Written questions by Collins.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the quarterly instalment payment regime on companies that realise large but infrequent capital gains, particularly in cases where tax liabilities cannot be known at the point quarterly payments fall due.

If a company or a group's annual profits exceed £1.5 million, they will be classed as ‘large’ and will be required to pay their Corporation Tax in quarterly instalments. This long-standing regime ensures that larger companies pay their Corporation Tax bill closer to the point at which they make a profit, which is in line with other G7 countries.Companies must self-assess whether they are in the regime and pay accordingly. Where liabilities may be difficult to predict, including from capital gains, companies should make their best estimate of instalment payments based on the information available at the time. Payments can be adjusted up or down as the final liability becomes clearer, and if they prove to be excessive a repayment can be claimed.As always for late paid tax, interest is charged to reflect the time value of money. Recognising the estimated nature of the instalments, special rates of interest apply which charge less for late payment, and pay more for overpayment, than the normal rates.The Government keeps the impact of the quarterly instalment payment regime, including associated interest rules, under review.

Whether his Department plans to introduce a statutory right to access free period products.

The Government recognises the importance of women and girls being able to access the care they need for their reproductive health, including period products.We know that poverty doesn’t recognise gender, and that women and girls may suffer given the cost of period products. However, we know that period poverty reflects wider cost-of-living pressures, which is why the Government is tackling the root causes of poverty, through measures to make work pay, boosting the living wage, and investing in public services, so no one has to go without the essentials.There are a number of schemes across the Government which ensure that those who are most vulnerable can access the products they need. The Department for Education’s Period Products scheme launched in 2020 and provides free period products to girls and women in their place of study so that nobody misses out on education because of their period. Similarly, all women and girls being cared for by the National Health Service are entitled to be given, upon request, appropriate period products free of charge.We are also taking steps to ensure that products are as affordable as possible, as the tax on period products has been zero-rated since 2021, and in 2023 this was extended to include reusable period underwear.

Whether passenger demand forecasts for Thameslink services have been updated to reflect the approved expansion of London Luton Airport, planned housing growth along the route and the proposed Universal Studios development in Bedfordshire; and how those factors are being incorporated into long-term capacity planning for the Thameslink corridor.

Govia Thameslink Railway has shared demand modelling with the Department which does include projections for planned developments along the Thameslink network. The Department requires all operators to plan future timetables that reflect expected demand and provide value for money for the taxpayer. In the longer term, under Great British Railways’ directing mind, timetables and services will be optimised to drive up network performance and improve passenger journey experience.

Innovation and Technology, what support her Department is providing to the Regulatory Innovation Office to help ensure greater commercial and non-military drone adoption.

The RIO is a key Government lever for achieving its transformative ambitions in regulatory innovation. It has been established as an in-house function within the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).The RIO has been working in partnership with the Department for Transport (DfT) and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to deliver regulatory reform to support drone adoption and commercialisation since its founding in October 2024. In March 2025, RIO and DfT ministers agreed six priorities for the CAA’s regulation of drones, including an extension and simplification of airspace change processes and a commitment to develop options for electronic conspicuity (technology that allows aircraft to be digitally aware of one another). The RIO has supported the CAA to develop and expand its atypical air environments policy, making commercial activity possible using drones in airspace where there is low risk of collision with other aircraft. The RIO has provided funding to support the CAA’s efficiency by using AI in its drone approvals processes and to make drone deliveries in specific use cases, such as to Argyll & Bute, routine. The RIO has also worked with the CAA to publish a set of drone regulation performance metrics to ensure there is transparency for the sector. The RIO partnered with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to clear the regulatory pathway for drones to be adopted for commercial agricultural activities.

What timeline her Department has for introducing regulations that ensure generative AI cannot be misused to create extreme sexual abuse material involving children.

