Written questions by Thornberry.

Whether she has requested that the Equality and Human Rights Commission should undertake an impact assessment on the potential impact of the updated Code of Practice for Services, Public Functions and Associations on covered by the code.

The EHRC has revised its Code of Practice for Services, Public Functions and Associations following the consultation and submitted it to the Minister for Women and Equalities. The Government is considering the updated draft Code and, if the decision is taken to approve it, the Code will be laid before Parliament for a 40 day period. The Government will follow the appropriate process when considering the Code.

Whether she has received an impact assessment of the regulatory burden of the updated Code of Practice for Services, Public Functions and Associations from the Equality and Human Rights Commission; and whether there is any other outstanding supplementary documentation that the Commission is yet to send.

The EHRC has revised its Code of Practice for Services, Public Functions and Associations following the consultation and submitted it to the Minister for Women and Equalities. The Government is considering the updated draft Code and, if the decision is taken to approve it, the Code will be laid before Parliament for a 40 day period. The Government will follow the appropriate process when considering the Code.

Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to support inner-London councils following the Fair Funding Review 2.0.

The government has been listening closely to the views expressed by the public, local authorities and other bodies on the proposals set out in the Fair Funding Review 2.0 consultation. No final decisions on the outcome of the review have yet been taken. However, the government’s proposals will target central government grant funding to where it is needed the most. Subject to consultation, the proposals set out mean that the most relatively deprived places, which on average have higher levels of child poverty, will have more income than the least deprived places. The vast majority of councils with social care responsibilities will see their Core Spending Power increase in real terms over the multi-year Settlement. We will publish further information in the government’s consultation response in Autumn, followed by the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement later this year.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Fair Funding Review 2.0 changes to inner-London council's funding on (a) London and (b) the UK's economic growth.

The government has been listening closely to the views expressed by the public, local authorities and other bodies on the proposals set out in the Fair Funding Review 2.0 consultation. No final decisions on the outcome of the review have yet been taken. However, the government’s proposals will target central government grant funding to where it is needed the most. Subject to consultation, the proposals set out mean that the most relatively deprived places, which on average have higher levels of child poverty, will have more income than the least deprived places. The vast majority of councils with social care responsibilities will see their Core Spending Power increase in real terms over the multi-year Settlement. We will publish further information in the government’s consultation response in Autumn, followed by the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement later this year.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Fair Funding Review 2.0 on levels of child poverty in Islington.

The government has been listening closely to the views expressed by the public, local authorities and other bodies on the proposals set out in the Fair Funding Review 2.0 consultation. No final decisions on the outcome of the review have yet been taken. However, the government’s proposals will target central government grant funding to where it is needed the most. Subject to consultation, the proposals set out mean that the most relatively deprived places, which on average have higher levels of child poverty, will have more income than the least deprived places. The vast majority of councils with social care responsibilities will see their Core Spending Power increase in real terms over the multi-year Settlement. We will publish further information in the government’s consultation response in Autumn, followed by the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement later this year.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the 2030 Roadmap for UK-Israel Bilateral Relations remains his Department's policy.

As the Foreign Secretary said in his statement to the house on 20 May, the UK will be reviewing our cooperation with Israel on the UK-Israel 2030 Bilateral roadmap. This Government remains steadfast in supporting Israel in its defence against terrorism and the malign activities of Iran, but the continued actions of this Israeli Government mean that it is necessary for the UK Government to take these steps.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 15 May 2025 to Question 50829 on the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement, whether his Department plans to introduce primary legislation to give effect to the treaty once ratified.

The Government is completely committed to ratification of the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement, also known as the "High Seas Treaty" or "Global Ocean Treaty"), which is in line with our determination to reinvigorate the UK's wider international leadership on climate and nature. Legislation to implement the BBNJ Agreement will be introduced as soon as the legislative timetable allows.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2025 to Question 35215 on the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement, what progress he has made on securing parliamentary time to progress the ratification of the treaty.

The Government is completely committed to ratification of the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement, also known as the "High Seas Treaty" or "Global Ocean Treaty"), which is in line with our determination to reinvigorate the UK's wider international leadership on climate and nature. Legislation to implement the BBNJ Agreement will be introduced as soon as the legislative timetable allows.

