Written questions by Olney.

What progress his Department has made on the review to look at government wide reform at a local level led by the Parliamentary Secretary.

The Government is committed to reforming the state to deliver better public services which revolve around the needs of the users. At the heart of those reforms is a place-based approach. A significant programme of work is underway with departments, local authorities, leaders, frontline staff and others to strengthen and embed this way of working across government. The work underway includes the £100 million Public Service Reform and Innovation Fund, which will be deploying Test and Learns teams around the country over the next three years to design and test innovative solutions to our biggest public service challenges in partnership with local places – and ensuring that local learning informs national policy decisions. The Government will also use the significant opportunity presented by the Spending Review to reform our public services.

If he will make an estimate of the number of people living in London that have recorded (a) physical and (b) mental illnesses linked to noise pollution.

A specific estimate of the number of people living in London that have recorded physical and mental illnesses linked to noise pollution has not been completed.In 2023, the UK Health Security Agency published the findings from a new study that maps the effects of transport noise on health and wellbeing across England, including London. It was estimated that transport noise in London was responsible for the equivalent of thirty-six thousand healthy life years lost in disability in 2018. This includes effects from roads, railways, and air traffic. This work was based on methods developed by the World Health Organization, with further information available at the following link:https://ukhsa.blog.gov.uk/2023/06/29/noise-pollution-mapping-the-health-impacts-of-transportation-noise-in-england/

Which 100 wards in London are the furthest distance from a police station.

The Home Office does not hold centrally, and could only collate and verify it for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.It is up to Chief Constables and directly elected Police and Crime Commissioners to make decisions on local resourcing and estates, including police stations. They are best placed to make these decisions based on their local knowledge and experience.Police stations are just one of the ways people can access their local police services, including reporting online and by phone 24/7.

How much of the funding allocated for Pharmacy First has been spent as of 15 January 2025.

Funding for Pharmacy First is drawn from the additional pharmacy funding announced in January 2024, to cover activity delivered across the 2023/24 and 2024/25 financial years.The plan announced additional spend on blood pressure checks, contraception, and the introduction of seven clinical pathways for the supply of prescription only medicines where clinically appropriate.NHS England and the Department are carefully monitoring the spend on all three elements that make up the full Pharmacy First service, which include minor illness referrals, urgent medicine supply, and the seven new clinical pathways.Contractors can submit claims up to three months after delivering the activity. The Department therefore cannot provide the data requested.

Communities and Local Government, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to improve protections for homeowners facing damage to their homes from neighbouring buildings.

The Party Wall Act 1996 currently provides that a building owner carrying out work must not cause unnecessary inconvenience to adjoining owners. This is taken to mean inconvenience over and above that which will inevitably occur when such works are properly undertaken. The building owner must provide temporary protection for adjacent buildings and property where necessary. The building owner is responsible for making good any damage caused by the works or must make payment in lieu of making good if the adjoining owner requests it.His Majesty’s Government is committed to keeping the Party Wall Act under continuous review. No date or decision has been made to review the party wall act. If the act is reviewed it would require an open public consultation on any proposed legislative changes.

If he will have discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the potential merits of a youth mobility system between the United Kingdom and European Union.

The Government set out clear priorities for the reset with the EU in the manifesto. There are no plans for a Youth Mobility Scheme

What steps his Department is taking to help ensure the security of domestic elections from foreign interference.

Protecting the UK and our democratic processes from foreign interference is a priority for this Government and we have a number of mechanisms in place to do this. The National Security Act 2023 provides the security services and law enforcement agencies with the tools they need to deter, detect, and disrupt state threats. The Joint Election Security and Preparedness Unit (JESP) works between the Cabinet Office and the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) to coordinate election security and preparedness activity within government and externally. This includes working with the devolved administrations, local authorities and the Electoral Commission. The Government's Defending Democracy Taskforce, chaired by the Security Minister, is focused on safeguarding our democracy from the full range of threats including foreign interference. The Government has also committed to enhancing the safeguards against foreign funding of election campaigns and will be bringing forward proposals in due course.

