Written questions by Heylings.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of children travelling to school by (a) walking, (b) wheeling and (c) cycling on learning.

The publication ’Physical activity guidelines: UK Chief Medical Officers' report’, states that the benefits for young people of doing regular physical exercise include improved learning and attainment. The full publication can be read here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5d839543ed915d52428dc134/uk-chief-medical-officers-physical-activity-guidelines.pdf.Active Travel England (ATE) is the government’s executive agency responsible for promoting walking, wheeling and cycling as the preferred choice of travel in England. They are responsible for a number of schemes which promote active travel to school. For instance, ATE has published School Streets guidance for local authorities in England. A School Street is a road outside a school with a restriction on motorised traffic at the start and end of the school day. The guidance can be found online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-streets-how-to-set-up-and-manage-a-scheme.Additionally, they provide funding for the Modeshift STARS education scheme, which recognises schools and other educational establishments that have shown excellence in supporting cycling, walking and other forms of sustainable and active travel. More information on the Modeshift STARS education scheme can be found here: https://modeshiftstars.org/education/.ATE also provides funding for Bikeability, the government’s national cycle training programme. More information on Bikeability can be found here: https://www.bikeability.org.uk/.Local authorities have a duty to promote the use of sustainable travel on journeys to and from places of education in their area. They must publish a sustainable modes of travel strategy which aims to provide health benefits for children and their families through active journeys and environmental improvements through reduced congestion and improved air quality. Further information is available in the department's statutory guidance for local authorities, which can be accessed at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/home-to-school-travel-and-transport-guidance.

If he will work with Cabinet colleagues to introduce a national register of landlords to assist local authorities with identifying landlords to help by enforcing energy efficiency standards.

Enforcement is a critical aspect of the policy and is something we are working to address. Government will be increasing our engagement with local authorities to understand the impact and burden of the proposed policy to enable us to take steps to mitigate the impact and support local authorities. The development of the PRS Database in England and Rent Smart Wales will also greatly increase availability and ease of access to information for local authorities.

What steps he plans to take to support businesses exporting goods.

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is committed to supporting small businesses grow and export. UK businesses can access DBT’s wealth of export support via Great.gov.uk. This comprises an online support offer and a wider network of support including the Export Academy, UK Export Finance, the International Markets network and one-to-one support from International Trade Advisers. DBT is also piloting an enhanced partnership with Greater Manchester Combined Authority, taking a targeted place-based approach to accelerate small business growth through exporting across the region. This will be rolled out to other regions across England over the next 12 months. We will bring forward further measures in due course.

What steps he is taking to support landlords to improve energy efficiency in the private rented sector.

The Government is now consulting on increasing minimum energy efficiency standards in the domestic private rented sector. The consultation sets out proposals on the maximum spend required from landlords and the exemptions regime to manage the cost burden placed on landlords and the impact on the rental market. We are considering how we can best support landlords to meet the new standards and welcome responses from landlords to the consultation.

With reference to the oil spill map published by the Ocean Alliance Against Offshore Drilling on 19 February 2025, what steps he is taking to help tackle the cumulative impacts of chronic pollution from oil and gas activities in UK seas.

The data presented in the oil spill map overstates the number of permit breaches associated with oil or chemicals discharged to sea as a number of these report duplicate discharges while some relate to administrative failures to comply with permit conditions, such as sampling and late reporting. The UK has a comprehensive environmental regulatory regime for the offshore oil and gas sector which ensures that provisions are in place to minimise the chances of and, if required, respond to oil and chemical spills. Oil and chemical spills from offshore oil operations are of significant concern to OPRED which is why there is no minimum quantity for reporting. The number of oil and chemical spills reported to OPRED has almost halved since 2018 and the amount of oil and chemical spilled in 2023 is at a historic low. Every spill is investigated by OPRED proportionately and OPRED can take enforcement action against operators if needed, including the use of fines or referral for criminal prosecution. OPRED continues to work with industry to improve their performance and further reduce the occurrence of oil and chemical spills.

