Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of debt servicing on the ability of low-income countries to fund public services and climate adaptation; and what steps she is taking to support international debt cancellation initiatives.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The UK government is focused on delivering an international financial system that better finances development needs, reduces debt vulnerabilities, and supports relevant countries to be more resilient to shocks, including those caused by climate change and nature loss.

We are working with all our partners to tackle unsustainable debt and ensure all countries can invest and grow. I am co-chairing the 'London Coalition on Sustainable Sovereign Debt', launched in June to work with private creditors on sovereign debt issues, and at the UN Fourth Conference on Financing for Development, the UK co-led the launch of the Debt Pause Clause Alliance. We continue to drive progress in the G20 on strengthening and accelerating debt restructurings via the G20 Common Framework.

The UK government is committed to playing our part alongside other developed countries and providers to deliver our international climate finance commitments, including through our shareholdings at the Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), the largest providers of public climate finance. We are also pushing for new sources of funding such as agreement on the International Maritime Organisation's Net Zero Framework alongside efforts to mobilise more private capital.

In line with the UK's commitment to the OECD's sustainable lending practices, the UK government considers debt sustainability when providing financing, particularly in cases of lending to countries deemed at high risk of debt distress. In such cases, the UK only supports projects in line with limits set by the IMF and World Bank. We also follow best practice under the G20 Official Guidelines on Sustainable Finance, including strong commitments to debt transparency, and recently published our own self-assessment against these guidelines.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of a financial levy on UK industries historically linked to environmental degradation with revenue allocated to affected countries.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government is committed to helping deliver global climate finance, including the New Collective Quantified Goal agreed at COP29 of at least $300bn per year to developing countries by 2035, and responding to the wider call on all actors to increase climate finance to developing countries to £1.3trn per year.

As part of that effort, we are pressing for faster and more ambitious reforms to the global financial system to deliver much more and higher quality climate and development finance. Alongside this, we are supportive of exploring revenue raising mechanisms for climate action.

The Government’s headline carbon pricing measure is the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), a ‘cap and trade’ system setting a declining cap on the amount of greenhouse gases that can be emitted by covered sectors, which include the power sector, energy intensive industries and aviation.

This approach is viewed by the IMF and World Bank as one of the most efficient tools for promoting decarbonisation.

The Government is committed to the ETS until at least 2050. In 2024-25 the UK ETS raised £3.5bn to support public services and other government objectives like net zero.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions her Department has had with international partners on the potential merits of linking debt cancellation to climate adaptation funding for countries facing both high debt burdens and climate-related disasters.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The UK government is focused on delivering an international financial system that better finances development needs, reduces debt vulnerabilities, and supports relevant countries to be more resilient to shocks, including those caused by climate change and nature loss.

We are working with all our partners to tackle unsustainable debt and ensure all countries can invest and grow. I am co-chairing the 'London Coalition on Sustainable Sovereign Debt', launched in June to work with private creditors on sovereign debt issues, and at the UN Fourth Conference on Financing for Development, the UK co-led the launch of the Debt Pause Clause Alliance. We continue to drive progress in the G20 on strengthening and accelerating debt restructurings via the G20 Common Framework.

The UK government is committed to playing our part alongside other developed countries and providers to deliver our international climate finance commitments, including through our shareholdings at the Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), the largest providers of public climate finance. We are also pushing for new sources of funding such as agreement on the International Maritime Organisation's Net Zero Framework alongside efforts to mobilise more private capital.

In line with the UK's commitment to the OECD's sustainable lending practices, the UK government considers debt sustainability when providing financing, particularly in cases of lending to countries deemed at high risk of debt distress. In such cases, the UK only supports projects in line with limits set by the IMF and World Bank. We also follow best practice under the G20 Official Guidelines on Sustainable Finance, including strong commitments to debt transparency, and recently published our own self-assessment against these guidelines.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to encourage private creditors to participate in international debt relief efforts for heavily indebted low-income countries.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The UK government is focused on delivering an international financial system that better finances development needs, reduces debt vulnerabilities, and supports relevant countries to be more resilient to shocks, including those caused by climate change and nature loss.

