Written questions by Patel.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with his international counterparts on the introduction of new sustainable development goals.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were agreed by all UN Member States in 2015 and have a target of being achieved by 2030. At the UN's Summit of the Future this September, the Foreign Secretary reaffirmed the UK's unwavering commitment to achieving the SDGs.The UN Summit of the Future's inter-governmentally agreed outcome document invited the UN's High Level Political Forum to consider in 2027 how to advance sustainable development by 2030 and beyond. The UK will engage in these discussions and is focused on working with partners at home and internationally to accelerate progress towards the SDGs by 2030.

With reference to the Written Statement of 28 November 2024 on School Funding: Provisional 2025-26 allocations, HCWS 264, whether the allocations include provision for schools to cover the additional costs of the employer National Insurance contributions increases from April 2025.

At Budget, HM Treasury confirmed that all public sector organisations will be funded for the increase in employer contributions to national insurance in the 2025/26 financial year. This included additional funding for schools. The allocations for the national funding formula for the 2025/26 financial year do not include the additional funding for the increase in employer contributions to national insurance from April 2025. The department anticipates providing this funding to schools through a separate grant in the 2025/26 financial year. It will provide more information on this, including funding rates and allocations, as soon as practicable.

Pursuant to the Answer of 11 November 2024 to Question 12263 on Employers' Contributions: Public Sector, what methodology her Department used to calculate the provisions identified in line 26 of Table 5.1 of the Autumn Budget 2024, HC 295, published on 30 October 2024, for compensating public sector organisations for the cost of increases in employer national insurance contributions.

The amount of public sector support was based on an estimate of the proportion of employer NICs receipts paid by public sector organisations, using the Office for National Statistics (ONS) classification of the public sector boundary. The Treasury routinely uses the Office for National Statistics (ONS) classification of the public sector boundary, for example in relation to public sector spending, public sector borrowing and public sector debt.

If she will make an estimate of the potential impact of the time taken to determine the application for the A12 Junction 19 to Junction 25 widening scheme on (a) the economy, (b) road safety and (c) the cost of the scheme.

The Development Consent Order (DCO) application for the A12 Chelmsford to A120 widening scheme, was granted on 12 January 2024. I can confirm that the DCO was determined within the statutory timeframes.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what funds he plans to provide to the economic partnership with Mauritius as part of the proposed Treaty with Mauritius on the future sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory.

Financial obligations arising from this agreement, including departmental budgetary responsibilities, will be managed responsibly within the Government's fiscal framework.The Government intends to share further details of the future economic partnership with Mauritius in due course.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will publish the occasions on which he has directly raised with his Chinese counterpart the impact of the Hong Kong National Security Law on Hong Kongers.

The UK has called for the National Security Law to be repealed and for an end to the prosecution of all individuals charged under it.The Foreign Secretary met Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his visit to Beijing on 18 October where he raised serious concerns around the implementation of the National Security Law and the ongoing treatment of British national Jimmy Lai, again calling for his release.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will publish details of the (a) travel and (b) costs associated with Jonathan Powell’s role in the negotiations on the future sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory.

A decision on publishing details of costs associated with his appointment will be made in accordance with FCDO policy on Direct Ministerial Appointments at a later date. Jonathan Powell has carried out limited overseas engagements in his capacity as envoy, including in Mauritius and the United States.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will list the occasions he has directly raised the case of Jimmy Lai with his Chinese counterpart.

British national Jimmy Lai's case is a priority for the UK Government. The Foreign Secretary raised his case in his first meeting with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the ASEAN Summit on 26 July, and again during their second meeting in Beijing on 18 October. I raised his case with the Hong Kong and Chinese authorities when I visited Hong Kong on 14-15 November. The Prime Minister also raised Mr Lai's case with President Xi on 18 November.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he expects to conclude negotiations with Mauritius on the future sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory before 20 January 2025.

This agreement is in the shared interests of both Mauritius and the UK, including by ensuring the long-term and effective operation of the joint UK-US base on Diego Garcia. It has been welcomed by our mutual partners the US and India and opens a new era of security and economic cooperation. We look forward to working with the new Mauritian Government to finalise the Treaty and will update the house in due course on timelines for signature and laying of the Treaty following the usual process.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what further visits he expects Jonathan Powell to make in his role negotiating the future sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory; and when he expects that role to end.

Jonathan Powell started his role as National Security Adviser on 2 December. In this role he will continue to engage on matters related to the British Indian Ocean Territory as well as a range of other national security issues, both in the UK and overseas.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 22 November 2024 to Question 14335 on Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Staff, if he will publish an estimate of the cost implications for his Department of the increase in employer National Insurance contributions for 2025/26.

HM Treasury are assessing the impact of the National Insurance increase on the public sector in 2025/26 and will inform the Department of the support it will receive in due course.

With reference to the Written Statement of 28 November 2024 on School Funding: Provisional 2025-26 allocations, HCWS 264, what funding has been provided to (a) primary schools, (b) secondary schools and (c) special and alternative provision in (i) Witham constituency, (ii) Essex and (iii) nationally to cover the costs of additional pupils entering the state sector from independent provision as a result of the introduction of VAT and business rate changes to independent schools.

