Written questions by Wrigley.

Pursuant to the Answer of 8 January 2025 to Question 21470 on Hospices: Charitable Donations, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential implications for its policies of recent reports of reduced service in hospices.

Integrated care boards are responsible for the commissioning of palliative and end of life care services, to meet the needs of their local populations. Most hospices are charitable, independent organisations which receive some statutory funding for providing National Health Services. Charitable hospices, as autonomous organisations, provide a range of services which go beyond that which statutory services are legally required to provide. Consequently, the funding arrangements reflect this. We are pleased to confirm that the Government has released the first £25 million tranche of the £100 million of capital funding, as referenced in the answer of 8 January 2025 to Question 21470, with Hospice UK kindly allocating and distributing the money to hospices throughout England. An additional £75 million will be available from April.There are a number of hospices in South Devon, serving people in the Newton Abbot constituency and the surrounding area, which are recipients of the £100 million of capital funding. Their allocations from the first £25 million tranche of funding are as follows:- £158,301 for Rowcroft, a Torbay and South Devon hospice;- £180,911 for Hospiscare in Exeter;- £16,934 for Sidmouth Hospice in Home; and- £176,616 for St Luke's Hospice in Plymouth.In addition to this record hospice funding package, I recently met the major palliative and end of life care and hospice stakeholders, and long-term sector sustainability, within the context of our 10-Year Health Plan, was discussed at length.

Pursuant to the Answer of 8 January 2025 to Question 21470 on Hospices: Charitable Donations, what steps his Department is taking to monitor the potential impact of declining charitable income on hospice services; and if he will introduce targeted financial support for hospices.

Integrated care boards are responsible for the commissioning of palliative and end of life care services, to meet the needs of their local populations. Most hospices are charitable, independent organisations which receive some statutory funding for providing National Health Services. Charitable hospices, as autonomous organisations, provide a range of services which go beyond that which statutory services are legally required to provide. Consequently, the funding arrangements reflect this. We are pleased to confirm that the Government has released the first £25 million tranche of the £100 million of capital funding, as referenced in the answer of 8 January 2025 to Question 21470, with Hospice UK kindly allocating and distributing the money to hospices throughout England. An additional £75 million will be available from April.There are a number of hospices in South Devon, serving people in the Newton Abbot constituency and the surrounding area, which are recipients of the £100 million of capital funding. Their allocations from the first £25 million tranche of funding are as follows:- £158,301 for Rowcroft, a Torbay and South Devon hospice;- £180,911 for Hospiscare in Exeter;- £16,934 for Sidmouth Hospice in Home; and- £176,616 for St Luke's Hospice in Plymouth.In addition to this record hospice funding package, I recently met the major palliative and end of life care and hospice stakeholders, and long-term sector sustainability, within the context of our 10-Year Health Plan, was discussed at length.

Pursuant to the Answer of 8 January 2025 to Question 21470 on Hospices: Charitable Donations, what proportion of the recently announced investment for hospices has been allocated; and how much has been distributed to hospices in Newton Abbot constituency.

Integrated care boards are responsible for the commissioning of palliative and end of life care services, to meet the needs of their local populations. Most hospices are charitable, independent organisations which receive some statutory funding for providing National Health Services. Charitable hospices, as autonomous organisations, provide a range of services which go beyond that which statutory services are legally required to provide. Consequently, the funding arrangements reflect this. We are pleased to confirm that the Government has released the first £25 million tranche of the £100 million of capital funding, as referenced in the answer of 8 January 2025 to Question 21470, with Hospice UK kindly allocating and distributing the money to hospices throughout England. An additional £75 million will be available from April.There are a number of hospices in South Devon, serving people in the Newton Abbot constituency and the surrounding area, which are recipients of the £100 million of capital funding. Their allocations from the first £25 million tranche of funding are as follows:- £158,301 for Rowcroft, a Torbay and South Devon hospice;- £180,911 for Hospiscare in Exeter;- £16,934 for Sidmouth Hospice in Home; and- £176,616 for St Luke's Hospice in Plymouth.In addition to this record hospice funding package, I recently met the major palliative and end of life care and hospice stakeholders, and long-term sector sustainability, within the context of our 10-Year Health Plan, was discussed at length.

