Written questions by Morton.

With reference to the matter of banning Maccabi Tel Aviv fans, what recent discussions she has had with the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner on the adequacy of the accountability and oversight of West Midlands Police.

The Government recognises that public confidence in policing is fundamental to the effectiveness of the police and to the principle of policing by consent.I met the Acting Chief Constable, Scott Green, for West Midlands Police on 21 January. I was assured that appropriate steps are being taken to rebuild trust and confidence in the force and its leadership team, including with local communities.The Independent Office for Police Conduct has launched an investigation, using its power of initiative, into the role of West Midlands Police in the intelligence and decision‑making that led to the ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans.Accountability for the performance of West Midlands Police rests primarily with the directly elected West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, who is responsible for holding the Chief Constable to account on behalf of the public. The PCC has a range of statutory powers to scrutinise force performance and governance, and to ensure that public confidence is maintained.From Local to National: A New Model for Policing” published on 26 January set out the Government’s proposals to reintroduce a power for the Home Secretary to remove a Chief Constable on performance grounds and reforming the appointment, suspension and dismissal of Chief Constables.Through Home Office funding to the NPCC Artificial Intelligence (AI) portfolio, detailed guidance has been developed and published on the responsible use of AI in policing, including through the NPCC AI Playbook and the Covenant.All Chief Constables have signed up to the Covenant, which establishes core principles for the transparent, responsible and accountable use of AI and generative technologies in UK policing. It also explicitly refers to the need for processes in place to ensure AI output is not accepted uncritically.

What assessment she has made of trends in antisocial behaviour in the West Midlands over the past five years.

Information on the number of incidents of anti-social behaviour recorded by police forces in England and Wales, by force and by year can be found in the year ending March 2025 annual supplementary tables published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), here: Crime in England and Wales: Annual supplementary tables - Office for National Statistics

Whether she will review the current frameworks for the (a) removal and (b) censure of a Chief Constable when Rt hon. and hon. Members have been misled by police evidence.

The Government recognises that public confidence in policing is fundamental to the effectiveness of the police and to the principle of policing by consent.I met the Acting Chief Constable, Scott Green, for West Midlands Police on 21 January. I was assured that appropriate steps are being taken to rebuild trust and confidence in the force and its leadership team, including with local communities.The Independent Office for Police Conduct has launched an investigation, using its power of initiative, into the role of West Midlands Police in the intelligence and decision‑making that led to the ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans.Accountability for the performance of West Midlands Police rests primarily with the directly elected West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, who is responsible for holding the Chief Constable to account on behalf of the public. The PCC has a range of statutory powers to scrutinise force performance and governance, and to ensure that public confidence is maintained.From Local to National: A New Model for Policing” published on 26 January set out the Government’s proposals to reintroduce a power for the Home Secretary to remove a Chief Constable on performance grounds and reforming the appointment, suspension and dismissal of Chief Constables.Through Home Office funding to the NPCC Artificial Intelligence (AI) portfolio, detailed guidance has been developed and published on the responsible use of AI in policing, including through the NPCC AI Playbook and the Covenant.All Chief Constables have signed up to the Covenant, which establishes core principles for the transparent, responsible and accountable use of AI and generative technologies in UK policing. It also explicitly refers to the need for processes in place to ensure AI output is not accepted uncritically.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to help reduce fly-tipping in suburban and semi-rural areas.

Fly-tipping is a serious crime which blights communities and places significant costs on both taxpayers and businesses. Local authorities are responsible for tackling fly-tipping in their local areas and we want to see an effective enforcement strategy at the centre of their efforts to tackle the problem. We are taking steps to help councils make good use of their powers, including seeking powers in the Crime and Policing Bill to provide statutory fly-tipping enforcement guidance to local authorities. We are reviewing local authority powers to seize and crush vehicles of fly-tippers and we intend to publish guidance to support councils to make better use of this tool soon. In our manifesto we committed to forcing fly-tippers to clean up the mess that they have created. We will provide further details on this commitment in due course. Defra chairs the National Fly-Tipping Prevention Group (NFTPG), through which we work with a wide range of interested parties, including local authorities and the National Farmers Union to share good practice with regards to preventing fly-tipping, including on private land. The NFTPG has developed various practical tools, guidance and case studies highlighting best practice. These are available at: https://nftpg.com/.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to support councils to improve recycling rates.

