Written questions by Morton.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment her Department has made of the humanitarian situation in Ukraine.

I refer the Rt. Hon Member to the statement on Ukraine made by the Foreign Secretary on 15 October 2025, and the joint statement made by G7 Foreign Ministers following their meetings in Canada on 11-12 November, which has been published on Gov.uk: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/joint-statement-of-g7-foreign-ministers-meeting-in-the-niagara-regionSince February 2022, the World Bank has mobilised nearly $82 billion in support for Ukraine, through a range of financing instruments using a combination of its own and donor resources. The International Monetary Fund currently supports Ukraine through a 4-year Extended Fund Facility, which was approved in March 2023, and has disbursed $10.6 billion as of 30 June 2025. Other multilateral institutions have provided tens of billions of financing since the start of the full-scale invasion, including EU institutions.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure (a) safe and (b) sustained access for aid agencies in (i) El Fasher and (ii) other conflict-affected regions.

I refer the Hon. Member to the responses provided during the Urgent Question debates on Sudan on 30 October and 5 November.

Food and Rural Affairs, for what reason the Extended Producer Responsibility scheme is measured by weight.

In autumn last year my department published an updated assessment of the impact of introducing the Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging (pEPR) scheme on packaging producers as a whole, when the regulations were laid in parliament. This does not include an assessment of the impact on specific materials or sectors; however, Defra has engaged extensively with the glass manufacturing sector to understand the impacts on them. Through modulation, more recyclable materials, such as glass, will benefit from discounted fees, from Year 2 of pEPR (2026/2027).

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what role the UK is playing through the (a) Multi-agency Donor Coordination Platform, (b) Ukraine Recovery Conference process and (c) other international strategies to (i) plan and (ii) coordinate Ukraine’s post-conflict reconstruction.

We are working closely with the EU, G7 and other partners through the Ukraine Donor Platform to align donor assistance with Ukraine's urgent needs, support recovery planning, and support Ukraine's reform ambitions, including progress towards EU accession. We play a leading role on meeting Ukraine's financing needs and strengthening private sector engagement.At the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2025 in Rome, the international community pledged €10 billion in support and agreed over 200 business deals spanning defence and reconstruction. The UK committed up to £283 million in bilateral assistance for 2025/2026 to fund humanitarian, energy, stabilisation, recovery and reconstruction programmes.

With reference to her Financial Inclusion Strategy, published in November 2025, CP 1424, what steps she is taking to help ensure an equitable geographic distribution of the 350 new banking hubs; whether the rollout will prioritise areas that have recently experienced bank branch closures; and what steps her Department is taking to ensure that the new digital pass for identity verification will be accessible for people with limited digital (a) access and (b) literacy.

Earlier this month, I published the Government’s Financial Inclusion Strategy setting out a range of interventions to improve financial inclusion and resilience for underserved groups across the UK. This included a key focus on addressing barriers around access to banking and digital inclusion. Banking is changing, with many customers benefitting from the convenience and flexibility of managing their finances remotely. However, Government understands the importance of face-to-face banking to communities and is committed to championing sufficient access for customers. In addition to traditional bank branches, the financial services industry is committed to rolling out 350 banking hubs across the UK by the end of this Parliament. Over 240 hubs have been announced so far, and more than 190 are already open. Government is working closely with industry on this commitment. The locations of banking hubs are independently determined by LINK, the industry coordinating body responsible for making access to cash assessments. LINK will carry out an assessment wherever a branch closure is announced or if they receive a community request. LINK will recommend appropriate solutions where it considers that a community requires additional cash services. Some of the criteria that LINK considers are whether there is a bank branch remaining, population size, number of shops on the high street, distance to the nearest bank branch, public transport links and vulnerability of the population. In September, the government set out plans for a new government-backed Digital ID scheme. This Digital ID will make it easier for people across the UK to use vital government services, but will also streamline verification processes across private sectors too, such as when opening a new bank account. As part of the government’s forthcoming consultation on the new Digital ID scheme, the government will look at how to make the scheme inclusive, such as by integrating assistive technologies for those with physical or cognitive disabilities, and ensuring that physical alternatives are available for those without smartphones.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to protect UK food security.

We need a resilient and healthy food system, that works with nature and supports British farmers, fishers and food producers. As part of the Government’s Plan for Change we are delivering on the Government’s New Deal for Farmers which includes a raft of new policies and major investment to boost profits for farmers. We've allocated a record £11.8 billion to sustainable farming and food production over this parliament.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to support the use of profits from immobilised Russian sovereign assets held (a) in the UK and (b) internationally to fund Ukraine’s (i) recovery and (ii) reconstruction.

I refer the Rt. Hon Member to the statement on Ukraine made by the Foreign Secretary on 15 October 2025, and the joint statement made by G7 Foreign Ministers following their meetings in Canada on 11-12 November, which has been published on Gov.uk: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/joint-statement-of-g7-foreign-ministers-meeting-in-the-niagara-regionSince February 2022, the World Bank has mobilised nearly $82 billion in support for Ukraine, through a range of financing instruments using a combination of its own and donor resources. The International Monetary Fund currently supports Ukraine through a 4-year Extended Fund Facility, which was approved in March 2023, and has disbursed $10.6 billion as of 30 June 2025. Other multilateral institutions have provided tens of billions of financing since the start of the full-scale invasion, including EU institutions.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much Overseas Development Aid has been provided to Ukraine through the (a) World Bank, (b) International Monetary Fund and (c) other multilateral mechanisms since February 2022.

