Written questions by Ribeiro-Addy.

Pursuant to the Answer of 10 February 2025, to Question 28684 on British Nationality: Fees and Charges, what reasons were given for rejecting fee waiver applications for child citizenship in the last 12 months.

The Home Office publishes data on the processing of child citizenship fee waiver applications on the gov.uk website. The data shows that over half of the applications submitted in the last quarter were concluded within four weeks, and 99.7% of applications from the previous quarter were concluded within 6 months.Immigration statistics are published at Migration statistics. While these include statistics for child citizenship fee waiver applications, they do not identify the specific reasons why an application was rejected. The reasons for why an application is rejected is not recorded in a reportable format. It would require a manual check of each individual application to obtain the data, which could only be done at a disproportionate cost.The Home Office publishes data on the processing of child citizenship fee waiver applications on gov.uk.The latest Migration Transparency Data can be found here:Immigration and protection data: Q3 2024 - GOV.UK.There is no published service standard for child citizenship fee waiver applications. The data does show that over half of the applications submitted in the last quarter were concluded within four weeks, and 99.7% of applications from the previous quarter were concluded within 6 months.

Pursuant to the Answer of 10 February 2025, to Question 28684 on British Nationality: Fees and Charges, if she will provide a breakdown of the time taken to approve fee waiver applications for child citizenship.

The Home Office publishes data on the processing of child citizenship fee waiver applications on the gov.uk website. The data shows that over half of the applications submitted in the last quarter were concluded within four weeks, and 99.7% of applications from the previous quarter were concluded within 6 months.Immigration statistics are published at Migration statistics. While these include statistics for child citizenship fee waiver applications, they do not identify the specific reasons why an application was rejected. The reasons for why an application is rejected is not recorded in a reportable format. It would require a manual check of each individual application to obtain the data, which could only be done at a disproportionate cost.The Home Office publishes data on the processing of child citizenship fee waiver applications on gov.uk.The latest Migration Transparency Data can be found here:Immigration and protection data: Q3 2024 - GOV.UK.There is no published service standard for child citizenship fee waiver applications. The data does show that over half of the applications submitted in the last quarter were concluded within four weeks, and 99.7% of applications from the previous quarter were concluded within 6 months.

Pursuant to the Answer of 10 February 2025 to Question 28684 on British Nationality: Fees and Charges, what the target timeframe is for deciding on fee waivers for child citizenship.

The Home Office publishes data on the processing of child citizenship fee waiver applications on the gov.uk website. The data shows that over half of the applications submitted in the last quarter were concluded within four weeks, and 99.7% of applications from the previous quarter were concluded within 6 months.Immigration statistics are published at Migration statistics. While these include statistics for child citizenship fee waiver applications, they do not identify the specific reasons why an application was rejected. The reasons for why an application is rejected is not recorded in a reportable format. It would require a manual check of each individual application to obtain the data, which could only be done at a disproportionate cost.The Home Office publishes data on the processing of child citizenship fee waiver applications on gov.uk.The latest Migration Transparency Data can be found here:Immigration and protection data: Q3 2024 - GOV.UK.There is no published service standard for child citizenship fee waiver applications. The data does show that over half of the applications submitted in the last quarter were concluded within four weeks, and 99.7% of applications from the previous quarter were concluded within 6 months.

Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the environmental impact of running artificial intelligence technologies.

The Secretary of State has regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues on a range of issues. The AI (artificial intelligence) Opportunities Action Plan sets out how we will achieve our AI ambitions by laying the foundations for growth, driving adoption and building UK capabilities.  We recognise that data centres face sustainability challenges, from energy demands to water use. Through the AI Energy Council, we will be exploring bold, clean energy solutions from next-generation renewables to small modular reactors to ensure our AI ambitions align with the UK’s net zero goals. This builds on the Department of Science, Innovation & Technology’s contribution to make Britain a clean energy superpower by investing in relevant research on clean energy and climate change.

What steps his Department is taking to protect private renters from potential evictions and rent hikes as unintended consequences of mandating all private rented accommodation meets EPC C by 2030.

Government is consulting on increasing minimum energy efficiency standards in the domestic private rented sector. The Renters’ Rights Bill will also put in place new regulations to protect tenants. This includes providing stronger protections to ensure that tenants are able to appeal excessive above-market rents, abolishing Section 21 ‘no fault evictions’, and moving to a simpler tenancy structure where all assured tenancies are periodic. These measures provide more security for tenants and enable them to challenge poor practice and unfair rent increases without fear of eviction.

Communities and Local Government, if she will take steps to ensure the provision of adequate funding for demand-led local government services in the next spending review.

We recognise the challenges that local authorities are facing as demand increases for critical services. Funding allocations from future settlements are subject to the outcome of future Spending Reviews.The final Settlement for 2025-26 therefore makes available over £69 billion for local government, which is a 6.8% cash terms increase in councils’ Core Spending Power on 2024-25.We are also taking immediate action to begin addressing the significant challenges facing local government by ensuring that funding goes to the places that need it most in 2025-26.The Ministry works closely with local government and other government departments to understand specific demand and cost pressures facing local government on an ongoing basis.

