Written questions by Corbyn.

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.

If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the presence of UK troops as part of the NATO’s Exercise Steadfast Dart 25 in Eastern Europe on the risk of escalating tensions in that region.

In an unpredictable security environment, exacerbated by Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, we must remain ready to deter all threats and to defend all Allies. Exercises like Steadfast Dart enhance our collective defence and deterrence, and are planned and publicised well in advance. NATO’s actions are defensive, transparent and proportionate. NATO and Allies fully respect our international obligations, and abide by both the letter and the spirit of the OSCE’s Vienna Document on military transparency.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what research his Department has undertaken on the consequences of nuclear war since the signature of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons in 1968.

The devastation that would be caused by nuclear war has been long understood and was written into the preamble of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in 1968. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's focus since then has therefore been on upholding the NPT and nuclear risk reduction.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he plans to participate in the UN study on the effects of nuclear war.

The UK voted against the United Nations General Assembly Resolution "Nuclear War Effects and Scientific Research", which proposed establishing an independent scientific panel on the effects of nuclear war, because the devastation that would be caused by nuclear war has been long understood. The UK questioned the benefit of further research in that area, which could not change our collective understanding of the horror of a nuclear war.

If he will take steps to ensure that the Insolvency Service investigates landlords that do not follow tribunal rent rulings to pay back monies owed.

If a landlord fails to pay a rent repayment order, the order may be enforced by creditors using civil recovery action, such as pursuing a County Court judgment or ultimately petitioning for a winding-up order against the company. Should a winding-up order...

Communities and Local Government, if she will take steps to ensure that landlords who are found liable for rent repayment orders in tribunal pay back monies owed.

Rent repayment orders (RROs) are an important and effective tenant-led enforcement tool. They deter landlords from non-compliance and empower tenants to take action against unscrupulous landlords.The Renters’ Rights Bill includes measures to significantly...

How many prosecutions have been brought against corporate health bodies under section 20 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014; how many of those prosecutio

There is no individual prosecutable offence under section 20 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008. Under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, failure to comply with Regulation 20(2)(a) and (3) Duty of Candour is a...

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will take steps to encourage the release of (a) Taj Muhammad Sarparah and (b) other Baloch citizens detained in Pakistan.

The UK strongly condemns any instances of enforced disappearances. We urge states to fully investigate any allegations, prosecute those responsible and provide justice to victims and their families.  We continue to encourage progress towards the criminali...