Written questions by Patel.

Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to extend the statutory override on the treatment of deficits to the dedicated schools grant after the 2025-26 financial year.

We will work with the sector when considering how we can help councils manage the impacts of Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) deficits on their finances.This Government recognises the vital work that local councils do for their communities, and we stand ready to speak to any council that is experiencing financial difficulties.

What the (a) average and (b) total cost of financial support provided to asylum seekers at the Wethersfield site was in the last 12 months.

Cost information is prospective and commercially sensitive, and as such is not available to be released.The Home Office publishes information on asylum expenditure in the Home Office Annual Report and Accounts at HO annual reports and accounts - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)(opens in a new tab). It does not publish a breakdown of statistics which disaggregates asylum accommodation costs by type or location.Asylum seekers who are resident in accommodation where meals are provided, such as Wethersfield, are in receipt of 8.86 per week. Further details about support asylum seekers may be entitled to can be found at Asylum support: What you'll get - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

What estimate her Department has made of the cost of operating the Wethersfield site for asylum accommodation in each of the next five years.

Cost information is prospective and commercially sensitive, and as such is not available to be released.The Home Office publishes information on asylum expenditure in the Home Office Annual Report and Accounts at HO annual reports and accounts - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)(opens in a new tab). It does not publish a breakdown of statistics which disaggregates asylum accommodation costs by type or location.Asylum seekers who are resident in accommodation where meals are provided, such as Wethersfield, are in receipt of 8.86 per week. Further details about support asylum seekers may be entitled to can be found at Asylum support: What you'll get - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

Whether her Department plans to continue to use the Wethersfield site to provide accommodation for asylum seekers.

The government inherited an asylum system under unprecedented strain. We have taken immediate action to restart asylum processing which will save an estimated £7 billion for the taxpayer over the next ten years, and are delivering a major uplift in returns to remove people with no right to be in the UK. Over the long term this will reduce our reliance on hotels and costs of accommodation.Occupancy at the Wethersfield site is currently capped at 580 as part of the Special Development Order. This means that during current operation of the site, the population will not exceed 580.Once the relevant Special Development Order conditions have been discharged, regular occupancy will be capped at 800.The number of residents on the site at any one time is likely to vary due to a number of factors, including individuals having moved to onward dispersed accommodation while their claims are being considered.

What estimate her Department has made of the number of small boat arrivals there will be by the end of (a) 2024 and (b) 2025.

The Home Office does not make estimates of this kind.

What estimate her Department has made of the number of asylum seekers who will be accommodated at Wethersfield in (a) 2024 and (b) each of the next five years.

The government inherited an asylum system under unprecedented strain. We have taken immediate action to restart asylum processing which will save an estimated £7 billion for the taxpayer over the next ten years, and are delivering a major uplift in returns to remove people with no right to be in the UK. Over the long term this will reduce our reliance on hotels and costs of accommodation.Occupancy at the Wethersfield site is currently capped at 580 as part of the Special Development Order. This means that during current operation of the site, the population will not exceed 580.Once the relevant Special Development Order conditions have been discharged, regular occupancy will be capped at 800.The number of residents on the site at any one time is likely to vary due to a number of factors, including individuals having moved to onward dispersed accommodation while their claims are being considered.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many asylum seekers in the British Indian Ocean Territory have received medical treatment in the last three years; in what countries that treatment was provided; and at what cost.

The FCDO provides funding to the BIOT Administration for the good governance of the Territory, which includes the costs of supporting the migrants there, whose welfare and safety is paramount, as well as their rights to patient confidentiality. They have access to 24/7 medical care from a team of doctors, paramedics, registered nurses and mental health practitioners, contracted by the BIOT Administration. Where treatment cannot be provided in the BIOT, urgent medical transfers organised or specialists can be brought to the island. Given the broad range of medical services provided in a number of different locations over a three-year period, the detailed information requested cannot be provided except at a disproportionate cost.

If she will provide funding for the A12 widening scheme.

On 30 July 2024, the Secretary of State announced that she was commissioning a review of the Department’s capital spend portfolio. This review is ongoing and will support the development of our long-term strategy for transport, developing a modern and integrated network with people at its heart, ensuring that transport infrastructure can be delivered efficiently and on time. The A12 Chelmsford to A120 widening scheme is being considered as part of the capital review alongside other future road projects.

What funding she has allocated to Essex County Council for highways in each of the next five years.

This Government takes the condition of local roads very seriously and is committed to maintaining and renewing the local road network. Within the Budget on 30 October, the Chancellor announced that for the 2025/26 financial year there would be a £500 million increase for local highways maintenance funding in England, an increase of nearly 50% compared to the current financial year. Funding allocations for specific local highway authorities for 2025/26, including Essex County Council, will be confirmed in due course. Funding allocations for individual local highway authorities beyond 2025/26 will be a matter for the forthcoming Spending Review.

