Written questions by Dhesi.

Whether he has considered the potential merits of the introduction of licensing for locksmithing.

The Department keeps the consumer protection framework under regular review and is aware of some issues with rogue traders in the locksmith industry. Locksmiths must comply with existing consumer legislation. Where traders do not comply with the law, the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 has strengthened enforcement powers. It has given the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) new administrative powers to enable them and the courts to impose significant monetary penalties. Consumers are advised to use providers that operate under a regulated trusted trader scheme, such as the Master Locksmiths Association, which ensures approved locksmiths are appropriately vetted, inspected and qualified.

Representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, what the a) median salary, b) mean salary, c) turnover rate, d) mean length of service, e) median length of service and f) salary increase for 2026-27 is for i) IPSA employees and ii) Members' staff.

Salaries for MPs’ staff are decided by MPs, who employ and manage their staff, within pay bands that in 2026-27 will be uplifted by 5%.The median annual salary, when calculated by actual pay and not full-time equivalent hours, for MPs’ staff (not including MPs or House of Commons staff) is £30,900. The mean annual salary, when calculated by actual pay and not full-time equivalent hours, for MPs’ staff is £30,658. It should be noted that MPs are also able to pay reward and recognition payments and overtime payments to their staff. So far in 2025-26, 500 offices have made such payments, at an average of £5,294 per office.Due to the nature of the work that IPSA carries out, there are no roles that are directly comparable with those found within MPs' offices. For example, IPSA is required to have senior qualified finance and payroll professionals and managers who are responsible for teams significantly larger than those in MPs’ offices. Nearest comparable roles amongst IPSA's people include MP Services Managers and Account Managers, Payroll Support Officers and Managers, Communications Officers, and the Chief of Staff. For the purpose of illustration, the median annual salary across such roles is £38,782. The mean annual salary is £35,855.The annual turnover rate averaged across all MPs’ offices is 20.8% and for nearest comparable IPSA roles is 10.8%. The mean length of service for current (as of 5 March 2026) MPs’ staff is 926 days and for nearest comparable IPSA roles is 1,307 days. The median length of service for current (as of 5 March 2026) MPs’ staff is 528 days and for nearest comparable IPSA roles is 1,739 days. The significantly longer service of IPSA staff is reflected in the median and mean salaries.IPSA has provided for an automatic pay award in 2026-27 of 3.5% for both MPs’ staff and IPSA’s people in its 2026-27 main estimate, with additional increases within the 5% staffing budget uplift available at the employing MP’s discretion. MPs’ staff members who are paid at the minimum rate of their pay band will receive either a 5%, 7.1%, or 9.4% increase in pay automatically, depending on their role.

Representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, how IPSA assesses how many staff are required to meet workload demands on hon. Members' offices; and how is this scrutinised by the Committee.

The core MPs' staffing budget is set at a level that will accomadate a 'notional' office of five full time equivalent staff, but is intended to provide flexibility for MPs to decide how best to staff their office. For example, an MP could decide to have fewer full-time equivalent staff members paid at higher salaries if what they value is experience. Alternatively, they could prioritise experience and leadership quailties in one role and leave room for progression in other roles. Many MPs do employ more than five full-time members of staff.In making decisions about the use of public money, IPSA consults widely and uses all of the available evidence as well as taking into account wider economic and fiscal context. IPSA understands from data that not all offices require an additional staff member.Most MPs underspend their budgets. Approximately one third of MPs are projested to spend more than 95% of their budget this year. A small number of offices have applied for additional funding this year to help with an exceptionally busy period.Rather than applying for a one-size-fits-all solution at significant cost to the taxpayer, IPSA believes that a more targeted approach is a better and more prudent way of supporting offices. This is why IPSA is creating a £7.7 million staffing support fund, which will become available from 1 April 2026. This will provide structural financial and advisory support for temporary staffing pressures, that can be tailored to each office's needs.IPSA will work with the House services to collect data on caseload volume and complexity to inform plans for the future.The Speaker's Committee's remit is set out in the Parliamentary Standards act 2009. The Committee last met IPSA on 4 March 2026 to consider IPSA's draft main estimate for 2026/27, where MPs' staffing was discussed. This was a public meeting, and a recording of that session has been made available on Parliament Live.

Representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, whether there is any different funding provided by IPSA to MPs representing constituencies with populations a) below 30,000 and b) above 130,000.

IPSA sets core staffing and office costs budgets which differ depending on whether an MP's constituency is based in London or is outside of London. This is because IPSA recognises the increase costs of being based in the capital.IPSA does recognise there are many other factors that may present increased costs for MPs, including constituency demographics, socio-economic differences, and geographical factors. However, rather than seeking to devise and justify different budgets for all MPs, IPSA provides exceptional funding to support thos who have a proven requirement for additional support.MPs run their offices in different ways, and it is not for IPSA to make assumptions as to how various factors will affect work that they undertake. IPSA takes a flexible approach which respons on a case-by-case basis with targeted and tailored support where it is needed.

Representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, whether IPSA has undertaken research on the potential link between (a) average headcount per office, (b) average salaries for staff and (c) constituency populations, constituency deprivation levels, social housing waiting lists, hon. Members' additional parliamentary responsibilities and other constituency demographic information.

IPSA funds MPs to undertake their parliamentary duties and this includes providing MPs with budgets for travel, accomodation, office costs, and staffing. The MP is the legal employer of their staff. The structure of an MP's office and the management of the workload is decided by the MP and may differ according to variations in constituency populations, constituency deprivation levels, social housing waiting lists, Members' additional parliamentary responsibilities, and other constituency demographic information.The core MPs' staffing budget is set to a level that will accomodate a 'notional' office of five full time equivalent staff but is intended to provide flexibility for MPs to decide how best to staff their office. Where offices require additional support, IPSA provides exceptional funding to support those in need.IPSA will work with the House services to collect data on caseload volume and complexity to inform plans for the future.

What recent discussions he has had with the Solicitors Regulation Authority on the adequacy of waiting times for complaint resolutions.

The legal profession in England and Wales, together with its regulators, operates independently of government. The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) is responsible for regulating the professional conduct of solicitors and most law firms in England and Wales. The Legal Services Board (LSB) oversees the SRA’s performance to ensure it operates effectively and in the public interest, including through performance assessments, targeted reviews and ongoing supervisory engagement. As the minister with responsibility for legal services I meet regularly with the SRA to hold it to account for its performance and am happy to rase the issue of waiting times for complaint resolutions at future meetings. Where allegations of solicitor misconduct are raised with the SRA, it assesses the complaint to determine whether it meets the threshold for formal investigation. The SRA publishes information about its performance, including data on the timeliness of investigations and enforcement activity, through its corporate reporting and Board papers. It has reported an increase in complaints about solicitor misconduct and has taken steps to manage this, including increasing investigative resource and seeking to improve the quality and timeliness of its investigation work. Within the framework of regulatory independence, Ministers and officials in the Ministry of Justice engage frequently with the SRA on matters relating to the regulatory framework. This has included engagement on the steps the SRA is taking to improve the timeliness of its investigations.

Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to help tackle exploitative and non‑transparent sub‑letting in the private rented sector; and whether he has assessed the merits of strengthening redress for sub‑tenants who have been misled into paying rent to a legal tenant rather than the landlord.

Subletting a property is subject to the conditions outlined in the tenancy agreement between the tenant and landlord, and the agreement between the sub-tenant and the main tenant. Where disputes arise, established legal routes and access to the courts are available to provide appropriate remedies. On 13 November 2025, the government published a roadmap for implementing the Renters' Rights Act, which can be found on gov.uk here. In implementation Phase 2 from late 2026, we will introduce the national Private Rented Sector Database, providing tenants with more information about private landlords, and supporting local authorities to identify and take action against illegal subletting.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of regulations relating to the i) regulation of conduct and operations and ii) remuneration of High Court Enforcement Officers.

On 9 June 2025, the Government announced a balanced package of measures to strengthen independent regulation of the enforcement sector to protect people in debt, whilst ensuring fair and effective enforcement. As part of this package, reforms to the Taking Control of Goods Procedure will be made to improve the experience of those facing enforcement action, as well as uplifting the enforcement fees High Court Enforcement Officers can charge to support sector sustainability.The Government intends to bring forward legislation to implement these reforms when parliamentary time allows.

With reference to paragraph 88 of the UK Government Resilience Action Plan, how many meetings Ministers in their Department have attended related to the Home Defence Programme.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and ministers have regular discussions with officials, external experts and ministerial colleagues on a range of issues, including national security, defence and resilience.The Home Defence Programme was established in August 2024 to build the UK’s resilience to any potential escalation to conflict. It is an evolving and enduring programme of work which provides defence, security and resilience planning, focused on aligning military and civil effort in the event of a period of crisis and international hostilities affecting the UK, informed by and reflecting the recommendations from government strategies, including the Strategic Defence Review, National Security Strategy and Resilience Action Plan.The Department for Work and Pensions is actively supporting this work.

When digital prescriptions will be available in all NHS hospitals.

NHS England does not have a target date for digital prescription availability in all National Health Service hospitals. The NHS Digital Maturity Assessment 2025 showed that 93% of NHS hospital trusts have gone live with an electronic prescribing and medicines administration system. The 2026 Digital Maturity Assessment will provide the latest data later this year.

What steps he is taking to (a) support NHS trusts with software needs and (b) unify software across NHS trusts.

NHS England supports National Health Service trusts with software needs in many ways, including through documentation, guides, support, a developer community, application programming interfaces, and mandatory standards.NHS England is unifying software across NHS trusts through application of interoperability and accessibility standards and national services such as NHS Notify.NHS trusts make their own decisions regarding the adoption and deployment of software and are expected to ensure that access to the tools they employ is safe, ethical, effective, and equitable for all within their remit.

With reference to paragraph 88 of the UK Government Resilience Action Plan, how many meetings Ministers in their Department have attended related to the Home Defence Programme.

