Written questions by Ferguson.

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 assessment he has made of the the potential impact of the contract to supply Norway with Type 26 frigates on Scotland's economy.

This is the biggest British warship export deal in history and is a huge vote of confidence in the strength of our defence industry and in Scotland’s shipbuilding capability. This strategic partnership with Norway will sustain more than 4,000 jobs, of which more than 2,000 are in Scotland, for at least 15 years. It is expected to benefit many UK suppliers, including Scottish small and medium enterprises.

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of adjusting in line with inflation the £30,000 threshold over which advice must be sought before a pension is transferred.

The Government is committed to ensuring that pension savers receive clear and essential information, and that pension transfers are conducted on an informed basis. To support this principle, individuals with pensions that include a guarantee remain required to take independent financial advice before converting their pension pot, where the value exceeds £30,000. This requirement is intended to ensure savers are made aware of valuable guarantees that could provide a secure income in retirement, before they choose to relinquish those guarantees through a transfer. The £30,000 threshold aligns to the trivial commutation rules and raising this figure could increase the risk of transfers being made without sufficient understanding. A review of the regulations conducted in 2023 identified potential concerns regarding the cost and availability of independent financial advice and the Government is keen to explore the extent of these issues. As such, the Department for Work and Pensions is working closely with the Financial Conduct Authority, the pensions industry, and His Majesty’s Treasury . We intend to consult on the outcome of this work in the coming months.

How many car practical driving test appointments were available in (a) October, (b) November and (c) December 2025 in (i) Scotland and (ii) Glasgow.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) main priority is upholding road safety standards while it works hard to reduce car practical driving test waiting times. As of 6 October in Scotland, there were 7,565 car practical driving tests booked and 26 available in October 25, 9,139 booked and 87 available in November 25,and 7,703 booked and 103 available in December 25. As of 6 October in Glasgow, there were 1,440 car practical driving tests booked and 1 available in October 25, 1,567 booked and 7 available in November 25, and 1,401 booked and 1 available in December 25. The average waiting time for Scotland in September 25 was 21 weeks. DVSA encourages learner drivers to only use the official GOV.UK website to book and manage their driving test. The DVSA has published advice aimed at learner drivers warning them of the risks of using third party services/apps to book a practical driving test. Further information can be found on GOV.UK at: www.gov.uk/government/news/learner-drivers-warned-about-the-risks-of-driving-test-cancellation-finders.

Whether her Department is taking steps to discourage people from using third-party platforms to book Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency driving tests.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) main priority is upholding road safety standards while it works hard to reduce car practical driving test waiting times. As of 6 October in Scotland, there were 7,565 car practical driving tests booked and 26 available in October 25, 9,139 booked and 87 available in November 25,and 7,703 booked and 103 available in December 25. As of 6 October in Glasgow, there were 1,440 car practical driving tests booked and 1 available in October 25, 1,567 booked and 7 available in November 25, and 1,401 booked and 1 available in December 25. The average waiting time for Scotland in September 25 was 21 weeks. DVSA encourages learner drivers to only use the official GOV.UK website to book and manage their driving test. The DVSA has published advice aimed at learner drivers warning them of the risks of using third party services/apps to book a practical driving test. Further information can be found on GOV.UK at: www.gov.uk/government/news/learner-drivers-warned-about-the-risks-of-driving-test-cancellation-finders.

What the average waiting time for a car practical driving test in Scotland was on 1 October 2025.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) main priority is upholding road safety standards while it works hard to reduce car practical driving test waiting times. As of 6 October in Scotland, there were 7,565 car practical driving tests booked and 26 available in October 25, 9,139 booked and 87 available in November 25,and 7,703 booked and 103 available in December 25. As of 6 October in Glasgow, there were 1,440 car practical driving tests booked and 1 available in October 25, 1,567 booked and 7 available in November 25, and 1,401 booked and 1 available in December 25. The average waiting time for Scotland in September 25 was 21 weeks. DVSA encourages learner drivers to only use the official GOV.UK website to book and manage their driving test. The DVSA has published advice aimed at learner drivers warning them of the risks of using third party services/apps to book a practical driving test. Further information can be found on GOV.UK at: www.gov.uk/government/news/learner-drivers-warned-about-the-risks-of-driving-test-cancellation-finders.

If she will reduce the Housing benefit taper rate to 55% for those living in supported accommodation.

