Written questions by Lewis.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to UIN 107393, where the Minister responded that "there was not a formal working group for the White Paper", to clarify whether her Department intends to issue a correction to the White Paper, which states on page 16 that working groups were set up to inform the development of the White Paper.

The Government’s water White Paper states that we established ‘numerous working groups’ for the purpose of developing the policies behind our extensive reforms, as opposed to a single formal working group for the White Paper. We have clarified this is our response to PQ UIN 107393.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to UIN 89500, if she will publish a list of water companies which confirmed the use biobeads.

As Water Minister I have written to water companies to reiterate how unacceptable the pollution incident at Camber Sands is. Letters of response are currently being analysed and will be used for development of our understanding of bio-bead usage across the industry.

Whether (a) he or (b) any members of his Department met with or corresponded with Lord Mandelson on Palantir.

In line with the Humble Address motion agreed on 4 February, any information regarding Mr Mandelson's appointment to, employment in, and withdrawal from, his posting as His Majesty's Ambassador to the United States will be published according to the process and provisions set out in the motion.

Innovation and Technology, whether (a) she or (b) any members of her Department met or corresponded with Lord Mandelson on Palantir.

We utilise a range of international suppliers based on operational requirements, value for money, and compliance with our security and legal obligations, with all suppliers subject to rigorous due diligence.

Whether (a) he or (b) any members of his Department met or corresponded with Lord Mandelson on Palantir.

Neither my Rt. Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, nor any members of the Department have met or corresponded with Lord Mandelson on Palantir Technologies.We utilise a range of international suppliers based on operational requirements, value for money, and compliance with our security and legal obligations, with all suppliers subject to rigorous due diligence.

Whether (a) she or (b) any members of her Department met or corresponded with Lord Mandelson on Palantir.

No such meetings took place.

Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of research by Morgan Stanley for Bloomberg published on 26 January 2026 showing that the UK has experienced 8% net job losses from AI; and whether he plans to re-evaluate the AI Opportunities Action Plan as a result of those findings.

The Government notes the Morgan Stanley research. Whilst it is clear that AI will impact the labour market, DSIT’s recently published assessment shows that there is significant uncertainty over the nature and extent of this impact. The new AI and the Future of Work Unit has been established to develop rigorous research and improved data, so that we can monitor these impacts. This will allow us to ensure Government is front footed in developing the right policy response.The single best way to protect jobs in this country, and to create new ones, is for businesses in the UK to be competitive. AI creates enormous opportunities for British businesses to stay ahead of their competitors in other countries. That is why it is so important that the UK both wins the AI adoption race and continues to build a strong domestic AI sector. AI sector jobs are already growing rapidly, increasing by 33% between 2023 and 2024, to a total of 86,000.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the policy paper entitled A new vision for water: white paper, published on 20 January 2026, how members of the working groups were selected; which (a) people and (b) organisations participated in the working groups; and if she will publish the minutes of the working groups.

A wide range of stakeholders were consulted on reforms through the Independent Water Commission’s Call for Evidence, which received over 50,000 responses. While there was not a formal working group for the White Paper, ahead of publication the Government also engaged with stakeholders across the water system, including investors, water companies, consumer groups, regulators and environmental groups. The Government will continue to work constructively with interested parties on reforms and consult on specific measures as needed.

Media and Sport, if she will consider putting proposals relating to the next BBC Charter to a vote in Parliament.

Parliament will have an opportunity to debate the new draft Charter following the consultation and publication of the White Paper. As required by the current Charter, a new draft Charter must be laid before and debated by both Houses of Parliament before a recommendation can be made to His Majesty in Council to grant the Charter.

If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of State Pension age changes for 1950s-born women living in Norwich South constituency.

All women born since 6 April 1950 have been affected by changes to State Pension age. Estimates can be made using ONS 2021 Census Data on how many women born in the 1950s resided in each constituency in that year.

Pursuant to UIN 97805 answered on 15 December 2025, when the Home Office first learned of potential bias in the current PND facial search algorithm.

The Home Office is aware of the risk of bias in facial recognition algorithms and supports policing in managing that risk. Initial findings from independent testing carried out by the National Physical Laboratory were shared with the Home Office in March 2024. The draft findings showed a potential bias in the algorithm used by specially trained operators in police forces to search the Police National Database (PND). The findings were explored with the National Physical Laboratory, and risks and mitigations were discussed with policing experts. Home Office Ministers were first made aware of the bias in October 2024. The final report was provided in April 2025 and updated for publication in October 2025.The Government has tasked His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services, with support from the Forensic Science Regulator, to look at whether people have been affected by the bias as part of the inspection of police and relevant law enforcement agencies’ use of retrospective facial recognition. HMICFRS have begun scoping and planning for the inspection, which will begin before the end of March 2026. The inspection terms of reference will be published by HMICFRS.A facial recognition match is only ever one piece of intelligence, as part of a wider police investigation. Manual safeguards, embedded in police training, operational practice, and guidance, require all potential matches returned from the PND to be visually assessed by a trained user and investigating officer. These safeguards have always been in place to minimise the risk that the wrong person in the PND is subject to investigation.

Pursuant to the Answer of 15 December 2025 to Question 97805 on Police: Biometrics, what the (a) planned timescales and (b) terms of reference are for the two HMICFRS reviews referred to.

