Written questions by Campbell.

How many new applications for Pension Credit were made between 10 September 2024 and 10 October 2024.

Data on how many pension credit applications have been made between 1 April 2024 and 22 September 2024 was recently published on gov.uk, Weekly Pension Credit claims received from 1 April 2024 to 22 September 2024 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). This shows that between 9 September and 22 September 2024, 25,200 Pension Credit application were received by the Department. On 28 October 2024, the department announced that updated Pension Credit applications and award statistics will be published on 28 November 2024. This publication will provide application volumes after 22 September 2024.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what information his Department holds on how many UK Parliamentarians are subject to sanctions by (a) Russia and (b) China.

There are currently six (previously seven) UK Parliamentarians who are sanctioned by China. Russia does not always publicly or privately inform HMG of those sanctioned. However, HMG is aware of over 460 UK Parliamentarians having been sanctioned by Russia since 2022 - the vast majority have been named publicly, while a small number have been sanctioned and informed privately.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will raise with the UN the attendance of the UN Secretary General at the BRICS summit in Russia on 24 October 2024.

The Foreign Secretary spoke to the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres prior to the BRICS Summit in Kazan, where the UNSG reiterated his position that Russia's invasion of Ukraine had violated the United Nations Charter and international law. The meetings that the Secretary-General chooses are a matter for him, not the UK Government. The UK Government continues to bring economic and diplomatic pressure to bear on Russia, including through sanctions.

What meetings she has had on levels of regulation related to the supply of goods from businesses in Wales to customers in Northern Ireland since 4 July 2024.

The Government is committed to implementing the Windsor Framework and to protecting the UK internal market, including trade between Wales and Northern Ireland.We will continue to work constructively with all stakeholders: the EU, the devolved administrations and businesses in this aim.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will hold discussions with his Irish counterpart on the recent treaties on extradition between the UAE and the Irish Republic to help ensure suspects are unable to use the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic to avoid extradition proceedings.

The UK remains committed to upholding the Common Travel Area and we work closely with Ireland to protect the integrity of it, including with Northern Irish and Irish law enforcement agencies on the question of those seeking to evade justice in either jurisdiction. Legislation is in place to enable extraditions between the UK and Ireland.

How many HM Armed Forces Veteran Cards have been issued in Northern Ireland since January 2024.

As of 24 October, 4,687 Veteran Cards have been issued to recipients in Northern Ireland since January 2024.

Whether she has had discussions with the automotive industry on trends in the level of consumer debt accrued through car hire purchase agreements.

The government engages with a broad range of stakeholders such as the financial regulators, industry, debt advice charities and consumer groups to monitor trends in consumer debt and understand issues affecting consumers. The Government currently provides a range of debt advice services through the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) to meet the needs of individuals in problem debt, including national and community-based services offering free-to-client debt advice. In addition, the Government’s ‘Breathing Space’ scheme provides eligible individuals protections from creditor enforcement action for a period of 60 days, giving them the space to work with a professional debt adviser to identify a positive and sustainable solution to their problem debt.

Media and Sport, what her planned timetable is for launching the next BBC charter review.

The next Charter Review has to ensure the BBC doesn’t just survive but thrives for decades to come. The existing Charter is due to expire on 31 December 2027. DCMS is in the early stages of preparation for the upcoming Charter Review, which we expect to launch in 2025.

What the Government's planned timetable is for ending the gender pay gap.

This Government is committed to transforming the lives of working women, and that includes going further and faster to close the gender pay gap.The landmark Employment Rights Bill includes measures to change our workplaces to better support women, including improving access to flexible working; strengthening protections for pregnant workers and those returning from maternity leave; and giving employees basic rights from their first day in a new job.The Bill also includes a requirement for large employers to publish action plans outlining the steps they are taking to tackle the gender pay gap in their own organisations.

What steps her Department is taking to help support small regional airports to develop new routes in addition to the use of public service obligations.

Public Service Obligation (PSO) Regulations enable protection of existing domestic routes that are in danger of being lost. DfT currently joint-funds three PSO routes into London from Newquay, Dundee and Derry/Londonderry. Airports invest in their infrastructure to attract passengers and airlines, while airlines deliver services to their customers by responding to demand for routes. My officials are actively engaging with regional airports to understand their route networks and how Government can support their future ambitions.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will hold discussions with his UN counterparts on allegations that United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) officials were aware of Hezbollah activity in close proximity to UNIFIL bases in southern Lebanon.

