Written questions by Miller.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent estimate he has made of when the proceeds from the sale of Chelsea Football Club will be disbursed to support victims of Russia’s invasion of 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.

With reference to her speech entitled Chancellor vows to go further and faster to kickstart economic growth on 29 January 2025, which Minister is responsible for the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer has announced Lord Patrick Vallance as a Ministerial champion for the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor. Lord Vallance brings extensive experience across life sciences, business, academia and government. Whilst responsibility for specific levers will remain within respective departments, Lord Vallance will work closely with local experts and across government to unblock and identify growth-focused interventions across the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor, so world-class talent can live and work in a local area that is closely connected to world-class companies delivering innovative growth.

What assessment she has made of the level of (a) physical and (b) social infrastructure needed for the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor to achieve its aims.

The Oxford-Cambridge region is home to world leading universities and globally renowned science and technology firms. But the region's true potential is being held back by constraints, including unaffordable housing and transport constraints. The Government is taking action to drive sustainable growth across this key region which, according to experts, could boost the UK economy by £78 billion by 2035. The Government believes additional action can maximise the economic performance of the wider Oxford-Cambridge region. This is why Lord Vallance has been appointed as Oxford-Cambridge Growth Champion, to identify, coordinate and promote further interventions linked to the EWR route and drive growth across the region. The Government is already investing in East West Rail (EWR), which will deliver much needed transport connections between Oxford and Cambridge, and other communities along the route. In the Autumn Budget, the Chancellor also committed £10m of funding to enable the Cambridge Growth Company to develop an ambitious plan for the housing, transport, water, and wider infrastructure Cambridge needs to realise its full potential. In her speech of 29 January, the Chancellor confirmed that a new Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital is being prioritised for investment as part of wave 1 of the New Hospital Programme. In the wider corridor, we will target investment in R&D clusters, including the AI Growth Zone in Culham. The Government will deliver Phase 2 of the Spending Review and the 10 Year Infrastructure Strategy later this year, to support delivery of the Government’s plans for a decade of national renewal. Any further Government support for infrastructure in the region will be assessed and agreed through the formal Spending Review process.

Which regions have the longest driving test waiting times; and what steps her Department is taking to reduce delays in these regions.

The regions currently experiencing the longest driving test waiting times are London and the South East of England.The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) continues to work to attract and recruit more driving examiners (DE) in the London and South East areas.For recruitment campaigns, DVSA continues to use additional measures when advertising in these areas, such as local managers attending and running recruitment events, and working in local communities, building and fostering relationships to showcase the DE roles.DVSA has seen success in its recent campaigns for these regions. From these campaigns, 36 candidates have completed DE training successfully and have been placed to their test centre, and a further 19 candidates are currently undertaking training.From the most recent campaigns, DVSA has a further 26 potential candidates booked for upcoming training courses, with a further 48 currently undergoing pre-employment checks.

By what date her Department plans to embed domestic abuse specialists in 999 control rooms in the Thames Valley constabulary area.

Last month, we announced that external domestic abuse specialists have been embedded within the first five police force control rooms under Raneem's Law, to improve the police response to domestic abuse. These forces are Northumbria, Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, Humberside and West Midlands.We intend to use learning from this first phase of implementation to develop our model and inform plans for further national rollout across all 43 forces in England and Wales, as soon as possible. Exact timings for this will be announced in due course.

Whether her Department plans to introduce legislation for the provision of (a) early screening for neurodivergent conditions and (b) improved teacher training in those conditions.