Whether it is his Department's policy that babies in the third trimester that have been removed from their mother after her death should not be (a) recognised and (b) recorded as stillborn.

The definition of a stillborn child in England and Wales is contained in the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953 section 41, and was amended by the Stillbirth (Definition) Act 1992 section 1(1). This act defines a stillbirth as ‘a child which has issued forth from its mother after the 24th week of pregnancy and which did not at any time breathe or show any other signs of life’.It is expected that babies are recognised and recorded as stillborn in accordance with this definition.

Communities and Local Government, whether she has made and assessment of the inclusion of measures of deprivation as part of funding reform for local government.

Building on the measures in the 2025-26 Local Government Finance Settlement, the Government is committed to introducing an improved and updated approach to funding local authorities from 2026-27.We are inviting views on our principles and objectives for funding reform through a consultation (18 December – 12 February), as well as engaging with the local government sector more broadly. As part of this, we are inviting views on the drivers of councils’ spending need, including measures of deprivation.This consultation and engagement will inform the development of our detailed proposals, which we will consult on in late Spring following the multi-year Spending Review and ahead of the provisional multi-year Settlement for 2026-27.

If she will make it her policy to increase Local Housing Allowance rates in line with inflation.

The Local Housing Allowance (LHA) was introduced in 2008 and determines the maximum housing support for tenants in the private rented sector. Claimants in similar circumstances living in the same area are entitled to the same maximum rent allowance regardless of the contractual rent paid. LHA rates do not cover all rents in all areas. In April 2024, LHA rates were restored at the 30th percentile of local market rents at a cost of approximately £7bn over 5 years. In relation to LHA rates remaining at current levels for 2025/26, the Government has had to take difficult decisions at Autumn Budget to address the challenging fiscal context. For LHA a range of factors were considered, including rental data, the impacts of LHA rates, the fact that rates were increased in April, and the wider fiscal context. Decisions on LHA rates for future years will be taken in the context of the Government’s missions, housing priorities, and the fiscal context. For those who need further support, Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) are available from local authorities. DHPs can be paid to those entitled to housing support who face a shortfall in meeting their housing costs.

Whether she plans to lift the 2011 cap on the amount of Local Housing Allowance that can be reclaimed by local authorities to cover the cost of temporary accommodation.

We continue to keep the subsidy paid to local authorities under review and appreciate that local authorities are subject to many funding pressures. However, any increases to the subsidy paid to local authorities would require a Budget (rather than as part of a Spending Review) and would need to be taken in the context of the government’s missions, goals on housing and the broader fiscal position.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to establish a formal shared decision-making arrangement between the Mayor of London and local authorities.

The Government remains committed to engaging local authorities, including London Borough Councils, and the wider local government sector on the detail of our reforms set out in the English Devolution White Paper. As part of this process, it will be important to consider London’s unique devolution settlement, including drawing on existing ways of working between the Greater London Authority and London Boroughs.

Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to give local authorities in London a formal decision-making role in any future Integrated Settlement applied to the Greater London Authority.

At Autumn Budget 2024 the Government committed to exploring how the Integrated Settlement policy could be applied for the Greater London Authority from the 2026-27 financial year onwards, taking into account the capital’s unique devolution arrangements. This work is currently taking place and the Government plans to announce further details following the conclusion of Phase 2 of the Spending Review 2025.

How many fee waiver requests for child citizenship applications have been (a) submitted, (b) accepted and (c) rejected in the last 12 months.

An Impact Assessment has been published alongside the Immigration and Nationality (Fees) (Amendment) Order 2025 (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukia/2025/9/pdfs/ukia_20250009_en.pdf) which sets out an estimate of the proposed fee changes, were they to increase to the level of the new fee maxima. A full impact assessment will be published alongside any increase to fee levels in the Immigration and Nationality (Fees) Regulations 2018.Fees for immigration and nationality applications are kept under review. Any changes to fee levels can only be made through an amendment to the Immigration and Nationality (Fees) Regulations with the approval of Parliament.The Home Office publishes data on the number of fee waiver requests for child registration applications that have been submitted, accepted and rejected. The latest data can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-and-protection-data-q3-2024.The Home Office does not hold specific data on the amount of revenue received from child citizenship applications.

Whether her Department has commissioned an impact assessment on proposals to increase fees associated with adult citizenship applications.

An Impact Assessment has been published alongside the Immigration and Nationality (Fees) (Amendment) Order 2025 (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukia/2025/9/pdfs/ukia_20250009_en.pdf) which sets out an estimate of the proposed fee changes, were they to increase to the level of the new fee maxima. A full impact assessment will be published alongside any increase to fee levels in the Immigration and Nationality (Fees) Regulations 2018.Fees for immigration and nationality applications are kept under review. Any changes to fee levels can only be made through an amendment to the Immigration and Nationality (Fees) Regulations with the approval of Parliament.The Home Office publishes data on the number of fee waiver requests for child registration applications that have been submitted, accepted and rejected. The latest data can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-and-protection-data-q3-2024.The Home Office does not hold specific data on the amount of revenue received from child citizenship applications.

