Written questions by Jarvis.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of employment protections for self-employed parcel delivery drivers; what discussions he has had with parcel delivery companies regarding the transparency of payment structures for delivery drivers; whether he has made an assessment of the extent to which self-employed parcel delivery drivers undertake unpaid work; what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of dispute resolution mechanisms available to parcel delivery drivers; what discussions he has had with the parcel delivery industry regarding working conditions and remuneration models for drivers engaged on a self-employed basis; and whether his Department plans to review employment status, pay practices, and contractor oversight in the parcel delivery sector.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment she has made of the adequacy of current childcare support arrangements for working parents, including (a) the relationship between minimum work requirements and the number of funded childcare hours available, (b) the availability of childcare support outside term time, and (c) the potential impact of childcare costs and accessibility on parents’ ability to enter or remain in employment.

Awaiting answer.

What guidance his Department has issued to NHS bodies on the (a) clinical, (b) functional and (c) other criteria to be used when prioritising patients for (i) Autism and (ii) ADHD assessments; what oversight arrangements are in place for decisions made by NHS bodies on the prioritisation of patients for Autism and ADHD assessments; and whether his Department has (A) undertaken and (B) required NHS bodies to undertake an Equality Impact Assessment in relation to restrictions or prioritisation decisions affecting access to Autism and ADHD assessments.

Awaiting answer.

What estimate her Department has made of the number of car thefts in Eastleigh constituency; what assessment she has made of the impact of (a) relay attacks, (b) CAN bus attacks and (c) other sophisticated theft methods on rates of vehicle theft; and what steps her Department is taking to support (i) public awareness campaigns, (ii) improved vehicle security standards, (iii) collaboration with manufacturers, (iv) police efforts to tackle organised vehicle crime and the export of stolen vehicles and car parts and (v) other methods to prevent car theft.

The Home Office collects and publishes information on the number of vehicle offences recorded by the police in England and Wales. This information is published at Community Safety Partnership level, including Eastleigh.The latest information, for the year ending December 2025, is available here:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/police-recorded-crime-and-outcomes-open-data-tables#police-recorded-crime-open-data-community-safety-partnership-tablesThe Government is cracking down on the brazen car thieves who use new technologies to commit their crimes.In our Crime and Policing Act, we have brought forward two new offences to criminalise the possession, importation, making, adapting, supplying or offering to supply an electronic device (such as a signal jammer) for use in theft of a vehicle or theft of anything in a vehicle. The Government provided funding to set up the National Vehicle Crime Reduction Partnership, a partnership of policing, industry and government aimed at combatting organised vehicle crime across the UK. The Government continues to support this work. Since 2024, the Home Office has dedicated almost £1m (£970,000) to bolster the enforcement response to organised vehicle theft and export. This money, provided to the National Vehicle Crime Reduction Partnership (NVCRP), has supported enforcement work inland and at the ports to prevent and disrupt stolen vehicles and their parts being shipped abroad, including additional staff, police training, and specialist equipment. The funding enabled Operation Alliances II, a national crackdown on organised vehicle crime, which brought together local and national policing, and key partners, including the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (NaVCIS). In a coordinated week of action in October last year, over £3.3 million worth of stolen vehicles and over £13m worth of vehicle parts were recovered, and there were more than 365 arrests. The Home Office is committing a further £300k this year toward tackling organised vehicle theft and export, to further strengthen these efforts and build on the progress already made.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to reduce the use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in (a) cookware, (b) school uniforms and (c) other consumer products; what comparative assessment she has made of regulatory approaches adopted by (i) France, (ii) Denmark and (iii) other countries in developing the UK’s approach to PFAS regulation; and what her Department’s planned timetable is to minimise the effects of PFAS while transitioning to safer alternative substances.

