I do not plan to make representations to the European Union on this matter.

The UK government remains supportive of any changes EU Member States make to their domestic visa systems which benefit UK Nationals living in and travelling to the EU.

The UK government continues to engage regularly with the European Commission and EU Member States on a wide range of mobility-related issues.

The UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement provides for visa-free travel for short-term visits for each other's nationals. British citizens can travel visa-free and stay for up to 90 days in a rolling 180-day period, in accordance with the Schengen Borders Code. This is the standard length of stay that the EU offers to third countries. Whilst the Government would welcome any changes to visa systems which would benefit UK nationals, this is a matter for national governments and parliaments. The Government continues to engage regularly with the European Commission and EU Member States on a range of mobility issues.

We have not sought or received information from the French or German Authorities on this matter, nor held discussions with them about it.

Help to Claim (HtC) was developed and delivered from 2019, and continues to be delivered by Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland independently across England, Scotland, and Wales. A further £38m investment is planned for HtC for two years from April 2024.

HtC provides tailored practical support to anyone who needs it and it enables individuals requiring additional support to make and maintain their UC claim, up until their first correct UC payment. HtC supports customers through telephony and digital channels (including webchat). Where somebody is unable to make a digital UC Claim they will support that person to make a UC Claim by telephone. Those individuals who are unable to access support via these channels will be signposted to their local jobcentre, where staff will identify the right support to meet their needs, face-to-face.

Since April 2019, HtC has supported nearly 900,000 people.

The government seeks to ensure that there is a fair and robust migration policy, whilst maintaining the UK’s place as a top destination for the best and brightest students from around the world. The department remains committed to the ambitions set out in the government’s International Education Strategy to host 600,000 international students per year and to increase the value of education exports to £35 billion per year, both by 2030.

The department expects the UK to remain a highly attractive study destination. The UK has four universities in the top ten, and 17 in the top 100, worldwide. The UK has a highly sought after higher education (HE) experience, which is respected by students across the globe. The department is hugely proud to have met its international student recruitment ambition two years running.

However, the level of legal migration remains too high. As a result, on 4 December 2023, the government announced a new package of measures to reduce net migration and curb abuse and exploitation of the country’s immigration system.

The Office for Students (OfS), the independent regulator of the HE sector in England, continues to work closely with the Home Office, Department for Business and Trade, and other governmental departments to assess the impact of these changes on HE providers.

Universities are autonomous institutions responsible for managing their own budgets. The department also works closely with the OfS to understand the evolving landscape, including on risks relating to international students.

The Home Office produced Impact Assessments (IA) alongside the visa and Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) fee changes and the package of Student route reforms, including the change to dependant eligibility.

The Migration Advisory Committee are undertaking a review of the Graduate route. We will consider any evidence put forward by the MAC very closely.

The Home Office considers its Public Sector Equality Duty in the development of all policy. An Impact Assessment (IA) was also produced for the student dependant reforms.

In addition, the Migration Advisory Committee are currently undertaking a review of the Graduate route. We will consider any evidence put forward by the MAC very closely.

It is important that we have clarity on the use of the Graduate route in a timely manner, which is why we asked the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to carry out a rapid review. We will consider the evidence put forward by the MAC very closely.

I have not made representations on this matter.

The UK supports human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programmes in developing countries through Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. The UK is the second largest donor to Gavi, having committing £1.65 billion over 2021-2025. The UK was a vocal advocate for inclusion of the HPV vaccine into Gavi's portfolio to help protect the most vulnerable girls from the leading cause of cervical cancer. Since 2014 Gavi has fully immunised 48.2 million girls and aims to immunise a total of 86 million girls by the end of 2025.

The UK's strategic partnership with Israel includes trade. As the Secretary of State for Business and Trade told the House on 7 March, Israel remains a part of the FTA programme, negotiations continue, and she has recently discussed with the Israeli Minister of Economy our existing trading relationship as well as how Israel is managing the challenges of working on an FTA while fighting a war.

