Written questions by Barker.

Media and Sport, what plans she has to use the (a) expertise and (b) capacity of the voluntary and community sector to help (i) develop and (ii) deliver the Government's policy objectives.

The Government is committed to resetting the relationship with civil society and treating them as an equal, expert partner who will be integral to delivery of the Government’s vision for national renewal.The Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has policy responsibility for civil society. Ministers and senior officials are engaging regularly with a range of civil society leaders to discuss the contribution that civil society can make to Government priorities.Work is currently underway across Government to shape and define the five core missions and DCMS is working closely with lead departments to ensure that civil society is appropriately involved in delivery of these missions.

Media and Sport, what plans her Department has to engage with civil society on the delivery of the Government's programme.

The Government is committed to resetting the relationship with civil society and treating them as an equal, expert partner who will be integral to delivery of the Government’s vision for national renewal.The Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has policy responsibility for civil society. Ministers and senior officials are engaging regularly with a range of civil society leaders to discuss the contribution that civil society can make to Government priorities.Work is currently underway across Government to shape and define the five core missions and DCMS is working closely with lead departments to ensure that civil society is appropriately involved in delivery of these missions.

What assessment her Department has made of trends in the level of wealth inequality.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) publishes the Gini coefficient for aggregate household wealth, which is a measure of wealth inequality, and this is released every few years using the Wealth and Assets survey. The ONS has published the Gini coefficient of wealth since July 2006.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a windfall tax for energy companies to help support consumers with the cost of energy bills.

The Energy Profits Levy (EPL) was introduced in May 2022 to tax the extraordinary profits of oil and gas companies operating in the UK and on the UK Continental Shelf. The levy is currently set at a rate of 35%, bringing the overall headline tax rate on upstream oil and gas activities to 75%. In July, the government announced it would deliver on the commitment it made, whilst in opposition, to ensure the oil and gas industry contribute more towards our clean energy transition. This will be achieved by extending the EPL to March 2030, increasing its rate by three percentage points to 38%, and by removing unjustifiably generous investment allowances. Money raised from these changes will support accelerating the transition to clean energy, increasing security and independence while providing sustainable jobs for the future and helping to protect electricity bills against future price shocks. The EPL changes will be implemented from 1 November, with further details to be announced at Budget.

What discussions she has had with the (a) Chancellor of the Exchequer and (b) Local Government Association on future funding for the Household Support Fund.

The Government has announced funding to extend the Household Support Fund (HSF) for a further 6 months, from 1 October 2024 until 31 March 2025. An additional £500 million will be provided to enable the extension of the HSF, including funding for the Devolved Governments through the Barnett formula to be spent at their discretion, as usual. As with previous HSF schemes, the Fund will be made available to County Councils and Unitary Authorities in England to provide discretionary support to those most in need. The HSF scheme guidance and individual Local Authority funding allocations for the forthcoming extension will be announced as soon as possible ahead of the scheme beginning on 1 October 2024.

What steps his Department is taking to help ensure people aged between 65 and 70 who turned 65 before 1 September 2023 can access the shingles vaccine.

When a vaccination programme is expanded, decisions must be made regarding who to offer the vaccine to first. These decisions are based on advice given by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), and includes evidence of the impact of the vaccine in different age groups as well as the capacity of the National Health Service to deliver the vaccination programme alongside other important healthcare priorities.From September 2023, the routine shingles vaccination programme changed from the Zostavax vaccine to the more effective Shingrix vaccine, to better protect individuals from the effects of shingles, provide better clinical outcomes, and reduce pressures on the health system.A phased expansion of the routinely eligible cohort also began in September 2023. The programme currently includes those aged 50 years old and over who are at increased risk of serious complications, and those turning 65 years old on or after 1 September 2023, as well as those turning 70 years old, as was previously the case. The programme is next due to be expanded on 1 September 2028 to those turning 60 years old. There is no intention to change the planned expansion of the shingles vaccination programme.Phasing the roll-out of the shingles vaccination over time to everyone aged 60 years old and over is in line with the JCVI’s recommendation, maximises cost effectiveness and population benefit, ensures consistent messaging over time to maximise coverage, takes account of NHS capacity, and is consistent with the approach taken by all four parts of the United Kingdom. This phased approach has been used in the effective implementation of previous immunisation programmes and whilst it may mean that some individuals may have to wait until the date that they would have originally been eligible, many others will receive the vaccines sooner and will benefit for longer.Anyone unsure if they are eligible for the shingles vaccination should check online or should speak to their general practitioner. Further information on shingles vaccine eligibility is available at the following link:https://www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/shingles-vaccine/

If his Department will take steps to help households with the cost of energy during winter 2024-25.

