Written questions by Hussain.

If he will meet with hon. Members and representatives of faith communities to discuss reforms to the death registration process.

The General Register Office oversees the policy for registration of births, deaths, and marriages. However, a death must be certified before it can be registered and since 9 September 2024, all non-coronial deaths are independently scrutinised by a medical examiner who completes the medical certificate of cause of death, and which is then sent to the registrar. The Department has engaged extensively over several years with representatives of faith communities during implementation of the 2024 death certification reforms. The Department is monitoring the introduction of the reforms and listening to faith communities to inform policy and operational decision making and to encourage collaborative working. Officials continue to meet faith group representatives to understand their perspectives on death certification and registration and to identify any emerging issues.

If he will take steps to help ensure that medical certificates of cause of death can be issued outside normal working hours, including weekends and bank holidays.

Responsibility for ensuring that medical examiner services respond to local needs sits with trusts. Most medical examiners’ work can be undertaken during normal office hours with cover for weekends and public holidays likely to be required in most areas. Arrangements at each office should reflect local health priorities and the needs of communities, particularly if there is regular demand for the urgent release of bodies at weekends and public holidays. The National Medical Examiner provides guidance to medical examiner offices for weekend and public holiday cover and for the urgent release of a body in circumstances including where a bereaved families may have particular reasons to request urgent release of the deceased’s body for burial. This guidance is available at the following link:https://www.rcpath.org/static/3590bf7f-a43e-4248-980640c5c12354c4/Good-Practice-Series-Urgent-release-of-a-bodyFor-Publication.pdfData indicates that 90% of urgent requests for swift scrutiny are met. The chief reason why requests were not met is because the cause of death is complex and therefore additional time was required to determine the cause.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the expiry of temporary Covid-era provisions that allowed for more flexible and timely death registration on bereaved families.

No assessment has been made. Since the repeal of the Coronavirus Act easements, Death Certification Reform provisions came into force on 9 September 2024 which introduced more effective processes for death certification and registration, alongside a strengthened system of medical scrutiny for all deaths.The Home Office is also committed to delivering the Civil Registration Service Transformation Programme which will provide the bereaved with greater flexibility and choice on how deaths are registered.

If the Government will consider introducing cross-departmental guidance on compassionate death registration to ensure consistency across local authorities.

There are currently no plans to introduce cross-departmental guidance on compassionate death registration. Medical professionals, registrars and others involved in the certification and registration processes all have guidance and training in place in accordance with their statutory functions.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of barriers to secondary education for Rohingya children and young people in refugee camps in Bangladesh.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer he was provided on 27 February in response to Questions 112661-65 and add that I raised the matter of support for education in the Rohingya refugee camps when I visited Bangladesh last month.

Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to support local authorities to plan for low-carbon commercial development, including access to energy and transport infrastructure.

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) sets out that the purpose of the planning system is to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development, including the provision of supporting infrastructure in a sustainable manner. It also supports the increased provision and modernisation of various types of public infrastructure. The NPPF is also clear that new development, including commercial development, should be planned for in ways that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Local development plans should identify opportunities for development to draw its energy supply from decentralised, renewable, or low carbon energy supply systems. Between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, the government consulted on a new NPPF which includes clearer, ‘rules based’ policies for decision-making and plan-making and that would give substantial weight is given to the economic benefits of planning applications for commercial development. The consultation on the revised Framework, which can be found on gov.uk here, set out how planning policies and decisions can make a positive contribution to mitigating and adapting to climate change and emphasised the importance of improving renewable and low carbon energy infrastructure. We are currently analysing the feedback received and will publish our response in due course.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the planning system on the timely delivery of commercial developments that support local economic growth.

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) sets out that the purpose of the planning system is to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development, including the provision of supporting infrastructure in a sustainable manner. It also supports the increased provision and modernisation of various types of public infrastructure. The NPPF is also clear that new development, including commercial development, should be planned for in ways that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Local development plans should identify opportunities for development to draw its energy supply from decentralised, renewable, or low carbon energy supply systems. Between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, the government consulted on a new NPPF which includes clearer, ‘rules based’ policies for decision-making and plan-making and that would give substantial weight is given to the economic benefits of planning applications for commercial development. The consultation on the revised Framework, which can be found on gov.uk here, set out how planning policies and decisions can make a positive contribution to mitigating and adapting to climate change and emphasised the importance of improving renewable and low carbon energy infrastructure. We are currently analysing the feedback received and will publish our response in due course.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of access to education for Rohingya children in refugee camps in Bangladesh.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer he was provided on 27 February in response to Questions 112661-65 and add that I raised the matter of support for education in the Rohingya refugee camps when I visited Bangladesh last month.

Innovation and Technology, how much UK Research and Innovation funding has been awarded to organisations based in West Yorkshire in each of the last three financial years.

During the financial years 2021/22 to 2023/24, UK Research and Innovation invested £723 million in grant awards to organisations in West Yorkshire. This is broken down by financial year as follows:Financial YearUKRI Investment 2021/22£227m2022/23£260m2023/24£236mTotal£723m

Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the financial sustainability of grassroots boxing gyms.

