Written questions by Maskell.

What plans her Department has to assess the impact of losing PIP to people in employment.

Approximately 17% of current PIP claimants are in employment.The Office of Budget Responsibility has committed to produce an assessment of the labour market impacts of the proposals in the Pathways to Work Green Paper at the time of the autumn budget.Information on the impacts of the Pathways to Work Green Paper has been published here ‘Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper’(opens in a new tab).A further programme of analysis to support development of the proposals in the Green Paper will be developed and undertaken in the coming months.

What plans her Department has to provide support to people who are unable to secure employment after the transition period.

We are delivering the biggest investment in support for disabled people and those with health conditions in at least a generation. Our Pathways to Work Guarantee will provide work, health and skills support for disabled people and those with health conditions claiming out of work benefits.We are increasing funding each year up to £1billion a year by the end of the scorecard. This includes additional funding in 2026/27 to ensure that those affected by benefit changes in England, Scotland and Wales will be offered support with their work, health and skills needs. We anticipate this support will include: access to a conversation about needs, goals and aspirations from one of our 1,000 dedicated Pathways to Work advisors; an offer of one-to-one follow-on support; and help to access additional work, health and skills support through dedicated programmes.These programmes include Connect to Work, which is already rolling out and will support around 100,000 disabled people, people with health conditions or other complex barriers to employment in 2026/27, Trailblazers and WorkWell, which join up health and employment support at a local level.We are also consulting on what broader support might be needed for those affected by PIP changes, including improving their experiences of the health and social care system, and will consider these responses as we develop detailed proposals for change.

What steps she is planning to take to support disabled people following the potential loss of (a) Universal Credit and (b) PIP.

Our plans are designed to protect the most vulnerable and give disabled people equal chances and choices to work. We will always work to ensure that the most vulnerable and severely disabled people are protected and consider how best we can support people as we bring forward reforms – which is why we have put protections on the face of our Bill. We are very mindful of the impacts of PIP eligibility changes and that is why we are consulting on how best to support those who may lose entitlement. It is why we have committed that existing claimants who lose eligibility as a result of these changes will continue to receive PIP and its associated benefits and entitlements for 13 weeks following their award review. This transitional cover is one of the most generous ever and more than three times the length of protection provided for the transition from DLA to PIP. We are investing £200 million in 2026/27 to ensure everyone who loses PIP is guaranteed access to an adviser to help with work, health and skills support. As set out in the Green Paper and the Bill, we are taking further action to protect people with most severe, lifelong conditions. We will ensure this group are protected from future reassessment for Universal Credit entitlement and paid the higher rate of the Universal Credit health top-up so they can live with dignity and security. We are also working closely with DHSC as we develop the detail on these policies, to ensure eligible health and care needs are met. We will continue to consider the wider impacts of reforms including on local authorities. Further details on these changes will be set out in a White Paper in the Autumn.

What plans her Department has to assess the increased cost of (a) health and (b) social care on people following the loss of (i) PIP and (ii) Universal Credit health element.

Our plans are designed to protect the most vulnerable and give disabled people equal chances and choices to work. We will always work to ensure that the most vulnerable and severely disabled people are protected and consider how best we can support people as we bring forward reforms – which is why we have put protections on the face of our Bill. We are very mindful of the impacts of PIP eligibility changes and that is why we are consulting on how best to support those who may lose entitlement. It is why we have committed that existing claimants who lose eligibility as a result of these changes will continue to receive PIP and its associated benefits and entitlements for 13 weeks following their award review. This transitional cover is one of the most generous ever and more than three times the length of protection provided for the transition from DLA to PIP. We are investing £200 million in 2026/27 to ensure everyone who loses PIP is guaranteed access to an adviser to help with work, health and skills support. As set out in the Green Paper and the Bill, we are taking further action to protect people with most severe, lifelong conditions. We will ensure this group are protected from future reassessment for Universal Credit entitlement and paid the higher rate of the Universal Credit health top-up so they can live with dignity and security. We are also working closely with DHSC as we develop the detail on these policies, to ensure eligible health and care needs are met. We will continue to consider the wider impacts of reforms including on local authorities. Further details on these changes will be set out in a White Paper in the Autumn.

What steps she is taking to ensure that people who lose (a) PIP and (b) the Universal Credit health element have timely access to (a) psychological services and (b) suicide prevention professionals during the transition period.

