Written questions by Morrison.

What assessment she has made of the adequacy of the Council Tax banding appeals process conducted by the Valuation Office Agency.

The Council Tax banding appeals process is governed by the statutory requirements set out in the Local Government Finance Act 1992 and secondary legislation. In England, primarily the Council Tax (Alteration of Lists and Appeals) (England) Regulations 2009 and the Valuation Tribunal for England (Council Tax and Rating Appeals) (Procedure) Regulations 2009. In Wales, primarily the Council Tax (Alteration of Lists and Appeals) Regulations 1993 and the Valuation Tribunal for Wales Regulations 2010. Responsibility for administering the appeals process sits with the Valuation Tribunal for England and the Valuation Tribunal for Wales.

Whether the Government has provided any funding for the UAV Tactical Systems joint venture between Thales UK and Elbit.

The Ministry of Defence has not provided any funding direct to UAV Tactical Systems Limited - it is a sub-contractor to Thales.

What discussions her Department has had on the potential impact of its forthcoming legislation on umbrella companies which engage temporary staff with the (a) NHS, (b) construction sector and (c) healthcare sector.

The government is introducing legislation to close the tax gap by making recruitment agencies that use umbrella companies legally responsible for accounting for PAYE on workers’ pay. This measure is expected to protect around £2.8 billion of tax revenue from being lost to umbrella company non-compliance across the scorecard period to 2029-30. In relation to this measure, officials have engaged extensively with the representatives of the recruitment industry that provide temporary workers to these sectors and will continue to do so. The government will set out full details of how this measure will operate, alongside draft legislation, later this year. As well as a consultation period, the government will support businesses as they prepare for the implementation of this measure by engaging with stakeholders before legislation is introduced into Parliament and publishing technical guidance for businesses that will be affected by it.

How many education, health and care plans have been withdrawn for children in (a) mainstream and (b) SEN schools in each of the last five years.

There were 3,317 education, health and care (EHC) plans for children and young people aged 0-25 which ceased during 2023 because the child or young person’s needs were being met without an EHC plan. This was out of a total number of 517,048 EHC plans active at January 2023. There are several other reasons an EHC plan might cease, for example, moving between local authorities, moving outside England or accessing an apprenticeship, employment or higher education. The full breakdown of ceased plans by reason for the calendar years 2022 and 2023 can be found in the publication, ‘Education, health and care plans’ (reporting year 2024) which can be accessed here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/education-health-and-care-plans/2024.Information on the number who attended mainstream schools or special schools and the number ceasing an EHC plan for this reason prior to the 2022 calendar year is not available.

What steps she is taking to ensure that (a) experienced and (b) new teachers in mainstream schools receive adequate training for teaching neurodivergent children.

The department provides continuing professional development to the school and further education (FE) workforce through the Universal Services programme, led by the National Association for Special Educational Needs (nasen). This programme helps the school and FE workforce to identify and meet the needs of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) earlier and more effectively.From September 2025, the new initial teacher training and early career framework (ITTECF) will set out a minimum entitlement to training for all new teachers. The ITTECF contains significantly more content related to adaptive teaching and SEND which was tested with SEND educational experts, to ensure new teachers are equipped to support pupils with a range of additional learning needs.The department recognises that continuous improvement is essential and has committed to review the ITTECF in 2027 to ensure it continues to provide the best possible support. This review will include a focus on teaching pupils with SEND.Also in November 2024, the department established the Neurodivergence Task and Finish Group, which includes clinicians, scientists, academics, education experts and third sector organisations. The group will make recommendations on the best ways to support and meet the needs of neurodivergent children and young people in mainstream education settings.The department is also investing in the Partnerships for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools (PINS) programme, which is a national programme backed by £22 million of investment. PINS deploys specialists from both health and education workforces to build teacher and staff capacity to identify and better meet the needs of neurodivergent children.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure that civilian (a) support and (b) protection is being considered as part of work towards a ceasefire in Sudan.

