Written questions by Hinder.

What steps the he is taking to ensure the government's industrial strategy supports towns in the North of England.

Awaiting answer.

What plans his Department has to modernise and streamline the process of delivering bankruptcy petitions.

Bankruptcy provides debt relief for many people seeking to deal with financial difficulty, who may petition for their own bankruptcy online in a straightforward manner. It should not be used as a debt collection mechanism except as a final resort. For that reason, creditors presenting a bankruptcy petition to the courts must meet strict requirements, so as to reduce the risk of strategic or coercive filings.There are no current plans to alter the bankruptcy petition process, which reflects the serious consequences of bankruptcy and its intended use as a last resort.

What consideration her Department has given to the recommendations of the House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee regarding inheritance tax.

The Government’s response to the Economic Affairs Finance Bill Sub-Committee was published on 30 March 2026 and it is available at https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/52446/documents/291079/default/.

What steps he is taking to reform the probate system.

Awaiting answer.

What consideration she has given to the potential merits of extending the exemption of assets liable for inheritance tax payable in yearly instalments to investments in companies in administration or liquidation.

Inheritance tax on shares in companies in administration or the process of liquidation at the time of a transfer, such as a death, may qualify for payment in annual instalments if they meet the criteria in s228 of Inheritance Tax Act 1984. When paying in annual instalments, the outstanding balance of tax only becomes payable in full immediately if an interest or part of an interest in a business is sold. A distribution in cash made to shareholders on a liquidation is the winding up of a company, rather than a sale, and so the facility to pay in instalments is not lost in those circumstances.

What assessment his Department has made of the barriers to achieving the swift delivery of legal papers.

Awaiting answer.

What plans his Department has to encourage greater partnership between insolvency practitioners and Companies House to prevent phoenixing.

There is already a well-established director disqualification regime in the UK to prevent directors guilty of misconduct from taking part in the management of companies in the future.Insolvency practitioners have a duty to report to the Government’s Insolvency Service on the directors’ conduct within three months of liquidation or administration. Where serious misconduct is identified, this can lead to disqualification or referral for criminal prosecution.Since the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, Companies House and The Insolvency Service have been developing a deeper enforcement partnership. Updates on implementation are included in the annual reports provided to Parliament.

Whether he plans to prevent the directors of companies which become insolvent during their directorship from setting up more companies.

It is important to remember that most companies do not become insolvent due to wrongdoing. Directors of an insolvent company can run similar businesses unless they are disqualified or subject to restrictions. Where directors abuse the system, the Secretary of State has powers to investigate and, if appropriate, pursue their disqualification or prosecution of the relevant directors.Companies House and The Insolvency Service are currently strengthening their intelligence sharing to better identify rogue directors.The Government continually reviews corporate and insolvency laws.

What discussions he has had with Companies House on phoenixing.

The 2023 Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act has strengthened the Registrar of Companies’ enforcement and investigative powers, enabling it to act as a more active gatekeeper over company registrations and directors. As announced in the November Budget Statement, additional funding is now being provided for the Insolvency Service to set up a new Abusive Phoenixism Taskforce, specifically to deal with this type of director misconduct. The Insolvency Service is working closely with Companies House and HM Revenue and Customs to identify and tackle abusive phoenixism.

Whether all NHS trusts that host Specialist Gender Dysphoria Services for Adults and Specialist Gender Services for Children and Young People are members of NHS Resolution’s indemnity schemes.

Whilst all National Health Service trusts in England are members of NHS Resolution’s indemnity schemes, not all specialist gender dysphoria services for children and young people clinics are services covered through their schemes.

If he will take steps to ensure that support provided to Rolls-Royce for narrow body aircraft manufacturing will guarantee new jobs in Britain.

The Government recognises that a successful Rolls‑Royce entry into the single‑aisle aircraft market could deliver significant UK economic benefits, including high‑value jobs and growth across the aerospace supply chain.Rolls‑Royce is a major UK employer and longstanding Government partner. We are providing support to Rolls-Royce and its supply chain for technology development through the ATI Programme. This will secure UK jobs, skills and long‑term manufacturing, while delivering value for money for taxpayers.

Whether she is taking steps to restore Northern Rail services on Sundays between Clitheroe and Blackburn.