We are aware from working closely with health colleagues that there is increased anxiety relating to the Green Paper changes resulting in people seeking health related support.We want to reassure people that the changes to PIP will not come into effect immediately. The changes will apply from November 2026 at a person’s next award review. If an existing claimant loses eligibility to PIP, they will continue to receive their full entitlement for 13 weeks after their award review. This will provide time for individuals to respond to their new situation, including accessing employment support if appropriate. This transitional cover is more than three times the length of protection provided for the transition from DLA to PIP.Through the Pathways to Work Green Paper, the Department is consulting on what else is needed to support those who lose entitlement due to the reforms, including how to make sure that health and eligible care needs are met. The Department has secured the first ever multi year settlement for the household support fund – now the crisis and resilience fund, which gives councils certainty about the money they are getting to help people struggling. Guidance has been issued strongly encouraging Local Authorities in England to support disabled people using the Household Support Fund through the new Crisis and Resilience Fund which starts from April 2026However, we do recognise this will still be concerning for people - and that, as a department, we come into contact with some claimants who have complex needs or are vulnerable. The department already has processes in place to support and safeguard people who use our services, and we will continue to provide this support as changes are taken forward.If someone within a job centre is identified as being at risk of suicide, there is the 6-point plan that will be invoked. We already have robust safeguarding processes in place during the assessments where our trained health care professionals can make contact with the claimant’s GP or mental health team if they are concerned that there has been or is a risk of deterioration to the mental or physical health of an individual.We want to go further so that there is a clear and transparent process in place to ensure vulnerable individuals are adequately supported. In the Green Paper Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working published on 18 March we have committed to undertaking a thorough review of our current approach to safeguarding, with the aim of developing and implementing a new departmental-wide approach.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to social security payments after a three month transition period on disabled people.

We are aware from working closely with health colleagues that there is increased anxiety relating to the Green Paper changes resulting in people seeking health related support.We want to reassure people that the changes to PIP will not come into effect immediately. The changes will apply from November 2026 at a person’s next award review. If an existing claimant loses eligibility to PIP, they will continue to receive their full entitlement for 13 weeks after their award review. This will provide time for individuals to respond to their new situation, including accessing employment support if appropriate. This transitional cover is more than three times the length of protection provided for the transition from DLA to PIP.Through the Pathways to Work Green Paper, the Department is consulting on what else is needed to support those who lose entitlement due to the reforms, including how to make sure that health and eligible care needs are met. The Department has secured the first ever multi year settlement for the household support fund – now the crisis and resilience fund, which gives councils certainty about the money they are getting to help people struggling. Guidance has been issued strongly encouraging Local Authorities in England to support disabled people using the Household Support Fund through the new Crisis and Resilience Fund which starts from April 2026However, we do recognise this will still be concerning for people - and that, as a department, we come into contact with some claimants who have complex needs or are vulnerable. The department already has processes in place to support and safeguard people who use our services, and we will continue to provide this support as changes are taken forward.If someone within a job centre is identified as being at risk of suicide, there is the 6-point plan that will be invoked. We already have robust safeguarding processes in place during the assessments where our trained health care professionals can make contact with the claimant’s GP or mental health team if they are concerned that there has been or is a risk of deterioration to the mental or physical health of an individual.We want to go further so that there is a clear and transparent process in place to ensure vulnerable individuals are adequately supported. In the Green Paper Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working published on 18 March we have committed to undertaking a thorough review of our current approach to safeguarding, with the aim of developing and implementing a new departmental-wide approach.

Whether it is her Department's policy that local authorities will be required to subsidise the loss of (a) PIP and (b) Universal Credit Health Element to disabled people.

Our plans are designed to protect the most vulnerable and give disabled people equal chances and choices to work. We will always work to ensure that the most vulnerable and severely disabled people are protected and consider how best we can support people as we bring forward reforms – which is why we have put protections on the face of our Bill. We are very mindful of the impacts of PIP eligibility changes and that is why we are consulting on how best to support those who may lose entitlement. It is why we have committed that existing claimants who lose eligibility as a result of these changes will continue to receive PIP and its associated benefits and entitlements for 13 weeks following their award review. This transitional cover is one of the most generous ever and more than three times the length of protection provided for the transition from DLA to PIP. We are investing £200 million in 2026/27 to ensure everyone who loses PIP is guaranteed access to an adviser to help with work, health and skills support. As set out in the Green Paper and the Bill, we are taking further action to protect people with most severe, lifelong conditions. We will ensure this group are protected from future reassessment for Universal Credit entitlement and paid the higher rate of the Universal Credit health top-up so they can live with dignity and security. We are also working closely with DHSC as we develop the detail on these policies, to ensure eligible health and care needs are met. We will continue to consider the wider impacts of reforms including on local authorities. Further details on these changes will be set out in a White Paper in the Autumn.

