Written questions by Prinsley.

With reference to the Written Statement of 2 March 2026 on Asylum changes, HCWS1373, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of promoting a named community sponsorship scheme to facilitate the closure of asylum hotels.

In the Restoring Order and Control policy statement, published on 21 November 2025, the Government committed to transforming its approach to safe and legal routes. This included the creation of a named sponsorship scheme to enable community groups to sponsor refugees and displaced persons.The Home Office assesses that launching new safe and legal routes, including community sponsorship, supports the Government’s overall objectives of reducing dangerous journeys and ending the use of hotels for asylum seekers. The new routes in isolation will not lead to the closure of asylum hotels, however, they form part of the broader package of measures set out in the Restoring Order and Control policy statement to support sustainable exit from hotel accommodation.

Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of converting former industrial buildings into cultural activity centres.

Repurposing industrial heritage drives local growth and community engagement. Funding is available through the National Lottery Heritage Fund, which has supported projects, such as Grimsby Youth zone, transforming vacant buildings into a vibrant youth hub. The Heritage Revival Fund helps communities bring local heritage buildings back into public use. In January this government was pleased to announce the continuation of the Heritage Revival Fund for a further four years with almost £42 million of capital funding.

Communities and Local Government, what estimate his Department has made of the cost-savings to residents of the requirement of new homes to be fitted with heat pumps.

The Future Homes Standard (FHS) has now been published and will come into force on 24 March 2027. The Impact Assessment for the FHS does not isolate the savings attributable to heat pumps alone, as it considers the overall performance of homes built to the FHS rather than individual technologies in isolation. Compared to a typical existing home with an EPC rating of C, homes built to the FHS could save families up to £830 a year on their energy bills. These estimates reflect the combined impact of much higher fabric efficiency, low‑carbon heating such as heat pumps and, in most cases, on‑site renewable electricity generation such as solar PV.

What assessment she has made of the potential merits of reinstating family reunion visa routes for Iranians.

The family reunion route was suspended to ease the pressures that local authorities and public services have been placed under due to the recent significant increase in people arriving under this route in recent years. Other family routes remain available including Appendix FM, and cases lodged before the suspension continue to be considered on a case-by-case basis.Currently, Iranian nationals who wish to come to the UK can do so via the existing range of routes available. Any application for a UK visa will be assessed against the requirements of the Immigration Rules.Immediate family members of British citizens and those settled in the UK who wish to come and live in the UK can apply under one of the existing family visa routes.There are also routes available for dependents of those who are in the UK on most work routes or certain postgraduate student routes.

What action is the Home Secretary taking to implement the recommendations of the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration report on age assessments to ensure that unaccompanied asylum-seeking children are properly safeguarded.

The Home Office accepted all eight of the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration (ICIBI) age assessment recommendations which were designed to improve training, guidance, assurance, resources and communication.Initial age decisions were a primary focus of the report and, to date, the Home Office has:Implemented minimum quality standards and clear operating procedures to ensure a consistent and fair approach at first encounterPublished updated guidance on the age admit process so individuals are informed of what they are being asked to sign, the implications of doing so, and how this information may be usedCompleted the first part of an evaluation into initial age decision training to ensure it is meeting requirementsStarted work to improve the overall process and experience through assurance frameworks and feedback mechanismsThe National Age Assessment Board (NAAB) was also a key focus of the inspection and improvements have been made to assurance frameworks to further ensure age assessments are conducted consistently, robustly and in line with both legislative requirements and best practice.We have also focused on improving our use of technology. The NAAB online referral portal will also be going live in the next few months which will improve access for local authorities by providing a new, streamlined route for referring age assessment cases to the NAAB. This new technology will deliver operational efficiencies and enable referrals to be made more easily and quickly.The Home Office has improved the quality of age assessment data. To strengthen transparency, the publication of age assessment official statistics will resume as part of the Immigration Statistical Release scheduled for 21 May 2026. This release will include new disaggregated data on the outcomes of age disputes. Over time, this will provide a more complete national picture, make clearer distinctions between stages of the process and allow improved monitoring.We continue to develop proposals on how we can share more information with local authorities, where appropriate to support effective planning and safeguarding. We are also engaging directly with stakeholders on progress made against the recommendations to ensure they are delivered in a way that continues to strengthen protections for children.

What steps she is taking to help implement the recommendations of the Cranston inquiry to help prevent avoidable deaths in the channel.

The loss of life from the fatal incident of 23/24 November 2021 was an appalling tragedy, and our thoughts remain with the survivors, the victims and loved ones who suffered as a result.The response to the Cranston Inquiry report is being led by the Department for Transport (DfT). The Home Office is engaging with the DfT on the response to those recommendations which are pertinent to its area of policy.

Whether he plans to introduce a policy similar to those in NHS Scotland and NHS Wales to support the regrading of specialty doctors to the specialist grade where appropriate.

