Written questions by Morton.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of local police station closures on (a) response times and (b) public confidence in policing.

It is for Chief Constables and directly elected Police and Crime Commissioners (or equivalents) to make decisions on local resourcing and estates, including police stations. They are best placed to make these decisions based on their knowledge of local need and their experience. Police stations are just one of the ways in which people can access their local police, including reporting online and by phone 24/7 via 999 for emergencies and 101 for non-emergency calls.A key part of the Government’s Safer Streets Mission is focused on restoring neighbourhood policing. As part of this, we have introduced the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, which will ensure that by July, every community will have named and contactable officers dedicated to addressing the issues facing their communities. We have also provided £200 million in FY 2025/26 to support the first steps of delivering 13,000 more neighbourhood policing personnel across England and Wales by the end of the Parliament. This increase in neighbourhood policing, alongside the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, will strengthen the connections between the police and the communities they serve.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the Midlands Rail Hub on (a) journey times, (b) capacity, (c) frequency of services and (d) reliability of services for West Midlands passengers.

Midlands Rail Hub is designed to kickstart economic growth and breakdown barriers to opportunity. It could speed up journey times, provide capacity for hundreds of additional trains into central Birmingham, improve frequency by 50-100% on many corridors, and reliability on trains through New Street, improving journeys across the Midlands and beyond. We are assessing all our investment plans as part of the ongoing Spending Review.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of penalties for fly-tipping in deterring repeat offences.

This Government has not made an assessment of the effectiveness of penalties for fly-tipping in deterring repeat offences. We have committed to forcing fly-tippers to clean up the mess they have created. This will build on the sanctions already available which include fixed penalty notices of up to £1000, seizing and crushing of vehicles involved in fly-tipping and prosecution which can lead to a significant fine, a community sentence or even imprisonment. Defra chaired National Fly-tipping Prevention Group has produced a guide on how local authorities, and others, can present robust cases to court. This is available at https://www.keepbritaintidy.org/national-fly-tipping-prevention-group. We encourage councils to make good use of their enforcement powers, and we are currently seeking powers to provide statutory guidance on fly-tipping enforcement. We have also announced a review of council powers to seize and crush the vehicles of fly-tippers, to identify how we could help councils make better use of this tool.

What additional support his Department plans to provide to vulnerable households facing high winter fuel costs in 2025-26.

The Government believes that our mission to deliver clean power by 2030 is the best way to break our dependence on global fossil fuel markets and protect billpayers permanently. The creation of Great British Energy will help us to harness clean energy and have less reliance on volatile international energy markets and help in our commitment to make Britain a clean energy superpower by 2030. This, combined with our Warm Homes Plan to upgrade millions of homes to make them warmer and cheaper to run is how we will drive down energy bills and make cold homes a thing of the past. The Government recognises that we need to support households struggling with bills whilst we transition to clean power by 2030. This is why we delivered the Warm Home Discount to around 3 million eligible low-income households last winter. We have recently consulted on the expansion of the Warm Home Discount, giving more eligible households £150 off their energy bills. These proposals would bring around 2.7 million households on a qualifying means-tested benefit into the scheme – pushing the total number of households that would receive the discount next winter up to around 6 million. The consultation closed on 24 March and DESNZ is considering the responses received. I have been clear with suppliers that they should do all that they can to support their customers – including vulnerable consumers – who may be struggling with their bills.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential implications for his policies of levels of (a) political freedom and (b) democratic governance in Tanzania, in the context of recent detentions of (i) opposition figures and (ii) activists.

The UK continuously keeps policies regarding partner countries under review, including the implications of domestic political and governance developments. The Minister for Africa will continue to raise specific concerns with his ministerial counterparts.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assistance his Department is providing to UK nationals affected by recent arrests in Tanzania.

The UK is committed to its obligations under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations and consistently provides consular support to British Nationals as required. We have not received reports of arrests of British Nationals in connection with wider political events in Tanzania.

If she will make it her policy to establish a national statutory inquiry into grooming gangs.

The Government is committed to getting to the truth of both historical and current group-based child sexual exploitation or grooming gangs offending, to ensure that perpetrators are punished and to deliver justice and accountability for victims and survivors.We will set our next steps to tackle this heinous offending when we publish Baroness Casey’s audit in the coming weeks.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with Commonwealth partners on the potential impact of the situation in Tanzanian on that county's role in the Commonwealth.

