Written questions by Bennett.

How many Carer’s Allowance overpayments in relation to earnings there are.

Data on fraud and error overpayments was published earlier this year: Fraud and error in the benefit system: financial year 2024 to 2025 estimates - GOV.UK. 2024/25 estimates show that Carer's Allowance Overpayments relating to earnings / employment represented 1.3% of the £4.2bn expenditure on Carer’s Allowance. This Government commissioned Liz Sayce OBE to lead an Independent Review into these overpayments. We are carefully considering the recommendations of this Review which investigated how they occurred, how we can best support those who have accrued them, and how to reduce the risk of them occurring in future. We have committed to publish the review and the Government’s response to it by the end of this year.

What estimate his Department has made of the value of Carer’s Allowance overpayment debts in relation to earnings.

Data on fraud and error overpayments was published earlier this year: Fraud and error in the benefit system: financial year 2024 to 2025 estimates - GOV.UK. 2024/25 estimates show that Carer's Allowance Overpayments relating to earnings / employment represented 1.3% of the £4.2bn expenditure on Carer’s Allowance. This Government commissioned Liz Sayce OBE to lead an Independent Review into these overpayments. We are carefully considering the recommendations of this Review which investigated how they occurred, how we can best support those who have accrued them, and how to reduce the risk of them occurring in future. We have committed to publish the review and the Government’s response to it by the end of this year.

What progress his Department has made on processing Carer's Allowance overpayments; and when that process will be completed.

DWP secured additional funding for 2025/2026 for a 27% increase in resource to clear the stock of Carer’s Allowance (CA) Verify Earnings and Pensions (VEP) alerts. VEP enables DWP to receive real time identification of changes in a claimant’s income through an interface with Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) Pay as You Earn (PAYE) information. This focus has ensured DWP has now cleared this stock of CA VEP alerts, moving DWP to a position of actioning all alerts as close as possible to the date of generation by HMRC, and helping reduce the risk of large overpayments building up over many years.

What progress his Department has made on clearing the backlog of Carer’s Allowance overpayment debts in relation to earnings.

DWP secured additional funding for 2025/2026 for a 27% increase in resource to clear the stock of Carer’s Allowance (CA) Verify Earnings and Pensions (VEP) alerts. VEP enables DWP to receive real time identification of changes in a claimant’s income through an interface with Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) Pay as You Earn (PAYE) information. This focus has ensured DWP has now cleared this stock of CA VEP alerts, moving DWP to a position of actioning all alerts as close as possible to the date of generation by HMRC, and helping reduce the risk of large overpayments building up over many years.

Whether his Department’s plans to process all Carer’s Allowance overpayments in relation to earnings.

DWP secured additional funding for 2025/2026 for a 27% increase in resource to clear the stock of Carer’s Allowance (CA) Verify Earnings and Pensions (VEP) alerts. VEP enables DWP to receive real time identification of changes in a claimant’s income through an interface with Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) Pay as You Earn (PAYE) information. This focus has ensured DWP has now cleared this stock of CA VEP alerts, moving DWP to a position of actioning all alerts as close as possible to the date of generation by HMRC, and helping reduce the risk of large overpayments building up over many years.

What plans his Department has to extend marketing restrictions for HFSS products to outdoor advertising.

Under the Health Mission, the Government is committed to prevention and to tackling obesity by creating a fairer, healthier food environment. We are already delivering the biggest public health reforms in a generation which includes restrictions on junk food advertising on television and online, a ban on high-caffeine energy drinks for children under 16 years old, and boosting the impact of the advertising and promotion restrictions by applying the updated Nutrient Profiling Model. We are also introducing mandatory healthy food sales reporting for large food businesses and will set new targets to increase the healthiness of sales in all communities, a world first.Last year, the Government published the revised National Planning Policy Framework for local government, giving local authorities stronger, clearer powers to block new fast-food outlets near schools and where young people congregate. This will stop the relentless targeting of children and young people by the fast-food industry, which is a particular problem in some of the most deprived areas.We welcome the work metropolitan mayors are progressing to support action being taken at a local level to ban junk food marketing across the public transport networks and public spaces that are controlled locally.We currently have no plans to extend the marketing restrictions on products that are high in fat, sugar, and salt to outdoor advertising, but we continue to review the evidence of the impacts on children of advertising for less healthy food and drink products and will consider where further action is needed.

