Written questions by Maguire.

What assessment he has made of the implications for his Department’s policies of the statement given by the German Chancellor on the removal of range restrictions for weapons delivered to Ukraine; and what whether he has made an assessment of the merits of the use of long-range missiles.

The UK supports other countries providing long-range fires, but I hope the hon. Member will understand that we will not be drawn on details about UK gifted long-range missiles. It risks operational security, and the only person who benefits from public debate is Putin.The Prime Minister has been clear we must give Ukraine the support that is needed for as long as it's needed. We are doubling down on our support, but the simplest way to end this conflict is for Putin to stop his aggression.

Communities and Local Government, whether she has considered the potential merits of increasing funding to local authorities to support higher hourly rates for care staff to (a) attract and (b)retain care workers from within the UK.

We have delivered a Settlement that begins to fix the foundations of local government by providing significant investment redirecting funding towards the services and places that need it most. The Settlement for 2025-26 makes available over £69 billion for local government, including making available up to £3.7 billion in additional funding for social care authorities. The government has introduced legislation to establish the first-ever Fair Pay Agreement for care professionals to ensure care workers are fairly rewarded for the work they do. The Fair Pay Agreement aims to resolve the recruitment and retention crisis in the profession, alleviating pressures on public services in the longer term.

Who Operation (a) Courage and (b) Restore will be (i) managed and (ii) funded by after the abolition of NHS England.

On 13 March 2025, it was announced that NHS England will be brought into the Department to form a new joint centre. We are assessing the full range of current functions across both organisations and options for future allocation. At this stage, it is too early to say what precise changes in personnel and organisational design will be. The following table shows the actual spend on Op COURAGE and Op RESTORE for 2020/21 to 2024/25 and the budget for 2025/26:Financial YearOp COURAGE (£ mil)OP RESTORE (£ mil)2020/2117.90.32021/2218.50.22022/2323.00.62023/2423.80.52024/2524.40.92025/2624.90.9Source: NHS EnglandThe following tables show the referral numbers for Op COURAGE and Op RESTORE since 2017/18 and 2018/19, respectively, as well as the percentage of referrals for Op COURAGE met within relevant targets since 2023/24 and for Op RESTORE since 2021/22:Financial YearReferrals to Op COURAGE% of urgent referrals assessed within one week% of routine referrals assessed within 2 weeks2017/182879--2018/194561--2019/205374--2020/214903--2021/225970--2022/236272--2023/2468177549.52024/2572517644.3Source: NHS England Financial YearReferrals to Op RESTORE% assessed by multi-disciplinary team within 8 weeks2018/1950-2019/2050-2020/2141-2021/221491002022/2326598.42023/2437199.72024/2535097.7Source: NHS England

How many referrals there have been to (a) Operation Courage and (b) Operation Restore in each year since 2016; and how many of those referrals were reviewed by multi-disciplinary teams within 8 weeks.

On 13 March 2025, it was announced that NHS England will be brought into the Department to form a new joint centre. We are assessing the full range of current functions across both organisations and options for future allocation. At this stage, it is too early to say what precise changes in personnel and organisational design will be. The following table shows the actual spend on Op COURAGE and Op RESTORE for 2020/21 to 2024/25 and the budget for 2025/26:Financial YearOp COURAGE (£ mil)OP RESTORE (£ mil)2020/2117.90.32021/2218.50.22022/2323.00.62023/2423.80.52024/2524.40.92025/2624.90.9Source: NHS EnglandThe following tables show the referral numbers for Op COURAGE and Op RESTORE since 2017/18 and 2018/19, respectively, as well as the percentage of referrals for Op COURAGE met within relevant targets since 2023/24 and for Op RESTORE since 2021/22:Financial YearReferrals to Op COURAGE% of urgent referrals assessed within one week% of routine referrals assessed within 2 weeks2017/182879--2018/194561--2019/205374--2020/214903--2021/225970--2022/236272--2023/2468177549.52024/2572517644.3Source: NHS England Financial YearReferrals to Op RESTORE% assessed by multi-disciplinary team within 8 weeks2018/1950-2019/2050-2020/2141-2021/221491002022/2326598.42023/2437199.72024/2535097.7Source: NHS England

What the allocated budget was for (a) Operation Courage and (b) Operation Restore in each financial year between 2020-21 and 2024-25; and how much funding has been allocated to each programme in the 2025-26 financial year.