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of increasing British exports of (a) e-bikes and (b) pedal cycles.

Growing the economy is a key mission for the Government, and we recognise the importance of boosting UK exports in achieving this. We are working hard to ensure that UK businesses, including those that sell e-bikes and pedal cycles, have the support they need to sell to the world and grow.As part of our work on a new trade strategy and a small business strategy, we are looking at further proposals to help UK businesses, including those that sell e-bikes and pedal cycles, export more.

Whether his Department has modelled the effectiveness of the Warm Homes Plan on reducing energy bills.

The Warm Homes Plan will help cut household bills for families and slash fuel poverty. The Government has committed £3.4 billion towards the Warm Homes Plan over the next three years. Further details on the Warm Homes Plan will be set out in due course. Future funding towards decarbonisation and to tackle fuel poverty will be considered as part of Phase 2 of the Spending Review, which will conclude in late Spring 2025. By investing in the electrification of heat in buildings, the Warm Homes Plan will help to protect families and businesses from the volatile costs of the international fossil fuel market and make us more secure from the actions of foreign powers.

With reference to the oil spill map published by the Ocean Alliance Against Offshore Drilling on 19 February 2025, what steps he is taking to help tackle the systematic and ongoing oil and chemical pollution that occurs in UK marine protected areas.

The data presented in the oil spill map overstates the number of permit breaches associated with oil or chemicals discharged to sea as a number of these report duplicate discharges while some relate to administrative failures to comply with permit conditions, such as sampling and late reporting. The UK has a comprehensive environmental regulatory regime for the offshore oil and gas sector which ensures that provisions are in place to minimise the chances of and, if required, respond to oil and chemical spills. Oil and chemical spills from offshore oil operations are of significant concern to OPRED which is why there is no minimum quantity for reporting. The number of oil and chemical spills reported to OPRED has almost halved since 2018 and the amount of oil and chemical spilled in 2023 is at a historic low. Every spill is investigated by OPRED proportionately and OPRED can take enforcement action against operators if needed, including the use of fines or referral for criminal prosecution. OPRED continues to work with industry to improve their performance and further reduce the occurrence of oil and chemical spills.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of occupational pension scheme investment supporting economic growth.

I refer the member to the answer given to PQ UIN 34987 on 6 March 2025. The Government published the Interim Report of the Pensions Investment Review at Mansion House, which sets out proposals to reform the UK Pensions system. These reforms could unlock up to £80 billion in new productive investment including in businesses and infrastructure, including sustainable infrastructure to help reach the Government’s net zero targets, and help improve returns for savers. The proposed reforms to the defined contribution workplace pension market will accelerate consolidation, creating fewer, larger schemes, with a minimum scale requirement. This will allow schemes to deliver better value, governance, and investment opportunities, through larger ‘mega-funds’ more able to undertake productive investment. The Review also proposes reforms to the Local Government Pension Scheme (England and Wales) to tackle fragmentation and inefficiency. The LGPS manages £392 billion worth of assets, and the Interim Report proposes to require all 86 administering authorities to delegate investment management to pools. This will create large pools of professionally managed capital, in line with international best practice, and enhance the capacity and capability of the scheme to continue to drive national, local and regional investment and will help to ensure investments are able to reach all corners of the nation. The final Pensions Investment Review report, including the final proposals to be legislated for, will be published in the Spring ahead of the introduction of the Pension Schemes Bill. In addition to these reforms, the Government announced in January that it will pave the way for more well-funded DB pension schemes to share surplus funds with sponsoring employers and members, helping to drive growth by freeing up these funds for the benefit of the economy.

Whether she plans to provide additional funding to expand enhanced resource bases.

In December, the department announced £740 million of capital for high needs funding in 2025/26. This can be used to deliver new places in mainstream and special schools, as well as other specialist settings, including resourced provision. It can also be used to improve the suitability and accessibility of existing buildings.We will publish local authorities’ allocation of the £740 million funding later in the spring.