Whether his Department has considered research from The University of Manchester advocating for care support packages that target whole households.

We have not made a direct assessment of the potential merits of implementing care support packages for households, rather than for individuals requiring care. However, we recognise the importance of people’s wider support networks for those drawing on care and support.Under the Care Act 2014, local authorities in England must provide a broad range of high-quality, sustainable care and support services to meet the needs of their local populations, including carers and those who draw on care.Local authorities are required to take a holistic approach when carrying out a needs assessment, considering an individual's needs, circumstances, and the outcomes they wish to achieve. Where family members or friends are involved, the assessment must take into account the extent to which they are willing and able to provide support. In addition, where a carer appears to have needs for support and may be eligible for help, the local authority is required to carry out a Carer’s Assessment to determine the appropriate support.We also welcome the use of models such as family group conferencing in places like Camden, which put both individuals and their families and friends at the heart of the decision making.

What assessment he has made of the potential implications for his Department's policies on tackling unmet needs for social care of The University of Manchester's publication entitled ‘Tackling unmet needs for social care among older people’ published on 21 May 2025.

The publication by the University of Manchester raises important implications for how adult social care is delivered by local authorities. The Government recognises the long-term trend of a reduction in the number of local authority funded long-term packages of adult social care, despite an ageing population. This can result in people’s care needs going unmet, placing pressure on unpaid carers, including spouses and family members, who provide essential care and support.We remain committed to ensuring that local authorities meet their duties under the Care Act 2014, including the requirement to undertake Carer’s Assessments for those who appear to have needs and may be eligible for support. Where eligible, local authorities have a duty to provide appropriate, high-quality support services that focus on carers wellbeing.The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is assessing how well local authorities in England are performing against their duties under Part 1 of the Care Act 2014, including their duties relating to unpaid carers. Formal assessments commenced in December 2023 and as of October 2025, the CQC has published over 80 local authority assessments. So far, the CQC has identified a number of emerging themes in local authorities’ delivery of adult social care, including a lack of support for unpaid carers. Ratings and reports are published on the CQC’s website, at the following link:https://www.cqc.org.uk/care-services/local-authority-assessment-reports

If she will take steps to remove VAT from defibrillator sales to help improve the levels of affordability for (a) community groups and (b) small businesses.

VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption, and the 20 per cent standard rate applies to most goods and services. Exceptions to the standard rate have always been limited and balanced against affordability considerations. The Government currently provides VAT reliefs to aid the purchase of defibrillators. For example, when an Automated External Defibrillator is purchased with funds provided by a charity and then donated to an eligible body, no VAT is charged. Furthermore, all state schools in England have been fitted with AEDs.

How many carers have a Carer’s Allowance overpayment debt as a result of breaching the earnings limit in (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland (i) for which the latest data is available and (ii) in July 2025.

Liz Sayce OBE was commissioned to lead an Independent Review into overpayments of Carer’s Allowance (CA). The Government is carefully considering the recommendations of this Review which investigated how overpayments of CA related to earnings occurred, how we can best support those who have accrued them, and how to reduce the risk of these problems occurring in future. We will publish both the review and the Government’s response by the end of this year. We do not publish the requested information as part of any official statistics release.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent diplomatic steps she has taken to secure the release of Jimmy Lai from detention in Hong Kong.

Jimmy Lai's case remains a high priority for the Government. We continue to call on the Hong Kong authorities to end their politically motivated prosecution and immediately release him. The Prime Minister, and Ministers across Government, have urged the Chinese authorities to release Mr Lai. The Government has discussed the case with our international partners; and we welcome President Trump's public commitment to Mr Lai's release.Diplomats from our Consulate-General in Hong Kong attended Mr Lai's court proceedings throughout. We continue to press for consular access to our citizen.

If she will review the (a) screening procedures, (b) trauma training and (c) other mental health support for the police.

The Home Office recognises that the police, through the nature of their work, are often exposed to traumatic incidents that can have a lasting impact on their mental health. That is why we are committed to the Police Covenant, ensuring the mental health and wellbeing of the workforce is fully supported throughout their careers and beyond.The Home Office works closely with policing partners, including the College of Policing and the National Police Chiefs’ Council, to ensure appropriate psychological risk assessments, trauma management training, and wider wellbeing support are in place, including regularly reviewing force performance against agreed standards. His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) assess forces’ performance on wellbeing through its annual PEEL inspections.