While there are no specific plans to introduce a separate regrading policy similar to those in Scotland or Wales at this time, we are considering how best to support appropriate career progression for specialty doctors in England, including through ongoing conversations with the British Medical Association.The specialist grade was introduced in England in 2021 as part of reforms to improve career progression opportunities for Specialty, Associate Specialist, and Specialist (SAS) doctors. Employers are able to create specialist posts where there is a service need, and individuals, including speciality doctors, should be able to apply for these roles through open, competitive recruitment.As set out in the National Health Service 10-Year Health Plan, the Department is committed to supporting the continued expansion of the specialist grade where appropriate, to ensure SAS doctors have clear and fair pathways for progression.

What guidance his Department issues to local authorities to on conducting consultations with recognised care provider associations when setting adult social care fee rates.

The Care Act 2014 places a statutory duty on local authorities, under Section 5, to promote a sustainable and high-quality adult social care market. This includes ensuring that care providers can operate effectively and that fee structures support the delivery of high-quality services. While the Care Act does not prescribe specific methods of engagement, such as recognised provider associations, it sets the overarching requirement for local authorities to understand local market conditions and the costs of care. In practice, this means local authorities are expected to draw on appropriate evidence, which may include information from providers, when setting fees.On 18 December 2025, the Department published its new annual local authority priority-setting document. This sets out a list of priority outcomes and expectations for local authorities in 2026/27, and one of these is for local authorities to “set fee rates at a sustainable level, in line with commissioning priorities, to help shape markets and enable adult social care providers to recruit a skilled workforce and stabilise and improvement workforce capacity, and in preparation for employment rights reforms, starting from financial year 2026 and the fair pair agreement starting in financial year 2028”.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of increases domestic heating oil prices following developments in the Middle East on households; what steps his Department is taking to monitor pricing practices among heating oil suppliers; and what steps he is taking to support rural households that rely on heating oil where price increases place pressure on household finances.

The Government is closely monitoring heating oil, petrol and diesel prices in light of instability in the Middle East. International kerosene prices are >75% higher than they were before the conflict and this is putting pressure on heating oil prices. The Secretary of State has written to the industry reminding heating oil distributors of their commitments under the UKIFDA Code of Practice, including the need for fair, transparent and justifiable pricing. Ministers have also spoken with the Competition and Markets Authority, who have announced they are reviewing evidence of potential unfair practices and anti-competitive behaviour. We are keeping under review whether any further support or action is needed to protect consumers.

Communities and Local Government, what guidance his Department provides to local authorities and their partners on responding to rough sleeping in town centres, including engagement with local businesses, and on meeting safeguarding and homelessness prevention duties.

Through our National Plan to End Homelessness, the government has committed to developing an Outreach Toolkit, alongside a Single Homelessness and Complex Needs Toolkit. Together these will provide advice on designing and delivering services, including on effective outreach, accommodation pathways including the role of housing-led solutions, including Housing First, and enforcement. These toolkits will build on the support available to local authorities through my Department’s team of expert advisers and guidance published through gov.uk here. This includes specific guidance on safeguarding, which you can find here.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of Capita’s performance in administering the Civil Service Pension Scheme since 1 December 2025; what the number of outstanding cases is; what the average waiting time is for (a) first pension payments, (b) retirement lump sums and (c) retirement quotations; whether financial penalties have been applied to Capita for missed service levels; and what steps his Department is taking to ensure that members experiencing financial hardship due to delayed payments receive timely interim support and payments in full.

The Cabinet Office awarded the contract to administer the Civil Service Pension Scheme to Capita in November 2023 under the previous government. The issues and delays facing a number of civil servants and pension scheme members in receiving their pension quotes are unacceptable. I want to reassure you that this Government has taken firm action to help put things right as soon as possible. We have agreed a clear recovery plan with Capita, which includes specific milestones and accountability targets for delivery. For priority cases, we have deployed additional resources and improved communication with affected colleagues, so that staff, both former and serving, receive the quality of service and support they deserve. Existing Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) have been enhanced and strengthened to deliver improved performance and higher penalties for failure, including financial penalties. These have already applied in respect to Capita's performance with recent issues and delays in administering the Civil Service Pension Scheme. Capita prioritised the most urgent cases and by the end of February, all death in service cases were either settled or progressed to the final stage or awaiting a member response. The same position was reached for ill health retirement applications by mid-March. Capita has made lump sum payments to 8,979 members, the majority of whom have retired but are not yet receiving their pension, and are on track to bring these members into regular pension payments by the end of April. To provide immediate financial support to those who may need it, arrangements are in place for interest-free bridging loans typically up to £5,000 or £10,000 in exceptional cases to most recent retirees facing payment delays. This is alongside interim lump sum payments being made to provide immediate funds to retiring members. The pension scheme continues to make monthly pension payments to approximately 730,000 existing pensioner members on time.The latest position of the Civil Service Pension Recovery Plan Update is available at this weblink: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-pension-recovery-plan-updates

Communities and Local Government, what consideration is given to the provision of bungalows and other accessible housing for older people in new housing developments; and whether he plans to strengthen national planning policy to encourage a greater proportion of age-appropriate homes in areas experiencing significant housing growth.

