Written questions by Clifton-Brown.

Whether she has used powers under section 44 of the Police Act 1996 to require Chief Constables to provide information on the time taken by firearms licensing departments to process (a) grants and (b) renewals for (i) shotguns and (ii) section 1 firearms.

The issuing of firearms certificates and the efficiency of police forces is a matter for individual Chief Constables, who are held to account by Police and Crime Commissioners.However, the performance of forces in this space is being actively monitored by the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s lead for firearms licensing, Deputy Chief Constable David Gardner, and both he and his predecessor have been working actively with forces on performance related issues.

How many hereditaments used for retail in England had a rateable value of £500,000 or above on 29 January 2025.

The information requested is provided in the Valuation Office Agency’s Non Domestic Rating Stock of Properties publication available on gov.uk.

How many hereditaments in England that are not used for retail, hospitality or leisure had a rateable value of £500,000 or above on 29 January 2025.

The information requested is provided in the Valuation Office Agency’s Non Domestic Rating Stock of Properties publication available on gov.uk.

How many hereditaments used for (a) distribution and (b) warehousing in England had a rateable value of £500,000 or above on 29 January 2025.

The information requested is provided in the Valuation Office Agency’s Non Domestic Rating Stock of Properties publication available on gov.uk.

How many hereditaments used for hospitality in England had a rateable value of £500,000 or above on 29 January 2025.

The information requested is provided in the Valuation Office Agency’s Non Domestic Rating Stock of Properties publication available on gov.uk.

How many hereditaments used for leisure in England had a rateable value of £500,000 or above on 29 January 2025.

The information requested is provided in the Valuation Office Agency’s Non Domestic Rating Stock of Properties publication available on gov.uk.

How many hereditaments used for (a) retail, (b) hospitality and (c) leisure in England have a rateable value of (i) £51,000 or below, (ii) between £51,001 and £499,999 and (iii) £500,000 or above.

The Valuation Office Agency’s official statistics publication Non Domestic Rating Stock of Properties provides details of hereditaments by special category code and rateable value.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the recommendations of the review entitled The review for implementation of Schedule 3 to The Flood and Water Management Act 2010, published in January 2023, what steps his Department is taking to implement Schedule 3 to The Flood and Water Management Act 2010, published by Defra in January 2023; and what his Department's timetable is for the full implementation of that Schedule.

The Government is strongly committed to requiring standardised Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) in new developments. These should be to designs that cope with changing climatic conditions as well as delivering wider water infrastructure benefits, reduce run off and help to improve water quality, amenity and biodiversity. It is also important to ensure appropriate adoption and maintenance arrangements are in place. We believe that these outcomes can be achieved through either improving the current planning led approach using powers now available or commencing Schedule 3 to the Flood and Water Management Act 2010. A final decision on the way forward will be made in the coming months. We have made some immediate changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) to support increasing SuDS. The NPPF now requires all development to utilize SuDS where they could have drainage impacts. These systems should be appropriate to the nature and scale of the proposed development. We will review the planning system holistically and consider whether further changes are required to address SuDS when we consult on further planning reform, including national policy related to decision making, in 2025.

If she will take steps to ensure that the rise in employer National Insurance contributions does not apply to general practices.

Resource spending for the Department of Health and Social Care is set to increase by £22.6 billion in 2025-26 compared to 2023-24 outturn, providing a real-terms growth rate of 4% for the NHS, the largest since before 2010 excluding Covid-19 years. The Government will support local authority services through a real terms increase in core local government spending power of around 3.2%, including at least £600 million of new grant funding to support social care.The government recognises the need to protect the smallest businesses and charities, which is why we have more than doubled the Employment Allowance to £10,500, meaning more than half of businesses with NICs liabilities either gain or see no change next year. Our tax regime for charities, including exemption from paying business rates, is among the most generous of anywhere in the world with tax reliefs for charities and their donors worth just over £6 billion for the tax year to April 2024.The Budget will provide support for government departments and other public sector employers for additional Employer NICs costs only. Private sector firms or charities including hospices or social care providers that are contracted by central or local Government will not be exempt from these changes. General Practitioners are independent contractors and therefore will not be exempt from these changes.This is consistent with the approach to previous Employer NICs changes, as was the case with the previous Government’s Health and Social Care Levy.DHSC will confirm funding for General Practice for 25/26 as part of the usual GP contract process later in the year, including through consultation with the sector.

If she will take steps to ensure that the rise in employer National Insurance contributions does not apply to hospices.

Resource spending for the Department of Health and Social Care is set to increase by £22.6 billion in 2025-26 compared to 2023-24 outturn, providing a real-terms growth rate of 4% for the NHS, the largest since before 2010 excluding Covid-19 years. The Government will support local authority services through a real terms increase in core local government spending power of around 3.2%, including at least £600 million of new grant funding to support social care.The government recognises the need to protect the smallest businesses and charities, which is why we have more than doubled the Employment Allowance to £10,500, meaning more than half of businesses with NICs liabilities either gain or see no change next year. Our tax regime for charities, including exemption from paying business rates, is among the most generous of anywhere in the world with tax reliefs for charities and their donors worth just over £6 billion for the tax year to April 2024.The Budget will provide support for government departments and other public sector employers for additional Employer NICs costs only. Private sector firms or charities including hospices or social care providers that are contracted by central or local Government will not be exempt from these changes. General Practitioners are independent contractors and therefore will not be exempt from these changes.This is consistent with the approach to previous Employer NICs changes, as was the case with the previous Government’s Health and Social Care Levy.DHSC will confirm funding for General Practice for 25/26 as part of the usual GP contract process later in the year, including through consultation with the sector.