Written questions by Robertson.

Who the members are of the assessment advisory panel for the Members of the NHS Pay Review Body.

When new members or chairs are recruited to pay review bodies, Ministers are assisted in their decision making by an Advisory Assessment Panel, set up for each individual recruitment. The Panel includes a departmental official and a member independent of the department and of the body concerned. For competitions recruiting non-chair members, the panel should also include a representative from the public body, normally the chair.Members of the assessment panel are made public on Cabinet Office’s digital platform for public appointments, through which all roles are advertised and candidates apply. For the NHS Pay Review Body and the Review Body on Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration, a listing of members of the assessment panel is available at the following link:https://apply-for-public-appointment.service.gov.uk/roles?titleSearch=&bodySearch=1355&regulated=&bodyJustice=&remunerated=&status=closed#search-resultsThe recruitment process is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments and is open and transparent, and appointments are made on merit.

Representing the House of Commons Commission, if the Commission will take steps to reinstate the round-robin feature for tabling written parliamentary questions.

The round-robin feature was disabled due to processing issues arising from its use. The Table Office is in discussion with the Parliamentary Digital Service about its reinstatement. This would require some technical enhancement and testing before the feature is made available in the live environment.

Who the members of the assessment advisory panel are for the Members of the Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration.

When new members or chairs are recruited to pay review bodies, Ministers are assisted in their decision making by an Advisory Assessment Panel, set up for each individual recruitment. The Panel includes a departmental official and a member independent of the department and of the body concerned. For competitions recruiting non-chair members, the panel should also include a representative from the public body, normally the chair.Members of the assessment panel is made public on Cabinet Office’s digital platform for public appointments, through which all roles are advertised and candidates apply. For the NHS Pay Review Body and the Review Body on Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration, a listing of members of the assessment panel is available at the following link:https://apply-for-public-appointment.service.gov.uk/roles?titleSearch=&bodySearch=1355&regulated=&bodyJustice=&remunerated=&status=closed#search-resultsThe recruitment process is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments and is open and transparent, and appointments are made on merit.

If he will publish the final report from the Funding Flows task and finish group.

The Building the Right Support Delivery Board, including the Funding Flows Task and Finish Group, was commissioned under the previous Government and has been paused. We do not plan to take decisions on the delivery board, including publishing the final report of the Funding Flows Task and Finish Group, whilst the Mental Health Bill is before Parliament. However, we recognise this is an important area and we are considering how to ensure that more people with a learning disability and autistic people are supported well in the community.

Food and Rural Affairs, what (a) research and (b) data his Department holds on rodent infestations and problems.

Defra does not carry out research or hold data on rodent infestations and problems. Defra and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), in collaboration with a number of partners including the devolved administrations, publishes a Code of Practice for the prevention and control of rodent infestations on poultry farms Code of Practice: prevention and control of rodent infestations on poultry farms - GOV.UK.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Answer of 10 January 2025 to Question 18949 on Domestic Waste: Waste Disposal, what assessment his Department made of the potential impact of not setting minimum levels of service frequency for residual waste collections on (a) odours and smells, (b) insects, (c) rodents, (d) fly-tipping and (e) harm to local amenity as a consequence of councils adopting monthly bin collections.

Defra has not produced a specific impact assessment regarding service frequency for residual waste collections. Modelling for this would be subjective to the circumstances of each individual local authority. Through Simpler Recycling, all householders will receive a comprehensive and consistent set of waste and recycling services. This will enable householders to recycle as much waste as possible and to frequently dispose of bad-smelling food waste, which will be collected from all households at least weekly. Defra recognises that as recycling services are expanded and improved, local authorities may want to review residual waste services to ensure they are providing best value for money in line with local need. The government’s priority is ensuring that households’ needs are met, and we expect local authorities to continue to provide services to a reasonable standard, as they do now. Building on existing and new legal duties, Defra has published guidance to ensure that local authorities consider certain factors when they review services, to ensure that reasonable standards are maintained. Defra have also previously commissioned research into fly-tipping, published in 2022, found that “Good infrastructure and services offered by local authorities will play a significant part in cutting fly-tipping at source”.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 5 February 2025 to Question 24365, on Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: WRAP, what guidance (a) his Department and its agencies and (b) WRAP, funded by his Department has produced on the no side waste rubbish and recycling policies for household waste collection.

