Written questions by Bhatti.

If he will set out whether all grades of prison officers are required to be politically neutral.

All employees are bound by the Civil Service Code and must serve the Government impartially. The HMPPS Outside Activities Policy requires all employees, including all grades of Prison Officer, to remain politically neutral at all times and they must seek permission to take part in political activities if needed. Employees must not carry out any political activity while on duty, in uniform or on official premises.

What estimate her Department has made of the number of children with SEND moving from the independent to state school sector; and what proportion this represents of the overall amount of people moving from the independent to state sectors.

The latest school census data from January 2025 shows private school pupil numbers remain firmly within historical patterns seen for over 20 years. The data is available here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-pupils-and-their-characteristics/2024-25.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of trends in the level of UK borrowing costs on government spending.

The Government has published Spending Review 2025, which set departmental spending allocations consistent with the fiscal strategy set out at Autumn Budget 2024 and Spring Statement 2025. The Chancellor will provide further updates at Autumn Budget 2025.

Whether she has had discussions with the International Monetary Fund on the impact of the rising cost of bond yields.

The government does not comment on specific market moves. As the Governor of the Bank of England recently noted, the underlying driver of recent moves in yield curves is global. This means it is more important than ever to have fiscal rules that provide stability. Sound public finances are essential to economic and financial stability, and delivering economic growth. That is why at the Budget we will continue to meet this government’s non-negotiable fiscal rules, building on the decisions we took at Autumn Budget 2024 and Spring Statement 2025. This is the responsible choice – to live within our means, reduce our levels of borrowing in the years ahead and support the Bank of England to get inflation down, so we can deliver on the priorities of working people and spend less on servicing debt.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of trends in the level of borrowing costs on mortgages.

The Government does not comment on specific financial market movements. Government borrowing costs are determined by a wide range of international and domestic factors, and it is normal for the price and yields of gilts to vary, especially in the context of wider movements in global financial markets. The pricing of mortgages, which is influenced by a number of factors, is a commercial decision for lenders in which the Government does not intervene. Headline average mortgage rates are materially lower than the recent peaks seen in Summer 2023 and Autumn 2022.

Whether she has had discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the potential impact of the trends in the cost of debt on Departmental Budgets.

The Government has published Spending Review 2025, which set departmental spending allocations consistent with the fiscal strategy set out at Autumn Budget 2024 and Spring Statement 2025. The Chancellor will provide further updates at Autumn Budget 2025.

Whether she plans to establish a joint committee of both Houses to scrutinise the draft Bill on conversion practices.

This Government’s position is that conversion practices are abuse. We remain committed to bringing forward legislation that protects LGBT+ individuals from these harmful practices, starting with publishing our draft Bill later this session for pre-legislative scrutiny.

When her Department plans to respond to correspondence of 1 July 2025 from the hon. Member for Meriden and Solihull East on the Midlands Rail Hub, reference MC2025-14224.

