Written questions by Aquarone.

Whether Specialist Resource Bases and Alternative Provisions are eligible for funding from the free breakfast clubs scheme.

All state-funded schools with primary aged pupils, including those with specialist units, special schools and alternative provision schools, are in scope for the free breakfast clubs programme.Through the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, all state-funded schools with primary-aged pupils will be required to offer a free breakfast club and will be funded to do so.We are undertaking national roll out of free breakfast clubs to these schools in phases, with 2,000 starting in the 2026/2027 financial year. We will share details regarding how schools can join the programme in future years, in due course.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 5 February 2026 to Question 108923, whether she plans to provide transitional arrangements to councils going through Local Government Reorganisation.

Local authorities with a transitional arrangement are listed in the commencement regulations with the date by which they must introduce food waste collections from households. These were applied where long-term waste disposal (mechanical biological treatment and energy from waste) contracts present a barrier to introducing separate food waste collections. All local authorities without a transitional arrangement should provide a food waste service for every household by 31 March 2026.

How her Department defines a partial closure of a Sixth Form College; and whether removal of A-Level provision constitutes a partial closure.

The arrangements for closing a standalone sixth form college are set out in the Dissolution of Further Education Corporations and Sixth Form College Corporations (Prescribed Bodies) Regulations 2012, and do not include partial closure.It is for the college to decide the provision offered, taking into account the local authority’s statutory duty to ensure sufficient provision for 16 to 18 year-olds and their learner demographic and needs. For school sixth forms, it is up to individual schools to decide which post-16 qualifications to offer in line with the 16 to 19 study programmes guidance.

What assessment she has made of the effectiveness of HMRC’s operational capacity and performance standards for processing R&D tax credit repayments.

The Government recognises the important role that research anddevelopment (R&D) plays in driving innovation and economic growth as well as the benefits it can bring for society. HMRC actively balances its compliance efforts with the need to ensure those who are eligible for relief receive it promptly. HMRC consistently meets its aim to process 85% of payable R&D tax credit claims within 40 days. HMRC exceeded this target in both 2023–2024 (92%) and 2024–2025 (90%). For the current financial year so far, HMRC has met its 85% processing target every month. The Government is committed to improving the administration of the reliefs, to make it easier and more reliable for legitimate claimants while continuing to protect taxpayer money from unacceptable levels of error and fraud in the system.

With reference to Action 15 of the National Cancer Plan, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that patients in remote and rural areas with poor access to public transport are not disadvantaged in their ability to access specialist treatment.

The National Cancer Plan sets out how we will tackle unwarranted geographical variation head on and ensure that everyone has access to the best diagnostic and treatment services, no matter their postcode.We recognise that rural and coastal areas have been struggling for too long, which is why this plan is increasing the number of training places for cancer consultants in rural and coastal areas, particularly in areas where there are a high number of vacancies. This will ensure quality improvement in the trusts with the greatest needs and provide all patients with access to specialised cancer doctors.We will utilise data driven service planning tools, to support local systems to plan specialist care in a way that is accessible to everyone. It will take account of travel time and the impact on different groups who can experience disparities, such as older people, some ethnic groups, and those that live in rural and coastal areas.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to encourage food surplus redistribution in the baking industry.

We recognise the environmental, economic and social benefits of preventing food waste and redistributing surplus food to organisations who can use it. Redistribution is second only to prevention in Defra’s Food and Drink Waste Hierarchy, which includes the expectation that all businesses should have plans for redistribution in place if any surplus arises. We fund the groundbreaking UK Food and Drink Pact (formerly the Courtauld Commitment), a voluntary agreement with industry to tackle food waste. Through the Pact, Defra regularly engages a working group of industry and redistribution sector organisations to develop best practice on how to redistribute surplus quickly and safely and overcome the barriers to redistribution. We also fund the Food Waste Reduction Roadmap, which helps businesses to identify and measure their surplus and waste and take action to reduce it. We support this Target Measure Act approach as it enables food businesses to get more surplus to the redistribution sector.

