Written questions by Pitcher.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of statutory maternity pay levels on (a) workforce retention and (b) maternal health outcomes.

The Government has committed to review the parental leave and pay system.

Innovation and Technology, whether her Department plans to review the legal and regulatory framework governing the domestic use of CCTV, with particular reference to protections for individuals whose homes or private spaces are captured by neighbouring security cameras.

The department has no plans to review the current legal and regulatory framework governing the domestic use of CCTV, which can play a useful role in making householders feel safe and helping the police to prevent crime.Individuals that use CCTV to film outside their property boundary have to comply with the UK’s data protection laws. This means that any personal data captured, such as images, recordings and footage of identifiable individuals, should be processed fairly, lawfully, transparently, and securely.The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), the UK’s independent regulator for data protection, has published practical guidance to help people concerned about intrusive use of CCTV: Home CCTV systems | ICO. Regardless of whether or not the use of CCTV falls within the data protection legislation, the ICO recommends that people use it responsibly to protect the privacy of others.Where the use of a domestic camera system constitutes harassment or stalking, other, criminal laws will apply.

Communities and Local Government, whether his Department plans to review planning regulations for houses in multiple occupation.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 22786 on 17 January 2025.The government continues to keep permitted development rights under review.

With reference to the report by CenTax entitled A fair solution to inheritance tax on farms and small businesses, published on 15 August 2025, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the proposal for a minimum share rule on levels of Inheritance Tax paid by (a) family-run farms and (b) estates holding agricultural land for investment purposes.

The Government believes its reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief from 6 April 2026 get the balance right between supporting farms and businesses, fixing the public finances, and funding public services. The reforms reduce the inheritance tax advantages available to owners of agricultural and business assets, but still mean those assets will be taxed at a much lower effective rate than most other assets. Despite a tough fiscal context, the Government will maintain very significant levels of relief from inheritance tax beyond what is available to others and compared to the position before 1992. Where inheritance tax is due, those liable for a charge can pay any liability on the relevant assets over 10 annual instalments, interest-free. As announced at Budget 2025, any unused £1 million allowance for the 100% rate of agricultural property relief and business property relief will be transferable between spouses and civil partners, including if the first death was before 6 April 2026. The report by the independent Centre for the Analysis of Taxation (CenTax) sets out its other potential amendments to the policy are not, in its own words, a “silver bullet”. For example, CenTax acknowledge the proposal for a minimum share test is less effective than the Government’s reforms in raising revenue from the wealthiest estates, could be exposed to tax planning opportunities, would not necessarily prevent wealthy individuals buying land for inheritance tax purposes, and would mean double the number of estates being affected by the reforms (and largely estates below £2 million).

Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications of his policies the recommendation in the report entitled FloodReady – an action plan to build the resilience of people and properties, published on 16 October 2025, that the Government explore (a) amending Building Regulations and (b) amending the Future Homes Standard to include low-cost property flood resilience measures.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 81948 on 21 October 2025.

When the Disability Confident Scheme was last evaluated, what metrics were used, and whether the Department plans to review employer compliance with the guaranteed interview commitment.

In 2022, the department ran a survey to understand from members’ perspectives the impact that signing up to the Disability Confident scheme has had on their organisations. Metrics in the survey included members’ recruitment and retention attitudes and practices towards disabled people, awareness of the benefits of Disability Confident membership, plans for membership renewal, and perceived impact of Disability Confident on the organisation. The findings of the survey can be accessed from: Disability Confident: survey of participating employers, May 2022 - GOV.UK. DWP is working with stakeholders, including disabled people, the Devolved Governments, local authorities, disability organisations, employers and sector experts to strengthen the scheme. This includes reviewing the current offer of an interview commitment and exploring how we can work with employers to improve transparency and accountability against scheme criteria.

Whether there are plans to build new service family accommodation in the constituency of Doncaster East and the Isle of Axholme.

The Defence Housing Strategy sets out a vision for the future renewal of the Service family estate, backed by a 10-year programme of investment. Until the Strategy implementation plan is finalised, we are unable to confirm any future plans for new Service Family Accommodation in your constituency of Doncaster East and the Isle of Axholme.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of bus franchising on community connectivity in rural villages.

