Written questions by McMurdock.

What plans he has to introduce pathways for British nationals who obtained medical degrees overseas when applying for NHS roles.

The Medical Training (Prioritisation) Act 2026 implements the Government’s commitment in the 10-Year Health Plan to prioritise United Kingdom medical graduates for foundation training places, and to prioritise UK medical graduates and other doctors with significant National Health Service experience for specialty training places. Under the act, a UK medical graduate is defined as someone with a UK primary medical qualification who did not spend the majority of their time training for that qualification outside the British Islands.For specialty training places starting in 2026, we are using immigration statuses as a practical proxy to capture applicants who are most likely to have significant experience working in the health service in the UK. The effect of this is that British citizens will be prioritised. From 2027, immigration status will no longer automatically determine priority for specialty training. Instead, we will be able to make regulations to specify any additional groups who will be prioritised by reference to criteria indicating significant experience as a doctor in the health service, or by reference to immigration status.Overseas‑qualified doctors must meet General Medical Council (GMC) registration and licensing requirements before practising in the National Health Service. A range of information and guidance is available through the GMC website to support doctors through the registration process. The Government is currently consulting on reforms to the legislative framework governing the GMC, which will provide the GMC with greater flexibility to adapt its registration pathways to meet future workforce needs. The consultation closes on 23 June 2026.

What steps he is taking to increase residential and nursing care capacity to reduce the need for out-of-area placements.

Local authorities are best placed to understand and plan for the needs of their population. Under the Care Act 2014, they are tasked with the duty to shape their care market and to commission a range of high-quality, sustainable, and person-centred care and support services to meet the diverse needs of all local people. In performing that duty, a local authority must have regard to current and likely future demand for services, including residential and nursing care, and must consider how providers might meet that demand. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is assessing how local authorities in England are meeting the full range of their duties under Part 1 of the Care Act 2014, including those related to the commissioning described above. As part of their assessment process, the CQC collects a range of evidence and engages directly with local authorities to inform assessment outcomes. If the CQC identifies that a local authority has failed or is failing to discharge its duties under the Care Act to an acceptable standard, my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has powers to intervene.All reports are made available on the CQC’s website. Essex County Council was rated ‘Good’ by the CQC. Their assessment was published on 27 June 2025 and can be found at the following link:https://www.cqc.org.uk/care-services/local-authority-assessment-reports/essex-0625

What comparative assessment she has made of the depreciation rates of (a) electric and (b) petrol and diesel vehicles.

The Government is aware that, despite strong growth of the used Electric Vehicle (EV) market, the residual values of some EVs have depreciated more quickly than their internal combustion engine equivalents. The used EV market is still maturing, with developments in EV technology and increasingly affordable new models putting downward pressure on used EV prices.We are actively supporting industry-led working groups focused on the used EV market. We will continue to work with industry on this.

What plans she has to mandate disclosure of battery health at the point of sale for used electric vehicles.

Some organisations already provide their own battery health checks or guarantees to increase consumer confidence.We will continue to engage industry on this topic, including through the consultation on updating the minimum emission standards for new road vehicles to Euro 7, launched on 13 April 2026. This includes proposals to require manufacturers to fit new EVs with accurate, accessible and comparable battery health monitors.

Media and Sport, with reference to her Department’s press release entitled Government to unlock philanthropic investment into England’s most disadvantaged communities, published on 13 April 2026, what steps she is taking to help support local authorities in Essex to engage with the Our Place to Give initiative.

The 'Our Place to Give' plan, published on 13 April 2026, sets out actions the Government will take to increase philanthropic investment across England. It specifically targets regional disparities, as data indicates London currently receives over a third of all funding from the largest philanthropic foundations and four times the value of Gift Aid donations compared to the UK average.Departmental assessments identified several barriers preventing high-net-worth individuals from increasing their charitable giving. These include:difficulty in identifying and developing relationships with local organisations, particularly in deprived areas;limited access to information regarding the specific impact of donations;lack of integration of philanthropy into wealth planning; andchallenges effectively partnering with the Government. The plan responds to these barriers. We will convene a network of regional philanthropic ambassadors to broker better links between donors and communities, establish a working group to improve philanthropic wealth advice and have developed a toolkit for Members of Parliament to help them convene local giving opportunities.Regarding Essex, the Essex Community Foundation remains a vital partner, having awarded over £3.8 million to local causes last year. While specific trends for Essex show a strong foundation of local giving, the Department is taking steps to ensure all high-deprivation areas in the county benefit from the new national framework. Our £1 million Community of Practice support programme will be open to organisations across Essex. This funding aims to help local organisations share expertise, attract new investment, and create sustainable growth.The Department plans to monitor the outcomes of 'Our Place to Give' as part of its wider work through the Office for the Impact Economy. We will provide initial updates on the progress of the plan and the allocation of the Community of Practice funding by Summer 2026.

