Written questions by Chamberlain.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Written Statement of 17 June 2025 on Afghanistan HCWS703, if he will publish a list of people he is referring to when stating that his Department speaks "directly with Afghans and civil society to inform our policy and programming".

To maintain the privacy and security of the people with whom we engage, including those based in Afghanistan, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office will not be publishing a list of Afghan and civil society contacts. Ministers and officials will continue to engage regularly with a diverse range of Afghans and civil society contacts.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will publish the expected advisory arrangements to the Special Envoy for Afghanistan.

The UK Mission to Afghanistan in Doha closed on 30 June 2025. Mr Richard Lindsay was appointed as Special Envoy to Afghanistan on 17 June. He will lead a new Afghanistan department from the UK, taking on the duties of the current Chargé d'Affaires. These changes will not affect our resolve to support the people of Afghanistan, which is unwavering.This new model will allow the UK to actively engage with a broader range of Afghans. The Special Envoy will engage the Taliban on UK priorities including counter terrorism, human rights, and humanitarian access; support intra-Afghan dialogue; engage women, religious and ethnic minorities who suffer at the hands of the Taliban; and work with regional countries on shared priorities.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the (a) Special Envoy to Afghanistan and (b) Afghanistan department will be located within the Whitehall premises of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

The Special Envoy to Afghanistan and the Afghanistan department operate from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's headquarters in the UK. This arrangement ensures the UK can continue to engage effectively on Afghanistan policy, including with a broad range of Afghan stakeholders, while maintaining flexibility in how and where that engagement takes place.

What steps he is taking to audit spending under the ECO 4 scheme.

Ofgem is the scheme administrator and audits progress on the ECO4 scheme. It publishes regular updates on its website https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/environmental-and-social-schemes/energy-company-obligation-eco/contacts-guidance-and-resources/eco-public-reports-and-data.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of consumer protections under the ECO 4 scheme.

ECO4 insulation measures must be installed by TrustMark registered businesses, who are required to adhere to relevant industry standards. Installations of low carbon measures must be carried out in accordance with the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) requirements. Improvements to consumer protection are underway and we will set out plans for root and branch reform as part of the Warm Homes Plan.

What the mean processing time was for Carer's Allowance applications in (a) 2023, (b) 2024 and (c) 2025.

Carer’s Allowance application Average Actual Clearance Times are measured weekly. For the Carer’s Allowance figures shown here, Average Actual Clearance Time (AACT) is calculated as the average length of time (working days) from the receipt of a claim to the date the first payment was issued. Please see attached annex for details of weekly Carer’s Allowance application Average Actual Clearance Times from week commencing 2 January 2023 to week commencing 2 June 2025. Special Notes:The Average Actual Clearance Time figures are unpublished management information, collected and intended for internal departmental use and have not been quality assured to National Statistics or Official Statistics publication standard.

What assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the under reporting of young carer numbers in the school census 2025.

The impact of caring on education has been hidden for too long. The school census data is already shining a light on this issue despite the underreporting. It has given the department hard evidence on young carer’s attendance, suspensions and exclusions, and we are aiming to publish data on their educational progress and attainment at both key stage 2 and key stage 4 this autumn.The department expects this data to continue to improve over time as the collection becomes better established, but we are looking at the ways the data is entered to see if there are technical changes that can be made to support more accurate reporting without overly burdening schools.

With reference to her Department's press release entitled Transport Secretary acts to make thousands of extra driving tests available each month, published on 23 April 2025, whether an estimate has been made of the number of number of DVSA staff members who will return to examining roles by region.

On the 23 April, the Secretary of State (SoS) for Transport appeared before the Transport Select Committee and announced that the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) will take further actions to reduce waiting times for all customers across Great Britain. Further information on these actions and progress of DVSA’s plan to reduce driving test waiting times, which was announced in December 2024, can be found on GOV.UK. The measures announced by SoS to make additional driving tests available each month were implemented on 1 June. It is too early to evaluate those measures, or their impact at a national or regional level.

What the median processing time for Carer's Allowance applications was in (a) 2023, (b) 2024 and (c) 2025.

The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

How many and what proportion of applications for Carer's Allowance received in each month since 1 November 2025 were processed in (a) under 20, (b) 21 to 40, (c) 41 to 50, (d) 51 to 60, (e) 61 to 70, (f) 71 to 80, (g) 81 to 90, (h) 91 to 100, (i) 101 to 110, (j) 111 to 120, and (k) 121 or more days.

The number of Carer’s Allowance new claim applications cleared in each month, starting November 2023, is shown below in Table 1 below. This is based upon weekly data, starting week commencing 30th October 2023 (see ‘Notes to Table 1’ for more information). For all other questions, the information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost. Table 1: Number of Carer’s Allowance new claim applications cleared, by month, November 2023 to April 2025.MonthNumber of Carer’s Allowance New Claim Applications ClearedNov-2336,300Dec-2321,800Jan-2433,800Feb-2429,700Mar-2428,700Apr-2425,700May-2437,400Jun-2430,400Jul-2435,600Aug-2425,600Sep-2428,200Oct-2435,500Nov-2429,900Dec-2425,200Jan-2532,400Feb-2526,200Mar-2526,000Apr-2533,700Source: DWP Management Information Notes to Table 1:data is not seasonally adjustednumbers in thousands have been rounded to the nearest 100the monthly data shown is based on the summing of weekly management information data. Where a week falls across two calendar months, the week is attributed to the month in which the most number of working days falls. As a result, the number of weeks contributing to each month’s total volume cleared may vary across months.