How much funding she plans to provide to schools in South Cambridgeshire in the 2025-26 financial year.

Core funding allocations for schools is distributed through the dedicated schools grant (DSG). Annual DSG allocations are published at local authority level. Allocations are not available by constituency, since local authorities are responsible for distributing the funding they receive locally through their own local formulae.Funding for schools in South Cambridgeshire constituency is determined by reference to Cambridgeshire’s local formula.Through the DSG, Cambridgeshire is receiving £518.9 million for mainstream schools in the 2025/26 financial year. This represents £5,405 per primary pupil and £6,924 per secondary pupil, and is an increase of 2.4% per pupil compared to the 2024/25 financial year, excluding growth and falling rolls funding.The DSG allocations for each local authority can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dedicated-schools-grant-dsg-2025-to-2026.The schools national funding formula (NFF) distributes funding for mainstream schools based on schools’ and pupils’ needs and characteristics. The purpose of the NFF is not to give every school the same level of per pupil funding. It is right that schools with more pupils with additional needs, such as those indicated by measures of deprivation, low prior attainment, or English as an additional language, receive extra funding to help them meet the needs of their pupils. In addition, schools in more expensive areas, like London, attract higher funding per pupil than other parts of the country to reflect the higher costs they face.Due to the timing of the general election and the need for certainty for schools, the schools NFF for the 2025/26 financial year has the same structure as the previous year. This continuity minimises disruption to local authorities and schools. Longer term, the department will consider changes to the formula, recognising the importance of establishing a fair funding system that directs funding where it is needed.The department is also providing an increase of £1 billion for high needs budgets in England in the 2025/26 financial year, bringing total high needs funding for children and young people with complex special educational needs and disabilities to £11.9 billion. Of that total, Cambridgeshire County Council is being allocated over £114 million through the high needs funding block of the DSG, which is an increase of £7.5 million on this year’s DSG high needs block, calculated using the high needs NFF. This NFF allocation is a 7% increase per head of their 2 to 18 year-old population, on their equivalent 2024/25 NFF allocation.In addition to the DSG, local authorities will also receive a separate core schools budget grant (CSBG), and funding in respect of the increase in employers’ National Insurance contributions, in the 2025/26 financial year. This CSBG continues the separate grants payable this year, which are to help special schools and alternative provision with the costs of teachers’ pay and pension increases and other staff pay increases. Individual local authorities’ allocations of this funding for 2025/26 will be published in due course.

What information her Department holds on the number of schools that receive charitable funding to cover essential costs.

The department collects information on the total income that academy trusts and maintained schools receive from private and charitable sources, beyond their core budgets, but does not hold information on what proportion of this was charitable or how money raised through charitable funding is spent in academy trusts and maintained schools. There is no expectation that educational resources should be paid for through charity and we are working closely with schools to understand their financial pressures. Overall core revenue funding for schools in the 2024/25 financial year totals almost £61.6 billion. At the Autumn Budget 2024, the government announced an additional £2.3 billion for mainstream schools and young people with high needs for the 2025/26 financial year, compared to the 2024/25 financial year. This means that overall core school funding will total almost £63.9 billion in the 2025/26 financial year. These increases, against the backdrop of a challenging fiscal picture, demonstrate the government’s commitment to enabling every child to achieve and thrive through delivery of the Opportunity Mission.

If she will publish information on success rates for (a) Mandatory Reconsideration of decisions on Child Disability Living Allowance (DLA) applications and (b) Tribunals relating to decisions on Child DLA applications.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is unable to provide the specific information requested on Mandatory Reconsiderations for Child Disability Living Allowance (DLA) applications. We hold data on Mandatory Reconsiderations, but only for the combined elements of those undertaken on "applications" (new claims) and those undertaken on changes in circumstance. The data does not split out the two to enable us to report to you the applications element only. In regards to Tribunal outcomes, His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service are responsible for publication of statistics.

