Written questions by Anderson.

What steps she is taking to help SMEs to increase employment opportunities.

We are helping SMEs grow and employ more people through our largest ever injection of capital into the British Business Bank. Over the next five years, the British Business Bank will increase annual deployment by two-thirds, aiming to unlock around £26 billion of private capital alongside £13 billion in public funding, and enable up to an additional £10 billion in small business lending through guarantees. The Government protected the smallest businesses from the changes to Employer National Insurance Contributions by increasing the Employment Allowance from £5,000 to £10,500. This means that this tax year, 865,000 employers will pay no NICs at all, and more than half of all employers will either gain or will see no change.At Autumn Budget 2025, we announced that we are supporting SMEs by changing the rules to fully fund SME apprenticeships training costs for eligible people under the age of 25.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the long-term financial viability of animal rescue centres and sanctuaries which are not registered charities.

As set out in the Animal Welfare Strategy, Defra will launch a consultation on licensing domestic rescue and rehoming organisations. This consultation will consider the potential impacts on the sector, including any financial implications.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help support animal rescue centres and sanctuaries.

As set out in the Animal Welfare Strategy, Defra will launch a consultation on licensing domestic rescue and rehoming organisations. This consultation will consider the potential impacts on the sector, including any financial implications.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of taxation policy on animal rescue centres and sanctuaries.

As set out in the Animal Welfare Strategy, Defra will launch a consultation on licensing domestic rescue and rehoming organisations. This consultation will consider the potential impacts on the sector, including any financial implications.

What recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of business closures on the UK economy.

The latest statistics show that, on average, 312,000 businesses closed per year between 2019-2024, with 280,000 businesses closing in 2024. However, business births have exceeded closures over this period.The table below illustrates the total business closures from 2019-2024, broken down for each year:201920202021202220232024303,495300,475328,495348,675309,685280,375The table below illustrates the total business births from 2019-2024, broken down for each year:201920202021202220232024363,825333,015363,995336,925316,025317,435

If his Department will make an assessment on the adequacy of domestic steel production in the context of global (a) conflict and (b) economic challenges.

As part of the forthcoming Steel Strategy, we have commissioned an analysis of future UK steel demand and domestic production capabilities over the next 25 years. This analysis will form part of the evidence base for the Steel Strategy and will be published soon.Furthermore, the 2025 Defence Industrial Strategy and associated Strategic Defence Review committed Government to introducing Defence Readiness legislation this Parliament. This legislation aims to provide the Government with more robust powers to strengthen supply chain resilience, protect critical national infrastructure (including nuclear), and support the rapid mobilisation of defence industry. The role of domestic steel production in the context of a conflict scenario, alongside other parts of the industrial base, will be assessed as this legislation develops.

What steps he is taking to support hair salons.

Small businesses in the hair and beauty sector play an important role in supporting jobs, high streets and local economies. We’ve introduced permanently lower business rates for retail, hospitality and leisure properties and have provided £4.3bn to shield ratepayers from bill increases.We continue to back employers who take on apprentices, by providing £1,000 to both employers and training providers when they take on apprentices aged under 19; employers are not required to pay National Insurance Contributions for all apprentices aged up to age 25 (when the employee’s wage is below £50,270 a year). Additionally, the government pays the full training costs for young apprentices aged 16 to 21, and for apprentices aged 22 to 24 who have an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan or have been in local authority care, when their employer has fewer than 50 employees.I will continue to engage closely with the sector, including through the Personal Care Roundtables, to ensure the industry’s long-term growth. This includes working with hair and beauty businesses as we bring forward a new High Streets Strategy later this year.

What recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of the business rates system on hair salon businesses.

The amount of business rates paid on each property is based on the rateable value of the property, assessed by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), and the multiplier values, which are set by the Government. Rateable values are re-assessed every three years. Revaluations ensure that the rateable values of properties (i.e. the tax base) remain in line with market changes, and that the tax rates adjust to reflect changes in the tax base. At the Budget, the VOA announced updated property values from the 2026 revaluation. This revaluation is the first since Covid, which has led to significant increases in rateable values for some properties. To support with bill increases, at the Budget, the Government introduced a support package worth £4.3 billion over the next three years, including to protect ratepayers seeing their bills increase because of the revaluation. As a result, over half of ratepayers will see no bill increases, including 23% seeing their bills go down. Government support also means that most properties seeing increases will see them capped at 15% or less next year, or £800 for the smallest. The Government is also introducing new permanently lower tax rates for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) properties. These new tax rates are worth nearly £1 billion per year and will benefit over 750,000 properties. More broadly, later this year, the Government will bring forward a new High Streets Strategy to reinvigorate our communities. The Government will work with businesses and representative bodies to pull this Strategy together.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what (a) cultural and (b) arts related projects have received UK foreign aid funding in the last year.

The Hon Member can find details of all projects funded through Official Development Assistance on the Development Tracker website.

What recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of guidelines on support for SEND children in the mainstream education system.

To support children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), we will help mainstream settings to make the necessary changes to embed inclusive practice. We will develop new National Inclusion Standards to bring greater clarity and evidence to this space. These will set out, for the first time, support that should be available in every mainstream setting, and we will appoint an expert panel to develop and make recommendations regarding the content of the National Inclusion Standards. The SEND Code of Practice provides statutory guidance for organisations supporting children with SEND. We have committed to updating the Code to reflect changes in the SEND system and findings of recent independent scrutiny, including from the Education Select Committee. The updated Code will clarify responsibilities for mainstream settings and establish a consistent approach to supporting children with SEND. We are consulting on proposals to reform the SEND system, and the consultation is accessible at: https://consult.education.gov.uk/send-strategy-division/send-reform-putting-children-and-young-people-firs/. We will undertake a separate, full public consultation on the proposed changes to the Code of Practice to reflect best practice and the views of children and young people, families and professionals.

