Written questions by Wilson.

What was the average number of days in advance that victims were informed of a Foreign National Offender's deportation in 2025.

The HMPPS Victim Contact Scheme provides a service to victims of offenders convicted of specified violent, sexual, or terrorism offences who receive a custodial sentence of 12 months or more. The Victim Contact Scheme enables eligible victims to make representations regarding licence conditions and supervision requirements, and to receive relevant information as appropriate to the circumstances of the case, such as details about the offender’s sentence.In accordance with policy, victims must be informed about the offender’s immigration status and their eligibility for schemes including the Early Removal Scheme Tariff Expired Removal Scheme, Prisoner Transfer Agreements, or extradition. Eligible victims who have opted into the Victim Contact Scheme are informed by their Victim Liaison Officer if an offender is being considered for deportation or removal, and when deportation or removal has taken place. The Home Office are responsible for the arrangements for deportation of the offender and as a result, victims are not informed of the date in advance and, therefore, the data requested cannot be provided. In addition, information relating to victim contact is not routinely collected or published.For victims not eligible or engaged with the Victim Contact Scheme, the Victims’ Code sets out that you have the Right to ask for updates regarding the immigration case of the Foreign National Offender directly from the Home Office’s Victim Support Team.Through the Victim and Courts Bill, we will be updating the legislative framework that establishes the Victim Contact Scheme to bring victims currently served by different post-conviction communication schemes into the Victim Contact Scheme and provide a new route for other victims to request information via a dedicated helpline.

Whether the economic and environmental review of Heathrow expansion has been completed.

The economic and environmental review of Heathrow expansion is ongoing. We intend to consult on a revised Airports National Policy Statement (ANPS), which will include the proposed outcomes of the review, in summer this year. The review will not be complete until the final ANPS (post-consultation) is laid in Parliament, which we intend to do by the end of the year.

If she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of Heathrow Airport's debt.

As a private company, Heathrow Airport's financing decisions are a matter for the airport. Since this is a private sector project, it is up to the potential promoters to develop and finance expansion proposals, and to demonstrate that any scheme is financially viable.

How many staff have (a) had their employment contract terminated and (b) resigned in (i) Jobcentre Plus, (ii) the Pension Service, and (iii) the Child Maintenance Service since January 2025.

The data relates to DWP leavers within Child Maintenance Service, Retirement Services, and Universal Credit Operations. It includes both paid and unpaid leavers and covers the period from 1 January 2025 to 31 March 2026. DirectoratesDismissalResignationGrand TotalCHILD MAINTENANCE SERVICE41206247RETIREMENT SERVICES53151204UC OPERATIONS44115792020Grand Total53519362471

If she will make an assessment of the potential impact of Heathrow Airport's debt on her policies on a third runway at Heathrow.

As a private company, Heathrow Airport's financing decisions are a matter for the airport. Since this is a private sector project, it is up to the potential promoters to develop and finance expansion proposals, and to demonstrate that any scheme is financially viable.

What the average response time is for the a) Child Support Agency and b) Child Maintenance Service.

The Child Support Agency (CSA) does not publish a standalone Annual Report and Accounts. Information regarding the performance of the Child Maintenance Service can be found in the Annual Reports and Accounts 2024-25 linked here - DWP Annual Report and Accounts 2024 to 25

If she will make an estimate of the potential planning costs for the delivery of a third runway at Heathrow.

The Government recognises the importance of making sure that any scheme for Heathrow expansion is both deliverable and affordable. It is for potential promoters to develop plans for expansion as part of their Development Consent Order application. As the independent economic regulator for expansion, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) will determine the recovery of costs incurred by potential promoters of expansion.

What the average response time is for the Pension Service.

Information regarding the performance of The Pension Service can be found in the Annual Reports and Accounts 2024-25 linked here - DWP Annual Report and Accounts 2024 to 25

What the average response time is for Jobcentre Plus.

Information on departmental performance, including measures, can be found in the Annual Reports and Accounts DWP annual report and accounts 2024 to 2025 - GOV.UK

Innovation and Technology, what action has been taken since she met with a group of bereaved families on 19th January to stop UK users accessing a suicide forum responsible for over 135 UK deaths.

The Secretary of State has been clear Ofcom has full backing to use its enforcement powers and welcomes its investigation into extremely harmful suicide forums.Ofcom’s provisional decision published on 27 February is clear that unless its concerns are fully addressed, it will consider using all of the powers available to it, including, in most serious cases of non-compliance, imposing business disruption measures.One of the first things the Secretary of State did in the job was to make self-harm a priority offence under the Online Safety Act, triggering the strongest possible legal protections. She has been clear she will not hesitate to go further if needed and regularly talks to Ofcom about ensuring enforcement is strong.

What support she is providing to post offices to help with changes in the level of business rates.