If she will ensure that Mandatory Reconsiderations relating to decisions on Child Disability Living Allowance claims are dealt with within 28 days.

In law there is no time limit within which a Mandatory Reconsideration (MR) decision must be made. This reflects the overarching policy that the focus should be on making the right decision and not the speed of clearance. Decisions should be made without delay, but if the decision maker considers that more time is needed to gather or consider evidence, they must give themselves that time to ensure they are confident that the decision made is correct. The department is also recruiting decision makers to increase the resources available for DLA-C MR cases.

What guidance her Department has issued to staff on (a) contacting and (b) assessing benefits claims for (i) victims and (ii) survivors of domestic violence and economic abuse.

All staff have access to regularly reviewed guidance products which includes information on contacting and assessing benefit claims for victims and survivors of domestic and economic abuse. For broader support, we will signpost claimants to gov.uk to enable them to get the help and advice they need. The most relevant UC Guidance is attached (059. Domestic abuse-Guidance V28.0) The relevant Working Age Operational Instructions are also attached (Domestic Abuse and Victims of domestic abuse).

What proportion of claims for Child Disability Living Allowance were decided within the target timeframe of 45 working days in (a) 2024 and (b) so far in 2025.

The most recent information on processing times for Disability Living Allowance for children was published in the DWP annual report and accounts 2023 to 2024 - GOV.UK (ARA) on 22nd July 2024. This shows that in 2023/24 DWP cleared 3.5% of Disability Living Allowance for children claims within the planned 40 working day timescale. The next publication of the ARA will include the percentage of claims processed in the Financial Year 2024 to 2025, which is due for publication in the summer.Although, DWP has seen improvements in processing times across many service lines during 2023-24, continued high demand has meant that the Department’s ability to process claims consistently in a timely manner across all its services has come under considerable pressure, with performance remaining below standard in some areas including in Child DLA where demand has increased in recent years and is significantly higher than pre-pandemic volumes. During 2020-21 DWP deferred reviewing existing cases to focus on processing new claims. Since then, the high volumes of both new claims and the deferred renewal work has resulted in longer processing times. Additional resources have been deployed and cases are being cleared in date order to ensure fair customer service.

What steps her Department is taking to ensure sustainable funding for (a) mainstream education and (b) SEND provision in (i) South Cambridgeshire constituency and (ii) other areas.

Core funding allocations for schools is distributed through the dedicated schools grant (DSG). Annual DSG allocations are published at local authority level. Allocations are not available by constituency, since local authorities are responsible for distributing the funding they receive locally through their own local formulae.Funding for schools in South Cambridgeshire constituency is determined by reference to Cambridgeshire’s local formula.Through the DSG, Cambridgeshire is receiving £518.9 million for mainstream schools in the 2025/26 financial year. This represents £5,405 per primary pupil and £6,924 per secondary pupil, and is an increase of 2.4% per pupil compared to the 2024/25 financial year, excluding growth and falling rolls funding.The DSG allocations for each local authority can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dedicated-schools-grant-dsg-2025-to-2026.The schools national funding formula (NFF) distributes funding for mainstream schools based on schools’ and pupils’ needs and characteristics. The purpose of the NFF is not to give every school the same level of per pupil funding. It is right that schools with more pupils with additional needs, such as those indicated by measures of deprivation, low prior attainment, or English as an additional language, receive extra funding to help them meet the needs of their pupils. In addition, schools in more expensive areas, like London, attract higher funding per pupil than other parts of the country to reflect the higher costs they face.Due to the timing of the general election and the need for certainty for schools, the schools NFF for the 2025/26 financial year has the same structure as the previous year. This continuity minimises disruption to local authorities and schools. Longer term, the department will consider changes to the formula, recognising the importance of establishing a fair funding system that directs funding where it is needed.The department is also providing an increase of £1 billion for high needs budgets in England in the 2025/26 financial year, bringing total high needs funding for children and young people with complex special educational needs and disabilities to £11.9 billion. Of that total, Cambridgeshire County Council is being allocated over £114 million through the high needs funding block of the DSG, which is an increase of £7.5 million on this year’s DSG high needs block, calculated using the high needs NFF. This NFF allocation is a 7% increase per head of their 2 to 18 year-old population, on their equivalent 2024/25 NFF allocation.In addition to the DSG, local authorities will also receive a separate core schools budget grant (CSBG), and funding in respect of the increase in employers’ National Insurance contributions, in the 2025/26 financial year. This CSBG continues the separate grants payable this year, which are to help special schools and alternative provision with the costs of teachers’ pay and pension increases and other staff pay increases. Individual local authorities’ allocations of this funding for 2025/26 will be published in due course.

