Written questions by Chamberlain.

How many applications were rejected under the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (a) Pathway 1, (b) Pathway 2 and (c) Pathway 3 in each month since August 2021.

The Afghan Resettlement Programme (ARP) brings together existing Afghan resettlement schemes into a single, efficient pipeline. Further information about this is available on GOV.UK at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/afghan-resettlement-programme. The Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) is not application based. Eligible people are prioritised and referred for resettlement under its 3 pathways, and further information about the scheme can be found on GOV.UK at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/afghan-citizens-resettlement-scheme. Whilst the Home Office has not published the specific information requested, our latest Afghan resettlement operational data publication (found on GOV.UK at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/afghan-resettlement-programme-operational-data/afghan-resettlement-programme-operational-data) shows that since the end of Op Pitting (in August 2021) up until the end of December 2024 we have welcomed around 34,940 people to safety from Afghanistan and the region. This includes 31,944 individuals who have been resettled under the ARP.* The operational data publication also shows that we have so far granted Indefinite Leave to Remain to:9,784 under ACRS Pathway 11,247 under ACRS Pathway 21,594 under ACRS Pathway 3 Further statistics on individuals resettled or relocated under the Afghan schemes are available in the latest Immigration System Statistics release published on 27 February 2025. This can be accessed on GOV.UK at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release.

What recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of airport expansion on the ability of the UK to meet its net zero targets.

The government is committed to reaching net zero by 2050 and meeting our climate change obligations, as set out in the Climate Change Act. Delivering greener transport to help make Britain a clean energy superpower is a Department for Transport priority. We have been clear that any airport expansion proposals will need to demonstrate they contribute to economic growth and can be delivered in line with the UK’s legally binding climate change commitment. DfT analysis shows that we can achieve aviation net zero 2050 under a range of assumptions about future technology development without the Government needing to intervene directly to limit airport expansion.

What steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues on improving support for unpaid carers.

Supporting unpaid carers is a cross-Government issue which requires cross-Government support. I recently met with the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Employment Rights, Competition and Markets in the Department for Business and Trade and the Minister of State for Social Security and Disability in the Department for Work and Pensions to look at how we can work together more closely to support unpaid carers.The Government has already taken steps to support unpaid carers. From April 2025, we are increasing the Carer's Allowance weekly earnings limit from £151 a week to £196. This means carers can earn up to £10,000 a year whilst still retaining Carer's Allowance; this is approximately an additional £2,000 a year.The Government recognises the challenges facing the adult social care system. That is why the Government is launching an independent commission into adult social care as part of our critical first steps towards delivering a National Care Service.The commission will start a national conversation about what working age adults, older people, and their families expect from adult social care, including exploring the needs of unpaid carers who provide vital care and support.The Government is also committed to reviewing the implementation of Carer’s Leave and examining the benefits of introducing paid Carer’s Leave.

If he will take steps to ensure that the cross-government delivery plan for ME/CFS establishes a common UK-wide approach.

The final delivery plan for myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome, will cover the population of England only.However, due to the United Kingdom-wide nature of this issue, we have maintained engagement with the devolved administrations during the analysis of the consultation responses on the interim delivery plan, as well as on the ongoing development of the final plan.We will continue to work closely with those devolved administrations to ensure that policy development and learning across the UK’s nations is shared.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to stop the escalation of violence in Juba, Sudan.

On 16 and 17 January, violent protests and looting of Sudanese businesses took place in Juba and across South Sudan. Security forces rapidly managed to restore calm but around 10,000 people were displaced and an unknown number killed. The protests were triggered by reports (including footage circulated on social media) of South Sudanese civilians being killed by allied militias of the Sudanese Armed Forces in Wad Madani, Sudan. Working with partners, the Foreign Secretary is determined to re-energise a political process on ending the Sudan conflict, protecting civilians, and getting aid to where it is most needed. The UK has also raised the importance of ensuring the protection of all civilians with the transitional government of South Sudan. This includes my visit to South Sudan in August 2024 where I pressed the South Sudanese Government to make progress towards peaceful, credible and inclusive elections, emphasising the need for political dialogue to ensure peace and stability.

How many Parliamentary Private Secretary position holders have changed roles since September 2024.

Details of changes to Parliamentary Private Secretary post holders since the September 2024 list was published will be included in the next list when it is published on gov.uk.