We are working with all our partners to tackle unsustainable debt and ensure all countries can invest and grow. I am co-chairing the 'London Coalition on Sustainable Sovereign Debt', launched in June to work with private creditors on sovereign debt issues, and at the UN Fourth Conference on Financing for Development, the UK co-led the launch of the Debt Pause Clause Alliance. We continue to drive progress in the G20 on strengthening and accelerating debt restructurings via the G20 Common Framework.

The UK government is committed to playing our part alongside other developed countries and providers to deliver our international climate finance commitments, including through our shareholdings at the Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), the largest providers of public climate finance. We are also pushing for new sources of funding such as agreement on the International Maritime Organisation's Net Zero Framework alongside efforts to mobilise more private capital.

In line with the UK's commitment to the OECD's sustainable lending practices, the UK government considers debt sustainability when providing financing, particularly in cases of lending to countries deemed at high risk of debt distress. In such cases, the UK only supports projects in line with limits set by the IMF and World Bank. We also follow best practice under the G20 Official Guidelines on Sustainable Finance, including strong commitments to debt transparency, and recently published our own self-assessment against these guidelines.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that UK-based private lenders participate in international debt relief initiatives for low-income countries.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The UK government is focused on delivering an international financial system that better finances development needs, reduces debt vulnerabilities, and supports relevant countries to be more resilient to shocks, including those caused by climate change and nature loss.

We are working with all our partners to tackle unsustainable debt and ensure all countries can invest and grow. I am co-chairing the 'London Coalition on Sustainable Sovereign Debt', launched in June to work with private creditors on sovereign debt issues, and at the UN Fourth Conference on Financing for Development, the UK co-led the launch of the Debt Pause Clause Alliance. We continue to drive progress in the G20 on strengthening and accelerating debt restructurings via the G20 Common Framework.

The UK government is committed to playing our part alongside other developed countries and providers to deliver our international climate finance commitments, including through our shareholdings at the Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), the largest providers of public climate finance. We are also pushing for new sources of funding such as agreement on the International Maritime Organisation's Net Zero Framework alongside efforts to mobilise more private capital.

In line with the UK's commitment to the OECD's sustainable lending practices, the UK government considers debt sustainability when providing financing, particularly in cases of lending to countries deemed at high risk of debt distress. In such cases, the UK only supports projects in line with limits set by the IMF and World Bank. We also follow best practice under the G20 Official Guidelines on Sustainable Finance, including strong commitments to debt transparency, and recently published our own self-assessment against these guidelines.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that UK-backed international development finance does not contribute to unsustainable debt in recipient countries.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

The UK government is focused on delivering an international financial system that better finances development needs, reduces debt vulnerabilities, and supports relevant countries to be more resilient to shocks, including those caused by climate change and nature loss.

We are working with all our partners to tackle unsustainable debt and ensure all countries can invest and grow. I am co-chairing the 'London Coalition on Sustainable Sovereign Debt', launched in June to work with private creditors on sovereign debt issues, and at the UN Fourth Conference on Financing for Development, the UK co-led the launch of the Debt Pause Clause Alliance. We continue to drive progress in the G20 on strengthening and accelerating debt restructurings via the G20 Common Framework.

The UK government is committed to playing our part alongside other developed countries and providers to deliver our international climate finance commitments, including through our shareholdings at the Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), the largest providers of public climate finance. We are also pushing for new sources of funding such as agreement on the International Maritime Organisation's Net Zero Framework alongside efforts to mobilise more private capital.