It remains the department’s priority to ensure that those who can work are supported to enter the labour market and to sustain employment. The Department acknowledges there is a challenge presented by the interaction between Universal Credit and Housing Benefit for those living in Supported Housing and Temporary Accommodation and receiving their housing support through Housing Benefit. The department will consider the issue carefully in partnership with stakeholders.Like Universal Credit, Housing Benefit has an income taper. As Housing Benefit may be claimed by those both in work and out of work, there are no rules around the number of hours that someone may work; instead, there are income tapers which apply. The income taper in Housing Benefit ensures people in work are better off than someone wholly reliant on benefits. In addition to any financial advantage, there are important non-financial benefits of working. These benefits include learning new skills, improved confidence and independence as well as a positive effect on an individual's mental and physical health. However, the treatment of earnings in Housing Benefit is less generous than that of Universal Credit. Therefore, although customers living in Supported Housing are better off working than doing no work at all, they can be financially better off limiting the hours they work to ensure they retain a small amount of Universal Credit entitlement.Changing the current rules would require a fiscal event and funding at a Budget. As funding is required to allow a change, any future decisions will take account of the current fiscal context.

If she will review the level of the Housing Benefit disregard for young people living in supported accommodation.

It remains the department’s priority to ensure that those who can work are supported to enter the labour market and to sustain employment. The Department acknowledges there is a challenge presented by the interaction between Universal Credit and Housing Benefit for those living in Supported Housing and Temporary Accommodation and receiving their housing support through Housing Benefit. The department will consider the issue carefully in partnership with stakeholders.Like Universal Credit, Housing Benefit has an income taper. As Housing Benefit may be claimed by those both in work and out of work, there are no rules around the number of hours that someone may work; instead, there are income tapers which apply. The income taper in Housing Benefit ensures people in work are better off than someone wholly reliant on benefits. In addition to any financial advantage, there are important non-financial benefits of working. These benefits include learning new skills, improved confidence and independence as well as a positive effect on an individual's mental and physical health. However, the treatment of earnings in Housing Benefit is less generous than that of Universal Credit. Therefore, although customers living in Supported Housing are better off working than doing no work at all, they can be financially better off limiting the hours they work to ensure they retain a small amount of Universal Credit entitlement.Changing the current rules would require a fiscal event and funding at a Budget. As funding is required to allow a change, any future decisions will take account of the current fiscal context.

Media and Sport, if she will take steps to prevent UK-based charities from transferring funds to entities operating in illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

The Government and the Charity Commission for England and Wales (the Commission) expect charities to act lawfully, in line with the charity’s purpose, and in the charity’s best interest.The Commission provides guidance to help charity trustees understand their legal duties and requirements, as well as how to make decisions in their charity’s best interests.The Commission’s role as independent registrar and regulator of charities is to ensure that trustees comply with their duties as set out in charity law. If the trustees are acting within the law, fulfilling their duties and furthering their charitable purpose, the Commission cannot become involved in a charity’s internal decision making. Any concerns about charities engaging in inappropriate activity should be referred to the Commission.

Whether she plans to change the proportion of pensioners' tax-free lump sums that are exempt from tax.

The Government wishes to encourage pension saving to help ensure that people have funds to draw on throughout retirement. Up to 25 per cent of an individual’s pension can be taken-tax free, subject to a cap of £268,275 for most. Although the Government keeps all tax rules under review, there are no current plans to make changes to the tax-free lump sum.

Innovation and Technology, whether organisations providing online health advice are required to age verify users.

The Online Safety Act applies to services which allow users to post content online or interact with each other. This includes a broad range of websites, apps and other services.In-scope services must use highly effective age assurance to prevent children from accessing the most harmful types of content, such as content promoting suicide. They must also provide age-appropriate protections from other kinds of harmful content.Providers do not need to take this action for content which is beneficial to children.

Innovation and Technology, whether he has made an estimate of the cost to health advice charities of setting up age verification procedures.

The Online Safety Act requires providers to protect users’ right to privacy when implementing age assurance. UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act requires data to be processed fairly, lawfully, and transparently. Where Ofcom is concerned that a provider has not complied it may refer the matter to the ICO.Under the Act, regulated services that are likely to be accessed by children must implement highly effective age assurance to prevent exposure to harmful content. There are cost-effective compliant methods available.Highly effective age assurance must be robust, and services must take appropriate steps to mitigate against circumvention.

Innovation and Technology, whether Ofcom is taking steps to ensure that companies involved in age verification do not (a) retain and (b) misuse personal data.

The Online Safety Act requires providers to protect users’ right to privacy when implementing age assurance. UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act requires data to be processed fairly, lawfully, and transparently. Where Ofcom is concerned that a provider has not complied it may refer the matter to the ICO.Under the Act, regulated services that are likely to be accessed by children must implement highly effective age assurance to prevent exposure to harmful content. There are cost-effective compliant methods available.Highly effective age assurance must be robust, and services must take appropriate steps to mitigate against circumvention.

