Written questions by Denyer.

Whether it is his policy to stop issuing development consents for all new oil and gas fields.

The Government has committed that it will not revoke existing licences and will partner with business and workers to manage our existing fields for the entirety of their lifespan. We have already consulted on revised environmental guidance for development consents to take into account emissions from burning extracted oil and gas to provide stability for industry. This consultation closed in January, and we are working to have guidance in place as soon as possible.

What the cost to the public purse was of legal services used by the Government in relation to potential Rosebank oil and gas field development since 4 July 2024; and whether further legal costs have been accounted for in his Department’s (a) current and (b) future budgets.

The Department has paid a total of £26,773 in legal fees relating to the Jackdaw and Rosebank fields since 4 July 2024.

If she will make it her policy to uprate Bereavement Support Payments annually in line with inflation.

Bereavement Support Payment is intended to help people through the immediate period following a bereavement. It is not a cost-of-living benefit like Universal Credit, which is generally increased in line with inflation. The rate of Bereavement Support Payment is reviewed on a discretionary basis as part of the annual uprating process, but there is no legal requirement to uprate it. Whilst we have no plans to uprate BSP from April, the Government keeps all benefits including Bereavement Support Payments, under review.

What estimate her Department has made of the potential impact of new UK oil and gas extraction on (a) GDP and (b) tax receipts in each of the next five years.

It is a long-standing convention that the government does not discuss individual taxpayers, and so the government cannot discuss the amount of tax relief available to individual companies in relation to the oil and gas fields they may have a commercial interest in. The Office for Budget Responsibility’s (OBR) most recent forecast of tax revenues from the oil and gas sector was published at Autumn Budget 2024 in the Economic and Fiscal Outlook October 2024 (https://obr.uk/efo/economic-and-fiscal-outlook-october-2024/), which also includes other economic projections. The OBR’s tax revenue forecast does not give a breakdown by field or company to protect taxpayer confidentiality but takes into account the impact of relevant, available tax reliefs. Where data is available, estimates of the cost of tax reliefs available to oil and gas companies are published on gov.uk (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/tax-relief-statistics). This publication contains non-disclosive estimates of the number of claimants for each relief.

Whether her Department has budgeted for any (a) investment tax credit and (b) ringfenced expenditure supplement to be paid to (i) Equinor and (ii) Ithaca in connection to Rosebank oil field development after February 2025.

It is a long-standing convention that the government does not discuss individual taxpayers, and so the government cannot discuss the amount of tax relief available to individual companies in relation to the oil and gas fields they may have a commercial interest in. The Office for Budget Responsibility’s (OBR) most recent forecast of tax revenues from the oil and gas sector was published at Autumn Budget 2024 in the Economic and Fiscal Outlook October 2024 (https://obr.uk/efo/economic-and-fiscal-outlook-october-2024/), which also includes other economic projections. The OBR’s tax revenue forecast does not give a breakdown by field or company to protect taxpayer confidentiality but takes into account the impact of relevant, available tax reliefs. Where data is available, estimates of the cost of tax reliefs available to oil and gas companies are published on gov.uk (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/tax-relief-statistics). This publication contains non-disclosive estimates of the number of claimants for each relief.

Whether (a) Equinor and (b) Ithaca have received (i) investment tax credit and (ii) ringfence expenditure supplement in connection to Rosebank oil field development in the period leading up to January 2025.

It is a long-standing convention that the government does not discuss individual taxpayers, and so the government cannot discuss the amount of tax relief available to individual companies in relation to the oil and gas fields they may have a commercial interest in. The Office for Budget Responsibility’s (OBR) most recent forecast of tax revenues from the oil and gas sector was published at Autumn Budget 2024 in the Economic and Fiscal Outlook October 2024 (https://obr.uk/efo/economic-and-fiscal-outlook-october-2024/), which also includes other economic projections. The OBR’s tax revenue forecast does not give a breakdown by field or company to protect taxpayer confidentiality but takes into account the impact of relevant, available tax reliefs. Where data is available, estimates of the cost of tax reliefs available to oil and gas companies are published on gov.uk (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/tax-relief-statistics). This publication contains non-disclosive estimates of the number of claimants for each relief.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will summon the United States Ambassador to discuss President Trump's proposals on Gaza.

We will continue to engage with the US Administration on all our priorities, including the situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs). We look forward to working with the incoming US Ambassador to London, once confirmed by the Senate. We have no plans to summon the Chargé d'Affaires.We would oppose any effort to move Palestinians in Gaza to neighbouring Arab states against their will. There must be no forced displacement of Palestinians, nor any reduction in the territory of the Gaza Strip. Palestinian civilians should be able to return to, and rebuild, their homes and their lives. That is a right guaranteed under international law.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will take steps to oppose any (a) forcible displacement and (b) ethnic cleansing of Palestinians from Gaza.

The Government's objective remans a negotiated two-state solution, with a sovereign Palestinian state, which includes the West Bank and Gaza, alongside a safe and secure Israel. In order to deliver this, it is clear that Palestinian civilians must be permitted to return to their communities in Gaza and rebuild and that there can be no forcible transfer of Gazans from or within Gaza, nor any reduction in the territory of the Gaza Strip. The new US administration played an integral role in negotiating the ceasefire agreement, alongside Qatar and Egypt. The UK will continue to work closely with the US to sustain the fragile ceasefire, ensure that all the hostages are released, increase the supply of aid, and break the ongoing cycle of violence in pursuit of a permanent, sustainable peace.

