Written questions by Champion.

How many private law cases where child sexual abuse was alleged to have been perpetrated by a parent was that parent granted residence in (a) 2022-23 and (b) 2023-24.

The requested information is not recorded centrally. The relevant data could only be obtained by an analysis of individual case files at disproportionate cost.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the press notice entitled Government announces reforms to boost profits for farmers with a cast iron commitment to food production, published on 9 January 2025, whether his Department plans to monitor food currently bought by (a) all public sector bodies and (b) Government departments.

At the Oxford Farming Conference in January, I announced that, for the first time ever, the government will review food currently bought in Government Departments and the wider public sector, including where it is bought from. This is in line with the National Procurement Policy Statement, published in February alongside the Procurement Act coming into effect, which sets out the government's commitment to increasing the procurement of food that meets higher environmental standards, supporting local suppliers and upholding ethical sourcing practises across public sector contracts.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that only suppliers that (a) offer secure jobs, (b) treat workers fairly, (c) pay a decent wage and (d) recognise trade unions can (i) bid for and (ii) hold public contracts.

This government is committed to creating jobs that provide security, treat workers fairly, and pay a decent wage. The government’s Social Value Model provides an opportunity to reward suppliers who provide good working conditions for staff working on public contracts.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent representations he has made to his (a) Kazakhstani and (b) Tajikistani counterpart on obligations under international law prohibiting the (i) expulsion and (ii) return of refugees to countries where they would face (A) risk of persecution and (B) serious harm.

The British Embassies in Astana and Dushanbe monitor the situation in country for refugees, including from Afghanistan, and lobby relevant authorities on their obligations under international law when necessary. I raised human rights with my Kazakh and Tajik counterparts in February 2025 and October 2024 respectively. We continue to encourage all states, including Kazakhstan and Tajikistan to uphold international human rights obligations.

Pursuant to the Answer of 27 March 2025 to Question 38992 on Mental Health Services: Children, what metrics his Department uses to provide a comparative assessment of the impact on long-term outcomes of children and young people’s well-being practitioners with (a) accredited school-based counsellors and (b) other relevant professionals; and if he will take steps to commission an independent review on the impact of different mental health practitioners on children and young people’s well-being.

All interventions delivered by mental health practitioners, including those in mental health support teams, are evidence-based and use a range of clinical evidence.An early evaluation of the children and young people’s mental health trailblazer programme examined the development, implementation, and early progress of the 25 ‘trailblazer’ mental health support teams created as the first step of the programme. The interim report was published in January 2023, and highlights the impacts of the mental health support teams on improving pupil mental health and improving teacher mental health. The report is available at the following link:https://www.rand.org/randeurope/research/projects/2023/children-and-young-people-s-mental-health-trailblazer-programme.htmlThere are currently no plans to commission an independent review on the impact of different mental health practitioners on children and young people’s well-being.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to include an exemption in the veterinary agreement that is being negotiated with the European Union that would protect the United Kingdom's ability to implement animal welfare method-of-production labelling, including on imports.

The Government is committed to resetting our EU relationship, including by seeking to negotiate an SPS agreement. We have been clear that an SPS agreement could boost trade and deliver significant benefits on both sides. It’s too early to discuss any specific areas in detail and we will not be providing a running commentary on discussions with the EU.A public consultation on proposals to improve and extend current mandatory method of production labelling was undertaken last year by the previous Government. We are now carefully considering all responses before deciding on next steps and will respond to this consultation in due course.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has undertaken a risk analysis of the potential impact of the introduction of Extended Producer Responsibility on glass manufacturers.

