Written questions by Savage.

What guidance her Department provides to ensure that people impacted by the Post Office Horizon scandal are aware that compensation payments are exempt from Universal Credit means testing; and whether a review is underway to help support people who have not received their benefit entitlement due to a lack of awareness.

Payments of compensation from the Post Office compensation scheme have been indefinitely disregarded as capital and income from the calculation of Universal Credit. Please see guidance below for customers relating to special compensation payments.Universal Credit: money, savings and investments - GOV.UKThe Department has added this scheme to internal guidance for staff and decisionmakers to make them aware that payments should be disregarded.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of amending statutory guidance on home to school transport so that local authorities are required to consider providing free or subsidised transport from more than one parental address in cases of formally agreed 50/50 shared custody.

The Education Act 1996 requires local authorities to arrange free home-to-school travel for eligible children of compulsory school age, 5 to 16. The department publishes statutory guidance to help them fulfil this duty. Neither the guidance, nor the law, expects local authorities to provide an eligible child with free travel to and from more than one address. It would not be reasonable for them to do this in every case.The guidance does however stipulate that local authorities should make clear in their school travel policies how they will determine a child’s home address for the purposes of assessing their eligibility for travel, including in circumstances where their parents do not live together and the child spends part of the week with each parent.There are no plans to change this, but local authorities do have a discretionary power to arrange travel for other children and may use this to arrange travel to and from more than one address if they choose to do so.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will require chewing gum manufacturers to disclose the full composition of gum base on product labels.

Current food labelling rules permit manufacturers to list ‘gum base’ as an ingredient, where ‘gum base’ means gum preparations used in the manufacture of gum base for chewing gum. Manufacturers can provide more descriptive information relating to ingredients contained in the ‘gum base’ if they wish but this is not a requirement. There are currently no plans to amend the legislation.

Whether his Department has made a recent assessment of the potential impact of providing funding for (a) continuous glucose monitoring and (b) other preventive technologies on (i) NHS expenditure and (b) complications arising from type II diabetes.

Data from the National Diabetes Audit suggests that the number of people with type 2 diabetes using continuous glucose monitoring is increasing. In 2022/23, 37,000 people were using continuous glucose monitoring, rising to 95,000 people in 2023/24, and to 155,000 people in 2024/25. Metrics that are useful for health systems to monitor access to glucose monitoring will be published later this year Unlike for medicines, there is no national pathway to prioritise and nationally fund the highest impact health technology, including wearable technology. As a result, we see significant unwarranted variation in uptake, weakening the perceived attractiveness of the United Kingdom’s market. From April 2026, building on and adapting our experience with medicines, we will begin expanding NICE’s technology appraisal process, which includes mandated funding by the NHS, to cover some devices, diagnostics, and digital products. This will focus on those that meet the NHS’ most urgent needs and support financial sustainability.By 2035, all patients will have access to wearables. Wearables will enable patients and their carers to better manage their care by having access to their health data such as blood pressure and glucose levels. They will also enable remote monitoring to alert a patient’s care team to any issues so that appropriate interventions can be made quickly before they progress. The 10-Year Health Plan aims to reduce the prevalence of type 2 diabetes and enhance the care of patients living with diabetes through the delivery of the three shifts:from hospital to community, which will enable those living with diabetes to manage their care in the best way for them through the Neighbourhood Health Service;from analogue to digital, which will make it easier for those living with diabetes to access tailored advice and manage their appointments at a time that suits them; andfrom treatment to prevention, which will make it easier for people to access diabetes screening and support people to make healthier choices to prevent them from developing type 2 diabetes.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of providing free continuous glucose monitoring systems to patients eligible for the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme; and if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of doing so on (a) the incidence of and (b) complications arising from type II diabetes.

Continuous glucose monitoring systems are available on the National Health Service in line with National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidelines which state that, among other criteria, a person must have a diagnosis of diabetes. People with a diagnosis of diabetes are not eligible for the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme (NHS DPP).Therefore, no assessment has been made on the impact of providing free continuous glucose monitoring systems through the NHS DPP.

What steps her Department is taking to hold schools to account for (a) failing to report the presence of young carers and (b) submitting (i) incomplete and (ii) inaccurate data on young carers in the school census; and with reference to the Carers Trust press notice entitled School census shows young carers still not being recorded by vast majority of schools, published on 5 June 2025, what assessment she has made of the finding that nearly 70 percent of schools reported having no children attending who were young carers.

