Written questions by Harding.

Whether the 0.3% of Gross National Income figure for official development assistance is a (a) target figure or (b) minimum budget spend.

We are facing a once-in-a-generation moment for the collective security of Europe. The peace dividend we have enjoyed for the past years is over and we need to raise defence spending to keep the UK safe. In order to remain committed to our fiscal rules, the government has taken the difficult decision to reduce Official Development Assistance (ODA) to fund this defence spending increase.We will fund ODA spending to the equivalent of 0.3% of GNI by 2027.The Government remains committed to international development and to returning ODA to 0.7% of GNI when fiscal conditions allow but will adopt a measured approach in the interim. The UK will continue to be a champion for development finance, championing innovation and pushing for reforms of the international financial architecture to support vulnerable countries.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he plans to retain his Department's role overseeing (a) in-country migration costs and (b) other official development assistance.

The Home Secretary is committed to ensuring that asylum costs fall and has already acted. The Government has taken measures to reduce the asylum backlog, reform the asylum accommodation system to end the use of expensive accommodation in the next Spending Review period and increase detention capacity to facilitate more asylum removals. Whilst there will always be volatility in asylum forecasts, we expect these decisions to drive down overall in-donor refugee costs over the next Spending Review.Detailed decisions on how the Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget will be used will be worked through as part of the ongoing Spending Review based on various factors including impact assessments. The ODA Board's first meeting in February 2025 focused on in-donor refugee costs. The co-chairs, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury and former Minister for Development, were joined by the Minister for Border Security and Asylum.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, which (a) geographical regions and (b) thematic programmes will be prioritised in the allocation of official development assistance.

The Prime Minister has set out a new strategic vision for government spending on defence and security and Official Development Assistance (ODA). Detailed decisions on how the ODA budget will be used will be worked through as part of the ongoing Spending Review based on various factors including impact assessments.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he plans to prioritise (a) maintaining and extending financial commitments to multilateral organisations and (b) bilateral aid to partner countries, in the context of the reduction in ODA.

The Prime Minister has set out a new strategic vision for government spending on defence and security and Official Development Assistance (ODA). Detailed decisions on how the ODA budget will be used will be worked through as part of the ongoing Spending Review based on various factors including impact assessments.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what proportion of official development assistance will be allocated to in-donor refugee costs in each fiscal year up to and including 2026/27.

The Home Secretary is committed to ensuring that asylum costs fall and has already acted. The Government has taken measures to reduce the asylum backlog, reform the asylum accommodation system to end the use of expensive accommodation in the next Spending Review period and increase detention capacity to facilitate more asylum removals.Whilst there will always be volatility in asylum forecasts, we expect these decisions to drive down overall in-donor refugee costs over the next Spending Review and the Home Office are well incentivised to deliver this.Detailed decisions on how the Official Development Assistance budget will be used will be worked through as part of the ongoing Spending Review based on various factors including impact assessments.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what his Department's top development priorities are.

The UK remains committed to investing internationally to build a safer world. Reducing the overall size of our Official Development Assistance budget will necessarily have an impact on the scale and shape of the work we do. We will set out how our spending plans deliver on our priorities following the completion of the Spending Review and departmental resource allocation processes.

What steps he is taking to increase the availability of specialist clinical provision for people with Huntington’s Disease in Surrey.

Working under the UK Rare Diseases Framework, the Government is committed to improving the lives of those living with rare diseases, such as Huntington’s Disease.Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for working with their local communities to understand the needs of the local populations and make decisions about how best to commission services that meet those needs, including the treatment of Huntington’s Disease, in partnership with other local commissioners and organisations. Details on local clinical provisions are best answered by the ICB, in this case NHS Surrey Heartlands.

What steps he is taking to improve treatment outcomes for people with Huntington’s Disease; and what research his Department is supporting into that disease.

Working under the UK Rare Diseases Framework, the Government is committed to improving the lives of those living with rare diseases, such as Huntington’s Disease. One of the priorities of the Framework is improving access to specialist care, treatment and drugs. In England, we published the 2025 Rare Diseases Action Plan on 28 February 2025, which provides further information.The Department funds research into Huntington’s disease via the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR welcomes high quality funding applications for research into any aspect of human health and care, including Huntington’s disease. For example, the NIHR’s UCL Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) supported the TRACK-HD study. This identified biomarkers for Huntington’s disease and generated a database of brain scans available to scientists and led to the development of a rating scale to measure disease progression. BRC-funded researchers have also developed the first human test for the protein, which has now been validated and used as an endpoint in clinical trials.

What steps he (a) has taken and (b) is taking to (i) increase and (ii) improve the availability of specialist clinical provision for people with Huntington’s Disease.

