Written questions by Chowns.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she plans to make a financial pledge to the Global Partnership for Education.

All financial allocations will be announced in the normal way in due course.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she plans to (a) hold discussions with her Israeli counterpart on and (b) take steps to help (i) support the release of Marwan Barghouti and (ii) end arbitrary detention of Palestinian political prisoners.

The UK continues to reiterate calls for Israel to allow the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) unfettered and immediate access to detention facilities and continue to raise this with the Israeli government as a priority. The UK reaffirms our support for the ICRC as the only humanitarian actor with the experience, capability, independence and mandate to carry out their important responsibilities. We believe it is critical that the ICRC is given regular access to detainees to deliver on their independent visiting role, as enshrined within the 1949 Geneva Conventions.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the oral contribution of the former Secretary of State for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office on 1 September 2025, Official Report, column 77, whether the assessment of the risk of breaches of international humanitarian law included consideration of the incarceration of Marwan Barghouti.

The UK continues to reiterate calls for Israel to allow the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) unfettered and immediate access to detention facilities and continue to raise this with the Israeli government as a priority. The UK reaffirms our support for the ICRC as the only humanitarian actor with the experience, capability, independence and mandate to carry out their important responsibilities. We believe it is critical that the ICRC is given regular access to detainees to deliver on their independent visiting role, as enshrined within the 1949 Geneva Conventions.

Pursuant to the Answer of 13 May 2025 2025 to Question 50550 on Personal Independence Payment: Appeals, what steps he is taking to reduce the median clearance time for mandatory reconsiderations.

We intend to reduce the median clearance time by increasing decision making resource for Mandatory Reconsiderations, including by recruiting new decision makers

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of the report for the Inter-Parliamentary Union entitled PALESTINE: the trial of Mr. Marwan Barghouti, published on 3 October 2003.

The UK continues to reiterate calls for Israel to allow the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) unfettered and immediate access to detention facilities and continue to raise this with the Israeli government as a priority. The UK reaffirms our support for the ICRC as the only humanitarian actor with the experience, capability, independence and mandate to carry out their important responsibilities. We believe it is critical that the ICRC is given regular access to detainees to deliver on their independent visiting role, as enshrined within the 1949 Geneva Conventions.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Answer of 18 November 2024 to Question HL2234 on Israel: Palestinians UIN, whether the International Committee of the Red Cross is given regular access to Marwan Barghouti.

The UK continues to reiterate calls for Israel to allow the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) unfettered and immediate access to detention facilities and continue to raise this with the Israeli government as a priority. The UK reaffirms our support for the ICRC as the only humanitarian actor with the experience, capability, independence and mandate to carry out their important responsibilities. We believe it is critical that the ICRC is given regular access to detainees to deliver on their independent visiting role, as enshrined within the 1949 Geneva Conventions.

Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of setting a target for social housing.

The government has not yet set a national target for social and affordable housing although we keep the position under review. Accurately forecasting long-term delivery is inherently challenging even in respect of grant-funded social and affordable housing, but we have made clear that we believe the Social and Affordable Homes Programme could deliver around 300,000 social and affordable homes over its lifetime with around 180,000 for Social Rent.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of raising the minimum juice content for cider to 50%.

The Government has not assessed an increase to the minimum juice content for cider. Engagement with the sector has suggested that an increase to 50% is not supported by the industry and is not what consumers in the UK would expect from their cider products.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing the Scottish system of house purchase whereby there is a binding contract between buyer and seller after exchanging missives.

The government recognises that the current home buying and selling process in England and Wales is slow, costly and stressful for both consumers and professionals. On 9 February 2025, the government announced action to improve the availability of property information through digitalisation. This will help transactions run more smoothly by ensuring all parties are able to access the information they need at the right time. We continue to review evidence from other jurisdictions, including in respect of protections such as reservation agreements, as we consider further measures to improve the home buying and selling process.

If he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his Department's policies on Investor-State Dispute Settlement mechanisms of the request for the institution of arbitration proceedings between Woodhouse Investment Pte Ltd and West Cumbria Mining (Holdings) Limited v. United Kingdom (ICSID Case No. ARB/25/37); and if he will make it his policy to initiate a review of UK treaties containing Investor-State Dispute Settlements.

Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) provides an independent means for companies to resolve disputes with states where investors believe they have experienced arbitrary, discriminatory or unfair treatment or expropriation without compensation. The UK will work with partners multilaterally, such as the OECD and UN, to pursue opportunities to improve ISDS practice.With regard to the case in question, the Government has acted consistently with domestic and international law obligations, but in view of the ongoing proceedings, we have no further comment to make at this stage.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make it his policy to include traditional orchards in the list of irreplaceable habitats for biodiversity net gain.

The Government has stated its intention to review the definition of irreplaceable habitats in due course, to ensure it remains robust and supports decision making.

What assessment he has made of the (a) adequacy of sarcoma (i) care and (ii) treatment and (b) health outcomes of people diagnosed with sarcoma; and if he will conduct an urgent review of sarcoma (A) care and (B) treatment.

NHS England has published a national service specification, covering both bone and soft tissue sarcomas. The specification requires close working between sarcoma services and other National Health Service partners, co-ordinated by Sarcoma Advisory Groups, to improve care pathways. Work is underway across both bone and soft tissue sarcoma provision to ensure that cancer care providers meet national service standards and improve care to patients. The Government welcomes the recent publication of Sarcoma UK’s Sarcoma State of the Nation report as it highlights the importance of early diagnosis, care co-ordination across complex pathways, research into new treatments, and survivorship. Our forthcoming National Cancer Plan will set out how we will improve outcomes for all cancers, including sarcoma.

