Written questions by Perteghella.

How many Israel Defence Forces personnel have received training in the UK in each of the last five years.

Fewer than ten Israel Defence Forces (IDF) personnel have been trained on non-combat military academic courses in the UK each year since 2020. The exact number of IDF personnel is being withheld in order to protect personal information and to avoid prejudicing relations between the United Kingdom and other States. The UK has a long history of providing assistance to other nations in the security and justice fields and continues to do so around the world. UK training courses promote British values, including human rights, democracy, and compliance with international humanitarian law.

What steps his Department is taking to provide adequate (a) staffing and (b) budget to implement the extension of the armed forces covenant legal duty.

In collaboration with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Local Government Association, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) is co-developing a burdens assessment to understand the potential impacts on Local Authorities. In addition, to support organisations in meeting their Covenant Duty obligations, the MOD will provide training materials, webinars, downloadable resources and clear statutory guidance. Officials continue to work at pace to ensure legislation benefits the entire Armed Forces Community.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of rising input costs on grain producers.

Cereals and oilseeds are internationally traded commodities, and their supply chains are dynamic and responsive to global market developments. These developments may be influenced by the global market disruption, weather conditions, or currency fluctuations.Support is being provided through the Environmental Land Management schemes, which reward sustainable farming practices and help improve soil health and long-term productivity. These schemes are designed to enhance the resilience and profitability of arable farmers, including those in the cereals sector.The Department is also investing in innovation and research to help farmers adopt more efficient and sustainable practices, such as precision agriculture and crop breeding. Officials continue to monitor market conditions closely and engage regularly with industry to ensure that policy and support remain responsive to the needs of grain producers.In addition, the Government’s food strategy sets out a vision for a more sustainable and competitive food system, including trade that supports British standards and expands export opportunities for UK producers.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to support grain producers.

Cereals and oilseeds are internationally traded commodities, and their supply chains are dynamic and responsive to global market developments. These developments may be influenced by the global market disruption, weather conditions, or currency fluctuations.Support is being provided through the Environmental Land Management schemes, which reward sustainable farming practices and help improve soil health and long-term productivity. These schemes are designed to enhance the resilience and profitability of arable farmers, including those in the cereals sector.The Department is also investing in innovation and research to help farmers adopt more efficient and sustainable practices, such as precision agriculture and crop breeding. Officials continue to monitor market conditions closely and engage regularly with industry to ensure that policy and support remain responsive to the needs of grain producers.In addition, the Government’s food strategy sets out a vision for a more sustainable and competitive food system, including trade that supports British standards and expands export opportunities for UK producers.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of grain imports produced to standards lower than those required in the UK on domestic producers.

The UK has a highly resilient food supply chain. For the cereal crops that are produced domestically, the UK has been over 80% self-sufficient for a number of years. Due to environmental and climate conditions the UK milling industry require a certain level of imports of high protein milling wheat year on year to meet consumer demand. The Department has not undertaken an assessment of the impact of grain imports produced to standards lower than those required for domestic producers. However, we recognise the importance of maintaining high production standards to protect consumer confidence, food safety, and the competitiveness of British farmers.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of reduced milling premiums on farmers.

The Department has not conducted an assessment of the impact of reduced milling premiums on farmers. However, the Government recognises that fluctuations in quality-based market premiums, including those for milling wheat can affect farm incomes and business resilience.

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential implications for the Government’s arms export licensing regime of the judgment in the recent case concerning the sale of F-35 components to Israel.

In the judgment handed down on 30 June, the Divisional Court accepted the Government’s submission that the only way for the UK to ensure that components supplied from the UK to the global F-35 programme do not reach Israel is for it to suspend all exports into the programme, and that therefore this Government faced the blunt choice of exempting F-35 components from its decision to suspend certain exports of military equipment to Israel, or accepting significant consequences for national and international peace and security.That decision was in line with the UK’s Strategic Export Licensing Criteria, which provide for the application to specific cases of specific measures as announced to Parliament. The Court acknowledged the F-35 decision was a such a specific measure in an exceptional case and its judgment reflects the rigour, care and thoroughness the Government applies to its export licensing decisions.

Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to improve the provision of supported accommodation for (a) young people and (b) adults with special needs and disabilities in (i) Stratford-on-Avon constituency and (ii) Warwickshire.

The government recognises the important role played by supported housing in helping disabled young people and adults, as well as other vulnerable people, to live safely, well and independently. The Affordable Housing Programme 2021-26 includes delivery of supported housing. At the Spending Review, the government announced £39 billion for a new Social and Affordable Homes Programme over 10 years from 2026-27 to 2035-36. In particular, the government recognises some types of homes that are much needed can often cost more to deliver. The new programme is designed to be flexible to support the greater diversity of supply needed, and we are asking providers, including supported housing providers, to come forward with ambitious bids that reflect this diversity.In addition, social housing rent policy exempts ‘specialised supported housing’ - serving those with the most complex needs, including people with learning disabilities and or autism, and mental health issues – from the Rent standard. This means providers can set rents that enable them to finance and bring forward high cost, high-specification housing to meet the needs of this cohort.

What steps his Department is taking to monitor the end-use of UK arms exports to Israel to ensure compliance with international humanitarian law.

The UK’s approach to export licensing under the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria involves a rigorous risk assessment before a licence is issued. These checks consider the nature of the items, the end-users and proposed end uses, information on which is typically provided through signed End-User and Stockist Undertakings (EUSUs).This Government has suspended export licences where it was assessed that items covered might be used in Gaza, as announced to Parliament on 2 September 2024.It is an offence for an export licence applicant to knowingly make a statement which is false. Licences are also kept under close and ongoing review. We are able to suspend or revoke licences as necessary when circumstances require.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of extending enforcement powers to cover incidents where dogs are not kept under control in public before they become dangerously out of control.

