Written questions by Tugendhat.

If she will provide an update on reintroducing a direct train service between Kent and Gatwick Airport.

Awaiting answer.

Food and Rural Affairs, to set out a timetable and a strategy for expanding the number of National Landscapes.

Awaiting answer.

What target figure for asylum dispersal has been given for a) Tonbridge and Malling borough, and b) Sevenoaks district.

The Asylum Accommodation Plans are the mechanism via which the Home Office works towards achieving Full Dispersal and thus, a fair and balanced distribution of asylum accommodation across all local authorities nationally.The Asylum Accommodation Plans are underpinned by an indexing model which accounts for a multitude of pressures within local authorities, including – availability of housing, levels of homelessness, availability of GP and dentists as well as levels of community cohesion. Development of the plans was informed by engagement with a range of national, regional and local stakeholders, to ensure that the evidence base was reflective of broader local authority feedback.For the safety and security of those we accommodate and staff, it is our longstanding policy not to disclose information about sites which may or may not be utilised by the Home Office.The latest published Immigration Statistics detail the number of supported asylum seekers accommodated in each local authority area, including those in dispersal properties. These statistics can be found at Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK.

How many properties are being used for asylum dispersal in a) Tonbridge and Malling borough and b) Sevenoaks district.

The Asylum Accommodation Plans are the mechanism via which the Home Office works towards achieving Full Dispersal and thus, a fair and balanced distribution of asylum accommodation across all local authorities nationally.The Asylum Accommodation Plans are underpinned by an indexing model which accounts for a multitude of pressures within local authorities, including – availability of housing, levels of homelessness, availability of GP and dentists as well as levels of community cohesion. Development of the plans was informed by engagement with a range of national, regional and local stakeholders, to ensure that the evidence base was reflective of broader local authority feedback.For the safety and security of those we accommodate and staff, it is our longstanding policy not to disclose information about sites which may or may not be utilised by the Home Office.The latest published Immigration Statistics detail the number of supported asylum seekers accommodated in each local authority area, including those in dispersal properties. These statistics can be found at Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK.

Food and Rural Affairs, how many meetings of the Water Delivery Taskforce have been held to discuss South East Water's performance since 13 November 2025.

Defra and the regulators have met regularly with South East Water since 13 November 2025 to discuss company performance. The Water Delivery Taskforce met with South East Water on 21 April 2026.

How many properties a) her department, and b) Clearsprings Ready Homes Ltd have acquired in i) Tonbridge and Malling borough, and ii) Sevenoaks district, since the 2024 General Election.

The Asylum Accommodation Plans are the mechanism via which the Home Office works towards achieving Full Dispersal and thus, a fair and balanced distribution of asylum accommodation across all local authorities nationally.The Asylum Accommodation Plans are underpinned by an indexing model which accounts for a multitude of pressures within local authorities, including – availability of housing, levels of homelessness, availability of GP and dentists as well as levels of community cohesion. Development of the plans was informed by engagement with a range of national, regional and local stakeholders, to ensure that the evidence base was reflective of broader local authority feedback.For the safety and security of those we accommodate and staff, it is our longstanding policy not to disclose information about sites which may or may not be utilised by the Home Office.The latest published Immigration Statistics detail the number of supported asylum seekers accommodated in each local authority area, including those in dispersal properties. These statistics can be found at Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK.

What investment her Department has planned to enable 12 carriage trains on the Maidstone East line.

Southeastern (SET) have plans to improve services, increase capacity and reduce crowding to/from Maidstone East from May 2026. These include the reintroduction of Mainline services to London Blackfriars at peak times from Maidstone East; additional services between Charing Cross and Maidstone East on weekdays; and more off-peak services between London Victoria and Ashford International via Maidstone East. SET are also exploring further options for the December 2026 timetable. SET are always exploring the possibility of providing extra capacity where needed. This is not always feasible due to a variety of reasons, including platform lengths, rolling stock availability and funding considerations.

What plans she has to increase capacity on the Maidstone East line.

