Written questions by Cooper.

Pursuant to the Answer of 26 November 2024 to Question 14690 on Fire and Rescue Services: Standards, what progress was made in establishing national standards for Fire and Rescue services at the first meeting of the Ministerial Advisory Group held in December.

The inaugural meeting of the ministerial advisory group for fire and rescue service reform was the first in a series of meetings that will take place quarterly. One of the group’s key aims is delivery of the manifesto commitment to work with all stakeholders in the fire and rescue sector to inform policy, including the establishment of national standards. This will form a core part of our work programme, alongside the Government’s other priorities for meaningful reform of the sector.This will build on the work that the Fire Standards Board has already taken forward in publishing 19 different standards for the sector. These cover a range of topics relating to operational management, leadership and ethics.

Media and Sport, with reference to the speech by the Minister for Gambling at the GambleAware conference of 4 December 2024, what discussions (a) she and (b) other Ministers have had with the Betting and Gaming Council on future action on advertising since that speech.

The Gambling Minister has met with the Betting and Gaming Council since her speech at the GambleAware conference on 4 December 2024 and the Department continues to work with the BGC on the issue of advertising. We have set the gambling industry a clear task to raise standards in this area to ensure that levels of gambling advertising does not exacerbate harm and this work will be monitored closely.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of treating savings in lifetime ISAs in the same way as pension funds when calculating savings limits for means tested benefits.

There are no plans to change the way savings held in a Lifetime ISA are treated in the assessment of means-tested benefits including Universal Credit. The value of the pension fund that someone and their employer pays into protects that person for retirement, and it is right whilst they remain below state pension credit age, that the value of that fund is disregarded when assessing entitlement to means-tested benefits.

What assessment she has made of the potential merits of extending free school meal provision to include children enrolled in maintained nursery schools.

Under current programmes, 2.1 million disadvantaged pupils are registered to receive benefits-based free school meals (FSM). This includes pupils attending a local authority maintained, academy or free school nursery who are entitled to FSM, as long as they either are in full-time education or receive education both before and after lunch and meet the benefits-based FSM eligibility criteria.Further information on the number of pupils registered to receive FSM is available at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-pupils-and-their-characteristics.

Pursuant to the Answer of 18 December 2024 to Question 19779 on Health Professions: Regulation, what his timetable is for announcing his priorities in relation to the applicability of the five year rule by professional regulators on fitness to practise in cases which involve allegations of historic sexual abuse.

The Government has been considering its priorities for professional regulation and will be setting these out shortly.

Whether UK Government Investments has made a request to Post Office Limited to (a) proceed with moving all directly managed branches to a fully franchised model and (b) expedite the shift of directly managed branches that have previously been earmarked to be moved to a fully franchised model since 5 July 2024.

Nigel Railton, the Post Office Chair, has set out his ambitions for the future of the Post Office, which involves a reduction in central costs and other ways to deliver efficiencies, plus steps to improve the commercial future of the business in order to enable real term increases in postmaster pay. No decisions have yet been taken on the future of any individual Directly Managed Branches (DMBs) as part of this plan. The Government will continue to work closely with Post Office as they develop their transformation plan. In the meantime, we expect the Post Office to fully engage and consult with the Unions and postmaster representative bodies about future options for the DMBs. Decisions about franchising are an operational matter for Post Office Limited. The Government is broadly supportive of POL’s transformation plan, including the aim of increasing postmaster pay, however neither the Department nor UKGI, acting as the Shareholder representative on the Board of Post Office Limited, have made the requests referred to in the question. The Post Office will continue to deliver on the 11,500 minimum branch requirement set by Government.

Whether his Department has made representations with the Post Office to (a) proceed with moving all directly managed branches to a fully franchised model and (b) expedite the shift of directly managed branches that have previously been earmarked to be moved to a fully franchised model since 5 July 2024.

Nigel Railton, the Post Office Chair, has set out his ambitions for the future of the Post Office, which involves a reduction in central costs and other ways to deliver efficiencies, plus steps to improve the commercial future of the business in order to enable real term increases in postmaster pay. No decisions have yet been taken on the future of any individual Directly Managed Branches (DMBs) as part of this plan. The Government will continue to work closely with Post Office as they develop their transformation plan. In the meantime, we expect the Post Office to fully engage and consult with the Unions and postmaster representative bodies about future options for the DMBs.Decisions about franchising are an operational matter for Post Office Limited. The Government is broadly supportive of POL’s transformation plan, including the aim of increasing postmaster pay, however neither the Department nor UKGI, acting as the Shareholder representative on the Board of Post Office Limited, have made the requests referred to in the question.The Post Office will continue to deliver on the 11,500 minimum branch requirement set by Government.

Pursuant to the Answer of 4 February 2025 to Question 26600 on Parking: Databases, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of (a) retaining the National Parking Platform in the public sector and (b) allowing it to recoup its operating costs by charging fees to car park operators.

