Written questions by Naish.

Whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing rolling revaluations (a) every three years and (b) on a regular basis to prevent significant increases in bills.

The amount of business rates paid on each property is based on the Rateable Value of the property, assessed by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), and the multiplier values, which are set by the Government. Rateable values are re-assessed every three years. The most recent revaluation took effect from 1 April 2023 and was based on values as of 1 April 2021. The next revaluation will take effect from 1 April 2026 based on values of 1 April 2024. The Government provides transitional relief to support ratepayers seeing large bill increases as a result of revaluations. The Government will announce details on the transitional relief scheme for the 2026 revaluation at Budget 2025, in light of the revaluation outcomes.

What guidance her Department issues to local authorities on verifying the (a) staffing, (b) space and (c) specialist-expertise capacity of schools before naming them in education, health and care plans.

When preparing a new education, health and care (EHC) plan, or amending the setting named on an existing plan, a local authority must consult with any school or other setting it may name in the plan. The special educational needs and disability (SEND) code of practice: 0 to 25 years is statutory guidance that sets out how this should be done, and it stresses that a local authority must consider the comments of a setting very carefully before deciding whether to name it in an EHC plan. This consultation process allows the setting to voice any concerns, for example in relation to its capacity or ability to meet the needs of the child or young person. Advice from the setting will also contribute to the local authority’s development of the plan to ensure that it meets the child or young person’s needs, the outcomes they want to achieve and the aspirations they are aiming for. Informed by the response to its consultation, the local authority then decides which setting to name, following the statutory procedure for doing so. The local authority is the body best placed to gather the necessary advice and information and then weigh up all the relevant considerations in finalising an EHC plan.This government shares the widespread view that improvements to the SEND system are badly needed and as part of our Plan for Change we are committed to ensuring all children and young people have the support they need to develop skills for the future. Details of our intended approach to SEND reform will be set out for consultation in a Schools White Paper in the autumn.

What steps she is taking to (a) improve the (i) timeliness and (ii) depth of educational psychology assessments and (b) end the use of short virtual consultations for children with complex needs.

Educational psychologists play a critical role in the support available to children and young people, including providing statutory input into education, health and care assessments. We know that current workforce shortages can be a barrier to timely input, which is why we are investing over £21 million to train 400 more educational psychologists from September 2024. This is in addition to the £10 million currently being invested in the training of over 200 educational psychologists who began their training in September 2023.The special educational needs and disabilities code of practice does not stipulate the methodology that any of the professionals involved in assessments should use. We regard this as a matter for the respective professional bodies.

What the average time taken was for an IHT30 certificate to be issued in the latest period for which data is available; and how many cases were waiting for an IHT30 certificate to be issued on 1 August 2025.

HMRC do not measure the average time taken for an IHT30 certificate to be issued. HMRC have a service standard to process 80% of IHT30 certificates within 15 working days. HMRC have prioritised the processing of IHT400 forms to minimise any delays for customers applying for probate through HM Courts & Tribunals Service. Customers do not need an IHT30 certificate to distribute assets to beneficiaries. HMRC have trained and deployed additional staff to work on inheritance tax, and are investing £52m to digitalise the Inheritance Tax service from 2027-28 to provide a modern, easy-to-use system, making returns and paying tax simpler and quicker.

Food and Rural Affairs, how many households have agreed an unmetered water utility bill charge in each of the last five years.

The proportion of households in England with unmetered water utility bill charges has been gradually declining over recent years due to the rollout of smart metering initiatives.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of making written feedback from schools consulted during Education, Health and Care Plan placement decisions legally binding on local authorities.

When preparing a new education, health and care (EHC) plan, or amending the setting named on an existing plan, a local authority must consult with any school or other setting it may name in the plan. The special educational needs and disability (SEND) code of practice: 0 to 25 years is statutory guidance that sets out how this should be done, and it stresses that a local authority must consider the comments of a setting very carefully before deciding whether to name it in an EHC plan. This consultation process allows the setting to voice any concerns, for example in relation to its capacity or ability to meet the needs of the child or young person. Advice from the setting will also contribute to the local authority’s development of the plan to ensure that it meets the child or young person’s needs, the outcomes they want to achieve and the aspirations they are aiming for. Informed by the response to its consultation, the local authority then decides which setting to name, following the statutory procedure for doing so. The local authority is the body best placed to gather the necessary advice and information and then weigh up all the relevant considerations in finalising an EHC plan.This government shares the widespread view that improvements to the SEND system are badly needed and as part of our Plan for Change we are committed to ensuring all children and young people have the support they need to develop skills for the future. Details of our intended approach to SEND reform will be set out for consultation in a Schools White Paper in the autumn.

