Written questions by Whittome.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the proposal to require charities to spend gifts from wills within a set timeframe in the draft Finance Bill 2025-26 on legacy giving.

Charities rightly enjoy generous tax reliefs. However, a small number of charities are receiving tax relief in ways that were not intended by Parliament. Charity tax rules are being strengthened to improve HMRC’s ability to challenge abusive arrangements in an appropriate and proportionate way. The new charity rules in the Finance Bill 2025-26 for legacy giving will ensure a charity uses tax relieved income for its charitable purposes. They will not require charities to spend gifts from wills within a set timeframe. The new rules will replace the current purpose test with an outcome test. This will better prevent the abuse of tax reliefs through arrangements designed to give financial advantages to donors in return for their donation. Updated guidance will support charities and donors, giving clarity and reassurance around the rules and making it clear that the honest majority of donors and charities will remain unaffected by these reforms.

Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to help improve the availability of free housing-related advice services in Nottingham.

Councils have a statutory duty to provide or secure the provision of advice and information about homelessness and the prevention of homelessness, free of charge. This should form part of each council’s strategy for preventing homelessness. You can read more about this in Chapter 3 of the homelessness code of guidance on gov.uk here.

Whether she has had recent discussions with the police on taking steps to help ensure that people who incited (a) hatred and (b) violence during the Unite The Kingdom march in London on 13 September 2025 are held to account; and whether she plans to exclude from the UK people who incited (i) hatred and (ii) violence who are not (A) British citizens and (B) resident in the UK.

The Home Secretary and Minsters have regular discussions with policing partners on a range of issues. Decisions on how to police individual protests are for Chief Constables, who are operationally independent and best placed to assess local threat and risk.The right to peaceful protest is a fundamental part of our society; however, this does not extend to violent behaviour and attacks on police officers.Where the activity of protestors breaks the law, the police have the powers they need to respond. During the Unite the Kingdom protest, the Metropolitan Police Service arrested 24 people - for a variety of offences including for violent disorder, affray, assaults, and criminal damage - and are seeking to identify others.It would not be appropriate for Ministers to intervene in those operational decisions, but we continue to work closely with policing to ensure they have the right capabilities and support in place to keep the public safe and uphold the law.A person who is not a British citizen may be excluded from the UK on the grounds that their presence here would not be conducive to the public good. Exclusion is normally reserved for cases involving national security, extremism, serious crime, war crimes, corruption and unacceptable behaviour such as inciting violence.

What steps he is taking to help improve the availability of (a) free and (b) independent benefits-related advice services in Nottingham.

The Department for Work and Pensions signposts customers to the following services in Nottingham, with which it has an active relationship. Meadows Advice CentreSt. Annes Advice - Disability Employment Advisers have a strong relationship with this organisation to support customers with Mental Health conditions.Clifton Advice CentreBestwood Advice CentreWest Bridgford Advice CentreNottinghamshire Deaf SocietyDisability Support - benefit support for those with disabilitiesNottingham City Council has a benefits team, and specifically one for carers St Anne’s Advice, Disability Support and Citizens Advice Centre all recently attended a DWP Health and Wellbeing event, to support customers with health conditions, and regularly attend our Disability Employment Adviser Cafes which provide an informal environment in Nottingham where the DWP works in collaboration with partners to support customers.

What steps she is taking to ensure that the review of the Loan Charge is (a) independent, (b) transparent, (c) robust and (d) free from interference.

The Government commissioned an independent review of the loan charge to help bring the matter to a close for those affected whilst ensuring fairness for all taxpayers. The Government will respond by Autumn Budget 2025. The independent review was led by Ray McCann whose name was suggested by one of the Loan Charge campaigners. The terms of reference made it clear that he would be supported by a team of officials based outside of HM Treasury and HMRC, none of whom had previously worked on this policy area. Mr McCann was responsible for deciding how to conduct the review and will also have the final say on what is included in his report. HMRC has guidance and training in place for customer advisors on identifying people who need extra support and providing reasonable adjustments to meet their needs. HMRC can offer support to individuals with disguised remuneration liabilities through manageable payment plans and its well-established Extra Support Service. Where appropriate, HMRC will signpost people to relevant voluntary and community organisations and where needed, to a dedicated Samaritans helpline for specialist emotional support where people can talk though any concerns or worries.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Loan Charge on the mental health of those affected; and if she will take steps to prevent such harm.