In line with the UK's commitment to the OECD's sustainable lending practices, the UK government considers debt sustainability when providing financing, particularly in cases of lending to countries deemed at high risk of debt distress. In such cases, the UK only supports projects in line with limits set by the IMF and World Bank. We also follow best practice under the G20 Official Guidelines on Sustainable Finance, including strong commitments to debt transparency, and recently published our own self-assessment against these guidelines.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of holding discussions with financial institutions on reparatory (a) funds and (b) initiatives relating to the transatlantic slave trade.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 10 March 2025 to Question 32987.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions her Department has had with international bodies, including the United Nations, on the issue of reparations for historical injustices.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 10 March 2025 to Question 32987.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the role of UK aid in supporting economic and social initiatives aimed at addressing the legacy of colonial exploitation and enslavement.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 10 March 2025 to Question 32987.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions her Department has had with CARICOM member states regarding the ten-point reparations plan put forward by the CARICOM Reparations Commission.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 10 March 2025 to Question 32987.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that funding for programmes supporting women’s and girls’ rights, education, and health is maintained in the current and future aid budgets.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK continues to place women and girls at the heart of our international work, including playing a key role in the global effort to tackle violence against women and girls. We are also continuing to support countries to build resilient and sustainable health systems, and partner with governments to strengthen their own education systems. Detailed decisions on how the ODA budget will be used from 2026/27 to 2028/29 will be announced in due course.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department plans to increase support for women and girls in conflict-affected and climate-vulnerable regions.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK continues to place women and girls at the heart of our international work, including playing a key role in the global effort to tackle violence against women and girls. We are also continuing to support countries to build resilient and sustainable health systems, and partner with governments to strengthen their own education systems. Detailed decisions on how the ODA budget will be used from 2026/27 to 2028/29 will be announced in due course.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions her Department has had with the G7 and G20 on the expansion of the Common Framework for Debt Treatments to provide deeper and more timely debt cancellation for highly indebted countries.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 14 July 2025 to Question HL9091.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions her Department has had with international financial institutions, including the IMF and World Bank, on cancelling or restructuring debt for Global South countries facing economic crises.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 14 July 2025 to Question HL9091.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the feasibility of a UK-supported debt-for-climate swap programme to help low-income countries finance climate resilience projects.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 14 July 2025 to Question HL9091.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions her Department has had with the African Union and CARICOM regarding the role of debt cancellation in broader reparations discussions.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 14 July 2025 to Question HL9091.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to provide financial or technical assistance to nations affected by climate change.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK is a leading player in global efforts to support indigenous communities, and tackle climate change and nature loss, including contributing £40 million to help operationalise the Fund for responding to Loss and Damage in 2025. Our International Climate Finance has helped 137 million people adapt to the effects of climate change, provided 89 million people with improved access to clean energy, and helped to mobilise billions in private investment.

We also continue to support initiatives which strengthen climate resilience in small island developing states (SIDS). This includes the Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub and Commonwealth Investment Network. These initiatives were discussed at the 2025 Commonwealth Trade Ministers Meeting on 25 November.

On proposals for reparations, I refer the Hon Member to the response provided on 10 March 2025 to Question 32987.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department plans to establish a dedicated fund to support nations experiencing climate-related loss and damage linked to the UK’s historical industrial emissions.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK is a leading player in global efforts to support indigenous communities, and tackle climate change and nature loss, including contributing £40 million to help operationalise the Fund for responding to Loss and Damage in 2025. Our International Climate Finance has helped 137 million people adapt to the effects of climate change, provided 89 million people with improved access to clean energy, and helped to mobilise billions in private investment.

We also continue to support initiatives which strengthen climate resilience in small island developing states (SIDS). This includes the Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub and Commonwealth Investment Network. These initiatives were discussed at the 2025 Commonwealth Trade Ministers Meeting on 25 November.

On proposals for reparations, I refer the Hon Member to the response provided on 10 March 2025 to Question 32987.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to support Indigenous communities affected by historic UK-linked resource extraction projects.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK is a leading player in global efforts to support indigenous communities, and tackle climate change and nature loss, including contributing £40 million to help operationalise the Fund for responding to Loss and Damage in 2025. Our International Climate Finance has helped 137 million people adapt to the effects of climate change, provided 89 million people with improved access to clean energy, and helped to mobilise billions in private investment.

