Written questions by Brewer.

What steps her Department is taking to increase understanding of (a) politics and (b) Parliament within the national secondary school curriculum.

Pupils learn about politics and Parliament within citizenship at secondary school, as well as within history where relevant.The independent Curriculum and Assessment Review recommended that the curriculum should support democratic understanding and engagement. In response to the review, the department has committed to make citizenship compulsory in primary schools and to publish revised programmes of study to ensure that all pupils receive an essential grounding in a range of topics including democracy, government and law. We will consult on programmes of study next year, and the new national curriculum will be published in 2027 for first teaching in 2028.

If she will publish the names of (a) banks and (b) other organisations that fail to (i) prevent fraud and (ii) reimburse victims of fraud.

We work closely with the financial sector to disrupt fraud at its source and prevent financial exploitation. We welcome the actions of the financial services industry in helping to prevent authorised push payment (APP) fraud. Data has also shown that banks are increasingly compensating victims following the introduction of mandatory reimbursement through the Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 (APP scams reimbursement dashboard for Q2 2025 | Payment Systems Regulator).The Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) oversees banks’ compliance with regards to mandatory reimbursement, and they will publish their third APP scams performance report, covering 2024, in December. The reports show the sending fraud rates and reimbursement rates of the 14 biggest banks in the UK, putting a spotlight on firms that are the highest receivers of fraud. Previous reports for 2023 and 2022 can be found here: APP fraud performance data | Payment Systems Regulator.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of creating a national online crime agency.

The Home Office is considering how best to tackle online crime as part of the upcoming Fraud Strategy, due for publication early next year.This will include options for enhanced collaboration between industry and law enforcement to address online threats effectively.

Pursuant to the Answer of 17 October 2025 to Question 80524 on Nurses: Training, whether training courses in learning disability nursing will be available in North East Hampshire constituency.

Undergraduate training places for learning disability nursing are not centrally commissioned by the Government. Instead, they are determined by university education providers, who decide the number of learners they admit based on learner demand and provider capacity. The Government is committed to publishing a 10 Year Workforce Plan to set out action to create a workforce ready to deliver the transformed service set out in the 10-Year Health Plan. The 10 Year Workforce Plan will ensure the National Health Service has the right people in the right places, with the right skills to care for patients, when they need it.

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of GP fees for (a) letters requested to support applications relating to (i) mental health, (ii) housing, (iii) education and (iv) welfare and (b) other non-NHS letters on patients; and whether he plans to issue guidance to GP practices on fee structures for such documentation in cases involving (A) financial hardship and (B) vulnerable people.

There are some medical evidence letters, certificates, and/or reports that general practices (GPs) may charge for, and others that they must not charge patients for. The legislation that sets this out is the General Medical Services and Personal Medical Services Regulations, which form the basis of the GP Contract with the National Health Service. There is no statutory limit to the level of such fees as this is outside of core NHS work.The Professional Fees Committee of the British Medical Association suggests guideline fees for such services to help doctors set their own professional fees.We recognise that there are concerns about some fees GPs charge for letters and the consistency of those charges, as well as the additional burden these requests can place on GPs. Where GPs charge for that evidence, these charges should be clear, fair, and consistent. Where possible and appropriate we would encourage people to use alternative evidence.We are continuing to work across the Government to cut red tape and improve ways of working, including work to improve the patient experience, such as removing the need to request unnecessary medical evidence where possible.

What steps he is taking to reduce waiting times to those seeking psychological therapy to support their employment efforts.

It is unacceptable that some people are not receiving the mental health care they need. We are determined to change that. We have already taken significant steps to improve National Health Service mental health services, including hiring almost 7,000 extra mental health workers since July 2024, and thanks to an increase in NHS Talking Therapies, more adults with anxiety and depression are getting back into work.We are continuing to roll out employment advisors in our talking therapies services to support people with common mental health conditions to seek and retain employment. These advisors help people who are in work but are struggling or facing difficulties in the workplace, for instance being off work sick or looking for work, so we can provide the right support at the right time.We continue to meet the waiting time standard in place for NHS Talking Therapies services. The latest data from June 2025 shows 89.1% of people completing treatment waited less than six weeks for their first appointment against a target of 75%. And 98.6% of people completing treatment waited less than 18 weeks, against a target of 95%.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 16 October 2025 to Question 77864 on Non-native Species: Weed Control, if she will make it her policy to offer funding to homeowners for the (a) treatment and (b) removal of Japanese knotweed, in the context of (i) obligations under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and (ii) the environmental impact of this species.

Japanese knotweed is listed on Schedule 9, and subject to Section 14, of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 which makes it an offence to plant or otherwise cause this species to grow in the wild. There is no explicit obligation upon landowners to manage this species on their property. However, they must prevent it spreading off their property. Defra is not currently considering offering funding for homeowners for the treatment and removal of Japanese knotweed. Guidance remains available for homeowners who do wish to manage Japanese knotweed on their property: How to stop Japanese knotweed from spreading - GOV.UK.

