Written questions by Morton.

With reference to her Department's Statement of changes to the Immigration Rules, HC 733, published on 12 March 2025, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to the Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme on the number of Ukrainian children able to come to the UK.

The minor changes to the Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme (UPE) set out in the statement of changes to the Immigration Rules laid on 12 March 2025, will not impact the number of children able to come to the UK.UPE, which opened to applications on 4 February 2025, enables Ukrainians and their eligible family members who are already in the UK with Ukraine scheme permission, or Leave outside the Rules in certain circumstances, to apply for a further 18 months' temporary permission in the UK.The Homes for Ukraine scheme remains open, uncapped and free of charge for Ukrainians in need of sanctuary to apply to come to the UK.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his counterpart in the Cayman Islands on the effectiveness of (a) the implementation of sanctions against Russia and (b) the delivery of Operation Hektor.

The effective implementation of sanctions against Russia is a UK Government priority. The British Overseas Territories' critical role was discussed at the November 2024 Overseas Territories Joint Ministerial Council. I also thanked the Premier of the Cayman Islands for their continued collaboration, where Cayman has frozen assets worth approximately US$8.35 billion. Operation Hektor coordinates sanctions work across the Cayman Islands Government and is an excellent example of best practice. We recently convened sanctions experts from across the Overseas Territories to share best practice and strengthen collective efforts.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will convene a meeting of his international development minister counterparts to discuss the situation in Chad.

The Foreign Secretary is looking to convene Foreign Ministers in London this spring to galvanise international efforts to bring an end to the conflict in Sudan and get aid to those who need it most, including in eastern Chad. Attendees include regional countries such as Chad, major donors, and multilaterals. The UK's former development Minister also convened a meeting of Development Ministers in February alongside the Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, to explore how we can accelerate the UN-led international humanitarian response and better coordinate donor advocacy and engagement in response to the situation in Sudan and the wider region, including Chad.In January this year, the Foreign Secretary became the first British Foreign Secretary to visit Chad. He met with the President and Foreign Minister to discuss the situation in Chad, a country that has received almost one million refugees from Sudan since the conflict started. These refugees live alongside Chadian host communities who themselves need humanitarian assistance. That is why the £40 million we have provided to Eastern Chad this year supports both refugees and host communities.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what proportion of Official Development Assistance funding to Sudan has been spent on Sudanese refugees in Chad.

Since the start of the conflict in Sudan, almost one million people have crossed the border into Chad which now has Africa's largest refugee caseload. On average, 200 people each day seek safety in Chad from Sudan. In January, whilst in Chad, the Foreign Secretary announced a doubling of aid to Sudan with an overall allocation of £226.5 million for financial year 2024/25. We have also provided over £40 million this financial year to address humanitarian needs in eastern Chad among refugees and host communities which has benefited 300,000 people with food assistance.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the risks of (a) radicalisation and (b) human trafficking to children not in school in Sudan.

The conflict in Sudan is having a devastating impact on children. An estimated 17 million children are out of school and children comprise over 50 per cent of Sudan's 8.8 million caseload of internally displaced persons. We urge the warring parties to take every precaution to safeguard the wellbeing of children. And we will push hard for those suspected of targeting, abusing or exploiting children to face justice, including through our position on the United Nations Security Council.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to support frontline workers in Sudan working to (a) immunise and (b) educate children.

The conflict in Sudan is having a devastating impact on children. Malnutrition rates are at critical levels and an estimated 17 million children are no longer attending school. The context for children will worsen as the fighting continues. This financial year (2024/25) the UK will provide £226.5 million in life-saving aid towards the crisis. As part of this, we support the United Nations Children's Fund who are providing lifesaving nutrition programmes and immunisations to some of the most vulnerable children in Sudan. The UK supports Education Cannot Wait, providing safe learning spaces and psychological support to 200,000 vulnerable children in refugee and host communities in Chad, Ethiopia, Libya, South Sudan, Central Africa Republic and Uganda. We are also one of the largest donors to the Global Partnership for Education who are delivering urgent support to children across Sudan.  The UK is also a major donor to the UN-led Sudan Humanitarian Fund (SHF) which provides support to local and national responders, Emergency Response Rooms (ERRs) and a consortium of international non-governmental organisations. These frontline workers are also working on healthcare and education provisions across Sudan.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what (a) support, (b) funding and (c) capacity building his Department is providing to Sudanese civil society organisations.

