Written questions by Stafford.

What steps her Department is taking to clarify long-term residency options for Ukrainian refugees in the UK beyond December 2026.

We recognise the Ukrainian government’s desire for the future return of its citizens to Ukraine. It is important our approach respects these wishes. This is why the temporary Ukraine Schemes do not lead to settlement in the UK. Similarly, time spent in the UK with permission granted under the Ukraine Schemes cannot be relied upon towards the continuous qualifying period for the purposes of a Long Residence application. There are other routes available for those who wish to settle in the UK permanently, if they meet the requirements.

Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to ensure adequate safeguards are in place for (a) older and (b) vulnerable people during the transition from the Public Switched Telephone Network to digital landlines.

This is an issue that the new Government takes especially seriously. The Government is determined to ensure that any risks arising from the industry-led migration from the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) are mitigated, for all customers across the UK.A definition of vulnerable customers who may require additional support in the context of the digital switchover was published in November 2024. It includes those who are telecare users and those dependent on their landline. Any customer, including the elderly, can also self-identify as requiring additional support.Communication providers and network operators signed voluntary charters in December 2023 and March 2024, committing to protect vulnerable consumers during the PSTN migration. On 18 November 2024, the major communication providers agreed to adhere to further safeguards set out in the non-voluntary migrations checklist before restarting non-voluntary migration of customers.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of the updated Homes for Ukraine Scheme on Ukrainian refugees' ability to access housing.

Thank you payments have been extended for the full 18-month period under Ukraine Permission Extension (UPE) scheme to support Homes for Ukraine guests to remain in sponsorship and to thank sponsors for their continued generosity. We hope that the extension of this support will provide enough time for guests and sponsors to plan for next steps, including to secure independent accommodation if needed or convert a sponsorship to a lodging arrangement. To fund this support and ensure it is affordable within government budgets, from 1 April 2025, all thank you payments will be paid at a rate of £350 per month for all sponsors of guests on Homes for Ukraine and UPE visas, regardless of how long guests have been in the UK. We are signposting sponsors to the Government’s ‘rent a room’ scheme for those who wish to convert their sponsorship to a lodging arrangement. If sponsors move to an arrangement where they charge rent, they will no longer be eligible for thank you payments. Councils receive a tariff of £5,900 per Homes for Ukraine arrival in their area to support guests to rebuild their lives and fully integrate into communities. Councils have the flexibility to use the funding to support households as best suits the local area. This could include measures to support guests to access employment, English language provision and provide integration measures that support Ukrainians to access private rented accommodation. We engage closely with councils and the voluntary and community sector to ensure that we understand the needs of Ukrainians living in the UK and that adequate support is available. We continue to closely monitor the homelessness pressures relating to Ukrainian homelessness and separately publish statistics here: Homelessness management information - Ukrainian nationals: England - GOV.UK

What steps he has taken with Cabinet colleagues to ensure that veterans of the Northern Ireland conflict are not subject to potential repeated or prolonged legal action under the provisions of the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023.

We owe a great debt to our Armed Forces who served in Northern Ireland.The previous government's Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 has been found to be unlawful and was widely opposed in Northern Ireland, including by some families who lost relatives whilst serving the State.That legislation does not prevent legal action being brought by prosecutors for Troubles-related offences, although it is clear that, with the passage of time, prosecutions are increasingly unlikely. As this Government puts in place changes to ensure that legacy cases are dealt with sensitively, efficiently and lawfully, we will ensure that any veteran engaging with this process receives welfare and, where appropriate, legal support.

What assessment he has made with Cabinet colleagues of the potential impact of the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 on the legal protection of UK veterans.

We owe a great debt to our Armed Forces who served in Northern Ireland.The previous government's Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 has been found to be unlawful and was widely opposed in Northern Ireland, including by some families who lost relatives whilst serving the State.That legislation does not prevent legal action being brought by prosecutors for Troubles-related offences, although it is clear that, with the passage of time, prosecutions are increasingly unlikely. As this Government puts in place changes to ensure that legacy cases are dealt with sensitively, efficiently and lawfully, we will ensure that any veteran engaging with this process receives welfare and, where appropriate, legal support.

What assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the recent State Pension increase.

Ensuring a decent foundation State Pension for pensioners is a priority for this Government. That is why we have set out our commitment to the Triple Lock throughout this Parliament. As a result, spending on people’s State Pensions is forecast to rise by over £31 billion. Through our commitment to the Triple Lock, from April the basic and new State Pensions will increase by 4.1%. This means that over 12 million pensioners will benefit from an increase of up to £470 to their State Pension from April this year. That’s up to £275 more than if pensions had been uprated in line with inflation.

