Written questions by Duncan-Jordan.

Communities and Local Government, what discussions he has had with local authorities on the potential impact of reductions in library staff numbers since 2010 on access to library services for the most vulnerable.

This government is delivering fairer funding for local authorities, targeting money where it is needed most through the first multi-year Settlement in a decade. The final 2026-27 Local Government Finance Settlement will make available £78 billion in Core Spending Power for local authorities in England in 2026-27, a 6.1% increase compared to 2025-26. The majority of funding in the Local Government Finance Settlement is unringfenced recognising that local leaders are best placed to identify local priorities, including public libraries provision. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is responsible for public library policy and the Libraries Improvement Fund. DCMS intends to publish a new English public library strategy later this year to emphasise and support their position at the heart of communities and their pivotal role in improving the lives of working people.

If she will introduce age restrictions of 18 plus for the purchasing of catapults and slingshots.

The Government shares concerns over the misuse of catapults, whether against people, property or wildlife.There is existing legislation relating to the carrying and use of offensive weapons, Anti-Social Behaviour and wildlife crime; however, the Government is aware of continuing concerns about the problems caused by catapults.We have noted the proposals for new restrictions, including age restrictions, and we are actively considering all proposals as part of wider considerations of what more might be done around enforcement.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for her policies of UNISON research that indicated that library opening hours have decreased in England by 22% since 2010, with 4 in 5 councils cutting back on library opening hours.

This government is delivering fairer funding for local authorities, targeting money where it is needed most through the first multi-year Settlement in a decade. The final 2026-27 Local Government Finance Settlement will make available £78 billion in Core Spending Power for local authorities in England in 2026-27, a 6.1% increase compared to 2025-26. The majority of funding in the Local Government Finance Settlement is unringfenced recognising that local leaders are best placed to identify local priorities, including public libraries provision. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is responsible for public library policy and the Libraries Improvement Fund. DCMS intends to publish a new English public library strategy later this year to emphasise and support their position at the heart of communities and their pivotal role in improving the lives of working people.

Media and Sport, whether she is taking steps with Cabinet colleagues and local authorities to increase the number of community libraries to mark the Year of Reading 2026.

Public libraries are central to the success of the National Year of Reading’s campaign to engage people of all ages with reading, as free and trusted spaces for learning and connection at the heart of their communities.On 2 March DCMS announced £150,000 for public libraries to support the National Year of Reading. Funding will be delivered by The Reading Agency in support of the Go All In campaign to reconnect people with reading for pleasure.Community managed libraries can complement the variety of services available across the public library network, and add value through building upon available services and ensuring close collaboration with the community. However, it is important that councils continue to invest in their statutory library networks, employing skilled and experienced staff.

With reference to her Department's policy paper entitled Every child achieving and thriving, published on 23 February 2026, how much and what proportion of the proposed teacher training will be delivered in person.

We are currently in the design phase of the £200 million professional development package referenced in the Every Child Achieving and Thriving White Paper. We are working with a wide range of experts, including the department’s Inclusion Expert Advisory Group and the Education Endowment Foundation, to identify what will be most impactful in supporting settings to be more inclusive.We have confirmed that the courses for teachers and leaders in schools and colleges will include a mixture of flexible online self-study sessions and live facilitated sessions. We have also announced a package of materials for schools and colleges to support the development and delivery of in-house, in person training.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 26 February 2026 to Question 114681 on Hunting: Birds of Prey, what assessment she has made of the likelihood of fox hunts exploiting the Falconry exemption to hunt mammals with hounds.

The Department has made no assessment of the likelihood of fox hunts exploiting the Falconry exemption to hunt mammals with hounds.

What (a) estimate her Department has made of the number and (b) assessment of the adequacy of availability of trained professionals required to meet the Experts at Hand plan.

I refer my hon. Friend, the Member for Poole to the answer of 24 March 2026 to Question 121419.

How many outstanding Loan Charge cases will be settled as a result of the McCann Review.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave on 9 February 2026 to UIN 109841.