What support his Department provides to the baking industry to decarbonise.

Businesses in the baking industry can benefit from the Climate Change Agreements scheme, which provides Climate Change Levy discounts of up to 92% in return for improved energy efficiency and reduced emissions. More broadly, our Clean Power by 2030 mission is working to reduce reliance on volatile fossil fuels and lower electricity costs for businesses. We are also continuing to develop policies to bring down electricity costs relative to gas and intend to consult on options to make electrification an economically rational choice for a wide range of businesses.In due course, we will also set out a clear plan for industrial decarbonisation to support a competitive low‑carbon industrial base and to ensure growth opportunities are realised alongside emissions reductions.

By what route installers can access funding under the extended ECO4 scheme.

Installers participate in the Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) and access funding only by delivering measures on behalf of obligated energy suppliers. ECO4 is not government‑funded, rather suppliers pay for installations and recover costs through their customers’ bills. To work under ECO4, installers must be TrustMark‑registered and comply with relevant standards for installing energy efficiency measures. Suppliers decide with which installers they contract.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer to Question 107848 on 27 January 2026, if he will publish (a) the list of attendees and (b) the minutes of his meeting with Norfolk County Council on 16 December 2025.

The meeting was attended by representatives from Norfolk and Suffolk County Councils: Cllr Matthew Hicks, Nicola Beach, Andrew Cook, Cllr Kay Mason Billig and Tom McCabe. My Department has no plans to publish the minutes of the meeting.

What safeguards are in place to ensure that parties appearing before the Social Security and Child Support Tribunal are informed of any material change in the nature of allegations made against them during proceedings: and what recourse is available when a change is not properly disclosed or explained.

The Social Security and Child Support (SSCS) Tribunal’s job is to establish if DWP’s decision was correct when it was originally made. As such, allegations are not part of the proceedings. DWP lapsing a decision, which is where the department finds in a claimant’s favour before their appeal is heard by a tribunal, is the only situation in which the DWP could be considered to make a material change to its understanding of the case during proceedings. This change can only be made in the claimant’s favour and would be notified in writing to the claimant with accompanying appeal rights.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking with local authorities going through Local Government Reorganisation to ensure that food waste collections align with new boundaries.

Amended section 45A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 requires local authorities in England to arrange for the separate collection of food waste from all households, at least once a week. All local authorities should provide a food waste service for every household by 31 March 2026, unless they have been given a transitional arrangement where long-term waste disposal (mechanical biological treatment and energy from waste) contracts present a barrier to introducing separate food waste collections. Affected local authorities are listed in the commencement regulations with the date by which they must introduce food waste collections from households. Defra will continue to engage with affected local authorities including on any potential impacts of local government reorganisation. During the local government reorganisation process, it is essential that councils continue to deliver their business-as-usual services and duties, including waste collection, which remain unchanged until reorganisation is complete. There is a suite of general continuity regulations for local government reorganisation made under the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 which ensure smooth transfer to new unitary councils. These general regulations provide transitional and supplementary arrangements, so that the councils can undertake specific functions to enable a successful move to the single tier of local government.

Communities and Local Government, if he will publish documents relating to his decision to postpone Norfolk county council elections.

I met all leaders of Devolution Priority Programme Areas on 11 December, where many areas raised concerns about their capacity to deliver local government reorganisation alongside local elections. I also met Norfolk County Council on 16 December where the same concerns were raised. A summary of the decision was provided through the Written Ministerial Statement of 22 January and the letter sent to council leaders, both of which are publicly available.

Communities and Local Government, on what dates his Department had discussions with Norfolk County Council on the cancellation of 2026 elections; and and if he will publish the minutes from those meetings.

I met all leaders of Devolution Priority Programme Areas on 11 December, where many areas raised concerns about their capacity to deliver local government reorganisation alongside local elections. I also met Norfolk County Council on 16 December where the same concerns were raised. A summary of the decision was provided through the Written Ministerial Statement of 22 January and the letter sent to council leaders, both of which are publicly available.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of inflation and supply chain pressures on capital costs for local authorities delivering domestic food waste collection services; and whether she plans to review funding allocations.