Communities and Local Government, whether she has considered the potential merits of regulating estate agents to ensure best practise.

It is unacceptable for estate agents to withhold offers from sellers because the potential buyer declines to use their additional services. Where there is evidence of such practices, agents can face sanctions including a ban. The government is committed to protecting people from abuse and poor service at the hands of unscrupulous property agents and to improving estate agent standards more generally. The National Trading Standards Estate Agency Team (NTSEAT) is the lead estate agent enforcement authority. Alongside local authority Trading Standards teams, they are responsible for ensuring estate agents comply with the Estate Agents Act 1979 and other relevant legislation. NTSEAT have powers to issue warnings and banning orders against rogue agents. In cases of conditional selling, it is essential that any misconduct or manipulation in the offer process is reported to help build a clearer picture of the problem and support potential investigations. My Department engages regularly with NTSEAT to discuss how best to address specific issues, including conditional selling, and continue to look at options to improve standards across the estate agent sector. The previous government committed to regulate the property agent sector in 2018 and asked a working group chaired by Lord Richard Best to advise them on how best to do it. However, they failed to respond to the recommendations set out in the working group’s 2019 Regulation of Property Agents: working group report which can be found on gov.uk here. We will set out our full position on regulation of estate, letting and managing agents in due course.

Communities and Local Government, if she will consider the potential merits of amending the 1979 Estate Agents Act to ban the use of conditional selling.

It is unacceptable for estate agents to withhold offers from sellers because the potential buyer declines to use their additional services. Where there is evidence of such practices, agents can face sanctions including a ban. The government is committed to protecting people from abuse and poor service at the hands of unscrupulous property agents and to improving estate agent standards more generally. The National Trading Standards Estate Agency Team (NTSEAT) is the lead estate agent enforcement authority. Alongside local authority Trading Standards teams, they are responsible for ensuring estate agents comply with the Estate Agents Act 1979 and other relevant legislation. NTSEAT have powers to issue warnings and banning orders against rogue agents. In cases of conditional selling, it is essential that any misconduct or manipulation in the offer process is reported to help build a clearer picture of the problem and support potential investigations. My Department engages regularly with NTSEAT to discuss how best to address specific issues, including conditional selling, and continue to look at options to improve standards across the estate agent sector. The previous government committed to regulate the property agent sector in 2018 and asked a working group chaired by Lord Richard Best to advise them on how best to do it. However, they failed to respond to the recommendations set out in the working group’s 2019 Regulation of Property Agents: working group report which can be found on gov.uk here. We will set out our full position on regulation of estate, letting and managing agents in due course.

Innovation and Technology, what steps he is taking to ensure that computer generated proofs of age are not used to verify age on websites.

The Online Safety Act requires providers to protect users’ right to privacy when implementing age assurance. UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act requires data to be processed fairly, lawfully, and transparently. Where Ofcom is concerned that a provider has not complied it may refer the matter to the ICO.Under the Act, regulated services that are likely to be accessed by children must implement highly effective age assurance to prevent exposure to harmful content. There are cost-effective compliant methods available.Highly effective age assurance must be robust, and services must take appropriate steps to mitigate against circumvention.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the report by Amnesty International entitled Amnesty International Investigation in Gaza highlights human toll of Israel’s Apartheid System against Palestinians, published on 13 June 2023.

The Government has not made an assessment of the 13 June 2023 Amnesty report which was published a year before the current Government entered office.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the International Court of Justice’s finding that Israel is in breach of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

The Government strongly opposes all forms of racism and is committed to promoting a tolerant society for people of all ethnicities, religions and nationalities. The UK is fully committed to international law and respects the independence of the International Court of Justice. We continue to consider the Court's Advisory Opinion with the care and seriousness it deserves.

Whether he has considered the potential merits of ending the export of demolition equipment to Israel.

Exports to Israel of demolition equipment that is specifically designed or modified for military use are subject to export controls.Such controlled exports fall under the scope of the decision announced in September 2024 to suspend export licences for military equipment to Israel that might be used in operations in Gaza, based on our assessment that the items might be used to commit or facilitate serious violations of International Humanitarian Law. We have maintained the suspension and have refused new licence applications on the same basis.Other demolition equipment is not routinely subject to export controls unless it is intended for military use in a country subject to a formal arms embargo.We keep our export controls including in Israel under close and continual review.

If he will take steps to end the purchase of Israeli manufactured generic drugs by NHS England.

The Department has no plans to end such purchases as the UK Government currently has a trade and partnership agreement in effect with Israel.