Written questions by Cocking.

Communities and Local Government, when his Department plans to respond to the consultation on Strengthening leaseholder protections over charges and services.

Awaiting answer.

With reference to the press release entitled Funding for businesses who give youngsters a chance as Government ramps up youth jobs drive, of 29 June 2026, what assessment he made of the effectiveness of expanded Jobcentre support before making it available at every Jobcentre.

Awaiting answer.

If she will make an estimate of the number of towns that have been left without a bank but are not eligible for a banking hub.

The way people across the UK use retail banking services has changed significantly, with many customers now choosing to bank online. In response, banks and building societies have reshaped their branch networks, reflecting changing customer preferences. H...

What steps her Department is taking to support the rollout of 350 banking hubs by the end of this Parliament.

The way people across the UK use retail banking services has changed significantly, with many customers now choosing to bank online. In response, banks and building societies have reshaped their branch networks, reflecting changing customer preferences. H...

With reference to the press release entitled Cardiff's biggest ever jobs fair sees thousands of young people connect with local employers, of 15 May 2026, whether his Department has plans to hold jobs f

With over one million young people not in education, employment or training (NEET), the Government is committed to ensuring every young person can earn or learn through the Youth Guarantee. Backed by £2.5 billion over the next three years, the Youth Guara...

What assessment his Department has made of the extent of barriers to recruitment for glioblastoma clinical trials in the UK.

The Department has not made a specific assessment of the extent of barriers to recruitment for glioblastoma clinical trials. However, the Government recognises that patients with rare cancers can face particular challenges in accessing research opportunit...

What comparative assessment he has made of international best practice in glioblastoma treatment and treatments and outcomes in England.

The Government recognises that there are currently limited treatment options available for people who have been diagnosed with cancerous brain tumours, such as glioblastoma, and the significant impact that this rare cancer can have on the outcomes and exp...

What assessment he has made of the impact of unregulated overseas treatments for glioblastoma on UK based patients traveling abroad to obtain such treatment.

The Government recognises that there are currently limited treatment options available for people who have been diagnosed with cancerous brain tumours, such as glioblastoma, and the significant impact that this rare cancer can have on the outcomes and exp...

What assessment she has made of the impact of marking boycotts on university students.

Higher education (HE) providers are independent, and as such the government is not involved in negotiations regarding workforce issues. Nevertheless, we recognise the detrimental impact that marking and assessment boycotts can have on students and therefo...

What recent discussions her Department has had with the University and College Union on industrial action at the University of Nottingham; and what steps she is taking to ensure students are not adversely affec

Higher education (HE) providers are independent, and as such the government is not involved in negotiations regarding workforce issues. Nevertheless, we recognise the detrimental impact that marking and assessment boycotts can have on students and therefo...

How much funding her Department has allocated for the high needs block of dedicated schools grants for each local authority for (a) this year and b) each of the last five years.

Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) allocations by financial year are available at the following:2026/27 financial year: https://skillsfunding.service.gov.uk/view-latest-funding/national-funding-allocations/DSG/2026-to-2027.2025/26 financial year: https://skill...

Food and Rural Affairs, if she will take steps to ensure that recreational water users, including paddlers, are considered in the development of the Clean Water Bill, including in relation to public access to

The Government will bring forward legislation through the Clean Water Bill, announced in the King’s Speech on 13 May, to deliver major reforms to the water system. Public health will be at the heart of these reforms, alongside measures to strengthen regul...

What steps he is taking to support dental educational supervisors.

The Government recognises the important role dental educational supervisors play in supporting newly qualified dentists.Dental Foundation Training is supported through payments to eligible practices, including the trainers grant for educational supervisio...

What date his Department expects to publish the interim statement on the Modern Service Framework for Palliative and End of Life Care.

We will publish an interim update on the Modern Service Framework (MSF) for Palliative Care and End-of-Life Care shortly. The final MSF will be published this autumn.The MSF will provide a clinically-led, evidence-based framework to support sustained impr...

