Written questions by Cane.

What discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Justice on backlogs of court cases.

I welcome the strong action already taken by the Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor to bring down the outstanding caseload that this Government inherited, and measures introduced to help ensure victims have swift access to justice.These actions include extending magistrates’ court sentencing powers to 12 months and funding additional Crown Court sitting days, taking them to the highest levels since financial year 2015/16 .In the longer term,  the Lord Chancellor has commissioned an independent review of the criminal courts, led by Sir Brian Leveson, to consider the merits of wider reforms, as well as assessing the efficiency and timeliness of court processes.These important issues have been discussed as part of our cross-government approach through the Safer Streets Mission Board.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to improve water quality in rivers.

Cleaning up England’s rivers, lakes and seas is a priority for the Government. The Government has taken immediate and substantial action to address the performance of water companies who are not delivering for the environment or their customers. For example, we are placing water companies under special measures through the Water (Special Measures) Bill. This includes giving Ofwat the power to ban bonuses for executives when companies fail to meet standards on environmental performance, financial resilience, customer outcomes or criminal liability, and enabling severe and automatic fines for wrongdoing. The Bill will also introduce new, statutory reporting requirements for emergency overflows and pollution incidents. In addition, for Price Review 2024, which runs from 2025 – 2030, water companies will be delivering record levels of investment: £104 billion over the next five years. This gives the sector the opportunity for transformation, delivering better outcomes for customers and the environment In October 2024, the Secretary of State, in conjunction with the Welsh Government, also launched an Independent Commission on the water sector regulatory system. This is a wide-ranging review to fundamentally transform how our water system works and clean up our rivers, lakes and seas for good.

What steps she is taking to help ensure the effective prosecution of rural crime.

This Government is committed to working with the police and other partners to address the blight of rural crime to ensure the safety of those in all communities.We are introducing tougher measures to clamp down on anti-social behaviour, strengthening neighbourhood policing, and introducing robust laws to prevent farm theft and fly-tippers.The National Police Chiefs’ Council Wildlife and Rural Crime Strategy 2022-2025 provides a framework through which policing, and its partners, can work together to tackle the most prevalent threats and emerging issues which predominantly affect rural communities.Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) prosecutors work closely with local police officers and officers from the National Wildlife Crime Unit to tackle all types of rural crime.The CPS provides legal guidance on Wildlife, Rural and Heritage Crime, which is available to all its prosecutors, to assist them in dealing with these cases. They also provide specialist training to ensure that its prosecutors have the expert knowledge needed to prosecute these crimes.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to support flood preparedness projects.

We are investing a record £2.65 billion over two years in building, maintaining and repairing our flood and coastal defences, protecting 66,500 properties and funding around 1,000 projects. This includes £108 million we are shifting towards maintenance to shore up creaking defences. Farmers and rural communities across the country will see their resilience to flooding improved thanks to the £50 million funding for Internal Drainage Boards. In addition, £57 million has been paid out to support 12,700 farm businesses through the Farming Recovery Fund.

What steps she is taking to help ensure the effective prosecution of people who commit hate crime.

Hate crime is truly abhorrent and can have a devastating impact on victims and their communities.The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) takes such offending very seriously.The CPS works closely with the police to build robust cases and secure prosecutions for these offences.

What steps he is taking to support community energy projects.

The Government recognises the role community groups play in our efforts to tackle climate change, Great British Energy’s Local Power Plan will also partner with and provide funding and support to community groups, Local Authorities and Mayoral Combined Authorities to develop renewable energy projects and up to 8 GW of cleaner power. This will build on our existing support for the community energy sector; this includes the £10 million Community Energy Fund, which enables communities across England to access grant funding to develop local renewable energy projects for investment.

What steps his Department is taking to tackle fuel poverty in winter 2024-25.

There are multiple targeted schemes in place to deliver energy efficiency measures to low income and fuel poor households. The Warm Home Discount provides £150 off bills to over 3 million low-income households. The Government has kickstarted delivery of the Warm Homes Plan, including an initial £1.8 billion to support fuel poverty schemes over the next 3 years. We are also reviewing the 2021 fuel poverty strategy.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of removing the two-child benefit cap.

Tackling child poverty is at the heart of the Government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity and improve the life chances of every child. The Child Poverty Taskforce is exploring how we can harness all available levers to reduce child poverty, including social security reforms, before publishing a strategy.

What assessment she has made of the adequacy of the Personal Independence Payment application process.

