Written questions by McMahon.

What assessment she has been made of the potential impact, average level and trends of business rates payable by businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors since 2015.

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. Revaluations ensure that the rateable values of properties (i.e. the tax base) remain in line with market changes, and that the tax rates adjust to reflect changes in the tax base. At the Budget, the VOA announced updated property values from the 2026 revaluation. This revaluation is the first since Covid, which has led to significant increases in rateable values for some properties as they recover from the pandemic. To support with bill increases, at the Budget, the Government announced a support package worth £4.3 billion over the next three years, including protection for ratepayers seeing their bills increase because of the revaluation. As a result, over half of ratepayers will see no bill increases, including 23% seeing their bills go down. This means most properties seeing increases will see them capped at 15% or less next year, or £800 for the smallest.Without our support, the pub sector as a whole would have faced a 45% increase in the total bills they pay next year. Because of the support we’ve put in place, this has fallen to just 4%. The new RHL tax rates replace the temporary RHL relief that has been winding down since Covid. Unlike RHL relief, the new rates are permanent, giving businesses certainty and stability, and there will be no cap, meaning all qualifying properties on high streets across England will benefit.The National Insurance Contributions (NICs) Employment Allowance has been more than doubled to £10,500, ensuring that over half of businesses with National Insurance liabilities, including those in the hospitality sector, will either gain or see no change this year. A Tax Information and Impact Note was published alongside changes to employer NICs.

What estimate he has made of the number of cancelled annual leave days as a result of strike action in the NHS since July 2024.

The Department has made no estimate of the number of cancelled annual leave days as a result of strike action in the National Health Service. Information is not held centrally on the level of cancellation of annual leave of NHS staff, including for the reason of cover of staff who are undertaking industrial action.Our priority is to keep patients as safe as possible during any industrial action. The NHS makes every effort through rigorous contingency planning to minimise the disruption of industrial action and its impact on patients and the public. Assessments are made by local Trusts about levels of resourcing available, and they can escalate concerns via regions and nationally, where appropriate.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of inpatient mental health capacity in Greater Manchester; and what discussions he has had with Pennine Care NHS Trust on that issue.

No such specific assessment has been made. The Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership is responsible for commissioning National Health Service mental health inpatient beds to meet the needs of the local population across Greater Manchester. Neither ministers nor departmental officials have held discussions with the Pennine Care NHS Trust on that issue.Nationally, our ambition is to avoid unnecessary admissions to mental health inpatient services and provide care close to home, including alternatives to admission. The 10-Year Health Plan sets out our plans to transform mental health services to improve access and treatment, and to promote good mental health and wellbeing for the nation. This includes piloting neighbourhood mental health centres, which will bring together a range of community mental health services under one roof, including crisis services and short-stay beds.In addition, all integrated care boards (ICBs) were asked to publish a three-year plan to localise and realign mental health, learning disability, and autism inpatient care. The Greater Manchester ICB shared their plan at their public board on 20 November 2024. The plan commits to making the best use of resource and reducing reliance on inpatient care, so that more people can access care and support for their mental health, as and when they need it.We will move care closer to home by reducing out of area placements for mental health patients by March 2027, as outlined in the medium-term planning framework. We will also use new integrated health organisations to break down barriers between services and ensure more integrated, holistic care, addressing both physical and mental health care needs, with more freedom to determine how best to meet the needs of their local populations.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of trends in the cost of building materials on house building costs.

Construction costs have increased 52% over the past ten years. Prices are now stable, rising only 1% between January 2024 and January 2025. We are taking urgent action to support housebuilding and meet our mission to build 1.5m homes through bold planning reforms and a record £39bn investment to kickstart social and affordable housebuilding at scale across the country.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of professional accreditation of home care workers on levels of recruitment and retention; and what discussions he has had with relevant stakeholders on this issue.

