Written questions by Fuller.

Communities and Local Government, whether the Government intends to provide exceptional funding support to Bedford Borough Council to cover costs incurred as a result of the Cleat Hill explosion on 19 October 2024.

The impact of the explosion and fire and the tragic loss of life would have been traumatic and I have great sympathy for all those affected. The Department continues to engage directly with Bedford on its overall financial position, including communicating a response to the Council's request to activate the Bellwin scheme in relation to the Cleat Hill explosion. The Local Government Finance Policy Statement published on 20 November confirmed that there will continue to be a framework in place to support councils in the most difficult financial positions. This reflects the ongoing challenges for councils dealing with the legacy of the previous system, while the Government is delivering much needed reforms to the funding framework. Following the Policy Statement the Department issued technical guidance to councils which set out that they should confirm any request for support by 12 December, and that any decisions under this framework are usually taken shortly after the final Local Government Finance Settlement.

Whether he has considered including equestrianism within the definition of active travel for (a) planning and (b) other relevant policy purposes.

The Government has no plans to include equestrianism within the definition of active travel. Decisions on infrastructure to support horse-riding are a matter for local authorities. Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans enable local authorities to take a strategic approach to planning local walking and cycling improvements, and to integrate these into wider plans for transport and economic development. We encourage and expect local authorities to consult with local groups such as equestrians as part of their stakeholder engagement.

With reference to her Department's press release entitled Largest fund of its kind to support vulnerable kids & families, published on 14 July 2025, which organisation will manage the Better Futures Fund.

At the Spending Review, we committed to announcing further details on our plans for Social Impact Investing over the summer. This announcement – alongside the announcements to support low-income families made at SR25 – are a downpayment ahead of the Child Poverty Strategy being published in the autumn, and will form part of it. As per the press notice, the Better Futures Fund will be managed by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport in close collaboration with other departments and engagement with the impact investing sector. The Better Futures Fund was included in the Spending Review, under the Public Service Reform section. This was before it was named the BFF and was under the working title of ‘Social Impact Investing Vehicle’: The Better Futures Fund will support up to 200,000 children and their families over the next ten years by bringing together government, local communities, charities, social enterprises, investors, and philanthropists to work together to give children a brighter future.

With reference to her Department's press release entitled Largest fund of its kind to support vulnerable kids & families, published on 14 July 2025, for what reason the Better Futures Fund is not part of the Government’s Child Poverty Strategy.

At the Spending Review, we committed to announcing further details on our plans for Social Impact Investing over the summer. This announcement – alongside the announcements to support low-income families made at SR25 – are a downpayment ahead of the Child Poverty Strategy being published in the autumn, and will form part of it. As per the press notice, the Better Futures Fund will be managed by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport in close collaboration with other departments and engagement with the impact investing sector. The Better Futures Fund was included in the Spending Review, under the Public Service Reform section. This was before it was named the BFF and was under the working title of ‘Social Impact Investing Vehicle’: The Better Futures Fund will support up to 200,000 children and their families over the next ten years by bringing together government, local communities, charities, social enterprises, investors, and philanthropists to work together to give children a brighter future.

With reference to her Department's press release entitled Largest fund of its kind to support vulnerable kids & families, published on 14 July 2025, for what reason the Better Futures Fund was not announced at the Spending Review 2025.

At the Spending Review, we committed to announcing further details on our plans for Social Impact Investing over the summer. This announcement – alongside the announcements to support low-income families made at SR25 – are a downpayment ahead of the Child Poverty Strategy being published in the autumn, and will form part of it. As per the press notice, the Better Futures Fund will be managed by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport in close collaboration with other departments and engagement with the impact investing sector. The Better Futures Fund was included in the Spending Review, under the Public Service Reform section. This was before it was named the BFF and was under the working title of ‘Social Impact Investing Vehicle’: The Better Futures Fund will support up to 200,000 children and their families over the next ten years by bringing together government, local communities, charities, social enterprises, investors, and philanthropists to work together to give children a brighter future.