Under section 46 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, waste collection authorities may require householders to place waste for collection in receptacles of a kind and number specified. If householders do not follow waste collections rules, there is guidance on circumstances in which a waste collection authority can issue a fixed penalty notice or penalty charge available here: Household waste bins: when and how councils may issue fixed penalties - GOV.UK. Additionally, Defra recently published guidance on ensuring good waste collection services for households: Ensuring good waste collection services for households - GOV.UK. Waste is a devolved policy, and the devolved administrations have their own arrangements for household and business recycling and waste collections.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment has he made of the potential impact of the findings by the Taxpayers Alliance in their report entitled One in ten councils in the UK are considering reducing their bin collection services, published on 4 February 2025 on the number of councils planning to make cuts to the frequency of household rubbish collection on (a) local amenities and (b) quality of service.

We recognise that as recycling services are expanded and improved as part of Simpler Recycling, local authorities may want to review residual waste services to ensure they are providing best value for money in line with local need. The Government’s priority is ensuring that households’ needs are met, and we expect local authorities to continue to provide services to a reasonable standard, as they do now. Building on existing and new legal duties, Defra has published guidance to ensure that local authorities consider certain factors when they review services, to ensure that reasonable standards are maintained. Councils and other waste collectors will still have the flexibility to make the best choices to suit local need. This is a sensible, pragmatic approach to the collection of materials for every household and business in England.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has a policy on the introduction of insects into the human diet.

Defra does not have a specific policy on insects in the human diet, but continues to monitor the research in this area. In Great Britain, edible insects are considered novel foods. Novel foods require authorisation before they are permitted on the market. As part of the transition in leaving the EU, the following products can continue to be sold whilst they go through the British novel foods authorisation process run by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS): Yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor)House cricket (Acheta domesticus)Banded cricket (Gryllodes sigillatus)Black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) Where the above are present, they would need to be included in labelling just like any other ingredient. No other insects can currently be sold for human consumption in Britain at present.

If he will make an assessment of the potential impact of NHS staff pay increases on the (a) availability and (b) quality of patient services.

The Government values the expertise of the independent Pay Review Bodies (PRBs) who, as part of their Terms of Reference, make pay recommendations based on a range of factors, including recruitment, retention, motivation, morale, and the Government's affordability figure. National Health Service pay is a decision for the Government, and ministers consider the PRB’s recommendations carefully. In 2024/25, the Government accepted the recommendations in full.

What proportion of project licence applications under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 were returned to the applicant with a request for additional information to address (a) errors and (b) the absence of essential information in each of the last four years.

The Regulator reports that project licence applications for the last four years had a mean number of 2.55 iterations before granting. The Regulator does not collect data on the number of applications withdrawn, but reports that such occurrences are rare.The Home Office Regulator for animals in science provides comprehensive guidance to project licence applicants and has a thorough and extensive application process; see Guidance at:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6700017e080bdf716392ee63/Guidance_on_the_operation_of_ASPA_-_December_2023.pdfApplicants may not apply for a licence unless they are doing so under an Establishment licence with all the associated requirements of the legislation, have demonstrable funding and can demonstrate appropriate availability of resources as well as having been through a rigorous process of local checks and balances. First time applications to the Regulator are therefore of general high conformity with legal requirements.

Whether his Department plans to develop a national strategy to integrate health and housing services; and if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of such a strategy on delays in hospital discharges.

The Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act will require local authorities to produce supported housing strategies, which will assist local authorities and partner organisations to deliver supported housing, including for people being discharged from hospital.The Better Care Fund (BCF) policy framework for 2025/26 requires National Health Service integrated care boards and local authorities to agree to a joint plan to deliver the objectives of the BCF. The objectives include that local areas must agree to plans that achieve more timely and effective discharge from hospital. It is a national condition of the BCF that the development of joint plans must involve joint working with local housing authorities.

