Written questions by McMurdock.

Communities and Local Government, what discussions she has had with Essex County Council on the financial sustainability of local services under the proposed devolution deal.

Combined County Authorities (CCA) do not replace the councils in the area – and services such as social care, libraries and education that are provided by the local authorities would continue to be provided by them. The finances of constituent members such as Essex County Council will remain separate from the proposed Greater Essex Combined County Authority.The CCA would instead benefit from devolution of both powers and funding in the areas of transport, housing and adult skills, as well as attracting a Mayoral Capacity Fund to assist with setting up and a thirty-year Investment Fund for both revenue and capital spending.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to make paternity DNA testing mandatory in all disputed child maintenance cases before deductions begin.

Parentage disputes can be raised at any point in the life cycle of a child maintenance case.If parentage is disputed before the initial maintenance calculation is made, the CMS will need to decide whether an assumption of parentage can be made. The circumstances on which the CMS can make an assumption about parentage are prescribed in legislation, such as the paying parent being registered as the father on the child’s birth certificate. If none of the assumption grounds apply, then a maintenance calculation cannot be made until the parentage dispute is resolved. If parentage cannot be assumed, all parties will be invited to take a DNA test. If parentage is disputed after the initial maintenance calculation is made, including instances where the maintenance is collected via wage deductions, the CMS will decide whether there is conclusive evidence to confirm that the paying parent is not the parent of the child in question. Conclusive evidence is either a DNA test result from an approved tester or a court declaration of parentage or non-parentage. Where a DNA test is requested by the paying parent, the cost is paid by the paying parent. If the DNA test shows that they are not the parent, they will no longer be liable for child maintenance payments and will receive a refund for the cost of the DNA test. The CMS will also consider an application for a refund of any maintenance paid to date. The DWP keeps all policies under review. Whenever the DWP does announce an intention to make significant policy changes then the Department will invite views and perspectives – including those of paying parents - through a process of consultation.

Whether she has undertaken a recent review of the Child Maintenance Service's approach to paternity disputes.

Parentage disputes can be raised at any point in the life cycle of a child maintenance case.If parentage is disputed before the initial maintenance calculation is made, the CMS will need to decide whether an assumption of parentage can be made. The circumstances on which the CMS can make an assumption about parentage are prescribed in legislation, such as the paying parent being registered as the father on the child’s birth certificate. If none of the assumption grounds apply, then a maintenance calculation cannot be made until the parentage dispute is resolved. If parentage cannot be assumed, all parties will be invited to take a DNA test. If parentage is disputed after the initial maintenance calculation is made, including instances where the maintenance is collected via wage deductions, the CMS will decide whether there is conclusive evidence to confirm that the paying parent is not the parent of the child in question. Conclusive evidence is either a DNA test result from an approved tester or a court declaration of parentage or non-parentage. Where a DNA test is requested by the paying parent, the cost is paid by the paying parent. If the DNA test shows that they are not the parent, they will no longer be liable for child maintenance payments and will receive a refund for the cost of the DNA test. The CMS will also consider an application for a refund of any maintenance paid to date. The DWP keeps all policies under review. Whenever the DWP does announce an intention to make significant policy changes then the Department will invite views and perspectives – including those of paying parents - through a process of consultation.

Whether she plans to publish annual performance metrics for the National Business Crime Centre to assess the effectiveness of additional funding.

We are investing £2 million over three financial years (25/26 – 27/28) in the National Business Crime Centre (NBCC) which provides a resource for both police and businesses to learn, share and support each other to prevent and combat crime. We are currently working with the NBCC to agree details of how the funding will be used.Funding will be provided through the usual Government funding process, via a grant agreement. This includes an agreed delivery plan and Key Performance Indicators, and ongoing monitoring throughout the period of the grant. An evaluation will be undertaken to ensure the aims of the funding are delivered, and it represents appropriate use of public money.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of child maintenance deductions before paternity was disproven on the finances of men who were subsequently shown to have been wrongly identified as fathers.

Parentage disputes can be raised at any point in the life cycle of a child maintenance case.If parentage is disputed before the initial maintenance calculation is made, the CMS will need to decide whether an assumption of parentage can be made. The circumstances on which the CMS can make an assumption about parentage are prescribed in legislation, such as the paying parent being registered as the father on the child’s birth certificate. If none of the assumption grounds apply, then a maintenance calculation cannot be made until the parentage dispute is resolved. If parentage cannot be assumed, all parties will be invited to take a DNA test. If parentage is disputed after the initial maintenance calculation is made, including instances where the maintenance is collected via wage deductions, the CMS will decide whether there is conclusive evidence to confirm that the paying parent is not the parent of the child in question. Conclusive evidence is either a DNA test result from an approved tester or a court declaration of parentage or non-parentage. Where a DNA test is requested by the paying parent, the cost is paid by the paying parent. If the DNA test shows that they are not the parent, they will no longer be liable for child maintenance payments and will receive a refund for the cost of the DNA test. The CMS will also consider an application for a refund of any maintenance paid to date. The DWP keeps all policies under review. Whenever the DWP does announce an intention to make significant policy changes then the Department will invite views and perspectives – including those of paying parents - through a process of consultation.

