Written questions by Logan.

Whether the Government plans to implement the recommendations of the report by the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights entitled Concluding observations on the seventh periodic report of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, published on 3 March 2025.

Relevant departments are currently considering the Committee’s concluding observations in detail. The Government will give written responses to three priority areas that the Committee has identified for specific follow-up by 2027. The Government will respond to the rest of the recommendations before the UK’s next reporting cycle starts in 2030.

Whether he plans to implement the recommendations of the report by the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights entitled Concluding observations on the seventh periodic report of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, published on 3 March 2025.

Relevant departments are currently considering the Committee’s concluding observations in detail. The Government will give written responses to three priority areas that the Committee has identified for specific follow-up by 2027. The Government will respond to the rest of the recommendations before the UK’s next reporting cycle starts in 2030.

When he plans to respond to the correspondence from the hon. Member for Aberdeenshire North and Moray East sent on 3 February and 24 March 2025, reference SL01756/dw.

I apologise for the delay in responding to the hon. Member’s correspondence about the oil and gas industry in Scotland, reference SL01756/dw. I issued a response to the hon. Member on 23 April.

Whether her Department has had discussions with the Scottish government's economy directorates on the staffing needs of the (a) hospitality and (b) tourism sector in the context of the skilled worker visa since 31 January 2020.

The Home Office and Ministers meet regularly with Scottish Government Ministers and officials to discuss all aspects of Home Office business, including immigration and our work linking skills and visa policy to ensure our immigration system works in the interests of the whole of the UK.

What discussions her Department has had with the Scottish Government's agriculture and rural economy directorates on the workforce needs of the (a) agriculture, (b) fishing and (c) rural economy sector and the skilled worker visa since 31 January 2020.

The Home Office and Ministers meet regularly with Scottish Government Ministers and officials to discuss all aspects of Home Office business, including immigration and our work linking skills and visa policy to ensure our immigration system works in the interests of the whole of the UK.

Whether her Department has had discussions with (a) NHS Scotland and (b) the Scottish Government's health and social care directorates on health and social care staffing needs in the context of the skilled worker visa since 31 January 2020.

The Home Office and Ministers meet regularly with Scottish Government Ministers and officials to discuss all aspects of Home Office business, including immigration and our work linking skills and visa policy to ensure our immigration system works in the interests of the whole of the UK.

What her Department's original budget for the Great Western Railway modernisation project was; how much her Department has spent since that project started; and what the estimated final cost is in (a) real and (b) current terms.

The Great Western Route Modernisation Programme was estimated to cost £2,967m at the time of the 2015 Business Case. The outturn cost for the Programme in 2021/22 was £3,863m.

What her Department's original budget for HS2 Phase 2 was; how much her Department has spent since that project started; and what the estimated final cost is in (a) real and (b) current terms.

The original funding envelopes (in 2015 prices) for Phase 2a was £3.72bn and £24.8bn for Phase 2b. Spend on the HS2 project can be found in the latest Parliamentary Report here , which is updated and published at regular intervals. The project currently reports estimated final costs in 2019 prices.

What his Department's original budget for the Ajax armoured fighting vehicle programme was; how much his Department has spent since that programme started; and what the estimated final cost is in (a) real and (b) current terms.

The Approved Budget Level (ABL) for the Armoured Cavalry (Ajax) Programme is £6.3 billion. This has not changed since 2015. As at 31 March 2025, spend against the Ajax programme is £5.0 billion. The estimated cost of the programme against this approval is £6.2 billion. The programme cost is estimated in real terms with inflation factored in.

What his Department's original budget for the construction of Hinkley Point C was; how much his Department has spent since that project started; and what the estimated final cost is in (a) real and (b) current terms.

Hinkley Point C is not a UK Government-funded project. The financing of Hinkley Point C is the responsibility of EDF (Électricité de France) and China General Nuclear Power Corporation (CGN). The latest update from EDF on costs of Hinkley Point C can be found here (on page 29): https://www.edf.fr/sites/groupe/files/2025-03/annual-results-edf-2024-presentation-2025-03-07.pdf

What her Department's original budget for the Emergency Services Network programme was; how much her Department has spent since that programme started; and what the estimated final cost is in (a) real and (b) current terms.

