Written questions by Davies.

Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of increasing the cap for the number of homes that a council can own without the need for a housing revenue account from 200 to over 1000 on the number of council homes in England.

The government recognise that the cost of opening a Housing Revenue Account (HRA) can deter non-HRA holding councils from increasing their current levels of housing delivery. As a result, we are already exploring whether the current 200 social and affordable home threshold is set at the right level, or if a different threshold would enable councils to reach a level of housing provision that would better enable them to meet the costs of opening and managing an HRA.

Communities and Local Government, if he will publish his Department's plan to replace the New Homes Bonus.

The government has no plans to replace the New Homes Bonus.

What recent progress her Department has made on the construction of the M6 M54 toll link road.

Following the conclusion of the Spending Review, funding was confirmed for the delivery of the M54 to M6 Link Road scheme. National Highways is currently undertaking preparatory works to ensure the project is ready to start construction. The delivery programme for the scheme will be confirmed as part of the third Road Investment Strategy (RIS3).

How many schools in Telford constituency have applied for funding to provide a) free breakfast clubs and b) funded nurseries places in all rounds of applications up to and including 6 December 2025; and how many of those applications have been successful.

The department launched the free breakfast club early adopter scheme in April 2025 to test and learn what works in delivering free breakfast clubs in 750 state-funded schools across England. Early adopter schools were selected to ensure a wide range of representation across different school types, sizes and geographical areas. In Telford, one school is taking part in the scheme. National rollout will begin in April 2026, and the first cohort of applications closed on 5 December. Successful applicants will be announced in due course.High quality early years education is central to the department’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity, give every child the best possible start in life and is essential to our Plan for Change. This government is boosting availability and access through the School-based Nursery Programme. In phase 1 of the programme, one primary school in Telford applied and was awarded funding. Phase 2 closed on 11 December, with successful schools to be announced in due course.

Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the (a) effectiveness, (b) value for money and (c) adequacy of (i) leadership and (ii) accountability of Sports England.

Sport and physical activity generates £123 billion in social value each year. That is why supporting grassroots sport and increasing physical activity are key government priorities. We work closely with Sport England who are best placed to deliver on these priorities and ensure value for money. A large part of Sport England’s work focuses on bringing the health and sports sectors together at community level, including their place partnerships work which is working in a targeted way with local areas to understand and overcome the specific barriers in their communities. Telford and Wrekin is one of Sport England’s place partnerships. To ensure accountability, all DCMS Public bodies are required to hold quarterly partnership meetings, board effectiveness reviews and annual chair appraisals. The Secretary of State met with Sport England’s Chair and CEO in October to discuss priorities and plans moving forward, including how the organisation can best deliver and measure impact for the investment they make in sport and physical activity.

Communities and Local Government, what plans his Department has to support wards receiving funding through the Pride in Place programme in (a) Telford, (b) West Midlands and (c) England.

On 25 September, the Government launched its overarching Pride in Place Strategy, committing up to £5 billion in funding and support to 339 communities. The flagship Pride in Place Programme will provide up to £20 million in flexible funding and support to 244 places over the next decade. This will serve as the cornerstone of this Government’s support for communities, incorporating the existing 25 trailblazer areas announced at Spending Review and the 75 Phase 1 Plan for Neighbourhoods programme areas that were announced in March. The neighbourhoods selected to receive funding and support from the Pride in Place Programme include Woodside in Telford and 28 places in the West Midlands. In addition, 7 local authorities across the West Midlands have been awarded funding through the Pride in Place Impact Fund, with each receiving up to £1.5m over two years. In total, the Government is investing up to £570.5 million across the West Midlands through the Pride in Place Programme and the Pride in Place Impact Fund. Each area selected through the Pride in Place Programme will receive dedicated delivery support from the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government to ensure the successful delivery of the programme. This support will be provided by the Communities Delivery Unit, which will work in partnership with Neighbourhood Boards and local authorities, and will include access to place-specific data, guidance and capability support tailored to local needs. The Communities Delivery Unit will establish a Network for Neighbourhoods across the UK to build connection and learning between community leaders, convene the partners that support and strengthen community organisations, groups and social clubs, and embed participatory approaches in how local decisions are made. With the Pride in Place Programme at its heart, the Network will share learning and best practice across the Neighbourhood Boards and beyond, to support strong, capable and empowered communities to lead change locally. The Communities Delivery Unit in the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government will also work with other government departments to identify relevant programmes, data and support that Pride in Place neighbourhoods can draw on as they develop their local plans.

