Written questions by Dhesi.

Whether she plans to reassess the mileage reimbursement rate.

The Government keeps the Approved Mileage Allowance Payments (AMAPs) rate under review and HMRC use a variety of information in estimating typical motoring costs per business mile. This includes information from the AA, the National Travel Survey, the Association of British Insurers, and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.As with all taxes and rates, the Chancellor makes decisions on tax policy at Budget in the context of public finances.

What recent steps have been taken to prevent knife crime in (a) Slough and (b) the Thames Valley region.

Halving knife crime over the next decade is a key part of the Government’s Safer Streets Mission. Preventing knife crime across the UK, including Slough and the Thames Valley region, will play a key role in meeting this ambition.To date, we have taken action to ban zombie knives and the ban on ninja swords came into force on 1 August 2025 - it is now illegal to sell or own these weapons. We have also implemented, “Ronan’s Law”, a range of measures which will include stricter rules for online sellers of knives.Over £66 million is available to all 43 police force areas to fund the 'Hotspot Action' programme in 2025/26. This includes Thames Valley Police who have been allocated £1.69m for 2025/26. This programme is a combination of increased high visibility foot patrols and funding of problem-oriented policing (POP) tactics. POP is bespoke to the local areas to tackle the underlying drivers of crime using a comprehensive menu of policing interventions, such as increased targeted knife sweeps, and licensed premises checks.Through the Young Futures Programme, the Government will establish Young Futures Hubs and Young Futures Prevention Partnerships across the country, to intervene earlier and ensure that children and young people vulnerable to being drawn into crime are identified and offered support in a more systematic way.As part of this, the Government will pilot new multi-agency Prevention Partnership Panels, led by Violence Reduction Units (VRUs), to identify and refer vulnerable children and young people to a range of support services, including the Young Futures Hubs. More than twenty panels will be up and running in the coming months, across the areas of the country that collectively account for more than 80% knife crime, with more to follow.VRUs bring together partners, including from the voluntary and community sector, to understand and tackle the drivers of serious violence in their area. In 2025/26 the Home Office is investing £1.5m in grant funding to the Thames Valley Violence Prevention Partnership (VPP), alongside £280k to continue the implementation of the Serious Violence Duty. The Home Office has also made additional funding available for the set up of panels.This funding will support delivery of a range of early intervention and prevention programmes, which includes the continuation of a Focused Deterrence intervention in Slough. This project will be targeted to young people who carry knives and provide them with tailored multi-agency support to desist from violence, alongside enforcement measures. Funding will also support the delivery of Operation Deter, which provides support for young people in custody following knife possession offences, helping them access education, mentoring and rehabilitation services.

What recent steps his Department has taken to help mitigate the environmental impact of data centres in (a) Slough and (b) the South East.

The Government’s forecasts for data centre demand to 2030 are consistent with its Clean Power 2030 Action Plan. The Government expects to be able to meet this demand through its plans to increase renewable power capacity, other low carbon generation and flexible and dispatchable power. The Department is working closely with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology in considering potential AI Growth Zone sites and the interaction with delivering our Clean Energy Superpower Mission. The two Departments are jointly running the AI Energy Council, with a meeting and working group on the topic of sustainability currently being set up.

What recent discussions has she had with (a) Cabinet colleagues and (b) motor insurance companies on the prevalence of ghost broking in the motor insurance industry.

All drivers must be insured to drive the vehicle they are using and for the purpose it is used for, and all drivers are subject to roadside enforcement by the police. Consumers should check that the firms they are purchasing insurance from are legitimate, which they can do by searching the Financial Conduct Authority’s Financial Services Register. The Register lists all firms the FCA has approved, as well as firms that may be providing regulated products or services without the correct authorisation (including those deliberately running scams). It includes the different details unauthorised firms give out and whether they’re falsely claiming to be from an authorised firm. The Insurance Fraud Bureau (IFB) has been set up by the insurance industry to share intelligence on insurance claims and to identify dubious and repeated claims. The IFB looks for evidence of organised fraud on industry databases, develops cross-industry intelligence and coordinates investigations between insurers, the police and other agencies. In October 2024, the government introduced a new Insurance Fraud Charter. This is a voluntary agreement between the government and the insurance sector to reduce fraud, designed to identify loopholes in the insurance market, enhance collaboration and criminal justice outcomes, better understand the scale of the problem and improve victim support. Home Office is also working to develop a new Fraud Strategy. The Government regularly engages with a variety of stakeholders on issues relating to motor insurance, including fraud, and committed in its manifesto to tackle the high cost of motor insurance. To deliver on this, the Government formed a cross-government taskforce, co-chaired by the Department for Transport and His Majesty’s Treasury. The taskforce is expected to publish its final report in the autumn.

