Written questions by Hayes.

What recent assessment has she made of the potential merits of increasing the level of taxation on social media firms.

The UK is already levying the Digital Services Tax (DST), a 2 per cent tax to ensure that providers of search engines, social media platforms, and online marketplaces pay UK tax on digital services that reflects the value they derive from UK users. The DST is an interim solution to widely held concerns with international corporate tax, and the UK remains committed to remove it once a global solution on the taxation of the digital economy through Pillar 1 of the G20-OECD Inclusive Framework project is in place.

Communities and Local Government, how many compulsory purchase powers have been granted as part of nationally significant infrastructure project approvals since 2022.

The government does not hold data on the total number of compulsory acquisition powers that have been granted from the 55 Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects decided since the start of 2022. All compulsory acquisitions approved as part of a Development Consent Order are recorded and can be found on the Planning Inspectorate website here.

How many students from overseas have come from countries where there are travel restrictions for people with security clearance by country of origin.

The department does not collect this information.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential contribution of school food procurement to the resilience of the (a) fruit and (b) vegetable supply chain.

The new national procurement policy statement sets out requirements for government contracts, favouring products certified to high environmental standards that we think British producers operating to high standards are well-placed to meet.We are engaging with stakeholders on revising the school food standards to ensure the guidance supports our work to create the healthiest generation of children in history. The current standards state one or more portions of vegetables as an accompaniment and one or more portions of fruit must be provided every day, as well as at least three different fruits and three different vegetables each week. As with all aspects of the school food standards review, we will consider our approach to fruit and vegetable provision.

If she will meet with private sector cash machine operator Link to discuss additional face to face banking services for rural areas.

Banking has changed significantly in recent years with many customers benefitting from the ease and convenience of digital banking. The Government understands the importance of face-to-face banking to communities and high streets across the UK, and is committed to championing sufficient access for all as a priority. This is why the Government is working closely with industry to roll out 350 banking hubs across the UK. The UK banking sector has committed to deliver these hubs by the end of this Parliament. Over 220 hubs have been announced so far, and over 160 are already open.Where a branch closure is announced or a community has submitted a cash access assessment request, LINK, the independent industry coordinating body responsible for making access to cash assessments, assesses a community’s access to cash needs, and will recommend appropriate solutions where it considers that a community requires additional cash services, such as a banking hub or deposit service.The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) rules require designated firms to consider a range of factors in their assessments which will account for challenges in cash access faced in rural areas. For example, firms are required to consider the actual travel times and costs to reach cash access facilities and identify gaps in provision where these are unreasonable, which may be particularly the case in rural areas.Whilst the Government meets with LINK to discuss a variety of matters, any decisions on changes to LINK’s independent assessment criteria are a matter for LINK and the financial services sector. The Government works closely with the FCA, the independent regulator of the UK’s financial services sector, to ensure that all customers get the right support with their financial products and services. The FCA requires firms to provide a prompt, efficient, and fair service to all of their customers. This includes special considerations for vulnerable customers, including the elderly and disabled customers. Furthermore, under the Equality Act 2010, banks must make reasonable adjustments to ensure their services are accessible to all. Alternative options to access everyday banking services can be via telephone banking, through digital means such as mobile or online banking, and via the Post Office. The Post Office Banking Framework allows personal and business customers to withdraw and deposit cash, check their balance, pay bills and cash cheques at 11,500 Post Office branches across the UK.

What steps she is taking to ensure that partially sighted people in rural areas have access to face to face banking services.

Banking has changed significantly in recent years with many customers benefitting from the ease and convenience of digital banking. The Government understands the importance of face-to-face banking to communities and high streets across the UK, and is committed to championing sufficient access for all as a priority. This is why the Government is working closely with industry to roll out 350 banking hubs across the UK. The UK banking sector has committed to deliver these hubs by the end of this Parliament. Over 220 hubs have been announced so far, and over 160 are already open.Where a branch closure is announced or a community has submitted a cash access assessment request, LINK, the independent industry coordinating body responsible for making access to cash assessments, assesses a community’s access to cash needs, and will recommend appropriate solutions where it considers that a community requires additional cash services, such as a banking hub or deposit service.The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) rules require designated firms to consider a range of factors in their assessments which will account for challenges in cash access faced in rural areas. For example, firms are required to consider the actual travel times and costs to reach cash access facilities and identify gaps in provision where these are unreasonable, which may be particularly the case in rural areas.Whilst the Government meets with LINK to discuss a variety of matters, any decisions on changes to LINK’s independent assessment criteria are a matter for LINK and the financial services sector. The Government works closely with the FCA, the independent regulator of the UK’s financial services sector, to ensure that all customers get the right support with their financial products and services. The FCA requires firms to provide a prompt, efficient, and fair service to all of their customers. This includes special considerations for vulnerable customers, including the elderly and disabled customers. Furthermore, under the Equality Act 2010, banks must make reasonable adjustments to ensure their services are accessible to all. Alternative options to access everyday banking services can be via telephone banking, through digital means such as mobile or online banking, and via the Post Office. The Post Office Banking Framework allows personal and business customers to withdraw and deposit cash, check their balance, pay bills and cash cheques at 11,500 Post Office branches across the UK.

