Written questions by Wild.

What guidance is provided to the Chief Executive of HMPPS regarding assessing the potential impact on public confidence in the Early Removal Scheme or the criminal justice system of a decision to authorise removal of a foreign national offender.

We do not collate information on how many cases are referred to the Chief Executive of HMPPS under the Early Removal Scheme or the outcome of such referrals.Guidance to Prison Governors, and all those involved in administering the scheme including the Chief Executive, is contained in the Prison Service Instruction: The Early Removal Scheme and Release of Foreign National Prisoners (PSI 04/2013) which was last updated on 23 September 2025 and is available at the following link: Early removal scheme and release of foreign national prisoners.This gives information on the circumstances where removal might undermine the Scheme or public confidence in the criminal justice system.

What guidance is provided to Prison Governors considering authorising the removal of foreign national offenders to assess the potential impact on public confidence in the Early Removal Scheme or the criminal justice system.

We do not collate information on how many cases are referred to the Chief Executive of HMPPS under the Early Removal Scheme or the outcome of such referrals.Guidance to Prison Governors, and all those involved in administering the scheme including the Chief Executive, is contained in the Prison Service Instruction: The Early Removal Scheme and Release of Foreign National Prisoners (PSI 04/2013) which was last updated on 23 September 2025 and is available at the following link: Early removal scheme and release of foreign national prisoners.This gives information on the circumstances where removal might undermine the Scheme or public confidence in the criminal justice system.

How many cases under the Early Removal Scheme where the removal may undermine confidence in the scheme or criminal justice system were referred to the Chief Executive of HMPPS for decision in each of the last five years; and what was the outcome in each case.

We do not collate information on how many cases are referred to the Chief Executive of HMPPS under the Early Removal Scheme or the outcome of such referrals.Guidance to Prison Governors, and all those involved in administering the scheme including the Chief Executive, is contained in the Prison Service Instruction: The Early Removal Scheme and Release of Foreign National Prisoners (PSI 04/2013) which was last updated on 23 September 2025 and is available at the following link: Early removal scheme and release of foreign national prisoners.This gives information on the circumstances where removal might undermine the Scheme or public confidence in the criminal justice system.

Innovation and Technology, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of the application of data protection law to the collection and retention of personal data in connection with infant baptisms and other religious rites; and whether she plans to review the compatibility of such practices with principles of (a) consent and (b) children’s data rights.

Under the UK’s data protection legislation, religious organisations have obligations to process personal data lawfully, fairly and transparently. Personal data should also be kept secure, its accuracy should be maintained where appropriate, and it should not be processed for longer than is necessary.The legislation is monitored and enforced independently of government by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), which has published guidance for organisations on complying with the legislation in respect of children's data, including the circumstances where it would be appropriate to seek parental consent to the intended processing: Children and the UK GDPR | ICO.The government has no plans to carry out an assessment of whether and how religious organisations collect and retain personal data relating to infant baptisms and other rites, but anyone who has concerns about the handling of their personal data can raise the matter with the ICO via https://ico.org.uk/for-the-public/.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has held discussions with Eurostar on the carriage of musical instruments on cross border services.

There have been no recent ministerial‑level discussions with Eurostar on the carriage of musical instruments on cross‑border services. However, the Government, including UK Border Force officials, regularly reviews the feasibility of potential UK CITES Points of Entry and Exit, including Eurostar terminals.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with representatives of the music sector on delays at UK ports linked to the inspection of CITES regulated instruments.

There have been no recent ministerial‑level discussions with representatives of the music sector on delays at UK ports arising from the inspection of CITES‑regulated instruments. Defra and its agencies regularly discuss the implementation of CITES requirements with representatives of the music sector, and no concerns about delays have been raised in these discussions. Defra works closely with UK Border Force to deliver CITES controls and enforcement at the border. We remain committed to ensuring essential checks are conducted to prevent wildlife crime while minimising delays.

What training is provided to Border Force officers on the handling of CITES documentation for musical instruments.

All Border Force officers receive relevant mandatory training on dealing with international trade documentation, which includes CITES permits, to aid the detection of illicit goods linked to the illegal wildlife trade, including musical instruments.

With reference to the oral contribution of the Chief Secretary to the Treasury in the urgent question on the resignation of the chair of the OBR at column 991, 3 December 2025, whether special advisers have been required to provide access to the leak inquiry to communications on personal and government issued mobile devices and computers.