The Government is committed to delivering better bus services, including in rural areas. We have set out a plan to achieve this based on giving local leaders the powers they need and empowering them to choose the service model that works best in their area, whether that be franchising, strengthened Enhanced Partnerships, or local authority bus companies. Under franchised bus services, local authorities can assume responsibility for all elements of the bus network, including routes, timetables and fares. This can lead to improved levels of connectivity. There is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to franchising, and Government is engaging with Local Transport Authorities to identify potential alternative models of franchising that could be adopted and used by smaller or more rural authorities. The Government has also allocated funding to five different areas to take forward bus franchising pilots. The pilots will test different franchising models to investigate how they can be implemented and deliver improved bus services for passengers, including in more rural locations. The pilots will provide funding, guidance, and practical resources to local transport authorities to identify the most suitable approach to bus franchising and wider bus reform measures.

Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to ensure the Online Safety Act 2023 does not result in unintended consequences for (a) freedom of expression and (b) access to (i) supportive and (ii) archival online content.

Under the Act, both Ofcom and in-scope companies will have duties relating to freedom of expression, for which they can be held to account. Platforms will not be able to arbitrarily remove content and users will have access to effective complaints procedures to appeal instances when content is unduly taken down. This will ensure that UK users can express themselves freely online and participate in pluralistic and robust debate.

Whether her Department has made an assessment into the social value of increasing rail connectivity (a) in and (b) between rural and semi-rural areas.

Assessments of the social value of increasing rail connectivity (a) in and (b) between rural and semi-rural areas are calculated on a case-by-case basis to reflect local economic conditions, using Transport Analysis Guidance (TAG). As an aid to understanding the value of such connectivity between origins and destinations, the Department for Transport has developed the connectivity metric, which measures an individual’s ability to reach employment, services and social engagements.Connectivity evaluates the value of destinations and the opportunity to reach said destinations using various modes of transport, including walking, cycling, driving and public transport. It considers different purposes of travel, like employment, education, shopping, leisure and healthcare. Its value will vary widely across geographies or between locations. In assessing the full social value of connectivity, the Connectivity tool is one method of gauging such potential value. However, this assessment must then take a holistic view as set out in TAG, including the guidance on assessment of the wider benefits of rail interventions including reduced road congestion, improved air quality and reduced carbon emissions.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the adequacy of restoration of rail service levels to pre COVID-19 levels.

We regularly review and publish passenger demand levels and work closely with operators to ensure they provide sufficient capacity to meet demand wherever possible. We have been clear with operators that they should meet demand in a manner that supports overall performance improvement and minimises the net subsidy taxpayers pay for rail.

What steps he is taking to improve the Child Maintenance Service.

The Government has announced ambitious plans to reform the CMS. Moving all cases to a single service, where payments are collected and transferred will provide an improved service, quickly identifying and tackling missed payments and lifting more children out of poverty. The Government has also been undertaking a review of the child maintenance calculation and announced its intention to publish a consultation. The Department continues to optimise digital channels, delivering services more efficiently and effectively.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of increasing the rate of office-to-residential asset conversions to accelerate the delivery of social housing.

Under nationally set permitted development rights a wide range of commercial buildings such as offices and shops are able to change use to residential without the need for a planning application. The government continues to keep permitted development rights under review.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure equitable access England to (a) diagnosis, (b) treatment and (c) specialist rehabilitation services for patients with Functional Neurological Disorder.

The majority of services for people with neurological conditions, including functional neurological disorder (FND), are commissioned locally. Integrated care board (ICB) commissioners are best placed to configure services for their populations and are supported by clinical guidance.More widely, NHS England’s Neuroscience Transformation Programme is supporting ICBs to deliver the right service, at the right time for all neurology patients, which includes providing care closer to home.NHS England’s Getting It Right First Time Programme for Neurology and RightCare Toolkits, including the Progressive Neurological Conditions Toolkit, the Headache and Migraine Toolkit, and the Epilepsy Toolkit, aim to improve care for patients with neurological conditions by reducing variation.On 15 October 2025, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence published new guidance, titled Rehabilitation for chronic neurological disorders including acquired brain injury. The guideline covers rehabilitation in all settings for children, young people, and adults with a chronic neurological disorder, neurological impairment, or disabling neurological symptoms resulting from acquired brain injury, spinal cord injury, peripheral nerve disorder, progressive neurological disease, or FND. Further information is available at the following link:https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/indevelopment/gid-ng10181

Whether she has made an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of the report by CenTax entitled A fair solution to inheritance tax on farms and small businesses, published on 15 August 2025.

