Written questions by Dewhirst.

If he will make it his policy to ensure that the criteria which define when impact assessments can be released are the same for Freedom of Information requests and Parliamentary Questions.

All freedom of Information requests are considered on their individual merits and in accordance with the legislation in all circumstances. Section 9 of the Ministerial Code sets the standard of conduct expected of ministers in relation to Parliament and how they discharge their duties, including for government responses to written parliamentary questions.

With reference to the transparency data entitled Cabinet Office: The Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer KCB KC MP Hospitality - 5 July to 31 October 2024, published on 30 January 2025, which representatives of (a) UEFA and (b) the Football Association of Ireland the Prime Minister met with when receiving hospitality from those organisations.

Details of ministerial meetings with external organisations are published on gov.uk as part of the government’s transparency agenda.

What information her Department has on the number of applications for the grant of certificates for firearms refused on the grounds of an unsatisfactory reference in the last ten years for which figures are available.

The Firearms Act 1968 gives responsibility for the issuing of firearms licences to Chief Officers of Police. Police forces hold the data on local applications.

Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 5 February 2025 to Question 27226 on 10 Downing Street: Government Art Collection, if she will make it her policy to release information on changes to Government Art Collection works on display in line with Freedom of Information Act requests.

The Government Art Collection is a working collection, used across government buildings in the UK and the global estate, which means that artworks may change their display location from time to time in response to new display steers and requests.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of her Department's policies on the legal ownership of firearms on people living in rural areas.

On 5 February 2025, increased fees came into effect for firearms licensing applications processed by police forces. This gave effect to a commitment in the Government’s manifesto. It is essential for both public safety and police efficiency that full cost recovery fees were introduced. The need to increase firearms licensing fees to help address shortcomings in firearms licensing was highlighted by the Senior Coroner in his Preventing Future Deaths reports into the fatal shootings in Plymouth in August 2021.As well as supporting public safety, the increased fees will support police forces to provide an improved service to firearms applicants through better resourced and trained licensing teams. The National Police Chiefs’ Council lead on Firearms Licensing is developing a new performance framework for firearms licensing teams, which will be published in order to provide greater transparency on application turnaround times. This will include for the first time a performance target for forces to complete applications for the grant or renewal of firearm and shotgun certificates within four months, unless there are concerns about the suitability of the applicant.I have written to all Police and Crime Commissioners and Chief Constables to make clear that the income from increased fees must be invested into their firearms licensing operations, in the interests of both public safety and to support improvements in the service provided by their firearms licensing teams.A full impact assessment was published alongside the Firearms (Variation of Fees) Order 2025, the Statutory Instrument that brought the new fees into effect.The impact assessment covers the impact of increased fees on farmers and rural communities. Any future changes to firearms licensing will be subject to further impact assessments in the normal way.

Pursuant to the Answer of 30 January 2025 to Question 25696 on Public Appointments: Political Activities, whether the Commissioner for Public Appointments has issued guidance on whether declarations of political activity should be published when a public appointment is made as part of the announcement.

The Commissioner for Public Appointments has not issued guidance on the publication of declarations of political activity. As set out in previous answers, rules on political activity by prospective or existing public appointees are already clearly set out within both the Governance Code on Public Appointments and the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies, and the process for declaring interests, including how they should be published by departments, is also set out in detail on Gov.uk.

Pursuant to the Answer of 29 January 2025 to Question 25454 on 9 Downing Street: Media, what advice the (a) Cabinet Secretary and (b) Cabinet Office Propriety and Ethics Team provided on whether the colours (i) red and (ii) blue are party political.

As has been the case under successive administrations, it is a long-standing principle that Civil Service advice is given and treated in confidence. This includes detailing whether or not advice has been given and by whom.

With reference to the publication entitled Number 10 special advisers hospitality, July to September 2024, published on 30 January 2025, for what reason the transparency data does not include an indicative financial value for the lunches received.