What steps her Department is taking to assist people impacted by the practice of illegitimate motor insurance.

All drivers must be insured to drive the vehicle they are using and for the purpose it is used for, and all drivers are subject to roadside enforcement by the police. Consumers should check that the firms they are purchasing insurance from are legitimate, which they can do by searching the Financial Conduct Authority’s Financial Services Register. The Register lists all firms the FCA has approved, as well as firms that may be providing regulated products or services without the correct authorisation (including those deliberately running scams). It includes the different details unauthorised firms give out and whether they’re falsely claiming to be from an authorised firm. The Insurance Fraud Bureau (IFB) has been set up by the insurance industry to share intelligence on insurance claims and to identify dubious and repeated claims. The IFB looks for evidence of organised fraud on industry databases, develops cross-industry intelligence and coordinates investigations between insurers, the police and other agencies. In October 2024, the government introduced a new Insurance Fraud Charter. This is a voluntary agreement between the government and the insurance sector to reduce fraud, designed to identify loopholes in the insurance market, enhance collaboration and criminal justice outcomes, better understand the scale of the problem and improve victim support. Home Office is also working to develop a new Fraud Strategy. The Government regularly engages with a variety of stakeholders on issues relating to motor insurance, including fraud, and committed in its manifesto to tackle the high cost of motor insurance. To deliver on this, the Government formed a cross-government taskforce, co-chaired by the Department for Transport and His Majesty’s Treasury. The taskforce is expected to publish its final report in the autumn.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that (a) planning and (b) regulatory frameworks adequately (i) tackle and (ii) mitigate carbon emissions from high-density digital infrastructure.

The way to reduce the carbon intensity of grid-connected digital infrastructure is to reduce the overall carbon intensity of the UK electricity mix. The Clean Power 2030 Action Plan sets out how the Government will achieve this over the next five years, through increasing renewable and other low-carbon generation along with flexible and dispatchable power.

What recent steps his Department has taken to help reduce childhood obesity rates in Slough.

The prevention of ill health is a clear priority for the Government, and a cornerstone of this is supporting children, including those in Slough, to live healthier lives.The 10 Year Health Plan, published on 3 July, sets out decisive action on the obesity crisis. In a world first, we will introduce mandatory healthy food sales reporting for large food businesses and using that reporting, we will set new targets to increase the healthiness of sales.We will also fulfil our commitments to restrict junk food advertising and ban the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to under 16-year-olds. We have given local councils stronger powers to limit school children’s access to fast-food.Officials in the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities’ South East team work closely with local partners, including local authorities and the National Health Service, to support them with local initiatives to promote a healthy lifestyle and tackle obesity.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department has taken with international partners to (a) end and (b) assist victims of sexual violence in conflict-affected areas of Sudan.

The UK is a major humanitarian donor to Sudan. We provided over £235 million last financial year, and a further £120 million this year. We support women and girls through the Sudan Free of Female Genital Mutilation 2 programme. This provides protection, prevention, and care services in response to rising gender-based and conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV). We also support the Women's Integrated Sexual Health programme and fund local responders via the Sudan Humanitarian Fund and the Mercy Corps-led Cash Consortium. This year, the UK PSVI Team is supporting the deployment of a specialist sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) investigator to the UN Fact-Finding Mission (FFM) in Sudan, delivered through our implementing partner UN Women. This contribution supports the UK offer to the FFM and ensures expert input on SGBV to strengthen accountability for conflict-related sexual violence in Sudan. At the UN, the UK has led efforts to spotlight CRSV and other atrocities, including ten Security Council press statements and the renewal of the FFM's mandate.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he has taken with international partners to help end the (a) recruitment and (b) exploitation of children by armed groups operating in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The UK is deeply concerned about the reported increase in human rights violations against children resulting from the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), including the recruitment and use of children by armed groups. We have been clear, including at the UN Human Rights Council on 16 June, that this practice is unacceptable, and we continue to call for all such children to be handed over to child protection actors. All parties to the conflict have an obligation under international law to protect children. We work with the UN and others to promote human rights in DRC, and our Ambassador in Kinshasa and Ministers regularly raise human rights issues with the DRC government. UK humanitarian programming in eastern DRC delivers life-saving emergency assistance, strengthens community resilience, especially for women and girls, and provides essential nutritional support to children.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he has taken with international partners to help prevent human rights abuses in Sudan.

