Written questions by Costigan.

What steps he is taking to improve access to optometry services for rough sleepers who are not eligible for full public funding due to their immigration status.

Individuals can apply for help with the cost of sight tests and glasses through the NHS low-income scheme. This includes people seeking asylum, refused asylum seekers in receipt of Home Office support and some refugees who will be eligible for cost exemption certificates. Furthermore, NHS England have recently taken steps to ensure that having no fixed abode should not prevent access to sight tests.The Department of Health and Social Care recognises the importance of reducing barriers to services for those experiencing rough sleeping. This is why we supported the development of NICE guidance which provides recommendations on ways to improve access to, and engagement with, health and social care services for people experiencing homelessness.More broadly, there are some services that are free at the point of use for all patients regardless of immigration status. These include, for example, accident and emergency services.

What steps he is taking to improve access to dental care for rough sleepers who are not eligible for full public funding due to their immigration status.

The Department recognises the importance of reducing barriers to services for those experiencing homelessness and rough sleeping. This is why we supported the development and implementation of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s guidance, which provides recommendations on ways to improve access to, and engagement with, health and social care services for people experiencing homelessness. This guidance is available at the following link:https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng214Certain groups of patients, such as rough sleepers, may be vulnerable to oral health problems and may find it difficult to access dental care. Integrated care boards are responsible for assessing the needs of their population and ensuring that the relevant dental services are available. Individuals with no recourse to public funds including failed asylum seekers remain eligible to receive help with dentistry costs through the NHS Low Income Scheme. Dentists are not required to ask for proof of identity, proof of address or proof of immigration status from individuals applying to become an NHS patient.We are tackling the immediate dental crisis with a rescue plan to provide 700,000 more urgent dental appointments and to recruit new dentists to the areas that need them most.

What steps he is taking to improve adult social care workforce retention.

Skills for Care data shows improvement in workforce retention in adult social care, the staff turnover rate decreased from 29.1% in 2022/23 to 24.8% in 2023/24 in the independent and local authority sectors. This may be partly due to the increase in international recruitment.Whilst much of the responsibility for recruitment and retention rests with adult social care employers, we are committed to ensuring the adult social care workforce feels supported, recognised, and there are opportunities to develop and progress, all of which contribute to retention. On 10 October 2024, recognising the central role of our care workforce, we took a critical step, introducing the legislation that will establish the first ever Fair Pay Agreement for care professionals. More information is available at the following link:https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3737Fair Pay Agreements will work to empower workers, employers, and others in partnership to negotiate pay and terms and conditions in a regulated and responsible manner and will help to address the recruitment and retention crisis in the sector, in turn supporting the delivery of high-quality care.

If her Department will widen the list of current Energy Saving Materials in the upcoming Autumn Statement to include heat batteries.

The installation of qualifying energy-saving materials in residential accommodation and buildings used solely for a relevant charitable purpose benefits from a temporary VAT zero rate until March 2027, after which they will revert to the reduced rate of VAT at five per cent. Last year, a Call for Evidence (CfE) seeking views on additional technologies to potentially include within this relief was run. Heat batteries were one of the technologies put forwards by respondents. As set out in the Government response to the CfE, at that time, the Government was unable to identify sufficient independent data regarding the efficiency of heat batteries, making it difficult to assess the technology’s energy-saving properties objectively. The Government currently has no plans to add further technologies to this VAT relief. Nevertheless, the Government keeps all taxes under review as part of the policy making process. Changes to the tax system are announced at fiscal events in the usual way.

If she will make an assessment of the impact of immigration-based restrictions to public funds on homelessness among non-UK nationals.

Those seeking to establish their life in the UK are generally expected to maintain and support themselves and their families without depending on the UK’s welfare system.The Home Office Homelessness Escalations Service (HES) provides immigration status information and an escalation service designed to help non-UK national rough sleepers, (or those at risk of such) to access services and support to which they are entitled (where they are granted Permission to Stay in the UK), or otherwise to allow those supporting them to decide what actions to take in the full knowledge of their immigration status.Safeguards exist for those in need. Those who hold permission under the Family or Private Life, Human Rights or the Hong Kong BN(O) routes can apply, for free, to have their No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) condition lifted by making a ‘change of conditions’ application, if they are destitute or at risk of imminent destitution, if there are reasons relating to the welfare of a relevant child, or where they are facing exceptional circumstances affecting their income or expenditure. For all other immigration routes discretion can be applied to lift a NRPF condition, where particularly compelling circumstances may justify access to public funds.Local authorities may also provide basic safety net support, regardless of immigration status, if it is established either that there is a risk to the wellbeing of a child or there is a genuine care need that does not arise solely from destitution, for example, where a person has community care needs or serious health problems.

What steps she is taking to prevent people becoming homeless after leaving asylum accommodation.

Individuals granted asylum are able to work and access mainstream services that support their integration. We are working across Government to ensure smooth transition into work and to ensure these services meet the needs of all newly granted refugees. Those refused asylum and whose appeal rights are exhausted are expected to leave the United Kingdom. All asylum seekers have access to a 24/7 AIRE (Advice, Issue Reporting and Eligibility) service provided for the Home Office by Migrant Help. Migrant Help or their partner organisation support all individuals when they receive a decision on their asylum claim. This support includes providing advice on employment and signposting to local authorities for assistance. We continue to work with colleagues at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to understand rough sleeping and homelessness pressures within local authorities. We share enhanced data sets (the Place Based Visibility tool - PBVT) with local authorities and statutory partners which we are continuing to develop further. The PBVT is complimented by the Discontinuation Prediction Tool (DPT) which is shared weekly; this data provides a real time view of discontinuation notices likely to be served in the next following 4-6 weeks.