Written questions by Vickers.

What the average waiting time was for a practical driving test at driving test centres in (a) Darlington, (b) Middlesbrough (c) Hartlepool,(d) Northallerton and (e) England in the latest period for which data is available.

The average waiting time in weeks, as of October 2025, for driving test centres in (a) Darlington, (b) Middlesbrough (c) Hartlepool (d) Northallerton and (e) England, can be found in the table below. LocationAverage Waiting Times Oct 25Darlington23.0 WeeksMiddlesbrough24.0 WeeksHartlepool24.0 WeeksNorthallerton22.5 WeeksEngland22.4 Weeks

Communities and Local Government, what information his Department holds on the number of leases that have been forfeited because the leaseholder fell into ground rent arrears of 3 months in each of the last five years.

My Department does not hold data on long leases that have been treated as assured shorthold tenancies as a result of ground rent increases. Nor does it hold data on the number of leases that have been forfeited due to ground rent arrears.The government has acted through the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 to ensure that leases granted for more than 21 years will be excluded from the assured tenancy regime. The relevant provisions will come into force on 27 December 2025 and will mean that from that date it will no longer be the case that, under provisions of the Housing Act 1988, leaseholders paying a ground rent of more than £250 a year (or more than £1,000 in London) can be legally regarded as assured tenants, and as such can have their home repossessed if they fall behind on their ground rents.We also recognise that under the current legal framework, landlords may rely on a contractual right to forfeit a lease where a leaseholder breaches a covenant – such as the failure to pay ground rent. The availability of forfeiture as a remedy can create a significant power imbalance between landlords and leaseholders, with its use resulting in the leaseholder losing both their home and any equity accrued in the property.We will address this through the draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill by removing the disproportionate and draconian threat of forfeiture as a means of enforcing lease compliance. The Government also remains committed to addressing unregulated and unaffordable ground rents and doing so in legislation.

Communities and Local Government, what information his Department holds on the number of long leases that have been turned into Assured Shorthold Tenancies because their ground rent was increased to more than £250.

My Department does not hold data on long leases that have been treated as assured shorthold tenancies as a result of ground rent increases. Nor does it hold data on the number of leases that have been forfeited due to ground rent arrears.The government has acted through the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 to ensure that leases granted for more than 21 years will be excluded from the assured tenancy regime. The relevant provisions will come into force on 27 December 2025 and will mean that from that date it will no longer be the case that, under provisions of the Housing Act 1988, leaseholders paying a ground rent of more than £250 a year (or more than £1,000 in London) can be legally regarded as assured tenants, and as such can have their home repossessed if they fall behind on their ground rents.We also recognise that under the current legal framework, landlords may rely on a contractual right to forfeit a lease where a leaseholder breaches a covenant – such as the failure to pay ground rent. The availability of forfeiture as a remedy can create a significant power imbalance between landlords and leaseholders, with its use resulting in the leaseholder losing both their home and any equity accrued in the property.We will address this through the draft Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill by removing the disproportionate and draconian threat of forfeiture as a means of enforcing lease compliance. The Government also remains committed to addressing unregulated and unaffordable ground rents and doing so in legislation.

What (a) number and (b) proportion of final death certificates remained unissued by Coroner's Offices in England and Wales after (i) 3 months (ii) 6 months, (iii) 12 months, (iv) 18 months and (v) 24 months after the deaths of individuals referred to the coroners office in each of the last five years.

At the conclusion of an inquest or if it is suspended pending the conclusion of proceedings associated with the death the coroner certifies the cause of death for the purposes of registration. The registration of the death itself is carried out by the Registrar. The Ministry of Justice publishes annual Coroners Statistics which can be found at Coroners statistics 2024 - GOV.UK The information requested on the number and proportion of unissued final death certificates for the Teesside and Hartlepool coroner area and nationally is not collected but comparable data is available in, or can be extrapolated from, these statistical publications.

What (a) number and (b) proportion of final death certificates remained unissued by the Teesside Coroner's Office for (i) 3 months (ii) 6 months, (iii) 12 months, (iv) 18 months and (v) 24 months after the deaths of individuals referred to the coroners office in each of the last five years.

At the conclusion of an inquest or if it is suspended pending the conclusion of proceedings associated with the death the coroner certifies the cause of death for the purposes of registration. The registration of the death itself is carried out by the Registrar. The Ministry of Justice publishes annual Coroners Statistics which can be found at Coroners statistics 2024 - GOV.UK The information requested on the number and proportion of unissued final death certificates for the Teesside and Hartlepool coroner area and nationally is not collected but comparable data is available in, or can be extrapolated from, these statistical publications.

What the average time taken was for (a) Teesside Coroner's Officer and (b) Coroner's Offices in England and Wales to issue a final death certificate from the date of when deaths are referred to them in each of the last five years.