The Home Office is aware of the risk of bias in facial recognition algorithms and supports policing in managing that risk. Initial findings from independent testing carried out by the National Physical Laboratory were shared with the Home Office in March 2024. The draft findings showed a potential bias in the algorithm used by specially trained operators in police forces to search the Police National Database (PND). The findings were explored with the National Physical Laboratory, and risks and mitigations were discussed with policing experts. Home Office Ministers were first made aware of the bias in October 2024. The final report was provided in April 2025 and updated for publication in October 2025.The Government has tasked His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services, with support from the Forensic Science Regulator, to look at whether people have been affected by the bias as part of the inspection of police and relevant law enforcement agencies’ use of retrospective facial recognition. HMICFRS have begun scoping and planning for the inspection, which will begin before the end of March 2026. The inspection terms of reference will be published by HMICFRS.A facial recognition match is only ever one piece of intelligence, as part of a wider police investigation. Manual safeguards, embedded in police training, operational practice, and guidance, require all potential matches returned from the PND to be visually assessed by a trained user and investigating officer. These safeguards have always been in place to minimise the risk that the wrong person in the PND is subject to investigation.

Pursuant to UIN 97805 answered on 15 December 2025, whether estimates have been made of the number of potential misidentifications made by police as a result of potential bias in the PND facial search algorithm.

The Home Office is aware of the risk of bias in facial recognition algorithms and supports policing in managing that risk. Initial findings from independent testing carried out by the National Physical Laboratory were shared with the Home Office in March 2024. The draft findings showed a potential bias in the algorithm used by specially trained operators in police forces to search the Police National Database (PND). The findings were explored with the National Physical Laboratory, and risks and mitigations were discussed with policing experts. Home Office Ministers were first made aware of the bias in October 2024. The final report was provided in April 2025 and updated for publication in October 2025.The Government has tasked His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services, with support from the Forensic Science Regulator, to look at whether people have been affected by the bias as part of the inspection of police and relevant law enforcement agencies’ use of retrospective facial recognition. HMICFRS have begun scoping and planning for the inspection, which will begin before the end of March 2026. The inspection terms of reference will be published by HMICFRS.A facial recognition match is only ever one piece of intelligence, as part of a wider police investigation. Manual safeguards, embedded in police training, operational practice, and guidance, require all potential matches returned from the PND to be visually assessed by a trained user and investigating officer. These safeguards have always been in place to minimise the risk that the wrong person in the PND is subject to investigation.

Food and Rural Affairs, when she plans to publish the Water Sector Reform White Paper.

The White Paper will be published early this year.

When he expects the Spending Review budget allocations for his Department to be finalised and an allocation made to future ringfenced spending on NHS dentistry.

NHS England has now published the Medium-Term Planning Framework and allocations for 2026/27 to 2027/28. The framework and allocations are available, respectively, at the following two links:https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/medium-term-planning-framework-delivering-change-together-2026-27-to-2028-29/https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/allocation-of-resources-2026-27-to-2027-28/National Health Service organisations are now in the process of developing their operational plans that will detail how they will meet the standards set out in the Medium-Term Planning Framework.A separate schedule has been issued setting out the 2026/27 to 2027/28 integrated care boards (ICBs) primary, optometry, and dentistry (POD) allocations, which is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/icb-other-primary-care-allocations-2026-27-to-2028-29-v2.pdfThe utilisation of ICB POD allocations is subject to a ringfence on budgets for dental services.

If she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of the findings of the report by the National Physical Laboratory, published on 4 December 2025, on the use of facial recognition technologies by the police.

The Government has already taken action to address the findings of the National Physical Laboratory’s report on the algorithm used for retrospective facial recognition within the Police National Database.The Home Office commissioned the report as the provider of the system, to enable police forces as the users of the system to assure themselves that they were meeting their Public Sector Equality Duty, specifically with respect to bias mitigation. The National Police Chiefs Council have led on this for policing by reviewing training and guidance. The Home Office has also commissioned His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) to ensure these mitigations are consistent and robust.Furthermore, a replacement system with a new algorithm has been procured and independently tested. This testing has been published and shows that the system can be used with no statistically significant bias. It is due to be operationally tested early next year and will be subject to further evaluation.On 4 December 2025, we also started a public consultation that asks for views on a new legal framework for law enforcement use of facial recognition and other biometric technologies. The consultation includes questions on oversight arrangements and proposes creating a new regulatory and oversight body. We envisage this body would directly address issues such as potential bias in algorithms, potentially through powers, subject to legislation, to provide assurance that law enforcement use of biometric technologies is legal, responsible, and necessary.Given the importance of this issue, we have also asked the HMICFRS, alongside the Forensic Science Regulator, to review law enforcement’s use of facial recognition. They will assess the effectiveness of the mitigations, which the National Police Chiefs Council supports.

If she will publish an Equalities Impact Assessment for her proposed earned settlement model.

Details of the earned settlement model will be finalised following the conclusion of the ongoing public consultation.An equality impact assessment will then be published in due course.

If the application of the new individual earnings requirement applies to spouses of UK citizens who are retired, carers, or stay-at-home parents.

On 20 November, we launched a public consultation on our proposed earned settlement model.The command paper accompanying that consultation puts forward a general requirement to have earnt at least £12,570 per annum for three years in order to settle in the UK.The consultation directly asks for views on whether certain individuals or cohorts should be exempted from that general requirement.Full details of the earned settlement model will be finalised following the public consultation.

What review processes the Government has in place to assess the suitability of its trade and investment treaty commitments, including those over thirty-five years old, such as the UK-Russia Bilateral Investment Treaty.

The UK’s International Investment Agreements (IIAs) aim to enhance opportunities for UK businesses to expand overseas, with commitments that seek to limit the barriers they face, make it easier to navigate local rules, and ensure investments are treated lawfully, and protected against unfair or arbitrary action. There is no specific review process within such Agreements.

What assessment he has made of the likely costs of defending the arbitration being brought against the Government by Mikhail Fridman.

The Government maintains that it has acted consistently with domestic and international law obligations in the case of the legal challenges. In view of the ongoing proceedings, it would be inappropriate to comment further.