Written questions by Savage.

What weight her Department gives to factors such as school attendance, English language acquisition, and community integration when assessing the future immigration status of Ukrainian families.

As the conflict in Ukraine continues, the Government recognises the impact that uncertainty can have on Ukrainian individuals and families who have built their lives in the UK, including pressures relating to housing, employment and education. We recognise that this uncertainty can be particularly acute for families with children who have lived in the UK for extended periods. The Government has therefore taken concrete steps to provide greater certainty and stability, including extending the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme and widening the application window to support effective forward planning.In exercising immigration functions, the Home Secretary has regard to the statutory duty under section 55 of the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 to safeguard and promote the welfare of children in the United Kingdom. In line with this duty, the best interests of the child are treated as a primary consideration in immigration decisions affecting Ukrainian families, while recognising that they are not the only consideration.The Government keeps the situation in Ukraine under close and active review, taking into account security conditions, humanitarian infrastructure and the ability of civilians to return safely and sustainably. No single criterion determines when Ukraine would be considered sufficiently safe for the purposes of ending temporary protection arrangements, and no decisions have been taken at this stage.The Ukraine schemes are temporary in nature and do not provide a route to settlement. Time spent in the UK under the Ukraine schemes does not count towards the Long Residence route.The Government recognises the importance of longer‑term clarity and is actively considering the future position. In doing so, it is drawing on a wide range of evidence from across government, academia, civil society and stakeholder engagement. It will respond in a responsible and considered manner, and intends to make a further statement later this year to support Ukrainians in planning effectively for their futures.

What plans her Department has to introduce a route to indefinite leave to remain for Ukrainian nationals currently residing in the UK under the Homes for Ukraine scheme.

As the conflict in Ukraine continues, the Government recognises the impact that uncertainty can have on Ukrainian individuals and families who have built their lives in the UK, including pressures relating to housing, employment and education. We recognise that this uncertainty can be particularly acute for families with children who have lived in the UK for extended periods. The Government has therefore taken concrete steps to provide greater certainty and stability, including extending the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme and widening the application window to support effective forward planning.In exercising immigration functions, the Home Secretary has regard to the statutory duty under section 55 of the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 to safeguard and promote the welfare of children in the United Kingdom. In line with this duty, the best interests of the child are treated as a primary consideration in immigration decisions affecting Ukrainian families, while recognising that they are not the only consideration.The Government keeps the situation in Ukraine under close and active review, taking into account security conditions, humanitarian infrastructure and the ability of civilians to return safely and sustainably. No single criterion determines when Ukraine would be considered sufficiently safe for the purposes of ending temporary protection arrangements, and no decisions have been taken at this stage.The Ukraine schemes are temporary in nature and do not provide a route to settlement. Time spent in the UK under the Ukraine schemes does not count towards the Long Residence route.The Government recognises the importance of longer‑term clarity and is actively considering the future position. In doing so, it is drawing on a wide range of evidence from across government, academia, civil society and stakeholder engagement. It will respond in a responsible and considered manner, and intends to make a further statement later this year to support Ukrainians in planning effectively for their futures.

What criteria her Department uses to determine when Ukraine is considered sufficiently safe for the purposes of ending temporary protection arrangements for Ukrainian nationals.

As the conflict in Ukraine continues, the Government recognises the impact that uncertainty can have on Ukrainian individuals and families who have built their lives in the UK, including pressures relating to housing, employment and education. We recognise that this uncertainty can be particularly acute for families with children who have lived in the UK for extended periods. The Government has therefore taken concrete steps to provide greater certainty and stability, including extending the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme and widening the application window to support effective forward planning.In exercising immigration functions, the Home Secretary has regard to the statutory duty under section 55 of the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 to safeguard and promote the welfare of children in the United Kingdom. In line with this duty, the best interests of the child are treated as a primary consideration in immigration decisions affecting Ukrainian families, while recognising that they are not the only consideration.The Government keeps the situation in Ukraine under close and active review, taking into account security conditions, humanitarian infrastructure and the ability of civilians to return safely and sustainably. No single criterion determines when Ukraine would be considered sufficiently safe for the purposes of ending temporary protection arrangements, and no decisions have been taken at this stage.The Ukraine schemes are temporary in nature and do not provide a route to settlement. Time spent in the UK under the Ukraine schemes does not count towards the Long Residence route.The Government recognises the importance of longer‑term clarity and is actively considering the future position. In doing so, it is drawing on a wide range of evidence from across government, academia, civil society and stakeholder engagement. It will respond in a responsible and considered manner, and intends to make a further statement later this year to support Ukrainians in planning effectively for their futures.

