Written questions by Dixon.

Whether schools that were assessed before the announcement of the removal of single headline grades and which have not yet received their report will receive a single headline grade.

This is a matter for His Majesty’s Chief Inspector at Ofsted, Sir Martyn Oliver. I have asked him to write to my hon. Friend, the Member for Shipley directly and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Whether his Department is taking steps to encourage new build developments to include solar panels.

The Government fully supports the accelerated deployment of rooftop solar panels, which will be critical to achieving clean power by 2030. From next year, Future Homes and Buildings Standards will ensure that all newly-built houses and commercial buildings are fit for a net zero future. The Government will encourage the installation of solar panels on these developments, where appropriate. The Department is working closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government as they develop these standards.

What steps his department is taking to tackle shortages in (a) ADHD medication, (b) Creon and (c) medications used in the management of enzyme deficiency disorders and cystic fybrosis.

The Department has been working hard with industry and NHS England to help resolve supply issues with some attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medicines, which are affecting the United Kingdom and other countries around the world. As a result of intensive work, some issues have been resolved. All strengths of lisdexamfetamine, atomoxetine capsules and guanfacine prolonged-release tablets are now available.We are continuing to work to resolve medicine supply issues, where they remain, for methylphenidate prolonged-release tablets. We are engaging with all suppliers of methylphenidate prolonged-release tablets to assess the challenges faced and their actions to address them. We are also directing suppliers to secure additional stocks, expedite deliveries where possible, and review plans to further build capacity to support continued growth in demand for the short and long-term. We anticipate intermittent regional supply disruptions to continue, and we expect supply to improve in the UK from October 2024 onwards.In parallel, the Department has worked with specialist clinicians, including those within the National Health Service, to develop management advice for NHS clinicians to consider prescribing available alternative brands of methylphenidate prolonged release tablets or available alternative ADHD medicines. We would expect ADHD service providers and specialists to follow our guidance which includes offering rapid response to primary care teams seeking urgent advice/opinion for the management of patients including those known to be at a higher risk of adverse impact because of these shortages.The Department has also been working with suppliers to address current supply issues with Creon which is used by patients with conditions such as cystic fibrosis and certain cancers including pancreatic cancer. The supply issues with Creon are impacting countries throughout Europe and have been caused by limited availability of raw ingredients and manufacturing capacity constraints to produce volumes needed to meet demand. These issues have resulted in knock-on supply disruptions of alternative pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) medications. The Department is continuing to work with all suppliers of PERT to help resolve the supply issues in the short and longer term. This includes asking that they expedite deliveries, source stock from other markets and increase production.The supplier of Creon has advised that they expect to have regular supplies released each month going forward and are working to increase the quantities released. Serious Shortage Protocols are in place for Creon 10,000 and 25,000 capsules which pharmacists can use to restrict supply to one month at a time to ensure more patients have access to it whilst stock is limited.We have issued comprehensive guidance to healthcare professionals about these supply issues, which provides advice on how to manage patients whilst there is disruption to supply. This guidance is being kept under review and updates will be made, as necessary.

Whether she has had discussion with the Financial Conduct Authority on the racial disparity in motor insurance premiums identified in the Citizens Advice report, Discriminatory pricing: exploring the ethnicity penalty in the insurance market, published in March 2022.

Treasury Ministers and officials have regular meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors on an ongoing basis. Under the Equality Act 2010 insurers cannot use race as a risk factor when determining the price of insurance. The Government is also determined that insurers should treat their customers fairly and firms are required to do so under the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) rules. The FCA’s rules requires firms to ensure their products offer fair value (i.e. the price a consumer pays for an insurance product or service to be reasonable compared to the overall benefits they can expect to receive). The FCA has powers to act against firms that fail to comply.

What diplomatic steps his Department is taking to help protect women from oppression in Afghanistan.

We have repeatedly condemned Taliban restrictions on women and girls' rights, including through UN Security Council and Human Rights Council resolutions.  Most recently in August the Foreign Secretary stated that the exclusion of women from all aspects of public life is a tragic setback for Afghanistan. Officials regularly press the Taliban to reverse their inhuman restrictions, both bilaterally and with international partners. We are committed that at least 50 per cent of those reached by UK aid in Afghanistan are women and girls, and we contribute to a $20 million Afghanistan Resilience Trust Fund project that supports civil society, particularly women-led organisations.