Whether her Department has plans to increase the fees associated with applications for child citizenship.

An Impact Assessment has been published alongside the Immigration and Nationality (Fees) (Amendment) Order 2025 (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukia/2025/9/pdfs/ukia_20250009_en.pdf) which sets out an estimate of the proposed fee changes, were they to increase to the level of the new fee maxima. A full impact assessment will be published alongside any increase to fee levels in the Immigration and Nationality (Fees) Regulations 2018.Fees for immigration and nationality applications are kept under review. Any changes to fee levels can only be made through an amendment to the Immigration and Nationality (Fees) Regulations with the approval of Parliament.The Home Office publishes data on the number of fee waiver requests for child registration applications that have been submitted, accepted and rejected. The latest data can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-and-protection-data-q3-2024.The Home Office does not hold specific data on the amount of revenue received from child citizenship applications.

What revenue has the Exchequer received from child citizenship applications since the fee waiver was introduced.

An Impact Assessment has been published alongside the Immigration and Nationality (Fees) (Amendment) Order 2025 (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukia/2025/9/pdfs/ukia_20250009_en.pdf) which sets out an estimate of the proposed fee changes, were they to increase to the level of the new fee maxima. A full impact assessment will be published alongside any increase to fee levels in the Immigration and Nationality (Fees) Regulations 2018.Fees for immigration and nationality applications are kept under review. Any changes to fee levels can only be made through an amendment to the Immigration and Nationality (Fees) Regulations with the approval of Parliament.The Home Office publishes data on the number of fee waiver requests for child registration applications that have been submitted, accepted and rejected. The latest data can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-and-protection-data-q3-2024.The Home Office does not hold specific data on the amount of revenue received from child citizenship applications.

Whether she is preparing reviews on the operation of sections (a) 73 and (b) 74 of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 in accordance with those sections.

Section 73(5) and Section 74(7) placed a duty on the Secretary of State to prepare and publish a report on the operation of sections 12 and 14 of the Public Order Act 1986, as amended by the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022.The Government published this report on 17 December 2024. It can be viewed at the following link: Police protest powers, June 2022 to March 2024 - GOV.UK.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of (a) changes in the number of housing association social tenants in rent arrears and (b) increased rents.

Individual circumstances will vary, not least depending on whether tenants receive Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit to help pay their rent, and whether they are affected by the total benefit cap or the removal of the spare room subsidy, but the government recognises that increases in rents can have an impact on the disposable income of social housing tenants.We recently consulted on a long-term rent settlement that would allow social housing rents to increase by up to CPI + 1% each year for five years from 2026. As part of that consultation, we invited views on whether this proposal or alternative options would strike the right balance between the need for increased investment in new and existing homes and the interests of those whose disposable income would be affected by rent increases, as well as the consequences for welfare spending.The consultation closed on 23 December 2024 and my officials and I are giving careful consideration to the responses received.The government has no plans to freeze rents or cap service charges for tenants and leaseholders.

Communities and Local Government, what estimate she has made of the number of challenges brought to the English First-tier Property Tribunal against (a) councils, (b) housing associations, (c) private landlords and (d) intermediary managing agents for the (i) level and (ii) payability of service charges in 2024.

As set out in my Written Ministerial Statement of 21 November 2024 (HCWS244), the government will consult on the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act’s service charge and litigation costs provisions this year, bringing these measures into force as quickly as possible thereafter.We will also consult on new reforms to the section 20 ‘major works’ procedure that leaseholders must go through when they face large bills for such works and on strengthening regulation of managing agents to drive up the standard of their service, as a minimum by introducing mandatory professional qualifications.Details of the number of cases received and disposed of by the First-tier Tribunal can be found on gov.uk here and decisions made by the First-tier Tribunal Residential Property Chamber can be found on gov.uk here. The Department does not have a breakdown on how many cases relate to service charge disputes.The government funds the provision of free information and advice by the Leasehold Advisory Service (LEASE) to leaseholders, including on service charge issues. This enables leaseholders to take an informed decision on what appropriate action they need to take next.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment has she made of the potential merits of (a) freezing rents and (b) capping service charges for housing association social tenants.

Individual circumstances will vary, not least depending on whether tenants receive Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit to help pay their rent, and whether they are affected by the total benefit cap or the removal of the spare room subsidy, but the government recognises that increases in rents can have an impact on the disposable income of social housing tenants.We recently consulted on a long-term rent settlement that would allow social housing rents to increase by up to CPI + 1% each year for five years from 2026. As part of that consultation, we invited views on whether this proposal or alternative options would strike the right balance between the need for increased investment in new and existing homes and the interests of those whose disposable income would be affected by rent increases, as well as the consequences for welfare spending.The consultation closed on 23 December 2024 and my officials and I are giving careful consideration to the responses received.The government has no plans to freeze rents or cap service charges for tenants and leaseholders.