Written questions by Johnson.

What steps she is taking to help ensure that Mayors and Local Police and Crime Boards are empowered to advocate effectively on behalf of their communities within 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.

Communities and Local Government, whether the long-term housing strategy will include the potential impact of the supported housing sector on delivering outcomes, such as reducing homelessness.

The government values the role played by supported housing in tackling rough sleeping and homelessness. Providing the right support alongside housing can improve health, wellbeing and socio-economic outcomes to enable individuals in need of support, to access and retain housing, reducing their risk of homelessness and rough sleeping. This key role for supported housing was recognised in the National Plan to End Homelessness. We will publish the long-term housing strategy shortly.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 3 July 2025 to UIN 61881 on Western Sahara: Origin Marking, if she will take steps to ensure that produce originating in Western Sahara is labelled as such by supermarkets.

The Government is committed to ensuring that UK consumers are not misled about the origin of the food they purchase. In accordance with Assimilated EU Regulation 1169/2011 on the provision of food information to consumers, food labelling must not be misleading, including in relation to the origin or provenance of food. It is the UK position that where origin information is given for food products made or grown in the Western Sahara, it must give accurate origin information and cannot be labelled as Moroccan. The Government has begun negotiations with the EU on an SPS agreement which will cover SPS standards and controls and also wider agrifood rules, including food labelling and key agri-food marketing standards. The Government is considering any EU legislative developments that could potentially affect labelling policy in the UK.

What estimate he has made of the number of either-way cases in the Crown Court backlog yet 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.

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.

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.

Whether his Department holds information on the median age of cases yet 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.

Whether she plans to ensure that (a) mayors and (b) Policing and Crime Boards will retain ownership of the budget for policing.

The Home Office is working with policing and local government stakeholders to design and implement future governance arrangements to replace Police and Crime Commissioners from May 2028. We remain committed to developing a system of police governance that maintains consistently high standards of oversight, which is joined up with other local services and that the public can trust.Future governance arrangements will ensure that policing leaders remain accountable to the communities they serve. Policing and Crime Boards and Mayors will have the necessary powers and levers to support their governance role and hold Chief Constables to account, including the ability to hire and dismiss their Chief Constable and to set the budget. We will bring forward legislation for future arrangements as soon as Parliamentary time allows.Through our reforms we will strengthen the process for the appointment, suspension and dismissal of Chief Constables to introduce greater fairness, transparency and balance into the process. We will also reintroduce the Home Secretary’s power to remove a Chief Constable on performance grounds, where there are serious, persistent and systemic failings. This will include appropriate safeguards, with checks and balances to protect operational independence and local accountability.

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.

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.

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 assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the earned settlement model on Black, minoritised and migrant women, particularly in relation to labour market exclusion, interrupted employment due to abuse, caring responsibilities, trauma and insecure immigration status.

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.

Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to publish the long-term housing strategy by March 2026.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 112714 on 2 March 2026.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 9 July to Question 61881 on Western Sahara: Origin Marking, if she is aware that Tesco sells tomatoes from Western Sahara labelled as produce of Morocco and if she will take action to ensure change.

The UK maintains high standards on the information provided on food labels and packaging so that consumers can have confidence in the food that they buy. The fundamental principles of our food labelling rules are that information provided to the consumer must not mislead and must enable consumers to make informed decisions. It is the UK position that where origin information is given for food products made or grown in the Western Sahara, it must give accurate origin information and cannot be labelled as Moroccan. Food labelling rules are enforced by local authorities. Defra officials will follow up on the matters raised so that the appropriate bodies can investigate further.

Communities and Local Government, if he will set out long-term, holistic support for funding for regeneration of homes, alongside new supply.

The government is committed to supporting estate regeneration schemes to transform neighbourhoods by delivering well designed housing and public space, a better quality of life and new opportunities for tenants. While the £39 billion Social and Affordable Homes Programme focuses primarily on new supply, it will also continue to support some regeneration schemes that provide a net increase in homes on a site. Our National Housing Delivery Fund will provide grant funding to unlock complex and low‑viability sites, including brownfield remediation and enabling infrastructure. The £15 billion Warm Homes Plan will upgrade up to five million homes by 2030, reducing bills and improving living conditions.

How many prison education staff were employed in January (a) 2025, and (b) 2026, by prison.

We are committed to ensuring that prisoners can access high-quality education and skills provision that supports rehabilitation and reduces re-offending.The curriculum delivered through core education contracts is decided at local level, as is the number of education staff employed. It would not be possible to obtain this information from each prison without incurring disproportionate cost. It should be noted that the majority of teaching staff are employed by external providers.In the interests of transparency, we intend to publish figures for changes to core education delivery volumes at individual prison level in the coming weeks.

For a breakdown of what prison education courses, according to annual delivery plan data, were provided in January (a) 2025, and (b) 2026, by prison, level of qualification and duration.

We are committed to ensuring that prisoners can access high-quality education and skills provision that supports rehabilitation and reduces re-offending.The curriculum delivered through core education contracts is decided at local level, as is the number of education staff employed. It would not be possible to obtain this information from each prison without incurring disproportionate cost. It should be noted that the majority of teaching staff are employed by external providers.In the interests of transparency, we intend to publish figures for changes to core education delivery volumes at individual prison level in the coming weeks.

How many prison education staff, according to annual delivery plan data, were employed in January (a) 2025, and (b) 2026, by prison.

We are committed to ensuring that prisoners can access high-quality education and skills provision that supports rehabilitation and reduces re-offending.The curriculum delivered through core education contracts is decided at local level, as is the number of education staff employed. It would not be possible to obtain this information from each prison without incurring disproportionate cost. It should be noted that the majority of teaching staff are employed by external providers.In the interests of transparency, we intend to publish figures for changes to core education delivery volumes at individual prison level in the coming weeks.

Communities and Local Government, how many responses have been received to the consultation on the reform of statutory consultees specifically with respect to the proposal to remove Sport England.

My Department has met with Sport England on a number of occasions to discuss the proposals set out in the consultation on reforms to the statutory consultee system. Most recently, I met with Chris Boardman, Chair of Sport England, on 21 January to discuss Sport England's response to the consultation and our shared aim of ensuring playing fields continue to be protected. The consultation closed on 13 January 2026. A total of 1,605 responses were received, 1,294 of which were specific to the question on removing Sport England as a statutory consultee. No final decisions will be taken on the role of these statutory consultees until all consultation feedback has been fully analysed and considered. A government response will be published in due course. Regardless of consultation outcomes, these statutory consultees will continue to engage through public consultation and targeted notifications in the planning process.

Communities and Local Government, what discussions has he had with representatives from the sport and recreation sector on proposals to remove Sport England as a statutory planning consultee.

My Department has met with Sport England on a number of occasions to discuss the proposals set out in the consultation on reforms to the statutory consultee system. Most recently, I met with Chris Boardman, Chair of Sport England, on 21 January to discuss Sport England's response to the consultation and our shared aim of ensuring playing fields continue to be protected. The consultation closed on 13 January 2026. A total of 1,605 responses were received, 1,294 of which were specific to the question on removing Sport England as a statutory consultee. No final decisions will be taken on the role of these statutory consultees until all consultation feedback has been fully analysed and considered. A government response will be published in due course. Regardless of consultation outcomes, these statutory consultees will continue to engage through public consultation and targeted notifications in the planning process.