Written questions by Berry.

Whether her Department plans to allocate a proportion of support from the Revenue Support Mechanism to power-to-liquid fuel projects.

We recognise the importance of Revenue Certainty Mechanism (RCM) contracts supporting a range of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production technologies. Power-to-liquid (PtL) SAF projects present significant opportunities for Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions reductions compared to fossil jet fuel, and this, along with other factors such as the cost of production for PtL SAF projects in the UK, is being considered as we design our approach to allocating RCM contracts. The Department will consult with industry in due course to gather stakeholder views on the approach to allocating RCM contracts.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of permitting crop-based biofuels to be eligible under the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Mandate on (a) the environment and (b) food security.

In August 2025 the Secretary of State for Transport confirmed that a call for evidence on the eligibility of crops in the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Mandate would be published by the end of this year. This followed a call for evidence on the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO).Crops encompass a variety of feedstocks with different impacts. It is right that we gather up-to-date evidence and information on emerging developments, including on the sustainability risks associated with crop-based Sustainable Aviation Fuel and how regulation could mitigate these risks.The call for evidence does not propose any changes to the SAF Mandate nor does it signal the future direction of the SAF Mandate; it is intended to support assessment of the potential impacts, including on the environment and food security, of crop-based biofuels by the Department for Transport.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to section 21A of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, if he will issue guidance to local authorities on the timeframe within which the responsible person should give residents of domestic premises (a) comprehensible and (b) relevant information about the risks to residents identified by risk assessments of their housing stock.

Article 21A of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 makes clear that whenever there has been a fire risk assessment in a multi-occupied residential building, the risks identified in the assessment must be communicated to residents as well as the measures being taken to address these risks. This requirement is also the case whenever the fire risk assessment is updated. In guidance we publish on these requirements, titled Check your fire safety responsibilities under Section 156 of the Building Safety Act 2022, we advise that those responsible for fire safety communicate this information alongside the instructions to residents on what to do in the event of a fire which is an annual requirement. This advice is repeated in guidance on blocks of flats. There is a regulatory making power to mandate the frequency of this information, and we will continue to monitor the effectiveness of the legislation to identify if such a mandate is necessary, but the important information should already be communicated to residents under the existing provision.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 17 February 2025 to Question 29795 on Moorland and Peatlands: Controlled Burning, whether she expects the new Heather and Grass Management Code to be implemented before the start of the heather burning season on 1 October 2025.

The Heather and Grass Management Code was published on 30th September 2025. The link can be found here: Heather and Grass Management Code - GOV.UK

What policies his Department is developing to ensure that (a) heavy-duty vehicle depots and (b) bus depots can access timely electricity grid connections.

The National Energy System Operator (NESO) is implementing fundamental reforms to the connections process that will free up capacity and accelerate connections, including for heavy-duty vehicle and bus depots. Alongside this, we encourage transport stakeholders to engage with NESO to ensure that the regional energy strategic plans that will inform future investment in grid capacity reflect their future electricity requirements. However, we recognise that further action is needed, which is why we announced plans in the Industrial Strategy to use new legal powers to accelerate grid connection timelines for the most strategically important demand customers.

What discussions she has had with Police and Crime Commissioners on the impact of the proscription of Palestine Action on police (a) budgets and (b) operations.

Policing is operationally independent and decisions as to spending will be taken by Chief Constables and PCCs at a local level. The Home Office does not hold figures on the cost to the public purse of specific protests or enforcement of specific laws.The decision to proscribe Palestine Action was taken following an escalating campaign by the organisation involving not just sustained criminal damage, including to Britain’s national security infrastructure, but also intimidation, alleged violence and serious injuries to individuals.It is a criminal offence to express support for a proscribed organisation. This Government has been and will continue to be clear about the importance of upholding the rule of law

If he will hold discussions with the British Association of Clinicians in ME/CFS (BACME) on the geographical availability of regional specialist services for ME/CFS; and if he will undertake a mapping exercise to list the areas that (a) are and (b) are not covered.

A stocktake of long COVID and myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), services was concluded by NHS England in December 2024. Although not all integrated care boards responded to the survey, the stocktake did show variation in models across England. Departmental officials will continue to work with the British Association of Clinicians in ME/CFS on the implementation of the final ME/CFS delivery plan, which was published in July.

Media and Sport, whether she has had discussions with the BBC Board on calls for the UK to withdraw from Eurovision coverage if the Israeli state broadcaster participates.

The BBC is operationally and editorially independent from the Government. Therefore, the Government cannot intervene in the BBC’s day-to-day operations including on editorial matters.Decisions on who to include in international events and competitions are for the organisers to take, within the framework of their own rules and regulations. It is for the EBU, in consultation with its members, to decide which countries are allowed to participate in Eurovision.

Pursuant to the Answer of 2 June 2025 to Question 904439 on Protest, what her Department's planned timetable is for considering the Court of Appeal judgment in relation to Serious Disruption Regulations.

The Government has accepted the Court of Appeal’s judgment, which upheld the quashing of the Serious Disruption Regulations. The Home Office is currently reviewing the implications of the judgment and will set out any further action in due course.

What the cost to the public purse was of the policing of the law that proscribes Palestine Action on 6 September 2025 in London.

Policing is operationally independent and decisions as to spending will be taken by Chief Constables and PCCs at a local level. The Home Office does not hold figures on the cost to the public purse of specific protests or enforcement of specific laws.The decision to proscribe Palestine Action was taken following an escalating campaign by the organisation involving not just sustained criminal damage, including to Britain’s national security infrastructure, but also intimidation, alleged violence and serious injuries to individuals.It is a criminal offence to express support for a proscribed organisation. This Government has been and will continue to be clear about the importance of upholding the rule of law

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what meetings took place between staff at the British embassies, consulates or High Commissions in (a) Houston, (b) Mauritania, (c) Senegal, (d) Trinidad, (e) Cairo, (f) Alexandria and (g) Baku with any staff or board members of (i) Shell and (ii) BP between 5 July 2024 and 19 August 2025.

