Written questions by Eastwood.

When the EQ-5D-5L quality of life value set will be adopted in NICE technology appraisals.

Awaiting answer.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of parental leave entitlements, particularly in cases where one parent receives extended employer-supported paternity leave while the other parent is (a) inel

The Government is undertaking a Review of Parental Leave and Pay, which provides an important opportunity to consider whether the current system meets the needs of modern working families, including those who are self-employed.The Review will conclude in ...

If he will take steps to ensure parity of baseline parental leave rights, including the standard two-week entitlement, for parents regardless of their partner’s leave arrangements.

The Government is undertaking a Review of Parental Leave and Pay, which provides an important opportunity to consider whether the current system meets the needs of modern working families, including those who are self-employed.The Review will conclude in ...

Whether she plans to introduce an indexation mechanism linking the Approved Mileage Allowance Payment rate to (a) inflation and (b) motoring cost indices.

Approved Mileage Allowance Payments (AMAPs) are used by employers to reimburse an employee's expenses for business mileage in their private vehicle. The AMAP rate is advisory, so employers can choose to pay more or less than the advisory rate. Employees r...

If she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Approved Mileage Allowance Payment rate on small and medium-sized enterprises and mobile workers in rural regions, including in Northern Ireland.

Approved Mileage Allowance Payments (AMAPs) are used by employers to reimburse an employee's expenses for business mileage in their private vehicle. The AMAP rate is advisory, so employers can choose to pay more or less than the advisory rate. Employees r...

Whether her officials have had discussions with colleagues in the Northern Ireland Office on the adequacy of the Approved Mileage Allowance Payment rate of 45 pence per mile.

Approved Mileage Allowance Payments (AMAPs) are used by employers to reimburse an employee's expenses for business mileage in their private vehicle. The AMAP rate is advisory, so employers can choose to pay more or less than the advisory rate. Employees r...

What assessment she has made of the adequacy of the Approved Mileage Allowance Payment rate.

Approved Mileage Allowance Payments (AMAPs) are used by employers to reimburse an employee's expenses for business mileage in their private vehicle. The AMAP rate is advisory, so employers can choose to pay more or less than the advisory rate. Employees r...

What discussions his Department has had with NICE on the introduction of EURneffy for use in the emergency treatment of serious allergies.

Following the approval of an adrenaline nasal spray by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in July 2025, the Government is considering whether any amendments to Schedule 17 of the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 are appropriate...

What assessment she has made of the impact of excluding postgraduate stipends from the definition of qualifying income for Tax-Free Childcare on families where one parent is undertaking doctoral research funded by a

Tax-Free Childcare (TFC) is designed to help parents cover childcare costs so they can enter work, stay in employment, or increase their working hours. As a result, eligibility is based on income from paid work: each parent is generally expected to earn a...

Whether she has had discussions with the Northern Ireland Executive regarding the eligibility criteria for the Northern Ireland Childcare Subsidy Scheme as it applies to PhD students whose stipends are not classifie

Tax-Free Childcare (TFC) is designed to help parents cover childcare costs so they can enter work, stay in employment, or increase their working hours. As a result, eligibility is based on income from paid work: each parent is generally expected to earn a...

What estimate she has made of the potential Barnett consequences arising from the proposed expansion of the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme.

The British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme is being delivered in England, Wales and Scotland. Responsibility for energy policy in Northern Ireland sits with the Northern Ireland Executive. However, the UK Government will provide funding for the Northern Ireland Executive to deliver comparable support in the usual way.

What progress her Department has made on the agreed actions in the Motor Insurance Taskforce: Final Report and Actions, published in December 2025.

The taskforce worked across government, bringing together departments and independent regulators to understand the complexities of the market and to agree a set of actions. Government departments and regulators are acting to address the broader factors that contribute to the cost of claims, such as vehicle theft and the cost of repairs. With regards to the work of my Department, on 7 January 2026 we published our new Road Safety Strategy, setting out our vision for a safer future on our roads for all. As part of the Road Safety Strategy, we have launched a consultation on reforms to motoring offences, including lowering the drink drive limit in England and Wales and introducing tougher penalties for driving without insurance or without a licence. Furthermore, the Government has confirmed a record £7.3 billion investment into local highways maintenance over the next four years, bringing annual funding for local authorities to repair and renew their roads and fix potholes to over £2 billion annually by 2029/30. In addition to increasing the available funding, the Department has confirmed allocations for the next four years, providing greater funding certainty to local authorities. This enables them to better plan ahead and move away from expensive, short-term repairs and to instead invest in proactive and preventative maintenance so that roads can be fixed properly and kept in good condition for longer, preventing potholes from forming in the first place.

