Written questions by Kirkham.

What steps he has taken to protect whistleblowers in the NHS.

The Employment Rights Act 1996, as amended by the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998, gives employees protection against unfair dismissal and detriment in employment on the basis that they have made a protected disclosure, as well as a right to seek remedy through an employment tribunal where this occurs. Separate regulations also protect National Health Service job applicants from discrimination on the grounds they have made a protected disclosure in the past. In addition to legal protections, there is a range of support in place for NHS workers who wish to report concerns, including local Freedom to Speak Up Guardians, a National Freedom to Speak Up policy, and support from independent organisations such as Speak Up Direct. Through delivery of the 10‑Year Health Plan, we will ensure that the Care Quality Commission, as part of its existing inspection and regulatory responsibilities, takes account of whether NHS providers have effective Freedom to Speak Up arrangements, where this forms a relevant line of enquiry. Where relevant, this includes whether providers have effective whistleblowing arrangements in place and whether staff feel able to raise concerns safely without fear of detriment.

Whether he plans to take steps with the National Wealth Fund to provide funding for heat networks in rural and coastal areas such as Cornwall.

The Green Heat Network Fund (GHNF) supports new and existing heat networks across England and Wales to adopt low carbon technologies. Applicants to the scheme are also encouraged to seek financing options from the National Wealth Fund and can opt to have their project information shared with the Fund for them to consider potential support. Heat network developers in coastal areas can contact the GHNF delivery partner, Triple Point Heat Networks, or consult the scheme guidance (Green Heat Network Fund (GHNF): Round 11 application guidance - GOV.UK) for further information.

Media and Sport, what capital funds are open to independent cinemas.

Independent cinemas are vital anchors for local communities, offering cultural access for people across the UK and helping to sustain our high streets. Cinemas based in not-for-profit mixed arts venues in England may meet the eligibility criteria for Arts Council England's Creative Foundations Fund; we estimate this applies to approximately 13% of the 218 full-time independent cinemas in the UK. Independent cinemas can also apply for various public funding schemes through the Department for Culture, Media and Sport's Arm's Length Bodies if they meet the eligibility criteria. For example, through the British Film Institute, cinemas can access support for audience-facing projects through the BFI National Lottery Audience Projects Fund; and can join the BFI Film Audience Network and apply for funding to support projects that bring audiences together for screenings of UK independent and international films. This sector will also benefit from permanently lower business rates multipliers for Retail, Hospitality and Leisure venues, starting this year.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of making Cornwall a priority area for strategic heat network zoning.

Heat network zoning, due to come into force later this year, will grant new powers to local government to accelerate heat network development in areas where they will be the most affordable heating solution. We will support at least ten locations to establish their heat network zones soon after Heat Network Zoning Regulations go live. We will announce locations in due course which will be a result of assessing locations across England. Longer term DESNZ is looking to develop its pipeline of future zones, inviting strategic and local authorities to submit information by 29 May 2026.

What steps he is taking to prevent further reductions in opening hours and patient access for community pharmacies.

Last year, the Government increased funding for community pharmacy to almost £3.1 billion, representing the largest uplift for any part of the National Health Service across 2024/25 and 2025/26.Pharmacies in areas of high health need and limited provision continue to receive additional support through the Pharmacy Access Scheme, helping to maintain reasonable access to NHS pharmaceutical services.The Department is consulting Community Pharmacy England on proposals for contractor reimbursement and remuneration for 2026/27 and will announce the outcome once the consultation concludes.The majority of community pharmacies are contractually required to open for a minimum of 40 core hours per week, with a small proportion required to open for 72 hours. If changes to pharmacy opening hours risk limiting patient access, integrated care boards can take action locally.

Whether the Future Homes Standard will make solar batteries mandatory on new build homes.

Batteries aren’t mandated under the Future Homes and Buildings Standards because Building Regulations set performance‑based outcomes and do not mandate specific technologies. This ensures flexibility for developers and avoids locking in solutions that may not be suitable in every setting. Battery storage is permitted and encouraged, and we continue to welcome ambitious developers who choose to go further than the minimum requirements.