If she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the ongoing review of the customs treatment of low-value imports on tax revenue.

On 23rd April, the Government announced a review of the customs treatment for low value imports. Under our current low value import arrangements, consignments valued below £135 from any overseas retailer can be imported into the UK without incurring customs duty. VAT is due on all imports into the UK. Since the announcement, Ministers and officials have engaged with a wide range of stakeholders on the impact and operation of these arrangements to support our review. The outcomes of the engagement will help inform our next steps.

What assessment he has made of the capacity of the National Grid to provide (a) timely and (b) adequate connections in the context of estimated trends in the level of adoption of rooftop solar installations on commercial properties.

Ofgem recently made it easier for smaller generation projects (under 5MW in England and Wales) to connect, by removing the requirement for a transmission network impact assessment [1]. For larger projects, the implementation of connections reform will prioritise connections that are ready and aligned with our clean power 2030 ambitions. Furthermore, the next Ofgem price control for electricity distribution (ED3, 2028-2033) will promote strategic network investment ahead of need, including through the introduction of Regional Energy Strategic Plans (RESPs). This will enable the timely connection of rooftop solar and other low carbon electricity generation across Great Britain. [1] https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/decision/decision-approve-cmp446-increasing-lower-threshold-england-and-wales-evaluation-transmission-impact-assessment

What assessment his Department has made of the feasibility of installing a grid connection corridor along the A1 and A421 to enable commercial warehouses in that area to connect rooftop solar installations to the National Grid.

Distribution Network Operators are upgrading local electricity distribution networks across Great Britain to enable the connection of low carbon generation, including rooftop solar. For the current electricity distribution price control (RIIO-ED2, 2023-2028), Ofgem have allowed £22.2bn of upfront investment, including £3.1bn for network upgrades for low-carbon technologies. For the next electricity distribution price control (RIIO-ED3, 2028-2033), Regional Energy Strategic Plans (RESPs) will support strategic network investment ahead of need, on a locational basis. The government will continue to support Ofgem in ensuring that consumer costs are protected while enabling the network transformation required for net zero.

What categories of risk are defined by her Department for assessing the removal priority of people who have had their visas revoked.

The information requested is not currently available from published statistics, and the relevant data could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.As set out in legislation at section 10 of the Immigration Act 1999, all individuals who “require leave to enter or remain in the UK but do not have it” are liable to removal. This will therefore include individuals who have overstayed and those who have had visas revoked, as well as any other individual who is found to not have leave to enter or remain in the UK, such as those who have entered clandestinely or those who have used deception to secure entry to the UK. These rules are applied equally across all categories of immigration offenders.

What categories of risk are defined by her Department for assessing the removal priority of people who have overstayed their visas.

The information requested is not currently available from published statistics, and the relevant data could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.As set out in legislation at section 10 of the Immigration Act 1999, all individuals who “require leave to enter or remain in the UK but do not have it” are liable to removal. This will therefore include individuals who have overstayed and those who have had visas revoked, as well as any other individual who is found to not have leave to enter or remain in the UK, such as those who have entered clandestinely or those who have used deception to secure entry to the UK. These rules are applied equally across all categories of immigration offenders.

What the average cost per pupil was to construct a special educational needs school in the last five years.

New school buildings are delivered by the department, local authorities, and other bodies.The average cost of building a special educational needs school can be found on pages 25-29 in the national cost benchmarking study published at: https://documents.hants.gov.uk/property-services/NationalSchoolDeliveryBenchmarkingreport.pdf.This report contains cost information on local authority delivered schools and department-delivered schools, the data has been collected since 2012.Standards for new school buildings change over time, for example to increase sustainability requirements, so care should be taken in comparing costs directly year to year.

What the average cost of building a special educational needs school was in the last five years.

New school buildings are delivered by the department, local authorities, and other bodies.The average cost of building a special educational needs school can be found on pages 25-29 in the national cost benchmarking study published at: https://documents.hants.gov.uk/property-services/NationalSchoolDeliveryBenchmarkingreport.pdf.This report contains cost information on local authority delivered schools and department-delivered schools, the data has been collected since 2012.Standards for new school buildings change over time, for example to increase sustainability requirements, so care should be taken in comparing costs directly year to year.

