Written questions by Roberts.

What the (a) reasons for and (b) outcomes of complaints made through the new independent reporting channel in HMPPS were since its establishment.

The new independent reporting channel may consider allegations of bullying, harassment, discrimination, sexual harassment or assault, or cases where serious safeguarding concerns are raised. Complaints may be upheld, partially upheld or not upheld, or mediation between parties may be recommended.A number of cases are still being investigated. As we are still in the process of putting in place a system for analysing data relating to complaints made through the new reporting channel, it is not possible to provide the requested information at this stage.

What progress he has made on the new independent reporting channel in HMPPS.

On 10 November 2025, as part of the work to implement the reforms recommended in the Rademaker Review, His Majesty’s Prison & Probation Service (HMPPS) instituted an interim grievance process through which members of staff can raise complaints about bullying, harassment, discrimination or victimisation outside of their management line. This complements the existing grievance policy. For the period up to 26 February 2026, 5 complaints were received from staff working in Headquarters, 79 from probation staff and 188 from prison staff. On 26 January 2026, a new Independent Review, Resolution and Investigations Service (IRRIS) was launched in HMPPS, subsuming the work of the former Tackling Unacceptable Behaviours Unit (TUBU). IRRIS will provide a fully independent route for bullying, harassment, discrimination and victimisation complaints within HMPPS, operating entirely outside line management structures. It will build upon TUBU’s strong work over the last five years, continuing to provide all the existing TUBU services while significantly enhancing its role.

How many (a) prison and (b) probation workers have made complaints through the new independent reporting channel in HMPPS.

On 10 November 2025, as part of the work to implement the reforms recommended in the Rademaker Review, His Majesty’s Prison & Probation Service (HMPPS) instituted an interim grievance process through which members of staff can raise complaints about bullying, harassment, discrimination or victimisation outside of their management line. This complements the existing grievance policy. For the period up to 26 February 2026, 5 complaints were received from staff working in Headquarters, 79 from probation staff and 188 from prison staff. On 26 January 2026, a new Independent Review, Resolution and Investigations Service (IRRIS) was launched in HMPPS, subsuming the work of the former Tackling Unacceptable Behaviours Unit (TUBU). IRRIS will provide a fully independent route for bullying, harassment, discrimination and victimisation complaints within HMPPS, operating entirely outside line management structures. It will build upon TUBU’s strong work over the last five years, continuing to provide all the existing TUBU services while significantly enhancing its role.

If he will release annual reports estimating the level of fraud and non‑compliance in retrofit schemes.

We have received similar recommendations from both the NAO and the PAC. We are considering these reports and the recommendations and will be responding to these in full in due course.

If his Department will publish an annual report on (a) its retrofit schemes, (b) their level of compliance, (c) estimated fraud and (d) their effectiveness.

The Department will publish monitoring statistics and evaluation of policies announced in the Warm Homes Plan. DESNZ currently publishes statistics covering the uptake and impacts of energy efficiency measures on GOV.UK.

With reference to page 88 of the Department's policy paper entitled Warm Homes Plan, published on 21 January 2026, when he plans to publish the consultation on (a) options for bringing the oversight of energy efficiency and microgeneration installations for government schemes under closer control and (b) the role of the Warm Homes Agency.

As set out in the Warm Homes Plan, we will consult this year on options for bringing the oversight of energy efficiency and microgeneration installations for government schemes under closer government control and the role of the Warm Homes Agency.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of current aviation fuel taxation arrangements on the environment.

