Written questions by Narayan.

What steps her Department is taking to tackle spiking incidents; and what support is being made available to local authorities and hospitality venues to improve prevention and victim support.

Spiking is an appalling crime that undermines the people's right to feel safe when they are simply enjoying a night out.The Government is currently delivering a range of measures to tackle this vile practice, specifically targeted at raising awareness, identifying perpetrators, and gathering evidence. They include:Introducing a new criminal offence for spiking to help police better respond to this crime. This is being delivered through the Crime and Policing Bill which is currently at Committee Stage in the House of Commons.Funding the development and delivery of increased training on spiking to staff in the Night Time Economy at no cost to venues.Working with the regulator of the UK private security industry, the Security Industry Authority to deliver mandatory spiking training for their 352,000+ door supervisor licence holders by April 2028. This has already been delivered to more than 135,000 new licence applicants since Spring 2024.The funding of police spiking "intensification weeks" which have seen an enhanced focus on spiking and led to increased arrests, detections, and prevention activity taking place.Investing in research into the accuracy and efficacy of commercially available spiking testing kits, to help the police detect if someone has been spiked in real-time.The Home Office works closely with the hospitality and third sectors, as well as law enforcement to ensure that we are delivering measures on spiking which make it more difficult to carry out in the first place, that venues and the emergency services are proving the best possible response, and that victims are listened to and feel supported.A wide range of spiking training, resources, support and advice options are available across a number of organisations, many of whom are referenced on the Government's spiking web pages or within our training package.

Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to work with (a) Vale of Glamorgan Council and (b) other local authorities to (i) prevent homelessness and (ii) provide sustainable housing solutions for people at risk.

Homelessness levels are far too high. This can have a devastating impact on those affected.We must address this and deliver long term solutions. The Government is looking at these issues carefully and will develop a new cross government strategy, working with mayors and councils across the country to get us back on track to ending homelessness.We are already taking the first steps to get back on track to ending homelessness. As announced at the Budget, grant funding for homelessness services is increasing next year by £233 million compared to this year (FY2024-25). This increased spending will help to prevent rises in the number of families in temporary accommodation and help to prevent rough sleeping. This brings total spend to nearly £1 billion in 2025-26.More widely, we are taking action to tackle the root causes of homelessness, including delivering the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation and building 1.5 million new homes over the next parliament. We are also Abolishing Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions, preventing private renters being exploited and discriminated against, and empowering people to challenge unreasonable rent increases.Homelessness legislation is a devolved matter in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.MHCLG is always keen to learn from other countries’ approaches. Ministers and officials engage regularly with their counterparts in the devolved administrations to discuss a range of issues, including tackling homelessness.

Innovation and Technology, what plans he has to provide compute access to early-stage AI startups.

The Government is committed to removing barriers to growth for AI startups and ensuring that they have access to resources and expertise needed to develop and scale.Earlier this year, DSIT opened phase 1 of the AI Research Resource for early access to SMEs and startups to drive forward new AI-enabled innovations.

Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to support (a) universities and (b) research institutions to host compute infrastructure.

Expanding the UK’s compute capability is essential for the development and adoption of AI, scientific research, and improving public services. DSIT and UKRI are taking forward the development of the AI Research Resource, a network of supercomputers, currently consisting of Isambard-AI, in Bristol, and Dawn, in Cambridge, which will be fully operational by the summer. When this capacity is live, it will increase the UK’s existing public compute capacity by thirty times.In response to the AI Opportunities Action Plan, we have also committed to expand the AI Research Resource (AIRR) by a further 20 times by 2030, and to publish a long-term compute strategy.

Innovation and Technology, whether his Department plans to establish AI Growth Zones close to major research centres; and what role compute infrastructure will play in their design.

Universities and research institutions are critical to the UK’s vision for AI. To build upon our strong R&D base and to ensure we’re at the forefront of AI innovation, AI Growth Zones will help secure the UK’s position as a global leader in AI, attracting significant investment and ensuring long-term economic growth.In February, local authorities and industry, were invited to come forward with potential sites suitable for hosting AI infrastructure as an early expression of interest, and hundreds of responses were received. Further updates will be provided in due course.

