Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the MHCLG annual report and accounts 2025 to 2026, HC484, 15 July 2026, page 128, what is Operation Gadget, what is the specific nature of the contingent liability of Operation Gadget Bus Case; and what is the timetable for including in the supply estimate.

The unquantifiable contingent liability disclosed in the MHCLG Annual Report and Accounts 2025-26, described as ‘Operation Gadget Bus Case’, was included in the Main Supply Estimates 2026-27, published 26 April 2026. The liability was described in the Main Estimates as follows:

“A non-quantifiable contingent liability exists in relation to the ongoing Investor State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) proceedings under the 1975 UK–Singapore Agreement for the Promotion and Protection of Investments. MHCLG is contributing 50% (DESNZ the other 50%) of the government’s legal costs to represent them against West Cumbria Mining (WCM) and its investor, Woodhouse Investment Pte (WIP) (“the claimant”). DBT are responsible for managing the government’s defence in the ISDS case. A mediation panel will make a decision by 1 June 2030 as to whether the government is deemed to have breached the terms of the Agreement. In the event of an adverse outcome on the case, where the government is deemed to have breached the terms of the agreement, either partially or fully, the government will be required to pay damages to the claimant.”