What assessment she has made of the effectiveness of current school food standards in improving children’s nutritional outcomes.

The School Food Standards set the mandatory nutritional framework for food and drink provided in state‑funded schools in England. They are designed to ensure children receive the energy and nutrients they need during the school day, while giving schools flexibility to design menus that work for their pupils and local circumstances.Since the School Food Standards were introduced in 2015, evidence on sugar, fibre and childhood obesity has changed significantly and childhood obesity prevalence has increased. We are committed to raising the healthiest generation ever, so we are consulting on proposed updates to the School Food Standards in England to ensure that all food served at school, including at breakfast and lunch, better reflects current nutritional guidance and supports children’s health, wellbeing and learning. Details of the consultation are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/school-food-standards-updating-the-legislative-framework.

What plans he has to provide compensation or redress to applicants affected by long delays in the processing of probate applications.

The Government recognises that probate applications are made at a difficult and emotional time for bereaved families and it is important that the service is delivered as efficiently as possible.HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has significantly improved processing times, with most applications now processed within published service standards. While some cases take longer, this is often due to the complexity of the estate or where further information is required from personal representatives.There are no current plans to introduce a general compensation scheme for delays. HMCTS keeps performance continually under review and has an established complaints process to consider any concerns on a case-by-case basis.

What assessment he has made of the (a) financial and (b) emotional impact of probate delays on bereaved families.

The Government recognises that probate applications are made at a difficult and emotional time for bereaved families and it is important that the service is delivered as efficiently as possible.HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has significantly improved processing times, with most applications now processed within published service standards. While some cases take longer, this is often due to the complexity of the estate or where further information is required from personal representatives.There are no current plans to introduce a general compensation scheme for delays. HMCTS keeps performance continually under review and has an established complaints process to consider any concerns on a case-by-case basis.

What the current average processing time is for probate applications; and how that compares to each of the last five years.

The Ministry of Justice publish regular data on probate timeliness and open caseload in our quarterly family court statistics bulletin: Family Court Statistics Quarterly - GOV.UK.HM Courts & Tribunals Service has invested in more staff in 2026, alongside system, process improvements and a programme of upskilling to improve the processing time for applications and maintain the low level of outstanding caseload.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the High Income Child Benefit Charge on individual income.

The High Income Child Benefit Charge is currently the best way to manage Child Benefit expenditure. By withdrawing Child Benefit from high-income families, it helps to ensure the sustainability of the public finances and protect our vital public services. As with all tax policy, the government will keep this under review.

Media and Sport, what plans she has to publish the results of any pilot schemes relating to gambling financial risk assessments.

The Government remains committed to supporting the Gambling Commission in their implementation of key measures in the 2023 white paper, including the introduction of Financial Risk Assessments (FRAs), which have been piloted by the Gambling Commission. The white paper recognised the “chilling effect” that asking customers for bank documents can have. This is why it set out an alternative approach to assessing financial risk which would be considerably more frictionless. The vast majority of customers will not experience friction or be asked to provide documents, should FRAs be implemented as intended by the Gambling Commission.The Gambling Commission has recently published an updated blog on its pilot findings and plans to publish the pilot data results upon its decision on implementation, as is standard practice. The pilot adheres to General Data Protection Rules with approval from the Steering Committee on Reciprocity, a cross industry forum made up of credit industry representatives.The threat posed by illegal gambling does not mean we should avoid sensible controls on licensed operators. However as stated in the White Paper, the threat of movement to the illegal market does exist. This is why we have launched the Illegal Gambling Taskforce; are working to give the Gambling Commission increased powers to support disruption and enforcement activity; and are providing £26 million of funding to the Gambling Commission over 3 years to increase their disruption activity.

With reference to her Department’s press release entitled Unpaid carers impacted by unclear guidance to have debts cancelled, published on 13 April 2026, how many Carer’s Allowance overpayment cases in (a) Basildon, (b) Thurrock and (c) Essex are under review.

The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost to the department.