What progress her Department has made on the agreed actions in the Motor Insurance Taskforce: Final Report and Actions, published in December 2025.

The final report of the cross-government Motor Insurance Taskforce sets out the actions being taken by government, regulators and industry to help reduce premium costs. Departments, regulators and industry are now taking forward the relevant actions.

For what reason Northern Ireland has been allocated £17 million of the £53 million home heating oil support package announced on 16 March 2026; and if she will publish the methodology used to determine that figure.

The government has acted quickly to provide timely, targeted support to low-income households struggling with the rising price of heating oils, based on the latest census data. This means the funding is distributed in line with where the most vulnerable oil-heated homes are concentrated. It is for the Northern Ireland Executive to allocate the funding in Northern Ireland as they see fit.

What assessment his Department has made of whether the current ownership structure of Royal Mail is compatible with the effective delivery of the Universal Service Obligation.

The universal service obligation is a statutory requirement placed on the designated universal service provider and applies irrespective of the company’s ownership structure.Royal Mail has been a fully independent business since its privatisation was completed in 2015.It is for Ofcom, as the independent regulator, to determine whether regulatory or enforcement action is required to ensure the effective delivery of the universal service.

What discussions his Department has had with Ofcom on whether additional regulatory powers are required to enforce Royal Mail’s Universal Service Obligation.

Ministers have regular discussions with Ofcom. The government does not have a role in Ofcom’s individual regulatory decisions. I met Ofcom on 11 March. They confirmed that they are monitoring Quality of Service data closely and will take regulatory action, if required, to hold Royal Mail to account for improving Quality of Service standards once agreement has been reached between Royal Mail and the Communication Workers Union on implementation of Universal Service Obligation reforms.

What discussions he has had with Royal Mail on its planned timeline for publishing the improvement plan requested by Ofcom.

Royal Mail has publicly committed to publishing a detailed deployment and quality of service improvement plan as soon as possible after its discussions with the Communication Workers Union conclude.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of fireworks noise on the welfare of (a) pets and (b) vulnerable adults.

There has been no assessment of the effectiveness of the Fireworks Regulations 2004 on preventing anti-social use of fireworks or the potential impact of fireworks noise on the welfare of pets or vulnerable adults.I recognise that people hold a range of views on this issue. On 19th January, MPs debated two e-petitions relating to the sale and noise of fireworks respectively. As the Minister responsible, I will ensure that all evidence gathered, including views from the debate, and experiences shared by members of the public, are fully considered. I can assure you that public safety, the impact on people, animals and property, will remain central to this work.

If his Department will review the effectiveness of the Fireworks Regulations 2004 to help prevent the antisocial use of fireworks.

There has been no assessment of the effectiveness of the Fireworks Regulations 2004 on preventing anti-social use of fireworks or the potential impact of fireworks noise on the welfare of pets or vulnerable adults.I recognise that people hold a range of views on this issue. On 19th January, MPs debated two e-petitions relating to the sale and noise of fireworks respectively. As the Minister responsible, I will ensure that all evidence gathered, including views from the debate, and experiences shared by members of the public, are fully considered. I can assure you that public safety, the impact on people, animals and property, will remain central to this work.

With reference to her Department's open consultation on Earned Settlement, due to close on 12 February 2026, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing transitional arrangements for migrants who entered the Skilled Worker route under previous rules with a legitimate expectation of settlement.

The earned settlement model, proposed in ‘A Fairer Pathway to Settlement’, has been subject to a public consultation which ran until 12 February 2026.The consultation seeks views on whether there should be transitional arrangements for those already on a pathway to settlement. Transitional arrangements refer to temporary measures or rules put in place to manage the shift from one system, or policy framework, to another. Details of the earned settlement model, including any transitional arrangements for those already in the UK, will be finalised following thd consultation.The final model will also be subject to economic and equality impact assessments, which we have committed to publish in due course.