If he will take steps to reduce waiting times for sarcoma diagnosis.

NHS England has published a national service specification, covering both bone and soft tissue sarcomas. The specification requires close working between sarcoma services and other National Health Service partners, co-ordinated by Sarcoma Advisory Groups, to improve care pathways. Work is underway across both bone and soft tissue sarcoma provision to ensure that cancer care providers meet national service standards and improve care to patients. The Government welcomes the recent publication of Sarcoma UK’s Sarcoma State of the Nation report as it highlights the importance of early diagnosis, care co-ordination across complex pathways, research into new treatments, and survivorship. Our forthcoming National Cancer Plan will set out how we will improve outcomes for all cancers, including sarcoma.

With reference to the consultation entitled: HSE Chemicals Legislative Reform Proposals, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of divergence from European standards on chemicals with compliance with the EU-UK trade and cooperation agreement.

The reforms set out in the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) consultation on Chemicals Legislative Reform proposals aim to give HSE greater flexibility and scope to make necessary or appropriate regulatory decisions in Great Britain (GB) at pace with international partners, including the European Union (EU) and rest of the world where appropriate. The proposals are intended to maintain current levels of protection for people and the environment from harmful chemicals and are therefore not expected to impact on the UK’s compliance with the Trade and Co-operation Agreement. Part of this consultation delivered the commitment made in the Regulatory Action Plan (RAP) on how international approvals can be recognised to reduce the time and cost to bring chemicals products, including biocides, to the GB market.The proposals include a new system to recognize international approvals from "trusted jurisdictions" where the regulatory standards are "similar to and at least as high as" those in GB. This is likely to include the EU given the similarity in the regulatory standards. The proposals are intended to remove the duplicative processes and associated evaluation costs.A key safeguard is that the Secretary of State with responsibility for HSE would retain the power to refuse an approval from a trusted jurisdiction if it is deemed "harmful to GB interests," such as for the protection of public health or the environment.No decisions have been made as HSE is currently analysing the consultation responses, following closure of the recent consultation on 18 August, and any changes will be subject to parliamentary approval.

Whether whole genome sequencing will be available on the NHS for all sarcoma patients under the 10 Year Health Plan for England.

Genomic testing, including both whole genome sequencing (WGS) and non-WGS testing, in the National Health Service in England is provided through the NHS Genomic Medicine Service. Testing is directed by the National Genomic Test Directory (NGTD), which sets out the eligibility criteria for patients to access testing.For all cancer patients undergoing genomic testing, to support routine care, and including sarcoma patients, the first line testing is done by next generation sequencing panel testing that includes all the targets for the currently available precision medicines. The NGTD’s eligibility criteria outlines that, if clinically required, WGS can then be offered for sarcoma patients to determine their next stage of treatment or management.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will include the live exports ban, as set out in the Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Act 2024, in the list of exceptions to dynamic alignment that the Government will seek during negotiations on the EU UK Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement.

This Government has been clear about the importance of being able to set high animal welfare standards. While I am unable to comment in detail on negotiations regarding the Agreement, we expect them to start in the Autumn.

How many and what percentage of (a) personal independence payment awards are open-ended, (b) open-ended PIP awards are for recipients over pension age and (c) open-ended PIP awards are awarded to people who claim under the special rules for terminally ill people.

For information on the percentage of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) awards which are ongoing please see Section 4 ‘Clearance outcomes – Awards’ of the Personal Independence Payment Publication here. Information on the volume of total ongoing awards and ongoing awards for recipients over State Pension age is not published. The percentage of the total caseload for which claims are made under Special Rules For End of Life (SREL) can be found also be found in Section 4 ‘Clearance outcomes – Awards’

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the New Zealand Government’s new subsidies for oil and gas development on the UK-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement.

Although there are no such significant direct impacts, the UK raised the issue of oil and gas developments with New Zealand on several occasions, including following New Zealand's Budget 2025 announcements after the Environment and Climate Change Sub-Committee meeting in May 2025. The Department continues to keep this matter under review, working closely with colleagues at the British High Commission Wellington.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps he is taking to help ensure that Israel facilitates the safe delivery of humanitarian aid at the scale needed to alleviate starvation in Gaza.

The famine in Gaza City and the surrounding neighbourhood, as confirmed by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), is utterly horrifying and is wholly preventable. On 12 August, the UK led 32 international partners in drawing attention to the unfolding famine in Gaza while urging Israel to allow large-scale access for the UN, international NGOs, and humanitarian partners.As the Foreign Secretary said in his statement on 22 August, the IPC report outlines the sickening reality created by Israel's restrictions on aid, especially for children; he called on the Government of Israel to act immediately to stop the situation deteriorating further. On 23 August, the Foreign Secretary pressed Foreign Minister Sa'ar on the IPC's confirmation of famine in Gaza and urged for all restrictions on aid to be lifted.We will continue to coordinate international efforts to press Israel to alleviate starvation in Gaza.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will set red lines in relation to the Israeli government’s (a) actions in and (b) policies on Gaza.

Since day one, this Government has been clear that we need to see an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, better protection of civilians, significantly more aid consistently entering Gaza, and a path to long term peace and stability. We have been clear that if the Government of Israel does not take substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza, we will take further action in response. On 29 July, the Prime Minister said that the UK would recognise the State of Palestine in September unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza, agree to a ceasefire and commit to a long-term, sustainable peace, reviving the prospect of a Two State Solution.