Written questions by Patel.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his South African counterpart on that country's objectives for the G20 Presidency.

The UK welcomes South Africa's G20 presidency; the first African presidency. During the Foreign Secretary's visit to South Africa in November 2024 to co-chair the UK-South Africa strategic dialogue, he met Foreign Minister Lamola to discuss South Africa's objectives for the Presidency and how the UK and South Africa could work together to achieve them.During my visit to Rio in July, I discussed South Africa's G20 presidency with both my South African and Brazilian counterpart linking the then current and future G20 president countries.The UK looks forward to working closely with South Africa on its themes of solidarity, inequality and sustainability as Ministers across government visit over the coming year. South Africa's G20 presidency will also provide a platform to advance and focus our shared priorities on addressing climate change, promoting economic growth and promoting an open and stable international order.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the proposals from Brazil during their Presidency of the G20 for an 18th Sustainable Development Goal.

The UK is a long-standing supporter of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as agreed in 2015, including Goal 10: Reducing Inequality, which covers racial inequalities.The UK and Brazil share an ambition to break down barriers to opportunity and tackle inequality. As set out in the King's Speech in July 2024, the Government will introduce a draft Equality (Race and Disability) Bill, which will enshrine in law the full right to equal pay on the basis of race or disability, amongst other measures to tackle racial discrimination. There are no plans for the UK to adopt any additional SDGs.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what contacts his Department has had with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in Syria.

The Foreign Secretary met the interim Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Shaibani in Riyadh on 12 January, where he discussed the importance of an inclusive political transition and regional security. Senior Foreign Office officials have recently travelled to Damascus in December to meet with the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and the interim Minister for Foreign Affairs, to underline the UK's support for the Syrian people and discuss the pathway towards a more hopeful, representative and peaceful future for Syria. The UK stands with the Syrian people in building a more stable, free and prosperous future.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 18 December 2024 to Question 18359 on Cabinet Office: Infrastructure, which existing projects will count towards the target of 150 major infrastructure projects.

I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 18359 on 18 December 2024.As of 29 January 2025, 9 such projects have already been determined in this Parliament, there are 12 projects that are currently due for decision, and another 15 have yet to progress to decision stage.

With reference to Plan for Change: Milestones for mission-led government, published on 5 December 2024, CP 1210, what energy infrastructure projects are under consideration; and whether the Norwich to Tilbury Great Grid Upgrade project is included.

The Planning Inspectorate website states that the Norwich to Tilbury project is at the pre-application stage, and that the application is expected to be submitted for examination between June and August 2025. Information can be found here https://national-infrastructure-consenting.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/projects/EN020027. The Examining Authority’s Report should therefore come to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero for decision in 2026. This project is therefore one of the Development Consent Order (DCO) decisions that would count towards the Prime Minister’s target of taking 150 DCO decisions in this Parliament.

With reference to Plan for Change: Milestones for mission-led government, published on 5 December 2024, CP 1210, what transport infrastructure projects are under consideration; and whether the (a) A12 Widening Scheme and (b) A120 dualling scheme are included.

The government’s 'Plan for Change' sets out that, through reforms and rule changes, 150 planning decisions on major infrastructure projects would be fast-tracked by the end of this Parliament. Rather than specifying schemes at this stage, this is about setting up an efficient and effective approach to making timely decisions for those projects that require it in the coming years. A Development Consent Order planning permission on the A12 (Chelmsford to A120) was already granted in January 2024. The future of the A12 (Chelmsford to A120) scheme is being considered alongside other road projects, as part of Phase 2 of the Spending Review.Given significant affordability challenges in RIS3, the previous government announced that the A120 (Braintree to A12) dualling scheme, alongside all other schemes in the RIS3 pipeline, would be deferred to RIS4, for potential delivery beyond 2030.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will list the meetings (a) he and his Ministers and (b) officials have had with representatives of the Chagossian community since 5 July 2024.

I met members of the Chagossian community on 30 September and 3 October. Officials are also in regular contact with Chagossians on a range of issues. There are a large number of Chagossian groups with a spectrum of views. We will continue efforts to engage all groups or representatives with an interest.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what cash levels of Official Development Assistance he plans to provide in each of the next five financial years.