The UK’s packaging Extended Producer Responsibility policy has been in development since 2019. This is underpinned by extensive consultation and engagement with industry stakeholders, including the glass manufacturing sector, to provide businesses with a clear indication of the scheme’s design and implementation. Consultations were held in 2019 and 2021, concluding with a final consultation on reforms to the Packaging Recovery Note system in 2022. In 2023, the four nations of the UK jointly consulted on the operability of the draft Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging and Packaging Waste) Regulations 2024. Feedback from stakeholders during this process directly informed a number of amendments made prior to final regulations. Throughout this period, Defra officials engaged closely with industry experts, including the glass industry. This collaboration has helped to ensure that the modelling of local authority costs used in the scheme reflects the practical realities of waste management operations. We have made a full assessment of the expected business impacts of the policy on the packaging sector as a whole. This is detailed in the official impact assessment for the Producer Responsibility Obligations (packaging and Packaging Waste) Regulations 2024, which remains publicly available here. The Government remains committed to ongoing engagement with manufacturers and other stakeholders to support the successful and fair implementation of the scheme.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 19 March 2025 to Question 38358 on Fisheries, what steps his Department is taking to update the data it provides to the Global Record of Fishing Vessels, Refrigerated Transport Vessels and Supply Vessels.

The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) is responsible for updating UK fishing vessel data on the Global Record of Fishing Vessels, Refrigerated Transport Vessels and Supply Vessels. The MMO last updated the record on 24 March 2025.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 20 March 2025 to Question 37160 on Blue Belt Programme: Finance, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of reducing funding for the Blue Belt programme on the UK's commitments under the Global Biodiversity Framework at COP15.

The Blue Belt Programme has been instrumental in supporting the UK's global ocean commitments, including the Global Biodiversity Framework, where the Convention on Biological Diversity has been extended to the UK Overseas Territories. Future funding considerations are subject to the ongoing Spending Review.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much funding he plans to allocate to the Tackling Deadly Diseases in Africa 2 programme in the (a) 2025-26, (b) 2026-27 and (c) 2027-28 financial year.

The Tackling Deadly Diseases in Africa 2 programme is a five year programme which is saving lives and reducing the impact of disease outbreaks on populations in Africa. Now in its second year of implementation, the programme is strengthening regional health security capacity and leadership to prevent, detect and respond to health emergencies, protecting populations around the world, including the UK. We have signed a 3-year agreement to support Africa Centres for Disease Control and the World Health Organisation's Joint Emergency Action. We have offered significant support to the response to mpox in Africa through the World Health Organisation, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and UNICEF Burundi. Our support to UNICEF Burundi alone will directly benefit about 20,000 people in communities, including 1,800 children through mpox case management, mental health and psychosocial support, infection prevention and control, and WASH and risk communication activities.The impact on specific programmes of the decision to reduce UK Official Development Assistance (ODA) from 0.5 per cent of GNI to 0.3 per cent of GNI in 2027 is being worked through. We will be taking a rigorous approach to ensure all ODA delivers value for money. Announcements will be made following the completion of the ongoing Spending Review process.

Pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2025 to Question 36654 on Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel, how many private family law proceedings (a) involved allegations of child sexual abuse and (b) resulted in the child coming into contact with the alleged abuser again in 2022-23.

The requested information is not recorded centrally. The relevant data could only be obtained by an analysis of individual case files at disproportionate cost.

Pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2025 to Question 36655, on Sexual Offences: Crown Court, what further action her Department plans to take after 28 May 2025, when the pilot scheme will have operated for one year.

Since May 2024, the Ministry of Justice has been running a one-year pilot to enable victims of rape and sexual offences, whose cases were heard at the Crown Court, to request a copy of the judge’s sentencing remarks free of charge.The Ministry of Justice is currently assessing the impacts of this pilot to inform decisions on future provision. This includes considering the value of these transcripts to victims based on victim survey (or feedback from victims), impacts on the judiciary and the cost implications of the policy.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what plans his Department has to take a leadership role in negotiations for the Pandemic prevention, preparedness and response accord ahead of the next World Health Assembly in May 2025.

The Government is committed to working with our international partners to land an agreement that enables the world to better prevent, prepare for and respond to pandemics, and delivers for UK health security, growth and jobs. The Accord is being drafted and negotiated by Member States of the World Health Organization (WHO), including the UK, who have until the World Health Assembly in May 2025, at the latest, to reach an agreement on the Accord. The UK continues to play a leading role in seeking to reach an effective agreement that is in our national interest, both in the negotiations at the WHO, and in wider conversations with other member states and stakeholders.

