Written questions by Morrison.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will recognise Palestine as a state.

We support a two-state solution that guarantees security and stability for both the Israeli and Palestinian people. We must see Palestinians able to live and prosper in their homelands. We oppose moving Palestinians in Gaza to neighbouring Arab states against their will. There must be no forced displacement of Palestinians, nor any reduction in the territory of the Gaza strip. Palestinian civilians should be able to return to and rebuild their homes and their lives. We must give the people of the West Bank and Gaza the political perspective of a credible route to a Palestinian state and a new future, and it needs to be irreversible. Our long-standing position has been that we will recognise a Palestinian State at a time that is most conducive to the peace process.

If she will make an estimate of the number of sole employer self-employed people that may face increased national insurance payments in the next 12 months.

The self-employed do not pay Employer NICs unless they hire employees to work for them. Sole traders who are registered as self-employed will therefore not be paying ER NICs, and therefore not be affected by the changes coming into effect from April 2025.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing an Injury on Duty Award Scheme for members of the emergency services.

The Home Office will continue to consider proposals for new awards for members of the emergency services. It is only right that we recognise the sacrifices made by the emergency services, and it is important to make sure this is done in a proportionate and effective manner.Any official award is a gift from the Government, on behalf of His Majesty The King to recognise individuals within the service. The creation of a new award requires cross Government consensus and approval from the Committee on The Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals (“HD Committee”), before advice is put to HM The King to make his final decision.

What steps he is taking to improve women’s access to healthcare services.

The Government will prioritise women’s health as we reform the National Health Service, ensuring that all women can access the care that they need. We are committed to the Women’s Health Strategy and are continuing work to deliver it. For example, support for pregnancy loss through a full rollout of Baby Loss Certificates, menopause support in the workplace, and boosting women’s participation in research and clinical trials.We have also taken urgent action to tackle gynaecology waiting lists through the Elective Reform Plan. In gynaecology, the plan supports innovative models offering patients care closer to home, and piloting gynaecology pathways in Community Diagnostic Centres for patients with post-menopausal bleeding. Women’s health hubs also have a key role in shifting care out of hospitals and reducing gynaecology waiting lists. As of December 2024, 39 out of 42 integrated care boards (ICBs) reported to NHS England that they had at least one operational women’s health hub. We continue to engage with and encourage ICBs to use the learning from the women’s health hubs pilots to improve local delivery of services to women. Our longer-term priorities for implementing the Women’s Health Strategy will be aligned with the 10-Year Health Plan and our missions.

Food and Rural Affairs, how much the Environment Agency spent on flood defences in Cheadle constituency in the last Parliament.

The Environment Agency (EA) undertook the following activities in Cheadle constituency over the course of the last parliament: Maintenance of 7 debris screens in Cheadle and Gatley. The screens prevent debris from blocking culverts or damaging infrastructure.Weekly maintenance of the debris screens in winter.Refurbishments of Chorlton Drive and Daylesford Road debris screens.o Major refurbishments of Abney Hall and debris screens on Heald Green Brook are planned.Debris walk throughs on Micker Brook, Gatley Brook, Bruntwood Hall Brook twice yearly and on Chorlton Brook and Heald Green yearly.Yearly grass and weed cuts on Gately Brook, Chorlton Brook and Bruntwood Hall Brook.Modelling to update flood risk mapping and flood warnings, covering Micker Brook and Chorlton Brook.Installation of gauge and flood warning area work for Micker BrookInitial appraisal work including of Micker Brook Flood Alleviation SchemeThere are flood defences on sections of engineered high ground on Micker Brook near Councillor Lane, and the River Mersey near Manchester Road. Many of these activities were undertaken across multiple constituencies, meaning that the cost of each cannot be solely attributed to Cheadle constituency. Consequently, the EA cannot provide an exact number spent on flood defences in Cheadle Constituency.

Whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of charging foreign-registered vehicles to use UK roads.

Foreign-registered heavy goods vehicles (HGV) are already charged to use UK roads through the HGV Levy. This is in recognition of the fact that HGVs can cause greater damage to road surfaces than other vehicle types. There are no plans to implement a general road charge for foreign-registered cars, which make up only 0.14% of car traffic on British roads.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of abolishing residential leaseholds.

I refer the Hon Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 21 November 2024 (HCWS244).

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of excluding violent offenders who have breached lifetime restraining orders while in custody from the early release scheme.

Certain offences have been excluded from SDS40. This includes serious violent offences with a sentence of four years or more; specified offences linked to domestic abuse irrespective of sentence length (including stalking, coercive or controlling behaviour and non-fatal strangulation), and sex offences irrespective of sentence length. To keep the public safe, we have kept the measures under review and acted immediately to address a small number of anomalies in the legislation. This means that anyone convicted of a breach of restraining order, breach of sexual harm prevention order, and breach of a stalking protection order would not be released early under SDS40. Any increased risks shown by an offender’s custodial behaviour, such as behaviour that breaches a lifetime restraining order, will inform the licence conditions and risk management plans put in place by Probation practitioners for that offender’s release once they have served the custodial part of their sentence.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking in response to the humanitarian crisis in the Middle East.