What steps she is taking to help protect farm businesses from fraud.

A total of 3,402 frauds were reported to Action Fraud in Lincolnshire in the year ending May 2025, totalling £16m in reported losses. 63% of these were cyber-enabled, meaning there were approx. 2,100 frauds reported in Lincolnshire with an online component in the year ending May 2025 (this includes both individuals and businesses). Public data for fraud reports at the regional level only covers the previous 13 months and a distinction cannot be made between fraud and scams.The Home Office is absolutely committed to tackling the threat of fraud, which is why this Government has committed to publishing a new and enhanced Fraud Strategy that addresses the full range of harm that UK citizens face from fraud, including those that arise online. Development of the Strategy has begun and details will be set out in due course.

How many and what proportion of people who are eligible for automatic release from prison after serving 50 per cent of their sentence were convicted of rape.

Many offenders who commit these types of offences are subject to two-thirds release provisions, and others are subject to 50% depending on their specific circumstances and sentencing outcomes. Establishing who is released at exactly 50% would require examination of individual records and therefore comes at disproportionate cost.

What steps his Department is taking to help support cafes in (a) South Holland and the Deepings constituency and (b) Lincolnshire.

Hospitality businesses, including cafes, are at the heart of our communities and play a vital role in supporting economic growth and community cohesion.The government plans to permanently lower business rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure properties with a rateable value under £500,000 and we’ve introduced a £1.5 million Hospitality Support Scheme to co-fund projects which aim to help those furthest from the job market into employment and boosting productivity.Additionally, the government announced a Zero Carbon Hospitality Trial, meaning over 600 small and medium sized hospitality businesses will receive free energy and carbon reduction assessments to help cut energy costs, this will include cafes.

How many cases of online (a) fraud and (b) scams were reported in Lincolnshire in each of the last three years.

A total of 3,402 frauds were reported to Action Fraud in Lincolnshire in the year ending May 2025, totalling £16m in reported losses. 63% of these were cyber-enabled, meaning there were approx. 2,100 frauds reported in Lincolnshire with an online component in the year ending May 2025 (this includes both individuals and businesses). Public data for fraud reports at the regional level only covers the previous 13 months and a distinction cannot be made between fraud and scams.The Home Office is absolutely committed to tackling the threat of fraud, which is why this Government has committed to publishing a new and enhanced Fraud Strategy that addresses the full range of harm that UK citizens face from fraud, including those that arise online. Development of the Strategy has begun and details will be set out in due course.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when his Department first discussed the matter of Mauritius exercising full sovereignty over the Chagos Islands with (a) his international counterparts and (b) the Government of Mauritius.

As the then Foreign Secretary's statement of 3 November 2022 describes, negotiations between the UK Government and the Government of the Republic of Mauritius on the exercise of sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago were started by the previous Conservative government in November 2022. It was the Conservative government which made the key concession of offering to give up sovereignty, from which there was no coming back. Please see the written statement published on Thursday 3 November 2022: [https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2022-11-03/debates/22110340000007/ChagosArchipelago]

What steps he is taking to support women with cervical cancer in (a) South Holland and the Deepings constituency and (b) Lincolnshire.

It is a priority for the Government and the National Health Service to improve support for women living with cervical cancer in England, including in the South Holland and The Deepings and Lincolnshire constituencies.NHS England has committed to ensuring that every person diagnosed with cancer, including cervical cancer, has access to personalised care. This includes needs assessments, a care plan, and health and wellbeing information and support. Through the provision of information, personalised care empowers people to manage their care and the impact of their cancer. This approach ensures that each person’s care is planned holistically, covering mental and physical health, as well as any practical or financial concerns.The National Cancer Plan, which is planned for publication later this year, will seek to improve the experience and outcomes for people living with cancer, including cervical cancer. It will look at how we can improve communication and coordination for patients, so that they feel informed and in control of their care.

Media and Sport, how much funding her Department plans to provide for (a) sports and (b) health clubs facilities in (i) South Holland District and (ii) South Kesteven District in the next 12 months.