The Government recognises the serious and evolving threat posed by AI being misused to create child sexual abuse material. We know offenders will seek to exploit emerging technologies for their own sexual gratification.AI-generated child sexual abuse is not a victimless crime. The material often includes depictions of real children, escalating the risk of contact abuse. The volume and realism of this material can make it increasingly challenging for safeguarding partners to identify and protect children. Offenders can also use these images to groom and blackmail children.That is why this Government has introduced a measure within the Crime and Policing Bill to criminalise AI models that have been developed to create child sexual abuse material. These optimised models produce hyper-realistic indecent images that often contains the likeness of real children. This offence will carry a sentence of up to five years. To further ensure that generative AI models are not misused to create extreme child sexual abuse material, this Government has also sought to update the existing law criminalising ‘paedophile manuals’ to cover AI as well. Manuals which provide guidance on how to use AI to create child sexual abuse material will be punishable by up to three years in prison.The Crime and Policing Bill is currently at the Lords Committee stage. Subject to parliamentary approval, the Crime and Policing Bill – and thus these two crucial measures to criminalise AI-generated child sexual abuse material – is expected to secure Royal Assent by the Spring of 2026.

Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure AI companies embed safety-by-design principles in generative AI products.

The Online Safety Act places duties on many AI services to make them more responsible for their users’ safety. The Secretary of State tasked officials to review how the Act covers chatbots and has said government will act to fill any gaps in the Act.The AI Security Institute works closely with AI developers to understand potential risks from AI and develop mitigations. The Institute’s research is making AI models safer, with findings being used by industry to strengthen AI model safeguards.

Whether she plans to update the Cash Access Policy Statement issued on 18 August 2023, in the context of the role of Banking Hubs and the provision of in-person services linked to current accounts.

Banking is changing, with many customers benefitting from the convenience and flexibility of managing their finances remotely. However, Government understands the importance of face-to-face banking to communities and is committed to supporting sufficient access for customers. The Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 provides the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) with responsibility and powers to seek to ensure reasonable provision of cash withdrawal and deposit facilities, including free facilities for personal current accounts. It also requires HMT to produce a Cash Access Policy Statement concerning cash deposit and withdrawal services, which the FCA must have regard to when designing its rules for access to cash. In line with its legal obligation to do so, HMT keeps the Cash Access policy statement under review. Under the FCA’s rules, an assessment is triggered upon the closure or material alteration of a cash access facility or upon a community request. When carrying out a cash access assessment, LINK, the operator of the UK’s largest ATM network and designated operator of cash access co-ordination arrangements, takes into consideration a wide range of criteria, including those unique to each location. These include whether a bank branch remains, existing cash access points, population size and vulnerability, the number of shops in the area, and the practicality of travelling to nearby facilities, including public transport links, travel times, and local demographics. Where LINK determines that a community requires additional cash services, Cash Access UK (CAUK) will provide the appropriate shared solution, such as a deposit service or a banking hub, for cash users in that community. In addition to traditional bank branches, the financial services industry is committed to rolling out 350 banking hubs across the UK by the end of this Parliament. Over 240 hubs have been announced so far, and more than 200 are already open. Government is working closely with industry on this commitment, including through regular ministerial engagement. Banking hubs offer everyday counter services provided by Post Office staff, enabling people and businesses to withdraw and deposit cash, deposit cheques, pay bills and make balance enquiries. They also contain dedicated rooms where customers can see community bankers from their own bank to carry out wider banking services. The Government continues to work with the banking industry to improve the breadth and availability of services available in banking hubs and I recently chaired a roundtable with banks, CAUK and UK Finance to discuss services provided in banking hubs. CAUK member banks have already made significant progress in bringing the services offered by community bankers in hubs closer to those available in a traditional bank branch. For example, over the past year, all original CAUK member banks have ensured that customers can use hub services even if they do not have access to a personal digital device, such as a mobile phone or tablet. A full list of services provided by each bank for both personal and business customers is publicly available to view via CAUK’s website. The Government keeps the effectiveness of these arrangements under review through regular engagement with industry, LINK and the FCA to ensure they meet the needs of local communities.

What assessment she has made of the adequacy of services provided within Banking Hubs; and what steps she is taking to develop minimum standards for those Hubs.

