Written questions by Lewis.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of (a) the resignation of Deputy Prime Minister Paul Bérenger in Mauritius and (b) his allegations of corruption.

None of the issues raised by the Rt Hon Member are matters for the UK Government, and none of them have any bearing on the future status of the Diego Garcia base, or the treaty negotiated with Mauritius.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of the timing of the public commentary by the government of Mauritius on the Iranian missile attack on Diego Garcia.

None of the issues raised by the Rt Hon Member are matters for the UK Government, and none of them have any bearing on the future status of the Diego Garcia base, or the treaty negotiated with Mauritius.

If he will continue to fund the Level 5 Outdoor Learning Specialist Apprenticeship in order to allow (a) the cohort already accepted for the scheme to continue and (b) substantive consultation with the sector to take place.

Over the past decade we’ve seen apprenticeship starts by those aged 16-24 fall by 40% and over half of all apprenticeship starts are now by learners aged 25 and over. At the same time, we have seen the apprenticeship offer increase to over 700 standards, many of which do not support critical skills shortages. Even with record investment of £3.3bn in 2026-27, the Growth and Skills Levy budget is finite. With 100% of our budget spent last year we need to prioritise in order to deliver foundation apprenticeships and short courses alongside the core apprenticeship offer. We are therefore withdrawing funding from 16 apprenticeships from September 2026, including the Level 5 Outdoor Learning Specialist standard. These changes will help to create the headroom to invest in our national skills priorities with more opportunities for more young people, and new apprenticeship units to provide a more flexible offer to businesses. We are continuing to fund the related Level 3 Outdoor Activity Instructor apprenticeship which provides an entry route into this profession. All existing learners on the Level 5 Outdoor Learning Specialist standard will continue to be funded through to completion, and providers have been written to individually to confirm their transition arrangements. Employers who value this apprenticeship standard will also be able to use it on a privately funded basis.

When Ministers were first made aware of documents (a) confirming abnormal levels of radiation in fish near UK atomic test sites in the Pacific and (b) advising that their contents are incompatible with official statements previously submitted in court cases brought on behalf of nuclear test veterans; and what action they took.

I was first made aware of the unfinished draft document relating to historic nuclear testing at Christmas Island in December 2025. Following the release of the draft document by AWE, I wrote to interested MPs and LABRATS advising them of its release and explaining its contents on 2 March 2026.

If he will take steps to acquire from Ukraine (a) cheap anti-drone military assets and (b) instruction in maximising their effective operation in order to augment the protection of United Kingdom and allied personnel in the Middle East.

This continues to be an extremely challenging and unsettling time for many across the Middle East. The UK condemns Iran’s role in attempting to draw the region into a wider conflict. Our first priority is to protect British nationals, British interests and our partners. We support action that will help bring a swift resolution to this conflict, and an end to Iran's reckless and escalatory response. I will not go into operational details but let us be clear, Iran has continued to support Russia in its on-going illegal war on Ukraine including through supplying unmanned aerial systems – like those now being used to target our Middle East partners. We will continue to do all we can to ensure the protection of United Kingdom and allied personnel in the region The Minister for Defence Readiness & Industry has been engaging with industry on how the UK can further support partners in the region.

If he will take steps to support small rural communities dependent on oil supplies whose commercial suppliers have said than none will be available for a period of weeks.

The Government is closely monitoring heating oil supply and demand in light of instability in the Middle East. The UK benefits from a strong and diverse security of fuel supplies and Ministers have met with and continue to engage with the UK & Ireland Fuel Distributors Association (UKIFDA) and other key industry bodies. We are aware that increased demand is leading to delays in some companies being able to accept new orders while they work through the backlog of existing orders. We continue to work with the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) on whether any further support or action is needed to protect consumers.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has had discussions with her US counterpart on the statement issued by the United Nations’ Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on 8 December 2025 on the ratification of the UK-Mauritius agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago.

Ministers and officials in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office are in constant discussion with their US counterparts across a wide range of issues.

If she will make an assessment of the likely impact of the recent changes in immigration rules on the practicability of continuing the rescue from oppressive regimes of academics in danger by awarding fellowships at United Kingdom universities, arranged until now by the Council for At-Risk Academics.

The visa brake will apply to nationals of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar, and Sudan, for the Student route, and nationals of Afghanistan for the Skilled Worker route. We understand decision may be disappointing to some people. If fellowship schemes use the specified routes, they will be impacted; schemes that use any other visa routes will be unaffected.

Communities and Local Government, when the Government’s response to its 2025 public consultation on (a) strengthening local government standards and (b) addressing misconduct and bullying by town and parish councillors will be published.