All export license applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Strategic Export Licensing Criteria.

Palestinians are facing a devastating and growing humanitarian crisis. The UK is playing a leadership role in alleviating that suffering. We are doing everything we can to get more aid in as quickly as possible by land, sea and air. On 20 March, the Foreign Secretary announced the UK has funded WFP to provide 2000 tons of food aid, enough to feed 275,000 people in Gaza. For example, on 20 March, the Royal Air Force airdropped 10 tonnes of food aid - including water, rice and baby food - directly to civilians in Gaza.

The British Government has pressed Israeli counterparts to increase the flow of aid into Gaza.

On 5th April Israel committed to significant steps to increase the amount of aid getting to Gaza, including allowing the delivery of humanitarian aid through the Port of Ashdod and the Erez checkpoint.

The UK has urged Israel to take these steps for a long time and they are welcome. We are resolved that the international community will work with Israel to see these vital changes fully implemented.

The Government has produced a guide on musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions, which is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/musculoskeletal-health-applying-all-our-health/musculoskeletal-health-applying-all-our-health

The Department is currently developing a Major Conditions Strategy, in consultation with NHS England and colleagues across the Government. Given their contribution to the burden of disease, MSK conditions such as arthritis will be included in the strategy.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has produced expert guidance to support healthcare professionals in the early diagnosis and management of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. The guidance for the early diagnosis and management of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis is available, respectively, at the following links:

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng100

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng226

From 2022/23 to 2024/25, the Government is spending more than £11.3 billion to support elective recovery and tackle long waiting times, which could deliver nine million more checks and procedures to help support patients with conditions like arthritis. In the Spring Budget 2023, the Government also announced £400 million of funding for scaling up MSK Physical Activity Hubs and embedding employment advice within MSK pathways.

General rheumatology services, which support people with a range of conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, are locally commissioned by integrated care boards, which are best placed to make decisions according to local need.

We expect to publish the Major Conditions Strategy in spring of this year. The Spring Budget 2024 announced that the Government is protecting NHS England’s day-to-day funding in real terms, by providing an extra £2.45 billion in 2024/25. On productivity, the Government is investing £3.4 billion of capital funding to significantly reduce the 13 million hours of clinical staff time lost to poor IT every year, as well as revolutionising treatment for a range of illnesses such as cancer and strokes.

The Government has not committed any further additional funding specific to the Major Conditions Strategy. However, as part of the strategy, we will be identifying innovative actions to help alleviate pressure on the National Health Service and support improvement within the current settlement.

An employer has the same health and safety responsibilities for people working from home, including those with disabilities, as for any other workers. Employers must protect their workers from health and safety risks from working on a computer or laptop (display screen equipment or DSE) at home and should check to see if the Display Screen Equipment Regulations apply. HSE guidance provides more information: Managing home workers' health and safety - Overview – HSE

Separately, the Chance to Work Guarantee will remove reassessments for the majority of Universal Credit (UC) or Employment and Support Allowance claimants (ESA) with no work-related requirements. The purpose of the Guarantee is to encourage claimants who have been assessed without work-related requirements to try work without the fear of reassessment, within existing permitted work rules in ESA and work allowance rules in UC.

We are appalled by allegations that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) staff were involved in the 7 October attack against Israel, a heinous act of terrorism that the UK Government has repeatedly condemned.

As we have set out, we are pressing the UN Office of Internal Oversight and Catherine Colonna, who is leading the independent Review Group appointed by the UN Secretary-General, to produce a rapid interim report. We want UNRWA to give detailed undertakings about changes in personnel, policy and precedents to ensure this can never happen again. We are working with allies to try to bring this situation to a rapid conclusion not least because UNRWA have a vital role to play in providing aid and services in Gaza.

Any future funding decisions will be taken after UNRWA's review has concluded.