What steps he is taking to incentivise the installation of solar panels on (a) commercial and (b) industrial roofs; and whether he has plans to prioritise the use of these spaces over agricultural land for renewable energy projects.

The Government incentivises commercial/industrial rooftop solar in various ways, including permitted development rights, favourable tax treatment, and the Smart Export Guarantee. Solar is an important part of our strategy for improving energy performance of buildings. New building standards will ensure new buildings are fit for a Net Zero future. The Warm Homes Plan will set out pathways for decarbonisation of all buildings, including non-domestic ones. Further details will be set out by October. Achieving our ambitious clean power mission will require rapid deployment across rooftops and ground-mounted solar farms. However, planning guidance makes clear that, wherever possible, solar developers should utilise brownfield, industrial, contaminated, or previously developed land.

What assessment his Department has made of the clinical impact of (a) delayed and (b) missed diagnosis of (i) autoimmune encephalitis and (ii) other acute neurological emergencies presenting to emergency departments without neurology cover.

The revised NHS England specialised neurology service specification, published on 13 August, following extensive consultation with clinical and charity partners, states that all patients should have access to acute neurology advice via a networked model of care. The national specialised commissioning team is also developing an integrated care system toolkit to support implementation, which includes acute neurology guidance.

What the median waiting time is for an emergency department patient to receive a consultant neurologist review in hospitals that do not have an on-site neurology team.

The information requested is not held centrally.

Whether his Department plans to introduce a requirement for (a) 24-hour on-call neurology cover or (b) rapid tele-neurology support in all major emergency departments.

The Department has no plans to introduce a requirement for 24-hour on-call neurology cover or rapid tele-neurology support in all major emergency departments.

What steps NHS England is taking to ensure that A&E clinicians are trained to (a) recognise neurological red-flag symptoms and (b) initiate (i) plasma exchange, (ii) intravenous methyl-prednisolone and (iii) other urgent treatments.

All accident and emergency clinicians are trained to the highest standards to ensure the best patient care possible. Recognition of neurological emergencies is part of the emergency care curriculum, which is written by the Royal College of Emergency Medicine to the standards set by the medical regulator, the General Medical Council.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that patients who cannot use the internet retain (a) telephone or (b) in-person routes to (i) book GP appointments and (ii) access triage services.

People unable to access the NHS App or online services, or visit their general practice (GP) in person, can ask for a feature called proxy access available through the NHS App. This function allows a trusted relative or carer to act on the patient’s behalf and can be set up through the patient’s GP surgery, so that they can help them manage their health and care. This is done through a proxy, or linked, account. Depending on the access that the GP surgery has enabled, proxy users may be able to act for the person they support, by ordering repeat prescriptions, booking appointments, viewing test results or vaccinations, and accessing all or part of the GP health record, to help with health-related tasks and managing health issues.While digital health tools like the NHS App offer convenience, they should be part of a wider offering that includes face-to-face support with appropriate help for people who struggle to access digital services.NHS England has published a framework for National Health Service action on digital inclusion and is developing further resources to support practical actions. All programmes are actively considering how they can contribute to improvements in healthcare inequalities and digital inclusion. Digital health tools are part of a wider offering that includes face-to-face support and telephone services, with appropriate help for people who struggle to access digital services.NHS England has successfully run a number of programmes to support patients, carers, and health service staff with their digital skills. These include: - the NHS App ‘Spoken Word’ Pilot project, designed to test the efficacy of promoting NHS digital health products and services in languages other than English;- the Digital Health Champions programme, a proof of concept to support citizens who have no or low digital skills with understanding how to access health services online; and- the Widening Digital Participation programme, aimed to ensure more people have the digital skills, motivation, and means to access health information and services online. GP surgeries also offer patients non-digital methods to manage their primary and secondary healthcare, and these methods usually consist of telephonic communication and letters. Patients can request a non-digital route by registering their preference with their GP surgery.

What recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of digital-first primary care systems on patients without internet access; and what steps he plans to take to reduce digital exclusion in the NHS.