We also continue to support initiatives which strengthen climate resilience in small island developing states (SIDS). This includes the Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub and Commonwealth Investment Network. These initiatives were discussed at the 2025 Commonwealth Trade Ministers Meeting on 25 November.

On proposals for reparations, I refer the Hon Member to the response provided on 10 March 2025 to Question 32987.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions her Department has had with international partners on the development of legal frameworks for climate reparations.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK is a leading player in global efforts to support indigenous communities, and tackle climate change and nature loss, including contributing £40 million to help operationalise the Fund for responding to Loss and Damage in 2025. Our International Climate Finance has helped 137 million people adapt to the effects of climate change, provided 89 million people with improved access to clean energy, and helped to mobilise billions in private investment.

We also continue to support initiatives which strengthen climate resilience in small island developing states (SIDS). This includes the Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub and Commonwealth Investment Network. These initiatives were discussed at the 2025 Commonwealth Trade Ministers Meeting on 25 November.

On proposals for reparations, I refer the Hon Member to the response provided on 10 March 2025 to Question 32987.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the UK’s contributions to international climate funds, such as the Loss and Damage Fund, in addressing the environmental harm caused by historical emissions.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK is a leading player in global efforts to support indigenous communities, and tackle climate change and nature loss, including contributing £40 million to help operationalise the Fund for responding to Loss and Damage in 2025. Our International Climate Finance has helped 137 million people adapt to the effects of climate change, provided 89 million people with improved access to clean energy, and helped to mobilise billions in private investment.

We also continue to support initiatives which strengthen climate resilience in small island developing states (SIDS). This includes the Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub and Commonwealth Investment Network. These initiatives were discussed at the 2025 Commonwealth Trade Ministers Meeting on 25 November.

On proposals for reparations, I refer the Hon Member to the response provided on 10 March 2025 to Question 32987.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions her Department has had with Commonwealth nations on climate finance to address the impact of climate change on small island developing states.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK is a leading player in global efforts to support indigenous communities, and tackle climate change and nature loss, including contributing £40 million to help operationalise the Fund for responding to Loss and Damage in 2025. Our International Climate Finance has helped 137 million people adapt to the effects of climate change, provided 89 million people with improved access to clean energy, and helped to mobilise billions in private investment.

We also continue to support initiatives which strengthen climate resilience in small island developing states (SIDS). This includes the Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub and Commonwealth Investment Network. These initiatives were discussed at the 2025 Commonwealth Trade Ministers Meeting on 25 November.

On proposals for reparations, I refer the Hon Member to the response provided on 10 March 2025 to Question 32987.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department plans to take steps with museums and other institutions to repatriate African ancestral remains to their countries of origin.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

Museums are independent of the government and so decisions related to their collections are for their trustees to make. However, DCMS has previously issued Guidance for the Care of Human Remains in Museums which encouraged museums to establish an advisory framework to assist in determining repatriation claims and provided a set of criteria which need to be taken into account in assessing claims. Museums publish their own policies under this guidance. We are considering how best to update the guidance, which is now 20 years old.

A number of museums, working in close partnership with the communities or countries of origin, have returned human remains to communities or countries in Africa, including the National Army Museum returning locks of hair of Emperor Tewodros II to Ethiopia, and Glasgow University’s Hunterian Museum recently returning ancestral remains of six people to South Africa.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the All Party-Parliamentary Group on Afrikan-Reparations's report entitled Laying Ancestors to Rest, published in March 2025, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of banning the (a) sale and (b) public display in UK institutions of African ancestral remains.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Government is aware of the issues this report raises and, whilst no such assessments have been made, The Museums Minister met separately recently with DHSC to discuss options on the sale of human remains following the Minister for Museums, Heritage and Gambling’s commitment in a Lords debate in March.

