Written questions by Dhesi.

What estimate he has made of the proportion of British-made steel procured by the UK defence industry in the last year.

The UK steel sector provides vital support to the UK’s defence capabilities. Steel used in our major Defence programmes is sourced by our prime contractors from a range of UK and international suppliers, as programmes may often have requirements for specialist steel which cannot be sourced in the UK. The amount and origins of steel procured for Defence programmes is included in the Department for Business and Trade’s annual Steel Public Procurement report which can be found on the gov.uk website: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/steel-public-procurement The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is developing a Defence Industrial Strategy that will align this Government’s national security and economic priorities. This will include a review of the UK’s approach to critical supply chain elements, such as steel, alongside reviewing and reconfirming the areas where the UK needs to retain sovereign production capacities onshore. The Government will also bring forward a new cross Government Steel Strategy which will establish a long-term vision for the industry, promoting long-term growth, that aligns with wider priorities, including the trade strategy, Strategic Defence Review and the upcoming Modern Industrial Strategy.

What the average waiting time was to resolve urgent repairs requested for service family accommodation in the last 12 months.

The average response time to resolve urgent repairs requested for Service Family Accommodation from April 2024 to March 2025 is below: MonthAverage Response Time In HoursApril 202438.48May 202437.99June 202433.50July 202438.10August 202440.43September 202438.35October 202440.98November 202438.26December 202436.30January 202540.86February 202536.05March 202538.39 Please note, the Department can only provide data up to the last quarterly period which ended in March 2025.

Whether he is taking steps to increase domestic steel production capabilities for products required by the UK defence industry.

The UK steel sector provides vital support to the UK’s defence capabilities. Steel used in our major Defence programmes is sourced by our prime contractors from a range of UK and international suppliers, as programmes may often have requirements for specialist steel which cannot be sourced in the UK. The amount and origins of steel procured for Defence programmes is included in the Department for Business and Trade’s annual Steel Public Procurement report which can be found on the gov.uk website: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/steel-public-procurement The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is developing a Defence Industrial Strategy that will align this Government’s national security and economic priorities. This will include a review of the UK’s approach to critical supply chain elements, such as steel, alongside reviewing and reconfirming the areas where the UK needs to retain sovereign production capacities onshore. The Government will also bring forward a new cross Government Steel Strategy which will establish a long-term vision for the industry, promoting long-term growth, that aligns with wider priorities, including the trade strategy, Strategic Defence Review and the upcoming Modern Industrial Strategy.

What recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of financial support available to pensioners for dental treatment.

There are a range of exemptions to National Health Service dental patient charges for those who need the most financial support. 48.6% of courses of dental treatment were delivered to adults and children who were exempt from charges in 2023/24. Eligibility for free NHS dental care includes people who are being treated in an NHS hospital by the hospital dentist, although patients may have to pay for any dentures or bridges. Treatment is also free for people receiving certain benefits, including Income Support and Pension Credit. Support is available through the NHS Low Income Scheme for those patients who are not eligible for an exemption or a full remission of dental patient charges. Further information about support with NHS dental patient charges is available from the following link: www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/dentists/dental-costs/get-help-with-dental-costs

What recent steps he has taken to improve access to dental appointments in (a) Slough constituency and (b) Berkshire.

The Government plans to tackle the challenges for patients trying to access National Health Service dental care with a rescue plan to provide 700,000 more urgent dental appointments and recruit new dentists to areas that need them most. To rebuild dentistry in the long term, we will reform the dental contract with the sector, with a shift to focus on prevention and the retention of NHS dentists.The responsibility for commissioning primary care services, including NHS dentistry, to meet the needs of the local population has been delegated to the integrated care boards (ICBs) across England. For the Slough constituency and Berkshire, this is the NHS Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West ICB.ICBs have been asked to start making extra urgent dental appointments available from April 2025. The NHS Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West ICB is expected to deliver 15,454 additional urgent dental appointments as part of the scheme.ICBs have started to recruit posts through the Golden Hello scheme. This recruitment incentive will see up to 240 dentists receiving payments of £20,000 to work in those areas that need them most for three years.

