Written questions by Morrison.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the time taken to obtain national passports on the access by refugees to regulated professions; and what steps she plans to take to ensure that refugees with the right to work can access roles for which they are qualified.

Refugees do not automatically hold British nationality. Instead, they are typically granted refugee status or humanitarian protection, which allows them to live and work in the UK but does not confer British citizenship.Refugees are not required to hold a British passport in order to work in the UK. Identity checks, including those for regulated professions, can be satisfied using alternative documentation such as a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP).Where international travel is required for work purposes, refugees may apply for a Refugee Travel Document rather than a national passport.

What steps her Department plans to take to ensure that refugees who cannot return to their home country are not left without a viable long-term immigration route as a result of changes to settlement policy.

This Government has never operated a policy of automatic settlement for refugees granted limited permission to remain. We will carefully manage the transition into the new system, with the details remaining subject to ongoing policy development.All settlement applications will continue to be carefully considered on their individual merits and this includes assessing whether there have been significant changes in country conditions or personal circumstances, which means that an individual no longer needs our protection.We will not remove anyone to their own or any other country where they have a well-founded fear or persecution or are at risk of serious harm.

What evidence is required for a former textile worker to demonstrate eligibility for Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit where (a) exposure occurred several decades ago and (b) the employer has since ceased trading.

Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) may be payable to individuals who become disabled because of an accident at work or develop an illness because of their job. Accidents and diseases arising from self-employment are excluded.There are several prescribed diseases that may apply to former textile workers depending on individual circumstances.Eligibility is assessed in line with relevant legislation and requires:evidence of employment as an employed earnerdetails of exposure to a relevant occupational hazard, andevidence of a loss of faculty persisting past the 90th dayThe Department may arrange a medical assessment, where necessary, to establish the extent of disablement.Where exposure occurred many years ago, evidence may include historical employment records, National Insurance records, HMRC employment data, personal statements describing the nature of the work, and corroborative evidence from former colleagues or industry sources.The fact that an employer has ceased trading does not affect eligibility for IIDB, as the benefit is paid by the Department rather than an employer.

Whether the Winter Fuel Allowance reforms include any safeguards for pensioners who have recently been widowed and whose household income has significantly reduced.

Winter Fuel Payments remain a simple scheme which provides a payment to the majority of pensioners quickly and automatically, as a contribution towards heating costs in winter - and around 9 million pensioners will benefit this winter. Pensioners who experience a significant reduction in their household income may become eligible for much more significant financial support such as Pension Credit or Housing Benefit.

What steps the Department is taking to address potential unintended consequences of the new Winter Fuel Allowance criteria that result in single pensioners with lower incomes being excluded from support given to higher-income couples.

Winter Fuel Payments remain a simple scheme to provide a payment to the majority of pensioners quickly and automatically, as a contribution to heating costs in winter. The personal tax system operates on an individual basis and, as such, any individual with an income of more than £35,000 will have their Winter Fuel Payment recovered. This means that the vast majority of pensioners will now benefit from a Winter Fuel Payment.

Whether any lung or respiratory conditions linked to exposure to jute or textile fibres are currently prescribed diseases for the purposes of Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit.

The Department keeps the list of prescribed diseases under review for the purposes of entitlement to Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit. There are several prescribed diseases that may apply to lung or respiratory conditions depending on individual circumstances and the nature of occupational exposure, including work involving certain textile fibres. Eligibility is assessed on a case-by-case basis in line with the relevant regulations.

What processes are in place for families to seek remedial action against GPs who fail to correctly diagnose patients who shortly afterwards pass away.

If a family wishes to make a formal complaint about services provided by a general practice, they should write to the practice manager. If the family is not comfortable raising a complaint directly, they can instead raise their concerns with their local National Health Service integrated care board, with NHS England or with their local Healthwatch, the independent consumer champion for health and social care. Further information about the NHS complaints procedure and Healthwatch can be found, respectively, at the following two links:www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/about-the-nhs/how-to-complain-to-the-nhswww.healthwatch.co.uk

What procedures are in place to ensure that savings thresholds in relation to care costs are communicated to the public at both local and national level.

The Department undertakes an annual review of the capital limits and the social care allowances within the adult social care charging system.The capital limits determine eligibility for means-tested local authority support with care costs, and the social care allowance rates set the statutory minimum income that individuals must retain after charging.To communicate the rates for the upcoming financial year, 2026/27, the Department will publish a Local Authority Circular on the GOV.UK website, in early 2026. Local authorities should reflect these updates in their publicly available charging policies, ensuring consistent communication at both a local and national level.

