Written questions by Mierlo.

Communities and Local Government, if he will set out the mechanisms for leaseholders and shared ownership tenants to challenge unexpected or excessive maintenance charges; and whether his Department plans to (a) strengthen enforcement or (b) provide additional support for those in dispute with housing associations.

Most shared owners have a landlord who is a member of the Housing Ombudsman Service. Tenants can therefore take complaints about service charges, not including fees, to the Ombudsman.The new Social and Affordable Homes Programme places new expectations on shared ownership providers to improve customer experience. These include giving greater consideration to long-term customer affordability and increasing transparency and fairness on costs.I otherwise refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 4 July 2025 (HCWS780).

Communities and Local Government, whether his Department plans to review the practices of housing associations in relation to the application of maintenance charges for shared ownership properties; and what steps he will take to ensure charges (a) reflect actual services delivered and (b) are communicated in plain language.

Most shared owners have a landlord who is a member of the Housing Ombudsman Service. Tenants can therefore take complaints about service charges, not including fees, to the Ombudsman.The new Social and Affordable Homes Programme places new expectations on shared ownership providers to improve customer experience. These include giving greater consideration to long-term customer affordability and increasing transparency and fairness on costs.I otherwise refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 4 July 2025 (HCWS780).

Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure transparency and fairness in the calculation and application of maintenance charges for shared ownership properties; and whether he will assess the potential merits of introducing clearer guidance to prevent unexpected or disproportionate costs being passed on to (a) leaseholders and (b) part-buy, part-rent tenants.

Most shared owners have a landlord who is a member of the Housing Ombudsman Service. Tenants can therefore take complaints about service charges, not including fees, to the Ombudsman.The new Social and Affordable Homes Programme places new expectations on shared ownership providers to improve customer experience. These include giving greater consideration to long-term customer affordability and increasing transparency and fairness on costs.I otherwise refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 4 July 2025 (HCWS780).

What estimate he has made of the number of patients whose treatment has been delayed as a result of restrictions placed on private providers delivering NHS services.

Reducing waiting lists is a key part of the Government’s Health Mission, and we are committed to putting patients first by ensuring that they are seen on time and that they have the best possible experience of care. Since the Government came into office, the waiting list for routine appointments, operations, and procedures in England has now been cut by 312,369. This is despite 30.1 million referrals onto the waiting list.Integrated care boards have existing contractual powers to manage activity by providers, which were enhanced in 2025/26 with central support for setting and managing activity. Commissioners’ use of these powers support systems to live within their means and deploy better financial discipline than previous years where systems have overspent. As these powers are exercised by local systems, no national assessment has been made.We expect use of activity management provisions by local systems to support efforts achieving the goal of at least 65% of patients waiting no longer than 18 weeks for treatment by March 2026 whilst living within financial budgets set for 2025/26.All trusts are expected to have their own safeguards to ensure that patients waiting for planned care are triaged, and that appointments take place according to clinical priority and the length of time patients have waited, avoiding risk of serious complications.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that the 18-week waiting time target can be met.

The Government is committed to returning, by March 2029, to the National Health Service constitutional standard that 92% of patients wait no longer than 18 weeks from referral to consultant-led treatment.In November 2025, performance against the standard was at 61.8%, 2.6% higher than a year earlier. Since the Government came into office, the waiting list for routine appointments, operations, and procedures in England has now been cut by 312,369 despite 30.1 million referrals being added onto the waiting list.As set out in the Elective Reform Plan, we’ve set ambitious targets, and are investing in modernisation, and reforming and simplifying pathways, increasing surgical and diagnostic capacity, and empowering patients with faster and more convenient access to care. We’ve made good progress, through there remains lots more to do.We will empower patients by giving them more choice and control, reform delivery by working more consistently, and in many cases differently, to deliver more elective care, ensure care takes place in the right place, and implement robust and regular oversight of performance with clear expectations.In September last year, we announced a new “online hospital”, through NHS Online, which will help to reduce patient waiting times, delivering the equivalent of up to 8.5 million appointments and assessments in its first three years, four times more than an average trust, while enhancing patient choice and control over their care. The first patients will be able to use the service from 2027.We are investing £6 billion of additional capital over five years for diagnostic, elective, urgent, and emergency capacity in the NHS. This includes £1.65 billion of capital funding in 2025/26 to support both immediate winter capacity and infrastructure transformation, for instance new surgical hubs, community diagnostic centres, and beds to increase capacity for elective and emergency care.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of activity management plans on patient waiting times for elective surgery.