What steps his Department is taking to improve road safety for equestrians; and whether he plans to update Highway Code guidance or introduce further statutory protections for horse riders.

The Highway Code was updated in 2022 to improve road safety for people walking, cycling and riding horses including the introduction of a hierarchy of road users. Following these updates the Department ran large-scale THINK! advertising campaigns to raise awareness of the changes. We are also running year-round radio filler adverts encouraging compliance with the guidance to improve safety for those walking, cycling and horse riding. We will also continue to promote the changes via THINK! and Department for Transport social media channels, as well as through partner organisations. However, as set out in the Road Safety Strategy published on 7 January, more work is needed to continue embedding these changes and overall awareness of the Highway Code. We are considering options in this area, and further details will be shared in due course.

What assessment her Department has made of the humanitarian implications for Ukrainian families who have established long-term residence in the UK of being required to return to Ukraine following the expiry of current visa arrangements.

As the conflict in Ukraine continues, the Government recognises the impact that uncertainty can have on Ukrainian individuals and families who have built their lives in the UK, including pressures relating to housing, employment, and education. We recognise that this uncertainty can be particularly acute for families with children who have lived in the UK for extended periods. The Government has therefore taken concrete steps to provide greater certainty and stability, including extending the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme and widening the application window to support effective forward planning.In exercising immigration functions, the Home Secretary has regard to the statutory duty under section 55 of the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 to safeguard and promote the welfare of children in the United Kingdom. In line with this duty, the best interests of the child are treated as a primary consideration in immigration decisions affecting Ukrainian families, while recognising that they are not the only consideration.The Government keeps the situation in Ukraine under close and active review, taking into account security conditions, humanitarian infrastructure, and the ability of civilians to return safely and sustainably. No single criterion determines when Ukraine would be considered sufficiently safe for the purposes of ending temporary protection arrangements, and no decisions have been taken at this stage.The Ukraine schemes are temporary in nature and do not provide a route to settlement. Time spent in the UK under the Ukraine schemes does not count towards the Long Residence route.The Government recognises the importance of longer‑term clarity and is actively considering the future position. In doing so, it is drawing on a wide range of evidence from across government, academia, civil society, and stakeholder engagement. It will respond in a responsible and considered manner, and intends to make a further statement later this year to support Ukrainians in planning effectively for their futures.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to increase the level of accountability for water companies that fail to resolve billing disputes raised by hon. Members on behalf of constituents.

To rebuild trust It is vital that customers have assurance that their complaints will be resolved. That is why we will establish an independent, impartial, and accredited Water Ombudsman to ensure customer complaints and disputes are taken seriously and are resolved.Alongside this, the Government is looking at strengthening the consumer advocacy function to provide a stronger voice for customers.

What assessment she has made of the adequacy of existing legal provisions relating to road traffic collisions involving horses; and whether she has considered introducing legislation to recognise horses and their riders as vulnerable road users for the purposes of criminal liability.

The Department already recognises that horse riders are vulnerable road users with safety needs. Accordingly, the Highway Code covers horse riders and the need for drivers to exercise special care in relation to them. There are a range of offences which create criminal liability for bad driving and the harm that results. Those offences include dangerous or careless driving. The offences apply where a pedestrian or another road user, including horse riders are involved. The independent Sentencing Council provides guidelines to the courts for sentencing driving offences which also list as an aggravating factor, that is a factor meriting an increased sentence, the fact that the “victim was a vulnerable road user, including pedestrians, cyclists, horse riders, motorcyclists etc.”

What assessment she has made of the adequacy of (a) legislation and (b) guidance in enabling police forces to take account of patterns of reported dangerous driving behaviour when determining whether to pursue enforcement action following a road traffic incident.

The existing legislative framework provides the police with appropriate powers to investigate and take enforcement action in response to incidents involving dangerous driving. Any form of dangerous driving is considered a serious road safety issue.How police powers are exercised, including how offending patterns are taken into account, is a matter for the operational judgement of Chief Constables. Decisions on whether to pursue enforcement action following a road traffic incident are made on a case‑by‑case basis, informed by the circumstances of the incident, available evidence and local intelligence.Guidance for police in this area is provided by the College of Policing and the National Police Chiefs’ Council. This guidance supports officers to assess risk, proportionality and evidence, and enables forces to make use of intelligence and information where appropriate when determining the most suitable policing response.The Government keeps legislation and guidance under review but does not direct the police on individual enforcement decisions, reflecting the operational independence of the police.

What steps he is taking to support rural and off-grid households with energy costs.

