Written questions by Coyle.

If she will make an estimate of the savings to (a) local councils and (b) other public bodies of ending No Recourse to Public Funds restrictions on parents of dependent children.

It is a well-established principle that migrants coming to the UK should be able to maintain and support themselves and their families without creating a burden on the welfare system. That is the purpose of the No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) condition and there are no plans to remove that condition.Some temporary migrants are granted access to public funds, and in recognition of the fact that some individuals may need support despite being subject to an NRPF condition, safeguards exist.Local authorities may also provide basic safety net support, regardless of immigration status, if it is established either that there is a risk to the wellbeing of a child or there is a genuine care need that does not arise solely from destitution, for example, where a person has community care needs or serious health problems.  Support provided to a child by local authorities is not dependent on the immigration status of the child or their parent(s).

What her planned timetable is for implementing Respect Orders; and when decisions will be taken on pilot areas.

Tackling anti-social behaviour (ASB) is a top priority for this Government and a key part of our Safer Streets Mission.The Government recently announced Respect Orders which will be introduced through the Crime and Policing Bill. Respect Orders can be applied for by the police and local councils and are issued by the courts. They will enable courts to place wide-ranging restrictions on the behaviour of the most persistent and disruptive ASB offenders.Respect Orders will be piloted prior to national rollout to make sure they are as effective as possible. Consideration will be given to where the pilots will take place in due course.

If she will make a comparative assessment of the potential merits of a charging structure for citizenship applications based on recovering the full costs for processing them rather than a full-profit model.

Fees for immigration and nationality applications are kept under review and are set taking account of the charging powers provided by Section 68(9) of the Immigration Act 2014, which include the ability to set fees based on: the cost of processing the application, the benefits and entitlements provided by a successful application and the wider cost of the Migration and Borders system. Full details of which can be reviewed via the following link: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2014/22/section/68. The Home Office does not make a profit from fees and any income from fees set above the cost of processing are utilised for the purpose of running the Migration and Borders system. Taking this approach helps to meet the costs of maintaining an effective Migration and Borders system which benefits everyone and reduces reliance on taxpayer funding. The Home Office offers fee exemptions and waivers for citizenship applications in limited circumstances. These circumstances relate to righting historical anomalies in nationality law and, in relation to children who are applying to register as a British citizen, there is a fee exception for those who are in local authority care and a fee waiver based on affordability grounds, which were introduced on 16th June 2022.Please find a previously published Equality Impact Assessment which includes considerations in respect of citizenship fees: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2023/1004/pdfs/uksiod_20231004_en_001.pdf.

Media and Sport, what support she is providing to help ensure the Imperial War Museum’s Second World War Centenary Digitisation Project is able to upload and make accessible to the public photographs and reels of film.

Officials in my Department have been holding discussions with the Museum on this project as we value the Museum’s work marking significant national occasions, including the 80th anniversaries of Victory in Europe Day and Victory in Japan Day later this year. I am also delighted that we were able to confirm a Grant in Aid uplift for all national museums at the recent Budget which will support the Museum’s overall financial position.

When her Department last reviewed the level of fees for citizenship applications.

Fees for immigration and nationality applications are kept under regular review.The Home Office this week announced its intention to increase the fee to naturalise as a British Citizen to £1,605, and £1,070 for British Overseas Territories citizens, subject to Parliamentary approval.

Whether his Department plans to allow not-for-profit Community Interest Companies to receive the associated advantages of non-profit organisations.

While Community Interest Companies (CICs) must satisfy the Regulator that their primary purpose is to benefit a community, they can still generate profit, albeit with restrictions on profit distribution and as long as profits are primarily used to benefit the community. CICs occupy a middle-ground between private enterprises and charities, providing unique advantages and opportunities. Compared to non-profit organisations, CICs have greater flexibility, no trustees, and can pay directors. CICs benefit from the risk-taking features of a company and access the debt market for loans. The Secretary of State does not intend to change the associated advantages of CICs.

Communities and Local Government, what her Department's target response time to Freedom of Information requests is; and when she plans to respond to Case NC39961.