People unable to access the NHS App or online services, or visit their general practice (GP) in person, can ask for a feature called proxy access available through the NHS App. This function allows a trusted relative or carer to act on the patient’s behalf and can be set up through the patient’s GP surgery, so that they can help them manage their health and care. This is done through a proxy, or linked, account. Depending on the access that the GP surgery has enabled, proxy users may be able to act for the person they support, by ordering repeat prescriptions, booking appointments, viewing test results or vaccinations, and accessing all or part of the GP health record, to help with health-related tasks and managing health issues.While digital health tools like the NHS App offer convenience, they should be part of a wider offering that includes face-to-face support with appropriate help for people who struggle to access digital services.NHS England has published a framework for National Health Service action on digital inclusion and is developing further resources to support practical actions. All programmes are actively considering how they can contribute to improvements in healthcare inequalities and digital inclusion. Digital health tools are part of a wider offering that includes face-to-face support and telephone services, with appropriate help for people who struggle to access digital services.NHS England has successfully run a number of programmes to support patients, carers, and health service staff with their digital skills. These include: - the NHS App ‘Spoken Word’ Pilot project, designed to test the efficacy of promoting NHS digital health products and services in languages other than English;- the Digital Health Champions programme, a proof of concept to support citizens who have no or low digital skills with understanding how to access health services online; and- the Widening Digital Participation programme, aimed to ensure more people have the digital skills, motivation, and means to access health information and services online. GP surgeries also offer patients non-digital methods to manage their primary and secondary healthcare, and these methods usually consist of telephonic communication and letters. Patients can request a non-digital route by registering their preference with their GP surgery.

Whether his Department plans to implement Phase 2 of the non-domestic Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards.

Government consulted on strengthening the non-domestic PRS minimum energy efficiency standards to EPC C by 1 April 2027, and EPC B by 1 April 2030. We are currently reviewing the policy design to ensure that it remains fair and proportionate for landlords and tenants alike. We plan to publish a response to the consultation as early as possible. We recognise the delay has caused uncertainty within industry and are working hard to deliver this policy at the earliest possible date, whilst ensuring we are providing sufficient lead-in time for property owners and the wider supply chain.

How many Type 1 emergency departments in England currently operate without an on-site neurology service.

In 2021, NHS England’s Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) programme shared its national specialty report for neurology following deep dive visits to all 24 neuroscience regions, then to the 67 trusts that together deliver neurology services to 139 sites.Data from the report shows that 28% of emergency admissions were at N4 sites, sties with a visiting neurologists only and no on-site service, and a further 4% at N5 sites, sites with no visiting neurologists.Building on the recommendations in the GIRFT national report, the NHS England Neurology Transformation Programme is developing guidance to support integrated care boards and service providers to deliver services for patients with acute neurological conditions efficiently and equitably.Earlier access to expert opinion improves outcomes and allows earlier discharge, reducing lengths of stay and inpatient care costs. Many admissions are potentially avoidable if appropriate ambulatory admission avoidance pathways for acute neurology are put in place.

What discussions his Department have had with (a) businesses and (b) landlords on levels of preparedness for meeting the EPC Grade B requirement by 2030; and what steps his Department is taking to support those businesses that will be required to meet that standard.

Department officials have held several meetings and industry workshops over several years with businesses and landlords. These have included discussions on the implementation of the policy and the design of the policy, where the opinions of stakeholders have been taken into account. The Government is providing grants to encourage both domestic and non-domestic property owners to install low carbon heating systems such as heat pumps through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme. We continue to assess scenarios where additional support may be necessary for landlords facing unique challenges that could affect compliance.

What guidance he has issued to integrated care boards on commissioning pathways that guarantee immediate access to plasma exchange for patients with acute inflammatory neurological disorders.

NHS England’s Specialised Neurology service specification outlines a networked model of care for neurology and stipulates that all specialised neurology centres should have access to timely plasma exchange services to patients with severe autoimmune neurological disorders. Although secondary care hospitals will not ordinarily have plasma exchange services on site, all secondary care hospitals are linked to a regional specialised neurology centre that can offer this treatment in a timely way.

How many complaints of package holiday operators failing to provide adequate assistance during accommodation emergencies have been reported to the Competition and Markets Authority in each of the last three years.

Obtaining a definitive figure for the number of complaints would require a manual review, which would be disproportionate. But a search for relevant terms identified only one complaint relating to the provision of emergency accommodation by a package travel operator, which was received in 2025.The CMA uses complaints, alongside other sources of information and intelligence, to help inform decisions as to the work it undertakes.

What funding has been allocated in the financial year 2025-26 to expand regional (a) neurological emergency networks and (b) tele-neurology services.

There is no formal structure or funding for neurological emergency networks. The acute neurology guidance forming part of the NHS England integrated care system neurology toolkit provides guidance on the organisation of services to ensure patients admitted to acute medical units are able to access neurological advice where necessary. Tele-neurology is available across the country as required.

On what date he last met with Baroness Casey to discuss her Commission on adult social care.

My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, engages with Baroness Louise Casey regularly on a number of issues, including adult social care.The commission is independent, and Baroness Casey has the autonomy to define her own engagement plans, including with ministers, based on what she believes is most appropriate for the commission’s work.