Written questions by Moon.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of increasing the weight of transport accessibility in allocating regional funding by including metrics such as (a) transport cost as a percentage of household income, (b) public-service frequency, (c) waiting time for buses, and (d) reliability and (e) time taken to travel to capture transport poverty’s multiplier effects.

The majority of funding in the Local Government Finance Settlement is distributed through the Settlement Funding Assessment. This funding includes Revenue Support Grant and retained business rates.The Settlement Funding Assessment uses a range of formulas to determine the relative funding need of areas, which when combined with a measure of tax base, determines their relative income. Further details on the current funding methodology can be found online, within the ‘Calculation of 2013/14 Formula Funding’ page, linked here.The government recently published the Fair Funding Review 2.0 consultation, which outlines proposals to update the distribution of funding within the Local Government Finance Settlement for the first time since 2013 – ensuring our approach uses the best available data and evidence. Our proposals include taking account of journey times when calculating the relative differences in cost local authorities face when delivering services to inform funding allocations. We will publish further information in the government’s consultation response in the Autumn, followed by the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement later this year. The Department for Transport leads on all other wider public transport funding for local authorities.

What discussions her Department has had with police forces on improving investigations into cases involving coercive and controlling behaviour.

The statutory definition of domestic abuse, contained within the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, explicitly recognises coercive controlling behaviour (CCB) as a form of domestic abuse.The government is committed to ensuring policing has the right skills and training to respond robustly to crimes of violence against women and girls (VAWG), including CCB. Whilst the Domestic Abuse Matters training programme covers CCB extensively and has now been delivered to over 80% of police forces in England and Wales we know that more needs to be done to transform the police response.In our manifesto, we committed to strengthening and standardising officer training, at all levels, to ensure that our police have the right skills and training to respond appropriately and compassionately to victims of VAWG, in every force. That’s why we have announced £13.1 million funding to establish the new National Centre for VAWG and Public Protection (NCVPP), this includes an uplift of £2m to improve police training. The NCVPP is developing a comprehensive training package, grounded in academic research and behaviour change science, to ensure that all frontline officers are equipped to manage investigations, and that senior leaders are able to advance stronger safeguarding arrangements for victims of all VAWG crimes, including CCB.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of using spending allocated to the DRIVE35 programme for the domestic critical minerals industry.

DRIVE35 builds on the Advanced Propulsion Centre R&D programmes and the Automotive Transformation Fund. These programmes have funded a number of critical mineral projects that are strengthening the UK’s zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) supply chains, from lithium refinery Green Lithium to battery recycler Altilium.DRIVE35 will continue to support the latest R&D, accelerate commercial scale-up, and unlock capital investment in ZEV technologies, including their upstream supply chain which can include critical minerals projects.

What steps her Department is taking to increase prosecution rates for cases involving coercive and controlling behaviour.

Domestic Abuse (DA) causes severe and lasting harm to victims, particularly controlling or coercive behaviour (CCB) which can permeate all aspects of their lives. Bringing the perpetrators of these crimes to justice is a core priority for this Government and supports our landmark ambition to halve violence against women and girls (VAWG).The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is committed to securing prosecutions for CCB. The number of CCB cases to have reached a first hearing in the magistrates’ court has increased year on year since this legislation was introduced: increasing from 5 cases in 2015-16 to 5,254 cases in 2024-25.However, we know that more must be done to improve the identification and understanding of this complex form of offending. To support this, the CPS has integrated a CCB case study into its face-to-face domestic abuse training, which has now been delivered to 3133 prosecutors.The CPS and National Police Chiefs’ Council launched the DA Joint Justice Plan in November 2024. This includes a shared commitment between police and CPS to improve the identification of behaviour-driven offending such as CCB. It also aims to ensure that victims are heard, supported, and protected throughout their journey in the criminal justice process.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to expand the (a) remit and (b) powers of the New Homes Ombudsman to include freehold homeowners with unresolved structural issues.

In October 2024, this government committed to establish a statutory New Homes Ombudsman which will give homeowners improved access to redress. The government will set out further details in due course.

Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that housing associations are held accountable for the (a) quality and (b) safety of homes they (i) manage and (ii) build.

