Written questions by Stephenson.

Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the value of allotments to local communities.

We recognise the significance of allotments and the valuable contribution they make to the health, wellbeing, and spirit of communities. Local Authorities have a duty to provide allotments if there is sufficient demand, and we believe they are best placed to assess the needs of their areas. Therefore, there is currently no national assessment of the value of allotments to local communities. However, we are seeking to improve allotment provision through the Government’s Green Flag Award scheme. Under this scheme, allotments (if entered as a community garden) can be awarded Green Flag accreditation if they meet the highest quality standards. Recent updates to the Green Flag Award contract, managed by the MHCLG, have included a criterion for ‘community involvement’, which evaluates the value of green spaces to their local communities.

Communities and Local Government, what is his planned timetable for implementing local government re-organisation in Bedfordshire.

The English Devolution White Paper announced that we will facilitate a programme of local government reorganisation for two-tier areas, and for unitary councils where there is evidence of failure or where their size or boundaries may be hindering their ability to deliver sustainable and high-quality public services.On 5 February councils in all 21 two-tier areas together with small neighbouring unitary authorities were invited to submit proposals for unitary local government. The three councils in Bedfordshire were not included as part of this process. The Government is open to discussions with all areas where structural change will help them get onto a more sustainable footing.

Innovation and Technology, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the decision to reduce the number of planned masts under the Shared Rural Network programme on (a) rural mobile coverage and (b) (i) remote and (ii) total not-spot areas.

The first part of the Shared Rural Network (SRN), which targeted areas of the UK that have 4G coverage from at least one, but not all, mobile network operators was completed last year and covered a greater area of UK landmass than originally expected, putting it ahead of schedule. 4G coverage across the UK continues to increase and is currently at 95.6%.This has allowed the Government and the mobile network operators to reassess the delivery strategy for the Government funded elements of the SRN and specifically agree on a more targeted approach to delivery of the total not-spot project focussing publicly funded infrastructure on where it is most needed, in areas primarily where people live, work, or travel, including walking and hiking routes.

Innovation and Technology, whether the reported 95% coverage achieved by the Shared Rural Network will be reviewed using Ofcom’s forthcoming reporting methodology based on a 5 Mbps threshold.

I refer the hon. Member for Harpenden and Berkhamsted, to the answer of 25 July 2025 to Question 68570: Written questions and answers - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the financial sustainability of housing associations.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given Question UIN 76512 on 16 September 2025.

Communities and Local Government, if he will make it his policy to direct local authorities to always reject planning applications which the lead local flood authority deem would increase the risk of flooding for existing properties.

The National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that inappropriate development in areas at risk of flooding should be avoided by directing development away from areas at highest risk (whether existing or future). Where development is necessary in such areas, the development should be made safe for its lifetime without increasing flood risk elsewhere. In addition, the National Planning Policy Framework is clear that sustainable drainage systems provided as part of proposals for major development should take account of advice from the Lead Local Flood Authority. Planning practice guidance sets out that when considering proposals for major development the local planning authority will need to consult the lead local flood authority on surface water drainage. The guidance is clear that local planning authorities may find it helpful to agree with lead local flood authorities the circumstances and locations where site specific flood risk assessments will be required due to surface water or other local flood risks and lead local flood authority advice can be sought on other planning applications which raise surface water or other local flood risk issues. This can be achieved by having regard to the available information on local flood risks, including the Strategic Flood Risk Assessment and the updated map of flood risk from surface water which can be found on gov.uk here. To ensure a proportionate, pragmatic and constituents approach to surface flood risk, we published updated planning practice guidance to clarify how the sequential test should be applied in September 2025. We will consider whether any further changes are required to national planning policy for flooding as part of the new suite of national policies for decision making that we intend to consult on later this year.

Communities and Local Government, if he will make it his policy to allow local authorities to reject planning applications from developers on the basis of previous failures to (a) build and (b) maintain sustainable drainage infrastructure.

The government is committed to securing the delivery of high-quality sustainable drainage systems to help manage flood risk and adapt to the effects of climate change. The National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that developments of all sizes should use sustainable drainage techniques where the development could have drainage impacts, and that appropriate maintenance arrangements should be in place to ensure an acceptable standard of operation for the lifetime of the development. By law, planning applications must be determined in accordance with the development plan for the area unless material considerations indicate otherwise. Each application is judged on its own individual merits and the weight given to these considerations is a matter for the local planning authority as the decision taker in the first instance. Local planning authorities should consider the use of conditions or planning obligations to make development acceptable, which may include flood mitigation works, and have a broad range of powers to take enforcement action against breaches of planning control.

How much funding she plans to allocate to direct rail links between the UK and Germany; and what proportion of that will be allocated in the UK.

The Government fully supports the growth of international rail passenger services, including potential new direct connections, and recognises the socio-economic benefits that these provide for UK citizens and businesses. The Government signed a joint declaration with Germany in August which formalises our joint commitment to exploring the potential for direct rail services in future and establishes a Taskforce to take this forward. This work is in the very early stages, and any services established will be operated on a commercial basis without Government funding, as is the case for all international rail passenger services from the UK.

If she will make an estimate of the number of UK visa holders on a work visa related to religious work who were granted indefinite leave to remain since 4 July 2024.

