Written questions by Brown-Fuller.

Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to cap service charges on managed estates.

I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 18 December 2025 (HCWS1210).

What support exists for park home owners with faulty LPG boilers.

The Government’s Warm Homes Plan (WHP) - which represents the biggest ever investment in home upgrades, is an offer for every household. Park home residents can apply for support via a range of Government schemes including the Warm Homes: Local Grant, and ECO4 - which Government intends to extend until the end of the year, subject to Parliamentary approval. All eligible households in England and Wales can benefit from the expanded Boiler Upgrade Scheme, funded with £2.7 billion to 2030. BUS provides grants up to £7,500 to help households with the upfront costs of installing heat pumps and biomass boilers. In addition, the 0% VAT rate on heat pumps installations offers further financial support. We are also working with the finance sector to make a range of low-cost finance solutions available to homeowners, with Government backing a total loan portfolio of £2 billion, including up to £1.7 billion from our new Warm Homes Fund. Residents who are not directly supplied with electricity may also be eligible for support with their bills through the Park Homes Warm Home Discount scheme.

Communities and Local Government, when his Department plans to publish proposals for a code of practice for the operating of private car parks.

I wish to assure the hon. Member that this government is determined to drive up standards in the private parking sector.The Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019 places a duty on the government to prepare a code of practice containing guidance about the operation and management of private parking facilities.A consultation document outlining proposals to raise standard across the private parking industry was published on 11 July 2025.The consultation has closed and all responses are being analysed.We expect to the lay the Code in accordance with the negative procedure in due course.

What estimate he has made of the percentage of the cases awaiting a Crown Court trial that have a potential sentence of up to three years imprisonment and that would go before a Judge-only court under his proposed court reforms.

As is usual practice, detailed impact assessments will be provided alongside the necessary legislation for these reforms. The Government will bring forward this legislation when parliamentary time allows.

Whether his Department has information on the median age of cases that have yet to elect mode of trial.

The Ministry of Justice publishes information about cases in the open caseload at both the magistrates’ courts and at the Crown Court. This includes breakdowns of volumes and durations as part of the Crown Court open caseload published as part of Criminal Court Statistics Quarterly: Criminal court statistics quarterly. The Ministry of Justice does not publish data relating to the progression of cases or mode of trial in the open caseload.

What assessment he has made of the percentage of the current Crown Court backlog would be sent for judge alone trials under the government’s proposed court reforms.

As is usual practice, detailed impact assessments will be provided alongside the necessary legislation for these reforms. The Government will bring forward this legislation when parliamentary time allows.

What estimate he has made of the percentage of cases in the overall Crown Court backlog are either way cases that would be no longer eligible for jury trial under the government’s proposed reforms.

As is usual practice, detailed impact assessments will be provided alongside the necessary legislation for these reforms. The Government will bring forward this legislation when parliamentary time allows.

What assessment he has made of the current number of either-way cases in the present Crown Court backlog that have yet to elect mode of trial.

The Ministry of Justice publishes information about cases in the open caseload at both the magistrates’ courts and at the Crown Court. This includes breakdowns of volumes and durations as part of the Crown Court open caseload published as part of Criminal Court Statistics Quarterly: Criminal court statistics quarterly. The Ministry of Justice does not publish data relating to the progression of cases or mode of trial in the open caseload.

What assessment he has made of the proportion of cases in the backlog are still pending the decision of the defendant to elect mode of trial.

The Ministry of Justice publishes information about cases in the open caseload at both the magistrates’ courts and at the Crown Court. This includes breakdowns of volumes and durations as part of the Crown Court open caseload published as part of Criminal Court Statistics Quarterly: Criminal court statistics quarterly. The Ministry of Justice does not publish data relating to the progression of cases or mode of trial in the open caseload.

What steps he is taking to reduce diagnostic waiting times for endometriosis in (a) England and (b) Chichester constituency.

Patients waiting for an endometriosis diagnosis may receive diagnostic tests such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound, though the only definitive way to diagnose endometriosis is by a laparoscopic procedure. The laparoscopy is also used to treat endometriosis.To improve diagnosis times, we are transforming diagnostic services and taking steps to increase diagnostic capacity. This includes expanding existing community diagnostic centres (CDCs), building up to five new ones as part of £600 million capital funding for diagnostics in 2025/26 and opening more CDCs 12 hours per day, seven days a week.NHS Sussex ICB have increased diagnostic capacity by setting up a well-established CDC programme. Seven CDCs operate across Sussex, including University of Chichester Bognor CDC, and are expected to deliver an additional 460,000 diagnostic tests in 2025/26, including 40,000 MRI scans, and nearly 90,000 ultrasound scans.

