Every parliamentary written question tabled by Ben Coleman this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 1–20 of 166 · this parliament
What provisions are in place for British dual nationals to demonstrate their right of abode under the Immigration Act 1971 in urgent or compassionate circumstances where they do not hold a valid UK passport or certificate of entitlement.
Awaiting answer.
Whether she plans to introduce discretion, exemptions or transitional arrangements within the Electronic Travel Authorisation system and carrier liability framework to prevent cases of hardship among British dual nationals.
Awaiting answer.
What steps her Department is taking to ensure that British citizens exercising their right of abode are not prevented from returning to the UK due to carrier enforcement of pre-departure checks.
Awaiting answer.
What assessment she has made of the impact on British dual nationals of the operation of the carrier liability scheme, as expanded under section 76 of the Nationality and Borders Act 2022, in requiring proof of permission to travel prior to boarding for the UK.
Awaiting answer.
What estimate she has made of the number of British dual nationals who have been refused boarding or otherwise prevented from travelling to the UK since February 2026 as a result of pre-departure documentation requirements.
Awaiting answer.
Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of existing regulations on the charging and transparency of utility costs for people in accommodation occupied under licence agreements.
All renters, regardless of tenure or agreement type, deserve to live in safe and secure homes. Those with a licence to occupy accommodation are protected from eviction and harassment and have a right to report health and safety concerns about their property to the local authority. A landlord may include an amount in the rent to cover the cost of utilities that a licensee uses. A landlord may also record the occupier’s consumption and recharge them for it. Where utilities are resold, maximum resale price rules apply (Ofwat’s for water and Ofgem’s for gas and electricity), unless the charge is included in the rent for the accommodation. In October 2025, Ofgem issued a call for input on Reselling Gas and Electricity to assess whether current arrangements under the Maximum Resale Price provisions remain fit for purpose. It can be found here. Ofgem is considering the responses received and aims to publish a policy consultation on proposed changes in the summer. Local authorities already have robust powers to protect people living in accommodation subject to selective or HMO licensing. This includes using licence conditions to help ensure landlords provide safe and well-maintained properties and have suitable management arrangements in place. We keep licensing regulations under review.
Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the protections available to people in licensed accommodation in respect of (a) unsafe living conditions, including damp and mould, and (b) disputed utility charges; and whether he plans to improve enforcement mechanisms for such cases.
All renters, regardless of tenure or agreement type, deserve to live in safe and secure homes. Those with a licence to occupy accommodation are protected from eviction and harassment and have a right to report health and safety concerns about their property to the local authority. A landlord may include an amount in the rent to cover the cost of utilities that a licensee uses. A landlord may also record the occupier’s consumption and recharge them for it. Where utilities are resold, maximum resale price rules apply (Ofwat’s for water and Ofgem’s for gas and electricity), unless the charge is included in the rent for the accommodation. In October 2025, Ofgem issued a call for input on Reselling Gas and Electricity to assess whether current arrangements under the Maximum Resale Price provisions remain fit for purpose. It can be found here. Ofgem is considering the responses received and aims to publish a policy consultation on proposed changes in the summer. Local authorities already have robust powers to protect people living in accommodation subject to selective or HMO licensing. This includes using licence conditions to help ensure landlords provide safe and well-maintained properties and have suitable management arrangements in place. We keep licensing regulations under review.
Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of protection available to people occupying accommodation under licence agreements.
All renters, regardless of tenure or agreement type, deserve to live in safe and secure homes. Those with a licence to occupy accommodation are protected from eviction and harassment and have a right to report health and safety concerns about their property to the local authority. A landlord may include an amount in the rent to cover the cost of utilities that a licensee uses. A landlord may also record the occupier’s consumption and recharge them for it. Where utilities are resold, maximum resale price rules apply (Ofwat’s for water and Ofgem’s for gas and electricity), unless the charge is included in the rent for the accommodation. In October 2025, Ofgem issued a call for input on Reselling Gas and Electricity to assess whether current arrangements under the Maximum Resale Price provisions remain fit for purpose. It can be found here. Ofgem is considering the responses received and aims to publish a policy consultation on proposed changes in the summer. Local authorities already have robust powers to protect people living in accommodation subject to selective or HMO licensing. This includes using licence conditions to help ensure landlords provide safe and well-maintained properties and have suitable management arrangements in place. We keep licensing regulations under review.