How many applications for Care's Allowance have been processed by her Department in each month since 1 November 2023; and how many and what proportion of those applications took (a) between six and nine months and (b) more than nine months to be processed.

The number of Carer’s Allowance new claim applications cleared in each month, starting November 2023, is shown below in Table 1 below. This is based upon weekly data, starting week commencing 30th October 2023 (see ‘Notes to Table 1’ for more information). For all other questions, the information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost. Table 1: Number of Carer’s Allowance new claim applications cleared, by month, November 2023 to April 2025.MonthNumber of Carer’s Allowance New Claim Applications ClearedNov-2336,300Dec-2321,800Jan-2433,800Feb-2429,700Mar-2428,700Apr-2425,700May-2437,400Jun-2430,400Jul-2435,600Aug-2425,600Sep-2428,200Oct-2435,500Nov-2429,900Dec-2425,200Jan-2532,400Feb-2526,200Mar-2526,000Apr-2533,700Source: DWP Management Information Notes to Table 1:data is not seasonally adjustednumbers in thousands have been rounded to the nearest 100the monthly data shown is based on the summing of weekly management information data. Where a week falls across two calendar months, the week is attributed to the month in which the most number of working days falls. As a result, the number of weeks contributing to each month’s total volume cleared may vary across months.

What the median processing time for Carer's Allowance applications was in each of the first five months of 2025.

The number of Carer’s Allowance new claim applications cleared in each month, starting November 2023, is shown below in Table 1 below. This is based upon weekly data, starting week commencing 30th October 2023 (see ‘Notes to Table 1’ for more information). For all other questions, the information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost. Table 1: Number of Carer’s Allowance new claim applications cleared, by month, November 2023 to April 2025.MonthNumber of Carer’s Allowance New Claim Applications ClearedNov-2336,300Dec-2321,800Jan-2433,800Feb-2429,700Mar-2428,700Apr-2425,700May-2437,400Jun-2430,400Jul-2435,600Aug-2425,600Sep-2428,200Oct-2435,500Nov-2429,900Dec-2425,200Jan-2532,400Feb-2526,200Mar-2526,000Apr-2533,700Source: DWP Management Information Notes to Table 1:data is not seasonally adjustednumbers in thousands have been rounded to the nearest 100the monthly data shown is based on the summing of weekly management information data. Where a week falls across two calendar months, the week is attributed to the month in which the most number of working days falls. As a result, the number of weeks contributing to each month’s total volume cleared may vary across months.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of Government support for independent veterinary practices.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is currently investigating the companion animal veterinary sector. Defra will consider any recommendations from the CMA once their work has concluded.

What discussions she has had with mainstream banks on the supply of affordable credit.

The development of the Financial Inclusion Strategy is being informed by a committee of industry and consumer representatives I chair, (including banks), ahead of its publication later this year. The strategy will examine the barriers consumers face and further action what more industry and Government can take in partnership to address them, including a focus on how to increase access to affordable credit. This workstream is being considered by a dedicated sub-committee which includes both financial services firms and consumer representative organisations.Action to improve financial inclusion will require a joined-up approach across the Government, the financial services sector, and civil society. The Government is engaging extensively on this agenda to ensure the strategy is informed by a wide range of expertise and frontline perspectives.

What steps she is taking to ensure that the whole financial services sector is involved in the delivery of the Financial Inclusion Strategy.

The development of the Financial Inclusion Strategy is being informed by a committee of industry and consumer representatives I chair, (including banks), ahead of its publication later this year. The strategy will examine the barriers consumers face and further action what more industry and Government can take in partnership to address them, including a focus on how to increase access to affordable credit. This workstream is being considered by a dedicated sub-committee which includes both financial services firms and consumer representative organisations.Action to improve financial inclusion will require a joined-up approach across the Government, the financial services sector, and civil society. The Government is engaging extensively on this agenda to ensure the strategy is informed by a wide range of expertise and frontline perspectives.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on ensuring sustainable fishing by boats operating in UK waters.

The Secretary of State has regular discussions with Ministerial colleagues on a wide range of issues related to fisheries, including ensuring that vessels operating in UK waters do so legally and in a sustainable manner.

With reference to the White Paper entitled Restoring Control over the Immigration System, published on 12 May 2025, if she will make it her policy to (a) consult on and (b) publish an implementation timetable for the proposed reforms to the basic compliance assessment metrics.

The Home Office regularly engages with a range of stakeholders when developing policy. The implementation timetable, transitional arrangements, and further details of the reforms to the Basic Compliance Assessment will be confirmed in due course.

With reference to proposed reforms to the Basic Compliance Assessment in the White Paper entitled Restoring Control over the Immigration System, published on 12 May 2025, if she will consult with (a) sponsoring institutions and (b) bodies representing them on the implementation of those reforms.

The Home Office regularly engages with a range of stakeholders when developing policy. The implementation timetable, transitional arrangements, and further details of the reforms to the Basic Compliance Assessment will be confirmed in due course.

With reference to the White Paper entitled Restoring Control over the Immigration System, published on 12 May 2025, if she will make it her policy to implement a transition period for compliance with basic compliance assessment metrics by sponsoring institutions.

The Home Office regularly engages with a range of stakeholders when developing policy. The implementation timetable, transitional arrangements, and further details of the reforms to the Basic Compliance Assessment will be confirmed in due course.

With reference to the White paper entitled Restoring Control over the Immigration System, published on 12 May 2025, whether the decision to implement the international student levy will fall under the devolved powers of the Scottish Government.

I refer the hon. Member for North East Fife to the answer of 30 May 2025 to Question HL7427.