If he will publish a list of Parliamentary Private Secretaries.

A list of Parliamentary Private Secretaries was published by the Cabinet Office in September 2024 on gov.uk and is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/list-of-parliamentary-private-secretaries-pps-september-2024. It will be updated periodically.

Pursuant to the Answer of 18 November 2024 to Question 13623 on Agriculture: Inheritance Tax, whether she has made a comparative assessment of the potential impact of (a) agricultural property relief and (b) business property relief on tenant farmers in Scotland compared to the rest of the UK.

The Government published information about the reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief at www.gov.uk/government/publications/agricultural-property-relief-and-business-property-relief-reforms. It is expected that up to around 2,000 estates will be affected by the changes to APR and BPR in 2026-27, with around half of those being claims that involve AIM shares. Almost three-quarters of estates claiming agricultural property relief (or those claiming agricultural property relief and business property relief together) are expected to be unaffected by these reforms. In accordance with standard practice, a tax information and impact note will be published alongside the draft legislation before the relevant Finance Bill.

Pursuant to her answer of 12 September 2024 to Question 4167 on Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority: Staff, how many in-person inspections were carried out by GLAA officers on farms in Scotland in each of the last five years.

The GLAA has conducted, at minimum, the following number of inspections on farms in Scotland over the last 5 years:2019 – 52020 – 102021 – 222022 – 72023 – 7These figures include compliance and enforcement inspections, as well as joint inspections with other enforcement bodies, such as UKVI.In England and Wales, the GLAA has responsibilities to investigate reports of Modern Slavery. In Scotland, the primacy for this lies with Police Scotland but the GLAA support this activity to target, dismantle and disrupt serious and organised crime.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take steps to phase-out the use of (a) glyphosate and (b) other pesticides in public spaces.

It is for each local authority to decide the best way of delivering effective and cost-effective weed control in its operations without harming people or the environment. We are working with stakeholders in the sector to increase awareness and uptake of Integrated Pest Management to reduce reliance on chemical pesticides.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answers of 15 October 2024 to Questions 7849 and 8458 on Cats: Animal Breeding, whether his Department plans to include cat breeding in his Department's post-implementation review of the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018.

Defra’s post-implementation review of the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 considers whether the Regulations have met their original objectives, their impact and effectiveness, including in relation to the protections provided to cats. The review will be published in due course.

If the Government will publish a summary of the first meeting of the Council of the Nations and Regions.

The inaugural Council of the Nations and Regions met on 11 October in Edinburgh to discuss growth and investment. On 17 October the UK Government published the Terms of Reference for the Council and a communique summarising the discussion. A communique will be published following each meeting of the Council, which can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/council-of-the-nations-and-regions-inaugural-meeting.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure welfare standards in cat breeding.

Under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 (the Regulations), anyone in the business of breeding and selling cats as pets needs to have a valid licence issued by their local authority. Licensees must meet strict statutory minimum welfare standards which are enforced by local authorities who have powers to issue, refuse, vary or revoke licences. Defra has been working on a post-implementation review of the Regulations. This review considers whether the Regulations have met their objectives, and where there could be scope to further improve the protections they provide.

With reference to paragraph 30 of Lord Darzi’s report entitled Independent investigation of the National Health Service in England, published in September 2024, if he will (a) make an assessment of the adequacy of support provided to unpaid carers and (b) take steps to improve support provided to unpaid carers.

Lord Darzi’s independent review of the National Health Service is clear that a fresh approach to supporting and involving unpaid carers is required to improve outcomes for carers, people needing care and the NHS. We will carefully consider these findings as part of our 10-year plan for reforming and modernising the NHS and as we develop plans to reform adult social care, including through the National Care Service.This Government recognises the scale of the reforms needed in social care. That is why we will engage widely with a range of stakeholders, including unpaid carers, to ensure their voices are heard as we develop plans to create a National Care Service. The Government are also committed to reviewing the implementation of Carer’s Leave and examining the benefits of introducing paid Carer’s Leave. We will also keep Carer’s Allowance under review to ensure it meets its objectives.

What assessment she has made of the adequacy of the Institute of International Finance and OECD's debt transparency initiative; and whether she has had discussions with relevant stakeholders on the adequacy of the information on lending activities provided by private creditors to that Initiative.

