Written questions by Olney.

Whether it is her policy to use the business rates system to help support high street businesses in the context of their competition with online retailers.

The Government is delivering a long overdue reform to rebalance the business rates system and support the high street, as promised in our manifesto. The Government is doing this by introducing permanently lower tax rates for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) properties, while ensuring that warehouses used by online giants will pay more. These new tax rates are worth nearly £900 million per year and will benefit over 750,000 properties. Unlike RHL relief, the new rates are permanent, giving businesses certainty and stability, and there will be no cap, meaning all qualifying properties on high streets across England will benefit. The Government is paying for lower tax rates for RHL through higher rates on the top one per cent of most expensive properties. Large distribution warehouses, such as those used by online giants, will pay around £100m more in 2026/27, with this going directly to lower bills for in-person retail.

What steps his Department is taking to help tackle youth unemployment, in the context of trends in the level of employment in the hospitality sector.

The Government recognises the importance of the Hospitality in providing employment for young people. At Budget, we announced more than £1.5 billion of investment over the next three years, funding £820m for the Youth Guarantee to support young people to earn or learn, and an additional £725 million for the Growth and Skills Levy. Through the expanded Youth Guarantee, young people aged 16-24 across Great Britain are set to benefit from further support into employment and learning.We are supporting more than 50,000 young people into apprenticeships in England by fully funding apprenticeship training costs for all eligible 16-24-year-olds, removing the need for non-levy paying employers to co-fund these learners. We are also expanding foundation apprenticeships into sectors such as hospitality and retail, where young people are traditionally recruited.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of higher rateable values and reduced business rates relief on the number of hospitality closures and empty units on high streets over the next three years.

The amount of business rates paid on each property is based on the rateable value of the property, assessed by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), and the multiplier values, which are set by the Government. Rateable values are re-assessed every three years. Revaluations ensure that the rateable values of properties (i.e. the tax base) remain in line with market changes, and that the tax rates adjust to reflect changes in the tax base. At the Budget, the VOA announced updated property values from the 2026 revaluation. This revaluation is the first since Covid, which has led to significant increases in rateable values for some properties as they recover from the pandemic. To support with bill increases, at the Budget, the Government announced a support package worth £4.3 billion over the next three years, including protection for ratepayers seeing their bills increase because of the revaluation. As a result, over half of ratepayers will see no bill increases, including 23% seeing their bills go down. This means most properties seeing increases will see them capped at 15% or less next year, or £800 for the smallest. Without our support, the pub sector as a whole would have faced a 45% increase in the total bills they pay next year. Because of the support we’ve put in place, this has fallen to just 4%. More broadly, the Government is delivering a long overdue reform to rebalance the business rates system and support the high street, as promised in our manifesto. We are doing this by introducing new permanently lower tax rates for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) properties. These new tax rates are worth nearly £900 million per year, and will benefit over 750,000 properties, including those on the high street. The new RHL tax rates replace the temporary RHL relief that has been winding down since Covid. Unlike RHL relief, the new rates are permanent, giving businesses certainty and stability, and there will be no cap, meaning all qualifying properties on high streets across England will benefit. The National Insurance Contributions (NICs) Employment Allowance has been more than doubled to £10,500, ensuring that over half of businesses with National Insurance liabilities, including those in the hospitality sector, will either gain or see no change this year. A Tax Information and Impact Note was published alongside changes to employer NICs.

How much of the Structures Fund will be allocated towards the funding of the Lower Thames Crossing.

Funding for the Lower Thames Crossing is separate to the £1bn announced at Spending Review 2025 for key local highway enhancement projects and a new Structures Fund for repairing run down bridges, decaying flyovers and worn-out tunnels.

If he will commission an independent national review into the use of allocation tools in Children’s Continuing Care, with recommendations on legality, safeguarding and transparency, and lay the report before Parliament.

The Government is committed to ensuring that all children, including those with complex health needs, receive appropriate care and support whenever and wherever they need it. Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for the provision and commissioning of services to meet the varied needs of their local populations, including for children’s continuing care. It is for ICBs to judge the appropriateness of using allocation tools in their local context. ICBs should also ensure that any use is in line with regulatory and privacy obligations and with the principles of the National Framework for Children and Young People’s Continuing Care. The framework, published by the Department, provides guidance to support ICBs and local authorities to assess and agree support for children whose needs cannot be met through existing universal or specialist services. For these reasons, there are no plans to commission an independent national review at this time.

