Written questions by Savage.

What cross-departmental work is being undertaken to help ensure disabled people are not disadvantaged where one Government department requires telephone contact as the primary or sole method of progressing a case.

It is the responsibility of each government department to ensure that their communications meet the needs of the general population as appropriate. The Public Sector Equality Duty is a general duty at Section 149 of the Equality Act 2010. It requires public authorities, and private and voluntary organisations carrying out public functions, to have due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity, and foster good relations between different people. This applies to their day-to-day work, including in delivering services. In order to meet the Duty, Government departments routinely carry out equality assessments of policy and operational changes. These help policy makers to fully consider how decisions may affect different groups in different ways, and design their policies accordingly.

How many formal complaints relating to accessibility or communication barriers at DVLA have been received in the last three years; and what steps are being taken to help improve accessibility for vulnerable or disabled users.

Information on the number of formal complaints relating to accessibility or communication barriers at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) over the last three years is not readily available. The DVLA offers a variety of reasonable adjustments to customers which can range from simple adjustments such as providing correspondence on coloured paper or in large print, to providing a ‘Video Relay Service’ for British Sign Language users who want to contact the DVLA via telephone. As part of fulfilling its obligations under the Equality Act 2010, the DVLA’s contact centre agents are trained to assist customers who may require reasonable adjustments. Operating instructions and knowledge articles help staff to ensure they follow the correct processes to identify the most suitable form of support for the customer, depending on their individual needs. For customers who do not want or are unable to use the telephone, a webform service is also available to customers 24/7. The DVLA is also planning to launch a WhatsApp service. Although the DVLA continues to develop its digital channels to improve customer service and support offerings, it recognises not all customers want or are able to transact digitally and provides paper application facilities as appropriate.

What guidance is issued to DVLA staff on reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act 2010 for applicants who cannot use standard telephone-based verification processes.

Information on the number of formal complaints relating to accessibility or communication barriers at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) over the last three years is not readily available. The DVLA offers a variety of reasonable adjustments to customers which can range from simple adjustments such as providing correspondence on coloured paper or in large print, to providing a ‘Video Relay Service’ for British Sign Language users who want to contact the DVLA via telephone. As part of fulfilling its obligations under the Equality Act 2010, the DVLA’s contact centre agents are trained to assist customers who may require reasonable adjustments. Operating instructions and knowledge articles help staff to ensure they follow the correct processes to identify the most suitable form of support for the customer, depending on their individual needs. For customers who do not want or are unable to use the telephone, a webform service is also available to customers 24/7. The DVLA is also planning to launch a WhatsApp service. Although the DVLA continues to develop its digital channels to improve customer service and support offerings, it recognises not all customers want or are able to transact digitally and provides paper application facilities as appropriate.

What assessment her Department has made of the accessibility of services provided by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency for disabled people who are unable to communicate by telephone; and whether she will take steps to ensure that alternative communication routes, including written and accessible digital channels, are made available and responded to within reasonable timescales.

Information on the number of formal complaints relating to accessibility or communication barriers at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) over the last three years is not readily available. The DVLA offers a variety of reasonable adjustments to customers which can range from simple adjustments such as providing correspondence on coloured paper or in large print, to providing a ‘Video Relay Service’ for British Sign Language users who want to contact the DVLA via telephone. As part of fulfilling its obligations under the Equality Act 2010, the DVLA’s contact centre agents are trained to assist customers who may require reasonable adjustments. Operating instructions and knowledge articles help staff to ensure they follow the correct processes to identify the most suitable form of support for the customer, depending on their individual needs. For customers who do not want or are unable to use the telephone, a webform service is also available to customers 24/7. The DVLA is also planning to launch a WhatsApp service. Although the DVLA continues to develop its digital channels to improve customer service and support offerings, it recognises not all customers want or are able to transact digitally and provides paper application facilities as appropriate.

Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking to ensure that social media companies respond promptly and transparently to reports of harmful content, particularly where such content involves users under the age of 16.

