Written questions by White.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of future governance arrangements for Charter Trustee areas; and whether he plans to bring forward legislation to establish parish councils in those Charter Trustees areas affected by local government reorganisation.

During local government reorganisation, Charter Trustees are a longstanding mechanism that may be established in unparished areas to preserve historical rights. They are dissolved when the Charter Trustee area becomes wholly comprised in one or more parishes. The creation of parishes is a matter for principal councils through the Community Governance Review process and the Government has no plans to change this.

Whether her Department is taking steps to ensure that open access rail services continue to be available in Bassetlaw constituency.

We are clear that there will remain a role for are Open Access on the reformed railway. Existing Open Access operators will be able to continue their operations in line with existing access contracts, serving constituencies such as Bassetlaw.

What role UK Export Financing plays in supporting British firms with environmental credit investments.

UK Export Finance (UKEF) has not supported any environmental credit investments to date.UKEF supports clean growth exports and has included a clean growth and transition objective in its Business Plan for 2024-2029, which will seek to position UK exporters and suppliers at the heart of the global low‑carbon transition. In support of this, UKEF aims to provide £10 billion of clean growth finance to accelerate the UK’s green export sector by 2029.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has assessed the potential merits of landscape models combining 70% environmental preservation with 30% productive agricultural land, such as CPR Verde, as a tool to meet government environmental targets.

Defra has made no assessment of such landscape models. Defra’s revised Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) and the Land Use Framework (LUF) set out how the Government will accelerate progress towards Environment Act targets over the next five years and help tackle the challenges posed by the nature and climate crises, while supporting growth. The EIP recognises national food security relies on the restoration of a healthy natural environment and climate, and that farmers and food producers have a critical role in growing the food that feeds the nation and meeting our environmental targets. The LUF illustrates how a strategic approach means land can support a resilient food system, climate mitigation and thriving nature. The Government has allocated a record £11.8bn to sustainable farming and food production over this parliament. Defra is targeting public money where it delivers most value – supporting nature, because all farms need healthy soils, abundant pollinators, and clean water to produce good food.

What discussions the UK–Brazil Joint Economic and Trade Committee has had on cooperation on nature markets and carbon finance.

The UK-Brazil Joint Agricultural Committee, led by Defra, engages in discussions relating to sustainable agriculture. Recent discussions have covered topics including green fertiliser partnerships and collaboration on agricultural technologies. The UK and Brazil also have a number of bilateral initiatives on green finance, some of which sit under the UK PACT (Partnering for Accelerated Climate Transitions) programme.

What discussions he has had with his Brazilian counterpart on the eligibility of CPR Verde credits for corresponding adjustments under the Paris Agreement.

Corresponding adjustments are a form of carbon accounting that stop carbon credits from being counted towards more than one target. They are mandatory under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement when countries trade carbon credits to support achievement of national climate targets (Nationally Determined Contributions). They are optional in other carbon markets, for example where corporates buy credits for use towards discretionary net zero targets. In all cases, the decision to apply corresponding adjustments is a sovereign prerogative.

Whether he is considering establishing a formal UK–Brazil Green Trade Corridor to support legal certainty for environmental credit investments.

HMG recognises the importance of Green Corridors in demonstrating clean maritime technologies and laying the foundation for widespread decarbonisation. We are focussed on delivering this change through the International Maritime Organization and domestic action as set out in the Maritime Decarbonisation Strategy. In doing so, we expect this to incentivise and support industry to deliver Green Corridors from the UK and globally. Brazil is an important partner on climate and decarbonisation: we have several bilateral initiatives on green finance, some of which sit under the UK PACT (Partnering for Accelerated Climate Transitions) programme.

Whether sovereign-linked biodiversity and carbon certificates are an investable environmental asset class within the Green Financing Framework.

