Written questions by Roberts.

Noting the context of devolved legislation, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes put forward as part of her Department’s consultation entitled Family Returns: Reforming Asylum Support and Enforcing Family Returns on local authorities in Wales.

While asylum and immigration policy are reserved matters, the Home Office recognises that the proposals in the consultation titled Family Returns: Reforming Asylum Support and Enforcing Family Returns interact with important devolved responsibilities, including those of local authorities.The consultation is seeking views from the devolved administrations on potential impacts of the proposals and responses from Welsh local authorities and the Welsh Government will inform relevant impact assessments, policy, regulations and guidance.The Home Office will continue to engage with devolved administrations and local authority partners to ensure any reforms are implemented responsibly and in line with statutory duties.

What steps his Department is taking to help ensure that home gas suppliers charge reasonable renewal prices.

Domestic energy consumers are protected by the energy price cap set by Ofgem, which limits the unit rates and standing charges that can be charged by energy suppliers, including limits on the profit that energy suppliers can make from default tariffs. From 1 April until the end of June, the price cap has fallen by 7% or £117 to £1,641 per year for an average dual fuel customer paying by Direct Debit. The price cap for that period is fixed and will not change. You can find more information on the impact of Government action here:Your energy bill from April: what’s changing - GOV.UK.

If he refer the issue of fraud within ECO4 and Great British Insulation Scheme to the Serious Fraud Office as recommended by the Public Account Committee report on Faulty Energy Efficiency Installations, published on 23 January 2026.

The Department will be responding to the Public Accounts Committee via Treasury Minute as is the standard process.

When his Department plans to respond in full to the Public Account Committee report on Faulty Energy Efficiency Installations, published on 23 January 2026.

The Department will be responding to the Public Accounts Committee via Treasury Minute as is the standard process.

What plans does his Department have to develop a Young Women’s Strategy as recommended by the Women’s Justice Board’s report.

The Women’s Justice Board report, published on 16 March 2026, sets out independent recommendations to reduce the number of women in prison, including a recommendation to develop a Young Women’s Strategy. The Government is carefully considering the report’s recommendations and how best to deliver reform in this area.The Government has also established the Girls in Youth Justice Advisory Board, which is an independent advisory group focused on improving policy, practice and outcomes for girls who are under 18 in contact with the youth justice system.

What assessment he has made of the Women’s Justice Board’s recommendation to develop a Young Women’s Strategy including a focus on young women who have experienced VAWG.

The Women’s Justice Board report, published on 16 March 2026, sets out independent recommendations to reduce the number of women in prison, including a recommendation to develop a Young Women’s Strategy. The Government is carefully considering the report’s recommendations and how best to deliver reform in this area.The Government has also established the Girls in Youth Justice Advisory Board, which is an independent advisory group focused on improving policy, practice and outcomes for girls who are under 18 in contact with the youth justice system.

What plans his Department have to consult with young women and specialist women and girls’ organisations on the development of the Young Women's Strategy as recommended by the Women's Justice Board.

The Women’s Justice Board report, published on 16 March 2026, sets out independent recommendations to reduce the number of women in prison, including a recommendation to develop a Young Women’s Strategy. The Government is carefully considering the report’s recommendations and how best to deliver reform in this area.The Government has also established the Girls in Youth Justice Advisory Board, which is an independent advisory group focused on improving policy, practice and outcomes for girls who are under 18 in contact with the youth justice system.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps the UK government has taken to fulfil its commitment under the Political Declaration on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas to promote implementation of the Declaration with the United States.

The Government is a strong supporter of the Political Declaration on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (EWIPA Declaration) and the UK was an early endorsing state. Officials from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and Ministry of Defence participated in the Second International EWIPA Conference in San José, Costa Rica between 19-20 November 2025. We outlined the number of concerning contexts in which EWIPA are being used with little regard for civilians, our leadership on Civilian Harm Mitigation, and our approach to implementing our commitments. We continue to promote the universalisation and implementation of the Declaration and expect all actors to abide by International Humanitarian Law.

What steps he is taking to help ensure that US military strikes on Iran from UK bases are compliant with international humanitarian law.

For operational security reasons, we do not offer comment or information relating to foreign nations’ military operations.Permissions to utilise UK military bases by foreign partners are considered on a case-by-case basis. All UK operational support to allies and partners is considered in terms of legality. A summary of the government’s legal position was published on gov.uk on 1 March 2026.https://www.gov.uk/government/news/summary-of-the-uk-government-legal-position-the-legality-of-defensive-action-in-respect-of-iranian-regional-attacks

Whether the UK has a role in the selection and verification of targets in Iran by the United States when using UK military bases.

For operational security reasons, we do not offer comment or information relating to foreign nations’ military operations.Permissions to utilise UK military bases by foreign partners are considered on a case-by-case basis. All UK operational support to allies and partners is considered in terms of legality. A summary of the government’s legal position was published on gov.uk on 1 March 2026.https://www.gov.uk/government/news/summary-of-the-uk-government-legal-position-the-legality-of-defensive-action-in-respect-of-iranian-regional-attacks

Whether his Department monitors the outcomes of individual strikes on Iran by the United States when using UK military bases, including monitoring for civilian casualties or damage to civilian objects.

The agreement allowing the US to use UK military bases is for specific and limited defensive action against missile facilities in Iran which were involved in launching strikes at regional allies and ships in the Strait of Hormuz. For operational security reasons, we do not offer comment or information relating to foreign nations’ military operations.

With reference to the Women’s Justice Board recommendations for reducing women’s imprisonment, published on 16 March 2026, what steps he is taking to establish a residential women’s centre in Wales.

The Women’s Justice Board report, published on 16 March 2026, sets out independent recommendations, which the Government is now carefully considering.We are continuing to consider how the Residential Women’s Centre in Swansea could be delivered.

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.

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.

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.

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.