Written questions by Nichols.

For what reason the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs has not published an annual report since 2019; and if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of ensuring that the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs resumes publishing these reports.

The Minister for Policing, Fire and Crime Prevention met the Chair of the ACMD, Professor Owen Bowden-Jones on the 29th October 2024, as part of this Government’s wider work on tackling the harms associated with drug misuse.Regular meetings with the ACMD or its Chair will be held as appropriate, in accordance with the important work it does in assessing the evidence of drug harms.The government will consider outstanding and forthcoming reports carefully.The ACMD is independent. The publication of its annual report is a matter for the ACMD.

What information her Department holds on the number of fires that have been caused by the batteries of (a) e-scooters and (b) e-bikes in the last 12 months.

The Home Office collects data on incidents attended by Fire and Rescue Services (FRSs), with this data including the cause of the fire and the source of ignition. This data is published in a variety of publications, available here: Fire statistics - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)Data collected through the Incident Recording System (IRS) does not include data on whether fire incidents attended were caused by or involved batteries of either e-bikes or e-scooters..We are reviewing the IRS, and the data it collects, and considering what categories to record in the future. Adding new categories, including lithium-ion batteries, electric vehicles, e-scooters and e-bikes, to the data collection will be considered as part of the work to reform the IRS with a modern, secure, and flexible system.

Whether she plans to proceed with the recruitment process for members of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, as announced by the previous government on 2 August 2023.

Appointments to the Advisory Council and the Misuse of Drugs are made by Ministers in accordance with the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and the principles set out in the Governance Code on Public Appointments.Governance Code on Public Appointments - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)Ministers are considering the recruitment options, and a decision will be taken in due course.

If she will issue guidance to UK-based Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) trustees on the use of British National (Overseas) passports by Hong Kongers as documentation to secure the early withdrawal of their retirement savings after permanently departing from Hong Kong.

This Government is deeply committed to supporting members of the Hong Kong community who have relocated to the UK. We are aware that individuals who have chosen to take up the British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) visa route are having difficulties in drawing down early their pensions held in the Hong Kong Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF). Whilst documentary requirements for withdrawing funds early are a matter for the Hong Kong authorities, the Government has raised this issue directly with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and the Hong Kong MPF Schemes Authority. We have urged them to facilitate early draw down of funds as is the case for other Hong Kong residents who move overseas permanently and have made clear such discrimination of BN(O)s is unacceptable.