Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether her Department has made a forecast of the GDP deflator index for each of the next 100 years.

Answered by Emma Reynolds - Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

HM Treasury does not prepare forecasts for the UK economy. These forecasts, including assessments of the impact of policy decisions, are the responsibility of the independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR).

To support their five year forecasts for the UK economy and public finances, the OBR produces long-term projections which cover the next 50 years, including for the GDP Deflator. The OBR’s latest long-term projections can be found here: Long-ptterm economic determinants – March 2025 Economic and Fiscal Outlook.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with Prime Minister Ramgoolam of Mauritius on the UK’s (a) right to unilaterally extend and (b) authority to exercise sovereign rights over Diego Garcia for the duration of the lease.

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

We have been clear and consistent regarding the duration of the treaty. The treaty will last for an initial 99 years and may be extended for a further 40 years (and beyond) by agreement between the UK and Mauritius.

Even if no agreement is reached, the UK will have the right to first refusal on the use of Diego Garcia which, if exercised, would prevent the use of the base by any other party.

Under the terms of the agreement, the UK will exercise all rights and authorities which are required for the long-term, secure and effective operation of the base.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made representations to his Mauritian counterpart on the potential merits of UK representation on the board of the Chagossian Trust Fund for British Chagossians.

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

We have committed to capitalise a Trust Fund for the benefit of Chagossians, and are engaging with Mauritius on the design and parameters of the Fund, including potential UK representation on its Board. The Government has committed to update the House on the operation of the Trust Fund before ratification of the Treaty.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with his Mauritian counterpart on the potential impact of Section 76B of the Mauritian criminal code on Chagossians.

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

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the Explanatory Memorandum for Mauritius's Criminal Code (Amendment) Bill 2021 (https://mauritiusassembly.govmu.org/mauritiusassembly/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/bill1621.pdf) .

It is clear that legislation applies only to persons acting under the authority or instructions of a foreign state in the production, distribution, supply or marketing of any coin, stamp, official map or official document.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what was discussed between the UK High Commission to the Mauritius and (a) the Mauritian Minister of Foreign Affairs and (b) the President of Mauritius at their meeting in July 2025.

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

The newly appointed British High Commissioner to Mauritius, Paul Brummell CMG, met Mauritius President Dharam Gokhool on 21 July to present his credentials. The conversation covered the bilateral relationship between the two countries. The High Commissioner met Foreign Minister Dhananjay Ramful twice in July, on 21 and 28 July, and discussed the UK/Mauritius Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia and Strategic Partnership Framework signed in May between Minister Ramful and the Foreign Secretary, as well as the broader bilateral agenda between the UK and Mauritius.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answers of 8 July 2025 to Questions 64030 on Gibraltar: Sovereignty and 64027 on UN Special Committee on Decolonisation, if he will make it his policy to (a) reform and (b) abolish the UN Special Committee on Decolonisation.

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

The Government believes the UN Special Committee on Decolonisation is outdated and no longer has a relevant role to play with respect to the UK Overseas Territories. For those Territories who wish it, the UK will continue to support requests for the removal of the Territory from the United Nations list of non-self-governing Territories and to support the right of the people of the Overseas Territories to address the UN Special Committee on Decolonisation directly.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the government of Mauritius has requested a visit to (a) Diego Garcia, (b) Peros Banhos and (c) other islands on the Chagos Archipelago in 2025.

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

Any visits to Diego Garcia or the other islands in the Chagos Archipelago, including Peros Banhos, by the Mauritian government will be considered on a case-by-case basis until the Treaty enters into force, ensuring at all times the protection of the military base on Diego Garcia.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 15 July 2025 to Question 64734 on Diego Garcia: Military Bases, if he will place a copy in the House of Commons Library of the terms of the lease extension clauses that were agreed at the time that he made his statement to the House of Commons on 7 October 2024; and if he will publish an explanatory note for the changes made in the version of the Treaty signed on 22 May 2025.

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

We have been clear and consistent regarding the duration of the treaty. The treaty will last for an initial 99 years and may be extended for a further 40 years (and beyond) by agreement between the UK and Mauritius.

Even if no agreement is reached, the UK will have the right to first refusal on the use of Diego Garcia which, if exercised, would prevent the use of the base by any other party.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an estimate of the cost to the Exchequer of providing (a) technical expertise to manage the Chagos Archipelago Marine Protected Area, (b) the provision of (i) training and (ii) institutional partnerships to (A) increase Mauritian maritime security capability and (B) protect fisheries, and (c) patrolling capability across the Chagos Archipelago.