The Government recognises that sports clubs and facilities are important to communities up and down the country. Everyone, no matter who they are or where they live, should have access to high-quality, inclusive facilities, and opportunities to participate in sport and physical activity.Through Sport England, England Boxing will receive over £9 million of funding through the period 2022 - 2029. 75% of affiliated English Boxing clubs are located in deprived, urban neighborhoods, serving marginalised communities identified by Sport England as key target groups for increasing sports participation. These clubs operate at low cost, promoting community cohesion, and are often available where other sports are not.I met with the APPG for Boxing and members of the sector last year to discuss the positive impacts of boxing on participants and how the Government can support grassroots boxing.

Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to support research and innovation partnerships involving local authorities and combined authorities.

As we set out in the English Devolution White Paper, the government will work in partnership with local leaders, businesses and universities to unlock the innovation potential of places across the UK – ensuring that everyone benefits from innovation-led growth that will create the jobs of the future.To achieve this, we are building stronger connections with strategic authorities to empower local decision-making. Our new Local Innovation Partnerships Fund, backed by up to £500 million, is enabling local leaders to work in partnership with UKRI to grow high potential innovation clusters and create jobs aligned to local strengths.

Innovation and Technology, how much funding has been allocated to research and development projects led by organisations based in Bradford in each of the last three financial years.

During the financial years 2022/23 to 2024/25, UK Research and Innovation made £9.6 million in grant awards to organisations in Bradford. This is broken down by financial year as follows:Financial YearCommitted funding2022/23£4,492,5422023/24£1,309,2392024/25£3,826,899Total£9,628,680Not all UKRI funding investments are captured in the figures provided due to data unavailability.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of teacher recruitment and training in Rohingya refugee education programmes supported by UK aid.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer he was provided on 27 February in response to Questions 112661-65 and add that I raised the matter of support for education in the Rohingya refugee camps when I visited Bangladesh last month.

Innovation and Technology, what assessment her Department has made of barriers faced by local authorities in accessing innovation and research funding.

As we set out in the English Devolution White Paper, the government will work in partnership with local leaders, businesses and universities to unlock the innovation potential of places across the UK – ensuring that everyone benefits from innovation-led growth that will create the jobs of the future.To achieve this, we are building stronger connections with strategic authorities to empower local decision-making. Our new Local Innovation Partnerships Fund, backed by up to £500 million, is enabling local leaders to work in partnership with UKRI to grow high potential innovation clusters and create jobs aligned to local strengths.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to prioritise education within the UK’s humanitarian response to the Rohingya crisis.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer he was provided on 27 February in response to Questions 112661-65 and add that I raised the matter of support for education in the Rohingya refugee camps when I visited Bangladesh last month.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential implications for its policies of the long-term education and skills needs of Rohingya children and young people in Bangladesh.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer he was provided on 27 February in response to Questions 112661-65 and add that I raised the matter of support for education in the Rohingya refugee camps when I visited Bangladesh last month.

Innovation and Technology, how much Innovate UK funding has been awarded to organisations based in Bradford in each of the last three financial years.

Innovate UK’s grant funding database shows that during the most recent three full financial years, Innovate UK offered £4.97 million in grant awards to organisations registered in the Bradford local authority area. This is broken down by financial year as follows: Financial yearCommitted funding2022/23£1,983,6722023/24£1,854,6102024/25£1,131,953Total£4,970,234

Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to support local planning authorities to process applications for employment land and commercial development more efficiently.

The MHCLG Digital Planning Programme is developing data standards for planning applications and supporting the adoption of modern planning software to make the planning process smoother, faster, and more efficient. Further detail on the programme can be found on gov.uk here. I otherwise refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 112629 on 2 March 2026.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of updating planning guidance to support the delivery of green jobs and clean growth in regions such as West Yorkshire.

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) sets out that the purpose of the planning system is to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development, including the provision of supporting infrastructure in a sustainable manner. It also supports the increased provision and modernisation of various types of public infrastructure. The NPPF is also clear that new development, including commercial development, should be planned for in ways that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Local development plans should identify opportunities for development to draw its energy supply from decentralised, renewable, or low carbon energy supply systems. Between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, the government consulted on a new NPPF which includes clearer, ‘rules based’ policies for decision-making and plan-making and that would give substantial weight is given to the economic benefits of planning applications for commercial development. The consultation on the revised Framework, which can be found on gov.uk here, set out how planning policies and decisions can make a positive contribution to mitigating and adapting to climate change and emphasised the importance of improving renewable and low carbon energy infrastructure. We are currently analysing the feedback received and will publish our response in due course.

What assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the role of structured sport and physical activity in supporting rehabilitation outcomes.

We recognise that structured sport and physical activity can play an important role in supporting rehabilitation by improving physical and mental wellbeing, supporting positive behaviour, and encouraging engagement with wider rehabilitative activity.All prisons are required to provide physical education. HMPPS promotes participation in activities supervised and organised as part of an establishment’s agreed physical education programme. While Prison Service Instruction 58/2011 Physical Education for Prisoners requires prisons to offer a range of sport and gym-based activity for a minimum of one hour per week for adults and two hours a week for children and young people, establishments are encouraged to align with the Chief Medical Officer’s recommendation of at least 150 minutes of physical activity each week. Provision is tailored across the adult and children’s secure estate. This includes developmentally appropriate physical education for children and young people delivered in partnership with the Youth Custody Service.HMPPS works with national and community partners, including the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, to complement physical activity delivered by PE staff. These partnerships support rehabilitation by improving health and wellbeing, building skills and encouraging positive engagement in custody and on release.In the community, the Probation Service works with a range of partners to support access to physical activity as part of a wider rehabilitative offer.