Integrated care boards have existing contractual powers to manage activity by providers, which were enhanced in 2025/26 with central support for setting and managing activity. The NHS Standard Contract includes the ability to set Indicative Action Plans (IAPs) to help providers and commissioners plan demand, capacity, and expenditure. While not binding, if activity exceeds the agreed plan, and therefore the funding agreed, an Activity Management Plan (AMP) can be agreed to bring activity back in line.The provision and use of IAPs and AMPs is designed to deliver the activity levels required to achieve the goal of at least 65% of patients waiting no longer than 18 weeks for treatment by March 2026 whilst also living within financial budgets set for 2025/26.Any planning assumptions based on waiting times need to support commissioners’ overall duties to the populations they serve and our waiting time targets, including our commitment to return to the 18 week standard. AMPs allow commissioners and providers to work together to manage elective activity within agreed performance and financial targets, all whilst working towards improving patient waiting times overall.

What steps the Department is taking to ensure that individuals who applied to purchase voluntary National Insurance contributions through the International Pensions Centre before the April 2025 deadline and experienced delays in their processing are not disadvantaged.

Telephony demand from individuals seeking to pay Voluntary National Insurance Contributions (VNICs) ahead of the 6th April 2025 deadline was significant. In response, DWP provided routes for individuals to register their interest in paying VNICs. DWP introduced an online call-back form, a route for citizens to register their interest over the telephone and where possible, individuals were sent confirmation text messages. Where individuals registered an interest to pay VNICs on or before the April 2025 deadline, the Department is honouring pre-deadline rates for all, even if the payment of VNICs is made after the deadline. Customers who are over State Pension age and who paid VNICs, will receive an increase to their State Pension. For individuals living overseas (who are already over State Pension age), all DWP call-back requests were completed before the end of December 2025. Customers who are over State Pension age and who paid VNICs based on pre-deadline rates, will receive an increase to their State Pension. The pre-deadline contribution rates required to purchase the relevant qualifying years will be honoured.

What plans he has to review the level of the Household Benefit Cap.

There is a statutory obligation to review the levels at least once every five years. They were last reviewed in November 2022 and, as such, a further review is not required until November 2027. This will happen at the appropriate time as determined by the Secretary of State.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of levels of Local Housing Allowance rates on households in the private rented sector following the removal of the two-child limit; and whether he has plans to review LHA levels, in the context of recent trends in the cost of renting.

The Secretary of State reviews LHA rates annually and rates were reviewed in November at Autumn Budget. A decision was made to maintain LHA rates at their current 2024/25 levels for 2026/27. A range of factors were considered, including rent levels across Great Britain, the wider fiscal context and welfare priorities. This included the decision to remove the two child limit, which will lift 450k children out of poverty. Written statements - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament Discretionary Housing Payments are available from local authorities for low-income renters who face a shortfall in meeting their housing costs. From April 2026 DHPs for England will be incorporated into the Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF).

What assessment he has made of (a) trends in the level of Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation and (b) the potential impact of those lawsuits on public-interest advocacy and journalism.

Due to the covert nature of Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) cases, with many threats occurring before cases reach the courts, it is difficult to know precise figures. On the available qualitative evidence we recognise that such tactics continue to be used to intimidate and silence journalists and others acting in the public interest. By curtailing free speech, SLAPPs cause a chilling effect on public interest journalism and pose a threat to both our legal system and our democracy. We are considering all options for reform to address this issue.