Under the current framework it is for businesses to decide whether to prohibit sales of human remains, while taking into account provisions in the Human Tissue Act 2004 and their own professional standards. We would however expect those involved to consider the ethical implications of this activity. All human remains should be treated with respect and dignity.

DCMS issued Guidance for the Care of Human Remains in Museums in 2005 which covers the curation, care and display of human remains in museums. We are considering how best to update the guidance, which is now 20 years old.

Museums are independent of the government and are responsible for decisions relating to the care and management of their collections, including the display of human remains, and publish policies on their approach, based on the legal and ethical framework set out in the DCMS guidance.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the All Party-Parliamentary Group on Afrikan-Reparations's report entitled Laying Ancestors to Rest, published in March 2025, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of reviewing the Human Tissue Act 2004 to require the repatriation of human remains over 100 years old.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

Museums are independent of the government and are responsible for decisions relating to the care and management of their collections, including the return of human remains, therefore no such assessment has been undertaken.

However, DCMS has previously issued Guidance for the Care of Human Remains in Museums which encouraged museums to establish an advisory framework to assist in determining repatriation claims and provided a set of criteria which need to be taken into account in assessing claims. Individual museums publish policies on their approach. We are considering how best to update the guidance, which is now 20 years old.

A number of museums, including the Natural History Museum, the Horniman Museum, and the Pitt Rivers Museum, working in close partnership with the communities or countries of origin, have returned human remains.

Separately, the Museums Minister met this month with DHSC to discuss broader issues of human remains including those relating to the Human Tissue Act 2004.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department had held discussions with museums and other cultural institutions on the potential merits of engaging with communities on colonial-era acquisitions and the transatlantic slave trade.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

Museums in the UK are independent from the government and so decisions on engaging with communities are operational matters for them and their trustees to decide.

The Department is in regular contact with our 15 sponsored museums, and as part of this has from time to time had discussions on these issues. The Horniman Museum informed us that it had consulted local communities regarding the Benin Bronzes in its collection, before reaching a decision to transfer legal title to the objects to the Nigerian National Commission for Museums and Monuments.

The Department is working closely with National Museums Liverpool on the development and refurbishment of the International Slavery Museum (ISM), which is being co-produced working closely with Liverpool’s communities, and will include a space for a new National Centre for Teaching Black History.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many U.K.-US working groups currently exist pursuant to the 1958 Mutual Defense Agreement on Atomic Energy Matters; what subjects do they cover; and what is the annual cost of servicing these working groups.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

There are 21 current UK-U.S. Joint Working Groups (JOWOGs), an information exchange arrangement with the U.S. under the Mutual Defense Agreement. The costs of participating in those JOWOGs is not held centrally in the format required and that information could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his department has commissioned an assessment on the compliance of the British use of Epure with Article One of the 1968 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The United Kingdom’s use of the facilities at Epure, constructed under the Teutates programme, is fully compliant with our obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). The Teutates Treaty (Cm 8289) reaffirms the rights and obligations of both the UK and France under the NPT.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what has been the cost of implementation of the Anglo-French TEUTATES treaty since its inception in 2010; and whether French military personnel are based at AWE Aldermaston or AWE Burghfield as part of the treaty.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

I am withholding the cost of the Teutates programme as release would prejudice international relations.

