaiting answer.

By what year does he plan to deliver the Long-Range Anti-Submarine Warfare Weapon.

Awaiting answer.

Pursuant to the answer of 20 April 2026 to question 125519 on Navy: Guided Weapons, by when does he plan to have achieved a) Initial Operating Capability and b) Full Operating Capability for the Mk 41 vertical launch system.

The Ministry of Defence continues to progress integration of the Mk 41 Vertical Launch System across relevant platforms. In-service dates remain subject to ongoing programme delivery, integration activity, and approval processes, and will be confirmed in due course.

What steps she is taking to update the Modern slavery strategy, published on 29 November 2014.

This government is taking forward an updated approach to tackling modern slavery through delivery, reform and integration across wider Government strategies, rather than by re-issuing an updated standalone strategy.Our March 2025 Modern Slavery Action Plan provided a clear delivery framework for 2025/26, and has already driven seen significant progress across the modern slavery portfolio, including an 84% reduction in outstanding National Referral Mechanism (NRM) conclusive grounds decisions (as of end of April 2026). This means that victims are receiving certainty and appropriate support in a timely fashion, allowing them to recover from their exploitation.We are also strengthening the system itself, including through the expansion of devolved decision-making pilot for exploited children, and the procurement of new support services for adult and child victims of modern slavery. Alongside this, we have updated guidance for modern slavery statements and are progressing work to strengthen the transparency in supply chains regime, including consideration of mandating reporting, penalties for non-compliance, and the extending requirements to public bodies.These reforms are being taken forward as part of wider Government priorities set out in the Asylum and Returns Policy Statement (“Restoring Order and Control”) and Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy (“Freedom from violence and abuse”), ensuring modern slavery policy is embedded across prevention, enforcement and victim support. Officials are now taking forward the findings from the recent Call for Evidence on victim identification to inform the next phase of system reform.

From what financial year will the 10-year Defence Investment Plan start.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment has she made of the potential impact of reductions in the Specialist Teaching Team in Cambridgeshire upon schools in the Huntingdon constituency.

Cambridgeshire’s staffing structures are a matter for the local authority, as is the impact assessment of any changes.We are improving schools’ access to expert advice and support through the new Experts at Hand service, a £1.8 billion investment over three years designed to give mainstream schools rapid access to specialist special educational needs and disabilities expertise. The indicative funding for the 2026/27 financial year for Experts At Hand in Cambridgeshire is £4,675,232. Cambridgeshire local authority will work with its integrated care board to deliver this new service, which will support schools in the Huntingdon constituency.

With reference to the answer of 22 April 2026 to question 908740 on Service Pupil Premium, how additional funding via the mobility factor in the schools national funding formula is allocated.

Awaiting answer.

Pursuant to the answer of 20 April 2026 to question 125513 on F-35 Aircraft: Procurement, by when does he plan to have completed the Block 4 upgrade programme.

I have nothing to add to the answer I gave the hon. Member on 20 April 2026 to Question 125513: We do not routinely comment on detailed delivery schedules. However, the Block 4 upgrade programme continues, it did not impact the declaration of Lightning Full Operating Capability. The Block 4 upgrade programme will further develop our world leading Combat Air capability, the UK Lightning, through improvements in lethality, survivability and supportability.

With reference to FOI 2026/03320 for what reason did her department deem it to be a) unlawful and b) unfair with respect to the withholding of the requested information regarding the number of ISIS-linked individuals repatriated to the UK from the Al-Roj camp in Syria.

The Government’s priority is the safety and security of the UK and our citizens. This can, where appropriate, include the exercise of immigration powers, the use of domestic and international watchlists, and law enforcement partners to disrupt the travel to the UK of individuals who are assessed to pose a threat.Individuals who return should expect to be investigated and, where there is evidence that they have committed crimes, to face prosecution. A wide range of criminal and terrorism offences can be used to prosecute returning foreign fighters, carrying the possibility of a sentence up to and including life imprisonment.It is the long-standing policy of successive UK Governments not to comment routinely either on individual cases or intelligence and security matters. On this Freedom of Information request, the Home Office set out the legal basis for withholding the requested information under section 40(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Those who are dissatisfied with the Home Office’s response to their Freedom of Information request may request an independent internal review within two months of the response.

