Written questions by Thomas.

What steps she is taking to help ensure fair council tax valuations in areas with new residential developments.

For Council Tax purposes all homes are assessed to reflect their open market value at a valuation date set in law, which in England is 1 April 1991. This is so all properties, even new ones, are valued on a fair and consistent basis. To band a property, the Valuation Office Agency considers the property details and looks for sales of similar properties (in terms of age, location, size and character) which took place on or around 1 April 1991. Further information about how Council Tax bands are assessed can be found here:www.gov.uk/guidance/understand-how-council-tax-bands-are-assessed. The Valuation Office Agency has published a blog article specific to the assessment of new properties here: How we value new properties for Council Tax – Valuation Office Agency

What steps she is taking to enable citizenship applicants to track the progress of their applications.

Citizenship customers can submit their application for British citizenship online, however they are not currently able to track it’s progress.The service standard for the processing of a straightforward application for British citizenship is six months.The most recent migration transparency data confirms that 99.36% of straightforward applications for citizenship are processed within service standard. This can be found at the following link: Migration transparency data - GOV.UKThe Home Office does contacts customers and provides them with an update, where an application cannot be processed within the published service standard.

What estimate her Department has made of the time it will take UK Visas and Immigration to process its backlog of citizenship applications for people with indefinite leave to remain.

The service standard for the processing of a straightforward application for British citizenship is six months.The most recent migration transparency data confirms that 99.36% of straightforward applications for citizenship are processed within published service standard.https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/migration-transparency-data#passports-citizenship-and-civil-registration

What steps his Department is taking to help increase capacity in phlebotomy services.

Blood tests are among the most commonly requested diagnostic investigations across primary and secondary care, and they are readily available across all 27 National Health Service pathology networks. Phlebotomy – the procedure to collect blood samples – is widely available across general practice, community health services, and secondary care phlebotomy clinics, supporting equitable access to blood testing. Where phlebotomy services are provided by general practice, they are commissioned locally by integrated care boards (ICBs). ICBs are responsible for commissioning phlebotomy services based on local population need and are funded for these services as part of their annual funding allocations. In January 2025, we published the Elective Reform Plan, which sets out the productivity and reform efforts needed to return to the 18-week constitutional standard by the end of this parliament. The Plan commits to transform and expand diagnostic services and speed up waiting times for tests, a crucial part of reducing overall waiting times. Community Diagnostic Centres (CDCs), including those in Gloucestershire and Herefordshire, are supporting one of the governments key strategic shifts – moving care from the hospital to the community. CDCs offer local populations a wide range of diagnostic tests, including phlebotomy, closer to home and greater choice on where and how they are undertaken.We are continuing to invest in expanding diagnostic capacity in the NHS. As set out in the Elective Reform Plan, we plan to build up to five more CDCs in 2025/26, alongside increasing the operating hours of existing sites so that more offer services 12 hours a day, seven days a week. This is backed by part of the £600 million of capital investment for diagnostic services announced at the October 2024 Spending Review.

Whether there is a backlog of citizenship applications from people with indefinite leave to remain.

The service standard for the processing of a straightforward application for British citizenship is six months.The most recent migration transparency data confirms that 99.36% of straightforward applications for citizenship are processed within published service standard.https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/migration-transparency-data#passports-citizenship-and-civil-registration

What recent discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on the processing of SET DV applications.

Tackling violence against women and girls is a top priority for this government and our mission is to halve levels of violence against women and girls within a decade.Migrant victims of domestic abuse can apply via form SET(DV) for immediate settlement under the Immigration Rules (Appendix Victim of Domestic Abuse (Appendix VDA)). Appendix VDA provides for victims of domestic abuse who have, or were last granted, permission to stay as a partner under the family Immigration Rules where the sponsor is a British citizen, settled, a member of HM Forces, is in the UK with limited stay as a refugee or with pre-settled status under the EUSS. SET(DV) is a bespoke application form that captures all the information required to make a decision under Appendix VDA. These applications are assessed by a dedicated domestic abuse caseworking team within the Home Office. They consider all the information and evidence provided in the round and whether, on the balance of probabilities, the applicant can be granted settlement as a victim of domestic abuse.

Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on integrating nature risks into broader security and risk planning.

Nature risks are recognised in the Government’s National Security Strategy 2025: Security for the British People in a Dangerous World. Its implementation will ensure these risks inform security and risk planning across Government. Together with my Cabinet colleagues the Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, and Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero Ed Miliband, I was pleased to attend the recent Countdown to COP30: mobilising action for climate and nature event hosted by the Natural History Museum. My ministerial team and I look forward to continuing cross- government discussions as we prepare for the 30th United Nations climate change conference in Bélem, Brazil.

What recent discussions she has had with Gloucestershire Constabulary on anti-social behaviour.