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

Decisions on support and provision of training, technical expertise, and institutional partnerships on Maritime Security will be taken as part of the implementation of the Diego Garcia Base Deal with Mauritius. We will not be providing a running commentary on these implementation talks.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he plans to make the first payment under the UK-Mauritius treaty in the Mauritian fiscal financial year to 30 June 2026.

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

The first payment will be made the first of the month following the month of entry into force of the Agreement. An entry into force date will be confirmed once both Parties have finalised all domestic procedures necessary and exchanged letters of ratification.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what the agenda was of the meeting between the Mauritian Attorney General and representatives of the UK and Mauritian Governments on 12 June 2025; and what was discussed at that meeting.

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

The UK will not be providing a running commentary on the implementation of the Agreement.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much funding his Department has provided to the British Indian Ocean Territory in (a) each of the last five years and (b) the 2025-26 financial year; and how much funding he plans to provide for the administration of Diego Garcia in each of the next five years.

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

The British Indian Ocean Territory Administration publishes an Appropriation Ordinance at the beginning of each financial year. This outlines annual budgets, primarily funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), and can be found on their website.

Future funding plans remain subject to future internal business planning processes. The FCDO is committed to providing overseas territories with sufficient funding to ensure smooth running of the territories.

After entry into force of the Treaty, the UK Government will continue to ensure that the Base has the necessary funding to be able to function as it has done well into the next century.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 15 July 2025 to Question 64731 on Chagos Islands: Sovereignty, if he will list the full rights and authorities the UK (a) is authorised to exercise in respect of Diego Garcia under the terms of the UK-Mauritius Treaty agreed on 22 May 2025 and (b) was authorised to exercise in respect of Diego Garcia in the proposals at the time of his statement to the House on 7 October 2024.

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

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer given to her previous question, 56761, on changes to the Treaty.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 2 July 2025 to Question 62582 on Chagos Islands: Sovereignty, what the annual payments were in dollars previously proposed; what the exchange rate was that the overall costs were estimated in; and and what estimate he has made of the net present value of those payments.

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

As per the answer to Question 62582, transferring the finance package into Sterling had no impact on overall cost but did reduce future foreign exchange rate risks for the UK.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when the technical committee between the UK and Mauritius (a) has met since 22 May 2025 and (b) plans to meet in (i) 2025 and (ii) 2026; and whether the (A) agendas and (B) minutes of those meetings will be published.

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

The UK will not be providing a running commentary on the implementation of the Agreement.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with Prime Minister Ramgoolam of Mauritius proposals to issue (a) fisheries and (b) trawler licences for the Chagos Archipelago.

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

The UK Government continues to engage with Mauritius on the parameters, and support the establishment of, the proposed Mauritian Marine Protected Area. The terms of this support and assistance will be agreed in a separate process which is already underway.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether (a) value for money assessments and (b) comparative value for money assessments for alternative proposals will be material planning considerations when determining applications covered by the proposed National Policy Statement for Renewable Energy Infrastructure.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Draft updated National Policy Statements were published for consultation and laid before Parliament earlier this year. There are no proposed changes in regard to value for money assessments. Development proposals enter the planning system at different times (at the discretion of developers), and require decisions on development consent orders to be made within statutory timeframes accordingly. The planning system does not compare projects; each decision is based on the merits of each proposal.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether (a) value for money assessments of and (b) comparative value for money assessments of alternative projects proposed through the Development Consent Order process will be material planning considerations when determining applications covered by the proposed National Policy Statement for Renewable Energy Infrastructure.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Draft updated National Policy Statements were published for consultation and laid before Parliament earlier this year. There are no proposed changes in regard to value for money assessments. Development proposals enter the planning system at different times (at the discretion of developers), and require decisions on development consent orders to be made within statutory timeframes accordingly. The planning system does not compare projects; each decision is based on the merits of each proposal.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate he has made of the potential contribution of the Norwich to Tilbury Great Grid upgrade to his target for low carbon generation of electricity by 2030; and when he expects this infrastructure will be operational.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

National Grid have now submitted their Development Consent Order application to the Planning Inspectorate for consideration.

The Government does not comment on the merits of live planning applications, which, subject to the Planning Inspectorate’s decision to accept the application for examination, will be subject to rigorous, independent assessment and advice by the Examining Authority – to inform the Secretary of State’s final decision.