The department is committed to improving support for all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), including those with neurodiverse conditions. We have established a neurodivergence task and finish group, which includes a range of experts including clinicians, scientists and academics, education experts and third sector organisations. This group is chaired by Professor Karen Guldberg from Birmingham University and is working closely with the department to help improve inclusivity and expertise in mainstream settings in a way that works for neurodivergent children and young people. This includes considering the use of needs-assessment and screening tools by educational professionals. High-quality teaching is the most important in-school factor for improving outcomes for all children, particularly those with SEND. All initial teacher training (ITT) providers must ensure that their courses enable trainee teachers to meet the Teachers’ Standards, which set clear expectations that teachers must understand the needs of all pupils, including those with SEND, such as neurodiversity, to be recommended for the award of qualified teacher status.The ITT Core Content Framework and Early Career Framework (ECF), for trainee and Early Career Teachers (ECTs) respectively, cover the first three years or more at the start of a teacher’s career. They set out the core body of knowledge, skills and behaviours that define great teaching, and from September 2025, these will be superseded by the combined Initial Teacher Training and Early Career Framework (ITTECF), which sets out a minimum entitlement to training and must be used by providers of ITT and those delivering provider-led early career training to create their curricula. From September 2025, all ECTs will be entitled to a two-year induction that is underpinned by the ITTECF, known as the Early Career Teacher Entitlement (ECTE). The department’s review of content for the ITTECF paid particular attention to the needs of trainees and ECTs when supporting pupils with SEND. There is now significantly more content related to adaptive teaching and supporting pupils with SEND, including those with neurodiversity. We have edited existing statements to improve inclusivity for SEND throughout the framework including, for example, developing an understanding of different pupil needs, and learning how to provide opportunities for success for all pupils. From September 2025, the department has also enhanced the requirement on providers of ECT training to develop SEND training materials. The department tested this approach with SEND educational experts with consensus that the approach of ‘quality-first teaching’ would be the best way to improve outcomes for all children, particularly those with SEND. We recognise that continuous improvement is essential and have recently committed to a full review of the ECTE in 2027 to ensure it continues to provide the best possible support for ECTs. This review will focus on the support we provide new teachers in teaching pupils with SEND.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the time taken to confirm the Adoption Support Fund budget on children receiving therapy through that fund.

The department will shortly be finalising business planning decisions on the allocation of the department’s budget for the next financial year. All decisions regarding the future of the adoption and special guardianship support fund (ASGSF), including issues linked to inflation, are being considered as part of these discussions. An announcement will be made as soon as possible. We will always consider the impact of decisions on vulnerable children.To ensure there are no gaps in therapy, including for children with additional needs, ASGSF applications are generally permitted to extend up to 12 months, allowing children and families to receive continuing therapy across financial years. Where applications are approved, therapy which starts during March 2025 may therefore continue into the next financial year under previously agreed transitional funding arrangements.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of linking the Adoption Support Fund annual funding cap to inflation.

The department will shortly be finalising business planning decisions on the allocation of the department’s budget for the next financial year. All decisions regarding the future of the adoption and special guardianship support fund (ASGSF), including issues linked to inflation, are being considered as part of these discussions. An announcement will be made as soon as possible. We will always consider the impact of decisions on vulnerable children.To ensure there are no gaps in therapy, including for children with additional needs, ASGSF applications are generally permitted to extend up to 12 months, allowing children and families to receive continuing therapy across financial years. Where applications are approved, therapy which starts during March 2025 may therefore continue into the next financial year under previously agreed transitional funding arrangements.

What steps her Department is taking to ensure that the time taken to confirm Adoption Support Fund funding does not lead to gaps in therapy provision for adopted children with additional needs.

The department will shortly be finalising business planning decisions on the allocation of the department’s budget for the next financial year. All decisions regarding the future of the adoption and special guardianship support fund (ASGSF), including issues linked to inflation, are being considered as part of these discussions. An announcement will be made as soon as possible. We will always consider the impact of decisions on vulnerable children.To ensure there are no gaps in therapy, including for children with additional needs, ASGSF applications are generally permitted to extend up to 12 months, allowing children and families to receive continuing therapy across financial years. Where applications are approved, therapy which starts during March 2025 may therefore continue into the next financial year under previously agreed transitional funding arrangements.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that (a) environmental and (b) animal welfare standards are maintained in planning reforms.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 28 January 2025 to the hon Member for West Dorset, PQ 25127.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will take steps to introduce a right to consular assistance in cases of human rights violations.

