Written questions by Bedford.

What information he holds on the number of hospitals in Leicestershire that have not followed the appropriate discharge procedure for parents in the last five years.

Statutory guidance on hospital discharge procedures that was published in January 2024 sets out how local areas should plan and implement hospital discharge to support safe and timely discharge for all individuals. The guidance is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hospital-discharge-and-community-support-guidanceLocal areas should provide the monitoring of discharge quality and performance to ensure that the agreed hospital discharge procedures are being followed consistently.

Innovation and Technology, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the roll out of broadband in rural areas.

Our assessment is that rural coverage is not good enough which is why we are committed to improving it. We are committed to delivering nationwide gigabit coverage by 2030. More than £2 billion of contracts have been signed to provide access to gigabit-capable broadband to over a million more premises.The vast majority of the premises to be covered by these contracts will be in rural areas.

With reference to her Department's report entitled Animals in Science Regulation Unit: Annual report 2023, published on 17 December 2024, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of trends in the level of cases of failing to provide adequate (a) food and (b) water to animals.

The Home Office takes non-compliance with the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 very seriously. The Animals in Science Regulation Unit (ASRU) has published its compliance framework (www.gov.uk/guidance/animal-testing-and-research-compliance-with-aspa) which explains how it identifies and investigates potential incidents of non-compliance and decides on appropriate and proportionate measures and remedies where non-compliance has been found to occur. The Regulator’s published compliance policy aims to reduce the risk of future non-compliance.All cases of non-compliance are thoroughly investigated, and the outcomes are published in ASRU’s annual report.Data regarding types of non-compliance is used to inform the risk-based audit programme, as well as targeting educational communications to establishments, to promote compliance. The Regulator has provided recommendations to licensed establishments at p30 of the report (www.gov.uk/government/publications/animals-in-science-regulation-unit-annual-report-2023).For cases of non-compliance where animals experienced adverse welfare outcomes cases there was a 48% reduction in 2023 compared to 2022

What assessment she has made of the impact of increasing the bus fare cap on people living in Mid Leicestershire.

The government is investing over £150 million to deliver the new £3 cap on single bus fares in England outside London from 1 January until 31 December 2025, which prevented a cliff-edge return to commercial fares. Under the plans of the previous administration, the £2 cap on bus fares had been due to expire on 31 December 2024, and prior to the Budget, there was no further funding available to maintain a cap on bus fares beyond this point. The published interim evaluation of the £2 fare cap showed that patronage continued to recover following the COVID 19 pandemic and early evidence from the first two months of the scheme suggested the £2 fare cap may have played a role in this recovery. The final evaluation of the £2 fare cap, including a further assessment of its impact on patronage will be published in due course.

With reference to the Animals in Science Regulation Unit annual report 2023, published on 17 December 2024, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her Department's polices of case in which seven birds were caught in bags, accidentally not released and found dead four days later; and what steps she plans to take to help prevent such instances in future.

The Animals in Science Regulation Unit (ASRU) has published its compliance framework (www.gov.uk/guidance/animal-testing-and-research-compliance-with-aspa) which explains how it identifies and investigates potential incidents of non-compliance and decides on appropriate and proportionate measures and remedies where non-compliance has been found to occur. The Regulator’s published compliance policy aims to reduce the risk of future non-compliance.For this particular case, two letters of reprimand were issued to the establishment.All cases of non-compliance are thoroughly investigated, and the outcomes are published in ASRU’s annual report. No further assessment has been made.

How many migrants residing in Mid Leicestershire constituency have committed crimes in each of the last five years.

The specific data requested is not available from published statistics and could only be obtained for the purposes of answering this question at disproportionate cost. However, nobody should be in any doubt regarding this Government's determination to crack down on crime, including that committed by foreign nationals, and where appropriate - to pursue the deportation of those foreign nationals.

How many people not in education, employment or training there are in (a) the UK, (b) Leicestershire and (c) Mid Leicestershire constituency.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 6th February is attached.

