Written questions by McMurdock.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to her Department's world news story entitled Cameroon: UK supports new generation of Central Africa researchers, published on 29 January 2026, what proportion of that funding is provided directly to Central African institutions.

The Congo Rainforest Alliance for Forest Training (CRAFT) for Sustainable Development programme is a major milestone in advancing world‑class, locally led scientific research across the Congo Basin. Further details of all FCDO-funded programmes can be found at the Development Tracker website on GOV.UK. Each proposed programme is assessed in advance for the impact it will have on the UK's partnership objectives in the country in question, and for its cost-effectiveness in achieving that impact. Each approved programme is subsequently evaluated on an ongoing basis for its performance against agreed objectives, and for its delivery on time and on budget.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the British Embassy in Bangkok’s press release entitled UK PACT and Bangkok advancing sustainable transport, published on 30 January 2026, which Department's budget the funding for Thailand's transport and green finance will come from.

The UK PACT Thailand programme is funded from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's (FCDO) and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero's (DESNZ) Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget.Further details of all FCDO and DESNZ funded programmes can be found at the Development Tracker website on GOV.UK. Proposed activities are assessed in advance for the impact they will have in meeting the UK's programme and partnership objectives in the country in question, and for their cost-effectiveness in achieving that impact. ODA programmes are evaluated on an ongoing basis for their performance against their agreed objectives, and for their delivery on time and on budget.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the British Embassy in Bangkok’s press release entitled UK PACT and Bangkok advancing sustainable transport, published on 30 January 2026, what assessment she has made of the value for money of the UK PACT funding for sustainable transport initiatives in Bangkok.

The UK PACT Thailand programme is funded from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's (FCDO) and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero's (DESNZ) Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget.Further details of all FCDO and DESNZ funded programmes can be found at the Development Tracker website on GOV.UK. Proposed activities are assessed in advance for the impact they will have in meeting the UK's programme and partnership objectives in the country in question, and for their cost-effectiveness in achieving that impact. ODA programmes are evaluated on an ongoing basis for their performance against their agreed objectives, and for their delivery on time and on budget.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to her Department’s World News Story entitled Cameroon: UK supports new generation of Central Africa researchers, published on 29 January 2026, what assessment she made of the potential impact of allocating the funding provided to Congo Rainforest Alliance for Forest Training for Sustainable Development to forest protection and community-based conservation on development and research for climate resilience.

The Congo Rainforest Alliance for Forest Training (CRAFT) for Sustainable Development programme is a major milestone in advancing world‑class, locally led scientific research across the Congo Basin. Further details of all FCDO-funded programmes can be found at the Development Tracker website on GOV.UK. Each proposed programme is assessed in advance for the impact it will have on the UK's partnership objectives in the country in question, and for its cost-effectiveness in achieving that impact. Each approved programme is subsequently evaluated on an ongoing basis for its performance against agreed objectives, and for its delivery on time and on budget.

With reference to the Prime Minister’s press release entitled Prime Minister unlocks new opportunities for British businesses in China, published on 29 January 2026, how she plans to monitor and evaluate cooperation with China on transnational organised crime and illegal immigration.

The Home Office will monitor and evaluate the impact of any cooperation with China by assessing operational outcomes against the UK’s Transnational Crime and Illegal Migration threat picture, drawing on performance indicators and intelligence from UK operational partners to determine the reduction in associated harms.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to her Department’s world news story entitled Cameroon: UK supports new generation of Central Africa researchers, published on 29 January 2026, what measures are in place to evaluate the long-term outcomes of UK investment in the Congo Rainforest Alliance for Forest Training programme.

The Congo Rainforest Alliance for Forest Training (CRAFT) for Sustainable Development programme is a major milestone in advancing world‑class, locally led scientific research across the Congo Basin. Further details of all FCDO-funded programmes can be found at the Development Tracker website on GOV.UK. Each proposed programme is assessed in advance for the impact it will have on the UK's partnership objectives in the country in question, and for its cost-effectiveness in achieving that impact. Each approved programme is subsequently evaluated on an ongoing basis for its performance against agreed objectives, and for its delivery on time and on budget.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to her Department’s World News Story entitled Cameroon: UK supports new generation of Central Africa researchers, published on 29 January 2026, what steps she is taking to help ensure that research produced through the Congo Rainforest Alliance for Forest Training for Sustainable Development programme will support (a) forest governance, (b) biodiversity protection and (c) climate resilience.

