Written questions by Hayes.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether it is her Department's policy that (a) Ministers and (b) special advisers use the disappearing messages function on Whatsapp on Government devices.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the Cabinet Office guidance on the use of non-corporate communication channels, published under the previous government, on 30 March 2023: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/non-corporate-communication-channels-for-government-business.

Whether the Government has given security guarantees to the United States on the future of the military base on Chagos Islands since 2 February 2026.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 26 January 2026 to Question 107405 to the hon. Member for South Suffolk (Mr Cartlidge). We welcome continued US support for a deal that secures the long-term, stable and effective operation of the base.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will publish official communications from the US State Department sent in March 2025 on the legal premise for transferring the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.

The Government's legal position was set out on 22 May 2025 when the treaty was signed and can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-secures-future-of-vital-diego-garcia-military-base-to-protect-national-securityI would also refer the Rt Hon Member to the statement made by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the same day, which said: "The U.S. welcomes the historic agreement between the UK and Mauritius on the future of the Chagos Archipelago. This agreement secures the long-term, stable, and effective operation of the joint U.S.-UK military facility at Diego Garcia, which is critical to regional and global security. We value both parties' dedication. The U.S. looks forward to our continued joint work to ensure the success of our shared operations."

Pursuant to the Answer of 27 January 2026 to Question 106994 on Veterans: Radiation Exposure, whether research on the effects of radiation on British servicemen held by the Technical Cooperation Programme of the Ministry of Defence is held in (a) this country and (b) another country; and by what body it is held.

Further to the answer provided to Question 106994, and recognising the gravity of this issue, the Department has been working to identify teams and bodies who may have, or may have had, an interest in this work. This may include entities which are now arms-length bodies. As may be expected, the historical nature of these events is making it more challenging to locate, access and search information held in a variety of archives, both electronic and paper. In particular, it is unclear if records and archives relating to particular programmes or events include any material specifically relating to British Service personnel. Officials are developing a more substantive overview of the situation. This will be included in the letter which was promised to Emma Lewell MP in response to Question 106994, and which will be copied to the hon. Member.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the transfer of Diego Garcia to Mauritius on the risk of nuclear proliferation across the African continent, in the context of the influences of (a) Iran, (b) Russia, (c) China and (d) other actors.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer provided on 9 September 2025 in response to Question 70432.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what guidance her Department provides on the potential impact of Article 298 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on British maritime logistics taking place in (a) the Falkland Islands, (b) Gibraltar and (c) other British Overseas Territories.

The United Kingdom is a Party to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), having ratified it in 1997. The United Kingdom's position regarding Article 298 of UNCLOS is set out in the UK's formal declarations dated 7 April 2003 and 31 December 2020.

How much is owed in uncollected taxes from businesses that liquidated when their owed taxes were attempted to be recovered in 2025.

HMRC publishes quarterly updates that report on the total debt balance at the end of each quarter. The most recent update was published on 8 January 2026 and can be found at www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmrc-quarterly-performance-updates.HMRC publishes data on individual tax heads but does not publish an aggregated dataset on business taxes.

What data her Department has regarding the amount of unpaid taxes by businesses that is awaiting recovery.

HMRC publishes quarterly updates that report on the total debt balance at the end of each quarter. The most recent update was published on 8 January 2026 and can be found at www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmrc-quarterly-performance-updates.HMRC publishes data on individual tax heads but does not publish an aggregated dataset on business taxes.

What (a) social media and (b) other media subscriptions his Department has paid for in the last 12 months.

Subscriptions are delegated to team level and not managed departmentally.

What steps he is taking to promote apprenticeships in the construction industry.

This Government is transforming the apprenticeships levy into a new growth and skills levy, backed by an additional £725 million investment, which will deliver greater flexibility to employers and more opportunities for young people. It will align with the industrial strategy, creating routes into good, skilled jobs in growing industries, such as construction. Construction is one of the key sectors that will benefit from new foundation apprenticeships with three standards, including onsite trades, launched in August 2025. These foundation apprenticeships will support more young people to begin their careers in the construction industry and allow them to then progress and specialise in advanced apprenticeships. Employers will be provided with up to £2,000 for every foundation apprentice they take on and retain in the construction industry. The industry will also benefit from around 5,000 more construction apprenticeship places being made available per financial year by 2027-28 thanks to a £140 million industry investment and the creation of 32 pioneering new homebuilding skills hubs. In addition, the government is investing £625 million in construction skills over this Parliament, with the aim of delivering up to 60,000 additional skilled workers and supporting employers to invest in training. This funding is designed to expand apprenticeship opportunities, improve access to training, and ensure the workforce is equipped to meet the demands of a modern, safe, and productive construction sector. The industry-led Construction Skills Mission Board is also working to create construction job opportunities to meet the government’s announced infrastructure and built environment commitments.

What steps her Department is taking to help tackle organised acquisitive rural crime.

We are improving the protections for rural communities, with tougher measures to clamp down on anti-social behaviour, strengthened neighbourhood policing and stronger measures to prevent farm theft. This financial year the Home Office will be providing the first Government funding since 2023 for the National Rural Crime Unit (£365,000) as well as continuing funding for the National Wildlife Crime Unit (£450,000).The National Wildlife Crime Unit has a far-reaching impact, assisting in detecting high-profile and high-value crimes including serious organised crime. This includes disrupting organised crime groups. Funding the National Rural Crime Unit enables it to continue to increase collaboration across police forces, harnessing the latest technology and data to target the serious organised crime groups involved in crimes like equipment theft from farms.Through the Crime and Policing Bill we are introducing a new power for the police to enter and search premises to which items have been electronically tracked by GPS or other means, where the items are reasonably believed to have been stolen and are on those premises, and where it has not been reasonably practicable to obtain a warrant from a court.Additionally, we are committed to the implementation of the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act and fully support its intentions to tackle the theft and re-sale of All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs), quad bikes and GPS systems.There can be challenges in responding to rural crime. That is why we have worked closely with the NPCC to deliver their updated Rural and Wildlife Crime Strategy for 2025-2028. The strategy sets out operational and organisational policing priorities in respect of tackling crimes that predominantly affect rural communities.

