Written questions by Turner.

Pursuant to the Answer of 04 July 2025 to Question 64211, on High Speed 2 Line: Compulsory Purchase, if she will extend those compulsory purchase powers until February 2031.

The government's priority is the safe delivery of HS2 Phase 1 between the West Midlands and London Euston at the lowest reasonable cost. Whilst we will not reverse the previous government’s decision to cancel Phase 2, we recognise concerns about rail capacity and connectivity between Birmingham and Manchester. We are reviewing our plans for future connectivity in the Midlands and the North, and we hope to say more in the coming months, including our plans for land and property between Birmingham and Crewe.

Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to improve the regulation of supported exempt accommodation; and what information her Department holds on levels of supported exempt accommodation in (a) Birmingham and (b) Birmingham Northfield constituency.

As set out in the written statement on Supported Housing Regulation (HCWS800) published on 10 July 2025, following the recent consultation on supported housing regulation the government is considering the responses received and will publish a full government response as soon as possible, in advance of consulting on draft regulations in early 2026. The department does not hold data on supported exempt accommodation. The most recent estimates of national levels of supported housing were published in the gov.uk Supported Housing Review 2023 on 4 November 2024.

Which children's centres closed in England between May 2010 and July 2024 by (a) name, (b) postcode and (c) date of closure.

Data on children’s centres is supplied by local authorities via the department’s Get Information about Schools database portal at: https://www.get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/.Based on the information supplied by local authorities, the attached document provides details of the name and postcode and date of closure of Sure Start children’s centres that closed in England between May 2010 and July 2024.The list of children’s centres closed since May 2010 and July 2024 is based on information supplied by local authorities as of 8 July 2025. These figures may be different to previous answers, and could change again in future, since local authorities may update the database at any time.

With reference to Q252 of the oral evidence given by Huw Merriman to the Transport Select Committee on 2 July 2025, HC 575, if she will publish the graph referred to in the answer to that question.

The graph in question is regularly updated. We are unclear precisely which iteration of the graph Huw Merriman was referring to.

What information her Department holds on the dates on which the leases for West Midlands Trains' rolling stock expire; and which entity owns those trains.

West Midlands Trains’ rolling stock leases for the Class 172/0, 172/1, 350/1, 350/3 and 350/4, which are owned by Angel Trains, are set to run until 31 March 2026. The Class 196/0, 196/1, 730/0, 730/1, and 730/2 leases also run until 31st March 2026 and are owned by Corelink. Finally, Porterbrook own the Class 139, 172/2 and 172/3, which expire on 31 March 2026, as well as the Class 350/2 fleet which expire on 30 September 2025.

What consultation her Department has undertaken with UK-based bus manufacturers on the potential impact of Section 37 of the Bus Services (No. 2) Bill [Lords] on future sales of (a) hydrogen-fuel cell and (b) hydrogen combustion engine buses.

Clause 37 of the Bus Services (No.2) Bill will ultimately end the use of new non-zero emission buses on English bus services. The final date will be set out in later secondary regulations, however, will be no earlier than 1 January 2030. Hydrogen Fuel Cell electric (HFC) buses, which are used in various parts of the country, are what is commonly meant by 'hydrogen buses'. These are available from UK manufacturers and do not emit any nitrogen oxides. They are zero emission at the tailpipe, so would continue to be usable under these regulations, along with battery electric buses. Hydrogen combustion engine buses are not present in the UK. They would emit nitrogen oxides, which are harmful to human health. They would therefore not be considered to be zero emission buses and would not be usable under these regulations. My Department has engaged extensively with bus manufacturers as we have developed and then progressed this measure through Parliament.

On what date the powers to make compulsory purchases of land for HS2 Phase 2a purposes expire.

Compulsory Purchase powers under the Phase 2a Act will expire on 11th February 2026.

What the average processing time is for (a) self-employed and (b) freelancer applications to Access to Work.

We do not hold separate average processing time data for (a) self-employed and (b) freelancer applications to Access to Work. These types of applications are included within the overall Access to Work processing time. The current average processing time for access to work is 92.0 days from April 2025 to June 2025 Please note that the data supplied is derived from unpublished management information, which was collected for internal Departmental use only, and have not been quality assured to National Statistics or Official Statistics publication standard. They should therefore be treated with caution.

On what date the powers to make compulsory purchases of land for HS2 Phase One purposes expire.

The powers to make compulsory purchases of land for HS2 Phase One expired on 23 February 2022.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of facilitating repatriation flights for UK nationals in Iran.

The safety and security of British nationals (BNs) is our top priority. We have long advised against all travel to Iran. We have taken the precautionary measure to temporarily withdraw our UK staff from Iran. The embassy will continue to operate remotely. The UK Government will not be able to evacuate or provide face-to-face assistance to BNs. If BNs intend to depart Iran across a land border and consider it safe, they should check the travel advice of the country they intend to enter before travelling to the border, including visa requirements. BNs requiring assistance can contact the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office 24/7.