What steps her Department is taking to address regional disparities in school funding.

Core funding allocations for schools is distributed through the dedicated schools grant (DSG). Annual DSG allocations are published at local authority level. Allocations are not available by constituency, since local authorities are responsible for distributing the funding they receive locally through their own local formulae.Funding for schools in South Cambridgeshire constituency is determined by reference to Cambridgeshire’s local formula.Through the DSG, Cambridgeshire is receiving £518.9 million for mainstream schools in the 2025/26 financial year. This represents £5,405 per primary pupil and £6,924 per secondary pupil, and is an increase of 2.4% per pupil compared to the 2024/25 financial year, excluding growth and falling rolls funding.The DSG allocations for each local authority can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dedicated-schools-grant-dsg-2025-to-2026.The schools national funding formula (NFF) distributes funding for mainstream schools based on schools’ and pupils’ needs and characteristics. The purpose of the NFF is not to give every school the same level of per pupil funding. It is right that schools with more pupils with additional needs, such as those indicated by measures of deprivation, low prior attainment, or English as an additional language, receive extra funding to help them meet the needs of their pupils. In addition, schools in more expensive areas, like London, attract higher funding per pupil than other parts of the country to reflect the higher costs they face.Due to the timing of the general election and the need for certainty for schools, the schools NFF for the 2025/26 financial year has the same structure as the previous year. This continuity minimises disruption to local authorities and schools. Longer term, the department will consider changes to the formula, recognising the importance of establishing a fair funding system that directs funding where it is needed.The department is also providing an increase of £1 billion for high needs budgets in England in the 2025/26 financial year, bringing total high needs funding for children and young people with complex special educational needs and disabilities to £11.9 billion. Of that total, Cambridgeshire County Council is being allocated over £114 million through the high needs funding block of the DSG, which is an increase of £7.5 million on this year’s DSG high needs block, calculated using the high needs NFF. This NFF allocation is a 7% increase per head of their 2 to 18 year-old population, on their equivalent 2024/25 NFF allocation.In addition to the DSG, local authorities will also receive a separate core schools budget grant (CSBG), and funding in respect of the increase in employers’ National Insurance contributions, in the 2025/26 financial year. This CSBG continues the separate grants payable this year, which are to help special schools and alternative provision with the costs of teachers’ pay and pension increases and other staff pay increases. Individual local authorities’ allocations of this funding for 2025/26 will be published in due course.

If she will making it her policy to review the national funding formula for schools and high needs.