Alongside delivering the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding a generation, the government is committed to driving a transformational and lasting change in the safety and quality of homes.Registered providers of social housing are required to deliver the outcomes of the standards set by the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH). The Regulator conducts routine inspections of large registered providers to assess whether they are delivering the outcomes set by the standards. The Regulator has a series of powers at its disposal when it identifies serious failings.On 2 July 2025, we launched consultations on an updated and modernised Decent Homes Standard and on a new Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard. These new standards would be binding on registered providers of social housing.The government will bring Awaab’s Law into force for the social rented sector from October this year. Awaab’s Law is vital legislation that will empower social tenants to hold their landlords to account using the full force of the law if they fail to investigate and fix hazards within their homes within set timescales. It will also allow tenants to access the Housing Ombudsman if their landlord does not adhere to strict timelines for action.New requirements relating to electrical safety will also require social landlords to carry out electrical safety checks at least every five years, as well as mandatory appliance inspections on all electrical appliances that are provided by the landlord.In respect of new build homes, all building works must meet the safety and performance requirements set out in the Building Regulations 2010. The building regulations set minimum legal performance standards for new building work including when a building is being designed, constructed, or subject to major re-design. The building regulations are enforced through the building control process. Building control conduct checks to assure compliance with the building regulations.

What support is available to homeowners who cannot afford legal representation in disputes with housing (a) developers and (b) associations over structural defects.

There are a range of options to support homeowners who cannot afford legal representation in disputes with housing developers and associations over structural defects. Advice organisations, such as Citizens Advice and Shelter, may be able to provide advice or signpost to further support, and leaseholders may be able to get support from organisations that specialise in leasehold issues, such as the Leasehold Advisory Service. Alternatively, ombudsman services may be able to provide support with resolving a dispute.There are also a variety of ways to fund or support some types of legal action, which may include disputes. These include insurance policies, and homeowners should check whether their insurance policy includes Legal Expenses Insurance, which may provide coverage for certain legal expenses and costs. Homeowners may also be able to fund a legal case through a ‘no-win, no-fee' conditional fee agreement. This is a means of funding litigation, usually entered into by claimants, where the lawyer agrees not to take a fee if the claim fails.

What steps his Department is taking to improve (a) child and (b) adult mental health services in Cornwall.

We know people are not receiving the mental health care they need and that waits for mental health services are too long across England, including in Cornwall. We are determined to change that as part of our shift to prevention and earlier intervention, and in line with our Plan for Change.Nationally, the Government is providing £7 million of funding to extend support for 24 Early Support Hubs that have a track record of helping thousands of young people in their community. We will also provide access to a specialist mental health professional in every school in England and roll out Young Futures Hubs to provide open access mental health support for children and young people. At the end of March 2025, 87% of pupils and learners in Cornwall were covered by a mental health support team.In addition, we plan to recruit an additional 8,500 mental health workers across child and adult mental health services in England to ease the pressure on the busy mental health services. More than 6,700 extra mental health workers have been employed since July, as per the latest data.Responsibility for the onward commissioning of mental health services sits with integrated care boards (ICB). It is the role of local ICB decision-makers to consider the implications of mental health services, specific to each geography and including the perspectives of healthcare professionals, patient advocacy groups, and local authorities.

With reference to the policy paper entitled Giving every child the best start in life, published on 7 July 2025, what the terms of the review into fairer funding for early years will be.

It is the government’s ambition that all families have access to high quality, affordable and flexible early education and care, giving every child the best start in life.The department will review early years funding, including the early years national funding formulae, consulting on a set of changes by summer 2026.We will review how funding is distributed nationally and locally to ensure the funding system remains fair and effective at reflecting the costs of delivery and supporting those children and parts of the country that have higher levels of additional need.

What plans her Department has to help (a) raise the profile and (b) increase levels of use of the Best Start digital service.

The Best Start digital service is still in the early stages of development. The department is currently exploring how best to design, position and deliver the service to meet the needs of parents and families. As this work progresses, we will consider how to raise its profile and encourage take-up as part of the wider implementation approach.

What steps is her Department taking to tackle misogyny in (a) the bankruptcy and (b) judicial system.

