Written questions by Wilson.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 10 February to Question 110802 on Malaysia: Rohingya, whether (a) enforcement mechanisms, (b) monitoring arrangements and (c) safeguards have been established following her representations to the Government of Malaysia.

The UK is a strong supporter of international efforts to assist Rohingya refugees and to work towards a safe, sustainable and dignified solution to their displacement.The UK regularly raises the Myanmar crisis and the need to assist Rohingya and other refugees with Malaysia and other neighbouring countries. Malaysia is not a party to the UN Refugee Convention but runs its asylum and refugee process in collaboration with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.In January 2026, the Malaysian government introduced a centralised biometric registration system for refugees and asylum seekers. The UK is working with international partners to encourage Malaysia to build appropriate safeguards into its registration system and broader asylum and refugee process.

Communities and Local Government, whether the UK Shared Prosperity Fund programme contributed to the Northern Ireland Economic Strategy.

My department has worked closely with Northern Ireland partners to ensure the funds address the needs and opportunities of Northern Ireland’s people, businesses, and communities, contributing towards the delivery of the Northern Ireland Economic Strategy.In Northern Ireland, the UK Shared Prosperity Fund invested £150 million into over 60 projects 2022-23 to 2025-26, helping people move towards work, support local businesses to start, thrive and grow, and invest in communities across Northern Ireland.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of carbon price linkage within the EU on the oil refining sector in the UK.

The UK’s refining capacity is very important to our energy security and resilience, and is an industrial base which contributes to the continued growth of our regions. This government recognises the wider challenges facing the sector and know that tackling these with industry is vitally important. Under the UK Emissions Trading Scheme, free allocations are provided to the refining sector to mitigate the risk of carbon leakage and reduce exposure to the carbon price. Linking the UK ETS and EU ETS is expected to bring significant economic benefits to the UK, including a cheaper path towards decarbonisation by providing businesses with access to a larger, more stable carbon market and creating the conditions for mutual CBAM exemptions, removing a major barrier to trade and lowering costs for UK firms.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of carbon pricing on the refinery sector.

The UK ETS Authority provides free allocations to sectors at risk of carbon leakage, such as the refining sector, to reduce exposure to the carbon price. The Authority recently concluded a review into free allocation policy which confirmed refining is at risk of carbon leakage and will continue to be eligible to receive support through free allocation, measured against an efficiency standard. The review also determined that the efficiency standard used to set free allocations would be maintained in 2027, providing operators in the sector with the necessary certainty to plan for the forthcoming allocation period. This will provide continuity and additional time for industrial sectors to plan for future benchmark updates, which are expected in 2028. Ahead of this, the UK ETS Authority will perform an assessment of impacts on businesses, including those in the Refining sector.

Whether she plans to include refineries in the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism from January 2028.

As announced at Budget 2025, the government is considering the feasibility and impacts of including refined products in the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) in future. The government recognises the role that refineries play in energy security and the UK’s industrial base. The Government published a call for evidence (https://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/future-of-the-uk-downstream-oil-sector/future-of-the-uk-downstream-oil-sector-call-for-evidence) on the future of the fuel sector on 23rd February 2026 in order to help understand the current state of the refining sector.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of whether the proposed funding allocations of the Local Growth Fund align with the Northern Ireland Economic Strategy.

The Local Growth Fund will drive economic growth and improve living standards by supporting infrastructure, innovation, business support and skills. MHCLG and the Northern Ireland Office are working with the Northern Ireland Executive to design and deliver the funding in Northern Ireland, ensuring that investment aligns with Northern Ireland’s priorities and delivers meaningful impact for local people.

Communities and Local Government, whether there will be an open call for the new Local Growth Fund.

My Department are working in close partnership with the Northern Ireland Office and the Northern Ireland Executive to design and deliver the new Local Growth Fund in Northern Ireland. More detailed information on delivery of the funding will follow.

Communities and Local Government, how much under-spending was identified in the first two years of the Shared Prosperity Fund and was any of this under-spending used to support funding in the third year.