The project currently has an earliest in-service date 2031, and NESO’s independent advice on 2030 Clean Power demonstrates that failing to bring this forward to 2030 will reduce clean power on the GB grid by 1% and could increase constraint costs by £2.8bn p.a.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to his Department's consultation document entitled Scheme design for bill discounts for transmission network infrastructure published on 8 August 2025, on what date will communities affected by the construction of new transmission network infrastructure projects that are approved no longer be eligible to receive payments; and if he will make an estimate of the total cost of providing community benefits in relation to the Norwich to Tilbury Great Grid Upgrade proposals.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

We propose eligible households will start receiving a discount once main construction has begun and will receive a maximum of £250 per year for up to 10 years. It is our intention that the bill discount scheme will run for a set period of time, with a post-implementation review to be conducted 5 years into the scheme to determine whether it is working as envisioned. The aggregate cost associated with providing community benefits, both via the bill discount scheme and community funds, will be detailed in the Impact Assessment accompanying secondary legislation. The government does not comment on individual projects.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 17 July 2025 to Question 66157 on A12: Repairs and Maintenance, what resources she has made available for small-scale interventions on the A12.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The necessary resources will be made available for the Department to continue to work with National Highways and relevant partners to explore what small-scale interventions could potentially address issues on the A12.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 14 July 2025 to Question 66153 on Housing: Construction, if she will publish the analysis of the A12 widening scheme conducted in accordance with the HMT Treasury Green Book and her Department’s Transport Analysis Guidance.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Detailed information on the analysis of the A12 widening scheme, conducted in accordance with the HMT Treasury Green Book and the Department’s Transport Analysis Guidance, was published on the Planning Inspectorate’s website, available here: https://national-infrastructure consenting.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/projects/TR010060.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, If she has undertaken an assessment of the net present value using the Green Book methodology of (a) the A12 Widening Scheme, (b) each of the infrastructure schemes referenced in her Oral Statement of 8 July 2025 on Road and Rail Projects, Official Report, columns 815-837 and (c) proposals for the A120 Dualling Scheme.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Department uses a five-dimension business case to inform decisions about transport investments, in line with the HM Treasury Green Book and the Department’s Transport Analysis Guidance. Within that, the Department considers benefits and costs in present value terms, as part of the overall business case. This includes strategic road schemes.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 17 July 2025 to Question 66155 on A12: Repairs and Maintenance, how much funding she has allocated for the costs of ending the A12 widening scheme.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

National Highways is moving to end the A12 widening scheme and will publish details on costs incurred in its Annual Report and Accounts in due course. The costs will be funded from resources made available to National Highways in the usual way.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 17 July 2025 to Question 66154 on A12: Repairs and Maintenance, if she will publish the evidence she assessed when making the decision to cancel the A12 widening scheme.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

There are no plans to publish officials’ advice to Ministers, as has been the usual practice of successive administrations, including the one the Rt Hon Lady served in.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 23 July 2025 to Question 67867 on East Anglia Rail Franchise: Nationalisation, which stakeholders she has (a) consulted and (b) engaged with in relation to the planned Services Agreement; and on what date the Services Agreement will be published.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

A range of stakeholders were consulted and engaged in the design of the Services Agreement template, including train operating companies, DFT Operator Limited, Network Rail and passenger representatives. A Services Agreement is signed by the Department, DFT Operator Limited and public sector operator as services transfer into public ownership, tailored to each public sector operator. Services Agreements will be made available on the Department for Transport’s website in due course.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 21 July 2025 to Question 67866 on A12: Repairs and Maintenance, when she plans to announce her Department's spending plans for the 2026-27 financial year.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Department’s spending plans will be published in the Main Estimates. For the Strategic Road Network, the Department intends to announce its spending plans for the 2026-27 financial year in the third Road Investment Strategy (RIS3), which is expected to be published by the end of Spring 2026. National Highways is also expected to publish its Delivery Plan for the RIS3 period in 2026.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Pursuant to her Department’s Annual Account 2024/25, with reference to page 19, (a) what funding she will be providing to each Mayoral Combined Authority in each financial year through to 2029/30, (b) what funding she is making available to the proposed Greater Essex Mayoral Combined County Authority in each financial year through to 2029/30, and (c) what her forecast is of the annual reduction in support for the services covered by Train Operating Companies in each year of the Spending Review period; with reference to page 19, what her estimate is of the increased levels of ridership required to cover the planned reductions in her Department’s support for Train Operating Companies in each year of the Spending Review period; and with reference to page 348, if she will publish the lines of expenditure incurred in the estimated £250 million to be written off in respect of the cancellation of the A12 Widening Scheme and the A47 dualling scheme.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

