Written questions by Kirkham.

Communities and Local Government, for what reason he proposes the inclusion of holiday lets within the Energy Performance Certificate regime; and whether sector-specific data, including occupancy patterns, energy consumption profiles, and seasonal variations, has been analysed prior to progressing towards regulation.

EPCs help owners better understand the energy performance of their buildings and identify opportunities to improve them. We consulted on proposals to regulate short-term rental properties to have a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) at the point of being let, irrespective of whether the occupier is responsible for energy costs, to provide clarity on existing guidance for when furnished holiday lets require EPCs.The impact assessment published alongside our consultation (accessible here: Reforms to the Energy Performance of Buildings regime: impact assessment) considered the effects of our proposals for short-term and holiday lets. We are analysing responses to the consultation, including from the short-term let sector, and will publish the Government’s response to the consultation in due course.

How many and what proportion of children's homes that are privately owned and operated.

As at 31 March 2025, 84% (3,360) of all children’s homes were privately owned and operated. Ofsted publish annual data on children’s social care in England. This includes data on the number of homes and the different types of social care providers. The latest data is available at:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/childrens-social-care-in-england-2025. The government is taking forward work to reshape the children’s social care placement’s market, including increasing the number of foster carers so that more children can be looked after in family-based environments and encouraging more non-profit, local authority, and social investment backed providers to enter the market.

Whether the dependents of doctors eligible for the earned settlement scheme will be able to qualify for faster settlement routes.

The earned settlement model, proposed in A Fairer Pathway to Settlement, is currently subject to a public consultation, running until 12 February 2026. A Fairer Pathway to Settlement proposes a reduction in qualifying period for settlement for those in public service occupations. However, full details of the earned settlement scheme, including treatment of dependants, will be finalised following that consultation.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of changing the inflation indexation calculation for the Renewable Obligation (RO) and Feed-in Tariffs (FiT) schemes from the Retail Price Index (RPI) to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) on existing renewable-energy system owners.

The Government has consulted on proposed changes to how support provided through the Feed-in Tariffs and Renewable Obligation schemes is adjusted for inflation. The consultation was accompanied by an analytical annex which set out the potential impacts of the policy. Updated analysis will be published alongside the Government Response next year.

Whether he has assessed the potential merits of introducing paid bereavement leave.

The loss of a loved one is one of the hardest things a person can experience. This is why we have introduced a new right to bereavement leave in the Employment Rights Bill which will be available to those grieving the loss of a loved one, including pregnancy loss before 24 weeks. The Bill deals with the introduction of leave only, and we are consulting further on the detail of the entitlement to ensure it supports employees while remaining proportionate for employers. It will remain at employers' discretion to offer pay, as many already do.

What the sum of money was resulting from a) deductions and b) sanctions applied to Universal Credit claims in Truro and Falmouth constituency in the most recent 12 months for which data is available.

a) The Deductions policy in Universal Credit (UC) is to support customers by providing a repayment method for arrears of essential services, such as, housing, electricity, and gas and enable customers with a child maintenance liability meet their obligation to make child maintenance payments. The deductions policy also enables obligations, such as, paying Court Fines and Council Tax arrears to be enforced when other repayment methods have failed, or are not cost effective, and ensures that benefit debt is recovered in a cost-effective manner.From April 2025 the Government introduced the Fair Repayment Rate which reduced the level of deduction taken from Universal Credit from 25% to 15%, and meant that 1.2m households retained on average £420 per year enabling these UC households to have more of their award to meet their day-to-day needs.Universal Credit deductions statistics are published quarterly with the latest figures available in table 6, row 491 in Universal Credit deductions statistics, September 2024 to August 2025, supplementary data tables, at Universal Credit statistics, 29 April 2013 to 9 October 2025 - GOV.UKb) The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

What progress she has made on the automatic registration of eligible children for free school meal entitlements.

This government is committed to breaking down barriers to opportunity and tackling child poverty. Introducing a new eligibility threshold for free school meals so that all children from households in receipt of Universal Credit will be eligible for free school meals from September 2026 will make it easier for parents to know whether they are entitled to receive free meals. This new entitlement will mean over 500,000 of the most disadvantaged children will begin to access free meals, pulling 100,000 children out of poverty. The department is also rolling out improvements to the Eligibility Checking System which will make it easier for local authorities, schools and parents to check if children are eligible for free meals.

With reference to his Department's policy paper on the UK methane action plan, published on 29 October 2025, what his planned timeline is for implementing a transitional support mechanism for landfill gas to energy operators supported by the RO scheme.

Government is aware that support under the Renewables Obligation (RO) scheme will end for existing landfill gas generators from April 2027, which could affect the commercial viability of these generators. We recognise the importance of providing commercial clarity to the sector and will provide an update in the new year. That is why, as set out in the Carbon Budget and Growth Delivery Plan, Government is exploring the implementation of long-term methane capture schemes, with suitable transitional arrangements. We recognise the importance of providing commercial clarity to the sector and will provide an update in the new year.

What recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing a yellow card warning system in place of immediate benefit sanctions for certain groups of claimants.

There are no such plans. Details on the Department’s assessment and position on a number of benefit sanctions related matters, including the potential use of warnings, can be found in our recent response to the Work and Pensions Select Committee on Recommendation 4 of its report Get Britain Working: Reforming Jobcentres (HC 653) (https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/50172/documents/270724/default/). As indicated, we have set out our plans to reform Jobcentre Plus in the Get Britain Working White Paper and this new service will shift the focus of the customer-work coach relationship to constructive, personalised, and career-focused discussions. In our Pathfinder in Wakefield, we have already begun to explore alternative approaches to how claimants demonstrate they're meeting their conditionality requirements with the aim of giving them more choice and empowerment on their journey into work.

What his ambitions for tidal stream are in the upcoming renewable auction.

Tidal stream continues to be eligible for our main support mechanism for low-carbon electricity, the Contracts for Difference scheme, through which over 120 MW of capacity has already been secured. The parameters for Allocation Round 7 were published in July, and the budget for technologies including tidal stream will be confirmed later this year.

What estimate she has made of the proportion of school supply spending that is retained by private agencies rather than paid to teachers; and what assessment she has made of the impact on school budgets.

The department does not hold data on the proportion of supply spending retained by agencies.According to school financial returns, in the 2023/24 financial year, local authority maintained schools spent approximately £522 million on agency supply teaching staff whilst, in the 2023/24 academic year, academies spent approximately £898 million. The total school budget was £58 billion for the 2023/24 financial year.The department’s 2024 ‘Use of supply teachers in schools’ research found that on average a secondary supply agency teacher cost a school £291 per day, whilst the daily take-home pay for a secondary supply teacher was £150. This suggests that agencies retain around 48% of the spend for secondary supply on average, which covers profit, on-costs and operational costs.We continue to explore ways to support schools to obtain value for money when hiring supply staff.

Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to help increase the number of children that are able to swim 25 metres confidently.

Swimming and water safety is a vital life skill, which is why it is a mandatory part of the primary PE National Curriculum.All schools must provide swimming instruction in either key stage 1 or 2. In particular, pupils should be taught to: swim competently, confidently and proficiently over a distance of at least 25 metres; use a range of strokes effectively; and perform safe self-rescue in different water-based situations.Primary schools can use their PE and sport Premium funding to provide top-up swimming and water safety lessons for those pupils that do not meet national curriculum requirements after they have completed core swimming and water safety lessons.The Department for Education is also funding the ‘Inclusion 2028’ grant at up to £300,000 per year to improve opportunities for young people with special educational needs and disabilities to participate in school sport, including swimming and water safety.

Media and Sport, what her planned timeline is for the allocation of £400 million into new and upgraded grassroots sport facilities.

The Government is committed to ensuring that communities across the UK benefit from high-quality sport facilities to help enable people to get active and build pride in place in local communities. At least £400 million is to be invested in new and upgraded grassroots sport facilities over the next four years. This investment will fund projects that promote health, wellbeing and community cohesion, while removing the barriers to physical activity for under-represented groups, such as women and girls, people with disabilities, and ethnic minority communities.The Government has allocated £5 million of this funding towards basketball and basketball-led multi-sport facilities in England in 2026/27. This dedicated funding for basketball will be matched by the NBA, who will invest £5 million through to 2028.Funding is subject to departmental business planning processes which are ongoing. We are working with the sports sector and local leaders to develop plans for delivering this funding, prioritising the areas which need it most across the UK and ensuring that investment best serves the needs of these communities. Further details will be announced in due course.

Media and Sport, what steps her Department has taken to assess the (a) adequacy of levels of swimming pool provision and (b) long-term factors that might impact future levels of swimming pool provision.

The Government is committed to ensuring that communities across the UK benefit from high-quality sport facilities to help enable people to get active and build pride in place in local communities. We are aware that factors including pressures around energy costs and ageing facilities may impact the future provision of sports facilities, including swimming pools. That is why at least £400 million is to be invested in new and upgraded grassroots sport facilities across the UK over the next four years. This investment will fund projects that promote health, wellbeing and community cohesion, while removing the barriers to physical activity for under-represented groups, such as women and girls, people with disabilities, and ethnic minority communities.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Affordable housing set to benefit from £100 million following CMA probe, published on 9 July 2025, whether he has considered the potential merits of allocating the English portion of the £100 million to community-led housing.