If his Department will publish further information on the four new earned income disregards for housing benefit claimants in supported housing.

The Department will be introducing new earned income disregards for Housing Benefit claimants in Supported Housing and Temporary Accommodation from Autumn 2026. Further information will be available in the regulations pack and Explanatory Memorandum when the new regulations are laid later this year. We continue to work collaboratively with stakeholders to ensure that the implementation is robust and we reduce the financial cliff edge for individuals in supported housing and temporary accommodation.

What steps he is taking to introduce new earner income disregards for housing benefit claimants in supported housing.

The Department will be introducing new earned income disregards for Housing Benefit claimants in Supported Housing and Temporary Accommodation from Autumn 2026. Further information will be available in the regulations pack and Explanatory Memorandum when the new regulations are laid later this year. We continue to work collaboratively with stakeholders to ensure that the implementation is robust and we reduce the financial cliff edge for individuals in supported housing and temporary accommodation.

If he will bring forward legislative proposals to introduce protections for (a) whistleblowing patients and (b) patient safety advocates.

There are no plans to bring forward legislation to strengthen protections for patients who raise concerns and patient safety advocates.National Health Service patients should not experience negative consequences if they raise concerns. The NHS Constitution pledges that patient complaints will not adversely impact future treatment. Patients can raise concerns or provide feedback through channels such as the NHS complaints process, Patient Advice and Liaison Service, and the Friends and Family Test, and can also share experiences of care with the Care Quality Commission. Independent advice and support are available for them from the Independent Complaints Advocacy Service.Through implementation of the Government’s 10-Year Health Plan, we will reform the NHS complaints process and strengthen the patient voice by setting clear standards for the quality of responses to complaints and ensure the NHS listens carefully and compassionately, taking forward learnings to ensure high quality care.Patient safety advocates in the NHS may include Patient Safety Specialists and Freedom to Speak Up Guardians who as workers in the NHS are protected by the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 (PIDA). They may also include Patient Safety Partners (PSPs) who are usually lay people and include patients, carers, or members of the public who work with NHS organisations to improve patient safety by contributing directly to governance, decision making, and safety improvement activity. As lay people, PSPs are not covered by PIDA.

Whether the Department will consider backdating State Pension increases in cases where there were delays by his Department.

Telephony demand from individuals seeking to pay Voluntary National Insurance Contributions (VNICs) ahead of the 6th April 2025 deadline was significant. In response, DWP provided routes for individuals to register their interest in paying VNICs. DWP introduced an online call-back form, a route for citizens to register their interest over the telephone and where possible, individuals were sent confirmation text messages. Where individuals registered an interest to pay VNICs on or before the April 2025 deadline, the Department is honouring pre-deadline rates for all, even if the payment of VNICs is made after the deadline. Customers who are over State Pension age and who paid VNICs, will receive an increase to their State Pension. For individuals living overseas (who are already over State Pension age), all DWP call-back requests were completed before the end of December 2025. Customers who are over State Pension age and who paid VNICs based on pre-deadline rates, will receive an increase to their State Pension. The pre-deadline contribution rates required to purchase the relevant qualifying years will be honoured.

What assessment the Department has made of the adequacy of the time taken to process applications to purchase voluntary National Insurance contributions through the International Pensions Centre before the April 2025 deadline.

Telephony demand from individuals seeking to pay Voluntary National Insurance Contributions (VNICs) ahead of the 6th April 2025 deadline was significant. In response, DWP provided routes for individuals to register their interest in paying VNICs. DWP introduced an online call-back form, a route for citizens to register their interest over the telephone and where possible, individuals were sent confirmation text messages. Where individuals registered an interest to pay VNICs on or before the April 2025 deadline, the Department is honouring pre-deadline rates for all, even if the payment of VNICs is made after the deadline. Customers who are over State Pension age and who paid VNICs, will receive an increase to their State Pension. For individuals living overseas (who are already over State Pension age), all DWP call-back requests were completed before the end of December 2025. Customers who are over State Pension age and who paid VNICs based on pre-deadline rates, will receive an increase to their State Pension. The pre-deadline contribution rates required to purchase the relevant qualifying years will be honoured.