The Online Safety Act establishes Ofcom as the independent regulator for online safety with powers to sanction in-scope services who do not comply with their duties, including user redress, child safety and age assurance.Duties on content reporting and complaints procedures require services to enable users to report illegal content, report any breach of a service’s own terms and conditions, and require a service to take appropriate action in response to such complaints.Ofcom has Government’s full backing to use all the powers given to it by Parliament in the exercise of its regulatory responsibilities.

Innovation and Technology, what measures are in place to ensure compliance by social media platforms with safety duties under the Online Safety Act 2023, particularly in relation to the protection of younger users.

The Online Safety Act (the Act) requires services, including social media, to protect children from illegal, harmful and age-inappropriate content.Both the Act’s illegal duties and child safety duties are now in force, with Ofcom having substantial enforcement powers including the ability to issue fines of up to £18 million or 10% of platforms’ qualifying worldwide revenue. Since the duties came into force, Ofcom has opened several enforcement investigations against platforms suspected of failing to meet their obligations. Recent actions include investigations into major pornography providers, file-sharing services for measures to prevent the sharing of child sexual abuse material, and online forums linked to harassment and suicide promotion.

Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of online safety and content moderation standards on social media platforms, including Snapchat and TikTok, particularly in relation to violent content.

The Online Safety Act requires companies to tackle illegal content, including content inciting violence. They must also protect children from certain forms of legal violent content, including content depicting or encouraging serious violence. Ofcom has robust enforcement powers to ensure platforms comply with these duties.My department is working with Ofcom and the Home Office to monitor how often violent and illegal content is encountered across all major social media platforms, and the impact this has on users, especially children. We are keeping our online safety regime under constant review and we will act where evidence shows further intervention is necessary.

Whether his Department has received a request from the United States Government to use RAF Fairford to conduct air strikes against Iran.

As the Prime Minister shared on 1 March 2026, the US requested permission to use British bases for specific and limited defensive purposes. The request was accepted to prevent Iran firing missiles across the region. Permissions to utilise UK military bases are considered on a case-by-case basis and the decision to grant permission is dependent on the nature and purpose of their activity.

Whether he will commit to seeking prior parliamentary approval before permitting foreign military operations to be launched from UK air bases, including RAF Fairford.

As the Prime Minister shared on 1 March 2026, the US requested permission to use British bases for specific and limited defensive purposes. The request was accepted to prevent Iran firing missiles across the region. Permissions to utilise UK military bases are considered on a case-by-case basis and the decision to grant permission is dependent on the nature and purpose of their activity.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of Ofwat in preventing excessive debt accumulation in the water sector.

The Independent Water Commission (IWC) assessed the issue of water companies accumulating excessive debt. It concluded that Ofwat has not been effective in preventing excessive debt accumulation in the water sector. In response, the government committed in the Water White Paper to introduce reforms to ensure companies do not accumulate unmanageable debt. The government is abolishing Ofwat, and replacing it with a new, single water regulator. This is a key step towards implementing a more effective approach to strengthening financial resilience across the water sector.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of projected increases in domestic water bills on household finances.

It is important that customers get value for money from their water bills and that support is available for those who need it. As the independent economic regulator, it is Ofwat’s responsibility to scrutinise water company business plans and ensure the prices water companies charge their customers are fair and proportionate. It does this through its Price Review, every five years. All water companies have measures in place for customers who struggle to pay for their water and wastewater services, such as WaterSure, social tariffs, payment breaks and holidays, and debt management support. Moreover, Government expects industry to keep the current support schemes under review to ensure that vulnerable customers are supported.Affordability must be at the core of any future investment plans. The Government will be doing an impact assessment for the water reform bill which will cover the costs and benefits of reforms.

Food and Rural Affairs, what contingency plans are in place to protect consumers, affordability, and continuity of service in the event of a water company becoming financially unviable.