Pursuant to the Answer of 24 February 2025 to Question 31092 on Armed Forces: Pensions, if he will take steps to ensure that service members who are not eligible for pensions due to them falling under pre-1975 criteria are provided with periodical payments instead.

This is a Government of service and I am leading work across Government and with civil society to look at the best ways to ensure all Veterans get access to the support and opportunities they need and deserve. This year, we will set out our plans for Veterans in our updated Veterans’ Strategy. This Government will always stand up for those who have served our country. That said, the rules governing Armed Forces’ pensions are designed to be fair to all military personnel and thus the awarding of periodic payments is not under consideration by this Department. The Social Security Act 1973 brought about changes by requiring all occupational pension schemes to preserve pension rights for those who left service after 6 April 1975 having completed at least five years qualifying service and having attained the age of 26. It is a fact that the legacy issues associated with the Armed Forces Pension Scheme 1975 are replicated in other public sector schemes in existence prior to the Social Security Act 1973. Where legacy issues are common across public sector schemes, any provisions or change implemented for the Armed Forces would certainly result in pressure from others for similar treatment. To concede retrospection or make provisions for one group would place great pressure on other public service schemes and this would have huge financial implications. This would also impact any future meaningful improvements to pension schemes for current employees and make them unaffordable.

Pursuant to the Answer of 24 February 2025 to Question 31092 on Armed Forces: Pensions, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of that proposal on service members at pension age.

This is a Government of service and I am leading work across Government and with civil society to look at the best ways to ensure all Veterans get access to the support and opportunities they need and deserve. This year, we will set out our plans for Veterans in our updated Veterans’ Strategy. This Government will always stand up for those who have served our country. That said, the rules governing Armed Forces’ pensions are designed to be fair to all military personnel and thus the awarding of periodic payments is not under consideration by this Department. The Social Security Act 1973 brought about changes by requiring all occupational pension schemes to preserve pension rights for those who left service after 6 April 1975 having completed at least five years qualifying service and having attained the age of 26. It is a fact that the legacy issues associated with the Armed Forces Pension Scheme 1975 are replicated in other public sector schemes in existence prior to the Social Security Act 1973. Where legacy issues are common across public sector schemes, any provisions or change implemented for the Armed Forces would certainly result in pressure from others for similar treatment. To concede retrospection or make provisions for one group would place great pressure on other public service schemes and this would have huge financial implications. This would also impact any future meaningful improvements to pension schemes for current employees and make them unaffordable.

If she will provide a path for settlement for Ukrainians in the UK linked to the 100 year partnership with Ukraine.

We recognise the Ukrainian government’s desire for the future return of its citizens to Ukraine to assist in the rebuilding of the country. It is important our approach respects these wishes.This is why the temporary sanctuary Ukraine visa Schemes do not lead to settlement in the UK.There are other routes available for those who wish to settle in the UK permanently, if they meet the requirements.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take steps to strengthen the relationship between the (a) Joint Nature Conservation Committee and (b) Climate Change Committee and the UK Special Representative for Nature.

As part of the Government’s consideration of the Climate and Nature Bill, on 24 January 2025, I committed to strengthen relationships between the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) and the Special representative for Nature. There is already a strong working relationship between JNCC and CCC. We intend to build on this at a more strategic level and work has commenced to integrate the Special Representative for Nature into this engagement.

If she will bring forward legislative proposals to enable the repurposing of assets seized from sanctions violations to fund reparation for victims and survivors of serious human rights or humanitarian law violations and serious corruption.

Prosecutors and/or law enforcement agencies are currently able to confiscate or permanently seize assets where someone has benefitted from their offending or where their assets have or will have links to criminality, by making use of powers under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.This includes powers to allow law enforcement agencies to take civil proceedings to enable the permanent seizure of assets that are demonstrated to have been obtained through unlawful conduct or which are intended for use in unlawful conduct.We are committed to exploring all lawful routes through which Russian assets can be used to support Ukraine.