Pursuant to the Answer of 11 June 2025 to Question 56822 on Israel: Military Aid, what assessment he has made of the potential risk of members of the UK armed forces training the IDF personnel.

Fewer than five IDF personnel are currently enrolled in non-combat military academic courses in the UK. The UK has a long history of providing assistance to other nations in the security and justice fields and continues to do so around the world. The Ministry of Defence’s provision of such assistance is assessed carefully on a case-by-case basis. UK training courses promote British values, including human rights, democracy and compliance with international humanitarian law.

What assessment he has made of (a) the level of future social care need and (b) the potential impact tof this level of need on the social care (a) estate and (b) workforce.

The Department uses estimated future demand for adult social care (ASC) over a 20 year period, which is published by the Care Policy and Evaluation Centre at the London School of Economics.The Department uses these published estimates when assessing ASC cost pressures, which are shared with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to inform the Local Government Finance Settlement. The departments’ estimates of cost pressures reflect a range of inputs into social care services, including estates and the workforce.

What assessment has she made of the adequacy of funding for organisations in the voluntary community sector working in the area of sexual violence.

The Ministry of Justice provides funding for victim and witness support services, including community-based domestic abuse and sexual violence services, in addition to core funding for Police and Crime Commissioners to allocate at their discretion, based on their assessment of local need.To ensure these services can continue to be delivered, I have protected dedicated Violence Against Women and Girls victims spending in the Department by maintaining 2024-25 funding levels for ringfenced sexual violence and domestic abuse support this year. This includes the Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Fund grant for specialist sexual violence support services.Now that the Department has its Spending Review settlement, there will be a process within the Department to allocate this budget to individual areas, including victims funding. This will require difficult and carefully considered decisions to balance priorities within the Ministry of Justice.

What steps he is taking to help support local authorities to acquire property from NHS Property Services.

Bootham Park Hospital was declared surplus to National Health Service operational requirements in 2017 and was fully vacated in 2018. The NHS Property Services (NHSPS), which owns and manages the site, is required to dispose of surplus assets in accordance with HM Treasury's Managing Public Money, Cabinet Office heritage guidance, and its mandate to achieve best value to enable reinvestment into the NHS. Bootham Park Hospital is no longer suitable for healthcare use and has been classified as surplus to requirement for the provision of healthcare.If public sector bodies such as a local authority wish to purchase a property from the NHSPS to facilitate the delivery of alternative public services from the building, they would be able to register their interest and make an offer. When disposing of surplus healthcare assets, all such sites are expected to be advertised to public sector bodies before wider marketing activity commences. If there is no economically viable expression of interest from another public sector body, then it is up to the NHSPS to determine the most appropriate marketing strategy to deliver the best value from the sale, in accordance with requirements set out HM Treasury’s guidance on Managing Public Money.The NHSPS engaged with City of York Council and other public sector bodies through the One Public Estate programme, during which no viable public sector use was identified. In October 2023, the NHSPS formally invited bids via a tender process following the withdrawal of a prospective purchaser from the sale process. No bids were received from City of York Council or any other public sector bodies in that or any earlier sale process.The NHSPS has subsequently entered negotiations with private sector parties and agreed the terms for sale to a purchaser with planning consent in place, which will see the site converted for retirement living. The sale has been structured to deliver best value while securing a range of public benefits.The agreed disposal arrangements include substantial community and public benefits as part of the redevelopment proposals. Financially, the transaction sale proceeds will be reinvested directly into the NHS estate. Disposal of the property in its current form for public sector or community ownership would not deliver these benefits, neither would releasing this site as a community asset to the City of York.

If he will release Bootham Park Hospital as a community asset to the city of York.

