Written questions by Jones.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with his Mauritian counterpart on the future of the .io country code top-level domain.

The Foreign Secretary has not had any discussions with his Mauritian counterpart on the future of the .io country code top-level domain. The Government does not have any role in the management of the .io country code top-level domain. Decisions regarding the management of country code top-level domains are a matter for the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA).

What assessment her Department has made of the impact of introducing the third stage of the Border Target Operating Model on 31 January 2025.

The Government announced on 7th October that under the third stage of the Border Target Operating Model, Safety and Security declarations will be required for EU imports from 31 January 2025. Businesses who already complete Safety and Security import declarations do not need to make any changes to their existing systems or procedures, and businesses who will be required to complete Safety and Security declarations for the first time will only need to provide data deemed most critical to security.

Food and Rural Affairs, how much funding he plans to allocate to the Sevington border control post in each of the next five financial years.

Operating costs for the Government-run Sevington border control post are designed to be recovered by the Common User Charge (CUC) The Government will keep the CUC rates under review and will continue to consider the impact of the charge on businesses of all sizes across all sectors. Regular reviews will be undertaken to monitor levels of payment compliance and import flows through the short straits. Further information on the charge and the operating costs at Sevington will be made available in due course.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the impact of the UK's withdrawal from the EU on farmers.

Data relating to farmers are regularly published. Agriculture in the UK 2023 was published in June 2024. Farming evidence packs have been recently updated including key statistics and farm performance Farming statistics evidence packs - GOV.UK. These set out an extensive range of data to provide an overview of agriculture in the UK, and the contribution of Direct Payments to farm incomes, including analysis by sector, location in England and type of land tenure. We publish regular statistics on farm income, agricultural productivity and food production, including data earlier this year looking at how farm business income has changed since the start of the agricultural transition.Monitoring the agricultural transition period in England, 2022/23 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) We will continue to carry out appropriate and timely assessments of our interventions to inform policy development.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will publish the (a) number, (b) value and (c) repayment rate of invoices issued at Government-run border control point for charges incurred since 30 April 2024.

Further information on the charge and the operating costs at Sevington will be made available in due course.

Pursuant to the Answer of 14 October 2024 to Question 7092 on Heathrow Airport: Railways, when her Department intends to publish a plan for future rail investment.

We have announced our intention to conduct a thorough review of the previous government's transport plans to ensure that our transport infrastructure portfolio drives economic growth and delivers value for money for taxpayers. Decisions about individual projects will be informed by the review process and confirmed in due course.

Pursuant to the Answer of 17 October 2024 to Question 8571 on Trade Agreements: Parliamentary Scrutiny, what options he is considering for wider scrutiny arrangements for trade agreements.

The Government is considering all aspects of this issue. All arrangements must be proportionate and in line with the UK’s overarching constitutional framework. We need to balance effective parliamentary scrutiny whilst still ensuring the Government can negotiate effectively in the UK’s best interest.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to launch a consultation on phasing out cages for layer hens.

We are firmly committed to maintaining and improving animal welfare and want to work closely with the farming sector to deliver high standards. The use of enriched ‘colony’ cages for laying hens is an issue we will want to fully consider in due course.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 14 October 2024 to Question 7096 on Local Plans, for what reason she chose the local authorities to which she has written to ask for Local Growth Plans.

The Government has been clear that, as local leaders who know their areas best, Mayors are key partners in delivering the national growth mission. That is why we are committed to transferring power out of Westminster and into local communities, devolving powers to local leaders. Local Growth Plans will be central to putting this new partnership into action.We recognise there are growth opportunities across the country and the new Industrial Strategy will unleash the full potential of our cities and regions, concentrating efforts on places with the greatest potential for our growth sectors: city regions, high-potential clusters, and strategic industrial sites.

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of maintaining regulatory alignment with the European Union.

The Government continues to follow EU regulatory developments with interest and engages regularly with the EU on key regulatory developments, including through TCA structures such as the Trade Specialised Committees. I can confirm that my officials will consider the impact of UK regulatory changes through impact assessments or proportionate analysis.

If he will make it his policy to negotiate mutual recognition of conformity assessment results between the European Union and the United Kingdom.

This Government is committed to working with the EU to identify areas where we can strengthen cooperation for mutual benefit and realise the potential of the UK-EU relationship by tackling unnecessary barriers to trade to support growth in the UK and Europe.

If he will make it his policy to foster collaboration between (a) UK regulatory authorities and (b) relevant EU agencies on (i) expertise, (ii) data and (iii) best practices for manufactured goods (A) regulation and (B) safety.

This Government values strong UK-EU trading relations and recognises the importance of regulatory cooperation to maximising the benefits from our trade relationship, including ensuring consumer safety. The UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) provides a basis for cooperation in respect of manufactured goods. The TCA's sectoral working groups facilitate mutual information exchange and discussion of regulatory developments in motor vehicles and parts, medicinal and organic products. This Government is also committed to advancing discussions on systematic exchange of data on unsafe non-food products as outlined in the TCA and looks forward to exploring further opportunities for UK-EU collaboration.