This financial year (FY) the UK will provide £226.5 million towards the crisis in Sudan. UK funding is delivered through key UN agencies such as the World Food Programme and UNICEF. We are also one of the largest donors to the UN-led Sudan Humanitarian Fund which provides support to local and national responders, Emergency Response Rooms and international non-governmental organisations. The majority of the UK's work with national civil society actors has been paused following the outbreak of hostilities. In Darfur the UK continues to support local conflict mitigation initiatives via national organisations.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment has he made of the potential implications for his policies of the risks to displaced people in Sudan of (a) human trafficking and (b) exploitation for crime.

We are concerned by reports of the increasing prevalence of human trafficking as a result of the conflict in Sudan. The UK continues to prioritise the protection of civilians and we are taking action on this agenda. In November 2024, the Minister for Africa chaired a meeting of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to address the plight of Sudanese civilians. The UK tabled a UNSC resolution on protection of civilians in Sudan which Russia vetoed. We will continue to use our position on the UNSC and as leader of the Core Group on Sudan at the UN Human Rights Council to keep a spotlight on, and take actions in response to, the appalling human rights situation in Sudan.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of (a) seasonal weather changes, (b) road closures and (c) border closures on (i) the delivery of and (ii) access to humanitarian aid in Sudan.

Road and border closures continue to impede the delivery of and access to humanitarian aid in Sudan. The continued obfuscation of humanitarian aid into and across Sudan is causing huge suffering for civilians The upcoming rainy season will further complicate the already dire operating context for relief agencies. The upcoming Foreign Secretary-led Sudan Conference in London we hope will re-energise efforts to coordinate international action on humanitarian access, including border closures.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps is he taking to (a) support and (b) strengthen the UN Fact-Finding Mission for the Sudan.

Human rights violations and abuses by all sides in Sudan's brutal conflict must be investigated impartially. In October 2023 in support of this objective, the UK led work at the United Nations on the resolution that established the Fact-Finding Mission (FFM). Its mandate was extended in October 2024 with an increased majority as a direct result of UK-led advocacy. The FFM published its first report in September 2024 and concluded there are reasonable grounds to believe that violations of international humanitarian and human rights law by both warring parties constituted war crimes and, in the case of the Rapid Support Forces, additionally crimes against humanity.  To amplify these findings the Minister for Africa hosted a roundtable in Geneva in February where experts from the FFM briefed member states about the situation in Sudan to increase understanding regarding the atrocities being perpetrated. The FFM is the most effective mechanism to support accountability in Sudan. The UK will strongly support its expected mandate renewal later this year in voting at the Human Rights Council.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to help support the UN fact finding mission to collect and preserve evidence of potential human rights and international humanitarian law violations in Sudan.

UK-led lobbying at the United Nations Human Rights Council in October 2024 directly led to the UN Fact-Finding Mission (FFM) securing a mandate extension with an increased majority. The Minister for Africa hosted a roundtable in Geneva in February where experts from the FFM briefed member states about the situation in Sudan to increase understanding regarding the atrocities being perpetrated. This year we will provide roughly £1 million to support the Centre for Information Resilience (CIR), a research body gathering open-source evidence about the conflict in Sudan with a view to supporting future accountability. The CIR has been able to assist the FFM in verifying reports of violations through its use of digital information. Human rights violations and abuses by all sides in Sudan's brutal conflict must be investigated impartially. The FFM is the most effective mechanism to support accountability in Sudan. The UK will strongly support its expected mandate renewal later this year in voting at the Human Rights Council.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to support capacity building with local partners in Sudan to support displaced people.

The humanitarian crisis in Sudan is the most severe and largest globally. The conflict has caused significant levels of forced displacement with more than three million Sudanese refugees seeking safety in neighbouring countries and a further 8.8 million people internally displaced within Sudan. This financial year (2024/25) the UK will provide £226.5 million in life-saving aid towards the crisis. Since the conflict started more than 2.5 million people have received UK funded humanitarian aid. Local organisations are an important part of our humanitarian response and UK funding has contributed to building their capacity through partnerships with the United Nations and international non-governmental organisations. These local organisations are continuing to provide critical support and assistance to displaced people across Sudan.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the proposal to reduce official development assistance to 0.3% of gross national income on the level of funding he plans to provide to Sudan in the 2025-26 financial year.

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. 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 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, when he plans to publish information on the level of funding he plans to provide to Sudan in the 2025-26 financial year.