Staff at British embassies, high commissions and consulates regularly engage with a wide range of companies, including those in the energy sector, in support of the UK's foreign policy, trade and investment and energy transition objectives overseas. Information on specific meetings is not held centrally.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has made a recent assessment of the potential merits of increasing the powers of local authorities to (a) monitor and (b) take steps to help tackle (i) air pollution and (ii) health issues caused by heather burning for grouse shooting during the burning season.

Local authorities are responsible for monitoring and assessing air quality within their areas and have powers to act when exceedances of air quality objectives are identified. As a result of the recent amendments to the Heather and Grass etc. Burning (England) Regulations 2021, any burning on peat deeper than 30cm in Less Favoured Areas is prohibited except under licence. The promotion of alternative land management methods, in place of unnecessary burning will reduce the harmful smoke emissions that impact our communities.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of his proposals to make Integrated Care Boards strategic commissioners of local health services on (a) the level of fertility services and (b) access to fertility services for LGBTQ+ people.

The Government recognises that fertility treatment across the National Health Service in England is subject to variation in access. In light of broader pressures on the NHS and ongoing changes within NHS England, we have been looking again at achievable ambitions to improve access to fertility services and fairness for all affected couples.Work continues between the Department and NHS England to better understand the offer around NHS-funded fertility services including the issues for LGBTQ people.Funding decisions for health services in England are made by integrated care boards (ICBs) and are based on the clinical needs of their population. We expect ICBs to commission fertility services in line with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines ensuring equal access to fertility treatment across England.NICE is currently reviewing the fertility guidelines and will consider whether the current recommendations for access to NHS-funded treatment are still appropriate. A consultation on revised guidelines was published on 10 September, which is available at the following link:https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/indevelopment/gid-ng10263/consultation/html-content-2

How many Access to Work applications are outstanding; and what steps he is taking to reduce the backlog of applications.

There are currently 62,000 applications outstanding. We recognise the importance of reducing waiting times, which is why we have increased the number of staff working in this area by 27% in the last financial year.

When he expects NICE to complete its review into guideline on the management of fertility problems.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is consulting on its updated draft guideline on Fertility problems: assessment and treatment. The consultation closes on 21 October 2025.NICE currently expects to publish its final updated recommendations on 19 March 2026. Further information is available at the following link:https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/indevelopment/gid-ng10263

Whether he has had discussions with NHS Sussex Integrated Care Board on the reduction of the number of IVF cycles offered.

The Government recognises that fertility treatment across the National Health Service in England is subject to variation in access. Work continues between the Department and NHS England to better understand the offer around NHS-funded fertility services.Funding decisions for health services in England are made by integrated care boards (ICBs) and are based on the clinical needs of their population. We expect ICBs to commission fertility services in line with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines, ensuring equal access to fertility treatment across England.NICE is currently reviewing the fertility guidelines and will consider whether the current recommendations for access to NHS-funded treatment are still appropriate. A consultation on the revised guidelines was published on 10 September 2025, and is available at the following link:https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/indevelopment/gid-ng10263/consultation/html-content-2In light of broader pressures on the NHS and ongoing changes within NHS England, we have been looking again at achievable ambitions to improve access to fertility services and fairness for all affected couples.

If he will make it his policy to give the same protections to people awaiting migration from the Disability Living Allowance to the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) provided to existing PIP claimants during his review of the PIP system.

The Timms Review will be co-produced with disabled people, the organisations that represent them, carers, clinicians, experts, parliamentarians and other stakeholders to ensure a wide range of views and voices are heard. Given that the review will be co-produced it will be for the chairs and the steering group to set out its recommendations to Government. The Government will consider these recommendations, including any relating to the protections set out in the question once the review has completed.

If she will publish guidance to Hon. Members on how students in Gaza who are eligible for support to come to the UK can access this support; and if she will provide a dedicated communication pathway for Hon. Members to find out whether an eligible student is on the list of those to be provided with that help.

I refer the Honourable Member to the Home Secretary’s oral statement to the House on 1 September 2025 on strengthening border security and reforms to the asylum system. Further details will be set out in due course.Members can continue to contact the Home Office via Ministers and the Direct Communications Unit. Further detail can be found on the Home Office GOV.UK website.

How many full-time equivalent staff are working on responding to the Managing Pavement Parking consultation.

My Department currently has a 0.6 full-time equivalent (FTE) policy lead working on pavement parking. This individual is supported by officials from various Civil Service professions across the Department, including analysts and lawyers, who provide occasional support as necessary as part of their jobs. The timing of the consultation response publication is not dependent on resource, but rather on ensuring the policy decision is correct. A policy announcement is expected imminently and plans are in place to resource the work necessary after an announcement.

With reference to her oral evidence to the House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee on 22 July 2025, on what evidential basis the country has cared more about bats than about commuter times for people in Leeds and West Yorkshire.

In the past, our planning system has acted as a brake on growth, with consenting times for major infrastructure taking far too long and costing too much money. Environmental and planning compliance has meant projects like HS2 have suffered excessive costs and delays as referenced by James Stewart’s review of the problems in that programme and the approach to governance and assurance of major transport projects. This has damaged investment in the UK, costing us jobs and economic growth. That’s why we are committed to creating a planning system that is an enabler of growth; delivering both the high-quality housing and critical infrastructure that communities need. We are reforming the National Planning Policy Framework and are taking a new growth-focused approach to the planning system with major reforms in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. The new Nature Restoration Fund will enable developers to meet their environment obligations quicker without compromising on environmental improvement.