Steps to better understand the sources of these chemicals, tackle how they move around in the environment, and act to reduce public and environmental exposure were set out on 3 February 2026 in the UK’s first-ever PFAS Plan. PFAS Plan: building a safer future together - GOV.UK This includes actions on food contact materials, school uniforms and other consumer products. We are closely following the specific measures adopted by France and Denmark which will usefully inform the development of the actions we take forward from the plan. Our long-term vision is to work in partnership, taking a science-based and proportionate approach, to reduce and minimise the impacts of harmful PFAS on public health and the environment, including through the transition to safer alternatives.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of freezing repayment thresholds and interest rate arrangements for Plan 2 student loans from 2027 on (a) low and middle income graduates and (b) the wider financial circumstances of young adults; what assessment she has made of the implications of these changes for the Government’s policy objective of ensuring that the student finance system is fair for students, graduates and taxpayers; whether her Department has assessed the impact of applying changes to repayment terms to existing borrowers who entered into loan agreements under previous conditions; and whether she has considered the case for greater regulatory oversight of student loans, including by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Plan 2 loans were designed and implemented by the previous government and, given the inherited fiscal situation, we are making tough but necessary decisions.It is important to consider this change in the round. We have increased the repayment threshold for Plan 2 loans to £28,470 in April 2025, its first increase since 2021, and increased it again on 6 April this year, to £29,385. Threshold freezes from 2027 have been introduced to protect taxpayers and students now, alongside future generations of learners and workers.Student loan balances do not appear on borrower credit records, meaning the total size of the student loan debt is not considered in a borrower mortgage application.Student loans have more favourable features compared with Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulated loans and cannot be regarded as comparable financial services to such loans. Unlike FCA-regulated products, key student loan terms are set out in regulations, and any changes would be subject to parliamentary scrutiny.Student loan terms and conditions make clear that the conditions of the loan may change in line with the regulations that govern the loans. Students sign these terms and conditions before any money is paid to them.The department has produced the attached analysis regarding the lifetime impact of freezing the repayment and interest thresholds.

Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the time taken to introduce legislation relating to secondary ticketing platforms on consumers.

We are fully committed to putting fans first by ending the scourge of industrial-scale ticket touting and protecting consumers on the secondary ticketing market. That is why we announced plans last year to introduce a price cap prohibiting the resale of a live events ticket for more than the original ticket cost. We are taking the time to get this right and will publish a draft bill in this session of parliament for pre-legislative scrutiny. This will allow us to draw on expertise from parliamentarians, industry organisations and campaign groups to ensure that the legislation is effective, enforceable and future-proof. Following our consultation last year, the ticketing industry is also stepping up to establish new best practice on ticket sales. We welcome the work undertaken by the Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers (STAR) who have already convened the sector to begin this work.

Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to improve fire safety in homes; what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of existing fire safety regulations for household furnishings and consumer products; what plans the Government has to increase public awareness of fire prevention and household fire risks; and what steps he is taking to ensure that any future changes to fire safety regulations do not reduce protections for consumers or increase the risk of fire-related deaths and injuries.

The Government’s national ‘Fire Kills’ campaign provides clear, practical advice to help people prevent fires in the home and respond safely if a fire occurs, and this year has focused on the need to have sufficient smoke alarms. The campaign also supports fire and rescue services in delivering their statutory duty to promote fire safety through local prevention activity. There has been a long-term downward trend in the number of dwelling fires over the past 10 years. In the year ending December 2025, there were 26,298 dwelling fires. This was a decrease of 16% with the year ending December 2015 where there were 31,213 dwelling fires. The Government works closely with fire and rescue services, regulators and industry to monitor emerging risks, including those associated with modern consumer products, and to ensure that guidance and standards remain appropriate and effective. MHCLG works closely with Department for Business and Trade (DBT) on fire safety matters. The Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 (FFRs), as well as general consumer product safety, is the responsibility of DBT. DBT has launched a consultation setting out the Government’s intention to reform the FFRs to maintain a high level of fire safety while facilitating a reduction in the use of chemical flame retardants. The Government remains clear that maintaining and improving public safety is paramount, and there are no plans to reduce protections for consumers or to introduce changes that would increase the risk of fire related deaths and injuries.

What timetable the Government has set for implementation of a UK-EU youth mobility or youth experience scheme; what assessment he has made of the potential economic, educational and cultural benefits of increased youth mobility between the UK and EU member states; what steps he will take to ensure accessibility of any future scheme for young people from low and middle income backgrounds; and whether the Government plans to seek participation in wider European educational and exchange programmes.

We are negotiating an ambitious youth experience scheme with the EU. Any scheme will provide a valuable form of cultural exchange for young Brits to travel, work, study and experience other cultures. We have been clear that the scheme should be in line with the UK’s existing schemes, such as Australia and New Zealand, but the exact parameters are subject to negotiation. The youth experience scheme will be good for the economy, but we will not be able to provide a full assessment of the impacts whilst negotiations are ongoing.This scheme will support opportunities for educational and cultural exchange, building on the exciting opportunities our association to Erasmus+ in 2027 brings.

What guidance his Department has issued to GP practices on the application of NHS proxy access policies for children aged 11 to 16; what assessment he has made of the adequacy of current arrangements in providing support for parents and carers of children with autism requiring assistance in accessing healthcare services and medical information; and what steps his Department is taking to ensure consistent interpretation and application of NHS proxy access guidance by GP practices for patients aged 11 to 16.