The Simpler Recycling reforms will ensure that across England, people will be able to recycle the same materials, whether at home, work or school. Every household and workplace (businesses and relevant non-domestic premises like schools and hospitals) across England will be able to recycle the same materials in the following core waste streams: metal, glass, plastic (including cartons), paper and card, food waste, and garden waste (for households only). These reforms will make recycling easier and ensure there is a comprehensive, consistent service across England. This will reduce confusion with recycling to improve recycling rates and, with the other collection and packaging reforms, will support the use of more recycled material in the products we buy, and the growth of the UK recycling industry. By shifting the financial burden of the end-of-life costs from taxpayers to producers, Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging will secure local authority funding (approximately £1.4 billion annually in the UK and approximately £1.1 billion annually in England) for the improved management of discarded packaging materials, driving in turn improvements in the quality and quantity of recycled packaging materials, as well as investment in domestic reprocessing facilities.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the consistency of household waste collection services across the West Midlands.

Under Simpler Recycling, Section 45A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (amended by the Environment Act 2021) will require all local authorities in England to make arrangements for a core set of materials to be collected for recycling from households from 31 March 2026. This includes introducing weekly food waste collections for all homes, unless a transitional arrangement applies (a transitional arrangement is where a local authority has agreed a later implementation date set in regulations). There will be additional requirements for plastic film to be collected as part of the plastic waste stream by 31 March 2027. Defra is working with local authorities to support readiness for these new obligations. To assist with this, we launched a Change Network to amplify existing information and guidance with endorsement from local authorities who are actively implementing or have recently implemented, the changes required.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to HCWS1230, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the proposed reforms to the Sustainable Farming Incentive on levels of domestic food production, farm profitability and the distribution of scheme payments; how the revised scheme will address the previous concentration of funding; and when revised actions, payment rates and transitional arrangements will be published.

Some of the main improvements the Government is making to the new Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) offer are: A simpler and more focused offer, with fewer actions and less complexity. There will still be plenty of choice – but with a stronger focus on actions that support sustainable food production. SFI must work alongside food production, not displace it, so the Government will limit how much land can be put into certain actions and review payment rates for others. These changes will make funding go further, allowing more people to benefit from agreements. Previously, 90% of SFI spending went on fewer than 40 of the 102 actions available and a quarter of SFI money goes to just 4% of farms. This is not fair. Therefore, Ministers are considering ways to address this, such as introducing an agreement value cap, and are making improvements to the offer to ensure more farmers can access funding.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of proposed waste reforms on local authorities such as Walsall Council.

The Government remains committed to supporting councils in delivering the collection and packaging reforms. Between Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging (pEPR) and Simpler Recycling, we have already invested over £1.4 billion in English local authorities to improve recycling collections, benefitting every household. We have guaranteed councils £1.1 billion income from pEPR this financial year, alongside having already invested over £340 million to support councils on weekly food collections. Simpler Recycling is estimated to decrease local authorities' net waste service costs by £211 million by 2035 (2023 prices, discounted; source: The Separation of Waste (England) Regulations 2025).

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to HCWS1230, when the Farming and Food Partnership Board will be established; what criteria will be used to ensure balanced representation across the farming and food sectors; and what role the Board will play in the development of future farming policy.

Defra is committed to resetting the relationship between the Government and food and farming sectors as a genuine partnership. More details on the timeline for establishing the new board will be made available as soon as possible.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to HCWS1230, what funding she has allocated to the place-based uplands approach announced at the Oxford Farming Conference; what objectives it is intended to achieve; and how food production will be safeguarded within that approach.