Young carers were added to the school census as a specific group for the first time in 2022/23. The department expects the recording of census data to improve over time as the collection becomes better established but are looking at the ways the data is entered to see if we can make technical changes that will support more accurate reporting without overly burdening schools.In its inspections of local authority children’s services, Ofsted evaluates whether professionals identify children and young people in need of help and protection. Ofsted recently consulted on a new education inspection framework, with their full response due in September. The proposals include a specific evaluation of inclusion, ensuring that schools get it right for all disadvantaged and vulnerable children, including young carers.Statutory guidance ‘Keeping children safe in education’ sets out that all school and college staff should be alert to the potential need for early help for children who are young carers and requires designated safeguarding leads to undergo training to provide them with the knowledge and skills to carry out their role. This includes having a good understanding of, and alertness to, the needs of young carers.

What steps her Department is taking to (a) improve the early identification of young carers by schools and (b) ensure that all education staff receive training to (i) recognise and (ii) support young carers at the earliest opportunity.

Young carers were added to the school census as a specific group for the first time in 2022/23. The department expects the recording of census data to improve over time as the collection becomes better established but are looking at the ways the data is entered to see if we can make technical changes that will support more accurate reporting without overly burdening schools.In its inspections of local authority children’s services, Ofsted evaluates whether professionals identify children and young people in need of help and protection. Ofsted recently consulted on a new education inspection framework, with their full response due in September. The proposals include a specific evaluation of inclusion, ensuring that schools get it right for all disadvantaged and vulnerable children, including young carers.Statutory guidance ‘Keeping children safe in education’ sets out that all school and college staff should be alert to the potential need for early help for children who are young carers and requires designated safeguarding leads to undergo training to provide them with the knowledge and skills to carry out their role. This includes having a good understanding of, and alertness to, the needs of young carers.

What steps her Department is taking to (a) improve the early identification of young carers in further education settings and (b) increase (i) awareness and (ii) understanding of young carers by (A) college staff and (B) tutors.

Young carers were added to the school census as a specific group for the first time in 2022/23. The department expects the recording of census data to improve over time as the collection becomes better established but are looking at the ways the data is entered to see if we can make technical changes that will support more accurate reporting without overly burdening schools.In its inspections of local authority children’s services, Ofsted evaluates whether professionals identify children and young people in need of help and protection. Ofsted recently consulted on a new education inspection framework, with their full response due in September. The proposals include a specific evaluation of inclusion, ensuring that schools get it right for all disadvantaged and vulnerable children, including young carers.Statutory guidance ‘Keeping children safe in education’ sets out that all school and college staff should be alert to the potential need for early help for children who are young carers and requires designated safeguarding leads to undergo training to provide them with the knowledge and skills to carry out their role. This includes having a good understanding of, and alertness to, the needs of young carers.

Communities and Local Government, whether statutory guidance on Community Right to Buy provisions in the English Devolution Bill will recognise environmental impact when determining the value of community assets.

The government recognises the vital role of community spaces and wants to see them thriving again. Community Right to Buy will empower local people to bring community spaces back into community ownership.These provisions were introduced on 10 July in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill. Subject to parliamentary passage, statutory guidance will be introduced in due course.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of (a) removing (i) dental therapist and (ii) dental technician roles and (b) other changes to the Skilled Worker visa eligibility list on internationally trained dental professionals seeking registration with the General Dental Council.

Registration with the General Dental Council in the United Kingdom is a separate process from obtaining a Skilled Worker or Health and Care Worker visa, although both are required to enable overseas dental professionals to work in the UK.On 1 July 2025, changes to immigration rules were laid before Parliament which, subject to Parliamentary approval, will come into force from 22 July. Dentists and dental therapists meet the new higher skill level of Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) level 6 or above, and continue to remain eligible for the Health and Care Worker visa under the immigration changes.The expanded Immigration Salary List (ISL) and interim Temporary Shortage List (TSL) allow time-limited access, until the end of 2026, to the UK’s immigration system for selected occupations of skill level RQF 3 to 5, with restrictions on bringing dependants. The evidence considered by the independent Migration Advisory Committee for the ISL and by the Department for Business and Trade for the TSL did not support including dental technicians, dental nurses, or dental hygienists on either list. Therefore, these occupations will no longer be eligible for the Health and Care Worker visa or Skilled Worker visa from 22 July. A transition period applies for those already in the UK, where skilled workers can continue to be sponsored in RQF level 3 to 5 occupations if they are already in the route, meaning they have a visa or have a Certificate of Sponsorship issued, before 22 July, even where an occupation is not on the ISL or the TSL, providing they continue to meet all other requirements of the route.

