Written questions by Morris.

What guidance has she given to the British Transport Police Authority on British Transport Police funding in the 2026-27 financial year.

The Department does not determine the budget for the British Transport Police. The British Transport Police’s (BTP) budget is set independently of the Department by the British Transport Police Authority (BTPA), following proposals from the Force and views from the industry. Earlier this year, the Rail Minister convened two high-level roundtable meetings with senior rail industry stakeholders to ensure that funding decisions are informed by a broad range of perspectives. The BTPA has since formalised its industry engagement by creating a strategic forum bringing together representatives from BTP, BTPA, the Department for Transport and the key BTP funders. This provides a platform for constructive dialogue on balancing funding with service expectations, ensuring decisions reflect shared priorities and deliver value for passengers and taxpayers.

How many trains on the East Coast Main Line have been cancelled due to train faults in 2025 to date.

For the East Coast Mainline, between 5 January 2025 and 8 November 2025, there have been 1931.6 full or part cancellations attributed to Technical Fleet Delays (which includes train faults). This figure is weighted by the number of cancelled stops on the East Coast route for a cancelled train, which might only spend part of its journey on the route

How many Grand Central Rail services have been cancelled due to train faults in 2025 to date.

The most recent data available from the regulator shows that out of 3365 planned Grand Central services between January and June 2025, 58 services were cancelled due to faults attributed to the operator.

If he will consider the potential merits of a specific grant scheme for mine water heat projects.

The government is accelerating deployment of low-carbon technologies, including geothermal. Water from coal mines and sewer systems offers strong potential for heat networks. Projects can apply to the Green Heat Network Fund for support. The Mining Remediation Authority has published opportunity maps for geothermal deployment.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of planned cuts to British Transport Police (a) staffing and (b) stations due to the 2025/26 funding shortfall on the prevalence of crime, including anti-social behaviour, on the rail network.

The British Transport Police’s (BTP) budget is set by the British Transport Police Authority (BTPA). It is the executive non-departmental public body that oversees the Force and is their employer. BTPA sets the BTP’s budget annually following proposals from the Force and views from industry. BTP works closely with BTPA and industry operators to make final resourcing decisions with their agreed budget.For the FY25/26, a budget increase of 5.9% was agreed. The BTPA will set the Force’s budget for 2026/27 this month.Our railways remain safe for the vast majority of passengers and staff. Whilst total crime increased in 2024/2025, crimes per million passengers has decreased since 2023/2024 from 26.8 to 26.0. The reasons and drivers for crime on the railway network are complex, and yearly changes are not directly attributable to BTP funding levels.The BTPA are responsible for delivering an effective and efficient police force and monitoring the performance of the force. Like other police forces the BTP has operational independence, so the BTP Chief Constable and Chief Officers use a variety of data to inform the deployment of officers and other resources, following the agreement of the budget. Decisions on staffing and stations resourcing are reviewed regularly by the BTP under their optimal policing model.

When she plans to announce the 10 trial local authorities for the Kinship Allowance Pilot paid at an equivalent rate to the fostering National Minimum Allowance.

The department recognises the important role that kinship carers play in caring for some of the most vulnerable children, and the role of local authorities to support them.The department recently closed the expression of interest process for local authorities to apply to deliver the Kinship Allowance Pilot in their areas. This will be for eligible kinship carers within the pilot areas to apply for via their local authorities. The department will announce the successful local authorities in due course.

What her Department’s estimate is of the number of seafarers employed in the workboat sector.

The Department for Transport, in collaboration with the Workboat Association and the Chamber of Shipping, is working to expand the Seafarer Employment Survey in 2025 to include Workboat Association vessel-owning members. The results of the expansion of the survey will be used to provide a more accurate picture of employment in this sector in the future. At present, the Department does not have a published estimate of the number of seafarers employed in the workboat sector.

Pursuant to the answer to written question 85133 on 4 November 2025, if he will instruct the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to request that data from the Certifying Authorities.

As mentioned previously, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency do not hold this data directly, as inspections are delegated to Certifying Authorities. We will engage with the Certifying Authorities to request the relevant information and will provide an update once this data has been obtained.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she will have discussions with her Israeli counterpart on the (a) safety and (b) protection of Palestinian journalists in Gaza.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given on 3 October 2025 to question 76551.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has held with her Israeli counterpart on securing international media access into Gaza.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given on 3 October 2025 to question 76551.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with her Israeli counterpart on ensuring the safety of Palestinian journalists.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given on 3 October 2025 to question 76551.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential implications for its policies of the adoption of alcohol interlock technology in other jurisdictions.

The Government is committed to reducing the numbers of those killed and injured on our roads. We are considering a range of policies under the new Road Safety Strategy; the first for ten years. This includes the case for changing the motoring offences, such as drink driving. We intend to publish this by the end of the year. In 2019 the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS) was awarded a grant from the Department for Transport to undertake research into the feasibility of the using alcohol interlocks (“alcolocks”) as part of drink-drive offender rehabilitation programmes. The research was published by PACTS and can be found at:www.pacts.org.uk/new-pacts-research-project-alcohol-interlocks/This research examined alcohol interlock usage in other countries.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of utilising alcohol interlock technology as part of judicial sentencing criteria.

We believe that the courts should have the flexibility they need to sentence offenders appropriately and, as part of a community or suspended sentence the courts have a range of robust powers to punish and rehabilitate offenders and protect the public. This includes the option for an Alcohol Abstinence and Monitoring Requirement (AAMR) which imposes an alcohol ban for up to 120 days, with compliance electronically monitored using an alcohol tag.Published statistics show a compliance rate with the ban of 97.2% for days monitored, since introduction: Electronic Monitoring Statistics Publication, June 2023 - GOV.UK. The courts also have powers to include treatment requirements as part of a sentence served in the community, with the aim of addressing the root causes of offending.The Ministry of Justice is committed to continuous improvement and innovation, and we will continue to assess the capabilities and reliability of technology.