Working under the UK Rare Diseases Framework, the Government is committed to improving the lives of those living with rare diseases, such as Huntington’s Disease.Surrey Heartlands Integrated Care Board (ICB) commissions a specialist service that provides support to people with Huntington’s Disease. The service works closely with the Huntington’s Disease clinic at St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. As of November 2024, there are 18 full time equivalent neurology consultants employed in National Health Service trusts within the Surrey Heartlands ICB region. This is seven more than a year previously.At the national level, there are several initiatives supporting service improvement and better care for patients with neurological conditions, including those with Huntington’s disease, such as the RightCare Progressive Neurological Conditions Toolkit and the Getting It Right First Time Programme for Neurology. NHS England has also established a Neurology Transformation Programme, a multi-year, clinically led programme to develop a new model of integrated care for neurology services. The National Neurosciences Advisory Group developed clinical pathways for adults with movement disorders, including Huntington’s disease. This is being used to inform the proposed changes to the neurology service model, which will in turn be used to revise the service specification for neurology.

Whether his Department plans to establish a specialist Huntington’s Disease Centre in Surrey.

Working under the UK Rare Diseases Framework, the Government is committed to improving the lives of those living with rare diseases, such as Huntington’s Disease.Surrey Heartlands Integrated Care Board (ICB) commissions a specialist service that provides support to people with Huntington’s Disease. The service works closely with the Huntington’s Disease clinic at St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. As of November 2024, there are 18 full time equivalent neurology consultants employed in National Health Service trusts within the Surrey Heartlands ICB region. This is seven more than a year previously.At the national level, there are several initiatives supporting service improvement and better care for patients with neurological conditions, including those with Huntington’s disease, such as the RightCare Progressive Neurological Conditions Toolkit and the Getting It Right First Time Programme for Neurology. NHS England has also established a Neurology Transformation Programme, a multi-year, clinically led programme to develop a new model of integrated care for neurology services. The National Neurosciences Advisory Group developed clinical pathways for adults with movement disorders, including Huntington’s disease. This is being used to inform the proposed changes to the neurology service model, which will in turn be used to revise the service specification for neurology.

How many and what proportion of integrated care boards have specialist clinicians for Huntington’s Disease; and whether Surrey Heartlands ICB has specialist clinicians for Huntington’s Disease.

Working under the UK Rare Diseases Framework, the Government is committed to improving the lives of those living with rare diseases, such as Huntington’s Disease.Surrey Heartlands Integrated Care Board (ICB) commissions a specialist service that provides support to people with Huntington’s Disease. The service works closely with the Huntington’s Disease clinic at St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. As of November 2024, there are 18 full time equivalent neurology consultants employed in National Health Service trusts within the Surrey Heartlands ICB region. This is seven more than a year previously.At the national level, there are several initiatives supporting service improvement and better care for patients with neurological conditions, including those with Huntington’s disease, such as the RightCare Progressive Neurological Conditions Toolkit and the Getting It Right First Time Programme for Neurology. NHS England has also established a Neurology Transformation Programme, a multi-year, clinically led programme to develop a new model of integrated care for neurology services. The National Neurosciences Advisory Group developed clinical pathways for adults with movement disorders, including Huntington’s disease. This is being used to inform the proposed changes to the neurology service model, which will in turn be used to revise the service specification for neurology.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with his counterparts in other donor countries on responding to the decision to pause USAID funding.

Progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals requires collective action, and the UK will continue to work with all international partnerships toward that vision. We are currently working to assess the implications of the USAID funding pause and working with partners to gather information and analysis of the pause. The UK's commitment to supporting both humanitarian aid and development across the world remains steadfast.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department is taking steps to help mitigate the potential impact of USAID’s funding pause on the UK’s international development programmes.

We are currently working to assess the implications of the US funding pause across development sectors. We welcome the news that emergency food aid and life-saving humanitarian assistance should be exempt from the pause in US foreign aid.The UK's commitment to supporting both humanitarian aid and development across the world remains steadfast. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's (FCDO) Official Development Assistance (ODA) programme budget will be £9.24 billion in 2025/26. The FCDO will allocate budgets in line with UK priorities.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many UK aid programmes have been (a) paused and (b) otherwise affected by the USAID funding pause.

We are currently working to assess the implications of the US funding pause across development sectors. We welcome the news that emergency food aid and life-saving humanitarian assistance should be exempt from the pause in US foreign aid. We are assessing implications in other humanitarian and development sectors. The UK's commitment to supporting both humanitarian aid and development across the world remains steadfast.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps he is taking to help support the expansion of the UN’s operational presence in (a) South Darfur and (b) other conflict-affected areas in Sudan.