What recent progress her Department has made on strengthening international cooperation to tackle organised immigration crime; and what assessment she has made of the potential impact of such cooperation on communities in South Wales.

Strengthened international cooperation is essential to tackle the gangs who facilitate organised immigration crime (OIC) and this Government is providing a step change in leading the international community’s approach.We have signed a series of landmark agreements including with Iraq, Germany, Italy as well as deepening our relationship with France, and this week the UK hosted a landmark international summit to tackle the shared threat of OIC and protect our collective border security.We expect this to have a positive impact on tackling organised immigration crime to the benefit of the whole of the UK, including South Wales.

Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to ensure the timely delivery of the national Compute Strategy; and whether she plans to publish an updated timeline ahead of Spring 2025.

Expanding the UK’s compute capability is essential for the development and adoption of AI, scientific research, and improving public services. DSIT and UKRI are taking forward the development of the AI Research Resource, a network of supercomputers, currently consisting of Isambard-AI, in Bristol, and Dawn, in Cambridge, which will be fully operational by the summer. When this capacity is live, it will increase the UK’s existing public compute capacity by thirty times.In response to the AI Opportunities Action Plan, we have also committed to expand the AI Research Resource (AIRR) by a further 20 times by 2030, and to publish a long-term compute strategy.

Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to coordinate cross-Government compute-related (a) planning and (b) infrastructure.

The AI Opportunities Action Plan sets out how the UK can lay the foundations for AI growth, by building the cutting-edge compute infrastructure needed to lead in AI development and deployment. To deliver this commitment, we are working closely across government, including on the creation of AI Growth Zones.With MHCLG we have updated the National Planning Policy Framework to make it easier to build data infrastructure.MHCLG will be introducing legislation this year to enable larger data centres to be directed into the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects consenting regime on request. As part of this work, DSIT will be producing a National Policy Statement (NPS) on data infrastructure to guide future planning decisions.

Innovation and Technology, what assessment his Department has made of the respective compute requirements for AI training and inference; and whether he plans to reflect this distinction in future infrastructure planning.

In response to the AI Opportunities Action Plan, DSIT is currently developing a long-term compute strategy. At the same time, DSIT and UKRI are taking forward the development of the AI Research Resource, a network of supercomputers, currently consisting of Isambard-AI, in Bristol, and Dawn, in Cambridge, which will increase the UK’s existing public compute capacity by thirty times.The Government has also committed to expanding the AIRR a further 20 times by 2030 to ensure that the UK has the AI infrastructure and compute capacity it needs to deliver new scientific innovations and discoveries that will drive productivity and growth throughout the economy. This expansion, and the long-term compute strategy – will reflect the evolving demands for training and inference.

What steps her Department is taking to reduce knife crime; and what recent discussions she has had with South Wales Police on community-based interventions (a) Barry and (b) the wider Vale of Glamorgan.

Halving knife crime over the next decade is a key part of the Government’s mission to make our communities safe. We are taking a range of steps to realise this ambition.We recently announced “Ronan’s Law”, a range of measures which will include stricter rules for online sellers of knives; increased penalties for illegal sales of knives; and consultation later this year on a registration scheme for online sellers of knives. We have also implemented the ban on zombie-style knives and zombie-style machetes and created a new Young Futures programme, which will establish Prevention Partnerships across England and Wales, bringing partners together to intervene earlier to stop young people being drawn into crime.On Monday 24 February, I met with the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip, Jane Hutt MS CBE (MS for Vale of Glamorgan). At the meeting I set out our ambitions to keep communities safe and to take a preventative approach to tackling knife crime. On Monday 10 March, I met with Emma Wools, along with the other PCCs for Wales.Over £1m has been made available in 24/25 to the Wales Violence Prevention Unit (VRU), for violence prevention activity in South Wales. This funding is delivering a range of interventions to divert young people from a life of crime. In addition, we are providing up to £3.4m toward the Youth Endowment Fund’s Trauma-Informed Practice Grant Round – an innovative intervention to help frontline workers recognise and respond to trauma in the young people they work with. One of the projects participating in this important evaluation is the Relationship Building Together Project, run in Bridgend.

