Written questions by Timothy.

With reference to the Written Statement of 15 December 2025 on Investment in high needs place, HCWS1163, how much each local authority will receive from the £3 billion investment in SEND school places.

In December, the department announced at least £3 billion for high needs capital between 2026/27 and 2029/30 to support children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities or who require alternative provision. This funding is intended to create facilities within mainstream schools that can deliver more intensive support adapted to suit the pupils’ needs. It can also be used to adapt mainstream schools to be more accessible and to create special school places for pupils with the most complex needs. We will confirm local authority allocations later this spring.

Whether she plans to introduce protections for ancestry visa holders in the context of her proposed reforms to indefinite leave to remain.

The UK values its close cultural and historical ties with its fellow Commonwealth countries. This is reflected in our immigration system by the UK Ancestry visa, which allows Commonwealth citizens with a UK-born grandparent to live and work in the UK.The earned settlement model, proposed in ‘A Fairer Pathway to Settlement’, is currently subject to a public consultation, running until 12 February 2026.The consultation seeks views on whether there should be transitional arrangements for those already here on a pathway to settlement, including UK Ancestry visa holders. At this stage, no transitional arrangements have been decided upon.Details of the earned settlement model and any potential transitional arrangements for those already in the UK will be finalised following the consultation.

With reference to the Written Statement of 15 December 2025 on Investment in high needs place, HCWS1163, what meetings her Department held with the mainstream free school projects prior to their cancellation.

The department has engaged with trusts, local authorities and other stakeholders in relation to individual projects in scope of the review, including reviewing the evidence they have provided. As would be expected from a review of this scale, there have been a significant number of meetings

If he will extend grants for replacement boilers to cover park homes.

The Government delivers a number of digital services to support consumers with energy efficiency and clean heat, including 'Find Ways to Save Energy in your Home' (www.gov.uk/improve-energy-efficiency), providing tailored recommendations for home improvements. A phoneline service is available on 0800 098 7950.Residents living in park homes are eligible for support under the Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) until it closes in March 2026, and the Warm Homes: Local Grant (WH:LG). Energy cutting and bill saving measures available under the WH:LG include heat pumps and insulation. The WH:LG has been allocated £500 million to be delivered from 2025-2028 by participating local authorities. Park homes may also be eligible for BUS funding providing all scheme eligibility criteria are met. Consumers can access further information, including eligibility criteria, at www.gov.uk/government/collections/find-energy-grants-for-you-home-help-to-heat.

If she will make an assessment of the adequacy of safeguarding in nursery settings.

The safety of our youngest children is our utmost priority and the department continually monitors and reviews safeguarding requirements to make sure children are kept as safe as possible.The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework sets the standards and requirements early years providers must meet to ensure that children are kept healthy and safe. It is available here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68c024cb8c6d992f23edd79c/Early_years_foundation_stage_statutory_framework_-_for_group_and_school-based_providers.pdf. In September 2025, changes were introduced to strengthen the safeguarding requirements in the EYFS, including clearer expectations on safer recruitment, child absences, safer eating, safeguarding training and whistleblowing.A new safeguarding training annex now sets out what training must cover. To support providers, a free online safeguarding training package is being developed with the NSPCC, aligned to the new requirements.We are also appointing an expert panel to inform whether CCTV should be mandated within early years settings, along with the development of guidance on the safe and effective use of digital devices and CCTV within safeguarding, setting out best practice, technical information and clear expectations.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that patients retain the right to access GP services through non-digital means where digital front door systems have been implemented.

In February 2025 the General Practitioners Committee England agreed to make it a contractual obligation for all general practices (GPs) to offer access to online services throughout core hours, from 8:00am to 18:30pm, bringing online access in line with walk-in and phone access. There is a broad support offer available from NHS England and integrated care boards where practices are struggling to meet this requirement.The GP Contract requires that patients should always have the option of telephoning or visiting their practice in person, so those without digital access are not disadvantaged.We are clear that online tools must always be provided in addition to, rather than as a replacement for, other channels for accessing a GP.

Whether he can provide a summary of patient satisfaction scores for GP surgeries in England for the latest year by (a) those surgeries which have fully implemented the digital front door and (b) those which have not.