The Congo Rainforest Alliance for Forest Training (CRAFT) for Sustainable Development programme is a major milestone in advancing world‑class, locally led scientific research across the Congo Basin. Further details of all FCDO-funded programmes can be found at the Development Tracker website on GOV.UK. Each proposed programme is assessed in advance for the impact it will have on the UK's partnership objectives in the country in question, and for its cost-effectiveness in achieving that impact. Each approved programme is subsequently evaluated on an ongoing basis for its performance against agreed objectives, and for its delivery on time and on budget.

With reference to his Department’s press release entitled Government action to avert summer prison disaster, published on 29 January 2026, on what date the 2,900 prison spaces were approved for construction.

This Government has delivered c.2,900 additional prison places and construction on these began between 2022 and 2024. We have invested £4.7 billion over the spending review period to enable the delivery of these additional prison places at pace and have maintained our target to deliver a total of 14,000 by 2031. The places delivered by this Government so far were approved for construction between 2020 and 2024.

With reference to his Department’s press release entitled Government action to avert summer prison disaster, published on 29 January 2026, when the 2,900 prison spaces began construction.

This Government has delivered c.2,900 additional prison places and construction on these began between 2022 and 2024. We have invested £4.7 billion over the spending review period to enable the delivery of these additional prison places at pace and have maintained our target to deliver a total of 14,000 by 2031. The places delivered by this Government so far were approved for construction between 2020 and 2024.

If he will set out the guidance on the frequency of re-triage for patients whose condition may deteriorate while waiting for treatment.

Patients are triaged upon their initial entry to accident and emergency departments, after which their condition and any deterioration is monitored through observation at clinically appropriate intervals. How this happens and how often it happens is down to local clinical decision making and governance.There is a national target that patients receive an initial assessment within 15 minutes of arrival in accident and emergency. This assessment considers patient acuity, ensuring that those most unwell and at greatest risk are identified and prioritised, so that clinical oversight can be adjusted accordingly, and to ensure the sickest patients are seen first.

What discussions he has had with NHS England on ensuring escalation protocols for deteriorating patients are consistently applied across trusts.

Patients are triaged upon their initial entry to accident and emergency departments, after which their condition and any deterioration is monitored through observation at clinically appropriate intervals. How this happens and how often it happens is down to local clinical decision making and governance.There is a national target that patients receive an initial assessment within 15 minutes of arrival in accident and emergency. This assessment considers patient acuity, ensuring that those most unwell and at greatest risk are identified and prioritised, so that clinical oversight can be adjusted accordingly, and to ensure the sickest patients are seen first.

What assessment he has made of whether current levels of community-based urgent care services have capacity to offset ambulance demand in the East of England.

Between January and December 2025, a total of 121,305 emergency 999 calls were successfully redirected away from a traditional ambulance dispatch in the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (EEAST) and into alternative care pathways.These diversions were achieved either through clinical triage and decision‑making provided by EEAST clinicians working within its emergency control rooms, or through further assessment carried out by clinicians based in the Unscheduled Care Hub. EEAST is in discussion with community partners to identify patients that have the potential to be managed in the community without the requirement for an ambulance response.Overall, this means that 19.1% of all 999 calls received during 2025 were managed through these alternative clinical pathways rather than requiring a frontline ambulance response. Integrated care boards continue to monitor the effectiveness of these measures and are working on further opportunities to expand capacity in community urgent care, ensuring patients receive the right care in the right setting and offsetting ambulance demand.

What proportion of ambulance call-outs were assessed as avoidable or suitable for alternative pathways in the East of England during the last 12 months.

Between January and December 2025, a total of 121,305 emergency 999 calls were successfully redirected away from a traditional ambulance dispatch in the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (EEAST) and into alternative care pathways.These diversions were achieved either through clinical triage and decision‑making provided by EEAST clinicians working within its emergency control rooms, or through further assessment carried out by clinicians based in the Unscheduled Care Hub. EEAST is in discussion with community partners to identify patients that have the potential to be managed in the community without the requirement for an ambulance response.Overall, this means that 19.1% of all 999 calls received during 2025 were managed through these alternative clinical pathways rather than requiring a frontline ambulance response. Integrated care boards continue to monitor the effectiveness of these measures and are working on further opportunities to expand capacity in community urgent care, ensuring patients receive the right care in the right setting and offsetting ambulance demand.

