Written questions by Berry.

With reference to the report from the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration entitled An inspection of asylum casework June-October 2023, published on 29 February 2024, whether she has taken steps to (a) identify vulnerable claimants in the asylum work in progress queue and (b) prioritise their claims.

This report deals wholly with the Asylum Casework system under the previous administration.The Home Office partially accepted the recommendation made in the report by the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration 2024 “ICIBI annual report for 2023-24” to introduce a published service standard for deciding asylum claims.We are reviewing that recommendation but this is a complex area that needs to balance operational efficiency, the needs of asylum seekers and the integrity of our asylum system, so we cannot provide an immediate answer on the proposed implementation timetable.The Home Office accepted the recommendation made in the report by the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration 2024 “ICIBI annual report for 2023-24” to (a) identify vulnerable claimants in the asylum work in progress queue and (b) prioritise their claims and we can confirm this work has been completed.

With reference to the report by the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration entitled An inspection of Asylum Casework June-October 2023, whether her Department has taken steps to introduce a published service standard for deciding asylum claims.

This report deals wholly with the Asylum Casework system under the previous administration.The Home Office partially accepted the recommendation made in the report by the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration 2024 “ICIBI annual report for 2023-24” to introduce a published service standard for deciding asylum claims.We are reviewing that recommendation but this is a complex area that needs to balance operational efficiency, the needs of asylum seekers and the integrity of our asylum system, so we cannot provide an immediate answer on the proposed implementation timetable.The Home Office accepted the recommendation made in the report by the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration 2024 “ICIBI annual report for 2023-24” to (a) identify vulnerable claimants in the asylum work in progress queue and (b) prioritise their claims and we can confirm this work has been completed.

Communities and Local Government, for what reason thank you payments to sponsors hosting refugees from Ukraine for more than 12 months will reduce from £500 to £350 from 1 April 2025; and what assessment she has made of the potential impact of this reduction on (a) the ability of sponsors to continue hosting more than one refugee and (b) local authority budgets.

To fund our continued support through the 18 month Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme visa period, and ensure it is affordable within government budgets, we have taken the difficult decision to reduce the level of thank you payments.We recognise that this is a difficult time for many. Sponsors who feel they cannot continue to support their guests may want to consider asking guests to pay a reasonable and proportionate contribution (according to use) for water, gas and electricity consumed or supplied to the accommodation or to any shared facilities. Sponsors might want to talk with their guest about moving to a more formal arrangement and consider offering a rental property or make use of the Government’s Rent a Room scheme.We are maintaining Government support for Ukrainians coming to the UK. For arrivals on Homes for Ukraine visas, local authorities continue to receive a tariff of £5,900 per Ukrainian arrival in their area (£10,500 for eligible minors), and councils have the flexibility to use this funding as best suits the local area which could include supporting guests to access privately rented accommodation.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of comments by President Trump on Gaza on the (a) Camp David Accords and (b) Wadi Araba Treaty.

The Egypt-Israel (Camp David) and Jordan-Israel (Wadi Araba) peace treaties were historic achievements. The US played an integral part in facilitating negotiations between Israel, Jordan and Egypt that has resulted in lasting peace. That is why we support a negotiated two-state solution between the Palestinians and Israel, that agrees a sovereign Palestinian state including the West Bank and Gaza, alongside a safe and secure Israel, with Jerusalem as a shared capital. The UK will continue to work with the US and regional partners to build consensus and identify solutions towards this aim that will deliver long-term peace and security for Israelis, Palestinians and the wider region.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his US counterpart on the US President's proposals on the transfer of Palestinians from Gaza.

The Foreign Secretary had a call with Secretary of State Marco Rubio on 27 January, prior to President Trump's comments on Gaza. The readout is available on gov.uk. We continue to engage closely with the US Administration across the spectrum of issues related to the situation in Gaza and the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs). Our priority in Gaza remains sustaining the fragile ceasefire, ensuring that all the hostages are released, increasing the supply of aid, and breaking the ongoing cycle of violence in pursuit of a permanent, sustainable peace.

If he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his Department's policies on renewable electricity generation of the Royal Society's report entitled Net zero aviation fuels: resource requirements and environmental impacts published on 28 February 2023.

The report in question considers four potential net zero aviation fuels: hydrogen, ammonia, synthetic fuels (efuels) and biofuels. Recommendations include the need for further Research and Development of the efficient production, storage and use of green hydrogen and efuels. The government is committed to delivering greener transport and supporting its missions to kick start economic growth and make Britain a clean energy superpower, and we will continue to work together with industry to consider the best way to support the aviation industry to decarbonise, including through the Jet Zero Taskforce.

What estimate her Department has made of the amount of agricultural land required for bio-aviation fuels to meet (a) existing and (b) potential demand to allow for expansion of (i) Heathrow airport and (ii) other UK airports.

The Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) mandate scheme is driving the uptake of lower carbon fuels used in aviation. The scheme does not support the supply of biofuels made from food, feed or energy crops. SAF must be made from sustainable wastes or residues (such as used cooking oil or forestry residues), recycled carbon fuels (e.g. unrecyclable plastics), or be power to liquid fuels made using low carbon (renewable or nuclear) electricity. Given these feedstocks do not require land, no estimate has been made of the amount of agricultural land required for bio-aviation fuels, under current or future demands.

If she will make an assessment of the potential implications for his Department's policies on food production of the report by the Royal Society entitled Net zero aviation fuels: resource requirements and environmental impacts, published on 28 February 2023.