The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics’ Health Insight Survey, of September 2025, show that patient satisfaction is on the rise for the first time in a decade. 73% found it easy to contact their general practice (GP), up from 60% last year The latest GP Patient Survey data was published in July 2025, before the implementation of the contract changes to online access in October 2025. The Health Insight Survey, which also gathers information on patient satisfaction, does not report at the individual practice level. As a result, current patient satisfaction figures do not yet reflect the impact of increased online access.

Communities and Local Government, if he will make it his policy to introduce a fast-track process for Disabled Facilities Grants applications for people with (a) Motor Neurone Disease and (b) other terminal conditions.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 88803 on 18 November 2025.

What guidance his Department has issued to GP surgeries implementing the digital front door to ensure non-digital access routes remain available to patients unable to use online services.

In February 2025 the General Practitioners Committee England agreed to make it a contractual obligation for all general practices (GPs) to offer access to online services throughout core hours, from 8:00am to 18:30pm, bringing online access in line with walk-in and phone access. There is a broad support offer available from NHS England and integrated care boards where practices are struggling to meet this requirement.The GP Contract requires that patients should always have the option of telephoning or visiting their practice in person, so those without digital access are not disadvantaged.We are clear that online tools must always be provided in addition to, rather than as a replacement for, other channels for accessing a GP.

If his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of making naloxone available in public spaces.

The Department has amended the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 to expand access to naloxone. The legislation which came into force in 2024 enabled more services and professionals to supply this medication, making it easier to access for people at risk, and for their loved ones.We recognise the need for greater public access to naloxone. As such, we recently launched a ten-week United Kingdom-wide public consultation on further legislative options to expand access to take-home and emergency use naloxone.One of the legislative proposals we are consulting on is to create a new route of supply by enabling publicly accessible naloxone for emergency use using a locked box model. This overdose prevention method could enable more local areas to have naloxone available at any time in high-risk public spaces such as high streets and near to nightlife venues, without needing a prescription or in person supply.This a central part of the Government’s comprehensive approach to drug and alcohol prevention, treatment, and recovery, supported by £3.4 billion of funding delivered through the Public Health Grant over the next three years.

What his Department plans to do about the number of prisoners spending time on remand exceeding the Custody Time Limit of 6 months.

The use of remand is a judicial matter and decisions regarding it are up to the judiciary, whose independence from government is well-established. There are well established processes for extending Custody Time Limits. Applications must be approved by independent judges and defendants have the right to oppose any application.

Pursuant to the answer of 23 December 2025 to written question 93136, how much funding has been allocated to the RISE Advisor budget by key expenditure items.

This government is focused on driving high and rising standards through our Plan for Change, to enable every child to achieve and thrive.Our targeted regional improvement for standards and excellence (RISE) programme is ensuring schools who need it most are getting the support they need to improve.Over 360 schools have already benefited from RISE, supported by 65 advisers, experienced leaders across the schools sector.£4.8 million has been allocated to the RISE Adviser budget for the 2025/26 financial year. Budgets for future years will be set through business planning.

If her Department will adopt a call for evidence process on changes to the taxation and cost of electric cars.

At Budget 2025, the Government announced a number of changes to the taxation of electric vehicles (EVs). The eVED consultation provides further detail on how eVED will work and seeks views on its implementation. The consultation is available at GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/consultation-on-the-introduction-of-electric-vehicle-excise-duty-eved.

Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to merge the Groceries Code Adjudicator and the Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator as part of her Department's Farm Profitability Review.

The department is committed to an evidence-based approach to regulating the supply chain and to ensuring that producers and businesses are treated fairly. The statutory review of the effectiveness of the Groceries Code Adjudicator by the Department for Business and Trade is currently under way, and any future decisions will be informed by its findings. The Government is carefully considering all of the recommendations made in the independent Farming Profitability Review, including those relating to the roles and governance arrangements of the Groceries Code Adjudicator and the Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator. A Government response to the review will be set out as part of the Farming Roadmap.

What steps his Department is taking to reduce regional disparities in life expectancy.

The Government is taking bold action to tackle the social determinants of health to build a fairer Britain, where everyone lives well for longer. We are committed to increasing the amount of time people spend in good health and preventing premature deaths, with a vision of ensuring that all individuals, regardless of background or location, live longer, healthier lives. We know everyday life poses greater health risks to the most disadvantaged in society, and that the current model of care works least well for those who already experience disadvantage and are far more likely to have complex needs. To help tackle this, we will distribute National Health Service funding more equally locally, so it is better aligned with health need. We will free up funding to allow us to move resources more quickly to areas of higher health need, through our plan to remove deficit support funding, worth £2.2 billion in 2025/26, starting from financial year 2026/27.We know that the Carr-Hill formula is considered outdated, and evidence suggests that general practitioners serving in deprived parts of England receive on average 9.8% less funding per needs adjusted patient than those in less deprived communities, despite having greater health needs and significantly higher patient-to-GP ratios. This is why we are currently reviewing the formula to ensure that resources are targeted where they are most needed.

