Written questions by Morrison.

Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to increase social housing supply.

I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 2 July 2025 (HCWS771).

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of providing additional support to people on waiting lists for an ADHD diagnosis who show clear symptoms.

It is the responsibility of integrated care boards (ICBs) to make available appropriate provision to meet the health and care needs of their local population, including assessments and support for people suspected or confirmed as having attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).Lord Darzi’s independent review of the National Health Service, published September 2024, highlighted that the demand for assessments for ADHD has grown significantly in recent years and that there are severe delays for accessing ADHD assessments.The independent ADHD taskforce, commissioned by NHS England to consider these issues and how to address them, recently published its interim report. The report recommends the need for timely access to needs-based support, including practical help for people showing signs of ADHD, such as coaching, classroom tools, and parenting advice. The taskforce's final report is expected to be published later this year, and we will carefully consider its recommendations.The Government is also supporting earlier intervention for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) through the Early Language Support for Every Child and the Partnerships for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools programmes. The Government will be investing in support for pupils with SEND more widely, enabling transformation of the SEND system to make mainstream schools more inclusive and to improve outcomes.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of decreases in levels of spending welfare on the capacity of the Household Support Fund.

Social security spending is forecast to increase. We are providing £742 million in England to extend the Household Support Fund (HSF) by a further year, from 1 April 2025 until 31 March 2026. And we secured the first ever multi-year settlement for the HSF – now the Crisis & Resistance Fund - until 2029 to give councils certainty over funding. This will ensure vulnerable households in the most need can continue to access support towards the cost of essentials, such as energy, water and food. We have shared guidance and documentation ahead of the launch of the scheme, arranged and facilitated a series of Delivery Plan Drop-in and LA Knowledge Share sessions, to support LAs with completing Delivery Plans and with planning for the new scheme. No further assessment has been made.

What steps her Department is taking with local authorities to support the integration of refugees that have been granted leave to remain.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave on 26 June to Question 61436.

What steps his Department is taking to help reduce wait times for (a) assessment and (b) diagnosis of ADHD in Greater Manchester.

NHS England has established an attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) taskforce which is bringing together those with lived experience with experts from the National Health Service, education, charity, and justice sectors to get a better understanding of the challenges affecting those with ADHD, including in accessing services and support. An interim report was published on 20 June 2025, with the final report expected to be published later in the year.For the first time, NHS England published management information on ADHD waits at a national level on 29 May 2025 as part of its ADHD data improvement plan. NHS England has also released technical guidance to integrated care boards (ICBs) to improve the recording of ADHD data, with a view to improving the quality of ADHD waits data and publishing more localised data in future. NHS England has also captured examples from ICBs who are trialling innovative ways of delivering ADHD services and is using this information to support systems to tackle ADHD waiting lists and provide support to address people’s needs.The Greater Manchester ICB has recently conducted reviews of both children and young people’s and adult ADHD pathways. The ICB has been working with people with lived experience and has developed new service models which aim to provide earlier, fairer, and more effective ADHD support locally. The ICB expects to begin implementing these pathway changes in the coming months.

What steps his Department is taking to help ensure that there is a wide range of customisations available to patients at all providers when procuring prosthetic eyes through the National Artificial Eye Service.

Integrated care boards are responsible for commissioning artificial eye services. The National Artificial Eye Service supplies one artificial eye free of charge. Customised bespoke artificial eyes can be provided to patients at the time of the supply of a National Health Service prosthesis at a small cost. Further information, including examples of customisations provided to patients, can be found on the National Artificial Eye Service website, at the following link:https://www.naes.nhs.uk/custom-eyes

Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to help protect intellectual property rights in the training of AI models.

The Government recently consulted on the use of copyright material in AI model development.The Government is currently analysing responses to that consultation, to help inform policy development. The Government will continue to engage extensively on this issue and proposals will be set out in due course.We have committed to report on progress to Parliament by December.

What steps her Department is taking to review the financial support available to carers whose role ends due to the death of a disabled adult child; and if she will introduce (a) a bereavement payment or (b) extended support for long-term carers in such circumstances.