On 9 February, the Government published its Review of Budget information security. This includes the outcomes and recommendations of the Cabinet Office’s leak inquiry. All individuals and organisations in government who had access to the relevant information were in scope, including special advisers.

With reference to the oral contribution of the Chief Secretary to the Treasury of 3 December 2025 on OBR: Resignation of Chair, Official Report, column 991, if she will provide an update on the progress of the leak inquiry.

On 9 February, the Government published its Review of Budget information security. This includes the outcomes and recommendations of the Cabinet Office’s leak inquiry. The recommendations will be implemented in full.

Pursuant to the oral answer of 25 November 2025, Official Report Column 201, on NHS Dental Services in Norfolk, when he will issue a direction to the Office for Students.

We intend to set out next steps on the dental workforce soon.The independent Office for Students (OfS) has statutory responsibility for allocating funding for dental school places. Allocation outcomes are based on guidance issued by the Government, alongside an OfS assessment of provider capability.

How many emergency dental appointments have been delivered under the Urgent Dental Care Incentive Scheme in (a) Norfolk and Waveney and (b) North West Norfolk; and (b) what progress his Department has made on helping to deliver 21,520 additional urgent care appointments for Norfolk and Waveney ICB.

We have asked integrated care boards (ICBs) to commission extra urgent dental appointments to make sure that patients with urgent dental needs can get the treatment they require. ICBs have been making extra appointments available from April 2025.These appointments are available across the country, with specific expectations for each region. These appointments are more heavily weighted towards those areas where they are needed the most. The Norfolk and Waveney ICB, which includes the North West Norfolk constituency, has been asked to deliver 21,520 additional urgent dental appointments as part of the scheme.We are also incentivising high street dentists to offer even more appointments to maximise the availability to those in need of urgent care.Data on delivery of urgent dental care, will be published annually as part of the NHS Dental Statistics England Official Statistics series. These statistics are released each August and are the primary source of data on the delivery of National Health Service dental care.

What assessment her Department has made on the potential impact of the Police Funding Settlement (England and Wales) 2026-27 on the response times to rural crime incidents in North West Norfolk constituency.

As a result of the 2026-27 police funding settlement, Norfolk Police will receive up to £248.7 million in 2026-27, which is an increase of £9.5 million on the previous year. This equates to a 4.0% cash increase in funding.Forces are operationally independent, and the deployment of officers and staff remains an operational decision for Chief Constables.

How many full time equivalent police officers there were in Norfolk Constabulary on (a) 1 September 2024 and (b) 1 September 2025.

The Home Office collects and publishes data on the size of the police workforce in England and Wales, on a bi-annual basis, as at 31 March and 30 September each year in the ‘Police Workforce, England and Wales’ statistical bulletin, available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/police-workforce-england-and-wales.The latest information on the number of police officers, as at 30 September 2025, is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-workforce-england-and-wales-30-september-2025.Table 1 of the data tables accompanying the release includes information on full-time equivalent police officers in England and Wales, broken down by Police Force Area, as at 30 September 2024 and 2025.

What assessment her Department has made on the potential impact of the Police Funding Settlement (England and Wales) 2026-27 on the number of police officers in North West Norfolk constituency.

As a result of the 2026-27 police funding settlement, Norfolk Police will receive up to £248.7 million in 2026-27, which is an increase of £9.5 million on the previous year. This equates to a 4.0% cash increase in funding.Forces are operationally independent, and the deployment of officers and staff remains an operational decision for Chief Constables.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact on the Police Funding Settlement (England and Wales) 2026-27 on the provisions for tackling fly tipping in rural areas.

As a result of the 2026-27 police funding settlement, Norfolk Police will receive up to £248.7 million in 2026-27, which is an increase of £9.5 million on the previous year. This equates to a 4.0% cash increase in funding.Forces are operationally independent, and the deployment of officers and staff remains an operational decision for Chief Constables.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when she plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for North West Norfolk of 11 December 2025 regarding Daesh.

I thank the Hon Member for his letter and he will receive a reply shortly.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps she is taking to hold Iran to account for the repression of protesters.