Customers are currently able to register for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) by telephone or in writing. Those who are eligible are then required to complete a health information questionnaire which is used to support the health assessment, undertaken by our contracted Health Professionals. The health information form (PIP2) is generally completed and returned by post, but a proportion of customers are able to submit their information online. We understand that the PIP application process can be challenging for some, in part due to the quantity of information that customers need to provide, but the process has been developed and improved over a number of years to be as straightforward and inclusive as possible. For those who may find it difficult to complete the form we signpost to organisations that can help, and we can also provide more time for customers to complete and return their form if this is requested. DWP offer bespoke services for those who find it difficult to navigate the process, for example those who are vision or hearing impaired. To prepare customers for what they can expect when they claim PIP we also introduced a series of videos on YouTube (links below). These videos help to explain the different parts of the process including the application and the assessment. PIP video 1 - An overview. PIP video 1 - An overviewPIP video 2 - How you can claim PIP PIP video 2 - How you can claim PIPPIP video 3 - What you can expect at a PIP assessment PIP video 3 - What you can expect at a PIP assessment Over the longer-term, the Health Transformation Programme is modernising the entire PIP service to improve customer experience and efficiency, building trust in our services and decisions. This year, we are expanding the availability of the digital health information gather, so that this option is available to everyone who calls to begin their claim. Once fully developed, the new service will include an option to apply and track the application wholly online.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to the bus fare cap on vulnerable people.

On 1 January, the government introduced a £3 cap on single bus fares in England outside London until 31 December 2025. The government is investing over £150 million to deliver the £3 cap, which replaced the £2 cap, and will ensure millions of people, including vulnerable people, can continue to access affordable bus fares and better opportunities all over the country. If the government had not taken action, the bus fare cap would have ended and fares would have jumped back up to their previous levels on 1 January which could have meant fares soaring above £10 on the most expensive routes.

What steps her Department is taking to support disabled people with the cost of living.

In England, the Household Support Fund (HSF) is a scheme providing discretionary support towards the cost of essentials, such as food and energy to those most in need, including disabled people. The current HSF is running from 1 October 2024 until 31 March 2025. Funding of £742 million will be provided to enable the extension of the Household Support Fund in England, from 1 April 2025 until 31 March 2026, plus funding for the Devolved Governments through the Barnett formula to be spent at their discretion, as usual.This winter, we are continuing to deliver the £150 Warm Home Discount to eligible low-income households and we expect it again to support well over three million households.The extra costs disability benefits are a contribution to meeting the extra costs that arise from a disability or long-term health condition. The benefits can be used by the recipient according to their own needs and priorities. These benefits were not subject to the benefits freeze, were most recently uprated by 6.7 per cent from 8 April 2024 and, subject to Parliamentary approval, are due to be uprated by 1.7% from April this year. They are also tax-free and worth up to £184.30 a week, or over £9,580 a year.The extra costs disability benefits can be paid in addition to other financial support that those with a health condition or disability may be eligible for, such as Employment and Support Allowance or Universal Credit and can attract additional support such as premiums and additional amounts paid within the income-related benefits, access to Carer’s Allowance, the Motability scheme and the Blue Badge scheme.

What recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to the eligibility for Winter Fuel Payment on living standards for pensioners.

Winter Fuel Payments continue to be paid to pensioner households with someone receiving Pension Credit or certain other income-related benefits. They continue to be worth £200 for eligible households, or £300 for eligible households with someone aged over 80. The Government also offers an array of support with energy costs for low-income groups in the winter months. This includes direct financial help to low-income pensioners through Pension Credit, the Warm Home Discount, and (in England & Wales) Cold Weather Payments. The Warm Home Discount scheme provides eligible low-income households across Great Britain with a £150 rebate on their winter energy bill. This winter, we expect over one million pensioners to benefit under the scheme. The Government and energy industry have also worked together to deliver a £500 million Winter Support Commitment for customers, which will help customers most in need by providing credit on bills, enhanced debt write-off schemes, and increased funding for charity partners to target hard to reach customers. Low-income pensioners and others struggling with the cost of living should contact their local council to see what further support may be available to them, as they may be able to receive support from Council Tax Reduction, or through energy support programmes (such as the Homes Upgrade Grant and Energy Company Obligation) – or through the Household Support Fund (a scheme providing discretionary support to those most in need towards the cost of essentials, such as food, energy and water). This support is all underpinned by this Government’s commitment to the Triple Lock which will see a 4.1% increase to the basic State Pension and the new State Pension in April 2025. According to the latest OBR projections, the full yearly rate of the new State Pension is forecast to increase by around £1,900 over the course of this parliament whilst the full yearly amount of the basic State Pension is forecast to increase by around £1,500.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the National Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) Bill on NHS GP practices.

We have made necessary decisions to fix the foundations of the public finances in the Autumn Budget. Resource spending for the Department will be £22.6 billion more in 2025/26 than in 2023/24, as part of the Spending Review settlement. The employers’ National Insurance rise will be implemented in April 2025.We recently announced a proposed funding uplift for general practices (GPs) for 2025/26 of £889 million, representing a 7.2% cash growth, estimated at approximately 4.8% in real terms growth. This is the largest uplift to GP funding since the beginning of the five-year framework, and means that we are reversing the recent trend, with a rising share of total National Health Service resources going to GPs. We are currently consulting the profession on corresponding reforms to the GP Contract that would improve access, increase continuity of care, enhance GP recruitment, and reduce bureaucracy.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Non-Domestic Rating (Multipliers and Private Schools) Bill on small high-street businesses.

