Calum Miller

In line with the practice of successive administrations, detailed minutes of ministerial meetings - even those that are declared publicly - are not normally disclosed.

In line with the practice of successive administrations, detailed minutes of ministerial meetings - even those that are declared publicly - are not normally disclosed.

The UK government is committed to monitoring US policies and considering what action is best to promote and safeguard UK business interests.

Between January 2017 and January 2021, we engaged the US administration extensively on a range of US policies, including in the context of UK-US FTA negotiations. Beyond 2021, we have continued engaging with the US to improve access to the US market for UK exporters, including by securing the removal of Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminium products.

The UK government is committed to monitoring US policies and considering what action is best to promote and safeguard UK business interests.

Between January 2017 and January 2021, we engaged the US administration extensively on a range of US policies, including in the context of UK-US FTA negotiations. Beyond 2021, we have continued engaging with the US to improve access to the US market for UK exporters, including by securing the removal of Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminium products.

The UK government is committed to monitoring US policies and considering what action is best to promote and safeguard UK business interests.

Between January 2017 and January 2021, we engaged the US administration extensively on a range of US policies, including in the context of UK-US FTA negotiations. Beyond 2021, we have continued engaging with the US to improve access to the US market for UK exporters, including by securing the removal of Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminium products.

We will publish updated community benefits guidance for onshore wind in England in spring 2025, to clearly set out our expectations on what effective community benefits for communities that host new onshore wind projects should look like.

Solar Energy UK plans to publish its community benefits guidance for solar PV later this year. It will apply on a voluntary basis and provide a benchmark for the solar energy sector.

We have announced bill discounts for new transmission infrastructure projects because many communities will live close to this infrastructure without enjoying the direct, tangible benefits coming from other technologies, such as local jobs and investment.

However, in the Clean Power Action Plan, we made clear that where communities host clean energy infrastructure, we will ensure they benefit from it. There are many options in this area including community funds and shared ownership, which we are exploring.

In the interim, we intend to publish guidance for onshore wind in England and Solar Energy UK has also committed to publishing guidance.

This Government believes that we can only ensure climate security for further generations in the UK if we lead globally. Secretary of State has had a range of engagements with European counterparts on international climate commitments, including at COP29.

BEIS has, and DESNZ continues to, assess the implications of international policy on the UK. The Department works on the basis of its legislative commitment to combating climate change and meeting the UK's Carbon Budgets

There is currently no legal obligation for developers in the UK to provide community benefits However, in the Clean Power Action Plan, we have made clear that in the future where communities host clean energy infrastructure, we will ensure they benefit from it. There are many options in this area including community funds and direct support for households, and we are exploring all options to ensure communities can benefit from our clean power mission. We hope to have more to say on this in due course.

We recognise and value the US as a key partner in R&D and look forward to continuing our collaboration on shared priorities to drive economic growth and technological advancement. Both the UK and US are committed to facilitating the exchange of talent and students to enhance R&D capabilities.

The UK is a leading advocate for human rights around the world, and we remain committed to the promotion of universal human rights. Universities attract international engagement from across the world, and this global reach plays an important part in promoting British values, such as the rule of law and respect for human rights.

Higher education (HE) providers are autonomous bodies, independent from government, and therefore responsible for their own policies and procedures.

However, English HE providers must uphold applicable public interest governance principles, including on free speech, and we expect the sector to be alert to regulatory risks when collaborating with international partners, conducting appropriate due diligence to comply with all legislation, including the Human Rights Act 1998. The Office for Students (OfS) have introduced a further registration condition on harassment and sexual misconduct, which will come into force on 1 August 2025. This condition is important in ensuring HE students are free from harassment and sexual misconduct that would otherwise adversely affect their ability to benefit from their studies.

As the independent regulator, it is the role of the OfS to monitor and assess registered providers’ compliance with all its conditions of registration.

The UK is a leading advocate for human rights around the world, and we remain committed to the promotion of universal human rights. Universities attract international engagement from across the world, and this global reach plays an important part in promoting British values, such as the rule of law and respect for human rights.

Higher education (HE) providers are autonomous bodies, independent from government, and therefore responsible for their own policies and procedures.

However, English HE providers must uphold applicable public interest governance principles, including on free speech, and we expect the sector to be alert to regulatory risks when collaborating with international partners, conducting appropriate due diligence to comply with all legislation, including the Human Rights Act 1998. The Office for Students (OfS) have introduced a further registration condition on harassment and sexual misconduct, which will come into force on 1 August 2025. This condition is important in ensuring HE students are free from harassment and sexual misconduct that would otherwise adversely affect their ability to benefit from their studies.