Tackling Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) is a top priority for this Government, and a key part of our Safer Streets Mission and through the Crime and Policing Bill, we are strengthening the powers available to police and other relevant agencies under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 to improve the tools agencies have at their disposal to tackle ASB.As part of the Safer Streets Summer Initiative Gloucestershire Constabulary have been focusing on Anti-Social Behaviour, Retail Crime and Street Crime in six town centres.The Safer Streets Summer Initiative launched on 30 June and ran until 30 September 2025, targeting over 600 town centres across England and Wales, through visible policing and swift, meaningful consequences.On 10 April, the Prime Minister announced the details of the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee which includes that every force area will have a dedicated lead officer for ASB. They will work with communities to develop an action plan to reduce and prevent ASB. Forces will be expected to publish their respective plan by April 2026.

What steps her Department is taking to support male victims of domestic violence.

We recognise that men and boys experience abusive and violent crimes, such as stalking, domestic abuse, and sexual violence. That is why we are committed to ensuring male victims and survivors get the support they need. We are working tirelessly across government to deliver the Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy as soon as possible, which will set out commitments for all victims, including for men and boys that are victims of abuse. We know that male victims may face different barriers to accessing support. The Home Office and Ministry of Justice fund specialist services for victims of these crimes, including services for male victims, such as Respect, Galop, SignHealth, Hourglass, and Mankind UK. This includes the Men’s Advice Line, run by Respect, which offers vital support to male victims of domestic abuse.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to secure long-term public budgets for nature recovery.

We are prioritising investment that supports the Government’s Plan for Change and builds work to reform Defra to drive growth, while maintaining our commitment to farming, food security, and nature’s recovery. This Government has committed a record £11.8 billion allocation to deliver sustainable farming and food production over this parliament. This includes increasing spend on nature-friendly farming including Environmental Land Management schemes to £2 billion by 28/29.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to incentivise private investment in large nature recovery projects.

Defra has put in place a number of interventions to scale up private sector investment in nature recovery projects across England. These include:Supporting market development through our partnership with the British Standards Institution to develop a suite of nature investment standardsStimulating a pipeline of investable nature projects, working with farm clusters and leading Local Authorities, through our Natural Environment Investment Readiness Fund and Local Investment in Natural Capital programmesDeveloping blended finance models including through our Landscape Recovery scheme; our investment in the forthcoming Big Nature Impact Fund; and our work with Government’s public financial institutions such as the National Wealth Fund We are analysing responses to our call for evidence on expanding the role of the private sector in nature recovery and will set out next steps in due course.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the Environmental Land Management payment scheme in supporting farmers with a clear roadmap to 2030.

This Government has committed a record £11.8 billion allocation to deliver sustainable farming and food production over this parliament. This includes increasing spend on nature-friendly farming including Environmental Land Management schemes to £2 billion by 28/29. As a result of the Government’s determination to get more farmers to participate, there are now 50,000 farm businesses and half of all farmed land now managed under our schemes – with more money being spent through these schemes than at any point. We are now working with farmers, farming and environmental organisations to develop the Farming Roadmap, which will set the course of farming in England for the next 25 years. It will set out how farming will, must and can evolve in response to changing markets, technologies, and environmental pressures - and how government will support that transition.We are committed to an ongoing process of iterating and maturing the Roadmap as we learn from farmers what they need to succeed.

What assessment has she made of the volume of cases waiting to be considered by the Valuation Office Agency.

The VOA is meeting the majority of its performance targets. In the areas where it isn’t, it has robust service recovery plans in place. These include moving staff to where there is the greatest customer demand and upskilling its workforce in a wider range of casework, to ensure greater flexibility. It continues to prioritise any cases where a customer is facing financial hardship. The VOA proactively contacts customers, through direct email or automated updates sent as cases progress through a service. The VOA reports monthly on performance to the HMRC Executive Committee and Board. The decision to move the VOA’s functions into HMRC next year will strengthen direct accountability to ministers. Integration is being carefully managed by a joint HMRC and VOA team, with detailed transition plans in place and appropriate oversight from my department.

What steps her Department is taking to help people track the progress of cases pending with the Valuation Office Agency.

The VOA is meeting the majority of its performance targets. In the areas where it isn’t, it has robust service recovery plans in place. These include moving staff to where there is the greatest customer demand and upskilling its workforce in a wider range of casework, to ensure greater flexibility. It continues to prioritise any cases where a customer is facing financial hardship. The VOA proactively contacts customers, through direct email or automated updates sent as cases progress through a service. The VOA reports monthly on performance to the HMRC Executive Committee and Board. The decision to move the VOA’s functions into HMRC next year will strengthen direct accountability to ministers. Integration is being carefully managed by a joint HMRC and VOA team, with detailed transition plans in place and appropriate oversight from my department.

What steps her Department is taking to help mitigate the potential impact of moving the Valuation Office Agency into HMRC on the timely processing of cases.

The VOA is meeting the majority of its performance targets. In the areas where it isn’t, it has robust service recovery plans in place. These include moving staff to where there is the greatest customer demand and upskilling its workforce in a wider range of casework, to ensure greater flexibility. It continues to prioritise any cases where a customer is facing financial hardship. The VOA proactively contacts customers, through direct email or automated updates sent as cases progress through a service. The VOA reports monthly on performance to the HMRC Executive Committee and Board. The decision to move the VOA’s functions into HMRC next year will strengthen direct accountability to ministers. Integration is being carefully managed by a joint HMRC and VOA team, with detailed transition plans in place and appropriate oversight from my department.

Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking with the Minister for Defence to ensure that veterans in receipt of means-tested support who are living in areas with district councils are not disadvantaged by the move to unitary authorities.

There will be no changes to how we expect councils to continue to support the armed forces community throughout the local government reorganisation process.By abolishing two-tier local government across England, we will set up strong unitary councils that will improve public services, bringing them under one roof, improving join up with local partners, and making life easier for local residents.We are committed to working with the Minister for Defence and across government to make sure unitarisation improves public services for all residents, including the armed forces community.

What steps her Department is taking to ensure the Valuation Office Agency processes cases in a timely manner.

The VOA is meeting the majority of its performance targets. In the areas where it isn’t, it has robust service recovery plans in place. These include moving staff to where there is the greatest customer demand and upskilling its workforce in a wider range of casework, to ensure greater flexibility. It continues to prioritise any cases where a customer is facing financial hardship. The VOA proactively contacts customers, through direct email or automated updates sent as cases progress through a service. The VOA reports monthly on performance to the HMRC Executive Committee and Board. The decision to move the VOA’s functions into HMRC next year will strengthen direct accountability to ministers. Integration is being carefully managed by a joint HMRC and VOA team, with detailed transition plans in place and appropriate oversight from my department.

What steps her Department is taking to help tackle anti-social behaviour in large housing developments.

Tackling anti-social behaviour (ASB) is a top priority for this Government, and a key part of our Safer Streets Mission.We understand that ASB causes great harm and misery to our communities, and, if left unchecked, can lead to more serious offending.When tenants commit anti-social behaviour (ASB) it can cause misery for housemates, neighbours, and the wider community. While we are clear that it’s better to resolve issues without eviction, regaining possession is sometimes necessary, and landlords should have the tools they need to keep people safe.That is why the Renters’ Rights Bill will shorten the notice period for the existing mandatory eviction ground, with landlords being able to make a claim to the court immediately in all cases of anti-social behaviour.The Bill also amends the matters that judges must consider when deciding whether to award possession under the discretionary ground. This will ensure judges give particular regard to whether tenants have engaged with efforts to resolve their behaviour and the impact on other tenants within HMOs.The Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 gives social landlords, the police and local authorities have a range of powers and tools to tackle housing related ASB, including a Civil Injunction under Section 1 of that Act, and local agencies are expected to use those powers promptly and proportionately, putting the needs of victims at the heart of their response.We will crack down on those making neighbourhoods feel unsafe and unwelcoming by introducing the new Respect Order, which local authorities will be able to apply for and which will carry tough sanctions and penalties for persistent adult offenders.

What steps he is taking to ensure equality of access to tofersen by people diagnosed with SOD1 motor neurone disease across England.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is the independent body responsible for developing authoritative, evidence-based recommendations for the National Health Service on whether new medicines represent a clinically and cost-effective use of resources. The NHS in England is legally required to fund medicines recommended by NICE, normally within three months of the publication of final guidance.NICE has selected tofersen for treating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis caused by the superoxide dismutase – 1 (SOD1) gene mutations as a topic for guidance development through its Highly Specialised Technology (HST) programme. The HST programme appraises medicines for the treatment of very rare, and often very severe diseases, and evaluates whether they can be considered a clinically and cost-effective use of NHS resources. NICE has not yet been able to start the evaluation of tofersen as it is unable to issue guidance on the use of the technology without receiving an evidence submission about the technology’s clinical and cost-effectiveness from the marketing authorisation holder. Therefore, NICE is ready to review tofersen via its HST programme, as soon as Biogen indicates that it is ready to start the NICE evaluation.I am aware that the marketing authorisation holder has established early access programmes (EAPs) through which some patients are currently accessing tofersen. Participation in company-led schemes is decided at an individual NHS trust level and under these programmes, the cost of the drug is free to both patients taking part in it, and to the NHS, but NHS trusts must still cover the administration costs and must provide clinical resources to deliver the EAP. No assessment has been made of regional variation in access to tofersen through the programme.NHS England has published guidance for integrated care systems (ICS) on free of charge medicines schemes, providing advice on potential financial, resourcing, and clinical risks. ICSs should use the guidance to help determine whether to implement any of these schemes, including assessing suitability and any risks in the short, medium, and long term. The guidance is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/free-of-charge-foc-medicines-schemes-national-policy-recommendations-for-local-systems/

What information his Department holds on the number of children and young adults with (a) PANS and (b) PANDAS.

Information on the number of children and young adults with paediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS) and paediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorder associated with streptococcus (PANDAS) is not collected at present as there are no internationally agreed criteria to identify these conditions. The PANS PANDAS Steering Group is currently working on a consensus for case identification to support a national survey. Due to the emerging nature of the evidence base there is currently a lack of consensus on what good clinical practice and training on PANS and PANDAS may look like, and no assessments have therefore been made.