As penholder on Sudan at the UN Security Council (UNSC), the UK is committed to advocating for the protection of civilians amidst this brutal conflict. In November 2024, during our UN Security Council Presidency, the Minister for Africa chaired a Council session which stressed the urgent need to protect civilians in Sudan. The UK also co-led a protection of civilians resolution in partnership with Sierra Leone which received support from all Council members apart from Russia, who chose to veto it. Any lasting ceasefire must adhere to the Jeddah Declaration of Commitment to Protect Civilians in Sudan that both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces have already signed up to. The UK continues to push for a return to a civilian-led government that delivers the peace and stability that the Sudanese people deserve.

Whether his Department considered including Cheadle Practice as being a high priority for estate improvements when determining allocations for the Primary Care Utilisation and Modernisation Fund in the 2025-26 financial year.

The Government is committed to delivering a National Health Service that is fit for the future and recognises the importance of strategic, value for money investments in capital projects. We have made sure that every single region across the country receives a share of the Primary Care Utilisation and Modernisation funding, so the benefits are felt nationwide.NHS England worked with all integrated care boards, including Greater Manchester, to prioritise the schemes that local health leaders identified that met their communities most urgent needs.

What the average time taken was to get an Education, Health and Care Plan in place for a child in each of the last five years; and what steps she is taking to reduce this time.

Information for each of the last 5 years on the number and percentage of education, health and care (EHC) plans issued within the statutory 20-week deadline, with and without statutory exceptions to that deadline applying, is published as part of the statistical release, ‘Education, health and care plans’ (reporting year 2024), which can be accessed here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/education-health-and-care-plans/2024.Local authorities identified as having issues with EHC plan timeliness are subject to additional monitoring by the department, who work with the specific local authority. Where there are concerns about the local authority’s capacity to make the required improvements, the department can secure specialist special educational needs and disabiltiies advisor support to help identify the barriers to EHC plan process timeliness and put in place practical plans for recovery.​When inspections indicate that there are significant concerns with local authority performance, the department will intervene directly. This may mean issuing an improvement notice, statutory direction and/or appointing a commissioner, deployment of which is considered on a case-by-case basis.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of reductions to USAID on humanitarian aid in Sudan.

The UK notes the US' decision to disband United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and cancel certain USAID programmes. This is a matter for the US. We are currently working to assess the implications of the US funding pause across all humanitarian and development sectors, including on joint and coordinated programming. Sudan remains a priority for the UK. After the London Sudan Conference, the Foreign Secretary announced a further £120 million in funding which will target over 650,000 people. This brought the total pledged by the attendees of the conference to over £800 million in humanitarian aid, a positive step that will have important protection outcomes for civilians.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his UN counterparts on (a)ICE detention centres, (b) total abortion bans, (c) incarceration labour, (d) racism and (e) US human rights abuses.

The Foreign Secretary does not have a single United Nations counterpart. Among other meetings with senior UN representatives, he has recently met with the High Commissioner for Human Rights on 17 March where these issues were not discussed.

What permits his Department has issued to UAV Tactical Systems Ltd for the export of (a) hardware, (b) software and (c) technical support to Israel since October 2023.

From 1 October 2023 to 31 December 2024, the latest date covered by our most official statistics release, UAV Tactical Systems LTD have been issued 2 export licences covering exports to Israel.Each licence has been assessed to ensure that the items were not for use by the Israeli military in military operations in Gaza, pursuant to the decision on 2 September 2024 to suspend exports of equipment to Israel that might be used by the Israeli military in operations in Gaza.Licences for military equipment which is not for use in operations in Gaza or which relate to components for products which are ultimately for re-export to other countries were not included in the scope of the suspension.

How many compensation payments the Child Maintenance Service has made to parents following complaints from (a) parents and (b) MPs in relation to the service received by those parents in each of the last 5 years.

The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

Media and Sport, what fiscal support she is providing to local authorities to help support (a) community sports clubs, (b) swimming pools and (c) grassroot facilities in Greater Manchester.

The Government recognises the importance of ensuring public access to leisure facilities which are vital spaces for people of all ages to stay fit and healthy, and which play an important role within communities.The ongoing responsibility of providing access to public leisure facilities lies at local authority level with funding levels set by MHCLG as part of the Local Government Finance Settlement.The Government encourages local authorities to make investments which offer the right opportunities and facilities for the communities they serve, investing in sport and physical activity with a place-based approach, to meet the needs of individual communities.The majority of Government funding for grassroots sport clubs is through our Arm’s Length Body, Sport England, which invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding each year. An additional £100 million is being invested in grassroots sports facilities across the UK via the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme.Future funding of community sports facilities will be considered as part of the forthcoming Spending Review.

Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to help ensure that local (a) planning committees and (b) communities are consulted as part of the planning process.

The Planning and Infrastructure Bill does not change the consultation rules on local planning applications.Representations can be made by interested parties, and these are considered by the relevant decision maker – whether that be a local planning officer or planning committee.On 28 May, the government published a technical consultation on reform of planning committees. It can be found on gov.uk here.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of funding for fire and rescue services in Greater Manchester.

On 3 February, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government published the 2025/26 Local Government Finance Settlement which sets out funding allocations for all local authorities including fire and rescue.These allocations, which include the National Insurance Contribution Grant, will see standalone fire and rescue authorities including Greater Manchester receiving an increase in core spending power of £69 million in 2025/26. This is an increase of 3.6 per cent in cash terms compared to 2024/25.In 2025/26, Greater Manchester Combined Fire Authority will have core spending power of £142.3 million; an increase of 4.2 per cent on 2024/25.

Pursuant to the Answer of 6 May 2025 to Question 47908 on Community Health Services: Finance, what options to improve homecare services are under consideration; and what his planned timetable is for the implementation of changes.

The Department remains committed to moving more healthcare out of hospitals and into the community, to ensure patients and families receive the care they need when and where they need it. The 10-Year Health Plan will see more tests and scans and services delivered in the community, better joint working between services, and greater use of apps and wearable technology. All will support people to manage their conditions closer to home.Homecare medicines services will play a key role in this and have already grown considerably in the past five years, now supporting approximately 600,000 patients in England to receive specialist, hospital prescribed medicines at home, work or another convenient place.The Department and NHS England recognise the importance of strengthening homecare medicine services and continue to prioritise improvements in this area following the House of Lords Public Services Committee’s report, Homecare medicines services: an opportunity lost. The recommendations accepted by the Department and NHS England continue to be explored and developed. Work is underway to scope the opportunities to improve how homecare services can be procured, contracted, and delivered to meet the future needs of the NHS. An update on progress will be provided to the House of Lords Public Services Committee later this year.

Pursuant to the Answer of 30 April 2025 to Question 47907 on Community Health Services, what assessment he has made of the potential contribution of clinical homecare to moving healthcare out of hospitals and into the community.

The Department remains committed to moving more healthcare out of hospitals and into the community, to ensure patients and families receive the care they need when and where they need it. The 10-Year Health Plan will see more tests and scans and services delivered in the community, better joint working between services, and greater use of apps and wearable technology. All will support people to manage their conditions closer to home.Homecare medicines services will play a key role in this and have already grown considerably in the past five years, now supporting approximately 600,000 patients in England to receive specialist, hospital prescribed medicines at home, work or another convenient place.The Department and NHS England recognise the importance of strengthening homecare medicine services and continue to prioritise improvements in this area following the House of Lords Public Services Committee’s report, Homecare medicines services: an opportunity lost. The recommendations accepted by the Department and NHS England continue to be explored and developed. Work is underway to scope the opportunities to improve how homecare services can be procured, contracted, and delivered to meet the future needs of the NHS. An update on progress will be provided to the House of Lords Public Services Committee later this year.

How many requests for a mandatory reconsideration have been made by parents who have been instructed to pay child maintenance following an initial maintenance calculation in each of the last 5 years.

