Written questions by Minns.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of amending the definition of affordable housing in the National Planning Policy Framework to include charitable housing providers and almshouses.

Awaiting answer.

How many interventions have there been by the Solicitors Regulation Authority into law firms involving (a) the sudden or disorderly closure of a firm, (b) the loss or misappropriation of client funds and (c) the interruption of active client casework in each of the last five years; and whether his Department has made an assessment of (a) the trends in the number of in such cases and (b) the potential merits of strengthened regulation and legislative reform.

The Government recognises the disruption and difficulty that the collapse of a law firm has both for employees and its clients. The legal profession in England and Wales, together with its regulators, operates independently of government. The Solicitor Regulation Authority (SRA) is responsible for regulating the professional conduct of solicitors and law firms in England and Wales, including the management of law firm closures.With regards to the number of interventions the SRA has made into law firms in the last five years, the Ministry of Justice does not hold this information as this is an operational matter for the independent regulator. The SRA has advised that it publishes intervention statistics primarily through its Client Protection Annual Reports and Corporate Reports. These set out year- end figures for interventions, including numbers for the last five years. Details of firm closures (interventions) can be found by searching on the SRA’s Solicitors Register, which records regulatory actions taken against firms and individuals.In relation to the assessment of trends of law firm collapses, this is a matter for the SRA, and work has been underway to improve how risks to consumers are handled. The SRA has been strengthening its use of data and intelligence to detect emerging risks so that it can intervene more quickly to protect consumers. Its consultation on holding client money, which closed in February 2026, will look at how to safeguard client money more effectively. The SRA is also taking forward actions in response to the LSB’s independent reviews of its regulation of Axiom Ince LTD and SSB Group LTD, and will apply any relevant lessons learned in relation to the closure of PM Law.The Ministry of Justice continues to keep the statutory regulatory framework under review to ensure that it is working effectively. While there are no current plans to review the legislation, my officials and I will continue to engage with the regulators to ensure that actions are implemented, any other learnings are identified, and consumers are protected.

Pursuant to the Answer of 28 January 2026 to Question 109300 on Individual Savings Accounts, whether existing Lifetime ISA holders will be permitted to transfer their savings without penalty into the new product that will be offered in place of the Lifetime ISA.

At Autumn Budget 2025, the Government announced that it will consult in early 2026 on introducing a new, simpler ISA product for first time buyers. The new ISA product will be offered in place of the Lifetime ISA. The consultation will consider how existing Lifetime ISA holders should be treated, including any potential transitional arrangements or transfer options. It will remain possible to open a Lifetime ISA until the new product becomes available and for account holders to continue to save into their Lifetime ISA in line with the existing rules indefinitely.

What steps her Department is taking to ensure that the commitments in the Men and Boys Explanatory Note to the Government’s Freedom from Violence and Abuse Strategy are implemented by police forces, particularly the requirement that male and boy victims are integrated into the response to those crimes.

The ‘Men and Boys Explanatory Note’ explains how the Strategy considers and addresses the needs of men and boys in detail. It underlines how the strategy speaks to men and boys, by addressing the key issues that the male victims’ sector has raised with us as priorities for change. All victims, including men and boys, are considered and integrated into our response throughout the Strategy and our metrics to halve these crimes.The National Centre for VAWG and Public Protection will play a central role in delivering the VAWG Strategy, providing national coordination to ensure police commitments are implemented consistently across all forces and strengthening the police response to these crimes for all victims, including men and boys.The VAWG Strategy is a 10-year, adaptive plan, designed to evolve in response to changing contexts. It is underpinned by a 3-year Action Plan and we will provide regular updates on progress as we deliver on our commitments.

Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to help improve the resilience of mobile networks.

Reliable access to mobile services is essential. We recognise the impact that power cuts and storms can have on services, especially in rural areas – Storm Goretti is a recent example of this. Ofcom is analysing power backup requirements to ensure adequate resilience during outages. The Government is fostering collaboration between the electricity and telecommunications sectors to minimise disruption when power cuts occur, aiming to mitigate the impact and ensure any interruptions to mobile services are brief and affect as few people as possible.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help prevent Scottish biodegradable municipal waste from being shipped to (a) English border constituencies and (b) other English constituencies, in the context of the Scottish Government's forthcoming ban on disposing of such waste in Scottish landfill sites.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the Rt. Hon. Member for Aldridge-Brownhills, Wendy Morton, on 11 July 2025, PQ UIN 65784.