As the Competition and Markets Authority set out in its final decision letter published on 30 October 2025 (which can be found on gov.uk here), the government will disburse England’s proportion of the payment to the affordable homes programmes delivered by Homes England and the Greater London Authority. On 7 November 2025, my Department published a policy statement on the Social and Affordable Homes Programme (SAHP) which can be found on gov.uk here. This was accompanied by detailed guidance for prospective bidders published by Homes England and the Greater London Authority. While maximising supply is at the forefront of the SAHP, the programme is also designed to support greater diversity and supply of the different types of homes that can be delivered, as well as greater diversity in who delivers these homes. We recognise that some types of social and affordable homes that are much needed can often cost more to deliver – such as some homes built by local councils, supported housing, community-led and rural homes. The new programme is designed to be flexible to support the greater diversity of supply needed, and we are asking providers to come forward with ambitious bids that reflect this diversity. The flexibility in grant rates provided for under the new programme will help community-led schemes achieve viability and help the sector grow towards its full potential.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits in recognising the role of renewable liquid fuels in decarbonising off-gas-grid households.

As sustainable biomass is a limited resource, the government expects it to be prioritised where there are limited alternatives for decarbonisation. Renewable liquid heating fuels (RLHFs) are also more expensive to use than other heating solutions. However, the government recognises that RLHFs could play a limited role in decarbonising off-gas grid homes. Before taking decisions on whether to support the use of RLHFs, the government would require stronger evidence on their affordability for consumers, and the availability of sustainable feedstock.

What steps his Department is taking to support Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust in addressing the long waits for ambulances and emergency care at the acute hospital in Cornwall.

We are committed to improving urgent and emergency care and returning to the waiting time standards set out in the National Health Service constitution through actions set out in Urgent and Emergency Care Plan for 2025/26 and the Medium Term Planning Framework for 2026/27 to 2028/29.On the 6 June 2025, we published our Urgent and Emergency Care Plan for 2025/26, backed by a total of nearly £450 million of funding. The plan focuses on improvements that will see the biggest impact on urgent and emergency care performance next winter and on making urgent and emergency care better every day, including reducing ambulance handovers to a maximum of 45 minutes and actions to support at least 78% of patients in accident and emergency being seen within four hours.The Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust has been focusing on its ‘clinical vision of flow’, alongside whole system work which is delivering improvement in urgent and emergency care performance.

What steps he is taking with energy suppliers to help prevent large increases in energy bill direct debits.

Ofgem is the energy regulator for Great Britain and works to protect energy consumers and ensure they are treated fairly. Under the terms of Ofgem’s Standard Licence Conditions, customers may challenge increased direct debit payment amounts with their supplier and ask the supplier to justify how they calculated the new amount. Suppliers must explain clearly how they reached the figure they want to charge and give the meter readings used. If a customer is not happy with the supplier’s calculation, they can ask the supplier to lower the monthly payments to reflect the energy use more accurately. If a customer is concerned about the size of a credit balance on their energy account, they can ask their supplier to refund it. The Government believes that our mission to deliver clean power by 2030 is the best way to break our dependence on global fossil fuel markets and bring down energy bills, and therefore direct debits, permanently.

What assessment she has made of trends in the level of commercial agencies in the supply teaching sector; and whether she plans to provide funding for non-commercial operators in that sector.

Schools and local authorities are responsible for the recruitment of their supply teachers and are best placed to make decisions on this.The supply market in England is large and diverse. It includes supply pools, direct recruitment and commercial agencies. Although the department does not hold data on the precise number of commercial agencies operating, agencies account for the majority of supply provision to schools.The department is aware of the concern around agency fees and is working with the Crown Commercial Service on their agency supply deal, which supports schools to obtain value for money when hiring agency supply teachers and other temporary school staff. The deal has established a list of preferred suppliers that schools can access, all of which will be transparent with schools about the rates they charge.There are currently no plans to provide funding for non-commercial operators in the sector. The department does, however, continue to conduct policy research into the supply market.

Whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of mandating that supply staff (a) are paid according to national pay scales and (b) have access to (i) the Teachers' Pension Scheme and (ii) other relevant pension funds.

​​A supply teacher’s pay and pension depends on how the supply teacher is employed.​Supply teachers employed directly by a state maintained school or local authority must be paid in accordance with the statutory arrangements for teachers laid down in the School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document. If a supply teacher is employed by a private agency or non-maintained school, the employer can set the rate of pay.​The Teachers’ Pensions Regulations currently provide for supply teachers to participate in the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS) where they are employed by a scheme employer, including local authorities, academies and further education colleges.​Where supply teachers are self-employed or remain employed by a supply agency and their services are provided under a ‘contract for services’, it is not possible for them to participate in the TPS as there is no organisation to undertake the employer role, including remitting contributions to the scheme. However, eligible supply teachers working via agencies are entitled to workplace pensions.​The department does not have plans at this time to assess the potential benefits of mandating pay or pensions for supply teachers.