Whether the English Devolution Bill will include powers for local councils to tackle pavement parking.

The Department held a consultation in 2020 and is working through the policy options to tackle pavement parking and the appropriate means of delivering them. As soon as the Government is satisfied that an optimal solution to this complex issue has been identified, we will announce the next steps and publish our formal response.

What comparative assessment he has made of the potential merits of (a) small nuclear power plants and (b) large-scale solar farms.

As set out in the Clean Power 2030 Action Plan, a power system run on low carbon generation with renewables providing the vast majority of generation, supported by nuclear, can form the basis of a clean, affordable and secure energy system. This assessment was supported by independent advice from the National Energy System Operator (NESO), whose clean power scenarios highlighted the importance of different technologies working in combination. The Department continues to model a range of different energy mixes and scenarios to support policy decisions. Alongside the Scottish and Welsh Governments, we have also jointly commissioned NESO to develop a Strategic Spatial Energy Plan (SSEP). The SSEP will assess infrastructure potential on a zonal basis as well as the quantities and types of energy infrastructure required to meet our future energy demand with the clean, affordable and secure supply that we need. The first SSEP will be published in 2026.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of Special Protection Zone regulations on the ability of small towns to establish new burial grounds; and what assessment he has made of the merits of providing (a) guidance and (b) funding support for communities facing (i) environmental and (ii) planning barriers to cemetery provision.

Source Protection Zones are sensitive areas because the underlying groundwater contributes towards public drinking water supplies. To protect those supplies from pollution, unless exempt, new cemeteries must operate under an environmental permit and the Environment Agency has published guidance on this, including information needed to support a planning application. The Environment Agency has recently consulted on a proposal to develop simpler, cheaper, permitting options for cemeteries, which could lead to cost-saving for eligible operators. The Government has asked the Law Commission to review the legal framework governing burial and cremation, including concerns raised about the long-term availability of burial space. They anticipate publishing the report on their findings in late 2025. The Government will consider the Law Commission’s recommendations once these have been published and will respond in due course.” For context, the Government does not have operational day-to-day responsibility for burial grounds, which are managed locally, and there is no statutory duty on local authorities to provide burial facilities. Although Government (DCA/MoJ) does provide Guidance for Burial Ground Managers (which includes issues to consider when planning burial space) and Guidance for Operators of Natural Burial Grounds neither address this specific issue.

What assessment she has made of the potential merits of aligning the tax rates for passive income with those for earned income; and what assessment she has made of the potential fiscal and social impact of such a reform.

Currently, different forms of income, such as employment income and non-employment income (including from property, dividends and capital gains), are subject to different tax rates reflecting their differing nature and to support the government’s broader policy objectives. There have been recent changes to bring the tax treatment of passive income more closely aligned with salaried income. For example, the Dividend Allowance and the Annual Exempt Amount on Capital Gains Tax have been reformed and reduced to make the system fairer by bringing the treatment of investment income closely in line with employment income, whilst still ensuring that individuals are not taxed on low levels of dividend income or Capital Gains. When considering changes to tax policy, the government considers the fiscal and distributional impacts of any potential reforms, drawing on analysis from HMRC and the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), who routinely publish costings and analysis of proposed tax changes at fiscal events. Any changes would need to also consider wider economic impacts resulting from behavioural responses. The government keeps all areas of the tax system under review to ensure it is fair and supports strong public finances.

Media and Sport, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of protections for non-designated but significant archaeological sites under current (a) heritage and (b) land management regulations; and if she will consider introducing new (i) powers and (ii) funding streams to support (A) geophysical surveys and (B) site preservation where landowner cooperation is not forthcoming.

