Written questions by Miller.

If she will make an assessment of the adequacy of financial investigation practices by police forces in cases where significant funds remain unrecovered.

The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 contains significant powers to assist police forces in identifying, freezing and recovering criminal assets. Police forces utilise confiscation orders to deprive offenders of the proceeds of their criminal conduct. A confiscation order is imposed by the court against a convicted defendant, ordering them to pay the amount they benefited from their criminal activity. If the defendant has benefited from the crime but has no assets, the court will record the amount of the benefit and make a nominal order. If the defendant later acquires assets, or further assets are discovered, the prosecution can apply to the court to increase the amount that a defendant must pay. Police forces have dedicated ‘Asset Confiscation Enforcement’ (ACE) teams that provide a coordinated response to confiscation enforcement and tackling priority enforcement orders to ensure proceeds of crime are recovered. Financial investigation practices and legislation are regularly reviewed. The Crime and Policing Bill includes reforms which will bolster confiscation, by giving the courts more powers to make realistic and proportionate confiscation orders, expedite the enforcement of unpaid orders, and streamline confiscation proceedings. These reforms will improve asset recovery outcomes ensuring criminals are deprived of their benefit from crime and lead to more funds being returned to victims; and more funds reinvested into law enforcement.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the effectiveness of the police to recover money obtained via theft by serious organised crime.

The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 contains significant powers to assist police forces in identifying, freezing and recovering criminal assets. Police forces utilise confiscation orders to deprive offenders of the proceeds of their criminal conduct. A confiscation order is imposed by the court against a convicted defendant, ordering them to pay the amount they benefited from their criminal activity.If the defendant has benefited from the crime but has no assets, the court will record the amount of the benefit and make a nominal order. If the defendant later acquires assets, or further assets are discovered, the prosecution can apply to the court to increase the amount that a defendant must pay.Police forces have dedicated 'Asset Confiscation Enforcement' (ACE) teams that provide a coordinated response to confiscation enforcement and tackling priority enforcement orders to ensure proceeds of crime are recovered.Financial investigation practices and legislation are regularly reviewed. The Crime and Policing Bill includes reforms which will bolster confiscation, by giving the courts more powers to make realistic and proportionate confiscation orders, expedite the enforcement of unpaid orders, and streamline confiscation proceedings. These reforms will improve asset recovery outcomes ensuring criminals are deprived of their benefit from crime and lead to more funds being returned to victims; and more funds reinvested into law enforcement.

What assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the 2002 Proceeds of Crime Act in recovering criminal profits made from high-profile theft.

The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA) is the primary framework for recovering the proceeds of crime. POCA is crime agnostic and can be applied for any crime type where the criminal has benefited from crime. If a defendant is convicted of a criminal offence, such as high-profile theft, an order can be placed on the individual to pay the equivalent value of their criminal benefit.POCA also provides for the recovery of any assets that are suspected to be derived from criminality, regardless of a criminal conviction.The Home Office publishes an annual statistical bulletin which outlines the high-level trends on the use of POCA powers and other relevant legislation. Within the bulletin a breakdown by offence group is provided of which Theft is a category. Over the past six years of collecting data, criminal confiscation receipts for theft are of a value of £40.1 million and a further £224.8 million was restrained to pay toward confiscation.Further detail of these figures can be found in the published tables 6, 7 and 8 as part of the Annual Statistical Bulletin on Asset Recovery.

Pursuant to the Answer of 24 March 2025 to Question 39293, when he plans to publish guidance relating to communities and onshore wind; when Solar Energy UK plans to publish its guidance; and whether the guidance will be binding.

We will publish updated community benefits guidance for onshore wind in England in spring 2025, to clearly set out our expectations on what effective community benefits for communities that host new onshore wind projects should look like. Solar Energy UK plans to publish its community benefits guidance for solar PV later this year. It will apply on a voluntary basis and provide a benchmark for the solar energy sector.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 20 March 2025 to Question 38925 on Chelsea Football Club: Sales, whether he has a timetable for when the proceeds from the sale will reach humanitarian causes in Ukraine.

The UK is working with international partners, has engaged with Abramovich's team, and is exploring all options to ensure the proceeds reach humanitarian causes in Ukraine. While it would not be appropriate to provide a running commentary on discussions, we are doing everything we can to make progress on this matter as quickly as possible.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 20 March 2025 to Question 38925 on Chelsea Football Club: Sales, what steps his Department has taken to secure access to the proceeds.

The UK is working with international partners, has engaged with Abramovich's team, and is exploring all options to ensure the proceeds reach humanitarian causes in Ukraine. While it would not be appropriate to provide a running commentary on discussions, we are doing everything we can to make progress on this matter as quickly as possible.

If she will publish a timetable for the piloting of domestic violence specialists in every 999 control room; and when she plans to roll this out to (a) Thames Valley and (b) other constabularies not included in the pilot.

In February we launched Raneem's Law, and embedded external domestic abuse specialists in the first five 999 control rooms. Learnings from the first five forces will inform plans for further national rollout. Exact timings will be announced in due course.This Government is committed to rolling this out across all 43 forces in England and Wales as soon as possible. This is the first time the Government is delivering a national, coordinated approach to embedding specialism into 999 control rooms and this must be delivered to the highest standards.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has held discussions with the EU Commission on the potential establishment of a new forum to enable joint UK-EU decision making on the development of (a) a pan-European rearmament bank and (b) similar institution aimed at enabling financing for (i) the ReArm Europe programme and (ii) other defence programmes.

