Fabian Hamilton

Protecting and, where necessary, recovering our fish stocks is a priority for this Government, because fish is food and food security is national security. It is also committed to restoring and protecting nature at sea as well as on land. The Government is making progress delivering Fisheries Management Plans (FMPs) which set out how to maintain or restore fish stocks to sustainable levels. The sixth Defra-led FMP was published on 10 October, with consultations launched on a further five draft FMPs too.

Through fisheries negotiations with our international partners, our objective is to set Total Allowable Catches in line with the best available scientific advice to ensure that stocks are managed over the long term within sustainable limits. We are also introducing other fisheries management reforms domestically, including, for example, the introduction of Remote Electronic Monitoring, and action to reduce incidental bycatch in our fisheries.

Unpaid carers play a vital role in supporting elderly or disabled relatives or friends. Sometimes unpaid carers will need to turn to the benefit system for financial support, so it is right that we keep Carer’s Allowance under review, to see if it is meeting its objectives, and giving unpaid carers the help and support they need and deserve.

Unpaid carers may be able to receive financial and/or employment support from the department depending on their circumstances. This includes Carer’s Allowance and mean tested benefits such as Universal Credit. And those caring for less than 35 hours a week on Universal Credit can receive individualised employment support through their Jobcentre Plus work coach who can tailor work related requirements, such as searching for work, to fit their caring responsibilities so they can combine paid work and unpaid care.

Unpaid carers may continue to be able to receive benefits if they choose to combine their caring responsibilities with paid work, meaning they can increase their overall income (eligibility rules apply).

Carers (providing at least 35 hours per week) of severely disabled people may be eligible for Universal Credit Carer Element and/or Carer’s Allowance. They are not required to undertake any work-related activity, but can access employment support on a voluntary basis if they wish.

In England, the Household Support Fund (HSF) is a scheme providing discretionary support towards the cost of essentials, such as food and energy to those most in need, including disabled people. The current HSF is running from 1 October 2024 until 31 March 2025, with an additional £421m being provided to enable the extension in England, plus funding for the Devolved Governments through the Barnett formula to be spent at their discretion, as usual.

This winter, we are continuing to deliver the £150 Warm Home Discount to eligible low-income households and we expect it again to support well over three million households.

The extra costs disability benefits are a contribution to meeting the extra costs that arise from a disability or long term health condition. These benefits were not subject to the benefits freeze, were most recently uprated by 6.7 per cent from 8 April 2024 and were qualifying benefits for the Disability Cost of Living Payments paid in 2022 and 2023. They are not means–tested, are non-contributory and thus paid regardless of any income or savings. They are also tax-free and worth up to £184.30 a week, or over £9,580 a year.

The extra costs disability benefits can be paid in addition to other financial support that those with a health condition or disability may be eligible for, such as Employment and Support Allowance, Universal Credit, premiums and additional amounts paid within the income-related benefits, Carer’s Allowance, Motability and the Blue Badge scheme.

We are working to increase the general practice (GP) workforce in England. This includes measures to boost recruitment, address the reasons why doctors leave the profession, and encourage them to return to practice.

NHS England is working to address training bottlenecks so the health service has enough staff for the future, and we will provide £82 million to fund the recruitment of over 1,000 newly qualified GPs, via the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme, so patients can get the care they need.

A legitimate and effective transitional justice process in Nepal remains necessary even 18 years after the 2006 Comprehensive Peace Agreement. It will help ensure reconciliation and underpin lasting peace. The UK welcomes Nepal's recent step forward with its new transitional justice legislation. The UK continues to engage with the Government of Nepal, the UN and others on how best to provide constructive support for Nepal's transitional justice efforts that are victim-centric, fair and in-line with international standards. We also continue to work to address the injustices, inequalities and exclusion that sowed the seeds of the civil war.

Russia's obligations under international law are clear: it must pay for the damage it has caused to Ukraine. That is why on 22 October the Chancellor announced that we will provide £2.26 billion in additional support to Ukraine, as part of the G7 Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration (ERA) Loans to Ukraine scheme. In line with the Government's commitment to ensure that Russia pays for its illegal invasion of Ukraine, the UK's contribution will be repaid using the extraordinary profits generated on immobilised Russian sovereign assets. We will continue to consider all possible lawful avenues by which Russia can be made to meet its obligations to Ukraine under international law.

The FCDO are aware of Nadia Ayoub McCulloch's situation and have been in contact with her directly. The FCDO's Consular team have been providing, and continue to provide, support to Nadia at what we recognise will be a distressing time for her, her family and her friends.

There is a UN Arms Embargo and Sanctions Regime on Darfur, which the UN Security Council (UNSC) renewed in September 2024, which complements a longstanding bilateral UK arms embargo in place for the whole of Sudan. These regimes have been used to constrain the flow of weapons into the country, and individuals and entities who breach the UN arms embargo may be subject to targeted measures as stipulated in resolution 1591. Since the outbreak of conflict in April 2023, the UK has sanctioned five entities linked with the Rapid Support Forces and four entities linked with the Sudanese Armed Forces. We consistently use our position as penholder on Sudan at the UNSC to call on States urgently to refrain from enhancing either side's fighting capability.

The use of sanctions is one of the tools the UK employs to respond to ongoing conflict in Sudan. Since the outbreak of the conflict in April 2023, the UK has sanctioned five entities linked with the RSF and four entities linked with the SAF. Six of those sanctions were issued on 12 July 2023 under the UK's Sudan Sanctions (EU Exit) Regulations 2020. The UK announced a package of three further sanctions designations on 15 April 2024. These sanctions froze the assets of three commercial entities linked to each warring party. The UK welcomes the Panel of Experts' report from January. Although we do not speculate on future measures, our sanctions policy is continually under review.  We continue to engage closely with key international partners on Sudan.

This Government recognises the devastating impact that financial and economic abuse can have on victims. Whilst anyone can suffer from domestic abuse, we know that older victims, especially where dependent on others, may find it more difficult to recognise that they are experiencing coercive control and economic abuse and seek help.

The Government supports access to specialist services for all victims of domestic abuse. The Home Office funds Hourglass, a specialist organisation focused on the abuse and neglect of older people, to provide enhanced helpline support to victims and survivors of coercive control and domestic abuse in England and Wales. Hourglass also works with other frontline organisations to ensure safer ageing, including by raising awareness of economic abuse.