Written questions by Chowns.

What steps her Department is taking to ensure that HMRC's Making Tax Digital for Income Tax and Self Assessment represents good value for money.

HMRC has undertaken detailed assessments of the potential impact of Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax on compliance costs and administrative requirements across different taxpayer groups, including seasonal workers, self-employed individuals, small businesses, and landlords. The latest published assessment is available at: Extension of Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment to sole traders and landlords - GOV.UK HMRC has worked to ensure that MTD for Income Tax works well for all kinds of businesses. In-year, quarterly updates are not like full tax returns.They are simple, unadjusted summaries of income and expenditure, acting as a snapshot of quarterly trading activity. They will be populated automatically through software and can be submitted easily. This process has been designed to be simple for users and quick to complete. Quarterly updates reduce the risk of error by moving record-keeping closer to real time. They also make preparing the tax return easier, as much information is already captured and categorised. Updates can help inform estimates of tax liability and prompts to help taxpayers get their tax right. The Government has taken steps to minimise costs to businesses resulting from MTD, including work with the software industry to ensure free software is available for those with simple affairs. Following MTD’s introduction in April 2026, HMRC will support MTD users with fully-trained advisers in sufficient numbers to manage anticipated demand. In advance of MTD’s rollout, nearly 5,000 volunteers have signed up to test the service. HMRC’s dedicated teams are working to ensure the new systems and processes operate as planned and the right guidance and training is in place for both advisors and users. As a major government programme, HMRC routinely evaluates MTD’s value for money in line with mandatory Government Major Project Portfolio (GMPP) requirements, which include demonstrating affordability, cost-effectiveness, and delivery of benefits throughout its lifecycle to ensure efficient use of public funds. The latest assessment is at: Making Tax Digital Programme Accounting Officer Assessment (updated) - GOV.UK

Whether her Department has conducted an equalities impact assessment of the age limit for Lifelong Learning Entitlement tuition fee loans; and what steps her Department is taking to ensure that knowledge of the age limit is widely promoted amongst people who are over 60 years old.

The department conducted an equalities impact assessment (EIA) in 2023 that considered the availability of Lifelong Learning Entitlement tuition loans up to the age of 60. The EIA can be found in the public domain and is available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/64061b31e90e0740d2e5a80b/Lifelong_loan_entitlement_-_equality_analysis.pdf. The department has published guidance about the availability of the Lifelong Learning Entitlement which is accessible here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/lifelong-learning-entitlement-lle-overview/lifelong-learning-entitlement-overview . The Student Loans Company has also published information on its website: https://www.heinfo.slc.co.uk/lle/lle-faq/lifelong-learning-entitlement-faq/.

Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 29 October 2025 to Question 83709 on Electronic Government: Proof of Identity, what assessment she has made of the risk that people with limited credit history are disproportionately excluded from verifying their identity through the Gov.uk One Login; and what steps her Department is taking to ensure that those people are not prevented from accessing (a) Companies House and (b) other essential Government services.

GOV.UK One Login provides multiple ways for individuals to prove their identity. Individuals with access to a smartphone and traditional ID documents such as a passport or driving licence can complete verification via the GOV.UK One Login App, which does not require a credit history check.For those who do not have a smartphone, we have a web route available. We also have a no photo ID route for those without traditional ID documents. These routes use knowledge-based verification questions based on a user's credit history. GOV.UK One login is just one way Companies House users can prove their identity and they provide an alternative via Authorised Corporate Service Providers (ACSP).

Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 29 October 2025 to Question 83709 on Electronic Government: Proof of Identity, what oversight her Department has of third-party data providers used for identity verification under the Gov.uk One Login; and what mechanisms are in place to audit (a) error rates and (b) mismatched records resulting in people having to pay private verification providers.

As part of the identity verification process, GOV.UK One Login engages specialist third party service providers. All third party relationships are controlled via commercial arrangements set out in contracts with GOV.UK One Login. GOV.UK One Login does not have access to any personal information users have shared with third party service providers. If an individual would like to ask for any information that may be processed by our third party service providers, they will need to contact them directly.

Food and Rural Affairs, how many cases Natural England is investigating for potential breaches of the Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) (England) (No.2) Regulations 2006 on semi-natural grassland for (a) 2025, (b) 2024 and (c) 2023.

Figures by financial year can be found in Natural England’s published enforcement reports here. The 2023/24 report is due to be published soon, and work is underway on the 2024/25 report.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of the closure of the Sustainable Farming Incentive scheme on Natural England's caseload for investigations of potential breaches to the Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) (England) (No.2) Regulations 2006.

No formal assessment was deemed necessary in relation to the potential impact of the closure of the 2024 Sustainable Farming Incentive offer to new applications on the incidence of EIA (Agriculture) Regulations breaches.

