Written questions by Morton.

What steps her Department is taking to ensure that inflation on essential food items does not disproportionately impact low and middle income households.

Food prices in the UK are a function of a variety of factors including international agricultural commodity prices, the exchange rate and energy prices. The government is committed to helping those in need due to the rising cost of living. An uplift to the Universal Credit Standard Allowance will see it rise to 5% above inflation by 2029-30. The government is also investing £1 billion a year (including Barnett impact) in a multi-year settlement for crisis support, which includes funding for councils to support some of the poorest households so that their children do not go hungry outside of term time. From the start of the 2026 school year, the government will expand Free School Meals to all pupils with a parent receiving Universal Credit. This puts £500 back into these parents’ pockets every year. In addition, from the start of this academic term, 750 schools are receiving funding to deliver a free breakfast club as Early Adopters, reaching more than 180,000 children and 70,000 pupils from schools in the most deprived parts of the country. The government’s top priority is to deliver strong, sustainable growth that raises living standards across the UK. A growing economy plays a key role in providing greater financial security for households and helping to make food more affordable.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to table 2.6 of HM Treasury's document entitled Spending Review 2025: Departmental Efficiency Plans, published on 11 June 2025, whether he has had discussions with the BBC on proposals for potential costs savings of the BBC World Service.

No decisions have been taken on the World Service Grant-in-Aid funding for the next three years (2026/27 and beyond). This was not settled in the Spending Review and will be determined alongside our other Official Development Assistance and Non-ODA allocations, in the autumn.For the Spending Review, the Treasury asked the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (along with most departments) to identify efficiency savings and to model certain budget scenarios. The request we made - to model scenarios equivalent to flat cash and a 2 per cent per year budget reduction, equating to around £3 million per year - was in line with that Treasury request.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 24 June 2025 to Question 59016 on Development Aid: Education, what his target date is for the publication of the Annual Report and Accounts.

We expect to publish the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's Annual Report and Accounts on the 21 July.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he made of the potential impact changes to the level of UK funding for Gavi on vaccine access in low-income countries.

At the Gavi Summit on 25 June, the Foreign Secretary announced that the UK will invest an additional £1.25 billion in Gavi's 2026 - 2030 programme. This commitment will help deliver Gavi to partner with countries to immunise up to 500 million more children and save up to 8 million more lives. With a smaller aid budget, we are prioritising global health, humanitarian response, and climate and nature - areas where the UK can drive the greatest impact. We are also pushing for multilateral reform to ensure every pound delivers the best outcomes for the world's most vulnerable people.

What progress his Department has made on securing integrated tariff treatment for the Falkland Islands, in the context of the UK-EU reset.

We recognise the challenges these tariffs pose for the Falkland Islands. They stem from the fact the previous Government’s Brexit deal does not cover the Overseas Territories. The EU has been clear that they are not willing to re-open the fundamental terms of that deal. However, the UK and Falkland Islands governments have been working together on supporting the seafood sector, including securing US agreement to consider reducing tariffs on Falklands exports.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Employment Rights Bill on (a) average wages and (b) inflation.

My department has published a set of Impact Assessments that provide a comprehensive analysis on the potential impact of the Employment Rights Bill. This analysis includes con-sideration of impacts on wages and macro-economic impacts. This analysis is available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/employment-rights-bill-impact-assessments This represents the best estimate for the likely impacts, including on wages and the wider economy, given the current stage of policy development. We are refining our analysis as policy development continues, working closely with external experts, businesses and trade unions.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to provide multi-year environmental funding for the Falkland Islands.

Defra primarily supports the UK Overseas Territories, including the Falkland Islands, in protecting their unique biodiversity and natural environments through the Darwin Plus programme. Over the past five years, Darwin Plus has awarded funding to 28 projects benefiting the Falkland Islands, with a total value exceeding £4 million. This includes several multi-year projects. Defra will shortly be finalising plans to fund new Darwin Plus projects, including multiyear projects, across the UK Overseas Territories. Project applicants have been advised to expect updates over the summer. Updates will also be made available on the Darwin Plus website at: www.darwinplus.org.uk.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to paragraphs 2.48 and 2.56 of the Spending Review Departmental Efficiency Plans 2025, what operational reforms will be delivered by the British Council; and what the cost of those reforms will be.

