Written questions by Moon.

What criteria her Department will use to identify and select areas for participation in the Mission Coastal programme; and whether these criteria will be published as part of the programme’s rollout.

The department is currently considering our approach to identifying possible areas for Mission Coastal and will announce further details in due course. Our ambition is that both Mission North East and Mission Coastal will transform outcomes in areas where disadvantage is entrenched and drive change nationwide.

If she will consider including Cornwall within the Mission Coastal programme.

The department is currently considering our approach to identifying possible areas for Mission Coastal and will announce further details in due course. Our ambition is that both Mission North East and Mission Coastal will transform outcomes in areas where disadvantage is entrenched and drive change nationwide.

What assessment she has made of the potential merits of the introduction of a GCSE in the Cornish language; and whether she has held discussions with qualification bodies on the viability and timeline for approving such a qualification.

Decisions about which languages to offer at GCSE in England are taken by four independent awarding organisations: AQA, OCR, Pearson Edexcel and WJEC. These organisations have the freedom to create a Cornish GCSE based on subject content set by the department. This decision would be informed by several factors, including the level of demand from schools, and the proportion of the UK population who speak the language.

What mechanism the Government intends to use to allocate funding under the Warm Homes Plan to local areas; and whether allocations will be made directly to Local Authorities.

The Autumn 2024 Budget allocated £500 million to the Warm Homes Local Grant to be delivered from 2025-28 by eligible local authorities. The WH:LG used an expression of interest model to allocate funding, with all eligible local authorities in England who expressed an interest allocated funding - details of these allocations are available on gov.uk. Local authorities within the West Midlands and Greater Manchester Combined Authorities received an allocation of this funding as part of the Warm Homes and Public Sector Decarbonisation Devolution Programme £5 billion of the total £15 billion funding for the Warm Homes Plan is allocated to low-income households, initially delivered through the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund (WH:SHF) and the WH:LG. From 2027/28 onwards we intend to integrate these into a single low-income capital scheme shifting towards area-based delivery. We will say more about the evolution of low-income schemes by Spring 2026.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of using the Adaptation Reporting Power to direct reporting authorities on their measures to adapt to climate change.

The Adaptation Reporting Power (ARP), introduced as part of the Climate Change Act 2008, gives the Government the power to direct certain infrastructure operators and some public bodies to produce reports on how they are addressing their current and future climate risks. Participation in ARP has continued to grow. In the fourth round (ARP4), which took place between July 2023 and December 2024, there were 101 reports submitted from over 200 organisations. Excluding the Local Authority pilot from ARP4, ARP4 had a response rate of over 80%, with 40% more reports submitted than ARP3. As we approach the fifth round of reporting, due to begin in December 2026, we will continue to evaluate ways in which to improve the ARP process.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of support for the landfill gas to energy sector on methane emissions and landfill gas capture rates.

Defra is working closely with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) to explore how the cessation of the Renewable Obligations Certificates scheme affects the continued operation of landfill gas to energy plants and the potential impacts of this on methane emissions and landfill gas capture rates. With these issues in mind, Defra is working with DESNZ on options, including a potential transition scheme. In turn, Defra is considering options for a long-term alternative to landfill gas capture which would follow the end of this transition. These are in line with the Government’s commitments set out in the Methane Action Plan.

Pursuant to the Answer of 27 January 2026 to Question 106758 on Academies: Electric Vehicles, when the review on new electric vehicle salary sacrifice schemes for academy trusts will be completed.

HM Treasury keeps public policy, including the use of salary sacrifice arrangements, under review.

What steps his Department is taking to improve data‑sharing between Government departments and energy suppliers to enable more targeted support for households.

DESNZ recognises the criticality of being able to share data quickly with other parts of government and the energy sector to better target support to households. Current events underline the need for this work. We are looking at improvements to data sharing arrangements, and working with partners across government on how we can better use data to accurately identify and target support to the individuals and households most in need. Government has amended data sharing agreements with suppliers so they now have pre-approval to re-use Warm Home Discount (WHD) data to identify households who need bill support, debt relief or energy efficiency upgrades as part of their industry initiative schemes. Suppliers can also now put the majority of pensioners in receipt of the WHD onto the priority service register automatically. DESNZ is also working closely with other Government Departments on the National Data Library household income ‘kickstarter’ to test how public sector data can be better joined up, paving the way for better targeted support for consumers.

What assessment her Department has made of the continued need for individual, trauma‑informed 1‑to‑1 therapeutic support for adoptive and special guardianship families; whether the national transition programme will continue to fund such support; and how the Department plans to ensure that families with complex relational needs retain access to bespoke therapeutic interventions alongside any new universal or group‑based offers.

Through the ‘Adoption Support That Works for All’ consultation, launched on 10 February 2026, the department is seeking views on the future mix of support for adoptive and special guardianship families, including the ongoing role of specialist therapeutic interventions. Responses to the consultation will inform our assessment of future provision.The consultation features a call for evidence, asking respondents to tell us what works for those children who need additional support. We want to build the evidence base on what works for adopted children and their families, to ensure we are making the biggest difference possible. Decisions on these issues will be determined following the analysis of consultation responses.The department recognises that many adoptive families require more intensive therapeutic support. That is why we have extended the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund and increased funding by 10% to increase access.

What the proposed peer‑mentoring pathway for adoptive and special guardianship families will involve; whether trained adopters participating in this programme will be remunerated for their work; and what steps her Department is taking to ensure that emotional labour undertaken by adopters is appropriately recognised.

