Written questions by Osamor.

Whether her Department plans to use data from the eVisa system to aid immigration enforcement operations.

Immigration Enforcement already uses information contained in relevant visa applications and interactions when taking enforcement action against suspected immigration offenders – this will continue to be the case with eVisas.

What contingency measures are in place for people who are unable to access their eVisa due to (a) technical issues and (b) administrative errors.

We are committed to ensuring that the transition to eVisas is as smooth as possible for all status holders. The Home Office has a significant support model in place to facilitate the transition to eVisas.Our online immigration status services are designed to be highly resilient, with rigorous testing and concurrent services to ensure that if one fails, another will take over. We consistently monitor our online services to resolve any issues as quickly as possible.We are also taking further steps to reduce the number of circumstances where people need to provide evidence of their immigration status, by developing services to make the relevant immigration status information available automatically through system to system checks with other government departments and the NHS. This means at the point at which a person seeks to access public services such as NHS healthcare and DWP benefits, the service provider will check status directly with the Home Office, removing the need for people to prove their status themselves.We have also put in place the systems and services to allow carriers, such as airlines, to automatically check immigration status via system-to-system checks and those systems are working well for millions of people. If for any reason the carrier does not receive confirmation of the passenger’s immigration status, they will be able to check this using the ‘view and prove' service, or the carrier can contact the 24/7 Carrier Support Hub for advice.If people do have any issues, they can contact the UKVI Resolution Centre, which provides support via email and webchat to those creating their UKVI account, and telephone support to those using the online immigration status services. The UKVI Resolution Centre assists users who are experiencing technical issues with their online immigration status, and where necessary, enables peoples’ status to be verified through alternative means. If someone cannot see their eVisa details after creating their UKVI account, or believes there is an error in their status information, they can report this to the Home Office via the form at Report an error with your eVisa - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk), which is available 24/7. Any reported issues with eVisa are being prioritised. Once a person has submitted the report an error with your eVisa form, they will receive an email notification when the error or issue has been resolved.If a person needs to prove their right to work or rent while the issue is being resolved, employers can use the Employers Checking Service (ECS) and landlords can use the Landlord Checking Service (LCS).

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations he has made to the Israeli Government on the NGO taxation bill which has been proposed in the Israeli Knesset.

We are deeply troubled by the proposed non-governmental organisation (NGO) taxation bill which threatens to undermine the ability of NGOs to operate effectively and continue their important work in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs). We continue to raise these concerns with the Israeli government.

With reference to her Department's report entitled Triggers to claiming personal independence payment, published on 2 May 2025, whether she plans to revise the proposed changes to Personal Independence Payments in light of that report.

This government is committed to protecting the most vulnerable and giving everyone a better future, and that is at the heart of our welfare reforms. We are ensuring that our welfare state is there for people who need it now, and can be there for those who need it long into the future too. Our intention is that the PIP changes will apply to new claims and award reviews from November 2026. This means there will be no immediate changes, and we are consulting on how best to support those impacted by the new eligibility changes. The changes to PIP will help better target support towards those with the highest needs. This includes introducing a new requirement that, in addition to existing eligibility criteria, claimants must score at least four points in one daily living activity to qualify for the daily living component of PIP. We have launched a review of the PIP assessment to ensure it is fair and fit for the future and we are working with disabled people and key organisations representing them to consider how best to do this.

What discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on consistency across Government in the treatment of people affected by (a) current and (b) historical maladministration .

Although schemes to redress the treatment of people affected by maladministration (for instance: Windrush, Post Office, Infected Blood) have department leads, the government's response is always made through a process of collective agreement, via write-round processes inviting views across departments. The Cabinet Office plays a key role in this process, ensuring coordination between government stakeholders. HM Treasury views are sought on any proposals with spending implications, to promote consistency on government approaches to compensation, in particular. Sign-off is sought either through the Chancellor, or delegated to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, in these cases. Absolute consistency is not possible or desirable. In each of these examples, the government was responding to very different circumstances behind calls for redress. Answering to the specific recommendations from the inquiries, and developing policy through sensitive engagement with victim groups, takes primacy over standardising our responses. Nevertheless, officials also continue to engage across Whitehall to learn lessons from other compensation schemes.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Israeli counterpart on the attack on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla in international waters near Malta on 2 May 2025.

