Written questions by Patel.

When she plans to announce her plans for rail fares on the Greater Anglia franchise for 2026.

The annual fares freeze will benefit passengers all across the country, including travelling on Greater Anglia. We are also taking other steps, to improve rail travel for passengers. This includes rolling out tap in tap out contactless PAYG alongside making it much easier for passengers to feel confident they are buying the right ticket. Passengers will start to feel the benefits very soon – from 7 December easier to understand fares will be available across key routes.

Pursuant to the answer given 17 November 2025 (UIN 88239), if she will publish the evidence provided to her in relation to the A12 Widening Scheme by (a) the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government and (b) other agencies to inform her decision to cancel the A12 Widening Scheme.

The evidence provided to the Secretary of State for Transport in relation to the A12 Widening Scheme by (a) the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government and (b) other agencies, formed part of a much larger body of evidence that informed the Spending Review and subsequent decisions. There are no plans to publish officials’ advice and evidence base to Ministers that informed the Spending Review and subsequent decisions, as has been the usual practice of successive administrations, including the one the Rt Hon Lady served in. Detailed information on the analysis of the A12 widening scheme, conducted in accordance with the HM Treasury Green Book and the Department’s Transport Analysis Guidance, was published on the Planning Inspectorate’s website, available here: https://national-infrastructure-consenting.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/projects/TR010060.

What estimate her Department has made of the income to the Exchequer from the Greater Anglia franchise in (a) the 2025-26 financial year and (b) each of the next five financial years.

Information on subsidy/premium for each operator will be published next year in the Department for Transport's annual report and accounts. Over each of the next five financial years I expect Greater Anglia to continue to grow passenger numbers and income. I expect Greater Anglia will remain a net contributor, with the exact contribution amounts and income levels to be agreed during the rolling business planning process.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with the National Security Adviser on government to government communications with Russia.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer given on 20 October to question 81835.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 5 November 2025 to Question 88230 on Chagos Islands: Marine Protected Area, whether Mauritius has provided information on the annual quota for each fish stock to be granted in the proposed (a) 612,611 km2 Conservation Zone, (b) 2,251 km2 Habitat Protection Zone and (c) 7,261 km2 Traditional Zone for Resettlement.

We welcome the 3 November announcement by the Mauritian government confirming plans for the establishment of a Marine Protected Area after entry into force of the Treaty. The proposed zones of the future protected area will utilise the internationally recognised categories of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).There will be no commercial fishing across the entire 640,000 square kilometre area. The Great Chagos Bank will be given one of the highest levels of protection, with the rest of the Marine Protected Area categorised as a highly protected conservation zone. There will be limited provision for controlled levels of artisanal fishing in confined zoned areas intended for resettlement, to allow for subsistence fishing by any Chagossian communities that resettle, while maintaining the commitment to nature conservation.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, on what dates Chagos Contact Group (a) Ministers and (b) officials from her Department (i) have met with the Chagos Contact Group and (ii) plan to meet the Chagos Contact Group in the next twelve months.

The first meeting of the Contact Group, attended by myself and Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office officials, took place on 2 September 2025, and it will continue to meet quarterly as part of wider engagement between the UK Government and Chagossian representatives.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, on what dates the UK High Commissioner for Mauritius has met with the Chinese Ambassador to Mauritius since 5 July 2025.

The UK High Commissioner to Mauritius met his Chinese counterpart for a courtesy call on 28 July 2025. Such calls are normal practice on arrival for new Heads of Mission. The High Commissioner has had no further formal meetings with the Chinese Ambassador.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what subjects were discussed at the meeting between the UK High Commissioner to Mauritius and the Chinese Ambassador to Mauritius at their meeting on 28 July 2025; and if she will publish the minutes of that meeting.

The UK High Commissioner to Mauritius met his Chinese counterpart for a courtesy call on 28 July 2025. Such calls are normal practice on arrival for new Heads of Mission. The High Commissioner has had no further formal meetings with the Chinese Ambassador.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether Mauritius has notified her of (a) plans for a future Marine Protected Area for the Chagos Archipelago and (b) measures to permit fishing.