Entitlement to Carer's Allowance in England and Wales can continue for up to eight weeks following the death of the disabled person who was being cared for. If the carer is in receipt of Universal Credit, entitlement continues for the next two full monthly assessment periods following the assessment period in which the Disabled Person dies (a maximum of 13 weeks). These run-on periods support carers who have recently been bereaved by giving them some time to adapt to their new circumstances. Within DWP there are a range of employment support programmes available to people who are or have been providing care. Support offered can include access to skills provision, referral to Restart careers advice, job search support, volunteering opportunities and access to the Flexible Support Fund to aid job entry.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his counterpart in Israel on hostages in Gaza.

Since day one, this Government has been clear that we need to see an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages cruelly detained by Hamas, better protection of civilians, significantly more aid consistently entering Gaza, and a path to long-term peace and stability. The remaining hostages must be released and the only way to return them safely is through a deal. The UK is playing an active role in coordination with our international partners and continue to urge all parties to re-engage in ceasefire negotiations to get the hostages out and to secure a permanent end to the conflict. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Ministers continue to regularly engage their Israeli counterparts on this issue.

What discussions her Department has had on the potential impact of its forthcoming legislation on umbrella companies which engage temporary staff with the (a) NHS, (b) construction sector and (c) healthcare sector.

The government is introducing legislation to close the tax gap by making recruitment agencies that use umbrella companies legally responsible for accounting for PAYE on workers’ pay. This measure is expected to protect around £2.8 billion of tax revenue from being lost to umbrella company non-compliance across the scorecard period to 2029-30. In relation to this measure, officials have engaged extensively with the representatives of the recruitment industry that provide temporary workers to these sectors and will continue to do so. The government will set out full details of how this measure will operate, alongside draft legislation, later this year. As well as a consultation period, the government will support businesses as they prepare for the implementation of this measure by engaging with stakeholders before legislation is introduced into Parliament and publishing technical guidance for businesses that will be affected by it.

What assessment she has made of the adequacy of the Council Tax banding appeals process conducted by the Valuation Office Agency.

The Council Tax banding appeals process is governed by the statutory requirements set out in the Local Government Finance Act 1992 and secondary legislation. In England, primarily the Council Tax (Alteration of Lists and Appeals) (England) Regulations 2009 and the Valuation Tribunal for England (Council Tax and Rating Appeals) (Procedure) Regulations 2009. In Wales, primarily the Council Tax (Alteration of Lists and Appeals) Regulations 1993 and the Valuation Tribunal for Wales Regulations 2010. Responsibility for administering the appeals process sits with the Valuation Tribunal for England and the Valuation Tribunal for Wales.

Whether the Government has provided any funding for the UAV Tactical Systems joint venture between Thales UK and Elbit.

The Ministry of Defence has not provided any funding direct to UAV Tactical Systems Limited - it is a sub-contractor to Thales.

How many education, health and care plans have been withdrawn for children in (a) mainstream and (b) SEN schools in each of the last five years.

There were 3,317 education, health and care (EHC) plans for children and young people aged 0-25 which ceased during 2023 because the child or young person’s needs were being met without an EHC plan. This was out of a total number of 517,048 EHC plans active at January 2023. There are several other reasons an EHC plan might cease, for example, moving between local authorities, moving outside England or accessing an apprenticeship, employment or higher education. The full breakdown of ceased plans by reason for the calendar years 2022 and 2023 can be found in the publication, ‘Education, health and care plans’ (reporting year 2024) which can be accessed here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/education-health-and-care-plans/2024.Information on the number who attended mainstream schools or special schools and the number ceasing an EHC plan for this reason prior to the 2022 calendar year is not available.

Whether his Department considered including Cheadle Practice as being a high priority for estate improvements when determining allocations for the Primary Care Utilisation and Modernisation Fund in the 2025-26 financial year.

The Government is committed to delivering a National Health Service that is fit for the future and recognises the importance of strategic, value for money investments in capital projects. We have made sure that every single region across the country receives a share of the Primary Care Utilisation and Modernisation funding, so the benefits are felt nationwide.NHS England worked with all integrated care boards, including Greater Manchester, to prioritise the schemes that local health leaders identified that met their communities most urgent needs.

What the average time taken was to get an Education, Health and Care Plan in place for a child in each of the last five years; and what steps she is taking to reduce this time.

