Written questions by Reader.

If he has assessed the potential impact of the freeze on Local Housing Allowance on levels of poverty among older private renters.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

If she has considered the skills needed for the Restoration and Renewal Programme and the funding of FE courses that contribute to the skills base required for the Programme.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Whether she has considered the potential merits of introducing support for food and drink manufacturers.

The Government recognises the important role that food and drink manufacturers play in growing our economy, accounting for £37 billion in Gross Value Added in 2023. We understand, and are taking seriously, the possible impacts of the conflict in the Middle East on the food sector. The Government has been meeting, and will continue to meet, with stakeholders to share intelligence, assess emerging pressures, and agree how we can keep our food sector resilient and stable.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the cost of regulation introduced since 2019 on the food and drink supply chain, including in farming, manufacturing, retail and hospitality, on food and drink inflation.

Food and drink inflation is determined by a range of factors and it is not always possible to isolate the direct impact of regulation on food prices. However, Defra is taking action to reduce cost pressures in the food system, including from regulation. In November, Defra launched the Food Inflation Gateway to ensure regulatory impacts on food businesses are appropriately assessed, and to identify where burdens can be reduced or better sequenced. Food price inflation rose sharply in 2022 (following the start of the war in Ukraine) to a peak of 19.1% in March 2023. Subsequently the inflation rate has decreased but not reached pre-2022 levels. Food price inflation averaged 4.6% over 2025 and in March 2026 stood at 3.7%.

Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with the Gambling Commission on the suitability of the current ownership arrangements of the Health Lottery.

DCMS Ministers and officials have had no discussions with the Gambling Commission on the ownership arrangements of the Health Lottery.

Media and Sport, what estimate she has made of the potential impact of the time taken to complete the National Lottery licence transition on the change in the amount of funding provided through the National Lottery Community Fund.

Allwyn, as the new operator of the National Lottery, has successfully delivered its technical transformation programme. This marks the biggest investment in the National Lottery since 2009, and will support Allwyn’s commitment to double weekly good cause returns by 2034. In 2024/5, good cause returns were £1.9 billion, which is consistent with returns over the last 5 years (£1.8 billion in 2023/4). In 2024/5, the National Lottery Community Fund’s share of the good cause returns was £760m, up from £728m in 2023/24.

Media and Sport, what her planned timetable is for appointing a permanent Chief Executive of the Gambling Commission.

The appointment of a permanent Chief Executive is a matter for the Gambling Commission. The Commission will identify a preferred candidate, with the appointment subject to the Secretary of State approving the terms and conditions. Officials are in regular contact with the Gambling Commission in relation to this appointment.

Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to support the transformation of the National Lottery.

The National Lottery is a national institution and a unique source of national pride and funding for good causes. It is a huge contributor to the Government’s Plan for Change, providing £1.9 billion in 2024/25 to the arts, heritage, sport and community sectors. Allwyn, the operator of the 4th National Lottery licence, has successfully delivered its technical transformation. This modernisation will ensure the National Lottery continues to enrich lives and support communities across the country for generations to come.

Whether she has had discussions with the CMA9 banks on the potential impact of reported employment practices at Open Banking Limited on public and industry confidence in the Open Banking and Open Finance framework.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is responsible for ensuring that the obligations under Part 2 of the Retail Banking Market Investigation Order (the Order), and the accompanying Agreed Arrangements, are satisfied. The Government is aware that Open Banking Limited (OBL) has recently conducted a review of its settlement agreements and sought external legal advice to ensure that these are legally compliant. For the future, the Government has committed to establish a long-term regulatory framework to support the growth of UK Open Banking. This will provide the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) with powers to regulate Open Banking – including FCA oversight of a so-called ‘Future Entity’ which will take on the functions currently carried out by OBL under the Order.Treasury officials are engaging with the CMA to inform the design of this future framework. In due course, the Government will consult on its legislative approach, including the powers it intends to provide the FCA to ensure it can effectively oversee the Open Banking ecosystem and its participants.

What steps her Department is taking to ensure that decisions relating to the future regulatory framework for Open Banking and Open Finance reflect high standards of governance, transparency, and employment protections.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is responsible for ensuring that the obligations under Part 2 of the Retail Banking Market Investigation Order (the Order), and the accompanying Agreed Arrangements, are satisfied. The Government is aware that Open Banking Limited (OBL) has recently conducted a review of its settlement agreements and sought external legal advice to ensure that these are legally compliant. For the future, the Government has committed to establish a long-term regulatory framework to support the growth of UK Open Banking. This will provide the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) with powers to regulate Open Banking – including FCA oversight of a so-called ‘Future Entity’ which will take on the functions currently carried out by OBL under the Order.Treasury officials are engaging with the CMA to inform the design of this future framework. In due course, the Government will consult on its legislative approach, including the powers it intends to provide the FCA to ensure it can effectively oversee the Open Banking ecosystem and its participants.

