Written questions by Morris.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 12 June 2025 to Question 58194 on Letter Boxes, if he will make an estimate of the number of property developers who do not comply with the guidance on the positioning of letterboxes and letterplates.

The department does not hold this data. Since October 2023, the Building Safety Regulator have a duty under the Building Safety Act 2022 to keep under review the safety and standards of all buildings in England, which includes keeping Approved Document Q under review.

Pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 57224 on Police: Pensions, if she will make an estimate of the number of surviving partners currently in receipt of a survivor’s pension under the 1987 Police Pension Scheme who would lose their entitlement upon remarriage or cohabitation.

The Home Office does not hold data on the number of surviving partners currently receiving a survivor’s pension under the 1987 police pension scheme who might be affected by remarriage or cohabitation.The 1987 police pension scheme is a closed scheme and there are no plans at this time to make any further improvements to benefits accrued in it.

Communities and Local Government, what information her Department collects on local authorities’ use of (a) Compulsory Purchase Orders and (b) Empty Dwelling Management Orders.

My Department has published a register of decisions on compulsory purchase orders in England submitted by local authorities for confirmation since 2019. It can be found on gov.uk here.The Department does not collect data on the number of Empty Dwelling Management Order (EDMOs) that have been issued.Local authorities can apply for an EDMO when a property has been empty for more than two years, subject to the production of evidence that the property has been causing a nuisance to the community and evidence of community support for their proposal. More information can be found on gov.uk here.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 5 June 2025 to Question 56184 on Letter Boxes, if he will make the guidance relating to the height and positioning of letter boxes set out in BS EN 13724:2013 Postal Services: Apertures of Private Letter Boxes and Letter Plates a mandatory requirement for (a) new-build properties and (b) new front door replacements.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 56988 on the 10 June 2025.

If she will bring forward legislative proposals to amend the 1987 Police Pension Scheme to allow widowers of police officers to retain their survivor’s pension entitlement if they remarry or cohabit.

The 1987 police pension scheme provides a pension for the widow, widower or civil partner of a police officer who dies. In common with most other public service pension schemes of that time, these benefits cease to be payable where the widow, widower or civil partner remarries or cohabits with another partner.With the introduction of the 2006 and 2015 police pension schemes, all eligible police officers were able to join a pension scheme that provides life-long survivor benefits for spouses, civil partners and unmarried partners, including those who remarry or cohabit after losing a spouse.From 1 April 2015, the 1987 police pension scheme was amended to allow widows, widowers and civil partners of police officers who have died as a result of an injury on duty to receive their survivor benefits for life regardless of remarriage, civil partnership or cohabitation.There are no plans at this time to make any further changes to benefits accrued in the 1987 police scheme.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make an estimate of the proportion of the 1.5 million homes the Government aims to deliver during this Parliament expected to be built by (a) private sector developers, (b) social housing providers and (c) local authorities.

Achieving the government’s ambitious Plan for Change milestone of building 1.5 million new safe and decent homes in England in this Parliament requires the contribution of a wide range of housing providers, including, but not confined to, local authorities, registered providers of social housing, and private developers.The government has not made an estimate of the exact number of homes each type of housing provider will deliver in this Parliament.

Communities and Local Government, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to make the industry standard for letterbox height mandatory for all (a) new-build properties and (b) new front door replacements.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 19554 on 18 December 2024.

If she will make an assessment of the potential impact of (a) the letter of remit and (b) the requirement for her approval of recommendations on the perceived independence of the Police Remuneration Review Body.

The Police Remuneration Review Body (PRRB) and Senior Salaries Review Body (SSRB) make recommendations to the Government on the appropriate level of pay and allowances for police officers.The pay review bodies gather and invite parties to submit evidence to inform their decisions. This includes both written and oral evidence from the Government, police employers and police staff associations. They weigh the evidence, consider independent research, and formulate detailed recommendations.We are committed to the Pay Review Body process and the Government appreciates and values the independent, expert advice and contribution that the pay review bodies make.

What recent comparative assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the (a) Police Negotiating Board and binding arbitration mechanism used in Scotland and (b) the Police Remuneration Review Body model in England and Wales.

