Written questions by Barron.

How many British citizens resident in the UAE have returned to the UK since the beginning of the war on Iran.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

If he will make an assessment of the rationale for requiring separate applications for a Health and Welfare Lasting Power of Attorney and a Property and Financial Affairs Lasting Power of Attorney, where both powers are granted to the same individual.

A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) allows a person (the donor) to choose people they trust (the attorney) to make decisions for them should they lose the mental capacity to make their own decisions. The Mental Capacity Act 2005 provides the legal framework for LPAs, one for Property and Financial Affairs and one for Health and Welfare, reflecting their different scopes and use.While donors often appoint the same attorney for both, the instruments remain separate to avoid confusion arising from the differing points to which each LPA can be used and ensures donors can make clear, informed decisions about each type of power. The Health and Welfare LPA may also contain sensitive health information which is not relevant for Property and Financial Affairs decisions. There were consultations in 2012 and 2013 which included proposals for a combined form but, in line with the responses, the Department did not proceed with this idea.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the temporary removal of tariffs on egg imports from Ukraine on UK egg producers.

Under our Free Trade Agreement with Ukraine, tariffs on all goods are temporarily removed until March 2029, except for poultry and eggs, where the liberalisation is due to end on 31 March 2028 following the two-year extension announced on 19 January 2026.

Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to consult with communities on the use of Pride in Place funding in Corby and East Northamptonshire constituency.

The community will decide how to invest £20m of Pride in Place funding in Corby Kingswood. A Neighbourhood Board made up of local people will come up with an investment plan for the future of their area. This plan must evidence how they have consulted the wider community and we are bringing forward £150,000 of funding so they can get started now.

When his Department will publish the conclusions of the consultation on the regulation of the debt enforcement sector.

People in debt deserve to be treated fairly. That is why the Government is supporting the Enforcement Conduct Board’s work to make sure anyone facing enforcement action is treated fairly. We will respond to our consultation about regulation of the enforcement sector soon, which forms part of our wider work to build a more sustainable enforcement sector for everyone.

If he will publish monthly data from the Capacity Tracker on the number of returned care packages, by (a) NHS-funded and (b) Local Authority-funded recipients.

Since January 2025, we have hosted a survey on the Capacity Tracker which has collected information on a voluntary basis from both care home and home care provider locations regarding their handing back of local authority or National Health Service funded packages of care. We are considering how this information might best be shared publicly in a way that provides insights that are as accurate and useful as possible for the sector. We do not yet have an intended publication date.

Communities and Local Government, if her Department will issue guidance on a reasonable timeframe for the (a) construction and (b) completion of an energy recovery facility with a capacity of 350,000 tonnes per year following the granting of planning permission.

All full planning permissions for development, including waste to energy development, are required to be commenced within three years of the grant of permission (unless the local planning authority sets a different time period.) Further guidance on this commencement condition can be found in the Use of Planning Conditions section of my Department's Planning Practice Guidance. My Department does not publish guidance on the reasonable timeframe for the completion of developments.

Communities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to introduce greater flexibility in the National Planning Policy Framework to support small almshouse charities in building affordable homes.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer to Question UIN 31178 on 24 February 2025.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he plans to take to support sugar beet growers.

contribution to UK sugar production. Also, that sugar beet itself, used in crop rotations, is beneficial to soil and crop health and allows arable farms a season of “rest” from cereal production. We are committed to promoting fairness across the food supply chain. Government uses the UK Agricultural Market Monitoring Group to understand economic relationships in the sugar sector and maintains a regular dialogue with key stakeholders in the industry to remain up to date on concerns of sugar beet growers. These allow Government to collect both data and industry intelligence on the agricultural sectors, including sugar, to understand any challenges being faced. To date the Farming Innovation Programme (FIP) has awarded over £64 million in funding to support 105 wider broadacre sector projects. These include a project focused on developing a long-term solution to combat virus yellows, a disease transmitted by aphids that threatens English sugar beet crops. A range of the other FIP projects could have outcomes that can be applied to sugar beet production, as may projects supported by the £47 million available for Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF).

Whether he is taking steps to (a) strengthen the right to flexible working for people with neuro-disabilities and (b) make it the default position for all employers to offer reasonable adjustments for people with (i) cerebral palsy and (ii) other neuro-disabilities.

The Employment Rights Bill contains measures to make flexible working the default for all employees, except where it is not reasonably feasible. A job applicant or employee with cerebral palsy will almost certainly meet the Equality Act 2010's definition of disability, which is a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on the person's ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. As such, the law will already have the "default" position that an employer must make reasonable adjustments for that person, provided that they are aware that the person has the condition, in the case of job applicants. In the case of neuro-diverse people, it is appropriate for employers to use the definition set out above, to make decisions on the need for reasonable adjustments.

What steps his Department is taking tackle the shortfall in the children's health and therapy workforce across integrated care systems.

The refreshed Long Term Workforce Plan, which will be published in summer 2025, will deliver the transformed health service we will build over the next decade, to treat patients on time again. We will ensure we have the staff we need so that children and their families are cared for by the right professional, when and where they need it. This will take time, but we are committed to building a health service fit for the future with the workforce it needs.

How many suicides there were in Northamptonshire in each year since 2020; and how many of these were men.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Hon. Gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 14 January is attached.

If he will hold discussions with the electrical contracting industry on estimated future trends in the level of demand for electricians for the implementation of low carbon technologies.