How many referrals have the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman received in each year since 2015 regarding Children’s Continuing Care.

The Government is committed to ensuring that all children, including those with complex health needs, receive appropriate care and support whenever and wherever they need it. The National Framework for Children and Young People’s Continuing Care provides guidance to support integrated care boards and local authorities to assess and agree support for children whose needs cannot be met through existing universal or specialist services. The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) is an independent organisation. The PHSO publishes statistics on the referrals and complaints they receive categorised by organisation and not by type of service provided or age group. Therefore, the Department does not have access to the information requested.

How many Stage 1 and Stage 2 complaints regarding Children’s Continuing Care were received in each ICB in the last three years, what percentage of those complaints were upheld or partially upheld and what the average time taken was to resolve these complaints.

The Government is committed to ensuring that all children, including those with complex health needs, receive appropriate care and support whenever and wherever they need it. The National Framework for Children and Young People’s Continuing Care, published by the Department, provides guidance to support integrated care boards (ICBs) and local authorities to assess and agree support for children whose needs cannot be met through existing universal or specialist services. The Department and NHS England do not centrally collect data on ICB complaints regarding children’s continuing care. We expect ICBs to commission appropriate services to meet the needs of their local populations, including children with complex health needs, and to provide high-quality care in line with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance.

If he will hold discussions with EP Group on meeting the terms of Royal Mail's agreements with (a) the Communication Workers Union and (b) the Government on (i) workforce pay and conditions and (ii) other matters.

The government engaged with EP Group and the Communication Workers Union (CWU) throughout the process of Royal Mail’s ownership transition. The Deed of Undertaking we agreed with the new owner includes a commitment from EP Group that they will continue to recognise the unions and abide by the future terms of legally binding agreements they make with them.The agreement between the government and EP Group does not give the government a role in the operational decisions of the business – it remains a private entity.We will continue to monitor compliance with these undertakings and maintain dialogue with all parties to ensure that agreed protections and principles are upheld.

With reference to the Settlement Pathway announced on 20 November 2025, if she will define the requirement for indefinite leave to remain applicants to have no debt in the UK, specifically in relation to mortgages, student loans and business loans.

A Fairer Pathway to Settlement, the statement accompanying our current public consultation on earned settlement, sets out that applicants seeking to settle in the UK should have no current litigation, NHS, tax or other government debt.Further detail on the earned settlement model will be finalised following the conclusion of that public consultation.

What steps the Government is taking to help ensure that proposed changes to the Universal Service Obligation are implemented in a way that maintains service quality for customers and engages with postal workers.

On 10 July this year, Ofcom announced its decision to make changes to the universal postal service obligation. Implementation of those changes are for Royal Mail’s management and the new owner in consultation with its unions. The government is aware that discussions are ongoing and encourages all parties to continue their constructive engagement to agree the best approach to reform that supports workers, delivers for customers and secures the long-term financial sustainability of the universal postal service.

What steps his Department is taking to review the regulatory framework for postal services, including the oversight of parcel courier companies and their contribution to the universal postal network.

Ofcom is the independent regulator for the postal sector with the responsibility and powers to regulate postal services. Ofcom requires all postal operators to establish, make available, and comply with transparent, simple, and inexpensive procedures for dealing with consumers’ complaints about the services they receive. The government will continue to work with the regulator to ensure that the framework supports fair competition, consumer protection and the long-term sustainability of the universal postal network.

Whether her Department holds data on the number of employers offering salary sacrifice schemes.

HMRC does not hold administrative data on the number of employers offering and employees using salary sacrifice schemes. However, estimates based on other information are held. HMRC analysis of the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings suggests that around 7.7 million employees made salary sacrifice pension contributions in 2024. That analysis is available here: https://www.ons.gov.uk/surveys/informationforbusinesses/businesssurveys/annualsurveyofhoursandearningsashe HMRC’s non-structural tax relief statistics publication sets out the estimated number of participants in the cycle to work scheme and is accessible here:Non-structural tax reliefs - GOV.UK

What information her Department holds on the number of people who use a salary sacrifice scheme.

