Written questions by Evans.

Pursuant to WPQ109601 answered on 23 February 2026, when she last met with the independent school sector to discuss the financial sustainability of small independent schools.

HM Treasury published a Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) on applying VAT to private school fees. This is accessible at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/vat-on-private-school-fees/applying-vat-to-private-school-fees. The department continues to engage with private school providers, including smaller schools, and representative organisations to ensure they are aware of the requirements outlined in the TIIN.

Pursuant to WPQ109604 answered on 24 February 2026 about Private Education: VAT, whether she has received representations from the independent school sector on introducing a targeted subsidy for small charitable independent schools with fewer than 500 pupils.

HM Treasury published a Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN) on applying VAT to private school fees. This is accessible at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/vat-on-private-school-fees/applying-vat-to-private-school-fees. The department continues to engage with private school providers, including smaller schools, and representative organisations to ensure they are aware of the requirements outlined in the TIIN.

What recent progress his Department has made with General Dynamics to identify issues and solutions to ensure the effective operation of the Ajax Vehicle Fleet.

The Department continues to work closely with General Dynamics on the Ajax Programme. Investigations into Ajax remain ongoing, and time must be given to ensure that all information and evidence is considered. I will continue to keep the house informed of developments as I have done since the issue arose on Exercise TITAN STORM.

What timelines is his Department following with General Dynamics to ensure the effective operation of the Ajax Vehicle Fleet.

The Department continues to work closely with General Dynamics on the Ajax Programme. Investigations into Ajax remain ongoing, and time must be given to ensure that all information and evidence is considered. I will continue to keep the house informed of developments as I have done since the issue arose on Exercise TITAN STORM.

What steps she is taking to ensure [i] comparability of skills funding between mayoral combined authorities and non mayoral combined authorities and [ii] that skills funding is used to ensure the upskilling of local communities.

Approximately 68% of the Adult Skills Fund is currently devolved to 11 strategic authorities, 1 local authority and the Greater London Authority. From August 2026, a further 4 strategic authorities and 3 local authorities will receive this funding, taking the proportion to around 73%. Where funding is not devolved, the Department for Work and Pensions continue to administer it.The funding allocation methodology is the same for mayoral and non-mayoral strategic authorities. However, as set out in the English Devolution White Paper, areas with a mayor have a single consolidated pot of adult skills funding with no ringfences.To ensure that devolved skills funding meets the needs of local economies, in devolved areas each strategic authority is expected to develop and deliver a Strategic Skills Plan. This plan is informed by the region’s Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) and Local Growth Plan.LSIPs set out the skills needs of an area and the changes required to better align skills provision with employer needs. In both mayoral and non-mayoral areas, the strategic authority works jointly with the designated employer representative body to develop and implement the plan.

Communities and Local Government, what his planned timetable is for responding to the Supported Housing regulation: consultation that closed in May 2025.

All supported accommodation providers must comply with their existing legal duties, including meeting the relevant standards for the quality of accommodation. The Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023 introduces new National Supported Housing Standards for the support provided, and a locally led licensing framework. The government remains committed to implementing the measures in the Act and will publish its response to the consultation as soon as possible.

Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to ensure oversight of (a) private and (b) public supported accommodation providers.

All supported accommodation providers must comply with their existing legal duties, including meeting the relevant standards for the quality of accommodation. The Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023 introduces new National Supported Housing Standards for the support provided, and a locally led licensing framework. The government remains committed to implementing the measures in the Act and will publish its response to the consultation as soon as possible.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of the complaints signposting available to those who self-fund their social care.

By law, all health and social care services must have a procedure for dealing efficiently with complaints, and anyone who has seen or experienced poor-quality care has the right to complain to the organisation that provided or paid for the care.If an individual has raised a complaint and is not satisfied with the way a provider has dealt with their complaint, they may escalate it to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) who can investigate individual concerns. The LGSCO is the independent complaints lead for adult social care and investigates complaints from those receiving social care.The Government has continued discussions with the LGSCO and the Care Quality Commission about how the regulator can most effectively support the signposting of self-funders to the LGSCO by private providers.

What steps he is taking to help ensure those who self-fund their social care have access to appropriate complaints procedures available to them.

By law, all health and social care services must have a procedure for dealing efficiently with complaints, and anyone who has seen or experienced poor-quality care has the right to complain to the organisation that provided or paid for the care.If an individual has raised a complaint and is not satisfied with the way a provider has dealt with their complaint, they may escalate it to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) who can investigate individual concerns. The LGSCO is the independent complaints lead for adult social care and investigates complaints from those receiving social care.The Government has continued discussions with the LGSCO and the Care Quality Commission about how the regulator can most effectively support the signposting of self-funders to the LGSCO by private providers.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the current regulation of (a) private and (b) public supported accommodation.

All supported accommodation providers must comply with their existing legal duties, including meeting the relevant standards for the quality of accommodation. The Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023 introduces new National Supported Housing Standards for the support provided, and a locally led licensing framework. The government remains committed to implementing the measures in the Act and will publish its response to the consultation as soon as possible.

Communities and Local Government, what requirements (a) private and (b) public supported accommodation providers must adhere to in order to provide suitable support to vulnerable adults.

All supported accommodation providers must comply with their existing legal duties, including meeting the relevant standards for the quality of accommodation. The Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023 introduces new National Supported Housing Standards for the support provided, and a locally led licensing framework. The government remains committed to implementing the measures in the Act and will publish its response to the consultation as soon as possible.

