Written questions by Cooper.

Pursuant to the Answer of 11 November 2024 to Question 12746 on Employers' Contributions, if she will consult (a) small businesses, (b) social care providers and (c) GP surgeries before publishing the Tax Information and Impact Note.

A Tax Information and Impact Note that covers the employer NICs changes was published by HMRC on 13 NovemberThe government has protected the smallest businesses from the impact of the increase to employers’ National Insurance by increasing the Employment Allowance from £5,000 to £10,500, which means that 865,000 employers will pay no employer NICs at all next year. More than half of employers will see no change or will gain overall from this package and eligible employers will be able to employ up to four full-time workers on the National Living Wage and pay no employer NICs.

Pursuant to the Answer of 4 October 2024 to Question 6540 on Kidney Diseases: Transplant Surgery, what estimate his Department has made of the cost of providing psychological and social care support to all kidney transplant recipients in each of the next five years.

A financial assessment for all aspects of renal replacement therapy provision, including transplantation, will be completed as part of the work NHS England is currently undertaking to update the specialised renal service specifications, again including transplantation. This will include reviewing and updating, where appropriate, the requirements for psychological support services, in line with the recommendations of the Renal Services Transformation Programme toolkit. No specific assessment has been made of the cost of providing social care support to all kidney transplant recipients.

Whether her Department has prepared terms of reference for a consultation on replacing business rates with a land value tax since 2019.

The government is creating a fairer business rates system that protects the high street, supports investment, and is fit for the 21st century.At Budget 2024, we announced our intention to introduce permanently lower tax rates for high street retail, hospitality and leisure (RHL) properties from 2026-27. This permanent tax cut will ensure that they benefit from much-needed certainty and support. It must be sustainably funded, and so we intend to introduce a higher rate on the most valuable properties – those with rateable values of £500,000 and above.This Budget announcement reflects the Government’s first steps to support the high street. We want to go further to modernise the system, and so we have published a discussion paper setting out priority areas for reform. This paper invites stakeholders to help co-design a fairer business rates system that supports investment.

Whether she made a socio-economic impact assessment of the increase to employer national insurance contributions.

A Tax Information and Impact Note will be published in due course alongside the legislation when it is introduced to Parliament.

Pursuant to the Answer of 21 October 2024 to Question 9564 on Employers' Contributions: Small Businesses, if she will publish any impact assessment for the raise to employer National Insurance contributions.

A Tax Information and Impact Note will be published in due course alongside the legislation when it is introduced to Parliament.

On what date her Department sent letters to people eligible for Pension Credit to inform them that they must apply for Pension Credit to continue receiving winter fuel payments.

The department sent letters between 7th October and 4th November 2024 to pensioners who, under previous rules, would have received a Winter Fuel Payment this year. The letters informed customers of the change in eligibility for receiving the payment and urged them to check their potential entitlement to Pension Credit which would provide them with a range of additional benefits, including the Winter Fuel Payment.

With reference to the Autumn Budget 2024, published on 30 October 2024, HC 295, whether the Departmental settlements include funding for public sector employers for the cost of increases to employer National Insurance contributions.

The Government will provide support for departments and other public sector employers for additional Employer National Insurance Contributions costs only. This funding will be allocated to departments, with the Barnett formula applying in the usual way.This is in line with the approach taken under the previous Government’s Health and Social Care Levy.The Government plans to update Parliament on allocations by department in the usual way as soon as possible.

What estimate she has made of forecast revenue from changes to Agricultural Property Relief in each financial year from 2024-25 to 2029-30.

The Government has published information about the reforms to Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR) at www.gov.uk/government/publications/agricultural-property-relief-and-business-property-relief-reforms. These reforms are forecast to raise an additional £230m in 2026-27, £495m in 2027-28, £520m in 2028-29, and £520m in 2029-30.

Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to provide additional funding to local authorities for the cost of increases to employer National Insurance contributions.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer to Question UIN 11851 on 8 November 2024.

Whether he has made an assessment of the adequacy of the number of health visitors available to support babies with special educational needs and disabilities.

The Government is committed to raising the healthiest generation of children. The child health workforce, including health visitors, is central to how we support all families to give their child the best start in life. Their contact with parents, carers, and children of all ages provides vital advice and support and helps ensure that health and development needs are identified early, including those children with special educational needs and disabilities.We are committed to training the staff we need to ensure people, their carers, and their families are cared for by the right professional, when and where they need it. We will want to assure ourselves, and the National Health Service, that the current workforce plan will deliver the reform needed. We will need to do this in light of the 10-Year Health Plan.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has had discussions with the Food Standards Agency on listing pea protein as an allergen.