Banking is changing, with many customers benefitting from the convenience and flexibility of managing their finances remotely. However, Government understands the importance of face-to-face banking to communities and is committed to supporting sufficient access for customers. The Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 provides the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) with responsibility and powers to seek to ensure reasonable provision of cash withdrawal and deposit facilities, including free facilities for personal current accounts. It also requires HMT to produce a Cash Access Policy Statement concerning cash deposit and withdrawal services, which the FCA must have regard to when designing its rules for access to cash. In line with its legal obligation to do so, HMT keeps the Cash Access policy statement under review. Under the FCA’s rules, an assessment is triggered upon the closure or material alteration of a cash access facility or upon a community request. When carrying out a cash access assessment, LINK, the operator of the UK’s largest ATM network and designated operator of cash access co-ordination arrangements, takes into consideration a wide range of criteria, including those unique to each location. These include whether a bank branch remains, existing cash access points, population size and vulnerability, the number of shops in the area, and the practicality of travelling to nearby facilities, including public transport links, travel times, and local demographics. Where LINK determines that a community requires additional cash services, Cash Access UK (CAUK) will provide the appropriate shared solution, such as a deposit service or a banking hub, for cash users in that community. In addition to traditional bank branches, the financial services industry is committed to rolling out 350 banking hubs across the UK by the end of this Parliament. Over 240 hubs have been announced so far, and more than 200 are already open. Government is working closely with industry on this commitment, including through regular ministerial engagement. Banking hubs offer everyday counter services provided by Post Office staff, enabling people and businesses to withdraw and deposit cash, deposit cheques, pay bills and make balance enquiries. They also contain dedicated rooms where customers can see community bankers from their own bank to carry out wider banking services. The Government continues to work with the banking industry to improve the breadth and availability of services available in banking hubs and I recently chaired a roundtable with banks, CAUK and UK Finance to discuss services provided in banking hubs. CAUK member banks have already made significant progress in bringing the services offered by community bankers in hubs closer to those available in a traditional bank branch. For example, over the past year, all original CAUK member banks have ensured that customers can use hub services even if they do not have access to a personal digital device, such as a mobile phone or tablet. A full list of services provided by each bank for both personal and business customers is publicly available to view via CAUK’s website. The Government keeps the effectiveness of these arrangements under review through regular engagement with industry, LINK and the FCA to ensure they meet the needs of local communities.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the criteria applied by LINK when recommending Banking Hub locations on towns where a single provider remains; and whether she has made an assessment of the adequacy of those criteria for community need, business cash usage and consumer choice.

Banking is changing, with many customers benefitting from the convenience and flexibility of managing their finances remotely. However, Government understands the importance of face-to-face banking to communities and is committed to supporting sufficient access for customers. The Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 provides the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) with responsibility and powers to seek to ensure reasonable provision of cash withdrawal and deposit facilities, including free facilities for personal current accounts. It also requires HMT to produce a Cash Access Policy Statement concerning cash deposit and withdrawal services, which the FCA must have regard to when designing its rules for access to cash. In line with its legal obligation to do so, HMT keeps the Cash Access policy statement under review. Under the FCA’s rules, an assessment is triggered upon the closure or material alteration of a cash access facility or upon a community request. When carrying out a cash access assessment, LINK, the operator of the UK’s largest ATM network and designated operator of cash access co-ordination arrangements, takes into consideration a wide range of criteria, including those unique to each location. These include whether a bank branch remains, existing cash access points, population size and vulnerability, the number of shops in the area, and the practicality of travelling to nearby facilities, including public transport links, travel times, and local demographics. Where LINK determines that a community requires additional cash services, Cash Access UK (CAUK) will provide the appropriate shared solution, such as a deposit service or a banking hub, for cash users in that community. In addition to traditional bank branches, the financial services industry is committed to rolling out 350 banking hubs across the UK by the end of this Parliament. Over 240 hubs have been announced so far, and more than 200 are already open. Government is working closely with industry on this commitment, including through regular ministerial engagement. Banking hubs offer everyday counter services provided by Post Office staff, enabling people and businesses to withdraw and deposit cash, deposit cheques, pay bills and make balance enquiries. They also contain dedicated rooms where customers can see community bankers from their own bank to carry out wider banking services. The Government continues to work with the banking industry to improve the breadth and availability of services available in banking hubs and I recently chaired a roundtable with banks, CAUK and UK Finance to discuss services provided in banking hubs. CAUK member banks have already made significant progress in bringing the services offered by community bankers in hubs closer to those available in a traditional bank branch. For example, over the past year, all original CAUK member banks have ensured that customers can use hub services even if they do not have access to a personal digital device, such as a mobile phone or tablet. A full list of services provided by each bank for both personal and business customers is publicly available to view via CAUK’s website. The Government keeps the effectiveness of these arrangements under review through regular engagement with industry, LINK and the FCA to ensure they meet the needs of local communities.