The report in question concluded that a significant proportion of the UK’s land would be required for fuel production if crops were used to decarbonise aviation. The UK’s Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Mandate, which is designed to increase the amount of sustainable fuels used in aviation, prevents the diversion of resources away from food production. The Mandate includes strict sustainability criteria and SAF produced from food, feed or energy crops are not eligible under the scheme.

How many staff in his Department are working primarily on (a) fossil fuels, (b) renewables excluding biomass, (c) biomass, (d) carbon capture and storage, (e) nuclear energy, (f) energy networks, (g) energy storage, and (h) energy efficiency.

The Department has around 4600 full time equivalents (FTE) working across multiple policy areas and programmes. These include renewables, biomass, carbon capture and storage, nuclear, energy networks, oil and gas, energy storage and energy efficiency, amongst others. The Department’s resourcing is recorded and aligned to its organisation structure, rather than to portfolios. This means we are unable to provide a detailed breakdown for each of the areas mentioned.

Pursuant to the Answer of 11 December 2024 to Question 17711 on Clyde Naval Base and RNAD Coulport, if he will publish the (a) name, (b) purpose, (c) expected in-service date and (d) forecast cost of planned infrastructure projects at HMNB Clyde that do not fall within the Clyde Infrastructure programme.

There are a number of infrastructure projects at different levels of maturity that do not fall within the Clyde Infrastructure Programme at HMNB Clyde, however as they consist of nuclear and non-nuclear supporting infrastructure to support submarine operations it would not be appropriate to share further details for security reasons.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential cost of building one new runway at Heathrow Airport.

The Government is clear that any expansion scheme will be financed in its entirety by the private sector. The exact cost of the runway will be determined by the parameters of any scheme brought forward by scheme promoters.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential economic (a) costs and (b) benefits of an expansion of Heathrow Airport.

According to the most recent study from Frontier Economics, a third runway could increase potential GDP by 0.43% in by 2050 and could create over 100,000 jobs. Over half – 60% - of that GDP boost would go to areas outside London and South-East. The exact cost of the runway is a matter for Heathrow, the Civil Aviation Authority and the airport’s customer airlines, and the Government has been clear that the scheme will be privately financed without Government support. Our clear expectation is that any associated surface transport costs will be financed from private funding.

Food and Rural Affairs, when he will publish the (a) interim and (b) final report from the Air Quality Information System Review.

The Air Quality Information System Review has now concluded. The final report and accompanying reports will be published shortly.

With reference to the Independent report by the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee entitled DPTAC position on the eligibility criteria for concessionary bus travel, published on 17 August 2022, whether she plans to carry out a review of the eligibility criteria for bus passes for disabled people.

The English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) provides free off-peak bus travel to those with eligible disabilities and those of state pension age, currently sixty-six. The ENCTS costs around £700 million annually and, while the Department keeps the scheme under review, any changes to the statutory obligations, such as extending the eligibility criteria, would need to be carefully considered for their impact on the scheme’s financial sustainability.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 15 October 2024 to Question 7788 on Air Pollution, if his Department will take steps to amend clean air targets to bring the UK in line with the European Union's Ambient Air Quality Directive.

The Government is committed to cleaning up our air and protecting the public from the harm of pollution. We recognise the importance of ambitious yet achievable air quality targets, supported by robust delivery plans, which is why the Government has launched a rapid review of the Environmental Improvement Plan to revise our plan for significantly improving the environment including for air quality.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to his Department's press release entitled, Government launches rapid review to meet Environment Act targets, published on 30 July 2024, whether the rapid review of the Environment Improvement Plan was completed by the end of 2024; and what his planned timetable is to publish the new statutory plan.

The Government has concluded the review of Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) which is informing the development of a revised EIP. The Government will publish a statement of rapid review key findings in early 2025, to be followed by publication of a revised EIP.

Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 22 November 2024 to Question 14270 on Press: Regulation, what work her Department is undertaking on this issue; which other Departments have participated; and if she will publish the work completed to date.

DCMS works with a range of other Departments, including the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, and the Home Office, to support a free, plural, and financially sustainable press sector. This includes work to develop a Local Media Strategy and to deliver the National Action Plan for the Safety of Journalists.We will update Parliament in the usual way on any policy developments in this area and work will be published as appropriate.

Food and Rural Affairs, what plans he has to involve communities and stakeholders in the development of a new Clean Air Strategy; and what his planned timetable is for completing the strategy.

The Government is committed to meeting current legal targets for air quality, including the targets recently set under the Environment Act 2021, and will review the policy measures needed to achieve them. The Government launched a rapid review of the Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) to revise our plan for significantly improving the environment, including for air quality. The Government concluded the review of the EIP at the end of last year and published a statement of the rapid review’s key findings on 30 January 2025. We will continue to engage with stakeholders, communities and interested parties in meetings to develop a strategy to clean up our air and reduce emissions so that everyone’s exposure to air pollution is reduced.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help secure the release of Alaa Abd El-Fattah.

We are committed to securing Mr El-Fattah’s release so he can be reunited with his family and we continue to raise his case at the highest levels of the Egyptian government. The Prime Minister wrote to President Sisi on 26 December 2024 and 8 January 2025. The Foreign Secretary and National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell raised this case with Egyptian Foreign Minister Abdelatty on 12 January and 2 January respectively.

What the (a) name, (b) purpose, (c) expected in-service date and (d) forecasted cost to the public purse is for all infrastructure projects within the Clyde Infrastructure programme.

As part of the Government's Major Project Portfolio, details on the Clyde Infrastructure programme are routinely released as part of this Government's annual transparency return to Parliament.