Written questions by Jarvis.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the level of funding for International Climate Finance to support countries in the Global South in tackling climate change.

I refer the Honourable Member to the answer provided on 21 July to Question 66691.

What steps her Department is taking to support progression routes into higher education for students studying qualifications other than A-Levels; and what assessment she has made of the accessibility of university entry routes for students applying with qualifications other than A-Levels.

The department is committed to supporting diverse routes into higher education (HE). Students with qualifications other than A levels can progress to university, with many providers accepting these qualifications.HE providers are autonomous institutions who set their own entry requirements, many with high or additional entry requirements for some courses. While the department cannot intervene in individual cases regarding university admission policies, we remain committed to supporting progression routes.The department works closely with sector bodies such as UCAS and Universities UK, as well as individual providers, to ensure that admissions processes are inclusive and transparent. We also work with these bodies to ensure that T Levels are understood by universities as a high quality offer.The department continues to monitor accessibility and outcomes for students entering via vocational routes and are funding initiatives to widen participation and improve support for all learners.

What steps his Department is taking to promote initiatives to help reskill older workers without IT skills.

The Department for Work and Pensions currently offers support for those out of work, including older jobseekers, through its network of Jobcentres and through contracted employment programmes. Where a work coach becomes aware that a customer lacks digital skills, they can refer them to suitable provision for example, Foundation Digital Skills, and then onto Essential Digital Skills. In addition, work coaches and employers are supported by 50PLUS Champions working across all 37 Jobcentre Districts. 50PLUS Champions act as enablers, working collaboratively to strengthen the support available to customers over the age of 50. Examples of personalised activities that Champions organise for older jobseekers include digital awareness sessions and confidence building. Through Midlife MOT reviews, delivered in Jobcentres across the UK and the digital MOT online, we also support older people to review their health, finances and skills. The Government is reforming Jobcentre Plus and creating a new Jobs and Careers Service that will enable everyone, including the over 50s, to access support to find good, meaningful work, and support to help them progress in their careers. This includes an enhanced focus on skills and careers advice. The new service across Great Britain will be universal andavailable to anyone who wants to look for work, increase their earnings, re-train, upskill, or change their career.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits the installation of solar technology on home balconies.

The UK has huge potential for solar power, and the Government is committed to working with industry to radically increase our existing solar capacity, through a variety of methods, to meet the targets set out in the Clean Power Action Plan. Plug-in solar provides an opportunity for households to adopt solar more cheaply. The recently published Solar Roadmap includes an action for the Government to conduct a safety study this year. This safety study is currently out to tender, and the results will determine how we can progress with this work, with the aim of unlocking opportunities for plug-in solar in the near future.

What steps he has taken to ensure plans are in place to manage major power outages.

Maintaining a secure electricity supply is a key priority for Government. DESNZ work closely with the energy industry to ensure robust response plans are in place to mitigate the impacts of energy disruption. These emergency procedures and protocols are set out in the National Emergency Plan for Downstream Gas and Electricity which is available on the GOV.UK website.

What steps he is taking to reduce waiting times for applications to the Access to Work grant.

As set out in the Green Paper, we are reforming Access to Work to improve the scheme so that it helps more disabled people into and on in work. We are committed to reducing waiting times for claims and we prioritise customers starting a job in four weeks. Nevertheless, Access to Work is demand-led and tailored to the needs of each customer. We are continuing to streamline delivery practices and have increased the number of staff processing claims. Since May 2024, 118 additional staff have been redeployed to support Access to Work.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the funding model for fire and rescue services.

On 3 February, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government published the 2025/26 Local Government Finance Settlement (LGFS) which sets out funding allocations for all local authorities, including Fire and Rescue Authorities. These allocations, which include the National Insurance Contribution Grant, will see standalone fire and rescue authorities receiving an increase in core spending power of £69.1 million in 2025/26. This is an increase of 3.6 per cent in cash terms compared to 2024/25. Overall, fire and rescue authorities received around £2.87 billion in 2024/25. In addition to settlement funding, the Government has provided Fire and Rescue Authorities with several grants intended for specific purposes, such as the Fire Pensions Grant and Protection Uplift Grant.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of trends in UK aid spending on (a) water, (b) sanitation and (c) hygiene programmes.

UK bilateral Official Development Assistance (ODA) expenditure on water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) is published annually in the Statistics on International Development. The latest report shows UK bilateral ODA for WASH totalled £37 million in 2023, £45 million in 2022, £78 million in 2021, and £110 million in 2020. Figures for 2024 will be published on the 18th of September 2025.In parallel with this reduction, we have changed our approach to WASH, moving away from the direct delivery of WASH services at scale, to working in partnership with governments to strengthen the systems needed to provide and sustain WASH services. This can also help secure additional resources, including domestic funding, climate finance and private investment, extending our overall impact.

What assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the Health and Safety Executive’s approach to asbestos management in non-domestic buildings.