There are beneficial effects of accredited qualifications and structured learning on the recruitment and retention of care workers. Skills for Care data shows that turnover rates are approximately 10% lower for staff who hold a relevant qualification compared to those without. Additionally, staff who received more than 30 instances of training evidenced a turnover rate 3.4% lower than those who recorded only one to five instances, with further information available in Skills for Care’s the ‘State of’ report at the following link:https://www.skillsforcare.org.uk/Adult-Social-Care-Workforce-Data/workforceintelligence/Reports-and-visualisations/National-information/The-State-of-report.aspxThe Department introduced the Care Workforce Pathway, the first universal career structure for adult social care, which sets out clear skills, and progression routes to help retain staff and attract newcomers by recognising care workers as professionals and promoting development opportunities.Additionally, we launched the Learning and Development Support Scheme, which provides funding support for training, including recognised qualifications like the Level 2 Adult Social Care Certificate, which provides a portable, recognised foundation of skills and knowledge, aiming to reduce duplication of training and increase retention. Furthermore, the Quality Assured Care Learning Service ensures training is high-quality, meets sector needs, and supports career growth.

Media and Sport, if she will regulate the commercial use of copyright protected material by generative AI.

This is a complex and evolving area. The government’s priority is to get this right - not legislate prematurely. We have said that we won’t act unless that action works for creators. We continue to engage with a range of stakeholders across sectors, and with parliament as we consider all options. This includes engagement through our technical working groups and the parliamentary working group chaired by the DCMS and DSIT Secretaries of State. We will also publish an economic impact assessment and a report on the use of copyright works in the development of AI systems, by 18 March 2026.

What assessment she has made of the adequacy of the provision of youth autism advocacy programmes in local authorities in England.

As part of our Plan for Change, the department is determined to fix the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system and restore the trust in it. To help us deliver this, we are having a further period of co-creation with families, teachers, children and young people and experts from across the sector to test our proposals further. We will bring forward a full Schools White Paper soon.Through our Participation programme, we fund support and training to local authorities to strengthen and grow children and young people’s participation at a local level.The department continues to strengthen co-production with children and young people via monthly meetings with our national SEND young people’s group and regional SEND young people’s groups across England, who share their views and experiences with us.Local authorities should use existing organisations and young people forums to enable engagement with children, young people and their parents. The Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information and Support Services offer information, advice and support for parents, carers children and young people with SEND.

Whether he plans to prevent NHS trusts from generating surpluses from car parking income charged to staff, patients and visitors.

Free National Health Service hospital carparking is in place for in-need groups. This includes disabled blue badger holders, frequent outpatient attenders, parents of children staying overnight, and NHS staff working overnight.Car parking charges, where they do exist, are a significant control mechanism within trusts to manage capacity as there are a limited number of car parking spaces available for patients and staff. The income from car parking is primarily used to pay for the cost of running the car park, for example security and maintenance costs. Any surplus income is re-invested in NHS services.All trusts are expected to follow the published NHS Car Parking Guidance. This states that where car parking charges do exist, they should be reasonable for the area. The guidance is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nhs-patient-visitor-and-staff-car-parking-principles/nhs-patient-visitor-and-staff-car-parking-principles

What assessment has been made of trends of junior bank account openings and levels of savings for young people since 2015.

Ensuring that individuals have access to appropriate financial services and products is a key Government priority. This is vital for supporting financial resilience and wellbeing and enables people, including young people, to fully participate in the economy. HM Treasury does not hold data on junior current account openings specifically. However, the Money and Pensions Service’s (MaPS) UK Strategy for Financial Wellbeing 2020–2030 reports that one in ten 16- to 17-year-olds have no bank account at all. Of those who do have accounts, 30% have never deposited money. Through the Financial Inclusion Strategy, the Government is working with schools and the Money and Pensions Service to improve young people’s financial capability. As part of this, financial education will become compulsory in primary schools in England through a new statutory requirement to teach citizenship. In 2025–26, MaPS will also pilot its Talk, Learn, Do programme, which helps parents have money conversations with their children. The pilot will run through five family hubs and other organisations that support families in England, with the aim of achieving sustainable scale across the UK. The Government is also supportive of industry’s efforts to develop age-appropriate products and services for young people.

Communities and Local Government, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of ensuring that the social media and online platform income and donations by non-party political activists are published.