What discussions has she had with retail industry representatives on the (a) design and (b) implementation of the training funded through the National Police Chiefs' Council.

We are providing over £7 million over the next three years to support the police tackle retail crime, including continuing to fund a specialist policing team – in partnership with the retail sector - to better understand the tactics used by organised retail crime gangs and identify more offenders.We work closely with the National Police Chiefs’ Council, the College of Policing and the retail industry on the design of training funded by the Home Office, to ensure it delivers what is needed to help prevent and tackle crime and is an appropriate use of public money.Furthermore, I am committed to chairing the Retail Crime Forum which brings together the retail sector, security providers and law enforcement agencies to ensure we understand the needs of all retailers and to promote collaboration, share best practice and to work collectively to tackle the serious issue of retail crime. This includes the development of a new strategy to tackle shop theft published by policing, retail sector representatives and industry as part of collective efforts to combat shop theft – Tackling Retail Crime Together. The strategy builds on previous progress made by police and retailers but provides a more comprehensive and intelligence-led approach to tackle all perpetrators of shop theft – not just organised criminal gangs.The National Police Chiefs’ Council have an operational Retail Crime Action Plan, which has been in place since October 2023. This plan contains a commitment for police across England and Wales to prioritise attendance at the scene where violence has been used towards shop staff, where an offender has been detained by store security, and where evidence needs to be secured and can only be done by police personnel.

What plans she has to improve the Child Maintenance Service's procedural safeguards within paternity disputes.

Parentage disputes can be raised at any point in the life cycle of a child maintenance case.If parentage is disputed before the initial maintenance calculation is made, the CMS will need to decide whether an assumption of parentage can be made. The circumstances on which the CMS can make an assumption about parentage are prescribed in legislation, such as the paying parent being registered as the father on the child’s birth certificate. If none of the assumption grounds apply, then a maintenance calculation cannot be made until the parentage dispute is resolved. If parentage cannot be assumed, all parties will be invited to take a DNA test. If parentage is disputed after the initial maintenance calculation is made, including instances where the maintenance is collected via wage deductions, the CMS will decide whether there is conclusive evidence to confirm that the paying parent is not the parent of the child in question. Conclusive evidence is either a DNA test result from an approved tester or a court declaration of parentage or non-parentage. Where a DNA test is requested by the paying parent, the cost is paid by the paying parent. If the DNA test shows that they are not the parent, they will no longer be liable for child maintenance payments and will receive a refund for the cost of the DNA test. The CMS will also consider an application for a refund of any maintenance paid to date. The DWP keeps all policies under review. Whenever the DWP does announce an intention to make significant policy changes then the Department will invite views and perspectives – including those of paying parents - through a process of consultation.

What plans she has to review the child maintenance service policy to ensure there are no wage deductions before paternity is (a) legally and (b) biologically confirmed.

Parentage disputes can be raised at any point in the life cycle of a child maintenance case.If parentage is disputed before the initial maintenance calculation is made, the CMS will need to decide whether an assumption of parentage can be made. The circumstances on which the CMS can make an assumption about parentage are prescribed in legislation, such as the paying parent being registered as the father on the child’s birth certificate. If none of the assumption grounds apply, then a maintenance calculation cannot be made until the parentage dispute is resolved. If parentage cannot be assumed, all parties will be invited to take a DNA test. If parentage is disputed after the initial maintenance calculation is made, including instances where the maintenance is collected via wage deductions, the CMS will decide whether there is conclusive evidence to confirm that the paying parent is not the parent of the child in question. Conclusive evidence is either a DNA test result from an approved tester or a court declaration of parentage or non-parentage. Where a DNA test is requested by the paying parent, the cost is paid by the paying parent. If the DNA test shows that they are not the parent, they will no longer be liable for child maintenance payments and will receive a refund for the cost of the DNA test. The CMS will also consider an application for a refund of any maintenance paid to date. The DWP keeps all policies under review. Whenever the DWP does announce an intention to make significant policy changes then the Department will invite views and perspectives – including those of paying parents - through a process of consultation.

What mechanisms are in place to assess the effectiveness of the Hotspot Action Fund in reducing (a) anti-social behaviour and (b) serious violence.

The Hot Spot Action Fund for 25/26 is being evaluated for effectiveness using the same approach as for hot spot policing programmes funded by the Home Office since 21/22.Details of the evaluation method along with previous results can be found within published reports on the Home Office research section of the GOV.UK website. including impact on anti-social behaviour) and to be published in 2026.

Whether she plans to take steps to help ensure that small businesses receive funding through initiatives funded by the National Business Crime Centre.

We are investing £2 million over three financial years (25/26 – 27/28) in the National Business Crime Centre (NBCC) which provides a resource for both police and businesses to learn, share and support each other to prevent and combat crime. We are currently working with the NBCC to agree details of how the funding will be used.Funding will be provided through the usual Government funding process, via a grant agreement. This includes an agreed delivery plan and Key Performance Indicators, and ongoing monitoring throughout the period of the grant. An evaluation will be undertaken to ensure the aims of the funding are delivered, and it represents appropriate use of public money.