We welcome the 3 November announcement by the Mauritian Government confirming plans for the establishment of a Marine Protected Area after entry into force of the Treaty. The proposed zones of the future protected area will utilise the internationally recognised categories of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). There will be no commercial fishing across the entire 640,000 square kilometre area. The Great Chagos Bank will be given one of the highest levels of protection, with the rest of the MPA categorised as a highly protected conservation zone. There will be limited provision for controlled levels of artisanal fishing in confined zoned areas intended for resettlement, to allow for subsistence fishing by any Chagossian communities that resettle, while maintaining the commitment to nature conservation.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, by what date has the Government of Mauritius requested that the first payment be made under the UK-Mauritius Treaty.

The first payment will be made on the first day of the month following the month of entry into force of the Agreement. Full details of the payments have already been published in the Explanatory Memorandum accompanying the Treaty.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, on what date she expects to publish the UK-EU treaty text on Gibraltar.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer provided on 27 June 2025 to Question 61391.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, from which budget within her Department's resources she expects to fund her Department's contributions for payments to Mauritius under the UK-Mauritius Treaty.

Payments will be published in the normal manner alongside other departmental spend in the annual accounts.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether Mauritius have notified her of contact with (a) India and (b) other third countries to coordinate visits to the Chagos Archipelago.

I refer the Hon. Member to my answer to question 69814 on 3 September 2025.

Communities and Local Government, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of cancelling of the A12 widening scheme on sites of proposed housing developments in local plans in local authorities in Essex.

I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 66157 on 17 July 2025.Local development plans should address needs and opportunities in relation to infrastructure and identify what infrastructure is required and how it can be funded and brought forward. When preparing a Local Plan, Planning Practice Guidance recommends that local planning authorities use available evidence of infrastructure requirements to prepare an Infrastructure Funding Statement. Such Statements can be used to demonstrate the delivery of infrastructure throughout the plan-period.

When she will publish the full comparative benefit cost ratios of the transport schemes which she announced as (a) approved and (b) cancelled on 8 July 2025.

Business case documents, costs, and benefit cost ratios for major schemes, including for the Strategic Road Network and for relevant schemes in the Rail Network Enhancement Pipeline, are published on gov.uk.

When her Department notified the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government of its plan to cancel the A12 widening scheme.

The Government inherited a series of unfunded commitments, including on the A12. In July 2025, the Government announced that following the conclusion of the Spending Review it had taken the difficult decision to cancel the A12 (Chelmsford to A120) widening scheme, to provide certainty to the public. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) was notified at the time. The decision was based on evidence, to which MHCLG contributed, assessed against a wide range of criteria, including housing impacts. The A12 scheme had been repeatedly deferred by the previous Government, in which the Rt Hon Member served.

What recent assessment her Department has made of the cost-benefit ratio for the proposed A120 dualling scheme.

The Department’s most recent formal assessment of the value for money (VfM) and benefit cost ratio (BCR) for the proposed A120 Braintree to A12 scheme was completed in February 2022. Five options were assessed at the time, and the BCRs of each ranged from 1.52 – 2.37, meaning that the VfM range was medium to high. The costs and benefits values used at that time are now out of date, however, and BCRs and VfM ratings are only one part of the overall assessment of a scheme’s deliverability, alongside broader strategic considerations and affordability.

Pursuant to the Answer of 14 October 2025 to Questions 77047 on East Anglia Rail Franchise: Nationalisation, when she will publish the services agreement.

The Services Agreement will be made available on the Department for Transport website in due course.

What his expected timetable is for when the Norwich to Tilbury Great Grid upgrade will be fully operational.

National Grid Electricity Transmission has now submitted its Development Consent Order application to the Planning Inspectorate for consideration. Government does not comment on the merits of live planning applications, which will be subject to rigorous, independent assessment and advice by the Examining Authority, to inform a final Ministerial decision.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department has had discussions with the Government of Mauritius on the potential presence of third countries in the Chagos Archipelago following the transfer of sovereignty under the terms of UK-Mauritius Treaty.

The treaty contains robust provisions to protect the base, including a 24 nautical mile buffer zone around Diego Garcia and a ban on foreign security forces anywhere in the archipelago. Any suggestions that Mauritius has been negotiating a lease on Peros Banhos are false. This was confirmed by the Mauritian Attorney General in a public statement on 20 October 2025.