Written questions by Gethins.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has had discussions with European counterparts on the potential merits of introducing sanctions against refineries that are buying Russian crude oil.

In 2025 we sanctioned several refineries and terminals in third countries for importing Russian energy. Our action, and that of our partners, is having an impact. Russia's oil export revenues are now at their lowest since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine and Russia's overall energy revenues fell by over 24 per cent in 2025 compared to the year before. In October 2025, we also announced our intention to ban the import of oil products refined in third countries from Russian-origin crude oil.On the question of potential further sanctions, we keep these matters under constant review, but it has been the long-standing policy of the UK under successive governments not to comment on specific future designations as to do so would risk lessening their impact.

What criteria his Department uses in uprating retired Civil Servants Contracted Out Deduction with annual pension increases to their pre and post - 88 GMP; and what other methodologies his Departments uses for these calculations when applied to other pension schemes for the uprating of Civil Servants Contracted Out Deduction.

Pension increases are provided for under the Pensions (Increase) Act 1971, and annual Orders (SIs) made by H.M. Treasury under that Act. The increase from 7th April 2025 was confirmed as 1.7%, which is the rate of CPI as at September 2024. These pension increases apply to all pension benefits with the exception of contracted-out benefits accrued prior to 6 April 1997, for members who reached state pension age before 6 April 2016. Increases on part of this element are provided through the state additional pension.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions her Department has had with the Scottish Government on the One Hundred Year Partnership Agreement with Ukraine.

The Government's policy in relation to Ukraine, as with other aspects of the UK's foreign affairs and international relations, is a reserved matter under the terms of the Scotland Act 1998.However, as several policy pillars of the 100‑Year Partnership fall within areas of devolved responsibility UK Government officials have engaged with counterparts in the devolved administrations to ensure that devolved implications are understood and that implementation in devolved areas proceeds smoothly.

What discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the potential impact of her policies on the cost of living in Wales.

I have regular discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the cost of living in Wales. We took decisive action in the budget by scrapping the Two Child Limit, extending the fuel duty freeze, uprating the Universal Credit Standard Allowance and increasing the State Pension. This was a Labour budget, with Labour values at its heart. We are determined to do whatever it takes to improve the cost of living for families across Wales.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to support civil society engagement in (a) Armenia and (b) Azerbaijan.

The UK Government hugely values the role of civil society in the South Caucasus, and supports their work in Armenia and Azerbaijan through both diplomatic engagement and programming. We engage with organisations focused on peace, security, democracy, equality, and inclusion, and work with representative groups to strengthen civil society's role in both countries' development and stability. We also support efforts by Armenian and Azerbaijani think tanks to foster dialogue, building trust ahead of a hoped‑for historic peace agreement. During my visit to Baku and Yerevan in August 2025, I met civil society representatives to discuss key issues and reaffirm the UK's commitment to supporting civil society across the region. We regularly raise the importance of maintaining civil society space and rights.

With reference to his Statement of 11 of November 2025, on Women's State Pension Age: PHSO Report, HCWS1044, when he plans to publish the conclusion of the review of the Government's response to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman report.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced in his Oral Statement of 11 November 2025 that we will retake the decision made in December 2024 as it relates to the communications on state pension age.The process to retake the decision is underway. We will update Parliament on the decision as soon as a conclusion is reached and on 2 December 2025 we committed to re-take the decision within three months.

Whether she has considered continuing the Gaza student scholarship scheme.

The Government is reviewing the impact of the policy implemented to date. Any decision on future support will depend on the evolving international situation. We will continue to keep the policy under review.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps are being taken to support the safe passage of those from Gaza with fully funded places at UK universities.

The Government has so far supported six cohorts of students to leave Gaza to take up their places at UK universities this year, including Chevening scholars and other students with fully funded university places for both master's and undergraduate courses for the 2025/26 academic year. The future nature of this support will be announced to parliament.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking with international partners to help ensure that all aid crossings into Gaza are fully operational.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 11 December to Question 91356.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 12 March 2025 to Question 36087 on Palestinians: Fire and Rescue Services, what progress she has made on discussions with Israeli counterparts regarding the fire engine donated to Palestinian firefighters in Nablus that has been held by the port authorities in Ashdod since 21 July 2024.

We have consistently raised this case with the Israeli authorities, but despite those efforts, the fire engine donated to Palestinian firefighters is still being held by the port authorities. It remains frustrating and disappointing that the donation may have to be returned to the UK, rather than helping to deliver lifesaving services for the people of Nablus. The UK's Consul General to Jerusalem visited the Nablus Municipal Fire Department on 9 December to convey our continued backing for their vital work.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with Israeli counterparts to support the unrestricted operation of international NGOs in Gaza.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 11 December to Question 91356.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of Russian interference in the internal affairs of Bosnia and Hercegovina.

The UK opposes any attempts by Russia or other states to interfere in the internal affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). The UK works with BiH authorities and international partners to counter destabilising Russian interference, including to address disinformation campaigns, dependence on Russian energy, and vulnerability to political and economic coercion. We are working to bolster independent media in BiH. This financial year we are investing £400,000 to improve BiH's cyber defences. The UK Special Envoy for the Western Balkans reaffirmed our support for BiH's sovereignty during a meeting with BiH Presidency Chair Željko Komšić in London on 4 December.I met Foreign Minister Konakovic on 5 December in the margins of the OSCE Ministerial meeting to discuss our continued support for peace and stability in BiH and the wider region.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh since the signing of the Joint Declaration between Armenia and Azerbaijan in Washington DC in August 2025.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 3 September to Question 69852.I met both the Armenian and Azerbaijan Foreign Ministers for constructive discussions in the margins of the OSCE Ministerial on 5 December 2025.