No decisions have been taken for the British Council's Grant-in-Aid funding for the next three years (2026/27 and beyond). This was not settled in the Spending Review and will be determined in the round, alongside our other Official Development Assistance (ODA) and Non-ODA allocations, in the autumn.In the Spending Review, the Treasury asked the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) (along with most departments) to identify efficiency savings and model certain budget scenarios. The request we made of the British Council, to model scenarios equivalent to flat cash and a 2 per cent per year budget reduction, was in line with that Treasury request. No decisions on the British Council's global footprint have been taken.The FCDO is supporting the British Council to deliver a financial turnaround plan to ensure the British Council's finances are returned to a stable footing.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to paragraph 2.54 of the Spending Review Departmental Efficiency Plans 2025, if he will make an estimate of the annual cost of contingent labour costs for digital services.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is implementing a strategy to reduce reliance on contingent labour in digital services. As set out in the Department's internal planning, the annual cost of contingent labour identified for insourcing is estimated at £17.6 million. This forms part of a wider programme to rebalance the workforce and invest in permanent digital, data and cyber capability. The Department is transitioning funding from non-pay to pay to support this shift, with a projected increase in civil servant roles and a corresponding reduction in contingent labour. This approach aligns with the Government's strategic direction to improve efficiency and resilience in digital delivery.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to address pay grade inflation.

All roles advertised in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) are systematically, objectively, and consistently evaluated to ensure there is a fair basis for determining the grading of a role relative to other roles in the organisation and other government departments. Job evaluation and grading conducted by the FCDO supports high-quality and consistent job design, based on objective evidence. Although 'titles' of roles may vary, grading of a position is determined by the responsibilities and job weighting of the role.We are also looking at ways of incentivising staff to stay in grade longer by financial and learning and development means. This will allow staff to develop deep knowledge and expertise and ensuring they are ready for promotion and able to perform a full range of roles at the higher grade.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of increases in (a) National Insurance Contributions and (b) the National Minimum Wage on food price inflation.

It is in the remit of the Low Pay Commission, who advise the Government on the minimum wage rates, to consider the impact of changes to the minimum wage on inflation, alongside the wider economy and the labour market. The Government knows that employers respond to increases in minimum wage rates in a range of ways, but existing evidence finds that the impact on inflation is small. Additionally, assessments made by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) in March 2025 suggest that policy changes made at the 2024 Autumn Budget will lead to very small increases in CPI inflation, increasing the price level by less than 0.1 per cent by the end of the parliament. Throughout the forecast period, the OBR expect CPI inflation to remain close to the 2 per cent target. The OBR does not publish estimates of the impact of policy changes on food price inflation.

Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with food retailers on the prices of (a) staple food items, (b) cereal, (c) milk, (d) butter and (e) beef.

Ministers and Defra officials regularly engage with food retailers and producers on a wide range of food supply issues, including affordability and access to staple items such as cereal, milk, butter, and beef. These discussions form part of our ongoing efforts to ensure a resilient and fair food supply chain. While pricing decisions remain a matter for individual businesses, we recognise the pressures facing both consumers and retailers. The Government continues to monitor food price trends closely and Defra’s Food Strategy, announced in December, will be considering how easily our citizens can access affordable, safe, nutritious, healthy food and we’ll be working across government and with the food supply chain to find solutions.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of using (a) savings groups and (b) other asset-based community development strategies to complement his wider humanitarian aid objectives.

Community-led approaches are effective and sustainable ways to provide assistance. People in crisis often rely on social support networks and the informal economy to survive. From savings groups and informal credit systems to community food-sharing, these systems can often be more resilient and trusted than formal ones.This is already integrated in our approach; in Yemen our Food Security Safety Nets programme supports Village Savings and Loans Associations to improve individual and community resilience. Our Building Resilient Communities in Somalia programme supports Self Help Groups which include savings and lending alongside wider interventions to foster leadership, social cohesion, and collective action to tackle community challenges and improve livelihoods.We continue to build our knowledge and evidence of these approaches as we support broader reform of the humanitarian system to ensure a more people-centred, inclusive and locally-led response.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Women, Peace and Security National Action Plan, report to Parliament 2024 to 2025, published on 17 June 2025, what steps he is taking to ensure the UK has a leading role in the drafting of the future UN Crimes Against Humanity Convention.

The UK welcomed the United Nations (UN) Sixth Committee's unanimous agreement in November 2024 to move to the negotiation of a legally binding Convention on Crimes Against Humanity. The UK sees real benefit in developing such a Convention, which has the potential to strengthen the domestic and international legal architecture on preventing and prosecuting conflict-related sexual violence and other atrocity crimes. The UK is unwavering in its leadership of the UN's Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda and is committed to accelerating progress on the Crimes Against Humanity Convention through the UN, as outlined in our WPS National Action Plan.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support (a) retailers and (b) hospitality with the potential impact of changes to (i) National Insurance Contributions and (ii) National Minimum Wage on food prices.