Core funding allocations for schools is distributed through the dedicated schools grant (DSG). Annual DSG allocations are published at local authority level. Allocations are not available by constituency, since local authorities are responsible for distributing the funding they receive locally through their own local formulae.Funding for schools in South Cambridgeshire constituency is determined by reference to Cambridgeshire’s local formula.Through the DSG, Cambridgeshire is receiving £518.9 million for mainstream schools in the 2025/26 financial year. This represents £5,405 per primary pupil and £6,924 per secondary pupil, and is an increase of 2.4% per pupil compared to the 2024/25 financial year, excluding growth and falling rolls funding.The DSG allocations for each local authority can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dedicated-schools-grant-dsg-2025-to-2026.The schools national funding formula (NFF) distributes funding for mainstream schools based on schools’ and pupils’ needs and characteristics. The purpose of the NFF is not to give every school the same level of per pupil funding. It is right that schools with more pupils with additional needs, such as those indicated by measures of deprivation, low prior attainment, or English as an additional language, receive extra funding to help them meet the needs of their pupils. In addition, schools in more expensive areas, like London, attract higher funding per pupil than other parts of the country to reflect the higher costs they face.Due to the timing of the general election and the need for certainty for schools, the schools NFF for the 2025/26 financial year has the same structure as the previous year. This continuity minimises disruption to local authorities and schools. Longer term, the department will consider changes to the formula, recognising the importance of establishing a fair funding system that directs funding where it is needed.The department is also providing an increase of £1 billion for high needs budgets in England in the 2025/26 financial year, bringing total high needs funding for children and young people with complex special educational needs and disabilities to £11.9 billion. Of that total, Cambridgeshire County Council is being allocated over £114 million through the high needs funding block of the DSG, which is an increase of £7.5 million on this year’s DSG high needs block, calculated using the high needs NFF. This NFF allocation is a 7% increase per head of their 2 to 18 year-old population, on their equivalent 2024/25 NFF allocation.In addition to the DSG, local authorities will also receive a separate core schools budget grant (CSBG), and funding in respect of the increase in employers’ National Insurance contributions, in the 2025/26 financial year. This CSBG continues the separate grants payable this year, which are to help special schools and alternative provision with the costs of teachers’ pay and pension increases and other staff pay increases. Individual local authorities’ allocations of this funding for 2025/26 will be published in due course.

What assessment has she made of the adequacy of the level of funding for schools in South Cambridgeshire constituency.

Core funding allocations for schools is distributed through the dedicated schools grant (DSG). Annual DSG allocations are published at local authority level. Allocations are not available by constituency, since local authorities are responsible for distributing the funding they receive locally through their own local formulae.Funding for schools in South Cambridgeshire constituency is determined by reference to Cambridgeshire’s local formula.Through the DSG, Cambridgeshire is receiving £518.9 million for mainstream schools in the 2025/26 financial year. This represents £5,405 per primary pupil and £6,924 per secondary pupil, and is an increase of 2.4% per pupil compared to the 2024/25 financial year, excluding growth and falling rolls funding.The DSG allocations for each local authority can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dedicated-schools-grant-dsg-2025-to-2026.The schools national funding formula (NFF) distributes funding for mainstream schools based on schools’ and pupils’ needs and characteristics. The purpose of the NFF is not to give every school the same level of per pupil funding. It is right that schools with more pupils with additional needs, such as those indicated by measures of deprivation, low prior attainment, or English as an additional language, receive extra funding to help them meet the needs of their pupils. In addition, schools in more expensive areas, like London, attract higher funding per pupil than other parts of the country to reflect the higher costs they face.Due to the timing of the general election and the need for certainty for schools, the schools NFF for the 2025/26 financial year has the same structure as the previous year. This continuity minimises disruption to local authorities and schools. Longer term, the department will consider changes to the formula, recognising the importance of establishing a fair funding system that directs funding where it is needed.The department is also providing an increase of £1 billion for high needs budgets in England in the 2025/26 financial year, bringing total high needs funding for children and young people with complex special educational needs and disabilities to £11.9 billion. Of that total, Cambridgeshire County Council is being allocated over £114 million through the high needs funding block of the DSG, which is an increase of £7.5 million on this year’s DSG high needs block, calculated using the high needs NFF. This NFF allocation is a 7% increase per head of their 2 to 18 year-old population, on their equivalent 2024/25 NFF allocation.In addition to the DSG, local authorities will also receive a separate core schools budget grant (CSBG), and funding in respect of the increase in employers’ National Insurance contributions, in the 2025/26 financial year. This CSBG continues the separate grants payable this year, which are to help special schools and alternative provision with the costs of teachers’ pay and pension increases and other staff pay increases. Individual local authorities’ allocations of this funding for 2025/26 will be published in due course.