I refer the Rt. Hon Member to the statement on Ukraine made by the Foreign Secretary on 15 October 2025, and the joint statement made by G7 Foreign Ministers following their meetings in Canada on 11-12 November, which has been published on Gov.uk: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/joint-statement-of-g7-foreign-ministers-meeting-in-the-niagara-regionSince February 2022, the World Bank has mobilised nearly $82 billion in support for Ukraine, through a range of financing instruments using a combination of its own and donor resources. The International Monetary Fund currently supports Ukraine through a 4-year Extended Fund Facility, which was approved in March 2023, and has disbursed $10.6 billion as of 30 June 2025. Other multilateral institutions have provided tens of billions of financing since the start of the full-scale invasion, including EU institutions.

Food and Rural Affairs, what progress she has made on assessing the potential impact of the Extended Producer Responsibility scheme on glass use.

In autumn last year my department published an updated assessment of the impact of introducing the Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging (pEPR) scheme on packaging producers as a whole, when the regulations were laid in parliament. This does not include an assessment of the impact on specific materials or sectors; however, Defra has engaged extensively with the glass manufacturing sector to understand the impacts on them. Through modulation, more recyclable materials, such as glass, will benefit from discounted fees, from Year 2 of pEPR (2026/2027).

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of increases in the cost of glass packaging products on their levels of usage.

In autumn last year my department published an updated assessment of the impact of introducing the Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging (pEPR) scheme on packaging producers as a whole, when the regulations were laid in parliament. This does not include an assessment of the impact on specific materials or sectors; however, Defra has engaged extensively with the glass manufacturing sector to understand the impacts on them. Through modulation, more recyclable materials, such as glass, will benefit from discounted fees, from Year 2 of pEPR (2026/2027).

What discussions she has had with businesses on the potential impact of reductions in levels of relief through business rates relief schemes on those businesses.

The Treasury has engaged with a range of stakeholders on business rates about an array of topics. The Transforming Business Rates: Interim Report brings together extensive feedback from a broad range of stakeholders and outlines the Government’s next steps to deliver a fairer business rates system that supports investment and is fit for the 21st century.As announced at Autumn Budget 2024, the Government will introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure properties with rateable values (RVs) below £500,000 from 2026/27. This permanent tax cut will ensure they benefit from much-needed certainty and support.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 3 November 2025 to Question 84226 on Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, when he plans to communicate to Parliament the conclusion of the multiyear ODA funding allocation process.

The UK announced on 11 November that it will invest £850 million in the Global Fund's Eighth Replenishment. This is expected to save up to 1.3 million lives in the countries where the Global Fund works as well as helping to prevent the spread of diseases to the UK. Decisions on multi-year allocations are being worked through and announcements will be made in due course.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes in territorial control in Sudan on the delivery of humanitarian aid.

I refer the Hon. Member to the responses provided during the Urgent Question debates on Sudan on 30 October and 5 November.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what role the UK is taking through (a) the Multi-agency Donor Coordination Platform for Ukraine, (b) the Ukraine Recovery Conference process and (c) other international efforts to (i) plan and (ii) coordinate Ukraine's post-conflict reconstruction.

We are working closely with the EU, G7 and other partners through the Ukraine Donor Platform to align donor assistance with Ukraine's urgent needs, support recovery planning, and support Ukraine's reform ambitions, including progress towards EU accession. We play a leading role on meeting Ukraine's financing needs and strengthening private sector engagement.At the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2025 in Rome, the international community pledged €10 billion in support and agreed over 200 business deals spanning defence and reconstruction. The UK committed up to £283 million in bilateral assistance for 2025/2026 to fund humanitarian, energy, stabilisation, recovery and reconstruction programmes.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to support international efforts to (a) document and (b) preserve evidence of atrocities committed in (i) El Fasher and (ii) other parts of Sudan; and whether she is providing (A) technical and (B) financial support to organisations engaged in such documentation.

I refer the Hon. Member to the responses provided during the Urgent Question debates on Sudan on 30 October and 5 November.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department plans to introduce further targeted sanctions on (a) individuals, (b) entities and (c) businesses involved in sustaining armed conflict in Sudan.

I refer the Hon. Member to the responses provided during the Urgent Question debates on Sudan on 30 October and 5 November.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of solar farms on levels of food security.

Only 0.1% of land is used for solar, and half of the agricultural land generating solar power is still producing food. Solar farms are not a risk to food security and instead help play an important role in diversifying farm income and decarbonising our economy.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of ring-fencing funding for Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning to (a) maintain accountability and (b) the evidence base for decisions on value for money.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer she received on 6 May 2025 in response to Question 48105.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of her policies on levels of inflation.

HM Treasury does not produce forecasts for the UK economy. Forecasting the economy, including the impact of Government policy decisions, is the responsibility of the independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), which published its latest forecast on 26 March 2025. The Chancellor has asked departments to prioritise reducing inflation when developing policies for the Autumn Budget, ensuring decisions support stability and long-term growth.

What assessment she has made of the potential merits of reducing public expenditure.

The government's fiscal strategy is putting the public finances on a sustainable path while prioritising investment to protect the NHS and support long-term growth. We are relentlessly cutting waste, improving efficiency to make sure every penny of taxpayers' money is spent wisely, and reforming public services to make sure they are sustainable.