The cost modelling for the new burdens funding formula, which took place in 2023, took inflation into account by conducting market research on the most recent industry prices on all aspects being funded. WRAP (the Waste and Resources Action Programme) provided us with unit price assumptions, regularly review those and use their network to inform projections on how inflationary pressure may impact further prices. We are aware of concerns about pressure on supply chains for vehicles and containers and are engaging with key stakeholders across the sector and welcome input to help us understand the challenges and ensure successful delivery. Additionally, we are working with WRAP to scope interventions to address bottlenecks in supply chains.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of capital funding provided to local authorities for the implementation of domestic food waste collections to meet the costs of depot expansion and redevelopment required to accommodate the service including vehicle parking, washing facilities, storage and staff welfare provision.

We have run an appeals process for the funding for weekly food waste collections, which has allowed local authorities to seek financial support in circumstances where their depot space needs to be modified. These are currently being considered, and the outcome will be communicated to local authorities in due course.

Whether he plans to introduce interim mitigations for families potentially affected by the outcome of the Parental Leave and Pay Review.

The Parental Leave and Pay Review is designed to build on our evidence base, assess how well the current system is working and identify where there may be opportunities for improvement. The Review will conclude in early 2027 and the Government will outline next steps for taking any reforms forward to implementation.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of treating Maternity Allowance as unearned income for the purposes of Universal Credit on working mothers who are not eligible for Statutory Maternity Pay.

The Government has committed to review the parental leave and pay system.

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of his Departments policies relating to Maternity Allowance on women in rural and coastal labour markets in the context of the prevalence of seasonal, part-time or based on short-term contracts in those areas.

The Government provides a range of state-funded support for new parents depending on individual circumstances. Maternity Allowance is a benefit for women who are working, or have worked recently, but who do not qualify for Statutory Maternity Pay. To ensure that it caters for different types of working arrangements the qualifying conditions for Maternity Allowance are flexible. Maternity Allowance claimants must have worked for at least 26 weeks in the 66 weeks prior to the expected week of childbirth but that work does not have to be for the same employer, continuous, or undertaken on the same basis. Agency workers and women on zero-hours contracts are also eligible. To calculate the rate of Maternity Allowance women’s earnings are averaged over 13 weeks within their 66-week test period. The 13 weeks do not need to be consecutive, and women can select their highest-earning weeks to increase the rate of Maternity Allowance they will receive. The Government has also committed to review the parental leave and pay system.

What assessment she has made of the recent BankConfidential report entitled "Hidden Credit Lines – The Largest Fraud Anywhere Ever", and what steps she plans to take as a result.

The Treasury is aware of the Bank Confidential report about former misconduct in SME banking. The Government also recognises the serious impact that issues of misconduct have had on small businesses in the UK. I would refer the Honourable Member to an answer I gave recently on this topic (UIN 101305), on 6 January, in which I noted that successive governments and the financial services regulator, working with the financial sector, have taken steps aimed at addressing historical issues of SME misconduct, including through a range of compensation and redress schemes, some of which are ongoing. The Government continues to keep the financial services regulatory framework under ongoing review, working closely with the Financial Conduct Authority.

Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking is to ensure that new homes are built to be flood resilient.

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) makes clear that inappropriate development in areas at risk of flooding should be avoided by directing development away from areas at highest risk (whether existing or in the future). Where development is necessary in such areas, the development should be made safe for its lifetime without increasing flood risk elsewhere. The government is consulting on changes to the NPPF, including a dedicated chapter on planning for flood risk and coastal change. The consultation is open for responses until 10 March 2026 and can be found on gov.uk here. If it is found to be necessary to build homes in areas of flood risk, statutory guidance accompanying the Building Regulations promotes flood resilient building work in flood-prone areas, through Approved Document C which can be found on gov.uk here. This may include adequate sub-soil drainage; use of non-return valves and anti-flooding devices on sewers and drains; water resistant construction; and provision for inspection and clearance of sub-floor voids.