The Government commissioned an independent review of the loan charge to help bring the matter to a close for those affected whilst ensuring fairness for all taxpayers. The Government will respond by Autumn Budget 2025. The independent review was led by Ray McCann whose name was suggested by one of the Loan Charge campaigners. The terms of reference made it clear that he would be supported by a team of officials based outside of HM Treasury and HMRC, none of whom had previously worked on this policy area. Mr McCann was responsible for deciding how to conduct the review and will also have the final say on what is included in his report. HMRC has guidance and training in place for customer advisors on identifying people who need extra support and providing reasonable adjustments to meet their needs. HMRC can offer support to individuals with disguised remuneration liabilities through manageable payment plans and its well-established Extra Support Service. Where appropriate, HMRC will signpost people to relevant voluntary and community organisations and where needed, to a dedicated Samaritans helpline for specialist emotional support where people can talk though any concerns or worries.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the reduction in the transition period to 28 days on the ability of refugees to secure accommodation.

On 1 September, the 56 days move on pilot implemented in December 2024 was paused for all single adults in receipt of a positive asylum decision, with the exception of individuals who are pregnant, over the age of 65 or have a known/evidenced disability. This action was taken to ensure that the asylum system continues to run efficiently, and to enable us to continue taking action both to reduce the overall number of asylum hotels in different communities, and the number of people staying in them.We closely monitor the impact of all our policies, including the move on period, on the number and occupancy of asylum hotels, the overall costs of the asylum accommodation estate, the wider effect on local communities, and any pressures placed on local authorities and public amenities. We remain committed to working closely with our partners to identify improvements and make efficiencies in supporting newly recognised refugees move on from asylum accommodation.The independent evaluation of the pilot is due to conclude imminently, and evaluation outcomes will be used to inform longer term policy proposals and will be shared with parliament.

What steps she is taking to help resolve industrial disputes between universities and the University and Colleges Union.

Higher education (HE) providers are autonomous institutions and, as such, the government does not intervene in industrial disputes or negotiations between employers and trade unions. However, we remain committed to constructive engagement with both the unions and the employer representative body to help address the broader challenges facing the sector.The government has taken steps to secure the future for our world-leading universities so they can deliver for students, taxpayers, workers and the economy. We made the difficult decision to increase tuition fees in line with inflation for the 2025/26 academic year, and appointed Professor Edward Peck as Chair of the Office for Students (OfS). We will set out our plans for HE reform as part of the Post-16 Skills White Paper, and will work with the sector and the OfS to deliver the change that the country needs.

What steps she is taking improve the financial position of universities.

Higher education (HE) providers are autonomous institutions and, as such, the government does not intervene in industrial disputes or negotiations between employers and trade unions. However, we remain committed to constructive engagement with both the unions and the employer representative body to help address the broader challenges facing the sector.The government has taken steps to secure the future for our world-leading universities so they can deliver for students, taxpayers, workers and the economy. We made the difficult decision to increase tuition fees in line with inflation for the 2025/26 academic year, and appointed Professor Edward Peck as Chair of the Office for Students (OfS). We will set out our plans for HE reform as part of the Post-16 Skills White Paper, and will work with the sector and the OfS to deliver the change that the country needs.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to skilled worker visa requirements for prison officers on the level of prison staffing.

I refer the Honourable Member to the answer given to Parliamentary Question 76286.

Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to prevent property owners providing false information when applying for Temporary Exemption Notices.

A Temporary Exemption Notice (TEN) may be served by a local authority where a person having control of or managing a licensable property (under HMO or selective licensing) notifies the local authority of their intention to take steps so that the property no longer requires a licence. It is for local authorities to determine if, on the basis of the information provided, they are satisfied that the applicant is taking genuine steps to ensure that the property no longer requires a licence before granting the notice.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the prevalence of property owners (a) misusing and (b) providing false information to obtain Temporary Exemption Notices.

No assessment has been made of the prevalence of property owners misusing and/or providing false information to obtain Temporary Exemption Notices.

What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Universal Credit taper in incentivising part-time work.

The taper rate aims to make customers financially better off in work by ensuring that their Universal Credit award is reduced by less than their earned income. Universal Credit has a single taper rate of 55% and some customers will also benefit from a work allowance which is the amount someone can earn before their Universal Credit award starts to reduce. Once a customer is earning more than their work allowance (if applicable), their Universal Credit starts to be reduced at a consistent rate.

Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to improve socio-economic diversity and representation in the creative industries.

A creative career should never be the preserve of a privileged few. The sector’s skilled and dynamic workforce is one of its key strengths, but more work still needs to be done so that, regardless of their background, people feel that a creative career is an option for them. Making creative careers accessible for everyone is a key priority for the Government. That is why we are supporting creative apprenticeships and providing funding for partners including Screenskills and the BFI Film Academy to open pathways for young people, in particular those from underrepresented backgrounds. The Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) is working with industry to deliver a UK-wide £9 million Creative Careers Service, which aims to build awareness of creative careers and provide specialist advice with a particular focus on priority areas where children face the greatest barriers to accessing creative opportunities. In film and TV specifically, we announced in the Creative Industries Sector Plan that we will be investing £75 million in the UK’s film and TV industry over the next three years. This includes support for the next generation of filmmakers. The Government is pleased to see industry initiatives to monitor and improve diversity in the creative industries such as Project Diamond and the TV Access Project. However, there clearly remains work to do and we want to see stronger efforts from industry to improve socio-economic diversity and representation in the creative industries.

Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the obstacles working class people face to working in the film and television sectors.

A creative career should never be the preserve of a privileged few. The sector’s skilled and dynamic workforce is one of its key strengths, but more work still needs to be done so that, regardless of their background, people feel that a creative career is an option for them. Making creative careers accessible for everyone is a key priority for the Government. That is why we are supporting creative apprenticeships and providing funding for partners including Screenskills and the BFI Film Academy to open pathways for young people, in particular those from underrepresented backgrounds. The Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) is working with industry to deliver a UK-wide £9 million Creative Careers Service, which aims to build awareness of creative careers and provide specialist advice with a particular focus on priority areas where children face the greatest barriers to accessing creative opportunities. In film and TV specifically, we announced in the Creative Industries Sector Plan that we will be investing £75 million in the UK’s film and TV industry over the next three years. This includes support for the next generation of filmmakers. The Government is pleased to see industry initiatives to monitor and improve diversity in the creative industries such as Project Diamond and the TV Access Project. However, there clearly remains work to do and we want to see stronger efforts from industry to improve socio-economic diversity and representation in the creative industries.

What steps his Department is taking to reduce waiting times for heart health pathways.

The latest data, from July 2025, shows that 61.6% of waits for cardiology services are within 18 weeks, which is a 1.7% improvement on the same month from the previous year. While this shows progress, we know there is more to do to reduce waiting times for heart health pathways. That is why, along with our commitment to returning to the 92% referral-to-treatment standard for elective care by March 2029, the Elective Reform Plan commits to significant elective reform in cardiology.Cardiology is one of five priority specialties identified for significant elective reform in the Elective Reform Plan. Reforms will include increasing specialist cardiology input earlier in patient care pathways and developing standard and efficient care pathways for common cardiology symptoms. It also includes improving access to cardiac diagnostic tests through implementing more ‘straight-to-test’ pathways, where a general practitioner can refer a patient directly to secondary care for a test. This can reduce unnecessary outpatient appointments and improve waiting times even further for patients across England.These improvements to common cardiology pathways help standardise patient care, reduce inequalities, and improve access to care, especially in the early stages of heart health pathways for patients across England.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of capping (a) private parking charges and (b) penalty fees at a (i) fair and (ii) proportionate level.

This government is determined to drive up standards in the private parking sector. It has recently outlined, in a public consultation, its proposals to better protect and support motorists whilst balancing the legitimate needs of private parking operators. Specific views are being sought on the level of parking charge caps and on the appeals service. The consultation closed on 26th September.

Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the appeals system for private parking disputes is (a) independent, (b) fair and (c) transparent.

This government is determined to drive up standards in the private parking sector. It has recently outlined, in a public consultation, its proposals to better protect and support motorists whilst balancing the legitimate needs of private parking operators. Specific views are being sought on the level of parking charge caps and on the appeals service. The consultation closed on 26th September.

What steps he is taking to ensure the safe disposal of needles in the context of the growing use of GLP-1 medicines; whether his Department has had discussions with pharmaceutical companies about meeting the costs of this disposal.

It is important for sharps to be disposed of safely, to avoid risk of accidental needle-stick injuries to pharmacy or general practice staff, waste management operatives, and other members of the public. All sharps should be disposed in sharps bins, which can be obtained on prescription or purchased. Local authorities are obliged to collect clinical waste, including sharps bins, from householders upon request. Under section 45(3)(b) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 they may make a reasonable charge for this service.The Department has had no discussions with the pharmaceutical industry about meeting the cost of this disposal.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support (a) humanitarian relief, (b) long-term recovery and reconstruction, and (c) engagement with Pakistani diaspora communities in the UK following the recent flooding in Pakistan.

The UK Government is supporting Pakistan in responding to the floods through the Building Resilience and Addressing Vulnerabilities to Emergencies (BRAVE) programme. So far, we have mobilised £2.85 million of support across 25 districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Sindh & Gilgit Baltistan and reached over 459,000 beneficiaries to support search and rescue and provide emergency medical care, food, water, hygiene, and household items. Ministers regularly engage with the Pakistani diaspora on all aspects of the UK relationship with Pakistan. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) UK-Pakistan Advisory Council, made up of 12 UK based British Pakistani representatives, takes part in regular discussions with the FCDO on development issues in Pakistan, including climate.