Written questions by Wrigley.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of ending cross-country train contracts early.

Officials monitor all operators against the train service performance benchmarks in their contracts. CrossCountry performance in 2024 was not good enough so enforcement action was taken. Cancellations have reduced since January 2025 but remain high, particularly at weekends. The operator knows it has much work to do to reduce cancellations and improve services. If CrossCountry does not meet performance obligations, the Department will not hesitate to take appropriate action in line with their contract.

If he will take steps bring forward regulations to ban period products which include pesticide residues.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 13th June 2025 to question 57485 (Written questions and answers - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament).

If he will bring forward legislative proposals to introduce a legal requirement for manufacturers to list (a) the components and (b) any trace toxic chemicals in period products.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 13th June 2025 to question 57485 (Written questions and answers - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament).

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing testing for period products to ensure they are free from toxic chemical residues.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 13th June 2025 to question 57485 (Written questions and answers - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament).

What steps she is taking to tackle period poverty through schools in Newton Abbot constituency.

​Nobody should have to miss out on education because of their period, which is why the department provides free period products to girls and women in their place of study through the Period Products Scheme. The scheme aims to remove periods as a barrier to accessing education and addresses pupils being unable to afford period products. Since the scheme began in 2020, 82% of eligible organisations in Devon have placed at least one order.The scheme offers a broad range of products for organisations to choose from, including certified organic and chemical-free tampons and pads, as well as reusable options such as period pants. The Lil-Lets organic range, available on the scheme, meets recognised certification standards and is free from harmful chemicals.

If she will take steps to ensure that free period products provided in schools are (a) certified organic single use disposables and (b) additive-free.

​Nobody should have to miss out on education because of their period, which is why the department provides free period products to girls and women in their place of study through the Period Products Scheme. The scheme aims to remove periods as a barrier to accessing education and addresses pupils being unable to afford period products. Since the scheme began in 2020, 82% of eligible organisations in Devon have placed at least one order.The scheme offers a broad range of products for organisations to choose from, including certified organic and chemical-free tampons and pads, as well as reusable options such as period pants. The Lil-Lets organic range, available on the scheme, meets recognised certification standards and is free from harmful chemicals.

Pursuant to the Answer of 18 June 2025 to Question 59834 on South West Main Line: Dawlish, if she will set out a timescale for when a decision on whether Stage Five of the rail resilience programme for Dawlish will receive funding will be reached.

We are currently working to determine which rail enhancement projects will be taken forward following the conclusion of the Spending Review on 11 June. More information will be made public shortly.

Whether she plans to provide funding for the final phase of the South West Rail Resilience Programme.

Following the Chancellor’s Spending Review statement on 11 June we are now working to confirm our portfolio of rail enhancements, which will be announced shortly.

Communities and Local Government, what what steps she is taking to help ensure consistency in standards of (a) ethics, (b) training and (c) reporting in (i) parish, (ii) town and (iii) district councils.

The government’s December 2024 consultation set out the government’s views on the adequacy of the current local government standards regime. The consultation also set out what sanctions are currently available and that government considers that, in key aspects, the current system is ineffectual, inconsistently applied, and lacking in adequate powers to effectively sanction members found in serious breach of their codes of conduct.This consultation sought views on proposed measures to strengthen the standards and conduct framework for local authorities in England, including the introduction of the sanction of suspension, to empower local authorities of all types and tiers to deal appropriately member misconduct where it arises. The government response will be issued in due course. The government does not collect data on local authority complaints.

What steps she is taking to support disabled veterans in Devon.

Disabled people, including disabled veterans, can access a wide range of support in Devon. Information on what support is available to them can be found on Gov.UK including these specific areas: Veterans UK - GOV.UK and Disabled people - GOV.UK.

Communities and Local Government, what statutory powers are available to local standards committees to investigate and sanction councillors for breaches of the Nolan Principles.

The government’s December 2024 consultation set out the government’s views on the adequacy of the current local government standards regime. The consultation also set out what sanctions are currently available and that government considers that, in key aspects, the current system is ineffectual, inconsistently applied, and lacking in adequate powers to effectively sanction members found in serious breach of their codes of conduct.This consultation sought views on proposed measures to strengthen the standards and conduct framework for local authorities in England, including the introduction of the sanction of suspension, to empower local authorities of all types and tiers to deal appropriately member misconduct where it arises. The government response will be issued in due course. The government does not collect data on local authority complaints.

What steps she is taking to help tackle stigma among disabled veterans claiming PIP.