The Secretary of State for Defence has regular discussions with officials, external experts and Ministerial colleagues on a range of issues, including national security, defence and resilience. The Home Defence Programme was established in August 2024 to build the UK's resilience to any potential escalation to conflict. It is an evolving and enduring programme of work which provides defence, security and resilience planning, focused on aligning military and civil effort in the event of a period of crisis and international hostilities affecting the UK, informed by and reflecting the recommendations from government strategies, including the Strategic Defence Review, National Security Strategy and Resilience Action Plan. The Ministry of Defence is actively supporting this work and continues to work closely with the Cabinet Office and wider Government Departments on the Home Defence Programme and associated priorities.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to paragraph 88 of the UK Government Resilience Action Plan, how many meetings Ministers in their Department have attended related to the Home Defence Programme.

As set out in the Strategic Defence Review, the national conversation will be a multi-year engagement designed to embed a whole-of-society approach, where Government, businesses, and the public all play a part in strengthening our resilience. This addresses the risks we face, including threats below and above the threshold of an armed attack. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is actively supporting this work, driving international engagement to tackle global threats to the UK's national security.

With reference to paragraph 88 of the UK Government Resilience Action Plan, how many meetings Ministers in their Department have attended related to the Home Defence Programme.

Department for Transport Ministers have regular discussions with officials, external experts and ministerial colleagues on a range of issues, including national security, defence and resilience. The Home Defence Programme was established in August 2024 to build the UK’s resilience to any potential escalation to conflict. It is an evolving and enduring programme of work which provides defence, security and resilience planning, focused on aligning military and civil effort in the event of a period of crisis and international hostilities affecting the UK, informed by and reflecting the recommendations from government strategies, including the Strategic Defence Review, National Security Strategy and Resilience Action Plan. The Department for Transport is actively supporting this work.

With reference to paragraph 88 of the UK Government Resilience Action Plan, how many meetings Ministers in their Department have attended related to the Home Defence Programme.

I have regular discussions with officials, external experts and ministerial colleagues on a range of issues, including national security, defence and resilience. The Home Defence Programme was established in August 2024 to build the UK’s resilience to any potential escalation to conflict. It is an evolving and enduring programme of work which provides defence, security and resilience planning, focused on aligning military and civil effort in the event of a period of crisis and international hostilities affecting the UK, informed by and reflecting the recommendations from government strategies, including the Strategic Defence Review, National Security Strategy and Resilience Action Plan.

With reference to paragraph 88 of the UK Government Resilience Action Plan, how many meetings Ministers in their Department have attended related to the Home Defence Programme.

Details of the meetings held by Ministers of the Department for Business and Trade are available on transparency pages of gov.uk and are released as part of the Government's transparency agenda.

With reference to paragraph 88 of the UK Government Resilience Action Plan, how many meetings Ministers have attended related to the Home Defence Programme.

Ministers have regular discussions with officials, external experts and ministerial colleagues on a range of issues, including national security, defence and resilience. The Home Defence Programme was established in August 2024 to build the UK’s resilience to any potential escalation to conflict. It is an evolving and enduring programme of work which provides defence, security and resilience planning, focused on aligning military and civil effort in the event of a period of crisis and international hostilities affecting the UK. It is informed by and reflects the recommendations from government strategies, including the Strategic Defence Review, National Security Strategy and Resilience Action Plan. The Cabinet Office coordinates the Home Defence Programme, working closely with the MoD and other departments.

With reference to paragraph 88 of the UK Government Resilience Action Plan, how many meetings the Prime Minister has attended related to the Home Defence Programme.

The Prime Minister has regular discussions with officials, external experts and ministerial colleagues on a range of issues, including national security, defence and resilience. The Home Defence Programme was established in August 2024 to build the UK’s resilience to any potential escalation to conflict. It is an evolving and enduring programme of work which provides defence, security and resilience planning, focused on aligning military and civil effort in the event of a period of crisis and international hostilities affecting the UK, informed by and reflecting the recommendations from government strategies, including the Strategic Defence Review, National Security Strategy and Resilience Action Plan.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to paragraph 88 of the UK Government Resilience Action Plan, how many meetings Ministers in their Department have attended related to the Home Defence Programme.

The Secretary of State has regular discussions with officials, external experts and ministerial colleagues on a range of issues, including national security, defence and resilience. The Home Defence Programme was established in August 2024 to build the UK’s resilience to any potential escalation to conflict. It is an evolving and enduring programme of work which provides defence, security and resilience planning, focused on aligning military and civil effort in the event of a period of crisis and international hostilities affecting the UK, informed by and reflecting the recommendations from government strategies, including the Strategic Defence Review, National Security Strategy and Resilience Action Plan. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is actively supporting this work.

With reference to paragraph 88 of the UK Government Resilience Action Plan, how many meetings Ministers in their Department have attended related to the Home Defence Programme.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer has regular discussions with officials, external experts and ministerial colleagues on a range of issues, including national security, defence and resilience. This includes attending and speaking at public and sector events.