Written questions by Cocking.

How much was spent on (a) translation and (b) interpretation services in the (i) courts and (ii) prison system in the last financial year.

The Ministry of Justice has a statutory duty to provide Language Services to enable access to justice for users for whom English is not their first language and those who require visual and tactile services, under the provision of the Equality Act. Language Service needs and spend are assessed to ensure these services offer good value for money for taxpayers while maintaining high standards of service delivery.In FY 2024/25, the spend in the courts was £33,073,280.44 on interpretation (spoken) and £136,879.03 on translation (written).In FY 2024/25, the contracted spend in the prisons was £105,849.83 on interpretation (spoken) and £1,707,440.07 on translation (written).

How much she spent on providing (a) translation and (b) interpretation services for benefit claimants in the last year.

The spend in the period of January 2024 – December 2024: a) Translation: £882,118 b) Interpreting: £6,774,336

Whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of net zero policies on (a) energy security and (b) industrial competitiveness.

The transition to net zero will support both energy security and industrial competitiveness. Switching to homegrown clean energy, including renewables and other clean technologies, offers security that fossil fuels simply cannot provide. And our Clean Power 2030 target is the key to long-term sustainable price reductions. Clean, homegrown energy is the best way to protect billpayers and boost Britain's energy independence. The Government recognises the challenges in moving away from fossil fuels but is confident security of supply can be maintained throughout this transition. The recently published Clean Power 2030 Action Plan sets out our plans to secure critical supply chains in clean energy and foundational industries, such as steel and concrete. Alongside measures to support the growth of these sectors, we are bringing energy costs for UK industries closer in line with other major economies, including through the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme. This will slash industrial electricity prices by around 20-25% from 2027, which could benefit over 7,000 manufacturing businesses, including carmakers and defence manufacturers – which employ over 300,000 skilled workers. The Government will publish its updated carbon budget plan by October. This will set out the policy package to the end of Carbon Budget 6 in 2037 for all sectors of the economy, and will include consideration of energy security and industrial competitiveness.

Communities and Local Government, what proportion of (a) emergency and (b) long-term accommodation has been allocated to (i) asylum seekers and (ii) foreign nationals in the last 12 months.

The Home Office publishes data on individuals placed in accommodation in the gov.uk ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on asylum seekers in receipt of support, individuals under the Homes for Ukraine scheme, and those resettled via the Afghan Resettlement Programme, is published in table Reg_02 of the gov.uk ‘Regional and local authority data’, including breakdowns by accommodation type.The department does not hold data on how many foreign nationals are accommodated in emergency or long-term accommodation.

Media and Sport, whether she has made an assessment of the adequacy of political impartiality in the BBC’s news and current affairs output.

Under its Royal Charter, the BBC has a duty to deliver impartial and accurate news coverage and content, and the Government expects the BBC to uphold these standards. However, the government has not made an assessment of BBC impartiality as it is for Ofcom, as the independent regulator of the BBC, to hold the BBC to account on this duty.

How many individuals with no legal right to remain in the UK are in receipt of (a) accommodation and (b) subsistence.

The latest data on the number of asylum seekers in receipt of asylum support can be found at: Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK

Communities and Local Government, how many and what proportion of local authority housing allocations were made to households where the primary applicant was not a UK national in the last 12 months.

People are generally eligible for social housing if they have leave to remain in the UK and have recourse to public funds. The Home Office decides whether persons from abroad have leave to remain in the UK and whether they have recourse to public funds.Only individuals that are eligible can join housing registers and be given a social housing tenancy. For those who are eligible, housing needs will be considered on an equal basis in accordance with the relevant local authority’s housing allocation scheme.According to the relevant 2021 Census extract, there were 796,000 households living in the social rented sector in England in March 2021 that were headed by someone who was not born in the UK. It is important to note that such households may contain UK nationals as well as non-UK national lead tenants.My Department’s annual social housing lettings statistical series details the number of the new social housing lettings by the nationality of the lead tenant. It can be found on gov.uk here.As per our pre-announced schedule, and in line with the Code of Practice for Statistics, data for 2024/25 is currently being processed and quality assured and will be published in Winter 2025. Data for 2025/26 is currently being collected and will be published in Winter 2026.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential (a) economic and (b) social impact of uncontrolled migration on communities.

The Home Office’s Immigration White paper, published on 12 May, sets out proposed reforms in a wide range of areas to restore control to the immigration system, after the chaos inherited from the previous government, when the level of net migration rose to more than 900,000 per year, and when 400 asylum hotels were in use across the country, at a cost of almost £9 million per day.

How many foreign national offenders are living in the UK and have received deportation orders.

The Home Office routinely publishes the number of FNOs subject to deportation proceedings and living in the community within its Immigration Enforcement quarterly transparency release. The latest release can be found at: Migration transparency data - GOV.UK, which shows up to the end of Q1 2025.The Home Office works tirelessly to clear legal barriers, secure documentation or overcome other impediments to a return. Between 5 July 2024 and 18 May 2025, there were 4,436 enforced and voluntary returns of FNOs. This is an increase of 14% compared to the 3,879 FNO returns in the same period 12 months prior.The Home Office also continues to work closely with HMPPS (HM Prisons and Probation Service) to focus on driving up the returns of FNOs direct from prison, delivering 2,274 early removal scheme (ERS) returns, which is an 11% increase compared with the 2,050 in the same period 12 months prior.

Whether she plans to review (a) citizenship and (b) settlement criteria to place greater emphasis on (i) cultural integration and (ii) long-term contribution to the UK.