Pursuant to the Answer of 15 April 2026 to Question 125325 on Animal Welfare: Inspections, how many beagles were bred in the last 12 months by MBR Acres Ltd for which the latest data is available.

The Home Office does not hold data on the number of animals bred by individual establishments. Responsibility for recording such information rests with the licensed establishments themselves.Under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, licensed establishments are required to maintain records, in a format acceptable to the Secretary of State, of the source, use and final disposal of all protected animals bred, kept or used at the establishment for regulated activity.The Home Office publishes annual statistics on the use of animals in scientific procedures, which include information on procedures involving dogs. In addition, project licence applications under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 are required to include prospective estimates of the number of animals expected to be used. This information is included in the published non-technical summaries of project licences granted available at:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/non-technical-summaries-of-projects-granted-under-aspa.

What recent assessment he has made of the feasibility of keeping Britannia Royal Naval College open (a) until 2040 and (b) after 2040.

Britannia Royal Naval College (BRNC) at Dartmouth continues to play a central role in the training of Royal Navy officers. There are no plans to close the establishment.

Media and Sport, what assessment she has made with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions of the potential impact of proposed changes to the Control of Lead at Work Regulations 2002 on work across (a) stained‑glass conservation, (b) historic metals, and (c) built heritage within the conservation-restoration sector.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is currently consulting on proposed changes to the Control of Lead at Work Regulations 2002. The deadline for submitting responses to the consultation is 24 May 2026. The consultation exercise will allow HSE to gain more detailed evidence to fully assess the impact of these proposed lead exposure levels in the working environment, including heritage workforce and built heritage, before any final proposals for reform. During the consultation, HSE has engaged with a range of heritage organisations, including Historic England, DCMS arms length body, to inform this ongoing work and ensure considerations around the historic environment are duly considered in any final recommendations.

Pursuant to the Answer of 20 April 2026 to question 125523 on Hare Coursing, which policing priority covers hare coursing in the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s Rural and Wildlife Crime Strategy 2025-28, published in November 2025.

The National Police Chiefs’ Council’s Rural and Wildlife Crime Strategy 2025-28, published in November 2025, addresses hare coursing within its policing priority to tackle illegal hunting and poaching.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the news story entitled Jonathan Powell appointed as Special Envoy for BIOT negotiations, published on 6 September 2024, whether the phrase He will begin his role immediately means that Jonathan Powell’s role as the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for negotiations between the UK and Mauritius on the exercise of sovereignty over the BIOT officially started on 6 September 2024.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 18 March in response to Question 118787.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 9 September 2024 to Question 2404 on Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Public Appointments, on what date did her predecessor a) appoint Jonathan Powell, b) did he commence the role and c) was his appointment publicly announced.

I refer the Hon Member to the answers provided on 11, 18 and 19 March in response to Questions 117954, 118781 and 119899.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when Jonathan Powell was appointed as the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for negotiations between the UK and Mauritius on the exercise of sovereignty over the BIOT; and what security clearance he had upon that appointment.

I refer the Hon Member to the answers provided on 11, 18 and 19 March in response to Questions 117954, 118781 and 119899.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether Jonathan Powell was interviewed for the role of the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for negotiations between the UK and Mauritius on the exercise of sovereignty over the British Indian Ocean Territory.

I refer the Hon Member to the answers provided on 11, 18 and 19 March in response to Questions 117954, 118781 and 119899.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 9 September 2024 to Question 2404 on Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Public Appointments, on what dates her predecessor met with Jonathan Powell prior to appointing him as the Prime Minister's Envoy for the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT)/Chagos Archipelago Sovereignty Negotiation with Mauritius.

I refer the Hon Member to the answers provided on 11, 18 and 19 March in response to Questions 117954, 118781 and 119899.