Written questions by Stafford.

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 Hampshire.

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.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing sentences for knife crime perpetrators.

Tackling knife crime is a priority and this Government is determined to do all it can to break the deadly cycle of violence that devastates the lives of individuals, families, and communities. It is important that those who commit violent crimes receive appropriate, proportionate and robust sentences.It is the function of the independent courts to decide the sentence in each case subject to the maximum that Parliament has provided and any guidelines that may be laid down by the Sentencing Council or the Court of Appeal. We have a robust legal framework in place to respond to knife crimes, with the maximum penalty for carrying a knife or threatening with an offensive weapon being 4 years imprisonment.Where someone is actually harmed by a knife or offensive weapon, there are a range of offences that the offender may be charged with, such as causing grievous bodily harm. These can result in lengthy sentences, up to life imprisonment.The Government has launched an Independent Review of Sentencing chaired by former Lord Chancellor, David Gauke. The Review aims to ensure that the sentencing framework is consistent, protects the public and that there is always a place in prison for violent offenders.

If she will issue guidance to home educator parents on the steps they will need to take to meet new requirements set out in the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill.

As part of the Children Not in School measures, the department will publish statutory guidance outlining the steps that local authorities and parents need to take to comply with the new provisions. This guidance will be consulted on, ensuring families have sufficient time to feed in, understand and prepare for any requirements. To engage effectively during the passage and future implementation of the Children in School measures, the department has set up implementation fora to engage with home-educating parents, stakeholders and local authorities. Through round-table discussions and direct engagement with home-educating communities, we have sought to understand the concerns and priorities of families who choose to educate their children at home.

What discussions her Department has had with transport companies providing services for children with SEND on changes to employer National Insurance contributions.

Home-to-school travel is an integral part of the school system and provides a valuable service on which many families rely. Officials across departments engage regularly with local authorities to understand the challenges they face and will continue to monitor this situation. The Department for Education do not expect there to be a significant impact on home-to-school travel for children with special educational needs and disabilities. Local authorities are responsible for arranging home-to-school travel and deliver this through a range of in-house services and external providers.The £515m of additional funding made available to help local government manage the impact of changes to employer NICs has been determined based on a national assessment of the costs for directly employed staff across the public sector. However, this funding is unringfenced and it is for LAs to determine how to use this funding across relevant services and responsibilities.

For what reason grant funding for Adlar Limited was paused.

The Government is responsible for setting the policy which underpins the Boiler Upgrade Scheme. Ofgem as the scheme administrator make decisions on scheme eligibility in line with the Boiler Upgrade Scheme 2022 Regulations.

What steps his Department is taking with OFGEM to coordinate grant funding for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme is a demand led scheme, which provides grants up to £7,500, to encourage property owners to replace existing fossil fuel heating with more efficient, low carbon heating systems. Installers apply for and redeem the voucher on behalf of a property owner, to streamline the customer journey. Ofgem, as scheme administrator, issue and process vouchers providing all eligibility criteria is met, in accordance with the Boiler Upgrade Scheme 2022 regulations.

Whether the proposed expansion of Heathrow Airport will be privately funded.

The Government is clear that Heathrow expansion will be financed by the private sector.Heathrow costs are regulated by the independent CAA, who are set up to ensure costs balance between airlines and the consumer. The specifics would need to be considered at the point proposals came forward.

If he will make an estimate of the potential impact of GB Energy on the cost of energy bills.

Great British Energy is a key part of the government's mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower by achieving clean power by 2030. This is part of a sustainable, long-term plan to protect all UK billpayers from volatile international gas markets. In an unstable world, the only way to guarantee our energy security and protect billpayers permanently is to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels and towards homegrown clean energy.

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of involving Adlar Ltd in the rollout of the Government's Warm Homes Plan.

The Warm Homes Plan will help people find ways to save money on energy bills and transform our ageing building stock into comfortable, low-carbon homes that are fit for the future. Heat pumps will play a vital role in delivering the Government's Warm Homes Plan, and further details on the Plan will be set out in due course.

Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that National Planning Policy reforms protect (a) nature and (b) wildlife.

The revised National Planning Policy Framework we published on 12 December 2024 included several changes designed to enhance and protect the environment. For example, it expects developments to provide net gains for biodiversity, including through incorporating features which support priority or threatened species such as swifts, bats and hedgehogs.

How much revenue the Crown Estate will generate from the partnership with GB Energy.

