Written questions by Smart.

Whether NHS England plans to include (a) diver safety organisations and (b) medical experts in future consultations on the national contract for recompression services.

Last year, NHS England held a public consultation on a revised service specification and changes to commissioning arrangements for hyperbaric oxygen services. This included consideration of the impacts on geographical access to services and traveling times.As a formal public consultation, responses were invited from all those with an interest in these services, and responses were received from a range of experts.Further information regarding the feedback received was published in November 2024, and is available at the following link: Hyperbaric-oxygen-therapy-engagement-report-November-2024.pdfThe updated service specification was published in January 2025, and is available at the following link: Hyperbaric-oxygen-therapy-services-all-ages-Service-specification-January-2025.pdf

What estimate NHS England has made of average emergency travel times to hyperbaric chambers for cases of suspected decompression illness.

Last year, NHS England held a public consultation on a revised service specification and changes to commissioning arrangements for hyperbaric oxygen services. This included consideration of the impacts on geographical access to services and traveling times.As a formal public consultation, responses were invited from all those with an interest in these services, and responses were received from a range of experts.Further information regarding the feedback received was published in November 2024, and is available at the following link: Hyperbaric-oxygen-therapy-engagement-report-November-2024.pdfThe updated service specification was published in January 2025, and is available at the following link: Hyperbaric-oxygen-therapy-services-all-ages-Service-specification-January-2025.pdf

Whether NHS England conducted an impact assessment on (a) diver safety and (b) emergency response times before reducing the number of hyperbaric chambers available under the national contract for recompression services.

Last year, NHS England held a public consultation on a revised service specification and changes to commissioning arrangements for hyperbaric oxygen services. This included consideration of the impacts on geographical access to services and traveling times.As a formal public consultation, responses were invited from all those with an interest in these services, and responses were received from a range of experts.Further information regarding the feedback received was published in November 2024, and is available at the following link: Hyperbaric-oxygen-therapy-engagement-report-November-2024.pdfThe updated service specification was published in January 2025, and is available at the following link: Hyperbaric-oxygen-therapy-services-all-ages-Service-specification-January-2025.pdf

With reference to the guidance entitled Nationality: good character requirement, published on 11 February 2025, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of changes to the good character requirement for British citizenship on long-term UK residents who were granted protection after arriving by irregular routes.

I refer the Hon Member to the answers I gave on 3 April to Question 40163, and on 25 February to Question 31371.

What proportion of UK citizenship applications refused since 10 February 2025 have had entry to the UK by irregular means cited as the reason for refusal.

The information requested is not centrally held, and could only be collected and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.

If she will make an assessment of the potential impact of her Department's revised guidance entitled Nationality: good character requirement, published on 11 February 2025, on levels of community cohesion in Greater Manchester.

I refer the Hon Member to the answers I gave on 3 April to Question 40163, and on 25 February to Question 31371.

With reference to the guidance entitled Nationality: good character requirement, published on 11 February 2025, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that people who arrived in the UK as children are not affected by changes to the guidance on the good character requirement when applying for UK citizenship as adults.

I refer the Hon Member to the answers I gave on 3 April to Question 40163, and on 25 February to Question 31371.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing measures to support the redevelopment of vacant commercial properties into affordable housing.

The National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that substantial weight should be given to the value of using suitable brownfield land within settlements, including bringing back into residential use empty homes and the development of under-utilised land and buildings, to meet the need for homes, including social and affordable homes, and other uses. Changes we made to the National Planning Policy Framework in December 2024 broadened the definition of brownfield land, set a strengthened expectation that applications on brownfield land will be approved, and made clear that plans should promote an uplift in density in urban areas. On 22 September 2024, we published a 'brownfield passport' policy paper inviting views on how we might further prioritise and fast-track building on previously used urban land.

With reference to her Department's White Paper entitled Restoring Control over the Immigration System, published on 12 May 2025, what level of English language proficiency people applying for refugee family reunion will be expected to have.

The Immigration White Paper, published on 12 May 2025, announced new measures on a wide range of issues, including family reunion, further details of which will be set out in due course.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to family reunion rules on the number of refugees taking dangerous journeys.

The Immigration White Paper, published on 12 May 2025, announced new measures on a wide range of issues, including family reunion, further details of which will be set out in due course.

What recent discussions her Department has had with the charity sector on changes to refugee family reunion rules.

The Immigration White Paper, published on 12 May 2025, announced new measures on a wide range of issues, including family reunion, further details of which will be set out in due course.

What steps her Department is taking to help reduce the time taken to process visa applications.

Visa processing times are published on the UKVI website at Visa decision waiting times: applications outside the UK - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) and Visa decision waiting times: applications inside the UK - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). UKVI are currently processing applications on the overwhelming majority of its visa routes within their published customer service standards.

Communities and Local Government, whether they will consider introducing a requirement for companies issuing parking tickets by post to use signed-for delivery services in order to provide proof of receipt.

The government is aware of concerns regarding the poor practises on some parking operators. The Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019 places a duty on the Government to prepare a Code of Practice containing guidance about the operation and management of private parking facilities. We will be launching a consultation in due course.

What recent estimate her Department has made of the number of homeowners who are unable to switch to a cheaper mortgage due to changes in the (a) lending regulations and (b) policies of their current lender.

According to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the vast majority of borrowers switch within 6 months of the end of an introductory deal. However, the Government understands the challenges facing mortgage borrowers that struggle to switch to new loans. These borrowers are predominantly with closed book mortgage providers. Correspondence from the FCA to the Treasury Select Committee has shown that the number of borrowers with closed book mortgage providers have consistently declined since 2021. There are significant measures in place to protect vulnerable mortgage borrowers across the mortgage market. FCA rules require lenders to engage individually with their customers who are struggling or who are worried about their payments in order to provide tailored support. Closed book lenders must also comply with the FCA’s Consumer Duty, which ensures firms prioritise fair treatment and good outcomes for their customers.