What procedures are in place to help prevent the inward transmission of diseases to through international airports.

The UK Biological Security Strategy provides the overarching national strategic framework for biological risks.The Public Health Aircraft Regulations (1979) require commanders of incoming aircraft to notify authorities if there is any suspicion of infectious disease. In England, Port Health Authorities and local authorities have statutory responsibility for public health, which includes ensuring that arrangements are in place to help prevent the inward transmission of disease entering their respective ports. An example is monitoring vector control measures such as disinsection, or the measures to kill insect vectors of human disease.In English airports, the authorities appoint Medical Officers responsible for notifying, coordinating, investigating, and responding to public health risks in collaboration with UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) regional health protection teams. UKHSA regional health protection teams plan for and respond to incidents for health hazards at ports of entry, supported by the national UKHSA Border Health team. Assessment, treatment, and care of patients is undertaken by the National Health Service through routine pathways.Additional proportionate measures may be put in place in response to significant incidents or outbreaks which are coordinated nationally. Pre-entry screening for tuberculosis (TB) is also compulsory for those who wish to stay in the United Kingdom for over six months and are travelling from a country where TB is common. Information on TB Screening for the UK is published at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tuberculosis-tb-screening-for-the-uk-leaflet/tb-screening-for-the-uk

If he has considered the potential merits of preventing foreign nationals from being able to claim universal credit.

Most migrants with temporary visas cannot access public fund benefits such as Universal Credit. Access is usually at the point of settlement, which for most people will be after they have lived in the UK legally for five years, and the Home Office plans to increase this to ten years. The Home Office is also consulting on changing the default position to maintain No Recourse to Public Funds at settlement and lifting this only at the point of British citizenship. This year the Government also plans to consult on whether the residence tests in taxpayer funded benefits should be changed to prioritise access for those who are making an economic contribution to the UK. The consultation will look at how the benefit rules apply to those coming or returning to the UK.

What discussions her Department has had with relevant stakeholders in education to discuss antisocial behaviour amongst school children.

The department engages regularly with teachers and headteachers and their representative bodies on a range of issues, including pupil behaviour.All schools are required by law to have a behaviour policy which outlines effective strategies that encourage good behaviour.The department’s existing ‘Behaviour in schools’ guidance states that schools should make clear to pupils that good behaviour does not end at the school gate. Schools have the power to sanction pupils for misbehaviour outside of the school premises to a reasonable extent.To support schools, the department is establishing 93 new regional improvements for standards and excellence Attendance and Behaviour Hubs. These hubs will be led by schools with excellent attendance and behaviour practice which will work closely with other schools to help improve their approach.

What steps he is taking to help tackle (a) unemployment rates and (b) job displacement.

Economic growth is this Government’s first mission; we are committed to creating good jobs, helping more people into work and raising living standards. DWP is tackling unemployment by reshaping our employment support offer to break down barriers related to skills, health and progression. For example, we are transforming our Jobcentres into a modern Jobs and Careers Service; ensuring support for young people through our flagship Youth Guarantee; empowering local areas to explore new ways to reduce economic inactivity through youth and inactivity trailblazers; and, developing tailored support for those with health conditions and disabilities. To adapt and mitigate the risk of job displacement, this Government is driving a programme to manage AI driven labour market shifts, supported by the newly established AI and Future of Work Unit, which monitors emerging trends and coordinates the policy response across government. This Government is investing £187 million in digital and AI learning as well as working towards training 7.5 million workers in essential AI skills by 2030 through joint work between Skills England and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. This is in conjunction with a range of wider reskilling opportunities, such as Sector Based Work Academy Programme (SWAPs) which provides opportunities to those who are looking to change career or sectors through providing placements for pre-employment training, a work experience placement and a guaranteed interview for a real job.

If he will commit to increasing domestic steel production.

The steel strategy, to be published in early 2026, will set out a long-term vision for a competitive, decarbonised sector, with the aim of attracting new private investment to secure UK steelmaking and increasing overall levels of UK based production.We’re providing up to £2.5 billion to rebuild the steel sector, delivered in part through the National Wealth Fund. This is in addition to the £500m we have invested in the transformation of Port Talbot. We have also taken direct action to protect steel production at British Steel and provided a £400 million increase to the investment at Sheffield Forgemasters.

Whether his Department hold data on the number of foreign nationals who have received legal aid.

This information requested is not held centrally.

If his Department will provide an estimate of the total cost of legal aid for foreign nationals in the last 5 years.

This information requested is not held centrally.

What recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of her policies on levels of unemployment.

Economic growth is this government’s number one priority. The OBR’s November forecast, which accounts for the impacts of government policy, judges that employment will increase in every year of the forecast, and will be higher in every year than in their Spring 2025 forecast.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of employer costs on recruitment freezes the private sector.

Economic growth is this government’s number one priority. The OBR’s November forecast, which accounts for the impacts of government policy, judge that employment will increase in every year of the forecast, and will be higher in every year, than in their Spring 2025 forecast.

Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to ensure people in rural communities can access library services.

The Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964 requires all local authorities in England to provide a comprehensive and efficient library service. Each local authority is responsible for assessing the needs of their local communities and designing a library service to meet those needs within their available resources. Library service provision, including the number and location of static libraries, should take account of factors such as the rurality of the area and the availability and cost of public transport links. The statutory library provision in Nottinghamshire is delivered from 58 static libraries, as well as a mobile library service, consisting of three library vehicles, and a home library service. The Libraries Improvement Fund which enables library services to upgrade buildings and technology so they are better placed to respond to the changing ways people are using them, has, since June 2021, provided nearly £400,000 to support various projects in Nottinghamshire libraries, including self-service technology in Huthwaite.