With reference to the Answer of 16 October 2025 to Question 79904 on Carbon Emissions, if she will make it her policy to require the Bank of England to undertake a nature stress test.

The Chancellor’s 2024 remit and recommendations letter to the Bank of England’s Financial Policy Committee (FPC) sets out that the Committee should “consider how climate-related risks could impact financial stability over the near and long term, including, where appropriate, through its stress testing frameworks, ensuring that risks stemming from possible and severe global climate scenarios are reflected in its analysis on climate risks, and that sufficient time horizons are considered”. The remit letter also sets out that the Committee should “continue to consider the materiality of nature-related financial risks for its primary objective”. The Chancellor and the Governor of the Bank of England meet regularly to discuss the financial stability outlook. However, the FPC and the UK’s financial regulators are operationally independent from government in terms of how they carry out their specific responsibilities. This model is important for maintaining public trust and ensuring that our expert regulators are able to act flexibly to address evolving risks.

What discussions she has had with the Bank of England on other members of the Network for Greening Financial Services (NGFS) incorporating climate tipping points into NGFS scenarios.

The Chancellor’s 2024 remit and recommendations letter to the Bank of England’s Financial Policy Committee (FPC) sets out that the Committee should “consider how climate-related risks could impact financial stability over the near and long term, including, where appropriate, through its stress testing frameworks, ensuring that risks stemming from possible and severe global climate scenarios are reflected in its analysis on climate risks, and that sufficient time horizons are considered”. The remit letter also sets out that the Committee should “continue to consider the materiality of nature-related financial risks for its primary objective”. The Chancellor and the Governor of the Bank of England meet regularly to discuss the financial stability outlook. However, the FPC and the UK’s financial regulators are operationally independent from government in terms of how they carry out their specific responsibilities. This model is important for maintaining public trust and ensuring that our expert regulators are able to act flexibly to address evolving risks.

With reference to the Answer of 16 October 2025 to Question 79904 on Carbon Emissions, if she will require the Bank of England to undertake a climate stress test that incorporates lessons learned from the Climate Biennial Exploratory Scenario test conducted in 2021.

The Chancellor’s 2024 remit and recommendations letter to the Bank of England’s Financial Policy Committee (FPC) sets out that the Committee should “consider how climate-related risks could impact financial stability over the near and long term, including, where appropriate, through its stress testing frameworks, ensuring that risks stemming from possible and severe global climate scenarios are reflected in its analysis on climate risks, and that sufficient time horizons are considered”. The remit letter also sets out that the Committee should “continue to consider the materiality of nature-related financial risks for its primary objective”. The Chancellor and the Governor of the Bank of England meet regularly to discuss the financial stability outlook. However, the FPC and the UK’s financial regulators are operationally independent from government in terms of how they carry out their specific responsibilities. This model is important for maintaining public trust and ensuring that our expert regulators are able to act flexibly to address evolving risks.

Whether his Department plans to establish a national framework to enable local authorities to provide residents with (a) face-to-face access and (b) payment facilities for local government services through the Post Office network.

While this idea is not something currently under consideration, this Government welcomes all ideas on the future of the Post Office and will keep this idea under review.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of enhanced Post Offices providing (a) affordable and (b) community-based access to (i) cash and (ii) face-to-face banking services in rural areas where banking hubs are not considered viable.

I welcome the introduction of enhanced Post Offices in suitable areas, demonstrating Post Office continuing its vital role as an important alternative to bank branches in providing convenient in-person cash and banking services.The Government would welcome further collaboration between Post Office and the banking sector on a commercial and voluntary basis. Together with the Economic Secretary to the Treasury, I plan to co-chair a roundtable with the Post Office and key banks shortly which will provide an opportunity to discuss where future potential collaboration may be in the interests of both parties.

What steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to expand the range of in-person Government services available via the Post Office network.

The Government’s consultation on the Post Office closed on 6 October and we thank all individuals and organisations for their detailed responses to our Green Paper, including the responses related to Post Office’s role in providing in-person Government services. Government is carefully considering all responses to the Green Paper and aims to respond in early 2026.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of trends in levels of anaesthetic workforce availability on elective surgery waiting times.

No specific recent assessment has been made by the Department on the impact of the levels of the anaesthetic workforce’s availability on elective surgery waiting times. Local providers are best placed to make decisions on workforce capacity to reflect local service demand and circumstances.The Government is committed to publishing a 10 Year Workforce Plan to set out action to create a workforce ready to deliver the transformed service set out in the 10-Year Health Plan. The 10 Year Workforce Plan will ensure the National Health Service has the right people in the right places, with the right skills to care for patients, when they need it.