Whether his Department plans to provide support to homes with an EPC rating of D and below in Newton Abbot constituency.

There are various schemes currently delivering home energy efficiency improvements across Great Britain, including Newton Abbot, such as the Energy Company Obligation and the Great British Insulation Scheme. Owner occupier households are eligible if they receive means tested benefits and fall within Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) band D-G. The new Warm Homes: Local Grant will also support low-income homeowners living in privately owned EPC band D-G homes both on and off the gas grid in England, with delivery beginning this year. The home retrofit tool on GOV.UK, ‘Find ways to save energy in your home’ (www.gov.uk/improve-energy-efficiency) allows users to get tailored recommendations for home improvements that could make their property cheaper to heat and keep warm.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the transition from the 1987 Police Pension Scheme to the 2015 Career Average Revalued Earnings Scheme on officers who served nearly 20 years under the 1987 scheme.

The main public service pension schemes – including the police pension schemes – were reformed following the recommendations of the Independent Public Service Pensions Commission in 2011. This reviewed the public service pensions landscape and the potential reforms in depth.The 2015 scheme offers valuable pensions, improves affordability and sustainability, and is fairer to lower and middle earners. It is backed by the taxpayer, index-linked, and offers guaranteed benefits on retirement. Police officers, like the firefighters and the armed forces, also benefit from a normal pension age in the 2015 scheme of age 60, while other public service schemes have a normal pension age aligned to State Pension Age.The 2015 scheme introduced valuable protections for the benefits that members have accrued in their legacy schemes (including the 1987 pension scheme): protecting the point at which they can draw those legacy benefits, maintaining a link to their final salary against their pensionable service and where applicable, a link to the enhanced accrual rate.

If she will bring forward legislative proposals to allow a portion of the fines collected by (a) Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation and (b) other enforcement agencies to be directed toward reparations.

The Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) is responsible for issuing civil monetary penalties for breaches of financial sanctions.The money collected from monetary penalties is deposited into the Consolidated Fund, in line with the general principles applying to the treatment of fines or other penalties imposed by public bodies in central government.

What steps she is taking to support police officers unable to benefit from the final ten years of enhanced accrual under the 1987 Police Pension Scheme.

The main public service pension schemes – including the police pension schemes – were reformed following the recommendations of the Independent Public Service Pensions Commission in 2011. This reviewed the public service pensions landscape and the potential reforms in depth.The 2015 scheme offers valuable pensions, improves affordability and sustainability, and is fairer to lower and middle earners. It is backed by the taxpayer, index-linked, and offers guaranteed benefits on retirement. Police officers, like the firefighters and the armed forces, also benefit from a normal pension age in the 2015 scheme of age 60, while other public service schemes have a normal pension age aligned to State Pension Age.The 2015 scheme introduced valuable protections for the benefits that members have accrued in their legacy schemes (including the 1987 pension scheme): protecting the point at which they can draw those legacy benefits, maintaining a link to their final salary against their pensionable service and where applicable, a link to the enhanced accrual rate.

If she will adjust pension calculations for police officers who completed the majority of their service under the 1987 Pension Scheme.

The main public service pension schemes – including the police pension schemes – were reformed following the recommendations of the Independent Public Service Pensions Commission in 2011. This reviewed the public service pensions landscape and the potential reforms in depth.The 2015 scheme offers valuable pensions, improves affordability and sustainability, and is fairer to lower and middle earners. It is backed by the taxpayer, index-linked, and offers guaranteed benefits on retirement. Police officers, like the firefighters and the armed forces, also benefit from a normal pension age in the 2015 scheme of age 60, while other public service schemes have a normal pension age aligned to State Pension Age.The 2015 scheme introduced valuable protections for the benefits that members have accrued in their legacy schemes (including the 1987 pension scheme): protecting the point at which they can draw those legacy benefits, maintaining a link to their final salary against their pensionable service and where applicable, a link to the enhanced accrual rate.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make it his policy to provide an annual assessment of the UK’s progress towards climate and nature targets.

