Written questions by Smith.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the guaranteed hours requirements in the Employment Rights Act 2025 on a) employees seeking flexibility, including those seeking to match schools terms, and b) employers with seasonal demand changes.

My department has published a robust set of Impact Assessments that provide a comprehensive analysis on the potential impact of the Employment Rights Act 2025, available here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/employment-rights-bill-impact-assessments.The Employment Rights Act is intended to improve security of income and work, while maintaining flexibility. Workers will be able to decline an offer of guaranteed hours if they wish. Employers with seasonal working patterns will continue to have a range of options, including the use of fixed term contracts where appropriate. The government will consult further before making regulations, including on how the right could apply in relation to annualised hours arrangements.

Whether regulations on trade union access under the Employment Rights Act 2025 will include safeguarding provisions for workplaces employing young people; and what guidance will be provided to ensure compatibility with safeguarding duties.

In our consultation, Make Work Pay: trade union right of access, we sought views on the operational details of the new statutory access framework, including any further matters the Central Arbitration Committee (CAC) must have regard to when making determinations on access.Officials are carefully reviewing all responses and the government will publish a response, which will include next steps on safeguarding considerations, before finalising these details in secondary legislation.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Employment Rights Act 2025 on hospitality franchise businesses; and whether he plans to provide support for employers to manage costs.

The Government has published a comprehensive assessment on the impact of the Act, which includes analysis of the potential sectoral impacts.The Government recognises the vital contribution of the hospitality sector to the UK, supporting local employment, sustaining high streets and communities, and playing an important role in our cultural and social fabric.We are delivering long overdue reform to rebalance business rates system. Over 750,000 retail, hospitality and leisure properties will benefit from permanently lower tax rates. This is a permanent tax cut worth nearly £900 million with no cash cap, benefitting all qualifying properties on high streets across England.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Employment Rights Act 2025 on the ability of small and medium-sized businesses, including franchises, to re-invest and create jobs.

The Government has published a comprehensive assessment on the impact of the Act. As per our Better Regulation requirements, each Impact Assessment includes a small, medium and micro business assessment.The Small Business Plan also outlines how we will support small and medium sized businesses to grow and thrive across the UK through the most significant package of legislative reforms in 25 years to tackle late payments; unlock billions of pounds in finance to support start-ups and scale ups; remove unnecessary red tape; revitalise the High Street as a place to do business; and deliver growth boosting support for Digital and AI Adoption.

Communities and Local Government, if he will take steps to improve accountability and regulatory oversight of residential managing agents in cases where administrative failure results in financial detriment and disputed arrears being pursued against leaseholders.

I refer the hon. Member to the answers to Questions UIN 85213 on 4 November 2025 and UIN 113165 on 2 March 2026.

Communities and Local Government, a) what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the 18-month rule under Section 20B of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 in protecting leaseholders from being billed for historic service-charge liabilities issued outside the statutory deadline, and b) whether his Department has considered the potential merits of improving enforcement mechanisms where managing agents fail to comply with that requirement.

The government has not made a specific assessment of the effectiveness of Section 20B. Under Section 20B of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 a landlord must notify leaseholders of service charge costs being incurred or demanded within 18 months of when the costs were incurred. If landlords miss this deadline, leaseholders are not liable to pay these costs unless the landlord sends a written notice within this period about the costs and their future responsibility to contribute. Leaseholders who consider that they received such a demand outside the time limit and without notification should seek advice, for example from the Leasehold Advisory Service. Leaseholders may challenge unreasonable charges at the First-tier Tribunal.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of legal protections preventing leaseholders from being pursued for (a) service-charge and (b) balancing-charge debts relating to periods before they acquired their property.

The government recognises the importance of potential buyers having the information they need to decide whether a home is right for them. There is already a requirement under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 that any information that would help a prospective homebuyer to make an informed decision must not be hidden or omitted. We would strongly advise prospective buyers and their legal representative to check that all relevant information has been provided. If this information was not provided at the time of purchase, a legal representative could advise on possible options.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will (a) release documents relating to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s time as trade envoy and (b) share relevant documents with the police.

The Rt Hon Member would not expect me to comment on a live police investigation, but the Government will obviously assist the police in any way they require.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will have discussions with diplomats and officials on reports of alleged wrongdoing by Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor in the fulfilment of his public duties as a UK Trade Envoy.

The Rt Hon Member would not expect me to comment on a live police investigation, but the Government will obviously assist the police in any way they require.

If she will take steps to investigate the use of English-as-a-Foreign-Language Courses as a route for individuals trafficked by Jeffrey Epstein to obtain UK visas.

This is a live police investigation, so we are unable to comment. The Government stands ready to support the police in whatever way it can.