Communities and Local Government, whether she will issue guidance to planning authorities on the cumulative impact of carbon emissions from infrastructure projects on the Government’s carbon reduction targets.

The government’s Planning Practice Guidance on Climate Change, its National Design Guide and National Model Design Code provide general guidance on how carbon impacts can be taken into account in the town and country planning process.For Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects, National Policy Statements set out not only the need case for the infrastructure, but also the principles and types of impact against which they will be assessed (including air quality and carbon impacts).

What discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on the potential impact of restrictions on the right to work on women seeking asylum.

This Government remains determined to restore order to the asylum system and clear the backlog of claims as quickly as possible.Asylum seekers can apply for permission to work if their claim has been outstanding for 12 months or more, through no fault of their own. Those granted permission, can seek employment in roles on the Immigration Salary List.We are also committed to delivering an asylum process that is gender sensitive – building on the Government’s wider strategy to tackle violence against women and girls.

What proportion of cases taken by the National Age Assessment Board were assessed as (a) under 18 years of age and (b) 18 years or older.

The requested data is not part of published statistics, and could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.Official statistics published by the Home Office are kept under review in line with the code of practice for statistics, taking into account a number of factors including user needs, the resources required to compile the statistics, as well as quality and availability of data.

How many referrals have been accepted by the National Age Assessment Board; and what proportion of these referrals were from (a) local authorities and (b) her Department.

The requested data is not part of published statistics, and could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.Official statistics published by the Home Office are kept under review in line with the code of practice for statistics, taking into account a number of factors including user needs, the resources required to compile the statistics, as well as quality and availability of data.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that the oil and gas sector contributes to meeting global climate targets.

The UK is committed to transitioning away from fossil fuels and meeting global climate targets. The Government supports action on decarbonising oil and gas production and is consulting on new guidance to ensure the impact of burning oil and gas is considered in the Environmental Impact Assessment for new projects. The Government will consult on its commitment to not issue new oil and gas licences to explore new fields, in due course.

Whether his Department plans to publish a consultation on licences to explore new oil and gas fields.

The Government will consult on its commitment to not issue new oil and gas licences to explore new fields in due course.

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of opening new oil and gas fields in the North Sea on the Paris Agreement goal to limit the global average temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

At COP28, the UK and others agreed to transition away from fossil fuels in an orderly and equitable manner, accelerating action in this critical decade. This is essential to keep the global temperature limit of 1.5°C within reach. The Government has acted swiftly to consult on new environmental guidance for oil and gas firms to ensure that the impact of burning oil and gas is considered in the Environmental Impact Assessment for new projects. The Government will consult on the implementation of its manifesto position, not to issue new oil and gas licences to explore new fields, in due course.

Pursuant to the Answer of 10 January 2025 to Question 21077 on Ithaca Energy: Occupied Territories, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of reports that the Rosebank oil field’s minority owner is owned by a firm operating in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

There are no current plans to make such assessment.We routinely update our guidance to British businesses on the Overseas Business Risk website.We advise British businesses to bear in mind the British Government's view on the illegality of settlements under international law when considering their investments and activities in the region.

Whether he has had discussions with representatives of the Five Eyes on the potential implications for that community of President-elect Donald Trump’s plan to appoint Tulsi Gabbard as US Director of National Intelligence.

The US is our closest security ally and, as you would expect, we maintain an open and ongoing dialogue on a range of defence issues. The intelligence we share bilaterally and through alliances such as the Five Eyes is fundamental to our own national security.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will take steps to sanction the shipping of Russian Liquified Natural Gas by UK-based businesses to (a) the EU and (b) other third countries.

The UK has taken extensive action to limit energy revenues that fund Russia's war in Ukraine. This includes Russian Liquified Natural Gas (LNG). UK persons are prohibited from importing Russian LNG and acquiring Russian LNG with the intention of entering the UK. This prohibition also covers the provision of certain services relating to the import or acquisition of LNG with the intention of entering the UK. In September 2024 we used new powers to specify carriers transporting Russian LNG, followed by a second set of vessels in October. It would not be appropriate to speculate about potential future sanctions.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 15 October 2024 to Question 7788 on Air Pollution, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on the (a) legal threshold for future levels of NOx and (b) planning time required for councils with Clean Air Zones.

The Secretary of State has regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues on a range of issues, and Cabinet discussions are considered confidential. The Government remains committed to meeting legal targets for air quality and continues to review the policy measures needed to achieve them. The NO2 programme is working closely with local authorities to deliver air quality measures, including Clean Air Zones, to meet legal limits for NO2 and improve the health of their residents.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will take steps to sanction UK based insurance firms providing insurance to tankers engaged in shipping Russian Liquified Natural Gas.

The UK has taken extensive action to limit energy revenues that fund Russia's war. UK persons are prohibited from importing Russian Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) and acquiring Russian LNG with the intention of entering the UK. This prohibition also covers the provision of certain services relating to the import or acquisition of goods with the intention of entering the UK. The categories of services include financial services and funds which includes insurance-related services, brokering services and technical assistance.