In July 2021 the Emergency Services Network (ESN) Full Business case was approved by HM Treasury with a whole life cost of £11.3bn through to 2036/37.In October 2024, HM Treasury approved an updated version of the business case which reflected a change in planning assumptions and timescales through to 2043/44 with a revised whole life cost of £19.2bn.For the period 2015/16 to 31 March 2024, ESN has spent £5.5bn.The estimated future cost to be spent by 2043/44 is £9.5bn (real), or £13.7bn (current).In December 2024, the Home Office procured a new supplier for mobile radio and data services and intends to release a revised Full Business Case in Autumn 2025, which will set out a new timetable and costs, taking into account the impact of the recent procurement activity and the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) Charge Control.The Home Office’s priority is to deliver ESN as swiftly as possible and Airwave will be shut down only when it is safe to do so.The Programme is under regular review by the IPA, NAO and engages regularly with PAC and HASC.

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of amending his target for reducing household energy bills in the context of recent increases in energy prices.

The Government believes that our mission to deliver clean power by 2030 is the best way to break our dependence on global fossil fuel markets and protect billpayers permanently. The creation of Great British Energy will help us to harness clean energy and have less reliance on volatile international energy markets and help in our commitment to make Britain a clean energy superpower by 2030. This, combined with our Warm Homes Plan to upgrade millions of homes to make them warmer and cheaper to run is how we will drive down energy bills and make cold homes a thing of the past. We recognise that we need to support households struggling with bills whilst we transition to clean power by 2030. This is why we are delivering the Warm Home Discount to around 3 million eligible low-income households this winter. We have recently consulted on the expansion of the Warm Home Discount, giving more eligible households £150 off their energy bills. These proposals would bring around 2.7 million households into the scheme – pushing the total number of households that would receive the discount next winter up to around 6 million. The Government is considering the responses. I have been clear with suppliers that they should do all that they can to support their customers – including vulnerable consumers – who may be struggling with their bills. The Government is continuing to work with Ofgem and energy suppliers to ensure energy bills remain fair and affordable while we transition to clean power by 2030.

What survey data his Department (a) has commissioned and (b) holds since July 2024 on regional averages for when different areas turn on their heating systems in Great Britain.

The Department does not hold data on when different areas turn on their heating systems. Statistics on regional gas demand are published annually in Subnational gas consumption data. UK level monthly domestic gas demand is also published in Energy Trends table 4.2.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of proposed reforms to the personal independence payment on the employment (a) rights of and (b) obligations of employers to disabled employees.

PIP is a non-means tested benefit that can be paid to those in or out of work, it therefore does not directly link with employment rights.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of proposed reductions in the welfare budget on local government services.

No assessment has been made.A further programme of analysis to support development of the proposals in the Green Paper will be developed and undertaken in the coming months.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of proposed reforms to the personal independence payment on children living in families in receipt of that benefit.

The publication ‘Spring Statement 2025 health and disability benefit reforms – Impacts’ provides some information on the numbers affected by the proposed changes to the disability benefits system. In particular, table B2 on page 12 shows the estimated impact of the benefit change alone on the proportion of children living in poverty. More information on the impacts of the Pathways to Work Green Paper will be published shortly. A further programme of analysis to support development of the proposals in the Green Paper will be developed and undertaken in the coming months.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of proposed reforms to the personal independence payment on the NHS.

As part of the mission led government, regular cross government collaboration takes place at both Ministerial and official level. DWP will work across Government, including with the Department for Health and Social Care, to address any impacts caused by reforms made to the Social Security system.

What steps her Department is taking to ensure that the new guidance on the good character requirement for British citizenship complies with the UK’s obligations under Article 31 of the 1951 Refugee Convention.

We take our international obligations very seriously, including those under the Refugee Convention 1951. The good character policy is compliant with those obligations.Each citizenship application will continue to be considered on a case-by-case basis considering all positive and negative factors. The Secretary of State may choose to apply discretion to grant citizenship on an exceptional basis where there are particularly exceptional, compelling, or mitigating circumstances.

If he will hold discussions with the Secretary of State for Business and Trade on the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to amend the Trade Act 2021 to prevent future international trade agreements from including provisions relating to the operation of the NHS.

The Government’s policy position is to protect the National Health Service and the services it provides in trade agreements. The Department of Health and Social Care will continue to work closely with the Department for Business and Trade to defend this position in all trade policy and trade agreement considerations.

Whether her Department has targets for the time taken to process Attendance Allowance.

The Actual Average Clearance Time for Attendance Allowance claims for January 2025 was 23 working days. There is a quick application process for people who have been diagnosed with a terminal illness and aren't expected to live more than 12 months. These claims are fast tracked. Attendance Allowance is currently undergoing a significant modernisation reform through the piloting of an on-line digital claim process as a part of the department’s wider Service Modernisation plans. Please note, the Average Actual Clearance Time figures shown is unpublished management information, collected and intended for internal departmental use and has not been quality assured to National Statistics or Official Statistics publication standard. It is rounded to the nearest working day.