Media and Sport, what plans her Department has to support wards receiving funding through the Pride in Place programme in a) Telford, b) West Midlands and c) England.

The flagship Pride in Place Programme will provide up to £20 million in flexible funding and support to 244 places over the next decade. The neighbourhoods selected to receive funding and support from the Pride in Place Programme include Woodside in Telford and 28 places in the West Midlands. In addition, 7 local authorities across the West Midlands have been awarded funding through the Pride in Place Impact Fund, with each receiving up to £1.5m over two years. In total, the Government is investing up to £570.5 million across the West Midlands through the Pride in Place Programme and the Pride in Place Impact Fund.Areas selected through the Pride in Place Programme will receive dedicated support from the Communities Delivery Unit within the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government, which will work in partnership with Neighbourhood Boards and local authorities, and will provide access to place-specific data, guidance and capability support tailored to local needs.Through the Pride in Place strategy, DCMS is delivering interventions that are key to creating stronger communities and restoring civic pride. These include £400 million funding for grassroots sports facilities, our £85 million Creative Foundations Fund for revitalising arts and cultural assets and the National Youth Strategy, which will put young people at the centre of the policies that matter to them. My department is engaging with the MHCLG Community Delivery Unit to ensure these programmes have the impact that is needed in the right places.

What plans his Department has to support wards receiving funding through the Pride in Place programme in a) Telford, b) West Midlands and c) England.

The Government is committed to ensuring that communities benefit directly from the energy transition. Currently the Midlands Net Zero Hub (MNZH) is supporting 40 decarbonisation projects across the West Midlands. Through the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, the MNZH has successfully supported Telford & Wrekin Council to include energy efficiency improvements at leisure centres as part of a major refurbishment programme, including £2.2 million at Oakengates Leisure Centre and £1.1 million at Wellington Leisure Centre. In 2025/26, GBE launched a £5 million Community Fund to help groups develop their own clean energy projects, alongside £6.8 million for Local Net Zero Hubs. As set out in its Strategic Plan, published on 4 December 2025, GBE aims to support over 1,000 local and community projects by 2030.

What plans her Department has to support wards receiving funding through the Pride in Place programme in a) Telford, b) West Midlands and c) England.

On 25 September, the Government launched its overarching Pride in Place Strategy, committing up to £5 billion in funding and support to 339 communities.The flagship Pride in Place Programme will provide up to £20 million in flexible funding and support to 244 places over the next decade. This will serve as the cornerstone of this Government’s support for communities, incorporating the existing 25 trailblazer areas announced at Spending Review and the 75 Phase 1 Plan for Neighbourhoods programme areas that were announced in March.The neighbourhoods selected to receive funding and support from the Pride in Place Programme include Woodside in Telford and 28 places in the West Midlands. In addition, 7 local authorities across the West Midlands have been awarded funding through the Pride in Place Impact Fund, with each receiving up to £1.5m over two years. In total, the Government is investing up to £570.5 million across the West Midlands through the Pride in Place Programme and the Pride in Place Impact Fund.Each area selected through the Pride in Place Programme will receive dedicated delivery support from the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government to ensure the successful delivery of the programme. This support will be provided by the Communities Delivery Unit, which will work in partnership with Neighbourhood Boards and local authorities, and will include access to place-specific data, guidance and capability support tailored to local needs.The Communities Delivery Unit will establish a Network for Neighbourhoods across the UK to build connection and learning between community leaders, convene the partners that support and strengthen community organisations, groups and social clubs, and embed participatory approaches in how local decisions are made. With the Pride in Place Programme at its heart, the Network will share learning and best practice across the Neighbourhood Boards and beyond, to support strong, capable and empowered communities to lead change locally.The Communities Delivery Unit in the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government will also work with other government departments to identify relevant programmes, data and support that Pride in Place neighbourhoods can draw on as they develop their local plans.