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a salary sacrifice car scheme for armed forces personnel.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 12 June 2025 to Question 57620 to the hon. Member for The Wrekin (Mark Pritchard).

Pursuant to the Answer of 11 November 2024 to Question 12091 on Prisons: Staff, when she plans to conclude the review of the guidance on the New Fair Deal.

The Government confirmed on 14 November 2024 that New Fair Deal was extended to further education bodies that operate in the statutory sector. The change applies from the date of the announcement and applies to tendering and outsourcing exercises that were in progress on that date, where the transfer of staff had not yet been concluded. This includes the tender for prison education services referenced in the answer of 11 November 2024 to Question 12091 on Prisons: Staff.

How many and what proportion of (a) working-age, (b) 18-24 year olds and (c) all Personal Independence Payment recipients that are in work scored less than four points in all daily living activities by (i) local authority, (ii) parliamentary constituency and (iii) region.

The information requested is provided in the excel workbook attached. A content of the tables provided in the attached workbook is below: 1aiVolume and Proportion of Working Aged Personal Independence Payment Claimants by Employment Status and Local Authority (March 2024)1aiiVolume and Proportion of Working Aged Personal Independence Payment Claimants by Employment Status and Parliamentary Constituency (March 2024)1aiiiVolume and Proportion of Working Aged Personal Independence Payment Claimants by Employment Status and Region (March 2024)1biVolume and Proportion of 18 - 24 Year Old Personal Independence Payment Claimants by Employment Status and Local Authority (March 2024)1biiVolume and Proportion of 18 - 24 Year Old Personal Independence Payment Claimants by Employment Status and Parliamentary Constituency (March 2024)1biiiVolume and Proportion of 18 - 24 Year Old Personal Independence Payment Claimants by Employment Status and Region (March 2024)1ciVolume and Proportion of All Personal Independence Payment Claimants by Employment Status and Local Authority (March 2024)1ciiVolume and Proportion of All Personal Independence Payment Claimants by Employment Status and Parliamentary Constituency (March 2024)1ciiiVolume and Proportion of All Personal Independence Payment Claimants by Employment Status and Region (March 2024)2aiVolume and Proportion of Working Aged Personal Independence Payment Claimants in Employment With Fewer Than 4 Points in All Daily Living Activities by Local Authority (March 2024)2aiiVolume and Proportion of Working Aged Personal Independence Payment Claimants in Employment With Fewer Than 4 Points in All Daily Living Activities by Parliamentary Constituency (March 2024)2aiiiVolume and Proportion of Working Aged Personal Independence Payment Claimants in Employment With Fewer Than 4 Points in All Daily Living Activities by Region (March 2024)2biVolume and Proportion of 18 - 24 Year Old Personal Independence Payment Claimants in Employment With Fewer Than 4 Points in All Daily Living Activities by Local Authority (March 2024)2biiVolume and Proportion of 18 - 24 Year Old Personal Independence Payment Claimants in Employment With Fewer Than 4 Points in All Daily Living Activities by Parliamentary Constituency (March 2024)2biiiVolume and Proportion of 18 - 24 Year Old Personal Independence Payment Claimants in Employment With Fewer Than 4 Points in All Daily Living Activities by Region (March 2024)2ciVolume and Proportion of All Personal Independence Payment Claimants in Employment With Fewer Than 4 Points in All Daily Living Activities by Local Authority (March 2024)2ciiVolume and Proportion of All Personal Independence Payment Claimants in Employment With Fewer Than 4 Points in All Daily Living Activities by Parliamentary Constituency (March 2024)2ciiiVolume and Proportion of All Personal Independence Payment Claimants in Employment With Fewer Than 4 Points in All Daily Living Activities by Region (March 2024) The number of people currently on PIP who did not score 4 points in one category in their last assessment should not be equated with the number who are likely to lose PIP in future. It’s important to make a clear distinction between the two, not least because we don’t want constituents to be unnecessarily fearful about their situation, when we understand many are already anxious. Someone who did not score 4 points in an activity in a previous assessment may well score 4 points in a future assessment as conditions change over time. After taking account of behavioural changes, the OBR predicts that 9 in 10 of those on PIP daily living at the point any changes come in will still be receiving PIP by the end of the decade. No one will lose access to PIP immediately - and most people will not lose access at all. Our intention is that changes will start to come into effect from November 2026 for PIP, subject to parliamentary approval. After that date, no one will lose PIP without first being reassessed at their award review. The average award review period is about three years. At the award review, claimants will be considered by a trained assessor or healthcare professional and assessed on individual needs and circumstances. We are consulting on how best to support those who are affected by the new eligibility changes, including ensuring health and care needs are met. We have also announced a wider review of the PIP assessment to make it fair and fit for purpose, which I am leading. We are bringing together a range of experts, stakeholders and people with lived experience to consider how best to do this. We will provide further details as plans progress. Even with these reforms, the overall number of people on PIP and DLA is expected to rise by 750,000 by the end of this parliament and spending will rise from £23bn in 24/25 to £31bn in 29/30. No one over state pension age at the time any changes come in will be affected. Notes:- The volumes provided have been rounded to the nearest 10.- HMRC data is used to determine whether a claimant was in employment. HMRC data covers up to the end of the tax year 2023/24, therefore March 2024 has been provided as the latest data available.- Self-employment data from the financial year 2023/24 is not available until the end of the 2024/25 financial year, so self-employment data for the financial year 2022/23 has been used as a proxy for 2023/24 instead.- People without any employment record in the HMRC data, as well as those who have been confirmed to not be in employment in the data, have been considered not employed.- The data provided includes both normal rules and special rules for end of life claimants.- The data provided excludes Scottish and Northern Irish claimants, as these claimants do not fall under DWP policy ownership.

