Written questions by Coyle.

Whether her Department is taking steps to help ensure that former arrests of BNO status holders (a) under Hong Kong's National Security Law and (b) for engaging in protests do not delay or prevent British citizenship applications.

Adults and children aged ten or over applying for British citizenship must meet the good character requirement in the British Nationality Act 1981.The good character policy is clear that it will normally be appropriate to disregard a criminal conviction for behaviour that is considered legitimate in the UK.

How many (a) police forces and (b) individual officers are now trained in specialist Counter Terrorism support for Hong Kongers (i) with bounties placed on them and (ii) experiencing transnational suppression by the Chinese Communist Party.

The Government is committed to ensuring the police are trained to deal with transnational repression. Since launching new training and guidance in July 2024, nearly 50,000 officers and staff from police forces across the UK and Northern Ireland have completed Foreign Interference modules, and over 23,000 have completed an online module on the powers available under the National Security Act, which was launched in 2023.A team of CTP experts also provide briefings for officers and staff, focusing on those in key roles where they may encounter reports of foreign interference – such as call handlers. Over 30,000 officers and staff attended briefings in the last year.Anyone who believes they are a victim of state directed activity should report to the police via 101, 999, or at a local station.

Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has considered, in the context of current and future regulatory frameworks, introducing measures to ensure that leaseholders are able to access the full details of heating and energy supply contracts, and that managing agents or freeholders are required to provide a comprehensive and transparent breakdown of all associated costs.

On 4 July 2025, the government published a consultation, jointly with the Welsh Government, on strengthening leaseholder protections over charges and services. The consultation included proposals to increase transparency over service charges and enhance access to redress through the relevant provisions in the Act. It also proposed new reforms to the section 20 ‘major works’ procedure. The consultation can be found on gov.uk here. It closed on 26 September 2025, and we are analysing responses with a view to bringing the relevant measures into force as quickly as possible.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of (a) imposing fines on companies that do not register beneficial owners under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 and (b) hypothecating those revenues for local authorities.

The Economic Crime Acts 2022 and 2023 established and enhanced the Register of Overseas Entities. Financial penalties are used where entities fail to comply. Alongside restrictions on property transactions, this helps protect the integrity of the UK property market by enhancing transparency about who owns and controls overseas entities.As with other fines, revenues are paid into the Consolidated Fund. Government does not generally support the hypothecation of fine revenue, as this can reduce flexibility in public finances and risk weakening the deterrent purpose of penalties. Core funding for local authorities is set through the Local Government Finance Settlement.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Economic Crime and Transparency Act 2023 on the offshore ownership of property in the UK to conceal money laundering and other illegal activities.

The Economic Crime Acts 2022 and 2023 established and strengthened the UK’s Register of Overseas Entities, which requires overseas entities owning UK land to disclose their beneficial owners. Since launching in 2022, over 33,000 entities have registered. The Companies House Strategic Intelligence Assessment (2024) found it is almost certain that the register has reduced the ability to hide beneficial ownership of UK property and improve transparency for law enforcement. Non‑compliant entities are also prevented from selling, leasing or raising finance over UK land. The Government is currently reviewing the legislation’s impact and will publish findings once complete.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Economic Crime and Transparency Act 2023 on the number of properties owned by offshore companies.

The Department has not made a specific assessment of the impact of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 on the number of properties owned by offshore companies. The Register of Overseas Entities was established and further strengthened through the Economic Crime Acts 2022 and 2023. It was designed to tackle the misuse of overseas corporate structures to own UK property anonymously, rather than legitimate overseas investment. Companies House's strategic intelligence assessment indicates that the register has significantly reduced anonymity and increased transparency around higher risk ownership. The Government will keep the effectiveness of the regime under review.

Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that new towns are built with adequate mobile connectivity infrastructure.

I refer the hon. Member to the public consultation on the proposed New Towns Programme and its environmental implications launched on 23 March 2026. This can be found on gov.uk here.

Communities and Local Government, whether he plans to make it a requirement for local planning authorities to take into account the need to replace or upgrade existing rooftop telecommunications equipment when determining planning applications.

Between 18 December 2025 and 26 February 2026, the government undertook a call for evidence in respect of reforming planning rules to accelerate deployment of digital infrastructure. It can be found on gov.uk here. We are currently analysing the feedback received with a view to determining next steps, which may include consulting on draft measures and, where appropriate, bringing forward necessary legislation.

Whether her Department has considered the potential merits of relaxing pub licensing hours in English pubs to also accommodate the World Cup football matches involving Scotland.

