Written questions by Blake.

Whether it is his Department's policy to seek an investor-state dispute chapter during negotiations on a bilateral investment treaty with India.

The UK withdrew from the Energy Charter Treaty on 27 April 2025. Ten other Energy Charter Treaty Contracting Parties have withdrawn, or are withdrawing from the Energy Charter Treaty.The UK Government is committed to delivering its Growth and Clean Energy Missions agendas and to working multilaterally to achieve this, such as at the OECD and the UN.

Whether he has had recent discussions with his counterparts in countries that plan to withdraw from the Energy Charter Treaty on the potential merits of entering into an agreement with each other to mutually disapply the agreement's sunset clause.

The UK withdrew from the Energy Charter Treaty on 27 April 2025. Ten other Energy Charter Treaty Contracting Parties have withdrawn, or are withdrawing from the Energy Charter Treaty.The UK Government is committed to delivering its Growth and Clean Energy Missions agendas and to working multilaterally to achieve this, such as at the OECD and the UN.

What recent assessment he made of the potential impact of the Energy Charter Treaty's sunset clause on fossil fuel assets on the financial risk of legal challenges to the UK.

The UK withdrew from the Energy Charter Treaty on 27 April 2025. Ten other Energy Charter Treaty Contracting Parties have withdrawn, or are withdrawing from the Energy Charter Treaty.The UK Government is committed to delivering its Growth and Clean Energy Missions agendas and to working multilaterally to achieve this, such as at the OECD and the UN.

What steps his Department is taking to tackle global climate change.

The Government is committed to tackling climate change at home and abroad. At COP29, the Prime Minister committed to reduce the UK’s emissions by at least 81% by 2035, compared to 1990 levels. Working internationally is key to accelerating the clean energy transition – that is why the Government set up the Global Clean Power Alliance, to scale up the deployment of clean energy globally by overcoming the barriers to delivering clean power transitions. We are continuing to drive forward progress in key sectors through initiatives such as the Breakthrough Agenda and Forests and Climate Leaders Partnership.

What meetings she has had with (a) SMEs and (b) other businesses on understanding the proposed EHRC Code of Practice for Services, Public Functions, and Associations.

Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. Details of ministerial and permanent secretary meetings with external organisations on departmental business are published on a quarterly basis and are available at: HMT ministers' meetings, hospitality, gifts and overseas travel - GOV.UK The EHRC’s sponsor department within the government is the Office for Equality and Opportunity, part of the Cabinet Office. The EHRC are presently consulting on the practical implications of the judgment and how this may be best reflected in their updated Code of Practice for Services, Public Functions and Associations.

With reference to her Department's White Paper entitled Restoring control over the immigration system, published on 12 May 2025, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the proposed extension of the qualifying period for indefinite leave on levels of poverty in migrant communities.

A technical annex has been published alongside the White Paper. It can be found in the following link: Restoring control over the immigration system: white paper - GOV.UK.We will be consulting on the earned settlement scheme later this year and will provide details of how the scheme will work at that time.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the proposed EHRC Code of Practice for Services, Public Functions and Associations on employment rates for trans people.

No assessment has been made by the Department.

With reference to her Department's White Paper entitled Restoring control over the immigration system, published on 12 May 2025, what assessment she has made on the potential impact of changes to the qualifying period for indefinite leave to remain on people working (a) part-time and (b) on low wages.

A technical annex has been published alongside the White Paper. It can be found in the following link: Restoring control over the immigration system: white paper - GOV.UK.We will be consulting on the earned settlement scheme later this year and further details on the proposed scheme will be provided at that time.

With reference to her Department's White Paper entitled Restoring control over the immigration system, published on 12 May 2025, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to the qualifying period for indefinite leave to remain on people seeking to buy property in the UK.

A technical annex has been published alongside the White Paper. It can be found in the following link: Restoring control over the immigration system: white paper - GOV.UK.We will be consulting on the earned settlement scheme later this year and further details on the proposed scheme will be provided at that time.

With reference to her Department's White Paper entitled Restoring control over the immigration system, published on 12 May 2025, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to the qualifying period for indefinite leave on families with British-born children.

We will reform our settlement and citizenship rules by expanding the Points-Based System and increasing the standard qualifying period for settlement to ten years.Individuals will have the opportunity to reduce the qualifying period to settlement and citizenship based on contributions to the UK economy and society.Paragraph 265 of the White Paper states that we will continue to offer a shorter pathway to settlement for non-UK dependants of British citizens of five years, provided they have remained compliant with the requirements of the relevant family route.