The UK is a strong advocate for enhancing debt transparency including for private sector debt. As part of this, we supported the Institute of International Finance (IIF) and OECD Debt Transparency Initiative, set up in 2021, and the IIF’s Voluntary Principles for Debt Transparency, which underpinned it. The UK has taken a lead in ensuring its own lending is transparent and meets G20 best practice, publishing details of all new direct lending quarterly and the stock of debt owed to the UK annually. The UK continues to engage closely with the private sector and other relevant stakeholders through international fora, such as the Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable, to promote the importance of transparency, and to explore ways to build on and improve existing efforts.

If he will make an assessment of the potential impact on human health of updating the Clean Air Act 1993 in line with World Health Organisation air quality guidelines published in 2021.

The Government is committed to cleaning up our air and protecting the public from the harms of pollution and plans to introduce a comprehensive Clean Air Strategy which will include a series of interventions to reduce emissions, and in turn everyone’s exposure to air pollution.There are currently no plans to undertake a general assessment of the potential impact on human health given that it is already well established that even low concentrations of air quality pollutants are likely to be associated with adverse effects on health. Therefore, continued reductions, even where concentrations are below the air quality guidelines, are likely to be beneficial to health.

What steps she is taking to help support young carers in full-time education to access financial support.

The department is dedicated to making education fairer for all. Funding is provided to educational institutions to administer discretionary 16-19 bursaries for vulnerable students, including those who may have caring responsibilities. Additionally, young carers under 18 and their families have the right to request a holistic assessment of their support needs, ensuring the whole family receive coordinated support from their local authority wherever necessary. The department continues to encourage schools and local authorities to work closely with young carers and families to identify their needs and provide tailored support for them, ensuring they do not miss out on vital educational opportunities.

With reference to her Department's guidance on Universal Credit and earnings, updated on 13 May 2024, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of changes to Universal Credit payments in an assessment period with two paydays, for claimants who are paid four-weekly, on levels of (a) poverty, (b) debt and (c) food bank usage among such claimants.

No impact assessment has been made on changes to the Universal Credit assessment periods or payment structures. However, the Government is committed to reviewing Universal Credit so that it makes work pay and tackles poverty.

Whether her Department plans to respond to the consultation entitled Modernising support for independent living: the health and disability green paper, which closed on 22 July 2024.

The consultation on Modernising support for independent living: the health and disability green paper ran for 12 weeks and closed on Monday 22 July. There were over 16,000 responses to the consultation, which demonstrates the depth of feeling about the previous Government’s proposals. I can confirm that responses to the set of proposals on the reform of Personal Independence Payment were mixed and for some proposals consistently negative. We do not intend to publish a response to the previous Government’s consultation. We will be considering our own plans for social security in due course and will fulfil our continued commitment to work with disabled people so that their views and voices are at the heart of all that we do.

What steps his Department is taking to help support NHS staff who are also unpaid carers.

There are a number of initiatives in place to help support National Health Service staff who are balancing their jobs with caring responsibilities. Sections 33 and 34 of the NHS Terms and Conditions of Service (Agenda for Change) Handbook sets out the provisions required to support staff who have caring responsibilities for children and adults. These provisions were negotiated and agreed with trade unions. Further information on the handbook is available at the following link:https://www.nhsemployers.org/publications/tchandbookThis includes the requirement for employers to have a local policy in place which emphasises the benefits of balancing work and personal life, staff rights to request flexible working arrangements, and for employers to reasonably consider any such requests.NHS England provides policy and guidance to support unpaid workers and includes the National Flexible Working People Policy Framework that sets out the right for everyone to request flexible working from day one of employment. This framework is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/national-flexible-working-people-policy-framework/#:~:text=What%20is%20flexible%20working.%20In%20the%20NHS%20everyone%20has%20theAdditional support for unpaid carers also includes special leave policies which enable staff to take emergency leave for caregiving responsibilities at short notice. NHS staff are able to access the Carer Passport Scheme which helps identify staff as carers to ensure support and reasonable adjustments are put in place. Further information on the scheme is available at the following link:https://www.carersuk.org/help-and-advice/guides-and-tools/what-is-the-carer-passport-scheme/#:~:text=A%20Carer%20Passport%20is%20a%20record%20that%20identifiesThere are also flexible retirement options in place to allow carers to reduce their hours or take phased retirement. NHS England also committed to and promoted the five days of unpaid carers' leave allowance stipulated in the Carer’s Leave Act 2023, which came into force on 6 April 2024.