If she will take steps to support businesses in Mid Leicestershire constituency with changes to employer National Insurance contributions.

The Government decided to protect the smallest businesses from these changes by increasing the Employment Allowance from £5,000 to £10,500. This means that next year, 865,000 employers will pay no NICs at all, and more than half of all employers will either gain or will see no change. Businesses will still be able to claim employer NICs reliefs including those for under-21s and under-25 apprentices.

Media and Sport, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Football Governance Bill on football clubs in the Premier League.

The Premier League is a global success story. It is one of our greatest cultural exports. It attracts more viewers and higher revenues than any of its international rivals. It is a product we want to protect and enhance.The Football Governance Bill will create a clearer and more certain regulatory environment for investors which will drive future investment and growth so that English football remains a global success story. A more sustainable game is a more investable game, and this in turn should drive continued economic growth in the market.The Independent Football Regulator will take a light-touch, targeted and proportionate approach. The requirements on clubs will reflect their circumstances, meaning they might vary based on factors like league, club size, and a club’s financial health or riskiness. This will allow regulation to be light-touch wherever possible - meaning, where clubs are already well run, the Regulator will not look to intervene.The Government’s estimate of the economic impact of introducing a football regulator is set out in our Impact Assessment.

What recent assessment he has made of the (a) effectiveness and (b) potential implications for his policies of the level of independence of National Energy System Operator.

The effectiveness and performance of the National Energy System Operator (NESO) is assessed and regulated by the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem). NESO was designed to be an independent entity. NESO’s independence enables it to provide unbiased, expert advice on critical decisions that shape our energy landscape. The Government is satisfied that the current arrangements are fit for purpose and will keep them under review as necessary.

What steps his Department is taking to help ensure that net zero policies are affordable for rural households.

The Government is committed to ensuring that energy is affordable for all consumers, including rural households, and we carefully consider all policies to evaluate the impact on bill costs. Our ambitious Warm Homes Plan, which will publish in due course, will support investment in households, including rural homes, to install energy efficiency measures and low carbon heating to cut bills.

Innovation and Technology, what information his Department holds on the number of households that will have high-speed broadband installed in (a) the UK, (b) Leicestershire and (c) Mid Leicestershire constituency in each of the next five years.

According to the independent website, Thinkbroadband.com, over 86% of UK premises can now access gigabit-capable broadband. In Leicestershire this figure is currently at 83%, and for the Mid Leicestershire constituency it is over 89%. Our objective is for nationwide gigabit coverage across the UK by 2030, with at least 99% of premises having access to a gigabit-capable broadband connection. The rate of delivery in each area will depend on broadband suppliers’ commercial rollout, supplemented by the delivery of Project Gigabit to address gaps in coverage. Over one million premises in the UK are currently included in Project Gigabit contracts, through which they should gain access to a gigabit-capable broadband connection in the next five years. This includes approximately 15,600 premises in the non-metropolitan county of Leicestershire and around 600 premises in the Mid Leicestershire constituency.

If he will make an estimate of the number and proportion of migrants who arrived in the UK in the last five years who are not in education, employment or training in (a) the UK, (b) Leicestershire and (c) Mid Leicestershire constituency.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 6th February is attached.

What information her Department holds on the potential impact of the increase in the bus fare cap on the number of bus journeys taken in (a) the UK, (b) Leicestershire and (c) Mid Leicestershire constituency.

The government is investing over £150 million to deliver the new £3 cap on single bus fares in England outside London from 1 January until 31 December 2025, which prevented a cliff-edge return to commercial fares. Under the plans of the previous administration, the £2 cap on bus fares had been due to expire on 31 December 2024, and prior to the Budget, there was no further funding available to maintain a cap on bus fares beyond this point. The published interim evaluation of the £2 fare cap showed that patronage continued to recover following the COVID 19 pandemic and early evidence from the first two months of the scheme suggested the £2 fare cap may have played a role in this recovery. The final evaluation of the £2 fare cap, including a further assessment of its impact on patronage will be published in due course.