Our mission is to build partnerships to help create a world free from poverty on a liveable planet. The UK's development spending is central to achieving this mission.The FCDO's planned Official Development Assistance (ODA) programme budget, including the Integrated Security Fund, is £8.78 billion in 2024/25. This is planned to increase by £450 million in 2025/26 to £9.24 billion, the highest level in recent years.The second phase of the Spending Review, concluding in late spring 2025, will set departmental ODA budgets for future years.

Pursuant to the Answer of 6 December 2024 to Question 16758 on A12: Essex, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of delays to the implementation of the A12 widening Scheme on (a) the economy, (b) road safety and (c) the projected cost to the public purse of the A12 widening scheme.

As set out in the Fixing the Foundations policy paper, this government has inherited £22bn worth of unfunded pressures from the previous government, including £2.9bn of unfunded transport commitments. There has not been a spending review since 2021. It was announced in the Autumn Budget that Phase 2 of the Spending Review will conclude in late spring 2025. Until this time, it is not possible to assess the full impact of the financial inheritance on the A12 widening scheme and in turn its impact on (a) the economy, (b) road safety and (c) the projected cost to the public purse of the scheme.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what third party contracts are scheduled for commissioning from 2025/26; and what estimate he has made of the value of each such contract.

The FCDO publishes a bi-annual pipeline of projects and the most recent one was in October 2024, available here: [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fcdo-commercial-pipeline-october-2024]

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Prime Minister's speech entitled Plan for Change of 5 December 2024, what each of the 150 major infrastructure projects are.

The 150 major infrastructure projects are defined as Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs), which are decided through the Development Consent Order (DCO) process.Government has not identified what all of the 150 projects will be, rather this represents what we expect to come through the system over this Parliament, as well as projects currently in the pipeline.Further details on existing NSIP projects can be found on the Planning Inspectorate’s website: https://national-infrastructure-consenting.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what (a) productivity, (b) efficiencies and (c) savings he plans to make to meet the 2% target for departmental productivity, efficiencies and savings; how much of his budget for 2025/26 is in scope of this target; and what the cash level is of savings targeted.

The Department's 25/26 2 percent productivity, efficiency and savings target applies to the non-ODA RDEL budget of £1,798 million (excluding funding ringfenced for a voluntary exit scheme and funds drawn down from prior year capital receipts). The core FCDO budget 2 percent target is £24 million, apportioned pro rata. The breakdown of how the FCDO will meet its target is not yet known as the budget setting process for 2025/26 is still in progress. However, the Department expects to achieve it through a combination of workforce savings, sustainability improvements to the global estate and the completion of IT programmes.

With reference to the Written Statement of 4 December 2024, HCWS281 on Railway Passenger Services, what plans she has to consult (a) Members of Parliament, (b) local authorities, (c) passenger representatives and (d) business representatives before the Greater Anglia franchise is transferred into public ownership in autumn 2025.

The Written Statement, HCWS281, outlined that Greater Anglia’s services will transfer into public ownership in autumn 2025 and that an expiry notice will be issued to Greater Anglia in due course to confirm the exact date. Bringing passenger services into public ownership was a clear manifesto commitment and the Department has no plans to consult on this. Bringing these services into public ownership is an initial step towards wider rail reform, including establishing Great British Railways. The Department will set out proposals for these further, fundamental reforms in a consultation which will be launched around the turn of the year.

With reference to the Written Statement of 4 December 2024, HCWS281 on Railway Passenger Services, what plans she has to review (a) service quality, (b) ticket pricing, (c) the business model and (d) timetables before the Greater Anglia rail franchise is transferred to public ownership.

Greater Anglia will be brought into public ownership, with its date for transfer scheduled for Autumn 2025. The business planning round for 2025/26 is currently underway and plans regarding service quality, ticket pricing, business model and timetables will be agreed in due course. The Department will continue to hold operators to account for their performance and ensure the best outcomes for passengers.

With reference to the Written Statement of 4 December 2024, HCWS281 on Railway Passenger Services, whether she plans to (a) improve (i) step-free access and (ii) rail infrastructure for Greater Anglia services and (b) redevelop stations on the Greater Anglia route.