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of instructing NICE to review it's infant head circumference measurement guidelines, in the context of improving the diagnosis and treatment of (a) hydrocephalus and (b) other long term related complications.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) develops its guidance independently and keeps its published guidelines under active surveillance so that it is able to update its recommendations in light of any significant new evidence. Decisions on updates to existing guidance are made by NICE’s Prioritisation Board in line with NICE’s published common prioritisation framework.NICE’s guideline on “suspected neurological conditions: recognition and referral” includes recommendations on head circumference measurement. We understand that NICE is currently reviewing its recommendations to consider if any update to its recommendation is warranted.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 10 September 2024 to Question 3887 on Conveyancing, what steps her Department is taking to help (a) speed up and (b) reduce the cost of conveyancing.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN 3887 on 10 September 2024.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of removing the requirement for individuals with lifelong conditions to re-apply for disability travel cards.

The Disabled Persons Railcard offers discounts of a third off most rail fares for people with a disability that makes travelling by train difficult. As with other railcards, Disabled Persons Railcards can be purchased with either a one or three-year validity. The terms and conditions for the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) are set out in legislation. This includes a requirement that the maximum expiry date that can be set on ENCTS passes is five years.

What steps her Department is taking to help lower ticket prices across the north of England.

Affordability is one of our key objectives – so that prices are kept, wherever possible, at a point that works for both passengers and taxpayers. We are committed to reviewing the overcomplicated fares system with a view to simplifying it and will explore the options for expanding ticketing innovations like digital pay as you go, and digital season tickets across the network.

What steps her Department plans to take to help reduce the pay gap between (a) further education college teachers and (b) other teachers.

The government does not set or recommend pay in further education (FE). This remains the responsibility of individual colleges who are free to implement pay arrangements in line with their local needs.The department recognises the vital role that FE teachers play in developing the skills needed to drive the government’s missions to improve opportunity and economic growth. That is why the department is investing around £600 million across the 2024/25 and 2025/26 financial years. This includes extending retention payments of up to £6,000 after tax to eligible early career FE teachers in key subject areas. The department also continues to support recruitment and retention with teacher training bursaries worth up to £30,000 tax-free in certain key subject areas, and with support for industry professionals to enter the teaching workforce through the Taking Teaching Further programme.My right hon. Friend, the Chancellor for the Exchequer, has announced a Budget on 30 October to be followed by a multi-year Spending Review in the spring of next year. Decisions about future post-16 funding and capital programmes will be subject to the outcomes of these fiscal events.

What steps his Department is taking to increase access to diagnosis for children with (a) ADHD and (b) autism in the context of applications for school places.

The Department is currently considering next steps to improve access to autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) assessments.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 autism and ADHD assessment services, in line with relevant National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines.On 5 April 2023, NHS England published a national framework and operational guidance to help ICBs and the National Health Service to deliver improved outcomes for children, young people and adults referred to an autism assessment service. In 2024/25, £4.3 million is available nationally to improve services for autistic children and young people, including autism assessment services.In respect of ADHD, we are supporting a cross-sector taskforce that NHS England has launched to look into challenges in ADHD service provision, to help provide a joined-up approach, including with education, in response to concerns around rising demand.Local authorities must ensure there are sufficient school places for all pupils, including those with special educational needs (SEN) and disabilities. The Children and Families Act 2014 requires local authorities to keep the provision for children and young people with SEN and disabilities under review including its sufficiency, working with parents, young people, and providers. There is no requirement for a formal medical diagnosis to be made before requesting an Education Health and Care needs assessment.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a tax on unbuilt developments where planning permission has lapsed; and if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of such a tax on the construction of new homes.

Introducing new taxes requires a comprehensive evaluation of a variety of factors including, but not limited to, complexity, fairness, and simplicity for the taxpayer. The Government keeps all taxes under review as part of the usual tax policy making process and welcomes representations to help inform future decisions on tax policy. Any changes are generally announced at fiscal events, where decisions are taken in the round. The Government has committed to delivering 1.5 million new homes and has consulted on reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework to deliver key steps to get Britain building, including the reintroduction of mandatory housing targets.

What steps his Department is taking to help reduce waiting times for access to CAMHS support.

It is unacceptable that too many children and young people are not receiving the mental health care they deserve, and we know that waits for mental health services are far too long. We are determined to change that.As part of our mission to build a National Health Service that is fit for the future and that is there when young people need it, this Government will recruit 8,500 additional mental health workers across children and adult mental health services and introduce a specialist mental health professional in every school. This will mean mental health conditions, such as anxiety and depression, can be identified early on and prevented from developing into more serious conditions in later life.

Communities and Local Government, what criteria her Department will use to determine which stage (a) one and (b) two levelling up bids will be allowed to proceed.

The Chancellor’s July ‘Public Spending: Inheritance’ speech forecasted an overspend of £21.9 billion above limits set by the Treasury in the Spring. We understand that will have caused uncertainty about the status of some projects and the challenge that presents locally. We must, however, ensure that we are making responsible decisions on public spending. Decisions that have fallen on this government to take. In this context, the Chancellor has set out a path to confirming plans for this year and next at the forthcoming Budget on October 30th.

