Written questions by Chope.

What is the current estimate of the time for resolution of applications for visas under the family route.

The Home Office keeps all aspects of the immigration system under regular review, including service standards for processing visa applications.All family visa applications are carefully considered in line with the published family visa processing times available here: Visa processing times: applications inside the UK - GOV.UK. Where applicants require their application to be expedited owing to their individual compelling and compassionate circumstances, we will consider each case on its own merit.Applicants on certain family routes may choose to use optional priority or super priority services, where available, for an additional fee to receive a faster decision on their application. Applicants using the priority service will usually receive a decision within five working days.Further information on the priority service is available here: Get a faster decision on your visa or settlement application: Applying for a faster decision - GOV.UK.

Representing the House of Commons Commission, if the Commission will publish the details of the 12 asbestos incidents in the Palace of Westminster to which reference is made on page 25 of the report entitled Delivering restoration and renewal of the Palace of Westminster: the costed proposals, published on 5 February 2026.

The table below outlines the twelve asbestos related incidents since 2016 which have occurred in the Palace, as outlined on page 25 of the R&R Costed Proposals Report.

What has been the cost to his Department of assessing claims under the Vaccine Damage Payments Scheme in each of the last four years for which information is available.

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

Representing the House of Commons Commission, what works are currently being undertaken to remove or isolate asbestos in the Palace of Westminster; and how many operatives are engaged in those works.

Over the last 12 months, a total of 40 tasks has been carried out by the Licensed Asbestos Removal Contractor within the Palace of Westminster to seal, encapsulate, or remove asbestos containing materials.Asbestos removal will take place as part of maintenance and project works:1. Where asbestos presents safety risks to delivery of project works.2. Where asbestos is likely to result in risks in relation to ongoing maintenance and business as usual activities.3. Where asbestos has been identified by a risk assessment to require removal due to the level of risk to building occupants.The House Administration employs an Asbestos Compliance Manager who oversees asbestos surveys and removal activities and provides specialist advice to maintenance and project teams across the Estate.The House Administration also holds contracts with an asbestos consultancy, which maintains three permanent site‑based staff to undertake surveys and inspections, and with a Licensed Asbestos Removal Contractor, which provides two permanent site‑based staff to manage asbestos removal and remediation works required for maintenance and construction projects.Where a section of the Estate is temporarily handed over to a contractor as a controlled construction zone with restricted access, they may use their own licensed asbestos teams. They are required to liaise with the Asbestos Compliance Manager and, once the area is handed back, ensure all asbestos removal activity is fully logged.The number of staff deployed by these contractors varies according to operational requirements, including during recess periods when asbestos removal works are more frequently scheduled.

If she will reinstate the right to remain of a Christchurch constituent who has been classified as an overstayer pending review of his case, with reference 1212-0001-5632-8110/00.

We are working with the hon Gentleman’s constituent to resolve the situation and will contact them directly to resolve the situation.

How many UK businesses at the most recent date for which information is available have had their Government Gateway access restricted on the grounds that their accounts may have been compromised by fraudulent attempts to reclaim VAT.

The security of HMRC’s online services is a top priority. We are aware of attempts by organised criminals to access VAT accounts using genuine customers’ registration details, and our immediate focus is to protect customer data and correct any affected tax or payment records. Customer accounts may be restricted, i.e. suspended or deleted, for a range of reasons, including proactive fraud monitoring, reports of suspicious activity, and the closure of inactive accounts. Specialist security and VAT teams are actively investigating and delivering improvements to strengthen VAT account security, which could include restricting accounts where fraudulent activity has not been identified. When and if fraudulent activity has occurred, HMRC contacts affected customers to explain the remedial actions taken and outline any steps they need to take.

What assessment she has made of the potential cost exempting repairs enjoyed by museums and galleries from VAT to include listed places of worship to the Exchequer.

VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption, and the 20 per cent standard rate applies to most goods and services. Outside of a limited number of VAT reliefs aimed at stimulating the supply of new homes, the standard VAT rate of 20 per cent applies to most construction work. Some museums and galleries receive VAT refunds on the costs associated with providing free access to their permanent collections, under the museums and galleries VAT Refund Scheme. This includes the refunds of the VAT paid on repairs to the buildings that contain museums/galleries’ permanent collections. Further information about the refund scheme can be found here:VAT Refund Scheme for museums and galleries (VAT Notice 998) - GOV.UK The Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme, administered by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, provides grants for VAT paid by listed places of worship on their repair and maintenance costs, with the objective of helping to preserve UK heritage. From April 2026, the scheme will be replaced by a Places of Worship Renewal Fund, which will invest £92 million capital funding into listed places of worship. It is designed to ensure that taxpayer funding is targeted more effectively toward the preservation of our heritage assets.