Food and Rural Affairs, if her Department will make it his policy to use the mandatory Adaptation Reporting Power regularly.

We are reviewing our approach to the Adaptation Reporting Power ahead of the fifth round of reporting, due 2026–2029. This work includes a synthesis of past rounds and other relevant reporting regimes, and an evaluation of the costs and benefits of the previous round. Taking these outputs into account, Defra will be consulting shortly on the approach to the next round of reporting. We will publish the supporting evidence alongside this.

Whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of allowing people with disabilities and chronic illness so add voluntary National Insurance contributions beyond the current six year limit.

Individuals can pay voluntary National Insurance contributions for up to six years in arrears to fill gaps in their National Insurance record. There are also a wide range of National Insurance credits available, ensuring people can build their National Insurance record. Some are linked to benefits that can be claimed in relation to illness or disability such as Employment and Support Allowance.

Food and Rural Affairs, if she will confirm whether fur falls outside of scope of the UK/EU SPS Agreement as it was not listed in the recently published UK-EU SPS Agreement - Legislation in scope document.

As part of the UK‑EU SPS Agreement currently being negotiated, the Government is making a sovereign choice in the national interest to align in some areas where it makes sense to do so, as set out in the Government’s recently published announcement on legislation in scope. The announcement reflected the UK’s current view of what is in scope and remains subject to change as negotiations progress with the EU. While those discussions are ongoing, we cannot provide a running commentary or speculate on the scope of the agreement, but we have been clear about the importance of being able to set high animal welfare standards.

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of making unpaid carers eligible for vaccination against Coronavirus.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Suffolk Coastal on 3 March 2026 to Question 115220.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of facilitating the installation of solar panels on listed properties and properties in conservation areas.

Between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, the government consulted on changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). That consultation, which can be found on gov.uk here, included policies that recognised that the installation of energy efficiency and low carbon heating measures in listed buildings and conservation areas are an important public benefit to be taken into account when determining planning applications.We are currently analysing the feedback received and will publish our response in due course.

Communities and Local Government, what progress he has made on regulating the property agent sector.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 85213 on 4 November 2025.

Communities and Local Government, whether he has assessed the potential merits of introducing mandatory offer disclosure in Modern Method of Auction property sales.

The National Trading Standards Estate Agency Team are investigating practices in the auction market involving the submission of misleading or inauthentic bids.The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 prohibits unfair commercial practices by traders in their dealings with consumers, including misleading actions or omissions, which can extend to auction property sales. The Act also requires businesses to act with professional diligence, in line with honest market practice and general principles of good faith.On 6 October, my Department published two consultations outlining reform proposals to transform home buying and selling. Transparency during the property sales process is one of the core objectives of these reforms. That is why we proposed requiring sellers to provide comprehensive upfront information to buyers and mandating the provision of critical information in property listings. The consultations can be found on gov.uk here and here.

Innovation and Technology, (i) if she is aware of the issues that some residents have encountered in creating a GOV.UK One Login, and (ii) what steps she is taking to improve the process of doing so.

GOV.UK One Login is committed to making identity verification simple, inclusive and secure, enabling people to access government services while protecting them and the Government from fraud. While we expect GOV.UK One Login to become the primary method for accessing online government services, departments will continue to provide offline alternatives for those who prefer or are unable to use digital channels.While most users successfully prove their identity, we recognise that some experience difficulties. The service is used by millions, and we continually monitor feedback, complaints and performance data to identify issues and drive improvements.We are enhancing guidance, refining the user journey and introducing new identity verification routes to meet different user needs. Support is available through our contact centre and technical service desk for users who require assistance.

Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to make it easier to re-apply for a postal vote, including the process of uploading a signature.

The Government is committed to ensuring the process for applying or re-applying for a postal vote is as accessible and straightforward as possible. Our online absent voting application service continues to undergo extensive user research and testing with members of the public, including older, less digitally confident and disabled electors, to ensure the service works effectively for a wide range of users. As part of these improvements, the service now includes functionality allowing applicants to rotate their uploaded signature image. This helps users who may have scanned or photographed their signature in the wrong orientation and makes it easier to submit an application successfully. Insights from ongoing research will continue to inform further refinements to improve usability. It is also possible to apply for a postal vote using a paper form, and guidance on how to do so is available on the Gov.uk website. This guidance includes an option to download the relevant paper form. It also includes a tool to allow individuals to look up the contact details for their local electoral registration office, so that they may telephone, email or write to them to request that a paper form be posted to them.

