Written questions by Barker.

What discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues on the potential merits of introducing a maximum temperature to be allowed in the workplace.

Awaiting answer.

Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to increase revenue funding for youth services.

Awaiting answer.

Media and Sport, what recent progress her Department has made on implementing the National Youth Strategy.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment his Department has made of the role of home dialysis in supporting the shift from hospital to community care set out in the NHS 10-Year Health Plan.

NHS England is delivering a comprehensive programme to improve the diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes of people with kidney disease, through its renal services transformation programme. This includes a specification for renal services which sets out the scope for the work of the renal clinical networks commissioned across England, with further information available at the following link: https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/PRN231110-renal-clinical-network-specification-2023-.pdf The goals of the specification include reducing variation across the renal care pathway by developing, agreeing, and implementing standardised pathways of care, including dialysis and home therapy services for adult and paediatric services. The eight regional kidney networks in England, working with providers, are implementing this toolkit with a clear focus on improving early diagnosis, slowing disease progression, and reducing the number of patients reaching advanced stages of kidney disease. This work is supported nationally by the Renal Clinical Reference Group.NHS England is also supporting the Department and key kidney organisations to identify further opportunities to enhance prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and long‑term outcomes for people living with kidney disease, including improved access to home dialysis.

When the updated Renal Service Specification is expected to be published.

The specification is being worked on by NHS England in line with their national service specification methods process, which is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/methods-national-service-specifications/Stakeholder testing was recently undertaken. The timing of full publication has yet to be decided upon as the feedback from stakeholders is being considered, alongside any changes required. NHS England will set out the expected date of publication as soon as this is available.

What steps his Department is taking to improve access to home dialysis for patients with kidney failure.

NHS England is delivering a comprehensive programme to improve the diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes of people with kidney disease, through its renal services transformation programme. This includes a specification for renal services which sets out the scope for the work of the renal clinical networks commissioned across England, with further information available at the following link: https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/PRN231110-renal-clinical-network-specification-2023-.pdf The goals of the specification include reducing variation across the renal care pathway by developing, agreeing, and implementing standardised pathways of care, including dialysis and home therapy services for adult and paediatric services. The eight regional kidney networks in England, working with providers, are implementing this toolkit with a clear focus on improving early diagnosis, slowing disease progression, and reducing the number of patients reaching advanced stages of kidney disease. This work is supported nationally by the Renal Clinical Reference Group.NHS England is also supporting the Department and key kidney organisations to identify further opportunities to enhance prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and long‑term outcomes for people living with kidney disease, including improved access to home dialysis.

If he will consider commissioning a standalone Modern Service Framework for chronic kidney disease, including dialysis, transplantation, paediatrics, frailty, rare kidney disease and genetic kidney conditions.

The Government will consider long-term conditions for future waves of modern service frameworks (MSFs). The criteria for determining other conditions for future MSFs will be based on where there is potential for rapid and significant improvements in the quality of care and productivity. After the initial wave of MSFs is complete, the National Quality Board will determine the conditions to prioritise for any new MSFs as part of its work programme.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to his Department's document entitled Summary of the local government reorganisation process, published on 25 July 2025, if he will help support incoming shadow authorities to ensure that contracts that have been novated are fiscally deliverable for providers.

The Government continues to provide guidance and support to councils throughout the reorganisation process. We have issued explanatory guidance to councils undergoing local government reorganisation on Financial decisions before local government reorganisations and further guidance on decision making. We are working with the Local Government Association and other sector organisations to ensure appropriate support is provided at all stages. Local authorities are independent financial bodies, and their assets and liabilities, including contracts, will move to new councils. Decisions on service delivery, contracts and if there is any renegotiation of terms with providers, will be a matter for individual local authorities as needed.

Whether he intends to take steps through the fair pay agreement process for the adult social care sector to reduce the take-home pay gap between social care support workers and equivalent NHS Band 3 roles.

We plan to introduce the first ever Fair Pay Agreement in 2028, backed by £500 million of funding to improve pay and conditions for the adult social care workforce.The Fair Pay Agreement process will see a new body formed to negotiate changes to pay and terms and conditions for care workers, improving recruitment and retention, and giving staff better recognition for their vital work. Both employers and trade unions will sit on the body, and this initial investment will mean that by 2028, care workers will expect to see a boost in their yearly wages.The details of individual Fair Pay Agreements for the care sector, including who it applies to, and the resultant impacts on an individual’s pay in a given social care role, will be subject to this negotiation process, and is for the negotiating body to decide.

Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to promote Housing First as an effective response to rough sleeping.