The Government is committed to ensuring that everyone, regardless of background, has access to and benefits from high-quality sport facilities, which offer the chance to be physically active.The Government provides the majority of funding for grassroots sports and health club facilities through our Arm’s Length Body, Sport England, which annually invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding in areas of greatest need to tackle inactivity levels through community-led solutions.The constituency of South Holland and the Deepings received a total of £14,473 of funding through the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme in the last 2 funding years. More information about this funding can be found on GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/multi-sport-grassroots-facilities-programme-projects-2021-to-2025

How many people have been arrested for offences related to wildlife and timber trafficking as part of Operation Thunder in each of the last five years.

The primary objective of Operation Thunder is to increase seizures of items being illicitly trafficked, and use those seizures as the basis to initiate investigations into the organised groups around the world responsible for that trafficking. As a result, while no arrests have been recorded during the four-week period when Operation Thunder is active, that is not reflective of the full impact of subsequent investigations.Border Force and the NCA have made zero arrests related to wildlife crime in the last five years during the four weeks per annum that Operation Thunder is active. However, investigations can often be complex, with criminality occurring across international jurisdictions, so the arrest phase can occur post-seizure of any illicit items seized rather than be contained to the four weeks of the exercise.

If she will publish a list of offences that are eligible for automatic release after serving 40% of a prison sentence.

The previous Government left the criminal justice system in an unconscionable state, with the prison system days from collapse. To prevent the risk of gridlock across the Criminal Justice System, we had no choice but to take decisive action to stop our prisons overflowing and keep the public safe. On 10 September 2024, the Government therefore took the unavoidable step to move the release point for certain standard determinate sentences from 50% to 40% (‘SDS40’).Certain offences have been excluded from the SDS40 change including sex offences irrespective of sentence length; serious violent offences with a sentence of four years or more; specified offences linked to domestic abuse irrespective of sentence length (including stalking, coercive or controlling behaviour and non-fatal strangulation); as well as offences concerning national security.The legislation which covers eligibility for SDS40 is publicly available online, for example here: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2024/844/schedule/made; and https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2024/1331/article/3/made.Once released, offenders will be subject to the same set of strict licence conditions that would apply had they been released at a 50% automatic release point and will be liable to recall to prison if they do not comply with these conditions or are judged to be a risk to public safety.

If she will take steps to introduce mandatory prison sentences for people convicted of drug driving offences in cases where no accident has occurred.

The safety of our roads is an absolute priority for this Government. That is why the Department for Transport is committed to delivering a new Road Safety Strategy – the first in over a decade. They will set out next steps on this in due course.While independent judges decide sentences, we are committed to making sure the courts have the sentencing powers to ensure punishments fit the severity of the crime.Provisions in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 (the Act) increased the maximum penalty from 14 years’ imprisonment to life for the offences of causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs, and causing death by dangerous driving.We continue to work alongside the Department for Transport to ensure sentencing law for driving offences is appropriate.

Innovation and Technology, whether his Department has funded Stratospheric Aerosol Injection in the last three years.

The government has not funded any field-based Stratospheric Aerosol Injection (SAI).The Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA) is an independent research body, and they are conducting cautious, controlled research aimed at improving understanding of the risks and impacts of Solar Radiation Modification (SRM). This will produce important information for decisions around the world.ARIA’s programme includes laboratory-based research and some small-scale field trials to explore the fundamental science around SRM. This does not involve releasing materials into the stratosphere. All field trials will be subject to an environmental impact and legal assessment, which will be made publicly available before any outdoor experiment takes place. They will be limited in size, scale, and time-bound, so the effects dissipate within 24 hours or are fully reversible. ARIA are not funding experiments that release toxic materials to the environment.

If she will make it his policy to establish an independent body to administer compensation following miscarriages of justice.

Under the statutory scheme set out in section 133 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988, the Secretary of State for Justice is responsible for considering applications for compensation in cases of miscarriages of justice in England and Wales, subject to specific criteria. Where an individual meets the criteria, an Independent Assessor has discretion in determining the amount awarded, in accordance with the statute. Given this established process, as agreed by Parliament, there are currently no plans to create an independent body to administer compensation following miscarriages of justice.

What estimate he has made of the number of compulsory purchase orders that will be required in (a) South Holland and the Deepings constituency and (b) Lincolnshire as part of the Grimsby to Walpole grid upgrade.

The Planning Act 2008 includes provisions for the compulsory acquisition of land as part of Development Consent Orders (DCO). Decisions on whether to grant compulsory purchase orders (CPO) are made by the Secretary of State as part of the decision to grant a DCO. When doing so, the Secretary of State will assess whether the case for compulsory acquisition meets the requirements set out in the Planning Act 2008. Until the DCO application comes to the Secretary of State for a decision, no estimate can be made of the number of CPOs required as part of the Grimsby to Walpole grid upgrade scheme.

If he will ban solar radiation management technologies.

The Government position is that it is not deploying solar radiation management technologies and has no plans in place to do so. The government is not in favour of using Solar Radiation Modification.