The statutory timescale for responding to FOI requests is 20 working days. A response to the Honourable Gentleman was issued by MHCLG’s correspondence team on 10 January 2025. I hope that he will accept my apologies for any inconvenience caused by the delay to this response.

If he will undertake a review of the (a) funding model and (b) role of community pharmacies.

Pharmacies play a vital role in our healthcare system. The Government is committed to expanding the role of pharmacies and to better utilising the skills of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. That includes making prescribing part of the services delivered by community pharmacists.By 2026 all newly qualified pharmacists will have a prescribing qualification, with additional investment in upskilling the existing workforce to also become independent prescribers. NHS England is currently piloting how prescribing can work in community pharmacy in all integrated care boards, supporting a range of conditions. These pathfinders will then inform any future decisions about the service.We will shortly be resuming our consultation with Community Pharmacy England regarding the funding arrangements for community pharmacy.

What assessment her Department has made on the potential impact of introducing electronic travel authorisations on British National (overseas) passport holders.

Electronic travel authorisations (ETAs) have been introduced to enhance our ability to screen travellers upstream and stop those who pose a threat from travelling to the UK.ETAs were expanded to BN(O) passport holders on 27 November 2024 and are currently a requirement for this population when travelling to the UK. But this aspect of the policy remains under review and we will update the House on any changes in due course.

Communities and Local Government, if she will take steps to allow almshouses to secure funding as affordable housing providers.

As part of the recent consultation on proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework, the government sought views on whether changes were needed to the definition of ‘affordable housing for rent’ to make it easier for organisations that are not Registered Providers, including almshouses, to develop new affordable homes.While the government are committed to making it easier for almshouses to develop new affordable homes, we ultimately decided against extending the definition to capture almshouses for the reasons set out in our response to the consultation which can be found on gov.uk here.Informed by the points raised in the consultation, the government will actively explore options in future changes to national policy related to decision making.For those landlords who wish to register with the Regulator of Social Housing, there is no bar to registration because of size. Registered providers of social housing must meet standards that ensure tenants live in homes that are good quality and well-maintained and that landlords are well-managed and remain financially viable. The Regulator is operationally independent and has designed a registration process that seeks to ensure providers are able to meet its standards once registered.

Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to ensure almshouse providers who do not have 1,000 homes but are willing to become registered social landlords are able to do so.

As part of the recent consultation on proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework, the government sought views on whether changes were needed to the definition of ‘affordable housing for rent’ to make it easier for organisations that are not Registered Providers, including almshouses, to develop new affordable homes.While the government are committed to making it easier for almshouses to develop new affordable homes, we ultimately decided against extending the definition to capture almshouses for the reasons set out in our response to the consultation which can be found on gov.uk here.Informed by the points raised in the consultation, the government will actively explore options in future changes to national policy related to decision making.For those landlords who wish to register with the Regulator of Social Housing, there is no bar to registration because of size. Registered providers of social housing must meet standards that ensure tenants live in homes that are good quality and well-maintained and that landlords are well-managed and remain financially viable. The Regulator is operationally independent and has designed a registration process that seeks to ensure providers are able to meet its standards once registered.

What steps his Department is taking with (a) Deliveroo, (b) Uber Eats and (c) Just Eat to end the contracting-out of their workforce accounts for use by people illegally working in the UK.

The Government is alert to the risks associated with substitution in the platform economy, particularly the role it can play in facilitating illegal working by irregular migrants. I met recently with the Minister for Border Security and Asylum and the Director of Labour Market Enforcement to discuss this. We are looking closely at the extent to which Deliveroo, Uber Eats and Just Eat have implemented the commitments they made earlier this year to implement systems to conduct right to work checks on substitute riders, and I have recently written to them seeking further detail on how this is operating in practice.

What discussions she has had with (a) the Secretary of State for Transport, (b) rail operators, (c) regional mayors and (d) Transport for London on ensuring that apprenticeships are open to young people wherever they live.