What assessment she has made of the value-for-money of the Loan Charge.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave on 9 February 2026 to UIN 109841.

What assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Loan Charge and HMRC’s approach to dealing with so-called disguised remuneration schemes.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave on 9 February 2026 to UIN 109841.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of exempting the state pension from taxation.

Exempting the State Pension from income tax entirely would undermine the public services we all rely on, including the NHS.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the extension of settlement routes for those on family visas from 6 to 10 years in 2012 on the number of people leaving (a) voluntarily and (b) through enforced removals.

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.The responses to the consultation are being reviewed and analysed. Implementation of the final earned settlement arrangements will be subject to economic and equality impact assessments, which we have committed to publish in due course.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the extension of settlement routes for those on family visas from 6 to 10 years in 2012 on the number of illegal migrants arriving in the UK.

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.The responses to the consultation are being reviewed and analysed. Implementation of the final earned settlement arrangements will be subject to economic and equality impact assessments, which we have committed to publish in due course.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the Monroe Doctrine.

It is for the United States to set its own security and defence policy, as it is for any government.However, there are many issues and initiatives where we share common objectives with the US, ranging from the AUKUS treaty and our joint work on critical minerals, to the ongoing efforts to secure peace and stability in Gaza, Sudan and Syria.We will continue to work with our closest partner to pursue those and other shared goals.

Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has issued guidance to Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council on volunteer groups that patrol local streets.

My department has not issued any such guidance.

If she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of trends in the number of volunteer groups that patrol local streets.

The Government is delivering our Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, putting 13,000 additional police personnel into neighbourhood roles, ensuring everyone has a named and contactable officer, enquiries are responded to within 72 hours and officers are conducting visible patrols.The Government’s Police Reform White Paper announced the most significant reforms to policing in 200 years. We have committed to increasing the number of volunteers in neighbourhood policing, including special constables. We will do this by working with policing to attract new special constables, improving and streamlining the recruitment process and better integrating special constables into wider policing. We would encourage anyone who wishes to give back to their community and support local policing to consider formally volunteering with the police.

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of licensing volunteer groups that patrol local streets.

The Government is delivering our Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, putting 13,000 additional police personnel into neighbourhood roles, ensuring everyone has a named and contactable officer, enquiries are responded to within 72 hours and officers are conducting visible patrols.The Government’s Police Reform White Paper announced the most significant reforms to policing in 200 years. We have committed to increasing the number of volunteers in neighbourhood policing, including special constables. We will do this by working with policing to attract new special constables, improving and streamlining the recruitment process and better integrating special constables into wider policing. We would encourage anyone who wishes to give back to their community and support local policing to consider formally volunteering with the police.

Whether she has had recent discussions with Dorset Police on trends in the number of volunteer groups that patrol local streets.

The Government is delivering our Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, putting 13,000 additional police personnel into neighbourhood roles, ensuring everyone has a named and contactable officer, enquiries are responded to within 72 hours and officers are conducting visible patrols.The Government’s Police Reform White Paper announced the most significant reforms to policing in 200 years. We have committed to increasing the number of volunteers in neighbourhood policing, including special constables. We will do this by working with policing to attract new special constables, improving and streamlining the recruitment process and better integrating special constables into wider policing. We would encourage anyone who wishes to give back to their community and support local policing to consider formally volunteering with the police.

Whether she has issued guidance to Dorset Police on volunteer groups that patrol local streets.

The Government is delivering our Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, putting 13,000 additional police personnel into neighbourhood roles, ensuring everyone has a named and contactable officer, enquiries are responded to within 72 hours and officers are conducting visible patrols.The Government’s Police Reform White Paper announced the most significant reforms to policing in 200 years. We have committed to increasing the number of volunteers in neighbourhood policing, including special constables. We will do this by working with policing to attract new special constables, improving and streamlining the recruitment process and better integrating special constables into wider policing. We would encourage anyone who wishes to give back to their community and support local policing to consider formally volunteering with the police.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to work with industry to end the routine culling of male chicks.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 21 January 2026 to the hon. Member for Mid Dorset and North Poole, PQ UIN 105878.