At the conclusion of an inquest or if it is suspended pending the conclusion of proceedings associated with the death the coroner certifies the cause of death for the purposes of registration. The registration of the death itself is carried out by the Registrar. The Ministry of Justice publishes annual Coroners Statistics which can be found at Coroners statistics 2024 - GOV.UK The information requested on the number and proportion of unissued final death certificates for the Teesside and Hartlepool coroner area and nationally is not collected but comparable data is available in, or can be extrapolated from, these statistical publications.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with the Environment Agency on the regulation of hazardous waste storage at industrial sites in Teesside.

Industrial sites must only store hazardous waste in accordance with an environmental permit.

What steps his Department plans to take to encourage an increased uptake of coronial post-mortems by pathologists.

The Ministry of Justice recognises that the system for commissioning pathologists to undertake post-mortems for coroners needs to function effectively to help coroners determine causes of death and meet the needs of bereaved families. Ministry of Justice officials are working closely with other government departments and wider stakeholders in the pathology sector, to understand the issues for the coronial pathology workforce and those of the wider system. The Ministry of Justice has recently undertaken a data-gathering exercise intended to better-understand the profile of this workforce. We will continue to work across Whitehall and with external stakeholders to ensure that there is a secure number of pathologists ready to undertake this vital work for coroners and ensure the needs of bereaved families are met.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of reforms to the Landfill Tax on businesses engaged in environmentally-responsible waste (a) treatment and (b) recycling.

The Government recently consulted on proposals to reform Landfill Tax to ensure the regime remains effective in encouraging waste to be diverted away from landfill and to support the Government’s circular economy objectives. As part of the consultation, the Government has received a wide range of views from stakeholders, including from businesses that are engaged in environmentally responsible waste management practices. The consultation closed on 28 July, and the Government is considering responses and will set out next steps in due course.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of recent changes to Landfill Tax rates on chemical manufacturing operations in Teesside.

The Government recently consulted on proposals to reform Landfill Tax to ensure the regime remains effective in encouraging waste to be diverted away from landfill and to support the Government’s circular economy objectives. As part of the consultation, the Government has received a wide range of views from stakeholders, including representatives from the chemical manufacturing sector. The consultation closed on 28 July, and the Government is considering responses and will set out next steps in due course.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the reduction in the sheep population over the last three years on wildfire risk.

Defra has made no assessment of the potential impact of the reduction in the sheep population over the last three years on wildfire risk. The sheep sector is an important component of our rural landscape. The size of the flock changes year to year and sheep graze over a wide geographic area across the country, making any assessment difficult to undertake. Each fire and rescue authority is, however, required to plan for the foreseeable risks in their area (including wildfire), through their Community Risk Management Plan. Since 2024 the Government has funded a National Resilience Wildfire Advisor to assess what additional wildfire national capabilities might be needed to increase resilience to the wildfire risk and to ensure coordination of approaches across the sector.

If his Department will take steps to improve the assessment and diagnosis for Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder in (i) Teesside and (ii) the North East of England.

NHS England is working with eating disorder services and local commissioners to improve access to assessment and treatment for all children and young people with a suspected eating disorder, including those presenting with Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID).In 2019/20, NHS England funded seven community eating disorder teams, one in each region in England, as part of a pilot programme to improve access, assessment, and treatment for children and young people with ARFID. The training from these pilots is now available for local areas to commission for their community children and young people’s eating disorder services.The NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) has prioritised work to improve ARFID pathways. The ICB’s specialist provider collaborative appointed a dedicated ARFID project lead to develop and share best practice across the region. This work has supported improved clinical networking, supervision, and training materials, and resulted in the development of information and resources for families and service users.Within the Tees Valley, eating disorder services provide assessment and treatment for patients with moderate to severe ARFID, and they have developed a specific ARFID pathway. Support for people with mild to moderate ARFID presentations is also available through local voluntary sector organisations such as Eating Distress North East.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the availability of permitted landfill capacity for industrial waste in the North East.

The Environment Agency publishes data of landfill capacity on an annual basis which can be accessed here: Remaining Landfill Capacity - data.gov.uk

What estimate her Department has made of the cost to the public purse of (a) voluntary return and (b) deportation schemes since July 2024.

The Home Office publishes all available information on returns expenditure in the Home Office Annual Report and accounts at Home Office annual reports and accounts - GOV.UK(opens in a new tab)(opens in a new tab)The number of foreign national offenders returned under the Facilitated Returns Scheme (FRS) is published as part of the Immigration Enforcement transparency data at table FNO_09. The latest publication can be found at Migration transparency data - GOV.UKThe number of foreign nationals returned under the Voluntary Returns Scheme (VRS) is published as part of the quarterly Immigration system statistics, with the latest publication being for Q2 2025. The latest published data on VRS returns can be viewed at How many people are returned from the UK? - GOV.UKIndividuals departing are subject to a re-entry ban after departing the UK. The length of the ban depends on the circumstances of the individual case. Individuals who return illegally can face a range of sanctions, including prosecution.

