Written questions by Martin.

What steps his Department took to undertake due diligence in relation to the National Investigation Service before its funding for that body to enhance counter-fraud work was announced in the Spring Statement 2022.

At the time of the Spring Statement 2022 the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) had commissioned and managed NATIS to undertake potentially fraudulent covid loan investigations.Through the Machinery of Government changes accountability for NATIS passed to DBT in February 2023. Financial, Commercial and Security due diligence was completed by DBT in preparation for the contract that commenced April 2024.

How many complaints his Department has received on the National Investigation Service.

The Department for Business and Trade does not maintain a central record of complaints specifically about the National Investigation Service (NATIS).While no formal complaints have been received directly by the Department, NATIS has been the subject of various Parliamentary Questions and Freedom of Information requests, indicating a level of interest.In July 2025, the Department supported a response to a written complaint submitted to the Insolvency Service which included concerns about NATIS.All correspondence is handled in line with established procedures to ensure appropriate and consistent responses.

How many audits the Public Sector Fraud Authority has undertaken into the National Investigation Service; what the purpose of these audits was; what methods were used during these audits; what the risks identified during these audits were; and how long each of these audits took.

On 12 October 2023, the Public Sector Fraud Authority were requested to undertake a formal operational review of National Investigation Service, with a primary purpose to focus on performance. The review team included experts from the National Crime Agency, Serious Fraud Office, HM Revenue and Customs, Government Internal Audit Agency, and NHS Counter Fraud Authority.The review report was provided to DBT on 17 November 2023 and made recommendations to prevent future risk of secondments lapsing and appropriate governance.There have been no other formal audits or reviews undertaken by the Public Sector Fraud Authority into National Investigation Service.

On what date the National Investigation Service was contracted to investigate COVID-19 Bounce Back Loan fraud nationwide.

NATIS was commissioned by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS), subsequently The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) in September 2020 to undertake investigations into potentially fraudulent activity by recipients of loans under the Covid-19 Bounce Back Loan Scheme. The contract was renewed effective from 1st April 2024.

On what dates the Government renewed the contract for the National Investigation Service to investigate COVID-19 Bounce Back Loan fraud nationwide.

NATIS was commissioned by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS), subsequently The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) in September 2020 to undertake investigations into potentially fraudulent activity by recipients of loans under the Covid-19 Bounce Back Loan Scheme. The contract was renewed effective from 1st April 2024.

What assessment the Crown Prosecution Service has made of the adequacy of National Investigation Service investigations.

The Department for Business and Trade has responsibility for the National Investigation Service, given it is overseen by the Insolvency Service. As a result, the Crown Prosecution has made no assessment of the adequacy of the National Investigation Service.

When the Minister for Secondary Care plans to respond to the correspondence of 28 July 2025 from the hon. Member for Tunbridge Wells on the Dashboard for Accelerated Discharge.

I have received the hon. Member’s correspondence and will reply in due course.

On what date his Department was made aware of Mazars' report commissioned by Thurrock Council into the National Investigation Service; and what steps it took in response.

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) became aware of the Mazars report commissioned by Thurrock Council into the NATIS in June 2024.The report was independently commissioned by Thurrock Council to review NATIS activity internally. DBT was not consulted or interviewed during its preparation.Although confidential, the recommendations of the report were published in Thurrock Council board meeting quarter 2 2024.In response, DBT requested the report from NATIS, which was provided July 2024. There was one finding directly affecting DBT that had already been addressed ahead of DBT receiving the report.

How many cases of alleged covid-19 Bounce Back Loan Fraud the National Investigation Service investigated under its contract with the Government; and how many people were arrested because of these investigations but not charged.

The National Investigation Service have investigated 254 Bounce Back Loan Fraud cases in total (including both open and closed cases).There have been 6 arrests resulting in no charge.There have been 56 arrests where the cases are still ongoing, and the suspect has been released pending investigation, a number of these may result in no charge.

How many cases have been transferred from the National Investigation Service under Thurrock Council to the Insolvency Service.

No cases have yet been transferred from the National Investigation Service (NATIS) to the Insolvency Service. The Department for Business and Trade is working closely with both agencies to ensure a smooth and secure transition of ongoing investigations. This careful approach is designed to protect the integrity of the casework and the recovery of public funds lost to Covid-related fraud.

What steps she is taking to ensure that the contracted suppliers for the Disabled Students' Allowance are transparent with students on pricing.

Non-medical help hourly rates, together with any awards for travel, accommodation, or other costs, are supplied in the student’s entitlement letter, which outlines approved support. Additionally, the full breakdown of equipment costs is detailed in the needs assessment report, and students are entitled to request a copy of this report at any time. This means that students can see the costs associated with each element of their Disabled Students' Allowance support.

What assessment she has made of the adequacy of pay for workers in the Probation Service.