Innovation and Technology, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the Data (Use and Access) Bill on the (a) development and (b) deployment of artificial intelligence models in the UK.

Compliance, productivity and familiarisation costs savings of Artificial Intelligence and machine learning reforms in the Data (Use and Access) Bill have been considered and can be found in the indirect benefits and costs sections of the impact assessment (IA). The ethical assessment can also be found in the impact on individuals section.The assessment of the effect on different organisations by size and sector can be found in the small and micro business assessment section of the IA. here (particularly, Table 14, 24, 25, 26 & 34).

Innovation and Technology, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the National Data Library on AI model training; and what steps he is taking to ensure that data access frameworks (a) enable innovation and (b) safeguard privacy.

The NDL will unlock the value of public data assets. It will provide simple, secure and ethical access to our key public data assets for researchers, policy makers and business – including those at the frontier of AI development – and make it easier to find, discover and make connections across different datasets.Where data sharing involves personal data, it must comply with the UK’s data protection legislation. This will equally apply to the National Data Library.We will set out further details on the National Data Library shortly.

Innovation and Technology, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of (a) energy and (b) grid access on the deployment of high-performance compute infrastructure.

The Government recognises the importance of continued innovation and improvements in the efficiency of compute infrastructure.AI Growth Zones will help shift energy demand to areas with more capacity, reducing pressure on congested parts of the grid. DSIT are working closely with DESNZ and the National Energy System Operator to align AI energy demand with future energy planning and ensure long-term sustainability. The Government is working to reform the National Grid connections process, making it easier for data centres to secure a timely grid connection.Through the AI Energy Council, we will be exploring bold clean energy solutions, from next-generation renewables to small modular reactors, to ensure our AI ambitions align with the UK’s net zero goals.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help children maintain access to essential public services in countries impacted by climate change.

Climate change is one of the most significant challenges facing children around the world. We know that children are disproportionately at risk from the effects of climate change, and children and young people will be at the forefront of shaping a resilient, sustainable future. The UK-led Glasgow Climate Pact urges Parties and stakeholders to ensure meaningful youth participation and representation in multilateral, national and local decision-making processes. We championed this approach at COP29, with the former Minister of State for Development meeting youth climate activists from developing countries, and UK Special Representative for Climate Rachel Kyte attending events alongside universities and the UN Youth Office to highlight the critical role of youth in climate action. I have also met with young people to discuss the impacts of climate change during my first to our overseas territories in the Caribbean.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure international climate finance reaches children in communities impacted by climate change.

Our international climate finance continues to prioritise support to the most vulnerable communities who are experiencing the worst impacts of climate change, including children. In addition, we are committed to amplifying the voices of the most marginalised, empowering them as decision-makers, advocates, and leaders in the climate response, ensuring gender and inclusion characteristics are a key part of our policy and programming. Through our policy and programming in health, we are promoting climate resilience, sustainable and equitable systems for health, including for children. The UK is also supporting the Global Partnership for Education in a new initiative partnering with the Green Climate Fund to provide co-financing to support countries to build the resilience of their education systems to climate shocks.

What steps his Department is taking to accelerate the review process for war pension application; and whether any changes to internal procedures or decision-making frameworks are being considered to reduce waiting times.

Work is underway to tackle the backlog war pension applications pending action, of which has increased in the last few months. The department continually review and evaluate its processes to look for ways to improve and minimise claim processing times. The caseload is subject to constant review and when necessary, steps are taken to target resources to a particular team or work area to expedite the workflow. Please refer to the following table for the current number of pending War Pension applications: DateHolding Data (no of claims on hand)1 March 20224,8741 March 20235,3341 March 20246,22828 February 20259,964 The extract numbers held on the specific date of the 11 March each year could not be produced, therefore the data above was taken from 1 March for 2022-2024 and 28 February 2025.

