Written questions by Cooper.

With reference to the Third Report of the Joint Committee on Human Rights of Session 2022-23 on The Violation of Family Life: Adoption of Children of Unmarried Women 1949–1976, HC 270, published on 15 July 2022, if she will make a formal apology on behalf of Government to those people impacted by forced adoptions between 1949 and 1976.

​​​This abhorrent practice should never have taken place, and our deepest sympathies are with all those affected.​We take this issue extremely seriously and continue to engage with those affected to provide support.​The department continues to follow up on the 2022 Joint Committee on Human Rights report, including improving access to adoption records, enhancing intermediary services and preserving historical records.

How many Research and Development tax relief disclosures have been made in each month since 31 December 2024.

HMRC aims to process 85% of Research and Development (R&D) tax relief claims within 40 working days. This target was met in both 2023–24 and 2024–25, with performance reaching 90% in 2024–25, as reported in HMRC’s Annual Report and Accounts.HMRC published information on the average duration of a compliance check in the Approach to Research and Development tax reliefs 2023 to 2024 - GOV.UKSince 31 December 2024, HMRC has received 20 voluntary disclosures about incorrect R&D tax relief claims with a total value of £5.5m via the R&D Disclosure Facility.

Communities and Local Government, whether she has made a recent assessment of the adequacy of waiting times for the processing of Disabled Facilities Grants for people with (a) motor neurone disease and (b) other rapidly progressing diseases.

The government recognises the importance of timely home adaptations, especially for individuals with rapidly progressing conditions, such as motor neurone disease. Local authorities have a statutory duty to provide adaptations for people who satisfy a needs assessment, eligibility criteria and a means test, and have powers to agree a more generous local policy. Local authorities also have a statutory duty to provide a decision on Disabled Facilities Grants applications within 6 months of receipt, and the works must usually be completed within 12 months of the approval date. Government guidance sets out that local authorities should prioritise urgent cases, and work to quicker, best practice timescales. The guidance is available here. To support effective delivery, government also funds a national body for home improvementagencies, currently Foundations, to provide support and advice to local authorities to help them deliver the DFG as efficiently as possible.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of permitting shared ownership staircasing valuations to be (a) appealed or (b) negotiated by shared owners, using evidence of significant local variations between (i) RICS valuations and (ii) actual sale prices of (1) similar or (2) identical properties.

The price paid by shared owners for staircasing is based on the property's full open 'Market Value' (defined in the shared ownership model leases) as determined by an independent Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) valuer.RICS valuations will include the use of comparable data from recent sales of similar properties in the locality. They will also account for the property's condition and any home improvements, meaning that shared owners do not have to pay a higher price for staircasing as a result of improvements that they have made to the home.Valuations are normally final and cannot be challenged. However, if in exceptional circumstances the 'Market Value' of the property has not been properly assessed, then a request for a revaluation could be made by the shared owner or the provider.A RICS valuation is not required on 1% staircasing transactions; instead, the House Price Index is used to determine the price to be paid by the shared owner.

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's proposal for pharmacists to be granted additional powers to make minor substitutions to prescribed medications, such as substituting it for a different quantity, if there is a shortage of the medication in question and it is out-of-stock.

We will consult on proposals enabling pharmacists working in a community pharmacy to be granted the flexibility to supply an alternative strength or formulation, and hence also quantity, against a prescription written by another prescriber, where it is safe and appropriate to do so. This will improve patient access to medicines and improve patient experience.Alongside this, we have serious shortage protocols (SSPs), which are a tool to manage and mitigate medicine and medical device shortages. An SSP enables community pharmacists to supply a specified alternative in accordance with a protocol rather than a prescription.

If he will take steps to create a standardised pathway for the genetic testing of people with motor neurone disease.

Genomic testing in the National Health Service in England is provided through the NHS Genomic Medicine Service (GMS). Testing is directed by the National Genomic Test Directory, which sets out the eligibility criteria for patients to access testing.Genomic testing for adult-onset neurodegenerative disorder is included in the Test Directory under specific clinical scenarios including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, the most common type of motor neurone disease. The Test Directory is routinely reviewed to ensure that genomic testing continues to be available for all patients for whom it would be of clinical benefit, while delivering value for money for the NHS. The directory and associated supporting material are available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/national-genomic-test-directory-supporting-material/The strategic and systematic embedding of genomic medicine in end-to-end clinical pathways and clinical specialities is supported by a network of seven regional NHS GMS Alliances, which play an important role in achieving equitable access to standardised end-to-end pathways of care, including genomic testing, clinical genetics and genetic counselling services.