What steps he is taking to improve a) awareness of and b) access to online health care services among families and carers.

The Government will establish an “online hospital”, NHS Online, which will give people on certain pathways the choice of getting the specialist care they need from their home. It will connect patients with clinicians across the country through secure, online appointments accessed through the NHS App.Before NHS Online goes live, the National Health Service will learn from existing research on patient experience of online care over the last five years and build it into the programme as it develops, with a commitment to patient partnership in design and delivery. Inclusive service design is a key priority to ensure people continue to have greater access, choice, and control over their care.Digital health tools will be part of a wider offering that includes traditional face-to-face support with appropriate help for people who struggle to access digital services. Digital inclusion is a key priority for the NHS as it will support the shift from ‘analogue to digital’. It is one of the five national NHS England Health Inequalities Strategic Priorities, and they published a Digital Healthcare Framework which has guided the integrated care boards’ approach. To improve digital awareness and access, the NHS App team are working with through the National Health Literacy Partnership to provide an NHS App support offer to public libraries in England.

What discussions she has had with the Department for Transport on improving the quality and quantity of trains on the line between Aberystwyth and Birmingham via Telford.

I have regular discussions with the Transport Secretary on a range of issues.Services and rolling stock on the line between Aberystwyth and Birmingham, via Telford, are the responsibility of Transport for Wales and my officials engage regularly with colleagues in Transport for Wales.The UK Government is investing at least £445 million into Welsh rail to right years of underfunding by previous governments and unleash Wales’ economic potential.This will mean new stations, more and faster trains across Wales, improving cross border connectivity, connecting people with the new, well-paid jobs we are creating across Wales and cross border areas.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that online healthcare provision reflects the needs of diverse modern families.

The Government will establish an “online hospital”, NHS Online, which will give people on certain pathways the choice of getting the specialist care they need from their home. It will connect patients with clinicians across the country through secure, online appointments accessed through the NHS App.Before NHS Online goes live, the National Health Service will learn from existing research on patient experience of online care over the last five years and build it into the programme as it develops, with a commitment to patient partnership in design and delivery. Inclusive service design is a key priority to ensure people continue to have greater access, choice, and control over their care.Digital health tools will be part of a wider offering that includes traditional face-to-face support with appropriate help for people who struggle to access digital services. Digital inclusion is a key priority for the NHS as it will support the shift from ‘analogue to digital’. It is one of the five national NHS England Health Inequalities Strategic Priorities, and they published a Digital Healthcare Framework which has guided the integrated care boards’ approach. To improve digital awareness and access, the NHS App team are working with through the National Health Literacy Partnership to provide an NHS App support offer to public libraries in England.

What steps he is taking to ensure NHS Online is accessible to people with limited a) digital skills and b) internet access.

The Government will establish an “online hospital”, NHS Online, which will give people on certain pathways the choice of getting the specialist care they need from their home. It will connect patients with clinicians across the country through secure, online appointments accessed through the NHS App.Before NHS Online goes live, the National Health Service will learn from existing research on patient experience of online care over the last five years and build it into the programme as it develops, with a commitment to patient partnership in design and delivery. Inclusive service design is a key priority to ensure people continue to have greater access, choice, and control over their care.Digital health tools will be part of a wider offering that includes traditional face-to-face support with appropriate help for people who struggle to access digital services. Digital inclusion is a key priority for the NHS as it will support the shift from ‘analogue to digital’. It is one of the five national NHS England Health Inequalities Strategic Priorities, and they published a Digital Healthcare Framework which has guided the integrated care boards’ approach. To improve digital awareness and access, the NHS App team are working with through the National Health Literacy Partnership to provide an NHS App support offer to public libraries in England.

What steps his Department is taking to enable working parents to access healthcare without adversely impacting (a) work and (b) childcare commitments.

