Written questions by McDonald.

What assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the rate of earnings before interest and tax allowance in OFGEM's energy price cap methodology.

The setting of the energy price cap is a matter for the independent regulator Ofgem. The earnings before tax and interest (EBIT) allowance allows energy suppliers to make a reasonable profit that ensures long-term investment, while limiting excess profits. The law requires Ofgem to ensure the cap level reflects the underlying efficient costs of supplying energy.

Whether P&O Ferries has responded to the request for an equivalence declaration from the harbour authority in (a) Larne, (b) Cairnryan, (c) Teesport, (d) Hull, (e) Tilbury and (f) Dover under section 5 of the Seafarers’ Wages Regulations 2024.

The Seafarers’ Wages Act 2023 and Seafarers’ Wages Regulations 2024 do not require harbour authorities to inform the Secretary of State of requests for declarations, or of responses to requests of declarations from operators.

Whether any harbour authority in the UK has issued a surcharge notification to a ferry operator under the Seafarers’ Wages Regulations 2024.

We have not received any notifications from harbour authorities of surcharge notifications being issued. Given that operators have 3 months from the date of the request of an equivalence declaration to provide a declaration before a surcharge is imposed and the Act came into force on 1 December 2024, it is too early to expect any surcharge notifications to have been made.

What estimate his Department has made of the number of households eligible for the Warm Homes Discount in Middlesbrough and Thornaby East constituency in winter 2025-26.

The latest published Warm Home Discount statistics are for 2023/4 and use the constituency boundaries operating prior to the 2024 General Election. Most (82%) of the residential premises in Middlesbrough and Thornaby East constituency come from Middlesbrough constituency under the previous boundaries, in which 9,708 households received the Warm Home Discount rebate in 2023-24. The statistics only cover receipt of the Warm Home Discount and not eligibility.We don't have constituency-level estimates of likely numbers of future recipients of the Warm Home Discount under the potential expansion set out in the recent consultation. At a national level, we expect around an 80% increase in overall eligibility, but this will vary at local level due to e.g. differences in demographics, household makeup or the balance of rented vs owner-occupied properties, since these kind of factors could affect the likelihood of the benefit recipient (or their partner or appointee) being named on their energy bill (which is a requirement for eligibility).https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/warm-home-discount-statistics-2023-to-2024

Whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of requiring Ofgem to consider average changes to wages in future energy price cap methodology.

The Government continues to work closely with Ofgem to ensure that the price cap continues to protect consumers from unfair prices.

How many households are (a) eligible for and (b) in receipt of the Warm Homes Discount in Middlesbrough and Thornaby East constituency.

The latest published Warm Home Discount statistics are for 2023/4 and use the constituency boundaries operating prior to the 2024 General Election. Most (82%) of the residential premises in Middlesbrough and Thornaby East constituency come from Middlesbrough constituency under the previous boundaries, in which 9,708 households received the Warm Home Discount rebate in 2023-24. The statistics only cover receipt of the Warm Home Discount and not eligibility.We don't have constituency-level estimates of likely numbers of future recipients of the Warm Home Discount under the potential expansion set out in the recent consultation. At a national level, we expect around an 80% increase in overall eligibility, but this will vary at local level due to e.g. differences in demographics, household makeup or the balance of rented vs owner-occupied properties, since these kind of factors could affect the likelihood of the benefit recipient (or their partner or appointee) being named on their energy bill (which is a requirement for eligibility).https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/warm-home-discount-statistics-2023-to-2024

If she will publish the names of the ferry service operators that have been required to make a declaration under the Seafarers’ Wages Regulations 2024.

The Seafarers' Wages Act and Regulations do not make provision for the publication of requests for declarations under the Act.

If she will publish which UK harbour authorities have requested declarations from ferry operators under the Seafarers’ Wages Regulations 2024.

The Seafarers' Wages Act and Regulations do not make provision for the publication of requests for declarations under the Act.

Whether Dover Harbour Board has requested an equivalence declaration from P&O Ferries under Section 5 of the Seafarers’ Wages Regulations 2024.

The Seafarers’ Wages Act 2023 and Seafarers’ Wages Regulations 2024 do not require harbour authorities to inform the Secretary of State of requests for declarations, or of responses to requests of declarations from operators.

What assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of Ofgem's criteria for conducting future reviews of the energy price cap methodology.

The Government continues to work closely with Ofgem to ensure that the price cap continues to protect consumers from unfair prices.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the potential merits of taking steps to prohibit UK-based investments in Israeli (a) companies and (b) banks that are contributing to maintaining Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

The UK Government considers Israeli settlements illegal under international law and goods produced in these settlements are not entitled to benefit from tariff and trade preferences under the UK's current trade agreements with the Palestinian Authority and Israel. The UK Government does not encourage or offer support to economic and financial activity in the settlements. We support accurate labelling of settlement goods, so as not to mislead the consumer. We routinely update our guidance to British businesses on the Overseas Business Risk website and advise British businesses to bear in mind the UK Government's view on the illegality of settlements under international law when considering their investments and activities in the region. The Government is committed to maintaining a robust and transparent export control system. We will not grant an export licence if to do so would be inconsistent with the Criteria, including respect for human rights and international humanitarian law. The Criteria provide a thorough risk assessment framework and require us to consider carefully the impact of the export of items and their capabilities.On 15 October 2024, the Foreign Secretary announced sanctions targeting three illegal settler outposts and four organisations that have supported and sponsored violence against communities in the West Bank. The Government does not comment on future sanctions measures, as to do so would reduce their impact.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of (a) bringing forward legislative proposals and (b) taking other steps to prohibit UK (i) nationals, (ii) companies and (iii) financial institutions from conducting business (A) in and (B) with Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

The UK Government considers Israeli settlements illegal under international law and goods produced in these settlements are not entitled to benefit from tariff and trade preferences under the UK's current trade agreements with the Palestinian Authority and Israel. The UK Government does not encourage or offer support to economic and financial activity in the settlements. We support accurate labelling of settlement goods, so as not to mislead the consumer. We routinely update our guidance to British businesses on the Overseas Business Risk website and advise British businesses to bear in mind the UK Government's view on the illegality of settlements under international law when considering their investments and activities in the region. The Government is committed to maintaining a robust and transparent export control system. We will not grant an export licence if to do so would be inconsistent with the Criteria, including respect for human rights and international humanitarian law. The Criteria provide a thorough risk assessment framework and require us to consider carefully the impact of the export of items and their capabilities.On 15 October 2024, the Foreign Secretary announced sanctions targeting three illegal settler outposts and four organisations that have supported and sponsored violence against communities in the West Bank. The Government does not comment on future sanctions measures, as to do so would reduce their impact.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of (a) introducing tracking systems and (b) taking other steps to prohibit UK trade in goods from Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

The UK Government considers Israeli settlements illegal under international law and goods produced in these settlements are not entitled to benefit from tariff and trade preferences under the UK's current trade agreements with the Palestinian Authority and Israel. The UK Government does not encourage or offer support to economic and financial activity in the settlements. We support accurate labelling of settlement goods, so as not to mislead the consumer. We routinely update our guidance to British businesses on the Overseas Business Risk website and advise British businesses to bear in mind the UK Government's view on the illegality of settlements under international law when considering their investments and activities in the region. The Government is committed to maintaining a robust and transparent export control system. We will not grant an export licence if to do so would be inconsistent with the Criteria, including respect for human rights and international humanitarian law. The Criteria provide a thorough risk assessment framework and require us to consider carefully the impact of the export of items and their capabilities.On 15 October 2024, the Foreign Secretary announced sanctions targeting three illegal settler outposts and four organisations that have supported and sponsored violence against communities in the West Bank. The Government does not comment on future sanctions measures, as to do so would reduce their impact.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of UK companies involved in (a) producing and (b) otherwise developing (i) weapons, (ii) surveillance, (iii) policing equipment and (iv) technology for use by Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

The UK Government considers Israeli settlements illegal under international law and goods produced in these settlements are not entitled to benefit from tariff and trade preferences under the UK's current trade agreements with the Palestinian Authority and Israel. The UK Government does not encourage or offer support to economic and financial activity in the settlements. We support accurate labelling of settlement goods, so as not to mislead the consumer. We routinely update our guidance to British businesses on the Overseas Business Risk website and advise British businesses to bear in mind the UK Government's view on the illegality of settlements under international law when considering their investments and activities in the region. The Government is committed to maintaining a robust and transparent export control system. We will not grant an export licence if to do so would be inconsistent with the Criteria, including respect for human rights and international humanitarian law. The Criteria provide a thorough risk assessment framework and require us to consider carefully the impact of the export of items and their capabilities.On 15 October 2024, the Foreign Secretary announced sanctions targeting three illegal settler outposts and four organisations that have supported and sponsored violence against communities in the West Bank. The Government does not comment on future sanctions measures, as to do so would reduce their impact.