The Government recently announced plans to extend licensing hours on a national basis for the round of 32 and round of 16, quarter finals, semi-finals, bronze medal match and final of the FIFA World Cup 2026 for matches that involve any of the home nations, including Scotland, and kick off between 8pm and 10pm UK time. This will apply in both England and Wales.

Innovation and Technology, whether she is considering using perceptual and cryptographic hash matching to prevent the spread of mis- and disinformation.

The government is not considering hash matching to address the spread of mis- and disinformation. We recognise concerns and continue to explore options, but there is no single solution. Tackling such content requires a mix of regulation, law enforcement, education and technical solutions, balanced with freedom of expression – a fundamental right.

How his department ensures GPs retain telephone and reception facilities to book appointments at GP clinics.

As part of our ambition to end the 8:00am scramble, we want patients to contact their practice by phone, online, or by walking in, and for people to have an equitable experience across these access modes. To ensure that patients are not digitally excluded, the GP Contract is clear that patients should always have the option of telephoning or visiting their practice in person, and all online tools must always be provided in addition to, rather than as a replacement for, other channels for accessing a general practice (GP). Practice receptions should be open so that patients without access to telephone or online services are in no way disadvantaged.To support patients who depend on telephone bookings, the 2025/26 GP Contract includes a requirement for all GPs to offer online booking throughout core hours, from 8:00am to 6:30pm. This is designed to ease pressure on phone lines by allowing those who prefer online booking to do so at any time, freeing up phone lines, reducing long phone queues, and improving the experience for those reliant on telephone bookings.

How his Department monitors the different methods by which patients book appointments to see a GP in England.

NHS England publishes monthly data on submissions received via online consultation systems, including clinical and administrative requests, and the number of cloud-based telephony calls received by general practices (GPs). The annual General Practice Patient Survey and the monthly Office for National Statistics Health Insight Survey collect data on the methods patients use to contact their GP and the perceived ease of contact with each method.As part of our ambition to end the 8:00am scramble, we want patients to contact their practice by phone, online, or by walking in, and for people to have an equitable experience across these access modes. To ensure that patients are not digitally excluded, the GP Contract is clear that patients should always have the option of telephoning or visiting their practice in person, and all online tools must always be provided in addition to, rather than as a replacement for, other channels for accessing a GP. Practice receptions should be open so that patients without access to telephone or online services are in no way disadvantaged.

If her Department will issue new guidance to police authorities to require that a) stopping suspected criminals fleeing is prioritised above the safety of the person being sought, b) bikes are stopped by officers even when it could cause injury to a fleeing suspect and c) officers do not face prosecution for the apprehension of suspects at crime scenes.

The safety of the public, including suspects, and police officers is paramount. Decisions on police operational tactics, including for pursuit, are a matter for the police who are required to act lawfully, proportionately.The Government has no plans to issue guidance for police officers on tactics as police have the knowledge, expertise and training to inform proportionate tactical decisions.

Whether her Department has made a recent assessment of the potential merits of establishing a national register for foster parents.

Fostering services are required to maintain their own records and registers of approved foster carers in line with the National Minimum Standards and associated regulations.We recently published the ‘Renewing Fostering: Homes for 10,000 More Children’ action plan which sets out our ambitious plans to strengthen fostering. At the same time, we launched a call for evidence, which sought views on how to improve the foster care system, including questions on a national fostering register.We are currently analysing the responses to this call for evidence. These insights will help us consider the potential merits, benefits and practical implications of introducing a national register for foster carers as part of future policy development.

What recent assessments she has made of the adequacy of the regulation of broadcasters to prevent the advertising and promotion of proscribed terrorist groups such as Hezbollah on any platform, including LuaLua.

The borderless nature of the internet and the rapid spread of unlawful terrorist material means that threats online remain persistent. The Government is clear that terrorist propaganda and material have no place on the internet, and continues to take robust action in response.The Home Office works to influence industry partners to increase action to tackle online content used to radicalise, recruit and incite terrorism by providing threat assessment, insight and support.Under the Online Safety Act, tech companies are accountable to Ofcom, the independent online safety regulator, to keep their users safe, and they need to remove and limit the spread of illegal content, including terrorist material.Only linear TV channels listed on a regulated electronic programme guide (such as Freeview) require a broadcasting licence and must comply with Ofcom’s Broadcasting Code. LuaLua TV is currently only streamed via a website, not a broadcast channel.

What assessment her department has made of the cost to local authorities of emergency social services provisions to those affected by changes to earned settlement.