The Government recognises the significant pressures these increases to alternative fuel prices place on households in rural communities and off-grid households. The Chancellor recently confirmed the Government’s approach to rising energy prices will be to target help to those who need it most. To that end, the Government has announced £53 million for low-income families, who heat their homes with oil to help tackle surging prices. Since the crisis began, we have worked with the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to warn companies about unfair practices, such as price gouging, as well as writing to companies to warn them about our expectations of their behaviour. The Government continues to monitor the situation closely, and we are looking at what further support may be needed. The measures taken in the Autumn Budget reduce the cost of electricity and therefore benefit all households with a domestic electricity meter, including those not on the gas grid. In addition, on 30 January, we announced the continuation of the Warm Home Discount scheme until 2030/31, providing around 6 million eligible households with the £150 rebate on their energy bills each winter.

What guidance is issued to police forces on the investigation of road traffic collisions involving horses and riders where serious injury is caused; and whether she has plans to review existing guidance where no human fatality has occurred.

Guidance is set out on the investigation of all road collisions resulting in serious injury and fatality, by the College of Policing and the National Police Chiefs’ Council.The police are the lead agency for investigations of road traffic collisions and have the primary duty to investigate and establish the circumstances that have led to any serious injury involving horses and riders.The Government has no plans to review guidance for police officers which informs operational decisions, including the investigation of road traffic collisions, as police have the knowledge, expertise and training to inform reasonable guidance and decisions.

What support his Department provides to UK companies developing synthetic hydrocarbons as alternatives to conventional fossil fuels; and what assessment his Department has made of the potential role of synthetic hydrocarbon fuels in the UK’s transition to lower-carbon energy sources.

Given that low carbon fuels will find their primary application in transport decarbonisation, this policy area is led by the Department for Transport. Low carbon fuels, including synthetic hydrocarbons produced from sustainable biomass and other renewable energy sources, will play a critical role in meeting legislated carbon budgets and the Net Zero 2050 target. The Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation and the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Mandate provide support for low carbon fuel supply in surface transport and aviation, respectively. The Advanced Fuels Fund has allocated over £198 million to support UK alternative fuel production, including synthetic hydrocarbons, with 21 projects supported.

Communities and Local Government, what guidance his Department has issued to managing agents and freeholders of retirement housing developments on the fire alarm upgrades in buildings under 11 metres; and what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that leaseholders are not required to fund unnecessary fire safety upgrades through service charges.

The Responsible Person for any residential building (regardless of height) is the person or entity responsible for keeping residents safe from the risk of fire. Decisions on how to keep residents safe and what actions are required should be made based on advice from a Competent Person following a Fire Risk Assessment. MHCLG has no direct role in deciding whether interim measures such as a common fire alarm should be implemented. Sector-led Simultaneous Evacuation Guidance published by the National Fire Chiefs Council supports Responsible Persons to meet their existing duties and guides them towards a consistent, standardised approach to a change in evacuation strategy and implementation of interim measures where this is necessary. By law, variable service charges must be reasonable, and leaseholders have the right to challenge unreasonable charges at the appropriate tribunal. The Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 includes measures to increase transparency over service charges and remove barriers for leaseholders to challenge costs, helping them better understand what they are being asked to pay for. The Building Safety Act’s leaseholder protections also place caps on how much can be charged for remediation of historical life-critical fire safety defects in most 11-metre-plus buildings.

Communities and Local Government, what guidance his Department provides to local authorities on taking safety action where land is ownerless due to escheat and poses a risk to highways or public safety.

Local authorities have powers provided by section 78 of the Building Act 1984 to take emergency measures when dealing with dangerous structures. If a structure, or part of it, appears dangerous and requires immediate action to remove the danger, the local authority may take steps as necessary for that purpose. While the Ministry does not issue guidance in relation to ownerless land and highways, the Law Commission in its 14th Programme of Law Reform will look to address the problems that may arise when land ceases to have an owner and transfers to the Crown. The project will carry out a review of bona vacantia and escheat with the aim of clarifying the law.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to Question UIN 115920 on High Seas: Marine Protected Areas, if she will publish the draft Hamilton II Declaration that has been circulated to Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement signatories.

The draft text of the Hamilton II Declaration has been circulated among Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement signatory states for consideration, but as the text is still in draft form, it is not yet available for publication.Over the coming months, we will continue to engage with BBNJ signatories and with civil society stakeholders before agreeing a final text of the Declaration. Engagement sessions are already planned, including a civil society event in Bermuda next week, as well as a side event at the BBNJ Preparatory Committee meeting on 25 March.

What support is available to pensioners and low-income households who rely on heating oil in rural areas; and whether he plans to introduce targeted assistance comparable to schemes available to households connected to the gas grid.