Political parties, candidates and third-party campaigners are subject to strict campaign spending limits and transparency requirements at UK elections. Registered third-party campaigners are required to report all forms of donations related to their campaign activity above the relevant thresholds in their spending returns to the Electoral Commission. Electoral law only covers donations given specifically for regulated campaign activity; it does not cover general income or revenue, whether from social media platforms or other sources. As set out in our Strategy for Modern Elections, we are taking forward a package of measures to strengthen the rules around political finance, some of which will apply to third-party campaigners.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions have been had with US counterparts about potential US political interference in UK domestic political discourse.

UK ministers and officials are in regular dialogue with their US counterparts on a wide range of issues. Most recently, the Foreign Secretary met the US Secretary of State in Washington DC on 8 December to discuss the cooperation between our two countries on areas vital to our shared interests and security.

Whether her Department are considering introducing a requirement for users to (a) licence and (b) insure (1) e bikes and (2) e scooters.

There are no plans to require the licensing or insurance of e-bikes. A previous detailed review of licensing and insurance for all cyclists (including e-bike users) concluded that the cost and complexity of introducing such a system would far outweigh the benefits. Private e-scooters are illegal to use on public roads, cycle lanes and pavements. Rental e-scooters can only be used as part of the Government’s national rental e-scooter trials, in which e-scooters must be covered by a motor vehicle insurance policy, and users must have at least a provisional driving licence. The Government has committed to pursuing legislative reform for micromobility vehicles, which is likely to include e-scooters, when parliamentary time allows. No decisions on future micromobility legislation have yet been made and we will use evidence from the trials to learn how to effectively and safely regulate them.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of arts and culture programmes on reducing and preventing youth crime.

The Ministry of Justice recognises the important role that arts and culture can play in engaging children and supporting positive outcomes.Evidence from the 2025 publication by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, ‘The effects of arts and culture programmes on youth crime: A rapid review’ shows that, whilst the current evidence base is limited, arts and culture programmes can help improve young people’s wellbeing, confidence, relationships and engagement with services. These are all factors associated with a reduced risk of future offending.This year, the Government is providing more than £100 million of investment in Youth Offending Teams (YOTs) across England and Wales, including through the early intervention Turnaround programme. This gives YOTs the flexibility to use and commission arts and culture interventions where they judge this may be most effective in helping a child’s rehabilitation.

What steps she is taking to improve platform advance notice, customer experience and waiting hall overcrowding at London Euston station.

Euston station was designed for a different era and we acknowledge that it needs major investment and modernisation. For the majority of the time the station works, however during times of major disruption, there simply isn’t enough room for passengers and we know this can make for an uncomfortable and unpleasant environment. Network Rail is developing plans for a major upgrade to London Euston station. Making the best use of tax-payer money, we will deliver a brand-new station concourse that’s fit for the future, and offers much better facilities to passengers. Network Rail continue to work with partners to ensure the upgraded station integrates with the new HS2 station, provides enhancements to wider local transport facilities and offers new homes, community, office and retail spaces. Ahead of this, the Journey to a Better Euston programme is helping to improve passenger experience, reduce congestion, and enhance the provision of travel information in the short term. Building on improvements delivered over the last 12 months, which included displaying train and customer information on the station's large screen and upgrading the toilets, further plans include:Establishing a Customer Information Hub to provide clearer and more timely updates to passengers.Upgrading the Assisted Travel Lounge and refurbishing mezzanine seating to improve comfort and accessibility.Implementing an enhanced retail strategy and introducing a new multi-faith room to create a more inclusive environment.Improving visibility and clarity of travel information screens, alongside concourse adjustments to maximise space for passengers.Launching the Team Euston Service Academy to strengthen staff capability and collaboration across industry partners.These measures are designed to improve advance notice of services, alleviate overcrowding, and deliver a better overall experience for all users of London Euston station.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions she has had with her Indian and Pakistani counterparts on human rights violations in Kashmir and the potential impact of those violations on its diaspora in the UK.

The UK Government continues to monitor the human rights situation in Pakistan-administered Kashmir and Indian-administered Kashmir. We raise concerns, where we have them, directly with the Governments of India and Pakistan. We have consistently emphasised that any alleged human rights violations should be fully investigated in line with international human rights law. Ministers have also acknowledged the importance of community cohesion in the UK and the sensitivities of diaspora communities affected by developments in the region.