What the average waiting time is for (a) children and (b) adults to have an attention deficit hyperactivity disorder assessment in Middlesbrough & Thornaby East constituency.

There is, at present, no single, established dataset that can be used to monitor waiting times for the assessment and diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) nationally or for individual organisations or geographies in England. Although the data requested is not held centrally, it may be held locally by individual National Health Service trusts or commissioners.We are supporting a taskforce that NHS England has established to look at ADHD service provision and its impact on patient experience. The taskforce is bringing together expertise from across a broad range of sectors, including the NHS, education, and justice, to better understand the challenges affecting people with ADHD, including timely access to services and support.In conjunction with the taskforce, NHS England has carried out detailed work to develop a data improvement plan, understand the provider and commissioning landscape, and capture examples from integrated care boards who are trialling innovative ways of delivering ADHD services.

When he expects NHS England to publish a national ADHD data improvement plan.

NHS England is currently working on the national ADHD data improvement plan, and is engaging with system and stakeholder partners to quality assure this work with a view to publication once it has been through NHS England’s internal assurance and governance processes.

What steps he is taking to improve attention deficit hyperactivity disorder assessment waiting list times.

There is, at present, no single, established dataset that can be used to monitor waiting times for the assessment and diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) nationally or for individual organisations or geographies in England. Although the data requested is not held centrally, it may be held locally by individual National Health Service trusts or commissioners.We are supporting a taskforce that NHS England has established to look at ADHD service provision and its impact on patient experience. The taskforce is bringing together expertise from across a broad range of sectors, including the NHS, education, and justice, to better understand the challenges affecting people with ADHD, including timely access to services and support.In conjunction with the taskforce, NHS England has carried out detailed work to develop a data improvement plan, understand the provider and commissioning landscape, and capture examples from integrated care boards who are trialling innovative ways of delivering ADHD services.

How many (a) children and (b) adults are waiting for an attention deficit hyperactivity disorder assessment in Middlesbrough & Thornaby East constituency.

There is, at present, no single, established dataset that can be used to monitor waiting times for the assessment and diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) nationally or for individual organisations or geographies in England. Although the data requested is not held centrally, it may be held locally by individual National Health Service trusts or commissioners.We are supporting a taskforce that NHS England has established to look at ADHD service provision and its impact on patient experience. The taskforce is bringing together expertise from across a broad range of sectors, including the NHS, education, and justice, to better understand the challenges affecting people with ADHD, including timely access to services and support.In conjunction with the taskforce, NHS England has carried out detailed work to develop a data improvement plan, understand the provider and commissioning landscape, and capture examples from integrated care boards who are trialling innovative ways of delivering ADHD services.

How many schools she plans for each regional improvement for standards and excellence team to support in (a) the North East and (b) each region, per year.

The department expects regional improvement for standards and excellence (RISE) teams to have worked with around 600 schools by March 2026. RISE teams will focus their efforts on schools which are stuck and have not had a change of structure since their last inspection.Based on the latest published Ofsted inspection data, at the end of December 2024, there were 664 “stuck schools” in England and 31 “stuck schools” in the North East.Across the other regions there were:90 in the East Midlands71 in the East of England18 in London104 in the North West72 in the South East102 in the South West97 in the West Midlands79 in Yorkshire and HumberFollowing last week’s announcement, the department is contacting all responsible bodies with schools that currently meet the eligibility criteria.

What additional funding will be made available for the schools supported by a regional improvement for standards and excellence team.

Support delivered by regional improvement for standards and excellence teams has been backed by an over £20 million investment. They will draw up, working with high quality organisations, bespoke improvement plans with eligible schools, with the department making up to £100,000 available initially to each school for specialist support. This compares to a £6,000 grant that was available previously for similar schools.