The UK remains committed to alleviating humanitarian suffering in the Middle East. A resolution to the conflict in Gaza has been a priority since day one of this government, and we continue to push for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, protection of civilians, and a rapid increase of aid into Gaza. The UK has now announced £112 million for the Occupied Palestinian Territories this financial year, including £41 million for UNRWA, providing vital services to civilians in Gaza and the West Bank, and to Palestinians in Syria, Jordan and Lebanon. £4.5 million of joint UK-Kuwait funding announced in September will help UNICEF deliver lifesaving aid to almost 2.5 million people in Gaza and Yemen. And following the unprecedented events in Syria, on 9 December the Prime Minister announced that the UK is providing an additional £11 million of humanitarian aid for the most vulnerable in the country.

How often she meets senior leaders at Northern Rail to discuss its service delivery in the north of England.

Ministers, and officials from the Rail North Partnership have regular meetings with Northern's management team to discuss how to improve its current performance across its network.

What discussions she has had with specialist schools that deal with children with the most complex disabilities on the increase in employer National Insurance contributions announced in the budget.

The government has agreed that the department will be compensated for the increase in National Insurance Contributions (NICs) paid by state-funded schools, and work is in progress to determine how much the department will receive for those employers within its remit and how that funding will be distributed. The department will engage with key stakeholders on our approach to the NICs funding and will provide more information as soon as is practicable.Compensation for the NICs will be additional to the £1 billion increase to high needs funding announced at the 30 October Budget. Due to timing constraints, NICs funding will need to be provided as a separate grant, alongside the dedicated schools grant, in 2025/26.

Whether she plans to fund a Metrolink extension to Stockport before the end of this Parliament.

The Government is investing in transport improvements across our city regions, including Greater Manchester which is receiving over £1 billion through its City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement. In line with the Government’s commitment to devolution, decisions on where to invest this funding, including whether to extend the Metrolink network, rest with Greater Manchester Combined Authority, in partnership with its constituent local authorities.

Whether her Department has made an impact assessment of changes in the numbers of Police Community Support Officers in Greater Manchester.

This Government wants to ensure that policing has the support that they need so that they can get back to tackling the issues that that matter to the public. That is why we are delivering an additional 13,000 police officers, PCSOs and special constables in neighbourhood policing roles and ensuring every community has a named officer to turn to.We are considering the implementation of our plans around neighbourhood policing and the growth in neighbourhood officers as a key priority. We are doing this alongside key partners across policing to ensure that we deliver an effective plan that delivers the best service for the public.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of making first aid a mandatory part of the national curriculum.

I refer the hon. Member for Cheadle to the answer of 5 November 2024 to Question 11341.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has allocated funding towards the future of Cheadle Train Station.

My department approved the business case confirming £8.3 million of funding for Cheadle Train Station in 2022. This project forms part of the broader £13.9 million Cheadle Town Deal agreed in March 2021. I am pleased to confirm we will continue to honour existing Town Deal commitments. Officials will continue to work closely with Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council and the Department for Transport to progress the delivery of the Cheadle Train Station project.

What his timetable is for providing Bramhall High School with details of (a) funding and (b) a start date for as under the School Rebuilding Programme.

Bramhall High School is currently in the ‘feasibility’ stage of the School Rebuilding Programme. The feasibility will determine the scope of the project, programme and the budget. Once the feasibility is concluded, the department will procure a contractor to undertake the detailed design of the scheme and secure planning permission. The department currently anticipates appointing a contractor in spring 2025 with construction beginning from summer 2026.

Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to publish the 48 local nature recovery strategies; and what steps he is taking with local authorities to help deliver those strategies.

Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRSs) are currently being prepared across England. Responsible Authorities are developing them in collaboration with other public bodies, planning authorities, local partnerships, landowners and managers, as well as Defra group bodies who are providing specialist local support and helping plan for delivery on the ground. LNRSs will be published by responsible authorities. The first LNRS is expected to be published this year with the remainder following in the first half of 2025. Delivery of LNRSs will be encouraged through a combination of legal duties and incentives.

What steps he is taking to prevent trail hunting on land (a) owned and (b) managed by his Department.

This Government was elected on a mandate to introduce the most ambitious plans to improve animal welfare in a generation, including the banning of trail hunting. Licenses to trail hunt on Ministry of Defence (MOD) land are currently under Ministerial review. To date, no licenses to trail hunt on MOD land have been granted for the 2024-25 hunting season, pending Ministerial review.