Written questions by Turner.

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of resuming the Official History Programme.

The Government will consider resumption of the Official History Programme when circumstances allow.

What steps Network Rail are taking to ensure that its trackside vegetation management programmed is adequate.

Network Rail works hard to keep the rail network running. Its work to manage trees and other vegetation alongside the railway helps to keep trains running safely and on time. Network Rail carries out its activities in a way that minimises harm, and wherever possible improves the natural habitat while maintaining the performance and safety of the railway. Network Rail is committed to achieving an increase in biodiversity across the network by 2035 and publishes annual State of Nature reports to update on progress towards this commitment.

If she will take steps with Cabinet colleagues to help increase public awareness of dyspraxia.

The Government is committed to creating a more inclusive society where neurodiverse people, including those with dyspraxia, are supported to thrive. The Government is working to improve provision and expertise in mainstream schools, supporting earlier intervention, including through the Partnerships for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools programmes.

Whether her Department holds historic records relating to the Birmingham pub bombings that have not been deposited in the National Archives.

I can confirm that the Home Office do hold historic records relating to the horrific 1974 Birmingham Pub bombings that have not yet been deposited in the National Archives.Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, files can be retained by Government departments for a range of reasons, including if such documents pertain to national security matters or if they relate to ongoing investigations and proceedings conducted by public authorities. For these reasons, it has been the long standing position of the Home Office under successive governments to retain the aforementioned documents, like all security matters, this decision is kept under regular review.

Pursuant to the Answer of 3 April 2025 to Question 42776 on Marriage: Humanism, what progress she has made on reviewing the recommendations of the Law Commission's report on marriage reform, published in July 2022.

The Government appreciates the importance of this issue and will provide an update in due course.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 19 March 2025 to Question 37879 on Cats: Animal Breeding, what progress he has made in reviewing the recommendations of the Animal Welfare Committee Opinion on the welfare implications of current and emergent feline breeding practices, published in December 2024.

The Government is still carefully considering the recommendations of the Animal Welfare Committee’s Opinion on the welfare implications of current and emergent feline breeding practices.

Pursuant to the Answer of 15 July 2025 to Question 65477 on Railways: Capital Investment, if she will publish each iteration of that graph during the fourth quarter of 2022.

The chart(s) in question represent scenario planning that was used to inform decision making of the previous administration and it is not appropriate to disclose them.

What recent progress Network Rail has made on the potential replacement of the Total Operations Processing System.

The Network Rail Route Service’s Digital, Data and Technology Services Team has a project progressing to replace the Total Operations Processing System (and related Passenger Operations Information System). This was started in January 2024 when funding had been allocated from the Control Period 7 settlement and is forecast to complete by Quarter 2 2029. The System Release Proposal provides additional information about this work. This document was issued for formal consultation on 9 May 2025 to 8 July 2025 to at least 60 stakeholders. (This number may be greater due to onward sharing). The Network Rail project team has received six formal responses of which only one was negative to the approach. Therefore, the project continues as planned.

Pursuant to the Answer of 04 July 2025 to Question 64211, on High Speed 2 Line: Compulsory Purchase, if she will extend those compulsory purchase powers until February 2031.

The government's priority is the safe delivery of HS2 Phase 1 between the West Midlands and London Euston at the lowest reasonable cost. Whilst we will not reverse the previous government’s decision to cancel Phase 2, we recognise concerns about rail capacity and connectivity between Birmingham and Manchester. We are reviewing our plans for future connectivity in the Midlands and the North, and we hope to say more in the coming months, including our plans for land and property between Birmingham and Crewe.

Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to improve the regulation of supported exempt accommodation; and what information her Department holds on levels of supported exempt accommodation in (a) Birmingham and (b) Birmingham Northfield constituency.

As set out in the written statement on Supported Housing Regulation (HCWS800) published on 10 July 2025, following the recent consultation on supported housing regulation the government is considering the responses received and will publish a full government response as soon as possible, in advance of consulting on draft regulations in early 2026. The department does not hold data on supported exempt accommodation. The most recent estimates of national levels of supported housing were published in the gov.uk Supported Housing Review 2023 on 4 November 2024.

Which children's centres closed in England between May 2010 and July 2024 by (a) name, (b) postcode and (c) date of closure.