Whether she has assessed the merits of lowering the earnings requirement for a family visa.

The Minimum Income Requirement (MIR) was raised in April 2024 from £18,600 to £29,000. This was the first time it had been increased since its introduction.To help ensure we reach the right balance and have a solid evidence base for any change, the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) was commissioned to review the financial requirements in the Family Immigration Rules.Conducting a full review of the financial requirements across the family routes will ensure we have a clear and consistent system. The MAC has published their independent review of the financial requirements across the family routes.There is no set date for when we will respond to the MAC report. However, the MAC’s recommendations are being considered in detail alongside the work being carried out as a result of the Immigration White Paper (Restoring control over the immigration system: white paper - GOV.UK) which made clear that family migration would be reformed to tackle the over complex family immigration arrangements, including the financial requirements. An announcement will be made in due course.

Media and Sport, whether any decision-making process regarding switching off the UK's digital terrestrial television will take into account the impact on rural areas with poor broadband quality.

Digital inclusion and ensuring that all households across the country have access to high-quality, reliable broadband is a priority for the Government. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is working closely with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology to ensure that all aspects of digital inclusion, including those relating to rural communities, are considered as part of any decisions we make on the future of digital terrestrial television.

Whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of foreign passports no longer being held by the Passport Office for the duration of the family visa application process.

With the introduction of the eVisa digital permission, eligible customers can now complete their biometric appointment at the Visa Application Centre (VAC) and retain their passport. Customers applying under family routes have retained their passports whilst their visa application is being processed since October 2025. This allows them to apply for visas for other countries, travel overseas and use their passport to confirm their identity for other purposes or demonstrate their status if living in a third country during this period.

What steps he is taking to ensure that estates are distributed to beneficiaries within a reasonable timeframe after probate has been granted.

There is no maximum time limit in which personal representatives must distribute an estate after probate has been granted.A personal representative is under a statutory duty to administer the deceased person’s estate according to the law and without undue delay. He or she must safeguard the estate and, with due diligence, collect and realise the assets, pay the deceased person’s debts, and distribute the legacies and the residue of the estate to the beneficiaries entitled in accordance with the will. Personal representatives can be held liable if they mis-administer the estate.There are legitimate reasons why it may take time to fully distribute an estate. For example, it may require the sale of a property, the settling of tax issues or administering assets outside of the UK. Other reasons that personal representatives may delay the distribution of the estate include waiting out the time limit for family provision claims under the Inheritance Act 1975 and for creditors to bring claims against the estate.If beneficiaries have concerns about the administration of the estate, they can make an application to the court to compel a personal representative to provide an inventory and account of their administration of an estate. In addition, applications can be made to remove and replace a personal executive where there are grounds to do so.

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of (i) requiring administrators and executors of estates to file a copy of the estate accounts with the Probate Registry and (ii) creating a central registry of wills.

Personal representatives (the umbrella term for anyone legally responsible for administering a deceased person’s estate) have a statutory duty to administer the estate lawfully. They must act in beneficiaries’ best interests and keep clear, separate estate accounts as a matter of good practice. Accurate records are essential because the court may require, sworn on oath, a full inventory of the estate and a detailed account of the administration. Any interested party can apply for such an order, enabling scrutiny of how the estate has been managed and informing whether further action against the personal representative is appropriate.The Government is not aware of any problems with personal representative accountability mechanisms and has no plans to change them.There is no compulsory will registration system in England and Wales, though testators may voluntarily register a will with certain public or private bodies. The Principal Registry offers a public scheme allowing wills to be deposited and stored for a £23 fee, with a certificate issuedThe Law Commission considered compulsory registration as part of their review of the Law of Wills but concluded it would add unnecessary complexity to the will‑making process as well as raise uncertainty over the validity of unregistered wills, including reduced flexibility for testators making wills near death.