We are encouraging the train operator, Northern, and the trade union to continue discussions with a view to reaching agreement so that reliable Sunday services can be provided across the North of England, including between Clitheroe and Blackburn.

What steps his Department is taking to help support chemical industry and employment levels in that industry.

The chemicals sector underpins almost all other manufacturing in the UK and is fundamental to maximising growth. It helps stimulate productivity across the economy to drive forward the government’s growth mission. This is why chemicals was identified as a foundational industry within the Industrial Strategy. Our modern Industrial Strategy will implement targeted policy interventions to drive long-term sustainable, inclusive and secure growth.Government works closely with industry to ensure the sector remains competitive and resilient. This includes supporting innovation, improving productivity, promoting exports and inward investment, as well as ensuring the UK has the skills needed to meet future demand.

What proportion of police funding was derived from the police precept in (a) 1996 and (b) 2006.

Due to significant changes in the structure of police funding and policing in England and Wales in the financial year ending March 2016, it is difficult to make a direct comparison of the proportion of total police funding that was derived from police precept over the requested period of time.However, the overall level of police precept in 1996-97 was £832.8 million and in 2006-07 was £2,639.5 million.Further historical information regarding police funding for England and Wales is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/central-government-police-funding

Whether NHS Resolution keeps records of claims, complaints, or cases resolved through mediation or settlement relating to NHS England’s Specialist Gender Dysphoria Services for Adults and Specialist Gender Services for Children and Young People.

NHS Resolution will not hold records of complaints as they will be managed locally by the service provider.Where an individual National Health Service trust is a member or beneficiary of NHS Resolution’s indemnity schemes, NHS Resolution will keep records of claims or cases resolved through mediation or settlement.As such, whether NHS Resolution holds relevant records will first be dependent on the individual trusts that host specialist gender services participating in these schemes.

What steps he is taking to support Typhoon production.

Defence is an engine for growth, as demonstrated by the recent deal this Government signed with Türkiye for 20 Eurofighter Typhoons, worth £8 billion to the UK economy and supporting a key NATO ally. This deal secures thousands of skilled jobs for the UK, including those workers in Warton and Samlesbury who I had the pleasure of meeting recently.

Communities and Local Government, what plans his Department has to limit the purchase of new-build properties by foreign investors.

The government has already made changes to the tax system to reduce demand for housing as an investment opportunity for overseas investors. Non-UK residents already pay a 2% surcharge on top of the residential rates of Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) when purchasing a dwelling in England or Northern Ireland. At the Autumn Budget 2024, the government increased the higher rates of SDLT, which are also paid by non-UK residents purchasing additional property, by two percentage points from 3% to 5%. Increasing the higher rates of SDLT helps to ensure that those looking to move home, or purchase their first property, have a greater advantage over second home buyers, landlords and companies purchasing residential property.

Communities and Local Government, what plans he has to limit the number of long-term empty homes.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 80458 on 20 October 2025.

Whether she plans to publish the outcome of the Police Activity Survey; and what plans she has to conduct a further such survey.

The Home Office conducted the Police Activity Survey over a one-week period in February 2023, with 35 of the 43 police forces in England and Wales participating. The survey was designed to improve understanding of how police time is allocated across different activities. A report presenting the results from the survey is being finalised within the department ahead of publication.The department is currently considering the feasibility of conducting the survey again although this is in early stages. We will engage with police forces ahead of a decision to proceed.

With reference to the press notice entitled Landmark package to pursue domestic abuse perpetrators, published on 16 July 2025, whether the Drive Project rollout will be the subject of (a) an impact evaluation and (b) a randomised controlled trial.

The Home Office is investing £53 million to roll out the Drive Project over the next four years. The Drive Project is a multi-agency, intensive case management approach for the highest risk, highest harm serial perpetrators of domestic abuse perpetrators. This is a key measure in the Government's commitment to halve violence against women and girls (VAWG) in a decade.The Drive Project pilot was the subject of a robust impact evaluation - between 2016 and 2019, the University of Bristol conducted evaluation to measure The Drive Project's effectiveness in reducing abuse, using a randomised control design.We are working closely with The Drive Partnership to develop plans for monitoring and evaluation of the rollout, ensuring that the approach builds on what has come before.