What steps his Department is taking with (a) NHS England and (b) integrated care boards to ensure that NHS dental provision is effectively delivered under the Armed Forces Covenant Duty; and whether he has considered increasing levels of (i) guidance and (ii) oversight in this area to help prevent disadvantage for service families following relocation.

We recognise that Armed Forces families may move more frequently than the civilian population in support of our service personnel. Data on dental access does not suggest that Armed Forces families are being disadvantaged when compared to the civilian population. We are taking steps to improve access to dentistry and members of the armed forces community will also benefit from the improved access these changes bring about, in the same way as the civilian population.NHS England is working proactively with the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces Families Federations to provide guidance to integrated care boards in relation to local dental access for families relocating to the area and guidance for families. Signposting for Armed Forces Personnel on dentistry access for their families has been improved through the ‘Discover My Benefits website’, and A “Myth Busting” paper has been prepared by the Armed Forces Families Federation. This includes a link to the Single Point of Contact for NHS England dedicated to Armed Forces access issues.Free NHS dental care is available to people receiving War Pension Scheme payments, or Armed Forces Compensation Scheme payments, and the treatment is for your accepted disability. We are also supporting more than 1,500 children in British military families overseas through our supervised toothbrushing programme.

What steps his Department is taking to support young people in supported accommodation.

It remains the department’s priority to support young people in supported accommodation. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) provides support with rent and other living costs through Housing Benefit and Universal Credit to eligible individuals (including young people) living in supported accommodation. Subject to criteria, individuals may be eligible for help with housing costs through Housing Benefit, to pay all or part of their rent and any eligible service charges. In 2023, DWP spent an estimated £4.1bn on Housing Benefit and Universal Credit housing entitlement for people living in supported accommodation. To drive up quality of provision for people in supported accommodation, DWP is working alongside the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to implement measures arising from the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act. A government response to the first consultation on the Act is due to be published as soon as possible. We also acknowledge there is a challenge arising from the interaction between Universal Credit and Housing Benefit for working age customers residing in supported and temporary accommodation. We are considering options to improve work incentives for residents of supported housing and temporary accommodation, while taking into account the views of stakeholders. Any future decisions will be taken in the round and in the context of the current fiscal environment.

What steps her Department is taking to reduce the time taken in Certificate of Sponsorship allocations for Skilled Worker visa holders in cases where (a) a compliant sponsor with an A-rated licence has submitted a valid request with supporting evidence and (b) delay risks causing a lawful worker to fall out of immigration status.

It is the responsibility of individual businesses to monitor the visa expiry dates of their overseas employees and to take appropriate action to ensure continuity of employment.The published service standard for non-complex Undefined Certificate of Sponsorship (UCoS) allocations and renewals is 18 weeks, as outlined on GOV.UK. Businesses may also opt to use the priority service, which aims to process requests within 5 working days.Responsibility for submitting timely applications or updates lies with the sponsoring business.Where necessary, the Home Office conducts additional checks to maintain the integrity of the immigration system, which may delay the processing of applications to assure ourselves that requests are genuine and full time work and employment will be given to a prospective employee, for their own protection.UK visa sponsorship for employers: Your responsibilities - GOV.UKThe Home Office is currently operating within the published service standards for all Sponsorship applications.

What steps he is taking with the Armed Forces Pay Review Body to minimise the requirement for back pay for service personnel when pension calculations are made.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) aims to put Armed Forces pensions into payment as quickly as possible so as not to cause undue delay and stress, and every individual's pension entitlement is considered with the utmost diligence. We recognise the impact on pension calculations of the late announcement of annual pay awards and are committed to reducing the delay. We announced both the 2025 pay award and 2026/27 pay round two months earlier than last year and remain committed to bringing forward pay announcements further. Defence officials are working with the Armed Forces’ Pay Review Body on this year’s pay round and the submission of their 2026 report. We will publish this report and the Government’s response to their recommendations as soon as practicable in 2026, recognising the importance of giving certainty on pay settlements as early as possible. This Government is committed to the independent Pay Review Body process and is focused on delivering fair and timely rewards for public sector workforces, including the Armed Forces, getting well-deserved pay rises to those delivering our vital public services.

If he will take steps to help ensure that military families looking to foster a child have adequate housing to meet the criteria required by fostering organisations.

Defence continually reviews its accommodation policies to ensure they are suitable for modern families. All Service personnel who are active foster carers are entitled to accommodation as necessary to support them fostering children. Families wanting to foster a child for the first time are eligible to apply for suitable accommodation where it is available. The Defence Infrastructure Organisation is committed to providing personnel and their families with high quality, modern and well-maintained accommodation.

What steps he is taking to reduce waiting times for people seeking psychological therapy to support employment.

