Written questions by Naish.

With reference to her Department's White Paper entitled Restoring Control over the Immigration System, published on 12 May 2025, whether British National (Overseas) visa holders will be required to meet new earned settlement criteria.

Settlement in the UK is a prerequisite for becoming a British citizen and brings lifelong benefits. Settlement is also an important step in integrating and contributing to local communities and the wider country. We will therefore reform the current rules around settlement so that individuals must earn their right to privileged immigration status in the UK through the long-term contribution they bring to our country. We will be consulting on the earned settlement scheme later this year and will provide details of how the scheme will work after that, including which immigration routes it will apply to.

Whether his Department plans to (a) reinstate and (b) extend funding for opt-out testing for Hepatitis B and C in A&Es.

The Emergency Department opt-out testing programme will continue to test individuals for bloodborne viruses, including HIV and viral hepatitis, in line with committed funding plans.None of the funding already committed has been removed from sites offering opt-out testing for viral hepatitis. NHS England is currently reviewing its budgetary position, with a view to determining whether funding can be made available to extend the provision of opt-out testing for viral hepatitis. In particular, NHS England is reviewing this for sites whose committed funding will end during 2025.

Whether his Department plans to expand the emergency department bloodborne virus opt-out testing programme to (a) King’s Mill Hospital, (b) Lincoln County Hospital, (c) Pilgrim Hospital and (d) other sites in the East Midlands.

The Emergency Department opt-out testing programme will continue to test individuals for bloodborne viruses, including HIV and viral hepatitis, in line with committed funding plans.None of the funding already committed has been removed from sites offering opt-out testing for viral hepatitis. NHS England is currently reviewing its budgetary position, with a view to determining whether funding can be made available to extend the provision of opt-out testing for viral hepatitis. In particular, NHS England is reviewing this for sites whose committed funding will end during 2025.

Whether her Department is taking steps to revise the open banking framework.

The UK has been a world leader in Open Banking since 2018. Open Banking providers offer innovative services using customer data, and can help with improving financial inclusion, such as by allowing customers to gain better oversight of their finances, or by improving access to credit. The Government is committed to maintaining the UK’s leadership in this area. This is why the government set out in the National Payments Vision, published in November, that Open Banking must transition to a sustainable long-term regulatory framework. The government is committed to delivering this framework and intends to use incoming smart data powers in the Data (Use and Access) Bill, currently progressing through Parliament, to do so. The Government is working to ensure that individuals have access to the appropriate financial products and services they need. This is why I have committed to publish a Financial Inclusion Strategy later this year, which will examine the barriers consumers face and solutions to address them. On the 90-day Open Banking consumer consent period - this is a matter for the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), which is independent from Government. The FCA will respond to the Honourable Member by letter, and a copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House of Commons.

If she will make an assessment of the potential impact of increasing the use of open banking on levels of financial inclusion.

The UK has been a world leader in Open Banking since 2018. Open Banking providers offer innovative services using customer data, and can help with improving financial inclusion, such as by allowing customers to gain better oversight of their finances, or by improving access to credit. The Government is committed to maintaining the UK’s leadership in this area. This is why the government set out in the National Payments Vision, published in November, that Open Banking must transition to a sustainable long-term regulatory framework. The government is committed to delivering this framework and intends to use incoming smart data powers in the Data (Use and Access) Bill, currently progressing through Parliament, to do so. The Government is working to ensure that individuals have access to the appropriate financial products and services they need. This is why I have committed to publish a Financial Inclusion Strategy later this year, which will examine the barriers consumers face and solutions to address them. On the 90-day Open Banking consumer consent period - this is a matter for the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), which is independent from Government. The FCA will respond to the Honourable Member by letter, and a copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House of Commons.

Whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of reviewing the inclusion of (a) nursing and (b) other allied health professionals on the shortage occupation visa list.

The Government published the White Paper ‘Restoring Control over the immigration System’ on 12 May 2025. The White Paper set out its intention to introduce a Temporary Shortage List to replace the Immigration Salary List.The list will initially be comprised of occupations which the MAC have previously identified as in shortage and those which are key to the Industrial Strategy. The Government will set out in due course the longer term composition of that list.

Whether she has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on the potential merits of including (a) nurses and (b) other allied health professionals on short occupation visa list.