The UK continues to engage with members of the international community, including Commonwealth partners, on specific developments in Tanzania, including the detrimental impact a decline in governance would have on mutual growth and prosperity.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the political situation in Tanzania on UK-Tanzania (a) trade, (b) aid, (c) diplomatic engagement and (d) other relations.

The UK continuously keeps bilateral relations and national interests under review with partner countries throughout the world.We are following political developments in Tanzania, and when required, the our High Commission raises specific areas of concern with the Government of Tanzania.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support (a) human rights and (b) civil society organisations operating in Tanzania.

The UK has recently launched the Wajibika programme in Tanzania which aims to empower Tanzanian citizens and promote inclusive and effective civic space, political inclusion and address media freedom and access to information.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the availability of commercial insurance for UK companies seeking to operate in Ukraine on British trade and investment in the region.

Limited availability of insurance to operate in Ukraine is a market access barrier for businesses to export, invest or operate in Ukraine. The expertise and global reputation of the London Insurance sector has continued to mobilise international support to increase risk coverage for real sector and trade finance under the 2023 London Conference Framework for War Risk Insurance.In March, Minister Doughty and I joined an international roundtable hosted by Lloyds of London to maintain momentum and encourage insurance companies to reconsider the Ukrainian market. UK Export Finance (UKEF) continues to provide risk insurance for UK exporters trading with Ukraine.

With reference to the Minister of State for Europe, North America and Overseas Territories' Oral Statement of 15 May 2025 on Sanctions Implementation and Enforcement, Official Report, columns 524-526, what role the Office of Trade Sanctions Implementation will play in any proposed changes to the sanctions implementation and enforcement framework.

The Office of Trade Sanctions Implementation (OTSI) was established on 10th October 2024 with new powers to strengthen the implementation and enforcement of trade sanctions. OTSI is working with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and other relevant departments to take forward the conclusions of the cross-Government review of sanctions implementation and enforcement announced by the Minister for Europe on 15th May 2025.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with (a) the trustees of Chelsea Football Club, (b) his Portuguese counterpart and (c) the European Commission on the proceeds of the sale of that club.

The Government is determined to see the proceeds from the sale of Chelsea Football Club reach humanitarian causes in Ukraine, following Russia's illegal full-scale invasion.We are deeply frustrated that it has not been possible to reach agreement on this with Mr Abramovich so far.While the door for negotiations will remain open, we are fully prepared to pursue this matter through the courts if required, to ensure people suffering in Ukraine receive the benefit from these proceeds as soon as possible.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what his target date is for distributing the proceeds from the sale of Chelsea Football Club; and how he plans to allocate those funds.

The Government is determined to see the proceeds from the sale of Chelsea Football Club reach humanitarian causes in Ukraine, following Russia's illegal full-scale invasion.We are deeply frustrated that it has not been possible to reach agreement on this with Mr Abramovich so far.While the door for negotiations will remain open, we are fully prepared to pursue this matter through the courts if required, to ensure people suffering in Ukraine receive the benefit from these proceeds as soon as possible.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the oral contribution from the Minister of State for Sanctions Implementation and Enforcement on 15 May 2025, Official Report, col 525, when he plans to update the House on how a new joint sanctions intelligence function fit into the existing intelligence framework.

In the conclusions of the sanctions enforcement review, the Government committed to explore options for more effective join up on intelligence, including the merits of a new joint sanctions intelligence function. This scoping will take place during the current financial year. I will keep the House updated on progress in implementing the review conclusions.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Minister for Europe, North America and Overseas Territories' Oral Statement of 15 May 2025 on Sanctions Implementation and Enforcement, Official Report, columns 524-526, what his planned timetable is for publishing a new enforcement strategy.

In the conclusions of the sanctions enforcement review, the Government committed to publish a government-wide sanctions enforcement strategy. The development of this strategy will take place during the current financial year. I will keep the House updated on progress in implementing the review conclusions.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps he is taking to ensure that Hamas has no role in the future governance of Gaza.

