Written questions by Corbyn.

If he will set out the factors that his Department take into account when deciding on a case-by-case basis whether to approve the United States' use of its military bases in the UK for operational purposes.

Due to operational security reasons, the specific factors of consideration cannot be disclosed. However, all decisions on whether to approve foreign nations’ use of military bases in the UK for operational purposes considers the legal basis and policy rationale for any proposed activity.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the steps Israel is taking to establish the E1 settlement in the occupied West Bank.

Tackling illegal settlement expansion and settler violence are vital to protecting a two-state solution.Israel must stop settlement expansion and crack down on settler violence, which has reached record levels.Alongside 26 international partners, we have condemned the E1 settlement plan and we condemn the recent steps to further that plan. We urge Israel to listen to the weight of international opinion on this issue, rather than lessen the prospects for long-term peace.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions or meetings her Department has held with Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado since January 2024.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has sought to maintain a constructive dialogue with senior figures in the Venezuelan opposition in recent years, including Maria Corina Machado, and as the Foreign Secretary said in her statement to the House on 5 January, she spoke to Ms Machado in the wake of the removal of Nicolas Maduro to reassure her of the UK's support for a peaceful transition to a democratic government in Venezuela, respecting the will and rights of all its people.

How many US military personnel are stationed at (a) RAF Alconbury, (b) RAF Molesworth, (c) RAF Croughton, (d) RAF Fairford, (e) RAF Lakenheath, (f) RAF Menwith Hill, (g) RAF Mildenhall, (h) RAF Barford St John, (i) RAF Welford, (j) RAF Yeovilton, (k) RAF Feltwell, (l) RAF Blenheim Crescent and (m) RAF Northwood.

There are approximately 11,000 United States Visiting Force (USVF) members in the UK at various defence sites, excluding family members and defence civilian personnel and contractors. In the interests of personnel security, I will not currently share specific numbers of USVF personnel at each individual site.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if her Department will publish a summary of the legal advice it has received regarding US airstrikes on Venezuela and the capture of President Nicolas Maduro.

I refer the Rt. Hon Member to the Foreign Secretary's statement to the House on 5 January, and her responses to questions raised after that statement.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions or meetings her Department has held with representatives of BP or Shell regarding oil in Venezuela since August 2025.

The Government regularly engages with major British businesses about their global operations, through different departments, at various levels, and in multiple countries. We do not hold a central register of all the issues discussed.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, on what date her Department last raised the issue of the disputed territory of Essequibo with Venezuelan officials.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer provided on 12 January 2026 to Question 103712.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, on what date her department last had discussions with US officials on the Bank of England holding Venezuelan gold.

There is no record of any such discussions.

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of reforms to jury trials on minority ethnic groups.

A full Equalities Impact Assessment will be published alongside legislation as is usual practice. This will include an assessment of the potential impact of these reforms on minority ethnic groups. The criminal court reforms are not expected to impact trial outcomes, only how trials are heard.

What assessment he has made of the potential implications for his arms licensing policy in relation to Indonesia of the human rights situation in West Papua.

HM Government takes its export control responsibilities very seriously and we operate one of the most robust export control regimes in the world.We assess all export licence applications against the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria, including Criterion 2 which requires us to consider the current human rights situation in the country which is the final destination of controlled exports, as well as respect by that country for international humanitarian law. The Government will not issue export licences if there is a clear risk that the items might be used to commit or facilitate serious violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL). We also keep extant licences under constant and continual review on this basis.

Whether B61-12 nuclear bombs have been delivered to the UK.

It is longstanding UK and NATO policy to neither confirm nor deny the presence of nuclear weapons at any location.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure water companies are accountable to their users.

The Government’s Water (Special Measures) Act provide the most significant increase in enforcement powers for the regulators in a decade, giving them the teeth they need to take tougher action against water companies in the next investment period. The Act also enables the public to hold companies to account through introducing new, statutory reporting requirements for emergency overflows and pollution incidents. As announced in July 2024, consumers will gain powers to hold water company bosses to account through powerful new customer panels. The Water (Special Measures) Act now provides Ofwat with the power to make rules on company governance, including rules which achieve having arrangements in place for involving consumers in decisions that are likely to have an impact on consumer matters. Ofwat will conduct a consultation this summer that will determine the new rule and allow for the establishment of the panels. The Independent Commission published its results today. This can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/independent-water-commission-review-of-the-water-sector.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to support households with increases to water bills.

The Government expects companies to hold themselves accountable for their commitment to end Water Poverty by 2030 and will work with the sector to ensure appropriate measures are taken to this end. We are clear as Government that we expect water companies to ensure their customers know what support schemes are available and how to access them if they need help. We expect water companies to put robust support in place for vulnerable customers and keep current support schemes under review to ensure vulnerable customers are supported and access the support they are entitled to.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what information his Department holds on whether Israel is in possession of nuclear weapons.

Israel has never declared a nuclear weapons programme. The UK Government continues to encourage Israel to sign the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) as a non nuclear-weapon State. We regularly monitor all global nuclear developments and will continue to work with international partners to reduce nuclear risks, strengthen the non-proliferation regime and advance multilateral nuclear disarmament.

Which defence contractors and associated corporate entities were granted sight of the Strategic Defence Review prior to its official presentation to the House.

For the launch of the Strategic Defence Review, the Government offered embargoed briefings to our people and senior defence leaders, plus certain parliamentarians, trade unions, businesses, allies and media. This was broadly consistent with the approach for previous defence reviews. At no point did stakeholders receive any commercially sensitive information ahead of publication.

If she will take steps to encourage schools to buy food from local food cooperatives through the updated school food standards.

The National Procurement Policy Statement, published in February, underscores the government's commitment to increasing the procurement of food that meets higher environmental standards and upholding ethical sourcing practises across public sector contracts. The department believes our high-quality British producers are well-placed to meet this. It is important that schools have flexibility in how they procure.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will support the establishment of an independent public inquiry into the UK's involvement in Israeli operations in Gaza since October 2023.

The government does not support the establishment of an independent public inquiry into the UK's involvement in Israeli operations in Gaza since October 2023. The government has already set out the role of UK military operations in relation to Gaza. In support of ongoing hostage rescue activity, the Ministry of Defence has conducted surveillance flights over the eastern Mediterranean, including in airspace over Israel and Gaza. Surveillance aircraft are unarmed, do not have a combat role and have been tasked solely to locate hostages in order to uphold the government's primary responsibility: the security of its citizens.

How many families are receiving Healthy Start in Islington North constituency.

The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) operates the Healthy Start scheme on behalf of the Department. Monthly figures for the number of people on the digital Healthy Start scheme are published on the NHS Healthy Start website, which is available at the following link:https://www.healthystart.nhs.uk/healthcare-professionals/ The NHSBSA does not hold data on the number of families receiving Healthy Start. The number of people on the scheme in March 2025 in Islington North was 1,763.

Pursuant to the Answer of 13 March 2025 to Question 35627 on Strategic Defence Review, what steps his Department is taking to tackle the risks identified by the Infrastructure and Projects Authority.

I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave to Question 29127 from the hon. Member for Leyton and Wanstead on 14 February 2025.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the red rating of the Core Production Capability programme by the Infrastructure and Projects Authority in its Annual Report on Major Projects 2023-24, published on 17 January 2025, on the Strategic Defence Review.

Infrastructure and Projects Authority delivery confidence assessments reflect a judgement at a particular point in time. They do not represent the likelihood or not of successful delivery but are a representation of the level of risk and what further mitigation may be required in order to reduce such risk. The Infrastructure and Projects Authority has confirmed ongoing actions are appropriate.