What his planned timetable is for responding to the Kingdon Review.

The timetable for responding to the Kingdon Review has not yet been determined. We are continuing to examine the findings of the review.

Pursuant to the Answers of 5 February 2026 to Questions 108785, 108786 and 108787 on Physiotherapy: Employment, if he will initiate conversations with NHS England about the extent of (a) current job vacancies, (b) job competition and (c) longevity of NHS Employment for physiotherapists in the NHS.

The Department and NHS England continue work closely together on National Health Service workforce planning.The Government is committed to publishing a 10 Year Workforce Plan to set out action to create a workforce ready to deliver the transformed service set out in the 10-Year Health Plan. The 10 Year Workforce Plan will ensure the NHS has the right people in the right places, with the right skills to care for patients, when they need it. Work is ongoing between the Department and NHS England on the development of the 10 Year Workforce Plan, which will have implications on workforce planning for both physiotherapists, and other allied health professions.Decisions about recruitment are a matter for individual NHS employers, who manage this at a local level to ensure they have the staff they need to deliver safe and effective care.

Pursuant to the Answers of 5 February 2026 to Questions 108785, 108786 and 108787 on Physiotherapy: Employment, if he will undertake a review of data gathering about (a) job vacancies, (b) job competition and (c) longevity of NHS Employment for physiotherapists in the NHS.

The Department has no plans for a review of the data gathered in relation to physiotherapy job vacancies, job competition, and the longevity of National Health Service employment in the NHS.

Pursuant to the Answers of 5 February 2026 to Questions 108785, 108786 and 108787 on Physiotherapy: Employment, what steps he is taking to understand workforce planning and service need for physiotherapists in the NHS.

NHS England’s regional teams are in constant dialogue with integrated care boards, National Health Service trusts, other bodies providing NHS services, and education and training providers to assess workforce challenges and support appropriate training across a range of services, including those involving physiotherapists.The Government is committed to publishing a 10 Year Workforce Plan to set out action to create a workforce ready to deliver the transformed service set out in the 10-Year Health Plan. We have engaged with partners throughout the development of the 10 Year Workforce Plan, including through the call for evidence, which received over 900 responses, and a national partner event which included representatives from over 90 organisations shaping early thinking across key themes.

Pursuant to WPQ109839 answered on 9 February on Cerebral Palsy: Young People, whether she will hold discussions with the Equalities Minister on whether current systems within the NHS support young adults with cerebral palsy, including those without a diagnosed learning disability.

Ministers from the Department of Health and Social Care and the Minister for Equalities work closely together on issues relating to disability, health inequalities and access to services. Officials will continue to engage across Government to ensure that national policy recognises the needs of young adults with cerebral palsy and that systems across the National Health Service support equitable access to appropriate care, regardless of whether an individual has a diagnosed learning disability.

What assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the TRL report prepared for her Department entitled Glare from road vehicle lighting on UK roads, published in October 2025.

The initial and ground-breaking TRL research demonstrates that glare is a complicated issue with several contributing factors. Any steps we take must avoid unintentionally reducing visibility for drivers or interfering with safety-critical cameras and sensors. As part of the recently published Road Safety Strategy, we are planning further targeted vehicle-based research to help inform future international lighting regulations and consider what more can be done domestically.

Whether he has made recent progress on developing national guidance for Auditory Verbal therapy for deaf children.

Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for the provision and commissioning of services to meet the needs of their local populations, including services for non-hearing children.Auditory verbal therapy (AVT) is one type of therapy to support children with hearing loss, and it is important that local commissioners have the discretion to decide how best to meet the needs of their local population, informed by the best available evidence and guidance.NHS England supports ICBs to make informed decisions about the provision of audiology services so that they can provide consistent, high quality, and integrated care. In November 2025, NHS England appointed two national specialty advisers for hearing and associated conditions who are considering care pathway improvements for hearing services. Based on consideration of the current evidence on AVT, NHS England has no plans to develop such national guidance.The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s (NICE) prioritisation board considered childhood hearing loss as a potential guideline topic in August 2024. NICE concluded that there is limited evidence available in this area and that the 2015 NHS England Action Plan on Hearing Loss and guidance issued in 2019 addresses care for this population. It is understood that Auditory Verbal UK are in the process of developing the evidence base for the intervention. The NHS England Action Plan on Hearing Loss is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/act-plan-hearing-loss-upd.pdf

Pursuant to the Answer of 16 September 2025 to Question 76397 on Driving: Disqualification, how many drivers with more than 12 or more penalty points had not been disqualified by a court in 2025.

Where a driving licence holder has accumulated 12 or more penalty points, a court can exercise its discretion and decide not to disqualify them. Courts may allow drivers to retain their entitlement to drive where it is considered that disqualification would cause exceptional hardship. These decisions are for the courts, not the Department for Transport or the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), which update and maintain the driver record using information provided by His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service. On 13 February 2026, there were 10,822 drivers with 12 or more penalty points who retain current entitlement to drive and have not been disqualified by a court. Of these, 7,153 were awarded some or all of their points during 2025.

Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing information about methods of slaughter on food labelling.

The Government encourages the highest standards of animal welfare at slaughter. As set out in the Government’s animal welfare strategy, we are committed to ensuring that consumers have access to clear information on how their food was produced. To support this, we will continue working with relevant stakeholders to explore how better food labelling could provide greater consumer transparency and promote better animal welfare.