Whether she has had discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on (a) increasing funding for the Music and Dance Scheme and (b) committing to a multiple-year settlement.

The government fully supports the arts and the development of a skills pipeline into the creative industries.The department is providing £36.5 million for the Music and Dance Scheme this academic year.Funding beyond the current academic year, including any introduction of multi-year funding agreements, will be considered in due course.

How many officials are assigned to work in the secretariat of the independent commission into adult social care.

There are currently 11 officials assigned to work in the secretariat of the independent commission into adult social care, chaired by Baroness Louise Casey. This secretariat may expand as the commission carries out its work, and as Baroness Casey considers what further skills and expertise she needs.

When her Department plans to (a) conclude its review of salary sacrifice schemes in the public sector and (b) make decisions on their future.

Public sector employers should consider the use of salary sacrifice schemes carefully. HM Treasury approval is generally required before new schemes are established, and we will consider carefully all requests which are made for scheme expansion.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help protect barn owls in Sussex, in the context of the decline in breeding numbers in 2025.

The decline of the barn owl is attributed to several factors including the loss of suitable habitat, which limits the availability of hunting grounds; the use of rodenticides; road traffic collision; and the loss of traditional nesting sites. To address their decline nationally, agri-environmental schemes are supporting barn owls by the funding of habitat creation, such as rough grassland for hunting, and by supporting the provision of nest boxes in suitable locations.

What recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of withdrawing funding from applied general qualifications in Health and Social Care on the number of students studying courses in these subjects.

​​​The department introduced 140 newly reformed qualifications to be taught from the beginning of this academic year and just announced a further 27 newly reformed qualifications which it will fund from August 2026. This includes newly reformed alternative academic qualifications and new technical qualifications in health and social care and related areas such as science, that will sit alongside the T Level in health and related A levels. The department is withdrawing funding from unreformed qualifications in the same areas, so that students can benefit from the higher quality reformed alternatives.​T Levels are out-performing other qualifications. Where a student wishes to study a large qualification in health they should undertake the T Level.​We published an equalities impact assessment alongside the outcome of the review of qualifications reform. The review is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/review-of-level-3-qualifications-reform-equality-impact-assessment. The department expects the impact on the number of young people not in education, employment or training, to be mitigated by the availability of T Levels and other reformed qualifications. ​

What recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of withdrawing funding from applied general qualifications on the number of young people not in education, employment or training.

​​​The department introduced 140 newly reformed qualifications to be taught from the beginning of this academic year and just announced a further 27 newly reformed qualifications which it will fund from August 2026. This includes newly reformed alternative academic qualifications and new technical qualifications in health and social care and related areas such as science, that will sit alongside the T Level in health and related A levels. The department is withdrawing funding from unreformed qualifications in the same areas, so that students can benefit from the higher quality reformed alternatives.​T Levels are out-performing other qualifications. Where a student wishes to study a large qualification in health they should undertake the T Level.​We published an equalities impact assessment alongside the outcome of the review of qualifications reform. The review is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/review-of-level-3-qualifications-reform-equality-impact-assessment. The department expects the impact on the number of young people not in education, employment or training, to be mitigated by the availability of T Levels and other reformed qualifications. ​

Whether multi-academy trusts can implement Electric Vehicle Salary Sacrifice schemes.

New electric vehicle salary sacrifice schemes for academy trusts are currently paused. Academy trusts with existing schemes have been able to keep them in place, but not expand them by adding new members. This pause is subject to a review about salary sacrifice schemes in the public sector and a decision on these schemes by HM Treasury. The department will inform academy trusts when a decision has been made, and the Academy Trust Handbook (ATH) will be updated accordingly. The ATH is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/academy-trust-handbook/academy-trust-handbook-2025-effective-from-1-september-2025.

Whether she plans to make changes to draft duty relief for (a) consumers, (b) pubs and (c) breweries in Mid Sussex constituency.

The Chancellor’s draught rate cut at Autumn Budget 2024 applied to approximately 60% of the alcoholic drinks sold in pubs. This took a penny of duty off a typical strength pint at a cost to the Exchequer of over £85m a year.  Draught beer and cider now pay 13.9% less in duty than their packaged equivalents – an increase of over 50% on the previous draught discount of 9.2%.The Chancellor makes decisions on tax policy at fiscal events. The Government welcomes representations from the beer and pub sectors in advance of the Budget.