Written questions by Glindon.

Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to help young people buy their first property in Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend constituency.

Awaiting answer.

Whether his Department has considered the potential merits of introducing routine audio recording of Work Capability Assessments.

Awaiting answer.

Whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of expanding the eligibility criteria for the Holiday Activities and Food programme to include all children living in poverty.

Awaiting answer.

What steps her Department is taking to monitor the social impacts of the revised asylum move-on period of 42 days.

The approach and its impacts are being kept under review. We closely monitor the wider effect on local communities and any pressures placed on local authorities and public amenities. We continue to engage with stakeholders, including local authorities, to reduce barriers and support effective transitions from asylum accommodation. We are also working closely with MHCLG. Under the government’s National Plan to End Homelessness strategy the Home Office has made a commitment to ensure all local authorities receive information from asylum accommodation providers for 100% of newly granted refugees at risk of homelessness. Our immediate focus is on ensuring that the 42-day period is used as effectively as possible, including considering whether improvements can be made to our process, communications and services to better support individuals to successfully move on from asylum accommodation.

What progress his Department has made on writing to households who are eligible but not registered for the NHS Healthy Start programme; and what his Department's planned timeline is for completing that communication.

Awaiting answer.

What recent assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of reinstating the 56-day asylum move-on period for families.

In reaching the decision to set the move-on period at 42 days, we have considered a range of evidence, including key findings from the evaluation of the 56-day pilot, operational data, and forecasted impacts on the asylum accommodation estate. This decision best enables the Home Office to fulfil our statutory obligations whilst looking to minimise impact on local authorities and individuals granted leave, and supports our commitment to deliver reductions to the cost of asylum accommodation and end the use of asylum hotels by the end of this Parliament. The approach and its impacts are being kept under review, however, our immediate focus is on ensuring that the 42 day period is used as effectively as possible, considering whether improvements can be made to our process, communications and services to better support individuals successfully move on from asylum accommodation.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing mandatory reporting of food waste in large retailer supply chains.

Awaiting answer.

What steps the NHS Business Services Authority is taking to ensure independent shopkeepers and convenience store staff (a) are aware of NHS Healthy Start cards and (b) enable all eligible families to use their cards in these stores.

Awaiting answer.

If he will make an estimate of the proportion of claimants who have migrated from Employment and Support Allowance to Universal Credit under managed migration who have had the calculations on their claim overturned upon challenge or appeal.

Awaiting answer.

Innovation and Technology, when her Department intends to publish its response to the consultation entitled Information sharing for public service delivery: expanding the information sharing powers in Part 5 (chapter one) of the Digital Economy Act 2017 to support passported benefits and reduce fuel poverty, published on 29 July 2025.

Awaiting answer.

Innovation and Technology, whether digital ID will become an approved method of age assurance to comply with age checks required by the Online Safety Act 2023.

The Online Safety Act requires in-scope services to use highly effective age assurance to prevent children from accessing harmful content online. It is up to Ofcom as the regulator to determine whether or not an age assurance process is deemed ‘highly effective’ but it does not mandate specific technologies.Ofcom’s guidance sets out a non-exhaustive list of age assurance technologies that could constitute highly effective age assurance. This list includes digital identity services. Whilst the government expects digital identity to be increasingly popular, there will remain a number of routes through which an individual can assure their age.

Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to improve access to photographic identification.

Research by Verian, commissioned by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, found that 2-4% of the 18+ UK population do not own an accepted form of identification that would enable them to vote in person at a polling station. The Government believes the current Voter ID rules are too restrictive. We are therefore bringing forward changes, as part of the Representation of the People Bill, to allow the use of UK-authorised in-date bank cards as identification at polling stations in Great Britain. This will allow a greater proportion of electors to more easily meet the voter identification requirements. The Verian research found that, with the introduction of this new measure, the proportion of the 18+ UK population without a form of accepted ID would fall to less than 1%.

Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the proportion of adults without photographic identification.

Research by Verian, commissioned by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, found that 2-4% of the 18+ UK population do not own an accepted form of identification that would enable them to vote in person at a polling station. The Government believes the current Voter ID rules are too restrictive. We are therefore bringing forward changes, as part of the Representation of the People Bill, to allow the use of UK-authorised in-date bank cards as identification at polling stations in Great Britain. This will allow a greater proportion of electors to more easily meet the voter identification requirements. The Verian research found that, with the introduction of this new measure, the proportion of the 18+ UK population without a form of accepted ID would fall to less than 1%.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations she has made to the Government of Zimbabwe regarding reports of violence and intimidation against people who oppose the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 3.) Bill.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided in the House of Lords on 23 March in response to Question HL15456.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has had discussions with her counterpart in Zimbabwe on (a) the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 3.) Bill and (b) its public consultation process.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided in the House of Lords on 23 March in response to Question HL15456.