How many higher education institutions applied for the Erasmus Charter for Higher Education by 24 March 2026; and how many were accepted.
Erasmus Charter for Higher Education applications are currently subject to admissibility and eligibility checks before being evaluated against published award criteria.We anticipate that the results will be published in September 2026.
With reference to the Answer of 26 March 2026 to Question 114745 on Erasmus+ Programme, what her timeline is on determining the National Agency for Erasmus+.
Work is underway with the British Council ahead of their planned appointment as the UK’s National Agency in Summer/Autumn 2026.
What steps his Department is taking to ensure that all eligible claimants are made aware of the forthcoming proposed removal of the two-child limit on Child Tax Credit and Universal Credit.
The Government has announced that the two child‑ limit in Child Tax Credit and Universal Credit will be removed from 6th April 2026. For Universal Credit, the Department is contacting customers who are expected to benefit from the removal of the two child limit directly, ensuring that families are aware of the additional support they will be entitled to. Eligible customers will automatically receive the increased child element from April 2026, provided the number of children in their household is correctly recorded on their Universal Credit claim. The Universal Credit service will be updated to reflect the policy change, and agents will receive updated guidance and communications to support them in responding to claimant enquiries. Customers can also receive additional support through Jobcentres, by telephoning the Universal Credit helpline, or via their online Universal Credit account. HM Revenue and Customs is responsible for managing any remaining Child Tax Credit claims and will lead on communications with their affected customers.
What proportion of food purchased through the NHS Supply Chain is classified as Nova Group 4; and what plans he has to incentivise NHS Trusts to move toward minimally processed alternatives.
Data is currently not collected centrally on National Health Service food purchases which would identify NOVA Group four foods.The United Kingdom’s national food model is the Eatwell Guide. The principles of the Eatwell Guide underpin the Government’s Buying Standards for Food and Catering Services (GBSF), which help to ensure public sector food is procured to higher sustainability and nutritional standards. The GBSF include mandatory nutrition standards intended to reduce the intake of salt, sugar, and saturated fat, and to increase consumption of fruit, vegetables, fish, and fibre. They also include standards that limit the availability and portion size of soft drinks, confectionery, and savoury snacks.Hospitals, the Government, and their agencies are required to apply the GBSF, with other public sector settings also encouraged to follow.NHS England’s National Standards for Healthcare Food and Drink (2022) state that all NHS trusts are expected to follow the published NHS National Standards for Healthcare Food and Drink. This document makes clear that organisations must implement the GBSF minimum mandatory standards for healthier and more sustainable retail, staff, and visitor food and drink.The document recommends that NHS trusts should prioritise healthier, seasonal, and locally sourced food and adopt more environmentally sustainable menus that use:- fewer processed foods high in sugar, salt, and fats;- a wide variety of protein sources including beans, pulses, nuts, and soya; and- a choice of seasonal, locally sourced fruits and vegetables. The standards can be found at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/national-standards-for-healthcare-food-and-drink/
Whether she will introduce a maximum 5 per cent threshold for ultra-processed foods (Nova Group 4) in the updated School Food Standards, in line with the successful 2025 implementation by the Isle of Man Government; and if she will make a statement.
I refer my hon. Friend, the Member for Chelsea and Fulham to the answer of 7 April 2026 to Question 121632.
Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to update the Government Buying Standards for Food and Catering Services to include a mandatory limit on the procurement of ultra-processed foods across the public estate, including prisons and government departments.
Defra continues to engage with actors across public sector supply chains and are carefully considering possible policy options, including the potential for updating the government buying standards for food and catering services (GBSF). We will continue to work closely with the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC), who own the nutritional elements of the GBSF, to ensure healthier options are widely accessible in all public sector settings including prisons and government departments.
What specific nutritional and processing specifications are included in contracts for the National Breakfast Club programme to help ensure that the £100m+ of annual public spend is not directed toward ultra-processed cereals and breads.