Communities and Local Government, if her Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a searchable public database of political adverts to improve transparency for political (a) advertising, (b) donations and (c) spending.

Under UK law, those promoting eligible digital campaigning material targeted at the UK electorate are required to include an imprint with their name and address, supporting the transparency of political material online.Political parties, candidates and third party campaigners are subject to campaign spending limits at UK elections. For transparency, they are already required to report on their spending and donations and provide invoices for payments over a certain amount, including money spent on advertising. Following an election, the Electoral Commission publishes details of campaign spending and donations on their website, and details of candidate spending are available from the relevant local authority.We have no plans at this time to introduce a requirement for a public database of political adverts but welcome the steps taken by social media companies to create “advert libraries”. We will continue to keep political advertising transparency rules under review.The Government are committed to strengthening our democracy and upholding the integrity of elections and, as stated in our manifesto, we intend to strengthen the rules around donations to political parties to protect our democracy.

Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that eligible voters are on the electoral register.

The electoral register is the foundation of our democratic processes, showing who is eligible to vote in which elections. The Government is committed to improving how registration works, including the use of data and online services to help increase registration levels so that everyone who is eligible to vote can vote.

Whether she has had discussions with Cabinet colleagues on steps to increase democratic education.

For secondary schools, democracy is currently taught through the national curriculum for citizenship at key stages 3 and 4, which covers parliamentary democracy, the key elements of the constitution of the United Kingdom, the power of government and how citizens and Parliament hold it to account. Primary schools can choose to teach citizenship, using non-statutory programmes of study at key stages 1 and 2.Support for curriculum delivery is available through optional, free and adaptable resources from Oak National Academy (Oak). Oak launched its new curriculum sequences for secondary citizenship earlier this academic year, with the full package of curriculum resources expected to be available by autumn 2025. Oak resources are available here: https://www.thenational.academy/.The UK Parliament runs educational tours for pupils, youth and community groups to see how Parliament works in action and produces free resources.The Department for Culture, Media and Sport funds the UK Youth Parliament (UKYP) to support young people to engage in the democratic process. Every two years, the UKYP runs ‘Make Your Mark,’ a youth vote open to all 11 to 18 year-olds in the UK, for them to be able to vote on what are the most important issues for young people.The government has established an independent Curriculum and Assessment Review, conducted by a group of education leaders and chaired by Professor Becky Francis CBE. The terms of reference were published last July and can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/curriculum-and-assessment-review.The review group will publish an interim report in early spring setting out its interim findings and confirm key areas for further work. Its final report, with recommendations, will be published this autumn. The department will take decisions on what changes to make in light of these recommendations.

What steps he is taking to improve relations with the European Union.

The Government is resetting the relationship with our European friends to strengthen ties and tackle shared challenges. The Prime Minister and President of the European Commission have agreed to strengthen the relationship between the EU and UK, putting it on a more solid, positive and forward-looking relationship . I am taking forward discussions with my EU counterpart, Vice President Maroš Šefčovič.

What steps his Department is taking to help reduce trade barriers with the EU.

The Government is committed to resetting our EU relationship, including by reducing barriers to trade. We will seek a sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement to reduce unnecessary border checks and mutual recognition for professional qualifications, as well as helping our touring artists. We look forward to exploring these issues with our partners in the EU.

Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to increase participation in elections.

The Government is committed to increasing participation in elections by improving voter registration and addressing inconsistencies in voter ID rules that have prevented legitimate voters from voting.We are also reducing the voting age to give 16- and 17-year-olds the vote in all elections and acting to improve electoral registration.Firm proposals to deliver on these commitments will be outlined in due course. Progress has already been made with the inclusion of the HM Armed Forces Veteran Card to the list of documents accepted at polling stations.