On 13 March 2025, it was announced that NHS England will be brought into the Department to form a new joint centre. We are assessing the full range of current functions across both organisations and options for future allocation. At this stage, it is too early to say what precise changes in personnel and organisational design will be. The following table shows the actual spend on Op COURAGE and Op RESTORE for 2020/21 to 2024/25 and the budget for 2025/26:Financial YearOp COURAGE (£ mil)OP RESTORE (£ mil)2020/2117.90.32021/2218.50.22022/2323.00.62023/2423.80.52024/2524.40.92025/2624.90.9Source: NHS EnglandThe following tables show the referral numbers for Op COURAGE and Op RESTORE since 2017/18 and 2018/19, respectively, as well as the percentage of referrals for Op COURAGE met within relevant targets since 2023/24 and for Op RESTORE since 2021/22:Financial YearReferrals to Op COURAGE% of urgent referrals assessed within one week% of routine referrals assessed within 2 weeks2017/182879--2018/194561--2019/205374--2020/214903--2021/225970--2022/236272--2023/2468177549.52024/2572517644.3Source: NHS England Financial YearReferrals to Op RESTORE% assessed by multi-disciplinary team within 8 weeks2018/1950-2019/2050-2020/2141-2021/221491002022/2326598.42023/2437199.72024/2535097.7Source: NHS England

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to reduce microplastic pollution from combined sewer outflows.

Tackling marine litter and plastic pollution is a priority for the UK Government, which is why we are working domestically and internationally to implement measures that will prevent macro-sized plastic litter which are sources of microplastics from reaching rivers, seas and the ocean in the first place. As part of Price Review 2024 (PR24), which runs from 2025–2030, water companies will be delivering record levels through the £22.1 billion Water Industry National Environment Programme. This includes over £11 billion to improve nearly 3,000 storm overflows across England and Wales which OfWat expects will reduce storm overflow discharges by 45% by 2030, compared to 2021 levels. This will help to reduce discharges of raw sewage which can contain organic pollutants, microplastics, pharmaceuticals, nutrients, and heavy metals, as well as visible litter that is flushed down toilets. We are also taking forward investigations through the water industry’s Chemical Investigations Programme, to understand how we can reduce the levels of microplastics entering the water environment through treated wastewater. Microplastics have been recognised as a significant standalone issue and the water industry are funding six further investigations between 2025 and 2030.

Whether he has made an assessment of (a) the comparative efficiency and (b) cost-effectiveness of (i) improving the thermal efficiency of existing Combined Cycle Gas Turbine power stations and (ii) investing in small modular nuclear reactors.

No direct assessment has been made of the impact of more efficient CCGTs on wholesale electricity prices, nor of the efficiency of CCGTs versus small modular reactors. An efficient electricity system needs a range of technologies to ensure that we reach our carbon goals while ensuring cost-effective energy security. Increasing participation of renewables in the wholesale market means that, over time, those technologies will determine the price more often and gas will play a much more limited role in setting the market price. Improving efficiency of CCGTs is a commercial decision for plant operators. Great British Nuclear (GBN) is driving forward its small modular reactor (SMR) competition for UK deployment. As with any technology, the economic case for SMRs would be factored into any investment decision.

What recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper, published on 18 March 2025, on (a) benefits advisory services and (b) charities.

Information on the impacts of the Pathways to Work Green Paper has been published here Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper. A further programme of analysis to support development of the proposals in the Green Paper will be developed and undertaken in the coming months. There will be no immediate changes. Changes to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) eligibility and the rebalancing of Universal Credit (UC) are not coming into effect immediately. Our intention is these changes will start to come into effect from April 2026 for UC and November 2026 for PIP, subject to parliamentary approval. We are consulting on how best to support those who are affected by the new eligibility changes, including how to make sure health and eligible care needs are met. We have also announced a wider review of the PIP assessment which I will lead, and we will bring together a range of experts, stakeholders and people with lived experience to consider how best to do this and to start the process as part of preparing for a review. We will provide further details as plans progress.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of proposed welfare reforms on the capacity of the Household Support Fund.

Information on the impacts of the Pathways to Work Green Paper has been published here Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper. A further programme of analysis to support development of the proposals in the Green Paper will be developed and undertaken in the coming months. The Government has extended the Household Support Fund by a further year, from 1 April 2025 until 31 March 2026. This will ensure vulnerable households in the most need can continue to access support towards the cost of essentials, such as energy, water and food. No decision has been made at this stage on funding beyond the end of March 2026. As with all other government programmes, any such funding will be considered in the round at Phase 2 of the Spending Review.

What steps his Department is taking to improve NHS staff (a) working conditions and (b) wellbeing.

The Government inherited a broken National Health Service with an overworked and demoralised workforce.We hugely value all NHS staff and are committed to improving working conditions, so we can keep staff healthy, motivated, and retain valuable skills. That is why one of our first actions was to give NHS staff an above inflation pay rise.Local employers across the NHS have in place arrangements for supporting staff, including occupational health provision, employee support programmes, and a focus on healthy working environments. At a national level, NHS England has made available additional emotional and psychological health and wellbeing support. They have also set out a roadmap for the NHS and partner organisations to work together to develop and invest in occupational health and wellbeing services for NHS staff.

What assessment she has made of the potential merits of increasing flexibility within Universal Credit to enable greater labour market engagement.