The Government is committed to supporting households with the cost of energy this winter, and we are continuing to deliver the Warm Home Discount which provides a £150 rebate off energy bills for eligible low-income households. I have also outlined our expectation to energy suppliers that they should do everything they can to support customers who are struggling with their bills, especially vulnerable consumers. Last month I met with energy suppliers and encouraged them to sign up to the Voluntary Debt Commitment for this winter, and I will work closely with them in the weeks ahead to ensure vulnerable consumers are supported through this winter.

What assessment he has made with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions of the potential impact of energy price rises on levels of child poverty.

The Government has not made an assessment on the impact of energy price rises on child poverty. The latest statistics on fuel poverty in England cover 2023 and can be found in the published Official Statistics: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/fuel-poverty-statistics. Table 22 provide estimates of the number of households in fuel poverty by age of the youngest person in the household. Statistics for 2024 will be published in early 2025. The Government is working with the recently announced Child Poverty Taskforce to deliver an ambitious strategy to reduce child poverty, tackle the root causes, and give every child the best start in life.

What steps she is taking to ensure that (a) roadworks and (b) road maintenance are carried out in the most (i) efficient and (ii) cost-effective way.

Road works are essential to ensure that utility companies can install and maintain the infrastructure on which we all rely and highway authorities can maintain their roads to an appropriate standard. We continue to work closely with utility companies and local authorities to ensure that works are planned, managed and co-ordinated in the most efficient way, and in a way that reduces the impact they have on congestion and road users. Those carrying out works must apply for a permit in advance from the relevant authority via the Department for Transport’s digital service known as Street Manager, which allows for co-ordination and planning, monitors performance and works’ durations, and streams open data on live and planned works. We also continue to look for improvements that can be made to the legislative framework that governs how works should be carried out.

What the annual cost is of (a) overrunning and (b) delayed road maintenance works.

Under the 1980 Highway Act, it is the responsibility of the local highway authority to maintain and manage the highway network it is responsible for. The Department for Transport does not collect nor require local highway authorities to provide data about the costs of overrunning and/or delayed road maintenance works. However, it recognises that overrunning works can cause significant disruption to people’s journeys and congestion. For example, overrunning works by utility companies have previously been estimated to cost the economy over £4 billion per year. The Traffic Management Act 2004 (TMA) contains powers to enable authorities to operate permit schemes, which have been essential in improving the management and coordination of works, thereby reducing disruption and impacts on road users.

If she will make an estimate of the proportion of the road network that was restricted due to (a) roadworks and (b) closures on 22 July 2024.

My Department does not collect information on road closures and we are not able to make an assessment of the proportion of the road network that was restricted. Roads are managed by either National Highways or local highway authorities, depending on the road in question. The Department does hold data on the number of utility street and authority road works carried out in England via its Street Manager service for planning and managing works. The latest data available is for June 2024 which showed that 172,753 number of works took place that month.

Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department plans to take to help reduce the number of women who are rough sleeping.

Homelessness and rough sleeping levels are far too high. This can have a devastating impact on those affected. We must address this and deliver long term solutions. We recognise that women sleeping on the streets have different experiences and needs to men, particularly relating to experience of violence and abuse, and that services may need to be delivered differently to meet the needs of women. The Government will look at these issues carefully and will develop a new cross-government strategy, working with mayors and councils across the country to get us on back on track to ending homelessness once and for all.

What steps her Department is taking to help protect Hindu temples.

We are absolutely committed to protecting the right of individuals to freely practise their religion and we will not tolerate anti-Hindu hatred in any form. Government and police routinely assess potential threats to ensure that protective measures are in place to protect Hindu communities and their places of worship against terrorism and hate crime.Additionally, Hindu temples in England and Wales can benefit from the Places of Worship Protective Security Scheme. This scheme offers physical security measures – such as CCTV, intruder alarms, and secure perimeter fencing to places of worship and associated faith community centres, that are particularly vulnerable to religiously or racially motivated hate crime.