We set out our plans to reform the settlement and citizenship rules in the white paper “Restoring Control over the Immigration System”. We will be consulting on the settlement and citizenship schemes later this year, and further details will be provided at that time.

Whether she plans to respond to the consultation on Lane rental scheme approval.

The Department for Transport consulted with stakeholders on lane rental scheme approval. This consultation concluded in January 2025. We plan to publish the response to this consultation in due course.

When he plans to answer Question 59411, tabled on 12 June 2025.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 10 July 2025 to Question 59411.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the National Underground Asset Register on roadworks in Broxbourne constituency.

The DfT is supportive of the National Underground Asset Register (NUAR) project. Strikes on cables and other underground assets are costly, lengthen the duration of roadworks and, most importantly, are a safety issue for those undertaking the works. Those excavating the public highway should already be taking all necessary measures to avoid strikes and safely plan their works, but anything that makes this process easier and reduces strikes can only be a benefit. NUAR is improving the efficiency and safety of the way we install, maintain, operate and repair our buried infrastructure by providing secure access to data from public and private sector asset owners. These will include over 600 gas, water, electric and telecommunications companies and local authorities. A specific analysis of the potential impacts of the NUAR on roadworks in the Broxbourne constituency has not been carried out. However, an impact assessment was delivered as part of the recent Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 which considered the impact of NUAR across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. This assessment estimated the economic benefits of NUAR to be over £400m per year. This consists of benefits in efficiencies, reduced asset strikes and reduced delays to the public and businesses.

What information her Department holds on the number of foreign national offenders who have attempted to return to the UK after being deported.

I refer the Honourable Member to the answer I gave on 7 March to Question 35056.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 16 June 2025 to Question 57573 on Housing: Sales, when her Department plans to launch the consultation on new reforms to the section 20 ‘major works’ procedure.

As set out in my Written Ministerial Statement of 21 November 2024 (HCWS2440), the government are committed to consulting on new reforms to the section 20 ‘major works’ procedure that leaseholders must go through when they face large bills for such works. We will set out more detail shortly.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Entrepreneurship Advisor role on small businesses.

Reducing barriers for business, entrepreneurs and investors is key to boosting economic growth and delivering the government’s Plan for Change. Alex Depledge has been appointed as the government’s Entrepreneurship Advisor and brings extensive entrepreneurship experience, having successfully built several businesses from the ground up. Over the coming months, Alex will advise the Chancellor on the government’s entrepreneurship landscape, focusing on addressing the key barriers faced by businesses seeking to start up and scale up in the UK. The impact of any policy decisions taken by the Chancellor as a result of this advice will be assessed in the usual way.

With reference to her Department's press release entitled, Transport Secretary acts to make thousands of extra driving tests available each month, published on 23 April 2025, whether the measures have been implemented.

Since the announcement by the Secretary of State for Transport, 23 April 2025, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has: Asked volunteers currently working in other roles, but qualified to examine, to carry out practical driving tests. Reintroduced overtime pay incentives for everyone delivering driving tests. The additional testing allowance (ATA) scheme launched 1 June 2025. DVSA believes the introduction of the ATA will encourage those in other roles to provide tests. As part of the measures announced, 23 April, DVSA also has: Continued to work towards doubling new entrant training capacity. By 31 July 2025, DVSA aims to double its permanent training resource from 13 to 26 trainers. This will ensure newly recruited driving examiners can qualify as quickly as possible. Launched a public consultation on improving the rules for booking car driving tests, on 28 May. Views are being sought from the driver training industry, learner drivers and other interested parties on changes which aim to prevent learner drivers being exploited by those who resell tests at a higher price. The consultation will close at 11:59pm on 23 July 2025. Further information on these actions and progress of DVSA’s plan to reduce driving test waiting times, which was announced in December 2024, can be found on GOV.UK.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the target for the number of banking hubs to be opened by the end of this Parliament.

The Government understands the importance of face-to-face banking to communities and high streets across the UK, and is committed to championing sufficient access for all as a priority. This is why the Government is working closely with industry to roll out 350 banking hubs across the UK. The UK banking sector has committed to deliver these hubs by the end of this Parliament. Over 230 hubs have been announced so far, and over 160 are already open. The commitment to open 350 banking hubs by the end of this Parliament is not a limit. Cash Access UK will deploy a banking hub wherever LINK, the industry coordinating body responsible for making access to cash assessments following a community request or branch closure, suggests one is appropriate.

Pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 54430 on Undocumented Migrants: English Channel, what steps her Department is taking to remove small boat arrivals who fail criminality checks.

The Home Office conducts mandatory identity and security checks on all small boat arrivals. In line with the Refugee Convention, we will deny the benefits of protection status to those who commit particularly serious crimes and are a danger to the community or those who are a threat to national security. Anyone convicted of a particularly serious crime resulting in a custodial sentence of 12 months or more, and are considered a danger to the UK, will be denied asylum and will be considered for removal from the UK. Those refused protection status who cannot be removed will be subject to regular review until they can be removed at the earliest opportunity.

Pursuant to the Answer of 30 April 2025 to Question 49532 on NHS Low Income Scheme: Asylum, what the cost to the public purse has been of providing HC2 certificates to people seeking asylum since 5 July 2024.

The information is not held in the format requested. HC2 certificates are generic and do not have categories such as student or asylum seeker attributed to them. The NHS Business Services Authority does not collect information on what category a patient using the HC2 belongs to for any of the National Health Service charges covered by the scheme. Therefore, it is not possible to calculate the cost to the public purse in terms of lost NHS charge revenue.