Addressing the humanitarian crisis in Sudan remains a priority for the Prime Minister and Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Ministers. The UK has been a longstanding and major humanitarian donor to Sudan with £226.5 million allocated in Financial Year 2024/25 towards the crisis. 2025/26 budgets are now being finalised, and we will share information in due course.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the oral statement by the Prime Minister of 25 February 2025 on Defence and Security, Official Report, column 634, what steps he plans to take to provide humanitarian support in Sudan; and which aid programmes will continue to operate.

The Sudan conflict has created the largest and most severe humanitarian crisis in the world with over 30 million people in need of assistance. UK funded organisations are providing life-saving assistance in Sudan and to those who have sought refuge in Chad and other neighbouring countries. This financial year (FY) the UK will provide £226.5 million towards the crisis. This funding includes support to key UN agencies such as the World Food Programme (WFP) and UNICEF who are providing critical food assistance and other support. We are also one of the largest donors to the UN-led Sudan Humanitarian Fund (SHF) which provides support to local and national responders, Emergency Response Rooms and international non-governmental organisations. The UK continues to support the International Committee of the Red Cross, including their work on emergency preparedness and response, protection of civilians, and providing life-saving healthcare across Sudan. Once budgets for FY 25/26 have been finalised we will be able to share information about those programmes that will continue.

Pursuant to the Answer of 11 March 2025 to Question 36082 on Neighbourhood Policing: Finance, how much and what proportion of the funding allocated for the financial year 2025-26 has been allocated to cover the increase in employer National Insurance contributions.

The Government is committed to delivering our Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, and that is why we have committed £200 million to kickstart the increase of 13,000 neighbourhood officers in communities across England and Wales by the End of this Parliament.Our approach to delivery in 2025-26, which will be year 1 of a 4-year programme, is designed to deliver an initial increase to the neighbourhood policing workforce in a manner that is flexible and can be adapted to the local context and varied crime demands.Funding for future years beyond 2025-26 will be set out in phase 2 of the Spending Review.Finally, £230.3 million to support forces with the cost of the changes to employer National Insurance Contributions as set out by the Chancellor in the Autumn Budget. This will be allocated by total workforce headcount shares as at 31 March 2024.

How much revenue the Exchequer has raised from the application of VAT to private school fees since 1 January 2025.

The Annex to the Government Response to the Technical Note, Government_Response_to_the_Technical_Note_on_Applying_VAT_to_Private_School_Fees_and_Removing_the_Business_Rates_Charitable_Rate_Relief.pdf, sets out the expected VAT revenue resulting from this measure and the costing methodology. The Government estimates that it will raise £460 million this year, rising to £1,725 million in 2029/30. VAT revenue overall is recognised in the National Accounts on an accruals basis. As set out in the above Annex, the VAT liability in 2024/25 is time apportioned for the implementation date of 1 January 2025. The actual VAT liability reported on VAT returns for any month or quarter will depend on various factors, including the date when schools meet the requirement to register for VAT (if not already registered), and which of the staggered quarterly accounting periods apply to the business. VAT returns are generally due one month and seven days after the end of the accounting period.

Pursuant to the Answer of 11 March 2025 to Question 36079 on Bus Services and Railways: Employers' Contributions, how much and what proportion of the £1 billion additional funding for buses will be spent on the increase to employer's National Insurance contributions.

The £1 billion of funding for buses awarded as part of the Budget includes £712 million allocated to local authorities to support and improve bus services. Local authorities can use this funding however they wish to improve bus services for passengers. In addition, over £150 million is being provided to bus operators to deliver the £3 cap on single bus fares in England outside London throughout 2025, and £243 million is being made available to bus operators through the Bus Service Operators Grant to support services.

What steps she is taking to help improve the effectiveness of the (a) collection and (b) dissemination of neighbourhood crime data.

Information on offences including vehicle-related theft, domestic burglary, theft from the person and robbery of personal property is routinely included in the Office for National Statistics (ONS) Crime Survey for England Wales and by the Home Office from police forces based on crimes reported to the police in England and Wales. The ONS already publishes such data in their quarterly ‘Crime in England and Wales’ statistics release.

Pursuant to the Answer of 11 March 2025 to Question 36079 on Bus Services and Railways: Employers' Contributions, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the planned increase in employer's National Insurance contributions on the (a) operating costs of bus operators and (b) viability of bus routes.

The increase to National Insurance employers’ contributions announced at the Budget is expected to increase bus operator costs, but the Department has made no estimate of the specific costs. We are committed to working with the sector to deliver better bus services for passengers. In the Budget, the government confirmed investment of over £1 billion to support and improve bus services and keep fares affordable. West Midlands Combined Authority has been allocated nearly £50 million of this funding for the 2025 to 2026 financial year to support and improve bus services.