No such assessment has been undertaken recently.The significance of non-designated heritage assets varies considerably. Measures to help conserve significant non-designated heritage assets through the planning and development control processes are included in national planning policy, while incentives for the positive management of some of those located in rural areas can be found in environmental land management schemes. Owners of such assets can also consider entering into related conservation covenants.The protections conferred specifically by heritage legislation primarily relate to designated heritage assets, including Scheduled Monuments and Listed Buildings. Some non-designated heritage assets may benefit from a degree of legislative protection by being incidentally located on, in or under land that has been protected by non-heritage-related designations (such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest).The Government has no plans at the present time to introduce further measures.

What steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to ban conversion practices.

This Government’s position is that conversion practices are abuse. Such practices have no place in society and must be stopped. We are committed to bringing forward a trans-inclusive ban on conversion practices. This is a complex issue, and it is imperative that we get this right. That is why, in collaboration with Cabinet colleagues, my officials and I are working hard to draft legislation that protects LGBT individuals from these harmful practices.

What steps she is taking to tackle hate crime against LGBTQ+ people.

There is no excuse for violence or abuse driven by hatred and discrimination, and we support the police in taking strong action against those crimes.We have a robust legislative framework in place to respond to hate crimes, including those which target sexual orientation and transgender identity.The Government is carefully considering our next steps to tackle the full range of hate crime offences, and we have committed to ensuring parity of protection under aggravated offences.The Government funds an online hate crime reporting portal called True Vision, designed so victims of all types of hate crime do not have to visit a police station to report. We are also continuing to fund the National Online Hate Crime Hub which supports individual local police forces in dealing specifically with online hate crime.

Whether she plans to conduct an impact assessment for the Equality and Human Rights Commission's draft Code of Practice for Services, Public Functions, and Associations.

On 20 May, the EHRC opened its consultation on the changes made to the draft updated statutory Code of Practice following the Supreme Court ruling. This consultation is open until 30 June. We will consider the EHRC's final draft Code of Practice once it has been submitted and engage with them to ensure it provides the clarity service providers need, in line with the Supreme Court ruling.

What steps his Department is taking to implement targeted outreach programmes in areas with low (a) HPV vaccination and (b) cervical screening rates to (i) help tackle health disparities and (ii) ensure equitable access to preventive services.

In March 2025, NHS England published the Cervical cancer elimination plan by 2040 – plan for England, setting out how the National Health Service will improve equitable uptake and coverage across human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and cervical screening to meet the goal to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040. Further information on the Cervical cancer elimination plan by 2040 – plan for England is available at the following link: https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/cervical-cancer-elimination-by-2040-plan-for-england/ The plan builds on five cross-cutting themes: - increasing access;- raising awareness;- reducing inequalities;- improving digital capabilities; and- strengthening workforce capacity. NHS England has launched its first ever cervical cancer elimination creative campaign and communications toolkit for Cervical Screening Awareness Week, from 16 to 24 June 2025. The campaign will include digital resources that create a strong sense of shared responsibility and which aim to increase awareness of the elimination goal, educate the public about HPV, and build confidence in the HPV vaccine and cervical screening. There are differences in vaccination and screening coverage between communities, and some groups face inequalities. Health inequalities must continue to be addressed. NHS England will continue: - building their understanding of the barriers to and perceptions of HPV vaccination and cervical screening, and will share this with local systems to support the planning of culturally-sensitive, community-led engagements with low uptake groups;- developing inclusive materials to better reach underserved communities through trusted voices;- identifying groups using national and local level data who may be at higher risk of developing cervical cancer; and- enabling trans men and non-binary people with a cervix to be routinely invited for cervical screening.

Whether he plans to implement enhanced public awareness campaigns to educate the public on the importance of (a) HPV vaccination and (b) regular cervical screening.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) works alongside NHS England and the Department to promote the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination as part of a national programme to prevent cervical cancers caused by HPV.Throughout the year, UKHSA's data and surveillance is used to create public and stakeholder communications, and to raise awareness of HPV and the importance of the vaccine. UKHSA also publishes and provides a range of supporting materials to health professionals on both the 12- and 13-year-old HPV offer, and the vaccine programme for those at higher risk.The NHS Cervical Screening Programme, through NHS England, has a series of initiatives underway, including developing a digital-first approach.