Written questions by Chowns.

Innovation and Technology, if she will publish an update on the status of the Universal Service Obligation consultation which closed on 27 November 2023; and what assessment she had made of the potential merits of increasing the 10mbps threshold of decent broadband.

Due to the change in government in 2024, we do not expect to publish a government response to the 2023 public consultation on reviewing the Broadband Universal Service Obligation (USO). However, the information gathered through this is being used to inform ongoing policy development.Ofcom's December 2024 Connected Nations reporting confirmed that the legislated trigger point to review the Broadband Universal Service Obligation (USO) had been reached and we are continuing to work with Ofcom to commence a review of the Broadband USO in due course. Assessment of the potential merits of increasing the speed threshold will be considered as part of this review and in any following policy development.

Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 28 March to Question 39828, how many properties in the North Herefordshire constituency have been identified as very hard to reach by Project Gigabit; and what alternative connectivity options are available to ensure that people in these (i) properties and (ii) communities have the connectivity they require to access online services.

BDUK’s May 2025 Open Market Review identified approximately 5,100 premises in North Herefordshire with no current or planned gigabit-capable infrastructure. Approximately 3,050 premises are now included in Project Gigabit contracts. Work is ongoing to finalise how many premises might remain outside of any plans, some of which may be very hard to reach.Alternative connectivity can be obtained through technologies such as fixed wireless access (for example from Vodafone, Three, EE and Airband) and satellites. We continue to consider what the government can do to further enable these fibre alternatives for premises and communities located in very hard to reach areas.

What steps her Department is taking to ensure that HM Revenue and Customs has sufficient capacity to support taxpayers during the implementation of Making Tax Digital for Income Tax and Self Assessment.

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

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of quarterly reporting requirements under Making Tax Digital for Income Tax and Self Assessment on seasonal businesses.

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

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of quarterly reporting requirements under Making Tax Digital for Income Tax and Self Assessment on (a) landlords’ administrative costs and (b) rent levels for tenants.

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

What assessment she has made of the potential merits of establishing a community sponsorship scheme for refugees from Gaza.

We are not considering establishing a bespoke immigration route for Palestinians. In any humanitarian situation, the UK must carefully consider its approach in response. Any decision to implement a bespoke visa scheme would need to consider a range of factors, including assessing the unique crisis and relevant impacts on security, compliance and returns.Palestinians who wish to come to the UK can do so via the existing routes available, which allow a person to apply to work, study, settle or join family in the UK. Further information can be found on the GOV.UK website: UK Visas and Immigration - GOV.UK

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.