The killing and brutal repression of peaceful protesters in Iran is horrific. Iranians must be able to exercise their right to peaceful protest without fear of reprisal.The Iranian government must immediately end the violence, uphold fundamental rights and freedoms, and ensure British nationals are safe. The Foreign Secretary made this very clear when she spoke with the Iranian Foreign Minister on 12 January, and I did likewise when we summoned the Iranian Ambassador the following day.We are working closely with our partners to ensure the Iranian regime is held accountable for its violent repression and systematic human rights abuses against its own people.

When she plans to announce the (a) scope and (b) timetable of the forthcoming consultation on proposals to merge shotgun and firearms licensing regimes.

The Government response to the 2023 firearms licensing consultation, published on 13 February 2025, included a commitment to having a public consultation on strengthening the licensing controls on shotguns to bring them more into line with the controls on other firearms in the interests of public safety.We intend to publish this consultation shortly.

Pursuant to the Answer of 10 November 2025 to Question 87080 on Child Arrangement Orders, if he will make such an assessment.

The Government does not have any plans to undertake a formal assessment of the efficacy of child arrangement orders. However, we have recently published a review of the courts’ application of the presumption of parental involvement that explored the impact of decisions about child arrangements on child welfare. The Review found a high incidence of orders for direct contact between children and parents, even in cases where a parent has caused or posed a risk of harm. The evidence from the review suggested this could have long term negative impacts for children.The Government is continually working with stakeholders to ensure that the family justice system delivers outcomes that work for children and families. The Government recently announced its intention to repeal the presumption of parental involvement from the Children Act 1989 when parliamentary time allows, alongside a wider package of family court reforms. A Child Arrangements Order may be made by the court in private family law cases to determine whom a child is to live with, spend time with or otherwise have contact with. Child Maintenance calculations are carried out by the Child Maintenance Service and are based on HM Revenues and Customs data. The calculation represents an amount of money that is broadly equal to the amount that a paying parent would spend on the child if they were still living with them, irrespective of the income or assets of the receiving parent.The Children Act 1989 states that the welfare of the child is the paramount consideration in family proceedings. The welfare checklist in the Children Act 1989 requires decision-makers to consider the ascertainable wishes and feelings of the child concerned, and the Government has no plans to change this.The Government believes that children’s voices must be central to family court proceedings and is delivering a new approach to private family law proceedings, known as Pathfinder. Under the Pathfinder model, a far greater proportion of children are engaged by Cafcass or Cafcass Cymru compared with the Child Arrangements Programme, and the court process puts a greater emphasis on the voice of the child through the ordering of a Child Impact Report (Report), which contains clear recommendations from the social worker, taking into account the child’s wishes and feelings.

Whether he has considered changes to child arrangement orders that would affect child maintenance requirements for parents without custody.

The Government does not have any plans to undertake a formal assessment of the efficacy of child arrangement orders. However, we have recently published a review of the courts’ application of the presumption of parental involvement that explored the impact of decisions about child arrangements on child welfare. The Review found a high incidence of orders for direct contact between children and parents, even in cases where a parent has caused or posed a risk of harm. The evidence from the review suggested this could have long term negative impacts for children.The Government is continually working with stakeholders to ensure that the family justice system delivers outcomes that work for children and families. The Government recently announced its intention to repeal the presumption of parental involvement from the Children Act 1989 when parliamentary time allows, alongside a wider package of family court reforms. A Child Arrangements Order may be made by the court in private family law cases to determine whom a child is to live with, spend time with or otherwise have contact with. Child Maintenance calculations are carried out by the Child Maintenance Service and are based on HM Revenues and Customs data. The calculation represents an amount of money that is broadly equal to the amount that a paying parent would spend on the child if they were still living with them, irrespective of the income or assets of the receiving parent.The Children Act 1989 states that the welfare of the child is the paramount consideration in family proceedings. The welfare checklist in the Children Act 1989 requires decision-makers to consider the ascertainable wishes and feelings of the child concerned, and the Government has no plans to change this.The Government believes that children’s voices must be central to family court proceedings and is delivering a new approach to private family law proceedings, known as Pathfinder. Under the Pathfinder model, a far greater proportion of children are engaged by Cafcass or Cafcass Cymru compared with the Child Arrangements Programme, and the court process puts a greater emphasis on the voice of the child through the ordering of a Child Impact Report (Report), which contains clear recommendations from the social worker, taking into account the child’s wishes and feelings.