Written questions by Fleet.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking with international counterparts to help tackle organised immigration crime.

We are determined to disrupt the small boats gangs and work with international partners more closely to take Organised Immigration Crime (OIC), and this is why the Foreign Secretary convened leading Foreign Ministers to discuss this at the Munich Security Conference in February.In the 18 months to 31 January 2026, 58,539 foreign nationals were returned;Last year, 3625 disruptions of OIC were recorded, up to 37% on the previous year.With new agreements including with Ethiopia and Angola we are determined to remove those who have no right to be here further undermining the business model of people smuggling gangs.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 17 March 2026 to question 119539, whether she plans to take action against a) Yorkshire Water for monitoring sewage overflow levels at Palterton Main Street Combined Sewage Overflow and b) Severn Trent Water for monitoring sewage overflow levels at South Normanton Sewage Treatment Works.

The Environment Agency ensures that water companies are properly monitoring discharges to the environment. It analyses Event Duration Monitoring (EDM) data from all water companies to assess compliance and, where appropriate, take enforcement action. This approach applies to Yorkshire Water for Palterton Main Road Combined Sewer Overflow and to Severn Trent for South Normanton Sewage Treatment Works.

What grants are available to help low income families living in houses of solid wall construction, such as former colliery-built houses, increase their homes' energy efficiency.

Through the Warm Homes Plan, around ?4.4 billion of grant funding is allocated up to 2030 for low-income and fuel poor households to install solar panels, batteries, heat pumps and insulation. The Warm Homes: Local Grant delivers upgrades via local authorities to privately owned or rented properties in England with an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) below D, and the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund delivers grants for inefficient properties via social housing providers. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) also provides grants of up to ?7,500 towards installation of an air or ground source heat pump and is open to all eligible households in England and Wales. Funding will increase each year out to 2030, totalling around ?2.7 billion over the period.

Food and Rural Affairs, what action is being taken to ensure that monitoring at combined sewage overflow locations in Bolsover constituency is active 100 per cent of the time.

The Environment Act 2021 requires all water companies, including Severn Trent, to publish near real time Event Duration Monitoring (EDM) data for all storm overflows. EDM installation follows specifications set out in the CIWEM (Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management) Event Duration Monitoring Good Practice Guide to ensure robust data quality. The Government has consulted on strengthening penalties for water company offences. This could include strengthened monitoring requirements and clearer enforcement mechanisms to give the Environment Agency new tools to respond where defined monitoring failures occur at overflow locations.

When she intends to publish an answer to Question 105314, tabled on 13 January 2026.

The response to Written Parliamentary Question 105314 was published on 20 March 2026.

What steps she is taking to help prevent circumvention of anti-dumping measures on certain engine oils and hydraulic fluids imported from Lithuania and the UAE by importers.

On 12 December 2025, a definitive anti-dumping duty on imports of Lithuanian and UAE engine oils and hydraulic fluids came into effect. The circumvention of imports into the UK is monitored by HMRC which carries out risk-based and intelligence-led checks to tackle any abuse of UK duties. Non-compliance can lead to penalties such as fines, seizure of goods or prosecution. Where appropriate, the Trade Remedies Authority may also conduct a circumvention review to consider whether activity is being undertaken to circumvent the application of the anti-dumping duty through a third country.

What assessment she has made of the adequacy of the availability of DVLA-mandated eye tests in rural and semi-rural communities.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency’s contract with Specsavers for vision testing services provide coverage across England, Wales and Scotland, with 436 stores able to perform the services required. Specsavers is working to increase the number of stores available to carry out eyesight tests by supplying them with the appropriate equipment. Specsavers may utilise local opticians for customers who live more than 25 miles from their nearest Specsavers branch, for example those living in rural or semi rural areas.

Communities and Local Government, what support is available for schools situated (a) on and (b) close to unadopted roads where no parties are maintaining (i) those roads and (ii) street furniture to an acceptable standard.

