Written questions by Olney.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the threshold level for eligibility for (a) 30 hours of free childcare and (b) tax-free childcare on working parents who earn between £100,000 and £125,000.

The government is committed to delivering the expansion of the 30 hours free childcare offer so that from September 2025 eligible working parents in England will be able to access 30 hours of free childcare per week, over 38 weeks of the year, from the term after their child turns 9 months old to when they start school. Accessible and high-quality early education and childcare is a crucial part of giving every child the best start in life, boosting children’s life chances and giving parents work choices. To be eligible for the working parent entitlement, parents will each need to earn the equivalent of 16 hours a week at National Minimum Wage (£9,518 per year) and less than £100,000 adjusted net income per year. This offer aims to support parents to return to work or to work more hours, if they wish. The income eligibility criteria are the same for Tax-Free Childcare. The £100,000 level was chosen to correspond with Income Tax thresholds and be easily understandable for parents, and only a very small proportion of parents (3.8% of parents of 3 and 4-year-olds in 2023/24) earn over the £100,000 adjusted net income maximum threshold. There are no current plans to change the income threshold for the working parent entitlement or Tax-Free Childcare. The government is committed to managing public finances in a responsible way by targeting support with childcare towards those who need it the most in order to work. These are the parents for whom childcare support makes a bigger difference to their ability to work, given that childcare costs make up a bigger proportion of their earnings. However, the universal 15 hours of free childcare offer remains in place for all parents of 3 and 4-year-olds, regardless of parental circumstances, including those who earn over £100,000. Parents can find out about the government-funded support they are eligible for via the Childcare Choices website: https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.

What steps his Department is taking to remove barriers to young people in the UK wishing to study and work in the EU.

The Government recognises the value to young people of the opportunity to experience different cultures and work or study elsewhere. UK nationals can travel visa-free to the EU, for example for short-term study, for up to 90 days in a rolling 180-day period. If travelling for the purposes of work, they may need permission from the relevant Member State.The Government introduced the Turing Scheme in 2021, which provides grants for students to study and work anywhere in the world, including Europe, supporting tens of thousands of UK students since its launch.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of First Generation Sustainable Aviation Fuels on the environment.

Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is one of the key measures required to decarbonise aviation. The SAF Mandate could deliver up to 6.3 million tonnes of carbon savings per year by 2040. The SAF Mandate encourages a diverse range of feedstocks and technologies. It also has strict sustainability criteria that SAF must meet to be eligible. SAF must be made from sustainable wastes or residues (such as used cooking oil or forestry residues), recycled carbon fuels (such as unrecyclable plastics), or power to liquid fuels made using low carbon (renewable or nuclear) electricity. This prevents negative environmental consequences such as the loss of biodiversity, deforestation and the clearance of land with high carbon stock (e.g. peatland) that could be associated with the cultivation of raw materials used in SAF production.

How many constituencies in London do not have a police station located within them.

The Home Office does not centrally collect data on the number or location of police stations.It is up to Chief Constables and directly elected Police and Crime Commissioners (or equivalents) to make decisions on local resourcing and estates, including police stations. They are best placed to make these decisions based on their local knowledge and experience.Police stations are just one of the ways people can access their local police services, including reporting online and by phone 24/7.

What the average police response times were to reported incidents in the SW13 postcode area in Barnes in each year since 2010.

The Home Office does not hold data centrally on police response time at a national or local level.Chief Constables are responsible for determining the allocation of resources for operational policing and managing their response times, in line with the priorities set out by their Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC).The Home Secretary set out in her announcement of major police reforms her intentions for a dedicated government unit to improve performance across policing and make our streets safer. This new unit will monitor performance, including police response times, a key issue for the public that is currently not consistently monitored and managed.

What the average waiting time was for ambulances in the SW13 postcode in each year since 2015.

The Department does not hold the information requested.NHS England publishes monthly official statistics for ambulance response times at a national level and at ambulance trust level. This information is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/ambulance-quality-indicators/In addition, since April 2023, information on ambulance response times to ‘Category 2’ incidents has been provided for each integrated care board (ICB) area.The following table shows the average Category 2 response time information available in minutes and seconds for NHS South West London ICB, which SW13 is within:2023/242024/25 to date (December 2024)32:2635:07Source: NHS England - https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/ambulance-quality-indicators/ambulance-management-information/

What recent assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the (a) benefit cap and (b) two-child limit on single parents.