HSE is a non-departmental public body. Whilst it has responsibility for its own policy, it reports direct to DWP ministers. The Work and Pensions Committee held an inquiry into HSE’s approach to asbestos management and published a report in 2022. I am now working with HSE on how it will tackle Great Britain’s asbestos legacy using a variety of regulatory interventions. Asbestos in non-domestic buildings is a key ministerial priority, and HSE provides regular updates and assurance to ministers about its approach to asbestos management.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of breeding brachycephalic animals on animal welfare; and what steps her Department is taking to raise public awareness of health issues faced by those animals.

To provide a detailed scientific view on the range of issues faced by breeding dogs and cats, the Department commissioned two independent Opinions from the Animal Welfare Committee (AWC). One Opinion assessed the welfare implications of specialised canine reproductive practices, and one on the welfare implications of current and emergent feline breeding practices. The Government welcomes the AWC’s Opinions and is carefully considering their recommendations. Defra also supports the work of the UK Brachycephalic Working Group which is comprised of academia, the veterinary profession and leading animal charities.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of low noise vehicles on (a) visually impaired people and (b) guide dogs.

Electric vehicles play a key role in contributing to a quieter and cleaner environment, but the Department recognises the potential risks posed by quiet electric vehicles to pedestrians, other vulnerable road users and animals.Vehicle approval requirements have been introduced to mandate sound generators, known as Acoustic Vehicle Alerting Systems (AVAS), on new types of quiet electric and hybrid vehicles. This has applied to new vehicles being registered since 1 July 2021. The requirements ensure that electric and hybrid vehicles will always produce a minimum level of noise below twelve miles per hour and during reversing.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential implications for her policies of trends in the number of (a) rape and (b) sexual violence cases that are withdrawn at the police stage before referral to the Crown Prosecution Service; and what support is available to victims to help them continue with their cases.

We recognise the devastating impact sexual violence can have. The Government is absolutely committed to tackling rape and sexual offences and achieving the best possible outcome for victims.The level of cases closing due to the victim withdrawing support for the investigation remains stubbornly high, with over 40% of closed sexual offence investigations in the year ending March 2025 ending this way. The figure is higher for rape cases, rising to 55% of closed cases.The Home Office has invested £13.1 million to establish a new National Centre for VAWG and Public Protection (NCVPP) to improve the police response to violence against women and girls and child sexual abuse. The NCVPP is continuing to drive forward the transformational work of Operation Soteria, ensuring officers build the strongest possible, suspect-focused cases. It is vitally important that every police force has the specialist capability necessary to support victims of rape and sexual violence and bring perpetrators to justice. The Centre will also support the development of strengthened specialist training for officers across the country ensuring they offer consistent protection for victims and relentlessly pursue these vile crimes.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that the Care Quality Commission adequately monitors the provision of meaningful activities in care homes.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is responsible for assessing care home providers for compliance with standards in the assessment framework and the accompanying quality statements. Care homes are expected to promote independence, give care home residents choice and control over their own care, treatment and wellbeing, including around meaningful activities.The Department continues to work closely with the CQC as they make changes to their assessment framework and regulatory approach, ahead of formal consultation planned in the autumn.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of food labelling requirements for people with (a) intolerances, (b) allergies and (c) undergoing cancer treatment of products that contain artificial sweeteners.

Food labelling legislation requires that all ingredients, including artificial sweeteners, are clearly listed on food labels. Products containing sweeteners must carry additional labelling to indicate their presence. Certain sweeteners also require specific warnings to support safe consumption. This ensures that consumers, including those with allergies, intolerances, or undergoing medical treatment, can identify relevant ingredients and make informed choices.The Department continues to work with the Food Standards Agency and stakeholders to ensure labelling remains clear, consistent and responsive to consumer needs.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of funding for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service in the Spending Review 2025.

On 3 February, the Ministry published the 2025/26 Local Government Finance Settlement which sets out funding allocations for all local authorities including fire and rescue. Standalone fire and rescue authorities will see an increase in core spending power of up to £69.1 million in 2025/26. Including the National Insurance Contribution Grant, this is an increase of 3.6% in cash terms compared to 2024/25. The Settlement also sets out a threshold for council tax increases in 2025/26 of £5. This financial year, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Authority will have a core spending power of £99.8 million, an increase of 3.7 % compared to 2024/25. The Ministry will continue to work closely with stakeholders across the sector to ensure fire and rescue services have the resources they need to protect communities.

What steps her Department is taking to protect (a) children and (b) young people from online sextortion.