How many and what proportion of (a) working-age, (b) 18 to 24 year old and (c) all Personal Independence Payment recipients are in work by (i) local authority, (ii) parliamentary constituency and (iii) region.

The information requested is provided in the excel workbook attached. A content of the tables provided in the attached workbook is below: 1aiVolume and Proportion of Working Aged Personal Independence Payment Claimants by Employment Status and Local Authority (March 2024)1aiiVolume and Proportion of Working Aged Personal Independence Payment Claimants by Employment Status and Parliamentary Constituency (March 2024)1aiiiVolume and Proportion of Working Aged Personal Independence Payment Claimants by Employment Status and Region (March 2024)1biVolume and Proportion of 18 - 24 Year Old Personal Independence Payment Claimants by Employment Status and Local Authority (March 2024)1biiVolume and Proportion of 18 - 24 Year Old Personal Independence Payment Claimants by Employment Status and Parliamentary Constituency (March 2024)1biiiVolume and Proportion of 18 - 24 Year Old Personal Independence Payment Claimants by Employment Status and Region (March 2024)1ciVolume and Proportion of All Personal Independence Payment Claimants by Employment Status and Local Authority (March 2024)1ciiVolume and Proportion of All Personal Independence Payment Claimants by Employment Status and Parliamentary Constituency (March 2024)1ciiiVolume and Proportion of All Personal Independence Payment Claimants by Employment Status and Region (March 2024)2aiVolume and Proportion of Working Aged Personal Independence Payment Claimants in Employment With Fewer Than 4 Points in All Daily Living Activities by Local Authority (March 2024)2aiiVolume and Proportion of Working Aged Personal Independence Payment Claimants in Employment With Fewer Than 4 Points in All Daily Living Activities by Parliamentary Constituency (March 2024)2aiiiVolume and Proportion of Working Aged Personal Independence Payment Claimants in Employment With Fewer Than 4 Points in All Daily Living Activities by Region (March 2024)2biVolume and Proportion of 18 - 24 Year Old Personal Independence Payment Claimants in Employment With Fewer Than 4 Points in All Daily Living Activities by Local Authority (March 2024)2biiVolume and Proportion of 18 - 24 Year Old Personal Independence Payment Claimants in Employment With Fewer Than 4 Points in All Daily Living Activities by Parliamentary Constituency (March 2024)2biiiVolume and Proportion of 18 - 24 Year Old Personal Independence Payment Claimants in Employment With Fewer Than 4 Points in All Daily Living Activities by Region (March 2024)2ciVolume and Proportion of All Personal Independence Payment Claimants in Employment With Fewer Than 4 Points in All Daily Living Activities by Local Authority (March 2024)2ciiVolume and Proportion of All Personal Independence Payment Claimants in Employment With Fewer Than 4 Points in All Daily Living Activities by Parliamentary Constituency (March 2024)2ciiiVolume and Proportion of All Personal Independence Payment Claimants in Employment With Fewer Than 4 Points in All Daily Living Activities by Region (March 2024) The number of people currently on PIP who did not score 4 points in one category in their last assessment should not be equated with the number who are likely to lose PIP in future. It’s important to make a clear distinction between the two, not least because we don’t want constituents to be unnecessarily fearful about their situation, when we understand many are already anxious. Someone who did not score 4 points in an activity in a previous assessment may well score 4 points in a future assessment as conditions change over time. After taking account of behavioural changes, the OBR predicts that 9 in 10 of those on PIP daily living at the point any changes come in will still be receiving PIP by the end of the decade. No one will lose access to PIP immediately - and most people will not lose access at all. Our intention is that changes will start to come into effect from November 2026 for PIP, subject to parliamentary approval. After that date, no one will lose PIP without first being reassessed at their award review. The average award review period is about three years. At the award review, claimants will be considered by a trained assessor or healthcare professional and assessed on individual needs and circumstances. We are consulting on how best to support those who are affected by the new eligibility changes, including ensuring health and care needs are met. We have also announced a wider review of the PIP assessment to make it fair and fit for purpose, which I am leading. We are bringing together a range of experts, stakeholders and people with lived experience to consider how best to do this. We will provide further details as plans progress. Even with these reforms, the overall number of people on PIP and DLA is expected to rise by 750,000 by the end of this parliament and spending will rise from £23bn in 24/25 to £31bn in 29/30. No one over state pension age at the time any changes come in will be affected. Notes:- The volumes provided have been rounded to the nearest 10.- HMRC data is used to determine whether a claimant was in employment. HMRC data covers up to the end of the tax year 2023/24, therefore March 2024 has been provided as the latest data available.- Self-employment data from the financial year 2023/24 is not available until the end of the 2024/25 financial year, so self-employment data for the financial year 2022/23 has been used as a proxy for 2023/24 instead.- People without any employment record in the HMRC data, as well as those who have been confirmed to not be in employment in the data, have been considered not employed.- The data provided includes both normal rules and special rules for end of life claimants.- The data provided excludes Scottish and Northern Irish claimants, as these claimants do not fall under DWP policy ownership.