In the first two years of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), covering the financial years 2022–23 and 2023–24, the total core UKSPF allocation was £762,669,654. Of this total allocation, £174,447,409 remained unspent at the end of 2023-24 and this amount was carried forward to support UKSPF delivery in 2024-25.

Communities and Local Government, what are the outcomes of the UK shared Prosperity Fund programme in Northern Ireland including (a) the total number of participants engaged across the region; (b) the number and percentage of participants who achieved sustainable employment and the methodology used to measure this; (c) the number of percentage of participants who entered further or higher education; (d) he number of participants who entered volunteering roles; and (e) how many women achieved each of the above outcomes.

Up to September 2025, the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) in Northern Ireland has supported around 36,000 people. Of these, 12% have sustained work for at least six months, 27% undertook education activity and 7% participated in volunteering opportunities. Definitions for these indicators are published here: UKSPF_Indicators_25-26_.xlsx. For those declaring gender, 52% were female. The UKSPF allocated funding for economic inactivity projects by competition. Provision was available in all parts of Northern Ireland. Where any area was under-served, we have encouraged deliverers to broaden their geographic reach. My Department are working in close partnership with the Northern Ireland Office and Northern Ireland Executive to design and deliver the new Local Growth Fund in Northern Ireland, with more information to follow.

Communities and Local Government, whether (a) the UK Shared Prosperity Fund programme was representative geographically and based on evidenced need across Northern Ireland; (b) any gaps were identified in the UK Prosperity Fund Programme; and (c) how does the Department propose to ensure that any previously identified gaps in provision will be addressed in the new programme.

Up to September 2025, the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) in Northern Ireland has supported around 36,000 people. Of these, 12% have sustained work for at least six months, 27% undertook education activity and 7% participated in volunteering opportunities. Definitions for these indicators are published here: UKSPF_Indicators_25-26_.xlsx. For those declaring gender, 52% were female. The UKSPF allocated funding for economic inactivity projects by competition. Provision was available in all parts of Northern Ireland. Where any area was under-served, we have encouraged deliverers to broaden their geographic reach. My Department are working in close partnership with the Northern Ireland Office and Northern Ireland Executive to design and deliver the new Local Growth Fund in Northern Ireland, with more information to follow.

Whether his Department has contingency plans for alternate support measures to the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism for refineries.

The Government recognises that the sector is facing challenges and continues to engage with the fuel industry to explore what steps can be taken to support the sector. The Government continues to work at pace to consider the feasibility and impacts of including refined products in the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism. The Government is also supporting the refining sector transition to net zero by driving forward with a Sustainable Aviation Fuel Mandate and the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation. In addition, the Government continues to provide financial support for decarbonisation projects, including for the deployment of CCUS and competition funding for hydrogen and low carbon fuels production. On 23 February 2026, the Government launched a call for evidence that will shape the UK’s long-term strategy for the downstream oil sector. This will gather industry views on the opportunities and barriers to transition, issues and risks to energy security and what Government support may be needed to promote a managed transition.

Food and Rural Affairs, which body is responsible for monitoring the outcomes of environmental regulation; and what corrective mechanisms are in place when environmental targets are not met.

The outcomes of environmental regulation are monitored by independent scrutiny bodies, including the Office for Environmental Protection and the National Audit Office. Defra and its regulators review the effectiveness of their regulatory activity, supported by periodic external reviews and monitoring of key plans and targets, including the Environmental Improvement Plan and Environment Act targets. We are committed to meeting our environmental targets and will refine our delivery plans where needed, in response to emerging evidence, policy evaluation and stakeholder feedback.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the refining sector not being included in the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism or a similar support measure on trends in the level of growth of that sector.

The Government recognises the role that refineries play in energy security and the UK’s industrial base. The Government published a call for evidence (https://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/future-of-the-uk-downstream-oil-sector/future-of-the-uk-downstream-oil-sector-call-for-evidence) on the future of the fuel sector on 23rd February 2026 in order to help understand the current state of the refining sector. As announced at Budget 2025, the government is considering the feasibility and impacts of including refined products in the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) in future.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of levels of environmental regulation since 2010 on trends in environmental outcomes, including the condition of protected sites, species recovery and wildfire incidence.