No French personnel, civilian or military, are based at AWE’s Aldermaston or Burghfield sites as part of the programme.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what bi-lateral working groups have been created between AWE and the French counterparts on the development of the Astraea nuclear warhead.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

None. The Astraea nuclear warhead is sovereign to the United Kingdom.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the US Los Alamos National nuclear laboratory and Lawrence Livermore national laboratory have played a role in the research, design or development of the British Astraea nuclear warhead.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

We are working with our U.S. counterparts in the U.S. Navy and National Nuclear Security Administration to ensure the UK replacement warhead remains compatible with the Trident missile. The Astraea warhead will be designed, developed, and manufactured in the UK. It will be housed in the Mk7 aeroshell, as will the U.S. W93 warhead, but the requirements, design and manufacture of the warheads are sovereign to each nation. This is consistent with our obligations under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has assessed the potential merits of (a) introducing National Insurance credits for periods spent in full-time higher education and (b) allowing individuals to make voluntary National Insurance contributions for student-year gaps that fall outside the standard six-year window.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Qualifying years of National Insurance on an individual’s NI record can be built in several ways; by paying National Insurance contributions (NICs) while working (employed or self-employed); by being credited with NI credits; or by paying voluntary NICs.

Individuals can usually pay voluntary NICs for the past six years. This time limit has been in place for over forty years and is a vital part of the National Insurance system. It is in place to prevent individuals from deferring payment until just before they are due to retire and effectively buying an enhanced pension, or a pension from scratch, which would be unfair to the majority who contribute throughout their lives.

In line with legislation, HMRC can only extend the time limit if an individual exercised due care and diligence but due to factors not in their control, they were unable to pay. If they believe exceptional circumstances stopped them from paying, they can ask us to extend the usual six-year deadline.

NI credits recognise the non-financial contributions that individuals make to society and/or the economy. There are no National Insurance credits available to protect a person’s future State Pension entitlement as a result of them being in higher or advanced education.

Most individuals under the age of 50 will only need 35 qualifying years over a possible working life of 50 years to get the full rate of the new State Pension. This flexibility allows individuals to take time out of the workplace, including gap years, without harming their State Pension position.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what consideration his Department has given to aligning the UK’s net zero policies with commitments to communities impacted by historical UK-linked emissions.

Answered by Katie White - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Carbon Budget and Growth Delivery Plan, published on 29 October, sets out how the UK will continue to reduce emissions in line with the landmark 2008 Climate Change Act. In the UK, the Government’s approach to the transition is built on the principle of fairness – for households by ensuring energy security and protecting billpayers, and for workers by ensuring decarbonisation is a route to reindustrialisation. The UK is committed to working with other countries and groups across the world to maintain momentum on climate change, and also to ensure that workers and communities globally benefit from the economic transition to net zero.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to introduce further restrictions on domestic wood burning in urban areas with poor air quality.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Wood burning is a major source of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), especially in urban areas. The Government is currently considering options for reducing the impact of domestic wood burning on people’s health and will consult on measures to reduce emissions from this source.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what has been the cost to date of the Astraea nuclear warhead design and production programme.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The UK’s replacement warhead, Astraea, remains in the concept phase. I am withholding details on cost for purpose of safeguarding national security.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her department has consulted with a) NSPCC, b) Women's Aid, and c) other charities, on the potential implications of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill on children who have been victims of abuse from a parent.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

​​The department has engaged with a number of charities on policies where they have a direct interest, as part of wider consideration of the Bill’s impact on children and families.

We have spoken to the NSPCC on multiple occasions about the Bill and have engaged closely with the Domestic Abuse commissioner on Family Group Decision Making.

Moreover, as part of their consideration of the Bill in the House of Commons, the Public Bill Committee invited written evidence from outside organisations and members of the public and took oral evidence from relevant stakeholders. The NSPCC and a number of other charities provided evidence, which has informed Parliamentary debate and ongoing thinking on the Bill’s measures.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to carry out a data privacy impact assessment for the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The department is ensuring that measures outlined in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill align with data protection principles, as set out in the Data Protection Act 2018, UK General Data Protection Regulations (UK GDPR) and the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025.

The department has met its obligation under Article 36(4) of UK GDPR to consult with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) on relevant measures involving the use of personal data, such as the Children Not in School registers.

