Written questions by McMurdock.

Whether the Office for Students (a) collects and (b) publishes data on the (i) continuation, (ii) completion and (iii) attainment rates for international students by (A) provider and (B) ranking.

The Office for Students (OfS) publish information on continuation and completion rates for higher education (HE) providers for non-UK domiciled students studying at English HE providers. The information is available for the English HE sector and by provider here: https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/data-and-analysis/student-outcomes-data-dashboard/data-dashboard. This data is updated annually and was last published in August 2025.Information on attainment rates for non-UK students in HE is published by the OfS annually and was last updated in October 2025 here: https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/data-and-analysis/student-characteristics-data/outcomes-data-dashboard/As the independent regulator of HE, the OfS require HE providers to achieve minimum outcomes for their students. 80% of full-time undergraduate students studying a first degree, including international students, are expected to continue into a second year, and 75% are expected to complete their qualification. The OfS awards ratings of Gold, Silver, Bronze or Requires Improvement to providers based upon a range of evidence, including student outcomes. The Teaching Excellence Framework Dashboard’s ratings of providers can be found here: https://tef2023.officeforstudents.org.uk/.There is no official government ranking system.

Communities and Local Government, whether there are regional variations in the planned allocation of Pride in Place programme funding to high street regeneration projects.

On 25 September, the Government launched its overarching Pride in Place Strategy, underpinned by two allocative funding programmes. The flagship Pride in Place Programme will provide up to £20 million in flexible funding and support to 244 places over the next decade. Areas will establish a local Neighbourhood Board, comprised of those with a deep connection to the local area, such as, local businesses, grassroots campaigners, workplace representatives, faith and community leaders and any other relevant organisations. That board will take the decisions over how the funding is spent and what local priorities are addressed. Areas in phase 1 of the programme have begun developing their regeneration plans, and many have indicated an interest in supporting high street regeneration projects. As we continue our work with those phase 1 places, we will develop a clearer picture of how interventions may vary across the country. We have also set out a number of tools and powers that support areas to regenerate high streets in our Pride in Place Strategy.

Communities and Local Government, what criteria he uses to postpone local elections under local government reorganisation.

Our starting point is for all elections to go ahead unless there is strong justification otherwise.Postponements have previously occurred in areas undergoing local government reorganisation only where councils requested or agreed to the postponement. The single year postponements in 2025 were intended to help deliver both devolution and reorganisation to the most ambitious timeline possible in the area, and in Surrey, in the context of specific financial challenges.Where an election is postponed, the criteria for that postponement is set out in the Explanatory Memorandum to the required secondary legislation for the consideration of Parliament.

Communities and Local Government, what discussions his Department has had with Thurrock Council on ensuring the continued support for vulnerable residents in Thurrock, in the context of the planned closure of the Thurrock Centre for Independent Living; and if he will ask the commissioners at Thurrock Council to review the (a) value for money for the services provided by the Thurrock Centre for Independent Living and (b) level of support provided to that chairt.

Commissioners have been in place since September 2022 to address the concerns about the unprecedented scale of the financial and commercial risks that faced the Thurrock Council at the beginning of the intervention. Commissioners continue to help and provide oversight to the Council to manage their investments, finances, and to drive forward long-term change and reform of the Council, working with the Council to ensure value for money and services are delivered for local residents.

What discussions she has had with equestrian safety organisations on trends in the number of road incidents involving horses over the past five years.

The Government is committed to reducing the numbers of those killed and injured on our roads and my Department works with a broad range of stakeholders, including discussions with the British Horse Society, to help us achieve our aim. In 2022 The Highway Code was updated to improve the safety of all road users, particularly the most vulnerable. Key changes included the introduction of a Hierarchy of Road Users, which ensures that those who do the greatest harm have the greatest responsibility to reduce the danger or threat that they pose to others, along with the strengthening of guidance on safe passing distances and speeds when overtaking horse-riders.

What steps she is taking to raise awareness among motorists of their responsibilities when passing horses on public roads.

The Government’s flagship road safety campaign, THINK!, is currently running a Sharing the Road Safely radio advert via the Fillers service, which enables broadcasters to air public service messages at no cost. The advert promotes safe driving speeds and passing distances, reminding drivers to leave at least 1.5 metres when overtaking cyclists and to give adequate space to horse riders. In 2022, the Highway Code was updated to improve the safety of all road users, particularly the most vulnerable. Key changes included the introduction of a Hierarchy of Road Users, which places greater responsibility on those who can cause the most harm, and strengthened guidance on safe passing distances and speeds when overtaking horse riders. THINK! ran targeted campaigns to alert road users to these changes and broader behavioural campaigns to encourage understanding and compliance. We will continue to promote the Highway Code changes through THINK! and Department for Transport social media channels, as well as via partner organisations. The Government takes the safety of horse riders and other vulnerable road users very seriously and remains committed to reducing the number of people killed or seriously injured on England’s roads. My Department is currently developing our Road Safety Strategy, and further details will be set out in due course.

