Written questions by Taylor.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of duty of care arrangements for civilian participants in non-violent resistance programmes in Russian-occupied Ukraine that have received UK Government funding since 2022; and whether she has made an assessment of the adequacy of the conduct of implementing contractors delivering such programmes.

Awaiting answer.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to maintain the flow of aid from Chad to Darfur.

The UK has played a direct role in delivering aid supplies to Sudan via Chad. In March, in partnership with UNICEF, the UK airlifted 84,000kg of water and sanitation supplies to Sudan to support 300,000 people in Darfur. This critical aid is addressing severe shortages ahead of the rainy season. More broadly, I refer the Hon Member to the GOV.UK story published on 15 April setting out the UK's latest efforts to help tackle the humanitarian crisis in Sudan, available at the link below:https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-boosts-funding-to-local-responders-to-help-more-than-18-million-people-in-sudans-humanitarian-crisis.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to safeguard women and children at risk of sexual violence in Sudan.

I refer the Hon Member to the statement provided to the House by the Foreign Secretary on 5 February after her visit to the Sudan-Chad border, in which she outlined our work to tackle the atrocious levels of sexual violence in Sudan, including the announcement of a multi-year £20 million programme starting this financial year to help survivors or sexual violence access psychological and medical support.

What assessment her Department has made of the impact of poor HGV facilities on the incidence of fuel theft from commercial vehicles; and what steps she is taking to protect UK hauliers and national supply chains.

Fuel theft undermines businesses and their workers. We are equipping the police to fight the organised crime gangs which can drive this theft nationally. Our £5m investment into OPAL, (the police national intelligence unit who focus on serious organised acquisitive crime) will supercharge intelligence-led policing to expand its capability to tackle freight crime, identify offenders, and disrupt the tactics used to in addition to bringing more criminals to justice.We recognise that fuel theft is often organised, mobile and cross-border in nature. Through police reform this Government will address these challenges, reforming the policing system to ensure crime that operates across force boundaries is met with a strong national and regional response.Through the creation of a new National Police Service, policing will benefit from stronger national leadership, consistent standards and improved coordination to tackle serious and organised crime. This will strengthen the collective response where criminals operate across multiple police force areas.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she will mandate British International Investment, as a Government-owed body, to recognise a trade union.

British International Investment complies fully with UK employment law, including all statutory rights regarding trade union recognition or membership. There is no detriment for staff who join a union, support recognition of a union, or take part in union activity.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will mandate British International Investment, as a Government-owned body, to provide salary transparency when advertising roles.

British International Investment operates under a publicly available remuneration framework that sets out how salaries are determined and governed, which is agreed with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and considered to be consistent with best practice.

What steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to ensure that financial services firms operating within the defence supply chain, and their employees, are adequately protected from threats and incidents of political violence.

The Government fully supports the police to use all the powers available to them to prevent crimes occurring as a result of unlawful direct-action tactics, and to ensure those who do commit them face the full force of the law.The National Police Coordination Centre has been working closely with the financial sector to understand the nature of the problem and is helping to co-ordinate a robust policing response.I have also met representatives from the industry and a further meeting is scheduled with them and representatives from the National Police Chiefs’ Council.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department has made a decision on how much ODA will be allocated to Education Cannot Wait for their replenishment in 2026.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 9 December 2025 in response to Question 95975.

What steps her Department is taking to shorten the time between a child’s SEND diagnosis and them receiving their Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) in Hertfordshire.

We know some families face challenges with education, health and care (EHC) plans, and we understand how urgently they need to be addressed. This government’s priority is improving outcomes for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), ensuring they receive the opportunities and support to achieve and thrive in their education.The department has been working closely with Hertfordshire local authority since its local area SEND inspection in July 2023 to address areas for improvement. Data from November 2025 shows Hertfordshire is now above the national average on EHC plan timeliness, with 94% of plans issued within deadlines.We are continuing to engage closely with children and young people, parents and experts as we develop plans to ensure all children and young people get the outcomes and life chances they deserve. We will share more information on plans for reform in a full Schools White Paper in the new year.

Whether her Department has made a recent assessment of the adequacy of the national speed limit of 60 mph on unlit single-track rural lanes.

The Department has not made an assessment of the adequacy of the national speed limit of 60mph on unlit single-track rural lanes. On many rural lanes their width and sinuosity lead to speeds that are already far lower than the national limit. Lowering limits does not always result in significantly slower speeds and general compliance would need to be achievable without too heavy a reliance on police enforcement. Traffic authorities are best placed to decide where lower limits will be effective on the roads for which they are responsible. In doing so, they are asked to consider important factors including the history of collisions, the road function, the composition of road users including vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists, and the geometry and environment of the road.

Whether funding saved by reducing the cost of hotel accommodation for asylum seekers in the UK will be given to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to spend on international aid overseas.

At Spring Statement 2025, the government confirmed that ODA budgets across the Spending Review period would be set in cash terms, based on the Office for Budget Responsibility’s spring 2025 forecast of gross national income (GNI). This means the FCDO’s ODA budget will no longer be automatically exposed to the volatility of GNI fluctuations or to ODA spending by other departments, including changes in asylum costs, providing greater predictability.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of using automated parking systems to help tackle (a) congestion and (b) parking issues.