The UK Green Financing Framework, published in June 2021 and updated in November 2025, governs the UK Green Financing Programme. The Programme raises funds through the issuance of green gilts and NS&I’s retail Green Savings Bonds to finance public expenditure that can demonstrate a direct and positive climate or environmental impact. The Framework defines the categories of expenditure that are eligible for green financing. Eligible expenditures are drawn from departments’ confirmed settlements through the Spending Review process and are assessed on the basis of their contribution to the government’s climate and wider environmental objectives. The Framework governs the raising of financing for green public spending where biodiversity and credit certificates are not in scope.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what information her Department holds on the number of times that George Osborne (a) visited the British Ambassador to the United States of America and (b) met with officials from the British Embassy in the United States, since he ceased to be a Member of Parliament.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 22 September 2025 to question 76553.

What information her Department holds on the number of times that Jeffrey Epstein (a) visited and (b) stayed at a Crown Estate owned property.

The Epstein scandal exposed a culture that didn't value the lives of women. It is utterly contrary to what the Prime Minister stands for and the values at the heart of a government tackling misogyny in schools, halving violence against women and girls and overhauling how our criminal justice system serves victims. The Crown Estate is an independent commercial organisation, and the Government is not involved in its operations and day-to-day decision making. The Crown Estate has confirmed that its leases contain a nuisance clause that prohibits illegal or immoral use, and that it enforces those leases in accordance with applicable law. The Crown Estate has confirmed that its residential lease arrangements do not require monitoring or recording the identities of a leaseholder’s private visitors. Such monitoring would be incompatible with privacy and data protection requirements and with the long-established covenant owed to leaseholders under landlord-tenant law.

What information her Department holds on whether the Crown Estate sought legal advice on the potential liability of their properties being used for the procurement of prostitution.

The Epstein scandal exposed a culture that didn't value the lives of women. It is utterly contrary to what the Prime Minister stands for and the values at the heart of a government tackling misogyny in schools, halving violence against women and girls and overhauling how our criminal justice system serves victims. The Crown Estate is an independent commercial organisation, and the Government is not involved in its operations and day-to-day decision making. The Crown Estate has confirmed that its leases contain a nuisance clause that prohibits illegal or immoral use, and that it enforces those leases in accordance with applicable law. The Crown Estate has confirmed that its residential lease arrangements do not require monitoring or recording the identities of a leaseholder’s private visitors. Such monitoring would be incompatible with privacy and data protection requirements and with the long-established covenant owed to leaseholders under landlord-tenant law.

What information his Department holds on the number of times Peter Mandelson visited 10 Downing Street in each year since 6 May 2010 before he was appointed as the UK Ambassador to the United States of America.

Visitor information for 10 Downing Street is not retained for the time period specified.

If will he publish a list of all (a) current and (b) former Parliamentarians that have been named in the Epstein files.

There are no plans to publish such a list.

What information her Department holds on the number of times Peter Mandelson visited 11 Downing Street between June 2010 and March 2020 for each year.

Visitor information for 11 Downing Street is not retained for the time periods specified. Archived diary records, which are only available for the period from June 2016-March 2020, found no record of a visit by Lord Mandelson to 11 Downing Street.

Whether his Department will consider allowing families of vulnerable patients who are at highest risk, particularly those affected by transplants and kidney disease, access to NHS COVID vaccinations.

The Government is committed to protecting those most vulnerable to COVID-19 through vaccination, as guided by the independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). The primary aim of the national COVID-19 vaccination programme remains the prevention of serious illness, resulting in hospitalisations and deaths, arising from COVID-19.The JCVI has advised that population immunity to COVID-19 has increased due to a combination of naturally acquired immunity following recovery from infection and vaccine-derived immunity. COVID-19 is now a relatively mild disease for most people, though it can still be unpleasant, with rates of hospitalisation and death from COVID-19 having reduced significantly since COVID-19 first emerged.The JCVI has also advised that as currently available COVID-19 vaccines provide limited protection against transmission and mild or asymptomatic disease, the focus of the programme is on offering vaccination to those most likely to directly benefit from vaccination. These are the oldest adults and individuals who are immunosuppressed.The Government has accepted the JCVI advice for autumn 2025 and in line with the advice, a COVID-19 vaccination is being offered to the following groups:adults aged 75 years old and over;residents in care homes for older adults; andindividuals aged six months and over who are immunosuppressed.As for all vaccines, the JCVI keeps the evidence under regular review.

