Written questions by Coyle.

What assessment she has made of the role of volunteer-led family support services in supporting the objectives of the Best Start in Life and Family Hubs programme.

Awaiting answer.

What steps he is taking to ensure that Covid era Build Back Loan repayment programmes do not contribute to business closures and liquidations.

The Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS), is a fully delegated scheme. Under the Scheme’s rules and guidance, lenders are expected to pursue recovery activity in a proportionate way, treating borrowers fairly while providing value to the taxpayer.To make sure t...

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that employers correctly implement Equality and Human Rights Commission guidance in relation to the rights of transgender employees, including protections

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is the independent equality regulator and ensures compliance with the Equality Act 2010. Their draft Code of Practice on Services, Public Functions and Associations (“the Code”) covers all nine protected cha...

Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to support local councils in enforcing the 90-day rule for short-term lets in London; and whether he plans to strengthen enforcement powers wh

Section 25 of the Greater London Council (General Powers) Act 1973, as amended by section 44 of the Deregulation Act 2015, allows properties in London, which are liable for council tax, to be let out on a short-term basis for a maximum of 90 nights per ca...

Whether her Department has considered reducing taxation such as business rates for small businesses liable for Extended Producer Responsibility.

The Government believes it is right that the costs of dealing with household packaging waste are moved away from taxpayers and onto the businesses that place packaging on the market. The Government has designed the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) s...

Communities and Local Government, if he will consider allowing the Housing Ombudsman to issue fines for maladministration by housing providers to recompense tenants, ensure implementation of recommendations and t

The Housing Ombudsman is an independent and impartial adjudicator, investigating and resolving individual complaints between social housing residents and their landlords. To maintain that independence and fairness, it is not appropriate for the Ombudsman ...

Whether changes to alcohol duty have increased revenue.

At Budget 2025 the Chancellor announced that alcohol duty would be kept constant in real terms by uprating it in line with the Retail Price Index (RPI) on 1 February 2026. The government does not expect this to increase revenue in excess of the Office for...

Whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of amending the 1996 Police Act to allow staff associations other than the Police Federation of England and Wales to represent police officer

The Government wants to see a strong staff association that provides a strong voice for police officers and represents their interests effectively.Recognising widely-reported concerns about the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW), we expect to s...

What assessment her Department has made of the administrative costs for outlets of running a VAT reduction for children’s food only; what comparative assessment she has made of this policy and reducing VAT on all fo

From 25 June to 1 September the Government is introducing a temporary reduced rate of VAT on children's menu meals and family leisure activitiesThe relief for children’s meal is temporary and targeted to balance the policy's intention of supporting famili...

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of simplifying the system of criminal record disclosure.

The Government is committed to supporting people with convictions to overcome barriers to employment and move away from reoffending.The criminal records disclosure regime plays an important role in striking a balance between the need to protect the public...

When he plans to respond to the recommendations of the Independent Review of the Criminal Courts.

The Government is grateful to Sir Brian and his panel of expert advisers for their Independent Review of the Criminal Courts. Sir Brian’s Review makes 180 recommendations aiming to reform the Criminal Justice System and drive improvements to efficiency.Pa...

Whether he is considering reintroducing or adapting the Energy Bills Discount Scheme for households supplied via heat networks; and what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of previou

The Department and Ofgem are actively monitoring the contract prices paid by heat network operators since the Middle Eastern crisis started and considering all options available to mitigate higher prices.

What assessment he has made of the extent to which current regulation of heat networks provides equivalent protections to those available to domestic gas and electricity consumers, including

The introduction of Ofgem’s regulatory powers in January 2026 aimed to introduce similar protections for heat network customers to domestic gas and electricity customers. However, there are some important differences between these sectors, for example: th...

What discussions he has had with Ofgem on extending the current regulatory framework for heat networks to include price protections in addition to consumer standards.

The Department has provided the heat network regulator, Ofgem, with broad powers relating to heat network price regulation. These include powers to investigate and intervene where heat network prices charged to consumers are disproportionate or unfair. Of...

What legislative timetable he has set for introducing further regulation of heat networks, including any provisions relating to price protections for consumers.

Government legislated to introduce statutory redress, advice and advocacy from April 2025 and Ofgem regulation of heat networks from January 2026. Government has provided Ofgem with broad powers to protect consumers, including on price. Heat network suppl...

When he expects to launch the proposed call for evidence on heat network price protections; and what the intended scope of that review will include.

Heat network suppliers and operators have until January 2027 to register with Ofgem and supply data, including information about pricing. Ofgem will use this to further inform their approach to pricing rules and guidance. The Department is working with Of...

Whether his Department is considering regulating the non-domestic gas and electricity tariffs charged to heat network operators, in order to reduce costs passed on to their domestic consumers

The Department has provided the heat network regulator, Ofgem, with broad powers relating to heat network price regulation. These include powers to investigate and intervene where heat network prices charged to consumers are disproportionate or unfair. Of...

What estimate his Department has made of the average annual cost increase for households connected to heat networks as a result of recent increases in commercial gas prices.

Heat network operators buy the energy they need to provide heat to domestic consumers through commercial contracts. The Department and Ofgem are actively monitoring the contract prices paid by heat network operators since the Middle Eastern crisis began a...

What steps his Department is taking to mitigate the exposure of heat network consumers to volatility in wholesale gas markets, given they are not protected by a domestic price cap.

Heat network operators buy the energy they need to provide heat to domestic consumers through commercial contracts. The Department and Ofgem are actively monitoring the contract prices paid by heat network operators since the Middle Eastern crisis started...

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing a price protection mechanism for domestic consumers connected to heat networks, comparable to that provided by the Price Cap

Heat networks buy the energy they need through commercial contracts and the price they charge domestic consumers reflects these individual contract prices and the energy efficiency of each heat network. Applying a price cap therefore risks being ineffecti...