How many foreign nationals have been convicted of a crime in Mid Leicestershire constituency in the last five years.

It is not possible to identify an offender’s nationality from the centrally collated convictions data. This information may be held on court records: however, to identify the nationality of people convicted of specific crimes at constituency level would require the examination of individual court records. This would incur disproportionate costs. Latest numbers of foreign national offenders in prison broken down by nationality can be found in our quarterly release: Offender management statistics quarterly - GOV.UK Foreign national offenders who commit crime should be in no doubt that the law will be enforced and, where appropriate, we will work with the Home Office to pursue their deportation. This government has already removed 23% more FNOs from July 2024 to January 2025 compared to the same period in 2023.

Communities and Local Government, what information her Department holds on the number and proportion of people who live in social housing in Mid Leicestershire constituency who were born in the UK.

The Department does not hold the required information. MHCLG publishes data on the number and proportion of people living in a new social housing letting issued in 2023/24 by local authority area, but this data does not cover all people living in the social rented sector.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of the UK leaving the European Court of Human Rights.

This Government will not withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights and not, therefore, from the European Court of Human Rights. The protection of human rights, democracy and the rule of law both domestically and internationally is a key way to ensure security and stability for the British people and our interests globally.

Communities and Local Government, how many new homes have been built in (a) the UK, (b) Leicestershire and (c) Mid Leicestershire constituency since 5 July 2024.

The Department publishes a quarterly release entitled ‘Housing supply: Indicators of New Supply, England’, which includes estimates of new build starts and completions in England, Leicestershire and in each local authority district. Statistics to the quarter ending September 2024 can be found in Table 253a on gov.uk here.Estimates of new build starts and completions in the UK are collated and published by the Office for National Statistics and are available on its website here.Both of these datasets cover new build dwellings only and should be regarded as a leading indicator of overall housing supply.The Department publishes an annual release entitled ‘Housing supply: net additional dwellings, England’, which is the primary and most comprehensive measure of housing supply. This includes estimates of new homes delivered in each local authority, in each financial year, since 2001/02 to 2023-24 can be found in Live Table 122 on gov.uk here.Figures at parliamentary constituency level are not centrally collected.

What recent progress his Department has made on negotiating a free-trade agreement with the US.

The UK-US trading relationship is already worth around £300 billion, supporting over a million jobs and representing 17% of total UK trade. This government's priority is economic growth and increasing trade with international partners is a major part of that. The Prime Minister had a warm call with President Trump on 26 January where they discussed trade and the economy and agreed to meet soon for further discussions.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how his Department (a) tracks and (b) reports on the use of UK foreign aid funds in (a) Bangladesh and (b) other countries with known corruption risks; and what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that funds are not (i) diverted and (ii) misappropriated.

The official source of data on UK Official Development Assistance (ODA) spend (commonly referred to as foreign aid spend) is the Accredited Official Statistics publication "Statistics on International Development: Final UK Aid Spend" which includes a breakdown of bilateral ODA by benefitting country, including Bangladesh. The data is also reported to the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) in line with our obligations as a DAC member.The FCDO has a low appetite for fraud risks. This reflects our willingness to only accept the risks necessary for effective delivery, given our commitment to managing public money well. We take our responsibilities on counter-fraud seriously, and we expect our external partners to do the same.To help ensure that our ODA funding reaches its intended recipients, the FCDO maintains high standards of programme delivery and risk management. This includes, but is not limited to, maintaining clear audit trails, investigating suspicions or credible allegations of fraud, bribery, and corruption, maintaining financial oversight of programmes, and carrying out formal reviews of programmes to ensure that UK funds are being used for the purposes intended. The FCDO ensures that our delivery partners have robust fraud policies in place, and our due diligence assessments cover their ability to manage downstream partners.