Southeastern (SET) have plans to improve services, increase capacity and reduce crowding to/from Maidstone East from May 2026. These include the reintroduction of Mainline services to London Blackfriars at peak times from Maidstone East; additional services between Charing Cross and Maidstone East on weekdays; and more off-peak services between London Victoria and Ashford International via Maidstone East. SET are also exploring further options for the December 2026 timetable. SET are always exploring the possibility of providing extra capacity where needed. This is not always feasible due to a variety of reasons, including platform lengths, rolling stock availability and funding considerations.

What plans she has to help reduce overcrowding on peak time services on the Maidstone East line.

Southeastern (SET) have plans to improve services, increase capacity and reduce crowding to/from Maidstone East from May 2026. These include the reintroduction of Mainline services to London Blackfriars at peak times from Maidstone East; additional services between Charing Cross and Maidstone East on weekdays; and more off-peak services between London Victoria and Ashford International via Maidstone East. SET are also exploring further options for the December 2026 timetable. SET are always exploring the possibility of providing extra capacity where needed. This is not always feasible due to a variety of reasons, including platform lengths, rolling stock availability and funding considerations.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the impact of the draft National Planning Policy Framework for rail capacity on a) the Southeastern mainline, b) the Maidstone East line, c) the Uckfield line, and d) the Chatham mainline.

Between 16 December 2025 and 10 March 2026, the government consulted a new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). The consultation on the revised Framework, which can be found on gov.uk here, set out a number of proposals to support development in sustainable locations, including a “default yes” for suitable proposals that develop land around rail stations within existing settlements, and around ‘well-connected’ train stations outside settlements, including on Green Belt land.We have considered how the proposed draft policies could affect existing rail capacity and we will continue to work closely with the Department of Transport and with rail operators, including Network Rail, to address any issues should they arise.We are currently analysing the feedback received and will publish our response in due course.

When the Government will launch the Fuel Finder scheme.

The Government’s Fuel Finder scheme is now live, with registration open to motor fuel traders. From 2 February, all UK petrol filling stations will be required to report fuel prices, encouraging competitive pricing among retailers. Fuel Finder data will be made available to data services such as mapping software and price comparison apps to enable consumers to compare prices more easily and helping to tackle the price of an essential product for thousands of hardworking people across the country.

How many and what proportion of Child Maintenance Service cases have been transferred from direct pay to collect and pay due to non-compliance in each of the last three years.

The Department publishes quarterly Child Maintenance Service official statistics. In the latest National tables, Table 3 provides data on the number of arrangements moving from one service type to another within the Child Maintenance Service from October 2015 to September 2015. The table includes the number of Direct Pay arrangements at the start of each quarter and the number of arrangements moving from Direct Pay to Collect and Pay during the quarter.

What estimate he has made of the number of parents on default rate calculations in each of the last three years.

The Department estimates that there were approximately 2,900 paying parents with a Default Maintenance Decision (DMD) as of June 2025. These were identified by searching for cases that had liability amounts and numbers of children corresponding to the current DMD rates. Counts from previous years are not readily available.

How many Child Maintenance Service cases involving cross border maintenance arrangements were (a) opened and (b) successfully enforced in each of the last five years.

The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) defines cross-border maintenance arrangements to mean applications where one or more parties live outside the United Kingdom (UK).In the past five years, CMS has received no applications involving cross-border maintenance.CMS can only act where the receiving parent, paying parent and any qualifying children are habitually resident in the UK. It has no jurisdiction otherwise. Such cases fall under international arrangements known as Reciprocal Enforcement of Maintenance Orders (REMO).REMO allows UK courts to register and enforce child maintenance orders in countries that have reciprocal arrangements with the UK. These arrangements allow maintenance claims across borders and enable registration and enforcement of orders internationally. Enforcement depends on cooperation with overseas authorities and varies by jurisdiction, including EU countries.

How many Child Maintenance Service applications were closed as incomplete in each of the last five years.