This Government has had to make many difficult decisions about public spending. We recognise the merits of the National Parking Platform and are continuing to support this by working with the parking industry, who we believe are best placed to take the initiative forward, as set out in my previous reply.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to require the provision of sanitary waste bins in men's bathrooms.

The Government oversees policy and legislation with respect to the safe management of waste and litter as well as the protection of drains and sewers. It does not, however, have powers to compel the provision of sanitary bins in public toilets. The maintenance of public toilets is a matter for local authorities.

Communities and Local Government, whether she has had recent discussions with (a) mortgage lenders and (b) insurers on their approach to (i) mortgages and (ii) building insurance policies relating to buildings that hold an EWS1 certificate issued by (A) Tri Fire and (B) Adam Kiziak.

EWS1s are not a legal or regulatory requirement. They are a mortgage valuation tool and the use of EWS1s is a commercial decision by industry.The Department engages regularly with the mortgage lending and insurance industries. Officials are working closely with industry representatives to ensure they take a proportional approach to buildings with an EWS1 issued by Adam Kiziak and Tri Fire. Where a mortgage lender will not accept one of these EWS1s, we would expect them to consider alternative evidence.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 28 October 2024 to Question 10820 on Trapping, what his timetable is for banning the use of snares.

As stated in the reply to Question 10820, Defra is considering the most effective way to deliver this commitment and will be setting out next steps in due course. As outlined in our manifesto, we will bring an end to the use of snare traps in England.

How many funding applications the National Institute of Health and Care Research received for brain tumour research on (a) diagnosis and screening and (b) drugs and treatment therapies in each of the last ten years; and how many of those applications secured funding.

Research is crucial in tackling cancer, which is why the Department invests over £1.5 billion per year in research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). NIHR research expenditure for all cancers was £133 million in 2023/24. Cancer is a major area of NIHR spend, reflecting its high priority.Over the ten financial years from 2013/14 to 2023/24, the NIHR received 179 applications for brain tumour research in total. Of these:54 were for research on diagnosis and screening, five of which were funded;80 were for research on drugs and treatment, 11 of which were funded and one of which is still under consideration;12 were for a combination of both categories of research, six of which were funded; and32 were for other categories of research, five of which were funded. The NIHR funds research in response to proposals received from scientists rather than allocating funding to specific disease areas. The NIHR continues to encourage and welcome funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including brain cancer. Applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money, and scientific quality.In September 2024, the NIHR announced new research funding opportunities for brain cancer research, spanning both adult and paediatric populations. This includes a national NIHR Brain Tumour Research Consortium, to ensure the most promising research opportunities are made available to adult and child patients, and a new funding call to generate high quality evidence in brain tumour care, support, and rehabilitation. Further information on these new research funding opportunities is available at the following link:https://www.nihr.ac.uk/news/new-funding-opportunities-novel-brain-tumour-research-launched

Whether he has made an assessment of the (a) adequacy of access to and (b) reliability of the supply of Sustanon in the UK.

The Government is not aware of any current supply issues regarding the provision of Sustanon. Decisions about which medicines to prescribe are made by the doctor or healthcare professional responsible for that part of the patient’s care. Prescribers are accountable for their prescribing decisions.It is for the responsible clinician to work with their patient and decide on the best course of treatment, with the provision of the most clinically appropriate care for the patient always being the primary consideration. Prescribers must always satisfy themselves that the medicines they consider appropriate for their patients can be safely prescribed and that they take account of the appropriate national guidance on clinical effectiveness, as well as the local commissioning decisions of their respective integrated care boards.

Whether the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority will retain independent commissioners.

The National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA) will combine the functions of the National Infrastructure Commission and Infrastructure and Projects Authority. NISTA will bring oversight of strategy and delivery into one organisation, driving more effective delivery of infrastructure across the country.On 17 January 2025, the Prime Minister announced in a Written Ministerial Statement that NISTA will be a joint unit of HM Treasury and Cabinet Office, effective from 1 April 2025. Further detail on the work and governance of NISTA will be announced in due course.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of providing assistance for costs to unemployed jobseekers for travelling to in-person interviews for temporary jobs on minimum pay.

Our new Get Britain Working plan is designed to reform employment support and create a new jobs and careers service to help people into work. We know that travel costs can be a barrier to work for unemployed customers. Currently the Flexible Support Fund is a discretionary non-recoverable fund, that work coaches can use to remove barriers to work for eligible Universal Credit customers, such as assistance with travel costs. Furthermore, the Jobcentre Plus Travel Discount Card is available to eligible customers to offer reduced rail fares supporting them into employment. The main aim of this support is to improve customers’ job and earnings progression prospects and can include travel to interviews.

If she will publish her planned timetable for rolling out the National Parking Platform across England.

The Government continues to support the concept of a National Parking Platform (NPP), recognising the depth of support for it across the parking sector and its many benefits. However, we are of the view that it could and should be delivered without the need to rely on public funding, particularly given the dire financial position the Government inherited. I am pleased to say that a consortium comprising the British Parking Association and the other key industry stakeholders has come together to develop a potential long term delivery model for the national rollout of the NPP. My officials are working at pace with them to explore how this could be achieved. The pilot project will continue to be funded to the 31 March 2025 while these discussions are on-going.