Whether her Department is taking steps to (a) provide guidance to, (b) help seek redress for and (c) otherwise help support people affected by HSBC historically deducting a portion of its workers' occupational pensions when they reached State Pension age.

Integrated pensions are intended to provide people who retire before their State Pension age with a similar pension income before and after their State Pension comes into payment. A member’s scheme pension is calculated so that the scheme pays a higher pension before the person reaches State Pension age, which is then reduced at State Pension age to take account of their State Pension. If members of an integrated pension scheme believe that the scheme has not followed its rules or the relevant law, they should use the scheme’s internal dispute resolution service, which every scheme is required to have. If they are not satisfied with the outcome, they can take the matter to the Pensions Ombudsman.They may also find it helpful to contact Money Helper, which provides free advice on all aspects of occupational pension schemes and personal pension schemes. Money Helper can be contacted by telephone on: 0800 011 3797 and more information is available on its website at: www.moneyhelper.org.uk

Whether asylum applicants are made aware of their right to (a) receive and (b) amend their transcript from their substantive interview.

Asylum claimants are advised throughout the interview process that they will receive a copy of their interview transcript, and are invited to make any clarifications that are required.

Whether data and imagery collected by Anduril Maritime Sentry Towers are used in asylum application decision-making.

The data and imagery collected by Anduril Maritime Sentry Towers are not used in asylum application decision-making.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of extending the Community Right to Buy powers proposed in the Devolution White Paper to allow community organisations to take over (a) moorlands and (b) peatbogs.

This government is committed to supporting communities across the country and is going further than ever before in giving community organisations the ability to own and manage assets for the benefit of the wider community. As part of the English Devolution Bill, we will legislate to introduce a strong new ‘right to buy’ for valued community assets, empowering local people to bring community spaces back into community ownership. We are currently working on the details of the policy, but we want to ensure that it is focused on those assets that play an important role in creating thriving, prosperous communities.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what information his Department holds on the safety of transgender people travelling to the US; and if he will publish a country policy and information note on (a) sexual orientation and (b) gender identity and expression in the US.

US immigration is a matter for the US Government, in accordance with international law. The UK Government remains fully committed to upholding the human rights and freedoms of all LGBT+ people. We regularly monitor how policy changes in other countries could impact British nationals who travel, including LGBT+ people. We then review and update policies, and travel advice, as necessary.

What the error rate in asylum applications where decisions had an (a) automated and (b) AI-based element was between November 2024 and March 2025.

No automated / AI tools were deployed in Asylum decision making between November 2024 and March 2025.

What assessment she has made of the adequacy of funding for the British Transport Police.

The British Transport Police’s (BTP) budget is set by the British Transport Police Authority (BTPA). It is the executive non-departmental public body that oversees the Force and is their employer. BTPA sets the BTP’s budget annually following proposals from the Force and views from industry. Set against a backdrop of wider public sector efficiencies and affordability by the rail industry it has agreed a budget increase for the financial year 2025/26 of 5.9%. BTP work closely with BTPA and industry operators to make final resourcing decisions with their agreed budget.The cost of policing the rail network in Great Britain is primarily covered through the funding agreements that the British Transport Police Authority holds with Network Rail, the rail operators and Transport for London.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the establishment of Great British Railways on funding for the British Transport Police.

The British Transport Police’s (BTP) budget is set currently set by the British Transport Police Authority (BTPA). It is the executive non-departmental public body that oversees the Force and is their employer. BTPA sets the BTP’s budget annually following proposals from the Force and views from industry. We anticipate that the level of funding for the BTP during the transition to and commencement of Great British Railways will similarly balance the needs of the industry and the force against public sector affordability.

With reference to her Department's publication entitled Restoring Control Over the Immigration System: White paper, published on 12 May 2025, whether the changes to the qualifying period for settlement from five to 10 years will impact people on the skilled worker route who are already in the UK.

We will be consulting on the earned settlement scheme later this year and will provide further details at that stage.

What steps he is taking to support women in the workplace with flexible working.

The Government knows how important flexible working can be to help women with caring responsibilities manage their work and personal commitments. It can also be equally important for carers of vulnerable adults as well as employees with long-term physical or mental health conditions. That is why the Government, through the Employment Rights Bill, is increasing access to flexible working by making it the default except where not reasonably feasible. These measures will support all employees, including women, to access flexible working. The changes in the Bill will require employers to accept flexible working requests where it is reasonably feasible to do so.