The Government is committed to publishing details of all special advisers' gifts, hospitality and meetings with senior media figures on a quarterly basis. As has been the case under successive administrations, this information does not contain the value of hospitality.

With reference to the Prime Minister's oral contribution of 5 February 2025, Official Report, column 742, on which topics the Government has offered Privy Council briefings to opposition Privy Councellors in the last 36 months.

This information is not held centrally. It is for Government Ministers to determine when information is shared on Privy Council Terms, on a case by case basis, and in a manner appropriate and proportionate to the circumstances.

Pursuant to the Answer of 28 January 2025 to Question 25863 on Military Aircraft: Helicopters, whether the Royal Household helicopter new transport is being arranged through a Cabinet Office framework.

No. The Royal Household makes independent arrangements for Royal Helicopter transport.

Pursuant to the Answer of 5 February 2025 to Question 26823 on Military Aircraft: Helicopters, whether the contract Corporate Travel Management (North) Limited is the commercial transport contract referred to by the Ministry of Defence in the Answer of 18 December 2024 to Question 21064; and what the name is of the company providing the helicopter service.

Corporate Travel Management is the commercial transport contract referred to. No single company provides all helicopter transport, with a range of providers employed under the Commercial Air Transport Contract. This contract uses Central Travel Management to identify the most cost-effective commercially available helicopter travel for Ministry of Defence Ministers, senior Department officials and senior officers, alongside Cabinet Office and wider Government Ministers. Detail of the Cabinet Office Corporate Travel Management (North) Limited (CTM can be found at the following Contracts Finder link:https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/notice/da014209-47d7-4805-8097-e191d7d1077f?origin=SearchResults&p=1

Pursuant to the Answer of 14 January 2025 to Question 22185, Prime Minister: Furniture, what information his Department holds on the number and proportion of attendees at the Plan for Change launch event on 5 December 2024 who were members of the Labour Party but were neither MPs or Ministers.

This was an official government event, with attendees and an audience that included members of the public, business people, and public sector workers. Some members of the Labour party attended.

Pursuant to the Answer of 28 January 2025 to Question 25862 on Military Aircraft: Helicopters, whether his assessment of the cost has included the additional costs of (a) Royal Household helicopter provision and (b) non-Defence Ministerial travel; and what the estimated total annual cost is .

Provision of Royal Household and non-Defence Ministerial helicopter travel is not a Ministry of Defence responsibility. Therefore, the cost assessment for Ministry of Defence senior leader and official future helicopter transport did not include Royal Household or non-Defence Ministerial travel requirements. Before deletion of Rotary Wing Command Support Air Transport in December 2024, Royal Household and wider Government usage had been on an ‘as available’ basis, when the aircraft was not in use for Ministry of Defence activity.

Pursuant to the Answer of 28 January 2025to Question 25863 on Military Aircraft: Helicopters, what is the name of the company now providing the helicopter transport through the Cabinet Office framework.

The Cabinet Office has a cross-Government contract in place with Corporate Travel Management (North) Limited (CTM). CTM provides a travel booking service for Cabinet Office staff, Ministers and Ministry of Defence senior officials when travel is permitted for business and operational reasons. Information on this contract can be found at the following Contracts Finder link:https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/notice/da014209-47d7-4805-8097-e191d7d1077f?origin=SearchResults&p=1

Pursuant to the Answer of 18 November 2024, to Question 1248 on Military Aircraft: Helicopter, where the Ministerial Transport Office is based; how many staff work in it; and what its budget is .

The helicopter arrangements are managed by the Cabinet Office Commercial team and form part of the Central Departmental Travel contracts which are in place with Corporate Travel Management (North) Limited (CTM). There is one dedicated Full Time official with other resources being used as and when required. CTM provides a travel booking service for Cabinet Office staff, Ministers and Ministry of Defence senior officials when travel is permitted for business and operational reasons. Costs are paid from the end user budget.