Responsibility for maintaining unadopted private roads rests with the frontagers of the road, who are the owners of properties or land that front, border or have access to the road. If the road becomes dangerous, the relevant local authority has enforcement powers to force them to carry out repairs. Schools may engage directly with those responsible for the management and maintenance of private roads to resolve issues, including estate management companies where applicable. I also refer my hon. Friend to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 18 December 2025 (HCWS1210).

Communities and Local Government, whether the capacity of sewage works in a local area is assessed before planning permission is given for new housing developments; and what steps he is taking to ensure that capacity is increased where needed.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 103042 on 14 January 2026.

What estimate he has made of the number of customers who have been overcharged for their energy use due to smart meter errors in each of the last three years.

Accuracy levels for both smart and analogue meters must comply with the Measuring Instruments Regulations (SI 2016/1153). Consumers have the right to have their meter independently tested if they dispute its accuracy. The Department does not hold data on the number of customers who have been overcharged due to meter errors. More broadly, customers with analogue meters are almost three times more likely to complain about billing errors than customers with smart meters.

Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to help ensure that housing developers build an adequate amount of affordable housing in (a) Bolsover constituency and (b) other rural areas.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 101017 on 6 January 2026 and to the Written Ministerial Statements made on 2 July 2025 (HCWS771) and 28 January (HCWS1283).

What discussions he has had with the trustees of the Mineworkers' Pension Scheme about protecting members' bonus pensions by removing standstill from the MPS Rules.

I am meeting the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme Trustees in early February to discuss potential changes to the scheme, including standstill.

Pursuant to question 98962, what discussions he has had with Derbyshire County Council in the time taken to issue education, health and care plans, since an improvement notice for its SEND services was issued in January 2025.

Since issuing the improvement notice to Derbyshire County Council in January 2025, the department is regularly and closely monitoring and tracking outcomes against Derbyshire’s local area partnership’s special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) improvement plan, including the time taken to issue high quality education, health and care plans in line with statutory expectations, so that children and young people can access the support they need in a timely manner.The department has commissioned a SEND adviser to identify barriers, challenge, support and monitor progress against the partnership’s plan. Departmental officials scrutinise reports through a series of formal stocktakes and meetings with local leaders and attend the partnership’s SEND Improvement and Advisory Board which meets monthly and is overseen by an independently appointed chair.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of NHS midwives undertaking trauma-informed training as part of their maternity care training.

Many National Health Service trusts and Accredited Education Providers such as universities have developed their own training programmes or academic modules around Trauma Informed Care (TIC) for midwives. NHS England is undertaking a rapid scoping exercise on current TIC mandatory and non-mandatory training provision across perinatal services, to assess the merit of more comprehensive TIC training for staff.

What discussions he has had with relevant stakeholders on making the display of food safety ratings for food businesses compulsory.

The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS) is operated by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) in partnership with local authorities across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Businesses in Wales and Northern Ireland are legally required to display their rating stickers at their premises, while those in England are encouraged to do so.Introducing a statutory scheme with mandatory display of ratings in England would require primary legislation as well as the securing of a suitable legislative vehicle and parliamentary time. The FSA is considering options to bring forward reforms to food regulation and this will include consideration of a mandatory FHRS in England. Ministers will consider the options in due course.In the meantime, the FSA continues to work with local authority partners and stakeholders to maintain and improve the impacts of the FHRS which is a highly successful public health initiative.

What the average waiting time for patients awaiting assessment by a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service doctor has been for each of the last five years for which data is available in a) Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, b) Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and c) England.