I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to Questions UIN 102355 on 12 January 2026, UIN 101501 on 7 January 2026 and UIN 50375 on 23 May 2025.

Communities and Local Government, what steps the Government is taking to help tackle the use of estate management charges on new-build and privately managed housing estates in cases where freehold homeowners continue to pay ongoing maintenance fees for roads, lighting and green spaces that have been adopted by local authorities and for which residents already pay council tax; and whether the Government plans to strengthen regulation of private estate management companies to improve transparency, accountability and residents’ rights.

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

What implementation metrics have been set for the introduction of Staff Treatment Hubs under the 10 Year Plan, including the number of hubs operational by the end of 2026, the regional coverage targets in England and Wales, and the specific performance measures used to evaluate improvements in clinician wellbeing.

The 10-Year Health Plan committed to the roll out of Staff Treatment Hubs, to provide a high-quality wellbeing and occupational health service for all National Health Service staff. Work is underway to develop implementation and operational plans for the Staff Treatments Hubs. This will determine factors such as location, budgets, timeframes, capacity, and processes for monitoring progress and performance.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of Plan 2 student loan interest rates on graduates’ outstanding loan balances over time; and whether these rates will be reviewed as part of future student loan policy development.

Plan 2 loans were designed and implemented by previous governments.Interest rates are applied at the Retail Price Index (RPI) only, then variable up to an upper limit of RPI +3% depending on earnings.This maintains the real value of repayments over a long loan term. As an additional borrower protection, interest rates on post-2012 loans are automatically capped by the prevailing market rate for comparable unsecured personal loans, ensuring borrowers are protected if market conditions change.Interest rates do not impact monthly repayments made by student loan borrowers. Repayments are made at a constant rate of 9% above the earnings threshold, and this rate strikes a balance between affordability for graduates and fairness to taxpayers. For example, someone earning £30,000 will repay around £4 per month in the 2026/27 financial year under the repayment threshold of £29,385. Those earning below the earnings threshold do not make repayments. Any outstanding loan, including interest built up, is cancelled at the end of the loan term with no detriment to the borrower, and debt is never passed on to family members or descendants.

Whether consumer credit affordability and creditworthiness checks adequately prevent people with high levels of debt and known gambling-related financial risks from obtaining additional credit cards; and what steps she is taking with the Financial Conduct Authority to strengthen safeguards.

Lenders offering credit are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). This oversight ensures that lending practices are fair and that consumers are protected – firms regulated by the FCA must comply with its strict lending affordability rules, lending only to those who can afford repayments based on a thorough assessment of their financial situation. Under the FCA’s Consumer Duty, firms are required to take steps to identify and respond to signs of vulnerability, support customers to disclose their needs, and make them aware of available assistance. The Government is committed to supporting people who are experiencing problem debt. Through the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS), the Government funds a range of national and community-based debt advice services in England, so households can access the specialist support they need to get their finances back on track.

What steps he is taking to help improve energy interconnection between the UK and the EU.

At the recent North Sea Summit we committed to a joint ambition of 100GW of offshore renewable projects with our European neighbours, including through coordinated energy infrastructure planning.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to assess the potential impact of the recommendations from the Nuclear Regulatory Review on nature recovery targets set under the Environment Act.

The Government is carefully considering all recommendations of the Nuclear Taskforce’s report and will present a full implementation plan by the end of February. Defra is working with DESNZ and other Government departments to set out this plan. The Taskforce recommendations on the environment seek to deliver better environmental outcomes compared with the existing regime, through a simpler regime which is less burdensome and disruptive for nuclear projects. We are considering these recommendations in line with our objectives to achieve win-wins for nature and growth, as well as meeting our international obligations.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to introduce specific regulations or mandatory safety standards for commercial dog swimming pools, in the context of recent reports of dog injuries associated with unregulated facilities.

Under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 it is an offence to cause physical or mental suffering to animals, which would include in settings such as commercial dog swimming pools. Whilst the Government has no plans to introduce specific legislation aimed at regulating dog swimming pools, the 2006 Act applies to protect the welfare of dogs in these settings.

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of plans to reform the immigration settlement system on the number of anaesthetists working in the health service.

No assessment has been made of the potential impact of plans to reform the immigration settlement system on the number of anaesthetists working in the health service.The Government has launched a consultation on proposals to reform the current settlement rules in favour of an “earned settlement” model, that considers factors such as contribution, integration, and conduct. The consultation, which runs until February 2026, seeks views on how these reforms should apply to different groups, including health and care workers.