When she will provide local authorities with (a) their allocation of the Household Support Fund for 2025-26 and (b) guidance for the use of that fund.

In the Autumn Budget on 30 October 2024, the Chancellor announced that the Government will provide £1 billion, including Barnett impact, to extend the Household Support Fund (HSF) in England and maintain Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) in England and Wales in 2025-2026.The Household Support Fund scheme guidance and individual Local Authority funding allocations for the forthcoming extension will be announced as soon as possible ahead of the scheme beginning on 1 April 2025.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the memorandum of understanding with the Government of St Helena, agreed on 15 October 2024, if he will publish (a) the accounting officer’s advice on the scheme, (b) the costings of the scheme, (c) the details of the accommodation that will be provided and (d) the assessment of the potential merits of using St Helena.

We do not routinely publish policy advice and assessments from officials. The UK Government has agreed to a one-off funding of £6.65million with the Government of St Helena for initiatives to improve public health and education outcomes, and also local IT systems. The UK Government will support the Government of St Helena to care for and process any potential migrants. The St Helena Government will be responsible for determining what accommodation should be provided to any migrants transferred, with technical support from the UK Government.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the interim arrangements set out in the memorandum of understanding between the UK Government and the Government of St Helena on migrant arrivals on (a) the number of migrants, (b) the cost per migrant and (c) the estimated time that migrants covered by this provision will stay on St Helena.

No new migrants have arrived on the British Indian Ocean Territory since 2022.  The UK will support the Government of St Helena to care and process any potential migrants. Each case will be unique and the UK will provide the necessary support to the Government of St Helena.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to employer National Insurance contributions on (a) local government salary related costs and (b) local government third party spend costs.

We have announced £1.3 billion of new grant funding in 2025/26 for local government to deliver core services, of which at least £600 million is for social care.The Government has committed to provide support for departments and other public sector employers for additional employer NICs costs. This applies to those directly employed by the public sector, including local government.

If she will provide funding for the A120 dual carriageway scheme.

The A120 Braintree to A12 dualling scheme is part of the pipeline of projects being considered for possible delivery as part of a future Road Investment Strategy beyond 2030.

If she will provide funding to improve step-free access at railway stations.

The Government is committed to improving the accessibility of the railway and recognises the social and economic benefits this brings to communities. Since its launch in 2006, the Access for All programme has delivered step free access at more than 250 stations across Great Britain. Since April 2024, Access for All projects have entered into passenger service at nine stations, with a further 25 stations scheduled to enter into passenger service by April 2025.

With reference to paragraph 2.40 of the Autumn Budget 2024, HC 295, published on 30 October 2024, whether she has made an estimate of (a) the number of (i) businesses and (ii) employers in (A) Witham constituency and (B) Essex that will be affected by the proposed increase in the rate of employer National Insurance Contributions (NIC) and (b) the amount of employer NIC revenue that will raised from those areas in each of the next five years as a result.

Estimates of the number of businesses nor revenue raised from businesses in Witham and Essex from changes to Employer NICs announced at Autumn Budget 2024 are not available.

Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to (a) continue the Adult Social Care Precept and (b) amend the Council Tax referendum limit.

The Government is committed to keeping taxes on working people as low as possible. Decisions of the future of local authority funding are a matter for the Local Government Finance Settlement which will report in the coming months.

What funding she plans to provide to Essex County Council for highways in each of the next five years.

This Government takes the condition of local roads very seriously and is committed to maintaining and renewing the local road network. To this end, we will provide authorities with funding to help them fix up to one million more potholes across England in each year of this parliament. Essex County Council will receive £34.5 million from the Department for Transport during 2024/25 to enable it to carry out its local highway maintenance responsibilities. Funding for future years is a matter for the Spending Review.

Whether she has had recent discussions with National Highways on the planned timetable for work on the A12 Chelmsford to A120 widening scheme.

On 30 July 2024, the Secretary of State announced that she was commissioning a review of the Department’s capital spend portfolio. This review will support the development of our long-term strategy for transport, developing a modern and integrated network with people at its heart, ensuring that transport infrastructure can be delivered efficiently and on time. I regularly meet with National Highways to discuss a range of matters and will continue to do so during the capital review and after.

If she will provide additional funding to National Highways for the A12 Chelmsford to A120 widening scheme.

On 30 July 2024, the Secretary of State announced that she was commissioning a review of the Department’s capital spend portfolio. This review will support the development of our long-term strategy for transport, developing a modern and integrated network with people at its heart, ensuring that transport infrastructure can be delivered efficiently and on time. The A12 Chelmsford to A120 widening scheme will be considered as part of the capital review alongside other future road projects and, as the Rt Hon Member will know, major investment decisions are a matter for the forthcoming Spending Review.