On (a) and (b), at Spending Review 2025 ("SR25"), the government announced £15.6bn of funding for Transport for City Region settlements for 9 eligible Mayoral Combined Authorities ("MCAs") from 2027-28 to 2031-32. This funding builds on the funding allocated to eligible MCAs for years 2022-23 to 2026-27 via the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements (CRSTS). Mayoral allocations for TCR were published on gov.uk. Allocations for the final year of CRSTS (2026/27) are being confirmed with Ministers in the upcoming months.

For MCAs and other local areas outside of CRSTS/TCR, the department secured £2.3bn of funding for the Local Transport Grant (LTG) at SR25 and multi-year allocations and formula methodology were published on gov.uk. These allocations were calculated using a formula based on population and deprivation. Allocations were published based on the current Local Authority structure. Essex’s Local Transport Authority’s allocation for LTG is summarised in table 1 below. When it is established as a new MCAs, their transport funding will compromise the total of their constituent authorities. Table 1 includes the LTG allocations for other MCAs, a full breakdown of all areas can be found on Gov.uk.

Essex, and other areas, will also be eligible for other local transport grants and funding secured at SR25 such as funding for Buses, Highways Maintenance, Active Travel and Electric vehicle infrastructure. DfT Ministers are considering advice on these funds, and how they will be allocated across Local areas. Allocations will be released once Ministerial decisions have been made.

Table 1 – LTG allocations for Essex LTA and MCAs in receipt of LTG (full local allocations can be found on gov.uk).

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, If she will publish the details of the construction phase funding for the A12 Chelmsford to A120 Widening scheme considered by her Department’s Investment Portfolio and Delivery Committee in 2023/24 and 2024/25.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Department has no plans to publish papers considered by its Investment, Portfolio and Delivery Committee, as has been the usual practice of successive administrations.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department maintains a risk register of the UK-Mauritius Treaty over the future sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago; and what assessment he has made of the potential impact of activities by the Government of China in Mauritius on (a) future UK-Mauritius relations and (b) the future operations of the UK-Mauritius Treaty.

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

The agreement between the UK and Mauritius secures the important UK-US military base on Diego Garcia, and is backed by our 5 Eyes partners, including the United States of America. This government secured all necessary safeguards within the treaty, including a prohibition on other foreign security forces, civilian or military - including those of China - from operating or otherwise establishing themselves on the outer islands. I refer the Rt. Hon Lady to the many answers she has received on this topic in the House and in answer to her previous questions.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to Article 5 of the treaty entitled UK/Mauritius: Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia (CS Mauritius No.1/2025), when he last discussed with his Mauritian counterpart the future of the Marine Protected Area around the Chagos Archipelago; what discussions he has had with his Mauritian counterpart on the potential future fisheries opportunities in the waters of the Chagos Archipelago; what technical expertise the UK Government has provided to the Government of Mauritius on the future of the Marine Protected Areas around the Chagos Archipelago since 22 May 2025; whether the ODA budget will be used to provide the resources necessary to fulfil the UK’s obligations under Article 5 to provide support and assistance to Mauritius for the establishment and management of the Marine Protected Area in the Chagos Archipelago; and whether he has discussed with his Mauritian counterpart the (a) Mauritian domestic processes to establish a Marine Protected Area around the Chagos Archipelago and (b) the timescale within which the Government of Mauritius anticipate establishing a Marine Protected Area.

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

Prime Minister Ramgoolam has reaffirmed Mauritius' support for a Chagos Marine Protected Area (MPA), including most recently in his conversation with the then Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs at the Oceans summit in Nice on 9 June. UK support and expertise for MPA establishment is part of discussions with Mauritius about implementation of the Treaty. We do not intend to provide a running commentary on these discussions, but, as per the answer to the Hon Member's question 64024, the UK will not be making any additional direct payments to Mauritius as part of this activity.

Found: On 10 June 2025, the Shadow Foreign Secretary, Priti Patel, introduced a presentation bill that includes

Found: issue at the highest ministerial level (see section 1.8).36 Asked by Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel

Found: On 10 June 2025, the Shadow Foreign Secretary, Priti Patel, introduced a presentation bill that includes