This government has a driving mission to break down barriers to opportunity and we want to rebalance opportunities towards young people, who have the most to gain from apprenticeships but who too often have been locked out of accessing these opportunities. My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education held a recent roundtable with Regional Mayors which included discussions on how we can work together more closely to boost opportunities for young people. The department and Skills England will continue to have discussions with the Department for Transport and its stakeholders.This government’s reformed growth and skills offer, which will have apprenticeships at its core, will deliver greater flexibility for learners and employers, including through shorter duration apprenticeships in targeted sectors. This will help more people learn new high-quality skills at work, and fuel innovation in businesses across the UK. The department has also begun work to develop new foundation apprenticeships, a training offer that will give more young people a foot in the door and support clear pathways and progression in work-based training and employment.The department provides employers and apprenticeship providers with additional funding to support more apprenticeship opportunities. The department provides two payments of £500 to employers and providers when they take on apprentices aged 16 to 18, and up to age 24 for apprentices with an education, health and care plan or who have been in local authority care. These payments are used in many cases to support costs such as work equipment, uniforms or travel.Apprentices may also be eligible for local discounted travel schemes. For example, apprentices over 18, living in a London borough and in the first year of an apprenticeship can get discounted travel with an Oyster photocard.Apprentices aged under 25 who have been in local authority care may be eligible for a £3,000 bursary, as well as wages from their employer. The bursary is not subject to tax and is not treated as income for benefits purposes.The department is also continuing to promote apprenticeships in schools and colleges through the Apprenticeship Support and Knowledge programme as well as targeting young people through the ‘Skills for Life’ campaign.

What guidance her Department has issued on the end of (a) biometric residence permits, (b) biometric residence cards and (c) e-visas.

An extensive communications campaign is being delivered in support of the transition to eVisas, which includes guidance available at: www.gov.uk/evisa, as well as direct messaging to individuals with Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs), out of home advertising, print and social media alongside engagement activity through multicultural community organisations, embassies and stakeholder events. We have also produced an eVisa partner pack, which includes guidance for those who check immigration statuses, informative factsheets and a range of social media assets which stakeholders can use on their channels.Over 4 million BRPs and over 200,000 BRCs are due to expire on 31 December 2024. BRC holders granted status under the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) already have an eVisa, and do not need to take any action to obtain one. As part of the transition to eVisas, we are closely monitoring the volume of customers who have registered for a UKVI account and the forecast total volume of affected customers, and we will shortly publish updated data on the number and breakdown of UKVI registrations.For many, the expiry of BRPs and BRCs on 31 December 2024 will have no immediate impact; most people don’t need to prove their immigration status on a day-to-day basis, and many of the checks performed will be unaffected by the expiry of biometric residence permits (BRPs). The underlying status of the customer’s current immigration status will also not be affected upon creation of a UKVI account. BRP holders will still be able to use the online right to work and rent services to prove their rights once their BRP expires – provided they still have valid status. They will also be able to create a UKVI account to access their eVisa using an expired BRP. We are planning to update the biometric registration regulations to make this clear.While we are encouraging legacy immigration document holders to transition to eVisas, they can still use their legacy documents to prove their rights as they do today, where these are permitted.

If she will make an estimate of the number of people that need to register for an e-visa before 1 January 2025.

An extensive communications campaign is being delivered in support of the transition to eVisas, which includes guidance available at: www.gov.uk/evisa, as well as direct messaging to individuals with Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs), out of home advertising, print and social media alongside engagement activity through multicultural community organisations, embassies and stakeholder events. We have also produced an eVisa partner pack, which includes guidance for those who check immigration statuses, informative factsheets and a range of social media assets which stakeholders can use on their channels.Over 4 million BRPs and over 200,000 BRCs are due to expire on 31 December 2024. BRC holders granted status under the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) already have an eVisa, and do not need to take any action to obtain one. As part of the transition to eVisas, we are closely monitoring the volume of customers who have registered for a UKVI account and the forecast total volume of affected customers, and we will shortly publish updated data on the number and breakdown of UKVI registrations.For many, the expiry of BRPs and BRCs on 31 December 2024 will have no immediate impact; most people don’t need to prove their immigration status on a day-to-day basis, and many of the checks performed will be unaffected by the expiry of biometric residence permits (BRPs). The underlying status of the customer’s current immigration status will also not be affected upon creation of a UKVI account. BRP holders will still be able to use the online right to work and rent services to prove their rights once their BRP expires – provided they still have valid status. They will also be able to create a UKVI account to access their eVisa using an expired BRP. We are planning to update the biometric registration regulations to make this clear.While we are encouraging legacy immigration document holders to transition to eVisas, they can still use their legacy documents to prove their rights as they do today, where these are permitted.