The Rail Minister is replying to the hon. member's letter and if he has not received a response already, he will do so in coming days.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Cypriot counterparts on the status of the Sovereign Base Areas in (a) Akrotiri and (b) Dhekelia.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Ministers have not discussed the status of the Sovereign Base Areas with counterparts from the Republic of Cyprus, which was secured by the 1960 Treaty of Establishment.Ministers and officials however regularly engage with counterparts in the Republic of Cyprus regarding activities at the bases and regional security. For example, following the recent escalation between Israel and Iran, the Foreign Secretary and I have regularly spoken to our counterparts about regional stability, including the important contribution the Sovereign Base Areas (SBAs) make to the security of the region.I also speak directly to the SBAs Administrator on a range of issues. The FCDO supports cooperation between the SBAs and the Republic of Cyprus, including on shared challenges such as forest fires, protecting the environment, crime and immigration. The FCDO also supports discussions on the implementation of the Protocol relating to the SBAs agreed between the UK and the EU, which entered into force on 1 February 2020.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support the Sovereign Base Areas in Akrotiri and Dhekalia.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Ministers have not discussed the status of the Sovereign Base Areas with counterparts from the Republic of Cyprus, which was secured by the 1960 Treaty of Establishment.Ministers and officials however regularly engage with counterparts in the Republic of Cyprus regarding activities at the bases and regional security. For example, following the recent escalation between Israel and Iran, the Foreign Secretary and I have regularly spoken to our counterparts about regional stability, including the important contribution the Sovereign Base Areas (SBAs) make to the security of the region.I also speak directly to the SBAs Administrator on a range of issues. The FCDO supports cooperation between the SBAs and the Republic of Cyprus, including on shared challenges such as forest fires, protecting the environment, crime and immigration. The FCDO also supports discussions on the implementation of the Protocol relating to the SBAs agreed between the UK and the EU, which entered into force on 1 February 2020.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of (a) Akrotiri and (b) Dhekelia Sovereign Base Areas on regional stability in the Middle East.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Ministers have not discussed the status of the Sovereign Base Areas with counterparts from the Republic of Cyprus, which was secured by the 1960 Treaty of Establishment.Ministers and officials however regularly engage with counterparts in the Republic of Cyprus regarding activities at the bases and regional security. For example, following the recent escalation between Israel and Iran, the Foreign Secretary and I have regularly spoken to our counterparts about regional stability, including the important contribution the Sovereign Base Areas (SBAs) make to the security of the region.I also speak directly to the SBAs Administrator on a range of issues. The FCDO supports cooperation between the SBAs and the Republic of Cyprus, including on shared challenges such as forest fires, protecting the environment, crime and immigration. The FCDO also supports discussions on the implementation of the Protocol relating to the SBAs agreed between the UK and the EU, which entered into force on 1 February 2020.

Whether his Department plans to ban alcohol advertising.

On 3 July 2025, the Department published Fit for the Future: 10 Year Health Plan for England, which outlines plans to introduce mandatory alcohol labelling, to increase awareness of harms and enable people to make healthier choices. It also commits to exploring expanding the ban on sales of alcohol products to children under 18 years old to include alcohol- free products, to protect young people. It further commits to continued expansion of Individual Placement and Support schemes for people with alcohol addiction to find good work. The Plan is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/10-year-health-plan-for-england-fit-for-the-futureThe Government is committed to building a National Health Service fit for the future, with a greater emphasis on the prevention of avoidable health harms, supporting people to live well for longer. We will continue to work across Government reduce the negative impact excessive alcohol consumption is having on health, crime and the economy.The Government has no plans to introduce a ban on alcohol advertising.

What assessment (a) her Department and (b) the Valuation Office Agency has made of the potential impact of changing the business rates valuation methodology for serviced offices from multiple hereditaments to a single hereditament model on (i) small businesses and (ii) flexible workspace operators.

Following developments in case law and legal advice, the VOA has reviewed its approach and concluded that most serviced offices will need to be assessed as a single property. The VOA has engaged with the sector and rating agents to discuss the approach to assessing serviced offices. In line with legal obligations, the VOA is working through outstanding Checks and Challenges on serviced offices. For serviced offices that are new to the Rating List or subject to Checks and Challenges, the starting position is to treat them as a single assessment, unless there is clear evidence to support separate assessments. The VOA will apply the law to the facts on a case-by-case basis.

What consultation (a) her Department and (b) the Valuation Office Agency undertook with the (i) flexible workspace sector and (ii) representatives of small businesses prior to concluding that most serviced offices should be assessed as a single property for business rates purposes.

Following developments in case law and legal advice, the VOA has reviewed its approach and concluded that most serviced offices will need to be assessed as a single property. The VOA has engaged with the sector and rating agents to discuss the approach to assessing serviced offices. In line with legal obligations, the VOA is working through outstanding Checks and Challenges on serviced offices. For serviced offices that are new to the Rating List or subject to Checks and Challenges, the starting position is to treat them as a single assessment, unless there is clear evidence to support separate assessments. The VOA will apply the law to the facts on a case-by-case basis.