What guidance his Department has issued on the age at which clinical guidance recommends that speech and language intervention should begin for children with Down syndrome; and whether that guidance includes supporting assistance with speech sounds in infancy.

National Health Service guidance sets out information on how to help children and young people with Down syndrome, including that they may need the support of a Speech and Language Therapist. Further information is available at the following link: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/downs-syndrome/how-to-help-children-and-young-people/ Through implementation of the Down Syndrome Act 2022, we want to improve the lives of people with Down syndrome. Under the Down Syndrome Act, my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, is required to give guidance to relevant authorities in health, social care, education, and housing services on what they should be doing to meet the needs of people with Down syndrome.We considered a range of evidence from our Call for Evidence and engagement when developing the draft Down syndrome guidance, currently out for public consultation, including research on speech and language therapy (SLT). The draft guidance highlights that people with Down syndrome are likely to have communication needs and sets out support that can be provided, including that people with Down syndrome should be able to access speech and language assessment and support in a timely manner. The draft guidance is clear that NHS commissioners and providers may offer people with Down syndrome and their families and carers a range of SLT services and interventions to support their communication, tailored to their specific needs. This should include early intervention services starting from birth, continuing through early years to support a good start in life, and then into primary and secondary school and beyond. The draft guidance is also clear that support should be tailored to individual needs, and it is also important that local systems have the discretion to determine how best to meet the needs of their local communities.

Whether his Department has reviewed research indicating that speech and language intervention for children with Down syndrome should begin in the first year of life.

National Health Service guidance sets out information on how to help children and young people with Down syndrome, including that they may need the support of a Speech and Language Therapist. Further information is available at the following link: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/downs-syndrome/how-to-help-children-and-young-people/ Through implementation of the Down Syndrome Act 2022, we want to improve the lives of people with Down syndrome. Under the Down Syndrome Act, my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, is required to give guidance to relevant authorities in health, social care, education, and housing services on what they should be doing to meet the needs of people with Down syndrome.We considered a range of evidence from our Call for Evidence and engagement when developing the draft Down syndrome guidance, currently out for public consultation, including research on speech and language therapy (SLT). The draft guidance highlights that people with Down syndrome are likely to have communication needs and sets out support that can be provided, including that people with Down syndrome should be able to access speech and language assessment and support in a timely manner. The draft guidance is clear that NHS commissioners and providers may offer people with Down syndrome and their families and carers a range of SLT services and interventions to support their communication, tailored to their specific needs. This should include early intervention services starting from birth, continuing through early years to support a good start in life, and then into primary and secondary school and beyond. The draft guidance is also clear that support should be tailored to individual needs, and it is also important that local systems have the discretion to determine how best to meet the needs of their local communities.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that speech and language therapy for children with Down syndrome is delivered on a preventative basis from infancy.

National Health Service guidance sets out information on how to help children and young people with Down syndrome, including that they may need the support of a Speech and Language Therapist. Further information is available at the following link: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/downs-syndrome/how-to-help-children-and-young-people/ Through implementation of the Down Syndrome Act 2022, we want to improve the lives of people with Down syndrome. Under the Down Syndrome Act, my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, is required to give guidance to relevant authorities in health, social care, education, and housing services on what they should be doing to meet the needs of people with Down syndrome.We considered a range of evidence from our Call for Evidence and engagement when developing the draft Down syndrome guidance, currently out for public consultation, including research on speech and language therapy (SLT). The draft guidance highlights that people with Down syndrome are likely to have communication needs and sets out support that can be provided, including that people with Down syndrome should be able to access speech and language assessment and support in a timely manner. The draft guidance is clear that NHS commissioners and providers may offer people with Down syndrome and their families and carers a range of SLT services and interventions to support their communication, tailored to their specific needs. This should include early intervention services starting from birth, continuing through early years to support a good start in life, and then into primary and secondary school and beyond. The draft guidance is also clear that support should be tailored to individual needs, and it is also important that local systems have the discretion to determine how best to meet the needs of their local communities.