As the independent regulator, it is the role of the OfS to monitor and assess registered providers’ compliance with all its conditions of registration.

The answers to Written Parliamentary Questions 36322, 36323 and 36324 were published on 20 March 2025.

The department will shortly be finalising business planning decisions on the allocation of the department’s budget for the next financial year. All decisions regarding the future of the adoption and special guardianship support fund (ASGSF), including issues linked to inflation, are being considered as part of these discussions. An announcement will be made as soon as possible. We will always consider the impact of decisions on vulnerable children.

To ensure there are no gaps in therapy, including for children with additional needs, ASGSF applications are generally permitted to extend up to 12 months, allowing children and families to receive continuing therapy across financial years. Where applications are approved, therapy which starts during March 2025 may therefore continue into the next financial year under previously agreed transitional funding arrangements.

The department will shortly be finalising business planning decisions on the allocation of the department’s budget for the next financial year. All decisions regarding the future of the adoption and special guardianship support fund (ASGSF), including issues linked to inflation, are being considered as part of these discussions. An announcement will be made as soon as possible. We will always consider the impact of decisions on vulnerable children.

To ensure there are no gaps in therapy, including for children with additional needs, ASGSF applications are generally permitted to extend up to 12 months, allowing children and families to receive continuing therapy across financial years. Where applications are approved, therapy which starts during March 2025 may therefore continue into the next financial year under previously agreed transitional funding arrangements.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 28 January 2025 to the hon Member for West Dorset, PQ 25127.

The Government plans to publish a 12-week consultation on land use shortly. The consultation will inform the publication of a Land Use Framework, planned for later in the year.

The regions currently experiencing the longest driving test waiting times are London and the South East of England.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) continues to work to attract and recruit more driving examiners (DE) in the London and South East areas.

For recruitment campaigns, DVSA continues to use additional measures when advertising in these areas, such as local managers attending and running recruitment events, and working in local communities, building and fostering relationships to showcase the DE roles.

DVSA has seen success in its recent campaigns for these regions. From these campaigns, 36 candidates have completed DE training successfully and have been placed to their test centre, and a further 19 candidates are currently undertaking training.

From the most recent campaigns, DVSA has a further 26 potential candidates booked for upcoming training courses, with a further 48 currently undergoing pre-employment checks.

There are no backlogs in driving licence renewal applications, which are being processed within published turnaround times.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)’s online services are the quickest and easiest way to renew a driving licence, with customers receiving their licence within a few days of a successful online application.

Driving licence applications where a medical condition must be investigated before a licence can be issued can take longer depending on the medical condition(s) involved and whether further information is required from third parties, for example doctors, other healthcare professionals or the applicant themselves.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer to Question UIN 34908 on 10^th March 2025.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will support the Casey Commission into adult social care – and work closely with the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) – as we take forward the proposals in the Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper.

In the short term, up to £3.7 billion of additional funding will be made available for social care authorities in 2025/2026, including an £880 million increase in the Social Care Grant.

For those who are affected by the new eligibility changes, we are consulting on how best to support this group, including how to make sure health and eligible care needs are met.

The information is intended for publication at a future date.

As the Secretary of State announced on Tuesday 18th March 2025, the equality and poverty impact analysis will be published alongside the spring statement.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) is the United Kingdom’s expert committee that advises the Government on immunisations programmes. In line with JCVI’s advice, the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccination programme for adults turning 75 years old began on 1 September 2024 in England, alongside a one-off catch-up programme to rapidly vaccinate all those already aged 75 to 79 years old. The JCVI considered that there was less certainty about how well the vaccine works in people aged 80 years old and older, as there were not enough people of this age in the clinical trials to be able to see if the vaccines are protective in this age band. The Department will consider any further JCVI advice on who should be offered an RSV immunisation as the committee continues to keep the evidence under review.

A phased expansion of the eligible cohort for the routine shingles vaccination programme began in September 2023. The programme currently includes those aged 50 years old and over who are at increased risk of serious complications, and those turning 65 years old on or after 1 September 2023, as well as those turning 70 years old, as was previously the case. In November 2024, the JCVI provided advice to the Department on eligibility for the shingles vaccination programme. This included advice that the Government should consider expanding the shingles vaccination offer to include older adult cohorts aged 80 years old and over. The Department will consider this advice when setting the policy on who should be offered shingles vaccinations.

The independent Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advises the Department on the approach to vaccination and immunisation. In line with advice from the JCVI, individuals aged six months and over who are immunosuppressed are eligible for a COVID-19 vaccination in the autumn 2024 programme.

