Every parliamentary written question tabled by Kate Osamor this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 41–60 of 186 · this parliament
What plans his Department has to review the treatment of assumed and notional income in Universal Credit calculations for self‑employed claimants.
The Department routinely keeps its policies under review and we are always interested in views from customers and stakeholders. The current review of Universal Credit is looking closely at how the benefit supports self-employed people.
What funding provisions his Department has made in relation to the forthcoming National Tuberculosis Action Plan 2026–2031.
The Government is currently developing the Tuberculosis National Action Plan for 2026 to 2031. The content of the plan, including any associated funding requirements, has not yet been finalised. Any proposals with financial implications will be subject to the usual cross‑Government processes, including agreement with HM Treasury. Details, with funding commitments, will be included when the plan is published.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with her Pakistani counterpart on the alleged forced disappearances of Muhammad Bakhsh Sajidi, Naeem Sajidi and Rafeeq Baloch.
The UK is deeply concerned by reports of enforced disappearances in Pakistan, including in Balochistan. We regularly raise concerns about human rights with the Government of Pakistan at senior levels and continue to underline the importance of upholding civil and political rights and the rule of law. We urge the Pakistani authorities to investigate all allegations of enforced disappearances promptly, transparently and effectively, to hold those responsible to account, and to provide justice to victims and their families.
What assessment his Department has made of long-term potential impacts of the mandatory disclosure of criminal records on access to (a) employment and (b) education for offenders.
We recognise the importance of removing barriers to employment for ex-offenders. Employment reduces the chance of reoffending significantly, by up to nine percentage points in the year following release, and a similar percentage point reduction for prisoners who take any form of learning activity. The criminal record regime has a role in this process, striking a balance between providing employers with the information they need to make safer recruitment decisions, while enabling ex-offenders to rebuild their lives. We recognise that disclosure requirements and the approach of employers and learning institutions can have a significant impact on an individual’s employment opportunities and access to education. This is also an area that Sir Brian Levenson’s recent independent review of the Criminal Courts highlighted. The Deputy Prime Minister confirmed in his Written Ministerial Statement to Parliament on 2 December 2025 that we are considering Sir Brian’s recommendation, including opportunities to simplify the regime to ensure it is clear and proportionate, particularly in relation to childhood offences.
Whether his Department has made an assessment of the adequacy of requiring disclosure of offences committed by children once they reach adulthood.
We are committed to supporting children to turn their lives around and recognise that having a criminal record can have a significant impact on children and adults who offended as a child. Sir Brian Leveson, in his Independent Review of the Criminal Courts, noted the importance of ensuring that the impact of a criminal record is proportionate to the offending. In response, the Deputy Prime Minister committed to exploring opportunities to reform the criminal records regime, particularly in relation to childhood offences, so that it is clear and proportionate, while continuing to prioritise public safety. We will set out our plans for doing so in due course.
If her Department will consider adopting the recommendations set out in Refugee Action’s report Laying the Foundations: Making asylum housing work by investing in communities, published in November 2025.
We are actively working with local authorities to develop several potential accommodation models that could ‘pilot’ a more sustainable, flexible and collaborative outcome. These ‘pilot’ models will examine potential alternative accommodation sources – in collaboration with councils – promoting community cohesion and joint initiatives.The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), in partnership with the Home Office, is investing millions in a new locally led accommodation model. This funding will support local authorities to make available basic alternative accommodation to be used on a temporary basis to house asylum seekers waiting for their cases to be processed. The ambition is that this investment will leave a lasting legacy of housing for local communities and reduce pressure on local housing markets. MHCLG and the Home Office are committed to continue working closely with devolved governments and local government to co-design this new model, building on the work undertaken to date.This new funding will complement ongoing Home Office reforms to the asylum accommodation estate, including pilot schemes to repurpose derelict buildings and to develop other community-led alternatives to the use of hotels.
Whether she has considered alternative models for funding the duties of the Head of State, including a fixed annual budget subject to Parliamentary approval.
The requirements for reviewing the Sovereign Grant have been set by Parliament in the Sovereign Grant Act 2011, sections 6 and 7. The Government has also committed to bring forward legislation to reset the Grant to a lower level from 2027-28 once Buckingham Palace Reservicing works are completed.
What the scope is of the review of the Sovereign Grant scheduled for 2026; and whether that review will include consideration of abolishing the Grant.
