Written questions by Heylings.

When she will publish the Warm Homes Plan.

The Warm Homes Plan will help people find ways to save money on energy bills and transform our ageing building stock into comfortable, low-carbon homes that are fit for the future. 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. The Warm Homes Plan will be published after the conclusion of the Spending Review, and further details will be set out in due course.

When he will confirm funding for the Great British Insulation Scheme for the 2025-26 financial year.

The Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) is not a government funded grant scheme, but an obligation on larger energy suppliers to provide energy efficiency support to eligible households through the installation of one insulation measure per home. GBIS is scheduled to run until March 2026 and is funded through consumer bills, under the price cap.

What his planned timetable is for providing national coverage for fracture liaison services.

We remain committed to rolling out Fracture Liaison Services across every part of the country by 2030.In the meantime, we are investing in 13 high-tech bone density DEXA scanners, which are expected to provide an extra 29,000 scans to ensure people with bone conditions get diagnosed earlier.

Communities and Local Government, what her timeline is for implementing the decent homes standard.

The government intend to bring forward a consultation this year on a reformed Decent Homes Standard for the social and private rented sectors.

If he will take steps to ensure that the UK's Nationally Determined Contribution (a) facilitates a just transition and (b) commits to increased climate finance.

In January, the UK submitted its nationally determined contribution (NDC) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), providing additional information on our headline target, including how it will facilitate a just transition. The UK is dedicated to supporting workers, communities and businesses to transition to net zero. As part of the Clean Power Mission to reach clean power by 2030, the UK has established an Office for Clean Energy Jobs (“the Office”) to explore what is needed to ensure our workforce can deliver the dramatic pace of change needed to reach this goal. The UK is committed to delivering climate finance to help vulnerable countries adapt to climate impacts and support a transition to low-carbon economies. In compliance with Article 9.5 of the Paris Agreement, the UK submitted its third Finance Biennial Communication to the UNFCCC in December 2024 which sets out our forward-looking action on the support components of the Paris Agreement. We have also reaffirmed the existing commitment to spend £11.6bn in International Climate Finance by 2025/2026, including at least £3bn on nature. Our next International Climate Finance commitment will be carefully considered and determined through the Spending Review this year. But we’re also clear that public finance alone is not going to fund the global transition, and are working closely with partners to mobilise more private capital for the climate transition.

If he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the (a) funding and (b) availability of the Sleepio app for people with insomnia.

There is currently no central funding from NHS England to support the national commissioning of digital cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia to integrated care boards.Sleepio remains available for local commissioning by integrated care systems, should they choose to commission this product, as part of local insomnia care and treatment pathways.No further assessments relating to the funding or availability of this product at a national level are currently planned.

Whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of tariffs with night-time low electricity pricing for people with (a) electric vehicles and (b) solar panels.

The Government is supportive of electricity suppliers offering tariffs which enable consumers, including electric vehicle owners and those using solar panels, to consume energy at off peak times. This benefits all consumers by reducing the need for additional grid capacity. More generally, we want to see the market offering new, innovative products and services that will help enable consumers to lower their bills, get a better service and support the transition to net zero. The setting of these tariffs is a commercial matter for suppliers.

When affected family members of people with blood infected by hepatitis B will be able to apply for compensation.

Those affected by their relationship to an eligible individual infected with Hepatitis B will be able to claim via the compensation scheme. This may include partners, parents, children, and siblings of an eligible infected person, as well as some people who acted as a carer for an infected person. The delivery of compensation payments is a matter for the Infected Blood Compensation Authority. The Government expects payments to eligible affected people to begin this year, following a second set of regulations that I will be laying in Parliament in the coming weeks.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he is taking legislative steps to introduce a land use framework.

The Government plans to take action toward realising a Land Use Framework in the first year of its time in power.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of changes made to employer's National Insurance contributions at the Autumn Budget 2024 on agency workers under IR35.

The Government publishes Tax Information and Impact Notes (TIINs) for tax policy changes. TIINs give a clear explanation of the policy objective and an assessment of the impacts including on the Exchequer, individuals and families, businesses including civil society organisations and others. The TIIN for the employer NICs changes was published on 13 November 2024.

If he will make it his policy to return non-compliance fines for the clean heat market mechanism to the level proposed for 2026 in the document entitled Clean Heat Market Mechanism Consultation: Summary of responses received and government response, published on 30 March 2023.

The Government has made the decision to reduce the level of the payment-in-lieu for the Clean Heat Market Mechanism from the previously proposed £3000 per missing heat pump credit to £500 for the first baselining year, in order to provide industry with additional capacity to adjust to the scheme’s introduction. No decisions have been taken about this or other scheme parameters for future years. The Government will keep the effectiveness of the payment level under close review and will consult on whether and how it should evolve for future years.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of reducing non-compliance fines in the Clean Heat Market Mechanism on the uptake of heat pumps.

The Government believes that the reduction to the payment-in-lieu for the Clean Heat Market Mechanism for the first baselining year will provide manufacturers with additional capacity to adapt to the scheme’s introduction, while still providing an incentive to invest in the transition. An impact assessment was published on 21 November 2024 alongside the draft statutory instrument. The government is confident that the targeted retrofit heat pump installations for the first scheme year can be achieved but will keep the payment-in-lieu level, like all scheme parameters, under review for future years.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of the availability of NHS cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia; and whether he plans to increase the coverage of that therapy.