With reference to her Department’s press release entitled Free travel and new routes: government’s bus revolution hits another gear, published on 13 April 2026, whether she plans to help ensure that equivalent funding for bus services will be made available to Greater Essex once its mayoral elections take place in 2028.

The Government is providing a £3 million Bus Franchising Support Fund in 2026/27 for Mayoral Strategic Authorities (MSAs) in the process of developing and implementing bus franchising schemes, which is designed to aid transition. This fund is only available for those MSAs who have already started the journey to franchising services. In addition, the Government is also providing an ongoing package of support to local authorities that are actively seeking to transition to a franchised network. This includes funding for authorities wishing to pursue franchising; which will fund a pre-feasibility study or franchising assessment. Applications for this fund have now closed for 2026/27, however it will open again for 2027/28 and 2028/29. The authorities who will make up Greater Essex Combined Authority may wish a to apply this fund in future years.

What assessment she has made of the impact of High Income Child Benefit Charge on labour supply including decisions to (a) accept pay increases, (b) increase working hours and (c) return to work.

The High Income Child Benefit Charge is currently the best way to manage Child Benefit expenditure. By withdrawing Child Benefit from high-income families, it helps to ensure the sustainability of the public finances and protect our vital public services. As with all tax policy, the government will keep this under review.

Media and Sport, whether her Department has conducted a privacy impact assessment of proposed financial risk checks.

The Government remains committed to supporting the Gambling Commission in their implementation of key measures in the 2023 white paper, including the introduction of Financial Risk Assessments (FRAs), which have been piloted by the Gambling Commission. The white paper recognised the “chilling effect” that asking customers for bank documents can have. This is why it set out an alternative approach to assessing financial risk which would be considerably more frictionless. The vast majority of customers will not experience friction or be asked to provide documents, should FRAs be implemented as intended by the Gambling Commission.The Gambling Commission has recently published an updated blog on its pilot findings and plans to publish the pilot data results upon its decision on implementation, as is standard practice. The pilot adheres to General Data Protection Rules with approval from the Steering Committee on Reciprocity, a cross industry forum made up of credit industry representatives.The threat posed by illegal gambling does not mean we should avoid sensible controls on licensed operators. However as stated in the White Paper, the threat of movement to the illegal market does exist. This is why we have launched the Illegal Gambling Taskforce; are working to give the Gambling Commission increased powers to support disruption and enforcement activity; and are providing £26 million of funding to the Gambling Commission over 3 years to increase their disruption activity.

Media and Sport, with reference to her Department’s press release entitled Government to unlock philanthropic investment into England’s most disadvantaged communities, published on 13 April 2026, what assessment she has made of the barriers preventing high net worth individuals from increasing their charitable giving.

The 'Our Place to Give' plan, published on 13 April 2026, sets out actions the Government will take to increase philanthropic investment across England. It specifically targets regional disparities, as data indicates London currently receives over a third of all funding from the largest philanthropic foundations and four times the value of Gift Aid donations compared to the UK average.Departmental assessments identified several barriers preventing high-net-worth individuals from increasing their charitable giving. These include:difficulty in identifying and developing relationships with local organisations, particularly in deprived areas;limited access to information regarding the specific impact of donations;lack of integration of philanthropy into wealth planning; andchallenges effectively partnering with the Government. The plan responds to these barriers. We will convene a network of regional philanthropic ambassadors to broker better links between donors and communities, establish a working group to improve philanthropic wealth advice and have developed a toolkit for Members of Parliament to help them convene local giving opportunities.Regarding Essex, the Essex Community Foundation remains a vital partner, having awarded over £3.8 million to local causes last year. While specific trends for Essex show a strong foundation of local giving, the Department is taking steps to ensure all high-deprivation areas in the county benefit from the new national framework. Our £1 million Community of Practice support programme will be open to organisations across Essex. This funding aims to help local organisations share expertise, attract new investment, and create sustainable growth.The Department plans to monitor the outcomes of 'Our Place to Give' as part of its wider work through the Office for the Impact Economy. We will provide initial updates on the progress of the plan and the allocation of the Community of Practice funding by Summer 2026.

Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the impact of financial risk assessments on participation in regulated gambling markets.