With reference to the guidance entitled Suitability: non-conducive grounds for refusal or cancellation of entry clearance or permission, published on 19 January 2024, whether Elon Musk would meet the criteria of a person not conducive to the public good.

It is longstanding Home Office policy not to comment on individual cases.Where a foreign national is seeking to enter or stay in the UK, in order to qualify they will be assessed by the Home Office against a range of provisions in the current Immigration Rules relating to criminality and other adverse conduct and character prior to their entry to, and any previous time spent in, the UK. Failure to satisfy these criteria may mean their application for a visa, entry clearance, permission to enter or permission to stay will be refused, depending on the severity of past offences or other factors in their history.

What steps he is taking to ensure a sustainable funding settlement for hospice and palliative care in (a) Herefordshire and (b) the country.

Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning palliative care services to meet the reasonable needs of their population, which can include hospice services available within the ICB catchment. To support ICBs in this duty, NHS England has published statutory guidance and a service specification.The Government is developing a Palliative Care and End of Life Care Modern Service Framework for England, due to be published in Spring 2026. I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement HCWS1087 I gave to the House on 24 November 2025. Additionally, we are supporting the hospice sector with a £100 million capital funding boost for eligible adult and children’s hospices in England to ensure they have the best physical environment for care.   St Michael’s Hospice in Hereford is receiving £667,020 from this funding. We are also committing £80 million for children’s and young people’s hospices over the next three financial years, giving them stability to plan ahead and focus on what matters most, caring for their patients.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to his Department's publication entitled Delivering a decade of renewal for social and affordable housing, published on 2 July 2025, when he plans to set out an (a) timetable and (b) delivery plan for the £39 billion Social and Affordable Homes Programme.

On 7 November 2025, my Department published a policy statement setting out the full details of the Social and Affordable Homes Programme as part of our plan to kickstart a decade of social and affordable housing renewal.The statement accompanies guidance to bidders from Homes England and the Greater London Authority. It can be found on gov.uk here.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what information her Department holds on the number of UK citizens who have been (a) arrested, (b) detained and (c) deported by the Israeli authorities for picking olives in the West Bank; and whether her Department has made representations on behalf of those people.

We provided consular assistance to fewer than five British nationals detained by Israel in October 2025, all of whom have subsequently left the region. It is our long-standing policy not to publish statistical information on the reasons for consular assistance where fewer than five people have been affected, as this risks identifying the individuals involved.

What assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the Women’s Environmental Network's report entitled Blood, Sweat and Pesticides, published in May 2025; and what steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help prevent the use of glyphosate in tampons.

The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is an executive agency of the Department and regulates medicine, medical devices and blood components for transfusion in the United Kingdom, with responsibility for ensuring medicines meet appropriate standards of safety, quality, and efficacy.MHRA has not evaluated this report, as period products are not regulated as medical devices and consequently fall outside of MHRA’s remit. Rather, they would fall under the General Product Safety Regulations 2005, which are within the remit of the Office for Product Safety and Standards. Information on how these are regulated is available at the following link:https://www.ahpma.co.uk/tampon_code_of_practice/

What assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists' report entitled Green Maternity Report 2025.

The Department is committed to supporting the National Health Service in delivering high-quality, equitable, and sustainable maternity services. This includes investing in digital transformation, supporting workforce development, and embedding sustainability into all aspects of care, as set out in 2020’s Delivering a Net Zero NHS report. For instance, reducing nitrous oxide waste through leaner supply and stock management has led to cost savings of over £2.3 million annually and emissions reductions of around 90 kilo-tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent since 2019/20.The Department has not made a formal assessment of the implications of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists' Green Maternity Report 2025.We continue, however, to work with NHS England, the Royal Colleges, and local partners to ensure that best practice is adopted across the system, and that the environmental impact of maternity care is monitored and reduced in line with our 10-Year Health Plan commitment to prioritise delivery of the NHS’s net zero targets.

What steps he is taking to ensure capital investment in NHS (a) estate and (b) infrastructure supports improvements in climate resilience.

We recognise the importance of increasing the climate resilience of the National Health Service estate. NHS trusts are responsible for maintaining their estate, including adapting premises to reduce risks associated with climate change and severe weather, as set out in the NHS Standard Contract.The Department is supporting the improvement of NHS sites by investing £30 billion over the next five years in day-to-day maintenance and repair, with £5 billion allocated specifically to address the most critical building issues. Additionally, the Department is making sure all new hospitals are fit for the future. Our New Hospital Programme requires schemes to achieve a minimum rating of ‘Excellent’ for new builds and ‘Very Good’ for refurbishments, under the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method. In addition, all NHS investments in new buildings and upgrades to existing facilities that are subject to HM Treasury business case approval process must align with the NHS Net Zero Building Standard, which includes a focus on overheating risks.