Written questions by Allin-Khan.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of Section 133 (1ZA) of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 on people wrongly convicted of crimes.

Section 133 of the Criminal Justice Act provides for the Secretary of State to pay compensation to an individual who has suffered a miscarriage of justice, subject to meeting the statutory test. This is administrated by the Miscarriages of Justice Application Service (MOJAS). Annual data is published on MOJAS setting out number of applications and who is eligible for compensation.The Law Commission is currently undertaking a review of the criminal appeals process, including the test for compensation payable for miscarriages of justice under section 133, and we look forward to their report in 2026.

When he plans to respond to the correspondence of 24 June, 1 August and 15 September 2025 from the hon. Member for Tooting relating to case reference RA69084.

The Department of Business and Trade aims to respond to correspondence in 15 working days. This case has been transferred to the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) to answer.

Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to help support tenants who are unable to secure new tenancies due to private landlords failing to provide references upon request.

Where a landlord has requested a reference from a previous landlord and is unable to obtain this, we encourage landlords to make use of other available referencing criteria to give them and the tenant the confidence that the tenancy is suitable. This is already common practice for tenants renting for the first time or those from abroad. Local authorities may also offer guarantee schemes or assistance with rent payments to help people on low incomes or at risk of homelessness to secure a property when they may otherwise struggle to do so. The Government has no plans to introduce a statutory duty for landlords to provide tenants references when requested.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of making it a statutory duty for landlords to provide tenant references when requested.

Where a landlord has requested a reference from a previous landlord and is unable to obtain this, we encourage landlords to make use of other available referencing criteria to give them and the tenant the confidence that the tenancy is suitable. This is already common practice for tenants renting for the first time or those from abroad. Local authorities may also offer guarantee schemes or assistance with rent payments to help people on low incomes or at risk of homelessness to secure a property when they may otherwise struggle to do so. The Government has no plans to introduce a statutory duty for landlords to provide tenants references when requested.

What steps his Department is taking to help support green energy businesses in Tooting.

Net zero is the economic and industrial opportunity of the 21st century. The net zero economy has become a significant driver of growth and jobs in the UK where over 94% of employers are SMEs [1]. The Government is working in partnership with businesses to support their transition to net zero, including through the Net Zero Council. The Council’s work includes supporting sectors to develop transition plans and supporting SMEs to innovate, grow and decarbonise. The Boiler Upgrade Scheme continues to provide grants of up to £7,500 for small non-domestic property owners, with the threshold for single heat pump installations set at 45kWh. [1] Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit | The future is green: The…

What recent discussions his Department has had with energy producers on energy prices.

Details of Ministers' and Permanent Secretaries' meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK

Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has had recent discussions with L&Q housing association.

Officials in MHCLG regularly engage with representatives from across the housing sector, including local authorities, housing associations, developers and other groups.Ministerial meetings are published quarterly on gov.uk here.

Whether his Department holds information on the solar capacity produced by domestic solar installations in Tooting.

Our latest figures show that Tooting has a domestic solar PV capacity of 2MW across 542 installations.Monthly statistics on the deployment of solar photovoltaics are published by capacity, parliamentary constituency, and accreditation in the United Kingdom on the data.gov.uk website.

What her Department's timetable is for publishing the Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper.

The department published the Post-16 education and skills white paper on 20 October 2025.The white paper sets out comprehensive reforms to build a world-leading skills system that break down barriers to opportunity, meets student and employers’ needs, widens access to high quality education and training, supports innovation, research and development, and improves people’s lives.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the level of independence of the Property Redress Service.

My Department monitors the performance of Property Redress through monthly data returns and regular governance meetings. We take all complaints about their services seriously. Where they arise, we challenge the schemes if we receive suggestions that they have failed to meet the standards to which they subscribe. We are satisfied with the responses to date. Property Redress are approved as a competent alternative dispute resolution provider under the Alternative Dispute Resolution for Consumer Disputes (Competent Authorities and Information) Regulations 2015. As part of this, they are subject to periodic review and required to demonstrate how their decision making remains independent.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Property Redress Service in dealing with complaints.

My Department monitors the performance of Property Redress through monthly data returns and regular governance meetings. We take all complaints about their services seriously. Where they arise, we challenge the schemes if we receive suggestions that they have failed to meet the standards to which they subscribe. We are satisfied with the responses to date. Property Redress are approved as a competent alternative dispute resolution provider under the Alternative Dispute Resolution for Consumer Disputes (Competent Authorities and Information) Regulations 2015. As part of this, they are subject to periodic review and required to demonstrate how their decision making remains independent.

Whether she has taken recent steps to support social workers, in the context of increases in Social Work England registration fees.

Social Work England (SWE) fees have remained static since it became the regulator in 2019. The increase was agreed after a consultation exercise undertaken by SWE. Social Work England released an equality impact assessment alongside their consultation response.Registration and renewal fees have not increased since 2015, and whilst we appreciate that many people, social workers included, may be experiencing financial difficulties, the decision to increase fees brings the fee in line with inflation and better balances the relationship between grant-in-aid and fee income. This will ensure a balanced and stable funding base to fulfil SWE’s regulatory responsibilities to protect and serve the public.Social workers may be able to claim tax relief on professional member fees. Details on how to do this are available here: https://www.gov.uk/tax-relief-for-employees/professional-fees-and-subscriptions.Additionally, social workers have the option to pay registration and renewal fees in full or in two instalments in October and the following April.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of increases in Social Work England registration fees on social workers.