What his planned timetable is for the publication of the final report of the Review of the NHS adult gender dysphoria clinics in England; and if he will make an oral statement upon receipt.

The Review of Adult Gender Services is aiming to publish its report later this summer. NHS England and the Government will need time to consider the findings, advice, and recommendations before issuing their response.The review has examined records, including patient case notes, and conducted site visits at each of the nine adult gender dysphoria clinics in order to develop a detailed understanding of the operation and delivery of services within each clinic. Further information about how evidence was gathered is detailed in the published key lines of enquiry, at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/key-lines-of-enquiry-review-of-the-nhs-adult-gender-dysphoria-clinics-in-england/The review conducted focus groups with patients of the services, and detailed surveys for patients of the service, their friends and family, and for the clinicians delivering these services.

Whether he has undertaken a (a) call for evidence and (b) consultation to support the review of NHS adult gender dysphoria clinics in England.

The Review of Adult Gender Services is aiming to publish its report later this summer. NHS England and the Government will need time to consider the findings, advice, and recommendations before issuing their response.The review has examined records, including patient case notes, and conducted site visits at each of the nine adult gender dysphoria clinics in order to develop a detailed understanding of the operation and delivery of services within each clinic. Further information about how evidence was gathered is detailed in the published key lines of enquiry, at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/key-lines-of-enquiry-review-of-the-nhs-adult-gender-dysphoria-clinics-in-england/The review conducted focus groups with patients of the services, and detailed surveys for patients of the service, their friends and family, and for the clinicians delivering these services.

How much funding her Department plans to allocate to the Midlands Rail Hub, in the context of the Spending Review 2025.

The Chancellor’s commitment to progress Midlands Rail Hub West in the 2025 Spending Review follows the release of £123 million last year to design the first phase, which could be delivered by the early 2030s.

What estimate she has made of the cost to the public purse of removing the £110,000 business rates cap for (a) retail, (b) hospitality and (c) leisure businesses with a rateable value below £500,000 after April 2026; and how this will be funded.

To deliver our manifesto pledge, we intend to introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties, with rateable vales below £500,000 from 2026-27. This permanent tax cut will ensure that RHL businesses benefit from much-needed certainty and support.This tax cut must be sustainably funded, and so we intend to introduce a higher rate on the most valuable properties from 2026-27 - those with rateable values of £500,000 and above. These represent less than one per cent of all properties, but cover the majority of large distribution warehouses, including those used by online giants.The exact rates for any new business rate multipliers will not be set until Autumn Budget 2025 so that the Government can take into account the revaluation outcomes as well as the economic and fiscal context. Costings for these policies will be certified by the Office for Budget Responsibility and published at the Budget.

What estimate she has made of the maximum additional business rate revenue that could be raised by the proposed new higher rate multiplier.

To deliver our manifesto pledge, we intend to introduce permanently lower tax rates for retail, hospitality, and leisure (RHL) properties, with rateable vales below £500,000 from 2026-27. This permanent tax cut will ensure that RHL businesses benefit from much-needed certainty and support.This tax cut must be sustainably funded, and so we intend to introduce a higher rate on the most valuable properties from 2026-27 - those with rateable values of £500,000 and above. These represent less than one per cent of all properties, but cover the majority of large distribution warehouses, including those used by online giants.The exact rates for any new business rate multipliers will not be set until Autumn Budget 2025 so that the Government can take into account the revaluation outcomes as well as the economic and fiscal context. Costings for these policies will be certified by the Office for Budget Responsibility and published at the Budget.

What estimate her Department has made of the potential impact of business rates relief on supply of serviced office buildings.

The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) is responsible for valuing non-domestic property for business rates purposes. At present many serviced offices are valued as separate units. This means that businesses occupying serviced office units are liable for business rates. Where eligible, these businesses may claim Small Business Rate Relief (SBRR). SBRR provides 100 per cent rate relief for properties with rateable values below £12,000, and tapered support to those with rateable values below £15,000.