What proportion of project licence applications under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 were rejected in each of the last four years.

Between 1 January 2021 and 1 January 2025, one application for a project licence under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 was refused.The Government publishes extensive guidance for the regulated sector on applying for project licences. Applications are internally reviewed by an establishment’s Animal Welfare and Ethical Review Body before being submitted to the regulator for assessment. Home Office Inspectors in the Regulator will only review applications from establishments that fulfil all requirements of the legislation.Applications received by the regulator may be returned to the applicant for clarification and/or amendment before being re-assessed. Applicants may also amend or withdraw an application in response to feedback from the regulator.The structuring of the application process means that the number of applications refused is not an indicator of the robustness of the regulatory regime.

What steps her Department is taking to provide support for UK mature students.

Data published by Universities and Colleges Admissions Services (UCAS) on full-time undergraduate higher education (HE) applications for the 2025 admissions cycle shows the overall number of applicants to UK HE is slightly higher than last year, with demand remaining strong.UCAS data from the equal consideration deadline, which was in January, shows applications from mature UK applicants, those aged over 21, are down 6.4% on 2024, and down 21.3% on 2020. However, acceptances at end of cycle are not always reflective of these earlier trends.In 2024, UK domiciled mature applicants were down 15.8% on 2019 at the January deadline but were up 1.3% at end of cycle. Acceptances at end of cycle were up 2.2%. There has been long-term growth in the number of UK domiciled mature acceptances reported at end of cycle between 2006 and 2024. This is shown in the green line in the attachment.Eligible full-time and part-time undergraduate students, including mature students, qualify for up-front fee loans to meet the full costs of their tuition. Full-time students also qualify for partially means-tested loans as a contribution towards their living costs, which are paid at four different rates depending on where a student is living and studying. In addition, vulnerable groups of students who are eligible for benefits, such as lone parents, qualify for higher rates of loans for living costs. Full-time students aged 60 or over on the first day of the first academic year of their course qualify for a single rate fully means-tested loan for living costs.Full-time undergraduate students with adult or child dependants can apply for fully means-tested dependants’ grants.Part-time undergraduate students attending eligible courses also qualify for partially means-tested loans for living costs.Students undertaking postgraduate master’s or doctoral degree courses can apply for loans to help them with fee and course costs.Maximum loans and grants for living and other costs for undergraduates and postgraduates will increase by 3.1% for the 2025/26 academic year with the largest cash increases to means-tested support for students from low-income families.In terms of additional support available, all HE providers registered with the Office for Students (OfS) that intend to charge higher level tuition fees must have an Access and Participation Plan (APP) approved by the OfS. APPs articulate how HE providers will improve equality of opportunity for underrepresented groups, including mature students.There are many excellent examples of interventions that show a real commitment to widening access into HE for mature students, but we want the sector to go further. By summer, the department will set out our plan for HE reform and the part we expect providers to play in improving access and outcomes for all under-represented students.Finally, from January 2027, the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) will transform the student finance system in England. Under the LLE, new learners will be able to access a full entitlement equal to 4 years of full-time tuition. Returning learners who have previously received government support will have a reduced entitlement. This will depend on previous funding received. Learners will be able to use this new entitlement more flexibly than ever before to fund individual modules as well as full courses at levels 4 to 6, regardless of whether they are provided in colleges, universities or independent providers. The government expects to see the LLE being taken advantage of by mature students, those wishing to change career and retrain, or those wanting to move up in their existing career and upskill. Mature students may particularly benefit from the additional flexibility that LLE will bring as they frequently study part-time while combining paid work and other familial and financial commitments.

Pursuant to the Answer of 11 February 2025 to Question 28705 on Department for Work and Pensions: Muslim Council of Britain, if he will declare his attendance at the Muslim Council of Britain's leadership dinner on 20 January 2025 in ministerial (a) meetings and (b) hospitality returns.

