Written questions by Mierlo.

Whether she has had discussions with the Environment Agency on their decision to remove opposition to new housing developments that would be connected to the Oxford Sewage treatment works in Oxfordshire.

Awaiting answer.

What his planned timetable is for the implementation of legislation to help tackle SLAPPs.

Awaiting answer.

Whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Justice on protecting maternity safety campaigners from Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (SLAPPs).

Awaiting answer.

What steps are he is taking to procure meningococcal B vaccines.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is engaged in procurement activity to maintain sufficient stockpiles of meningococcal B vaccines to support the United Kingdom’s future routine immunisation programmes. This procurement process is in its final stages and is expected to conclude in the coming weeks. If a contract is awarded, a notice will be published in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023.UKHSA has an existing contract for meningococcal B vaccines, with sufficient stock available to maintain the current immunisation programme and to meet any additional needs resulting from recent outbreaks.

What conversations he has had with manufacturers on the procurement of the meningococcal B vaccine.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) works closely with the Department, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, and manufacturers to ensure the timely supply of effective vaccines. Strong working relationships and partnerships with vaccine manufacturers enable UKHSA to act quickly and efficiently to ensure sufficient stocks of product. The current supplier has an approved and licensed vaccine to meet the United Kingdom’s current routine immunisation programme needs and any additional needs resulting from recent outbreaks.UKHSA is now actively undertaking a procurement process for meningococcal B vaccines into the future. We engage with the wider market to encourage further competition where feasible and undertake horizon scanning activities to review data for approved products and track any promising products in development.

What steps she is taking to help ensure that individuals and businesses contacting HMRC by telephone receive a good standard of customer service.

Awaiting answer.

Food and Rural Affairs, Pursuant to the answer provided on the 2nd March to question 115773, to provide an update on the evidence review to consider the environmental and public health implications of a change to expand the definition of bather to include other recreation water users.

The Bathing Water Regulations were updated in November 2025 and implementation is underway. Defra, the Welsh Government, the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales have jointly held two stakeholder workshops, with follow-up engagement ongoing. Defra continues to review evidence on the environmental and public health implications of expanding the definition of a bather.

If he has made an estimation of the cost of a meningococcal B vaccination programme for all young people.

As my rt. Hon. Friend, the former Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, told the House on 17 March 2026 in the context of the meningococcal disease outbreak in Kent, the Joint Committee on Vaccinations and Immunisations (JCVI) has been asked to re-examine eligibility for meningitis vaccines to assess, for example, an expanded offer to older children and/or young adults. The JCVI will provide updated advice to the Department this summer around whether, and to what extent, a vaccine programme for older children and/or young adults would be clinically effective. This will also include an assessment of the cost-effectiveness of such a vaccination programme. The JCVI is required to consider the cost-effectiveness of a vaccination programme as part of their Code of Practice, which is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/joint-committee-on-vaccination-and-immunisation#code-of-practice-and-conflicts-of-interests.The JCVI gives advice to Ministers based on the best evidence, reflecting current good practice and/or expert opinion. This involves a robust, transparent, and systematic appraisal of the available evidence from a wide range of sources. The JCVI aims to work with key stakeholders while maintaining the independence of committee processes and considerations.The context of the recent meningococcal outbreak in Kent will be important to consider in any updated modelling which is considered by the JCVI going forward.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer provided on the 9th December to question 97007, if she can outline the (a) local and (b) national stakeholders who she will engage with during the initial scoping work and set out a timeline for the initial scoping work .

The Bathing Water Regulations were updated in November 2025 and implementation is underway. Defra, the Welsh Government, the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales have jointly held two stakeholder workshops, with follow-up engagement ongoing. Defra continues to review evidence on the environmental and public health implications of expanding the definition of a bather.

With reference to the answer of 20 April 2026 to question 125954, which (a) organisations (b) government bodies and (c) academic partners are conducting the incremental, evidence led approach.

Awaiting answer.

With reference to the response of 20 April 2026 to question 125947; what progress has been made on receiving independent expert advice from the JCVI on the meningococcal B vaccination programme, including whether this should be extended to young people who were not eligible for the routine infant immunisation programme introduced in 2015.

The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

If he will make it his policy to produce a set of specific local recommendations for each trust included in the Amos review of maternity and neonatal care following the publication of the National recommendations.

The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

What the (a) average and (b) median processing times were for (i) initial claims and (ii) deterioration claims under the War Pension Scheme in each of the last three financial years; and what steps the Department is taking to introduce clearer (A) service standards and (B) timescales for claimants.

Awaiting answer.

Food and Rural Affairs, when she plans to respond to the letter of 7 March 2026 from the Hon. Member for Henley and Thame and the Hon. Member for Earley and Woodley on the invitation to visit the flood affected areas bordering their constituencies.

A reply is being prepared and will be issued to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to provide young people with affordable housing.

Awaiting answer.

What monitoring arrangements are in place and what enforcement mechanisms are available if Capita are unable to meet the June 2026 deadline for civil servants awaiting pension payments.