We are committed to supporting probation officers and value their hard work, commitment and dedication. As part of our approach to annual award proposals we will review our pay position and priorities for the award to get the best outcome for staff. As part of this process, we consider several factors including cost of living, business priorities and our competitive pay position with comparable workforces. Our pay proposals need to strike the difficult balance between affordability and providing investment to address our pay priorities and support attraction and retention.In recent years we have made investments to pay through a multi-year pay deal (MYPD) covering the period 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2025. This provided certainty in pay increases throughout the period and secured necessary reforms to the pay structure to help address some longstanding pay issues.We are currently engaging with the recognised Probation Service Trade Unions working to agree the best possible outcome for this year’s pay award in line with our priorities and the parameters of the civil service pay guidance.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of criminalising stolen valour.

There are currently no plans for the Ministry of Defence to give consideration to criminalising Stolen Valour. However, the Department reserves the right to do so in the future. Armed Forces veterans are expected to adhere to the guidance regarding the wearing of medals. However, it is not a criminal offence for veterans, or the public, to wear medals to which they are not entitled, unless, by doing so, an individual is seeking to make personal gain or defraud others.

Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to address the loophole in the Leasehold Reform, Housing and Urban Development Act 1993 whereby freeholders can retain undemised flats to prevent buildings from qualifying for collective enfranchisement.

The government wants to support leaseholders to take control of the management of their buildings through the right to manage or to enfranchise should they wish to do so. That is why we have already implemented the provisions in the Leasehold and Freehold reform act to remove the two-year qualifying period before people can enfranchise or extend their lease. Where a freeholder owns a flat within a building this is no bar to leaseholders exercising their right to manage or to enfranchise. However, we recognise that if a freeholder owns a substantial portion of a building, claims are likely to be difficult. We would welcome any evidence of freeholders choosing to retain flats within buildings in order to complicate right to manage or enfranchisement proceedings. The Government has committed to further reform the leasehold system by enacting remaining Law Commission recommendations relating to enfranchisement and the Right to Manage.

Communities and Local Government, when her Department plans (a) to (i) launch and (ii) close the public consultation on enfranchisement valuation methodology under the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 and (c) to publish the findings of that consultation; and by what date she plans to bring forward legislative proposals to implement those findings.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 68213 on 23 July 2025.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will require water companies to re-evaluate wastewater management plans in the context of increased housing targets.

The Government secured a record £104 billion of private investment into the water sector that will provide infrastructure including 9 new reservoirs and waste water treatment works across the country. This will support the building of 1.5 million new homes and new businesses including data centres and giga factories that will power economic growth, new jobs and higher wages. Our new Water Delivery Taskforce will ensure this vital infrastructure is delivered on schedule.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what guidance his Department issued to British citizens in Iran during the airstrikes of June 2025.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) travel advice remains under regular review to ensure it reflects our latest assessment of risks to British nationals. On 13 June, the FCDO updated its travel advice for Iran to note that Israeli strikes had occurred and that an Iranian military response was underway. FCDO updated advice further as military action continued, including to provide factual updates on the reported targets of strikes, the status of Iran's airspace, the status of Iran's land borders and the temporary withdrawal of UK staff from Iran. Subsequent updates reflected the announcement of a ceasefire and the return to Iran of UK staff. As we have long advised, UK Government support is extremely limited in Iran. In an emergency, the UK Government will not be able to evacuate you, provide face-to-face assistance or help you if you get into difficulty. The safety of British nationals in each country and territory is the FCDO's overriding concern when determining travel advice. We continue to advise against all travel to Iran, where British and British Iranian dual nationals are at very high risk of arrest, questioning and detention.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of expanding the scope of the maternity care inquiry to include the limitations of coroners’ powers to hold inquests into stillbirths.

My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, recently announced an independent, national investigation into National Health Service maternity and neonatal services, to look at the systemic issues behind why so many women, babies, and families experience unacceptable care. It will look at up to 10 maternity and neonatal units where there are specific issues, international evidence, adoption of best practice, and will engage in a system-wide investigation of maternity and neonatal care. This will include bringing together lessons from past reviews. The investigation will produce, by December 2025, one clear set of national recommendations to achieve high quality, safe care across maternity and neonatal services, and will ensure that women and families are listened to.My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, also announced the establishment of a Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce that will use the recommendations from the independent investigation to develop a national plan with families to drive improvements across maternity and neonatal care.The Terms of Reference for the independent investigation and taskforce, including the investigation’s scope, are being developed with input from families and other key partners and are expected to be published shortly. We are not, therefore, able to confirm whether this will include reference to coronial powers.

When he plans to respond to the correspondence from the hon. Member for Tunbridge Wells on coroners holding inquests into stillbirths, dated 6 June 2025.

The Department has received the Hon. Member’s correspondence of 6 June and will reply as soon as possible.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had discussions with Boston Consulting Group since 4 July 2024.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has not held discussions with the Boston Consulting Group since 4 July 2024 concerning Gaza. We have always been clear that any plans to enforce a reduction in territory or demographic change in Gaza are totally unacceptable.