Policy on engaging with the Muslim Council of Britain was not discussed prior to attending this event. This engagement will not be recorded as a ministerial meeting. As the value of hospitality did not surpass the de minimis level, this event will not be recorded in hospitality returns.

What steps his Department is taking to work with (a) Integrated Care Boards and (b) housing providers to provide support for people leaving hospital.

On 30 January 2025, the Government published the policy framework for the Better Care Fund (BCF) for 2025/26, which will take effect on 1 April. The framework requires National Health Service integrated care boards (ICBs) and local authorities to agree to a joint plan to deliver the objectives of the BCF. The objectives include that local areas must agree to plans that achieve more timely and effective discharge from hospital. It is a national condition of the BCF that the development of joint plans must involve joint working with local housing authorities.Housing adaptations, including those delivered through the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG), support the BCF’s objectives by helping towards the costs of making changes to people’s homes to enable them to stay well, safe, and independent at home for longer.We have provided an immediate in-year uplift to the DFG of £86 million in 2024/25. This increase will provide approximately 7,800 additional home adaptations. This is on top of the £625 million paid to local authorities in May 2024. This uplift to the DFG will be maintained for 2025/26, so central funding for the DFG in 2025/26 will be £711 million.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department plans to retain the taskforce that identifies prominent extremists overseas.

Extremism has no place in our society and the Government is committed to tackling it in whatever form it takes. This includes Islamism and Extreme Right-Wing ideologies, which are the most prominent today. Further plans to tackle extremism, including the status of the taskforce, will be set out in due course.The UK has robust safeguards to ensure visas are only issued to those who we want to welcome to our country. The Government's priority remains maintaining the safety and security of the UK. The Government makes no apologies for refusing people access to the UK if we believe they represent a threat to our society. Coming here is a privilege that we refuse to extend to those who seek to subvert our shared values.

What steps the Government is taking to support the voluntary health sector community on the Isle of Wight.

The Department recognises the voluntary, community, and social enterprise sector as a valuable partner in improving people’s health and wellbeing. The Government is committed to resetting the relationship with civil society and unlocking its potential. We want civil society to be an equal, expert partner, integral to the delivery of the Government’s plan for a decade of national renewal, including for health and social care.NHS England supports the voluntary sector on the Isle of Wight through investment from the Better Care Fund, alongside the Isle of Wight Council. Two substantial areas of investment are for preventative community services and support for carers.

Pursuant to the Answer of 11 February 2025 to Question 28705 on Department for Work and Pensions: Muslim Council of Britain, whether the Minister for Social Security and Disability discussed policy on engaging with the Muslim Council of Britain prior to accepting the invitation to the dinner.

Policy on engaging with the Muslim Council of Britain was not discussed prior to attending this event. This engagement will not be recorded as a ministerial meeting. As the value of hospitality did not surpass the de minimis level, this event will not be recorded in hospitality returns.

What steps his Department is taking to improve discharge rates from mental health hospitals.

The Discharge from Mental Health Inpatient Settings statutory guidance, published in January 2024, provides clarity in relation to how health and care systems can work together to support safe and timely discharge from all mental health inpatient settings and ensure the right support in the community. It includes best practice on how patients and their carers should be involved in discharge planning. The Discharge from Mental Health Inpatient Settings statutory guidance is available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/discharge-from-mental-health-inpatient-settings/discharge-from-mental-health-inpatient-settings Under the 2025/26 Planning Guidance, there has been a refocusing of mental health priorities into key areas, which includes improved patient flow through mental health crisis and acute pathways, thereby reducing the average length of stay in adult acute mental health beds. Systems have been asked to prioritise work on the 10 High Impact Actions to improve discharge. This includes a follow up to be carried out with the person by the Community Mental Health Team or Crisis Resolution Home Treatment Team at the earliest opportunity and within a maximum of 72 hours of discharge, to ensure the right discharge support is in place.