Written questions by Pearce.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Victims’ Right to Review scheme pilot on victims of rape and serious sexual offences.

I recently announced the extension of the Victims Right to Review scheme beyond the West Midlands to the North West, Yorkshire and Humberside, and Wales. I am carefully reviewing the impact of the pilot scheme ahead of decisions on a potential further rollout.Under the scheme victims of rape now have the right for their case to be considered by a second prosecutor, before a final decision is taken to drop the case.This gives victims more of a voice in their cases, and a second chance at justice.

What fiscal steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help lower energy bills.

Energy bills are too high. The previous Government left Britain dependent on the roller coaster of gas prices and left families paying around £1.7 billion on their bills for their failed energy efficiency ‘ECO’ scheme This is why we are scrapping ECO and taking some of the expensive legacy levies off bills – saving households an average £150 from April.

What steps she is taking to help increase prosecution rates in cases of violence against women and girls.

This government is committed to halving violence against women and girls. This is my numberone priority as Solicitor General. The CPS’s focus on tackling VAWG is driving an increase in charges across a range of VAWGoffences. For adult rape prosecution, the CPS continues to transform its approach through theimplementation of their National Operating Model, based on robust academic evidence fromOperation Soteria. Through this work, there has been substantial increases in referral, charge,and prosecution volumes for adult rape. Similarly for Domestic Abuse (DA), the CPS and NPCC launched the DA Joint Justice Plan inNovember 2024 with the aim to improve partnership working between investigators andprosecutors, and over the last year this has led to increases in charge volumes by 10% andconviction volumes by 7%. To address the increasing complexity of VAWG offending, and holistic needs of victims, work isongoing to deliver the activities within the CPS’s VAWG Strategy for 2025-2030. This will ensurethat prosecutors have the right skills and tools to prosecute VAWG effectively leading to a positiveimpact on prosecution rates.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made an estimate of the time taken for Iran to construct a nuclear weapon.

We are carefully monitoring Iran's nuclear programme and call on Iran to halt and reverse its nuclear escalation. In March, the International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed that Iran has increased its enriched uranium stockpile and enrichment capacity, far beyond the limits imposed by the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. Iran has expanded its stockpile of High Enriched Uranium. While we remain committed to a diplomatic solution, the extent of Iran's enrichment activities is unprecedented for a state without nuclear weapons, and has no credible civilian justification.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department plans to use the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action snapback mechanism to re-impose nuclear-related UN sanctions on Iran before their expiry in October 2025.

A diplomatic solution to the Iran nuclear issue remains possible and the primary focus of Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office efforts. However, if a deal is not reached there will be little choice for the E3 but to trigger the UN snapback mechanism before its expiry. Alongside E3 partners we have made this clear to Iran.

What estimate his Department has made of the number of people on zero-hours contracts in High Peak constituency.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Hon Gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 3rd December is attached.

If she will proscribe the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation.

We will continue to consider all tools at our disposal to protect the UK and our interests from Iran-linked threats.More than 400 Iranian individuals and entities, including the IRGC in its entirety are sanctioned.We keep the list of proscribed organisati...

What plans he has to reform NHS health and social care services.

Lord Darzi's report made clear the NHS suffered from a failure to reform over the last 15 years. This government will deliver this reform with investment to turn services around.Reform is at the heart of our health mission and will be delivered by the upc...

What steps he is taking to reduce waiting times for elective surgeries for people in High Peak constituency.

Reducing waiting times for elective surgery is a key part of our Health Mission, including for people in the High Peak constituency. We will start by delivering an extra 40,000 operations, scans, and appointments each week across the country, as the first...

Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that (a) football clubs remain community assets and (b) fans get a greater say in how they are run.

This Government wants to make this country the best place in the world to be a football fan. That is why the King’s Speech set out our plans for legislation to establish an independent football regulator.The new regulator will protect and promote the sustainability of English football. The Bill will provide greater protections to club heritage and give fans more of a voice in how their club is run. It will ensure responsible owners for these community assets, by creating a new owners’ and directors’ test. It will also ensure that clubs can’t be syphoned off from the English football pyramid to set up closed-shop and breakaway leagues.We will introduce this legislation as soon as Parliamentary time allows.

Media and Sport, whether she plans to take steps to help ensure the financial suitability of potential buyers of football clubs.