The Government published the White Paper ‘Restoring Control over the immigration System’ on 12 May 2025. The White Paper set out its intention to introduce a Temporary Shortage List to replace the Immigration Salary List.The list will initially be comprised of occupations which the MAC have previously identified as in shortage and those which are key to the Industrial Strategy. The Government will set out in due course the longer term composition of that list.

If she will make an assessment of the potential impact of extending the 90-day open banking consumer consent period on the economy.

The UK has been a world leader in Open Banking since 2018. Open Banking providers offer innovative services using customer data, and can help with improving financial inclusion, such as by allowing customers to gain better oversight of their finances, or by improving access to credit. The Government is committed to maintaining the UK’s leadership in this area. This is why the government set out in the National Payments Vision, published in November, that Open Banking must transition to a sustainable long-term regulatory framework. The government is committed to delivering this framework and intends to use incoming smart data powers in the Data (Use and Access) Bill, currently progressing through Parliament, to do so. The Government is working to ensure that individuals have access to the appropriate financial products and services they need. This is why I have committed to publish a Financial Inclusion Strategy later this year, which will examine the barriers consumers face and solutions to address them. On the 90-day Open Banking consumer consent period - this is a matter for the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), which is independent from Government. The FCA will respond to the Honourable Member by letter, and a copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House of Commons.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the introduction of e-visas on voters reliant on physical immigration documentation as voter ID.

An e-Visa is accepted as a form of identification at the polling station, as a digital version of ‘a biometric immigration document issued in accordance with regulations under section 5 of the UK Borders Act 2007’. All electors may also choose to apply to their local authority for a Voter Authority Certificate – an accepted form of identification available free of charge.

Communities and Local Government, what guidance her Department has issued to local authorities on voter eligibility changes in the Elections Act 2022.

The Electoral Commission, as the independent electoral regulator, holds responsibility for issuance of guidance for local authorities on electoral registration and voting.This can be found at - Our guidance | Electoral Commission.The Electoral Commission also worked (and has continued to work) with voter groups and civil society organisations by providing information and raising awareness on changes to voter registration and eligibility requirements following the passage of the Elections Act 2022.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to provide updated guidance on the classification of dog grooming parlours in the Use Classes Order.

The Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987 groups together uses which have similar land use impacts into classes, allowing flexibility to change between uses within each class.It is for the local planning authority to consider the use of a particular property based on the specific details of the individual case.We have not issued guidance on dog grooming parlours.

If his Department will take steps to (a) implement and (b) enforce the Accessible Information Standard for organisations that provide (i) NHS care and (ii) publicly-funded adult social care.

Since 2016, all National Health Service organisations and publicly funded social care providers are expected to meet the Accessible Information Standard (AIS), which details the recommended approach to supporting the information and communication support needs of patients and carers with a disability, impairment, or sensory loss. The AIS conformance criteria, published in 2016, set out how organisations should comply with the AIS, with further information available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/about/equality/equality-hub/patient-equalities-programme/equality-frameworks-and-information-standards/accessibleinfo/resources/assess-conformance/The responsibility for monitoring compliance with the AIS sits with the commissioner of the service.NHS England has been undertaking a review of the AIS to help ensure that the communication needs of people with a disability, impairment, or sensory loss are met in health and care provision. A self-assessment framework has been developed to support providers of NHS and social care services to measure their performance against the AIS, and develop improvement action plans to address gaps in implementation. The Care Quality Commission takes the AIS into account when regulating health and social care services, considering whether people using the services have accessible communications, in line with the relevant regulations, as set out in their assessment framework.A revised AIS will be published in due course. In the meantime, the current AIS remains in force and therefore there should not be a gap in provision for people using services. NHS England is working to support implementation of the AIS with awareness raising, communication, and engagement, and with a review of the current e-learning modules on the AIS. The intention is to ensure that staff and organisations in the NHS are aware of the AIS and the importance of meeting the information and communication needs of disabled people using these services.Section 95 of the Health and Care Act 2022, once commenced, and if Parliament agrees to the procedural regulations, would make compliance with information standards mandatory for health and care providers, and my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care would be responsible for enforcement, with appropriate support from NHS England. A programme of work has been set up to ensure readiness for the publication of mandatory information standards, including ensuring compliance functions are in place.

Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department has taken to communicate changes to voter eligibility to EU voters resident in the UK.

The Electoral Commission, as the independent electoral regulator, holds responsibility for issuance of guidance for local authorities on electoral registration and voting.This can be found at - Our guidance | Electoral Commission.The Electoral Commission also worked (and has continued to work) with voter groups and civil society organisations by providing information and raising awareness on changes to voter registration and eligibility requirements following the passage of the Elections Act 2022.

Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department has taken to provide clarity to local planning authorities on the classification of dog grooming parlours.

The Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987 groups together uses which have similar land use impacts into classes, allowing flexibility to change between uses within each class.It is for the local planning authority to consider the use of a particular property based on the specific details of the individual case.We have not issued guidance on dog grooming parlours.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with EU member states on securing new bilateral voting rights agreements.

Prior to the UK's departure from the EU, in December 2018, the UK wrote to all 27 EU Member States signalling willingness to enter into bilateral agreements to ensure continuity of local election voting and candidacy rights (VCR) for each other's citizens.Some EU countries already grant local voting rights to UK nationals, and we have bilateral agreements with other EU Member States.A number of EU Member States have constitutional barriers which prevent them from entering into bilateral agreements.

Whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of allocating further funding for research into improving treatments for PANS and PANDAS.

We recognise that more research is necessary to understand the multiple factors leading to pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS) and pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections (PANDAS), and to understand how best to raise awareness among healthcare professionals on how to diagnose these conditions and support affected children and their families.The Department funds research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), which welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including conditions such as PANS and PANDAS.In October 2024, a project led by NIHR BioResource announced a partnership with PANS PANDA UK to delve further into immune conditions and mental health, and how to raise awareness of these neuropsychiatric conditions.

Whether his Department has considered introducing mandatory training for health professionals on PANS and PANDAS.

General practitioners and other healthcare professionals are responsible for ensuring their own clinical knowledge remains up-to-date and for identifying learning needs as part of their continuing professional development. This includes taking account of new research and developments in guidance, such as that produced by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, to ensure that they can continue to provide high quality care to all patients.The training curricula for postgraduate trainee doctors is set by the relevant medical royal college and has to meet the standards set by the General Medical Council (GMC), which is an independent statutory body. The GMC has the general function of promoting high standards of education and co-ordinating all stages of education to ensure that medical students and newly qualified doctors are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes essential for professional practice.Whilst curricula do not necessarily highlight specific conditions for doctors to be aware of, they instead emphasise the skills and approaches that a doctor must develop in order to ensure accurate and timely diagnoses and treatment plans for their patients. Whilst the Department, through NHS England, is able to influence the content of training courses, we consider that the curricula are best set by the regulators, royal colleges, and professional bodies working together.

What steps he is taking to ensure that newly-qualified (a) nurses and (b) other healthcare professionals trained in the UK have sufficient job opportunities.

Decisions on the availability of job opportunities for newly qualified nurses and other healthcare professionals trained in the United Kingdom are a matter for individual National Health Service trusts. NHS trusts manage their recruitment at a local level, ensuring they have the right number of staff in place, with the right skill mix, to deliver safe and effective care.We will publish a refreshed workforce plan to deliver the transformed health service we will build over the next decade, and treat patients on time again.

What steps he is taking to reduce the duration of the recruitment process for the Royal Air Force.

The current Government inherited a crisis in recruitment and retention from the last administration but are taking steps to address it. Since June 2024, the recruitment timeline for Enlisted Aviator entrants has reduced by over 10 per cent and work is ongoing to reduce this further to ensure applicants have a positive candidate experience. The Royal Air Force (RAF) candidate recruitment journey has been improved by an overhaul of the RAF recruitment website and portal, process improvements such as the streamlining of eligibility checks and aptitude assessments, and the introduction of the digital exchange of medical information with civilian GPs.

With reference to the Department of Health's document entitled Statutory guidance for Local Authorities and NHS organisations to support implementation of the Adult Autism Strategy, published in March 2015, what plans his Department has to update the Autism Act 2009 statutory guidance.

The House of Lords has established an Autism Act 2009 Committee, which is holding an inquiry to look at the Autism Act, the autism strategy, and the autism statutory guidance, and which will make recommendations to the Government by 30 November 2025. This will inform the Government’s future approach.