The Government is committed to delivering expansions of NHS Talking Therapies and individual placement and support schemes to address the root causes of mental health issues and provide support for people to contribute to the economy by remaining in or returning to work. We will also make it easier for people to self-refer to talking therapies services through the NHS App. We are continuing to roll out employment advisors in our NHS Talking Therapies services to support people with common mental health conditions in seeking and retaining employment. Our advisors help people who are in work but struggling or facing difficulties in the workplace, are off work sick, or are looking for work, so we can provide the right support at the right time. Confidential support is available to people at any stage of their career. This could include school- or college-leavers looking for their first job to people looking at changing their lifestyle or work-life balance as they get closer to retirement. We are also expanding individual placement and support schemes embedded in community mental health services to improve employment outcomes for people with severe mental illness. These schemes offer intensive, individually tailored support to get people into work, with ongoing support for the employer and employee to help ensure the person keeps their job.

If she will make an assessment of the adequacy of the penalty for driving without (a) a license and (b) L plates.

This Government takes road safety seriously. We are committed to reducing the numbers of those killed and injured on our roads.We are considering a range of policies under the new Road Safety Strategy, the first for 10 years. This includes the case for changing motoring offences.More details will be published in due course.

What legislative steps his Department is taking to ensure that GP practices assess shared care requests on a case-by-case basis; and whether he plans to introduce legislation to improve consistency and equity in shared care arrangements for patients with mental health diagnoses.

There are currently no plans to introduce legislation for shared care arrangements.Shared care arrangements between a general practitioner (GP) and a specialist are voluntary agreements and are not a part of the GP Contract. GPs do not receive additional funding for taking part in shared care agreements and are able to refuse participation if they think they do not have capacity, or it is not clinically appropriate.The General Medical Council’s guidance helps GPs decide whether to accept shared care responsibilities. In deciding whether to enter into a shared care arrangement, a GP will need to consider a number of factors to determine whether it is within their sphere of competence, and therefore safe and suitable for their patient’s needs. This includes being satisfied that any prescriptions or referrals for treatment are clinically appropriate.These processes apply to all shared care requests, including those involving patients with a mental health diagnosis.

What steps she is taking to support legitimate number plate suppliers in (a) stopping cloning and (b) upholding legal standards.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is working with the National Police Chiefs’ Council and other government departments to improve the identification and enforcement of number plate crime, including the use of cloned number plates.The law requires that anyone who supplies number plates for road use in the UK must be registered with the DVLA. It is a legal requirement for number plate suppliers to carry out checks to ensure that number plates are only sold to those who can prove they are entitled to the registration number. Number plate suppliers must also keep records of the plates they have supplied. Selling a number plate without carrying out these required checks carries a maximum penalty of a fine of £1,000 and the potential removal from the Register of Number Plate Suppliers (RNPS).Officials are also considering options to ensure a more robust, auditable RNPS process which would enable tighter checks on number plate suppliers. On-road enforcement for offences relating to the display of number plates is a matter for the police. The DVLA assists the police and Trading Standards in their enforcement against number plate suppliers, including those who trade illegally. When notified, the DVLA will investigate and pass on intelligence to the police who are responsible for investigating this criminal matter.Anyone who thinks their number plate may have been cloned should contact the police immediately. Any fines received should be returned to the issuing authorities. The DVLA can provide customers with letters that can be used as supporting evidence and can also provide a replacement registration number where appropriate.

Communities and Local Government, when he plans to fully implement the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024.

I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 21 November 2024 (HCWS244).

What steps he is taking to ensure that (a) legal and (b) ethical business practices are followed when firms undertake redundancies.

I refer the hon. Member to my response to Question 80529, issued on 15th October 2025: Written questions and answers - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament

What transport support is available for SEND families (a) in cases where a child is placed in a specialist setting but is not yet of compulsory school age and (b) in other instances.

​​The Education Act 1996 requires local authorities to arrange free home to school travel for eligible children. A child is eligible if they are of compulsory school age, 5 to 16, attend their nearest school and would not be able to walk there because of the distance, their special educational needs, disability or mobility problem, or because the nature of the route means it would be unsafe for them to do so. There are extended rights to free travel for children from low-income families.​Local authorities have the discretion to arrange travel for other children, such as those below compulsory school age attending a specialist setting, but are not required to do so. It is for each local authority to decide whether and how to exercise their discretionary power.​

What steps he is taking to protect NHS (a) staff and (b) volunteers from (i) verbal abuse, (ii) threats, (iii) unauthorised sharing of personal information and (iv) other forms of abuse; whether he plans to extend zero tolerance policies to cover digital harassment; and what steps his Department is taking to provide (A) guidance and (B) support to NHS providers for affected (1) staff and (2) volunteers.

Everyone working or volunteering in the National Health Service has a fundamental right to be safe and work in an environment free from all forms of harassment, bullying and violence, including digital harassment.Individual employers are responsible for the health and safety of their staff and volunteers and put in place many measures to do this including appropriate security, training, and emotional support for those affected by violence. Additionally, NHS England have developed an NHS Civility and Respect programme which provides national guidance, training and resources to help organisations build positive workplace cultures, tackle bullying and harassment, and ensure staff and volunteers feel safe and supported in all work environments.