If she will make it her policy to align the UK Emissions Trading System with the EU Emissions Trading System.

The Department for Transport contributes towards policy development on the UK Emissions Trading Scheme on transport related matters. Under the terms of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), the UK Government and EU agreed to consider linking our respective carbon pricing schemes and to cooperate on carbon pricing.

If he will make it his policy to require the Board of Trade to produce an annual trade report which assesses the UK's trade policy developments.

The Department for Business and Trade is currently reviewing the Board of Trade and a decision on appointments and future direction of the Board will be made soon.

Communities and Local Government, what proportion of households with children in temporary accommodation had been in that accommodation for (a) less than six months, (b) between six months and one year, (c) between one and two years, (d) between two and five years and (e) over five years as of 31 March 2024.

Statutory homelessness statistics for 2023-24 publishes data on the length of time that households with children stay in temporary accommodation. As of 31 March 2024, there were 17,430 households with children in temporary accommodation for less than six months, 11,080 between six months to one year, 12,260 between one to two years, 16,690 between two to five years and 16,790 for over five years.This information is available at table TA4C Additional_temporary_accommodation_breakdowns__31_March_2024.ods (live.com).

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of providing additional funding to hospices in Wokingham.

The Government is determined to shift more healthcare out of hospitals and into the community, to ensure patients and their families receive personalised care in the most appropriate setting, and hospices will have a big role to play in that shift.Whilst the majority of palliative and end of life care is provided by National Health Service staff and services, we recognise the vital part that voluntary sector organisations, including hospices, also play in providing support to people, and their families, at end of life.The amount of funding charitable hospices receive varies by integrated care board (ICB) area, and will, in part, be dependent on the breadth and range of the palliative and end of life care provision within their ICB footprint.  To support ICBs in this duty, NHS England has published statutory guidance and service specifications, which are available, respectively, at the following two links:https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/palliative-and-end-of-life-care-statutory-guidance-for-integrated-care-boards-icbs/https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/service-specifications-for-palliative-and-end-of-life-care-children-and-young-people-cyp/

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of reforming the funding model for charitable hospices as part of his 10-year plan for health and care.

We have committed to develop a 10-Year Health Plan to deliver an NHS fit for the future, by driving three shifts in the way health care is delivered, specifically: moving healthcare from hospital to the community; from analogue to digital; and from sickness to prevention. We will carefully consider policies, including those that impact people with palliative and end of life care needs, with input from the public, patients, health staff, and our stakeholders, including those in the hospice sector, as we develop the plan.Most hospices are charitable, independent organisations which receive some statutory funding for providing National Health Services.  The amount of funding charitable hospices receive varies by integrated care board (ICB) area, and will, in part, be dependent on the breadth of palliative and end of life care provision within each ICB catchment area.I recently met with NHS England and discussions have begun on how to reduce inequalities and variation in access to, and the quality of, palliative and end of life care in England.  We will consider next steps on palliative and end of life care, including hospice funding, in the coming months.

Whether his Department has made a recent assessment of the impact of hospice funding on people's experience of death and dying in Wokingham.

We want a society where every person receives high-quality, compassionate care from diagnosis through to the end of life. The Government is determined to shift more healthcare out of hospitals and into the community, to ensure patients and their families receive personalised care in the most appropriate setting, and hospices will have a big role to play in that shift.Palliative care services are included in the list of services an integrated care board (ICB) must commission. This promotes a more consistent national approach and supports commissioners in prioritising palliative and end of life care. To support ICBs in this duty, NHS England has published statutory guidance and service specifications.Whilst the majority of palliative and end of life care is provided by National Health Service staff and services, we recognise the vital part that voluntary sector organisations, including hospices, also play in providing support to people at end of life, as well as their loved ones.No assessment has been made of the impact of hospice funding on people’s experiences of death and dying. Most hospices are charitable, independent organisations which receive some statutory funding for providing NHS services. The amount of funding charitable hospices receive varies by ICB area, and will, in part, be dependent on the breadth and range of palliative and end of life care provision within their ICB footprint.

What steps he plans to take to ensure that Parliament has meaningful powers to (a) scrutinise trade negotiations as they progress and (b) (i) debate and (ii) vote on trade treaties ahead of ratification.

The Government is committed to supporting parliamentary scrutiny of the UK’s trade agreements, balancing the need for robust scrutiny with the need to ensure we can negotiate effectively in the UK’s best interests. Free trade agreements are subject to parliamentary scrutiny under the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010, prior to ratification. The Department for Business and Trade is currently considering wider scrutiny arrangements for trade agreements, to ensure they are fit for purpose.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will review the privileges granted to the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office under the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office Act 1996.

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office Act 1996 provides the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office with certain privileges and immunities in line with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations for the purposes of furthering economic and trade interests. There are no current plans to replace this legislation.