On 13 November 2024, the JCVI published advice on the COVID-19 vaccination programme in 2025 and spring 2026. This advice is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-vaccination-in-2025-and-spring-2026-jcvi-advice/jcvi-statement-on-covid-19-vaccination-in-2025-and-spring-2026

On 12 December the Government accepted the JCVI’s advice on spring 2025, including that individuals aged six months and over who are immunosuppressed should be eligible for vaccination in spring 2025.

The Government is carefully considering the advice from the JCVI on COVID-19 vaccination for autumn 2025 and spring 2026, and will respond in due course.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has now approved an adapted version of the Nuvaxovid COVID-19 vaccine that targets the Omicron JN.1 COVID-19 subvariant. The press release is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/mhra-approves-adapted-nuvaxovid-jn1-covid-19-vaccines-for-adults-and-children-aged-12-plus

The UK Health Security Agency is unable to comment on any ongoing procurement activity for future campaigns due to commercial sensitivities.

The Government is committed to protecting those most vulnerable to COVID-19 through vaccination, as guided by the independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). The JCVI stated in its advice for the autumn 2024 COVID-19 vaccination programme that there remains considerable uncertainty regarding the impact of additional vaccine doses, beyond the primary vaccination, on the risk, progression, and outcome of post-COVID syndromes. The JCVI advised that better data is needed on the impact of additional vaccine doses on the occurrence and severity of post-COVID syndromes in the current era of Omicron sub-variants of the COVID-19 virus, and high population immunity. This advice is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-autumn-2024-vaccination-programme-jcvi-advice-8-april-2024/jcvi-statement-on-the-covid-19-vaccination-programme-for-autumn-2024-8-april-2024

On 13 November 2024, the JCVI published advice on the COVID-19 vaccination programme in spring 2025, autumn 2025 and spring 2026. This advice is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-vaccination-in-2025-and-spring-2026-jcvi-advice/jcvi-statement-on-covid-19-vaccination-in-2025-and-spring-2026#:~:text=the%20JCVI%20webpage.-,Advice%20on%20vaccination%20in%20spring%202025,care%20home%20for%20older%20adults

The Government has accepted the JCVI’s advice on eligibility for the spring 2025 COVID-19 vaccination programme. The Government is considering the advice for autumn 2025 and spring 2026 carefully, and will respond in due course.

The Government is committed to protecting those most vulnerable to COVID-19 through vaccination, as guided by the independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). On 13 November 2024, the JCVI published advice on the COVID-19 vaccination programme covering vaccination in 2025 and spring 2026. This advice is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-vaccination-in-2025-and-spring-2026-jcvi-advice/jcvi-statement-on-covid-19-vaccination-in-2025-and-spring-2026#:~:text=the%20JCVI%20webpage.-,Advice%20on%20vaccination%20in%20spring%202025,care%20home%20for%20older%20adults

The Government is considering this advice carefully and will respond in due course.

It is the longstanding policy of successive UK Governments that we do not comment on operational intelligence or security matters. The UK Government is committed to defending the integrity of the UK's democracy from all state threats, including through the Defending Democracy Taskforce (DDTF). This cross-government Taskforce brings together Ministers, along with representatives from the intelligence community and law enforcement, to coordinate the Government's work to protect our democracy and call out threats, including from Russia, China, and Iran; as the Minister whose portfolio includes national security, I represent the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) at the Taskforce. For example, in December 2023 and March 2024, the Government publicly attributed and sanctioned groups affiliated with Russia and China respectively for interfering in the UK's democracy. The FCDO will continue to work with the DDTF and with the intelligence community to protect the UK's democratic integrity.

No decision has been made in relation to specifying China on the enhanced tier of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme. As the Security Minister confirmed in Parliament on 1 April, countries are considered separately, and decisions are made based on a robust evidence base. It would not be appropriate to speculate on which countries may or may not be specified in the future, but any changes will be announced in Parliament in the usual way.

US immigration is a matter for the US Government, in accordance with international law. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office keeps our travel advice under regular review to ensure it provides accurate information to British nationals.

US domestic policy is a matter for the US Government. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office provides travel advice to inform British nationals so they can make decisions about travelling abroad. We constantly review our travel advice for each country or territory to ensure it includes up-to-date information and advice on the most relevant issues for British people visiting or living there. We stand ready to provide consular support to British nationals abroad 24/7.

In a statement announcing the sale of Chelsea FC, Roman Abramovich stated the proceeds would be used to establish a foundation for the benefit of all the victims of the war in Ukraine. The Government is determined to see the proceeds reach humanitarian causes in Ukraine as quickly as possible, and we are exploring all options to bring that about.