The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) plays a vital role in safeguarding the financial welfare of children by handling applications for maintenance. However, some applications are closed as incomplete, commonly due to missing or insufficient information.Applications which are deemed substantially incomplete, with entire missing sections, can be closed immediately. If an application is partially incomplete, CMS sends a development request asking for the missing information within a set timeframe. If a response is received the application can proceed, failure to respond typically leads to closure.While we hold data on the overall volume of case closures, this information does not include a breakdown by incomplete cases. Producing this level of detail would require significant manual analysis and exceed the cost limits set.

How many (a) driving licenses and (b) passports have been (i) suspended and (ii) disqualified as a result of child maintenance non payment in each of the last five years.

The 2012 child maintenance reforms are designed to increase cooperation between separated parents and to ensure that children receive appropriate financial support. Where family-based arrangements are not suitable, the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) operates a statutory scheme and applies a Payment Compliance strategy to address non payment.CMS has strengthened enforcement powers which include applying for suspension or disqualification of driving licences and passports in cases of persistent non-payment. These powers are applied proportionately and in the best interests of children, and their deterrent effect ensures that their use remains low.The Department regularly publishes Child Maintenance Service official statistics, with the latest statistics available to September 2025. Table 6.2 of the accompanying National tables provides the outcome information where the CMS applied to courts to sanction Paying Parents for non-compliance. The table shows quarterly statistics for both suspended and immediate driving disqualifications and passport confiscations for England & Wales and for Scotland, between July 2019 and September 2025.

How many cases have been closed by the Child Maintenance Service in each of the last five years; and what were the primary reasons for closure.

The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) operates under statutory guidelines to ensure maintenance arrangements are managed effectively and remains committed to supporting parents and ensuring that child maintenance arrangements are fair, sustainable, and responsive to changing circumstances.The Department regularly publishes Child Maintenance Service official statistics, with the latest statistics available to September 2025. Table 3 of the accompanying National tables provides the number of arrangements moving from one service type to another within the Child Maintenance Service each quarter. In addition, the table shows the number of arrangements which were closed between October 2015 and September 2025.The information requested on the reasons for closure is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

How many times the Child Maintenance Service IT system has experienced a (a) full outage and (b) partial service disruption in the last 12 months.

The Child Maintenance Service IT system has had no full outages in the past 12 months. The service is supported by multiple digital products rather than a single system, so the data for part (b) is not held centrally and retrieving it would be disproportionately costly.

How many Deduction from Earnings Orders and Deduction Orders from bank accounts are active.

The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) uses Deduction from Earnings Orders and Deduction Orders from bank accounts to help ensure parents meet their maintenance responsibilities. The number of active orders varies over time as cases progress through compliance and enforcement activity. The Department regularly publishes Child Maintenance Service official statistics, with the latest statistics available to September 2025, with detailed quarterly statistics on CMS Paying Parents available on Stat-Xplore. Using the ‘Method of Payment’ variable can identify the number of paying parents who used ‘Deduction from Earnings Order’ or ‘Deduction from Earnings Request’ methods to pay Child Maintenance liabilities, as at the end of each quarter. Users can log in or access Stat-Xplore as a guest and, if needed, can access guidance on how to extract the information required.

How many staff the Child Maintenance Service employs; and what the average caseload is per caseworker in the (a) enforcement, (b) calculation and (c) complaints teams.

The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) employs staff across a range of operational functions to support the effective administration of child maintenance arrangements. Staffing levels and the nature of work vary between business areas, including enforcement, calculation and complaints, reflecting the different responsibilities and complexity of activity undertaken within each team.As of 30 November 2025, CMS employed 4,972 staff. This comprises 4,148 staff employed by the Department for Work and Pensions in Great Britain and 824 staff employed by the Department for Communities in Northern Ireland.CMS does not routinely apply, or publish, a caseload per caseworker measure. This is because such a metric can be misleading: not all cases have active work attached to them at any given time, while others may generate multiple work items and require different levels of intervention depending on their complexity. Volumes also constantly fluctuate as a case progresses and is therefore only accurate in that moment of time.While individual caseloads are not calculated, CMS continually monitors workloads and resources across all operational areas to ensure cases are managed effectively. The service is currently resourced at a level appropriate to its operational demand, ensuring that support is directed to the teams and functions where it is most needed.