On 13 August, the former Foreign Secretary issued a statement condemning the Rapid Support Force's (RSF) latest assault on El Fasher and the nearby Abu Shouk camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs), and on 14 August, the UK joined 28 partners in a Joint Donor Statement on El Fasher calling for a humanitarian pause and protection of civilians, including humanitarian operations. We stand united in urging both the RSF and Sudanese Armed Forces to uphold their commitments under the Jeddah Declaration and UN Security Council Resolution 2736 (2024), and to allow immediate, unconditional humanitarian access and safe passage for civilians. As penholder at the UN Security Council, we have successfully led ten Council statements calling for an end to hostilities, most recently in a co-penned statement with African partners and Guyana pressing for protection of civilians and improved humanitarian access with respect to international law. On the UN Human Rights Council, we led the establishment and renewal of the UN Fact-Finding Mission to impartially investigate human rights violations and abuses committed by the warring parties. We also support the International Criminal Court's ongoing investigation in Sudan into alleged war crimes committed since April 2023, and the Sudan Witness Project, which gathers open-source evidence of atrocities.

What recent progress his Department has made on exhaust emissions tests on in-service helicopters.

The Ministry of Defence has previously conducted multiple sampling surveys on the, now out of service, Sea King helicopter between 1999 and 2015. These previous surveys found no conclusive evidence to suggest that aircrew were subject to exposure levels above UK and international safety standards. In response to recent concerns regarding the emissions of out of service helicopters, including the Sea King and Wessex, the Ministry of Defence has commenced a programme a programme of exhaust emission substance sampling for its in-service helicopter fleet. Modern helicopters and their engines are developed and certified to recognised standards with stringent emissions requirements and there is no current evidence to suggest personnel are at risk from current in-service helicopters. We are proactively conducting this work to ensure we are meeting our legal duty of care to our people. It is vital we can reassure them of their safety while at work. The testing programme commenced in February 2025 and is ongoing. Throughout, we are balancing the need to conduct testing with the operational requirements and availability of the aircraft.

What recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the number of in-service helicopters' exhaust emissions that have been tested in the last five years.

The Ministry of Defence has previously conducted multiple sampling surveys on the, now out of service, Sea King helicopter between 1999 and 2015. These previous surveys found no conclusive evidence to suggest that aircrew were subject to exposure levels above UK and international safety standards. In response to recent concerns regarding the emissions of out of service helicopters, including the Sea King and Wessex, the Ministry of Defence has commenced a programme a programme of exhaust emission substance sampling for its in-service helicopter fleet. Modern helicopters and their engines are developed and certified to recognised standards with stringent emissions requirements and there is no current evidence to suggest personnel are at risk from current in-service helicopters. We are proactively conducting this work to ensure we are meeting our legal duty of care to our people. It is vital we can reassure them of their safety while at work. The testing programme commenced in February 2025 and is ongoing. Throughout, we are balancing the need to conduct testing with the operational requirements and availability of the aircraft.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent steps he has taken to ensure the safe return of British nationals from countries impacted by airspace closures in the Middle East.

Support to British nationals remains our top priority and we have worked at pace to ensure those who wanted to leave left safely. Consular teams have worked round the clock to support British nationals in the region. As soon as Israeli airspace re-opened UK government charter flights left Israel carrying more than 380 people on six flights. In allocating seats, we prioritised those who were most vulnerable, including those with medical needs, children, and the elderly. Commercial flights are now available.

What discussions she has had with (a) the Payment Systems Regulator and (b) representatives of the payments industry on merchant interchange fees.

The government is committed to ensuring a world-leading payments ecosystem that meets the needs of all businesses and consumers, as reflected in the National Payments Vision. This includes support for regulation of interchange fees. Government ministers and officials meet regularly with payments firms and their representatives on this and other issues. Details of ministerial meetings with external organisations are published on a quarterly basis and available on gov.uk. Domestic interchange fees are capped at 0.2% for consumer debit cards and 0.3% for consumer credit cards. The Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) is responsible for enforcing these caps. The PSR is independent of the Government. However, the Government engages with them regularly on their important work, including on card fees. The PSR has recently conducted a market review into cross-border interchange fees. These are fees charged when an EEA issued card is used to make a purchase from a UK merchant. It published its final report in December 2024 and is now considering its next steps.