This Government is absolutely committed to tackling the climate and nature crises. In January 2025 we committed to publishing an annual climate and nature statement to parliament and the country. In terms of frameworks already in place, under the Climate Change Act 2008, the Climate Change Committee provide an annual assessment on the UK government's progress towards meeting carbon budgets and a biennial assessment of progress to adapt to climate change. We are expecting the next progress reports in spring 2025 and the government will lay its responses in Parliament by 15 October 2025. In accordance with the statutory requirements for progress reports under the Environment Act 2021, the Secretary of State must prepare annual reports on the implementation of the current environmental improvement plan. The next report covering the period to March 2025 is due to be published and laid in Parliament by July 2025.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if the Government will ratify the agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction.

The Government is completely committed to ratification of the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement, also known as the "High Seas Treaty" or "Global Ocean Treaty"), which is in line with our determination to reinvigorate the UK's wider international leadership on climate and nature. Legislation to implement the BBNJ Agreement will be introduced as soon as the legislative timetable allows.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the level of Community Infrastructure Levy monies being contributed towards childcare provision and infrastructure.

The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) is used to fund infrastructure needed to support development in a local authority’s area. This may include childcare facilities.Any local planning authority that has received developer contributions is required to publish an Infrastructure Funding Statement (IFS) at least annually. The IFS report should include summary details of CIL expenditure during the reported year, including the items of infrastructure to which CIL has been applied.There is no statutory requirement for a consolidated Infrastructure Funding Statement for England to be published, and one has not been published to date.The government is committed to strengthening the existing system of developer contributions to ensure new developments provide necessary affordable homes and infrastructure. Further details will be set out in due course.

Pursuant to the Answer of 8 January 2025 to Question 21470 on Hospices: Charitable Donations, if he will provide financial support to hospices to directly cover declining charitable incomes.

Integrated care boards are responsible for the commissioning of palliative and end of life care services, to meet the needs of their local populations. Most hospices are charitable, independent organisations which receive some statutory funding for providing National Health Services.Charitable hospices, as autonomous organisations, provide a range of services which go beyond that which statutory services are legally required to provide. Consequently, the funding arrangements reflect this.In addition to the record hospice funding package I mentioned in my previous answer, I recently met the major palliative and end of life care and hospice stakeholders, and long-term sector sustainability, within the context of our 10-Year Health Plan, was discussed at length.

Communities and Local Government, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of changes proposed by clause 1 of the National Insurance Contributions (Secondary Class 1 Contributions) Bill on future trends in the level of local authority funding for fiscal years (a) 2025-26, (b) 2026-27 and (c) 2027-28.

Raising the revenue required to fund public services and restore economic stability requires difficult decisions on tax. The government is providing an additional £2 billion in grant funding through the Settlement, including £502 million to address the impact of employer National Insurance Contributions (NICs) changes on council budgets. A further £13 million has been allocated to Mayoral Combined Authorities, totalling £515 million. Payments will be unringfenced to allow funding to be used across direct, commissioned, and externally provided local services. Spending decisions beyond 2025-26 are a matter for the upcoming Spending Review.

If he will review the inclusion of international students in net migration figures.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 24th February is attached.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make it his policy to provide additional (a) financial and (b) social support to poultry farmers affected by Avian Flu quarantine measures.

We recognize that avian influenza outbreaks are very distressing for the individual poultry farmers and businesses who are on the frontline of this terrible disease. Compensation is paid for any healthy birds culled by the Government for avian influenza disease control purposes. In response to the unprecedented outbreaks of avian influenza in October 2022 Defra’s approach to compensation was updated to involve earlier assessment of the number of healthy birds and swifter calculation of compensation. This allows Defra to provide earlier certainty about entitlement to compensation; better reflects the impact of outbreaks on premises; and leads to swifter payments to help stem any cash flow pressures. Any bird keepers whose premises are directly affected by avian influenza will receive support from the Animal and Plant Health Agency. In addition, there are numerous support networks that poultry farmers can contact for help including the rural services helpline. Defra also work in partnership with Farming Help organisations to support their work to help the farming community through challenging times. In addition, a range of grants have been made available to poultry keepers through the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway to improve biosecurity on premises and support the welfare of birds.