Written questions by Whittome.

What assessment she has made of (a) the potential impact of the benefit cap on poverty rates among larger families and (b) the potential merits of its abolition.

No assessment has been made. This government is committed to tackling child poverty and the Child Poverty Taskforce is progressing work to publish the Child Poverty Strategy in autumn, that will deliver fully funded measures to tackle the structural and root causes of child poverty. We are considering all available levers, including considering social security reforms, to give every child the best start in life as part of our strategy.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the Israeli government's E1 settlement plan.

On 21 August, the Foreign Secretary and 26 international partners joined a statement condemning the E1 settlement development. The Ambassador of Israel to the United Kingdom was also summoned to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in response to the plans. The decision by the Israeli Higher Planning Committee to approve plans for settlement construction in the E1 area, East of Jerusalem, is unacceptable and, if implemented, would divide a Palestinian state in two, mark a flagrant breach of international law and critically undermine the two-state solution. We condemn this decision and call for its immediate reversal in the strongest terms. The Israeli government must stop settlement construction in line with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to issue guidance to local authorities on when they should accept that there is a housing duty after the abolition of Section 21 notices.

Following Royal Assent of the Renters’ Rights Bill, the government will make any necessary amendments to the Homelessness Code of Guidance.Ahead of these changes, we will engage closely with local authorities and other relevant stakeholders to help them prepare for the Bill’s implementation.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to improve air quality.

The Government is developing a series of interventions to reduce emissions so that everyone’s exposure to air pollution is reduced. This includes action to reduce harmful emissions from domestic burning and reforms to the industrial permitting regime. We remain committed to working closely with local authorities, industry, and the public to shape practical, proportionate policies that deliver cleaner air and improve public health.

What steps she is taking to help tackle the backlog of possession proceedings in court (a) in advance and (b) on implementation of the Renters’ Rights Bill.

The most recent published statistics show the median time from claim to order falls within the Civil Procedure Rules stipulation that possession claims should be listed within 4 to 8 weeks. HMCTS is making improvements to bailiff recruitment and retention practices to ensure staffing resources are available to enforce judgments made by the County Courts in those cases where it is subsequently needed.The Ministry of Justice is working closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to ensure the justice system is fully prepared for the implementation of the Renters Rights’ Bill.

What steps she is taking to ensure that SMEs (a) are not misled by banks (b) are not unfairly charged and (c) can access the financial services they need.

The Government recognises the vital role that financial services play in supporting millions of SMEs across the UK. We are committed to ensuring that SMEs are treated fairly by banks and have access to the financial services they need.The provision of business banking services is largely a commercial matter, but there are certain regulatory and statutory protections afforded to SMEs. Notably, Consumer Credit Act protections apply to certain small businesses (sole traders, unincorporated bodies and two or three person partnerships). The FCA is able to investigate issues where this falls within their regulatory remit and the application of the Consumer Duty to micro-enterprises.In addition, the Financial Ombudsman Service has jurisdiction over 99% of business banking disputes, providing a wide safety-net for businesses and an important avenue for redress if SMEs feel they have been misled, unfairly charged or mistreated.Earlier this year, the Government also legislated to strengthen customer protection standards in cases where banks and other payment service providers close accounts or terminate services. As a result, under the new requirements, both personal and business customers will be given more notice of closures and will be entitled to a sufficient explanation for their provider’s actions. More widely, the Government is committed to encouraging competition in financial services to help stimulate a strong and diverse market for SMEs and improve access to finance. While we continue to monitor issues relating to accessing financial services, service provision and charging models remain commercial matters for individual firms.

Whether it is her policy to retain the fair and reasonable remit of the Financial Ombudsman Service, in the context of fraud complaints.

The Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) plays an important role in providing consumers with a cost-free and quick route to resolve disputes with financial services firms. My recent review of the FOS concluded that the framework in which it operates has resulted in it acting as a quasi-regulator in a small but significant minority of cases. That is why, as part of the Leeds Reforms, the Chancellor announced the most significant package of reforms to the FOS since its inception. The review concluded that the ‘fair and reasonable’ test should be retained and adapted, to align it with the overall regulatory approach for financial services and provide greater predictability and consistency to consumers and firms. The government is currently consulting on proposed legislation to adapt the ‘fair and reasonable’ test to make clear that, where conduct complained of is in scope of FCA rules, compliance with those rules will mean that a firm has acted fairly and reasonably. It also proposes a mechanism for the FOS to refer a case to the FCA where there is ambiguity about FCA rules, to request a view on how its rules are intended to be applied, to ensure consistent application of regulatory standards by the FOS. Regarding fraud, victims of fraud who wish to make a complaint about their financial services provider will continue to be able to bring complaints to the FOS, and the proposed changes to the legislative framework under which the FOS operates will not affect the FOS’s role in handling these complaints.

Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to ensure that local authorities have adequate resource capacity to enforce the Renters' Rights Bill.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 32068 on 5 March 2025.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of using tablets for the Reception Baseline Assessment on children's (a) cognitive and (b) social development; and what guidance her Department has issued to schools on ensuring that the use of tablets in the classroom is balanced with traditional learning methods.

The digital elements of the reception baseline assessment (RBA) have been in development since 2019 and subject to extensive trials with teachers and pupils, using the Standards and Testing Agency’s internationally recognised assessment development approach. This has included item validation trials in 2020, 2021 and 2023 involving 2,801 pupils across 277 schools, and a technical pre-test trial in 2022 where 2,406 assessments were completed across a nationally representative sample of 254 schools. In November and December 2024, a voluntary trial involving over 1,000 schools took place, and participating schools undertook key activities needed to administer the assessment, including completing a sample assessment with three pupils. Input from the trials and extensive review by early years experts and teachers has helped shape the content and the digital platform to meet the needs of schools and pupils.The revised RBA remains interactive and play-based, retaining the use of small toys and verbal responses for other questions. Pupils can respond verbally to on-screen questions if they do not wish to interact with the screen, and a paper-based alternative is available where this is more suitable for the pupil.Schools, trusts, and local authorities are responsible for making decisions that best meet their educational and operational needs regarding the use of technology in the classroom. The department does not set specific requirements for how often schools should use tablets. To help schools make informed decisions when procuring technology, the department has published advice and guidance to schools through the digital and technology standards and the plan technology for your school service.

What steps he is taking to (a) improve awareness and understanding of Progressive Supranuclear Palsy among healthcare professionals across all regions of England, and (b) ensure earlier and more accurate diagnosis of the condition.

Under the UK Rare Diseases Framework, the Government is committed to improving the lives of those living with rare diseases, such as progressive supranuclear palsy. This includes helping patients get a final diagnosis faster and increasing awareness of rare diseases among healthcare professionals.With over 7,000 rare diseases, it is not possible for healthcare professionals to receive comprehensive training on every condition. It is therefore important that they are aware of rare diseases more broadly and are alert to considering them. The 2025 England Rare Diseases Action Plan updates on progress to increase awareness of rare diseases among healthcare professionals, including:- Launching new resources on the innovative digital educational resource, GeNotes;- Developing a communication skills resource to aid healthcare professionals in having sensitive conversations to ensure the patient feels supported in their diagnosis of a rare condition; and- Developing a range of training and educational resources on rare diseases to include rare diseases in UK health professional education and training frameworks.Another priority of the Framework is to help patients get a final diagnosis faster. Progress has been made over the last year, including research commissioned to better understand what causes delays in diagnosis, the Generation Study to pilot whole genome sequencing of newborns in the NHS being launched, and the work of the NHS Genomic Medicine Service.

What estimate her Department has made of the long-term (a) economic, (b) environmental and (c) operational costs of pausing the next phase of the electrification of the Midland Main Line.

Midland Main Line electrification was considered as part of the Spending Review, which prioritised investment across all government spending, taking account of business cases and affordability. Continuing electrification to Nottingham and Sheffield is lower value for money, due to rising costs and as a consequence of the environmental and operational benefits already delivered through electrification of the route. Electrification between Kettering and Wigston was completed earlier this year and, together with enhancements south of Bedford, will enable the bi-mode intercity services being introduced by East Midlands Railway to operate using electric traction.