With reference to her Department's written statement entitled Investment in high needs place of 15 December 2025, what evidential basis her department is using to promote internal alternative provision for pupils with specialist needs in mainstream schools.

The department has announced at least £3 billion for high needs capital between 2026/27 and 2029/30, which is intended to create facilities within mainstream schools that can deliver more flexible support adapted to suit the pupils’ needs, alongside expanding or creating special and alternative provision schools.Pupil support units are used as a planned intervention to support pupils with additional needs, including behaviour difficulties, and to improve their engagement with mainstream education.The department has reviewed the existing evidence base, including findings from the department's school and college voice omnibus surveys, and third-party reports.The department’s ‘Explorative research into In-School Support Units’ found that improvements in outcomes were perceived to span behaviour, attendance and attainment, as well as softer outcomes including improvements in feelings of belonging.We are working with the sector to develop guidance applicable to pupil support units.

With reference to written statement 1163, on what grounds the Government approved the Eton Star academy projects in Dudley and Oldham.

All free school projects were evaluated in line with consistent criteria focusing on assessing the need for places and value for money. This included considering whether projects would provide a distinctive local offer and whether they would risk negatively impacting other local schools or colleges.

Pursuant to written question 100178, if she will publish the criteria used by her Department to evaluate (a) the need for places, (b) value for money, (c) whether they would provide a distinctive or innovative education offer and (d) whether they would negatively affect other local schools.

We have written to trusts, local authorities and members of Parliament setting out the position on individual projects, as well as offering more detailed feedback. The department considered whether there was a strong need for the school in the medium term. We assessed published School Capacity data (SCAP24), in line with the department’s longstanding approach to assessing pipeline projects, as well as other data from local authorities, such as plans for future housing developments. We also considered forecast costs of delivering each school, delivery issues such as finding a suitable site and whether projects would provide a distinctive local offer or risk negatively impacting other local schools. Final decisions on projects where a ‘minded to cancel’ letter was issued, will be made once trusts and local authorities have had the opportunity to submit any new evidence. Representations should be made by 30 January 2026.

Pursuant to written question 93138, what her planned timetable is for publication of the (a) terms of reference and (b) membership of the regional improvement for standards and excellence Operations Working Group.

The department will publish the terms of reference, membership details and minutes of the first meeting of the Regional Improvement for Standards and Excellence Operations Working Group by the end of January 2026. Minutes for future meetings with be published following each meeting.

Pursuant to the oral answer of 26 November 2025, Official Report, House of Lords, Column 1331, on West Midlands Police: Maccabi Tel Aviv Fans, what information her Department holds on whether (a) the Muslim Brotherhood and (b) other organisations subject to Government non-engagement shared information with West Midlands Police in relation to the Aston Villa v Maccabi Tel Aviv Europa League game of 6 November 2025.

The Home Office will make public the findings from His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services on the information and intelligence used by West Midlands Police to assess and categorise the Aston Villa v Maccabi Tel Aviv match on 6 November, and how accurately this reflected intelligence received from the Netherlands Police, as soon as this is provided.The Home Office does not hold any information on whether the Muslim Brotherhood or other organisations subject to government non-engagement shared information with West Midlands Police in relation to this match.Similarly, the Home Office does not hold any information on discussions between West Midlands Police and the Metropolitan Police, MI5, Cabinet Office, or the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre in relation to this match.A reply to the Honourable Member for West Suffolk’s letter of 2 January 2026 will be sent in due course.Section 40 of the Police Act 1996 enables the Home Secretary to direct a PCC or Mayor where a force is failing, in exceptional circumstances.The power for the Home Secretary to require a police authority to call on a Chief Constable to retire was removed through the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 and the power to dismiss Chief Constables now rests with Police and Crime Commissioners.The Home Secretary has already taken action and commissioned HMICFRS to review the information and intelligence used by West Midlands Police.The findings from this are due to be provided on 12 January.