Air Passenger Duty (APD) applies to airlines and is the principal tax on the aviation sector. It is expected to raise £4.7 billion in 2025-26 and it aims to ensure that airlines make a fair contribution to the public finances, particularly given that tickets are VAT free and aviation fuel incurs no duty. Due to the international nature of air travel, the UK Government, alongside over 100 other countries, has entered into wide-ranging bilateral agreements to enable more seamless air connectivity between countries. These are longstanding agreements that include restrictions on taxing jet fuel on international flights. Air Passenger Duty is therefore the principal tax on the aviation sector, charged on a per passenger basis, to ensure that airlines continue to make a fair contribution to the public finances. Reforms to APD took effect in April 2023, including the introduction of a new ultra long-haul band covering flights that are greater than 5,500 miles from London. This ensures that those who fly furthest, and have the greatest impact on emissions, pay the most tax.

What recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the availability of energy support for (a) ill and (b) other vulnerable people.

The Government understands the need to target support to those who need it most. That is why on 30 January, we announced the continuation of the Warm Home Discount scheme, providing around 6 million eligible households with the £150 rebate on their energy bills every winter until 2030/31. This means that millions of households every year who need support with their energy bills will receive the Warm Home Discount for the rest of the decade. We also committed to exploring additional improvements to the scheme. While we consider options for future bill support, we are working across Government to improve access to and sharing of data to target support more effectively in the future. Specifically, the ‘Kickstarter’ programme under the National Data Library will test how public sector data can be better joined up to improve access to government programmes.

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a social energy tariff.

The Government understands the need to target support to those who need it most. That is why on 30 January, we announced the continuation of the Warm Home Discount scheme, providing around 6 million eligible households with the £150 rebate on their energy bills every winter until 2030/31. This means that millions of households every year who need support with their energy bills will receive the Warm Home Discount for the rest of the decade. We also committed to exploring additional improvements to the scheme. While we consider options for future bill support, we are working across Government to improve access to and sharing of data to target support more effectively in the future. Specifically, the ‘Kickstarter’ programme under the National Data Library will test how public sector data can be better joined up to improve access to government programmes.

What discussions she has had with the Welsh Government on the desired governance end state for policing in Wales following the policing white paper; when those discussions took place; and what the outcomes were.

We are working closely with the Welsh Government, as well as other Welsh Stakeholders including Welsh local government, police forces and other partners, to ensure new governance arrangements provide strong and effective police governance in Wales. Officials have established a specific Welsh transition working group as part of the Police Governance Reform project, which last met on 22 January. Welsh Government officials are members of this Board and Home Office and Welsh Government officials speak regularly to develop proposals. The Minister for Policing and Crime regularly speaks to the Welsh Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Jane Hutt MS, and she attended the Policing Partnership Board for Wales on 18 December. The Minister plans to attend the next Board on 5 March. We will continue to work collaboratively with Welsh stakeholders on the design and implementation of governance arrangements in Wales.

What discussions she has had with the Welsh Government on the potential merits of introducing a Graduate Driving License scheme in Wales.

Graduated Driving Licences and how these are implemented around the world vary, there is not one standard type. Whilst we are not considering further restrictions on newly qualified drivers such as carrying passengers or driving at night, we are consulting on a Minimum Learning Period in England, Scotland, and Wales before learner drivers can take their test. Additionally, we are considering further post-test measures as part of the motoring offences consultation, where views are being sought on a lower blood alcohol limit for novice drivers in England and Wales. My officials meet regularly with their counterparts in the Devolved Authorities, including those in Wales.

Pursuant to the answer of 27 January 2026 to Question 107737 on Devolution: Wales, the future devolution of which specific key policy areas have been discussed; when each of those discussions took place with Welsh Government Ministers since July 2024

I have regular discussions with Welsh Government Ministers on a wide range of policy issues, including on the devolution settlement. Unlike Plaid Cymru, who wish to force their costly, separatist ideology on the people of Wales, Labour is the party of devolution. We created devolution, we defend devolution from parties who wish to destroy it, and we will always update the devolution settlement to ensure it delivers the best outcomes for people and communities across Wales.

How many homes in Wales are awaiting rectification of work carried out under the ECO4 scheme; and what is the constituency‑level breakdown of those cases.

