Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the percentage of companies registered in the British Virgin Islands which are held via a trust or complex legal arrangement; and whether legitimate interest registers will allow for the identification of the ultimate beneficiaries of corporate structures in the British Virgin Islands.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

Financial Services, including in relation to information on beneficial ownership, are a devolved matter for the Government of the British Virgin Islands (BVI). Whilst it is not unusual to hold companies through legal arrangements, including Trusts, this Government expects Overseas Territories, including the BVI, to implement accessible registers of beneficial ownership as a way of mitigating the risk that these structures are abused by those seeking to hide illicit gains. The Minister of State, Stephen Doughty wrote to Premier Wheatly on 26 January to reiterate that this Government expects that the BVI's proposals for legitimate interest access registers will uphold the highest possible standards of transparency and demonstrate a clear commitment to openness and robust oversight. This Government's ultimate expectation is that the OTs launch fully public registers of beneficial ownership.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask His Majesty's Government, in light of recent evidence of occupational exposure to formaldehyde in NHS workplaces, whether they plan to take any action beyond existing Control of Substances Hazardous to Health requirements and stakeholder engagement, such as updated sector-specific guidance, infrastructure upgrades, and targeted enforcement.

Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has no current plans to produce sector specific guidance on formaldehyde in NHS workplaces. The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (2002) (COSHH) (as amended) is a robust and well-established regulatory framework in place to protect workers from the health risks associated with exposure to hazardous substances in the workplace, including formaldehyde. The accompanying Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) and guidance to these regulations gives practical advice on how to comply with the law.

Under COSHH, it is the responsibility of each NHS employer to assess the risk from their work activities involving formaldehyde and to ensure that the exposure of their employees to this hazardous substance is either prevented, or where this is not reasonably practicable, adequately controlled. Where it is not reasonably practicable, it is for the NHS employer to put in place and maintain the protection measures that adequately control the risk from exposure in accordance with the requirements of COSHH. Where controls are in place employers have a duty to ensure they are maintained so that they remain effective and protect workers.

Where HSE receives intelligence suggesting employers are not controlling risks, HSE responds in a proportionate way, which may include inspections or enforcement action if employers are not complying with legal requirements.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many people have come to the UK under the Gaza medical evacuation scheme (1) in the past month and (2) overall, either at public expense or through private funding.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

We have supported 50 sick and injured children to leave Gaza and receive treatment in the UK, and have separately supported an initiative by Project Pure Hope to bring several children from Gaza to the UK for privately funded specialist care. The safety, privacy, and wellbeing of these patients and their families remains our absolute priority and we will not be providing further operational details.

We continue to seek the most effective ways to deploy the UK's resources to meet healthcare needs in Gaza and the region. Further announcements on the future of this scheme will be made in the usual way in due course.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to facilitate further evacuations under the Gaza medical evacuation scheme, either at public expense or through private funding; what assessment they have made of obstacles to such evacuations; and what steps they are taking to remove any obstacles.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)

We have supported 50 sick and injured children to leave Gaza and receive treatment in the UK, and have separately supported an initiative by Project Pure Hope to bring several children from Gaza to the UK for privately funded specialist care. The safety, privacy, and wellbeing of these patients and their families remains our absolute priority and we will not be providing further operational details.

We continue to seek the most effective ways to deploy the UK's resources to meet healthcare needs in Gaza and the region. Further announcements on the future of this scheme will be made in the usual way in due course.