If she will make an estimate of the number of people whose (a) biometric residence permit and (b) biometric residence card are scheduled to end on 31 December 2024 but haven't yet accessed an e-visa.

An extensive communications campaign is being delivered in support of the transition to eVisas, which includes guidance available at: www.gov.uk/evisa, as well as direct messaging to individuals with Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs), out of home advertising, print and social media alongside engagement activity through multicultural community organisations, embassies and stakeholder events. We have also produced an eVisa partner pack, which includes guidance for those who check immigration statuses, informative factsheets and a range of social media assets which stakeholders can use on their channels.Over 4 million BRPs and over 200,000 BRCs are due to expire on 31 December 2024. BRC holders granted status under the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) already have an eVisa, and do not need to take any action to obtain one. As part of the transition to eVisas, we are closely monitoring the volume of customers who have registered for a UKVI account and the forecast total volume of affected customers, and we will shortly publish updated data on the number and breakdown of UKVI registrations.For many, the expiry of BRPs and BRCs on 31 December 2024 will have no immediate impact; most people don’t need to prove their immigration status on a day-to-day basis, and many of the checks performed will be unaffected by the expiry of biometric residence permits (BRPs). The underlying status of the customer’s current immigration status will also not be affected upon creation of a UKVI account. BRP holders will still be able to use the online right to work and rent services to prove their rights once their BRP expires – provided they still have valid status. They will also be able to create a UKVI account to access their eVisa using an expired BRP. We are planning to update the biometric registration regulations to make this clear.While we are encouraging legacy immigration document holders to transition to eVisas, they can still use their legacy documents to prove their rights as they do today, where these are permitted.

Whether he plans to maintain levels of mental health spending in line with planned increases in other NHS spending in (a) the next financial year and (b) the future.

The NHS Operational and Planning Guidance for 2024/25 makes clear that integrated care boards are expected to continue to meet the Mental Health Investment Standard by increasing their investment in mental health services in line with their overall increase in funding for the year.Further details on mental health spending for 2025/26 will be set out in the NHS Operational and Planning Guidance for 2025/26, following which we will provide an update to Parliament.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of broadening the definition of research and development activities that qualify for tax relief to include research and development undertaken by creative industries.

Qualifying R&D is defined as a project seeking to achieve an advance in science or technology through the resolution of uncertainty, which allows claims from creative sectors.In the 2021 consultation on R&D tax reliefs, there was a strong consensus amongst respondents that the definition of “R&D” itself does not require amending given it is well understood, embedded and consistent with the OECD Frascati standard, including the core criteria within it. The government currently has no intention to change the definition, since this would add further complexity and uncertainty at a time when the government is prioritising stability and simplification.

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing grants to enable small and medium-sized film and TV production companies to attend trade fairs.

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) supports film and TV businesses to meet international buyers and partners at key events both in the UK and overseas. In addition, businesses can access DBT’s export services via Great.gov.uk, including the UK Export Academy, International Trade Advisers in England, Help to Grow and the Export Support Service.The creative industries are one of the Industrial Strategy’s growth-driving sectors. The Industrial Strategy will be published alongside a Creative Industries Sector Plan in Spring 2025 which will set out a 10-year plan to drive growth in the creative sector. We are reviewing our Export Services as part of our work in the Industrial Strategy, our Trade White Paper and on better support for small businesses.

What steps his Department is taking to help reduce the number of people on NHS waiting lists.

Patients are waiting too long to access the care they need, with the total waiting list standing at over 7.5 million. Last week we saw the welcome news that waiting lists have fallen. Since we ended the strikes, we have been ramping up delivery of the 2 million additional appointments that we committed to deliver (which is equivalent to 40,000 per week). The investment delivered by the Chancellor in last month’s Budget will be matched with the reform our NHS needs, to get patients treated faster.