When final disbursements will be made from the Woodford Equity Income Fund under the terms of the settlement scheme.

In December 2023, investors in the Woodford Equity Income Fund voted to accept a settlement scheme, and in February 2024 the High Court approved the scheme to make it binding on Link Fund Solutions and all creditors. The scheme came into force on 5 March 2024, with investors having received a first redress payment by April 2024. That first payment amounted to over £185 million, out of a settlement fund of up to £230 million. The rest of the settlement fund is being held as a reserve to enable Link Fund Solutions to meet any contingent liabilities. Any leftover money from the reserve will be distributed to investors covered by the scheme. The operation of the reserve is supervised by the scheme supervisors who are independent of Link Fund Solutions. The FCA are continuing to monitor the operation of the reserve and will monitor when and how distributions are being made.

What initiatives her Department has considered to help encourage the conversion of buses to electric power.

The transition to zero-emission buses (ZEBs) represents a great opportunity for UK bus manufacturers and repowering companies, both to supply the electric buses needed here in the UK and to win export orders abroad as other countries upgrade their bus fleets. The Government recognises the value that repower conversion can provide to advancing the decarbonisation of the bus fleet. We are encouraged by recent developments in the sector, including continued orders placed by operators for repowered buses in depots that have been electrified under ZEBRA. Future bus funding is still being considered in the round as part of the Spending Review, including funding to support ZEBs.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to employer National Insurance contributions on provisional supply teachers.

Additional funding to support schools with NICs costs will be allocated through the NICs grant in 2025-26. Schools will have flexibility over how they use this grant funding to meet their costs, including those relating to supply teachers.

Communities and Local Government, what consideration she has given to providing financial support to Bedford Borough Council for extraordinary expenses arising from the Cleat Hill gas explosion.

Bedford Borough Council submitted a formal request on 27th March 2025 for Bellwin Scheme financial support for their immediate response costs arising from the Cleat Hill gas explosion that occurred in October 2024. We will now review the information provided by the Council and then decide what if any financial assistance may be provided through the Bellwin Scheme for the Council’s eligible costs in respect of this tragic incident.

With reference to paragraph 2.43 of the Spring Statement of 26 March 2025, what the £150 million provided for government employee exit schemes will be spent on; and how much and what proportion of this is for redundancy payments.

As announced at Spring Statement the government has allocated £150 million for government employee exit schemes. Information can be found in the Spring Statement supporting documentation here:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67e3ec2df356a2dc0e39b488/E03274109_HMT_Spring_Statement_Mar_25_Web_Accessible_.pdf. This will be match-funded by a further £150 million from Departments. Exit schemes will enable delivery of leaner, smarter, more efficient government, whilst delivering savings over the medium term. Departments will bid for funding from this central pot in order to run exit schemes, and therefore the exact details of how this will be spent is not yet known.

How many Government Procurement cards have been issued to staff in her private office.

2 Government Procurement cards have been issued to Private Office staff.

Which government departments have undergone efficiency assessments by the Office for Value for Money.

The Office for Value for Money is working with departments to root out waste and inefficiency. It will do this by working with departments to agree stretching and realistic technical efficiency targets, underpinned by robust delivery plans.All departments and their arm's-length bodies are in scope for this piece of work.The Office will target areas where it can have the most impact, rather than duplicating the work of others. It is the role of the Crown Commercial Service to review framework agreements.

What role the Office for Value for Money plays in assessing the efficiency of government procurement processes; and whether it has been involved in reviewing framework agreements.

The Office for Value for Money is working with departments to root out waste and inefficiency. It will do this by working with departments to agree stretching and realistic technical efficiency targets, underpinned by robust delivery plans.All departments and their arm's-length bodies are in scope for this piece of work.The Office will target areas where it can have the most impact, rather than duplicating the work of others. It is the role of the Crown Commercial Service to review framework agreements.