Housing First is an important intervention which evidence has shown can transform the lives of people with complex needs. We are funding Housing First and other forms of housing-led accommodation in 2025/26 through our £255.5 million Rough Sleeping Prevention and Recovery Grant, which goes to local authorities. From 2026/27-2028/29 we are providing over £2.2 billion through the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping portion of the Homelessness, Rough Sleeping and Domestic Abuse Grant. Local authorities have the flexibility to commission the services that meet the needs of people in their local communities. For people with complex needs Housing First can be a very effective model, alongside other housing-led models. The government has published an evaluation of Housing First and a toolkit to support local authorities who want to commission the intervention on gov.uk here.

Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to ensure that local councils provide homelessness assistance to children to prevent them being forced to sleep rough.

I wrote to council leaders and chief executives on Wednesday 25 February setting out local authorities’ legal duties to homeless families with children under the Housing Act 1996 and Children Act 1989. This letter made it clear that a child should never be sleeping rough. A household with a child has priority need for the purposes of the Housing Act 1996. Eligible homeless households with children must be accommodated under section 188, and in some circumstances under section 190(2) or 193 of the Act.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to his Department's policy paper entitled A National Plan to End Homelessness, published on 11 December 2025, what assessment she has made with Cabinet colleagues of the potential merits of adding homelessness prevention targets for (a) the Home Office (b) the Department for Work and Pensions.

The National Plan to End Homelessness announces a long-term ambition that no one should leave a public institution into homelessness. This parliament we will take the first steps towards this through joint cross-government targets to reduce the number of people leaving institutions into homelessness. The Home Office have committed to strengthen data sharing processes with councils for 100% of newly granted refugees at risk of homelessness within two days of an asylum discontinuation of support notification. This supports early intervention by enabling councils to commence homelessness assessments.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the freeze in Local Housing Allowance on levels of rough sleeping and homelessness in England.

The causes of rough sleeping and homelessness are multifaceted and are driven by a range of factors, both personal and structural. Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates are annually reviewed, usually in the Autumn. At Autumn budget 2025, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions reviewed LHA and announced that rates would be maintained at their current levels for 2026/27. Rent levels across Great Britian were considered alongside other factors such as the challenging fiscal context and welfare priorities, including the removal of the two-child limit which will bring 450,000 children out of poverty. DWP worked closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on the National Plan to End Homelessness, which is driving sustainable change and addressing the root causes of homelessness and we continue working together with MHCLG and HMT to keep LHA rates under review. Renters facing a shortfall in meeting their housing costs can apply for discretionary housing support from local authorities.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of benefit sanctions on people forced into prostitution due to destitution.

The core objective of Universal Credit is to support people who are out of work or on a low income to enter work, earn more, or to prepare for work in the future, and claimants are generally expected to undertake certain work-related activities in return for financial support. Any work-related requirements are agreed in discussion with the claimant and will always be tailored in light of a claimant’s circumstances, ensuring they are realistic and achievable. Work coaches have the flexibility to personalise work-related requirements for claimants based on the impact of any health condition, caring responsibilities, or other circumstance. A sanction is only applicable where a claimant fails to undertake their agreed activity without good reason. Before a sanction decision is made, claimants are always asked to provide their reasoning, and several safety measures, including checking for any vulnerabilities, are in place before deciding whether a sanction is applicable. These include: checking to see if the claimants circumstances had changed and if the requirement remained reasonable; considering whether the claimant had undertaken alternative activity that means the requirement was met; and reviewing any known vulnerabilities and their impact on a claimant’s ability to meet their requirements. If a claimant is sanctioned and can demonstrate that they cannot meet their most immediate and essential needs, we also have a system of recoverable hardship payments. These needs can include heating, food, and hygiene. DWP’s commitments to the violence against women and girls (VAWG) Strategy will help align us with the wider cross government ambition to tackle sexual exploitation. This includes strengthening the training and guidance provided to frontline staff and Domestic Abuse SPOCs, ensuring they are better equipped to recognise and respond to all forms of VAWG, including sexual exploitation. In addition, DWP is rolling out its 5-year plan for safeguarding following the Written Statement in December 2025.

What assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the voluntary and community sector on providing employment support to help tackle the disability employment gap.

Evaluation is a key driver in delivering DWP’s priority outcomes and ensuring alignment with the Government’s Plan for Change. As set out in the DWP Evidence and Evaluation Strategy, ongoing evaluation of employment support programmes assesses whether they are achieving intended results and informs future policy design. For example, an evaluation of the Work Choice programme - a voluntary scheme supporting disabled people facing employment barriers or at risk of job loss – was published in April 2025. Voluntary sector organisations, including providers such as Shaw Trust and Leonard Cheshire Disability, played a significant role in delivering Work Choice, both as prime contractors and as subcontractors. The evaluation found that, eight years after referral, participants had a payrolled employment rate 11 percentage points higher than the comparison group. This meant that the programme delivered strong value for money, estimated to return £1.67 to the Exchequer, in benefit savings and taxes, for every £1 spent.

