Written questions by Patel.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the RDEL allocation provided to his Department in the Autumn Budget 2024 includes resourcing provisions for the additional costs due to changes to employers National Insurance contributions.

The RDEL allocation provided in the Autumn Budget 2024 does not include provision for the additional costs due to changes to employer National Insurance contributions. HM Treasury has subsequently informed the Department that the Government will provide support for additional employer NI costs to all departments and public sector employers and will set out allocations by department in due course.

What discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on the cost of the proposed lease of the military base at Diego Garcia following the UK and Mauritius joint statement, published on 3 October 2024; and what provisions she has made in the Budget and Spending Review for these costs.

The Chief Secretary to the Treasury has engaged in discussions and reached an agreement with Cabinet colleagues on the financial elements of the proposed lease of the military base on Diego Garcia, as part of the UK-Mauritius agreement announced on 3 October 2024.The treaty is still being finalised and will require ratification before coming into force. No payments will be made until the treaty is legally binding.This agreement secures the future of Diego Garcia as a vital part of the UK’s global defence network, reinforcing regional and global security. It also supports a new era of economic partnership with Mauritius and demonstrates the UK’s commitment to the welfare of Chagossian communities. The financial package includes an annual payment, an economic partnership programme, and a Trust Fund to benefit Chagossians.As is standard practice, the UK does not disclose the specific costs of payments for military bases to ensure their secure operation. Any financial obligations arising from this agreement will be managed responsibly within the government’s fiscal framework.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many staff have left his Department between 5 July and 5 November 2024, broken down by pay grade.

Between 5 July 2024 and 31 October 2024, the following number of UK based members of staff left the FCDO:GradeNumber of StaffAO30-39EO10-19HEO40-49SEO20-29G740-49G610-19SCS110-19SCS2Fewer than 10Grand Total180-199

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what his planned timetable is for signing the agreement with Mauritius on sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory.

The timetable for treaty signature has not yet been determined. Following Mauritian elections, UK officials are engaging with the new Mauritian administration on the details of the British Indian Ocean Territory / Chagos Archipelago agreement.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what his planned timetable is to publish the details of the treaty with Mauritius on the future sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory.

The timetable for treaty publication has not yet been determined. However following signature, the treaty will be laid before Parliament in the usual way, consistent with the Constitutional Reform and Governance (CraG) Act 2010.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many full-time equivalent employees are currently employed by (a) his Department and (b) non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department; and how many he expects to be employed next year.

As of 30 September 2024 there were a) 8266 Headcount / 8131.58 full-time equivalent staff employed by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and b) 1217 Headcount / 1170.98 full-time equivalent staff employed by the non-departmental public bodies of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. I would expect the number of staff employed by both the FCDO and associated non-departmental public bodies to reduce next year in line with workforce savings targets.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many staff were appointed to roles within his Department between 5 July and 5 November 2024, broken down by pay grade.

Between 5 July 2024 and 31 October 2024, the following number of UK based members of staff joined the FCDO:GradeNumber of StaffAO50-59EO70-79HEO120-139SEO30-39G720-29G610-19SCS1Fewer than 10Grand Total320-339

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer (a) prior to and (b) since 30 October 2024 on the resourcing impact for (i) his Department and (ii) non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department of changes to employer National Insurance contributions.

The Foreign Secretary has not had any discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer prior to or since 30 October 2024 on the resourcing impact on the FCDO of changes to employer National Insurance contributions.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will publish an (a) timeline and (b) list of all (i) meetings and (ii) discussions his Department has had with the Government of Mauritius on the sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory since 5 July 2024.

The Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary met the then Mauritian Prime Minister in London on 23 July. Following this, officials held Rounds 12 and 13 of negotiations on 2-5 September and 23-26 September before the political agreement between the Prime Minister and then Mauritian Prime Minister was reached on 3 October. This engagement has been supplemented by numerous official level meetings, including a meeting between the Prime Minister's Special Envoy with BIOT negotiations, Jonathan Powell and PM Ramgoolam on 25 November.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with the (a) current and (b) incoming United States Administration on the timetable for signing the treaty with Mauritius on the future sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory.

The Foreign Secretary is in regular contact with Secretary Blinken on a range of issues, including the British Indian Ocean Territory / Chagos Archipelago.We look forward to continuing to engage with the current and incoming US Administrations in the usual way to protect and enhance our shared security interests.

How much funding will be allocated to support pupils with SEND in Essex in each of the next five years.

This government’s ambition is that all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) or in alternative provision receive the right support to succeed in their education and as they move into adult life.The department is providing an increase of almost £1 billion for high needs budgets in the 2025/26 financial year, bringing total high needs funding for children and young people with complex SEND to £11.9 billion.The department is providing this increase to high needs funding to help meet the increase in costs local authorities will be facing next year, as they in turn provide support to schools and pupils with SEND. The impact on individual local authorities’ deficits will be variable, and it remains important that every local authority looks at what it can do within the current system to manage its high needs budget while continuing to provide the support that children with SEND need.The department is now in the process of calculating local authorities’ indicative high needs funding allocations for the 2025/26 financial year, which it expects to publish before the end of November.High needs budgets beyond the 2025/26 financial year are a matter for the next stage of the multi-year spending review.