HMRC does not hold administrative data on the number of employers offering and employees using salary sacrifice schemes. However, estimates based on other information are held. HMRC analysis of the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings suggests that around 7.7 million employees made salary sacrifice pension contributions in 2024. That analysis is available here: https://www.ons.gov.uk/surveys/informationforbusinesses/businesssurveys/annualsurveyofhoursandearningsashe HMRC’s non-structural tax relief statistics publication sets out the estimated number of participants in the cycle to work scheme and is accessible here:Non-structural tax reliefs - GOV.UK

What economic analysis she has carried out on construction of a third runway at Heathrow.

My department has recently commenced the ANPS review. As there have been significant changes since the ANPS was designated in 2018 the review is being undertaken to reflect changes in legislation, policy and data and to ensure any proposed scheme meets the Government’s four tests. One of these tests is that it contributes to economic growth across the country, as such economic analysis will form part of the ANPS review.The currently published economic analysis undertaken as part of the designation of the ANPS in 2018 can be found in the Updated Appraisal Report https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/airport-expansion-updated-cost-and-benefits-appraisal.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of ending the use of (a) cages for hens and (b) farrowing crates for pigs.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 29 April 2025 to the hon. Member for Mid Dorset and North Poole, PQ UIN 47556

What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the UK's franchising framework.

The self-regulation of franchising through the British Franchise Association has generally served the UK well, with the franchise sector contributing significantly to our economy.However, the government is not complacent and is concerned to maintain fairness in business relationships and will continue to monitor developments in this area. Government is dedicated to implementing an ambitious regulatory reform agenda. In March we published our Action Plan for Regulation outlining changes to streamline rules and regulations to support growth. Our modern Industrial Strategy also includes an ambitious package of regulatory reforms that will support our growth-driving sectors and the wider economy.

How many stage (a) one, and (b) two, complaints were submitted to HM Courts and Tribunals Service in (i) 2024 and (ii) 2025.

HM Courts and Tribunals Service holds the following data on how many stage (a) one and (b) two complaints were submitted in 2024 and 2025. For context, the annual HMCTS report published for the period 2024/5 reports states HMCTS received over 4.2 million cases.YearStage One (First Contact)Stage Two (Review)202433,5524,3732025*26,4113,974*Data for 2025 is for the period 1 January – 30 September inclusive

With reference to the Competition and Markets Authority's press release entitled CMA confirms Apple and Google have strategic market status in mobile platforms, published on 22 October 2025, what steps he is taking to ensure that third-party providers are able to access (a) contactless payment and (b) digital wallet services.

The Government has ensured that the Competition and Markets Authority has bespoke powers to impose remedies and increase competition in digital markets. As the UK’s independent competition authority, the CMA is responsible for operating the digital markets regime, including deciding which remedies to impose.

What recent discussions he has had with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence on approval of Skyclarys; and if he will consider the urgent provision of Skyclarys for patients on an interim basis.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) initiated the appraisal of Skyclarys (omaveloxolone) for the treatment of Friedrich’s Ataxia for people aged 16 years old and over in anticipation of a licence bring granted by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). The MHRA is the independent agency responsible for licensing medicines for use in the United Kingdom based on an assessment of their safety, quality, and efficacy.Although now licensed, following an update from the company, Biogen, NICE has had to terminate its appraisal of this medicine as the company has withdrawn its evidence submission. NICE will review its decision if the company decides to make a new submission. Further information can be found at the following link:https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/TA1061To avoid the possibility of creating a way to circumvent the appraisal process, NHS England is unable to fund medicines where companies have not engaged with NICE.

Whether he plans to amend the presumption of parental involvement when a parent has been convicted of abuse or violent crimes.

The Government has announced that it will repeal the presumption of parental involvement from the Children Act 1989 when Parliamentary time allows.We are committed to ensuring that the child’s welfare remains at the heart of the courts’ decision-making, and that each case considers the individual child and their family circumstances. Courts will continue to make decisions in line with the remaining provisions in the Children Act, the Human Rights Act 1998, ECHR considerations, and caselaw, with the child’s welfare remaining the paramount consideration.The measure to repeal the presumption forms a key part of broader family court reforms, which include the expansion of the Pathfinder courts. These reforms aim to ensure that any decisions centre the child’s welfare and are based on a robust assessment of potential risks.Alongside this announcement, we have published the Review of the Presumption of Parental Involvement and the accompanying reports from the three commissioned research projects.