Written questions by Johnson.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the International Student Levy on the UK’s ability to attract international postgraduate research students and the consequential impact this would have on the ambitions set out in the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy.

Higher education (HE) providers are independent from government and are responsible for managing their own finances, including any impact from the International Student Levy (ISL). To support providers’ financial planning, the levy will be introduced in 2028/29 and paid one year in arrears, with a 220-student allowance applying per provider per year.We have also announced tuition fee cap increases in line with forecast inflation for the 2025/26, 2026/27 and 2027/28 academic years, and will legislate, when parliamentary time allows, to increase caps automatically for future years. Over the next five years, these uplifts could generate an additional £6 billion for HE providers, significantly outweighing the currently projected less than £1 billion levy cost.ISL revenue will fund the reintroduction of maintenance grants for disadvantaged students studying level 4 to 6 courses aligned with the government’s missions and the Industrial Strategy.

What discussions she has had with (a) Ministers and (b) officials on the (i) the transfer of workers from private Train Operating Companies into the Department for Transport Operator and (ii) the transfer of workers from (A) the Department for Transport Operator and (B) Network Rail into Great British Railways.

Officials regularly update Ministers as part of every transfer of train operating companies’ services into public ownership. This includes discussions about the transfer of staff to the new public sector operator, which will be a subsidiary of Department for Transport Operator (DFTO), under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations (TUPE) process. Establishing Great British Railways (GBR) is a priority for the Government, so the Secretary of State holds regular discussions with Ministers and officials. These discussions would include the transition into GBR of DFTO and Network Rail.

What assessment she has made of the levels of challenges for transport workers in the transition to Great British Railways.

In accordance with TUPE regulations, I can confirm that existing train operator staff transferring to the public-sector operator will do so with their contractual terms and conditions protected. In the meantime, we are keeping trade union leaders informed on all relevant matters through the Rail Engagement Group.

Whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of including provisions for the protection of transport workers’ pensions during the transition to Great British Railways in the Railways Bill.

After the transition to Great British Railways, we plan for the Railways Pension Scheme to continue to be the primary vehicle through which rail employees build up their pension provision. The protections within the 1993 Railways Act remain unchanged by the Railways Bill and consequentially pensions are not mentioned in the Bill.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the establishment of Great British Railways on the statutory duty to consult with the public on any significant change to Schedule 17 of the Ticketing and Settlement Agreement.

Train operating companies are expected to maintain the ticket office opening hours set out in Schedule 17 to the Ticketing and Settlement Agreement (TSA). When a train operator proposes a "major change" to opening hours, they are required to undertake a consultation as set out in the TSA. The processes set out in Schedule 17 of the TSA will continue to apply as operators transfer into public ownership. Importantly, any changes to the TSA can only be made with wider agreement across the industry, providing a strong level of protection and ensuring that established safeguards cannot be unilaterally altered.

What scores were most recently awarded by the National Frameworks Intervention Panel for (a) the Time4Change programme and (b) the Sycamore Tree programme.

The Ministry of Justice does not disclose the scores awarded by the National Frameworks Intervention Panel. These scores are commercially sensitive, both in relation to the Ministry of Justice’s own interests, and to those of third‑party providers, who are entitled to expect that any assessment of their performance will remain confidential.It is not possible, without incurring disproportionate cost, to confirm which prison rehabilitative projects have been assessed, approved or refused. Details are not held in a single national record. Under the National Framework for Interventions, proposals are predominantly assessed at regional level, with only regionally approved proposals submitted for central consideration.

Which prison rehabilitative projects have been (a) assessed, (b) approved and (c) refused by the National Frameworks Intervention Panel in each year since 2023.

The Ministry of Justice does not disclose the scores awarded by the National Frameworks Intervention Panel. These scores are commercially sensitive, both in relation to the Ministry of Justice’s own interests, and to those of third‑party providers, who are entitled to expect that any assessment of their performance will remain confidential.It is not possible, without incurring disproportionate cost, to confirm which prison rehabilitative projects have been assessed, approved or refused. Details are not held in a single national record. Under the National Framework for Interventions, proposals are predominantly assessed at regional level, with only regionally approved proposals submitted for central consideration.

What steps she will take to address the tax disparity that sees employing hairdressing salons pay 123% more tax than self-employed hairdressing salons for the same turnover.

The Government recognises the vital role that hairdressing salons play in communities and the wider economy.An individual's employment status is determined by the facts and circumstances of the engagement between the worker and engager. This is based on case law. The Government recognises that firms in the hair and beauty sector operate under different business models.The Government has taken steps to support small businesses. To protect the smallest businesses from changes to employer National Insurance Contributions (NICs) made at Autumn Budget 2024, the Government increased the Employment Allowance from £5,000 to £10,500. This means that this year, 865,000 employers will pay no NICs at all, and more than half of all employers will either gain or will see no change.The Government is also supporting small businesses to grow. At Budget, the Government announced the extension of Small Business Rates Relief (SBRR) so that businesses opening second premises can retain their SBRR for three years, tripling the current allowance.The Government keeps all areas of the tax system under review. Any changes to the tax system are announced as part of the annual Budget process.

Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to deliver a sustainable supported housing sector.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 112725 on 25 February 2026.

How often Access to Work awards for blind and partially sighted customers are reviewed for compliance with the EHRC Code of Practice.

Access to Work (AtW) awards, including those made to blind and partially sighted customers, are managed through standard casework processes, which include appropriate Service Assurance checks to ensure decisions comply with AtW guidance and principles.

What recent assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of reductions to Access to Work awards at renewal on employment outcomes for blind and partially sighted people.