The UK maintains high standards on the information that is provided on food labels so that consumers can have confidence in the food that they buy. The Government continues to work closely with the Food Standards Agency (FSA) to understand the steps that can be taken to ensure people with allergies have access to clear and accurate information. There are a large number of potential food ingredients that may cause an allergic reaction to sensitised people. The current 14 regulated allergens are recognised as being the most common and potent allergens of public health concern across Europe.The FSA is aware that pea protein allergy is an emerging area of concern and there are reports of adverse reactions to peas in the scientific literature. However, evidence on this is currently limited. The FSA is currently working with the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology and other stakeholders on gathering information on hidden and emerging food allergens which will help in assessing the need for further research and work in this area. The FSA continues to monitor the situation closely but has no current plans to amend the 14 allergens list.The FSA continues to work to make it easier for people with food hypersensitivities (allergies, intolerances, and coeliac disease) to have access to clear and accurate information which is a fundamental part of their work. Its research can be found  here.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the increasing use of pea protein in food products.

The UK maintains high standards on the information that is provided on food labels so that consumers can have confidence in the food that they buy. The Government continues to work closely with the Food Standards Agency (FSA) to understand the steps that can be taken to ensure people with allergies have access to clear and accurate information. There are a large number of potential food ingredients that may cause an allergic reaction to sensitised people. The current 14 regulated allergens are recognised as being the most common and potent allergens of public health concern across Europe.The FSA is aware that pea protein allergy is an emerging area of concern and there are reports of adverse reactions to peas in the scientific literature. However, evidence on this is currently limited. The FSA is currently working with the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology and other stakeholders on gathering information on hidden and emerging food allergens which will help in assessing the need for further research and work in this area. The FSA continues to monitor the situation closely but has no current plans to amend the 14 allergens list.The FSA continues to work to make it easier for people with food hypersensitivities (allergies, intolerances, and coeliac disease) to have access to clear and accurate information which is a fundamental part of their work. Its research can be found  here.

Whether she plans to allow local councils to roll out noise cameras to monitor illegal vehicle modifications.

The Department for Transport conducted roadside trials of noise camera technology between October 2022 and February 2023. Reports of these trials, including detailed assessment of the technology’s performance and potential merits, were published on 17 March 2024. Overall, the trials demonstrated that noise cameras currently have the potential to be used for enforcement, but only when accompanied by human review of the recorded evidence, which is likely to lower the cost effectiveness of deploying the technology in many circumstances. It is ultimately for local authorities and the police to consider what the most appropriate enforcement routes may be for addressing issues with excessive vehicle noise within their area. The use of noise camera technology has already been taken forward by some local authorities.

Media and Sport, if she will conduct a review of public notices advertising to ensure that those notices are distributed in (a) printed and (b) online news outlets.

Public notices are important for ensuring that the public is kept informed of decisions made by their council which may affect their quality of life, local services or amenities, or their property. The independent 2019 Cairncross Review into sustainable journalism found that public notices are also an important source of revenue for local newspapers. However, the Government is aware of feedback from some sectors about the audience reach of these notices and the desire for greater digitalisation. In this context, the sector’s Public Notice Portal is a welcome innovation, intended to take advantage of print publishers’ growing digital audiences and provide a centralised resource for all types of public notice. We are monitoring the progress of the Portal, and the effect that it has on the audience reach of public notices.

Whether he plans to visit Watford General Hospital before his Department's review of the New Hospital Programme is complete.

Ministers regularly consider visits across the country. Any plans to visit specific locations will be notified to the Hon. Members in advance.

Whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of raising employer’s National Insurance Contributions on small and medium-sized businesses.

The government does not speculate on tax changes outside of fiscal events. Where changes are made, information about impacts is published in the usual way.

Whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of raising employer’s National Insurance Contributions on the hospitality sector.

The government does not speculate on tax changes outside of fiscal events. Where changes are made, information about impacts is published in the usual way.

Whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of raising employer’s National Insurance Contributions on the social care sector.

The government does not speculate on tax changes outside of fiscal events. Where changes are made, information about impacts is published in the usual way.

With reference to the blog post entitled How we’re dealing with bots and the reselling of driving tests, published by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency on 29 June 2023, what progress that Agency has made on tackling automated bots exploiting the driving test booking system.

To ensure fairness for everyone wanting to book a practical driving test, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) continues to work hard to combat the unscrupulous practice of reselling tests. In January 2023, DVSA changed its booking service terms and conditions to help prevent anyone from selling tests at profit. Since then, the DVSA has issued 313 warnings, 766 suspensions, and closed 705 business accounts for misuse of its booking service. DVSA operates an online booking service (OBS) for Approved Driving Instructors (ADIs) and trainers so that they can book and manage driving and riding tests for their pupils. DVSA has made changes to the OBS by stopping automatic online registrations to use the service, ensuring each company that registers employs an ADI and removing access for any companies not linked to driving instructors.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of permitting GPs to prescribe a third epi pen to school children with severe allergies when school policies require them to leave one of the two provided by the NHS on the school premises during term time.

Clinicians are responsible for making prescribing decisions for their patients and, where appropriate, can prescribe the number of EpiPens needed, taking into account best practice, the patient's needs, and any local or national guidance. There are already some children in England with severe allergies who have four EpiPens prescribed to them, two for use at home, and two for use at school.