Whether his Department has any plans to review the length of statutory paternity leave.

The Government is committed to making sure that parents receive the best possible support to balance their work and home lives. The Employment Rights Bill will make Paternity Leave a ‘day one’ Right allowing eligible employees to give notice of their intention to take these entitlements from their first day in a new job.We understand that the parental leave system needs further improvement. That is why we have committed to conducting a review of the system, to ensure it best supports working families.The review will look at Paternity Leave and Pay, and the length of leave available to fathers and partners.

What recent assessment he has made of the affordability of NHS dental treatment for pensioners not in receipt of Pension Credit.

There are a range of exemptions to National Health Service dental patient charges for those who need the most financial support. 48.6% of courses of dental treatment were delivered to adults and children who were exempt from charges in 2023/24. Eligibility for free NHS dental care includes people who are being treated in an NHS hospital by the hospital dentist, although patients may have to pay for any dentures or bridges. Treatment is also free for people receiving certain benefits, including Income Support and Pension Credit. Support is available through the NHS Low Income Scheme for those patients who are not eligible for an exemption or a full remission of dental patient charges. Further information about support with NHS dental patient charges is available from the following link: www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/dentists/dental-costs/get-help-with-dental-costs

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has taken recent steps with international partners to enable (a) the UN and (b) other humanitarian organisations to distribute aid in Gaza.

The UK has taken recent steps with international partners to support humanitarian aid delivery in Gaza. On 19 May, we issued a joint statement with 27 partners calling for the immediate resumption of aid, reaffirming support for the UN and other humanitarian organisations to deliver it independently and impartially. The statement also noted we could not support the new model approved by the Israeli cabinet for delivering aid, which has since been associated with the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. I have consistently called for safe, unhindered access for humanitarian actors and backed the UN's aid proposal, which is grounded in humanitarian principles and includes safeguards against aid diversion. We continue diplomatic efforts to secure sustained access.

With reference to the White Paper entitled Restoring control over the immigration system, published on 12 May 2025, what her planned timeline is for bringing the proposals into effect.

Further details of all the measures announced in the White Paper will be set out in due course, and where necessary, subject to consultation.

Whether she has had discussions with Cabinet colleagues on a cross-government strategy to eliminate period poverty.

We recognise that period poverty is a symptom of the wider pressures of the cost of living, which is why this Government is focussed on raising living standards in every part of the UK, so working people have more money in their pocket, and supporting those most in need. As regards period products specifically, several steps have been taken to improve the overall affordability of products. Since 2021, a zero rate of VAT has applied to all period products, and in 2023 this was extended to cover reusable period underwear. The Government additionally supports a number of schemes so that those in most need can access period products. All women and girls being cared for by the NHS are entitled to be given, on request, appropriate period products free of charge. Similarly, the Department for Education run a scheme to provide free period products to girls and women in their place of study; with all state-maintained primary and secondary schools, and 16-19 educational organisations, eligible.

What recent discussions he has had with ICBs on removing the need for self-funded artificial insemination before accessing NHS-funded IVF.

We expect integrated care boards to commission fertility services in line with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines. NICE is currently reviewing the fertility guidelines and will consider whether the current recommendations for access to National Health Service funded treatment are still appropriate.In the light of broader pressures on the NHS and on-going changes within NHS England, we have been looking again at achievable ambitions to improve access to fertility services and fairness for all affected couples.

What recent steps she has taken to (a) prevent vehicle number plate cloning and (b) support victims.

The cloning and use of false number plates is a serious issue and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency is working with the police and others to improve the identification and enforcement of number plate crime. The law requires anyone who supplies number plates for road use in the UK to be registered with DVLA and for suppliers to carry out checks to ensure that number plates are only sold to those who are entitled to the registration number. Number plate suppliers must also keep records of the number plates they have supplied. Those found to have committed number plate offences can be prosecuted by the police. To help victims of numberplate cloning, the DVLA can, on request, provide a replacement age related registration number.

If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of UK support for the Mozambique Liquefied natural gas project on the UK's international climate commitments.