Food and Rural Affairs, what criteria her Department plans to use to decide whether to commence Schedule 3 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010; and when she expects to make that decision.

The Government is strongly committed to improving the implementation of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS). In December 2024, we made changes to the National Planning Policy Framework to support increased delivery of Sustainable Drainage Systems. The department is now consulting on a revised National Planning Policy Framework – including for flood risk and Sustainable Drainage Systems – and, separately, on proposals to increase adoption of shared amenities, with planned guidance to ensure lifetime maintenance. In June 2025, the Government introduced new national standards. Better delivery of SuDS may be achieved by continuing to improve the current planning policy-based approach and looking at ways of improving the approach to adoption and maintenance, rather than commencing Schedule 3 to the Flood and Water Management Act 2010. A final decision on this matter will be made in due course.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help reduce annual increases in household water bills in Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency.

It is important that customers get value for money from their water bills and that support is available for those who need it. I meet water companies frequently to discuss a range of issues, including customer bills. As the independent economic regulator, it is Ofwat’s responsibility to scrutinise water company business plans and ensure the prices water companies charge their customers are fair and proportionate. It does this through its Price Review, every five years. Ofwat published the results of the 2024 Price Review in December 2024, this sets out company expenditure and customer bills for the next five years, up to 2030. These price controls came into effect on 01 April 2025. Price Review 2024 will deliver substantial improvements for customers and the environment through a £104 billion upgrade for the water sector - the highest level of investment in the water sector since privatisation. The average annual bill rise over the next 5 years will be £31 (or 36%). This will vary across households depending on their circumstances. Information on bills for each water company is available on Ofwat’s website. All water companies have measures in place for customers who struggle to pay for their water and wastewater services, such as WaterSure, social tariffs, payment breaks and holidays, and debt management support. Moreover, Government expects industry to keep the current support schemes under review to ensure that vulnerable customers are supported. The Government has committed to reforming the WaterSure support scheme which supports low-income households with high essential water use due to having a medical condition or three or more children living at home and has consulted on extending the list of qualifying benefits to include non-means tested disability benefits. This proposal is designed to provide better support for low-income households where a medical condition leads to high essential water use. The proposed reforms would also increase support for existing households and update the regulations to reflect best practice adopted across the water sector. The department will publish the response to the consultation in the coming months. Bill increases are necessary to make up for years of under-investment and make sure water companies can deliver a good service to customers and protect the environment. The Government is also bringing forward root and branch reform to secure better outcomes for billpayers and restore trust and accountability. This includes the creation of a powerful new consolidated regulator, which will work to ensure water company bills are fair and affordable for customers. These reforms are detailed in the Government’s Water White Paper.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help reduce water bills for households in Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency.

It is important that customers get value for money from their water bills and that support is available for those who need it. I meet water companies frequently to discuss a range of issues, including customer bills. As the independent economic regulator, it is Ofwat’s responsibility to scrutinise water company business plans and ensure the prices water companies charge their customers are fair and proportionate. It does this through its Price Review, every five years. Ofwat published the results of the 2024 Price Review in December 2024, this sets out company expenditure and customer bills for the next five years, up to 2030. These price controls came into effect on 01 April 2025. Price Review 2024 will deliver substantial improvements for customers and the environment through a £104 billion upgrade for the water sector - the highest level of investment in the water sector since privatisation. The average annual bill rise over the next 5 years will be £31 (or 36%). This will vary across households depending on their circumstances. Information on bills for each water company is available on Ofwat’s website. All water companies have measures in place for customers who struggle to pay for their water and wastewater services, such as WaterSure, social tariffs, payment breaks and holidays, and debt management support. Moreover, Government expects industry to keep the current support schemes under review to ensure that vulnerable customers are supported. The Government has committed to reforming the WaterSure support scheme which supports low-income households with high essential water use due to having a medical condition or three or more children living at home and has consulted on extending the list of qualifying benefits to include non-means tested disability benefits. This proposal is designed to provide better support for low-income households where a medical condition leads to high essential water use. The proposed reforms would also increase support for existing households and update the regulations to reflect best practice adopted across the water sector. The department will publish the response to the consultation in the coming months. Bill increases are necessary to make up for years of under-investment and make sure water companies can deliver a good service to customers and protect the environment. The Government is also bringing forward root and branch reform to secure better outcomes for billpayers and restore trust and accountability. This includes the creation of a powerful new consolidated regulator, which will work to ensure water company bills are fair and affordable for customers. These reforms are detailed in the Government’s Water White Paper.