On 11 February, I met with the ERC, Tom Fletcher, to discuss how the international community can support the UN-led humanitarian response in Sudan through supporting efforts to establish UN presence in areas of greatest need, including Darfur, and South Kordofan. I then chaired a virtual meeting with ten development counterparts and the ERC to discuss how key donors can support this shift in ambition. I also engaged with international counterparts on these issues at the Munich Security Conference. This followed an open session on 6 January 2025, where we called on the warring parties to expand humanitarian access to all civilians in need, whether they live in SAF or RSF-held areas, and called on the Sudanese authorities to authorise further humanitarian hubs, including in Zalingei, Darfur. On 25 November 2024, the Foreign Secretary also chaired a Sudan session during the G7 + Arab Quint Foreign Ministers' meeting to discuss collective action the G7 and Quint could take with the warring parties to press for improved humanitarian access, including by pushing for an increased UN presence in Darfur and other conflict-affected areas.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure the continuity of UNRWA's operations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Israeli legislation means United Nations Relief and Work Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) faces a cliff edge in its ability to support Palestinian refugees across the West Bank and Gaza. We remain opposed to the legislation, and unequivocally reject attempts to undermine or degrade UNRWA. UNRWA plays a vital role in delivering humanitarian assistance in Gaza and enabling the broader international response through its logistics and distribution network. It is also of huge concern that implementation will come just 10 days after the ceasefire began. The Foreign Secretary raised this on 13 January with Foreign Minister Sa'ar, during his visit to the region. I also met with UNRWA leadership and reiterated UK support. I reiterated our position at a UN Security Council session on 20 January. The Foreign Secretary's Representative for Humanitarian Affairs in the Occupied Palestinian Territories also raised this with the Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs on 23 January.

What steps he is taking to improve the energy efficiency of homes in winter 2024-25.

We have announced a target to deliver 300,000 home upgrades this year, as we know that too many families are living in poor quality housing and paying over the odds to heat their homes. The Warm Homes Plan will be critical to ending the scourge of energy inefficiency and ensuring that families have energy security.

What proportion of infants with hydrocephalus initially present symptoms after 8 weeks of age.

It is vitally important that babies are diagnosed as early as possible so treatment can be provided. Current National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance recommends measuring the head circumference of babies in the first week, at approximately eight weeks, and at other times only if there are concerns. The baby’s general practitioner, or nominated primary care examiner, has responsibility for ensuring the six-to-eight-week newborn infant physical examination screen, where head size is measured, is completed for all registered babies. The Department is seeking advice from the NICE and the royal colleges on the value of a clinical review of the current guidelines surrounding infant head circumference.The Healthy Child Programme sets out the requirements for health visiting services, including five mandated reviews, where the child’s health and development is assessed. This includes when the baby is 10 to 14 days old, and at six to eight weeks old, as well as additional contacts depending on need, providing an opportunity to identify any health or development concerns and to make appropriate referrals. The Department and the NHS National Disease Registration Service do not hold information on the proportion of infants diagnosed after eight weeks.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of routine monitoring of infant head circumference after 8 weeks of age as a diagnostic tool for early identification of hydrocephalus.

It is vitally important that babies are diagnosed as early as possible so treatment can be provided. Current National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance recommends measuring the head circumference of babies in the first week, at approximately eight weeks, and at other times only if there are concerns. The baby’s general practitioner, or nominated primary care examiner, has responsibility for ensuring the six-to-eight-week newborn infant physical examination screen, where head size is measured, is completed for all registered babies. The Department is seeking advice from the NICE and the royal colleges on the value of a clinical review of the current guidelines surrounding infant head circumference.The Healthy Child Programme sets out the requirements for health visiting services, including five mandated reviews, where the child’s health and development is assessed. This includes when the baby is 10 to 14 days old, and at six to eight weeks old, as well as additional contacts depending on need, providing an opportunity to identify any health or development concerns and to make appropriate referrals. The Department and the NHS National Disease Registration Service do not hold information on the proportion of infants diagnosed after eight weeks.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 20 November 2024 to Question 13669 on Rivers: Sewage, which six sewage treatment works in the River Mole catchment have been inspected by the Environment Agency in this financial year.

The Environment Agency (EA) has confirmed that the six Wastewater Treatment works (WwTW) inspected in the River Mole Catchment in the current financial year, referenced in the response to PQ 13669 on Rivers: Sewage, are as follows: Burstow WwTWCrawley WwTWHolmwood WwTWHorley WwTWMerstham WwTWLeatherhead WwTW In the time since the response to Question 13669 was provided, the EA has inspected three additional WwTW in the Rive Mole catchment:Warick Wold WwTWColgate WwTWIronsbottom WwTW The EA has confirmed plans for a fourfold increase in water company inspections – 4000 by end of March 2025 - to hold companies to account, including unannounced inspections. The increase in inspections will allow the EA to conduct more in-depth and independent audits to get to the root-cause of incidents, reducing the reliance on operator self-monitoring.