The government announced at Budget a £2.3 billion increase to the core schools budget for the 2025/26 financial year. This funding increase includes funding for mainstream schools and high needs funding for complex special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).Funding for mainstream schools will be distributed to schools following the existing funding formula, which includes consideration of pupil numbers and other characteristics. The funding allocations to local authorities for 2025/26 are calculated using the latest pupil numbers from the October 2024 census. Local authorities are responsible for securing enough school places for children in their area. We provide capital funding through the Basic Need grant to support local authorities to provide school places, based on their own pupil forecasts and school capacity data. They can use this funding to provide places in new schools or through expansions of existing schools and can work with any school in their local area, including academies and free schools. Departmental Pupil Place Planning Advisors engage with councils on a regular basis to review their plans for creating additional places and to consider alternatives where necessary. When local authorities are experiencing difficulties, we support them to find solutions as quickly as possible. Where local authorities are failing in their duty, the government will intervene.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what provision he has made for the costs associated with the proposed Treaty with Mauritius on the future sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory in his Departmental Budget for (a) 2025/26 and (b) future years.

This Agreement will be underpinned by a financial package which will support a new era of economic partnership between the UK and Mauritius and demonstrate the commitment of both parties to support the welfare of Chagossian communities.A financial element was crucial to securing the agreement. This government will not scrimp on security.Financial obligations arising from this agreement, including departmental budgetary responsibilities, will be managed responsibly within the government's fiscal framework.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 22 November 2024 to Question 14335 on Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Staff, if he will make an estimate of the potential impact of changes to national insurance contributions at the Autumn Budget 2024 on costs to its suppliers; and if he will make an estimate of the potential impact of those costs on his Department's budget in the 2025-26 financial year.

The Department does not hold the necessary information to estimate the potential impact on its thousands of suppliers. As previously indicated in the response to PQ 14336, the impact of tax changes would be taken into account along with all other changes to their cost base in the usual way through contract negotiations.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what funds he plans to provide to the Trust Fund for the benefit of Chagossians as part of the proposed Treaty with Mauritius on the future sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory.

Financial obligations arising from this agreement, including departmental budgetary responsibilities, will be managed responsibly within the government's fiscal framework.This government is committed to supporting Chagossians. Further details about UK support to Chagossians will be made available in due course.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when Jonathan Powell has had meetings with (a) him and Ministers in his Department; (b) officials; (c) the Prime Minister; (d) Philippe Sands; (e) members of the Mauritian Government; (f) members of the (i) current and (ii) incoming US Administration; (g) representatives of the Chagossians and (h) other third parties on the future sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory since 5 July 2024; and what the subject of each such meeting was.

In his role as BIOT envoy, and with the goal of securing an agreement that protects UK and US security interests, Jonathan Powell has engaged a range of stakeholders, including in the US and Mauritian governments, HMG Ministers and FCDO officials.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will publish a breakdown of Overseas Development Assistance funding his Department plans to allocate per country for 2025.

We are committed to transparency and will separately publish the FCDO's planned Official Development Assistance (ODA) allocations for FY2024/25 and FY2025/26 in due course.The FCDO reports annually on the UK's calendar year ODA expenditure for the previous calendar year via the Statistics on International Development publication. Outturn data on the countries and multilateral organisations in receipt of FCDO ODA in 2025 will be published in autumn 2026.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will publish a breakdown of multilateral funding his Department plans to provide via Overseas Development Assistance per organisation in 2025.

We are committed to transparency and will separately publish the FCDO's planned Official Development Assistance (ODA) allocations for FY2024/25 and FY2025/26 in due course.The FCDO reports annually on the UK's calendar year ODA expenditure for the previous calendar year via the Statistics on International Development publication. Outturn data on the countries and multilateral organisations in receipt of FCDO ODA in 2025 will be published in autumn 2026.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what estimate he has made of the employer National Insurance contribution costs for (a) his Department and (b) non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department (i) in direct staffing costs and (ii) on third party and contract spend for the (A) current and (B) 2025-26 financial year; and whether he has made provision for the impact of the additional costs announced in paragraph 2.40 of the Autumn Budget 2024.

In 2024-25, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office estimates total staffing costs to be £975 million and employer national insurance (NI) costs to be £44 million. Budget allocation and workforce planning processes for 2025-26 are in progress but have not been finalised. The workforce budgets of non-departmental bodies are not set by the Department and it does not hold that information. The Department has not estimated the NI costs of its suppliers. The impact of tax changes would be taken into account along with all other changes to their cost base in the usual way through contract negotiations.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what estimate he has made of the total staffing costs for (a) his Department; and (b) non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department for (a) the current financial year and (b) the 2025-26 financial year.

In 2024-25, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office estimates total staffing costs to be £975 million and employer national insurance (NI) costs to be £44 million. Budget allocation and workforce planning processes for 2025-26 are in progress but have not been finalised. The workforce budgets of non-departmental bodies are not set by the Department and it does not hold that information. The Department has not estimated the NI costs of its suppliers. The impact of tax changes would be taken into account along with all other changes to their cost base in the usual way through contract negotiations.