This Government wants to make this country the best place in the world to be a football fan. That is why the King’s Speech set out our plans for legislation to establish an independent football regulator.The new regulator will protect and promote the sustainability of English football. The Bill will provide greater protections to club heritage and give fans more of a voice in how their club is run. It will ensure responsible owners for these community assets, by creating a new owners’ and directors’ test. It will also ensure that clubs can’t be syphoned off from the English football pyramid to set up closed-shop and breakaway leagues.We will introduce this legislation as soon as Parliamentary time allows.

What assessment her Department has made of the impact of online-only booking at railway stations on elderly travellers.

There are no proposals for online-only booking at railway stations. Ensuring accessibility for all passengers is at the heart of our passenger-focused approach. As modern ticketing and payment methods roll out more widely on the railways, we will ensure that all passengers, including those who need to use cash or do not have access to smartphones or the internet, are able to buy a ticket across the different retail options.

If he will provide additional funding for the provision of out-of-hours GP appointments in (a) High Peak constituency and (b) Derbyshire.

Integrated care boards (ICBs) must ensure that out-of-hours appointments are available to patients to help them access care at convenient times, for example on weekends, evenings, or bank holidays.The Derby and Derbyshire ICB commissions Derbyshire Health...

What steps his Department is taking to improve access to mental health services in High Peak constituency.

People with mental health issues are not getting the support or care they need, which is why we will ensure we give mental health the same attention and focus as physical health, so that people can be confident in accessing high quality mental health supp...

What assessment her Department has made of the impact of ticket office closures in railway stations on communities; and what steps she plans to take to avoid closures.

Passenger service is at the heart of our plans to improve Britain’s railways and it is clear the role that station staff play in supporting vulnerable passengers. This Government has no plans to close ticket offices and we expect train operating companies to take measures to ensure they are open at published times.

What steps she is taking to ensure that local authorities (a) adequately capture the needs of SEND children and (b) provide a local offer that adequately meets levels of demand for those needs.

This government is committed to providing the necessary support to improve the experiences for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and their families. The department is committed to taking a community-wide approach, improving inclusivity and expertise in mainstream schools and alternative provision settings, as well as ensuring special schools cater to those with the most complex needs. A new Ofsted and Care Quality Commission area SEND inspection framework was launched in January 2023. All local areas are due to receive a full inspection within five years, supporting local areas to achieve better outcomes and standards in line with our programme of reform. Where a council does not meet its duties, the department can take action that prioritises children’s needs and supports local areas to bring about rapid improvement. The department works to monitor, support and challenge local authorities, working closely with NHS England to tackle weaknesses that sit with health partners.

What data her Department holds on the number of people in High Peak constituency who (a) paid national insurance contributions and (b) earned below £25,000 per year in financial year 2022-23.

The information for the tax year 2022 to 2023 is not yet available. Table 3.15 of HMRC’s Personal Incomes Statistics contains the latest constituency-level income estimates for the tax year 2021 to 2022.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make an estimate of the average increase in rent for private properties in High Peak constituency in the last 12 months; and what assessment she has made of the affordability of rent increases for people on average earnings in High Peak constituency.

The Government has made clear that we intend to use the Renters’ Rights Bill to provide tenants with greater protections against unreasonable within-tenancy rent increases.The Office for National Statistics (ONS) publishes data on the average increase in rent. Private rents across the UK increased by 8.6% in the 12 months to June 2024 (provisional estimate), down from 8.7% in the 12 months to May 2024. The average monthly private rent in High Peak was £850 in June 2024. This was an increase from £780 in June 2023, a 8.9% rise.The Government appreciates that housing costs are likely a households highest monthly expense. In 2022-23, housing costs took an average of 37% of private tenants’ income, in comparison to 32% for social renters and 18% for owner occupiers.

What steps his Department is taking to support the (a) recruitment and (b) retention of mental health specialists in High Peak constituency.

People with mental health issues are not getting the support or care they need, which is why we will ensure we give mental health the same attention and focus as physical health, so that people can be confident in accessing high quality mental health supp...

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department are taking to sanction companies that pollute waterways with sewage.

In the first week of Government, the Secretary of State met with water company bosses, to make it clear that water firms will be held accountable for their performance for customers and the environment. During the meeting, water bosses signed up to the Government’s initial package of reforms to reduce sewage pollution and attract investment to upgrade infrastructure. The Government also announced a new Water (Special Measures) Bill, which will turn around the performance of water companies, in the King’s Speech. The Bill will strengthen regulation, give the water regulator new powers to ban the payment of bonuses if environmental standards are not met and increase accountability for water executives. These are the first critical steps in enabling a long-term and transformative reset of the entire water sector. I would also refer the hon. Member to the Written Statement made by the Secretary of State on 18 July, HCWS3.