Communities and Local Government, whether she has had discussions with Cabinet colleagues on steps to improve public engagement with politics.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the Question UIN 901650 on 5 December 2024.

If he will work with the care sector to establish a (a) National Care Agency to (i) set minimum standards of care and (ii) act as a regulator and (b) Royal College of Careworkers to (A) improve recognition, (B) deliver training and development and (C) ensure the highest professional standards.

We are launching an independent commission into adult social care as part of delivering a National Care Service and adult social care reform. The Secretary of State has invited representatives of the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats, Reform UK and the Green Party to take part in cross-party talks on this to build consensus regarding the commission and what it will achieve. This will start a national conversation about what care and support working age adults, older people, and their families should expect from adult social care. The Commission will look at all aspects of the adult social care system, identifying the biggest challenges in adult social care and recommending practical changes to best meet the current and future needs of the population over the coming decades.

What information her Department holds on the number of complaints that were submitted to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman about His Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service in each year since 2015.

HM Courts & Tribunals Service does not hold the data requested.The number of complaints submitted to the Parliamentary and Heath Service Ombudsman will be information held by them.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the English Devolution White Paper, published 16 December 2024, whether it is her policy that mayors in Mayoral Strategic Authorities will be elected through proportional representation.

The Government has no plans at this time to change the voting system for mayoral elections.

How many stage (a) one and (b) two complaints were submitted to HM Courts and Tribunals Service in each year since 2015.

HM Courts and Tribunals Service holds the following data on how many stage (a) one and (b) two complaints were submitted in each year since 2015. For context the annual HMCTS report published for the period 2015/16 states HMCTS handled over 3.98 million cases and the 2023/4 reports states HMCTS received over 4.1 million cases. YearFirst Contact (stage 1)Review (stage 2)201516,5111,591201617,2531,768201717,5751,928201819,4842,387201921,0783,011202018,4442,223202123,7972,878202228,1953,580202332,7454,1882024*32,2123,496 *Data for 2024 is for the period 1 January – 30 November inclusive.

Whether it her policy that the proposed UKADS will assess the (a) environmental and (b) health impacts of new flight paths.

The proposed UK Airspace Design Service (UKADS) will be focused on delivering holistic and modernised airspace design for the UK. As is currently the case, the UKADS would still be required to follow the Civil Aviation Authority’s (CAA’s) CAP1616 Airspace Change Proposal (ACP) process. CAP1616 sets out how sponsors of airspace change must undertake full, comprehensive environmental assessments for airspace options which are under consideration.All ACPs must also allow for sufficient consultation to take place with those potentially affected by the proposed changes.

If he will make an estimate of the number of uncompleted Deprivation of Liberty Safeguard applications per year since 2009.

The annual Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) Assessments consist of data collected from local authorities in England, who are the supervisory bodies for authorising deprivations of liberty for adults in care homes and hospitals. The aim of this publication is to inform users about aspects of DoLS activity.Since the Cheshire West court ruling in 2014, the definition of a ‘deprivation of liberty’ under DoLS widened, and so did the number of cases local authorities had to assess. The increase in cases has led to a backlog. The following table shows the number of Deprivation of Liberty Protection Safeguard applications received, completed, and not completed, each year from 2013/14 to 2023/24:YearTotal number of applications receivedTotal number of completed applicationsTotal number of applications not completed2013/1413,71513,040N/A2014/15137,54062,645N/A2015/16195,840105,055101,7402016/17217,235151,970108,5452017/18227,400181,785125,6302018/19240,455216,005131,3502019/20263,940243,300129,7802020/21256,610246,025119,7402021/22270,650254,215124,1452022/23300,765289,150126,1002023/24332,455323,870123,790Source: data is published by NHS Digital, and is available at the following link: https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/mental-capacity-act-2005-deprivation-of-liberty-safeguards-assessmentsData was not routinely collected on applications not completed prior to 2015/16.