What proportion of NHS 111 calls resulted in an ambulance dispatch in the East of England in each of the past three years.

The Government is committed to continuing to improve NHS 111 to ensure patients can access the right care first time, in a timely manner, thereby only visiting accident and emergency when necessary.The data is not published in the requested format. However, in the East of England in 2022/23, 10.9% of 111 calls were referred to the ambulance service. In 2023/24, 11.9% of 111 calls were referred to the ambulance service. Finally, in 2024/25, 12.7% of 111 calls were referred to the ambulance service.

With reference to his press release entitled New fund to tackle cancer screening inequalities and save lives, published on 29 January 2026, what proportion of the funding will be allocated to cancer screening services in Essex.

The allocation for the Neighbourhood Early Diagnosis Fund is led by the Cancer Alliances. Further details and allocations will be set out for 2026/27 in due course. Local communities across England, including Essex, will benefit from the major investment, aimed at reducing cancer screening inequalities and catching more cancers early.

What steps he is taking to help reduce delays between triage and clinical assessment in Accident and Emergency departments.

The Government recognises that urgent and emergency care performance has fallen short in recent years. We are committed to restoring accident and emergency waiting times to the NHS Constitutional standard.Our Urgent and Emergency Care Plan for 2025/26 sets out clear actions to deliver improvements this winter and make services better every day. This plan set out our aim for 78% of patients to be seen in four hours this year, meaning over 800,000 people will receive more timely care.The plan is backed by almost £450 million of capital investment for Same Day Emergency Care, Mental Health Crisis Assessment Centres, and new ambulances, avoiding unnecessary admissions to hospital and supporting the diagnosis, treatment, and discharge for patients.There is a target for initial assessment to take place within 15 minutes of patients’ arrival in accident and emergency, and part of this clinical assessment should be determining their priority. Therefore, patients who are most unwell and at most risk should be identified during this process and clinical oversight adjusted accordingly.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent steps she has taken to protect peatland habitats.

As set out in Natural England’s evidence review NEER155, protecting and restoring blanket bog supports natural water regulation by increasing water storage, slowing runoff and sustaining baseflows, contributing to improved flood resilience and helping to mitigate drought impacts during prolonged dry periods. In September 2025, we strengthened protections for upland peat by amending the Heather and Grass etc. Burning (England) Regulations 2021 to further restrict unnecessary burning on upland deep peat, supporting climate, water resilience and biodiversity objectives.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to her Department’s press release entitled UK leads global efforts to help communities save the ocean and beat poverty, published on 26 January 2026, what assessment she has made of the long-term financial sustainability of recycling projects funded under the Ocean Community Empowerment and Nature Grants Programme.

The Ocean Community Empowerment and Nature Grants Programme assesses long‑term financial sustainability as part of its highly competitive two‑stage application process. Applicants must set out their methodology, the evidence base for their approach, how the project will be sustained over the long term, including financially, and a clear pathway to delivering outcomes. Applications are assessed at both stages by a panel of experts against published criteria, including financial sustainability and only applicants assessed as having high long‑term financial sustainability are successful.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to her Department’s press release entitled UK leads global efforts to help communities save the ocean and beat poverty, published on 26 January 2026, whether her Department will measure the environmental impact of solar-powered recycling hubs funded under the Ocean Community Empowerment and Nature Grants Programme.

All recipients of Ocean Community Empowerment and Nature Grants must agree outcomes and monitor and report on progress towards them throughout the grant lifecycle. During the application phase, proposed outcomes and the indicators used to measure progress are agreed. These are assessed by an external Expert Committee, which also considers any potential adverse environmental impacts and their corresponding risk mitigations.An independent evaluation is planned for the programme and will provide further evidence on progress towards agreed outcomes and impact. This process will form the basis for assessing the environmental impact of projects, including the solar‑powered recycling hubs funded under the programme.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 22 January to Question 107950 on Local Government: Elections, what will be the length of term of Thurrock councillors elected in 2022.

In areas where elections are postponed, existing councillors will have their term of office extended for a short period to smooth the transition to new unitary councils. We expect elections then to take place at the earliest opportunity in 2027 to the new councils. A councillor can stand in elections for the new unitary authority at the same time as serving their term in the existing council.