The department is engaging with the ICO to ensure that any data protection risks identified are properly mitigated and is carrying out data protection impact assessments, where relevant.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that the history of Britain's involvement in the transatlantic slave trade and colonialism is accurately and thoroughly taught in schools.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The history curriculum includes a statutory time period at key stage 3 titled “ideas, political power, industry and empire: Britain, 1745-1901” which includes the non-statutory example of Britain’s transatlantic slave trade. Due to the flexibility of the history curriculum, these topics can also be taught, where relevant, across the three key stages.

Schools can access resources from bodies such as Oak National Academy, the Historical Association and others to ensure their teaching is accurate and thorough.

In reforming the curriculum following the Curriculum and Assessment Review, we are clear that all pupils should have a robust understanding of our nation’s history.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will publish the details and values of contracts his Department has placed with a) universities and b) private research organisations in respect of work for the Defence Nuclear Enterprise since 2015.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Ministry of Defence (specifically the Defence Nuclear Organisation and Submarine Delivery Agency) has placed 25 contracts at a cumulative contract value of £4.456 million with universities and private research organisations for work relating to the Defence Nuclear Enterprise since 2015. Specific contract details may be exempt from publication due to National Security. Where applicable, contracts have been published and can be found on Contracts Finder. Further details are not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether there are any Australian naval personnel sited at any U.K. Defence Nuclear Enterprise establishment as part of the AUKUS collaboration in nuclear-propelled submarines.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Ministry of Defence is working closely with Australia and the United States under the AUKUS partnership to deliver conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines for Australia. As part of this collaboration, Australian naval personnel are embedded with the Defence Nuclear Enterprise (DNE) including the Royal Navy, Defence Nuclear Organisation (DNO), Submarine Delivery Agency (SDA), and UK Industry to gain the skills and experience required to operate and sustain nuclear-powered submarines. This activity is essential to building Australia's sovereign capability.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the university departments where his Department is currently funding PhD students under the Nuclear Skills Plan working on projects in support of the Defence Nuclear Enterprise.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Ministry of Defence is working jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero to deliver the Nuclear Skills Plan, a collaboration between defence and civil sectors. Through this plan, an additional 26 PhD students have been funded across the Universities of Manchester, Lancaster, Leeds, Liverpool, Sheffield, Strathclyde, Bangor, Bristol, Cambridge, Imperial College London and The Open University, in support of the Defence Nuclear Enterprise.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her department plans to provide Local Authorities with extra funding to support training of social workers and council workers to improve understanding of home education.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The department ran a public consultation on the proposed duties and measures for Children Not in School in 2019. The consultation was open to all to contribute, including academic experts in educational pedagogy, and the department responded in 2022. We have continued to engage with home education experts since then as part of development of the measures for inclusion in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill and on plans for implementation of these post-Royal Assent.

Funding and training will be provided to support local authorities to fulfil their new duties under the Children Not in School measures.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the projected cost of the planned infrastructural improvements at Rosyth Dockyard; whether the improvements will require the removal from the dockyard of radioactively contaminated equipment.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The preliminary plans for infrastructure upgrades at Rosyth Dockyard have been approved and industry has been engaged to begin processing the scheme design. Once the scheme design is complete, final costs for the project will be negotiated. The work will include the requirement to deliver a contingent docking facility for HMS Dreadnought during its sea trials at Rosyth Dockyard.

As part of the Submarine Dismantling Project, infrastructure upgrades at Rosyth will enable the removal and processing of all legacy radioactive waste, including radioactively contaminated equipment, from dismantled submarines. Activity at Rosyth has begun, with HMS Swiftsure being dismantled and a further six decommissioned nuclear-powered submarines awaiting disposal.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her department consulted academic experts in pedagogy in home education on the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The department ran a public consultation on the proposed duties and measures for Children Not in School in 2019. The consultation was open to all to contribute, including academic experts in educational pedagogy, and the department responded in 2022. We have continued to engage with home education experts since then as part of development of the measures for inclusion in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill and on plans for implementation of these post-Royal Assent.