What progress he has made on the rollout of Programme Cortisone.

Programme CORTISONE will provide the Defence Medical Services (DMS) with an up-to-date electronic healthcare information management system to administer the healthcare of the Defence population to maximise fitness for role. The delivery of Programme CORTISONE will ensure clinicians have the underpinning systems that enable them to focus upon providing the best possible patient care for service personnel to improve patient outcomes and to maximise personnel deployability. One of the programme’s key drivers is coherence across the breadth of the DMS information and to enable seamless interoperability and connectivity with the NHS structures of the home nations. This will enable the DMS to achieve their clinical outputs in a fully informed, data driven manner. Programme CORTISONE is currently delivering activity to ensure the stability of current medical information services (DMICP) in parallel with activity to introduce new capabilities. Work is underway to further the development of patient engagement services which are already demonstrating improvements to patient waiting times. The procurement process to deliver the new electronic healthcare information management system is ongoing with a plan to roll this capability over the next two years.

Innovation and Technology, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the Physical Infrastructure Access (PIA) fee structure on full fibre broadband roll out in rural areas.

The government is committed to delivering nationwide gigabit connectivity coverage by 2030. Today, 86% of premises can access gigabit-capable networks.The government's strategy supports market entry and expansion by alternative network operators via easy access to Openreach’s infrastructure including ducts and poles under Ofcom’s Physical Infrastructure Access framework (PIA). Government has set out in its Statement of Strategic Priorities that: “Government regards effective access to Openreach’s national network of underground ducts and poles as a key enabler of competitive network deployment.”Ofcom governs the PIA framework. Ofcom has powers to impose access conditions on electronic communications networks, enabling third parties to use Openreach’s ducts and poles on fair and reasonable terms, conditions and charges, and without undue discrimination.The government supports this framework but will not intervene in independent Ofcom decisions regarding the PIA price levels.

Innovation and Technology, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of physical infrastructure access fees on the ability of alternative network providers to roll out full fibre broadband in rural areas.

The government is committed to delivering nationwide gigabit connectivity coverage by 2030. Today, 86% of premises can access gigabit-capable networks.The government's strategy supports market entry and expansion by alternative network operators via easy access to Openreach’s infrastructure including ducts and poles under Ofcom’s Physical Infrastructure Access framework (PIA). Government has set out in its Statement of Strategic Priorities that: “Government regards effective access to Openreach’s national network of underground ducts and poles as a key enabler of competitive network deployment.”Ofcom governs the PIA framework. Ofcom has powers to impose access conditions on electronic communications networks, enabling third parties to use Openreach’s ducts and poles on fair and reasonable terms, conditions and charges, and without undue discrimination.The government supports this framework but will not intervene in independent Ofcom decisions regarding the PIA price levels.

What assessment she has made of the cost effectiveness of the different modes of delivery of SEND education.

This government’s ambition is that all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) or in alternative provision receive the right support to thrive and succeed in their education and as they move into adult life.Most pupils with special educational needs (SEN), including most with an education, health and care plan, already attend mainstream state-funded schools, and the department is committed to improving inclusivity and expertise in these settings so that children with SEN can achieve with their peers, as well as ensuring special schools cater to those with the most complex needs.The department is providing £1 billion more for high needs budgets in 2025/26, bringing total high needs revenue funding to over £12 billion. This funding will help local authorities and schools with the increasing costs of supporting children and young people with complex SEND. We have also published local authority allocations for £740 million of high needs capital funding for 2025/26 to invest in places for children and young people with SEND or who require alternative provision.The department recognises that special schools, including independent schools, play a critical role in the SEND system, providing expertise and particularly supporting pupils with low incidence or complex needs. We also want more children and young people to receive the support they need to achieve and thrive in their local mainstream school, alongside their friends and peers.

What assessment she has made of the effectiveness of different modes of delivery of SEND education.

