Written questions by Dhesi.

What steps his Department is taking to improve (a) customer service, (b) accessibility and (c) the ability of users to speak to a human operator in its court telephone system.

HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) is taking steps to improve the service it provides Court and Tribunal users, for example, through the delivery of the Service Improvement Framework which focuses on written communications, telephone call handling, complaint handling and public facing information. This will be in place from April 2026.HMCTS has developed an Accessibility Strategy following a Government Internal Audit Agency recommendation in September 2024 and is building an action plan to support delivery of the strategy.HMCTS’ new digital services are designed and built to be simple, accessible, and easy to use. HMCTS has a digital support service to help those who are digitally excluded (based on access, skills or confidence) to complete digital forms.  HMCTS digital services are required to comply with The Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) Accessibility Regulations 2018, under the Equality Act 2018. Our digital services are tested against the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.2 AA Standard to make sure they comply with the regulations.To improve call handling within HMCTS, some services, including Crime Magistrates, Civil and Family, have migrated call handling from local Courts into National Service centres. This change was made in recognition that a more efficient and consistent service can be delivered through modern technology and centrally managed, dedicated contact centre teams.

Communities and Local Government, what recent discussions he has had with local authorities on taking steps to ensure that properties under their responsibility comply with Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022.

The Government has published guidance to support understanding and compliance with the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 and has since updated this to ensure it meets the needs of users including social housing providers. Officials have frequently presented at forums with local authorities and engage regularly at official level with those who are responsible for the Regulations to understand how these are working on the ground, alongside providing policy expertise and identifying where further or amended guidance is needed. A 2023 survey indicated that understanding and compliance with the Regulations is positive. A review of the Regulations is being planned, and the Government will use any learning from this to address any questions or queries around the requirements of the Regulations.

What part of his Department is leading on the Home Defence programme.

The Resilience Action Plan and Home Defence Programme are led by the COBR Director and COBR Directorate, with oversight by the Deputy National Security Advisor (DNSA) for Intelligence, Defence and Security. Ministerial oversight is provided by the Security Minister.

If he will (a) have discussions with cabinet colleagues on the merits of reducing student loan debt as part of a recruitment package for attracting and retaining recent graduates into the armed forces and (b) estimate the cost to the public purse of such a policy.

The Armed Forces already provide several opportunities to support tertiary education both before service and while serving. These include bursaries, sponsored degree study, in-service degrees and Learning Credits to offset the cost of undergraduate and postgraduate study. These schemes ensure that personnel are supported in gaining valuable qualifications and skills benefiting not only the individual, but also enhancing operational capability.

Following the decision to disband the Resilience directorate in the Cabinet Office, who is responsible for implementing the Resilience Action Plan.

The COBR Directorate in the Cabinet Office is responsible for the coordination of resilience, civil contingencies planning, and crisis management across the system. This brings together the former Resilience Directorate and the former COBR Unit, which will ensure that all phases of the crisis management cycle report to a single Director and is in line with the Cabinet Office vision for a specialist, smaller and more strategic centre.

How many civil servants FTE work on the Home Defence Programme within the Cabinet Office.

The Home Defence Programme (HDP) is led by the COBR Directorate in the Cabinet Office. COBR is responsible for coordinating preparedness and response to a range of risks facing the UK, including potential hostilities affecting the UK. For national security reasons, the government does not routinely comment publicly on the size of such teams.

What the title is of the Senior Responsible Owner leading on the (a) Home Defence Programme and (b) Resilience Action Plan.

The Resilience Action Plan and Home Defence Programme are led by the COBR Director and COBR Directorate, with oversight by the Deputy National Security Advisor (DNSA) for Intelligence, Defence and Security. Ministerial oversight is provided by the Security Minister.

If he will (a) review and (b) update the UK’s Defence Contribution in the High North strategy, published in March 2022, to ensure it (i) reflects the Government’s policies and (ii) adequately addresses (A) current and (B) emerging security challenges in the arctic region.

The 2025 Strategic Defence Review (SDR) sets out the Government's approach to deterring threats and strengthening security in the Euro-Atlantic area, including the Arctic and High North. The region features strongly in the SDR's strategic thinking, particularly in relation to the Royal Navy's Atlantic Bastion concept (which includes securing the North Atlantic and adjacent waters), the importance of NATO's Northern Flank, our co-operation through the Joint Expeditionary Force and bilaterally with nations such as Norway, and the anticipated geostrategic shifts due to climate change, including increased accessibility and competition in the High North.The Government continues to monitor developments in the Arctic region closely, including Russia's military posture and capabilities in the region. This is achieved through a combination of intelligence assessments, engagement with allies, and participation in multinational fora such as the JEF and NATO.NATO is strengthening its deterrence and defence as a result of the increasing threat from Russia and will continue to adapt as necessary.

If he will take steps to strengthen the UK’s preparedness, in coordination with NATO allies, for threats to the security of NATO members in the Baltic region.

In coordination with NATO allies, we have committed to strengthening preparedness and deterrence to counter threats to the Baltic region, ensuring that our forces remain capable, credible, and ready to respond to any threat to Alliance security. This is demonstrated through the UK’s lead as framework nation for NATO’s multinational battlegroup in Estonia and contribution of surveillance aircraft to NATO’s BALTIC SENTRY, which protects critical national infrastructure in the Baltic Sea. Additionally, and in line with our NATO Article 3 commitments, the UK is the framework nation for the Joint Expeditionary Force, which has demonstrated the UK’s leadership, preparedness and responsiveness to security threats in the High North and Baltic.

If he will take steps to strengthen the UK’s preparedness, in coordination with NATO allies, for threats to the security of British Overseas Territories.

