Written questions by Leishman.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, for what reasons his Department took seven years to respond to freedom of information request entitled FCO 37/3979 Training of the Sri Lankan military in the UK.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) received a request for access to information held on file reference FCO 37/3979 in June 2018. A response was issued four months later in October 2018. The material in question is subject to ongoing legal proceedings under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. We cannot comment on ongoing legal cases.

What the purpose is of Project HEZUK; and whether that project (a) is ongoing or (b) has been discontinued.

The Ministry of Defence has a number of active and retired project names, I will not comment further for security reasons.

Which company was awarded the contract for Coastal Radar Data Integration, advertised on 26 September 2023.

No contract was awarded as result of the notice posted on 26 September 2023.During the tendering process the Authority made the decision that the procurement would not achieve the requirement outcome and ended the procurement. The Authority is now in the process of reviewing its requirements and options for the future.

For what reason Ministers in her Department met with Elbit Systems on 16 December 2024.

No ministers have met Elbit Systems on 16th December 2024.

Whether she has had meetings to discuss Palestine Action since July 2024.

Home Office ministers regularly meet with officials to discuss the safety and security of the public.

Pursuant to the Answer of 14 February 2025 to Question 29341 on Ministry of Defence: Israel, which Israeli officials visited his Department on 5 February 2025.

Brigadier General Yaval Harel, Israeli Air Force Head of Personnel Division, led an Israeli Air Force delegation of nine personnel as part of a three-day HR-focussed visit to the UK.

When the UK last supplied Ukraine with tank shells containing depleted uranium.

We have sent thousands of rounds of Challenger 2 ammunition to Ukraine, including depleted uranium armour-piercing rounds. For operational security reasons, we will not comment on Ukrainian usage rates for the rounds provided.

Whether UK-supplied Challenger tanks being deployed by Ukraine in the Kursk region of Russia are equipped with shells containing depleted uranium.

We have sent thousands of rounds of Challenger 2 ammunition to Ukraine, including depleted uranium armour-piercing rounds. For operational security reasons, we will not comment on Ukrainian usage rates for the rounds provided.

What the (a) purpose, (b) strength and (c) budget is of the British Support Team in Ramallah.

As part of our commitment to stability in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, the UK provides the Palestinian Authority with professional support in helping develop capable and responsible security institutions that respect human rights and are accountable to the Palestinian people. Support to the Palestinian Authority Security Forces is paid for by Ministry of Defence core funds and the UK's Integrated Security Fund (ISF). The amount spent by the UK's ISF in the Financial Year 2024-25 will be published in due course in the respective ISF annual review of 2024-25. The number of personnel is being withheld in order to protect the security of those personnel and to avoid prejudicing international relations.

Where his Department has recently published information about the British Support Team Ramallah.

The Ministry of Defence has not published information about the British Support Team in Ramallah.

Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to help local authorities deliver essential services following changes to employer National Insurance contributions.

Raising the revenue required to fund public services and restore economic stability requires difficult decisions on tax.The government is providing an additional £2 billion in grant funding through the Settlement, including £502 million to address the impact of employer National Insurance Contributions (NICs) changes on council budgets. A further £13 million has been allocated to Mayoral Combined Authorities, totalling £515 million.Payments will be unringfenced to allow funding to be used across direct, commissioned, and externally provided local services.Spending decisions beyond 2025-26 are a matter for the upcoming Spending Review.

Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to mitigate the impact of changes to employer National Insurance contributions for local authorities.

Raising the revenue required to fund public services and restore economic stability requires difficult decisions on tax.The government is providing an additional £2 billion in grant funding through the Settlement, including £502 million to address the impact of employer National Insurance Contributions (NICs) changes on council budgets. A further £13 million has been allocated to Mayoral Combined Authorities, totalling £515 million.Payments will be unringfenced to allow funding to be used across direct, commissioned, and externally provided local services.Spending decisions beyond 2025-26 are a matter for the upcoming Spending Review.

Whether the Child Poverty Strategy will take into account the potential impact of the planned reforms to the Work Capability Assessment on children living in households where at least one parent or guardian is in receipt of Limited Capability for Work or Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity allowances.