What steps she is taking to (a) improve rail capacity and (b) reduce railway-related emissions in the East Midlands.

East Midlands Railway (EMR) will introduce new bi-mode Class 810 Intercity ‘Aurora’ trains with a phased rollout running through 2026. These new trains will support greener travel making use of the Midlands Main Line electrification between London and Leicester, significantly reducing emissions compared to the diesel Class 222 trains they replace. When fully operational the Class 810 trains will provide a 46 per cent increase in capacity to passengers through a combination of more seats and train carriages.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of limiting the right to jury trial on civil liberties.

The right to a fair trial is a well-established common law principle in England and Wales to which this government remains committed. A fair trial can be achieved by alternative modes of trial and currently over 90% of criminal cases are heard in the magistrates’ courts, without a jury. Jury trials are a cornerstone of our justice system and will remain in place for the most serious cases, however, we must consider bold action to tackle the rising backlog. Sir Brian Leveson has published the first part of his Independent Review of the Criminal Courts, setting out a number of recommendations on the use of jury trials in the Crown Court.The right to a fair trial is a well-established common law principle in England and Wales to which this government remains committed. A fair trial can be achieved by alternative modes of trial and currently over 90% of criminal cases are heard in the magistrates’ courts, without a jury. We are carefully considering Sir Brian’s proposals before setting out the Government’s full response in the autumn.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of her Department's changes to the eligibility criteria for funding for master’s degree-level apprenticeships on (a) disabled adults and (b) people whose education has been delayed or interrupted by (i) health, (ii) social and (iii) economic circumstances.

I refer my hon. Friend, the Member for Nottingham East to the answer of 13 June 2025 to Question 57823.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to support human rights in J(a) Jammu and (b) Kashmir.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 31 March 2025 to Question 39395.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the closure of the DWP office employees in Lincoln; and whether flexible working arrangements will be offered to staff who cannot relocate.

The department currently has excess space. All decisions around estates are driven by departmental strategy to deliver a smaller, better and greener estate. Equality Analysis has been undertaken as part of the decision-making process. Since the announcement, all affected colleagues in Lincoln have been supported through a detailed conversation between each individual and their line manager to assess the personal impact of any closure, and inform consideration of all alternative employment options. Redeployment activity is now underway, looking at vacancies in other DWP locations and other government departments. As a responsible employer, DWP offers flexibility including hybrid working, workplace adjustments and other support, but like other government departments, DWP is not a home working organisation.

If she will make an assessment of the proportionality of data return requirements placed on small higher education providers compared to large universities.

​​Whilst the department recognises that effective regulation brings a certain amount of data burden to those being regulated, we must ensure that English higher education (HE) remains world class, financially stable and good value for students.​The department continues to work with the Office for Students to reduce unnecessary data burden, ensure a proportionate and risk-based approach to regulation, and to ensure the HE regulatory system is clearer, more effective, and more accountable.​

What assessment she has made of the potential merits of introducing a tiered Office for Students registration fee structure that reflects the size and turnover of higher education providers.

​​In line with the recommendation set out in the Independent Review of the Office for Students (OfS), led by former Interim Chair of the OfS David Behan, the government plans to consult on the structure of fees charged to the sector by the OfS. The consultation will allow us to work with the sector to ensure that the system is fair, proportionate, and sustainable. We will be inviting views from across the sector as part of this process. An assessment of financial impacts upon all types of providers will be made as part of this work.​

If she will make an assessment of the financial impact of Office for Students regulatory fees on small higher education providers.

​​In line with the recommendation set out in the Independent Review of the Office for Students (OfS), led by former Interim Chair of the OfS David Behan, the government plans to consult on the structure of fees charged to the sector by the OfS. The consultation will allow us to work with the sector to ensure that the system is fair, proportionate, and sustainable. We will be inviting views from across the sector as part of this process. An assessment of financial impacts upon all types of providers will be made as part of this work.​

What steps she is taking to enable Ukrainians who arrived via the (a) Homes for Ukraine and (b) Ukraine Family Scheme to settle permanently in the UK.

I refer the Hon Member to the Statement made to the House by the Home Secretary on 1 September 2025.