Social Work England (SWE) fees have remained static since it became the regulator in 2019. The increase was agreed after a consultation exercise undertaken by SWE. Social Work England released an equality impact assessment alongside their consultation response.Registration and renewal fees have not increased since 2015, and whilst we appreciate that many people, social workers included, may be experiencing financial difficulties, the decision to increase fees brings the fee in line with inflation and better balances the relationship between grant-in-aid and fee income. This will ensure a balanced and stable funding base to fulfil SWE’s regulatory responsibilities to protect and serve the public.Social workers may be able to claim tax relief on professional member fees. Details on how to do this are available here: https://www.gov.uk/tax-relief-for-employees/professional-fees-and-subscriptions.Additionally, social workers have the option to pay registration and renewal fees in full or in two instalments in October and the following April.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of including metachromatic leukodystrophy in the newborn blood spot test.

The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) considered newborn screening for metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD) in 2023. At that time, it concluded that the available evidence on screening test accuracy and cost-effectiveness, though limited, warranted further review. It also found that the volume and type of evidence relating to the benefits and/or harms of treatments in presymptomatic patients with MLD was sufficient to justify a more in-depth review of the evidence.Since then, a further review has been undertaken. A three-month consultation on those findings closed on 5 August 2025. The UK NSC will consider the responses to this consultation in due course.

What steps he has taken to improve access to treatments for metachromatic leukodystrophy.

Working under the UK Rare Diseases Framework, the Government is committed to improving the lives of those living with rare diseases, such as metachromatic leukodystrophy. One of the framework’s priorities is improving access to specialist care, treatments, and drugs. We remain committed to delivering under the framework and published the fourth England action plan on 28 February 2025.The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) makes evidence-based recommendations for the National Health Service on whether new medicines represent a clinically and cost-effective use of resources. NICE works closely with companies and the United Kingdom regulator with the aim of publishing guidance on new medicines as close as possible to the time of licensing so that patients can benefit from rapid access to clinically and cost-effective medicines. The NHS in England is legally required to fund medicines recommended in a NICE appraisal, usually within three months of final guidance.In 2022, NICE recommended the world’s first gene therapy atidarsagene autotemcel, also known as Libmeldy, for treating metachromatic leukoystrophy, which is now available to eligible NHS patients in line with NICE’s recommendations.

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the maximum age for first-time blood donors.

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is responsible for blood donation in England, and blood donor selection guidelines are prepared by the Joint United Kingdom Blood Transfusion and Tissue Transplantation Services Professional Advisory Committee (JPAC), with further information available at the following link:https://www.transfusionguidelines.org/JPAC is due to conduct a review of the upper age limit for new and returning donors in 2026, following analysis of adverse events over the preceding 12 months since NHSBT, and other UK blood services, adopted its updated guidelines for returning donors in 2024. A copy of the guidelines is attached.The current maximum age of first-time donors was extended from 60 to 65 years old in line with Blood Safety and Quality Regulations 2005 limits on the safe age range for new donors, with further information available at the following link:https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/50/contentsThere is no age limit for regular donors, who may continue to give blood over the age of 72 years old if they remain in good health and have made at least one full donation in the last two years.Returning donors, those who have given blood anywhere in the world without an adverse reaction, can return to donating up to, and on, their 72nd birthday, and then can continue to donate as long as they remain healthy

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has made an estimate of the number of children at risk of waterborne diseases due to fuel shortages in Gaza.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire. We remain deeply concerned at the lack of fuel supply in Gaza, which puts vital services such as water desalination at risk. On 18 July, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) described the deepening fuel crisis in Gaza, including the impact on solid waste collection and availability of clean water supplies and health services. We highlighted the impact of the lack of fuel on water supplies and hospitals and the critical situation for Gaza's children at a session of the UN Security Council which we co-called on 16 July, and at the International Development Committee on 16 July.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department is taking steps to support access to education for children in Gaza whose schools have been (a) damaged and (b) destroyed.

The UK is deeply concerned at reports of bombing of schools in Gaza, and the impact on Gaza's children. We have called on Israel to do its utmost to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure including schools. We highlighted the critical situation for Gaza's children at a session of the UN Security Council which we co-called on 16 July, and at the International Development Committee on 16 July. We have provided £5.6 million to the Global Partnership for Education to support the educational and psychosocial needs of children and young people in Gaza and the West Bank. Our support to Education Cannot Wait is also supporting children's education and mental health via the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and other partners.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations his Department has made to the Government of Israel on the reported bombing of (a) schools and (b) shelters in Gaza.

The UK is deeply concerned at reports of bombing of schools in Gaza, and the impact on Gaza's children. We have called on Israel to do its utmost to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure including schools. We highlighted the critical situation for Gaza's children at a session of the UN Security Council which we co-called on 16 July, and at the International Development Committee on 16 July. We have provided £5.6 million to the Global Partnership for Education to support the educational and psychosocial needs of children and young people in Gaza and the West Bank. Our support to Education Cannot Wait is also supporting children's education and mental health via the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and other partners.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the conflict in Gaza on the mental health and wellbeing of children.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire. We highlighted the critical situation for Gaza's children at a session of the UN Security Council which we co-called on 16 July, and at the International Development Committee on 16 July. We have provided £5.6 million to the Global Partnership for Education to support the educational and psychosocial needs of children and young people in Gaza and the West Bank. Our support to Education Cannot Wait is also supporting children's education and mental health via the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and other partners.