This government’s ambition is that all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) or in alternative provision receive the right support to thrive and succeed in their education and as they move into adult life.Most pupils with special educational needs (SEN), including most with an education, health and care plan, already attend mainstream state-funded schools, and the department is committed to improving inclusivity and expertise in these settings so that children with SEN can achieve with their peers, as well as ensuring special schools cater to those with the most complex needs.The department is providing £1 billion more for high needs budgets in 2025/26, bringing total high needs revenue funding to over £12 billion. This funding will help local authorities and schools with the increasing costs of supporting children and young people with complex SEND. We have also published local authority allocations for £740 million of high needs capital funding for 2025/26 to invest in places for children and young people with SEND or who require alternative provision.The department recognises that special schools, including independent schools, play a critical role in the SEND system, providing expertise and particularly supporting pupils with low incidence or complex needs. We also want more children and young people to receive the support they need to achieve and thrive in their local mainstream school, alongside their friends and peers.

If she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of the University of Florida's UFLI phonics programme.

I refer my hon. Friend, the Member for Carlisle to the answer of 29 March 2025 to Question 36216.

What the validation process for new phonics programmes is.

I refer my hon. Friend, the Member for Carlisle to the answer of 29 March 2025 to Question 36216.

What the validation process for new phonics programmes is.

High and rising school standards, with excellent foundations in reading, writing and mathematics, are at the heart of the government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity and give every child the best start in life. The last Labour government’s promotion of phonics greatly improved the reading and writing abilities of a generation of children.The department has not made an assessment of the University of Florida’s phonics programme, but the government has published a list of 45 validated phonics programmes. The full list can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/choosing-a-phonics-teaching-programme/list-of-phonics-teaching-programmes.The department’s list of validated, high quality phonics programmes aims to help schools to select programmes that provide the support, guidance, resources and training needed to teach systematic synthetic phonics (SSP) well.There is no statutory requirement for schools to choose one of the SPP programmes on the department’s validated list. However, validation indicates that a programme has been assessed by a small panel with relevant expertise that considers it meets all the department’s criteria for an effective SSP programme.There are currently no further validation rounds planned.

What assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the University of Florida's phonics programme.

High and rising school standards, with excellent foundations in reading, writing and mathematics, are at the heart of the government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity and give every child the best start in life. The last Labour government’s promotion of phonics greatly improved the reading and writing abilities of a generation of children.The department has not made an assessment of the University of Florida’s phonics programme, but the government has published a list of 45 validated phonics programmes. The full list can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/choosing-a-phonics-teaching-programme/list-of-phonics-teaching-programmes.The department’s list of validated, high quality phonics programmes aims to help schools to select programmes that provide the support, guidance, resources and training needed to teach systematic synthetic phonics (SSP) well.There is no statutory requirement for schools to choose one of the SPP programmes on the department’s validated list. However, validation indicates that a programme has been assessed by a small panel with relevant expertise that considers it meets all the department’s criteria for an effective SSP programme.There are currently no further validation rounds planned.

Food and Rural Affairs, which properties received Farming Recovery payments in Carlisle and North Cumbria constituency in each of the last five years.

The Rural Payments Agency can confirm that no payments were made to properties under the Farming Recovery payments in Carlisle and North Cumbria constituency in each of the last five years.

What steps her Department is taking to help increase the proportion of pupils meeting the expected standard in the year one phonics screening check.

High and rising school standards, with excellent foundations in reading, writing and mathematics, are at the heart of the government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity. Through our Plan for Change, we will give children the best start in life and that means an excellent foundation in core subjects. Since the right hon. Ruth Kelly, as a previous Secretary of State for Education and Skills, accepted the recommendations of the Rose Report in 2006, England has made significant progress in the teaching of early reading, especially phonics.The current national curriculum at key stage 1 states that “skilled word reading involves both the speedy working out of the pronunciation of unfamiliar printed words (decoding) and the speedy recognition of familiar printed words… phonics should be emphasised in the early teaching of reading to beginners when they start school”. The department has introduced a range of measures to support early reading and help increase the proportion of pupils meeting the expected standard in the year 1 phonics screening check. In July 2024, we announced that funded support for the 11,100 schools registered for the Nuffield Early Language Intervention (NELI) programme would continue for the 2024/25 academic year. NELI is an evidence-based programme targeting reception aged children needing extra support with their speech and language development. It is proven to help children make four months of additional progress, with seven months progress for those eligible for free school meals. Further, the English Hubs school-to-school support programme is dedicated to improving the teaching of reading, with a focus on phonics, early language development and reading for pleasure. Since starting in 2018, the programme has engaged over 10,000 schools (60% of all primary schools). So far, the department has invested over £90 million in the programme, and a further £23 million has been committed for the 2024/25 academic year. The government’s reading framework also provides guidance on improving the teaching of reading from reception to key stage 3, including guidance on how to help pupils who need more support to learn to read proficiently.

What assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of recent trends in the level of hygiene poverty.

Tackling poverty in all forms, from reducing mass dependence on emergency food parcels to ensuring people can afford essentials like hygiene products, is a priority for this government. We know that good work can significantly reduce the chances of people falling into poverty, but too many people are being denied the security and dignity that comes with being in good work. The Get Britain Working White Paper, published on 26 November, sets out how we will reform employment support, backed by a £240 million investment to target, and tackle the root causes of unemployment and inactivity, and better join up health skills and employment support based on the needs of local communities. This vital work comes alongside the announcements made at the Autumn budget which delivers an increase to the National Living Wage of 6.7% to £12.21 for eligible workers aged 21 and over, and a rise in the 18-20 National Minimum Wage of 16.3% to £10.00 per hour. This is a record increase and is the first step in the government’s plan to create a single adult rate for eligible workers. We also announced that we are introducing a Fair Repayment Rate for deductions made from a UC award, allowing customers to prioritise their most severe third-party debts and retain more of their benefit award to budget for essentials. Reducing the cap to 15% will benefit 1.2 million households by £420pa on average. These steps come alongside the £1 billion, including Barnett impact, that will be invested to extend the Household Support Fund (HSF) in England by a full year until 31 March 2026, and to maintain Discretionary Housing Payments in England and Wales. The Household Support Fund can be used, in England, to provide support with food, energy, water and wider essentials including hygiene products.

If she will make an estimate of the number of pupils that have experienced hygiene poverty in each of the last five years.

This government is committed to tackling child poverty as part of our mission to break down the barriers to opportunity for every child.Child poverty has gone up by 700,000 since 2010, with over four million children now growing up in a low-income family. This not only harms children’s lives now, but it also damages their future prospects and holds back our society and economy.The Child Poverty Taskforce recognises families' ability to afford essentials, including hygiene essentials, as a fundamental aspect of child poverty. Addressing acute poverty, including access to essentials, is a core focus of the work being developed through the Child Poverty Strategy. This is set out in more detail in the 23 October publication ‘Tackling Child Poverty: Developing our Strategy’, which can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tackling-child-poverty-developing-our-strategy.

How many and what proportion of people have experienced hygiene poverty in (a) England, (b) Cumbria and (c) Carlisle constituency in each of the last five years.

Tackling poverty in all forms, from reducing mass dependence on emergency food parcels to ensuring people can afford essentials like hygiene products, is a priority for this government. We know that good work can significantly reduce the chances of people falling into poverty, but too many people are being denied the security and dignity that comes with being in good work. The Get Britain Working White Paper, published on 26 November, sets out how we will reform employment support, backed by a £240 million investment to target, and tackle the root causes of unemployment and inactivity, and better join up health skills and employment support based on the needs of local communities. This vital work comes alongside the announcements made at the Autumn budget which delivers an increase to the National Living Wage of 6.7% to £12.21 for eligible workers aged 21 and over, and a rise in the 18-20 National Minimum Wage of 16.3% to £10.00 per hour. This is a record increase and is the first step in the government’s plan to create a single adult rate for eligible workers. We also announced that we are introducing a Fair Repayment Rate for deductions made from a UC award, allowing customers to prioritise their most severe third-party debts and retain more of their benefit award to budget for essentials. Reducing the cap to 15% will benefit 1.2 million households by £420pa on average. These steps come alongside the £1 billion, including Barnett impact, that will be invested to extend the Household Support Fund (HSF) in England by a full year until 31 March 2026, and to maintain Discretionary Housing Payments in England and Wales. The Household Support Fund can be used, in England, to provide support with food, energy, water and wider essentials including hygiene products.