What estimate he has made of the number of unpaid carers living in fuel poverty.

The Government has made no such estimate. The information requested is not held. The Government is committed to tackling fuel poverty and recently published a new fuel poverty strategy for England outlining our plan to lift up to one million households out of fuel poverty by 2030.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of Agenda for Change mileage reimbursement rates, including the change to the rate for travelling over 3,500 miles annually, on the (a) recruitment and (b) retention of community-based NHS staff.

This specific assessment has not been made. As set out in the NHS Terms and Conditions of Service Handbook, which is maintained by the NHS Staff Council, mileage reimbursement rates are reviewed twice a year in April and November.The outcome of the November 2025 review resulted in reimbursement rates reducing due to sustained decreases in fuel prices for the 12-month period ending in October 2025. Reimbursement rates dropped to 56 pence per mile for the first 3,500 miles claimed before dropping to 21 pence per mile thereafter. The revised rates apply to mileage incurred from 1 January 2026 onwards.These changes apply to all staff directly employed in England under Agenda for Change terms and conditions and Resident Doctors. There are no specific rates for community staff.

Innovation and Technology, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of joining Digital Europe on the UK’s digital economy.

DSIT assesses any participation in Digital Europe against delivery of UK objectives and value for money for citizens and UK businesses. We are keeping decisions around participation in Digital Europe under review.

What discussions her Department has had with small and medium-sized enterprises on (a) the employer National Insurance Contributions increase and (b) business rates since the Autumn Budget 2026.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Junior Ministers and HM Treasury officials regularly meet with a wide range of businesses and business representation organisations, including with small and medium-sized enterprises. These meetings include discussions on a wide range of policies.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of joining Euroclusters.

The Euroclusters initiative is an online hub funded by the EU and targeted at industry stakeholders across Europe and globally. There are currently 145 UK organisations in the Euroclusters directory. UK companies and cluster organisations are free to make their own assessments of the benefits of joining the platform.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the National Planning Policy Framework's Grey Belt Policy on the development of village infrastructure including (a) schools, (b) GP services, (c) transport and (d) wastewater; and what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of securing infrastructure before developments in village areas begin.

I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to Question UIN 90834 on the 21 November 2025, Question UIN 67812 on the 21 July 2025, and Question UIN 26106 on the 5 February 2025. The government is currently consulting on a new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) that includes clearer, ‘rules based’ policies for decision-making and plan-making. The proposed Green Belt policy is set out in Chapter 13 of the consultation which can be found on gov.uk here. The consultation will remain open for responses until 10 March 2026.

Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to monitor the implementation of (a) the national standards for sustainable drainage systems and (b) updated planning policy, including what data it will collect on (i) compliance and (ii) adoption and maintenance arrangements.

The government is committed to securing the delivery of high-quality sustainable drainage systems to help manage flood risk and adapt to the effects of climate change. The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) makes clear that developments of all sizes are expected to make use of sustainable drainage techniques where the development could have drainage impacts. National Planning Guidance indicates that local planning authorities should be satisfied that all Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) have clear maintenance and adoption arrangements in place for the lifetime of a development. We are currently consulting on a new NPPF that includes clearer, more ‘rules-based’ policies for decision-making. The consultation includes a proposed new requirement for SuDS to be designed in accordance with the National Standards for SuDS published last year. It will remain open for responses until 10 March 2026 and can be found on gov.uk here. Responsibility for the implementation of national planning policy lies with local planning authorities, as does the monitoring of compliance with planning permissions. We are also exploring how to improve the adoption of public amenities, including SuDS, on freehold estates. For further details, I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 18 December 2025 (HCWS1210).

What plans his Department has to introduce targeted energy‑bill support for households with high energy consumption due to caring responsibilities.

The affordability crisis is the biggest issue facing this country, that is why the Autumn Budget acted to take an average £150 of costs off people’s energy bills. This support comes on top of the £150 off energy bills provided for around 6 million families under the Warm Home Discount this winter, cutting fuel poverty. The Government is also driving forward with home upgrades, through the £15 billion Warm Homes Plan.