What steps his Department is taking to (a) reduce kidney transplant waiting times, (b) respond to the findings of the Organ Utilisation Group’s 2023 report, and (c) ensure that all patients have fair and equitable access to life-saving transplant services.

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is responsible for organ donation and transplantation in the United Kingdom. They also manage the NHS Organ Donor Register and the National Transplant Register.In 2023, the Organ Utilisation Group published 12 recommendations on how to maximise the potential for organ transplantation to reduce waiting times and improve access. Following this, the Department established the Implementation Steering Group for Organ Utilisation (ISOU) to oversee and coordinate the implementation of these recommendations, concluding its work in December 2025. Further information on the ISOU is available at the following link:https://www.odt.nhs.uk/odt-structures-and-standards/clinical-leadership/implementation-steering-group-for-organ-utilisation/The final ISOU closure report will be published shortly, and remaining actions will be handed over to NHSBT, NHS England, and others. Further information on the outputs of the ISOU is available at the following link:https://www.odt.nhs.uk/odt-structures-and-standards/clinical-leadership/implementation-steering-group-for-organ-utilisation/NHSBT ensures fair and equitable access to transplants by monitoring performance of the organ allocation schemes via the NHSBT organ advisory groups and the National Transplant Clinical Panel.NHSBT supports Living Donation Week, World Kidney Day, and Organ Donation Week every year, alongside other targeted campaigns, in partnership with charities and community groups, to promote living donation and the UK Living Kidney Sharing Scheme, and the importance of declaring wishes on the Organ Donor Register. Further information on the UK Living Kidney Sharing Scheme is available at the following link:https://www.odt.nhs.uk/living-donation/uk-living-kidney-sharing-scheme/

Whether the proposed changes to English language requirements for Indefinite Leave to Remain applies to those on the BN(O) route.

The Government remains steadfast in its support for members of the Hong Kong community in the UK.BN(O) visa holders will attract a 5-year reduction in the qualifying period for settlement, meaning they will continue to be able to settle in the UK after 5 years’ residence, subject to meeting the mandatory requirements.The new mandatory requirements for settlement are basic requirements that we think are reasonable for people to meet if they want to settle here. However, we are seeking views on earned settlement through the public consultation A Fairer Pathway to Settlement and will continue to listen to the views of Hong Kongers. Until that concludes, we cannot confirm whether any future uplift in the English language requirement will apply to those on the BN(O) route.In the meantime, the current rules for settlement under the BN(O) route will continue to apply.

Whether any future uplift in the settlement requirement for English will apply to those on the BN(O) visa route.

The Government remains steadfast in its support for members of the Hong Kong community in the UK.BN(O) visa holders will attract a 5-year reduction in the qualifying period for settlement, meaning they will continue to be able to settle in the UK after 5 years’ residence, subject to meeting the mandatory requirements.The new mandatory requirements for settlement are basic requirements that we think are reasonable for people to meet if they want to settle here. However, we are seeking views on earned settlement through the public consultation A Fairer Pathway to Settlement and will continue to listen to the views of Hong Kongers. Until that concludes, we cannot confirm whether any future uplift in the English language requirement will apply to those on the BN(O) route.In the meantime, the current rules for settlement under the BN(O) route will continue to apply.

What consideration he has made of bringing back the Access to Elected Office Fund for disabled candidates seeking election.

It is this government’s ambition to see more disabled people in public office. We have been clear that we will champion disabled people’s rights and work closely with them so that disabled people’s views and voices are at the heart of decision-making. A new fund is currently being developed to assist with the additional disability-related costs of contesting elected office. More information about the fund will be announced in due course.

How many employers who (a) pay and (b) do not pay the apprenticeship levy started new learners on apprenticeship programmes in 2024-25.

Employers start and manage apprenticeships through their apprenticeship service accounts. Employers may have more than one apprenticeship service account for their business.In the 2024/25 academic year, 13,829 levy accounts and 58,628 non-levy accounts had apprenticeship starts.