To tackle the growing threat of sextortion, the Home Office is funding law enforcement capabilities to combat this crime, such as through investment in the National Crime Agency (NCA), who use their unique capabilities to disrupt the highest harm offenders, including those based overseas. The NCA is also a member of the Virtual Global Taskforce, which is an international alliance of 15 dedicated law enforcement agencies working together to tackle the global threat from all forms of child sexual abuse.The Home Office also invests in a network of Undercover Online Officers in Regional Organised Crime Units to disrupt high harm offenders, including those seeking to groom or otherwise manipulate children into sharing sexual images.The Online Safety Act protects citizens – especially children – from abuse and harm and applies to companies that provide user-to-user services and search services. It places robust duties on tech companies to prevent and swiftly remove illegal content, including child sexual abuse material, and to take proactive steps to protect children from harm. The strongest protections in the Act are for children.Where a company fails to protect users, Ofcom will have a suite of enforcement powers such as issuing fines of up to 10% of their revenue and business disruption measures including blocking companies.The Government will continue to engage with social media companies to make it clear they must act and implement robust detection measures to prevent their platforms being safe spaces for criminals.This Government will continue to proactively review legislation, and we will not hesitate to legislate further to ensure the protection of children online.

What steps he is taking to (a) safeguard and (b) improve hospital helipad access at all major trauma centres.

Air ambulances form a vital part of the emergency response to patients in critical need. The Department of Health and Social Care continues to work closely with NHS England and the Department for Transport to ensure that there is appropriate helipad accessibility available for air ambulances across the country.The Department of Health and Social Care is working with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to support and promote the interests of the health and care system throughout the planning process, including improving the participation of all relevant health stakeholders in the creation of local plans to ensure that necessary service provision is maintained.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential risks associated with loans offered through the app Wagestream to employees on low incomes.

As a consumer credit firm regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Wagestream must follow the FCA’s detailed rules on affordability checks. FCA rules mean that firms should only lend to consumers who can afford repayments and this should be based on a careful assessment of their income, spending, and financial commitments. These rules aim to prevent over-indebtedness, promote responsible lending, and ensure fair treatment of customers. More broadly, ensuring individuals have access to the appropriate financial products and services they need is a key priority for the Government. This is why we are bringing forward a Financial Inclusion Strategy later this year which will seek to tackle a range of barriers individuals face, including how to increase access to affordable credit for underserved consumers. The Strategy will also consider how to improve the financial resilience of low-income households through interventions to support people to build savings, access insurance, and seek debt advice where they need it.

What steps her Department is taking to help reduce the time taken to register a power of attorney.

The Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) aims to register lasting powers of attorney (LPA) within eight weeks, including a legally required four-week notice period for objections. A backlog that built up during the COVID-19 pandemic was successfully cleared by November 2024. From then until March 2025, OPG consistently met the 40-day registration target. Due to sustained increases in demand and an isolated and local power outage in March 2025, registration is currently taking slightly longer than the OPG target. OPG is addressing this through recruitment efforts, overtime, and new scanning systems to improve efficiency. Plans to modernise LPAs will allow LPAs to be fully made and registered online for the first time, with paper option retained. Digitisation will improve accessibility, reduce errors, and shorten processing times.

What assessment her Department has made of the number of (a) rape and (b) sexual violence cases that are withdrawn post-charge; and what support is available to victims to help them continue with their cases.

Reducing victim attrition remains a serious concern for this Government. We are committed to improving the experiences of victims of rape and sexual violence and ensuring they receive the support they need to continue with their cases.The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) recognises that it has a key role to play in ensuring that victims receive better communication and support at both the pre- and post-charge stages, underpinned by timely and high-quality decision making.Through its Victim Transformation Programme, the CPS is taking action to improve the service offered to all victims of crime. As part of this work, all adult victims of rape now receive an Enhanced Service – which includes access to a dedicated Victim Liaison Officer, as well as the offer of a pre-trial meeting with the prosecution team. Victims are also able to speak with Independent Sexual Violence Advisors, who can answer questions and signpost them towards relevant support services.More broadly, in May 2025, the CPS published its Victim Service Standards, which publicly set out the expectations CPS staff should meet when writing to or speaking with victims. The Standards make clear that victims can expect consistency, empathy and clarity from the CPS.The two tables below show the overall volumes of prosecutions conducted by the CPS since 2021 for (1) rape flagged cases, and (2) cases where the principal offence category was ‘sexual offences’ (excluding rape flagged cases to avoid double counting).For each category, the tables also provide the volume of victim attrition (the number of prosecutions that were stopped because the victim no longer supported, or was unable to support, the prosecution) and the rate of victim attrition (the proportion of total prosecutions that were discontinued for this reason).Further information is available in the quarterly data published on the CPS website: https://www.cps.gov.uk/publication/cps-quarterly-data-summaries Table 1: Victim attrition in rape flagged prosecutions 2021202220232024Jan-Mar 2025Prosecutions2,4092,5263,5334,3171,120Victim Attrition (volume)10815424130698Victim Attrition (rate of all prosecutions)4.5%6.1%6.8%7.1%8.8% Table 2: Victim attrition in prosecutions for Sexual Offences (excluding rape flagged prosecutions) 2021202220232024Jan-Mar 2025Prosecutions9,0169,70111,06412,8323,712Victim Attrition (volume)18523026132293Victim Attrition (rate of all prosecutions)2.1%2.4%2.4%2.5%2.5%