What discussions he has had with Ministerial colleagues on publicising entitlement to Neonatal Care Pay and Leave in hospitals and other health settings to parents who could potentially be eligible.

Neonatal Care Leave and Pay was introduced in April 2025 and as part of its introduction, my department has made strong efforts to raise awareness of the new entitlement to ensure eligible parents can access it. Charities, including Bliss, have supported the department with publicising the entitlement to parents in hospitals and other health settings. The entitlement has already been used by thousands of employees to support them through one of the most challenging times a parent can find themselves in.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the closure of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund on the capacity of the voluntary and community sector to support people with complex needs in finding work.

With the UK Shared Prosperity Fund concluding in 2026, the government is moving away from short-term, uncertain funding cycles and towards a clearer, more stable long-term funding approach through the Local Government Finance Settlement, complemented by targeted interventions to support growth and strengthen communities. The new £902 million Local Growth Fund is just one component of this strategy; government support for local growth is broader than any single funding stream. We acknowledge the pressures facing the voluntary and community sectors. By allocating the Local Growth Fund at the Mayoral Strategic Authority level, we are empowering regional leaders to take a more strategic, joined-up approach to investment – one that reflects the real economic geographies in which people live, work and do business. The fund is designed to equip mayors to boost regional productivity through investing in infrastructure, supporting businesses, and helping people find jobs and acquire new skills. Decisions about funding for specific organisations and interventions are for regional leaders to take in line with their local priorities.

Communities and Local Government, whether voluntary and community sector organisations are eligible for funding through the Local Growth Fund.

With the UK Shared Prosperity Fund concluding in 2026, the government is moving away from short-term, uncertain funding cycles and towards a clearer, more stable long-term funding approach through the Local Government Finance Settlement, complemented by targeted interventions to support growth and strengthen communities. The new £902 million Local Growth Fund is just one component of this strategy; government support for local growth is broader than any single funding stream. We acknowledge the pressures facing the voluntary and community sectors. By allocating the Local Growth Fund at the Mayoral Strategic Authority level, we are empowering regional leaders to take a more strategic, joined-up approach to investment – one that reflects the real economic geographies in which people live, work and do business. The fund is designed to equip mayors to boost regional productivity through investing in infrastructure, supporting businesses, and helping people find jobs and acquire new skills. Decisions about funding for specific organisations and interventions are for regional leaders to take in line with their local priorities.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment his department has made of the potential impact of the closure of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund on the capacity of the voluntary and community sector to support young people not in employment, education and training in finding work.

With the UK Shared Prosperity Fund concluding in 2026, the government is moving away from short-term, uncertain funding cycles and towards a clearer, more stable long-term funding approach through the Local Government Finance Settlement, complemented by targeted interventions to support growth and strengthen communities. The new £902 million Local Growth Fund is just one component of this strategy; government support for local growth is broader than any single funding stream. We acknowledge the pressures facing the voluntary and community sectors. By allocating the Local Growth Fund at the Mayoral Strategic Authority level, we are empowering regional leaders to take a more strategic, joined-up approach to investment – one that reflects the real economic geographies in which people live, work and do business. The fund is designed to equip mayors to boost regional productivity through investing in infrastructure, supporting businesses, and helping people find jobs and acquire new skills. Decisions about funding for specific organisations and interventions are for regional leaders to take in line with their local priorities.

Communities and Local Government, whether he has had discussions with Cabinet colleagues on bridging funding for voluntary and community organisations following the closure of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

With the UK Shared Prosperity Fund concluding in 2026, the government is moving away from short-term, uncertain funding cycles and towards a clearer, more stable long-term funding approach through the Local Government Finance Settlement, complemented by targeted interventions to support growth and strengthen communities. The new £902 million Local Growth Fund is just one component of this strategy; government support for local growth is broader than any single funding stream. We acknowledge the pressures facing the voluntary and community sectors. By allocating the Local Growth Fund at the Mayoral Strategic Authority level, we are empowering regional leaders to take a more strategic, joined-up approach to investment – one that reflects the real economic geographies in which people live, work and do business. The fund is designed to equip mayors to boost regional productivity through investing in infrastructure, supporting businesses, and helping people find jobs and acquire new skills. Decisions about funding for specific organisations and interventions are for regional leaders to take in line with their local priorities.