If she will hold discussions with the (a) the Chairman and (b) Chief Executive of Manchester Airport Group on (i) the use of Stansted Airport by Jeffrey Epstein and his associates and (ii) flights commissioned by Jeffrey Epstein.

Airports and airlines must operate in full compliance with all UK laws and regulatory standards to ensure safety, security, and accountability.If those laws are broken it is our expectation that any and all information useful to inquiries by the relevant authorities is swiftly obtained and passed on.The Home Office is the lead department for these matters. It would not be appropriate to comment on any ongoing investigations.

If she will have discussions with the Metropolitan Police, Essex Police, and the British Transport Police on the use of Stansted Airport by Jeffrey Epstein and his associates, and flights commissioned by Jeffrey Epstein.

Border Force conducts robust security checks on those arriving into the UK, including 100% checks on all notified general aviation flights to reinforce security. Border Force allocates resources based on assessed risk, applying intelligence and targeting techniques. Border Force has implemented a range of initiatives to address vulnerabilities. : https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/general-aviation-operators-and-pilots-notification-of-flightsThese include: • Substantially reducing the number of aerodromes permitted to handle flights to and from the UK.• Introducing a civil penalties regime for non-compliance with airfield designation requirements.• Person details checked on all notified GA flights.The police is operationally independent of government and these are matters for the police. The Government will provide to the police any assistance they require.

If she will take steps to establish the age of any passengers that may have been on board flights allegedly linked to Jeffrey Epstein into and out of Stansted Airport.

Airports and airlines must operate in full compliance with all UK laws and regulatory standards to ensure safety, security, and accountability.If those laws are broken it is our expectation that any and all information useful to inquiries by the relevant authorities is swiftly obtained and passed on.The Home Office is the lead department for these matters. It would not be appropriate to comment on any ongoing investigations.

If she will make an estimate of the number of flights into and out of Stansted Airport allegedly linked to Jeffrey Epstein; and if she will take steps to establish the nature of those flights, including the passengers on board.

Airports and airlines must operate in full compliance with all UK laws and regulatory standards to ensure safety, security, and accountability.If those laws are broken it is our expectation that any and all information useful to inquiries by the relevant authorities is swiftly obtained and passed on.The Home Office is the lead department for these matters. It would not be appropriate to comment on any ongoing investigations.

If she will take steps to ensure that conversations take place with contemporary handlers, ground staff or airport executives regarding flights into and out of Stansted Airport allegedly linked to Jeffrey Epstein.

Airports and airlines must operate in full compliance with all UK laws and regulatory standards to ensure safety, security, and accountability.If those laws are broken it is our expectation that any and all information useful to inquiries by the relevant authorities is swiftly obtained and passed on.The Home Office is the lead department for these matters. It would not be appropriate to comment on any ongoing investigations.

Whether she will take steps to investigate the nature of flights into and out of UK airports allegedly linked to Jeffrey Epstein.

Airports and airlines must operate in full compliance with all UK laws and regulatory standards to ensure safety, security, and accountability.If those laws are broken it is our expectation that any and all information useful to inquiries by the relevant authorities is swiftly obtained and passed on.The Home Office is the lead department for these matters. It would not be appropriate to comment on any ongoing investigations.

How many UK visas were granted to Jeffrey Epstein following his conviction on 30 June 2008.

We do not routinely comment on individual cases. The Government stands ready to support the police in whatever way it can.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure households in rural communities that cannot receive smart meter connections via (a) long-range radio and (b) 4G are able to access alternative connectivity, including Wi-Fi-enabled smart meters.

The Government is working closely with the DCC and energy suppliers to ensure smart meter connectivity can be extended to currently unserved properties in all regions as soon as reasonably possible. One such solution, currently being trialled, will involve Virtual WAN (VWAN) - a new option that, with their consent, uses customers’ broadband connections to carry smart metering communications.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of localised connectivity limitations on rural households; and what steps he is taking to ensure that rural communities are not disadvantaged in comparison with urban areas.

The Government is working closely with the DCC and energy suppliers to ensure smart meter connectivity can be extended to currently unserved properties in all regions as soon as reasonably possible. One such solution, currently being trialled, will involve Virtual WAN (VWAN) - a new option that, with their consent, uses customers’ broadband connections to carry smart metering communications.

What guidance his Department provides to energy suppliers on prioritising households in rural areas, such as those in North Yorkshire where neither radio nor 4G smart meter connectivity is viable, for participation in trials of Wi-Fi-enabled smart meters.

The Government is working closely with the DCC and energy suppliers to ensure smart meter connectivity can be extended to currently unserved properties in all regions as soon as reasonably possible. One such solution, currently being trialled, will involve Virtual WAN (VWAN) - a new option that, with their consent, uses customers’ broadband connections to carry smart metering communications.