The Ministry of Defence remains firmly committed to ensuring the security and resilience of the United Kingdom and its Overseas Territories. In line with our obligations and strategic priorities, we continue to take steps to strengthen preparedness against emerging threats, working closely with NATO allies and other international partners.

If he will take steps to strengthen the UK’s preparedness, in coordination with NATO allies, in response to threats to the security of Greenland.

Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark, which is a member of NATO. NATO has made clear that the North Atlantic, High North and Arctic is a priority area for deterrence and defence and Allies are stepping up to enhance security in the region. As a NATO ally the United States is an essential partner in this endeavour. As the Strategic Defence Review makes clear, the UK is increasing its presence, activities and investments to keep the Arctic safe and to deter adversaries, including through Atlantic Bastion and leadership of the Joint Expeditionary Force.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will ensure that her Department has contingency plans in place to respond to any invasion or hostile act against Greenland by a foreign power.

It has been the long-standing policy of the United Kingdom under successive governments never to speculate on hypothetical operational responses to hypothetical scenarios.I refer the Hon Member to the statement made to the House by the Foreign Secretary on 5 January, and her responses to questions raised in that debate, where she set out in comprehensive terms the UK's position on Greenland.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure a sufficient supply of epidural kits across the NHS.

There are no supply issues regarding epidural insertion kits, but there are supply issues impacting some of the usual medicines used to provide pain relief via epidural infusion. However, a range of licensed and unlicensed bags, including unlicensed imports, remain available, and the situation is being closely monitored.To ensure a system-wide co-ordinated approach on using these products and safe implementation, a National Patient Safety Alert was issued on 2 December 2025 with clear and comprehensive management guidance. The Department and NHS England have also worked with professional stakeholders to provide clinical advice for clinicians at hospital level to minimise potential disruption and maintain safe patient care, which is available at the following link:https://www.rcoa.ac.uk/sites/default/files/documents/2025-12/Epidural%20infusions%20vFinal_0.pdf

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 17 December 2025 to Question 99506 on Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), whether the upcoming PFAS Plan will commit to the Health & Safety Executive's (HSE’s) suggestions, following on from the RMOA and the HSE UK REACH Work Programme 2024-25, to restrict PFAS in wide dispersive uses and PFAS in consumer products.

The Government’s approach to PFAS includes consideration of appropriate regulatory interventions as well as other actions, and more details will be provided in the PFAS Plan when it is published. We recognise that PFAS is used in a wide range of contexts, including wide dispersive uses and in consumer products. Current work includes a 6 month HSE consultation on whether to restrict the wide dispersive use of PFAS in fire-fighting foams, as one of the largest sources of direct releases of PFAS to the environment.

Whether she has any plans to restrict UK insurance companies providing cover to vessels which ship Russian oil.

The UK already restricts UK firms from insuring Russian oil. The UK implements the G7+ Oil Price Cap (OPC) which prohibits G7+ companies from shipping, insuring or otherwise servicing Russian oil sold above a set price to put downward pressure on Russian revenues. The UK lowered the OPC for Russian seaborne crude in July: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-tightens-oil-price-cap-in-blow-to-putins-war-machine Additionally, the UK has sanctioned 520 vessels so far for carrying Russian oil. These sanctions include the prohibition of insurance provision to these vessels. The UK and our partners continue to consider strengthening sanctions on Russian energy exports, should Russia refuse to engage meaningfully in peace negotiations, building on the existing OPC and sanctions on all Russian oil majors.

What steps he is taking to ensure that military veterans can report sexual abuse to their local police force in the first instance, regardless of where the alleged abuse occurred in the UK.

A military veteran may report an alleged sexual offence to either their local police force in the UK or the Defence Serious Crime Command. Where it is an offence that may be dealt with in either the civilian criminal or Service Justice Systems, decisions are made on a case-by-case basis as to whether a civilian police force or the Defence Serious Crime Command should investigate the matter, taking into account the views of the victim.

How much funding his Department has provided for Wexham Park Hospital since July 2024.

Wexham Park Hospital is managed by the Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust (NFT), which received funding from several national capital programmes in 2024/25, including £1.1 million as part of our Critical Infrastructure Risk funding to address backlog maintenance at Wrexham Park Hospital.In the current year 2025/26, the Frimley Integrated Care Board (ICB) will receive £10.1 million from our £750 million Estates Safety Fund to address critical infrastructure and safety risks at Wexham Park Hospital and Frimley Park Hospital.The Frimley ICB has also been provisionally allocated £27.3 million from the Constitutional Standards Recovery Fund to support performance across secondary and emergency care, and £1.2 million from the Primary Care Utilisation and Modernisation Fund for improvements in the primary care estate in 2025/26.Alongside funding for national capital programmes, the Frimley ICB and providers have been allocated £43.9 million in operational capital funding, including primary care business-as-usual capital, for 2025/26, to be prioritised according to local needs. For the 2026/27 to 2029/30 period, the Frimley Health NFT have been allocated £142.9 million in operational capital funding.

What her Department's policy is for vessels identified within UK territorial waters as sailing under a false flag.

The United Kingdom recognises the importance of all vessels complying with international maritime law and we are concerned by the rise of ships without nationality. We are determined to continue to uphold international maritime law and to challenge abusive flag practices.

Who is the Chief Risk Officer for national security risks relating to the work of their Department.

Secretaries of State and Accounting Officers are ultimately responsible for all risks a Department owns. Each risk in the National Risk Register (NRR) has a designated Risk Owner, working within the Lead Government Department which is responsible for designated risk areas.

Media and Sport, who is the Chief Risk Officer for national security risks relating to the work of their Department.

At DCMS, the Chief Operating Officer is the Chief Risk Owner for National Security Risks.