The Government believes its reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief from 6 April 2026 get the balance right between supporting farms and businesses, and fixing the public finances. The reforms reduce the inheritance tax advantages available to owners of agricultural and business assets, but still mean those assets will be taxed at a much lower effective rate than most other assets. Despite a tough fiscal context, the Government will maintain very significant levels of relief from inheritance tax beyond what is available to others and compared to the position before 1992. Where inheritance tax is due, those liable for a charge can pay any liability on the relevant assets over 10 annual instalments, interest-free. The report by the independent Centre for the Analysis of Taxation (CenTax) supports the Government’s analysis of these reforms, including the number of estates affected in 2026-27, and concludes that half of these estates will see an increase in their effective inheritance tax rate of less than 5 percentage points, and almost 90 per cent of these estates could pay their entire inheritance tax bill out of non-farm assets. In CenTax’s opinion, the Government’s proposed reforms improve on the current position and are expected largely to meet the Government’s objectives. CenTax did suggest the Government could consider amending the policy to introduce a “minimum share rule” or an upper limit on relief. However, as the report acknowledges, there are challenges with those approaches too and they are not a “silver bullet”, in CenTax’s own words. The Government will invest more than £2.7 billion a year in sustainable farming and nature recovery from 2026-27 until 2028-29. This includes the largest financial investment into nature-friendly farming ever.

With reference to her Department's press release entitled Transport Secretary acts to make thousands of extra driving tests available each month, published on 23 April 2025, how many driving test places have been available to book in each the last six months for which data is available.

The table below shows the number of car practical driving tests provided for the months April 2025 to September 2025.AprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberTotal155,582161,039172,327185,901158,511183,762

Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that cladding remediation works on high-risk buildings are not subject to avoidable delays in the building control approval process by the Building Safety Regulator.

The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) has established a dedicated external remediation team who assess all building control approval applications for cladding remediation. The team is already delivering engagement events to improve developers’ understanding of the requirements, and therefore increase the quality of applications and approval rates.The BSR is also in the process of establishing a remediation enforcement unit, to oversee escalations from government/partner regulators where remediation is not progressing quickly enough. The unit will have access to additional, dedicated resources for building control work to deal with the increasing demand, and to help increase the pace of remediation works.We recognise that delays in assessing Gateway approval applications are unacceptable, which is why we announced reforms on 30 June including carving out the BSR from the Health and Safety Executive and establishing the Regulator as a standalone body with a clear focus on building safety.The BSR is already making operational and policy changes to speed up decision making, particularly on building control approval, including through the introduction of an Innovation Unit. Early signs are positive with all applications in the Innovation Unit so far on track to exceed or meet the 12-week SLA as they progress through the application process.In addition to this, BSR has initiated a new approach of batching applications so they can be processed by multidisciplinary teams formed by Registered Building Control Approvers with oversight from BSR.The BSR is continually improving the suite of guidance that supports those with duties in understanding what the law requires of them and how they can comply. New guidance with the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) has been published to help applicants better understand what’s needed for a successful submission.

Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that (a) remote and (b) other hard-to-reach properties are provided access to reliable fibre broadband.

Project Gigabit is the Government’s programme to deliver gigabit-capable broadband to UK premises that are not included in suppliers' commercial plans. Our goal is for nationwide gigabit coverage by 2032, ensuring at least 99% of UK premises can access a gigabit-capable connection.More than £2.4 billion of Project Gigabit contracts have already been signed to connect over one million more premises with gigabit-capable broadband. These premises fall predominantly in rural areas.However, our expectation is that some remote premises will remain too expensive to build a gigabit connection to. We continue to consider what can be done to further enable alternatives to fibre connections.

What steps her Department is taking to encourage the use of digital asset management systems by local retailers to support crime prevention.

the Retail Crime Forum to ensure we understand the needs of retailers and to promote collaboration between the retail sector, security providers and law enforcement. This is an opportunity to share best practice and awareness of different initiatives to tackle the range of drivers of shop theft, including technology.

What steps her Department is taking to regulate the use of privately owned e-scooters involved in anti-social behaviour.

Tackling anti-social behaviour is a top priority for this Government and a key part of our Safer Streets Mission. Our Crime and Policing Bill will give the police greater powers to clamp down on all vehicles, including e-scooters, involved in anti-social behaviour, with officers no longer required to issue a warning before seizing these vehicles.On 28 May, the Government launched a six-week consultation on proposals to allow the police to more quickly dispose of seized vehicles such as e-scooters which have been used anti-socially. The consultation closed on 8 July and the Government response will be published in due course. Combined, these proposals will help tackle the scourge of vehicles ridden anti-socially by sending a clear message to would be offenders and local communities that this behaviour will not be tolerated.There are various offences relating to e-scooter use that the police can enforce with a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN). Riding an e-scooter on the pavement can result in a FPN of £50.The Government has made no decisions on micromobility regulation, however, resolving the longstanding problems and missed opportunities of micromobility, including e-scooters, is a priority for the Government.