Delivering our manifesto commitment to tackle child poverty is an urgent priority for this Government, and the Ministerial Taskforce is working to publish a Child Poverty Strategy which will deliver lasting change. The Strategy will look at all available levers across four key themes of increasing incomes, including considering social security reforms, reducing essential costs, increasing financial resilience; and better local support especially in the early years. This will build on the reform plans underway across Government and work underway in Devolved Governments.

How frequently deaf awareness training is provided to (a) decision-makers, (b) people in customer-facing roles and (c) other staff in her Department.

Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) is mandatory learning completed by all staff as part of their induction into the department and can then be revisited at any time. Within the learning there is a scenario-based activity around deaf awareness. In addition, all staff new to DWP complete customer service delivery learning which includes a module for deaf or hearing loss and the support DWP offers, including when and how to use interpreters for interviews. The learning explains the definition of disability under the Equality Act 2010 and how it relates to customers who are deaf or have hearing loss, which can also be revisited at any time.

Communities and Local Government, what information her Department holds on the number of people who were evicted from their properties in each year since 2015.

The Ministry of Justice publishes quarterly data on possession claim actions in the county court. It can be found on gov.uk here.The data includes the volumes of repossessions carried out by county court bailiffs in mortgage and landlord possession cases. It does not include cases where a tenant has left their property voluntarily following a notice for eviction.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 14 January 2025 to Question 21168 on Amazonia: Rainforests, if he will provide a breakdown of the funding to the Andes-Amazon Biodiverse Landscape Fund.

The UK funded Biodiverse Landscapes Fund supports developing countries to fight poverty, protect nature, and tackle climate change in six landscapes, spanning 18 countries. In the Andes Amazon landscape, covering parts of Ecuador and Peru, the £12.3 million funding will be targeted to deliver three aims including: strengthening Indigenous Peoples and local community organisations; developing bio-business value chains that drive nature-friendly economic growth; and improving the connectivity and quality of conserved areas. Implementation is through a consortium of international and national organisations led by the global development charity Practical Action, selected through a competitive bid exercise, working in partnerships with the Governments of Ecuador and Peru. It is not possible to give a full breakdown of funding per activity at this stage as this will change over the course of delivering the seven-year programme.

Communities and Local Government, how many single parents with more than two children have been evicted through a Section 21 notice in each year since 2015.

The Department does not hold granular data on Section 21 evictions, either year by year or by the demographics of those affected.However, the English Private Landlord Survey 2024 indicated that Section 21 notices are the most common way landlords evict tenants, and we know that chronic insecurity in the private rented sector has real-life consequences for individuals and families, including single parents.The Renters’ Rights Bill will deliver our manifesto commitment to transform the experience of private renting, including the long-delayed abolition of Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions. The Bill will give renters much greater security and stability so they can stay in their homes for longer, build lives in their communities, and avoid the risk of homelessness.

Communities and Local Government, how many single parents that have been evicted through a Section 21 notice in each year since 2015.

The Department does not hold granular data on Section 21 evictions, either year by year or by the demographics of those affected.However, the English Private Landlord Survey 2024 indicated that Section 21 notices are the most common way landlords evict tenants, and we know that chronic insecurity in the private rented sector has real-life consequences for individuals and families, including single parents.The Renters’ Rights Bill will deliver our manifesto commitment to transform the experience of private renting, including the long-delayed abolition of Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions. The Bill will give renters much greater security and stability so they can stay in their homes for longer, build lives in their communities, and avoid the risk of homelessness.

Communities and Local Government, how many Section 21 evictions have taken place in each year since 2015.

The Department does not hold granular data on Section 21 evictions, either year by year or by the demographics of those affected.However, the English Private Landlord Survey 2024 indicated that Section 21 notices are the most common way landlords evict tenants, and we know that chronic insecurity in the private rented sector has real-life consequences for individuals and families, including single parents.The Renters’ Rights Bill will deliver our manifesto commitment to transform the experience of private renting, including the long-delayed abolition of Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions. The Bill will give renters much greater security and stability so they can stay in their homes for longer, build lives in their communities, and avoid the risk of homelessness.