What steps are being taken to help ensure that international medical students and trainees working in UK health services are protected from racial discrimination and workplace hostility.

Any form of racism or discrimination is unacceptable and has no place in our National Health Service.The NHS Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Improvement Plan, published in 2023, recognises that we benefit from the skills, expertise, and commitment of internationally recruited healthcare professionals and highlights the important role that NHS organisations have to play in making staff feel welcomed and valued at the start of their career. NHS organisations are expected to review their data by protected characteristics on bullying, harassment, discrimination, and violence and make plans to improve staff experience year on year.Additionally, as set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, we will introduce a new set of staff standards for modern employment which will include tackling racism and reducing violence against staff. The standards will be underpinned by the NHS Oversight Framework and the Care Quality Commission assessment framework.

Whether he will have discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the potential merits of extending the Civility Saves Lives initiative to other public-facing services, including Jobcentre Plus and local authority housing departments.

The Civility Saves Lives initiative highlights the importance of behaviours in the workplace and the impact that rudeness can have on performance, wellbeing, and patient safety. It is a movement created by healthcare professionals, rather than a national initiative developed and rolled out by the Department or NHS England.There are currently no plans to discuss the initiative with colleagues in other Government departments.

Whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of target-driven GP contracts on the quality of care and doctor-patient relationships.

The GP Contract sees practices receive funding through a range of income streams.The Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) is an optional pay-for-performance scheme that makes up approximately 10% of overall practice income. The indicators and thresholds included in the QOF are developed in accordance with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines, underpinned by a robust evidence base. Thresholds are designed to be attainable, while encouraging and incentivising practices to provide the best possible care. Thresholds are aspirational rather than a contractual obligation.As part of our recently published Medium-Term Planning Framework, we have introduced a new and ambitious target to ensure all urgent appointments are provided on the same day, so that patients requiring urgent care are prioritised. The Department continues to engage with general practitioners broadly to ensure the targets are achievable, reflect the needs of the populations they serve, and to understand barriers to meeting this target.

What assessment she has made of the levels of mental health issues among (a) parents and (b) young fathers during family court proceedings.

We recognise the impact that family court proceedings can have on parents, particularly victims of domestic abuse, and are committed to long-term reform of the family court to better support users.The family court has a range of powers to support and protect victims, including prohibiting in-person cross examination of survivors by alleged abusers and automatically providing special measures, such as the ability to provide evidence behind a screen.We have redesigned the information and guidance for separating families on GOV.UK, making it more user-friendly through extensive user-tested changes. We are also testing a triage tool which will support users to access information specific to their personal circumstances, alongside signposting to relevant support and advice services.Legal aid is available for parents in certain public and private family law matters subject to the relevant means and merits tests. Beyond legal aid, over £6 million will be provided in 2025–26 to 60 organisations, including Citizens Advice, Law Centres and AdviceNow, to expand free legal information and early support. The Help with Fees scheme ensures that court fees do not prevent parents accessing proceedings.The Government has not carried out a specific assessment of the levels of mental health issues among parents and young fathers during family court proceedings. However, the Government is aware of the impact involvement in family court proceedings can have on the mental health of both the parents and children involved. and encourages those affected to seek appropriate support from local NHS and voluntary services.In addition, the charity Support Through Court offers practical, procedural and emotional support to all parents facing court without legal representation. It operates across England and Wales and also offers a national helpline.

What assessment has she made of the accessibility and quality of support for both parents during family court proceedings.

We recognise the impact that family court proceedings can have on parents, particularly victims of domestic abuse, and are committed to long-term reform of the family court to better support users.The family court has a range of powers to support and protect victims, including prohibiting in-person cross examination of survivors by alleged abusers and automatically providing special measures, such as the ability to provide evidence behind a screen.We have redesigned the information and guidance for separating families on GOV.UK, making it more user-friendly through extensive user-tested changes. We are also testing a triage tool which will support users to access information specific to their personal circumstances, alongside signposting to relevant support and advice services.Legal aid is available for parents in certain public and private family law matters subject to the relevant means and merits tests. Beyond legal aid, over £6 million will be provided in 2025–26 to 60 organisations, including Citizens Advice, Law Centres and AdviceNow, to expand free legal information and early support. The Help with Fees scheme ensures that court fees do not prevent parents accessing proceedings.The Government has not carried out a specific assessment of the levels of mental health issues among parents and young fathers during family court proceedings. However, the Government is aware of the impact involvement in family court proceedings can have on the mental health of both the parents and children involved. and encourages those affected to seek appropriate support from local NHS and voluntary services.In addition, the charity Support Through Court offers practical, procedural and emotional support to all parents facing court without legal representation. It operates across England and Wales and also offers a national helpline.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of defunding the BTEC Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care on the future health and social care workforce pipeline.