Funding and training will be provided to support local authorities to fulfil their new duties under the Children Not in School measures.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the projected cost of the infrastructural improvements at HMNB Devonport, Plymouth; when is the expected completion date; and whether the improvements involve the removal of radioactively contaminated equipment from the base.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

Current capabilities which would be used to defeat cruise missiles, drone swarms and ballistic missiles include existing Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force capabilities. Type 45 destroyers, Ground Based Air Defence, Combat Air platforms and supporting air defence sensing and command and control, as well as Counter-Uncrewed Air System capabilities would all play a part in a response.

His Majesty’s Government announced a £1 billion UK spend on Integrated Air and Missile Defence in the Strategic Defence Review which will shape future Integrated Air and Missile Defence capability. Further announcement on Integrated Air and Missile Defence investment will be made within the Defence Investment Plan.

We have also recently approved £318 million for dragonfire which will help support protection against air threats with the first system being installed on a type 45 destroyer in 2027.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if the new Establishment Management Plan at HMNB Clyde will address and remedy radioactive leaks into the loch.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The Establishment Management Plan at His Majesty’s Naval Base (HMNB) Clyde does not include actions to monitor and manage any potential discharges of radioactive material into surrounding environments. Its focus is on maintaining safe, secure, and high-quality estate, buildings, and infrastructure. Whilst the Establishment Management Plan is not a nuclear safety document it will be informed by, and take into consideration, regulatory requirements.

While the treatment of radioactive material is outside of the scope of the Estate Management Plan, I can confirm handling radioactive substances safely and securely at HMNB Clyde are of the utmost importance. HMNB Clyde engages frequently with regulators to ensure it is discharging its responsibilities in compliance with regulations concerning the treatment of radioactive materials. There are extant Defence and independent monitoring programmes in place also.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will publish the review made of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) methodology as mentioned has been undertaken last year in the Defence Nuclear Enterprise 2025 annual report.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The United Kingdom has no plans to publish its Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) methodology. The methodology revalidated our approach to warhead design and certification which is, and will remain, in compliance with the CTBT. We ratified the CTBT in 1998 and we are committed to our voluntary moratorium on nuclear test explosions, having ceased nuclear testing in 1991.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of historical UK-linked deforestation and extractive industries on biodiversity loss in the Global South; and whether her Department supports global ecological restoration initiatives.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Global deforestation rates peaked in the 1980s at around 15 million hectares per year, driven by a range of factors, including global demand for agricultural commodities, timber and wood products. Deforestation rates have since declined to around 10 million hectares a year but much more needs to be done to protect forests, which are a vital refuge for biodiversity, support the livelihoods of over one billion people worldwide and are crucial to limiting the damaging effects of climate change.

The UK is supporting efforts to restore critical global ecosystems and is on track to deliver £3 billion in International Climate Finance for nature and biodiversity by March 2026. This includes funding to international initiatives such as the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund, which aims to restore 30 per cent of degraded ecosystems globally by 2030.

Border violence

Professional integrity of BBC journalists

US military build-up in the Caribbean

Right to trial by jury

Thanking postal workers

Supporting shopworkers

Local Healthwatch

Independence of Healthwatch England

Palestine Action

West London Orbital

UK participation in Eurovision Song Contest 2026

Palestine Action hunger strike

Habitat regulations

Domestic Energy Efficiency (Call for Evidence) Bill

Jury trial rights

Independent Office for Police Conduct findings on Norman Bettison

Football Supporters’ Association’s Stop Exploiting Loyalty campaign

Whitkirk Brownies and Rainbows

Literacy and the criminal justice system

Israel’s use of cluster munitions

Support for early years and the National Literacy Trust

Local authority funding (No. 2)

Found: Dame Karen Bradley (Chair); Mr Paul Kohler; Robbie Moore; Margaret Mullane; Peter Prinsley; Bell Ribeiro-Addy