With reference to the letter on UIN 11295 from the Minister for Veterans and People to the hon. Member for Harborough, Oadby and Wigston, dated 19 November 2024, and pursuant to the Answer of 31 October 2024 to Question 11295 on Army Cadet Force: Costs, at what stage through the Annual Budget Cycle process his Department is as of 27 January 2025; and how much funding he plans to provide for Control Total for Army Cadet Force expenditure in 2025-26.

Autumn Budget 2024 set the Ministry of Defence budget for financial year 2025-26 as £59.8 billion, an increase of £2.9 billion from this year. The Department is currently conducting the budget-setting process for 2025-26, with final budgets to be set before the start of the financial year in the normal way.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to re-open water testing Laboratories that are Regulation 31 certified.

The water industry must comply with Regulation 31 and they cannot purchase and install a product from a supplier without first assuring themselves that the product has been approved or meets the requirements of Regulation 31. The Government recognises that it is critically important that there are effective procedures and regulatory oversight and the Drinking Water Inspectorate has been pro-actively supporting the industry towards accessing additional laboratory facilities and services with respect to Regulation 31 testing.

What the average time to answer a customer telephone call was in each year since 2015.

Data on the number of complaints relating to telephony services is held in line with HMRC’s retention policy.Reporting yearNumber of complaints relating to telephony servicesNumber of telephony complaints as a proportion of all complaints received (%)2015-16Not heldNot held2016-17Not heldNot held2017-18Not heldNot held2018-191,2441.74%2019-201,3402.04%2020-212,1372.72%2021-222,0322.53%2022-232,6342.89%2023-248,0378.72%In March 2023, HMRC changed from only recording the primary cause of a complaint to recording all contributing causes and factors of a complaint.HMRC has previously faced challenges in delivering good customer service.In 2024-25 HMRC has increased its telephony ‘adviser attempts handled’ and decreased wait times. HMRC’s latest performance information is published at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmrc-monthly-performance-reports#reporting-year-2024-to-2025HMRC is encouraging more of its customers to use its online services to complete tasks quickly and easily online. Satisfaction with HMRC’s online services is consistently above 80%.HMRC operates a flexible resourcing model where staff are deployed across various types of customer service work throughout the year. This allows HMRC to allocate resources to support customers where and when they need it most across different channels, including helplines, post correspondence and webchat. Given the dynamic nature of HMRC’s workforce, their staffing records do not segregate helpline resources separately. Telephony services are funded from HMRC’s overall funding settlement.HMRC started reporting on disconnections after 70 minutes when they introduced a new telephony system. Information on the number of disconnections from March 2023 and for April 2023 to March 2024 is published in the HMRC Annual report and accounts 2023 to 2024: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hmrc-annual-report-and-accounts-2023-to-2024The average time to answer a customer telephone call for each year since 2015 is published as part of HMRC’s annual reports and accounts: 2023 to 2024 – historical data series (see above link).

How many times has HMRC disconnected a customer who has waited for longer than 70 minutes to speak to an advisor on their customer telephone service in each year since 2015.

Data on the number of complaints relating to telephony services is held in line with HMRC’s retention policy.Reporting yearNumber of complaints relating to telephony servicesNumber of telephony complaints as a proportion of all complaints received (%)2015-16Not heldNot held2016-17Not heldNot held2017-18Not heldNot held2018-191,2441.74%2019-201,3402.04%2020-212,1372.72%2021-222,0322.53%2022-232,6342.89%2023-248,0378.72%In March 2023, HMRC changed from only recording the primary cause of a complaint to recording all contributing causes and factors of a complaint.HMRC has previously faced challenges in delivering good customer service.In 2024-25 HMRC has increased its telephony ‘adviser attempts handled’ and decreased wait times. HMRC’s latest performance information is published at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmrc-monthly-performance-reports#reporting-year-2024-to-2025HMRC is encouraging more of its customers to use its online services to complete tasks quickly and easily online. Satisfaction with HMRC’s online services is consistently above 80%.HMRC operates a flexible resourcing model where staff are deployed across various types of customer service work throughout the year. This allows HMRC to allocate resources to support customers where and when they need it most across different channels, including helplines, post correspondence and webchat. Given the dynamic nature of HMRC’s workforce, their staffing records do not segregate helpline resources separately. Telephony services are funded from HMRC’s overall funding settlement.HMRC started reporting on disconnections after 70 minutes when they introduced a new telephony system. Information on the number of disconnections from March 2023 and for April 2023 to March 2024 is published in the HMRC Annual report and accounts 2023 to 2024: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hmrc-annual-report-and-accounts-2023-to-2024The average time to answer a customer telephone call for each year since 2015 is published as part of HMRC’s annual reports and accounts: 2023 to 2024 – historical data series (see above link).