If she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Crime and Policing Bill on the right to protest.

The right to peaceful protest is an important part of our democratic society. Measures in the Crime and Policing Bill strengthen the police's ability to manage disruptive and dangerous protests and prevent criminality.They will help prevent intimidation near places of worship, and protect communities affected by repeated disruption, without imposing a blanket restriction on protests.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential implications for his policies of the report by the Drugs, Alcohol & Justice APPG entitled Action on Alcohol Harm – Priorities for Policymakers, published on 10 July 2025.

The Department has noted the publication of the Drugs, Alcohol & Justice APPG report, ‘Action on alcohol harm: prioritise for policymakers’.The Government is committed to taking action to prevent the harms caused by alcohol and illicit drugs, and work is underway to progress several of the priorities highlighted.To support better outcomes for people experiencing harmful and dependent drinking, we will shortly publish the first ever United Kingdom clinical guidelines on alcohol treatment. Furthermore, in 2025/26, in addition to the Public Health Grant, the Department is providing a total of £310 million in targeted grants to improve drug and alcohol treatment services and recovery support, including housing, employment and inpatient detoxification. Our 10-Year Health Plan commits to continued expansion of Individual Placement and Support schemes for people with alcohol addiction to find good work.The Government is also progressing plan to introducing a mandatory requirement for alcoholic drinks to display consistent nutritional information and health warning messages.

What recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the availability of specialist residential drug and alcohol treatment in (a) England and (b) the North East.

Local authorities are responsible for assessing local need for alcohol and drug prevention and treatment in their area, including residential treatment, and commissioning services to meet these needs. The Department set an ambition that 2% of the drug and alcohol treatment population should be accessing residential treatment. We remain committed to this ambition and continue to work with the sector to achieve this.Earlier this year, the Department launched the self-assessment toolkit to help local areas to improve the residential drug and alcohol treatment that they commission, which is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/residential-drug-and-alcohol-treatment-self-assessment-toolkitThe Department facilitates a residential treatment provider forum and engages in annual planning for local authorities and partners, including target-setting for residential episodes. The Department also maintains regular engagement with the English Substance Use Commissioners Group and holds joint meetings with the Ministry of Justice to explore improved pathways from the criminal justice system into residential treatment.In addition to the Public Health Grant, in 2025/26 the Government is providing the North East with £29,432,782 in further targeted grants to improve drug and alcohol treatment and recovery services. This additional funding has provided opportunity for local authorities in the North East to enhance access to out of area facilities and bolster community models of drug and alcohol treatment and recovery support, including quasi residential rehabilitation and dayhab models.

What recent discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the release of the investment reserve fund of the British Coal Staff Superannuation Scheme.

Discussions continue with a view to reaching agreement on an outcome that can be implemented later this year which will benefit scheme members.

What assessment he has made of potential implications for his policies on productivity of the report by the IPPR entitled Taking stock: Counting the economic costs of alcohol harm, published on 8 October 2025.

I welcome the IPPR's report and its contribution to understanding the economic and social impact of alcohol harm. Employers have a legal duty to protect employees' health, safety, and welfare.'Keep Britain Working' is bringing together the expertise of leading UK businesses to help prevent ill health at work wherever possible, and to support those affected stay in work. In the '10 Year Health Plan for England: fit for the future', we have committed to some crucial steps to help people make healthier choices about alcohol, making it a legal requirement for alcohol labels to display health warnings and consistent nutritional information.This Government will continue to monitor alcohol-related harm and its economic impact.

If she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of the report by the Drugs, Alcohol & Justice APPG entitled Action on Alcohol Harm – Priorities for Policymakers, published on 10 July 2025.

The Home Office has noted the publication of the Drugs, Alcohol & Justice APPG report and with the Department for Health and Social Care will consider its findings. We are aware of the role alcohol can play in criminal behaviour and are working across Government to address alcohol related crime when it happens and to prevent it from happening in the first place.To support better outcomes for people experiencing harmful and dependent drinking, the government will shortly publish the first ever UK clinical guidelines on alcohol treatment. In 2025/26, in addition to the Public Health Grant, the Department of Health and Social Care is providing a total of £310 million in targeted grants to improve drug and alcohol treatment services and recovery support, including housing, employment and inpatient detoxification. In ‘Fit for the Future: 10 Year Health Plan for England’ commits to continued expansion of Individual Placement and Support schemes for people with alcohol addiction to find good work.The government is also progressing plans to introducing a mandatory requirement for alcoholic drinks to display consistent nutritional information and health warning messages.

What recent assessment his Department made of the potential barriers that prevent disabled people from accessing lifesaving medical equipment.

Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning services to meet the health needs of their local population, and responsibility for providing medical equipment to disabled people typically falls to the National Health Service and local authorities.We expect ICBs to follow guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). In 2022, NICE published relevant guidance in relation to children, which is available at the following link:https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng213/chapter/Recommendations-on-service-organisation-integration-and-commissioningLocal authorities in England have a statutory duty, including under the Care Act 2014, to make arrangements for the provision of disability aids and community equipment to meet the assessed eligible needs of individuals who are resident in their area. Responsibility for managing the market for these services, including commissioning and oversight of delivery, rests with local authorities.More broadly, the Government wants disabled people’s access to, and experience of, healthcare services to be equitable, effective, and responsive to their needs. Our 10-Year Health Plan for England sets out to tackle health inequalities, and specifically identifies disabled people as a priority group for neighbourhood health teams, which will offer more holistic on-going support.