Delivering our manifesto commitment to tackle child poverty is an urgent priority for this Government, and the Ministerial Taskforce is working to publish a Child Poverty Strategy which will deliver lasting change. The Strategy will look at levers across four key themes of increasing incomes, reducing essential costs, increasing financial resilience; and better local support especially in the early years. This will build on the reform plans underway across government and work underway in Devolved Governments.As part of the Strategy's development, the Taskforce is considering the potential impact of policies across government, including the potential impacts of the planned reforms to the Work Capability Assessment.

With reference to the Government Response to the Work Capability Assessment: Activities and Descriptors Consultation, CP973, updated on 22 November 2023, if she will publish (a) her Department's Impact Assessment and (b) any estimates made by her Department of the impact of the proposals on (i) the number of people in poverty, (ii) the number of children in poverty and (iii) the number of disabled people in poverty.

In January 2025 the High Court determined that the Work Capability Assessment: Activities and Descriptors consultation was unlawful. The court found the previous government failed to explain their proposals adequately or to allow people sufficient time to respond. As the previous consultation has been struck down, we will reconsult on the WCA changes as part of our Green Paper in spring 2025 that will bring forward wider proposals to reform the health and disability benefits system.

How many families in receipt of Universal Credit that include an award for Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity due to physical or mental health conditions have (a) no children, (b) one child, (c) two children and (d) three or more children.

This data is published and accessible using the following link: https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/

If he will bring forward secondary legislation under the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018 to prevent the importation of goods from illegal Israeli settlements.

The Government does not comment on future sanctions measures, as to do so would reduce their impact.The UK government considers Israeli settlements illegal under international law and goods produced in these settlements are not entitled to benefit from tariff and trade preferences under the UK’s current trade agreements with the Palestinian Authority and Israel.We support accurate labelling of settlement goods, so as not to mislead the consumer. We routinely update our guidance to British businesses on the Overseas Business Risk website and advise British businesses to bear in mind the UK Government's view on the illegality of settlements under international law when considering their investments and activities in the region.

If he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies on trade with illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory of the International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion entitled Legal Consequences Arising From The Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Including East Jerusalem, published on 19 July 2024.

The UK government considers Israeli settlements illegal under international law and is clear that goods produced in these settlements are not entitled to benefit from tariff and trade preferences under the UK’s current trade agreements with the Palestinian Authority and Israel. This will not change with an updated UK-Israel FTA. We advise British businesses to bear in mind the UK Government's view on the illegality of settlements under international law when considering their investments and activities in the region. Our commitment to a two-state solution is unwavering, as is our commitment to international law. We respect the independence of the International Court of Justice, and we are carefully considering the Court’s advisory opinion.

Which officials attended meetings with Israeli Major General Oded Basyuk on 22 January 2025; and for what reason.

As part of the concerted UK effort to reduce the risk of escalation in the Middle East and to achieve a peaceful resolution in Gaza and Lebanon, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) hosted counterparts from Israel on 22 January, led by Major General Basyuk. UK attendees included officials from the MOD, FCDO and Cabinet Office, and discussions included UK calls to implement all phases of the Gaza ceasefire deal in full and establish a pathway to lasting peace and security for the region.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether Israeli Major General Oded Basyuk and his delegation were granted special mission diplomatic immunity for the visit.

Government officials from any country can apply for and be granted special mission certificates as part of official visits to the UK. As set out in a Written Ministerial Statement by the former Foreign Secretary dated 4 March 2013, a special mission is a temporary mission, representing a State, which is sent by one State to another with the consent of the latter, in order to carry out official engagements on behalf of the sending State. The FCDO gave consent for special mission status for the visit to the UK on 21-22 January of Major General Oded Bassiuk, Head of the Operations Directorate J3 of the Israel Defense Forces, and delegation, to attend meetings with the Ministry of Defence as part of the concerted UK effort to reduce the risk of escalation in the Middle East and to achieve a peaceful resolution in Gaza and Lebanon.

Pursuant to the Answer of 20 January 2024 to Question 23609 on Israel: F-35 Aircraft, how many components manufactured exclusively for Israel's F-35I Adir version of the F-35A fighter jet have been exported from the UK.

None. UK suppliers have not manufactured nor exported components that are exclusively used on the Israeli variant of the F-35 aircraft.