Like other commercial businesses, The Crown Estate does not provide forecasts of its future profits. As announced in July 2024, Great British Energy and The Crown Estate will work together to accelerate the development of the seabed and supporting infrastructure along the coast of England, Wales and Northern Ireland, creating a pipeline of sites for private developers to invest in. In September 2024, The Crown Estate set out its approach to future offshore wind in a report jointly published with Great British Energy. This established early thinking on a more strategic approach to leasing the seabed for future offshore wind development.

What discussions her Department has had with home educator parents on the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill.

As part of the Children Not in School measures, the department will publish statutory guidance outlining the steps that local authorities and parents need to take to comply with the new provisions. This guidance will be consulted on, ensuring families have sufficient time to feed in, understand and prepare for any requirements. To engage effectively during the passage and future implementation of the Children in School measures, the department has set up implementation fora to engage with home-educating parents, stakeholders and local authorities. Through round-table discussions and direct engagement with home-educating communities, we have sought to understand the concerns and priorities of families who choose to educate their children at home.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his counterparts in Pakistan on ensuring the safety of Ahmadiyya Muslims, in the context of the destruction of the UN mosque in Daska, Pakistan.

Promoting the rights of religious minorities is an important part of the UK's diplomatic engagement in Pakistan. I underlined the importance of promoting religious tolerance and harmony when I met Pakistan's Human Rights Minister on 19 November, and discussed this issue in Parliament on 28 November. We are aware of reports of the desecration of an Ahmadi Mosque in Daska and continue to monitor the situation. In response to this incident, the British High Commissioner raised the issue of Ahmadi Muslim rights in a message to the Punjab Minorities Minister on 23 January. We will continue to urge the Government of Pakistan to guarantee the rights of all people in accordance with international standards.

Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of adding more brackets on the Council Tax band system for the highest value homes.

The government currently has no plans to reform council tax. The Government is committed to keeping taxes on working people as low as possible.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of Heathrow Airport (a) expansion and (b) increased flight traffic on reducing emissions to meet net-zero targets.

The government is committed to reaching net zero by 2050 and meeting our climate change obligations, as set out in the Climate Change Act. Delivering greener transport to help make Britain a clean energy superpower is a Department for Transport priority. DfT analysis shows that we can achieve net zero 2050 for aviation under a range of assumptions about future technology development. We have been clear that any airport expansion proposals will need to demonstrate they contribute to economic growth and can be delivered in line with the UK’s legally binding climate change commitments, as well as meeting strict air quality and noise standards.

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of a Tiered Energy Proposal for consumer energy bills.

A tiered energy pricing system is known as a block tariff. Traditionally, block tariffs are either a rising block tariff where the cost of energy increases in increments the more energy used or, a falling block tariff which acts in reverse. Low energy users benefit more from a rising block tariff and high energy users benefit from a falling block tariff. Since the introduction of the energy price cap in 2018, suppliers can choose to offer block tariffs as a competitive incentive for their business model. Ofgem, in their recent call for input on standing charges, asked about block tariffs, and feedback from consumer representatives and charities was mixed. As part of Ofgem’s continued work on standing charges, they are seeking views on options including increasing tariff diversity in the market, which could include block tariffs.

Whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the inclusion of bed bugs within the remit of Environmental Health England.

There have been no discussions between the Department of Health and Social Care and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the inclusion of bedbugs within the remit of Environmental Health England.The Department of Health and Social Care does not have responsibility for reducing the spread of bedbugs. Further information on bedbugs is available at the following link:https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/bedbugs/

Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to publish the findings of the consultation entitled Reform of the Bathing Water Regulations 2013, published on 12 November 2024.

The consultation on Reforms to the Bathing Water Regulations 2013 closed on 23 December 2024. We are currently analysing responses and evaluating how any proposed changes may impact the application and designation process. We will issue a formal government response to the consultation in due course.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of giving landlords the power to offer students fixed term house in multiple occupation tenancies for the academic year.

I refer the hon. Member to my answer to Question UIN 26549 on 6 February 2025.

If he will make an estimate of the cost to the public purse of net zero policies since 2000.

The Net Zero transition is critical to sustainable UK growth because of the economic costs of unmitigated climate change. The Office of Budget Responsibility (OBR) published its analysis of the cost of reaching net zero by 2050 in chapter 3 of the July 2021 edition of its UK Fiscal Risk Report. As the OBR has noted, “the costs of failing to get climate change under control would be much larger than those of bringing emissions down to net zero.”