A Mandatory Reconsideration is where a parent has asked the Child Maintenance Service to reconsider a decision. It is a process that must be completed before the right to appeal to an independent tribunal with His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service. A Mandatory Reconsideration can be requested during the lifetime of a case or when a new application is made, for Child Maintenance and the application is unsuccessful. Where the Child Maintenance Service finds the original decision to be incorrect or if the parent has supplied more information the decision can change. The full information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost. The Department publishes quarterly statistics for the Child Maintenance Service and the latest statistics are currently available to December 2024. Table 9 of the latest National tables provides the total number of mandatory reconsideration requests received by the CMS and the outcomes occurring each quarter, from April 2015 to December 2024. Data from Table 9 for January 2020 to December 2024 is shown in the following table: Mandatory Reconsiderations: the number of requests received by the Child Maintenance Service to reconsider a decision, and the outcomes occurring each quarter, Great Britain, January 2020 to December 2024 QuarterReceived [1]Cleared: Decision Revised [2] [3]Cleared: Decision Not Revised [2]Cleared: Total Cleared [2] [4]Number Cleared Within 28 Days of Receipt [5]Percentage Cleared Within 28 Days of Receipt (%) [6]Jan to Mar 202012,0003,2004,4009,4007,80083%Apr to Jun 20206,2003,0003,2007,5003,00040%Jul to Sep 20209,9002,5003,3007,5005,60074%Oct to Dec 202011,7002,7004,1009,3005,20056%Jan to Mar 202115,7004,2005,50012,9006,80053%Apr to Jun 202116,2005,0006,40014,5009,00062%Jul to Sep 202117,1005,5008,10017,70011,90068%Oct to Dec 202117,6005,7007,30016,70013,00078%Jan to Mar 202219,3005,4007,30016,60012,60076%Apr to Jun 202214,7004,3007,30014,2009,60068%Jul to Sep 202214,6003,7007,50013,8009,90071%Oct to Dec 202214,5004,7007,90015,50011,30073%Jan to Mar 202316,3004,3007,20014,30011,80082%Apr to Jun 202321,9004,0007,20014,40011,10077%Jul to Sep 202313,9004,0007,30014,50011,20078%Oct to Dec 202313,8003,7006,00012,40010,00080%Jan to Mar 202417,2004,0007,10014,10011,10078%Apr to Jun 202417,8004,3008,50016,00011,90074%Jul to Sep 202421,8005,70011,40020,70016,40079%Oct to Dec 202421,8006,20011,90021,80018,10083% Source: Child Maintenance Service Management Information NotesA Mandatory Reconsideration is where a parent has asked the Child Maintenance Service to reconsider a decision. Mandatory Reconsiderations can include multiple requests per parent or arrangement. All requests are counted.Cleared excludes mandatory reconsiderations that have been cancelled or raised in error.Where the Child Maintenance Service finds the original decision to be incorrect or if the parent has supplied more information which changes the decision.Some clearances cannot be categorised as 'revised' or 'not revised'. So the total cleared number will be higher than the sum of the other two categories.The calculation is based on 28 calendar days. This is usually equivalent to 20 working days.The measure of timeliness, calculates the number of Mandatory Reconsiderations cleared within 28 days of receipt (column F) over the total cleared within the quarter (column E).During the quarter ending June 2020, the Child Maintenance Service was affected by the COVID-19 outbreak and the resultant changes to the Department’s operational priorities and staffing resources.Figures are rounded to the nearest 100 or 1%.These statistics are published in Table 9 of the latest CMS National tables.

How much was contributed to the running of the Child Maintenance Service from (a) Government funding and (b) the (i) 4% contribution from parents receiving and (ii) 20% contribution from parents paying child maintenance through a collect-and-pay deduction from earnings order in each of the last five years.

The summary table below shows the response to the PQ ask. In the first line, the amount funded by the government over the last 5 years, which equates to the amount of gross expenditure incurred in support of CMS Operations excluding Digital, Estates and other Central costs.Below that, the fee income collected from both Paying (20%) and Receiving (4%) Parents within Collect & Pay. CMS Actual spend £m2019/202020/212021/222022/232023/24Net cost - Government funded146.2115.1120.7104.1115.9 Paying Parent (PP) & Receiving Parent (RP) Fee Income - £m41.640.946.049.357.6 PP & RP Fee Income detail:£m£m£m£m£mPaying Parent Fee 20%34.834.238.541.348.2Receiving Parent Fee 4%6.86.77.58.09.4Total Income 41.6 40.9 46.0 49.3 57.6 Data is sourced from DWP internal management accounts used for internal financial management and reporting only.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what information his Department holds on the number of British citizens who have been detained abroad when entering another country due to mistaken identity based on their name alone in each of the last five years; and how many of these citizens have been refused consular support during their detention.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office publishes data on the assistance services provided to British nationals on gov.uk. It is not possible to differentiate data on whether mistaken identity was a factor in detentions.