What is being done to improve train driver availability and reduce train cancellations and delays that are caused by a lack of trained staff.

All train operating companies have been asked to complete a seven-point traincrew resourcing proposal as part of their annual business plan. These plans cover staffing levels, recruitment, training, overtime and planning efficiency in order to improve reliability.

Media and Sport, whether the government has accessed the potential merits of expanding uniformed groups such as scouts, cubs and brownies on levels of skills and confidence among young people and tackling online driven isolation.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport commissioned an independent provider (Ipsos) to conduct an evaluation covering the Uniformed Youth Fund from 2022 to 2025, which was published on 11th September 2025. The research found uniformed youth organisations (UYOs) contribute to the social and emotional development of young people by providing them with structured activities and supportive environments, enhancing young people’s cooperation skills, communication, and confidence.Whilst no assessment has been made of the role of uniformed groups in tackling online isolation, this Government is committed to supporting people to have the social connections they need. This is a key part of achieving wider government priorities including a healthier, more connected society and ensuring opportunities for all. Rather than treating loneliness as a stand alone issue we are embedding this across wider government strategies, including the National Youth Strategy.

Whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of encouraging the use of school grounds by communities to increase access to sports; and what plans she has to provide funding for upgrades to facilities.

On 4 December, the department launched a new programme, ‘Maximising Value for Pupils’, which will support schools and trusts maximise value from the investment in the school system, so every pound is delivering for children. A key pillar of the programme will be to make the most of financial and physical assets and we have committed to engage schools and trusts to understand how we can best support them to do so.Many schools and trusts are already using their assets for community benefit, which may include making school grounds and facilities available for local sports clubs. We want to ensure this social value is maintained while also supporting opportunities to maximise value from their assets. We are investing almost £3 billion per year by 2034/35 in capital maintenance and renewal to improve the condition of school and college buildings and grounds, rising from £2.4 billion in 2025/26.

What assessment has been made of trends in complaints and compensation payments for unacceptable standards of maternity care since 2015.

As assessment has not been made of the trends in complaints for unacceptable standards of maternity care. The rising costs of clinical negligence claims against the National Health Service in England is, however, of great concern to the Government.A report published by the National Audit office (NAO) on 17 October 2025 stated that "over the last 20 years the cost of settling claims involving infants and children has increased significantly. Between 2006/07 and 2024/25, the total cost for obstetrics claims involving cerebral palsy or brain damage increased by over £1 billion in real terms, with average compensation for claims settled with damages growing by 305% (from £2.8 million to £11.2 million)”. The report can be viewed at the following link:https://www.nao.org.uk/reports/costs-of-clinical-negligence/#downloadsAs announced in the 10-Year Health Plan for England, David Lock KC is providing expert policy advice on the rising legal costs of clinical negligence and how we can improve patients’ experience of claims, which will inform future policy making in this area. No decisions on policy have been taken at this point, and the Government will provide an update on the work done and next steps in due course.Baroness Amos is leading a rapid, independent investigation into NHS Maternity and Neonatal services to help us understand the systemic issues behind why so many women, babies, and families experience unacceptable care. The investigation will look into the maternity and neonatal system nationally, bringing together the findings of past reviews into one clear national set of recommendations. This will also include local investigations of maternity and neonatal services in selected trusts.On 9 December, Baroness Amos published reflections on what she has heard so far as part of the National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation, following engagement with women and families. Baroness Amos’ reflections and initial findings can be found at the following link:https://www.matneoinv.org.uk/

What discussions her Department have had with police forces about effective detection and enforcement of crimes where electric bikes are used as a means of offence and escape.

This Government is determined to crack down on snatch theft and other crimes, including those facilitated by mopeds and e-bikes, that make people feel unsafe in our communities.The police have a suite of powers available to them to tackle the illegal use of vehicles including e-bikes and the Government expects police to deploy them appropriately.The Crime and Policing Bill will give police greater powers to clamp down on anti-social behaviour involving vehicles including e-bikes, with officers no longer required to issue a warning before seizure. This will allow police to put an immediate stop to offending.