The Government commissioned an independent statistical audit in April 2025. Unfortunately, the samples are not substantial enough to reliably perform regional analysis. Due to the level of non-compliance found for EWI measures, the Government is offering a comprehensive on-site audit to all households where external wall insulation (EWI) was installed under ECO4 or GBIS. This check will be provided at no cost to the consumer. Should any issues requiring action be found, these should be remediated by the original installer. Where the installer has ceased trading, protections under the installation guarantee policy should be invoked. Checks across all measures under ECO4 and GBIS, will continue to be carried out by TrustMark and certification bodies as part of routine surveillance.

What support is available to households that have paid to rectify non-compliant works under the ECO4 scheme.

We have been clear that the original installer is responsible for remediating issues with their work and for the costs of doing so. Where an installer ceases to trade or in some cases fails to rectify an issue, protections under the guarantee should be invoked. TrustMark require a guarantee to have been issued, which for Solid Wall Insulation will cover up to £20k. If consumers have a separate complaint about their installation, they can follow the steps set out in the TrustMark complaints process here. This includes the Dispute Resolution Ombudsman if the consumer wishes to progress with legal actions.

What discussions his Department has had with the Welsh Government on the the Warm Homes Agency; and if he will set out how the Agency will operate in Wales.

The Government has been actively engaging with the Welsh Government on the Warm Homes Agency since Spring 2025, including discussions on how future arrangements of the Agency would work with Devolved Governments. The Agency will only operate in Wales with agreement from the Welsh Government, and discussions to secure this agreement are ongoing.

What formal requests for the devolution for further powers has the Welsh Government made since July 2024.

Labour is the party of devolution in Wales and Westminster. I and all UK Government ministers engage with the Welsh Ministers frequently on a wide range of issues, including the future of devolution in key policy areas. This engagement is part of our reset relationship with the Welsh Government based on co-operation and partnership, through which we can achieve and deliver more for people in Wales.

Whether the Welsh Government has made a formal request for the devolution of (a) justice, (b) youth justice, (c) probation and (d) policing.

Welsh Government and Ministry of Justice ministers have met to discuss progressing the manifesto commitments on youth justice and probation. Welsh Government and Ministry of Justice officials continue to work together to progress this.The Ministry of Justice is not responsible for policing and therefore has not received a request in respect of the devolution of policing.

With reference to page 48 of the Department's policy paper entitled Warm Homes Plan, published on 21 January 2026, what proportion of the total funding provided for the Barnett consequentials will be received by (a) Wales, (b) Scotland and (c) Northern Ireland.

The Treasury has not yet confirmed the specific Barnett consequential appointments of the Government’s spending commitment for the Warm Homes Plan. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each have unique devolution settlements. The age, tenure, type and size of building stock varies across different parts of the UK. Therefore, some aspects of the Warm Homes Plan will apply equally in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland while other parts will not be relevant in all nations of the UK. The UK Government will continue to work closely with the Devolved Governments in delivering the Warm Homes Plan.

What steps his Department is taking to help protect jobs and retain skills across Wales, in the context of the time taken to announce the Warm Homes Plan.

Government is committed to supporting businesses to transition to new opportunities in the sector, including exploring options to support the supply chain to transition from ECO and GBIS to capital scheme delivery.The Warm Homes Plan, due to be published soon, will set out government’s plans to invest nearly £15 billion to upgrade low‑income homes and scale clean home‑energy technologies. The number of UK jobs supported in clean energy industries and their supply chains is estimated to increase from around 440,000 today to around 860,000 by 2030 and we are working closely with the sector to support its growth.

What proportion of the funding allocated to the Warm Homes Plan in the (a) Spending Review and (b) 2025 Autumn Budget has been assigned to Wales.

To ensure the bill savings from the transition to clean energy technologies are felt in all parts of the country, the different needs and approaches of the Devolved Governments will need to be recognised. The UK Government will continue to work closely with the Welsh Government and will publish the Warm Homes Plan soon.