What steps her Department is taking to support people in switching to more affordable mortgage products.

According to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the vast majority of borrowers switch within 6 months of the end of an introductory deal. However, the Government understands the challenges facing mortgage borrowers that struggle to switch to new loans. These borrowers are predominantly with closed book mortgage providers. Correspondence from the FCA to the Treasury Select Committee has shown that the number of borrowers with closed book mortgage providers have consistently declined since 2021. There are significant measures in place to protect vulnerable mortgage borrowers across the mortgage market. FCA rules require lenders to engage individually with their customers who are struggling or who are worried about their payments in order to provide tailored support. Closed book lenders must also comply with the FCA’s Consumer Duty, which ensures firms prioritise fair treatment and good outcomes for their customers.

Innovation and Technology, what criteria is used by Ofcom's online safety small but risky, taskforce to identify which online platforms pose a sufficient risk to warrant (a) engagement, (b) investigation and (c) enforcement action.

The Government has regular meetings with Ofcom on matters relating to online safety, including on how it will enforce against non-compliant providers.Ofcom established the Small but Risky (SBR) task force to address the unique risks posed by these services. The task force sits in Ofcom’s Online Safety Group. Ofcom has previously stated that there are 202 full-time equivalent posts in that wider Group. Ofcom published details of the taskforce’s work, including its priorities, in a letter to the Secretary of State on 11 September 2024.Ofcom started enforcing the Online Safety Act in March. Sections 149 and 150 of the Act require publication of enforcement action. As an independent regulator, Ofcom does not report directly to government but publishes bulletins of all enforcement actions. Ofcom has confirmed that some companies are currently under investigation and some small services with harmful content have voluntarily blocked access to their sites for UK users since the Act came into effect.

Innovation and Technology, whether he expects Ofcom to publish updates on the (a) progress and (b) outcomes of the investigations conducted by the online safety small but risky taskforce.

The Government has regular meetings with Ofcom on matters relating to online safety, including on how it will enforce against non-compliant providers.Ofcom established the Small but Risky (SBR) task force to address the unique risks posed by these services. The task force sits in Ofcom’s Online Safety Group. Ofcom has previously stated that there are 202 full-time equivalent posts in that wider Group. Ofcom published details of the taskforce’s work, including its priorities, in a letter to the Secretary of State on 11 September 2024.Ofcom started enforcing the Online Safety Act in March. Sections 149 and 150 of the Act require publication of enforcement action. As an independent regulator, Ofcom does not report directly to government but publishes bulletins of all enforcement actions. Ofcom has confirmed that some companies are currently under investigation and some small services with harmful content have voluntarily blocked access to their sites for UK users since the Act came into effect.

Innovation and Technology, how many online platforms the Ofcom online safety small, but risky, taskforce has engaged with to date.

The Government has regular meetings with Ofcom on matters relating to online safety, including on how it will enforce against non-compliant providers.Ofcom established the Small but Risky (SBR) task force to address the unique risks posed by these services. The task force sits in Ofcom’s Online Safety Group. Ofcom has previously stated that there are 202 full-time equivalent posts in that wider Group. Ofcom published details of the taskforce’s work, including its priorities, in a letter to the Secretary of State on 11 September 2024.Ofcom started enforcing the Online Safety Act in March. Sections 149 and 150 of the Act require publication of enforcement action. As an independent regulator, Ofcom does not report directly to government but publishes bulletins of all enforcement actions. Ofcom has confirmed that some companies are currently under investigation and some small services with harmful content have voluntarily blocked access to their sites for UK users since the Act came into effect.

Innovation and Technology, whether he has had discussions with Ofcom on which external stakeholders have been consulted by Ofcom's online safety small but risky taskforce.

The Government has regular meetings with Ofcom on matters relating to online safety, including on how it will enforce against non-compliant providers.Ofcom established the Small but Risky (SBR) task force to address the unique risks posed by these services. The task force sits in Ofcom’s Online Safety Group. Ofcom has previously stated that there are 202 full-time equivalent posts in that wider Group. Ofcom published details of the taskforce’s work, including its priorities, in a letter to the Secretary of State on 11 September 2024.Ofcom started enforcing the Online Safety Act in March. Sections 149 and 150 of the Act require publication of enforcement action. As an independent regulator, Ofcom does not report directly to government but publishes bulletins of all enforcement actions. Ofcom has confirmed that some companies are currently under investigation and some small services with harmful content have voluntarily blocked access to their sites for UK users since the Act came into effect.

Innovation and Technology, how many staff are currently deployed as part of Ofcom's online safety small but risky taskforce.

The Government has regular meetings with Ofcom on matters relating to online safety, including on how it will enforce against non-compliant providers.Ofcom established the Small but Risky (SBR) task force to address the unique risks posed by these services. The task force sits in Ofcom’s Online Safety Group. Ofcom has previously stated that there are 202 full-time equivalent posts in that wider Group. Ofcom published details of the taskforce’s work, including its priorities, in a letter to the Secretary of State on 11 September 2024.Ofcom started enforcing the Online Safety Act in March. Sections 149 and 150 of the Act require publication of enforcement action. As an independent regulator, Ofcom does not report directly to government but publishes bulletins of all enforcement actions. Ofcom has confirmed that some companies are currently under investigation and some small services with harmful content have voluntarily blocked access to their sites for UK users since the Act came into effect.