If she will make an estimate of the number of Education and Health Care Plans that will be issued for qualifying young people (a) nationwide and (b) in Essex in each of the next five years.

​​The number of education, health and care (EHC) plans issued in each local authority area per year is set out in published statistics on GOV.UK and is available here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/150da0a4-2fef-4836-8c12-08dbe514ee42. The department does not make estimates of the number of EHC plans to be issued in each local authority in future years. However, as noted in the recent National Audit Office (NAO) report into special educational needs and disabilities, the department does make estimates at a national level. Page 35 of the NAO report notes that the department’s central estimate is that, without policy interventions, the number of EHC plans will nearly double from approximately 518,000 in 2022/23 to just over one million in 2032/33.

With reference to the Autumn Budget 2024, published on 30 October 2024, HC 295, what estimate he has made of the amount of funding that will be allocated to NHS services in Essex in each of the next five years.

The recent Budget set out the overall funding for the Department for 2024/25 and 2025/26. In terms of the next five years, the funding that will be allocated to the three integrated care boards covering Essex will be set out alongside planning guidance for 2025/26 at the earliest opportunity. Funding beyond 2025/26 will be determined as part of Phase 2 of the Spending Review, which will be announced in Spring 2025.

How much funding he plans to allocate to public health grants for local authorities in each of the next five years.

We will confirm 2025/26 public health grant allocations later this year, and will confirm future years’ allocations following the upcoming Spending Review in Spring 2025.

With reference to the Autumn Budget 2024, published on 30 October 2024, HC 295, how much SEND funding she plans to allocate to local authorities to (a) cover existing DSG deficits and (b) for future spending pressures.

This government’s ambition is that all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) or in alternative provision receive the right support to succeed in their education and as they move into adult life.The department is providing an increase of almost £1 billion for high needs budgets in the 2025/26 financial year, bringing total high needs funding for children and young people with complex SEND to £11.9 billion.The department is providing this increase to high needs funding to help meet the increase in costs local authorities will be facing next year, as they in turn provide support to schools and pupils with SEND. The impact on individual local authorities’ deficits will be variable, and it remains important that every local authority looks at what it can do within the current system to manage its high needs budget while continuing to provide the support that children with SEND need.The department is now in the process of calculating local authorities’ indicative high needs funding allocations for the 2025/26 financial year, which it expects to publish before the end of November.High needs budgets beyond the 2025/26 financial year are a matter for the next stage of the multi-year spending review.

With reference to the Autumn Budget 2024, published on 30 October 2024, HC 295, what estimate she has made of the cost to the public purse through (a) third party spend and (b) contracts as a result of changes to employers National Insurance Contributions in each of the next five years; and if she will publish any modelling undertaken on this.

The Chancellor made an announcement at the Autumn Budget setting out that the rate of Employer National Insurance Contributions will increase from 13.8% to 15% from 6 April 2025. Raising the revenue required to fund public services and restore economic stability requires difficult decisions on tax, which is why the Government is asking employers to contribute more. At the Autumn Budget, the Chancellor also agreed departmental spending allocations for 2024-25 and 2025-26. It is the responsibility of contracting authorities to prioritise these budgets effectively and make assessments on the costs of procurement.

What estimate she has made of the revenue raised as a result of the OECD Pillar 2 measures in each of the next five years.

The UK’s implementation of the Multinational Top-up Tax and Domestic Top-up Tax was scored at Autumn Statement 2022, and updated Spring Budget 2023 in ‘table 4.2’. This can be found on gov.uk at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/spring-budget-2023. The UK’s implementation of the Undertaxed Profits Rule was scored at Autumn Statement 2023, and updated at Autumn Budget 2024 in ‘table 5.2’. This can be found on gov.uk at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/autumn-budget-2024. Taken together, the latest estimate is that all three rules will raise more than £15bn over the upcoming scorecard period.

With reference to the Autumn Budget 2024, published on 30 October 2024, HC 295, what the Resource DEL provided to each Department in respect of the impact of the changes to employers National Insurance Contributions will be.

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.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the OECD Pillar 2 measures on businesses.

Pillar 2 is a significant reform to international corporate tax rules that will impact large multinational enterprises headquartered around the globe. Following the implementation of Pillar 2, the government is committed to considering opportunities for simplification or rationalisation of the UK’s rules for taxing cross-border activities. A Tax Information and Impact note for the Multinational Top-up Tax and Domestic Minimum Tax was published in March 2023, and a Tax Information and Impact note on the Undertaxed Profits rule was published in October 2024. These notes include detail on expected business impact and can be accessed on gov.uk at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/tax-information-and-impact-notes-tiins.

With reference to line 26 of Table 5.1 of the Autumn Budget 2024, published on 30 October 2024, HC 295, which public sector organisations will be funded to cover the additional costs of the changes to employers National Insurance Contributions; and how much funding will be provided to each of them in the next five years.

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.