The Government knows how important upland landscapes are for farming, nature and rural economies, and is committed to investing in this work to deliver meaningful benefits for upland communities. By empowering local decision‑making, Defra will unlock the economic potential of the uplands and ensure that the people who live and work there can shape their future and decide what will help their communities thrive. Defra has allocated a record £11.8 billion to sustainable farming and food production over this parliament. The department will say more about funding for the place-based uplands approach in due course.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to proposals to modernise planning committees and introduce a national scheme of delegation, whether applications affecting green belt land could be determined by officers rather than elected members; what criteria will determine whether such applications are considered strategic; and how he will ensure democratic accountability for decisions involving the loss of green space.

On 28 May 2025, my Department published a technical consultation on proposals for reform of planning committees. It can be found on gov.uk here. The consultation has now closed, and we are analysing the responses with a view to consulting on draft regulations for such a National Scheme of Delegation in the coming months.

Food and Rural Affairs, in reference to HCWS1230, 8 January 2026, when the Farming Roadmap will be published; what timescales it will set out for future changes to farm support; and how it will provide long-term certainty for farmers.

The Farming Roadmap will set the course of farming in England for the next 25 years. Over the last year, the Government has held workshops with farmers, industry leaders and farming and environmental groups to identify themes and content the roadmap should include. Defra will aim to publish later this year (2026).

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to HCWS1230, how her Department will define small farms for the purposes of reopening the Sustainable Farming Incentive; what assessment she has made of barriers to participation for small and family-run farms under previous schemes; and how her Department will measure whether access to support has improved.

The Government will publish a precise definition of a small farm before the first application window opens in June. This is one of the details the Government will be testing with key stakeholders. As confirmed at the Oxford Farming Conference, the Government will open two Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) application windows in 2026: an initial window from June for small farms, and also those without existing Environmental Land Management agreementsa second window opening from September for all other farmers The Government will provide more detail on the new SFI offer ahead of publishing the full scheme details before the first application window opens in June.

Pursuant to the Answer of 25 November 2025 to Question 90706, what funding has been allocated to each West Midlands area participating in wave 1 of the National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme; how much of that funding represents new investment rather than existing budgets; what assessment he has made of the programme’s impact on GP access, community nursing capacity and waiting times in Walsall, Coventry, Shropshire, East Birmingham, Solihull and Herefordshire; and what metrics will be used to evaluate success, including whether place-level data will be published.

National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme (NNHIP) sites have not been allocated additional funding. NNHIP sites have been provided with expert and peer support to facilitate learning and sharing solutions. This support helps sites tackle challenges, deliver improvements, adapt solutions to their own circumstances, and spread best practices across all sites.Collection of outcome metrics is currently being piloted across NNHIP sites. A measurement guide has been co-produced with NNHIP sites. Data collection for this will begin in early 2026 which will take some time to embed and then analyse. In the interim, sites are producing case studies showcasing what has worked for their populations and the learning from these case studies are shared as part of the improvement programme with the 43 sites, as well as the national community of practice, open to all places. In addition, four deep-dive case studies are planned, providing an in-depth view of the conditions for success across four geographically and demographically different places across the country.

Pursuant to the Answer of 25 November 2025 to Question 90706, how neighbourhood health services in the West Midlands will be staffed in practice; what steps are being taken to address workforce shortages in general practice, community nursing and district nursing; what role Integrated Care Boards and elected local authorities will play in the design and oversight of neighbourhood health services; and how democratic accountability will be ensured.

The 10 Year Workforce Plan will ensure the National Health Service has the right people in the right places, with the right skills to care for patients, when they need it.Neighbourhood health services will bring together integrated neighbourhood teams of professionals and partners closer to people’s home, including nurses, doctors, social care workers, pharmacists, health visitors, employment support, children’s services, and more, to work together to support people and places to improve their health and wellbeing.Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning, which includes planning, securing, and monitoring, general practice services within their health systems through delegated responsibility from NHS England. Both ICBs and local health systems will be responsible for designing neighbourhood health services and centres that reflect the needs of their local populations. This will be the case for determining neighbourhood health services and staffing in the West Midlands.The 10-Year Health Plan committed to neighbourhood health plans that will be drawn up in partnership with ICBs, local authorities, and partners.

