Written questions by Morton.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 1 April 2025 to Question 39453 on World Summit for Social Development, what budget was allocated for his Department’s participation in the conference.

The UK continues to engage in preparatory discussions in relation to the second World Summit for Social Development (WSSD). The UK is committed to attending the WSSD in November 2024 and we are working through the UK's delegation, at official and ministerial levels. The budget will be allocated to facilitate the attendance accordingly.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made a recent assessment of the potential merits of making a financial announcement following the Nutrition for Growth summit.

The Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) remains committed to supporting nutrition in our development work.The Minister of State for International Development, Latin America and the Caribbean led the UK's delegation to the recent Nutrition for Growth Summit, and reiterated our commitment to nutrition objectives, particularly integrating nutrition into our wider programming.The FCDO continues to report progress against our financial commitments through its annual Nutrition Accountability Report, as well as through updates to the Global Nutrition Report's Nutrition Accountability Framework.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of demining programmes on (a) the economy and (b) food security.

In countries with significant levels of contamination, demining programmes can have a huge impact on the economy and food security by releasing land for return to productive use. In Ukraine, for example, some 139,000 square kilometres of land need to be surveyed for potential contamination, and an estimated 28,000 square kilometres of agricultural land has been abandoned because of landmines and other impacts of the war. One recent report found that, compared to 2021, mines and explosive ordnance impact Ukraine's GDP by $11.2 billion annually. Until 2022, Ukrainian agricultural products could feed 400 million people around the world annually, so demining in Ukraine affects food security both in Ukraine and globally.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps he is taking to (a) build on and (b) strengthen the 2018 power sharing agreement between President Salva Kiir and Vice-President Riek Machar in South Sudan.

The UK continues to press for implementation of the 2018 power sharing Peace Agreement and a peaceful transition to democracy through peaceful, credible and inclusive elections. On 18 March, we issued a joint statement with likeminded partners offering to facilitate direct dialogue between President Kiir and First Vice President Machar. Following the arrest of First Vice President Machar on 26 March, we joined likeminded partners to call on President Kiir to release First Vice President Machar under house arrest and prevent further escalation on 27 March. We continue to call for all sides to deescalate. The Minister for Development met the South Sudanese Foreign Minister at the Sudan Conference on 16 April and called for the release of First Vice President Machar.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of demining programmes on levels of migration to the UK from countries where those programmes are active.

Migration decisions are often complex and driven by a combination of intersecting factors, so it is challenging to assess the impact of demining programmes specifically on migration to the UK. However, the presence of explosive ordnance acts as a driver of migration by creating an environment of fear, insecurity and physical danger that compels people to flee their homes. Demining is also an enabler of voluntary return; ensuring that land becomes safe again helps people to feel able to return home. Over time, through risk education and demining, humanitarian mine action programmes have a track record of reducing casualties and improving livelihoods, giving people an alternative to onward movement.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 17 February 2025 to Question 28555 on Nutrition for Growth Summit, whether it remains his policy to spend £1.5 billion on nutrition objectives by 2030.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) remains committed to supporting nutrition in our development work. The FCDO will be able to share further details once the Spending Review is concluded.The Minister of State for International Development, Latin America and the Caribbean, led the UK's delegation to the recent Nutrition for Growth Summit, and reiterated our commitments to nutrition objectives particularly integrating nutrition into our wider programming.The FCDO continues to report progress against our financial commitments through its annual Nutrition Accountability Report, as well as through updates to the Global Nutrition Report's Nutrition Accountability Framework.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what criteria he uses to assess whether to withdraw funding from Official Development Assistance programmes in Sudan.

The UK has been a longstanding and major humanitarian donor to Sudan with £226.5 million allocated in the financial year of 2024/25 towards the crisis. The UK also committed a further £120 million in funding which will target over 650,000 people. In his statement to Parliament on Defence and Official Development Assistance spend, the Prime Minister made clear that Sudan would remain a humanitarian priority. The Prime Minister is committed to returning 0.7 per cent spending when fiscal conditions allow. The ongoing obfuscation of relief operations by Sudan's warring parties is imperilling tens of millions of people. More funding is required from across the international community. However, without a step change in access the already dire situation will drastically deteriorate.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking with the science and technology sector to support his international development objectives.

Science and technology are a crucial part of the UK's international development offer, tackling development challenges and innovating and scaling solutions to save and improve lives globally.The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) drives inclusive, responsible, and sustainable development through equitable research partnerships, combining UK science and technology expertise with research ecosystems in the Global South, delivering mutual benefits.The FCDO leverages the UK science and technology sector to deliver the Government's missions and the Foreign Secretary's international development priorities. This includes green and digital technologies, lifesaving vaccines, research on regional peace and security in the Middle East and Ukraine, and innovations to support humanitarian interventions.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 7 April 2025 to Question 42598 on Recycling: Packaging, who is on the steering group; and which specific sectors are represented.

The Scheme Administrator Steering Group has an independent chair, UK Government officials, local authority representation, and business and producer representatives. Please see this GOV.UK page for Scheme Administrator Steering Group membership.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of landmines on the humanitarian situation in north west Syria.

Explosive ordnance continues to pose a significant threat to civilians and humanitarian workers across Syria.We provide funding to the mine action sector via the UK-led Aid Fund for Syria, the UK Global Mine Action Programme and the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 3 April 2025 to Question 41879 on European Political Community, whether (a) staff and (b) Ministers from his Department attended; and what the cost was of participation by his Department.

The next European Political Community summit will take place in Tirana on 16 May. We will be able to share further information about the Summit after it takes place.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of humanitarian aid distribution in (a) Sudan and (b) South Sudan; and what steps he is taking to help improve distribution.