Bootham Park Hospital was declared surplus to National Health Service operational requirements in 2017 and was fully vacated in 2018. The NHS Property Services (NHSPS), which owns and manages the site, is required to dispose of surplus assets in accordance with HM Treasury's Managing Public Money, Cabinet Office heritage guidance, and its mandate to achieve best value to enable reinvestment into the NHS. Bootham Park Hospital is no longer suitable for healthcare use and has been classified as surplus to requirement for the provision of healthcare.If public sector bodies such as a local authority wish to purchase a property from the NHSPS to facilitate the delivery of alternative public services from the building, they would be able to register their interest and make an offer. When disposing of surplus healthcare assets, all such sites are expected to be advertised to public sector bodies before wider marketing activity commences. If there is no economically viable expression of interest from another public sector body, then it is up to the NHSPS to determine the most appropriate marketing strategy to deliver the best value from the sale, in accordance with requirements set out HM Treasury’s guidance on Managing Public Money.The NHSPS engaged with City of York Council and other public sector bodies through the One Public Estate programme, during which no viable public sector use was identified. In October 2023, the NHSPS formally invited bids via a tender process following the withdrawal of a prospective purchaser from the sale process. No bids were received from City of York Council or any other public sector bodies in that or any earlier sale process.The NHSPS has subsequently entered negotiations with private sector parties and agreed the terms for sale to a purchaser with planning consent in place, which will see the site converted for retirement living. The sale has been structured to deliver best value while securing a range of public benefits.The agreed disposal arrangements include substantial community and public benefits as part of the redevelopment proposals. Financially, the transaction sale proceeds will be reinvested directly into the NHS estate. Disposal of the property in its current form for public sector or community ownership would not deliver these benefits, neither would releasing this site as a community asset to the City of York.

What steps he is taking to integrate the health and social care (a) workforce and (b) terms and conditions.

Much of the responsibility of the adult social care (ASC) workforce, including their terms and conditions, rests with ASC employers, who are largely private providers. The terms and conditions for National Health Service staff, including those on the Agenda for Change contract, are agreed in partnership by the relevant joint negotiating committees.The Government is introducing the first ever Fair Pay Agreement to the ASC sector so that care professionals are recognised and rewarded for the important work that they do. The scope of fair pay agreements is yet to be determined. Following engagement and consultation with the sector, further detail will be set out in secondary legislation with regards to the negotiating body’s remit.The Department has launched an independent commission into ASC as part of our critical first steps towards delivering a National Care Service. The commission forms a key part of the Government’s Plan for Change, recognising the importance of ASC in its own right, as well as its role in supporting the NHS.

How much the NHS has spent on Bootham Park Hospital since it closed in September 2015.

Since the site was fully vacated in 2018, the NHS Property Services (NHSPS) has spent £5 million on holding costs, including site security, and building and grounds maintenance, for the Bootham Park Hospital site.The NHSPS has assessed that the investment required to bring Bootham Park Hospital back into operational use would be very significant, given the current estimate for backlog maintenance and operating costs. When the decision was taken in 2018 to permanently decommission Bootham Park Hospital, the estimate at that point was that over £30 million was needed to make the site safe, in order to provide operational National Health Services, and this will have significantly increased since then. The NHSPS continues to undertake essential maintenance to the building in the period the asset has been held for sale.

What recent assessment NHS Property Services has made of the state of repair of Bootham Park Hospital.

Since the site was fully vacated in 2018, the NHS Property Services (NHSPS) has spent £5 million on holding costs, including site security, and building and grounds maintenance, for the Bootham Park Hospital site.The NHSPS has assessed that the investment required to bring Bootham Park Hospital back into operational use would be very significant, given the current estimate for backlog maintenance and operating costs. When the decision was taken in 2018 to permanently decommission Bootham Park Hospital, the estimate at that point was that over £30 million was needed to make the site safe, in order to provide operational National Health Services, and this will have significantly increased since then. The NHSPS continues to undertake essential maintenance to the building in the period the asset has been held for sale.

What steps he is taking to increase recruitment of social care workers.