With reference to the Answer of 3 December 2024 to Question HL2664 on 10 Downing Street: Artworks, whether other artwork has been temporarily removed from (a) 10, (b) 11 and (c) 12 Downing Street.

The Government Art Collection is a working collection, used across government buildings in the UK and the global estate, which means that artworks may change their display location from time to time in response to new display steers and requests.

Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 17 December 2024 to Question 18702 on Home Office: Art Works, which specific items from the Government Art Collection have been (a) added to the those displayed in the Home Office, and (b) removed from display in the Home Office since 5 July 2024.

The Government Art Collection is a working collection, used across government buildings in the UK and the global estate, which means that artworks may change their display location from time to time in response to new display steers and requests.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to open funding via the Animal Health and Welfare Infrastructure Grant under the Animal Productivity Pathway for capital investments to improve on-farm productivity in spring 2025.

Farmers are already receiving support through the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway to undertake large infrastructure projects. The Rural Payments Agency recently invited eligible applicants to the Laying Hen Housing for Health and Welfare Grant forward to the next stage of the application process, with other farmers accessing funding through the Calf Housing for Health and Welfare Grant. Both grants will support our farmers to continually improve the health, welfare and productivity of their livestock. We are currently working to simplify and rationalise our grant funding, ensuring that grants are targeted towards those who need them most and where they can deliver the most benefit for food security and nature. We will confirm future grant rounds in due course. Eligible keepers of cattle, pigs and sheep can currently access funded vet visits as part of the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway. This provides an opportunity for farmers to improve the health, welfare and productivity of their animals through access to bespoke veterinary advice and testing for key endemics diseases.

How many veterans are awaiting compensation for PTSD-related claims; and what steps he is taking to expedite those claims.

The information is not held in the format requested and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. However, it may be helpful to note that War Pension Scheme (WPS) and Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) claims are not categorised by condition on receipt. It is not possible to determine if a claim received for a mental health condition will be accepted for compensation under either scheme until medical review of all evidence in the final stage of consideration and decision making. Defence Statistics Health publish statistics on claims and awards made under the WPS and AFCS. The latest WPS publication presents statistics as at 31 March 2024 and can be found on the gov.uk website:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/war-pension-recipients-index The latest AFCS publication presents statistics as at 31 March 2024 which was published on the gov.uk website on 18 July 2024:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/armed-forces-compensation-scheme-statistics-index The Ministry of Defence (MOD) aims to consider all claims under the WPS AFCS as efficiently and as quickly as possible so as not to cause undue delay and stress. Alongside Service evidence, it is often necessary to obtain medical records and case notes from the individual's civilian general practitioner and/or other medical providers. Awaiting the return of those records does take time and, regrettably, this is something MOD officials have no influence over. The MOD's own working practices are regularly reviewed to positively impact claim processing times for both schemes' claimants. As part of ongoing modernisation, new automated processes are currently being implemented to reduce processing times, as well as a new training programme to enhance caseworker knowledge and skills to further improve confidence and processing of claims.

What steps he is taking to expand the availability of veteran-specific mental health services in (a) rural and (b) deprived areas.

NHS England commissions Op COURAGE, the integrated mental health and wellbeing service, which allows veterans to make self-referrals.The service has been designed to support veterans from all areas, including rural and deprived areas, and is delivered from a range of locations, including National Health Service trusts, general practices, Poppy Shops, veteran hubs, and drop-in centres. Elements of the service may also be provided online, if this is clinically appropriate. The Government recognises that not all veterans want to use veteran-specific mental health services and can instead choose to use mainstream NHS services, such as Talking Therapies, which are available to both veterans and civilians.Integrated care boards are responsible for providing health and care services to meet the needs of their local populations, taking into account local considerations such as access to services in rural areas.The Government recognises that too many people are not receiving the mental health care they need, and that waits for mental health services are too long. We are determined to change this and ensure that mental health has the same focus as physical health, to help people in rural areas access high quality mental health support when they need it.