Written questions by Jardine.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of proposed union access rules on small businesses; and if he will consider exemptions.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment has been made of the potential impact on job losses in the independent school sector over the next five years following the removal of eligibility for business rates charitable relief for private schools.

The impact note on the removal of eligibility for business rates charitable relief for private schools can be found online here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/removal-of-eligibility-of-private-schools-for-business-rates-charitable-relief

What assessment she has made of the adequacy of Plan 2 student loan interest rates, particularly for graduates from less advantaged backgrounds; and whether she is considering further reforms.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that public investment in sports facilities supports a balanced range of sports, including court-based activities such as tennis and padel, to maximise participation among women, disabled people, and inactive communities.

The Government is investing at least £400 million in new and upgraded grassroots sport facilities over the next four years, promoting health, wellbeing and community cohesion, while removing the barriers to physical activity for under-represented groups, such as women and girls and people with disabilities. £15 million is being invested into new delivery models across England in 2026/27, to allow more people to participate in sports they wish to. At least £2.5 million will be invested through the LTA for covered courts in England for tennis, padel and other activities, and additional funding will also enable a wider range of sporting bodies to trial innovative funding pathways.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has made representations to the Government of Saudi Arabia on the application of the death penalty to child defendants.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 11 December 2025 in response to Question 97116. The UK continues to oppose the use of capital punishment in all circumstances.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the requirement to pay childcare costs in advance prior to reimbursement through Universal Credit on levels of employment; and what steps she is taking to support affected families.

The Office for Budget Responsibility, in their Spring 2023 and October 2024 Economic and Fiscal Outlook, published their economic impacts of various policy measures, including childcare. These can be found here: The economic effects of policy measures - Office for Budget Responsibility, Monitoring and evaluating the supply-side effects of policy measures - Office for Budget Responsibility. Parents who need help with their upfront childcare costs to move into work or increase their working hours may be eligible for support from the Flexible Support Fund. The Flexible Support Fund’s Upfront Childcare Costs can be used to pay 100% of the upfront costs of up to one month of childcare. This is designed to ensure that any costs that the Universal Credit customer incurs in relation to childcare when starting work or increasing their hours is not a barrier to taking up this work. We are streamlining the process and extending eligibility to parents returning from parental leave to improve access to upfront childcare support. We will also extend eligibility to parents returning from parental leave to ease the difficult transition back to work.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Animal welfare strategy for England, published on 22 December 2025, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of dolphin hunting in the Faroe Islands on marine mammals in UK waters.

We remain committed to meeting our international obligations and continue to have concerns about the welfare and sustainability of these hunts. In December 2025 we published the UK Cetacean Conservation Strategy with devolved governments. This includes species hunted in the Faroe Islands and aims to improve the conservation status of cetaceans in UK waters. UK ministers and officials consistently call for an end to cetacean hunts in the Faroe Islands. As Chair of the International Whaling Commission’s Conservation Committee and Intersessional Working Group on Welfare, the UK promotes stronger protection and improved welfare for small cetaceans.

Food and Rural Affairs, when she intends to publish the consultation on a ban on caged hens.

A UK-wide consultation on laying hen cage reform was launched on 12 January 2026 and closed on 9 March 2026. The Government is now analysing consultation responses and will publish a formal response in due course.

What steps he is taking to provide bereavement support to families grieving loved ones that passed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bereavement Support Payment provides support during the acute period following a bereavement by way of an initial lump sum followed by up to 18 monthly instalments. It supports families though the immediate period of grief, including those who sadly lost loved ones during the Covid-19 pandemic. Where longer-term financial support is needed, benefits such as Universal Credit have been specifically designed to provide assistance with ongoing living costs. The Government keeps eligibility of all benefits under review.

If she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of trends in the level of allegedly transphobic rhetoric in the media in the last 12 months.

The Government is clear that everyone should be treated with dignity and respect, and that there is no place for harassment or abuse directed at any group, including trans people. A free and independent media is a cornerstone of our democracy. To protect this freedom the media has editorial independence from Government and this means that the Government does not intervene in what the media publishes, provided it is within the law. However, there are established frameworks in place to uphold standards, including independent press regulators and broadcasting rules overseen by Ofcom. We remain mindful of the importance of ensuring that public debate is conducted responsibly and does not contribute to hostility or harm.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of reducing the availability of the childcare wear and tear allowance on the (a) affordability of childcare for parents, (b) recruitment and retention of childminders and (c) sustainability of the childcare sector in Scotland.

Childminders make a significant contribution to children’s development, learning, and wellbeing. The Government has eased rules on working from schools and community centres and increased early years funding rates above 2023 average fees. These increases reflect increased costs, and from April 2026, local authorities must pass at least 97 per cent of funding to providers.Only a small proportion of childminders with qualifying income over £50,000 will be mandated into Making Tax Digital (MTD) for income tax from April 2026. Childminders moving to MTD for income tax can continue to claim tax relief for household costs, wear and tear of household items and furniture, and food and drink, by deducting actual business costs. This ensures childminders receive tax relief for all of the costs that they incur in relation to their childminding business.The Government will monitor the impact of MTD for income tax on childminders and other home-based childcare providers in the same way as it will for all sole traders moving to MTD for income tax. We will also review the impacts of moving from the 10% deduction to actual costs for wear and tear claims.

Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with the Scottish Government and with the Church of Scotland on the closure of the Listed Places of Worship Grant; whether there will be Barnett Consequentials as a result of the new scheme in England; whether the new scheme will continue to offer VAT rebates on repairs and maintenance; and whether churches in Scotland will be eligible for this support.

Heritage funding is devolved, however listed places of worship in Scotland have benefitted from VAT rebate grants from the UK-wide Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme, which ran from 2001 to 2026. The Minister for Heritage met with representatives from the Church of Scotland and Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Scotland on 10th March to discuss the closure of the scheme. We have announced a new scheme in England, the Places of Worship Renewal Fund, which will award grants for projects to cover capital works. It will not offer just the VAT rebate of a project. At Spending Reviews, the Devolved Governments receive Barnett consequentials as a proportion of overall departmental settlements, not specific funding lines or programmes. Barnett consequentials were confirmed for Devolved Governments in the usual way, taking into account the overall DCMS allocation, which includes capital funding for the Places of Worship Renewal fund. Decisions on how this funding is spent are for the Devolved Governments to take.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of including an annual earnings requirement of £12,570 for three to five years within the proposed Earned Settlement reforms for Indefinite Leave to Remain on women who take statutory maternity leave.

Proposals for introducing an earned settlement model, as set out in the Command Paper ‘A Fairer Pathway to Settlement’ (CP1448), were subject to a public consultation, which opened on 20 November 2025 and closed on 12 February 2026. We are now reviewing and analysing the results of this to inform the development of the final model. The consultation sought views on the impact proposed changes might have on different groups. Implementation of the earned settlement arrangements will be subject to economic and equality impact assessments, which we have committed to publish in due course.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the Valuation Office Agency’s reclassification of flexible office spaces as single properties on (a) the level of business rates and (b) small businesses; and whether this reclassification will apply in Scotland.

The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) does not operate in Scotland, so whether the reclassification will apply in Scotland is a matter for the Scottish Government.

What steps his Department is taking to support disabled people with the cost of living.

The government recognises that people are still feeling the squeeze on their finances with essential areas such as energy, food and housing remaining too high. That is why we have announced a range of support, including taking around £150 on average off household energy bills and expanding the £150 Warm Home Discount to 6 million lower income households and freezing regulated rail fares and NHS prescription fees for one-year.

Media and Sport, if she will formally recognise podcasting and audio production as part of the creative industries.

We recognise audio production and podcasts as part of the Creative Industries. Our statistical definition uses the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) and includes economic activities of sound recording and music publishing (code 5920). Audio production and the recording of podcasts are included in this activity. Our Creative Industries Sector Plan, published in June, highlighted the importance of good data and our ambitions to improve recognition of CI activity in official statistics. DCMS has submitted proposed changes to the industrial classification, in consultation with industry, to the ONS as part of their public consultation to review and create an updated UK SIC. If the proposal is accepted this will improve the distinction of podcast and other sound recording activities from music activities. Following the 14 November submission deadline, the ONS is currently reviewing all submitted proposals and is due to finalise the new SIC2026 classification by the end of March 2026. DCMS will then review the Creative Industries definition to incorporate new codes.

What steps the Government plans to take to ensure parity between the Investment Reserve Fund to the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme and the British Coal Superannuation Scheme.

The Department is engaging with HM Treasury with a view to agreeing a way forward on the transfer of the reserve to members. The Government is aiming to reach agreement on an outcome that can be implemented later this year which will benefit scheme members.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with her counterparts in Nigeria on protecting vulnerable communities.

The UK Government regularly advocates for the protections of all vulnerable communities with the Government of Nigeria and other influential parties. For example, during his visit to Nigeria in May, the former Minister for Africa met with ministers and officials to discuss insecurity and intercommunal violence in Nigeria, with a focus on tackling root causes. Additionally, the UK is working through programmes like SPRiNG (Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria) and the UK-Nigeria Security and Defence Partnership to promote peace, strengthen local institutions, and protect civilians.

Whether she plans to review the adequacy of rules governing (a) passport countersignatures and (b) the associated list of allowed professions.

His Majesty’s Passport Office policy on who can act as a referee is kept under review as part of the general programme of work to modernise and improve the passport application process.The list of recognised professions is set out online. It is not a definitive list; alternatives provided by a customer will be considered. Customers can call the Passport Adviceline if they have questions about a passport application.

Food and Rural Affairs, what her Department's timetable is for publishing a new animal welfare strategy.

This Government was elected on a mandate to introduce the most ambitious plans to improve animal welfare in a generation. The Prime Minister announced that we will be publishing an animal welfare strategy later this year.