The Access for All programme has delivered step free access at more than 250 stations across Britain. Ministers are carefully considering the best approach to the Access for All programme. We are unable to comment on next steps regarding specific stations including on Greater Anglia services at the moment. Greater Anglia have taken steps to improve station accessibility with their work on virtual trains and station tours and a new accessible footbridge will be installed at Stowmarket during 2025. The business planning round for 25/26 is currently underway and proposals regarding redevelopments and rail infrastructure will be reviewed with decisions made in due course.

Pursuant to the Answer of 11 November 2024 to Question 12263 on Employers' Contributions: Public Sector, what estimate she has made of the number of public sector employees covered by the provisions of line 26 of Table 5.1 of the Autumn Budget 2024 for compensating public sector organisations for proposed changes to employer National Insurance contributions.

The Government will provide support for departments and other public sector employers for additional Employer National Insurance Contributions costs only. This funding will be allocated to departments, with the Barnett formula applying in the usual way.This is in line with the approach taken under the previous Government’s Health and Social Care Levy.The Government plans to update Parliament on allocations by department in the usual way as soon as possible.

When she plans to publish funding allocations for highways in Essex County Council for the 2025-26 financial year.

This Government takes the condition of local roads very seriously and is committed to maintaining and renewing the local highway network. The Government will confirm 2025/26 funding allocations to English local highway authorities, including Essex County Council, in due course.

With reference to paragraph 4.96 of the Autumn Budget 2024, HC 295, published on 30 October 2024, how her Department plans to allocate the additional £500 million for local roads maintenance baseline funding in the 2024-25 financial year; and by what method her Department plans to use to distribute that funding.

This Government takes the condition of local roads very seriously and is committed to maintaining and renewing the local highway network. The Government will confirm 2025/26 funding allocations to English local highway authorities, including Essex County Council, in due course.

With reference to the Written Statement of 28 November 2024 on School Funding: Provisional 2025-26 allocations, HCWS 264, what funding she has provided to (a) primary schools, (b) secondary schools and (c) special and alternative provision in (i) Witham constituency and (ii) Essex.

At the Autumn Budget 2024, the government announced an additional £2.3 billion for mainstream schools and young people with high needs for the 2025/26 financial year, compared to the 2024/25 financial year. This means that overall core school funding will total almost £63.9 billion next year.Through the schools national funding formula (NFF), Essex will receive £5,379 per primary pupil and £6,984 per secondary pupil in mainstream schools in the 2025/26 financial year. These per pupil figures will be used to calculate final allocations for 2025/26 through the dedicated schools grant (DSG) in December, based on updated pupil numbers.The provisional funding allocation for primary and secondary schools in Essex based on the 2024/25 DSG pupil numbers is £642.0 million and £587.2 million respectively. These figures do not include premises funding or growth funding.The department does not provide school funding figures at constituency level. The individual allocations that schools within Witham constituency will actually receive are determined each year by the local funding formula set by Essex County Council.Almost £1 billion of the £2.3 billion increase announced at the Autumn Budget 2024 has been allocated to high needs budgets in the 2025/26 financial year, bringing total high needs funding for children and young people with complex special educational needs and disabilities and those in alternative provision (AP) to £11.9 billion.Of that total, Essex County Council is being allocated a provisional high needs funding amount of over £259 million through the high needs NFF. This represents an 8.9% increase per head of their 2 to 18 year old population, on their equivalent 2024/25 financial year NFF allocation. It is for local authorities to decide how to distribute the funding to special and AP schools in their local area.Essex County Council will also be allocated extra funding for pay and pensions costs in special schools and AP. This funding is additional to the allocations through the high needs NFF, and the department will confirm shortly how the funding allocations will be calculated.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of commitments made by the UK at COP 29 for the new collective quantified goal on climate finance.

The new collective quantified goal on climate finance agreed at COP 29 is a collective goal, including finance from a broad range of sources, public and private. It does not set individual country commitments.The UK will play its part alongside others; our contribution to the goal will be carefully considered and determined through the spending review process.