The Government recognises the vital role that the Post Office plays in the economy and wider society At the Budget, the Government acted to limit increases in business rates bills, announcing a support package worth £4.3 billion. The Government has also introduced new permanently lower tax rates for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure properties. These new tax rates are worth nearly £1 billion per year and benefit over 750,000 properties. Post offices are also eligible for 100 per cent rural rate relief if they meet certain conditions. Further data related to the 2026 revaluation can be found at: Non-domestic rating: change in rateable value of rating lists, England and Wales, 2026 Revaluation (compiled list) - GOV.UK

Whether she has made an assessment of how many post offices will be affected by the proposed changes in business rates.

The Government recognises the vital role that the Post Office plays in the economy and wider society At the Budget, the Government acted to limit increases in business rates bills, announcing a support package worth £4.3 billion. The Government has also introduced new permanently lower tax rates for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure properties. These new tax rates are worth nearly £1 billion per year and benefit over 750,000 properties. Post offices are also eligible for 100 per cent rural rate relief if they meet certain conditions. Further data related to the 2026 revaluation can be found at: Non-domestic rating: change in rateable value of rating lists, England and Wales, 2026 Revaluation (compiled list) - GOV.UK

Whether she has made an assessment how many post offices that will close as a result of the changes to business rates.

The Government recognises the vital role that the Post Office plays in the economy and wider society At the Budget, the Government acted to limit increases in business rates bills, announcing a support package worth £4.3 billion. The Government has also introduced new permanently lower tax rates for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure properties. These new tax rates are worth nearly £1 billion per year and benefit over 750,000 properties. Post offices are also eligible for 100 per cent rural rate relief if they meet certain conditions. Further data related to the 2026 revaluation can be found at: Non-domestic rating: change in rateable value of rating lists, England and Wales, 2026 Revaluation (compiled list) - GOV.UK

If he will include post offices in the proposed High Streets Strategy.

Government will be publishing a new High Streets Strategy later this year. Government is working closely with businesses, local authorities and other partners to develop this strategy, this includes input from Post Office Ltd. The anchoring role of post offices plays a vital role on high streets across the country. In July 2025, the Department for Business and Trade published a green paper outlining the government’s vision for the Post Office. This included an objective for the Post Office network to support high streets, acting as a stimulant and visible sign of incremental economic activity. We published our response to public consultation on this green paper in February: Government response: Future of the Post Office - GOV.UK

Innovation and Technology, what assessment has been made of Ofcom's (a) ability to implement interim business disruption measures and (b) effectiveness at preventing illegal content online.

Ofcom’s online safety budget and expert team ensure its duties can be performed effectively. Ofcom has spent approximately £281.3 million on online safety since 2020, including a projected spend of £92 million for 2025/26.The Online Safety Act provides Ofcom with a range of enforcement powers, including business disruption measures, which can include fast tracked interim service restriction orders or access restriction orders, where necessary. These measures are sanctions of last resort, available where serious non‑compliance persists.The Secretary of State has written to Ofcom to underline the Government’s full support for the regulator using all the powers Parliament has provided it.Ofcom is independent, and early enforcement activity is already helping to prevent and address illegal content online.

If she will make an assessment of the potential impact of Heathrow Airport expansion on the number of flights from a) London Gatwick, b) Manchester Airport, c) London Stansted, d) London Luton, e) Edinburgh Airport, f) Birmingham Airport, g) Glasgow Airport, h) Bristol Airport and i) Cardiff Airport.

The Government supports airport expansion where it is in line with the UK’s legal, climate and environmental obligations.The Government has requested proposals for expansion at Heathrow to provide the capacity boost needed to support connectivity and growth. As part of this we are undertaking a review of the Airports National Policy Statement (ANPS), the modelling for which will consider the impacts of expansion at Heathrow, including on other UK airports. Any updates to the ANPS will be consulted on in the summer.

What steps he is taking to help support families with someone suffering from Motor Neurone Disease.

NHS England commissions the specialised elements of motor neurone disease (MND) care that patients may receive from 27 specialised neurology centres across England. Within these specialised centres, neurological multidisciplinary teams ensure patients can access a range of health professionals and specialised treatment and support, according to their needs.At the national level, there are a number of initiatives supporting service improvement and better care for patients with MND, including the Getting It Right First Time Programme for Neurology and the RightCare Progressive Neurological Conditions Toolkit.Baroness Casey has set out that the Government must take immediate action on MND. Where someone has a severe, reasonably predictable, and life-limiting condition, it is essential that we provide rapid access to the support they need, and we will take forward immediate work to develop a fast-track process, or “passport”, that speeds up assessments and access to care for people diagnosed with MND. We will consider how best to safely implement a process that expedites assessments and gets people with MND the care and support they need more quickly.The Government has provided £6 million in funding for the MND Translational Accelerator, which aims to speed up the development of treatments for MND, and £2 million in funding for the MND Data Catalyst, to accelerate the discovery of new diagnostics, treatments, and support better care for MND patients. Twelve projects have been funded through the accelerator, and all aimed at speeding up the development of treatments for MND.The Government has also invested £8 million through the National Institute for Health and Care Research for the EXPERTS-ALS study, a pre-clinical study which is designed to accelerate the identification and testing of the most promising treatment candidates for treating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, the most common form of MND.Local authorities have duties to support people caring for their family and friends. The Care Act 2014 requires local authorities to deliver a wide range of high-quality care and support services, including support for unpaid carers.The Government recognises the vital role of unpaid carers and is committed to ensuring they have the support they need. Through measures in the 10-Year Health Plan, we are equipping and supporting carers by making them more visible, empowering their voices in care planning, joining up services, and streamlining their caring tasks by introducing a new ‘MyCarer’ section to the NHS App.