ONS data for May 2025 shows CPI food price inflation was 4.4%, up from 3.4% in April 2025. This is due to range of factors, including the strength in some commodity prices, this year’s exceptionally dry spring and geopolitical concerns etc. We have protected the small businesses from the impact of the increase to employer National Insurance by increasing the Employment Allowance from £5,000 to £10,500. This means that 865,000 employers will pay no employer NICs at all this year, and more than half of employers will see no change or will gain overall from the changes to employer NICs that came into effect from 6 April 2025. The National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage is set following a recommendation from the Low Pay Commission. In making that recommendation the LPC is required to take into account the effects of that rate on business, competitiveness the labour market and the wider economy. By seeking expert and independent advice from the Low Pay Commission, we are able to ensure that the right balance is struck between the needs of workers, the affordability for businesses and the impact on the economy As part of the plan for change, the Government is developing a food strategy to transform the food system and make good, healthy food more accessible and affordable and to realise the potential within the food sector itself. We are meeting retail and hospitality representatives regularly as well as others in the food and drink industry, civil society, and citizens to work up shared goals and priorities.

What steps the UK Health Security Agency is taking through Strategic Commissioning Group to support Birmingham City Council in tackling the public health risks associated with household waste.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued standard public health guidance to Birmingham City Council regarding the risks associated with household waste, with the aim of minimising the potential health impacts on residents. This guidance is available on the Birmingham City Council website, at the following link:https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/info/20009/waste_and_recycling/3020/waste_and_recycling_industrial_action_-_faq_for_residents/6The UKHSA is an active member of the multi-agency Strategic Coordinating Group and has contributed to the risk assessment concerning the potential health effects of uncollected waste. The UKHSA will continue providing expert advice and support to Birmingham City Council for as long as necessary.In addition, the UKHSA is closely monitoring infection rates, including leptospirosis, which could be influenced by the accumulation of refuse. As of now, there has been no reported increase in leptospirosis cases among Birmingham residents since the industrial action began.The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Environment Agency have published statutory guidance on the Waste Duty of Care: Code of Practice, which is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/waste-duty-of-care-code-of-practice/waste-duty-of-care-code-of-practice

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to support (a) food producers and (b) suppliers facing rising input costs.

Annual variations in farm input costs are driven by global markets. UK fertiliser farm gate prices are tied to movements in the international market, and UK fertiliser suppliers compete for market share providing the best price they can for farmers. In the 12 months to April 2025, the price index for agricultural inputs decreased by 0.4%. We are also working with colleagues in DESNZ to ensure all farmers can reap the benefits from clean energy. The Government’s Farming Productivity Review is currently being led by Minette Batters and will culminate after 6 months in a report setting out recommendations to Government, industry, and farmers to support profitability in farming.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of using asset-based community development strategies to support displaced people in South Sudan.

In South Sudan, we support the World Food Programme's asset creation and livelihoods interventions, which help local communities to become more self-sufficient and resilient. This includes constructing wells, roads and supporting small businesses. We are also supporting an NGO-led project THRIVE (Transforming Household Resilience Through Inclusive Economic Development in South Sudan), which is helping vulnerable pastoral communities to sustain livelihoods and strengthen the markets they rely on. For example, this includes supporting farmer cooperatives, sustainable tree nurseries and cold storage of fisheries. In addition, we work with the International Organization for Migration to support people displaced by conflict or natural disasters. Together, we help them find safer, more stable places to live and rebuild their lives. These efforts align with our broader objectives of sustainable development and conflict recovery in South Sudan.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to help ensure compliance with the waste carriers, brokers and dealers registration regime.

The Environment Agency (EA) adopts a risk-based approach to monitoring compliance by conducting targeted audits and roadside checks with partners and identifying and auditing high-risk brokers. The EA uses a range of proportionate actions to secure compliance in line with its Enforcement and Sanctions Policy. However, it is acknowledged that the current waste carriers, brokers and dealers regulatory regime is not fit for purpose. We recently announced plans to tighten up the regulation of those who transport and manage waste services, moving them from a light-touch registration system into environmental permitting. This will give the EA a greater range of powers and more resources to be able to take action against those operating illegally. It will also introduce the possibility of up to 5 years imprisonment for those who breach these new laws.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent representations he has made to the Taliban on the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan: and what outcome he has achieved.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) officials regularly speak to the Taliban on the UK Government's priorities, including women's rights in Afghanistan, most recently in June. Ministers do not engage with the Taliban. The Foreign Secretary condemned the erosion of women and girls' rights in the appalling "vice and virtue" law introduced in August 2024. The UK Government is working with international partners to maintain collective pressure on the Taliban to reverse their inhuman restrictions. Upholding human rights and gender equality is not only a moral imperative but also essential for building a stable, inclusive and prosperous country for all Afghans.