What steps she is taking to reduce the difference between the minimum wage and the State Pension.

The National Living Wage (NLW) and the National Minimum Wage (NMW) are the legal wage floors that employers must follow. The NLW rate is the minimum hourly wage for eligible workers aged 21 and over and the NMW is minimum hourly wage for eligible workers aged 18-20 years old. Each year the Low Pay Commission produces recommendations for the Government on the NLW/NMW rates that aim to protect the lowest paid earners in the economy. The State Pension is the foundation of state support for older people. To ensure financial security in later life, individuals are expected to save for their retirement. The Government is committed to ensuring that older people are able to live with the dignity and respect they deserve, which is why it committed to Triple Lock the basic and new State Pension for the duration of this parliament and provides generous pensions tax relief to enable savings. Over the course of this Parliament, the yearly amount of the full new State Pension is currently forecast to go up by around £1,900, based on the Office for Budget Responsibility’s latest forecast.

Innovation and Technology, pursuant to his Answer of 21 November to Question UIN 14700 on Broadband: advertising, whether he plans to include guidance in his forthcoming Statement of Strategic Priorities.

The government sees the use of consistent terminology between providers as a means to support take-up of gigabit capable broadband services and we continue to engage with Ofcom on this topic. The government is planning to consult on the draft updated Statement of Strategic Priorities (SSP) for telecommunications, the management of radio spectrum, and postal services in the coming weeks. As part of the consultation process, we would welcome views on content of the SSP from industry stakeholders.

Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking with the broadband industry to support the take-up of full fibre networks.

The government continues to work with the broadband industry and regulatory bodies to support take-up of gigabit-capable broadband. The government welcomes the introduction by Ofcom of new guidance to ensure consumers are told in clear terms, at point of sale, about the technology that underpins their broadband service. We also welcome the launch of One Touch Switch (OTS) by industry. Consumers now only have to contact their new provider when they wish to switch provider. OTS should support take-up of gigabit broadband as it makes it more straightforward for consumers to upgrade and move providers.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to review the National Planning Policy Framework in relation to provisions for new 5G and 4G infrastructure.

The government is committed to supporting investment in high-quality, reliable digital connectivity so that communities can benefit from faster economic growth and greater social inclusion. On 12 December 2024, the government updated its National Planning Policy Framework. Chapter 10 of that Framework outlines current national policy relating to supporting high quality communications infrastructure.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to review the treatment of digital and mobile infrastructure within the National Planning Policy Framework.

The government is committed to supporting investment in high-quality, reliable digital connectivity so that communities can benefit from faster economic growth and greater social inclusion. On 12 December 2024, the government updated its National Planning Policy Framework. Chapter 10 of that Framework outlines current national policy relating to supporting high quality communications infrastructure.

Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure major housing developments include mobile network infrastructure.

Developers of major housing schemes must ensure their proposals are in conformity with the local development plan and national planning policy.The revised National Planning Policy Framework published on 12 December 2024 sets out how planning policies and decisions should support high quality and reliable communications infrastructure.

Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that the National Planning Policy Framework adequately reflects the socio-economic benefits of mobile infrastructure.

The government is committed to supporting investment in high-quality, reliable digital connectivity so that communities can benefit from faster economic growth and greater social inclusion.On 12 December 2024, the government updated its National Planning Policy Framework. Chapter 10 of that Framework outlines current national policy relating to supporting high quality communications infrastructure for economic growth and social wellbeing.

Communities and Local Government, what recent discussions her Department has had with Vodafone on the inclusion of mobile connectivity and 5G technologies within the definition of digital infrastructure in the National Planning Policy Framework.

The government is committed to supporting investment in high-quality, reliable digital connectivity so that communities can benefit from faster economic growth and greater social inclusion. On 12 December 2024, the government updated its National Planning Policy Framework. Chapter 10 of that Framework outlines current national policy relating to supporting high quality communications infrastructure.

What steps her Department plans to take to monitor individuals on the Prevent programme.