What estimate has she made of the number of places that will be available for a) young British nationals and b) young EU nationals in each of the next five years under the new Erasmus scheme; and what assessment has she made of the expected regional allocation and breakdown of places.

We have now concluded negotiations with the European Commission on the UK’s association to Erasmus+ in 2027. This commitment covers the 2027/28 academic year. Any participation in Erasmus+ into the next Multiannual Financial Framework from 2028/34 will need to be agreed in the future and be based on a fair and balanced contribution.We expect that over 100,000 people could benefit from mobility and partnership opportunities from participation in 2027.We will have detailed information on the UK’s Erasmus+ beneficiaries after our first year of participation.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Impact Assessment accompanying the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, what assessment he has made of the proportion of additional housing delivery expected to arise from development on green belt land; what safeguards will apply to ensure that the Bill does not result in unnecessary or irreversible loss of protected green spaces; and if he will publish an analysis of whether housing targets can be met through brownfield and urban regeneration before green belt release is considered.

The Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 requires strategic planning authorities to have regard to the need to ensure their spatial development strategies are consistent with national policies, including those relating to Green Belt and green spaces. There are no other provisions relating to Green Belt land in the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025. I otherwise refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answers given to Questions UIN 84470 on 30 October 2025, UIN 94689 on 5 December 2025, UIN 98288 on 5 January 2026, UIN 102192 on 12 January 2026, UIN 105177 on 20 January 2026, UIN 106373 on 26 January 2026.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the new cross-boundary strategic planning mechanisms proposed in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, what assessment he has made of the level of the risk that strategic housing targets could concentrate development pressure on green belt land in authorities with strong environmental protections; what role local communities and elected councillors will retain in decision-making on green belt development; and if he will ensure that strategic planning does not override locally designated green spaces valued by residents.

The Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 requires strategic planning authorities to have regard to the need to ensure their spatial development strategies are consistent with national policies, including those relating to Green Belt and green spaces. There are no other provisions relating to Green Belt land in the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025. I otherwise refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answers given to Questions UIN 84470 on 30 October 2025, UIN 94689 on 5 December 2025, UIN 98288 on 5 January 2026, UIN 102192 on 12 January 2026, UIN 105177 on 20 January 2026, UIN 106373 on 26 January 2026.

Pursuant to the Answer of 25 November 2025 to Question 90706, how the Neighbourhood Health Service will improve access to care in rural areas and communities with poor digital connectivity or low digital confidence in the West Midlands; what safeguards are in place to ensure that neighbourhood health centres do not lead to the downgrading or closure of existing GP surgeries or community hospitals; what evaluation he has made of previous neighbourhood care pilots in the region; and what timetable he has set for expanding the programme beyond wave 1, including the inclusion of additional West Midlands areas.

The Neighbourhood Health Service will make it easier for people to access care closer to where they live, including in neighbourhood health centres. Delivery will be locally led, with systems determining how neighbourhood health is designed to meet local population need. This will factor in how services may need to look different across rural and urban areas.The Neighbourhood Health Service will also move us towards a fully digitally enabled health service. We are striving for digital services to improve access, experiences, and outcomes for the widest range of people, based on their preferences, as any digital healthcare benefits will be limited if people remain digitally excluded.Neighbourhood health provides the unifying framework that brings together what is already underway across primary care, community services, urgent care, prevention, digital, estates, and population health, and will build on existing assets and services rather than replacing them. We are intending to publish further guidance that will set-out how areas should work together to design neighbourhood health services around local needs and different population cohorts.In September 2025, we launched the National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme (NNHIP) in 43 places across England, including in East Birmingham. Collection of metrics is currently being piloted across all NNHIP sites. Systems are also encouraged to participate in the monthly Community of Practice, that aims to share learning and strengthen collective delivery.Work is underway to consider the future direction of the NNHIP, and we will share an update on this as soon as we can.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what the Government’s anticipated timetable is for laying the UK-EU Treaty on Gibraltar before Parliament for scrutiny and ratification.

The final text will be brought before the House in due course for scrutiny in the normal way pursuant to the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010.