The Ministry of Justice is committed to ensuring that the justice system is fair, impartial and free from discrimination. Fair treatment and equality before the law are fundamental principles of our justice system and central to the judicial role. The Lady Chief Justice holds statutory responsibility for the training and guidance of court judges in England and Wales, including oversight of the Guide to Judicial Conduct. This Guide reflects the core values of judicial conduct: independence, impartiality, integrity, propriety, equality of treatment, and competence and diligence. We are supportive of the ongoing efforts of the senior judiciary to uphold and embed these values across the judiciary. In relation to bankruptcy specifically, the process is overseen by the Insolvency Service, an executive agency of the Department for Business and Trade.

What estimate her Department has made of the number of people on the (a) Homes for Ukraine and (b) Ukraine Family Schemes who are working in the agricultural sector.

The information requested is not currently available from published statistics.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of resolving shared ownership arrangements of properties where offshore freehold ownership precludes staircasing.

Leases for shared ownership properties, whether these are grant funded or Section 106 delivery, must follow one of the shared ownership model leases provided by Homes England or the Greater London Authority. These model leases contain a fundamental clause which ensures that staircasing is permitted. In certain types of shared ownership, staircasing is however restricted to below 100%, this is to ensure properties remain as affordable housing in perpetuity. Properties sold by private developers, and without grant funding or through Section 106, are not required to follow a model lease when sold via a shared ownership arrangement.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the potential implications for her policies of the recommendations set out in the Fifth Report of the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee on Shared Ownership, Session 2023-24, published on 26 March 2024, HC 61.

Shared ownership has an important role to play in supporting households into home ownership who would otherwise struggle to purchase a property on the open market that meets their needs. The Government is aware that some people who have entered shared ownership have faced significant challenges with their properties and there is ongoing consideration of what more can be done to improve the experience of shared owners, including consideration of the former Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Select Committee’s report recommendations on shared ownership.

Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to reform the Shared Ownership system.

Shared ownership has an important role to play in supporting households into home ownership who would otherwise struggle to purchase a property on the open market that meets their needs. The Government is aware that some people who have entered shared ownership have faced significant challenges with their properties and there is ongoing consideration of what more can be done to improve the experience of shared owners, including consideration of the former Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Select Committee’s report recommendations on shared ownership.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the level of risk of eviction of social housing tenants who remain in a property after a joint tenant has served notice to quit (a) in cases involving relationship breakdown and (b) in general.

Joint periodic tenancies can be ended unilaterally by one of the joint tenants.Once one of the joint tenants terminates a joint tenancy, then as a matter of law it ceases to exist and the landlord has a right of possession, though that may be challenged in the Courts.Social landlords, subject to complying with their own allocations policies, have the flexibility to provide a new tenancy to a current resident where a notice to quit is served, either for the same property or for a different property.

What assessment she has made of the potential merits of risk assessments for Students' Union activities.

I refer my hon. Friend, the Member for Camborne and Redruth to the answer of 13 June 2025 to Question 57705.

What steps her Department is taking to review the legal duty of care between universities and Students' Unions.

I refer my hon. Friend, the Member for Camborne and Redruth to the answer of 8 January 2025 to Question 21514.

What his planned timetable is for the consultation on the British industrial competitiveness scheme.

From 2027, the new British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme (BICS) will reduce electricity costs by c.£35-40/MWh for thousands of eligible businesses. These firms will be exempt from paying levies on the Renewables Obligation, Feed-in Tariffs and the Capacity Market. We announced that we would consult on eligibility and design of the scheme. We recognise the need to work quickly and we will publish the consultation and Terms of Reference as soon as we can. We have committed to ensure that the scheme is ready to launch in 2027.

If he will set out the terms of reference for the consultation on the British industrial competitiveness scheme.

From 2027, the new British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme (BICS) will reduce electricity costs by c.£35-40/MWh for thousands of eligible businesses. These firms will be exempt from paying levies on the Renewables Obligation, Feed-in Tariffs and the Capacity Market. We announced that we would consult on eligibility and design of the scheme. We recognise the need to work quickly and we will publish the consultation and Terms of Reference as soon as we can. We have committed to ensure that the scheme is ready to launch in 2027.