English local authorities have responsibility under the Care Act 2014 to meet social care needs and statutory guidance directs them to ensure there is sufficient workforce in adult social care (ASC).The Government recognises the scale of reforms needed to make the ASC sector attractive, to support sustainable workforce growth and improve the recruitment and retention of the domestic workforce. This is why we are introducing the first ever Fair Pay Agreement so that care professionals are recognised and rewarded for the important work that they do. As we work towards a Fair Pay Agreement, the Government will engage all those who draw upon care, as well as those that work to provide care and support. We will also consult local authorities, unions, and others from across the sector.We are supporting the professionalisation of the ASC workforce, through expanding the Care Workforce Pathway, including registered manager and deputy manager roles. The Pathway will set out how people can develop across a long-term career in adult social care with support and training; attracting people to join and remain in the sector.The Market Sustainability and Improvement Fund (MSIF) will provide over £1 billion for adult social care to local authorities over 2025/26. MSIF is designed to support increased adult social care capacity and improve market sustainability. One of the three target areas local authorities can spend their allocation on is increasing adult social care workforce recruitment and retention.

If he will dispose Bootham Park Hospital to (a) the local authority and (b) other groups.

Bootham Park Hospital was declared surplus to National Health Service operational requirements in 2017 and was fully vacated in 2018. The NHS Property Services (NHSPS), which owns and manages the site, is required to dispose of surplus assets in accordance with HM Treasury's Managing Public Money, Cabinet Office heritage guidance, and its mandate to achieve best value to enable reinvestment into the NHS. Bootham Park Hospital is no longer suitable for healthcare use and has been classified as surplus to requirement for the provision of healthcare.If public sector bodies such as a local authority wish to purchase a property from the NHSPS to facilitate the delivery of alternative public services from the building, they would be able to register their interest and make an offer. When disposing of surplus healthcare assets, all such sites are expected to be advertised to public sector bodies before wider marketing activity commences. If there is no economically viable expression of interest from another public sector body, then it is up to the NHSPS to determine the most appropriate marketing strategy to deliver the best value from the sale, in accordance with requirements set out HM Treasury’s guidance on Managing Public Money.The NHSPS engaged with City of York Council and other public sector bodies through the One Public Estate programme, during which no viable public sector use was identified. In October 2023, the NHSPS formally invited bids via a tender process following the withdrawal of a prospective purchaser from the sale process. No bids were received from City of York Council or any other public sector bodies in that or any earlier sale process.The NHSPS has subsequently entered negotiations with private sector parties and agreed the terms for sale to a purchaser with planning consent in place, which will see the site converted for retirement living. The sale has been structured to deliver best value while securing a range of public benefits.The agreed disposal arrangements include substantial community and public benefits as part of the redevelopment proposals. Financially, the transaction sale proceeds will be reinvested directly into the NHS estate. Disposal of the property in its current form for public sector or community ownership would not deliver these benefits, neither would releasing this site as a community asset to the City of York.

What steps is her Department taking to fund voluntary community sector organisations to support people leaving prison as part of her Sentencing Review.

I recognise the valuable role of the thousands of voluntary organisations that work in partnership with probation to provide vital support to people serving their sentence in prison, in the community and people returning to the community after prison.The Government has welcomed the findings and recommendations of the Rt Hon David Gauke’s Independent Sentencing Review. This includes specific recommendations on increasing the role of the third sector in supporting offenders in the community. My Department is exploring the best approach to implementing these recommendations as part of the wider programme of reform that we are taking forward to implement the Sentencing Review. We will look to work with the Third Sector on these recommendations.These reforms are backed by significant investment of up to £700 million in the Probation Service by the final year of the Spending Review. We are currently finalising the allocations process to set internal budgets for the spending period, including how this probation settlement will be spent.

What steps he plans to take to ensure (a) MPs, (b) care provider organisations, (c) VCS and (d) other stakeholders are included in the Independent Commission on Adult Social Care.

The Terms of Reference are sufficiently broad to enable the commission to independently consider how to build a social care system fit for the future. The commission is independent and will consider its own plans on how to engage with stakeholders and lead a national conversation on how best to meet the current and future needs of the population.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of reductions to international development aid on (a) women and (b) children.

The UK remains committed to empowering women and girls around the world through our international work. We recognise that supporting women and girls is essential for development and we will continue to do so by using our voice to be a champion for women and girls across the world; working with women's organisations, particularly local organisations; and mainstreaming gender equality to put women and girls at the heart of everything we do.The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is focused on ensuring that every pound is spent in the most impactful way. Equality Impact Assessments - which consider impacts on women and girls - are an essential part of how we make decisions on Offical Development Assistance (ODA) allocations. We intend to publish final 2025/26 ODA programme allocations in the FCDO Annual Report and Accounts this summer.