What role her Department has in (a) monitoring and (b) supporting the governance and accountability of bodies established following Competition and Markets Authority remedies, where those bodies are funded by regulated firms including the CMA9 banks.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is responsible for ensuring that the obligations under Part 2 of the Retail Banking Market Investigation Order (the Order), and the accompanying Agreed Arrangements, are satisfied. The Government is aware that Open Banking Limited (OBL) has recently conducted a review of its settlement agreements and sought external legal advice to ensure that these are legally compliant. For the future, the Government has committed to establish a long-term regulatory framework to support the growth of UK Open Banking. This will provide the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) with powers to regulate Open Banking – including FCA oversight of a so-called ‘Future Entity’ which will take on the functions currently carried out by OBL under the Order.Treasury officials are engaging with the CMA to inform the design of this future framework. In due course, the Government will consult on its legislative approach, including the powers it intends to provide the FCA to ensure it can effectively oversee the Open Banking ecosystem and its participants.

Whether her Department has held discussions with the Competition and Markets Authority on the adequacy of Open Banking Limited's governance and accountability arrangements in the context of its role in open banking or the open finance framework.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is responsible for ensuring that the obligations under Part 2 of the Retail Banking Market Investigation Order (the Order), and the accompanying Agreed Arrangements, are satisfied. The Government is aware that Open Banking Limited (OBL) has recently conducted a review of its settlement agreements and sought external legal advice to ensure that these are legally compliant. For the future, the Government has committed to establish a long-term regulatory framework to support the growth of UK Open Banking. This will provide the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) with powers to regulate Open Banking – including FCA oversight of a so-called ‘Future Entity’ which will take on the functions currently carried out by OBL under the Order.Treasury officials are engaging with the CMA to inform the design of this future framework. In due course, the Government will consult on its legislative approach, including the powers it intends to provide the FCA to ensure it can effectively oversee the Open Banking ecosystem and its participants.

Whether he plans to develop a modern service framework for neurological conditions; and what steps he is taking to attract, train and retain specialist healthcare professionals for Parkinson’s.

The first wave of modern service frameworks will include cardiovascular disease, sepsis, mental health, palliative care and end-of-life care, and dementia and frailty. The Government will consider other conditions with significant health and economic impacts for future waves of modern service frameworks in due course.The Government is committed to publishing a 10 Year Workforce Plan to set out action to create a workforce ready to deliver the transformed service set out in the 10-Year Health Plan. The 10 Year Workforce Plan will ensure the National Health Service has the right people in the right places, with the right skills to care for patients, when they need it.NHS staff told us through the 10-Year Health Plan engagement that they are crying out for change. This workforce plan will set out how we will deliver that change by making sure that staff are better treated, have better training, more fulfilling roles, and hope for the future.We have set up a United Kingdom-wide Neuro Forum, facilitating formal, twice-yearly meetings across the Department, NHS England, the devolved administrations, and health services and Neurological Alliances of all four nations. The new forum brings key stakeholders together to share learnings across the system and discuss challenges, best practice examples, and potential solutions for improving the care of people with neurological conditions. The forum has identified areas for initial focus, including workforce, which featured as a key item on the agenda at the third meeting of the forum on 18 March.

What work the Government is undertaking with regulators and professional bodies to strengthen expectations around endometriosis education and diagnosis.

The Government acknowledges the challenges faced by women with endometriosis and the impact it has on their lives, their relationships, and their participation in education and the workforce.The Government also acknowledges the importance of ensuring healthcare professionals are adequately trained and educated on women’s health conditions, including endometriosis, and we have taken action to address this.The General Medical Council (GMC) has introduced the Medical Licensing Assessment to encourage a better understanding of common women’s health problems among all doctors as they start their careers in the United Kingdom. The content for this assessment includes several topics relating to women’s health, including endometriosis.Women's health is included the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) curriculum for trainee general practitioners (GPs), including gynaecology, sexual health, and breast health. The curriculum also covers the healthcare needs of women across all diseases seen in primary care as it is important women are treated holistically. This ensures that all future GPs receive education on women’s health.The RCGP has also published a Women’s Health Library which brings together educational resources and guidelines on women’s health from the RCGP, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, and the College of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare. This resource is continually updated to ensure GPs and other primary healthcare professionals have the most up-to-date advice to provide the best care for their patients.The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has developed a women’s and reproductive health topic suite, and updated guidelines on endometriosis in 2024 to make firmer recommendations for healthcare professionals on referral and investigations for women with suspected diagnosis. These clinical guidelines support healthcare professionals to provide care for women with endometriosis.Generally, employers in the health system are responsible for ensuring that their staff are trained to the required standards to deliver appropriate treatment for patients.