What discussions his Department plans to have with general practice nursing staff on the development of the general practice contract for 2026-27.

As in previous years, the Department will engage with a range of stakeholders and will consult with the profession on the GP Contract for 2026/27. More details will be communicated in due course.

What proportion of funding for the 2025-26 general practice contract in England will be allocated to the general practice nursing workforce.

We hugely value the critical role that general practice (GP) nurses play and are determined to address the issues they face by shifting the focus of the National Health Service beyond hospitals and into the community.GPs are independent businesses, providing GP services to their local populations under an NHS contract. Practices have autonomy in deciding how to provide services, including their workforce mix, in order to deliver their contracts.We are investing an additional £889 million through the GP Contract to reinforce the front door of the NHS, bringing total spend on the GP Contract to £13.2 billion in 2025/26. This is the biggest increase in over a decade.The investment includes funding for an assumed increase in GP staff salaries of 2.8% in 2025/26. Once the Department has received the recommendations for GPs for 2025/26 from the independent Review Body on Doctors’ and Dentists’ Renumeration, it will be considered in the usual way.As self-employed contractors to the NHS, it is for practices to determine uplifts in pay for their employees within the agreed GP Contract funding envelope.The contract changes for 2025/26 also include increased flexibilities for the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme, to allow primary care networks to better respond to local workforce needs. Practice nurses have also been added to the scheme, with no restrictions on the numbers or type of staff able to be funded through the scheme.

What estimate his Department has made of the proportion of female staff working in general practice not receiving the 2024 pay increase in full.

For 2024/25, we accepted the recommendations of the Doctors' and Dentists' Pay Review Body in full, and the pay element of the GP Contract was uplifted by 6% on a consolidated basis, through an increase of 4% on top of the 2% interim uplift in April, to provide practices with the funding to uplift general practice (GP) partner, salaried GP, and other salaried staff pay by 6%. The uplift is backdated to April 2024, and it was our expectation that this funding should be passed on to all salaried GP staff.As self-employed contractors to the National Health Service, it is for practices to determine uplifts in pay for their employees within the agreed GP Contract funding envelope. The Department does not centrally hold information on pay for salaried staff in GPs, nor could we provide a breakdown by gender. The data in the annual GP Earnings and Expenses Estimates is based on partner, contractor, and GP tax returns. Further information on the GP Earnings and Expenses Estimates is available at the following link:https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/gp-earnings-and-expenses-estimates/2020-21?key=I2IiJBo2P3DKdCqny5NcDpglRExoUa4d6Q6VkCGWQzX7ewE8OL3O1ZiI3lQBMduRFor 2025/26, we are investing an additional £889 million through the GP Contract to reinforce the front door of the NHS, bringing total spend on the GP Contract to £13.2 billion. This is the biggest increase in over a decade. The 7.2% cash growth, estimated to be 4.8% of real growth on overall 2024/25 contract costs, on the contract funding envelope includes funding for an assumed increase in salaries of 2.8% in 2025/26. Once the Department has received the recommendations for GPs for 2025/26 from the Review Body on Doctors’ and Dentists’ Renumeration, it will be considered in the usual way.

What estimate his Department has made of the proportion of general practice staff that received the 2024 pay increase in full.

For 2024/25, we accepted the recommendations of the Doctors' and Dentists' Pay Review Body in full, and the pay element of the GP Contract was uplifted by 6% on a consolidated basis, through an increase of 4% on top of the 2% interim uplift in April, to provide practices with the funding to uplift general practice (GP) partner, salaried GP, and other salaried staff pay by 6%. The uplift is backdated to April 2024, and it was our expectation that this funding should be passed on to all salaried GP staff.As self-employed contractors to the National Health Service, it is for practices to determine uplifts in pay for their employees within the agreed GP Contract funding envelope. The Department does not centrally hold information on pay for salaried staff in GPs, nor could we provide a breakdown by gender. The data in the annual GP Earnings and Expenses Estimates is based on partner, contractor, and GP tax returns. Further information on the GP Earnings and Expenses Estimates is available at the following link:https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/gp-earnings-and-expenses-estimates/2020-21?key=I2IiJBo2P3DKdCqny5NcDpglRExoUa4d6Q6VkCGWQzX7ewE8OL3O1ZiI3lQBMduRFor 2025/26, we are investing an additional £889 million through the GP Contract to reinforce the front door of the NHS, bringing total spend on the GP Contract to £13.2 billion. This is the biggest increase in over a decade. The 7.2% cash growth, estimated to be 4.8% of real growth on overall 2024/25 contract costs, on the contract funding envelope includes funding for an assumed increase in salaries of 2.8% in 2025/26. Once the Department has received the recommendations for GPs for 2025/26 from the Review Body on Doctors’ and Dentists’ Renumeration, it will be considered in the usual way.