The ‘Adoption support that works for all’ consultation proposes strengthening peer and community support for adoptive and special guardianship families, including developing models where experienced adopters and kinship carers share practical strategies, build resilience, and help families navigate services. The design of these proposals will be based on feedback received through the consultation and will be developed in collaboration with those with direct experience.Proposals within the consultation explicitly aim to strengthen early support, expand peer and community networks, and ensure support services are better aligned with families’ needs and experiences, as part of creating a more sustainable and responsive system of adoption and kinship support.

Whether he has made an assessment of the extent of geographical variation in access to NHS ear syringing and ear wax removal services; and what plans he has to support Integrated Care Boards to ensure consistent provision of these services.

The Department has not made a specific assessment. Integrated care boards have a statutory responsibility to commission cost-effective healthcare to meet the needs of their local populations. Guidance for patients on ear wax build-up, including when to seek advice from a pharmacist or general practitioner, is available at the following link:https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/earwax-build-up/

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to support the long‑term sustainability of the BBC World Service.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 25 February in response to Question 114008.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department has considered the potential merits of reforming the funding model of the BBC World Service so that it is fully funded by Government.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 25 February in response to Question 114008.

Communities and Local Government, what oversight exists to ensure that housebuilders’ commitments to the Competition and Markets Authority regarding estate management governance are being delivered in practice, and what recourse is available to residents where those commitments are not being met.

I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 18 December 2025 (HCWS1210).

What assessment she has made of capacity considerations in class sizes for Key Stage 1 and 2 in schools with high levels of SEND; and whether she will consider a needs‑weighted pupil cap to reflect the additional time and support required.

The School Standards and Framework Act 1998 limits the size of an infant class to 30 pupils per teacher. An infant class is one in which the majority of children will reach the age of 5, 6 or 7 during the school year, i.e. Reception, Year 1 and Year 2.Through the reforms outlined in the Schools White Paper, we will ensure that children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) get the right support at every stage of their education.We are also committed to supporting local areas to create high-quality places that are suitable to meet the needs of children and young people with SEND, by investing at least £3.7 billion in high needs capital funding between 2025/26 and 2029/30. This is to support local authorities to provide places for children and young people with SEND, or who require alternative provision, across early years settings, schools, and colleges.As well as this, we are providing around £1.8 billion over the next three years for local area partnerships, including local authorities and Integrated Care Boards, to work together to develop a new ‘Experts at Hand’ offer. This is designed to strengthen the capability of mainstream education settings by providing access to professionals such as educational psychologists and speech and language or occupational therapists, providing earlier intervention and support for young people.

Whether the proposed Electric Vehicle Excise Duty pay per mile charge for plug in hybrid vehicles will apply only to the mileage driven using electric power, or to the vehicle’s total mileage.

Electric and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) cars will be in scope of electric Vehicle Excise Duty (eVED) on the basis they can be plugged in to charge, where the electricity input is not subject to a fuel duty equivalent. PHEVs have the capacity to drive in either electric or petrol mode and will continue to pay fuel duty on miles driven in petrol mode. In recognition of this, they will be subject to a reduced eVED rate of 1.5 pence per mile upon its introduction in April 2028 – half the rate of 3 pence per mile that will apply to fully electric cars. The government recognises that PHEV driving habits vary and that some motorists will drive more or less than 50% in electric mode. However, alternative options would require motorists to report their exact mileage driven in petrol versus electric mode, which is not considered a practical or proportionate approach. A reduced rate for PHEVs strikes the right balance between fairness, protecting motorists’ privacy and minimising administrative burdens on motorists.

Whether homeowners receiving support under the Warm Homes Plan will be free to choose their own accredited installer.

All installers participating in Government clean heat schemes must be Microgeneration Certification Scheme certified, a nationally recognised quality assurance scheme. Under the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, consumers choose their installer and are encouraged to obtain multiple quotes, to ensure they are content with the costs involved. Government will consult this year on options for bringing the oversight of energy efficiency and microgeneration installations for government schemes under closer government control. In Summer 2026, Government will launch an enhanced, impartial digital-first advice and information service that will act as the ‘national spine’ for home retrofit advice, enabling consumers to access trusted information and find accredited installers operating in their area.

Communities and Local Government, when the future homes standard will be published.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to Question UIN 108610 on 4 February 2026.

How many consumers who received heat pump installations under the Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive and Green Homes Grant Voucher Scheme have been left without redress following installer insolvency; and what support his Department provides to consumers in such circumstances.

The department does not collect this data. For the DRHI installers were required to be members of the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS)and a Chartered Trading Standards Institute approved Consumer Code, which provided routes for complaints handling and alternative dispute resolution. Access to redress in cases of installer insolvency depends on individual circumstances. For the GHGVS consumers were required to seek advice from a suitably qualified TrustMark registered installer before they applied for a voucher. Consumers are entitled to remediation by their installer or, failing that, the insurance-backed guarantee, or using the TrustMark dispute resolution process to seek redress The department’s role is limited to signposting consumers to appropriate sources of support, such as the Consumer Code, MCS or independent advice services.

What inspection regime was in place for verifying the quality and compliance of heat pump installations funded under the Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive and the Green Homes Grant Voucher Scheme; how many installations were physically inspected; and what steps his Department is taking to ensure that future government-funded installations are subject to independent on-site verification.

Installers participating in government clean heat schemes, including the Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (DRHI) and Green Homes Grant Voucher Scheme (GHGVS), must be Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) certified. MCS is responsible for setting and upholding technical standards for small scale renewable technologies, and accredited installers are subject to annual audits and site‑based assessments. Annually for the DRHI, approximately 400 randomly selected, and up to 250 risk-based site audits occur. GHGVS installers required suitable TrustMark qualifications. TrustMark conducts site audits, but the department does not hold statistics on this.