Written questions by Murray.

What assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of (a) postal provision in Scotland, (b) postal provision in Mid Dunbartonshire constituency and (c) Royal Mail delivery services for time-sensitive correspondence, including medical information.

The government does not collect or hold this information. Ofcom, as the independent regulator of postal services, has a duty to secure the provision of a financially sustainable and efficient universal postal service. It monitors Royal Mail’s provision of the universal service and has powers to investigate and take enforcement action if Royal Mail fails to achieve its performance targets as appropriate, taking account of all relevant factors.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to National Insurance contributions on economic growth.

The Government made fair and necessary decisions on tax, welfare, and spending to help fix the public finances and fund public services.The Government of course carefully considers the impacts of all policies, including the changes to employer National Insurance.An assessment of the changes announced at Autumn Budget 2024 on Employer National Insurance Contributions was published by HMRC in their Tax Information and Impact NoteFurther, the OBR’s October 2024 Economic and Fiscal Outlook sets out the expected macroeconomic impact of the changes to employer National Insurance contributions.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that (a) Dr Abu Safiya and (b) other Gazan healthcare workers who remain imprisoned in Israel are (i) released and (ii) allowed to return to providing healthcare in Gaza.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 6 August to question 68153.

What estimate she has made of the additional (a) visa fees and (b) immigration health surcharge costs that (i) applicants and (ii) their families will be required to pay following the extension of the qualifying period for Indefinite Leave to Remain from five years to ten years.

Fees for immigration and nationality applications are kept under review. Relevant impact assessments will be carried out in relation to the earned settlement proposals, which were set out in the Immigration White Paper.

Whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of extending the qualifying period for Indefinite Leave to Remain to ten years on the finances of families with children; and what steps she is taking to ensure that this change does not affect (a) integration and (b) long-term stability for families with children.

Fees for immigration and nationality applications are kept under review. Relevant impact assessments will be carried out in relation to the earned settlement proposals, which were set out in the Immigration White Paper.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential implications for her policies of reports regarding extrajudicial killings in the Punjab region.

We are aware of the human rights concerns raised about the activities of the Crime Control Department in Punjab, and we are monitoring the situation closely. Promoting human rights and the rule of law is a core part of the UK's diplomatic engagement in Pakistan, and we consistently urge the Pakistani authorities to investigate and address any breaches of those standards. Through UK Official Development Assistance (ODA), we are also supporting progress on human rights in Pakistan through dialogue, technical assistance, and targeted programming.

What logistical or operational support RAF aircraft (a) are providing to Israel and (b) has provided over the last year.

The RAF is not providing logistical or operational support to Israel. Over the last year, the RAF has not provided logistical support to Israel, however, following the terrorist attacks against Israel on 7 October 2023, the UK government has been working with partners across the region to secure the release of hostages, including British nationals, who were kidnapped. In support of these efforts, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) conducted surveillance flights over the Eastern Mediterranean, including operating in air space over Israel and Gaza from December 2023. Following the agreement of the Gaza peace plan between Israel and Hamas, and the release of all remaining live hostages, the MOD ceased surveillance flights over Gaza. The last flight took place on 10 October 2025. You will understand that we will not comment further on detail relating to intelligence matters to protect operational security and preserve the MOD’s ability to respond to any future hostage incidents around the world.

What steps he is taking to prevent patients being treated in (a) corridors, (b) converted office spaces, (c) gyms and (d) other inappropriate spaces.

We are doing everything we can as fast as we can to eliminate corridor care. The Government is determined to get the National Health Service back on its feet, so that patients can be treated with dignity.Our Urgent and Emergency Care Plan, published in June 2025, set out the steps we are taking to ensure that patients will receive better, faster, and more appropriate emergency care, backed by a total of nearly £450 million of funding. This plan includes a target to reduce the number of patients waiting over 12 hours for admission or discharge from an emergency department compared to 2024/25, with the aim of this occurring less than 10% of the time, and a commitment to publish data on the prevalence of corridor care.We will also publish new clinical operational standards for the first 72 hours of care which will support better hospital flow, which aims to reduce overcrowding and long waits.