Core opening hours for general practices (GPs) run from 8:00am to 6:30pm on weekdays, beyond typical school or nursery hours. In addition, primary care networks provide extended access to GP appointments on evenings and Saturdays.As of 1 October, patients are now able to get in touch with their GP via an online form at any time during core hours to request an appointment or to raise a query, as well as calling or visiting in person. This means working parents can easily schedule convenient appointments without waiting on the phone.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of managing and attending healthcare appointments on children's school attendance.

In the 2024/25 academic year, over 4 million days of school were lost due to time off for a medical or dental appointment. For children to achieve and thrive, they need to be in school. The national absence codes include a code for leave of absence for the purpose of attending a medical or dental appointment, meaning, when monitoring pupils’ attendance, schools will be able to take into consideration any absences due to this. Parents are encouraged to make appointments out of school hours, but we acknowledge that children with medical needs may need to attend medical appointments during the school day and the school attendance framework allows for such absences to be granted by the school. Parents should get the school’s agreement in advance, and the pupil should only be out of school for the minimum amount of time necessary for the appointment. The department has also worked in conjunction with the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and the Royal College of Nursing who endorsed a statement on supporting school attendance, which included suggestions for clinics to support pupils returning to school after medical appointments.

What plans her department has to support wards receiving funding through the Pride in Place programme in a) Telford, b) West Midlands and c) England.

The Pride in Place Programme is being led by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, and is the government’s flagship communities programme, which empowers local people to shape the future of their neighbourhood. Supported by up to £5 billion in funding over ten years, this programme represents a long-term strategy to fix the foundations in hundreds of communities across the country. The department’s contributions to educational improvements in Telford and Wrekin include:Telford was chosen as the lead local authority for the West Midlands under the department’s £70 million Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Alternative Provision (AP) Change Programme Partnership. Key reforms include: ‘Early Language Support for Every Child‘, which focuses on speech, language, and communication needs in early years and primary schools; and ‘Ordinarily Available Inclusive Provision’, which strengthens inclusive practices in mainstream schools.Improvements to Education, including a secondary school in Telford that is eligible for the targeted regional improvement for standards and excellence (RISE) program, and receives school improvement support from sector leaders with a proven track record.To ensure all schools deliver high quality teaching and learning, the department is utilising universal RISE to stimulate interest from high attaining schools to support others, bringing in teaching schools, maths, English, Behaviour and attendance hubs.

Communities and Local Government, how many business pay business rates for each year that data is available in (a) Telford constituency and (b) Telford and Wrekin Local Authority area broken down by type of business rate charge.

The Department does not collect data on the number of businesses paying business rates from local authorities. The Department does not collect business rates data for parliamentary constituencies.

When she will determine West Mercia Police's requests for special grant funding for the next financial year.

Decisions on police funding for 2026-27 will be taken shortly. Any requests for additional funding will be considered in the round and decisions communicated to Police and Crime Commissioners in due course.

What policy he has on match funding raised by charity fundraisers for capital projects that will exclusively benefit the the NHS.

The Government is supportive of the National Health Service working with the charities sector to identify opportunities for philanthropic donations alongside match funding. We are aware of several successful examples of infrastructure projects either part or majority funded through such partnerships, including investment at Great Ormond Street Hospital and Moorfield Eye Hospital. Ultimately, it is for local NHS organisations and trusts to identify and agree these arrangements with charitable partners. More broadly, as set out in the 10-Year Health Plan we are implementing several national reforms to the capital regime that should ultimately support the NHS’ ability to work effectively with charitable partners, including on options for securing match funding for projects. These include providing multi-year capital allocations, extending to 10 years of funding certainty for NHS maintenance budgets, and expanding capital flexibilities and autonomy for high-performing providers and integrated care boards. These reforms should enable systems to better plan longer term pipelines of investment, better facilitating and enabling philanthropic and charitable contributions.

What estimate she has made of the outstanding profit share from asylum hotel providers owed to the home office, broken down by provider.

The Home Office has to date received £45.9m in excess profits from its Asylum Accommodation and Support Contract Providers.Discussions are currently underway with providers in relation to the return of remaining excess profits under the contractual terms.It is not possible to give any further breakdown.