Written questions by Eastwood.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the proposed mandatory enrolment in a digital ID system on the rights of (a) individuals and (b) business under the Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland.

The Government will launch a public consultation on the design of the new digital ID which will inform ongoing policy development and assessments of impacts.We have been in touch with the Devolved Government in Northern Ireland and the Irish Government and will continue to engage with them to ensure systems work for people on both sides of the border, as committed to in the Good Friday Agreement and across the Common Travel Area.

Whether the proposed extension of the qualifying period for Indefinite Leave to Remain under the Skilled Worker route will apply to people already residing in the UK under that route.

We will be consulting on the new settlement rules later this year. Details of how this initiative will work will be provided around that consultation.

What assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the implementation of Skilled Worker visa eligibility criteria for (a) childcare and (b) early years workers.

On 12 May, the Government published our Immigration White Paper, outlining our future approach to legal migration routes. On 22 July the first phase of changes took effect, including raising the threshold for Skilled Worker visas to graduate level occupations. Nursery education teaching professionals meet this new threshold. Other occupations in childcare and early years work are classed as medium skilled roles and are not on the Temporary Shortage List (TSL) or Immigration Salary List (ISL). Therefore, new applicants from overseas are ineligible, and those in the UK on other visa routes will not be able to switch to the Skilled Worker route. Those on Skilled Worker visas before 22 July 2025 and who need to extend their stay can continue to apply in medium skilled roles and will have to meet the salary requirements in place at the time they apply.On 2 July we asked the independent Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to advise on future salary requirements for Skilled Worker visas. We expect the MAC to respond around the end of the year.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of extending the Indefinite Leave to Remain qualifying period on the recruitment and retention of overseas workers in Northern Ireland’s health and social care sector.

We will be consulting on the new settlement rules later this year. Details of how this initiative will work will be provided around that consultation.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of extending the qualifying period for Indefinite Leave to Remain under the Skilled Worker visa route on the health and social care workforce.

We will be consulting on the new settlement rules later this year. Details of how this initiative will work will be provided around that consultation.

What steps she is taking to provide clarity to Skilled Worker visa holders in the UK impacted by proposed changes to the Indefinite Leave to Remain qualifying period.

We will be consulting on the new settlement rules later this year. Details of how this initiative will work will be provided around that consultation.

Whether she plans to review the adequacy of the (a) salary and (b) eligibility requirements for (i) childcare and (ii) early years workers under the Skilled Worker visa route.

On 12 May, the Government published our Immigration White Paper, outlining our future approach to legal migration routes. On 22 July the first phase of changes took effect, including raising the threshold for Skilled Worker visas to graduate level occupations. Nursery education teaching professionals meet this new threshold. Other occupations in childcare and early years work are classed as medium skilled roles and are not on the Temporary Shortage List (TSL) or Immigration Salary List (ISL). Therefore, new applicants from overseas are ineligible, and those in the UK on other visa routes will not be able to switch to the Skilled Worker route. Those on Skilled Worker visas before 22 July 2025 and who need to extend their stay can continue to apply in medium skilled roles and will have to meet the salary requirements in place at the time they apply.On 2 July we asked the independent Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to advise on future salary requirements for Skilled Worker visas. We expect the MAC to respond around the end of the year.

How many Skilled Worker visas have been granted for (a) childcare and (b) early years posts since their inclusion on the eligible occupations list.

The Home Office publishes data on sponsored work visas by visa type and occupation in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on grants of visas are published in table ‘Occ_D02’ of the sponsored work visas by occupation and industry dataset.Information on how to use the dataset can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbook. Data is from January 2021 up to the end of June 2025.

What discussions he has had with his counterpart in the Northern Ireland executive on the potential introduction of a national screening programme for prostate cancer.

The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) advises ministers and the National Health Service in the four nations of the United Kingdom about all aspects of screening. The implementation of any UK NSC screening recommendation is a devolved matter.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of extending the Armed Forces Covenant Duty on the work of his Department.

The extension of the Armed Forces Covenant Legal Duty will require the Cabinet Office to have due regard to the principles of the Covenant across a wide range of new policy areas. A full assessment of the impact of the extension on the Cabinet Office will take place once the necessary legislation is progressing through Parliament.

What recent assessment he has made of the potential savings to the public purse of enabling young people in supported accommodation to increase their working hours without losing access to affordable housing.

We acknowledge there is a challenge arising from the interaction between Universal Credit and Housing Benefit, particularly for young people living in supported and temporary accommodation, including the different income tapers used by each benefit. Currently, a broad spectrum of customers receive their rent support through Housing Benefit. This includes pensioners, residents in Supported or Temporary Accommodation and customers who have not yet migrated to Universal Credit. Any amendment to the Housing Benefit taper rules would apply to all these groups. We are considering options to improve work incentives for residents of supported housing and temporary accommodation, while considering the views of stakeholders. Any future decisions on DWP housing support will be taken in the round and measures which best meet Government goals, within the current fiscal environment, will be prioritised. It remains the department’s priority to ensure that those who can work are supported to enter the labour market and to sustain employment.