General practices (GPs) can provide proxy access to parents or carers of a child under the age of 16 years old. The GP surgery must get the child's consent before giving access to their online GP services, if the child is able to understand and make an informed decision. Children aged 11 years old and over are generally presumed to have capacity to consent to, or refuse, proxy access, unless, for example, a medical condition or learning disability affects their understanding.More broadly, the Government is taking steps to improve access to services for patients who may need additional support, including children with autism and their carers. GPs are required to provide online consultation tools, which can support patients and carers to contact their practice remotely, including for appointments, repeat prescriptions, and registration.In addition, NHS England is rolling out the Reasonable Adjustment Digital Flag, which allows services to record where a disabled patient needs reasonable adjustments so that care can be provided more appropriately and consistently.

What assessment her Department has made of whether the freezing of repayment thresholds for Plan 2 student loans from 2027 constitutes a form of fiscal drag; what assessment she has made of the distributional impact of this measure across different income groups and regions; what assessment she has made of the potential impact of frozen repayment thresholds on the ability of graduates to (a) save for a house deposit, (b) access mortgage lending, (c) build savings and financial resilience; and what assessment she has made of the wider economic impact of increased student loan repayment levels on consumer spending and living standards among low and middle income graduates.

Plan 2 loans were designed and implemented by the previous government and, given the inherited fiscal situation, we are making tough but necessary decisions.It is important to consider this change in the round. We have increased the repayment threshold for Plan 2 loans to £28,470 in April 2025, its first increase since 2021, and increased it again on 6 April this year, to £29,385. Threshold freezes from 2027 have been introduced to protect taxpayers and students now, alongside future generations of learners and workers.Student loan balances do not appear on borrower credit records, meaning the total size of the student loan debt is not considered in a borrower mortgage application.Student loans have more favourable features compared with Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulated loans and cannot be regarded as comparable financial services to such loans. Unlike FCA-regulated products, key student loan terms are set out in regulations, and any changes would be subject to parliamentary scrutiny.Student loan terms and conditions make clear that the conditions of the loan may change in line with the regulations that govern the loans. Students sign these terms and conditions before any money is paid to them.The department has produced the attached analysis regarding the lifetime impact of freezing the repayment and interest thresholds.

What assessment she has made of the adequacy of the current concessionary travel scheme in areas experiencing reductions in local bus services; and what steps she is taking to ensure that pensioners can access essential services where public transport provision is limited, including through travel tokens.

The Government is committed to delivering better bus services and ensuring that everyone in England, including concessionary pass holders, can access the services they need. Our Bus Services Act 2025 puts passenger needs, reliable services and local accountability at the heart of local bus services by putting the power back in the hands of local leaders right across England. The Government reaffirmed its commitment to investing in bus services in the Spending Review, confirming over £3 billion from 2026/27 to 2028/29 to support local leaders and bus operators to improve bus services for millions of passengers. This includes multi-year allocations for local authorities under the Local Authority Bus Grant (LABG) totalling nearly £700 million per year, ending the short-term approach to bus funding and giving councils the certainty they need to plan ahead to improve services for local communities. Funding allocated to local authorities to improve services can be used in whichever way they wish to deliver better services for passengers, this could include expanding current bus provision. The statutory English National Concessionary Travel Scheme provides eligible older and disabled people with free off‑peak local bus travel, and this entitlement is enshrined in law. In addition, local authorities have the power to provide alternative concessionary schemes. Where they choose to do so, an individual eligible for the statutory concession may surrender their free bus pass in return for concessions under an alternative local scheme, such as travel tokens. Decisions on whether to offer such schemes are a matter for individual local authorities, reflecting their local circumstances and priorities.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the implementation of the Entry-Exit System on British tourists travelling to countries in the European Union, including on (a) families travelling with young children, (b) the travel and tourism industry, and (c) overall levels of outbound travel during peak holiday periods; and what steps she is taking to ensure that it works effectively for British holidaymakers and the travel industry.

The Entry/Exit System (EES) is an EU system, and its implementation is a matter for the EU and its member states.The UK Government is engaging the European Commission and member states to encourage a pragmatic approach to EES that minimises disruption now that it is fully operational. We are also working with transport and travel operators to understand the potential impact of EES and supporting them with a communications package to help prepare passengers in advance of their journey.

Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to issue guidance to local authorities on maintaining non-digital access routes for services such as Home Waste Recycling Centres, for residents who are digitally excluded; and what assessment he has made of the adequacy of how local authorities balance digital service delivery with the need to maintain non-digital access routes for digitally excluded residents.

Local councils have a legal obligation to ensure their services are accessible. This includes offering non-digital options for all vital services, such as applications for Council Tax reductions, Housing Benefit, and Blue Badges. This is set out in the Equality Act 2010. I also refer the hon Member to the Digital Inclusion Action Plan: First Steps.

What assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the level of NHS provision of continence containment products for people with severe disabilities; and whether he plans to issue guidance to integrated care boards and NHS trusts to ensure that provision levels reflect individual clinical assessments, particularly in cases where current prescribing limits are considered insufficient to meet need.

The Department has not made a specific assessment as integrated care boards are responsible for commissioning continence services in their areas. These services include assessment, treatment, and, where clinically appropriate, the supply of continence products. Decisions on the type and quantity of products are made by clinicians following individual assessment, in line with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance on incontinence and professional standards.NHS Supply Chain supports trusts with the procurement of continence products through value-based procurement initiatives to ensure products are safe, effective, and cost-efficient. Further information on continence commissioning is available at:https://www.england.nhs.uk/commissioning/continence/

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of defendants changing a plea from not guilty to guilty at a late stage in proceedings on victims of offences of controlling or coercive behaviour under the Serious Crime Act 2015; whether he has assessed the extent to which current sentencing arrangements might incentivise late changes of plea; and whether he plans to review sentencing guidance on reductions for late guilty pleas in such cases.

We recognise that guilty pleas made earlier in the process can save victims and witnesses from the concern of having to give evidence, particularly in cases involving controlling or coercive behaviour or domestic abuse. Even if an offender pleads later in the process, this can still save victims from giving potentially traumatic evidence, but the later plea is reflected by a lower reduction in the sentence, as set out in guidelines produced by the Sentencing Council.In Sir Brian Leveson’s Independent Review of Criminal Courts, he made a number of recommendations relating to early guilty pleas, including a recommendation to increase the maximum reduction in sentence for a guilty plea from 33% to 40% with the aim of increasing the number of defendants pleading earlier in the process. We will set out our full response to Sir Brian’s remaining recommendations, alongside Part 2 of his review, in due course.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of changes to Official Development Assistance funding for the Global Polio Eradication Initiative on (a) global efforts to eradicate polio, (b) child health outcomes in endemic and at-risk countries and (c) the risk of resurgence of poliovirus.

I refer the Hon. Member to the response given to question 126356 on 20 April.

Whether Mast Cell Activation Syndrome is recognised within NHS England; whether national diagnostic guidelines for MCAS are being developed, including in relation to its association with neurological, psychiatric and autonomic conditions such as dysautonomia and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome; and what steps his Department is taking to reduce the time taken for diagnosis of patients presenting with multisystem inflammatory, allergic and autonomic symptoms.

NHS England recognises mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), and that patients may experience a spectrum of clinical presentations and symptoms making diagnosis challenging.NHS England is considering publishing guidance to help integrated care commission services locally that meet the needs for people with MCAS.The Department has published the 10-Year Health Plan which will shift care out of hospitals and into virtual and neighbourhood services in the community. Planned care will be more efficient and patients will wait less time for their care.

What assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the supply of Ketotifen; and what steps he is taking to support primary care practitioners in the diagnosis and management of multi-system conditions requiring such treatments.

The supplier of ketotifen (Zaditen) one milligram tablets has confirmed there is currently no shortage of this product, and it is in stock and available to order.General practitioners are responsible for ensuring their own clinical knowledge remains up-to-date and for identifying learning needs as part of their continuing professional development. This activity should include taking account of new research and developments in guidance, such as that produced by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, to ensure that they can continue to provide high quality care to all patients.

Innovation and Technology, what steps she has taken with Cabinet colleagues to (a) reduce the sale of counterfeit fashion goods and (b) improve coordination between enforcement agencies to tackle such activity.

(a) The Government is reducing the sale of counterfeit fashion goods by supporting Police, Trading Standards and Border Force to take targeted enforcement action, disrupt online sales, seize counterfeit goods and use Proceeds of Crime Act powers to recover criminal profits, ensuring counterfeiting does not pay.(b) Coordination is being strengthened through the IPO’s Counter-Infringement Strategy, the IPO-funded Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) and the national network of IP Crime Coordinators. This is supported by further partnership working with Trading Standards and Border Force, alongside improved intelligence-sharing, training and multi-agency operations to tackle organised counterfeit supply chains.