Written questions by Ferguson.

Whether her Department plans to review the criteria used to ascertain which communities require a banking hub.

The Government understands the importance of banking services to communities and is committed to supporting the financial services industry’s roll-out of 350 banking hubs by the end of this Parliament. Over 275 hubs have been announced so far, and more than 230 are already open. Banking hub locations are independently recommended by LINK, the operator of UK’s largest ATM network. When a bank branch closes, there is a material change to a cash service, or a community request is received, LINK conducts an access to cash assessment under the access to cash regime set out in the Financial Services and Markets Act 2023. In its assessments, LINK takes into consideration a wide range of criteria, including population demographics and public transport links. Any decisions on changes to LINK's assessment criteria are a matter for LINK, the financial services sector, and for the FCA, which oversees the access to cash regime. The Government keeps the effectiveness of current access to cash and banking arrangements under review through regular engagement with industry and the FCA to ensure they meet the needs of local communities.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of increases in defence spending on Wales.

The increased defence budget will help both grow our economy and our thriving defence sector in Wales.I was pleased to welcome the Defence Secretary to Cardiff Castle with the First Minister to sign our landmark £50m Wales Defence Growth Deal.Focused on autonomous defence technology, the deal will help make defence an engine for growth, boosting innovation, SME support and high-skilled jobs in Wales.

If she will (a) review and (b) update the Overseas Scale Rates during 2026.

Overseas Scale Rates are an administrative easement that employers can use to pay or reimburse accommodation and subsistence expenses incurred by employees who have to travel outside the UK without the need to check receipts. Where the rates do not cover the expense incurred employers can check employee receipts to reimburse these costs. The government keeps all taxes under review as part of the policy making process.

Whether his Department has plans to align the commencement of measures in the Warm Homes Plan with the cessation of ECO4 funding.

The Warm Homes Plan represents the biggest ever public investment in home upgrades. At the Autumn Budget on 26th November, the Chancellor announced an additional £1.5 billion of funding for the Warm Homes Plan, bringing total capital investment to almost £15 billion. This exceeds our manifesto commitment of £13.2 billion and is a major step forward in the government’s plans to upgrade up to 5 million homes over this Parliament and cut energy bills for good.

Whether transitional support will be provided to energy efficiency installation and associated businesses.

The government consulted on an extension to ECO4 earlier this year. DESNZ Ministers have now agreed to a 9-month extension to end December 2026; however, this is subject to cross-government and Parliamentary approval. An extension would support the remediation process and allow for completion of any outstanding obligations. However, it would not be supported by funding or increased targets.

Whether the Warm Homes Plan will provide energy efficiency measures to vulnerable households previously provided under the ECO4 scheme.

The extra £1.5 billion allocated to the Warm Homes Plan through the budget will be spent on low income households. Details on allocation will be set out in the Warm Homes Plan.

What measures will be included in the Warm Homes Plan to ensure compliance with relevant standards and regulations.

The government has made clear that it is committed to reform of the consumer protection system and, through the Warm Homes Plan, we will outline our offer for households to confidently and safely take up measures like solar panels, heat pumps, home batteries and insulation, helping them save money on their bills and benefit from cleaner, cheaper heating.

What steps he is taking to ensure continuity between ECO4 funding and Warm Homes Plan measures in the case of ongoing works over the transition period.

The government consulted on an extension to ECO4 earlier this year. DESNZ Ministers have now agreed to a 9-month extension to end December 2026; however, this is subject to cross-government and Parliamentary approval. An extension would support the remediation process and allow for completion of any outstanding obligations. However, it would not be supported by funding or increased targets. The extra £1.5 billion allocated to the Warm Homes Plan through the budget will be spent on low income households. Details on allocation will be set out in the Warm Homes Plan.

When his Department plans to publish the Warm Homes Plan in full.

The Government is working across departments on a comprehensive Warm Homes Plan to cut energy bills, strengthen energy security and reduce emissions. The Plan will accelerate the installation of efficient technologies such as heat pumps, heat networks, solar, home batteries and insulation, upgrading millions of homes this Parliament. We have committed almost £15 billion of investment to deliver this ambition. Further details, including funding allocations and delivery pathways, will be published soon.

What steps his Department has taken to ensure that households impacted by measures in the ECO4 scheme will be impacted by the Warm Homes Plan.

