Written questions by Onn.

If he will take steps to provide support to (a) Tronox in Stallingborough and (b) other titanium dioxide pigment manufacturers on decarbonising their production processes.

The Industrial Energy Transformation Fund (IETF) is a £500m grant fund programme which supports industrial sites with high energy use to transition to a low carbon future. The Government has encouraged applications to the IETF from the chemicals sector and chemicals sites have received support from the IETF. The outcomes of applications to Phase 3.1 of the IETF are waiting on the autumn fiscal event, so that they can be finalised and applicants can be informed.

If he will hold discussions with striking maternity support workers in Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes constituency on their requests.

This is a local issue and resolution should be the product of local employer and trade union negotiations. It is for employers to correctly and consistently implement the NHS Job Evaluation scheme.

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of agreeing to the asks of the striking maternity support workers in Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes constituency.

No assessment has been made. Resolution is for local determination by the employing organisation and respective trade unions. Employers are responsible for correctly and consistently implementing the NHS Job Evaluation scheme.

What recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of preparations made by Maximus for processing Personal Independence Payment claims.

Under the Functional Assessment Service (FAS) contracts which went live on 9 September 2024, assessment suppliers will deliver the Health Assessment Advisory Service on behalf of the department. These FAS contracts are central to the improvements we are making to health assessments. Individuals now only need to deal with one supplier for the assessment of their health condition or disability, providing a simpler and more straightforward service. Each supplier including Maximus, will be held accountable to the same service delivery performance standards set by the department. Over the longer term, this will enable us to introduce a new integrated Health Assessment Service, which is being developed and built by the DWP Health Transformation Programme. The department conducted an open and transparent procurement under the Public Contract Regulations in line with Government policies and considered the quality of assessments, the experience for individuals, as well as the value for money offered by each of the bids.

What plans her Department has to take forward the commitments in the Championing kinship care: national kinship care strategy, published on 15 December 2023.

This department recognises the valuable and important role that kinship carers play in caring for some of the most vulnerable children.The department is determined to give every child the opportunities they deserve, and kinship carers play a crucial role in delivering this. We know that many children who receive care from relatives and friends need extra support, including in school. We are working to ensure their needs are met, and that they have the best possible opportunity to succeed.The government has expanded the role of virtual school heads to include specific responsibilities to promote the education outcomes of children in kinship care and recently announced the appointment of the first National Kinship Care Ambassador.The government has extended the delivery of over 140 peer support groups across England, available for all kinship carers to access, where they can come together to share stories, exchange advice and support each other. A package of training and support is being delivered to kinship carers across England.This government is considering how to most effectively transform the children’s social care system to deliver better outcomes for children and families, including how best to support kinship families.

Communities and Local Government, what information her Department holds on the number and proportion of single-person council tax reduction recipients that are pensioners.

The Government has not historically collected data on the individual characteristics of residents of households receiving a single person council tax discount.

What information her Department holds on the impact of youth services on the number of reports of anti-social behaviour in the last ten years.

The Government is committed to rolling out a new Young Futures programme, including a network of Young Futures Hubs which will bring together services to help improve the way young people can access the support they need.We will be engaging with local communities, the police, charities, and other key partners to support the design of the hubs and explore options for their delivery. This will include considerations of the most suitable locations as well as how best to engage with those young people who would benefit most from their support.Tackling Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) is also a top priority for this Government, and a key part of our Safer Streets Mission.We will put thousands of neighbourhood police and community support officers into local communities, to tackle the crimes blighting our town centres and high streets, with tough new powers for the police to crack down on resistant offenders. This will be also key to disrupting youth ASB through engaged and visible neighbourhood officers.The Home Office does not hold data on the impact of youth services on the number of reports of ASB.

What steps she is taking to ensure that full tax receipts are being obtained from cash-only businesses.

Cash continues to be used by many people across the UK and is a legitimate means of paying for goods and services. It is the choice of a business whether to accept or decline any form of payment and is based on factors such as customer preference and cost. Like all other businesses, those which only or primarily accept cash must ensure they meet their legal obligations regarding tax, including that they register for and pay the right taxes at the right time. Most taxpayers pay what they owe, but a small minority fail to register with HMRC or only declare a portion of their earnings. This small minority deprive our vital public services of funding, affect fair competition between businesses, and place unfair burdens on everyone else. The Government is committed to creating a level playing field for all by ensuring that everyone pays the right amount of tax at the right time. Closing the tax gap and making sure that more of the tax that is owed is correctly paid is one of the Government’s top priorities for HMRC. It is vital these revenues are collected to fund our essential public services. HMRC is making it increasingly difficult for businesses to hide their earnings and have an extensive range of powers, including information gathering powers, that help build a picture of risk and identify those who are trying to abuse the system. HMRC’s approach to tax evasion aims to tackle current non-compliance and change future behaviours. Their activities include national campaigns and specialist task forces that incorporate intensive bursts of activity in targeted high risk trade sectors and locations across the UK. This includes providing customer education highlighting the importance of keeping accurate records.

Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of devolution on local economies.

This Government is committed to transferring power out of Westminster and into local communities, with landmark legislation to expand devolution across England, devolve further powers to local leaders, those with local knowledge and those with skin in the game, to drive economic growth, and empower local communities.International evidence shows that, if done correctly, devolution can lead to economic growth and increased productivity. That is why we have committed to introducing an English Devolution Bill, which will give mayors and combined authorities the powers they need to implement local growth plans - setting a clear and bespoke direction for each local economy across the country.