The Government supports the essential role played by UNIFIL in southern Lebanon and recognises that the mission is working in difficult circumstances. In a call on 16 October with the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, the Foreign Secretary discussed concern at UNIFIL not being able to access all relevant locations north of the de-facto border between Lebanon and Isreal and called for all parties to ensure freedom of movement for UNIFIL personnel. We continue to speak with counterparts from the UN on a range of issues related to the on-going conflict. The Government will continue to underscore the importance of the UN in resolving armed conflict and mitigating the humanitarian impact.

Whether he plans to create a welfare services governance board for veterans' issues in Northern Ireland.

The Government is committed to ensuring that veterans are able to access the appropriate support they require wherever they live in the UK and will be seeking to more effectively coordinate and cohere the support that is available. This will build on the successful expansion of the Veterans Welfare Service Northern Ireland to all veterans and their families across Northern Ireland, the work of the 11 Veterans’ Champions in Northern Ireland and of the Northern Ireland Veterans Support Committee, and the forthcoming enhancement of the Office for Veterans Affairs’ presence in Northern Ireland.

Whether the Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner will be a full time post.

The Government recognises the dedicated service of all our veterans and is committed to supporting the veteran community across the whole of the UK.A recruitment process for a new Northern Ireland Veterans’ Commissioner was launched on 16 October. Details about the role can be found on the usual public appointments websites and in the local press.Similar to the National, Scottish and Welsh Veterans’ Commissioner appointments, this is not a full-time position.We are hopeful that the recruitment process can be completed to allow the announcement of a new Commissioner towards the end of the year.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Answer of 18 March 2024 to Question 18399 on Chelsea Football Club, what his planned timetable is to establish a foundation to (a) manage and (b) distribute the money from the sale of Chelsea FC.

Independent experts outside of Government are leading the establishment of the new charitable foundation to manage and distribute the proceeds from the sale of Chelsea FC. UK officials continue to hold discussions with Mr Abramovich's representatives, experts and international partners, and we are doubling down on our efforts to ensure the money reaches humanitarian causes in Ukraine as quickly as possible.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will raise the treatment of Alexei Navalny by the Russian authorities at the United Nations.

Alexei Navalny's courage and aspiration for a democratic Russia live on in those brave Russians who continue to speak up. The Government continues to call on the Russian authorities to allow a full and independent investigation into the circumstances of his death. At the UN Security Council on 24 September, the Foreign Secretary condemned Russia's repression of its own people, including courageous individuals such as Alexei Navalny. That day the UK's Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva also raised Alexei Navalny's death and the treatment of political prisoners in Russia at the Human Rights Council.

What recent estimate she had made of when she will receive the results of the evaluation of future transport zones commissioned by her Department from the National Centre for Social Research.

The Future Transport Zones (FTZ) programme is scheduled to conclude by the end of 2025. Monitoring and evaluation work has been ongoing alongside the programme since it began in 2020. We have recently published the first two waves of evaluation at a national level, delivered by the National Centre for Social Research on behalf of the Department for Transport, with a third wave to follow in 2025. The individual FTZ areas are also undertaking their own local evaluations.

What (a) plans for investment in and (b) other plans for UK (i) nations and (ii) regions have been agreed as a result of the international investment summit on 14 October 2024.

At the International Investment Summit we announced a total of £63 billion of investment with nearly 38,000 jobs to be created across the UK. DBT is committed to building on the success of the summit and continuing to attract and retain investment across the whole of the UK. We also announced we will be expanding the Office for Investment to become the UK's investment promotion function. The Office for Investment will work across government and UK nations and regions to drive inward investment and deliver on our collective mission to drive growth across the UK.

Whether she plans to publish a consultation on the potential merits of introducing a knife amnesty.

We have no plans to consult on a general knife amnesty.The Criminal Justice Act 1988 (Offensive Weapons) (Amendment, Surrender and Compensation) Order 2024 came in to force on 24 September 2024 and it is now unlawful to sell, supply, manufacture or possess zombie-style knives or zombie-style machetes. Prior to the legislation coming in to force we ran a surrender and compensation scheme between 26 August 2024 and 23 September 2024 to allow owners to surrender these items safely at designated police stations.We will also introduce a ban on Ninja swords as soon as possible. We will be launching a consultation about this shortly and plan to introduce the legislation after the conclusion of that consultation when Parliamentary time allows.

When he plans to reply to the correspondence of 10 September 2024 from the Hon. Member for East Londonderry on wider availability of Royal portraits.

The letter from Mr Campbell has been responded to. A letter was sent in reply to him on 10 October.

When she plans to reply to the correspondence from the hon. Member for East Londonderry of 21 August 2024 on a wages and taxation issue.

HM Treasury has no record of receiving the letter of 21 August 2024 from the Hon Member. Officials have contacted the Hon Member’s office to request a copy.