Sudan is in the grip of the most severe humanitarian crisis globally with 30 million people requiring life-saving aid. The ongoing obfuscation of relief operations by Sudan's warring parties alongside continued fighting are imperilling tens of millions of people. During last month's London Sudan Conference, chaired by the Foreign Secretary, attendees agreed to use their influence with the parties, and urged them to lift all impediments, and guarantee safe, rapid, and unimpeded access throughout Sudan for humanitarian supplies and personnel.  At the conference the Foreign Secretary announced a further £120 million in UK funding.South Sudan faces a parallel humanitarian crisis compounded by climate and conflict shocks and exacerbated by the over 1.1 million people fleeing Sudan since the onset of conflict in April 2023, including returnees and refugees. In August 2024, the former Minister for Development visited South Sudan and emphasised to senior South Sudanese ministers the need for effective humanitarian aid delivery. We continue to support the UN Mission in South Sudan, and non governmental organisation partners in their delivery of aid, and urge the government to improve the enabling of humanitarian assistance by reducing bureaucratic impediments, preventing aid diversion, ending unwarranted interference in recruitment, and ensuring safe and free movement of aid workers.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 1 April 2025 to Question 39452 on International Conference on Financing for Development, what budget was allocated for his Department’s participation in the conference.

The UK continues to engage in preparatory discussions in relation to the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4). The UK is committed to attending the FfD4 in June 2025 and we are working through the UK's delegation, at official and ministerial levels. The budget will be allocated to facilitate attendance accordingly.

Communities and Local Government, when recycling services will be restored in Birmingham; and what estimate she has made of the quantity of recycling material in Birmingham directed to landfill since the suspension of those services.

Birmingham City Council plans to restore household recycling collections when the waste dispute is resolved. The City Council has increased the opening hours of its 5 household waste recycling facilities which remain open to households. We understand that no recycling material has been sent to landfill since the suspension of household waste collections.

Communities and Local Government, what discussions she has had with (a) Unite, (b) Birmingham City Council and (c) ACAS to encourage parties to reach a negotiated settlement on the ongoing waste dispute in Birmingham.

The Secretary of State has engaged with Unite and Birmingham City Council to encourage them to get back around the negotiating table. She has not met with ACAS and the Department has not met with Unite. Any talks to settle the equal pay dispute are solely between the employer (Birmingham City Council) and trade union (Unite). The decision to allow a small number of military personnel to provide office based operational planning expertise for a short, time limited period to support the council with making sure its response to the ongoing public health risk is as swift as possible was taken in the first week of the major incident, and they were able to add value in that time which was appreciated by the council and the Department.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to support objective 5 of the Global Compact on Nutrition Integration.

The Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) is seeking to improve finance for nutrition, which is the focus of objective 5 of the Global Compact on Nutrition Integration, which we have developed and led by working with partners in different sectors to integrate nutrition objectives in their policies and programmes. The Coalition which will take forward the Global Compact on Nutrition Integration, provides a platform for engagement dialogue and lesson learning, between partner governments, civil society organisations and existing as well as new funding partners. This includes among others' representatives from multilateral development banks, investors, philanthropy, global health and climate funds. To date, over 80 governments and organisations have expressed their support for the Compact, representing a diverse range of stakeholder groups and sectors.

Communities and Local Government, how many meetings her Department had with Unite between 11 March 2025 and when she decided to use the armed forces to help with waste collection in Birmingham.

The Secretary of State has engaged with Unite and Birmingham City Council to encourage them to get back around the negotiating table. She has not met with ACAS and the Department has not met with Unite. Any talks to settle the equal pay dispute are solely between the employer (Birmingham City Council) and trade union (Unite). The decision to allow a small number of military personnel to provide office based operational planning expertise for a short, time limited period to support the council with making sure its response to the ongoing public health risk is as swift as possible was taken in the first week of the major incident, and they were able to add value in that time which was appreciated by the council and the Department.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the provision of funding for (a) science and (b) evidence-based solutions to support work on nutrition.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) applies a science and evidence-based approach to ensure that our policy and programming maximise value for money and impact. This includes our work on nutrition. This approach also underpins cabinet ministerial discussions and decisions on how to allocate funding for nutrition in the context of the ongoing Spending Review. Nutrition is included in discussions on global health policy and programmes with other government departments. The FCDO will be able to share further details once the Spending Review is concluded.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what UK aid programmes are operating in Ethiopia; and what assessment he has made of the potential impact of changes to Official Development Assistance on these programmes.

The UK supports eight development programmes in Ethiopia. These programmes provide support focussed on health, nutrition, climate resilient water and sanitation services, emergency cash and education. Specific programmes include our humanitarian programme "Ethiopia: Crises 2 Resilience" (EC2R), development programmes such as 'Strengthening Climate Resilient Systems for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Services in Ethiopia (SCRS-WaSH), and governance programmes including our Human Rights and Peacebuilding Programme (HARP). Other global and regional Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office programmes also have a footprint in Ethiopia. Decisions on the impact of changes to the Official Development Assistance budget will be determined as part of the ongoing Spending Review.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the launch of the Global Compact on Nutrition Integration at Nutrition For Growth in Paris, what steps his Department is taking to integrate nutrition objectives into its policies.

The Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) continues to integrate nutrition objectives across its international development policies and programming. This includes application of the OECD Development Assistance Committee Nutrition Policy Marker and the provision of advice and assistance to colleagues across The FCDO's network to strengthen our capability to integrate nutrition in our Official Development Assistance programmes. Progress is assessed by independent experts and published in the FCDO's annual Nutrition Accountability Report. The FCDO will publish the next iteration of the report around June 2025.