Innovation and Technology, whether he has made an assessment of the adequacy of the financial support available for sole traders applying for a patent.

The Government provides a range of support to inventors, including sole traders, so they may identify, protect and commercialise their intellectual property through tools found on GOV.UK.The Government considers the fees charged by the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) to apply for patents to be accessible and comparatively low compared to other jurisdictions.The IPO works in partnership with a range of organisations that can help inventors bring ideas to market. In addition, the UK’s innovation agency, Innovate UK, provides a range of support services to help innovators.

Whether he plans to ban the import of produce from Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

The UK Government has a clear position that Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories are illegal under international law. There are clear risks related to economic and financial activities in the settlements, and we do not encourage or offer support to such activity. Goods produced in these settlements are not entitled to benefit from preferential tariff treatment under the UK’s current trade agreements with the Palestinian Authority and Israel.The overseas business risk guidance, available on gov.uk, provides information for UK operators on how goods from Israel and the OPTs should be handled.

What assessment she has made of the adequacy of the maximum reimbursement limit for victims of authorised push payment fraud.

The Government is committed to tackling fraud and protecting victims from this appalling crime. The Government has committed to introduce a new and expanded fraud strategy to create a unified and co-ordinated response from government, law enforcement and industry to better protect the public and businesses from fraud. In October 2024, the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) introduced a mandatory reimbursement regime for authorised push payment (APP) scams which take place over the Faster Payments system. This requires payment service providers to reimburse victims for losses up to £85,000. The details of the reimbursement regime are a matter for the independent PSR, but it has committed to carry out an independent evaluation of the reimbursement requirement after the rules have been in place after 12 months. The Government has also introduced legislation to allow payment service providers more time to investigate payments where there are reasonable grounds to suspect APP fraud. This gives firms more time to engage potential victims and break the spell of fraudsters. The Government also recognises the importance of working with the technology and telecommunications sectors to prevent fraudsters abusing their platforms and networks. In November 2024, the Chancellor wrote to leading companies in these sectors to challenge them to go further and faster to reduce the scale of incidents and losses from fraud taking place on their platforms and networks. The Government will continue to work with these sectors as part of its upcoming fraud strategy.

What recent steps has he taken to help reduce waiting times for mental health treatment in the South East.

Waiting times for those referred to mental health services are too high all across England, including in the South East.Too many people with mental health issues are not getting the support or care they need, which is why we will fix the broken system to ensure we give mental health the same attention and focus as physical health, so that people can be confident in accessing high quality mental health support when they need it.We are committed to improving mental health care for people with a range of mental health conditions, and to shifting the focus from treatment to prevention, as we make the National Health Service fit for the future.In the Spending Review announcement, we have confirmed that we will fulfil the Government’s commitments to recruit an additional 8,500 mental health staff, to reduce delays and provide faster treatment, by the end of the Parliament, and we will expand mental health support teams in schools in England to cover 100% of pupils by 2029/30.Our reforms to the Mental Health Act will give patients a greater say in their care and will ensure that people get the appropriate and compassionate mental health support they need.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the use of farrowing crates on the welfare of farmed pigs.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 2 April 2025 to the hon. Member for Birmingham Northfield, PQ UIN 41698.

What recent steps she has taken to help protect consumers from authorised push payment fraud.

The Government is committed to tackling fraud and protecting victims from this appalling crime. The Government has committed to introduce a new and expanded fraud strategy to create a unified and co-ordinated response from government, law enforcement and industry to better protect the public and businesses from fraud. In October 2024, the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) introduced a mandatory reimbursement regime for authorised push payment (APP) scams which take place over the Faster Payments system. This requires payment service providers to reimburse victims for losses up to £85,000. The details of the reimbursement regime are a matter for the independent PSR, but it has committed to carry out an independent evaluation of the reimbursement requirement after the rules have been in place after 12 months. The Government has also introduced legislation to allow payment service providers more time to investigate payments where there are reasonable grounds to suspect APP fraud. This gives firms more time to engage potential victims and break the spell of fraudsters. The Government also recognises the importance of working with the technology and telecommunications sectors to prevent fraudsters abusing their platforms and networks. In November 2024, the Chancellor wrote to leading companies in these sectors to challenge them to go further and faster to reduce the scale of incidents and losses from fraud taking place on their platforms and networks. The Government will continue to work with these sectors as part of its upcoming fraud strategy.