This Government committed in its manifesto to review Universal Credit, to reduce poverty and make work pay. We believe that work continues to be the best way out of poverty, and growing the economy and driving up living standards across the country is this Government’s number one mission in our Plan for Change. This requires as many people as possible to realise the benefits of good work, and Universal Credit has a critical role to play in achieving this goal. The review will consider changes to Universal Credit which could increase labour market engagement. We have already taken positive steps through the Get Britain Working White Paper which set out the biggest reforms to employment support for a generation and we are giving people on health benefits the opportunity to try work by legislating to guarantee that work in and of itself will never lead to a reassessment.

How many meetings his Department has had with (a) representatives of commercial nuclear manufacturers, (b) power utilities interested in building a new nuclear plant and (c) non-governmental organisations concerned with nuclear power in the last six months; and if he will publish the minutes of each meeting.

Details of Ministers' and Permanent Secretaries' meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of improving the efficiency of existing Combined Cycle Gas Turbine power stations on wholesale electricity prices.

No direct assessment has been made of the impact of more efficient CCGTs on wholesale electricity prices, nor of the efficiency of CCGTs versus small modular reactors. An efficient electricity system needs a range of technologies to ensure that we reach our carbon goals while ensuring cost-effective energy security. Increasing participation of renewables in the wholesale market means that, over time, those technologies will determine the price more often and gas will play a much more limited role in setting the market price. Improving efficiency of CCGTs is a commercial decision for plant operators. Great British Nuclear (GBN) is driving forward its small modular reactor (SMR) competition for UK deployment. As with any technology, the economic case for SMRs would be factored into any investment decision.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to require the Environment Agency to revise environmental permits to enforce compliance with the Urban Waste Water Treatment Regulations 1994.

The Environment Agency (EA) enforces the Urban Waste Water Treatment Regulations (UWWTR) through environmental permits. These set discharge limits, nutrient removal standards, and monitoring and reporting requirements, based on population size and receiving water sensitivity. Operators must regularly report data, which the EA assesses for compliance. Enforcement action is taken for breaches. Under the Environmental Permitting Regulations, the EA also reviews permits periodically to ensure they stay aligned with UWWTR, capturing changes in population, treatment standards, or sensitive area designations. This ensures permits remain current, effective, and protective of the environment.

What are the retention rates for NHS staff for each year since 2020.

NHS England publishes quarterly information on the turnover of National Health Service staff within their NHS Workforce Statistics publication, with further information available at the following link:https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/nhs-workforce-statisticsThis covers the rate of staff joining and leaving active service in English NHS trusts and other core organisations over annual periods. Rates include staff going on, or returning from, periods of unpaid leave, such as career and maternity breaks, and will also include staff remaining in their professions but undertaking roles in other sectors such as primary care, social care, or independent provision. This data is available at national and regional levels, as well as for individual staffing groups. The latest release, which covers the year to December 2024, can be found at the following link:https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/nhs-workforce-statistics/december-2024The Government is committed to making the NHS the best place to work, to ensure we retain more of our skilled and dedicated staff. NHS England is leading work nationally through its retention programme to drive a consistent, system-wide approach to staff retention across NHS trusts. This ensures trusts have access to proven retention strategies, data-driven monitoring, and can foster a more stable, engaged, productive, and supported workforce.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department monitors levels of furniture poverty.

My Department engages actively with a range of stakeholders on issues facing residents and has engaged with groups such as End Furniture Poverty to understand their research on this issue.People in need may be able to get support from their local authorities via the ‘Household Support Fund’ and other services available locally.The Deputy Prime Minister is also part of the ministerial Child Poverty Taskforce, which is considering the impacts of living in poor quality housing on children.The government will consult later this year on a reformed Decent Homes Standard for the social and private rented sectors.

What discussions he has had with energy companies on policy cost rebalancing on energy bills to incentivise the uptake of low-carbon technologies.

Details of Ministers’ and Permanent Secretaries’ meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of introducing fixed recoverable costs in lower-value clinical negligence cases on patients’ access to legal expertise.

Currently, the Government is considering the way forward on a wide range of matters relating to clinical negligence reform, and we will announce our position in due course.

What progress his Department has made on developing an online consumer advice service for retrofit.

The Government is working to enhance our existing digital consumer advice offer on gov.uk by streamlining services into a single access point for all domestic consumers (homeowners, landlords and tenants. This will simplify the user experience and enable consumer to begin and progress their home upgrade and clean heat journeys. It will bring information, advice, sources of funding and links to trusted installers into one place and will consolidate existing services that enable consumers to create their own energy efficiency action plans and create direct referrals to grant scheme providers.

With reference to his Department's publication entitled Government's response to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme Regulations consultation, published in March 2024, whether the Boiler Upgrade Scheme budget will rise in line with the figures on page 21 for scheme years (a) 2026-27 and (b) 2027-28.

Following the conclusion of the first phase of the Spending Review on 30 October 2024, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme has a committed budget of £295 million for this financial year (2025/26). The Boiler Upgrade Scheme is a critical element of the Government’s Warm Homes Plan. A decision on funding for 2026/27 onwards will be confirmed as part of the second phase of the multi-year Spending Review, which will conclude in June this year.