The Government is committed to strengthening consular services, including introducing a right to consular assistance in cases of human rights violations. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development is considering a package of measures to achieve this, which we will announce in due course.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations he made to his Egyptian counterpart to allow access to Alaa Abdel El-Fattah on 23 January 2025.

The UK remains committed to securing Alaa Abd El-Fattah's release so he can be reunited with his family. We continue to prioritise Mr El-Fattah's case in our engagement with the Egyptian government. The Foreign Secretary has repeatedly raised this case with the Egyptian Foreign Minister, including most recently on 23 January in Cairo. The National Security Adviser, Jonathan Powell, also raised this case with the Foreign Minister on 2 January during his visit to Cairo. The Foreign Secretary met Mrs Laila Soueif on 27 November 2024, and the Minister for the Middle East spoke with Mrs Laila Soueif on 24 December 2024 by telephone. FCDO officials remain in regular contact with the family to check on their welfare.

Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to publish the National Land Use Strategy.

The Government plans to publish a 12-week consultation on land use shortly. The consultation will inform the publication of a Land Use Framework, planned for later in the year.

Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking with local planning authorities to promote net zero standards for new homes.

The Government intend to amend building regulations later this year as part of the introduction of future standards that will set more ambitious energy efficiency and carbon emissions requirements for new homes.The new standards will ensure that all new homes are future-proof, with low-carbon heating and very high-quality building fabric. This will help us to deliver our commitment to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, and reduce bills, tackle fuel poverty, grow skills, foster diverse job markets, and make Britain energy secure.We also recently amended the National Planning Policy Framework to emphasise the importance of climate considerations in both plan-making and decisions made by local planning authorities.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of US policies enacted between 20 January 2017 and 20 January 2021 on the UK steel industry.

The UK government is committed to monitoring US policies and considering what action is best to promote and safeguard UK business interests.Between January 2017 and January 2021, we engaged the US administration extensively on a range of US policies, including in the context of UK-US FTA negotiations. Beyond 2021, we have continued engaging with the US to improve access to the US market for UK exporters, including by securing the removal of Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminium products.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of US policies enacted between 20 January 2017 – 20 January 2021 on UK small businesses.

The UK government is committed to monitoring US policies and considering what action is best to promote and safeguard UK business interests.Between January 2017 and January 2021, we engaged the US administration extensively on a range of US policies, including in the context of UK-US FTA negotiations. Beyond 2021, we have continued engaging with the US to improve access to the US market for UK exporters, including by securing the removal of Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminium products.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of US policies enacted between 20 January 2017 and 20 January 2021 on the UK renewable energy industry.

The UK government is committed to monitoring US policies and considering what action is best to promote and safeguard UK business interests.Between January 2017 and January 2021, we engaged the US administration extensively on a range of US policies, including in the context of UK-US FTA negotiations. Beyond 2021, we have continued engaging with the US to improve access to the US market for UK exporters, including by securing the removal of Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminium products.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of US policies enacted between 20 January 2017 and 20 January 2021 on the UK aluminium industry.

The UK government is committed to monitoring US policies and considering what action is best to promote and safeguard UK business interests.Between January 2017 and January 2021, we engaged the US administration extensively on a range of US policies, including in the context of UK-US FTA negotiations. Beyond 2021, we have continued engaging with the US to improve access to the US market for UK exporters, including by securing the removal of Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminium products.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of US policies enacted between 20 January 2017 and 20 January 2021 on the Scotch whisky industry.

The UK government is committed to monitoring US policies and considering what action is best to promote and safeguard UK business interests.Between January 2017 and January 2021, we engaged the US administration extensively on a range of US policies, including in the context of UK-US FTA negotiations. Beyond 2021, we have continued engaging with the US to improve access to the US market for UK exporters, including by securing the removal of Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminium products.

What discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on international trade since 5 November 2024.

Since the 5th of November the Secretary of State has held positive discussions with European Commission Executive Vice President Teresa Ribera (15 January) and the Spanish Minister for Economy, Trade and Business, Carlos Cuerpo (14 November) on shared trade interests. We look forward to continuing to build these relationships with the new Commissioners.