The government recognises the growth of automated vehicle technologies and services in the UK.The government is focused on delivering the Private Parking Code of Practice, which is being developed in accordance with the Private Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019. Any technological innovations will need to be compliant with the standards in the Code which will be made public in due course.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent steps her Department's atrocity prevention specialists have taken in Sudan; and whether they have been surged to the region.

I refer the Hon. Member to the response provided to the Urgent Question on Sudan: Protection of Civilians on 30 October 2025.

What recent steps her Department has taken to reduce the time taken for processing of Disclosure and Barring Service checks.

As an Executive Non-Departmental Public Body of the Home Office, the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) is operationally independent and responsible for the service it provides.It currently operates to formalised service standards of completing 85% of Basic check applications within 2 days, 85% of Standard check applications within 3 days, and 80% of Enhanced check applications within 14 days.Its latest performance against these service standards is available at DBS dataset 1: DBS checks, DBS Update Service, and disputes - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

Whether her Department is working with (a) EU and (b) G7 partners to coordinate the release of (i) frozen Russian-linked assets and (ii) the proceeds from the sale of Chelsea Football Club; and which body holds final authority over the (A) release and (B) allocation of those funds.

The Chancellor is actively engaging with EU and G7 partners through regular discussions with G7 finance ministers to explore all viable legal avenues to make use of Russia’s sovereign assets for the benefit of Ukraine, in line with international law. Separately, the Government is working hard to ensure that the proceeds from the sale of Chelsea Football Club are directed towards humanitarian causes in Ukraine as swiftly as possible. These proceeds are not sovereign Russian assets, but rather funds owned by a private entity (Fordstam Ltd), which is itself owned by a Designated Person under UK sanctions regulations – Mr Abramovich. In common with all other frozen funds, the proceeds from the sale of Chelsea Football Club remain the property of the Designated Person. Agreement must be given by Fordstam Ltd for these funds to be transferred to a new independent charitable foundation for humanitarian assistance in Ukraine. To date, they have not provided this agreement. While the door for negotiating an agreement remains open, the Government is fully prepared to pursue this matter through the courts if required.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the (a) safety and (b) wellbeing of penguins housed in (i) zoos and (ii) aquariums.

The Government published new Standards of Modern Zoo Practice for Great Britain on 24 May 2025, which will come into force from May 2027. The new Standards contain the very latest in best practice for caring for animals in zoos and aquariums, including penguins, and will replace the 2012 Secretary of State’s Standards of Modern Zoo Practice. Local authorities are responsible for licensing zoos and aquariums, enforcing conditions and carrying out inspections to ensure animals are being kept in line with the Standards.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions her Department has had with relevant stakeholders on an asylum processing hub in Kosovo.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 9th June to question 56153.

What recent discussions she has had with her Kosovan counterparts on a bilateral security agreement.

The Home Secretary met with her Kosovan counterpart as part of the Western Balkans Summit Interior Ministers meeting.They discussed a range of issues in the bilateral relationship, including the UK’s support for Kosovo’s security. The UK remains committed to its close and longstanding partnership with Kosovo.

What assessment he has made of the implications for his Department’s policies of the report by Action on Smoking and Health entitled At risk? Tobacco dependence treatment in the NHS, published on 28 August 2025.

As set out in the 10 Year Health Plan, the Government remains committed to ensuring that all hospitals integrate ‘opt-out’ smoking cessation interventions into routine care. This is an important part of our ambition for a smoke-free United Kingdom. We assess that continued investment into National Health Service tobacco dependence services at a local level is important to realise this ambition. We note the risks highlighted in this report and we will continue to monitor investment of NHS tobacco dependence services.Integrated care boards have access to funding to support the rollout of tobacco dependency treatment services in hospital settings, including acute and mental health inpatient settings and maternity services, within their 2025/26 allocations. Future funding decisions, including any decision to expand tobacco dependency treatment services to additional settings beyond routine care, are subject to the Spending Review process.

What steps her Department is taking to tackle number plate cloning; and what assessment she has made of the potential impact of vehicle cloning on (a) the finances, (b) the legal position and (c) other factors for motorists in Hertfordshire incorrectly pursued for offences committed by others.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is working with the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and other government departments to improve the identification and enforcement of number plate crime, including the use of cloned number plates. The law requires anyone who supplies number plates for road use in the UK to be registered with the DVLA. It is a legal requirement for suppliers to carry out checks to ensure that number plates are only sold to those who can prove they are entitled to the registration number and suppliers must also keep records of the plates they have supplied. The DVLA assists the police and Trading Standards in their enforcement against number plate suppliers, including those who trade illegally. When notified, the DVLA will investigate and pass on intelligence to the police who are responsible for investigating this criminal matter. Anyone who thinks their number plate may have been cloned should contact the police immediately. Any fines received should be returned to the issuing authorities. The DVLA can provide customers with letters that can be used as supporting evidence and can also on request provide a replacement registration number free of charge, to help victims of number plate cloning. This helps the police to identify the vehicle concerned and prevent the receipt of any fixed penalties for that vehicle registration number. The specific information requested about the potential impact of this issue on motorists in Hertfordshire is not available.