Whether foundation trusts will retain the option to have councils of governors under the 10‑Year Health Plan for England.

The Council of Governors at National Health Service foundation trusts have a range of statutory roles and powers including representing the views of local populations, staff, and other stakeholders to the foundation trusts’ board. The removal of the Council of Governors forms part of the wider 10-Year Health Plan’s aim to ensure that hospitals put patient experiences and outcomes at the heart of their decision-making. While governors have provided helpful advice and oversight for some foundation trusts, we now need to move to a more dynamic model of drawing on patient, staff, and stakeholder insight. The removal of the Council of Governors will require primary legislation which the Government will bring forward when Parliamentary time allows.

Whether foundation trusts will retain the option to maintain councils of governors under the 10 Year Health Plan for England.

The Council of Governors at National Health Service foundation trusts have a range of statutory roles and powers including representing the views of local populations, staff, and other stakeholders to the foundation trusts’ board. The removal of the Council of Governors forms part of the wider 10-Year Health Plan’s aim to ensure that hospitals put patient experiences and outcomes at the heart of their decision-making. While governors have provided helpful advice and oversight for some foundation trusts, we now need to move to a more dynamic model of drawing on patient, staff, and stakeholder insight. The removal of the Council of Governors will require primary legislation which the Government will bring forward when Parliamentary time allows.

What his planned timetable is for the removal of the requirement for foundation trusts to have governors.

The Council of Governors at National Health Service foundation trusts have a range of statutory roles and powers including representing the views of local populations, staff, and other stakeholders to the foundation trusts’ board. The removal of the Council of Governors forms part of the wider 10-Year Health Plan’s aim to ensure that hospitals put patient experiences and outcomes at the heart of their decision-making. While governors have provided helpful advice and oversight for some foundation trusts, we now need to move to a more dynamic model of drawing on patient, staff, and stakeholder insight. The removal of the Council of Governors will require primary legislation which the Government will bring forward when Parliamentary time allows.

If he will undertake a review of publicly funded fellowship programmes for training overseas doctors.

There are currently no plans to review publicly funded fellowship programmes for training overseas doctors. A range of international postgraduate medical training schemes operate across the National Health Service. These are governed by individual NHS trusts, medical royal colleges, the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, and indirectly, NHS England, and the General Medical Council. These programmes are expected to be properly governed, provide value for money, and ensure fair treatment for all participants. We expect all NHS organisations to operate in line with these principles.

Pursuant to the Answer of 22 October 2025 to Question 84161 on Teachers Pensions, what her updated planned timetable is for issuing cash equivalent transfer value details from Teachers’ Pensions.

As of the end of December 2025, 402 cash equivalent transfer value (CETV) cases were outstanding. There will always be a number of CETV cases in progress at any given time, as new CETV applications are made. Capita, the scheme administrator, is continuing to work through the most complex cases for members who have retired. Due to the level of complexity, 329 of these cases can only be processed clerically and the estimated average calculation times are between 20 and 30 hours per processed case. The scheme administrator is working as quickly as possible to complete all outstanding cases. This issue remains a top priority for the department and the scheme administrator.

What steps she is taking to reduce delays for members of the Teachers Pension who have submitted their remedial service statement.

Recalculating benefits for retired members is a complex process. For those members retiring, these cases are relatively straightforward as no benefits are already in payment. For retired members, additional complications around tax, interest rules and system functionality required extensive consultation.Capita, as the Teachers’ Pensions Scheme (TPS) administrator, are processing Remediable Service Statement (RSS) choices and aim to complete payments as quickly as possible.The issuing and payment of members’ RSS choices is a high priority and the department is continually exploring ways to improve payment times with Capita, which includes recruiting additional staff and automating functions wherever possible. Members’ original pension benefits will continue to be paid until their choice has been implemented.In summer 2026, administration of the TPS will become the responsibility of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS). The department is working with TCS to finalise the timeline for issuing all RSSs and any subsequent payments.

Food and Rural Affairs, if she will update the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953 to safeguard swans and other protected species from dogs.

The Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953 (as amended) protects “livestock” from worrying or attacks by dogs. The definition of livestock in the Act includes cattle, sheep, goats, swine, horses, poultry and camelids. The Government has no plans to further change this Act.