The requirements for reviewing the Sovereign Grant have been set by Parliament in the Sovereign Grant Act 2011, sections 6 and 7. The Government has also committed to bring forward legislation to reset the Grant to a lower level from 2027-28 once Buckingham Palace Reservicing works are completed.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking with the Global Partnership for Education to ensure safe schools and reduce violence against girls around the world.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) published an Equalities Impact Assessment related to Official Development Assistance (ODA) in September 2025. The UK's future commitments to both the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) and Education Cannot Wait are being determined as part of our multi-year budget allocation process, the outcome of which will be set out in due course. The GPE remains committed to supporting children's access to safe, quality education, and the FCDO has been working closely with the GPE on their new Strategic Plan for 2026-2030, including support for safe-school initiatives, and the prevention of violence against women and girls.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has undertaken any impact assessment in 2025 ahead of decisions to reduce, maintain or increase financial support in 2026 to the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) and Education Cannot Wait (ECW) multilateral funds.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) published an Equalities Impact Assessment related to Official Development Assistance (ODA) in September 2025. The UK's future commitments to both the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) and Education Cannot Wait are being determined as part of our multi-year budget allocation process, the outcome of which will be set out in due course. The GPE remains committed to supporting children's access to safe, quality education, and the FCDO has been working closely with the GPE on their new Strategic Plan for 2026-2030, including support for safe-school initiatives, and the prevention of violence against women and girls.
Food and Rural Affairs, what plans her Department has to improve transparency in (a) method-of-production welfare labelling and (b) country of origin labelling.
The Government's animal welfare strategy was published on 22 December 2025 and is available here on GOV.UK. As set out in the strategy, we are committed to ensuring that consumers have access to clear information on how their food was produced. To support this, we will continue working with relevant stakeholders, including the farming and food industry, scientists and NGOs to explore how improved animal welfare food labelling could provide greater consumer transparency, support farmers and promote better animal welfare. We are also committed to working with stakeholders in ongoing discussions about further improving transparency and consumer trust in country-of-origin labelling.
What steps his Department is taking to support the night-time economy in Edmonton and Winchmore Hill constituency.
The Government recognises the significant pressures facing the night-time economy, including those in Edmonton and Winchmore Hill, and the Government is providing support through various measures to help ease these pressures. We’ve introduced permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality and leisure properties with a ratable value under £500,000, worth nearly £900 million annually, benefitting over 750,000 properties. The new relief rates are permanent, giving businesses certainty and stability, and there will be no cap so all qualifying properties will benefit. The Chancellor announced a new National Licensing Policy Framework as part of her budget. This sets out a vision for a proportionate licensing system that supports good businesses while continuing to tackle bad operators.
Whether she plans to take steps to introduce a national supply register for teachers.
Schools, academies and local authorities are responsible for the recruitment of their supply teachers, which includes deciding whether to use private supply agencies to fill temporary posts or cover teacher absence. The department recognises the role that agencies play in helping to keep schools running when they face teacher shortages and absences. We are committed to helping schools achieve better value for money when using agencies, which is why we have established the agency supply deal in conjunction with the Crown Commercial Service. The deal has established a list of preferred suppliers that schools can access, all of which will be transparent with schools about the rates they charge. Our most recent announcement on maximising value for pupils is available at this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/maximising-value-for-pupils/maximising-value-for-pupils. The department has no plans to take steps to introduce a national supply register for teachers.
Whether she plans to take steps to reduce the use of large commercial agencies in the supply teaching sector.
Schools, academies and local authorities are responsible for the recruitment of their supply teachers, which includes deciding whether to use private supply agencies to fill temporary posts or cover teacher absence. The department recognises the role that agencies play in helping to keep schools running when they face teacher shortages and absences. We are committed to helping schools achieve better value for money when using agencies, which is why we have established the agency supply deal in conjunction with the Crown Commercial Service. The deal has established a list of preferred suppliers that schools can access, all of which will be transparent with schools about the rates they charge. Our most recent announcement on maximising value for pupils is available at this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/maximising-value-for-pupils/maximising-value-for-pupils. The department has no plans to take steps to introduce a national supply register for teachers.
What steps he is taking to increase take up of Pension Credit in Edmonton and Winchmore Hill constituency.
The Government is committed to ensuring that all pensioners receive the support to which they are entitled. That is why we have been running the biggest ever Pension Credit take-up campaign, promoting Pension Credit to eligible pensioners and their family and friends through adverts on television and radio; on social media and on digital screens in GP surgeries and Post Offices, as well as in the press. The latest burst of the campaign began in September, and further promotional activity is planned until the end of the financial year. We have also engaged with all councils in Great Britain, including Enfield Council, through regular Local Authority Welfare Direct bulletins on GOV.UK and targeted email communications. Councils have actively supported the campaign by promoting it on social media and distributing promotional materials, including posters and leaflets. We are making better use of data to directly target potentially eligible households. Since February, all new Housing Benefit claimants who may be eligible have been invited to apply for Pension Credit. In September, the Department conducted a trial in partnership with Age UK and Independent Age targeting 2,000 households in England identified using HMRC and DWP data.