The Police Remuneration Review Body (PRRB) and Senior Salaries Review Body (SSRB) make recommendations to the Government on the appropriate level of pay and allowances for police officers.The pay review bodies gather and invite parties to submit evidence to inform their decisions. This includes both written and oral evidence from the Government, police employers and police staff associations. They weigh the evidence, consider independent research, and formulate detailed recommendations.We are committed to the Pay Review Body process and the Government appreciates and values the independent, expert advice and contribution that the pay review bodies make.

What assessment she has made of the potential merits of (a) recording and (b) reporting in the Annual statistics of scientific procedures on living animals the number of animals bred for scientific procedures but not subsequently used.

The Home Office is presently reviewing the collection and publication of additional statistics on animals that were bred for, but not used in, scientific procedures.

If she will make an assessmentof the potential merits of introducing (a) a formal right of appeal and (b) binding arbitration for police officers in relation to pay and conditions decisions.

The Police Remuneration Review Body (PRRB) and Senior Salaries Review Body (SSRB) make recommendations to the Government on the appropriate level of pay and allowances for police officers.The pay review bodies gather and invite parties to submit evidence to inform their decisions. This includes both written and oral evidence from the Government, police employers and police staff associations. They weigh the evidence, consider independent research, and formulate detailed recommendations.We are committed to the Pay Review Body process and the Government appreciates and values the independent, expert advice and contribution that the pay review bodies make.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential implications for its policies of the report by the Royal College of Psychiatrists entitled Co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders, published on 13 May 2025.

The Government is committed to supporting more cohesive and joined-up care between mental health services and substance use services, to ensure people no longer fall through the gaps of treatment.We know that, between 2023 and 2024, 72% of people starting drug and alcohol treatment also had a mental health treatment need. Furthermore, approximately 30 to 50% of people with serious mental illness have co-existing drug or alcohol use conditions. However, as the Royal College of Psychiatry’s report highlights, too often, people with co-occurring substance use and mental health needs do not receive the joined up, person-centred care they require and deserve.In response to this, the Department and NHS England are finalising the Co-occurring Mental Health and Substance Use Action Plan. In developing this plan, NHS England and the Department have worked with subject matter experts, including people with lived experience, academics, clinicians, and service providers, to set out a path to improving service provision for those with co-occurring substance use and mental health needs.The action plan will build on current structures and initiatives such the Commissioning Quality Standard published in 2022. This standard provides guidance for drug and alcohol treatment commissioners on improving services for people with co-occurring mental health and alcohol or drug conditions and how local services need to work together so that people can access the help they need.

What steps his Department is taking to reduce waiting times for mental health treatment services.

The Government is delivering new and innovative models of care in the community. We have launched six neighbourhood adult mental health centres that are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to bring together community, crisis, and inpatient care.NHS England’s Planning Guidance for 2025/26 makes clear that for this year, to support reform and improvements, we expect all providers to reduce the variation in children and young people accessing services and improve productivity.We are also improving data quality so we can support providers in understanding demand across their areas. Since July 2023, NHS England has included waiting times metrics for referrals to urgent and community-based mental health services in its monthly mental health statistics publication, to help services target the longest waits.Our 10-Year Health Plan will inform the future vision and delivery plan for mental health services in England. Earlier intervention remains a key focus of the plan, with the aim of reducing pressure on mental health services.

Which railway routes are most at risk from (a) climate change and (b) extreme weather events.

Network Rail is undertaking a programme of adaptation pathways across the network to develop a long-term strategic adaptation plan and identify priority areas for further adaptation investment. This approach will help identify those parts of the network which may require transformational change to enable safe and reliable services to continue in the future. Further, we recognise that the UK rail network is large and diverse, with different landscapes and communities facing different climate risks. Network Rail has produced a Weather Resilience and Climate Change Adaptation (WRCCA) plan for each of its five regions. This allows Network Rail to better identify, at a regional scale, those routes most at risk from climate change and extreme weather events. In 2026, 14 TOCs will also submit their first WRCCA strategies. As most TOCs operate over confined geographical regions, these will add further detail to our understanding of regional risks.