What the annual cost to the Exchequer is of the exemption from VAT on repairs enjoyed by museums and galleries.

HMRC does not hold data that specifically relates to the refunds of VAT on repairs enjoyed by museums and galleries. HMRC does not hold information on VAT revenue from specific products or services because businesses are not required to provide figures at a product level on their VAT returns, as this would impose an excessive administrative burden.

When the Minister plans to respond to the email from the hon. Member for Christchurch dated 26 November 2025 on the use of civil enforcement powers by local authorities.

Following a search, I can confirm that the Department holds no record of receiving this email. If a copy can be forwarded a response will be provided.

Media and Sport, for what reason the new Places of Worship Renewal Fund is open to applications from places of worship which are not listed; and whether the new Places of Worship Renewal Fund is open to applications from all places of worship irrespective of denomination.

The Places of Worship Renewal Fund (PWRF) will only be targeted at listed places of worship. PWRF will be open to applications from all faiths and denominations. Further details regarding the eligibility criteria and application process, will be published in due course.

How many awards had been made under the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme for claims arising from Covid-19 vaccines as at 31 December 2025.

Data from the NHS Business Services Authority, the administrators of the Vaccine Damage Payment Scheme (VDPS), shows that as of 31 December 2025, 246 VDPS awards have been made for claims relating to COVID-19 vaccinations.Information on COVID-19 claims to the VDPS is published on a quarterly basis by the NHS Business Service Authority. Further information is available at the following link:https://opendata.nhsbsa.net/dataset/vdps-covid-19

If she will publish the analysis carried out by HMRC which was used as evidence to conclude that removing the requirement to charge VAT on local authority sports and leisure activities would not significantly distort competition in the sector.

The analysis carried out by HMRC relating to the VAT treatment of local authority sports and leisure activities is not suitable for publication. The detailed analysis drew on information from a range of sources, some subject to contractual non-disclosure conditions and confidential taxpayer information. Disclosure of the analysis could prejudice possible future policy decisions and negatively impact the honesty and openness of similar future analytical exercises.

Pursuant to the answer of 6 January 2026 to question 101310, whether the hon. Member's representation was written or oral.

Ministers routinely engage with MPs throughout the year. MPs may submit their views through the Stakeholder Representation Portal, by corresponding with Ministers, or by sharing the views of their constituents through routine engagement. HM Treasury does not publish individual representations made on behalf of respondents.

Pursuant to the answer of 6 January 2026 to question 101316, whether the hon. Member's representation was written or oral.

Ministers routinely engage with MPs throughout the year. MPs may submit their views through the Stakeholder Representation Portal, by corresponding with Ministers, or by sharing the views of their constituents through routine engagement. HM Treasury does not publish individual representations made on behalf of respondents.

Pursuant to the answer of 6 January 2026 to question 101308, whether the hon. Member's representation was written or oral.

Ministers routinely engage with MPs throughout the year. MPs may submit their views through the Stakeholder Representation Portal, by corresponding with Ministers, or by sharing the views of their constituents through routine engagement. HM Treasury does not publish individual representations made on behalf of respondents.

Pursuant to the answer of 6 January 2026 to question 101321, whether the hon. Member's representation was written or oral.

Ministers routinely engage with MPs throughout the year. MPs may submit their views through the Stakeholder Representation Portal, by corresponding with Ministers, or by sharing the views of their constituents through routine engagement. HM Treasury does not publish individual representations made on behalf of respondents.

Pursuant to the answer of 6 January 2026 to question 101317, whether the hon. Member's representation was written or oral.

Ministers routinely engage with MPs throughout the year. MPs may submit their views through the Stakeholder Representation Portal, by corresponding with Ministers, or by sharing the views of their constituents through routine engagement. HM Treasury does not publish individual representations made on behalf of respondents.

Pursuant to the answer of 6 January 2026 to question 101320, whether the hon. Member's representation was written or oral.

Ministers routinely engage with MPs throughout the year. MPs may submit their views through the Stakeholder Representation Portal, by corresponding with Ministers, or by sharing the views of their constituents through routine engagement. HM Treasury does not publish individual representations made on behalf of respondents.

Pursuant to the answer of 6 January 2026 to question 101313, whether the hon. Member's representation was written or oral.

Ministers routinely engage with MPs throughout the year. MPs may submit their views through the Stakeholder Representation Portal, by corresponding with Ministers, or by sharing the views of their constituents through routine engagement. HM Treasury does not publish individual representations made on behalf of respondents.

Pursuant to the answer of 6 January 2026 to question 101312, whether the hon. Member's representation was written or oral.

Ministers routinely engage with MPs throughout the year. MPs may submit their views through the Stakeholder Representation Portal, by corresponding with Ministers, or by sharing the views of their constituents through routine engagement. HM Treasury does not publish individual representations made on behalf of respondents.