Recovery and reconstruction efforts in Gaza must be based upon a solid political and security framework acceptable to both Israelis and Palestinians, which provides long-term peace and security for both Israelis and Palestinians alike. We are clear that Hamas must neither govern Gaza nor be a threat to Israel anymore. We explicitly support the central role for the Palestinian Authority and the implementation of its reform agenda. To that end we are working with international counterparts to support the Arab Plan for Gaza reconstruction and strengthen the Palestinian Authority.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help support diagnostic testing of fevers in countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The UK Government through the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is a long-term supporter of Product Development Partnerships to develop novel health technologies for diseases where commercial markets fail. This support has led to the development of diagnostics for sleeping sickness, malaria, tuberculosis and COVID-19. Additionally, the UK's current £1 billion pledge to the Global Fund supports testing, treatment, and prevention initiatives across Sub-Saharan Africa and strengthens health systems, helping countries prevent, prepare for, and respond to pandemics. Programmes supported by the Global Fund performed 335 million malaria tests in 2023. Through our £1.65 billion investment in Gavi, the vaccine alliance from 2021-25, the UK is supporting the vaccination of 300 million children, and the procurement and distribution of yellow fever and cholera diagnostic tests. Finally, our £95 million Tackling Deadly Diseases in Africa programme (TDDAP) is strengthening national public health surveillance and laboratory systems to better detect and respond to public health threats and outbreaks in Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Uganda and DRC.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of UK-based research and development into neglected topical diseases on (a) global health security and (b) jobs in the UK.

Investment in UK based neglected diseases research and development (R&D) has led to many groundbreaking innovations which have helped to improve and save many lives around the world. On global health security - work on early candidates for malaria vaccines by scientists at Oxford's Jenner Institute laid the foundations for the development of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine candidate for COVID-19. The successful roll out of this vaccine has helped to save millions of lives and generated significant societal and economic value. Investment in UK based R&D has also delivered multiple economic benefits by catalysing private investments and boosting other economic activity.

What assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the levels of knife crime in the West Midlands in the last five years.

Halving knife crime over the next decade is a key part of the Government’s Safer Streets Mission and driving down serious violence across the UK, including in the West Midlands, will play a key role in meeting this ambition.In the West Midlands, the government has allocated c.£3.7m for the Hotspot Action Fund in 2025-2026 to deliver high visibility patrolling and problem-oriented policing tactics in the areas with the highest densities of knife crime and Anti-Social Behaviour (‘hotspots’).We routinely monitor police recorded crime data trends for all forces. West Midlands Police recorded 4,664 offences involving a knife or a sharp instrument in the year ending December 2024, a 12% fall compared with the previous year (5,323 offences). The fall was driven by a 14% fall in knife-enabled robbery (from 2,684 to 2,309 offences) and a 11% fall in assault with injury and assault with intent to cause serious harm (from 1,952 to 1,730).Through our Young Futures Programme, the Government will introduce Prevention Partnerships across the country, including in the West Midlands, to intervene earlier and ensure that children and young people who are vulnerable to being drawn into crime are identified and offered support in a more systematic way.As we continue to design the Young Futures Programme, we want to ensure that it learns from and builds on the work of the Violence Reduction Units (VRUs) in this regard. In 2025/26 we are investing £47m via the Home Office in core grant funding to VRUs, including making over £4.3m available to the West Midlands VRU this year.This funding will support the delivery of a range of early intervention and prevention programmes such as youth workers in hospital settings (A&E Navigators), social skills training, and tailored support to individuals at risk of involvement in gangs and county lines to divert young people away from crime.A further £14.3m in grant funding has been made available across all 43 local policing body areas to deliver the Serious Violence Duty with £254k available to the West Midlands.Additionally, we have launched the Knife Enabled Robbery (‘KER’) Taskforce, focusing on reducing KER in the highest volume police force areas, including the West Midlands. The Taskforce identified school-age KER as a specific operational challenge and has worked with the Department for Education and school leaders to tackle it by developing bespoke “KER school action plans”.To ensure community leaders, campaign groups, families of those who have tragically lost their lives to knife crime and young people who have been impacted are involved in our plans, the Prime Minister launched the Coalition to Tackle Knife Crime in September 2024. The Coalition contributes to policy development in key areas. I (Minister for Crime Prevention and Policing) have attended several coalition meetings since it was founded, chairing its most recent meeting. The Coalition has discussed key policy issues, including the online sale of knives, child criminal exploitation and the banning of ninja swords.To date, we have implemented a ban on the sale and possession of zombie-style knives and zombie-style machetes and a ban on ninja swords will come into effect from 1 August. We are planning an expanded surrender scheme in July to allow those who currently own dangerous weapons to hand them in safely and securely.In the Crime and Policing Bill 2025, we are increasing the penalties for illegal sales of knives, creating a new offence of possessing a knife with the intention to commit unlawful violence and are giving the police a new power to seize knives when they believe they are likely to be used in connection with unlawful violence.