MHCLG have supported local authorities to respond to two ransomware incidents in the last 12 months. Historically, MHCLG has not collected data on local authority ransomware related expenditure but maintains a clear opposition to ransom payments. This government intends to introduce a targeted ban to prohibit public sector bodies and operators of critical national infrastructure, including local government, from paying ransom demands to criminals.

Since 2020, MHCLG has provided £23 million of cyber grant funding and technical support to local government. This includes support to deliver the Cyber Assessment Framework (CAF) for local government, which sets a clear cyber security standard for the sector.

MHCLG will also be launching a local government Cyber Incident Response service to support English local authorities respond to successful ransomware attacks, helping to limit the impact these have on data and services.

I have been asked to reply as my right hon. and learned Friend the Prime Minister is attending the NATO summit in The Hague. At this time of international volatility, we are working with our allies to de-escalate tensions in the middle east and ensure that the conflict does not further intensify. Our aim continues to be preventing Iran from securing nuclear weapons and urging the Iranians to return to negotiations.

The situation in Gaza remains of the gravest concern. Seeing the return of more hostages’ bodies, including that of Shay Levinson, an Israeli with British family, is heartbreaking. The remaining hostages must be released, while aid must be delivered at greater speed and volume.

This week is Armed Forces Week. Our commitment to the armed forces is unwavering. The strategic defence review outlines how we will give our armed forces better pay, better housing and better kit. I pay tribute to their commitment, bravery and selflessness.

This morning, I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House, I shall have further such meetings later today.

The Home Office checks all small boat arrivals against a range of secure systems. These include internal databases, law enforcement records, biometric verification platforms and immigration history systems.

Biometrics and biographic details taken are checked and compared against relevant Home Office systems and police criminality databases, including domestic and international data to establish whether the person is a threat to public safety.

Timings for the returns of results can vary, some systems provide instant access due to direct integration and others require third party intervention. Overall, we aim to receive results within 24-hours.

All security checks are completed before any individual is bailed from Manston.

As we speak, Exercise Hedgehog is currently demonstrating the rapid deployment of the 4th Brigade by road, rail, sea and air to Estonia as part of NATO’s forward land force, with nearly 2,000 British service personnel in addition to those already permanently deployed to Estonia. To keep Britain secure at home and strong abroad, we are working with our EU, NATO and JEF partners to enhance military mobility.

The recently published maritime decarbonisation strategy supports sustainable growth, working with industry to reach zero emissions by 2050, supported by £30 million for clean maritime research and development. The Government have also allocated £850,000 to maritime clusters to support skills and training programmes, boosting growth and improving our coastal communities.

The UK remains concerned by the threat of terrorism in the West Bank and strongly condemns all acts of terrorism. Stability in the West Bank is crucial to ensure any ceasefire in Gaza can last. All sides should work to ensure a lowering of tension in the West Bank at this time. The UK is seriously concerned by the expansion of Israel's operations in the West Bank. We recognise Israel's security concerns, but it must show restraint and ensure its operations are commensurate to the threat posed. The UK has also been clear that Hamas cannot play a role in the future of Gaza. The UK is clear that all parties in Gaza must re-engage with negotiations to get hostages out and secure a permanent end to this conflict.

Iran's long-standing support for terrorist groups across the Middle East, including those active in the West Bank, destabilises the region and jeopardises international security. The Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary have made clear to their Iranian counterparts that Iran must restrain these groups and cease providing them with support.

The Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (RTRA) empowers the police to remove vehicles that are dangerously, illegally, or obstructively parked, or broken down or abandoned, which includes vehicles abandoned after theft.

Removals and storage entail a cost, which would have to be paid for out of police budgets if not met by the vehicle owner. As a result, the police are empowered to charge the owner prescribed sums, which are set by Statutory Instrument and vary according to the size of the vehicle and other factors.

In 2021, the previous government conducted a consultation on the charges for the removal, storage and disposal of vehicles, and published a response to the findings of that consultation exercise in March 2023.