The Government remains committed to supporting the Gambling Commission in their implementation of key measures in the 2023 white paper, including the introduction of Financial Risk Assessments (FRAs), which have been piloted by the Gambling Commission. The white paper recognised the “chilling effect” that asking customers for bank documents can have. This is why it set out an alternative approach to assessing financial risk which would be considerably more frictionless. The vast majority of customers will not experience friction or be asked to provide documents, should FRAs be implemented as intended by the Gambling Commission.The Gambling Commission has recently published an updated blog on its pilot findings and plans to publish the pilot data results upon its decision on implementation, as is standard practice. The pilot adheres to General Data Protection Rules with approval from the Steering Committee on Reciprocity, a cross industry forum made up of credit industry representatives.The threat posed by illegal gambling does not mean we should avoid sensible controls on licensed operators. However as stated in the White Paper, the threat of movement to the illegal market does exist. This is why we have launched the Illegal Gambling Taskforce; are working to give the Gambling Commission increased powers to support disruption and enforcement activity; and are providing £26 million of funding to the Gambling Commission over 3 years to increase their disruption activity.

Media and Sport, with reference to her Department’s press release entitled Government to unlock philanthropic investment into England’s most disadvantaged communities, published on 13 April 2026, what assessment she has made of trends in the level of philanthropic funding received by communities in Essex.

The 'Our Place to Give' plan, published on 13 April 2026, sets out actions the Government will take to increase philanthropic investment across England. It specifically targets regional disparities, as data indicates London currently receives over a third of all funding from the largest philanthropic foundations and four times the value of Gift Aid donations compared to the UK average.Departmental assessments identified several barriers preventing high-net-worth individuals from increasing their charitable giving. These include:difficulty in identifying and developing relationships with local organisations, particularly in deprived areas;limited access to information regarding the specific impact of donations;lack of integration of philanthropy into wealth planning; andchallenges effectively partnering with the Government. The plan responds to these barriers. We will convene a network of regional philanthropic ambassadors to broker better links between donors and communities, establish a working group to improve philanthropic wealth advice and have developed a toolkit for Members of Parliament to help them convene local giving opportunities.Regarding Essex, the Essex Community Foundation remains a vital partner, having awarded over £3.8 million to local causes last year. While specific trends for Essex show a strong foundation of local giving, the Department is taking steps to ensure all high-deprivation areas in the county benefit from the new national framework. Our £1 million Community of Practice support programme will be open to organisations across Essex. This funding aims to help local organisations share expertise, attract new investment, and create sustainable growth.The Department plans to monitor the outcomes of 'Our Place to Give' as part of its wider work through the Office for the Impact Economy. We will provide initial updates on the progress of the plan and the allocation of the Community of Practice funding by Summer 2026.

Media and Sport, with reference to her Department’s press release entitled Government to unlock philanthropic investment into England’s most disadvantaged communities, published on 13 April 2026, whether her Department plans to publish regular reports on the outcomes of the initiative.

The 'Our Place to Give' plan, published on 13 April 2026, sets out actions the Government will take to increase philanthropic investment across England. It specifically targets regional disparities, as data indicates London currently receives over a third of all funding from the largest philanthropic foundations and four times the value of Gift Aid donations compared to the UK average.Departmental assessments identified several barriers preventing high-net-worth individuals from increasing their charitable giving. These include:difficulty in identifying and developing relationships with local organisations, particularly in deprived areas;limited access to information regarding the specific impact of donations;lack of integration of philanthropy into wealth planning; andchallenges effectively partnering with the Government. The plan responds to these barriers. We will convene a network of regional philanthropic ambassadors to broker better links between donors and communities, establish a working group to improve philanthropic wealth advice and have developed a toolkit for Members of Parliament to help them convene local giving opportunities.Regarding Essex, the Essex Community Foundation remains a vital partner, having awarded over £3.8 million to local causes last year. While specific trends for Essex show a strong foundation of local giving, the Department is taking steps to ensure all high-deprivation areas in the county benefit from the new national framework. Our £1 million Community of Practice support programme will be open to organisations across Essex. This funding aims to help local organisations share expertise, attract new investment, and create sustainable growth.The Department plans to monitor the outcomes of 'Our Place to Give' as part of its wider work through the Office for the Impact Economy. We will provide initial updates on the progress of the plan and the allocation of the Community of Practice funding by Summer 2026.

With reference to her Department’s press release entitled Unpaid carers impacted by unclear guidance to have debts cancelled, published on 13 April 2026, how many unpaid carers in (a) Basildon, (b) Thurrock and (c) Essex are expected to have their Carer’s Allowance debts (i) reduced, (ii) cancelled or (iii) refunded.

The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost to the department.