The Cabinet Office awarded the contract to administer the Civil Service Pension Scheme to Capita in November 2023 under the previous government.The issues and delays facing a number of civil servants and pension scheme members in receiving their pension quotes are unacceptable. I want to reassure you that this Government has taken firm action to help put things right as soon as possible. We have agreed a clear recovery plan with Capita, which includes specific milestones and accountability targets for delivery. For priority cases, we have deployed additional resources and improved communication with affected colleagues, so that staff, both former and serving, receive the quality of service and support they deserve.Existing Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) have been enhanced and strengthened to deliver improved performance and higher penalties for failure, including financial penalties. These have already been applied in respect to Capita's performance with recent issues and delays in administering the Civil Service Pension Scheme.Capita has made lump sum payments to 11,454 members, the majority of whom have retired but are not yet receiving their pension, and are on track to bring these members into regular pension payments by the end of May.To provide immediate financial support to those who may need it, including those who have left under the compensation scheme, arrangements are in place for interest-free bridging loans of £5,000 and higher in exceptional cases to most recent retirees facing payment delays. This is alongside interim lump sum payments being made to provide immediate funds to retiring members. The pension scheme continues to make monthly pension payments to approximately 730,000 existing pensioner members on time.To mitigate member hardship, employers have issued £8.9 million in Transitional Support Loans to 1,665 members and these arrangements continue to be in place.Interest will be paid on delayed benefits to avoid financial loss by members. In addition, the existing statutory complaints process evaluates claims for financial losses, as well as distress and inconvenience caused, on a case-by-case basis to determine whether compensation is due. This ensures that any retiree who provides evidence of extra costs, such as bank penalties or interest charges caused by the delay, is fairly assessed. This process is run in accordance with the standards set by the Pensions Ombudsman.The Cabinet Office has mandated Capita that they must restore service levels by the end of June 2026. We are using every commercial lever at our disposal, including withholding payments for deliverables that have not been met. We also reserve the right to take further formal action to ensure the service returns to the required standards. The Cabinet Office continues to closely monitor Capita's progress and performance against all contractual service levels.Regular updates on the work to recover the service, continue to be posted on the Civil Service Pensions member portal and on Gov.Uk.

What steps his department is taking to ensure that civil servants awaiting pension payments as part of the remaining backlog do not experience financial hardship while Capita works toward the June 2026 deadline.

The Cabinet Office awarded the contract to administer the Civil Service Pension Scheme to Capita in November 2023 under the previous government.The issues and delays facing a number of civil servants and pension scheme members in receiving their pension quotes are unacceptable. I want to reassure you that this Government has taken firm action to help put things right as soon as possible. We have agreed a clear recovery plan with Capita, which includes specific milestones and accountability targets for delivery. For priority cases, we have deployed additional resources and improved communication with affected colleagues, so that staff, both former and serving, receive the quality of service and support they deserve.Existing Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) have been enhanced and strengthened to deliver improved performance and higher penalties for failure, including financial penalties. These have already been applied in respect to Capita's performance with recent issues and delays in administering the Civil Service Pension Scheme.Capita has made lump sum payments to 11,454 members, the majority of whom have retired but are not yet receiving their pension, and are on track to bring these members into regular pension payments by the end of May.To provide immediate financial support to those who may need it, including those who have left under the compensation scheme, arrangements are in place for interest-free bridging loans of £5,000 and higher in exceptional cases to most recent retirees facing payment delays. This is alongside interim lump sum payments being made to provide immediate funds to retiring members. The pension scheme continues to make monthly pension payments to approximately 730,000 existing pensioner members on time.To mitigate member hardship, employers have issued £8.9 million in Transitional Support Loans to 1,665 members and these arrangements continue to be in place.Interest will be paid on delayed benefits to avoid financial loss by members. In addition, the existing statutory complaints process evaluates claims for financial losses, as well as distress and inconvenience caused, on a case-by-case basis to determine whether compensation is due. This ensures that any retiree who provides evidence of extra costs, such as bank penalties or interest charges caused by the delay, is fairly assessed. This process is run in accordance with the standards set by the Pensions Ombudsman.The Cabinet Office has mandated Capita that they must restore service levels by the end of June 2026. We are using every commercial lever at our disposal, including withholding payments for deliverables that have not been met. We also reserve the right to take further formal action to ensure the service returns to the required standards. The Cabinet Office continues to closely monitor Capita's progress and performance against all contractual service levels.Regular updates on the work to recover the service, continue to be posted on the Civil Service Pensions member portal and on Gov.Uk.

What assessment she has made of the adequacy of integrated data and through-ticketing between rail services and airlines worldwide; and if she will take steps to make the UK a leader in integrated air-rail data sharing and through-ticketing.

Awaiting answer.

With reference to the answer of 20 April 2026 to question 125953, whether the resources provided by Best Start for Life Family Hubs includes guidance for fathers who have been released from prison on co-parenting and handling children's emotional response.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of response times to hon. Members when making enquiries to his Department on behalf of constituents about benefit claims.

Awaiting answer.