What steps her Department is taking to minimise the potential impact of parcel delivery drones on privacy.

Decisions on whether and how parcel delivery drones may operate are a matter for the independent Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which regulates UK airspace. All drone operators are required to comply with aviation regulations, including the CAA’s Drone and Model Aircraft Code, which makes clear that drones must be used responsibly and with due regard to people’s privacy. Operators using drones fitted with cameras are also subject to the UK’s data protection and privacy legislation. As part of the approval process, the CAA requires operators to demonstrate that all relevant risks are properly assessed and mitigated, including environmental considerations where appropriate. This can include restrictions on where and how drones operate, particularly in or near sensitive wildlife locations. Planning applications for drone operations, where required, also consider impacts on biodiversity, habitats, protected species and wildlife.Noise impacts are similarly considered through the regulatory and operational approval process. We have asked the CAA to examine the implications of emerging aviation technologies on aviation noise policy in the UK. Developing a proportionate, evidence-led and adaptive approach will be critical to sustainable development of Future of Flight technologies and maintaining public trust.

What steps her Department is taking to minimise the potential impact of parcel delivery drones on wildlife.

Decisions on whether and how parcel delivery drones may operate are a matter for the independent Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which regulates UK airspace. All drone operators are required to comply with aviation regulations, including the CAA’s Drone and Model Aircraft Code, which makes clear that drones must be used responsibly and with due regard to people’s privacy. Operators using drones fitted with cameras are also subject to the UK’s data protection and privacy legislation. As part of the approval process, the CAA requires operators to demonstrate that all relevant risks are properly assessed and mitigated, including environmental considerations where appropriate. This can include restrictions on where and how drones operate, particularly in or near sensitive wildlife locations. Planning applications for drone operations, where required, also consider impacts on biodiversity, habitats, protected species and wildlife.Noise impacts are similarly considered through the regulatory and operational approval process. We have asked the CAA to examine the implications of emerging aviation technologies on aviation noise policy in the UK. Developing a proportionate, evidence-led and adaptive approach will be critical to sustainable development of Future of Flight technologies and maintaining public trust.

What steps her Department is taking to minimise noise pollution caused by parcel delivery drones.

Decisions on whether and how parcel delivery drones may operate are a matter for the independent Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which regulates UK airspace. All drone operators are required to comply with aviation regulations, including the CAA’s Drone and Model Aircraft Code, which makes clear that drones must be used responsibly and with due regard to people’s privacy. Operators using drones fitted with cameras are also subject to the UK’s data protection and privacy legislation. As part of the approval process, the CAA requires operators to demonstrate that all relevant risks are properly assessed and mitigated, including environmental considerations where appropriate. This can include restrictions on where and how drones operate, particularly in or near sensitive wildlife locations. Planning applications for drone operations, where required, also consider impacts on biodiversity, habitats, protected species and wildlife.Noise impacts are similarly considered through the regulatory and operational approval process. We have asked the CAA to examine the implications of emerging aviation technologies on aviation noise policy in the UK. Developing a proportionate, evidence-led and adaptive approach will be critical to sustainable development of Future of Flight technologies and maintaining public trust.

What estimate he has made of the proportion of patients receiving treatment within 18 weeks of referral in (a) Newcastle upon Tyne and (b) North Tyneside.

At the end of March 2026, the NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board reported that the proportion of patients on the waiting list waiting within 18 weeks was 72.3% compared to 70.2% in March 2025.The Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust reported that 72.5% of its waiting list was waiting within 18 weeks compared to 72.4% in March 2025.Nationally, at the end of March 2026, the proportion of the waiting list waiting within 18 weeks was 65.3%.

What steps he is taking to increase the proportion of patients receiving treatment within 18 weeks of referral.

The Government is committed to returning by March 2029 to the National Health Service constitutional standard that 92% of patients wait no longer than 18 weeks from referral to consultant-led treatment (RTT).As a first step in achieving this, we have delivered against the interim target that 65% of patients wait no longer than 18 weeks by March 2026. As of March 2026, the waiting list has reduced by over 515,000 since the Government came into office, and performance against the RTT standard has improved by 6.4%, reaching 65.3%. This is despite 37.2 million referrals onto the waiting list over the same period.This progress has been made by delivering more appointments, investing in modernisation, reforming and simplifying pathways, increasing surgical and diagnostic capacity, and providing patients with faster and more convenient access to care.