What steps she is taking to help ensure that pension investment rules (a) safeguard pensions and (b) encourage greater occupancy of vacant commercial properties.

Pension schemes can rent out commercial property at below market value. The only restriction on this is that there is an unauthorised payment charge where the tenant is connected with the pension scheme. This rule prevents value being transferred out of the pension scheme and the Government has no plans to review this.

Whether she plans to review the unauthorised payments charge applied to pension schemes that rent commercial property below market value.

Pension schemes can rent out commercial property at below market value. The only restriction on this is that there is an unauthorised payment charge where the tenant is connected with the pension scheme. This rule prevents value being transferred out of the pension scheme and the Government has no plans to review this.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of tax disincentives that prevent pension property owners from letting units at reduced rates on (a) high street regeneration and (b) town centre vacancy rates.

Pension schemes can rent out commercial property at below market value. The only restriction on this is that there is an unauthorised payment charge where the tenant is connected with the pension scheme. This rule prevents value being transferred out of the pension scheme and the Government has no plans to review this.

Pursuant to the Answer of 28 May to Question to 53448 on Carbon Capture and Storage, how the the funding models will be evaluated to ensure value for money.

Detailed and robust Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Plans have been developed for the various CCUS funding models. The M&E plans map out the evaluation activities, methodology, data sources and resource needed for the various types of evaluations, including value-for-money (VfM) assessments. The VfM assessments across the CCUS programme will assess the extent to which public funds were used in the most cost-effective way possible to deliver results. Robust VfM evaluation methodologies that are relevant and suitable for the CCUS programme will be used, including Cost-benefit analysis (CBA) and the National Audit Office 4Es VfM approach, to allow a rigorous and systematic analysis of the costs and benefits. These methods will demonstrate VfM by evaluating whether the CCUS programme is cost-effective, impactful, and equitable.

Pursuant to the Answer of 28 May to Question 53448 on Carbon Capture and Storage, what steps his Department is taking to safeguard against over-subsidisation of specific (a) projects and (b) technologies.

The CCUS Cluster Sequencing Process, which is the selection of the initial carbon dioxide transport & storage networks and projects, and the CCUS business models, under which individual awards for projects are made, have been developed to align with the UK subsidy control regime as per the Subsidy Control Act 2022 and are subject to mandatory referral to the Subsidy Advice Unit, part of the Competition Markets Authority. These business models support the development of transport and storage CO2 networks, as well as the deployment of CCUS in the power, industrial and hydrogen sectors.

What steps her Department is taking to help ensure that children and young people with autism have access to (a) tailored support and (b) empowering learning environments.

This government’s ambition is that all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) or in alternative provision receive the right support to achieve and thrive in their education and as they move into adult life.In November 2024, the department established the Neurodivergence Task and Finish Group, which includes clinicians, scientists, academics, education experts and third sector organisations. The group will make recommendations on the best ways to support and meet the needs of neurodivergent children and young people in mainstream education settings, including those with autism.The Partnerships for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools (PINS) programme is a national programme, backed by £22 million of investment. PINS deploys specialists from both health and education workforces to build teacher and staff capacity to identify and better meet the needs of neurodivergent children. In the 2024/25 financial year, PINS delivered to over 1650 mainstream primary schools. In the 2025/26 financial year, PINS will be extended to a further cohort of around 1,200 mainstream primary schools.

Pursuant to the Answer of 28 May to Question 53448 on Carbon Capture and Storage, (a) how the levy will be structured and (b) who will be responsible for paying it.

There is a mixture of funding routes to support carbon capture and storage projects in the UK, including levies placed on energy suppliers and gas shippers. There are two levies relevant to the CCUS programme. Firstly, the Electricity Supplier Obligation, which is placed on licensed electricity suppliers who may then pass this cost on to their consumers. This levy supports renewable and low carbon electricity production. The second is the Gas Shipper Obligation, which is intended to be an obligation placed on gas shippers to fund certain hydrogen production projects. The Government has recently consulted on the design of the Gas Shipper Obligation and design considerations are ongoing.

What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the tribunal system in supporting small businesses facing late payments.

The Government understands the impact late payments has on small businesses and the important role the tribunal system plays in helping to recover late payments, alongside the Office of the Small Business Commissioner which was set up to help small businesses with late payment disputes and which runs a free dispute resolution service. The Government will soon be launching a public consultation seeking views on how we can go further to tackle late payments.

Whether the recent cyberattacks on Marks and Spencer have been investigated by the relevant authorities.

The National Cyber Security Centre and National Crime Agency are working to fully understand the nature of these attacks, and to provide support and expert advice to the affected organisations, as well as the wider sector.

Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to ensure that vacant commercial properties owned by institutional landlords do not inhibit small businesses' access to affordable premises.

This Government is committed to revitalising our high streets and tackling vacancy. To that end, we have introduced High Street Rental Auctions, new powers for local authorities to bring vacant units back into use by auctioning the lease. We anticipate this will increase cooperation between landlords and local authorities regarding vacant units and make town centre tenancies more accessible and affordable for tenants, including SMEs and local businesses.