The support that a customer will receive from Access to Work is dependent upon their needs and circumstances at the time they make an application. Case managers will use the guidance to ensure Access to Work principles are considered when making a decision on support. No changes have been made to Access to Work policy.

Pursuant to the Answer of 10 February 2026 to Question 110103 on the Emissions Trading Scheme, how much revenue does the Government expect to raise per year for the period to 2030 from the extension of the Emissions Trading Scheme to maritime.

The Impact Assessment includes a 20‑year discounted appraisal of the expected effects of extending the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (UK ETS) to domestic maritime.This assessment projects roughly £1.9 billion in additional revenue to the UK Government over the appraisal period through the purchasing of allowances.If the analysis is disaggregated to focus on the compliance period from 2026-2030, the estimated increase in revenue is £720 million, reflecting that earlier years account for a proportionally larger share of emissions, and allowance purchases, before the maritime sector begins to decarbonise more substantially.

Whether she is taking steps with (a) Police and Crime Commissioners and (b) mayors on ensuring accountability within the governance structures for the National Police Service.

The White Paper “From Local to National: A New Model for Policing” makes clear that the voices of local police governance bodies should form part of the governance of the National Police Service (NPS).The Government will continue to work with Police and Crime Commissioners, Mayors and Local Police and Crime Boards to help establish the NPS and ensure that the voices of residents and communities are appropriately reflected.

Whether her Department is taking steps to ensure that (a) mayors and (b) Local Police and Crime Boards will have a role in the governance structures of the National Police Service.

The White Paper “From Local to National: A New Model for Policing” makes clear that the voices of local police governance bodies should form part of the governance of the National Police Service (NPS).The Government will continue to work with Police and Crime Commissioners, Mayors and Local Police and Crime Boards to help establish the NPS and ensure that the voices of residents and communities are appropriately reflected.

Pursuant to the Answer of 10 February 2026 to Question 110104 on the Emissions Trading Scheme, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of phasing in the expansion of the Emissions Trading Scheme to maritime, with reference to the approach of the EU equivalent.

The Maritime Decarbonisation Strategy (MDS), published in 2025, sets out how we will decarbonise UK maritime transport, including through the inclusion of domestic maritime sector in the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) from July this year. Given the long lifespan of shipping vessels, action needs to be taken now to meet the goals of the MDS, helping the sector move towards a lower carbon future and contribute to UK net zero obligations.To support maritime operators during implementation of the Scheme the Government will allow operators to wait and surrender allowances for the first two scheme years, providing further opportunity to familiarise themselves with UK ETS and the digital systems. Additionally, whilst reporting has been paused, operators will already be familiar with Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV), under both the existing UK MRV, and the EU MRV regimes.The Government will monitor the impacts of the scheme and has committed to review the effectiveness of the scheme, including the threshold and the exemptions, in 2028.

What proportion of the Crown Court backlog comprises the cohort of up to three years’ imprisonment cases and would go before a Judge only court under proposed reforms.

The Ministry of Justice publishes information about cases in the open caseload at both the magistrates’ courts and at the Crown Court. This includes breakdowns of volumes and durations as part of the Crown Court open caseload published as part of Criminal Court Statistics Quarterly: Criminal court statistics quarterly.     The Ministry of Justice does not publish data relating to the progression of cases or defendant elections in the open caseload. As such we cannot provide volume or timeliness estimates regarding the decision of the defendant to elect mode of trial within the disproportionate costs limit.

What proportion of cases in the Crown Court backlog are either way cases that would be no longer eligible for jury trial under proposed reforms.

The Ministry of Justice publishes information about cases in the open caseload at both the magistrates’ courts and at the Crown Court. This includes breakdowns of volumes and durations as part of the Crown Court open caseload published as part of Criminal Court Statistics Quarterly: Criminal court statistics quarterly.     The Ministry of Justice does not publish data relating to the progression of cases or defendant elections in the open caseload. As such we cannot provide volume or timeliness estimates regarding the decision of the defendant to elect mode of trial within the disproportionate costs limit.

When she intends to publish the equalities and economic impact assessments for her proposed changes to indefinite leave to remain.

Proposals for introducing an earned settlement model, as set out in the Command Paper “A Fairer Pathway to Settlement” (CP1448), were subject to a public consultation, which opened on 20 November 2025 and closed on 12 February 2026. We are now reviewing and analysing the results of this to inform the development of the final model. The consultation sought views on the impact proposed changes might have on different groups and the case for exemptions for vulnerable groupings. Implementation of the earned settlement arrangements will be subject to economic and equality impact assessments, which we have committed to publish in due course.

What steps her Department is taking to help ensure that the National Police Service improves accountability.

The White Paper “From Local to National: A New Model for Policing” makes clear that the voices of local police governance bodies should form part of the governance of the National Police Service (NPS).The Government will continue to work with Police and Crime Commissioners, Mayors and Local Police and Crime Boards to help establish the NPS and ensure that the voices of residents and communities are appropriately reflected.

What proportion of cases in the court backlog are pending the decision of the defendant to elect mode of trial.

The Ministry of Justice publishes information about cases in the open caseload at both the magistrates’ courts and at the Crown Court. This includes breakdowns of volumes and durations as part of the Crown Court open caseload published as part of Criminal Court Statistics Quarterly: Criminal court statistics quarterly.     The Ministry of Justice does not publish data relating to the progression of cases or defendant elections in the open caseload. As such we cannot provide volume or timeliness estimates regarding the decision of the defendant to elect mode of trial within the disproportionate costs limit.