How many number payments were made to people (i) deported and (ii) voluntarily returned under Home Office schemes since July 2024; and what the value of those payments were.

The Home Office publishes all available information on returns expenditure in the Home Office Annual Report and accounts at Home Office annual reports and accounts - GOV.UK(opens in a new tab)(opens in a new tab)The number of foreign national offenders returned under the Facilitated Returns Scheme (FRS) is published as part of the Immigration Enforcement transparency data at table FNO_09. The latest publication can be found at Migration transparency data - GOV.UKThe number of foreign nationals returned under the Voluntary Returns Scheme (VRS) is published as part of the quarterly Immigration system statistics, with the latest publication being for Q2 2025. The latest published data on VRS returns can be viewed at How many people are returned from the UK? - GOV.UKIndividuals departing are subject to a re-entry ban after departing the UK. The length of the ban depends on the circumstances of the individual case. Individuals who return illegally can face a range of sanctions, including prosecution.

What recent discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on funding for (a) voluntary and (b) enforced removal schemes of foreign national offenders in the 2025-26 financial year.

We will not provide a running commentary on discussions between the Home Office and HMT on in-year funding for removal schemes. The costs associated with voluntary and enforced removals (including foreign national offenders) are varied. The total amount spent on returning people in the 2025/26 financial year will be published in the Home Office annual report and accounts in Summer 2026.

What proportion of deported individuals received financial assistance to leave since July 2024.

The Home Office publishes all available information on returns expenditure in the Home Office Annual Report and accounts at Home Office annual reports and accounts - GOV.UK(opens in a new tab)(opens in a new tab)The number of foreign national offenders returned under the Facilitated Returns Scheme (FRS) is published as part of the Immigration Enforcement transparency data at table FNO_09. The latest publication can be found at Migration transparency data - GOV.UKThe number of foreign nationals returned under the Voluntary Returns Scheme (VRS) is published as part of the quarterly Immigration system statistics, with the latest publication being for Q2 2025. The latest published data on VRS returns can be viewed at How many people are returned from the UK? - GOV.UKIndividuals departing are subject to a re-entry ban after departing the UK. The length of the ban depends on the circumstances of the individual case. Individuals who return illegally can face a range of sanctions, including prosecution.

What mechanisms are in place to recover public funds from people who return to the UK unlawfully after receiving financial support to leave.

The Home Office publishes all available information on returns expenditure in the Home Office Annual Report and accounts at Home Office annual reports and accounts - GOV.UK(opens in a new tab)(opens in a new tab)The number of foreign national offenders returned under the Facilitated Returns Scheme (FRS) is published as part of the Immigration Enforcement transparency data at table FNO_09. The latest publication can be found at Migration transparency data - GOV.UKThe number of foreign nationals returned under the Voluntary Returns Scheme (VRS) is published as part of the quarterly Immigration system statistics, with the latest publication being for Q2 2025. The latest published data on VRS returns can be viewed at How many people are returned from the UK? - GOV.UKIndividuals departing are subject to a re-entry ban after departing the UK. The length of the ban depends on the circumstances of the individual case. Individuals who return illegally can face a range of sanctions, including prosecution.

What guidance and information his Department issues to clinicians to assist in early diagnosis of Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder.

NHS England is working with eating disorder services and local commissioners to improve access to assessment and treatment for all children and young people with a suspected eating disorder, including those presenting with Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID).In 2019/20, NHS England funded seven community eating disorder teams, one in each region in England, as part of a pilot programme to improve access, assessment, and treatment for children and young people with ARFID. The training from these pilots is now available for local areas to commission for their community children and young people’s eating disorder services.The NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) has prioritised work to improve ARFID pathways. The ICB’s specialist provider collaborative appointed a dedicated ARFID project lead to develop and share best practice across the region. This work has supported improved clinical networking, supervision, and training materials, and resulted in the development of information and resources for families and service users.Within the Tees Valley, eating disorder services provide assessment and treatment for patients with moderate to severe ARFID, and they have developed a specific ARFID pathway. Support for people with mild to moderate ARFID presentations is also available through local voluntary sector organisations such as Eating Distress North East.

If he will make an estimate of the number of practicing clinicians who have received specialist training in (a) diagnosing and (b) treating Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder.

In 2021, NHS England commissioned training for staff delivering treatment in inpatient children and young people’s mental health services to improve the understanding and management of Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID).NHS England does not hold centralised data on the number of clinicians who have received specialist ARFID training. Training is commissioned and delivered locally to meet the needs of local populations.