The police and local authorities have a range of powers available to tackle dangerous dogs and irresponsible dog ownership across all breeds of dog. Defra is working with the police, local authorities and animal welfare groups to encourage responsible dog ownership, to ensure dog control issues are addressed before they escalate and to make sure the full force of the law is applied. As part of this work, we reconvened the Responsible Dog Ownership taskforce to explore measures to promote responsible dog ownership, including the consideration of enforcement. We look forward to receiving the findings and recommendations from the taskforce in due course.

How many (a) standard and (b) open export licences for the export of arms or military equipment to Israel were granted in each of the last five years.

HM Government includes information on export licence outcomes as part of official statistics published on GOV.UK. The information sought can be found at gov.uk/government/collections/strategic-export-controls-licensing-data. Open Licences are also published online, including details on permitted countries and regions.Additionally, detailed information on extant licences to Israel has been published up to 31 July 2025, and is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/export-control-licensing-management-information-for-israel/israel-export-control-licensing-data-31-july-2025.This Government suspended around 30 export licences to Israel in September 2024, and since that time has refused more than 40 further applications where it was assessed there was a clear risk the items might be used in military operations in Gaza.

What discussions she has had with (a) police forces and (b) local authorities on improving the enforcement of the Highway Code requirement that dogs must be kept on a short lead when on pavements, roads or shared paths.

Under Section 27 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, and reflected in Rule 56 of the Highway Code, dogs should not be on the road without a responsible person present. Further advice is to keep it on a short lead when walking on the pavement, road or path shared with cyclists or horse riders.Enforcement of the law is a matter for the police who will decide on the evidence of each individual case, whether an offence has been committed and the appropriate action to take.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure that her policies are consistent with the UK's obligations under the Genocide Convention in the context of the findings of the United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, published in September 2025.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 18 September to Question 72500.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with international partners on the implementation of the International Court of Justice ruling of January 2024 on the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 2 June 2025 to Question 52416.

Whether his Department has made an estimate of the proportion of UK pension scheme assets invested in (a) thermal coal-fired and (b) other fossil fuel-fired power generation capacity.

The Department has not produced specific estimates on the proportion of UK pension scheme assets invested in fossil fuel-related activities, such as coal-fired power generation or fossil fuel production. As part of the 2024 Mansion House reform package, the Government consulted on UK Sustainability Reporting Standards aligned with international sustainability standards, and our manifesto commitment to mandate climate transition plans. The Government are now analysing stakeholder feedback. Together, these initiatives will support the UK’s net-zero goals and broader green agenda and are expected to influence the investment landscape in which pension schemes operate.

Whether his Department has made an estimate of the proportion of UK pension scheme assets invested in (a) thermal coal and (b) other fossil fuel production.

The Department has not produced specific estimates on the proportion of UK pension scheme assets invested in fossil fuel-related activities, such as coal-fired power generation or fossil fuel production. As part of the 2024 Mansion House reform package, the Government consulted on UK Sustainability Reporting Standards aligned with international sustainability standards, and our manifesto commitment to mandate climate transition plans. The Government are now analysing stakeholder feedback. Together, these initiatives will support the UK’s net-zero goals and broader green agenda and are expected to influence the investment landscape in which pension schemes operate.

What estimate his Department has made of the value of UK pension fund assets invested in fossil fuels that are at risk of becoming stranded.

The Department has not produced specific estimates on the proportion of UK pension scheme assets invested in fossil fuel-related activities, such as coal-fired power generation or fossil fuel production. As part of the 2024 Mansion House reform package, the Government consulted on UK Sustainability Reporting Standards aligned with international sustainability standards, and our manifesto commitment to mandate climate transition plans. The Government are now analysing stakeholder feedback. Together, these initiatives will support the UK’s net-zero goals and broader green agenda and are expected to influence the investment landscape in which pension schemes operate.

What estimate his Department has made of the contribution of UK pension funds to fossil fuel expansion in (a) the UK, (b) Europe and (c) other international markets.

The Department has not produced specific estimates on the proportion of UK pension scheme assets invested in fossil fuel-related activities, such as coal-fired power generation or fossil fuel production. As part of the 2024 Mansion House reform package, the Government consulted on UK Sustainability Reporting Standards aligned with international sustainability standards, and our manifesto commitment to mandate climate transition plans. The Government are now analysing stakeholder feedback. Together, these initiatives will support the UK’s net-zero goals and broader green agenda and are expected to influence the investment landscape in which pension schemes operate.

What discussions he has had with NHS England on ensuring adequate numbers of NHS employees are available to administer Tofersen.

I have had no such discussions. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has selected tofersen for treating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis caused by SOD1 gene mutations as a topic for guidance development through its Highly Specialised Technology (HST) programme. The HST programme appraises medicines for the treatment of very rare, and often very severe diseases, and evaluates whether they can be considered a clinically and cost-effective use of National Health Service resources. If a positive recommendation is made, then NHS commissioners will be under a legal duty to fund the treatment for all eligible patients in England.

Whether the NHS Workforce Plan will include measures to (a) recruit, (b) train, and (c) retain mental health professionals with specialism in Type 1 Diabetes and Eating Disorders (T1DE).

The 10 Year Workforce Plan will ensure the National Health Service has the right people in the right places, with the right skills to care for patients, when they need it. To support this, the Department and NHS England will be engaging with key stakeholders to ensure that the needs of different patient groups and relevant health professionals are reflected in this work.