Under section 24 of the Water Industry Act 1991, if a water company becomes insolvent, the Defra Secretary of State and Ofwat (with the Secretary of State’s consent) can apply to the court to place the company into a Special Administration Regime. This allows the company to be rescued through measures such as debt restructuring or transferred as a going concern to new owners. A Special Administration Regime enables a company which provides vital public services (e.g. water, energy, rail) to continue to operate, and customers to continue to receive vital services. The Government has committed in the Water White Paper to introduce a new Performance Improvement Regime (PIR) for poorly performing water companies, to enable a turn around, and minimize negative impacts of poor performance on customers and the environment.

What steps his Department is taking to enable community energy projects to sell energy directly to local households and businesses; and how this will support local communities to take greater control of their energy supply and reduce energy bills.

This Government is hugely ambitious about the role that community energy will play in achieving our mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower. On 10 February 2026, we announced the Local Power Plan: a joint DESNZ-Great British Energy (GBE) publication setting out the UK’s largest ever public investment in community energy, up to £1 billion. The Department recognises the requests to take steps to better enable local energy markets and trading to lower bills and increase the resilience of the electricity networks. The Department is investigating barriers to local supply, and is working with Ofgem, GBE and relevant stakeholders to find solutions that work in the best interests of local generators and consumers. The Department is actively exploring policy options that will unlock Smart Local Energy Systems. Ofgem and Elexon’s work on code modifications, like P441, will help more community energy groups identify and understand the different routes to market in order to sell their energy. Industry feedback will inform the Draft Modification Report considered by the Panel on the 12 March leading to the Final Modification Report submitted to Ofgem on the 17 March.

Whether he has considered retaining Level 7 apprenticeship funding for SMEs through a targeted exemption, capped support, or alternative funding mechanism.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer of 13 June 2025 to Question UIN 57098.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of removing funding for Level 7 apprenticeships on small and micro-businesses, particularly independent accountancy practices.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer of 13 June 2025 to Question UIN 57098.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of restricting access to Level 7 apprenticeship funding for small professional services firms on productivity, SME growth, and regional economies.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer of 13 June 2025 to Question UIN 57098.

What assessment has been made of the potential impact of the removal of Level 7 apprenticeship funding on the supply of qualified accountants.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer of 13 June 2025 to Question UIN 57098.

Whether his Department has assessed the potential impact of the removal of Level 7 apprenticeship funding on mature entrants and career changers aged over 25 seeking to retrain in professions such as accountancy.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer of 13 June 2025 to Question UIN 57098.

What assessment his Department has made of the affordability of self-funded Level 7 professional qualifications for SMEs.

Since January 2026, the government no longer funds level 7 apprenticeships, equivalent to master’s degree level, except for young apprentices under the age of 22, and those under 25 who are care leavers or have an Education, Health and Care Plan. As set out in the Written Ministerial Statement on 2 June 2025, this decision was informed by a wide range of evidence including Skills England’s analysis of official apprenticeship statistics and engagement with a wide range of stakeholders. We considered impacts of the change on employers of all sizes, include SMEs. Given the benefits to businesses, as well as their employees, the government encourages employers to invest in upskilling their staff aged 22 and over to this level, where relevant, to enable levy funding to be re-balanced towards young people. The government's decision on defunding Level 7 apprenticeships for those aged 22 and over, including the full summary of the evidence that informed that decision, is published here: Written Statements - Hansard - UK Parliament

What assessment has been made of the potential impact of the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 on court workloads relating to possession proceedings; and whether administrative or time-limited possession processes have been considered where landlords have complied fully with regulatory requirements.

My Department continues to work closely with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to ensure that the justice system is well prepared for the implementation of the Renters Right’s Act 2025, including the impact on the County Court. We will ensure that the County Court has the resources and capacity it need to handle the additional possession workload these reforms will generate. A core part of this work is the development of a brand new digital possession service. In relation to administrative possession, the Government considers it important that a tenant has the opportunity to attend a possession hearing as this is vital for tenants’ access to justice, especially in the new tenancy system where landlords must always evidence that possession grounds have been met. In relation to time limits, the Civil Procedure Rules have a target for all possession hearings to be listed within 8 weeks of issue. We believe this appropriate and balances the rights of the tenant and landlord.