The Government understands that many households, particularly in rural and off‑gas‑grid areas, rely on heating oil as their primary source of heat. We continue to monitor heating oil supply chains to ensure households can access fuel when needed.My Rt. Hon. Friend the Chancellor has announced £53m for low income families, who heat their homes with oil to help tackle surging prices. This funding will also be available to the Northern Ireland Executive, Wales, and Scotland. More information can be found here: Over £50 million to help families struggling with soaring heating oil costs - GOV.UKThe measures taken in the Autumn Budget reduce the cost of electricity and therefore benefit all households with a domestic electricity meter, including those not on the gas grid. In addition, on 30 January, we announced the continuation of the Warm Home Discount scheme until 2030/31, providing around 6 million eligible households with the £150 rebate on their energy bills each winter.

Whether his Department has assessed whether recent increases in the retail price of domestic heating oil constitute unfair pricing or profiteering; and whether the Competition and Markets Authority has been asked to review pricing practices in the domestic heating oil market.

Unlike gas and electricity markets, heating oil is bought on the spot market, making it more exposed to short‑term volatility in global oil prices, which we recognise is a significant concern for those reliant on it.The Secretary of State has written to the industry reminding heating oil distributors of their commitments under the UKIFDA Code of Practice, including the need for fair, transparent and justifiable pricing.Following discussions with the Competition and Markets Authority, we welcome its comprehensive examination of the heating oil industry.We are working closely with the CMA to understand their findings and develop options to increase consumer protections in this sector, including potential regulatory measures.

What assessment he has made of the impact of international geopolitical events on the wholesale and retail price of domestic heating oil in the UK; and whether he has considered introducing monitoring or safeguards to prevent disproportionate price increases for off-grid households.

Unlike gas and electricity markets, heating oil is bought on the spot market, making it more exposed to short‑term volatility in global oil prices, which we recognise is a significant concern for those reliant on it.The Secretary of State has written to the industry reminding heating oil distributors of their commitments under the UKIFDA Code of Practice, including the need for fair, transparent and justifiable pricing.Following discussions with the Competition and Markets Authority, we welcome its comprehensive examination of the heating oil industry.We are working closely with the CMA to understand their findings and develop options to increase consumer protections in this sector, including potential regulatory measures.

What assessment he has made of the impact of recent increases in the retail price of domestic heating oil in rural areas; and what steps his Department is taking to ensure that households reliant on kerosene heating are protected from excessive or unjustified price rises.

Unlike gas and electricity markets, heating oil is bought on the spot market, making it more exposed to short‑term volatility in global oil prices, which we recognise is a significant concern for those reliant on it.The Secretary of State has written to the industry reminding heating oil distributors of their commitments under the UKIFDA Code of Practice, including the need for fair, transparent and justifiable pricing.Following discussions with the Competition and Markets Authority, we welcome its comprehensive examination of the heating oil industry.We are working closely with the CMA to understand their findings and develop options to increase consumer protections in this sector, including potential regulatory measures.

What estimate she has made of the timescale for resolving outstanding cases involving individuals subject to the Loan Charge that will be settled following the conclusions of the independent review led by Ray McCann.

This Government recognised that concerns were raised about the Loan Charge under the previous government and that some felt strongly that it had not been handled appropriately. The Government therefore commissioned an independent review of the loan charge to bring the matter to a close for those who had not settled and paid their loan charge liabilities. The Government accepted the review’s conclusion that the loan charge was an extraordinary piece of Government policy which necessitated an exceptional response, and is now legislating to give HMRC the power to administer a new settlement opportunity. To encourage more people to settle, the Government will write off the first £5,000 of liabilities in addition to the proposals put forward by Ray McCann. As a result, most individuals could see reductions of at least 50% in their outstanding loan charge liabilities, and an estimated 30% of individuals could have these liabilities written off entirely. HMRC began contacting taxpayers to notify them of their eligibility for the new settlement opportunity from January 2026. HMRC will begin contacting them again, from Spring, to explain the settlement opportunity in more detail. HMRC will contact taxpayers in stages and all taxpayers in scope will be invited to settle by the end of the 2027-28 tax year. HMRC will encourage taxpayers who want to settle to contact their named HMRC caseworker proactively, and not to wait for a letter. Taxpayers that contact HMRC will be prioritised for settlement.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has made an assessment of the operational capacity of Ampney St Peter Sewage Treatment Works in Gloucestershire.

Water companies must ensure that their infrastructure has sufficient capacity to manage demand. Water companies are investing over £11bn in PR24, a record amount, to improve nearly 3,000 storm overflows across England and Wales over the next five years. For England, this equates to over £10bn to improve almost 2,500 storm overflows.