What steps her Department is taking to process the settlement protection ILR applications from Syrian nationals.

The pause on processing settlement protection applications from Syrian nationals has been lifted.We are working through the outstanding cases in line with the relevant published policy guidance taking into account the latest published country policy information on Syria. Each application will be considered on its individual merits and some cases may require further consideration and evidence gathering.We will not remove anyone to their own or any other country where they would face persecution or serious harm.

When she plans to respond to the open letter from Young Women's Trust entitled For the Employment Rights Bill to work for young women and their employers, the Spending Review must increase funding for enforcement of their rights, dated 22 May 2025.

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) has responded to the open letter from the Young Women’s Trust, as the department responsible for delivering the Employment Rights Bill. At SR 2025, DBT were funded to support the establishment of the Fair Work Agency (FWA), which will tackle low pay, poor working conditions and poor job security. The government is committed to ensuring the FWA is fully resourced to deliver on its remit, with funding allocated to cover both transition and operational costs through to 2028-29. This includes the transfer of existing budgets from enforcement bodies such as the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate, the Director of Labour Market Enforcement, and the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority, as well as funding for National Minimum Wage enforcement.

Innovation and Technology, how unsuccessful applicants to Innovate UK funding streams can seek feedback on their applications.

Assessor feedback is provided to successful and unsuccessful applicants and is comprised of the comments supporting the scores given by assessors. A notification email states when feedback will be available, which is then published on the applicant’s Innovation Funding Service dashboard.

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing the role of a Fair Work Commissioner to ensure the independent enforcement of workers' rights.

Fair Work Agency officers will be operationally independent. Additionally, the Employment Right Bill provides for effective oversight of the Fair Work Agency through the three-year enforcement strategies and annual reports, which must be laid before Parliament and the Northern Ireland Assembly.The Secretary of State is also required to consult the Advisory Board, which will have equal representation from businesses, trade unions and independent experts, to ensure they benefit from a broad range of insight when developing these documents.

Whether young women will be represented on the Advisory Board for the Fair Work Agency.

Women and young people are less likely to get the employment rights they are entitled to than the general population. The creation of the Fair Work Agency will deliver a generational upgrade to enforcement of workers’ rights, and young women particularly stand to benefit.Its core function will be to enforce specific employment legislation set out in Part 1 of Schedule 7 of the Employment Rights Bill. The Government has worked closely with a variety of stakeholders as it has developed the Bill, and we are committed to continuing this.The Secretary of State has discretion to appoint individuals as independent experts to the Fair Work Agency’s Advisory Board, if the Secretary of State considers them to have relevant expertise. This could include appointing individuals with expertise in relation to young women’s experience of the labour market.

With reference to his Department's publication entitled Factsheet: The Fair Work Agency, whether the agency will be specifically mandated to uphold the rights of young women in the workplace.

Women and young people are less likely to get the employment rights they are entitled to than the general population. The creation of the Fair Work Agency will deliver a generational upgrade to enforcement of workers’ rights, and young women particularly stand to benefit.Its core function will be to enforce specific employment legislation set out in Part 1 of Schedule 7 of the Employment Rights Bill. The Government has worked closely with a variety of stakeholders as it has developed the Bill, and we are committed to continuing this.The Secretary of State has discretion to appoint individuals as independent experts to the Fair Work Agency’s Advisory Board, if the Secretary of State considers them to have relevant expertise. This could include appointing individuals with expertise in relation to young women’s experience of the labour market.

If he will include further consultation on the scope of the Fair Work Agency in the roadmap for delivering the Employment Rights Bill.

Women and young people are less likely to get the employment rights they are entitled to than the general population. The creation of the Fair Work Agency will deliver a generational upgrade to enforcement of workers’ rights, and young women particularly stand to benefit.Its core function will be to enforce specific employment legislation set out in Part 1 of Schedule 7 of the Employment Rights Bill. The Government has worked closely with a variety of stakeholders as it has developed the Bill, and we are committed to continuing this.The Secretary of State has discretion to appoint individuals as independent experts to the Fair Work Agency’s Advisory Board, if the Secretary of State considers them to have relevant expertise. This could include appointing individuals with expertise in relation to young women’s experience of the labour market.

With reference to the guidance entitled Get VAT relief on certain goods if you have a disability, updated on 22 January 2019, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of permitting (a) sports clubs and (b) other charitable groups to purchase (i) wheelchairs and (ii) other medical appliances such at zero rate in (A) instances when those appliances will not solely be for the use of one person and (B) other instances.