The England and UK Biodiversity Indicators are published annually and the latest annual update (England) was published on 2 December 2025. Figures on the condition and extent of protected areas and trends since 2016 can be found here while those those for species can be found here. On 22 January 2026 Defra published its 2019-24 Habitat Regulations implementation report for England. It evaluates how conservation measures have supported the protection and restoration of biodiversity. It succeeds the reporting obligation previously required under the Habitats and Wild Birds Directives respectively. Defra does not hold details on wildfire incidence. MHCLG is responsible for fire policy and operations.

What discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues and the Northern Irish Government on using funds raised by the expansion of the UK Emissions Trading Scheme to maritime to support maritime decarbonisation projects in Northern Ireland.

Revenue raised through the UK Emissions Trading Scheme support the Government’s wider priorities, including spending that helps deliver decarbonisation. The Government is providing funding to support the decarbonisation of the maritime sector, including in Northern Ireland. For example, the first phase of funding for the UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions saw £19 million provided to businesses and projects based in Northern Ireland. This includes a project to demonstrate a fully electric crew transfer vessel in Belfast Harbour and feasibility studies for a zero-emission shipping corridor between Northern Ireland and England, involving trials at Larne Harbour.

What steps her Department is taking to ensure that the proposed expansion of the UK Emissions Trading Scheme to international maritime voyages is not in addition to the International Maritime Organisation’s expected rules.

Addressing international emissions from shipping is critical and it is important action is taken globally through the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The Government firmly supported adoption of a global market-based measure, the IMO Net-Zero Framework, last autumn and is disappointed the decision has been postponed. We continue to work with other IMO Member States to secure adoption. The Government also wants to ensure decarbonisation continues here in the UK and has proposed to expand the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) to emissions from international voyages from 2028. If the IMO Net-Zero Framework is adopted, the Government will review the scope of the UK ETS to assess the effectiveness and fairness of the system for operators as set out in the consultation on the proposed expansion of UK ETS to emissions from international voyages from 2028 published in November 2025.

What analysis her Department has undertaken on the potential impact of the UK Emissions Trading Scheme expansion to maritime on the competitiveness of Northern Irish ports in attracting cruise business.

The domestic expansion of the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) will only include emissions from international journeys, including cruises, produced while at berth in UK ports. This means, as outlined in the UK ETS expansion to domestic maritime Impact Assessment, that there is not expected to be any net loss of competitiveness for international cruise visits to UK ports relative to ports in the European Economic Area, where these emissions are already in scope of the EU ETS. As such, the impact is expected to be minimal.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Remote Gaming Duty tax on reducing gambling related harm.

At Budget 2025, the government announced a package of changes to gambling duties which will raise over £1 billion per year to support the public finances and forms part of our ambition to create a fair, modern and sustainable tax system. Evidence shows that online slots and casino games have much higher proportions of problem gamblers. In recognition of this associated level of harm, the rate for Remote Gaming Duty will increase from 21% to 40% on 1 April 2026. The objective is to reduce the incentive for gambling operators to invest in or push people towards these more harmful forms of gambling.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Government response to the Improving biodiversity net gain for minor, medium and brownfield development consultation will set out plans for addressing concerns regarding misapplication of the de minimis exemption.

A full consultation response and impact assessment to the Biodiversity Net Gain small, medium and brownfield development consultation will be published soon. This will set out whether any changes will be made to the de minimis exemption alongside the introduction of the new 0.2-hectare area exemption.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of misapplication of the de minimis exemption on the rollout of biodiversity net gain obligations.

A full consultation response and impact assessment to the Biodiversity Net Gain small, medium and brownfield development consultation will be published soon. This will set out whether any changes will be made to the de minimis exemption alongside the introduction of the new 0.2-hectare area exemption.