It is for local integrated care boards to decide whether cognitive behavioural therapy should be offered to their local populations as a treatment for insomnia. NHS Talking Therapies for anxiety and depression offers low-intensity therapy which may include interventions around sleep hygiene. Individuals who are experiencing symptoms of anxiety and/or depression can self-refer to NHS Talking Therapies, with further information available at the following link: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/talking-therapies-medicine-treatments/talking-therapies-and-counselling/nhs-talking-therapies/ Individuals can also access helpful resources on sleep problems on the Every Mind Matters website, which is available at the following link:https://www.nhs.uk/every-mind-matters/mental-health-issues/sleep/

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the decision to reduce non-compliance fines in the Clean Heat Market Mechanism on the UK's ability to meet carbon budgets.

The Government believes that the reduction to the payment-in-lieu for the Clean Heat Market Mechanism for the first baselining year will provide manufacturers with additional capacity to adapt to the scheme’s introduction, while still providing an incentive to invest in the transition. An impact assessment was published on 21 November 2024 alongside the draft statutory instrument. The adjustment to the payment-in-lieu for the introductory year has not changed the Department's assessment of expected carbon savings from heat pump installations over the scheme’s lifetime. The Government will keep the payment-in-lieu level, like all scheme parameters, under review for future years.

Whether she has had discussions with Whizz Kidz on their report entitled Beyond fare Equality through Concessionary Bus Travel; and if she will mandate free travel for disabled bus pass holders.

The Department regularly meets with stakeholders to discuss a range of issues but have had no such discussions with Whizz Kidz. The terms of the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme already mandate free off-peak bus travel for disabled bus pass holders.

What her planned timetable is for responding to the Gingerbread report entitled Fix the Child Maintenance Service, published on 25 November 2024.

The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) continues to engage regularly with stakeholders as we consider CMS reform. We are currently considering the recommendations from the Gingerbread report ‘Fix the CMS’ alongside other potential changes we have been discussing with stakeholders.

What guidance her Department issues to Disability Living Allowance claimants during the wait for their claim to be assessed; and what steps she is taking to reduce waiting times.

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for Children is the only DLA product that has new claims. There are no longer new claims for DLA Adult, as customers over 16 are invited to claim Personal Independence Payment (PIP), and customers over the state pensions age are invited to claim Attendance Allowance (AA), rather than the DLA 65+. At present, for Disability Living Allowance for Children, once a claim has been registered a system generated letter is sent to the customer to advise that the claim is being looked at with an approximate time frame, a progress acknowledgement letter may be sent at 7 weeks for new claims if the claim has not had a decision at that point. Special Rules End of Life claims are dealt with as a priority and the above does not apply as these are expected to be decided within 10 days. Telephony agents are also kept up to date for any telephony enquiries. In 2025 plans are in place to add information to an automated text once claims are registered. Work is also being undertaken to add a page to gov.uk In addition to this, new staff have been recruited and staff redeployed to help meet the increased number of claims and work is also underway to deliver improvements to the customer journey.

If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of shingles vaccines for all over 65s.

From September 2023, the routine shingles vaccination programme changed from the Zostavax vaccine to the two dose Shingrix vaccine, to better protect individuals from the effects of shingles, provide better clinical outcomes, and reduce pressures on the health system. The programme was also expanded, and as a result, almost 1 million more people became eligible for the shingles vaccination.The expansion of the shingles programme currently includes those turning 65 years old on or after 1 September 2023, as well as those aged 50 years old and over who are at increased risk of serious complications. Once everyone aged 65 to 70 years old has received the vaccine, the eligible age will be reduced to 60 years old. Phasing the roll-out of the shingles vaccination over time to everyone aged 60 years old maximises cost effectiveness and population benefit, ensures consistent messaging over time to maximise coverage, and takes account of National Health Service capacity, all while being consistent with the approach taken by all four nations in the United Kingdom. This is a newly expanded programme, and anyone unsure if they are eligible for the shingles vaccination should check online, on the NHS.UK website, or should speak to their general practice.In November, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation provided advice to the Department on eligibility for the shingles vaccination programme. This included advice that the Government should consider expanding the shingles vaccination offer to include older adult cohorts aged 80 years old and over. The Department will consider this advice and will update in due course.

What discussions he has had with energy suppliers on providing additional support for households with energy bills in winter 2024-25.

The Government and industry have worked together to deliver a £500m Winter Support Commitment for customers, and we applaud suppliers stepping up on this matter. I also meet regularly with energy suppliers to outline the Government’s expectations of the standard of service that should be provided to their customers, including supporting vulnerable consumers and those struggling to pay their bills this winter. Additional energy suppliers are delivering Government support this winter through the Warm Home Discount, providing an annual £150 rebate off energy bills for eligible low-income households. As part of its Warm Homes Plan, the Government have committed an initial £3.4 billion over the next 3 years towards heat decarbonisation and household energy efficiency. At the Autumn Budget 2024, my Rt Hon Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that an additional £1 billion, including Barnett impact, will be invested to extend the Household Support Fund (HSF) in England until 31 March 2026, and to maintain Discretionary Housing Payments in England and Wales. This builds on the previous commitment of £421 million in England to extend the HSF until 31 March 2025.

What steps his Department is taking to improve the energy efficiency of homes for winter 2024-25.

There are multiple targeted schemes in place to deliver energy efficiency measures to low income and fuel poor households. Current schemes include the Energy Company Obligation (ECO), the Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS), the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF), and the Home Upgrade Grant (HUG). For this winter, support is also available through the Warm Home Discount scheme which provides eligible low-income households across Great Britain with a £150 rebate off their winter energy bill.