Charities providing care, medical or surgical treatment for handicapped persons, rescue or first-aid services can already benefit from a VAT zero-rate when purchasing relevant goods. The supply of a wheelchair designed solely for the use of a disabled person can be zero-rated where it is supplied to a disabled person for their personal or domestic use or when supplied to a charity which will make the wheelchair available to a disabled person for their personal or domestic use. Sports clubs can register either as a community amateur sports club (CASC) or as a charity where the relevant conditions are met. However, where a sports club is registered as a CASC, they will not qualify for VAT reliefs which are only available to charities. There are currently no plans to widen the scope of current VAT reliefs as targeting these reliefs to disabled users ensures they are not open to distortion or abuse. The Government takes steps elsewhere in the tax system to take account of charities' unique status and invaluable contribution.

Whether he has made an estimate of the amount of non-residential building roof space that is (a) available and (b) suitable for the installation of solar panels.

No such estimate has been made. However, deploying rooftop solar remains a key part of the Government’s clean power mission, and it continues to be one of the most popular and easily deployed renewable energy sources. Solar is also an important part of the Government’s strategy for increasing energy performance of buildings, and the Future Standards this year will ensure our new buildings are fit for a Net Zero future. The Warm Homes plan will set out pathways for decarbonisation of all buildings, including non-domestic ones. Further details on the Warm Homes Plan will be set out soon.

Pursuant to the Answer of 8 July to Question 63598 on Immigration: Hong Kong, what the (a) shortest, (b) longest and (c) average waiting time is for a biometric enrolment appointment from the date of receipt of a Priority Visa Service for BNO (British National Overseas) Indefinite Leave to Remain application, in each month since 8 September 2023.

The requested data is not held in a reportable format and could only be identified for the purposes of answering this question at disproportionate cost.

If she will carry out sector-specific impact assessments for proposed non-domestic rate multipliers ahead of the Autumn Budget 2025.

The business rates multipliers are set by Government. From 2026-27, the Government intends to introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality and leisure properties with rateable values (RVs) under £500,000. The Government intends to fund this by introducing a higher multiplier on properties with RVs of £500,000 or more. The new business rates multipliers will be set at Budget 2025 so that the Government can take into account the upcoming revaluation outcomes as well as the economic and fiscal context. When the new multipliers are set, HM Treasury intends to publish analysis of the expected effects of the new RHL and higher multiplier arrangements.

Pursuant to the Answer of 8 July 2025 to Question 63598 on Immigration: Hong Kong, how many and what proportion of applications to the priority visa service for BNO (British National Overseas) Indefinite Leave to Remain have been processed within five days of biometric enrolment in each month since 8 September 2023.

All figures relating to applications using the priority visa service for BNO (British National Overseas) Indefinite Leave to Remain are published in the relevant transparency data, which can be found here:Migration transparency data - GOV.UK.

What assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the availability for patients to message their GP practice using the NHS app for medical and appointment enquiries over lunchtime periods.

We want patients to be able to contact their general practice (GP) by phone, online, or by walking in, and for people to have an equitable experience across these access routes. This is a key intervention in the Government’s ambition to end the 8:00am scramble. From 1 October 2025, practices will be contractually required to keep their online consultation tool open for the duration of core hours, from 8:00am to 6:30pm, for non-urgent appointment requests, medication queries, and admin requests. This will be subject to the necessary safeguards that are in place to avoid urgent clinical requests being erroneously submitted online. These requirements are set out in ‘You and Your GP’, a new patient charter, which will come into effect from September. Practices must provide a link to ‘You and Your GP’ on their website.Patients can currently access their practice’s online consultation tool through their practice’s website. For 74% of practices this is also available via the NHS App, and this is due to increase to 95% of practices by March 2026.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of revising the thresholds for determining the interest rate on student loan repayments for people living abroad in the context of local taxation levels.

The repayment of student loans, including the setting of interest rates applied to student loan plan types for borrowers in the UK or overseas, is determined by the Education (Student Loans) (Repayment) Regulations 2009 (as amended).Overseas repayment thresholds are calculated using World Bank price level index (PLI) (which is used to compare differences between the cost of living in the UK and other countries), not the tax rates of countries of residence. This means that if a borrower is resident in a country calculated as having a lower cost of living than the UK, the repayment threshold applied to their loan will be lower than if they are residing in the UK. The country bandings and thresholds are reviewed annually.Using a recognised measure of the relative cost of living in different countries ensures that borrowers residing in different countries are assessed in a fair, transparent and consistent way.