What the average processing time was for claims for Orchestra Tax Relief in each of the last five years.

HMRC balances the need to ensure that payments for tax reliefs are processed as quickly as possible with the need to ensure that they are claimed only by those who are eligible to do so. All claims for Orchestra Tax Relief are risk assessed on receipt. Where a claim is received and identified as requiring further review, HMRC may open an enquiry and ask for additional information.The information provided states the average number of days to process a claim, which includes payment of the claim or making a decision to ask for further information or open an enquiry.YearAverage Days to Process or Open an Enquiry24/253123/242822/232821/2235

With reference to paragraph 5.83 of the Spending Review 2025, published on 11 June 2025, CP 1336, whether Kings Norton station will be upgraded as part of the next stage of Midlands Rail Hub West.

The west scope of the Midlands Rail Hub programme includes bringing the island platforms back into use and bringing the footbridge up to modern accessibility standards at Kings Norton Station.

With reference to paragraph 5.83 of the Spending Review 2025, published on 11 June 2025, how much funding has been allocated to progress the next stage of Midlands Rail Hub West.

The Chancellor confirmed Midlands Rail Hub is a priority for the Government and £123m has been committed for the next phase of the Programme.

What sensitivity NHS BMI assessments allow for persons of mixed (a) South Asian and (b) non-South Asian heritage.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has published guidance on the management of overweight and obesity. This specifies that a lower body mass index (BMI) threshold should be used as a practical measure of overweight and obesity for some adults from ethnic minority backgrounds, including South Asian, as they are prone to higher levels of abdominal fat and have an increased risk of developing certain health conditions at a lower BMI.

How many complaints have been made in the last five years to (a) Birmingham and Solihull ICB, (b) all ICBs and (c) NHS England that allege (i) failure to make reasonable adjustments and (ii) disability discrimination.

Information is not available in the format requested. The annual publication of data on written complaints in the National Health Service, last published in October 2024, does not specify the number of complaints made to either integrated care boards or NHS England that were about either failure to make reasonable adjustments or disability discrimination.

What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism for improving compliance with the Equality Act at CQC registered practices.

It is for individual organisations, including Care Quality Commission (CQC) registered practices, to comply with the Equality Act 2010, guidance on which is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/equality-act-2010-guidanceA code of practice has been published to guide CQC registered providers on how to meet the statutory requirement for learning disability and autism training under the Health and Care Act 2022 which is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/oliver-mcgowan-code-of-practiceThe Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism, otherwise known as Oliver’s Training, is the Government’s recommended training package.The CQC has a role in assessing the completion and effectiveness of training, which may include Oliver’s Training, in relation to Regulation 18: Staffing of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. Where an inspection involves the assessment of staff training, the CQC assesses the impact of training on the lives, outcomes and experiences of autistic people and people with a learning disability. The CQC also assesses whether people’s care, treatment and support promotes equality, removes barriers or delays and protects their rights under the Equity in experiences and outcomes quality statement, which is available at the following link:https://www.cqc.org.uk/guidance-regulation/providers/assessment/single-assessment-framework/responsive/equity-experiences-outcomesAll assessments carried out through formal inspection activity are reported on and published on the CQC website.