What strategic steps his Department is taking to protect (a) SMEs and (b) other UK exporters from the compounded impact of (i) new tariffs, (ii) customs charges and (iii) administrative burdens in the context of the removal of the US de minimis tariff exemption for small packages; and how this aligns with the Government’s broader (A) trade and (B) industrial policy objectives.

My department is engaging with businesses to monitor impacts on small and medium-sized Businesses (SMEs) from the removal of the US de minimis exemption. We have published information for UK businesses and remain in contact with US counterparts to seek further clarity.We remain fully committed to empowering SMEs to thrive in international markets, through our wide-ranging export support under the Business Growth Service. This aligns with our Trade Strategy objectives to help businesses navigate requirements such as customs and tariffs. Royal Mail’s new service has allowed SMEs to continue trading with the US, whilst other counterparts initially suspended services.

What steps her Department is taking to support Palestinian students in Gaza who have been offered places at UK universities to (a) complete visa biometric enrolment requirements, (b) travel safely to a visa application centre in a third country and (c) take up those university places in the 2025-26 academic year.

The Home Office has put in place systems to issue expedited visas, with biometric checks conducted prior to arrival for all Chevening Scholars from Gaza.We are in the process of doing the same for a group of students who have been awarded fully funded scholarships covering course fees and living costs at UK universities so they can start their studies in Autumn 2025.The Government is doing everything it can to support their safe exit and onward travel to the UK. The situation on the ground in Gaza makes this extremely challenging.

Pursuant to the Answer of 8 May 2025 to Question 49938 on Nuclear Submarines: Safety, whether he plans to publish further information on those incidents.

Nuclear safety is of paramount importance and is a critical aspect of our commitments. As such, HMNB Clyde complies with international best practice as recommended by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Nuclear safety at these sites is independently overseen by the Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator (DNSR) and the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR), who have robust powers to address concerns and recommend changes where necessary. These structures ensure that nuclear safety is treated with the seriousness that it requires. This becomes even more important as this Government affirms its cast iron commitment to the strategic deterrent as the bedrock of our defence. With this in mind, the Secretary of State has authorised the annual release of the statistics on Nuclear Site Event Reports (NSERs) for HMNB Clyde. NSERs are a means of classifying the significance of safety incidents with actual or potential impact and are recommended by the IAEA to ensure a robust safety culture that learns from experience. This information has previously been provided on request, but in recognition of the importance of the subject, this data will now be provided as a standing commitment to strengthen oversight and scrutiny. I hope that the hon. Member will understand that releasing specific information for each NSER, when coupled with other information that may already be in the public domain through other means, would not only enable adversaries to make deductions about the operability, capability and effectiveness of the facilities and functions at HMNB Clyde, but would also provide invaluable information about submarine availability. Such information would prove extremely useful to hostile powers and groups in enabling them to target, disrupt and degrade the effectiveness of RN activities.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending the Breaching of Limits on Ticket Sales Regulations 2018 to prevent the use of automated systems to secure and resell practical driving test appointments.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) will continue to review and improve the driving test booking system to make sure that learner drivers can book their test easily and efficiently. Between 28 May and 23 July 2025, DVSA ran a public consultation on improving the rules for booking car driving tests. Views were sought from the driver training industry, learner drivers and other interested parties on changes which aim to prevent learner drivers from being exploited by those who resell tests at a higher price. In line with the consultation principles, DVSA will aim to publish a summary of responses, including the next steps, which might include new legislation. While the selling of tests for profit is not illegal, DVSA deploys enhanced bot protection to help stop automated systems from buying up tests unfairly, but these applications are constantly evolving and changing. DVSA continues looking for ways to ensure the safest and fairest way to book a driving test is for a legitimate candidate to use its services. DVSA has zero tolerance for those who exploit learner drivers and is committed to tackling the reselling of driving tests.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s online booking platform's bot detection and mitigation systems on access to practical driving tests for learner drivers.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) will continue to review and improve the driving test booking system to make sure that learner drivers can book their test easily and efficiently. Between 28 May and 23 July 2025, DVSA ran a public consultation on improving the rules for booking car driving tests. Views were sought from the driver training industry, learner drivers and other interested parties on changes which aim to prevent learner drivers from being exploited by those who resell tests at a higher price. In line with the consultation principles, DVSA will aim to publish a summary of responses, including the next steps, which might include new legislation. While the selling of tests for profit is not illegal, DVSA deploys enhanced bot protection to help stop automated systems from buying up tests unfairly, but these applications are constantly evolving and changing. DVSA continues looking for ways to ensure the safest and fairest way to book a driving test is for a legitimate candidate to use its services. DVSA has zero tolerance for those who exploit learner drivers and is committed to tackling the reselling of driving tests.

What assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the availability of Liraglutide for patients with type 2 diabetes; and what steps his Department is taking to ensure that patients with a clinical need for GLP-1 agonists are able to access appropriate treatment when first-line options are unsuitable.

One brand of liraglutide, Victoza, was discontinued in December 2024, although liraglutide injections remain available from other suppliers, who can support the full demand of the United Kingdom.The Department was aware of supply issues with GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), including liraglutide, which have now been resolved. During this time, the Department worked intensively with the pharmaceutical industry, NHS England, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, and others in the supply chain to resolve these issues. We continue to monitor the supply of GLP-1 RAs closely to ensure these medicines remain available for patients.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions his Department has had with (a) devolved authorities and (b) regulatory bodies on the cross-border movement of industrial waste for land reclamation purposes.

Defra officials continue to engage with their counterparts in the devolved authorities on matters including the movement of waste. I recently met with Gillian Martain MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy in the Scottish Government to discuss reports suggesting waste sent to landfill in Scotland may be diverted to landfill in England. There are no additional controls on the movement of waste between England and the devolved nations, to those that apply to movements within the individual nations. In England and Wales, waste must be managed in accordance with the Waste Duty of Care Code of Practice. Similar Codes of Practice apply in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Waste can only be transferred to a site that has the appropriate authorisation (eg. permit or exemption) to receive, treat or dispose of the waste.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the humanitarian needs in Homs, Syria; and whether any UK-funded aid programmes are currently operating in that region.

The UK is committed to supporting those affected by humanitarian crises in Syria. Over 16 million people still require humanitarian assistance and 90% of the population are living in poverty. The UK works in close co-operation with other donors and the UN on assessments and analysis of humanitarian needs across Syria. We currently support humanitarian programmes in Homs through UK contributions to a UN pooled fund.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether any of the UK Government’s pledged aid to Syria in 2025 will be directed specifically to support (a) humanitarian or (b) reconstruction efforts in the Homs region.

The UK is committed to supporting those affected by humanitarian crises in Syria. Over 16 million people still require humanitarian assistance and 90% of the population are living in poverty. The UK works in close co-operation with other donors and the UN on assessments and analysis of humanitarian needs across Syria. We currently support humanitarian programmes in Homs through UK contributions to a UN pooled fund.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent decisions with his Israeli counterpart on the extension of the internment of Dr Abu Safiya.

I remain deeply disturbed by the ongoing detention of Dr Hussam Abu Safiya and other medical staff from Gaza. We continue to call on Israel to clarify the reasons for the detention of Dr Abu Safiya and other medical personnel, and to allow the International Committee of the Red Cross unfettered and immediate access to detention facilities.I have specifically raised Dr Hussam Abu Safiya's case with both the Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister and Israel's ambassador to the UK. We are urging Israel to clarify the reasons for his detention, to allow medical workers to carry out their work safely and without hindrance, and to provide detainees with access to legal representation.

When she plans to respond to the correspondence of 5 March 2025 from the hon. Member for Mid Dunbartonshire, case reference CMPT12025-20534.

The Department aims to respond to all correspondences within 20 working days, but there may be instances where there is additional information needed that may cause delays. We are sorry for the length of time it has taken to reply to the Hon. Member. The response to their letter was sent on 18 July.

What assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of employment protections for individuals engaged on zero-hour contracts.

The Government does not believe that individuals engaged on zero-hours contracts currently benefit from sufficient employment protections.The Government is addressing this through the Employment Rights Bill, by ensuring that employers have to offer qualifying workers guaranteed hours. The Bill will also require employers to offer shifts with reasonable notice and make cancellation payments if they cancel, move or curtail shifts at short notice.This Government is introducing other landmark reforms in the Employment Rights Bill, including day one protection from unfair dismissal, better protection from sexual harassment and improved Statutory Sick Pay.