Data on children’s centres is supplied by local authorities via the department’s Get Information about Schools database portal at: https://www.get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/.Based on the information supplied by local authorities, the attached document provides details of the name and postcode and date of closure of Sure Start children’s centres that closed in England between May 2010 and July 2024.The list of children’s centres closed since May 2010 and July 2024 is based on information supplied by local authorities as of 8 July 2025. These figures may be different to previous answers, and could change again in future, since local authorities may update the database at any time.

With reference to Q252 of the oral evidence given by Huw Merriman to the Transport Select Committee on 2 July 2025, HC 575, if she will publish the graph referred to in the answer to that question.

The graph in question is regularly updated. We are unclear precisely which iteration of the graph Huw Merriman was referring to.

What information her Department holds on the dates on which the leases for West Midlands Trains' rolling stock expire; and which entity owns those trains.

West Midlands Trains’ rolling stock leases for the Class 172/0, 172/1, 350/1, 350/3 and 350/4, which are owned by Angel Trains, are set to run until 31 March 2026. The Class 196/0, 196/1, 730/0, 730/1, and 730/2 leases also run until 31st March 2026 and are owned by Corelink. Finally, Porterbrook own the Class 139, 172/2 and 172/3, which expire on 31 March 2026, as well as the Class 350/2 fleet which expire on 30 September 2025.

What consultation her Department has undertaken with UK-based bus manufacturers on the potential impact of Section 37 of the Bus Services (No. 2) Bill [Lords] on future sales of (a) hydrogen-fuel cell and (b) hydrogen combustion engine buses.

Clause 37 of the Bus Services (No.2) Bill will ultimately end the use of new non-zero emission buses on English bus services. The final date will be set out in later secondary regulations, however, will be no earlier than 1 January 2030. Hydrogen Fuel Cell electric (HFC) buses, which are used in various parts of the country, are what is commonly meant by 'hydrogen buses'. These are available from UK manufacturers and do not emit any nitrogen oxides. They are zero emission at the tailpipe, so would continue to be usable under these regulations, along with battery electric buses. Hydrogen combustion engine buses are not present in the UK. They would emit nitrogen oxides, which are harmful to human health. They would therefore not be considered to be zero emission buses and would not be usable under these regulations. My Department has engaged extensively with bus manufacturers as we have developed and then progressed this measure through Parliament.

On what date the powers to make compulsory purchases of land for HS2 Phase 2a purposes expire.

Compulsory Purchase powers under the Phase 2a Act will expire on 11th February 2026.

What the average processing time is for (a) self-employed and (b) freelancer applications to Access to Work.

We do not hold separate average processing time data for (a) self-employed and (b) freelancer applications to Access to Work. These types of applications are included within the overall Access to Work processing time. The current average processing time for access to work is 92.0 days from April 2025 to June 2025 Please note that the data supplied is derived from unpublished management information, which was collected for internal Departmental use only, and have not been quality assured to National Statistics or Official Statistics publication standard. They should therefore be treated with caution.

On what date the powers to make compulsory purchases of land for HS2 Phase One purposes expire.

The powers to make compulsory purchases of land for HS2 Phase One expired on 23 February 2022.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of facilitating repatriation flights for UK nationals in Iran.

The safety and security of British nationals (BNs) is our top priority. We have long advised against all travel to Iran. We have taken the precautionary measure to temporarily withdraw our UK staff from Iran. The embassy will continue to operate remotely. The UK Government will not be able to evacuate or provide face-to-face assistance to BNs. If BNs intend to depart Iran across a land border and consider it safe, they should check the travel advice of the country they intend to enter before travelling to the border, including visa requirements. BNs requiring assistance can contact the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office 24/7.

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a salary sacrifice car scheme for armed forces personnel.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 12 June 2025 to Question 57620 to the hon. Member for The Wrekin (Mark Pritchard).

Pursuant to the Answer of 11 November 2024 to Question 12091 on Prisons: Staff, when she plans to conclude the review of the guidance on the New Fair Deal.

The Government confirmed on 14 November 2024 that New Fair Deal was extended to further education bodies that operate in the statutory sector. The change applies from the date of the announcement and applies to tendering and outsourcing exercises that were in progress on that date, where the transfer of staff had not yet been concluded. This includes the tender for prison education services referenced in the answer of 11 November 2024 to Question 12091 on Prisons: Staff.