What estimate his Department has made of the annual budget that has been allocated for the introduction of new earned income disregards for Housing benefit claimants in supported housing.

The Department's estimate of the Exchequer impact of the additional earned income disregards for Housing Benefit claimants resident in supported housing and temporary accommodation from 2026/27 to 2030/31 on Annually Managed Expenditure (AME) can be found in the published Autumn Budget 2025 policy costings here: Budget_2025-Policy_Costings.pdf

Whether her Department plans to provide additional (a) guidance and (b) professional development for primary teachers on incorporating learning through play into classroom.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework sets the standards and requirements that all early years settings must follow to ensure every child has the best start in life and is clear that play is essential for children’s development.The department is committed to supporting settings to deliver the EYFS for the benefit of all children and provides a range of resources, including written and online guidance on curriculum and pedagogy, to assist early years teachers.The department provides free guidance and training in delivering developmentally appropriate, play based learning. Our early years child development training, developed with sector experts, offers practical advice and materials for those working with Reception-aged children, including content about how play supports early learning and development.It reflects an emphasis on active, exploratory, play based learning as the foundation for children’s cognitive, language, social and emotional development.Finally, we have committed in our strategy for improving child development to a new training course for classroom teachers in reception and enhancing the National Professional Qualification for Headship with more content on effective Reception practice.

If he will make an assessment of effectiveness of Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnerships (MNVP), including Oxfordshire MNVP in representing the experience of mothers and families.

Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnerships (MNVPs) ensure that the voices of service users are central to decision-making within maternity and neonatal services. An MNVP listens to the experiences of women and families, and brings together service users, staff, and other stakeholders to plan, review, and improve maternity and neonatal care. The ambitions and objectives for MNVPs are outlined in the Three-year delivery plan for maternity and neonatal services, which is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/three-year-delivery-plan-for-maternity-and-neonatal-services/Integrated care board (ICBs) have a responsibility to ensure that MNVPs are delivering on the commitments set out in NHS England’s national guidance, which is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/maternity-and-neonatal-voices-partnership-guidance/A memorandum of understanding is in place for the Oxfordshire MNVP to oversee an agreed workplan, which is supported by the financial investment made by the ICB.The ICB has appropriate governance mechanisms in place to ensure oversight of Oxfordshire MNVP activities.

What discussions has he had to help conclude the dialogue between NHS England and the manufacturer of givinostat as part of the NICE appraisal.

The Department has had no such discussions. NHS England is responsible for any commercial discussions with companies whose products are undergoing a National Institute for Health and Care Excellence evaluation.Following discussions in November 2025, NHS England invited the manufacturer, ITF Pharma UK and Ireland, to submit a written proposal to progress a potential commercial agreement in December, with a range of ideas being offered by NHS England that could form the basis of a deal.NHS England is still awaiting a proposal from the company and has continued to press ITF Pharma on the need to make progress as patients and campaigners deserve certainty on the next steps regarding access to this treatment.

Pursuant to the Answer of 12 January 2026 to Question 103084, if she will publish policy proposals to implement the practice of collection of data of non-injury road traffic accidents in order to make an assessment of the risk at rural junctions.

There are currently no plans to collect non-injury collision data from road traffic collisions to make an assessment of risk at rural junctions.As announced in the recently published Road Safety Strategy, the department is exploring the possibility of breaking down rural roads into several subcategories to better define their purpose. This segmentation will help target safety interventions more effectively, ensuring resources are spent where they can have the greatest impact. We have also announced the establishment of a data-led Road Safety Investigation Branch, which will investigate collisions on a thematic basis.