Communities and Local Government, what his planned timeframe is for consulting on national planning policy related to decision-making, including policies on flood risk and sustainable drainage systems.

The government is currently consulting on a new National Planning Policy Framework that includes clearer, ‘rules based’ policies for decision-making and plan-making. The consultation will remain open for responses until 10 March 2026 and can be found on gov.uk here.

Innovation and Technology, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the Online Safety Act 2023 in protecting children from harm on online gaming platforms, including Roblox; and whether she plans to undertake a review of the Act’s application to such platforms.

Gaming platforms that allow users to post or interact, such as Roblox, are in scope of the Online Safety Act. They are required to protect children from illegal and harmful content on their service, including using highly effective age assurance to prevent children encountering the most harmful types of content.Ofcom is the regulator of the Act and has powers to take robust enforcement action. Ofcom has already used these powers, effectively enforcing against non-compliant services.We will continue to monitor the effectiveness of the Act, and on 20 January, the government announced a short, swift consultation on further measures to enhance children's wellbeing and ensuring they have a healthy relationship with social media accompanied by a national conversation.

Communities and Local Government, what steps is his Department taking to improve the home conveyancing and residential property transaction process, in the context of the average length of time between a house sale being agreed and the exchange of contracts being more than four months.

On 6 October 2025, the government published two consultations outlining reform proposals to transform home buying and selling. They can be found on gov.uk here and here. We are now analysing the responses to both consultations.

Whether his Department plans to introduce transitional arrangements for landfill gas electricity generation following the closure of the Renewables Obligation in 2027; and what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of methane capture from landfill sites.

Government is aware that Renewables Obligation (RO) support for existing landfill gas generators will begin to end in 2027, and that this could affect their commercial viability. We have also considered the implications that the end of RO support will have on methane emissions. That is why, as set out in the Carbon Budget and Growth Delivery Plan, Government is exploring the implementation of a long-term methane capture scheme, with suitable transitional arrangements. We will provide an update in due course.

How many neurologists there are who have specialist training in Parkinson’s; how many geriatricians there are who have specialist training in Parkinson’s; and how many specialist Parkinson’s nurses there are in the UK.

While the Department does not hold data specifically on the number of Parkinson’s specialist staff in England, we do hold data on the number of doctors working in the wider specialities of neurology and geriatric medicine. As of August 2025, there were 2,010 full time equivalent (FTE) doctors working in the specialty of neurology and 6,284 in geriatric medicine in National Health Service trusts and other organisations in England. This includes 1,025 FTE consultant neurologists and 1,687 FTE consultant geriatricians.The Department does not hold specific data on the number of specialist Parkinson’s nurses employed in the NHS in England. These roles are commissioned locally by NHS trusts and integrated care boards as part of neurology and movement disorder services.NHS England has published a service specification for specialised adult neurology services, which includes Parkinson’s disease as part of its scope. This specification sets out requirements for multidisciplinary care, including access to Parkinson’s disease nurse specialists, consultant neurologists and allied health professionals.NHS England is also implementing initiatives such as the Neurology Transformation Programme and the Getting It Right First Time Programme for Neurology, which aim to improve access to specialist care, reduce variation, and develop integrated models of service delivery for conditions including Parkinson’s disease. These programmes align with the National Institute for Care Excellence guidance on Parkinson’s disease, reference code NG71, which recommends that people with Parkinson’s have regular access to specialist staff with expertise in the condition.

What steps his Department is taking to provide adequate funding to the Probation Service for meeting its additional responsibilities in the Sentencing Bill.

We continue to invest in Probation to ensure workloads are manageable and the changes from the Independent Sentencing Review are sustainable.The Probation and community services budget will increase by up to £700 million (a 45% rise) by 2028/2029.An initial £8 million will be invested in technology to reduce administration and free up officers to focus on managing risk and reducing reoffending.