The Government published its response to the consultation “Strengthening the standards and conduct framework for local authorities in England” in November 2025. The response sets out the Government’s intention to introduce measures including a mandatory Code of Conduct for councillors and strengthened oversight of the local government standards regime.We intend to legislate on local government standards reforms when parliamentary time allows.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many applications were made by (a) Chagossians and (b) other nationalities to visit the British Indian Ocean Territory in each of the last 5 years; and how many of those applications were accepted.

The British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) Administration is responsible for immigration matters in BIOT.The last Heritage Visit for Chagossians to visit the Archipelago took place in February 2020, and was attended by 27 Chagossians. Heritage visits were paused in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and during treaty negotiations with Mauritius. The Government acknowledges the importance of heritage visits to the Chagossian community and is working to reinstate these as soon as possible.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when the last trip was organised by the Government to the British Indian Ocean Territory for Chagossians to visit their homeland; and how many Chagossians participated in that visit.

The British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) Administration is responsible for immigration matters in BIOT.The last Heritage Visit for Chagossians to visit the Archipelago took place in February 2020, and was attended by 27 Chagossians. Heritage visits were paused in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and during treaty negotiations with Mauritius. The Government acknowledges the importance of heritage visits to the Chagossian community and is working to reinstate these as soon as possible.

For what reason Question 113434 on UNCLOS and the Chagos Islands, tabled on 12 February for answer on 25 February 2026, has not been answered; and when he plans to answer it.

I responded to the right hon. Member on 4 March 2026.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, for what reason Questions 113021 and 113433 on UNCLOS and the Chagos Islands, tabled on 12 February for answer on 24 and 25 February 2026 respectively, have not been answered; and when she plans to answer them.

The responses to questions 113021 and 113433 were provided to the Rt Hon Member on 10 and 5 March, respectively.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 25 February 2026 to Question 113435 on BBC Monitoring: Finance, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of restoring dedicated funding for BBC Monitoring by her Department.

As stated in previous answers, the Government does not provide core funding for BBC Monitoring which is a matter for the BBC. However, when specific pieces of work are commissioned by Government, they are fully funded.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the representations made by the Government to the Chinese authorities (a) before and (b) since the imposition of the 20-year prison sentence on Jimmy Lai; and what undertakings were sought and received about Jimmy Lai during the Prime Minister's visit to China.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the responses given in the Urgent Question debate on 9 February. We will continue to update the House on Jimmy Lai's case.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she (a) has taken and (b) intends to take to persuade (i) India and (ii) China to cease providing armaments to the Burmese military regime; and for what reason that regime's military attache has been permitted to remain in the United Kingdom.

The UK regularly raises the Myanmar crisis with China and other neighbouring countries, including at the UN Security Council (UNSC). Most recently, in December 2025, the UK convened a UNSC meeting, where we condemned military airstrikes against civilians. A summary is available on gov.uk at the link below:https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/elections-under-the-current-circumstances-in-myanmar-risk-provoking-further-violence-uk-statement-on-myanmarUK sanctions include a comprehensive arms embargo on Myanmar, and our 19th round of sanctions in 2024 targeted companies involved in the procurement of aviation fuel and equipment to the Myanmar Armed Forces. As a long-standing policy, we do not speculate on further enforcement action, or comment on individual personnel.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when her Department last published a report on religious persecution in Myanmar; and for what reason the frequency of such reports has reduced.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office does not produce reports on religious persecution in Myanmar.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of differences between the (a) former State Administrative Council and (b) current State Security and Peace Commission in Myanmar as instruments of the Burmese military regime; and for what policy reason the sanctioning of the former body has not been carried forward to apply to its successor.

The UK Government uses sanctions to achieve a range of foreign and security policy objectives. We consider designations under our sanctions regimes, including the Myanmar Sanctions Regulations, as guided by the evidence and the objectives of the sanctions regime. It would not be appropriate to speculate about future sanctions designations as to do so could reduce their impact.

What (a) steps she will take and (b) powers she possesses to protect (i) military bases and (ii) other sensitive locations from the threat posed by the piecemeal purchase of properties in their vicinity by (A) Russian, (B) Chinese and (C) other adversaries.

The first duty of Government is national security. We take the protection of sensitive locations extremely seriously, and we work closely with the police and operational partners to ensure they have the powers they need.The National Security and Investment Act 2021 provides the Government with powers to identify and, where necessary, intervene in acquisitions of entities or assets (including land) that may pose a threat to the UK’s national security. This can, under some circumstances, include properties near sensitive sites.In addition, the National Security Act 2023 protects against activity that could be harmful to the UK in and around the most sensitive sites through new and updated criminal offences, police powers to protect these sites, and a power to designate new sites as prohibited places.

For what reason Question 111416 on Jeffrey Epstein and Lord Mandelson, tabled on 6 February for answer on 11 February 2026, has not been answered; and when he plans to answer it.

An answer was made to UIN 111416 on 4 March.https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2026-02-06/111416