Proposals for introducing an earned settlement model, as set out in the Command Paper “A Fairer Pathway to Settlement” (CP1448), were subject to a public consultation, which opened on 20 November 2025 and closed on 12 February 2026.As part of this consultation, we sought views on the potential impact of the proposed changes, including on local authorities.We are now reviewing and analysing all responses received.  This analysis will help inform the development of the final earned settlement model, including consideration of any potential exemptions or transitional measures for those already on a pathway to settlement.Once the final model has been decided, the Government will communicate the outcome publicly. As with all significant policy changes, the proposals will be subject to both economic and equality impact assessments.

If her Department will review fees for ILR applications and make them full-cost recovery only.

There are no plans to reduce the fee for indefinite leave to remain to full-cost recovery. The Home Office does not make a profit from fees and any income from fees set above the cost of processing is utilised for the purpose of running the Migration and Borders system, reducing reliance of taxpayer funding.Fees for immigration and nationality applications are kept under review and any reduction in fees would need to be considered in terms of its impact on the funding of the Migration & Borders system.The right to stay indefinitely is one of the most valuable entitlements offered for those seeking to enter or remain in the UK, and it is right that the fee should be higher than most for migrants staying temporarily in the UK.

How many responses were received to the staff survey conducted by the National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation team that closed on 9 March 2026; how many NHS trusts in England were represented in the results; and what the breakdown of responses was by (a) profession and (b) clinical speciality.

Baroness Amos launched a call for evidence for those who work in the maternity and neonatal pathway, which closed on 9 March. The Department understands the Independent National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation team has received more than 9,000 responses from across 124 trusts. A breakdown for responses by profession or clinical speciality is not yet available as evidence is still being analysed by the independent investigation team. This will be published in the final report. Information about how to access the workforce survey was distributed to all National Health Service trusts, and the investigation asked them to share the link to all maternity and neonatal staff groups, both clinical and non-clinical.Evidence collection is still ongoing. When visiting the 12 local NHS trusts identified in the Terms of Reference, the investigation team conducted evidence panels with staff as well as reviewing maternity and neonatal facilities. Further evidence collection was conducted after the visits, including interviews with the senior executive team and one to one conversations offered to staff if they do not feel comfortable talking in a group. As of 26 February, the investigation had held 44 staff panels and completed 75 staff/executive interviews as part of the local reviews. The investigation is now in the process of undertaking interviews with national system leaders.

How many meetings the National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation team has held during its evidence gathering with a) frontline NHS maternity staff and b) staff representative organisations.

Baroness Amos launched a call for evidence for those who work in the maternity and neonatal pathway, which closed on 9 March. The Department understands the Independent National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation team has received more than 9,000 responses from across 124 trusts. A breakdown for responses by profession or clinical speciality is not yet available as evidence is still being analysed by the independent investigation team. This will be published in the final report. Information about how to access the workforce survey was distributed to all National Health Service trusts, and the investigation asked them to share the link to all maternity and neonatal staff groups, both clinical and non-clinical.Evidence collection is still ongoing. When visiting the 12 local NHS trusts identified in the Terms of Reference, the investigation team conducted evidence panels with staff as well as reviewing maternity and neonatal facilities. Further evidence collection was conducted after the visits, including interviews with the senior executive team and one to one conversations offered to staff if they do not feel comfortable talking in a group. As of 26 February, the investigation had held 44 staff panels and completed 75 staff/executive interviews as part of the local reviews. The investigation is now in the process of undertaking interviews with national system leaders.

Whether the staff survey conducted by the National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation team included all maternity and neonatal care professions, including maternity support workers.

Baroness Amos launched a call for evidence for those who work in the maternity and neonatal pathway, which closed on 9 March. The Department understands the Independent National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation team has received more than 9,000 responses from across 124 trusts. A breakdown for responses by profession or clinical speciality is not yet available as evidence is still being analysed by the independent investigation team. This will be published in the final report. Information about how to access the workforce survey was distributed to all National Health Service trusts, and the investigation asked them to share the link to all maternity and neonatal staff groups, both clinical and non-clinical.Evidence collection is still ongoing. When visiting the 12 local NHS trusts identified in the Terms of Reference, the investigation team conducted evidence panels with staff as well as reviewing maternity and neonatal facilities. Further evidence collection was conducted after the visits, including interviews with the senior executive team and one to one conversations offered to staff if they do not feel comfortable talking in a group. As of 26 February, the investigation had held 44 staff panels and completed 75 staff/executive interviews as part of the local reviews. The investigation is now in the process of undertaking interviews with national system leaders.