The Government will ensure that lessons learned from the current ECO4 and Great British Insulation Scheme are taken forward through delivery of the Warm Homes Plan.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she has requested that Israel allows forensic investigations to be carried out in Gaza regarding alleged human rights abuses.

The Foreign Secretary has spoken directly to her Israeli counterparts about reports of human rights abuses in Gaza, and has urged them to facilitate access for impartial organisations to be able to conduct independent investigations into all allegations, and ensure perpetrators are held to account. Accountability and transparency will be vital components of the next phase of the ceasefire.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the UN has submitted a request to allow forensic investigations to be carried out in Gaza in connection with alleged human rights abuses.

The Foreign Secretary has spoken directly to her Israeli counterparts about reports of human rights abuses in Gaza, and has urged them to facilitate access for impartial organisations to be able to conduct independent investigations into all allegations, and ensure perpetrators are held to account. Accountability and transparency will be vital components of the next phase of the ceasefire.

When MOD driving instructors will be deployed to driving test centres across the UK.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has accepted the resource of Defence Driving Examiners (DDEs), to be based at the driving test centres with the highest demand near their MOD base or home location. Before DDEs can start testing they will require familiarisation training. DVSA will provide further information when they will start testing, as soon as it is able.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she is taking to help provide (a) atrocity prevention and (b) civilian protection support in El Fasher, Darfur.

I refer the Hon. Member to the response provided to the Urgent Question on Sudan: Protection of Civilians on 30 October.

What steps he is taking to reduce the potential impact of the time taken for his Department to make decisions on the finances of applicants.

The department endeavours to process new claims for benefits and changes of circumstances as quickly as possible after customers have provided all relevant information and evidence relating to their claim.

What progress his Department has made on reducing the time taken for Access to Work applications to be allocated to a case manager.

As set out in the Green Paper, we are reforming Access to Work to improve the scheme so that it helps more disabled people into and on in work. We are committed to reducing waiting times for claims to the Access to Work Scheme. We also prioritise customers starting a job in four weeks. To support our customers several measures have already been put in place, including streamlining our delivery processes and recruiting additional staff.

Whether his Department has issued guidance to staff on the timeframe in which they should respond to MP enquiries.

The Department treats enquiries from Members of Parliament as a high priority and has issued clear guidance to staff members.We are committed to improving response times and have taken a number of steps, such as deploying additional resource, to improve the timeliness of responses to MP enquiries. The Department has also published guidance on the W4MP website to ensure MP offices have clear visibility of appropriate contact numbers for each DWP benefit product line.Data on responses to correspondence from MPs is regularly published and can be found here: Data on responses to correspondence from MPs and peers - GOV.UK

What the average time taken was for his Department to resolve MPs' enquiries in the last year.

The Department treats enquiries from Members of Parliament as a high priority and has issued clear guidance to staff members.We are committed to improving response times and have taken a number of steps, such as deploying additional resource, to improve the timeliness of responses to MP enquiries. The Department has also published guidance on the W4MP website to ensure MP offices have clear visibility of appropriate contact numbers for each DWP benefit product line.Data on responses to correspondence from MPs is regularly published and can be found here: Data on responses to correspondence from MPs and peers - GOV.UK

What steps he is taking to monitor the (a) number of, (b) time taken to respond to and (c) urgency of MPs' enquiries to his Department.

The Department treats enquiries from Members of Parliament as a high priority and has issued clear guidance to staff members.We are committed to improving response times and have taken a number of steps, such as deploying additional resource, to improve the timeliness of responses to MP enquiries. The Department has also published guidance on the W4MP website to ensure MP offices have clear visibility of appropriate contact numbers for each DWP benefit product line.Data on responses to correspondence from MPs is regularly published and can be found here: Data on responses to correspondence from MPs and peers - GOV.UK

What steps he is taking to reduce the length of time taken by his Department to resolve MPs' enquiries.

The Department treats enquiries from Members of Parliament as a high priority and has issued clear guidance to staff members.We are committed to improving response times and have taken a number of steps, such as deploying additional resource, to improve the timeliness of responses to MP enquiries. The Department has also published guidance on the W4MP website to ensure MP offices have clear visibility of appropriate contact numbers for each DWP benefit product line.Data on responses to correspondence from MPs is regularly published and can be found here: Data on responses to correspondence from MPs and peers - GOV.UK