All Prevent referrals are triaged and assessed by specialist Prevent officers from Counter Terrorism Police. The launch of the new Prevent Assessment Framework across all CT Police regions gives Prevent officers more robust tools and training to triage and risk assess the various Prevent referrals they receive.At present, if a radicalisation risk is identified, the Prevent referral will be progressed to the Channel programme, where the case will be assessed by a multi-agency Channel panel. The Channel panel is chaired by the local authority and works with multi‐agency partners to collectively assess an individual’s risk and decide whether an intervention is necessary. If a Channel intervention is required, the panel works with local partners to develop an appropriate tailored support package. The support package is monitored closely and reviewed regularly by the panel, including after case closure. The panel will review closed Channel cases at both 6 and 12 months after closure. If any radicalisation concerns are found during the review period, the case will be reopened. Panels also have the discretion to extend the period of review up to two years.In addition, the Home Office are launching new pilots to provide additional assurance and review points within the Prevent referral journey, including for those assessed as not meeting Prevent thresholds, but where other vulnerabilities may still exist. The pilots will launch in several local authority areas this month. This includes additional assurance for the handling of cases where people are repeatedly referred into Prevent. We will also be working to achieve better assurance for cases that have been closed to Prevent but require non-CT support from local services, ensuring that re-referral to Prevent is made should any CT concerns re-emerge. An end-to-end review of Prevent thresholds is also underway and will report internally in April. This will look at strengthening our approach to repeat referrals, and ensuring clear and unambiguous guidance and training is in place for the full range of threats we face, from Islamist extremism to fixation with mass violence.

What steps her Department is taking to ensure the State Pension reflects increases in the cost of living.

The Government is committed to the Triple Lock, which means that in April 2025, the basic and new State Pension will increase by the higher of the growth in average earnings, price increases or 2.5%. As a result, the basic and new State Pension will increase by 4.1%, in line with earnings growth. Inflation in the reference period was 1.7%. This means that over 12 million pensioners will benefit from an increase of up to £470 to their State Pension from April this year. That’s £275 more than if pensions had been uprated by the rise in prices.

What funding her Department has provided to the Lobular Moonshot Project.

The Department invests £1.5 billion each year on research through its research delivery arm, the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). NIHR research expenditure for all cancers was £133 million in 2023/24, reflecting its high priority.We are proud to have invested £29 million into the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) and the Royal Marsden NIHR Biological Research Centre in 2022, supporting their efforts to strengthen research into cancer, including lobular breast cancer. Wider investments into breast cancer research include a £1.3 million project to determine whether an abbreviated form of breast magnetic resonance imaging can detect breast cancers missed by screening through mammography, including lobular breast cancer.On 4 February 2025, the Department announced that almost 700,000 women across the country will take part in a world-leading trial to test how cutting-edge artificial intelligence tools can be used to catch breast cancer cases earlier. The Early Detection using Information Technology in Health trial, also known as EDITH, is backed by £11 million of Government support via the NIHR.The NIHR continues to encourage and welcome funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including lobular breast cancer.

Whether the Government plans to provide the independent review of the loan charge with data on recent trends in the level of suicides from people subject to the loan charge.

The Government takes issues relating to loss of life or serious injury extremely seriously. It is for the independent reviewer to decide how to conduct the review. As the terms of reference set out, the reviewer is expected to draw upon information and analysis provided by HM Treasury and HMRC during the review. HM Treasury and HMRC must make all possible efforts to support the review team’s work by providing them with any information that they request in a timely fashion unless there is a legal reason not to.

For what reason Ray McCann was appointed Chair of the Independent Review of the Loan Charge.

As I set out in my letter to the reviewer, which was published alongside the terms of reference, I asked Ray McCann to lead the review on the basis of his experience, understanding of the issue, and respect across the tax industry.

What estimate she has made of the number of children who have moved from independent to state schools as a result of applying VAT to independent schools in Surrey.

The department has made no separate estimate of the number of pupils in individual local authority areas who have left the independent school system as a result of VAT on school fees.​The government predicts that, in the long-term steady state, there will be 37,000 fewer pupils in the private sector in the UK as a result of the removal of the VAT exemption applied to school fees. This represents around 6% of the current private school population.Of the expected 37,000 pupil reduction in the private sector, the government estimates an increase of 35,000 pupils in the state sector in the steady state following the VAT policy taking effect, with the other 2,000 consisting of international pupils who do not move into the UK state system, and domestic pupils moving into homeschooling. This state sector increase represents less than 0.5% of total UK state school pupils, of which there are over 9 million. This movement is expected to take place over several years.The impact on individual local authorities will interact with other pressures and vary between authorities. Every year many pupils move between schools, including between the private and state-funded sectors.Local authorities routinely support parents who need a state-funded school place, including where private schools have closed. Where local authorities are experiencing difficulties in ensuring there are enough school places for children that need them, the department will offer support and advice.​The department provides capital funding through the Basic Need grant to support local authorities to provide school places, based on their own pupil forecasts and school capacity data. They can use this funding to provide places in new schools or through expansions of existing schools.Surrey County Council has been allocated just below £43 million to support the provision of new mainstream school places needed over the current and next two academic years, up to and including the academic year starting in September 2026.Hampshire County Council has been allocated just over £22.2 million to support the provision of new mainstream school places needed over the current and next two academic years, up to and including the academic year starting in September 2026.