The following table shows the median waiting time in days between a referral start date and the end of the year for referrals for children and young people aged under 18 years old supported through National Health Service funded mental health, who are still waiting for a first contact as of the end of the year, for the Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, the Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, and for England overall: 2020/212021/222022/232023/242024/25Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust66-273323134Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust122137166165214England133134161223305 In addition, the following table shows the median waiting times in days between referral and first contact, for referrals with a first contact in the year, for the last five years for which data is available in the Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, the Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, and in England overall: 2020/212021/222022/232023/242024/25Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust4041-33079Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust2659433428England712141515Source: Mental Health Services Data Set (MHSDS). The methodology is based upon that used in the Mental Health Services Monthly Statistics but has been amended to use the first contact in the financial year rather than the quarter, for those still waiting at the end of the year. Published Mental Health Services Monthly Statistics can be found at the following link: https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/mental-health-services-monthly-statistics A first contact can be defined as either direct contact, for instance contacts where the patient was present and seen by a health professional, or indirect activity, contacts where the patient wasn't present, but their care was discussed by health professionals. This is in line with existing methodologies for children and young people accessing mental health services. The submission of the staff details table in MHSDS is not mandatory for providers and thus the usage of this table to identify a doctor would likely result in an undercount. Therefore, first contact in this methodology may or may not be with a doctor, but would typically be with an individual considered to be a health professional. Figures have been rounded to the nearest whole number for waiting time measures.NHS England has provided data up to March 2025, as data past this point is still subject to change under the multiple submission window model. The Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust did not submit any open referrals for March 2022 and therefore referrals from this provider cannot be classed as 'still waiting' and are not included in the figures for 2021/22. In addition, the Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust did not submit any care contacts with an Age at Care Contact between zero and 17 years old for the whole of 2022/23 and therefore are not included in the figures for 2022/23.

What assessment he has made of a) the quantity and b) the origin of aluminium used in key Ministry of Defence contracts.

The Department does not currently track the use of aluminium within the supply chain. Following the recent publication of the Critical Minerals Strategy, of which aluminium is included, the Department will be scoping the best way to build this into the monitoring process that are already taking place.

On what terms dementia care specialists have been employed by the NHS in Derbyshire in each of the last five years.

This information is not held centrally.Care for those living with dementia is provided by multidisciplinary teams, with many elements of this care being in place for many years. This includes, but is not limited to, general practitioners, nurses, speech and language therapists, physiotherapists, and social workers.Provision of dementia health care services is the responsibility of local integrated care boards (ICBs). NHS England would expect ICBs to commission services based on local population needs, taking account of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of joined up working between local authority social services and the NHS in dementia cases where a patient and their carer live in different local authority areas.

Carer support where a carer lives in a different local authority or National Health Service integrated care board area is not specifically detailed in the dementia guidance documents. However, all core dementia guidance, including The Dementia 100, The Dementia Care Pathway, and The Dementia RightCare scenario, signal the expectation to provide person-centred, integrated pathways across health and social care. This principle is intended to support carers irrespective of location.We will deliver the first ever Modern Service Framework for Frailty and Dementia to deliver rapid and significant improvements in quality of care and productivity. This will be informed by phase one of the independent commission into adult social care, expected in 2026.Those with dementia will also benefit from more joined-up care through co-created care plans, as by 2027, 95% of those with complex needs will have an agreed care plan.The My Carer tool will give family, friends, and carers, including those looking after someone with dementia, access to the NHS App. This will ensure decisions are agreed and taken by those who best know the patient, who may not be able to make those decisions independently, whilst making it easier for unpaid carers to manage their care and access professionals whenever they need them.

Innovation and Technology, what comparative estimate she has made of the average download broadband speed in (a) Bolsover constituency, (b) other Derbyshire constituencies and (c) the East Midlands; and what steps she is taking to help improve download speed in that constituency.

According to independent website Thinkbroadband, approximately 94% of premises in the Bolsover constituency have access to gigabit-capable broadband, this is higher than the UK average of 89%. They report that the average download speeds in the constituencies of Bolsover, North Derby, South Derby and Derbyshire Dales all exceed 200 Mbps, and exceeds 100 Mbps in the East Midlands region.To extend coverage, approximately 1,900 premises in the Bolsover constituency are currently in scope of the Project Gigabit contract for Derbyshire, being delivered by Connect Fibre.