This response stated that: “When a vehicle owner has their vehicle stolen and restored to them, they can either decide to pay the recovery fee themselves, pass the recovery fee onto their insurance provider, or choose not to have their vehicle returned.” It did not propose any change to these arrangements.

Nevertheless, it is important to note that – in addition to the options above – the police are also empowered to waive the recovery fee at their discretion, taking into account any special circumstances, including the ability of the owner to pay, but this remains an operational matter for their judgement.

We will keep this matter under review, but at present, it remains the case that the charging of recovery fees is the most sustainable means of funding the costs incurred by the police in removing and storing abandoned vehicles.

To achieve net zero at lowest cost, we must look at how to accelerate all low carbon technologies including geothermal. The mine water from coal mines shows good potential as a renewable source for heat networks.

The government is therefore supporting mine water schemes at Gateshead and Seaham Garden Village through the Heat Network Investment Project and the Green Heat Network Fund. No specific assessment has been made in Dover and Deal and although the Mining Remediation Authority has released opportunity maps for Wales and ten UK cities these do not cover this area.

The Government published the Maritime Decarbonisation Strategy on 25 March, which outlines domestic goals and commitments to decarbonise maritime transport, and a call for evidence on Net Zero Ports was launched to assess future energy demand at ports like Dover.

More broadly, the Government is working with Ofgem to ensure their price controls support necessary investment in the electricity network for the clean energy and growth missions, including maritime transport electrification. The next distribution price control, RIIO-ED3 covering 2028 to 2033, which will be informed by Regional Energy Strategic Plans to support strategic network investments.

Whilst the police are empowered to charge vehicle owners prescribed sums for the recovery, storage, and disposal of their vehicles, victims of theft are not charged storage costs whilst vehicles are undergoing forensics examinations or for the cost for forensic examinations following the recovery of stolen vehicles.

The Government are committed to delivering the biggest increase in social and affordable house building in a generation. In our first eight months in office, we have announced £800 million in new funding for the affordable homes programme. This top-up will support the delivery of up to 7,800 new homes, with more than half being social rent homes. We will set out details of new investment to succeed the 2021-to-2026 programme at the spending review.

Labour’s plan for change will get a record share of children ready for school, hitting key developmental targets by the age of five. Family hubs will play a crucial part in that. We are investing £69 million in family hubs, targeting support where the money will make the biggest difference to children’s life chances.

Today marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. As the years slip away, our duty to remember only strengthens. I have had the privilege in recent months of listening to the powerful and deeply moving testimony of Holocaust survivors in person, including Renee Salt and Mala Tribich. It is vital that the world hears their voices—hears what happened to them and their families, and what happened to 6 million Jewish men, women and children during the Holocaust. That is especially important giving the shocking rise in antisemitic abuse that we have seen since 7 October. The Government could not feel more strongly about this, which is why we have confirmed that the Holocaust will be a compulsory topic in all schools following the completion of our curriculum and assessment review.

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his question, and I know how much work he did in this area prior to his election to this place. Criminal gangs must not be allowed to undermine our border security by illegally bringing people into this country. That is why this Government are committed to smashing the gangs. We have set up the new Border Security Command, which will bring together law enforcement across the system and boost the Crown Prosecution Service’s ability to deliver charging decisions swiftly in international organised crime cases.

The Home Office does not publish data on daily numbers or cost of hotels in use as costs are subject to change depending on numbers being accommodated within the asylum system. However, the total expenditure on asylum is published in the Home Office Annual Report and Accounts, available at Home Office annual reports and accounts - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

The Home Office continues to work closely with a wide range of agencies and governments around the world to pursue our shared objectives to tackle organised immigration crime. However, I can advise the Honourable Member that media reports suggesting that the UK is intending to negotiate a cooperation and security agreement with the government of Turkey are wholly inaccurate and misleading, and do not reflect any of the discussions that Home Office ministers and officials have had with their Turkish counterparts in recent months. We look forward to continuing our warm, productive and equal partnership with the government of Turkey on a range of issues of mutual benefit to both countries, but the idea of an 'Italy-style deal' invented by media outlets has been and will remain no part of those discussions.