Written questions by Spencer.

Whether any additional operational capacity has been introduced to address backlogs in War Pension and Armed Forces Compensation Scheme claims following the IT transition.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of resourcing for War Pension and Armed Forces Compensation Scheme claim processing since the IT transition.

Awaiting answer.

What proportion of complaints relating to the War Pension Service and Armed Forces Compensation Scheme were upheld in each of the last three years.

Awaiting answer.

When she plans to respond to correspondence dated (a) 30 January 2026, (b) 30 March 2026 and (c) 7 May 2026 from the hon. Member for Runnymede and Weybridge regarding a constituent, ref BS39139, MoJ Ref: MC131442.

Awaiting answer.

How many War Pension and Armed Forces Compensation Scheme claims are currently awaiting Medical Adviser input.

Awaiting answer.

What the current (a) average and (b) maximum waiting times are for the processing of War Pension Service and Armed Forces Compensation Scheme claims.

Awaiting answer.

How many complaints were received in relation to the War Pension Service and Armed Forces Compensation Scheme in each of the last three years.

Awaiting answer.

If he can confirm that all NHS Trusts are no longer using Intergrowth charts as part of their fetal growth surveillance.

The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the introduction of new statutory guidance for supporting pupils with medical conditions and allergies in schools on costs for schools.

Schools have existing statutory duties to make arrangements for supporting pupils with medical conditions. The draft statutory guidance makes clear to schools what is expected of them in taking reasonable steps to fulfil their legal obligations and to meet the individual needs of pupils with medical conditions.Schools will be required to stock ‘spare’ adrenaline auto-injectors, and many already choose to do so. The department’s draft guidance suggests most schools should stock 2 to 4 pairs of adrenaline auto-injectors, at a likely cost of £300. The government is in discussion with suppliers to facilitate options here and will look to say more in due course.School funding is increasing by £1.7 billion in 2026/27, including funding for special educational needs and disabilities reform announced within the Schools White Paper. Our overall investment in schools funding is a critical step forward in our mission to support teachers and leaders to deliver high and rising standards across every school and for every pupil, including those with medical conditions and allergies.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment has he made of the adequacy of the preparations for avoiding school exam disruption during the construction a320 HIF scheme.

My Department has made no such assessment. The matter in question is for the relevant local authority.

What assessment he has made of the resilience of the kerosene supply chain in the UK.

The Department continues to monitor the UK kerosene supply chain as part of its wider monitoring of the security of supply of fuels. The UK benefits from a diverse supply base, including domestic production and imports which are complimented by well‑established distribution networks. While global market conditions can affect prices, the Government currently has no concerns with the supply of heating oil, and continues to monitor risks closely and engage with industry to ensure the continuity of supply is maintained. Airports maintain stocks of bunkered aviation fuel to support their resilience. We are continuing to monitor the situation with industry.

What assessment has she made of the potential impact of the conflict in the middle east on uk aviation due to aviation fuel prices and supply disruption.

The UK fuel system is built on diverse international supply chains, with multiple import routes and suppliers, ensuring resilience. My Department and I are working closely with the industry to monitor supply and understand their mitigations and alternative sourcing options. We will continue to monitor the situation closely, and work with airlines and airports to understand mitigations, should any disruption arise.

What assessment has she made of the potential impact of adjustments to sustainable aviation fuel manufacturing on increasing UK aviation fuel resilience in the context of the conflict in the Middle East.

The Government is monitoring the impact of conflict in the Middle East on fuel supplies, including its impact on the manufacturing of sustainable aviation fuel.The UK fuel system is built on diverse international supply chains, with multiple import routes and suppliers, ensuring resilience. My Department and I are working closely with the industry to monitor supply and understand their mitigations and alternative sourcing options. We will continue to monitor the situation closely, and work with airlines and airports to understand mitigations, should any disruption arise.

The steps he is taking to help protect a) park home residents and b) heating oil users from spikes in energy prices.