In October, the department published a consultation which detailed our plans to introduce V Levels, which will offer a vocational alternative to A levels and T Levels. We have proposed a range of subjects for delivery through V Levels, including Health and Care Services.For students looking for a career in health, we would expect students to take the Health T Level. Young people with a range of prior attainment are accessing T Levels. The GCSE grade split for students receiving T Level results is very similar to those receiving results for Applied General Qualifications.To ensure students can continue to access high quality qualifications in social care, we introduced a large Technical Occupation Qualification in Social Care (1080 GLH), which will be available for first teach from 1 August 2026. We are also exploring whether a T Level in Social Care could be viable in future.

What steps are being taken to reduce reliance on digital consultations and ensure equitable access to in-person appointments, particularly for those with mental health conditions or language barriers.

National Health Service organisations must ensure that all patients have equitable access to care, and that decisions or policies do not unfairly disadvantage people or lead to an increase in inequalities. All NHS organisations are legally obliged to not discriminate against patients or staff. This means that a non-digital solution should be available for those patients who cannot or do not wish to engage digitally, including those with mental health conditions or language barriers. These non-digital routes must be available for all services provided by NHS organisations.

If she will publish a timetable for the introduction of V Levels and the overlap period with existing qualifications, including BTECs, to allow schools and colleges to plan effectively.

The department is currently consulting with the sector on the introduction of V Levels, including transitional arrangements to achieve the qualifications landscape set out in the Post-16 Skills White Paper. We will confirm the expected implementation timetable in due course.The first V Level subjects are planned for teaching in 2027, with further batches of qualifications planned between then and by the 2030/31 academic year.

If she will extend funding for BTEC Extended Diplomas until the full rollout of V Levels to prevent a gap in post-16 qualification options.

The department is currently consulting with the sector on the introduction of V Levels, including transitional arrangements to achieve the qualifications landscape set out in the Post-16 Skills White Paper. We will confirm the expected implementation timetable in due course.The first V Level subjects are planned for teaching in 2027, with further batches of qualifications planned between then and by the 2030/31 academic year.

What evidence her Department used to determine that the BTEC Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care should no longer be funded; and whether she will publish that analysis.

In October, the department published a consultation which detailed our plans to introduce V Levels, which will offer a vocational alternative to A levels and T Levels. We have proposed a range of subjects for delivery through V Levels, including Health and Care Services.For students looking for a career in health, we would expect students to take the Health T Level. Young people with a range of prior attainment are accessing T Levels. The GCSE grade split for students receiving T Level results is very similar to those receiving results for Applied General Qualifications.To ensure students can continue to access high quality qualifications in social care, we introduced a large Technical Occupation Qualification in Social Care (1080 GLH), which will be available for first teach from 1 August 2026. We are also exploring whether a T Level in Social Care could be viable in future.

Innovation and Technology, how much funding her Department plans to provide to help improve IT skills in the next 12 months.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology will spend up to £42m across the 2026/27 financial year and £187 million over the next four years delivering the TechFirst programme. As announced by the Prime Minister in June 2025, TechFirst is designed to strengthen the UK’s domestic tech talent pipeline by improving the IT and digital skills of children in secondary schools, as well as undergraduate, masters, and PhD students. The TechFirst programme also includes a grant fund to help skilled individuals into work.

What assessment her Department has made of the impact of removing the BTEC Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care on students who do not meet the entry requirements for A Levels or T Levels.

In October, the department published a consultation which detailed our plans to introduce V Levels, which will offer a vocational alternative to A levels and T Levels. We have proposed a range of subjects for delivery through V Levels, including Health and Care Services.For students looking for a career in health, we would expect students to take the Health T Level. Young people with a range of prior attainment are accessing T Levels. The GCSE grade split for students receiving T Level results is very similar to those receiving results for Applied General Qualifications.To ensure students can continue to access high quality qualifications in social care, we introduced a large Technical Occupation Qualification in Social Care (1080 GLH), which will be available for first teach from 1 August 2026. We are also exploring whether a T Level in Social Care could be viable in future.