We are aware of the serious incident involving a ship off the coast of Malta early last month. We have been in contact with local authorities and understand that no UK citizens were on board and there were no casualties. The Foreign Secretary continues to reiterate to Israel that they must lift the block on aid to Gaza, including with Israeli Foreign Minister Sa'ar.

What assessment she has made of the potential merits of uprating in line with inflation the income threshold for Free School Meals eligibility for children in families with No Recourse to Public Funds.

Children from households with no recourse to public funds can receive free meals in school, subject to meeting income criteria set by the department in our published guidance.As with all government programmes, we continue to keep free school meals under review.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department is taking diplomatic steps to support the Kurdistan Workers Party – Turkey peace process.

The Government maintains a regular dialogue with Turkey, as a key North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) ally and strategic partner. Ministers have spoken with their Turkish counterparts in recent days to discuss the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) announcement and other issues. The decision by the PKK to disarm and disband marks an important step towards peace and security for the people of Turkey and the wider region. Abdullah Ocalan's imprisonment follows a domestic Turkish legal ruling. The UK remains committed to supporting efforts that reduce conflict and promote stability.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with his Turkish counterpart on the detention of Abdullah Ocalan.

The Government maintains a regular dialogue with Turkey, as a key North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) ally and strategic partner. Ministers have spoken with their Turkish counterparts in recent days to discuss the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) announcement and other issues. The decision by the PKK to disarm and disband marks an important step towards peace and security for the people of Turkey and the wider region. Abdullah Ocalan's imprisonment follows a domestic Turkish legal ruling. The UK remains committed to supporting efforts that reduce conflict and promote stability.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with his Turkish counterpart on the disbanding of the Kurdistan Workers Party.

The Government maintains a regular dialogue with Turkey, as a key North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) ally and strategic partner. Ministers have spoken with their Turkish counterparts in recent days to discuss the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) announcement and other issues. The decision by the PKK to disarm and disband marks an important step towards peace and security for the people of Turkey and the wider region. Abdullah Ocalan's imprisonment follows a domestic Turkish legal ruling. The UK remains committed to supporting efforts that reduce conflict and promote stability.

If she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of the report entitled A Clean Start in Life, published by In Kind Direct on 2 May 2025.

Tackling child poverty is at the heart of this Government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity. The Child Poverty Taskforce is continuing its urgent work and is exploring all available levers, including considering social security reforms, to drive forward short and long-term actions across government to reduce child poverty. The Strategy will tackle overall child poverty as well as going beyond that to focus on children in deepest poverty lacking essentials, and what is needed to give every child the best start in life. We are focused on reducing and alleviating the effects of child poverty to improve children’s lives and life chances now and tackle the root causes of child poverty in the long term. The Strategy will look at four key themes of increasing incomes, reducing essential costs, increasing financial resilience; and better local support especially in the early years. This will build on the reform plans underway across government and work underway in Devolved Governments. The vital work of the Taskforce comes alongside our commitments to triple investment in breakfast clubs to over £30 million, introduce a Fair Repayment Rate for deductions from Universal Credit, improve the adequacy of the standard allowance with the first sustained above inflation rise in the basic rate of Universal Credit since it was introduced and increase the National Living Wage to £12.21 an hour to boost the pay of three million workers. To further support struggling households, we have provided funding of £742 million to extend the Household Support Fund from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026 in England, plus additional funding for the Devolved Governments.

Whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of enabling local authorities to use CCTV enforcement to address unlawful pavement parking; and if she will bring forward legislative proposals to permit such enforcement.