What progress his Department has made on the review to look at government wide reform at a local level led by the Parliamentary Secretary.

The Government is committed to reforming the state to deliver better public services which revolve around the needs of the users. At the heart of those reforms is a place-based approach. A significant programme of work is underway with departments, local authorities, leaders, frontline staff and others to strengthen and embed this way of working across government. The work underway includes the £100 million Public Service Reform and Innovation Fund, which will be deploying Test and Learns teams around the country over the next three years to design and test innovative solutions to our biggest public service challenges in partnership with local places – and ensuring that local learning informs national policy decisions. The Government will also use the significant opportunity presented by the Spending Review to reform our public services.

If he will make an estimate of the number of people living in London that have recorded (a) physical and (b) mental illnesses linked to noise pollution.

A specific estimate of the number of people living in London that have recorded physical and mental illnesses linked to noise pollution has not been completed.In 2023, the UK Health Security Agency published the findings from a new study that maps the effects of transport noise on health and wellbeing across England, including London. It was estimated that transport noise in London was responsible for the equivalent of thirty-six thousand healthy life years lost in disability in 2018. This includes effects from roads, railways, and air traffic. This work was based on methods developed by the World Health Organization, with further information available at the following link:https://ukhsa.blog.gov.uk/2023/06/29/noise-pollution-mapping-the-health-impacts-of-transportation-noise-in-england/

Which 100 wards in London are the furthest distance from a police station.

The Home Office does not hold centrally, and could only collate and verify it for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.It is up to Chief Constables and directly elected Police and Crime Commissioners to make decisions on local resourcing and estates, including police stations. They are best placed to make these decisions based on their local knowledge and experience.Police stations are just one of the ways people can access their local police services, including reporting online and by phone 24/7.

How much of the funding allocated for Pharmacy First has been spent as of 15 January 2025.

Funding for Pharmacy First is drawn from the additional pharmacy funding announced in January 2024, to cover activity delivered across the 2023/24 and 2024/25 financial years.The plan announced additional spend on blood pressure checks, contraception, and the introduction of seven clinical pathways for the supply of prescription only medicines where clinically appropriate.NHS England and the Department are carefully monitoring the spend on all three elements that make up the full Pharmacy First service, which include minor illness referrals, urgent medicine supply, and the seven new clinical pathways.Contractors can submit claims up to three months after delivering the activity. The Department therefore cannot provide the data requested.

Communities and Local Government, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to improve protections for homeowners facing damage to their homes from neighbouring buildings.

The Party Wall Act 1996 currently provides that a building owner carrying out work must not cause unnecessary inconvenience to adjoining owners. This is taken to mean inconvenience over and above that which will inevitably occur when such works are properly undertaken. The building owner must provide temporary protection for adjacent buildings and property where necessary. The building owner is responsible for making good any damage caused by the works or must make payment in lieu of making good if the adjoining owner requests it.His Majesty’s Government is committed to keeping the Party Wall Act under continuous review. No date or decision has been made to review the party wall act. If the act is reviewed it would require an open public consultation on any proposed legislative changes.

If he will have discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the potential merits of a youth mobility system between the United Kingdom and European Union.

The Government set out clear priorities for the reset with the EU in the manifesto. There are no plans for a Youth Mobility Scheme

What steps his Department is taking to help ensure the security of domestic elections from foreign interference.

Protecting the UK and our democratic processes from foreign interference is a priority for this Government and we have a number of mechanisms in place to do this. The National Security Act 2023 provides the security services and law enforcement agencies with the tools they need to deter, detect, and disrupt state threats. The Joint Election Security and Preparedness Unit (JESP) works between the Cabinet Office and the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) to coordinate election security and preparedness activity within government and externally. This includes working with the devolved administrations, local authorities and the Electoral Commission. The Government's Defending Democracy Taskforce, chaired by the Security Minister, is focused on safeguarding our democracy from the full range of threats including foreign interference. The Government has also committed to enhancing the safeguards against foreign funding of election campaigns and will be bringing forward proposals in due course.