Innovation and Technology, if she will take steps to issue fines against social media companies which host sexualized deepfake content.

Sharing, or threatening to share, a deepfake intimate image without consent is a criminal offence - for individuals and for platforms. Ofcom is the independent regulator for online safety and has confirmed that they have opened an investigation into Grok’s production of sexualised deepfake content. They have the backing of this government to use the full powers which Parliament has given them.

What information her Department holds on the number of occasions the police has (a) investigated and (b) charged abortion practitioners in relation to abortions suspected to have taken place on the basis of sex in each of the last ten years.

The Home Office collects and publishes information on the number of notifiable offences and their investigative outcomes recorded by the police in England and Wales. This includes the number of offences of procuring illegal abortion and intentional destruction of a viable unborn child. This information is published as official statistics each quarter and the latest information, to the year ending June 2025, can be accessed here:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/police-recorded-crime-and-outcomes-open-data-tablesInformation is not held on whether the abortion took place on the basis of sex or the status of the individual charged.

Whether he has had recent discussions with abortion practitioners to discuss what steps they are taking to prevent abortions taking place on the basis of sex.

The Department’s guidance, which was issued on 23 May 2014, states clearly that abortion on the grounds of sex alone is illegal. Sex is not itself a lawful ground for termination of pregnancy in England and Wales under the Abortion Act.Whilst we have not had any recent discussions with abortion practitioners, we continue to work with abortion providers, NHS England, and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to ensure abortions are only performed in accordance with the legal grounds set out by the Abortion Act.All independent sector clinics must be registered with and inspected by the CQC. The CQC assists my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, in his functions by inspecting against all of the Department’s Required Standard Operating Procedures (RSOPs) when it inspects an independent sector provider. The CQC has a wide set of powers that allow them to protect the public and hold registered providers and managers to account.We are aware that such cases can be complex. Safeguarding is an essential aspect of abortion care, and all abortion providers are required to have effective arrangements in place to safeguard children and vulnerable adults, in compliance with RSOPs.

Whether people deemed to be from under-represented groups are subject to different vetting procedures as part of the hiring process for police officers in England.

All applicants joining the police as officers or staff are subject to the same rigorous checks and vetting procedures to ensure that only the most suitable candidates are selected. This is set out in the College of Policing’s vetting code of practice and its vetting authorised professional practice (APP).The Home Secretary has commissioned His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) to inspect the MPS on their recruitment and vetting practices and asked them to provide an assessment in relation to other forces in England and Wales.

How many police officers hired in the last ten years in England underwent standard vetting procedures prior to their hiring.

The Home Office does not hold data centrally on the vetting of new recruits over the last ten years. This information is held by each individual police force.Following the Metropolitan Police Service’s (MPS) Operation Jorica review, the Home Secretary has commissioned His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) to inspect them on their recruitment and vetting practices and asked them to provide an assessment in relation to other forces in England and Wales.

What assessment has he made of the trends in the level of consistency of NHS Continuing Healthcare assessments across (a) Lincolnshire and (b) other rural areas.

I refer the Rt. Hon. Member to the answer I gave to the Hon. Member for Surrey Heath on 30 December 2025 to Question 99029.

Communities and Local Government, whether HM Land Registry has a duty to report if property in the UK is purchased by other nation states.

HM Land Registry records show that The People’s Republic of China is the registered proprietor of 58 registered titles in England and Wales. Two further titles are registered in the name of The Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China, and four titles are registered in the name of The National Tourism Administration of the People's Republic of China. Although HM Land Registry does not have a formal duty to report new acquisitions of UK land registered in the name of foreign states, this information is held by HM Land Registry and can be accessed where required by government and others subject to the general law relating to data protection and freedom of information.

Communities and Local Government, how many properties registered with HM Land Registry are owned by the People's Republic of China.

HM Land Registry records show that The People’s Republic of China is the registered proprietor of 58 registered titles in England and Wales. Two further titles are registered in the name of The Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China, and four titles are registered in the name of The National Tourism Administration of the People's Republic of China. Although HM Land Registry does not have a formal duty to report new acquisitions of UK land registered in the name of foreign states, this information is held by HM Land Registry and can be accessed where required by government and others subject to the general law relating to data protection and freedom of information.

If she will make new capital funding available for school buildings in South Holland and the Deepings constituency.

We are investing almost £3 billion per year by 2034/35 in capital maintenance to improve the condition of the school and college estate, rising from £2.4 billion in 2025/26. As part of this, in 2025/26, Lincolnshire County Council was allocated almost £6 million to invest across its maintained schools. Capital funding for other bodies responsible for schools in South Holland and the Deepings are also available on GOV.UK. We expect to publish capital allocations and the outcomes of the Condition Improvement Fund for the 2026/27 financial year in the spring. We are also investing almost £20 billion in the School Rebuilding Programme through to 2034/35, delivering rebuilding projects at over 500 schools within the existing programme, with a further 250 schools to be selected within two years. We plan to open a nomination round early in 2026. Lincolnshire has also been allocated £62.2 million of Basic Need capital funding to support it to create mainstream school places needed between May 2024 and September 2028.