When he plans to respond to correspondence from the hon. Member for Arbroath and Broughty Ferry of 24 October 2025, with the transfer to his department accepted on 3 November 2025.

I responded to the hon. Member on 8 December 2025 (our ref: MC2025/27344).

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when the Minister for the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan plans to respond to correspondence from the hon. Member for Arbroath and Broughty Ferry of 23rd October 2025 on the FBU donation to Nablus Fire Department.

I apologise for the delay in responding to the Hon. Member's correspondence. I will issue a reply shortly.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help support biodiversity in Colombia.

The UK supports biodiversity in Colombia through the UK-Colombia Partnership for Sustainable Growth and a range of other programmes and initiatives, including the Blue Planet Fund, the Global Plastic Action Partnership, the Global Centre on Biodiversity for Climate, the Sustainable Forest Territories programme, the Darwin Initiative and Biodiversity Challenge Funds.

Pursuant to the response received to written question 44482 answered on 23 April 2025, what progress she has made on recruiting Driving Examiners at i) Arbroath Test Centre and ii) Dundee Test Centre.

DVSA has agreed with the Ministry of Defence (MOD) that 36 defence driving examiners (DDE) will carry out driving tests. The DDEs will be based at the driving test centre (DTC) with the highest demand near either their MOD base location or where they live. These locations are in England. To ensure fairness for everyone wanting to book a practical driving test, DVSA continues to work hard to combat the unscrupulous practice of reselling tests across the country. Alongside military support, DVSA is introducing new rules to tackle unfair booking practices that have allowed bots and resellers to profit at learners’ expense. Further details on the steps announced 12 November, can be found on GOV.UK: Mirror, signal, manoeuvres: Military driving examiners mobilised to cut test backlog - GOV.UK DVSA is continuing with recruitment campaigns across the country to provide as many tests as possible. A full-time driving examiner (DE) can be expected to add approximately 1,200 tests per year to the booking system.For Arbroath and Dundee DTCs, whilst one candidate did not successfully complete their training earlier this year, DVSA successfully recruited an additional DE for Dundee DTC during the summer. DVSA is launching a new recruitment campaign for DE positions at Dundee in the coming weeks, with the aim for successful candidates to be in place by early 2026. Additionally, to further support test availability in Dundee & Arbroath, DVSA are transferring an examiner to Dundee DTC. DVSA anticipate that their transfer will be finalised by early 2026 as well.

What steps she is taking to help prevent companies adding premiums to third party booking of driving tests.

DVSA has agreed with the Ministry of Defence (MOD) that 36 defence driving examiners (DDE) will carry out driving tests. The DDEs will be based at the driving test centre (DTC) with the highest demand near either their MOD base location or where they live. These locations are in England. To ensure fairness for everyone wanting to book a practical driving test, DVSA continues to work hard to combat the unscrupulous practice of reselling tests across the country. Alongside military support, DVSA is introducing new rules to tackle unfair booking practices that have allowed bots and resellers to profit at learners’ expense. Further details on the steps announced 12 November, can be found on GOV.UK: Mirror, signal, manoeuvres: Military driving examiners mobilised to cut test backlog - GOV.UK DVSA is continuing with recruitment campaigns across the country to provide as many tests as possible. A full-time driving examiner (DE) can be expected to add approximately 1,200 tests per year to the booking system.For Arbroath and Dundee DTCs, whilst one candidate did not successfully complete their training earlier this year, DVSA successfully recruited an additional DE for Dundee DTC during the summer. DVSA is launching a new recruitment campaign for DE positions at Dundee in the coming weeks, with the aim for successful candidates to be in place by early 2026. Additionally, to further support test availability in Dundee & Arbroath, DVSA are transferring an examiner to Dundee DTC. DVSA anticipate that their transfer will be finalised by early 2026 as well.

Whether she plans to deploy defence driving examiners in Scotland to help reduce the backlog of learners waiting for a driving test.

DVSA has agreed with the Ministry of Defence (MOD) that 36 defence driving examiners (DDE) will carry out driving tests. The DDEs will be based at the driving test centre (DTC) with the highest demand near either their MOD base location or where they live. These locations are in England. To ensure fairness for everyone wanting to book a practical driving test, DVSA continues to work hard to combat the unscrupulous practice of reselling tests across the country. Alongside military support, DVSA is introducing new rules to tackle unfair booking practices that have allowed bots and resellers to profit at learners’ expense. Further details on the steps announced 12 November, can be found on GOV.UK: Mirror, signal, manoeuvres: Military driving examiners mobilised to cut test backlog - GOV.UK DVSA is continuing with recruitment campaigns across the country to provide as many tests as possible. A full-time driving examiner (DE) can be expected to add approximately 1,200 tests per year to the booking system.For Arbroath and Dundee DTCs, whilst one candidate did not successfully complete their training earlier this year, DVSA successfully recruited an additional DE for Dundee DTC during the summer. DVSA is launching a new recruitment campaign for DE positions at Dundee in the coming weeks, with the aim for successful candidates to be in place by early 2026. Additionally, to further support test availability in Dundee & Arbroath, DVSA are transferring an examiner to Dundee DTC. DVSA anticipate that their transfer will be finalised by early 2026 as well.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of investment treaties on net zero policies.

I refer the member of Arbroath and Broughty Ferry to the answer I gave on 12 November 2025 to UIN 88456.