Alongside the Clean Power 2030 Action Plan, The Office for Clean Energy Jobs published an evidence annex, which provides an initial assessment of the skills challenges for the Clean Energy Mission. This evidence will be used as a basis for the Government to better understand the 2030 workforce requirements and support targeted skills planning. DESNZ has longstanding links with the electrical contracting industry and looks forward to continuing working with them in the future.

Food and Rural Affairs, how much the Environment Agency spent on flood defences in Corby and East Northamptonshire constituency in each year since 2019.

To ensure we protect the country from the devastating impacts of flooding, we will invest £2.4 billion in 2024/25 and 2025/26 to improve flood resilience, by maintaining, repairing and building flood defences. The Environment Agency are best placed to provide detailed information about flood risk management in Corby and East Northamptonshire.

If she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the qualifying period for (a) Disability Living Allowance, (b) Personal Independence Payment and (c) Carers Allowance on applicants under 25 with a confirmed diagnosis of cancer; and if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of removing the qualifying period for such applicants.

Other than in cases of people nearing the end of life, all claims to either Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Personal Independence Payment (PIP) are subject to the qualifying period. The qualifying period, together with a prospective test, ensures that the health condition or disability is of a long-term nature. Where the qualifying period has been satisfied, in whole or in part, at the point of claim then entitlement to the benefit can begin from the date of claim or the date the remaining qualifying period is met. Special considerations apply to claimants who are nearing the end of life, and our arrangements recognise the difficulties faced by people who only have a short time to live with claims being fast tracked. DLA and PIP claimants are regarded as nearing the end of life if they “suffer from a progressive disease, and the person’s death in consequence of that disease can reasonably be expected within 12 months.” These claimants are guaranteed the highest rate of the Care Component of DLA or the enhanced rate of the Daily Living Component of PIP, both currently paid at £108.55 a week. For Carer’s Allowance (CA), there is no qualifying period, and it is not dependent on the specific illness or disability of the disabled person but instead on the disability benefit being in payment at the appropriate rate. If required, CA can be backdated to the point in which the qualifying benefit for the disability benefit goes into payment. We have no plans to change these arrangements.

What recent discussions he has had with stakeholders on regulating advertisements of products that are high in (a) fat, (b) salt and (c) sugar (i) on TV and (ii) online.

The Department has engaged with a range of stakeholders on the advertising restrictions for less healthy food or drink, also known as products high in fat, salt or sugar, on television and online. The Department will continue to engage with stakeholders as we progress the implementation of the policy.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to prevent retailers from misrepresenting the origin of (a) meat and (b) dairy products that are not (i) raised and (ii) produced in the UK.

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. Country of origin information is required for fresh and frozen meat of beef, sheep, goat, pigs and poultry, as well as uncut fresh fruit and vegetables, honey, olive oil, wine and some fish products. 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. Under existing food labelling rules, food that is not of UK origin cannot be labelled in a way, such as with pictures or words, that states or suggests it is of UK origin. This includes the way in which foods are arranged and the setting in which they are displayed. If processed food products made in the UK provide that origin information to the consumer, the information must also make clear if the primary ingredient is not from the UK e.g. label with 'British cheese made with milk from Ireland’. Shops will often voluntarily label their British cheese, hams and bacon when they are made from British milk and meat, helping shoppers easily identify and buy great British produce.

Whether she has had discussions with North Northamptonshire Council on school transport fees.

The department’s home to school travel policy aims to make sure that no child is prevented from accessing education by a lack of transport. Local authorities must arrange free home to school travel for children of compulsory school age, between 5 to 16, who attend their nearest school and would not be able to walk there because of the distance, their special educational needs, disability or mobility problem, or because the nature of the route means it would be unsafe for them to do so. There are extended rights to free travel for children from low income families.Local authorities may not charge a fee for transport for eligible children. Some authorities choose to arrange transport for children who are not eligible, but they are not required to do so. They may also charge for such transport, but this is a matter for the local authority.The department is keen to understand how well home to school transport supports children to access educational opportunities and will be working with our officials on this.

If she will take steps to help protect British businesses in (a) the hobby sector and (b) other sectors from (i) TEMU and (ii) other cheap import companies.

Under the UK’s Low Value Imports Regime, consignments valued below £135 can be imported into the UK without incurring customs duty. This is a common provision in customs regimes around the world designed to avoid disproportionate burdens on low value trade. All overseas retailers that sell goods from abroad to UK consumers are subject to VAT at the same rates as domestic businesses. We keep the operation and impact of our policies relating to imports under review. The Government is committed to working in partnership with businesses to deliver sustained economic growth.

What estimate she has made of the cost to businesses of administering the excise duty system following the end of the temporary easement on 1 February 2025.

In August 2023 the Government introduced reforms to alcohol duty so that products are taxed in proportion to their alcoholic strength, not volume. The reforms aimed to modernise and simplify the system, to prioritise public health and incentivise consumption of lower strength products.To help the wine industry adapt to the new duty system, the current, temporary duty easement was introduced as a transitional measure, which was intended to allow time for wine producers to adapt to calculating duty based on alcohol by volume.By the planned end-date of 31 January 2025, the wine industry will have had over two years to adapt to the new strength-based system. The Government publishes tax information and impact notes (TIINs) for tax policy changes. The summary of impacts from the changes to alcohol duty announced at Spring Budget 2023, including the wine easement, can be found here: Reform of Alcohol Duty Rates and Reliefs - GOV.UK