Written questions by Thomas.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the labour force to meet the Government's housing targets over the course of this Parliament.

The government recognises the need to expand and upskill the construction workforce to meet our ambitious Plan for Change milestone of delivering 1.5 million safe and decent homes in this Parliament.We are working with industry to ensure the housebuilding sector has access to the skilled workers needed. This includes a £140 million package of industry investment to deliver 5,000 more apprenticeship places through 32 new Homebuilding Skills Hubs.

When he plans to publish the terms of reference for the independent commission into adult social care to be led by Baroness Casey; and if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of including in the terms of reference local authority funding for adult social care.

We expect to publish terms of reference when the commission formally starts in April 2025. The commission will set out a vision for adult social care, with recommended measures and a roadmap for delivery. This will include setting out the plan for how to implement a National Care Service that is able to meet the needs of older and disabled people over the coming decades.

What steps her Department is taking to improve the (a) frequency and (b) reliability of rail services between Wythall and Birmingham.

The Department works with West Midlands Rail Executive (WMRE) to ensure that West Midlands Trains (WMT) are focused on tackling the issues of frequency and reliability of all services, including between Wythall and Birmingham. Initiatives includes improvi...

Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that future housing is designed to a beautiful standard, following the closure of the Office for Place.

I refer the hon Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 12 November 2024 (HCWS209).

What discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on the impact of adult social care obligations on local authorities.

Department ministers regularly discuss a range of topics with other Cabinet colleagues. In response to the pressures facing adult social care, the Government will make up to £3.5 billion of additional funding for social care authorities available in 2025/...

Communities and Local Government, what recent discussions her Department has had with Worcestershire County Council on (a) local government reorganisation and (b) devolution.

On Monday, this Government published a landmark English Devolution White Paper, setting out an ambitious plan for extending the benefits of devolution to more of England and unleashing further powers from Whitehall back into local communities that know th...

What assessment she made of the potential impact of increases in employer National Insurance contributions on charities prior the the announcement of the Autumn Budget 2024.

In order to repair the public finances and help raise the revenue required to increase funding for public services, the Government has taken the difficult decision to increase employer National Insurance.HMRC has published a Tax Information and Impact Not...

How many additional police officers her Department plans to fund in West Mercia by the end of 2025.

As part of our Safer Streets Mission we will put neighbourhood police back on the beat, with 13,000 additional officers, PCSOs and special constables in neighbourhood policing roles across England and Wales.Last week the Prime Minister announced that £100...

What his Department's timetable is for lowering energy bills for people in Bromsgrove constituency, in the context of the Great British Energy Bill.

Great British Energy is a key part of the government's mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower. This is a sustainable, long-term plan to protect billpayers. In an unstable world, the only way to guarantee our energy security and protect billpaye...

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to help protect rural communities in Bromsgrove constituency from flooding.

Communities at risk of flooding in the Bromsgrove constituency include Hagley, Hollywood and Bromsgrove itself. At present, there have been no reports to the Environment Agency (EA) of property flooding in this constituency during the recent wet weather. ...

If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of multiple solar farms on the local environment; whether he has had discussions with the the Secretary of State for Environment, Food an

Although the precise location of energy infrastructure is a matter for developers, planning guidance sets out that the cumulative impact of solar developments located close to each other can be a factor in planning decisions. This impact should be conside...

If he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the GP-to-patient ratio in Bromsgrove constituency.

In August 2024, the median number of Full Time Equivalent (FTE) doctors in general practice (GP) per 10,000 registered patients in the Bromsgrove constituency was 7.2. The median number nationally of FTE fully qualified GPs per 10,000 registered patients ...

What steps he is taking to support the long-term viability of pubs (a) in Bromsgrove constituency and (b) nationally.

Pubs, including those in Bromsgrove, are at the heart of our communities and vital for economic growth. That is why the Government is creating a fairer business rate system by introducing permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure bu...

Innovation and Technology, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of mobile phone coverage for cellular calls in Bromsgrove constituency.

It’s inadequate, but the government wants all areas of the UK to benefit from mobile connectivity.Ofcom’s recent reporting shows that 98% of Bromsgrove has 4G geographic coverage from all four mobile operators, and that basic (non-standalone) 5G is availa...

What steps she is taking to help ensure that children who eave the independent sector in areas with no state school availability are safeguarded.

This government is committed to ending the VAT exemption that private schools enjoy. Research by the Institute for Fiscal Studies indicates that the number of pupils who may switch schools as a result of this change is likely to represent a very small pro...

Food and Rural Affairs, how the Floods Resilience Task Force will work with stakeholders in Bromsgrove constituency.

The Government’s new Floods Resilience Taskforce marks a new approach to preparing for flooding. It brings together a range of partners in national, regional and local Government, including the Environment Agency (EA), Devolved Administrations, selected R...

What steps she is taking to help protect free speech on university campuses.

This government fully supports freedom of speech and academic freedom. Higher education (HE) must be a space for robust discussion and intellectual rigour. This is enshrined within the existing legislation, whereby universities have a legal obligation to ...