The Bill provides the Treasury with powers to make provision for two new lower multipliers for qualifying retail, hospitality, and leisure properties from 2026/27. The intention of these provisions in the Bill is to rebalance the playing field for high street businesses.Policies and legislation concerning tax and tax administration fall outside the meaning of regulatory provisions and, therefore, are not required to be accompanied by an Impact Assessment. Nevertheless, when the new multipliers are set at Budget 2025, the Treasury intends to publish analysis of the effects of the new multiplier arrangements.

What recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of free trade agreements on farmers.

Our approach to trade deals will always consider the impacts and opportunities for those working within the agricultural sector, along with those employed within other sectors of the economy and our Growth Mission.The independent Trade and Agriculture Commission scrutinises new FTAs and assesses whether they are consistent with the maintenance of UK levels of statutory protections in relation to animal and plant life or health, animal welfare, and the environment.

What steps her Department is taking to help support businesses to invest in skills and training.

Employers have a crucial role to play in the skills system, and the department wants all employers to invest in their workforce.The department’s post-16 education and skills strategy will set out how we will drive up employer investment in the skills needed by their workforce. We want to start a national conversation on the role that employers, government and learners have to play in funding education and training, as part of an approach that clarifies expectations of what the right mix of funding is for the skills system. We will work with employers and others as we develop the strategy.

What steps his Department is taking to support businesses in rural areas.

Rural areas offer significant potential for growth and are central to our economy. As with all places, fulfilling the needs of people and businesses in rural areas is at the heart of our policymaking.The Government has recently announced our intention to launch a Business Growth Service (BGS), a national service with local delivery at its heart. Over time, it will bring a range of existing core services under the BGS banner, working hand in glove with local and devolved governments and the Growth Hubs network.All businesses can access their Local Growth Hubs, which provide advice and support throughout the business journey, shaping their offer around the unique needs, whether town or country.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to support people who become ill from sewage discharge.

For too long, water companies have discharged record levels of sewage into our rivers, lakes and seas. The Government is committed to holding water companies to account. The Water (Special Measures) Bill will drive meaningful improvements in the performance and culture of the water industry as a first important step in enabling wider, transformative change across the water sector. The Storm Overflow Discharge Reduction Plan sets the stretching public health target that water companies must significantly reduce harmful pathogens from storm overflows discharging near designated bathing waters to meet Environment Agency (EA) spill standards by 2035. To support this, as part of one of the most ambitious investment cycles since privatisation, investment is going in to improving storm overflows to reduce spills prioritising those affecting the most sensitive sites, including bathing waters. Furthermore, during the bathing water season, designated sites benefit from water quality monitoring by the Environment Agency, enabling the public to make informed decisions about where to swim: Swimfo bathing waters website Throughout the bathing season, the EA also makes daily pollution risk forecasts for a number of bathing waters where water quality may be temporarily reduced, notifying bathers of these changes.

What assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Early Release Scheme.

After inheriting a prison system in crisis, SDS40 was a necessary measure we were forced to take to avoid the collapse of the Criminal Justice System. Our initial operational insights suggested there was not a significant change to the use and application of recall since the implementation of the SDS change, however we will continue to monitor this. In designing the measure, we took every possible step to mitigate risk including an 8-week implementation period, clear offence exclusions, and a huge amount of collaboration with partners across the Criminal Justice System.Following the first tranche of SDS40 releases that took place on 10 September, the Ministry of Justice and His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service consulted our frontline and cross government partners on how things went. This consultation informed our preparation for the Tranche 2 releases on 22 October.As the Lord Chancellor has previously announced, the change will be reviewed after 18 months.

What steps she is taking to support survivors of (a) domestic abuse and (b) violence against women through the criminal justice system.

This Government is working towards the ambition of halving violence against women and girls, including domestic abuse, in the next decade.We are committed to supporting victims of these abhorrent crimes. We have protected VAWG spending by maintaining 2024/25 ringfenced funding levels for sexual violence and domestic abuse support this year, as well as the Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Fund and funding for Independent Domestic and Sexual Violence Advocates.In November, we launched Domestic Abuse Protection Orders in selected areas. These orders will improve protection for victims of domestic abuse, including non-physical abuse and coercive and controlling behaviour.Further, we will increase the powers of the Victims’ Commissioner to improve accountability when victims’ needs are not met, and the Victims and Prisoners Act will improve awareness of, and compliance with, the Victims’ Code which supports victims of crime to understand what they can expect from the justice system. It will also require local commissioners to collaborate when commissioning support for victims of domestic and sexual abuse.