The benefits system exists to support people at critical points in their lives and for a range of reasons. There should be no stigma attached to claiming a benefit you're entitled to, and people should claim social security benefits as and when their circumstances dictate.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 18 June 2025 to Question 58701 on USA: British Nationals Abroad, if he will make representations to his US counterpart on the potential merits of protecting the green card data of British citizens in line with GDPR standards, in the context of the work of the US Department of Government Efficiency.

The Foreign Secretary regularly discusses a range of bilateral issues with his US counterpart, and officials are regularly in touch with US authorities on consular and immigration issues which may affect British Nationals living in the US. Data collected by the US Government as part of their own processes is subject to US law, which is a sovereign matter for the US.

Communities and Local Government, how many complaints were referred to local standards committees in the last year; and what proportion of those complaints led to sanctions.

The government’s December 2024 consultation set out the government’s views on the adequacy of the current local government standards regime. The consultation also set out what sanctions are currently available and that government considers that, in key aspects, the current system is ineffectual, inconsistently applied, and lacking in adequate powers to effectively sanction members found in serious breach of their codes of conduct.This consultation sought views on proposed measures to strengthen the standards and conduct framework for local authorities in England, including the introduction of the sanction of suspension, to empower local authorities of all types and tiers to deal appropriately member misconduct where it arises. The government response will be issued in due course. The government does not collect data on local authority complaints.

How many children from Gaza have been granted visas to the UK for medical treatment since the scheme began.

The requested information is not currently available from published statistics, and could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.The UK has supported an initiative by Project Pure Hope to bring a small number of children from Gaza to the UK for privately funded specialist care. On 1 May, the Minister for the Middle East announced that two children have arrived in the UK to begin treatment. The Government also announced a £7.5m package of support to bolster vital medical care in Gaza and the region, which includes additional funding for UK-Med, WHO Egypt and the OCHA OPTs Humanitarian Fund.

Whether she plans to allow veterans in receipt of the Armed Forces Independence Payment to claim the new health-related Universal Credit support.

The Green Paper, “Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working” announced that we would be scrapping the Work Capability Assessment and moving to a single assessment for financial support related to health and disability benefits. This single assessment will be the PIP assessment and those who are eligible for an award of Daily Living in PIP would also be able to access additional financial support in Universal Credit. We recognise that claiming certain other benefits can impact whether or not a claimant applies for or can get PIP, including Armed Forces Independence Payment. We are currently considering how the future system will operate and will provide further information in the upcoming White Paper.

Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of the enforcement of the local government code of conduct.

The government’s December 2024 consultation set out the government’s views on the adequacy of the current local government standards regime. The consultation also set out what sanctions are currently available and that government considers that, in key aspects, the current system is ineffectual, inconsistently applied, and lacking in adequate powers to effectively sanction members found in serious breach of their codes of conduct.This consultation sought views on proposed measures to strengthen the standards and conduct framework for local authorities in England, including the introduction of the sanction of suspension, to empower local authorities of all types and tiers to deal appropriately member misconduct where it arises. The government response will be issued in due course. The government does not collect data on local authority complaints.

Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department has taken to compare best practice in (a) the UK and (b) other countries on reducing public expenditure on private rents.

My Department uses both domestic and international evidence to inform policy development in relation to a wide range of issues, including in respect of public expenditure on private rents.

Communities and Local Government, what accountability mechanisms exist for private landlords who receive public funds through (a) Housing Benefit and (b) Universal Credit.

Local authorities have a wide range of enforcement tools to take action against private landlords who fail to comply with regulations, including those who receive public funds through Housing Benefit and Universal Credit. They can, for example, issue improvement notices and civil penalties, prosecute landlords, and apply to have landlords banned from letting properties for serious offences.The Renters' Rights Bill, currently before Parliament, includes a range of measures designed to strengthen landlord accountability. These include a requirement for all landlords to sign up to the new Private Rented Sector Database; a new independent Landlord Ombudsman which will provide binding resolutions for tenant complaints; the extension of the Decent Homes Standard to the private rented sector; and the application of Awaab’s law to the private rented sector.The Bill also strengthens rent repayment orders, including doubling the maximum amount that a landlord can be ordered to pay from 12 to 24 months’ rent. Where a landlord commits certain offences and rent has been paid through Housing Benefit or Universal Credit, local authorities can claim back rent through a rent repayment order.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of increased social housing investment on reducing reliance on private landlords.

Over time, increased investment in social housing will reduce reliance on the private rented sector. At the Spending Review the Chancellor announced £39 billion for a successor to the Affordable Homes Programme over 10 years from 2026-27 to 2035-36.