If he will make an assessment of the implications for his policies of the report by Independent Age entitled Too Little Too Late, published on 15 May 2025.
The Government is absolutely committed to supporting pensioners and giving them the dignity and security they deserve in retirement. From the end of this Parliament, as a result of our commitment to protect the Triple Lock, spending on State Pensions is forecast to be around £34 billion more a year, compared with 2024/25. This will see pensioners’ yearly incomes rising by up to £2,100. We have revived the Pensions Commission which will consider the broader questions of adequacy, fairness, and sustainability to guide the long-term future of our pensions system. Amongst other things, the Commission will look at how to improve retirement outcomes, especially for those on the lowest incomes and at the greatest risk of poverty or under-saving. Maximising the take-up of Pension Credit remains a key priority. That is why we have been running the biggest ever Pension Credit take-up campaign, promoting Pension Credit to eligible pensioners and their family and friends. And we are making better use of data to directly target potentially eligible households. Since February, all new Housing Benefit claimants who may be eligible have been invited to apply for Pension Credit. Looking ahead, aligning the administration of Pension Credit with pensioner Housing Benefit will help ensure that more pensioners receive the financial support they are entitled to. The Department keeps policies and processes under regular review, including monitoring poverty through annual statistics and research into retirement planning, as well as considering the contributions of stakeholders such as the reports by Independent Age and others.
If he will make an assessment of the implications for his policies of the report by Independent Age entitled Jumping Through Hoops, published on 4 March 2025.
The Government is absolutely committed to supporting pensioners and giving them the dignity and security they deserve in retirement. From the end of this Parliament, as a result of our commitment to protect the Triple Lock, spending on State Pensions is forecast to be around £34 billion more a year, compared with 2024/25. This will see pensioners’ yearly incomes rising by up to £2,100. We have revived the Pensions Commission which will consider the broader questions of adequacy, fairness, and sustainability to guide the long-term future of our pensions system. Amongst other things, the Commission will look at how to improve retirement outcomes, especially for those on the lowest incomes and at the greatest risk of poverty or under-saving. Maximising the take-up of Pension Credit remains a key priority. That is why we have been running the biggest ever Pension Credit take-up campaign, promoting Pension Credit to eligible pensioners and their family and friends. And we are making better use of data to directly target potentially eligible households. Since February, all new Housing Benefit claimants who may be eligible have been invited to apply for Pension Credit. Looking ahead, aligning the administration of Pension Credit with pensioner Housing Benefit will help ensure that more pensioners receive the financial support they are entitled to. The Department keeps policies and processes under regular review, including monitoring poverty through annual statistics and research into retirement planning, as well as considering the contributions of stakeholders such as the reports by Independent Age and others.
If she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of the report by Kinship entitled Handle with Care: Annual survey of kinship carers 2025, published on 2 October 2025.
The department is grateful to Kinship for its continued work to highlight the experiences of kinship carers. We are grateful for the insights in the ‘Handle with Care’ report from over 1,900 kinship families on the challenges and opportunities they face. The report’s findings around financial hardship, housing and access to support, reinforce the importance of our ongoing work to improve support for kinship carers and children living in kinship care.The department remains focused on delivering improvements for kinship families through our existing programmes. We will be piloting a Kinship Financial Allowance in up to 10 local authorities, following the announcement at Autumn Budget 2024. We are also updating statutory guidance and developing best practice materials on family group decision making (FGDM) to support local authorities in delivering safe and effective FGDM, including how to engage children and families in the process.
Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to implement provisions in the Environment Act 2021 to impose due diligence regulations for forest risk commodities.
The Government recognises the urgency of taking action to ensure that UK consumption of forest risk commodities is not driving deforestation. The Government is actively considering the best regulatory approach to address deforestation in UK supply chains; we will set out this approach in due course.
What assessment he has made of the potential merits of providing funding to the Tropical Forest Forever Facility.
The Government remains supportive of the Tropical Forests Forever Facility and is proud to have assisted Brazil to develop the initiative. TFFF is an important opportunity and we want to see it succeed. We will continue to provide support to TFFF, including through co-funding the World Bank programme that will operationalise the Facility, and through the AIM4Forests programme, which will provide critical technical assistance to support delivery of TFFF.