The Government recognises that families and businesses across the country will see the recent global events and once again be concerned about the impact on their energy bills. The Government will continue to monitor the situation closely over coming days and weeks. In an uncertain world, we will keep driving for energy sovereignty and abundance with clean homegrown power. We have shown a determination to act to help families, and businesses, and will continue to do so. The Government also recognises and takes into consideration the more complex energy arrangements used in park homes. We are looking at this issue and recognise its importance. It is also worth noting that customers who pay non-domestic intermediaries do not pay costs related to ECO. The Government understands that many households, particularly in rural and off‑gas‑grid areas, rely on heating oil as their primary source of heat. We continue to monitor heating‑oil supply chains ensuring households can access fuel when needed. We are frequently engaging with industry to ensure supply and pricing remains resilient to demand. Fuel markets are governed by competition and consumer protection law, overseen by the Competition Market Authority. Households using heating oil benefit from wider cost‑of‑living support, including electricity bill reductions announced in the Autumn Budget, and the Warm Home Discount, which provides eligible households with £150 off energy bills until 2030/31.

Innovation and Technology, what assessment has she made of a) the cybersecurity vulnerabilities and b) risk of data manipulation, of the Government Consultation, Growing up in the online world: a national consultation.

This consultation is being run in line with Government standard practice. The surveys ask for some non-identifying personal information, such the types of individuals and groups participating, for analytical purposes. We will process any personal data in accordance with all applicable data protection laws and in accordance with the departmental Privacy Policy.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of mechanisms of accountability of Local Resilience Forum Chairs to Members of Parliament.

Under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004, statutory duties for emergency planning rest with individual Category 1 responders, who fulfil these duties collaboratively through Local Resilience Forums (LRFs). LRFs are not statutory bodies and therefore hold no independent legal responsibilities.Each Category 1 responder remains accountable through its own governance arrangements—for example, local authority leadership or Police and Crime Commissioners.LRF Chairs are drawn from Category 1 organisations and serve in a coordinating and facilitative role, bringing partners together to plan for emergencies.Guidance encourages LRF Chairs to maintain constructive relationships with elected members and MPs to support awareness, communication, and public confidence. This government recognises the valuable role MPs play in emergencies, strengthening community preparedness and supporting local response efforts.

Whether he has had discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the differences in shipping tax between Northern Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle of Wight under the Emissions Trading Scheme.

Reforms to the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) are agreed jointly by Ministers in all four nations who have equal decision-making power. We have consulted extensively on this since March 2022. Obligations under the scheme apply uniformly to all nations in the UK. A 50% deduction has been applied for voyages in either direction between Northern Ireland and Great Britain. This will ensure parity and prevent distortions with routes between the island of Ireland and Great Britain, which are included under the EU ETS. A limited exemption applies for ferries serving Scotland's islands and peninsulas given legal duties under the Islands (Scotland) Act 2018.

What his planned timetable is for publication of interim and final findings from the independent maternity services investigation.

On the 26 February Baroness Amos published her interim report on the National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation, and the final report and recommendations will follow in Spring 2026.The Government is also setting up a National Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce, chaired by my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. The taskforce will address the recommendations of the investigation by developing a new national action plan to drive improvements across maternity and neonatal care.

What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of fetal growth monitoring practices across NHS Trusts.

To support the consistent delivery of evidence based best practice in regards to fetal growth monitoring, NHS England published the Saving Babies’ Lives Care Bundle Version 3.2 in April 2025.The bundle covers six areas of clinical care, one of which is fetal growth monitoring. This includes early and ongoing fetal growth restriction risk assessment, risk-based surveillance, competent measurement and interpretation, and timely escalation through clear assessment and decision-making pathways, in line with the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists’ Green-top Guideline No. 31.Implementation of the clinical standards within the bundle is supported through NHS Resolution’s Maternity Incentive Scheme, which provides a strong financial mechanism to encourage adoption and consistency.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of North Sea oil and gas on the Scottish economy.

The Government is committed to managing existing oil and gas fields responsibly for the entirety of their full lifespan. Oil and gas will remain an important part of the UK’s energy mix for decades to come.We are also investing in our country's green energy future, and the likes of Scottish Power are creating up to 1400 jobs in Scotland through a £12 billion investment.