Pursuant to the Answer of 1 April 2025 to Question 41805 on Freezing of Assets: Russia and with reference to the guidance entitled Financial sanctions guidance for Insolvency Practitioners, published on 18 March 2025, what the value is of assets immobilised in the UK under the prohibited persons provision of the Russia regime.

Coordinating closely with our G7 partners, the UK is contributing a £2.26bn loan to Ukraine through the Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration (ERA) scheme, generated from profits of immobilised Russian sovereign assets held across the UK’s jurisdiction. It is important that any decision to publicise information relating to the ERA scheme is taken on a collective G7 basis.

With reference to the Annual Review of the Office for Financial Sanctions Implementation 2023-24, published on 21 March 2025, how much and what proportion of frozen Russian assets are owned by (a) the Russian state central bank and (b) private individuals.

The Office for Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI), part of HM Treasury published in its annual review that £25.03 billion in assets relating to the Russia sanctions regime have been reported as frozen between February 2022 and December 2024. This is an aggregated total of all entities and individuals listed on the Consolidated List of Financial Sanctions Targets, known as Designated Persons. Assets belonging to the Central Bank of Russia, the National Wealth Fund of Russia, or the Ministry of Finance of Russia, known as Prohibited Persons, are not subject to an asset freeze, but have been immobilised as a result of UK sanctions that prohibit the provision of financial services.

With reference to the Answer of 11 March 2024 to Question 17333 on Undocumented Migrants: English Channel, on how many days Border Force implemented a red rating for expected numbers of small boat crossings in the Channel between 1 January 2025 and 11 February 2025.

Border Force recorded the likelihood of crossing attempts of the Channel being made by migrants in small boats as likely or highly likely on 23 occasions between 1 January and 11 February 2025.

When he plans to respond to Question 20170 on Cabinet Office: Ministers' Private Offices, tabled on 16 December 2024.

With apologies to the Rt. Hon. Member, the answer has now been published.

Pursuant to the Answer of 23 October 2024 to Question 9830 on Scotland Office: Ministers' Private Offices, how much was spent on (a) new furniture and fittings and (b) other refurbishment of Ministerial offices in his Department between 4 July 2022 and 4 July 2024; and on what items this was spent.

The Scotland Office has incurred no costs on new furniture and fittings or other refurbishment (including moves) of Ministerial offices during the period 4 July 2022 to 4 July 2024.

Pursuant to the Answer of 24 October 2024 to Question 9824 on Northern Ireland Office: Ministers' Private Offices, how much was spent on (a) new furniture and fittings and (b) other refurbishment of Ministerial offices in his Department between 4 July 2022 and 4 July 2024; and on what items this was spent.

The Northern Ireland Office has not spent any money on new furniture and fittings, or other refurbishment of Ministerial offices between 4 July 2022 and 4 July 2024.

Pursuant to the Answer of 21 October 2024 to Question 9284 on Wales Office: Ministers' Private Offices, how much was spent on (a) new furniture and fittings and (b) other refurbishment of Ministerial offices in her Department between 4 July 2022 and 4 July 2024; and on what items this was spent.

The Department spent £4,277.25 on refurbishment of Ministers Offices between 4 July 2022 and 4 July 2024. The spend was on:£286.76 - replacement of two blind cords with plastic cords;£3,990.49 - re-upholstering of five leather chairs in the London Office. The spend was under the previous administration.

Pursuant to the Answer of 22 October 2024 to Question 9281 on Department for Transport: Ministers' Private Offices, how much was spent on (a) new furniture and fittings and (b) other refurbishment of Ministerial offices in her Department between 4 July 2022 and 4 July 2024; and on what items this was spent.

Between 4 July 2022 and 4 July 2024 the Department spent £405 on furniture for Ministerial offices. No other costs were incurred during this period.