Whether he plans to increase the number of (a) training and (b) apprenticeship positions in areas where construction represents a substantial share of local employment.

The Department for Work and Pensions is committed to expanding access to high-quality construction training and apprenticeship opportunities across England, particularly in areas where the sector plays a significant role in the local economy. A wide range of government-funded programmes are available to support construction employers in hiring new staff, offering work experience, and upskilling existing employees. These include Apprenticeships, including foundation apprenticeships, Skills Bootcamps, and Free Courses for Jobs. Through the Construction Support Package, the Government is investing £625 million to train up to 60,000 additional construction workers by 2029. To ensure strategic delivery and alignment with workforce needs, the Construction Skills Mission Board has been established. This coordinated approach is helping to increase the number of training and apprenticeship positions in local areas, ensuring that communities benefit from secure, well-paid jobs in construction and that the sector has the skilled workforce it needs to deliver vital infrastructure and housing projects.

Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to support areas with a high proportion of construction sector businesses.

The government’s Plan for Change includes a hugely ambitious milestone of building 1.5 million new safe and decent homes in England in this Parliament. My department is working across government and with industry to address skills shortages and improve skills, competence, and productivity across built environment professions, from construction trades to architects, planners, building inspectors and other specialist professions. Our landmark Planning and Infrastructure Bill will further streamline the delivery of new homes and critical infrastructure, helping to support construction businesses across the UK.

Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that councils meet responsibilities under section 198 of the Housing Act 1996.

The Government does not collect any data on the number of instances in which a council does not meet their responsibilities under section 198 of the Housing Act 1996.Where there are disputes between the notifying authority and the notified authority over which authority should be responsible for the applicant, the Homelessness (Decisions on Referrals) Order 1998 sets out a process to resolve the dispute. In England, the Local Government Association will typically mediate between the two authorities. As such, the Local Government Association has issued its own guidance for authorities for invoking this disputes procedure and resolving any disputes, which can be accessed below. https://www.local.gov.uk/publications/procedures-referrals-homeless-applicants-another-local-authorityTo support councils with carrying out their homelessness duties this Government has increased funding for homelessness services by £316 million to a total of more than £1 billion in 2025/26. Local authorities can use this funding to support people experiencing or at risk of homelessness in their area.

Communities and Local Government, what information his Department holds on the number of instances of councils not meeting responsibilities under section 198 of the Housing Act 1996 by not responding since 2020.

The Government does not collect any data on the number of instances in which a council does not meet their responsibilities under section 198 of the Housing Act 1996.Where there are disputes between the notifying authority and the notified authority over which authority should be responsible for the applicant, the Homelessness (Decisions on Referrals) Order 1998 sets out a process to resolve the dispute. In England, the Local Government Association will typically mediate between the two authorities. As such, the Local Government Association has issued its own guidance for authorities for invoking this disputes procedure and resolving any disputes, which can be accessed below. https://www.local.gov.uk/publications/procedures-referrals-homeless-applicants-another-local-authorityTo support councils with carrying out their homelessness duties this Government has increased funding for homelessness services by £316 million to a total of more than £1 billion in 2025/26. Local authorities can use this funding to support people experiencing or at risk of homelessness in their area.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 27 October 2025 to Question 83618 on Retail Trade, what proportion of Pride in Place programme funding has been allocated to high street regeneration projects.

On 25 September the Government announced the Pride in Place Programme, supporting 244 of Great Britain’s most in need neighbourhoods with up to £20m each over the next decade. This will serve as the cornerstone of this Government’s support for communities, incorporating the existing 25 trailblazer areas announced at Spending Review and the 75 Phase 1 Plan for Neighbourhoods programme areas that were announced in March. Neighbourhood Boards will be provided with a list of pre-approved interventions and given the autonomy to pursue the changes that their community want to see. High street regeneration projects are included as a pre-approved intervention, and the decision on whether, and how much, to invest in this will be decided by each board locally. Further guidance will be published shortly.

Communities and Local Government, whether he has had discussions with representatives from small business on (a) rent and (b) service charge reform for high street tenants.

The Government regularly engages with small business representative organisations to garner their views. The ongoing Law Commission work, as set out in my answer to PQ UIN(s): 77535, has already involved a formal consultation with the commercial sector and is likely to include more engagement. There are currently no plans to require commercial landlords to publish standardised information on rent or service charges.

Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to ensure that local authorities meet identified needs for older people’s housing in local plans.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 63197 on 7 July 2025.

If she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the withdrawal of discounts for off-peak travel on (a) passenger numbers on and (b) the commercial viability of the C2C line.