What recent discussions he conducted with dentists before introducing changes to the NHS dentistry contract.

In Summer 2025, the Department ran a full public consultation on our proposed reforms to the dental contract. The consultation ran for six weeks and received almost 2,300 responses, including from those working in the dental sector, from professional bodi...

What steps he is taking to increase the allocation of new dental school places.

The Government will provide £11 million per annum at steady state, to increase the number of new dental school places by 50 each year. This is the first sustained expansion of domestic dental training places since 2007 and will take effect from the 2027/28 academic year.The Minister of State for Skills and I have written to the Chair of the Office for Students (OfS) to increase the maximum fundable limit for dental school places in England from 809 to 859 places. The OfS has statutory responsibility for allocating funding for dental school places. The Minister of State for Skills and I have asked that the OfS focuses the expansion on new dental schools approved by the General Dental Council, but which do not currently receive government funding for places.

Whether he will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the maximum fundable limits for dental schools in England.

The Government will provide £11 million per annum at steady state, to increase the number of new dental school places by 50 each year. This is the first sustained expansion of domestic dental training places since 2007 and will take effect from the 2027/28 academic year.The Minister of State for Skills and I have written to the Chair of the Office for Students (OfS) to increase the maximum fundable limit for dental school places in England from 809 to 859 places. The OfS has statutory responsibility for allocating funding for dental school places. The Minister of State for Skills and I have asked that the OfS focuses the expansion on new dental schools approved by the General Dental Council, but which do not currently receive government funding for places.

Pursuant to the Answer of 29 October 2025 to Question 69859 on AJM Healthcare: Wheelchairs, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that Integrated Care Boards adequately deal with complaints made about commissioned providers.

Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for the provision and commissioning of local wheelchair services, based on the needs of their local populations. There are a range of providers of National Health Service wheelchair services across England, and ICBs are responsible for monitoring service provision and effectively managing contracts with their commissioned providers. Complaints management is included as part of overall assurance for ICBs. NHS England is aware there have been a number of separate complaints about the quality of services provided by AJM Healthcare, which are being dealt with on an individual basis by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman. NHS England are working through the appropriate regional teams to gain intelligence from ICBs on quality concerns and contracting arrangements to fully understand the issues being raised. In addition, the 10 Year Health Plan makes a commitment to reviewing the complaints regulations, and NHS England and the Department are developing plans to achieve this.

Pursuant to the Answer of 17 February 2026 to Question 111545 on AJM Healthcare, what discussions his Department has had with ICBs on complaints about the quality of services provided by AJM Healthcare.

Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for the provision and commissioning of local wheelchair services, based on the needs of their local populations. There are a range of providers of National Health Service wheelchair services across England, and ICBs are responsible for monitoring service provision and effectively managing contracts with their commissioned providers. Complaints management is included as part of overall assurance for ICBs. NHS England is aware there have been a number of separate complaints about the quality of services provided by AJM Healthcare, which are being dealt with on an individual basis by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman. NHS England are working through the appropriate regional teams to gain intelligence from ICBs on quality concerns and contracting arrangements to fully understand the issues being raised. In addition, the 10 Year Health Plan makes a commitment to reviewing the complaints regulations, and NHS England and the Department are developing plans to achieve this.

Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to help support the provision of multi-use pitches.

The Government provides the majority of support for grassroots sport through Sport England - which annually invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding into grassroots sport across England, including providing support for England Hockey. We are also investing £98 million into new and upgraded grassroots sport facilities across the UK through the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme in 2025/26. Projects funded through the programme include new artificial multi-sport grass pitches, changing pavilions and floodlights. At least 40% of funded projects have a multi-sport offer, allowing more people to participate in a wider variety of sports. £85 million will be invested through the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities across the UK in 2026/27, with £68.35 million to be invested in England. An additional £15 million will be invested into innovative facilities in England, to allow more people to participate in sports they wish to.