What steps his Department is taking to help ensure that policy decisions on children’s mental health provision reflect the full range of evidence-based interventions, including counselling, rather than prioritising only interventions with randomized control trial data.

All interventions delivered by National Health Service mental health services are evidence-based and use a range of clinical evidence. This includes counselling services.National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines make evidence-based recommendations on a wide range of topics to guide planning, commissioning, and practice across the health and social care system, including for children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing. These recommendations are based on the best available evidence, reflecting a range of evidence and information from scientific research using a variety of methods, to testimony from practitioners and people using the services.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of Peru's new law expanding the powers of the Peruvian Agency for International Cooperation on (a) civil society and (b) indigenous peoples in that country.

We are aware that Peru's Congress has approved a reform expanding the powers of the Peruvian Agency for International Cooperation (APCI) and strengthening state oversight of non-governmental organisations.Given our strong partnership with Peru, we have been monitoring developments closely. We are evaluating the impact of the new regulations, including the issues put forward by some civil society and indigenous people's groups. Alongside international partners, we have previously raised concerns about the potential risks of new controls for civic society and offered to share best practice in this important area.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Peruvian counterpart on that country's new law expanding the powers of the Peruvian Agency for International Cooperation.

We are aware that Peru's Congress has approved a controversial reform expanding the powers of the Peruvian Agency for International Cooperation (APCI) and strengthening state oversight of non-governmental organisations.We have been monitoring the debate closely in recent months. Along with international partners, we have previously raised concerns about potential risks with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (who are responsible for APCI), and offered to share best practice.We are now evaluating the new regulations. We will continue to collaborate closely with the Peruvian government to promote sustainable development underpinned by respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the collision between the Solong and Stena Immaculate on plastic pellet pollution.

Plastic pollution, suspected to be from the original collision of the SOLONG, was discovered on Sunday 16th March. The MCA and local authorities have begun retrieval through deployment of personnel on beaches, vessels and surveillance aircraft. There is a slight risk to marine and bird life from ingesting this pollution. There is no evidence of further pollution from the collision and the area remains under regular surveillance.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the UN Commission on the Status of Women's decision to (a) change its climate change commitments from the declaration and (b) remove sexual and reproductive health rights from the declaration on levels of international support for women and girls.

Member states successfully adopted a consensus Political Declaration at the 69th UN Commission on the Status of Women. In our assessment, new language on the right of all women and girls to enjoy the highest standard of physical and mental health, including maternal and neonatal health, menstrual health and hygiene management, shows progress made. The text on climate change remains unchanged from the 2020 Political Declaration. Our focus is now on embedding women and girls in all our work, including defending and promoting universal and comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights as a fundamental element of gender equality, global health, democracy and economic development.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of operating a carding system to (a) warn and (b) sanction states which (i) export seafood to the UK and (ii) do not cooperate with efforts to tackle illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.

The UK, after leaving the European Union, retained the powers originally set out in the EU’s Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing Regulation (1005/2008) to ban imports from countries that do not cooperate with efforts to tackle IUU fishing. Import bans are currently in place on seafood from Cambodia, Comoros and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The UK’s legislative framework also requires the banning of imports and landings of seafood from fishing vessels that are included on the UK’s IUU vessel list as having been identified as engaging in IUU fishing. Other control measures are also in place to manage imports of seafood into the UK from other countries. Such measures include the operation of a catch documentation scheme to ensure seafood imported into the UK is caught in line with national and international regulations on fisheries conservation and sustainable management. Defra will continue to keep under active review steps to combat IUU fishing.

Pursuant to the Answer of 28 February 2025 to Question 30996, what powers the Ministers from the Department for Education have been delegated in relation to implementing IICSA.

The recommendations of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (the Inquiry) covered a broad range of issues and departmental responsibilities, including reforms to the child protection system, improving data, awareness-raising and supporting victims and survivors.Responding to child sexual abuse requires a cross-Government effort and the Home Office is working collaboratively with departments across Government, including the Department for Education, to take action on the findings and recommendations of the Inquiry.