There are no plans to remove off-peak tickets on c2c services. The whole of the c2c network is part of the Pay As You Go (PAYG) network in the South East. So, peak and off-peak timings are now aligned with Transport for London (TfL). While PAYG with contactless does not currently include the ability to link railcards to contactless bankcard, I would like to assure you that we are working with TfL on the functionality to use Railcard discounts on PAYG with contactless. In the meantime, passengers will continue to be able to use Railcard discounts on the equivalent barcode, smartcard, and magstripe tickets. From 1 October 2025, the Online Advance was removed and replaced with 1/3 Off Saver only available Fridays to Sundays. The changes made were designed to realign the offer with the target leisure travel market by limiting eligible journeys Fridays to Sundays, avoiding revenue abstraction from commuters and to reduce the available discount to a point that is more standard within the industry (for example, for Railcards and Groupsave) to simplify the messaging. These changes are not expected to impact passenger numbers or the commercial viability of the c2c line.

What estimate she has made of the average time it takes a first-time buyer to save for a deposit.

The UK benefits from a competitive mortgage market that offers various low deposit products; prospective buyers are encouraged to shop around and speak to a mortgage broker to find the best possible product for their circumstances. The government is committed to making home ownership more accessible by supporting first-time buyers, and welcomes changes made this year to support homeowners. FCA clarifications to their affordability testing rules earlier this year are allowing customers to borrow around 10% more on the same income. This could equate to an additional £20k for an average first-time buyer. Additional flexibility from the Bank of England in relation to their loan-to-income rules are also allowing more customers to access larger mortgages in relation to their incomes. The Bank of England estimates that this change provide capacity for lenders to support up to 36,000 additional first-time buyers in the first year.

Whether her Department is taking steps to ensure that nationalised rail operators retain discounts for off-peak travel.

This Government is overhauling the complex fares and ticketing system to make it easier for passengers to trust that they are buying the right ticketing and getting the best fare. We need to balance affordability for both passengers and taxpayers as we reform fares and deliver Great British Railways, ensuring everyone gets a fair deal. On longer-distance routes, we need to move away from the inefficient and unacceptable situation where some ‘peak’ trains run nearly empty while some ‘off-peak’ trains are overcrowded. To address this, we are trialling more flexible, demand-based pricing on some London North Eastern Railway routes.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of (a) business rates, (b) VAT and (c) energy costs on small hospitality businesses.

The Government recognises the vital role that small hospitality businesses play in supporting the UK’s economy and communities. As announced at Autumn Budget 2024, the Government will introduce permanently lower business rates multipliers for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties with ratable values (RVs) below £500,000 from 2026/27. This permanent tax cut will ensure that small hospitality businesses benefit from much-needed certainty and support. Ahead of the new multipliers being introduced, the Government has prevented RHL business rates relief from ending in April 2025, extending it for one year at 40 per cent up to a cash cap of £110,000 per business, and frozen the small business multiplier. VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption, and the 20 per cent standard rate applies to most goods and services. The UK’s VAT rate of 20 per cent is close to the OECD average of 19.3 per cent. The UK has a higher VAT registration threshold than any EU country and the joint highest in the OECD, at £90,000. This keeps the majority of businesses, including many small businesses in the hospitality sector, out of the VAT regime altogether. The government recognises the impact that energy costs can have on businesses, especially small businesses. To help with this, the Government announced in December 2024 a new Zero Carbon Services Hospitality trial which aims for Pubs, cafes, restaurants and hotels to receive free energy and carbon cutting advice to slash their energy bills as part of the government’s Plan for Change. The Government will continue to monitor the impact of energy costs on businesses. The Government keeps all areas of the tax system under review. Any changes to the tax system are announced as part of the annual Budget process.

Communities and Local Government, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on ensuring that housing policy supports independent living for older people.

The government recognises that well-designed, suitable housing can help support older people to live independently for longer. We will shortly set out our policy on accessible new build housing, reinforcing our commitment to ensuring everyone has access to a safe, suitable home.

Pursuant to the Answer of 24 October 2025 to Question 81775 on , what assessment she has made of the potential impact of recent regulatory changes to mortgages by the FCA on the (a) average deposit required and (b) approval rate for first-time buyer mortgages.

The UK benefits from a competitive mortgage market that offers various low deposit products; prospective buyers are encouraged to shop around and speak to a mortgage broker to find the best possible product for their circumstances. The government is committed to making home ownership more accessible by supporting first-time buyers, and welcomes changes made this year to support homeowners. FCA clarifications to their affordability testing rules earlier this year are allowing customers to borrow around 10% more on the same income. This could equate to an additional £20k for an average first-time buyer. Additional flexibility from the Bank of England in relation to their loan-to-income rules are also allowing more customers to access larger mortgages in relation to their incomes. The Bank of England estimates that this change provide capacity for lenders to support up to 36,000 additional first-time buyers in the first year.

Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to introduce (a) financial incentives and (b) stamp duty reliefs for older homeowners wishing to move to more suitable housing.

The government is committed to enhancing provision and choice for older people in the housing market and we will continue to consider this issue as we develop our long-term housing strategy.