What steps he is taking to help expand access to treatment for those with Motor Neurone Disease.

NHS England commissions the specialised elements of motor neurone disease (MND) care that patients may receive from 27 specialised neurology centres across England. Within these specialised centres, neurological multidisciplinary teams ensure patients can access a range of health professionals and specialised treatment and support, according to their needs.At the national level, there are a number of initiatives supporting service improvement and better care for patients with MND, including the Getting It Right First Time Programme for Neurology and the RightCare Progressive Neurological Conditions Toolkit.Baroness Casey has set out that the Government must take immediate action on MND. Where someone has a severe, reasonably predictable, and life-limiting condition, it is essential that we provide rapid access to the support they need, and we will take forward immediate work to develop a fast-track process, or “passport”, that speeds up assessments and access to care for people diagnosed with MND. We will consider how best to safely implement a process that expedites assessments and gets people with MND the care and support they need more quickly.The Government has provided £6 million in funding for the MND Translational Accelerator, which aims to speed up the development of treatments for MND, and £2 million in funding for the MND Data Catalyst, to accelerate the discovery of new diagnostics, treatments, and support better care for MND patients. Twelve projects have been funded through the accelerator, and all aimed at speeding up the development of treatments for MND.The Government has also invested £8 million through the National Institute for Health and Care Research for the EXPERTS-ALS study, a pre-clinical study which is designed to accelerate the identification and testing of the most promising treatment candidates for treating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, the most common form of MND.Local authorities have duties to support people caring for their family and friends. The Care Act 2014 requires local authorities to deliver a wide range of high-quality care and support services, including support for unpaid carers.The Government recognises the vital role of unpaid carers and is committed to ensuring they have the support they need. Through measures in the 10-Year Health Plan, we are equipping and supporting carers by making them more visible, empowering their voices in care planning, joining up services, and streamlining their caring tasks by introducing a new ‘MyCarer’ section to the NHS App.

What steps he is taking to help support people with Motor Neurone Disease.

NHS England commissions the specialised elements of motor neurone disease (MND) care that patients may receive from 27 specialised neurology centres across England. Within these specialised centres, neurological multidisciplinary teams ensure patients can access a range of health professionals and specialised treatment and support, according to their needs.At the national level, there are a number of initiatives supporting service improvement and better care for patients with MND, including the Getting It Right First Time Programme for Neurology and the RightCare Progressive Neurological Conditions Toolkit.Baroness Casey has set out that the Government must take immediate action on MND. Where someone has a severe, reasonably predictable, and life-limiting condition, it is essential that we provide rapid access to the support they need, and we will take forward immediate work to develop a fast-track process, or “passport”, that speeds up assessments and access to care for people diagnosed with MND. We will consider how best to safely implement a process that expedites assessments and gets people with MND the care and support they need more quickly.The Government has provided £6 million in funding for the MND Translational Accelerator, which aims to speed up the development of treatments for MND, and £2 million in funding for the MND Data Catalyst, to accelerate the discovery of new diagnostics, treatments, and support better care for MND patients. Twelve projects have been funded through the accelerator, and all aimed at speeding up the development of treatments for MND.The Government has also invested £8 million through the National Institute for Health and Care Research for the EXPERTS-ALS study, a pre-clinical study which is designed to accelerate the identification and testing of the most promising treatment candidates for treating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, the most common form of MND.Local authorities have duties to support people caring for their family and friends. The Care Act 2014 requires local authorities to deliver a wide range of high-quality care and support services, including support for unpaid carers.The Government recognises the vital role of unpaid carers and is committed to ensuring they have the support they need. Through measures in the 10-Year Health Plan, we are equipping and supporting carers by making them more visible, empowering their voices in care planning, joining up services, and streamlining their caring tasks by introducing a new ‘MyCarer’ section to the NHS App.

What estimate he has made of the cost of ensuring every stroke survivor receives a 6-month post-stroke review.

NHS England’s national Stroke Programme has undertaken work to understand the value and impact of six‑month post‑stroke reviews, particularly through the development of the Integrated Community Stroke Service (ICSS) model and the Stroke Quality Improvement in Rehabilitation (SQuIRe) programme. Overall, the emerging evidence demonstrates that six‑month reviews are likely to provide a positive mechanism for identifying unmet need, enabling personalised care, and supporting longer‑term recovery and self‑management. The learning from SQuIRe continues to inform the national ICSS model and future commissioning guidance. The ICSS model includes tailored, patient-centred reablement care. As part of this, through the SQuIRe programme, NHS England has funded several projects testing models of delivery of six month reviews, working closely with third sector partners, such as the Stroke Association. Analysis of these projects is pending.