We need to work together to bolster the European defence industrial base, making sure that it can compete globally and deliver for our security and defence needs as well as contribute to growth and jobs. Officials and Ministers will continue to engage EU counterparts as we reset relations and explore opportunities for UK-EU defence and security cooperation.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with the EU Commission on the potential role of the UK in supporting the development of a (a) pan-European rearmament bank and (b) similar institution aimed at enabling financing for (i) the ReArm Europe programme and (ii) other defence programmes.

We need to work together to bolster the European defence industrial base, making sure that it can compete globally and deliver for our security and defence needs as well as contribute to growth and jobs. Officials and Ministers will continue to engage EU counterparts as we reset relations and explore opportunities for UK-EU defence and security cooperation.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to his Oral Statement of 17 March 2025 on G7, Official Report, column 41 and 46, what steps he is taking to ensure that the UK is fulfilling its obligations under international humanitarian law.

As soon as the Foreign Secretary took office, he ordered a review into Israel's compliance with International Humanitarian Law (IHL), which concluded that there was a clear risk that UK export items might be used to commit or facilitate serious violations IHL. I also receive legal advice as appropriate on the UK's obligations. The IHL assessments continue and we are closely monitoring developments in Gaza and will keep this position under review. The UK has raised compliance with IHL with Israel at the most senior levels and has discussed it with G7 partners.We have suspended relevant export licences to Israel for use in military operations in the Gaza conflict. We have continued to review export licences for items to Israel and assess that there are no extant licences for items that might be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of IHL. This is subject to the specific measures set out before Parliament excluding exports to the global F-35 programme from the scope of the suspension.Our longstanding position is that it is for the courts to determine whether or not a crime has been committed.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department held discussions with the EU Commission on the development of the ReArm Europe plan; and whether his Department is taking steps with the EU Commission to establish a means through which the UK can (a) contribute to and (b) be supported through this plan.

We strongly welcome the ambitions of the ReArm programme and believe it is in the interest of European defence to create a structure that allows member states to partner with the UK. Officials and Ministers frequently engage EU counterparts, including High Representative Kaja Kallas, who met with the Defence and Foreign Secretaries in London last month, the first visit by an EU High Representative since the UK left the EU. During which they discussed the need for EU defence financing and wider defence industrial initiatives to be inclusive of third countries like the UK and we will continue to do so.

When she plans to answer Questions (a) 36322, (b) 36323 and (c) 36324, tabled by the hon. Member for Bicester and Woodstock on 6 March 2025.

The answers to Written Parliamentary Questions 36322, 36323 and 36324 were published on 20 March 2025.

With reference to the press release entitled Households near new pylons to save hundreds on energy bills, published on 10 March 2025, if he will take steps to provide similar funding to communities affected by renewables schemes.

We have announced bill discounts for new transmission infrastructure projects because many communities will live close to this infrastructure without enjoying the direct, tangible benefits coming from other technologies, such as local jobs and investment. However, in the Clean Power Action Plan, we made clear that where communities host clean energy infrastructure, we will ensure they benefit from it. There are many options in this area including community funds and shared ownership, which we are exploring. In the interim, we intend to publish guidance for onshore wind in England and Solar Energy UK has also committed to publishing guidance.

If she will make an assessment of the cost to the public purse for PIP payments for people with mental health conditions.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer to Question UIN 34908 on 10th March 2025.

With reference to her oral statement on Welfare Reform on 18 March 2025, what proportion of the potential savings to the public purse identified by her Department is related to young people in receipt of Personal Independence Payment.

The information is intended for publication at a future date.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of her proposed welfare reforms on demand for social care services from people who may lose benefit eligibility.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will support the Casey Commission into adult social care – and work closely with the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) – as we take forward the proposals in the Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper. In the short term, up to £3.7 billion of additional funding will be made available for social care authorities in 2025/2026, including an £880 million increase in the Social Care Grant. For those who are affected by the new eligibility changes, we are consulting on how best to support this group, including how to make sure health and eligible care needs are met.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the proposed welfare reforms on poverty levels among (a) disabled people and (b) their families.

As the Secretary of State announced on Tuesday 18th March 2025, the equality and poverty impact analysis will be published alongside the spring statement.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has had legal advice on its powers to enforce the agreement with Roman Abramovich on the sale of Chelsea Football Club on the spending of proceeds in support of the victims of the war in Ukraine.

This issue primarily involves responsibilities of Ministers in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, HM Treasury and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. The proceeds from the sale of Chelsea FC are frozen in a UK bank account. We are determined to see the proceeds reach humanitarian causes in Ukraine as soon as possible. It is a complex issue with Ministers receiving advice from a range of officials and lawyers. The UK is working with international partners, has engaged with Abramovich's team, and is exploring all options to ensure the proceeds reach vulnerable people in Ukraine who are most in need.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, which Minister has responsibility for ensuring that the proceeds from the sale of Chelsea Football Club are spent in support of humanitarian causes in Ukraine.

This issue primarily involves responsibilities of Ministers in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, HM Treasury and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. The proceeds from the sale of Chelsea FC are frozen in a UK bank account. We are determined to see the proceeds reach humanitarian causes in Ukraine as soon as possible. It is a complex issue with Ministers receiving advice from a range of officials and lawyers. The UK is working with international partners, has engaged with Abramovich's team, and is exploring all options to ensure the proceeds reach vulnerable people in Ukraine who are most in need.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the proceeds from the sale of Chelsea Football Club remain in the UK.

This issue primarily involves responsibilities of Ministers in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, HM Treasury and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. The proceeds from the sale of Chelsea FC are frozen in a UK bank account. We are determined to see the proceeds reach humanitarian causes in Ukraine as soon as possible. It is a complex issue with Ministers receiving advice from a range of officials and lawyers. The UK is working with international partners, has engaged with Abramovich's team, and is exploring all options to ensure the proceeds reach vulnerable people in Ukraine who are most in need.