What steps her Department is taking to tackle the backlog in asylum seeker claims.

We are committed to restating order to the asylum system, clearing the backlog to end the use of hotels.The Home Secretary has removed the retrospective application of the Illegal Migration Act. This allows asylum claims from individuals who have arrived in the UK since 7 March 2023, to be considered against the existing legislative regime under the Nationality and Borders Act 2022, rather than waiting in the queue eligible for support.The Home Office’s programme of transformation and business improvement aims to speed up decision making to reduce the time people spend in the system and reduce the numbers who are awaiting an interview or decision and remain in hotels.This will enable us to maximise our capacity and progress cases in a more efficient and cost-effective way.

With reference to the New Deal For Working People, what plans he has to change the employment status of foster carers.

I pay tribute to the vital efforts of foster carers, who carry out a challenging role that requires skill, dedication and love. The government will ensure more children can receive loving care in foster families.We will work with councils and fostering services to ensure foster carers receive the support they need and deserve, but there are no plans to give worker status to foster carers.

What steps her Department is taking to help reduce the number of hoax calls to emergency services.

Making a hoax phone call to the police is a criminal offence. All calls to the Police are recorded and the number can be traced, even if withheld. Local forces regularly remind the public of the serious consequences of wasting police time.Emergency services may also request a Communications Provider to place a temporary restriction on the account of the hoax/nuisance caller. However, contact management, including the management of hoax calls, is an operational matter for policing. Any decision is for the emergency authority to take.Where Policing receives a high number of hoax calls from a single source, they will look into the causation and undertake a longer-term response. Where hoax calling is deliberate policing may use existing legislation to prosecute persistent offenders.It is for Chief Constables and democratically elected Police and Crime Commissioners or Mayors to decide how to appropriately respond to all calls, deploy resources and handle communications with the public based on their experience and knowledge of the communities they serve.In FY24/25, the Home Office is funding the Police-led Digital Public Contact programme to explore a range of new contact capabilities, including the use of AI, to support Police call handlers, alleviate demand on the telephony system and improve the experience of crime reporting for the public.

What steps her Department is taking to reduce (a) bus, (b) coach and (c) other transport costs for schools.

The department’s home to school travel policy aims to make sure that no child is prevented from accessing education by a lack of transport. Local authorities must arrange free home to school travel, at the start and end of the school day. This is for children of compulsory school age, (5 to 16), who 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. At their discretion, some schools may choose to organise their own school travel, which they may or may not charge for. Local authorities may also choose to meet their statutory responsibilities for arranging school travel through local arrangements with schools in some cases. I am keen to understand how well home-to-school transport supports children to access educational opportunity and will be working with departmental officials on this.

What steps her Department is taking to reduce the length of time it takes for cases to be reviewed by the Pensions Ombudsman.

In November 2023, DWP instigated a peer review of The Pensions Ombudsman (TPO), that considered organisational structure, performance, waiting times and efficiencies. Following the ensuing recommendations, TPO commissioned an internal review which has resulted in their Operating Model Review (OMR). TPO has begun implementing improvements to its Operating Model enhancing effectiveness and ensuring cases are closed as early as possible. Engaging and influencing the wider pensions industry remains a vital part of TPO strategy. The recent ‘How to avoid the Ombudsman’ session run by its Stakeholder Engagement team demonstrates TPO willingness to engage industry to reduce the number of complaints it receives. DWP has invested substantial additional funding to TPO’s baseline over the SR period to expand headcount to support the reduction in waiting times.

If he will take steps to prevent the sale of the CellAED personal defibrillator.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is responsible for regulating the United Kingdom’s medical devices market and works to protect and promote public health and patient safety. We undertake safety and market surveillance of all medical devices in the UK to monitor both performance and safety. We also designate Approved Bodies to undertake conformity assessments of medical devices and award a UK conformity assessed marking to sell products.The MHRA acts on evidence and takes prompt action where necessary to protect public health. We communicate any actions taken to healthcare professionals and patients as appropriate. We encourage all users of medical devices to report any problems to us via the Yellow Card Scheme.We are aware of issues raised by stakeholders regarding the CellAED device and we are investigating these concerns with the manufacturer.Typically, when concerns are identified we have a number of regulatory options available to protect the public including, but not limited to, working with manufacturers to address safety concerns, negotiating a voluntary suspension of sales pending the conclusion of a safety and performance investigation, producing safety communications, or taking compliance action to prevent sales when required.Interactions between medical device manufacturers and the MHRA are confidential. This is to promote transparent, accurate and timely flow of information to allow appropriate regulatory decisions to be made from evidence provided.