Written questions by Glindon.

Whether he plans to maintain zero-hours contracts for people who prefer these to other employment options.

As outlined in our Plan to Make Work Pay, we will end exploitative zero hours contracts by giving workers the right to a contract that reflects the number of hours they regularly work. We will also introduce a new right to reasonable notice of shifts, with compensation for shifts cancelled or curtailed at short notice.We appreciate that zero hours contracts work well for some people. Those who are offered guaranteed hours will be able to remain on zero hours contracts if they wish. However we are committed to ending one-sided flexibility, and ensuring that if workers are not benefitting from the flexibility these contracts offer, they have a right to an alternative.

Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment her Department has made of the sustainability of the homelessness sector.

Homelessness levels are far too high. We must address this and deliver long term solutions. The Government will look at these issues carefully and will develop a new cross-government strategy, working with mayors, councils and key stakeholders across the country to get us back on track to ending homelessness once and for all.More widely, we are taking action to tackle the root causes of homelessness. This includes delivering the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation, building 1.5 million new homes over the next parliament, and abolishing Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions which will prevent private renters being exploited and discriminated against and empower people to challenge unreasonable rent increases. The Government has also confirmed £450 million for a third round of the Local Authority Housing Fund which will support local authorities to obtain better quality temporary accommodation for homeless families. The Government continues to support councils to deliver the Homelessness Reduction Act, including through the £440 million Homelessness Prevention Grant in 2024/25.

Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department plans to take to support local authorities to provide temporary accommodation services alongside local authorities' efforts to increase housing supply in line with mandatory house building targets.

Homelessness levels are far too high. We must address this and deliver long term solutions. The Government will look at these issues carefully and will develop a new cross-government strategy, working with mayors, councils and key stakeholders across the country to get us back on track to ending homelessness once and for all.More widely, we are taking action to tackle the root causes of homelessness. This includes delivering the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation, building 1.5 million new homes over the next parliament, and abolishing Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions which will prevent private renters being exploited and discriminated against and empower people to challenge unreasonable rent increases. The Government has also confirmed £450 million for a third round of the Local Authority Housing Fund which will support local authorities to obtain better quality temporary accommodation for homeless families. The Government continues to support councils to deliver the Homelessness Reduction Act, including through the £440 million Homelessness Prevention Grant in 2024/25.

What steps he plans to take to encourage more people to train as nurses.

The National Health Service has faced chronic workforce shortages for years, but the Government will build a health service fit for the future. We will make sure the NHS has the staff it needs to be there for all of us when we need it.Training the necessary staff will take time, but we are committed to training more nurses, midwives, and allied health professionals, and will work closely with a range of partners across the health and education sectors to do so, while highlighting the benefits of nursing as a career. We will also ensure there are a range of routes into a nursing career, such as apprenticeships and undergraduate courses.

What steps she is taking to ensure that offers of practical help to women outside abortion clinics will be permitted when section 9 of the Public Order Act 2023 is implemented.

Section 9 of the Public Order Act 2023 does not criminalise any specific activity within safe access zones. It introduces a new criminal offence for a person who is within a Safe Access Zone to do an act with the intent of, or reckless as to whether it has the effect of, influencing any person’s decision to access, provide or facilitate the provision of abortion services, obstructing or impeding any person accessing, providing, or facilitating the provision of abortion services, or causing harassment, alarm or distress to any person in connection with a decision to access, provide, or facilitate the provision of abortion services.

What steps he is taking to ensure that abortion providers meet their obligations to ensure that a woman’s gestational age is accurately assessed before she may be prescribed abortion pills to be taken at home.

In accordance with the Abortion Act 1967, home use of early medical abortion pills is only permitted if the pregnancy has not exceeded 10 weeks gestation, at the time the first medicine in the course is administered. Before prescribing abortion medicine for use at home, the doctor terminating the pregnancy must be of the opinion, formed in good faith, that the pregnancy is not beyond 10 weeks. This opinion is formed following a consultation with the woman concerned.If there is any uncertainty about the gestation of the pregnancy, the woman should attend an in-person appointment. If she does not attend in-person when there is any uncertainty about the gestation, the doctor leading the termination would not be able to form an opinion in good faith that the pregnancy is below 10 weeks gestation, and therefore would not be able to prescribe abortion pills for home use.

With reference to the Answer of 14 May 2024 to Question 25516 on Universal Credit, when her Department plans to publish the findings of the survey of people who have not claimed Universal Credit following receipt of the migration notice.

The survey is currently being conducted. The Department intends to publish the findings once it is complete in the Autumn.