Migration Statistics publish annual figures on the number of grants of indefinite leave to remain (settlement) by category of leave sub-group in table SE_D01 of the Immigration system statistics quarterly release - GOV.UK publication.The available data relating to UK visa holders on a “Ministers of Religion (previously Tier 2)” visa who were granted indefinite leave to remain can be found in table SE_D01 from the above link.

What step her Department is taking to ensure that Skilled Worker visa holders are earning an income above the qualifying threshold for that visa.

Our compliance officers regularly check workers salary particulars, including bank statements detailing payments made to them by their employer, as well as the payment documentation provided by sponsors. In addition, routine checks are carried out with OGDs if there is any indication of a failure to pay the designated rate.

With reference to the guidance entitled Register of licensed sponsors: workers, published on 26 September 2025, what estimate her Department has made of the number of organisations on the register who can sponsor charity workers whose main function is to perform religious work.

The information requested is not available from published statistics and the relevant data could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.

How many and what proportion of people who entered the UK on a social care work visa in each of the past ten years remain (a) in the UK and (b) working in social care.

The information requested is not centrally held and could only be collected and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.

If stations on East West Rail will have step-free access.

All new and refurbished stations as part of the East-West Rail (EWR) project will have step-free access for users once the full route between Oxford and Cambridge opens in the mid-2030s and will meet robust accessibility requirements set out by EWR Co’s inclusive design team. EWR Co also has an accessibility advisory panel, which is made up of people with a range of disabilities, who are consulted on EWR Co’s designs to ensure these promote accessible travel for all.

Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to ensure mobile network operators cannot invoke the all reasonable efforts clause to avoid penalties under the Shared Rural Network agreement in remote or total not-spot areas.

I refer the hon. Member for Harpenden and Berkhamsted, to the answer of 25 July 2025 to Question 68571: Written questions and answers - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament

If she will publish a list of the named, contactable police officer in every neighbourhood in England and Wales.

The Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee is ensuring a more consistent standard of neighbourhood policing across England and Wales. This includes every neighbourhood in England and Wales now having named and contactable officers.Details of all named, contactable officers can be found on force websites, where the public are able to type in their postcode to find out about their neighbourhood policing area, local policing priorities and how to contact their neighbourhood teams.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 30 June 2025 to Question 61255 on Planning: Apprentices, if he will make it his policy to collect data on the number of planners with a Level 7 Chartered Town Planner Apprenticeship qualification that are employed by (a) local authorities and (b) developers.

My Department currently has no plans to collect data on the number of planners with a Level 7 Chartered Town Planner Apprenticeship qualification employed by local authorities or developers.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 30 June 2025 to Question 61251 on Affordable Housing: Greater London, what level of affordable housing delivery in London he is targeting; and what progress his Department has made on this.

The GLA’s target range for the 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme in London is 17,800-19,000.The GLA last published their affordable housing statistics in August 2025. From the beginning of the programme to June 2025, there have been 5,500 starts, and 997 completions.

With reference to page 27 of the Agenda Report entitled The formation of the Vauxhall Luton Taskforce of the Agenda for the Luton Borough Council Executive meeting on 23 June 2025, whether the Government has made its own assessment of the cost of the closure of the Stellantis plant on the Bedfordshire economy.

Despite extensive engagement from Ministers, Stellantis regrettably decided to close its Luton plant, with production ending in May 2025. While we do not have a formal assessment of the cost of the plant closure for the Bedfordshire economy, the Government along with Luton Borough Council and other partners worked closely to understand the likely impact of the closure. The Government also asked Luton Borough Council to form a locally led taskforce to co-ordinate the local response to the economic impact of the plant closure and provided ministerial and official support to the taskforce’s work.

What estimate he has made of the cost of non-healthcare professionals in his plans for the NHS; and how this compares to the current figure.

No specific assessment has been made of the future cost of non-healthcare professionals. The NHS England 2025/26 Priorities and Operational Planning Guidance though states that integrated care boards and providers should review their workforce and spending to identify savings, including on non-frontline staff, in order to prioritise frontline care. The guidance requires systems to conduct a robust review of establishment growth and return spend on support functions to April 2022 levels. The guidance is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/PRN01625-25-26-priorities-and-operational-planning-guidance-january-2025.pdfThe Department estimates that expenditure on total paybill for substantive staff employed in National Health Service infrastructure support roles was around £14.4 billion in the 2024-25 financial year. For context, the total paybill for NHS staff in 2024-25 was around £86.6 billion, meaning infrastructure support staff account for around 17% of the total paybill which has been essentially unchanged since 2010-11.NHS infrastructure support roles includes staff working in central functions such as human resources and finance, staff working in property and estates roles and also NHS managers. This paybill figure includes the cost of basic pay, additional earnings, employer national insurance contributions and employer pensions contributions. It covers staff employed by NHS trusts, integrated care boards and also central NHS bodies and support organisations.

With reference to page 73 of his Department's 10 Year Health Plan, published on 3 July 2025, whether patients will be able to opt out of viewing their risk of major conditions.

The National Health Service’s 10-Year Health Plan included a commitment that the NHS will develop a Unified Genomic Record, integrating genomic data with relevant clinical and diagnostic data. This will be linked to the NHS Single Patient Record. Patients will be able to view a complete account of their risk of major conditions and manage their personal health risks through the NHS App.The information that a patient chooses to receive from the Unified Genomic Record via the NHS App will be tailored to individual preferences.Clinicians will be able to view the patient’s risk of major conditions and can work with individual patients to manage that risk and mitigate the risk of the condition developing.