Information for each of the last 5 years on the number and percentage of education, health and care (EHC) plans issued within the statutory 20-week deadline, with and without statutory exceptions to that deadline applying, is published as part of the statistical release, ‘Education, health and care plans’ (reporting year 2024), which can be accessed here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/education-health-and-care-plans/2024.Local authorities identified as having issues with EHC plan timeliness are subject to additional monitoring by the department, who work with the specific local authority. Where there are concerns about the local authority’s capacity to make the required improvements, the department can secure specialist special educational needs and disabiltiies advisor support to help identify the barriers to EHC plan process timeliness and put in place practical plans for recovery.​When inspections indicate that there are significant concerns with local authority performance, the department will intervene directly. This may mean issuing an improvement notice, statutory direction and/or appointing a commissioner, deployment of which is considered on a case-by-case basis.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure that civilian (a) support and (b) protection is being considered as part of work towards a ceasefire in Sudan.

As penholder on Sudan at the UN Security Council (UNSC), the UK is committed to advocating for the protection of civilians amidst this brutal conflict. In November 2024, during our UN Security Council Presidency, the Minister for Africa chaired a Council session which stressed the urgent need to protect civilians in Sudan. The UK also co-led a protection of civilians resolution in partnership with Sierra Leone which received support from all Council members apart from Russia, who chose to veto it. Any lasting ceasefire must adhere to the Jeddah Declaration of Commitment to Protect Civilians in Sudan that both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces have already signed up to. The UK continues to push for a return to a civilian-led government that delivers the peace and stability that the Sudanese people deserve.

What steps she is taking to ensure that (a) experienced and (b) new teachers in mainstream schools receive adequate training for teaching neurodivergent children.

The department provides continuing professional development to the school and further education (FE) workforce through the Universal Services programme, led by the National Association for Special Educational Needs (nasen). This programme helps the school and FE workforce to identify and meet the needs of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) earlier and more effectively.From September 2025, the new initial teacher training and early career framework (ITTECF) will set out a minimum entitlement to training for all new teachers. The ITTECF contains significantly more content related to adaptive teaching and SEND which was tested with SEND educational experts, to ensure new teachers are equipped to support pupils with a range of additional learning needs.The department recognises that continuous improvement is essential and has committed to review the ITTECF in 2027 to ensure it continues to provide the best possible support. This review will include a focus on teaching pupils with SEND.Also in November 2024, the department established the Neurodivergence Task and Finish Group, which includes clinicians, scientists, academics, education experts and third sector organisations. The group will make recommendations on the best ways to support and meet the needs of neurodivergent children and young people in mainstream education settings.The department is also investing in the Partnerships for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools (PINS) programme, which is a national programme backed by £22 million of investment. PINS deploys specialists from both health and education workforces to build teacher and staff capacity to identify and better meet the needs of neurodivergent children.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of reductions to USAID on humanitarian aid in Sudan.

The UK notes the US' decision to disband United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and cancel certain USAID programmes. This is a matter for the US. We are currently working to assess the implications of the US funding pause across all humanitarian and development sectors, including on joint and coordinated programming. Sudan remains a priority for the UK. After the London Sudan Conference, the Foreign Secretary announced a further £120 million in funding which will target over 650,000 people. This brought the total pledged by the attendees of the conference to over £800 million in humanitarian aid, a positive step that will have important protection outcomes for civilians.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his UN counterparts on (a)ICE detention centres, (b) total abortion bans, (c) incarceration labour, (d) racism and (e) US human rights abuses.

The Foreign Secretary does not have a single United Nations counterpart. Among other meetings with senior UN representatives, he has recently met with the High Commissioner for Human Rights on 17 March where these issues were not discussed.

What permits his Department has issued to UAV Tactical Systems Ltd for the export of (a) hardware, (b) software and (c) technical support to Israel since October 2023.

From 1 October 2023 to 31 December 2024, the latest date covered by our most official statistics release, UAV Tactical Systems LTD have been issued 2 export licences covering exports to Israel.Each licence has been assessed to ensure that the items were not for use by the Israeli military in military operations in Gaza, pursuant to the decision on 2 September 2024 to suspend exports of equipment to Israel that might be used by the Israeli military in operations in Gaza.Licences for military equipment which is not for use in operations in Gaza or which relate to components for products which are ultimately for re-export to other countries were not included in the scope of the suspension.