If he will make an estimate of the number of war pension applications pending review on (a) 11 March 2025, (b) 11 March 2024 and (c) 11 March 2023; and what steps he is taking to tackle the backlog.

Work is underway to tackle the backlog war pension applications pending action, of which has increased in the last few months. The department continually review and evaluate its processes to look for ways to improve and minimise claim processing times. The caseload is subject to constant review and when necessary, steps are taken to target resources to a particular team or work area to expedite the workflow. Please refer to the following table for the current number of pending War Pension applications: DateHolding Data (no of claims on hand)1 March 20224,8741 March 20235,3341 March 20246,22828 February 20259,964 The extract numbers held on the specific date of the 11 March each year could not be produced, therefore the data above was taken from 1 March for 2022-2024 and 28 February 2025.

Whether the Government’s gender equality strategy will include measures to tackle discrimination against women in (a) healthcare, (b) work and (c) financial security.

We are a mission-led government and women’s equality is at the heart of all our missions. On health, we are continuing to work with NHS England and the Women’s Health Ambassador to implement the Women's Health Strategy. Our priorities for delivering the strategy will be aligned with the 10 Year Plan and the government's Missions. The 10 Year Plan will set out how we tackle the inequities that lead to poor health, including those for women. Women’s equality in the workplace and their financial security go hand in hand. As part of our mission to Make Work Pay we will move further and faster to tackle the gender pay gap, provide high-quality, accessible early years education and improve access to flexible working. Discrimination has no place in society and we will continue to tackle it in every setting through the protections offered in the Equality Act.

Whether interim financial assistance is available for veterans awaiting a decision on their war pension applications; and what steps are being taken to support those experiencing financial hardship due to prolonged processing times.

Work is underway to tackle the backlog war pension applications pending action, of which has increased in the last few months. The department continually review and evaluate its processes to look for ways to improve and minimise claim processing times. The caseload is subject to constant review and when necessary, steps are taken to target resources to a particular team or work area to expedite the workflow. Please refer to the following table for the current number of pending War Pension applications: DateHolding Data (no of claims on hand)1 March 20224,8741 March 20235,3341 March 20246,22828 February 20259,964 The extract numbers held on the specific date of the 11 March each year could not be produced, therefore the data above was taken from 1 March for 2022-2024 and 28 February 2025.

What recent assessment her Department has made of the financial security of older women in (a) Vale of Glamorgan constituency and (b) the UK; and what steps she is taking to end discrimination due to (i) age and (ii) gender.

As announced in the recent Get Britain Working White Paper, we are reforming Jobcentre Plus and creating a new Jobs and Careers service that will enable everyone, regardless of age or gender, to access support to find good, meaningful work, and support to help them progress in work or increase their earnings. For those above state pension age, the new State Pension addresses historically poorer outcomes for women, low earners and self-employed people. This means, on average, women on the new State pension are receiving around 98% of the amount received by men. The government have made a commitment to the Triple Lock for the entirety of this Parliament which will mean spending on State Pensions is forecast to rise by over £31 billion and will see pensioners’ yearly incomes being up to £1,900 higher. Pension Credit provides a safety net for low-income pensioners and those with additional needs, such as those with a severe disability, caring responsibility, responsibility for a child or certain housing costs. Around 1.4 million pensioners are in receipt of the invaluable help that Pension Credit provides. For those below State Pension age, support is also available through the working age welfare system. In addition, further help is available to eligible over 50s on Universal Credit, through Midlife-life MOTs delivered in Jobcentres and online, which provide an opportunity to review health, finances and skills and signpost to suitable support. There are also over 70 dedicated 50PLUS champions, working across all 37 Jobcentre Districts. In Vale of Glamorgan, Employer and Partnership Teams in Jobcentres work with a range of employers and partners to enhance the skills and employment support available locally for customers, including women of all ages. The Department for Work and Pensions is also working across government, and through regular engagement with employers, to encourage positive attitudes towards older workers and to advocate for a more diverse, inclusive, and multigenerational workforce.