If she will commission a judge-led public inquiry into the surveillance of journalists in Northern Ireland by MI5.

MI5’s use of covert investigatory powers is subject to strong safeguards under the Investigatory Powers Act 2016, the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000, and their related statutory Codes of Practice.Robust independent oversight of these powers is provided by the Investigatory Powers Commissioner. This includes specific additional protections in respect of journalistic material and sources, as well as material subject to legal privilege.The Investigatory Powers Tribunal is an independent judicial body that provides the right of redress to anyone who believes they have been the victim of unlawful action by a public authority using covert techniques.For this reason, it is not necessary to conduct a public inquiry into the surveillance of journalists in Northern Ireland by MI5.

If he will hold discussions with Centrepoint on taking steps to help tackle youth homelessness.

Ending all forms of homelessness is a priority for this Government, and we are committed to tackling youth homelessness. My department plays a key role and works closely with homelessness stakeholders including Centrepoint, who provide invaluable support to young people. I have met Centrepoint previously and would welcome the opportunity for further discussions.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory's report entitled Legal analysis of the conduct of Israel in Gaza pursuant to the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, published on 16 September 2025.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 18 September to question 72500.

How many meetings of the Motor Insurance Taskforce have taken place; and when the next meeting will take place.

The cross-Government Motor Insurance Taskforce met for the first time on 16 October 2024. It met again on 28 April 2025 and most recently met on 21 July 2025. The taskforce is expected to publish its final report in the autumn.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps she plans to take in response to the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory's report entitled Legal analysis of the conduct of Israel in Gaza pursuant to the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, published on 16 September 2025.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 18 September to question 72500.

Whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential fiscal impact of (a) increasing the Housing Benefit earnings disregard from £5 to £57 and (b) reducing the taper rate from 65 per cent to 55 per cent for young people living in supported accommodation.

We acknowledge there is a challenge arising from the interaction between Universal Credit and Housing Benefit, particularly for young people living in supported and temporary accommodation, including the different income tapers used by each benefit. Currently, a broad spectrum of customers receive their rent support through Housing Benefit. This includes pensioners, residents in Supported or Temporary Accommodation and customers who have not yet migrated to Universal Credit. Any amendment to the Housing Benefit taper rules would apply to all these groups. We are considering options to improve work incentives for residents of supported housing and temporary accommodation, while considering the views of stakeholders. Any future decisions on DWP housing support will be taken in the round and measures which best meet Government goals, within the current fiscal environment, will be prioritised. It remains the department’s priority to ensure that those who can work are supported to enter the labour market and to sustain employment.

Whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing an all-island working visa for the island of Ireland.

The UK and Ireland have a close and collaborative working relationship on a range of issues, including migration and border security which is underpinned by our joint commitment to protecting the Common Travel Area (CTA) from abuse while preserving the rights of British and Irish citizens.However, the operation of the CTA has never required the UK and Ireland to have entirely harmonised immigration arrangements and UK immigration policy is determined for the benefit of the UK.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the interaction between Housing Benefit and Universal Credit on the ability of young people living in supported accommodation to increase their working hours.

We acknowledge there is a challenge arising from the interaction between Universal Credit and Housing Benefit, particularly for young people living in supported and temporary accommodation, including the different income tapers used by each benefit. Currently, a broad spectrum of customers receive their rent support through Housing Benefit. This includes pensioners, residents in Supported or Temporary Accommodation and customers who have not yet migrated to Universal Credit. Any amendment to the Housing Benefit taper rules would apply to all these groups. We are considering options to improve work incentives for residents of supported housing and temporary accommodation, while considering the views of stakeholders. Any future decisions on DWP housing support will be taken in the round and measures which best meet Government goals, within the current fiscal environment, will be prioritised. It remains the department’s priority to ensure that those who can work are supported to enter the labour market and to sustain employment.

If she will make an assessment of the potential impact of increasing the Housing Benefit earnings disregard from £5 to £57 for young people living in supported accommodation on youth employment.

We acknowledge there is a challenge arising from the interaction between Universal Credit and Housing Benefit, particularly for young people living in supported and temporary accommodation, including the different income tapers used by each benefit. Currently, a broad spectrum of customers receive their rent support through Housing Benefit. This includes pensioners, residents in Supported or Temporary Accommodation and customers who have not yet migrated to Universal Credit. Any amendment to the Housing Benefit taper rules would apply to all these groups. We are considering options to improve work incentives for residents of supported housing and temporary accommodation, while considering the views of stakeholders. Any future decisions on DWP housing support will be taken in the round and measures which best meet Government goals, within the current fiscal environment, will be prioritised. It remains the department’s priority to ensure that those who can work are supported to enter the labour market and to sustain employment.