What emergency plans (a) her Department and (b) Network Rail has made for future extreme weather events.

The Department requires Train Operating Companies and Network Rail to put in place measures to avoid, where possible, the potential impact of disruption including as a result of weather. Network Rail owns and is responsible for maintaining railway infrastructure to ensure passenger and freight services operate safely. Officials hold regular discussions with Network Rail and industry to ensure severe weather preparedness plans are in place with clear mitigations to reduce the impacts of weather on punctuality and reliability. Network Rail Routes liaise closely with Train Operators to ensure comprehensive checklists are in place and to align customer messaging. Extreme Weather Action Telecons (EWATs) are stood up in anticipation of adverse or extreme weather conditions likely to impact upon rail networks, attended by Network Rail, British Transport Police, the Rail Delivery Group, train operators and the Department. EWATs coordinate the response to severe weather, for example by prepositioning people, equipment, assets to at-risk areas and implementing speed restrictions and emergency timetables where appropriate. Where services need to be cancelled, train operators will seek to provide alternative transport where possible, although there may be instances where this is not viable.

Communities and Local Government, how much the Oxford Growth Commission project will cost her Department in (a) 2025-26, (b) 2026-27, (c) 2027-28 and (d) 2028-29.

Economic growth is the number one priority for this Government and the Plan for Change. Oxford offers huge economic potential for the UK’s growth prospects which will not only benefit the wider region but also help drive growth in every corner of the country by creating jobs, boosting living standards, and putting more money into working people’s pockets. The Oxford Growth Commission will support the delivery of infrastructure, housing and employment to unleash Oxford’s and Oxfordshire’s economic power and is a key part of government’s commitment to unlock growth in the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor and the high potential sectors within it. The Commission is jointly supported by MHCLG, Oxford City Council, Oxfordshire County Council alongside the Universities and local business. Future departmental budgets will be set at the upcoming Spending Review.

What representations she has made to the Chancellor of the Exchequer for additional funding to mitigate the impact of (a) climate change and (b) extreme weather events on the railway network.

My department takes resilience of the railway very seriously. The recent Climate Change Committee progress report on adapting to climate change rated plans and policies of the rail sector as being 'good' – one of only three parts of the economy. DfT’s upcoming climate change adaptation strategy will address the recommendations from the progress report within our remit and empower the sector to take further action. Network Rail is undertaking a programme of adaptation pathways across the network to develop a long-term strategic adaptation plan and identify priority areas for further adaptation investment. This approach will help identify those parts of the network which may require transformational change to enable safe and reliable services to continue in the future. Network Rail has produced local level weather resilience and climate change adaptation plans. These explain Network Rail’s understanding of how weather and climate change can affect infrastructure at a more targeted, local level. For the current Control Period in England and Wales (CP7 - from 2024/25 to 2028/29) Network Rail will invest around £2.4 billion in activities that deliver primary weather resilience benefits. A large proportion of this is used for core maintenance and renewals activity.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of (a) climate change and (b) extreme weather events on the railway network.

Network Rail is undertaking a programme of climate change adaptation pathways across the network to develop a long-term strategic adaptation plan and identify priority areas for further adaptation investment. This approach will help identify those parts of the network which may require transformational change to enable safe and reliable services to continue in the future. Network Rail has produced local level weather resilience and climate change adaptation plans. These explain Network Rail’s understanding of how weather and climate change can affect infrastructure at a more targeted, local level.

What the total operating cost was of the British overseas military base in Qatar in the 2024-25 financial year.

The Ministry of Defence does not have a British Overseas Base in Qatar but we do have forces hosted on the Qatari owned, US-operated Al Udeid Air Base outside Doha. Indicative operating costs for being based at Al Udeid airbase in financial year 2024-25 are in the region of £3.7 million. The exact cost will be finalised after the publication of the Ministry of Defence Annual Report and Accounts 2024-25.

When the framework agreement between her Department and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency was signed; and if she will publish this agreement.

The MCA Framework agreement was published in November 2017.The Department for Transport has recently updated the MCA framework document, which will be published shortly.