No assessment has been made of the use of CCTV cameras to address pavement parking. The use of CCTV for civil enforcement of parking restrictions is currently limited to contraventions occurring in ‘keep clear’ zig-zag areas outside schools, red routes, bus lanes and mandatory cycle lanes, and at bus stops and bus stands. More broadly on the issue of pavement parking, the Department has been considering responses to the consultation on pavement parking conducted in 2020 and potential policy options. We will announce our formal response to the consultation and next steps shortly.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 22 April 2025 to Question 40483 on Mahmoud Khalil, whether he has had recent discussions with his US counterpart on the detention of pro-Palestinian protestors by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

As previously stated in response to Question 40483, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) does not comment on personal matters relating to former members of staff. Discussions surrounding the detention of non-British nationals are not for the FCDO to comment on, because it is a matter for the US and the nations of those detained.

How many children are on the SEND waiting list in Edmonton and Winchmore Hill constituency.

The department does not hold information on the number of children waiting to be assessed for an education, health and care (EHC) plan.The department collects information from local authorities on the number of requests for an EHC needs assessment, the number of EHC needs assessments carried out, and the number of EHC plans issued within the statutory 20-week timeframe. This data is published annually in the statistical release ‘Education, health and care plans’. The release can be accessed here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/education-health-and-care-plans/2024.

What steps her Department is taking to meet the demand for (a) special and (b) mainstream school placements for children with SEN in the London Borough of Enfield.

The department has published allocations for £740 million in high needs provision capital allocations for the 2025/26 financial year. The funding can be used to adapt schools to be more accessible for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), to create specialist facilities within mainstream schools that can deliver more intensive support adapted to suit the pupils’ needs, and to create special school places for pupils with the most complex needs.Enfield Council has been allocated £6.2 million high needs capital funding for 2025/26. It is up to local authorities to prioritise their funding to meet local needs.

What steps her Department is taking to support UK citizens with relatives impacted by the human rights situation in Balochistan.

Any application for a UK visa will be assessed against the requirements of the Immigration Rules. We advise people to consider the most appropriate visa route for their own circumstances.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Pakistani counterpart on ending enforced disappearances.

The UK is clear that the freedom to hold and express views without censorship, intimidation or unnecessary restriction is a cornerstone of democracy. We remain deeply concerned over reports of human rights violations, including enforced disappearances. Our High Commission in Islamabad continues to raise this with the Pakistani authorities at the highest levels and has raised the recent case of the detention of Dr. Mahrang Baloch, with Pakistan's Minister for Law and Justice.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Pakistani counterpart on the human rights situation in Balochistan.

The UK is deeply concerned about reports of human rights abuses and violations in Pakistan, including in Balochistan province. Our High Commission in Pakistan regularly raises these issues with the Government of Pakistan at a senior level, including the need to address allegations of enforced disappearances. I underlined the importance of upholding civil and political rights to Pakistan's Human Rights Minister, Azam Tarar, in November 2024. Lord Khan of Burnley discussed the protection of human rights, including the rights of protesters, in a meeting with Minister Tarar in April 2025. The UK will continue to urge the Government of Pakistan to guarantee individuals' rights as laid down in Pakistan's Constitution and in accordance with international standards.

Innovation and Technology, whether he has had recent discussions with animal protection groups on phasing out animal experiments.

The Labour Manifesto includes a commitment to “partner with scientists, industry, and civil society as we work towards the phasing out of animal testing”, which is a long-term goal. The government will publish a strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods later this year. The Government will also be hosting a roundtable shortly with representatives from animal welfare organisations to discuss the strategy.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what was discussed during his most recent meeting with his Israeli counterpart.

The Foreign Secretary met with Israeli Foreign Minister Sa'ar on 15 April during his visit to London to discuss the need for an end to the aid blockade in Gaza and for all parties to push towards an immediate ceasefire and the release of all hostages who remain in Gaza. He also raised his concern for aid worker safety and pushed Foreign Minister Sa'ar for the Military Advocate General to provide a response on the World Central Kitchen strike in April 2024. The UK Government continues to engage with Israeli counterparts on a variety of issues, including the conflict in Gaza. This engagement is vital for the UK as we continue to press towards a long-lasting ceasefire which is the only credible pathway towards a sustainable peace, a two-state solution and the reconstruction of Gaza.