What steps her Department is taking to improve access to cash in areas with (a) few and (b) no cash machines.

The Government is committed to protecting access to cash forindividuals and businesses. The Financial Conduct Authority is the regulator responsible for access to cash further to the Financial Services and Markets Act 2023, with powers to seek to ensure t...

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the US economic embargo on Cuba on (a) the economy of Cuba and (b) trade between the UK and Cuba.

The UK has consistently voted in support of the annual United Nations General Assembly Resolution calling for an end to the US embargo against Cuba. The embargo impedes the economic development of the country. Titles III and IV of the Helms Burton Act prevent and restrict British companies (among others) from conducting legitimate and lawful business in Cuba.

Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department plans to take to ensure that local authorities do not apply local connection tests to victims of domestic abuse.

The Government is committed to ensuring that, where appropriate, barriers preventing vulnerable groups in need from accessing social housing are removed. We will continue to work with stakeholders to support victims of domestic abuse to access social housing, including those who have joint tenancies.Local housing authorities can adopt local connections tests to determine who qualifies for an allocation of social housing and manage demand within their area. Statutory social housing allocations guidance is clear that local authorities have the power to exempt victims of domestic abuse from any such test. This includes those living in a refuge or other forms of safe temporary accommodation in their district having escaped domestic abuse in another local authority area.Guidance also encourages local authorities to give priority for social housing to victims and their families who have escaped abuse and are being accommodated in a refuge or temporary accommodation under the reasonable preference (priority) categories. Further, allocations guidance encourages local authorities to give additional preference (high priority) to people who are homeless and require urgent rehousing due to domestic abuse.

Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department will take to help protect victims of domestic abuse who have joint tenancies in social housing.

The Government is committed to ensuring that, where appropriate, barriers preventing vulnerable groups in need from accessing social housing are removed. We will continue to work with stakeholders to support victims of domestic abuse to access social housing, including those who have joint tenancies.Local housing authorities can adopt local connections tests to determine who qualifies for an allocation of social housing and manage demand within their area. Statutory social housing allocations guidance is clear that local authorities have the power to exempt victims of domestic abuse from any such test. This includes those living in a refuge or other forms of safe temporary accommodation in their district having escaped domestic abuse in another local authority area.Guidance also encourages local authorities to give priority for social housing to victims and their families who have escaped abuse and are being accommodated in a refuge or temporary accommodation under the reasonable preference (priority) categories. Further, allocations guidance encourages local authorities to give additional preference (high priority) to people who are homeless and require urgent rehousing due to domestic abuse.

If she will make it her policy to provide a multi-year funding settlement for the Household Support Fund.

£500 million is being provided to enable the current Household Support Fund, including funding for Devolved Administrations through the Barnett formula to be spent at their discretion. This means Local Authorities in England are receiving £421 million to support those in need locally.The current Household Support Fund will be in place until 30 September 2024.As a new government, we are reviewing all policies, including the Household Support Fund.

What steps her Department will take to incentivise young people who live in supported accommodation to work more hours.

We acknowledge the challenge presented by the interaction between Universal Credit and Housing Benefit for those residing in supported housing. However, people in supported housing and in receipt of Housing Benefit are always better off in work than not working at all. It is the department’s priority to ensure that those who can work are supported to enter the labour market and to sustain employment. DWP is working in conjunction with West Midlands Combined Authority on a Proof of Concept which will test financial support for eligible 18–24-year-olds living in commissioned supported housing who move into work or increase their working hours and cease receiving Universal Credit. We are hopeful that this will provide new insight to inform future policy. The Government’s Back to Work Plan is critical to growing the economy. This includes implementing a new national jobs and career service to help get more people into work alongside a Youth Guarantee. This will mean more quality opportunities for training, apprenticeships and help to find work for all young people aged 18-21 years old, preventing them from becoming excluded from the world of work at a young age.

What assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the governance of fire and rescue services.

We have not undertaken an assessment of the governance of Fire and Rescue Services but recognise its importance in ensuring effective delivery of public safety outcomes.We continue to work with Fire and Rescue Authorities, the Local Government Association and the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners to seek governance improvements.