UK Export Finance is currently in talks with project sponsors and other lenders, including export credit agencies, and other stakeholders, regarding the latest status of the Mozambique LNG project. At present, UKEF is engaged in conducting relevant due diligence which has yet to conclude.UK Export Finance follows internationally recognised frameworks for managing environmental, social & human rights risks and impacts of relevant projects. UKEF will take proper account of relevant factors, including international climate change issues.

If he will review Indefinite Leave to Remain visa fees for family members of non-UK armed forces personnel.

This Government is committed to removing visa fees for non-UK veterans who have served our country for four or more years, and their dependents. The Ministry of Defence is actively working with the Home Office to take this forward.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 10 June 2025 to Question 57318 on Gaza: Humanitarian Aid, if he will publish that letter; and whether he plans to respond to the letter.

The Government has noted the views expressed in the open letter of 26 May 2025 from legal experts concerning the situation in Gaza. As the letter is publicly available on a dedicated website, the Government does not plan to publish it separately. The UK addressed the concerns raised through a public statement issued on 27 May 2025, reaffirming our opposition to the expansion of Israeli military operations in Gaza and call for immediate, unhindered humanitarian access. We continue to engage with a wide range of stakeholders, including legal experts, on the legalities and operational challenges involved in doing so.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of smartphone bans in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools on educational attainment.

Mobile phones have no place in our schools.Schools should prohibit the use of mobile phones and other smart technology with similar functionality to mobile phones throughout the school day, including during lessons, the time between lessons, breaktimes and lunchtime, as set out in the ‘Mobile phones in schools’ guidance, published in 2024.The department expects all schools to take steps in line with this guidance to ensure mobile phones do not disrupt pupils’ learning.New research from the Children’s Commissioner, with responses from nearly all schools and colleges in England, shows that the overwhelming majority of schools – 99.8% of primary schools and 90% of secondary schools – already have policies in place that limit or restrict the use of mobile phones during the school day.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his US counterpart on the legality of the arrangements to distribute privatised humanitarian aid in Gaza.

The UK continues to work with international partners, including the United States, to ensure aid can flow into Gaza and secure a lasting peace in the region. We are grateful to the US for their efforts to secure a ceasefire and we will continue to support them. We have been clear that we do not support any aid mechanism that seeks to deliver political or military objectives or puts vulnerable civilians at risk. We call on Israel to urgently engage with the UN to ensure a return to delivery of aid in line with humanitarian principles. We endorse the plan for delivery of aid put forward by the UN on 16 May which is based on humanitarian principles, has built in mitigations against aid diversion and uses established mechanisms to deliver at the scale required.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 2 June 2025 to Question 53139 on Ministry of Defence: Weapons, whether he is taking steps to help ensure (a) that weapons exported to Israel for defensive purposes cannot be used for offensive purposes and (b) compliance with international law on arms exports.

There are currently no extant export licences for use in military operations in Gaza. This is subject to the specific measures taken to protect the global F-35 programme. The action we have taken, as announced to Parliament, is consistent with all our legal obligations, including those under the Arms Trade Treaty, and we remain wholly committed to international law.

If he will provide an update on surveillance flights over Gaza in the last month.

Since December 2023 the Ministry of Defence has conducted surveillance flights within the airspace over Israel and Gaza, solely for the purpose of locating hostages. I am unable to comment further on detailed intelligence matters.

What information his Department holds on the number of (a) weapons, (b) munitions and (c) other arms exported to Israel in each of the last four months.

DBT does not hold records of final exports of strategically controlled goods, and the fact that a licence is granted does not mean that an export takes place. For specific trade goods export data, I recommend referring to HMRC.DBT publishes data on export licences issued for military and dual-use equipment. The most recent publication covers the quarter up to December 2024. This data is available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/strategic-export-controls-licensing-data.The Export Control Joint Unit (ECJU) has also expanded this publication to include an ad hoc statistics release relating solely to Israel licences, the most recent publication of which was up to 6 December 2024 and can be accessed at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/export-control-licensing-management-information-for-israel/israel-export-control-licensing-data-6-december-2024.