The National School Breakfast Programme is an inherited scheme from the previous government and the contract will end in July 2026. The contract with the supplier, Family Action, stipulates that all food available for schools to purchase must meet the School Food Standards. The School Food Standards already restricts foods high in fat, salt and sugar, as well as low quality reformed or reconstituted foods. However, to ensure quality and nutrition in meals for the future, we are revising the School Food Standards. We are engaging experts across the sector, such as nutritionists, and are developing our plans to consult on the changes. This government is committed to delivering a free breakfast club in every state-funded school with primary-aged pupils in England. Since April 2025, we have funded 750 schools to offer a free breakfast club as early adopters, delivering seven million meals so far. We are moving into national rollout, investing a further £80 million into the programme to fund an additional 2,000 schools between April 2026 and March 2027. Schools delivering free breakfast clubs have autonomy in how they procure their breakfast food, which must meet the School Food Standards.
What steps he is taking to support people migrating to Universal Credit who lack digital skills and are unable to complete online requirements, including accepting their claimant commitment.
The Department recognises that not all people moving to Universal Credit have the confidence or ability to use digital services independently. Universal Credit is designed to be “digital-first”, but not “digital‑-only”,‑ and a range of support is already in place to ensure that claimants who lack digital skills, or who cannot complete online actions such as accepting their Claimant Commitment, are fully supported. All Jobcentres provide free access to WiFi and computers, alongside Work Coach support, so claimants can get help using online services if they need it. For those who cannot use digital channels at all, assistance to make and maintain their claim is available by telephone, and Work Coaches can accept Claimant Commitments verbally where appropriate. If a claimant is unable to accept their commitments digitally, agents may record verbal consent and accept the commitment on their behalf, ensuring no‑-one‑ is disadvantaged because of low digital capability. Additional help is available through the Citizens Advice “Help to Claim” service, which provides independent support for people moving to Universal Credit, including navigating digital requirements. These measures ensure that claimants who lack digital skills continue to receive tailored support throughout their migration journey, and that no-one‑ is prevented from accessing Universal Credit because they cannot complete online actions.
What assessment he has made of the potential impact of mandating extended online consultation use at GP surgeries on the availability of face-to-face appointments.
The changes to the 2025/26 GP Contract that came into force on 1 October requires practices to make all routes for contacting the practice, including online consultations, available throughout core hours, 8:00am to 6.30pm. This is intended to provide more consistent access for patients and help manage the 8:00am scramble.In 2024/25, 85% of primary care networks reported that all their practices already provided online consultations during core hours and did not raise concerns about an impact on the availability of face-to-face appointments. Online consultation systems support triage so patients can be directed to the most appropriate response, including face-to-face appointments where clinically necessary In July 2024, only 61% of patients found it easy to access their GP. Today, it’s nearly 77%.
If her Department will introduce supplementary grants for students from disadvantaged backgrounds who seek to participate in Erasmus + projects in line with the provision in other associated countries.
As set out in the Erasmus+ Programme Guide, additional funding is available for participants with fewer opportunities, including those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to support them to travel abroad on an Erasmus+ placement.
What specific mechanisms within Erasmus+ will be used to prioritise learners from disadvantaged backgrounds in a manner similar to the Turing Scheme.
This iteration of Erasmus+ has a strong focus on inclusion, with diversity and inclusion set as a core priority. The UK’s association will support this commitment, continuing the ambition set by the Turing Scheme to prioritise mobilities involving participants from disadvantaged backgrounds.The EU allocates dedicated budgets to support ‘people with fewer opportunities’ to take part in mobility activities, including those facing financial, social or health-related barriers. Grant rates are set out in the Erasmus+ Programme Guide for each year of the programme.The department is working closely with all relevant sectors to maximise take up, particularly among disadvantaged groups. A UK National Agency will be appointed to administer the programme, with a dedicated website and guidance issued well-ahead of the 2027 funding call. Alongside this, there will also be a broad range of sector outreach activities to increase awareness and engagement, such as webinars and targeted communications to eligible organisations.
If her Department will introduce supplementary grants for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, as other associated countries provide.
The government are committed to supporting the aspiration of every person who meets the requirements and wants to go to university.The government currently provides three mean-tested dependants’ grants that low-income students with childcare and/or caring responsibilities can apply for in addition to the regular package of maintenance and tuition fee loans. These are intended to reflect the greater costs that recipients face when going to university, providing a level playing field for students who face additional barriers to study.From 2028/29, we will also reintroduce maintenance grants to support full-time students from low-income households studying courses aligned with the government’s missions and Industrial Strategy. The grants will provide disadvantaged full-time students with up to £1,000 extra per year, on top of existing maintenance loans, increasing cash for students without increasing their debt.