Written questions by Yang.

With reference to the White Paper entitled Restoring Control over the Immigration System, published on 12 May 12025, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of exempting British National (Overseas) visa holders from the proposed extension of the settlement qualifying period from five to ten years.

The Government is committed to supporting members of the Hong Kong community who have relocated to the UK and those who may come here in future.Further details of all measures announced in the Immigration White Paper will be set out in the normal way in due course, and where necessary, will be subject to consultation.

Pursuant to the Answer of 23 April 2025 to Question 45355 on Personal Independence Payment, if she will make an assessment of the (a) causes of the increase in claims for PIP to include (i) health related and (ii) behaviour related factors and (b) the rate of increase in economic inactivity due to long-term sickness and disability over the same period.

The number of new claims registered for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) increased from around 41,000 a month in 2019 to 74,000 a month in 2024.The number of economically inactive people who cite long-term sickness or disability as their main reason for inactivity increased from around 2.1 million in the last quarter (October to December) of 2019 to 2.8 million in the last quarter of 2024.It is not possible to assess the relative contribution of each of the potential causes of the increase in PIP claims because it is likely that many different drivers are interacting with each other, both in aggregate and for individual claimants.However, we will continue to monitor potential drivers of new claims demand for PIP. These include higher prevalence and recognition of health conditions, whether that’s driven by the direct health impacts of the COVID-19 virus; indirect impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdowns on physical health (through reduced activity) and mental health (through reduced social interaction and increased anxiety); impacts of subsequent labour market changes and cost of living pressures on health; or increases in NHS waiting times. These potential causes in turn may interact with behavioural factors including: cost of living pressures; greater awareness of disability benefits (in part due to cost of living); longer waits for NHS treatment; economically inactive people being more likely to report long-term illness or disability as their main reason for inactivity; and incentives in the benefit system that can encourage people to claim health-related benefits.Sources:(a) PIP new claim registrations taken from Stat-Xplore (Stat-Xplore - Log in), excluding Reassessments from Disability Living Allowance and excluding claims from people living in Scotland, because policy ownership was devolved to Scotland during this period.(b) Estimates of economically inactive people by main reason are published by the Office for National Statistics in Table INAC01 SA of their Labour Market Overview (Labour market overview, UK - Office for National Statistics). Estimates are seasonally adjusted and relate to people aged 16-64 in the United Kingdom.

What steps she is taking to help support employees facing redundancy at Moog Reading.

The Get Britain Working White Paper focuses on building a thriving labour market, reducing economic inactivity and increasing the number of people in work, which is central to growing the economy.DWP provides Rapid Redundancy Support (RRS) to both Employers and Individuals following notification from the National RRS team or via the DWP Strategic Relationship Team and Insolvency Service.Local Employer Advisors will make contact with the Employers/Individuals to offer support as a matter of urgency. Support is tailored and can vary depending on the scale of the redundancy and the level of support required. This can include:Group Information sessions or 121 sessions with individualsProviding information on the local labour marketIndividual Job Search SupportLocal Skills and Training support for specific sectorsSupport with CVs and ApplicationsInformation on Support for those with Health Conditions and DisabilitiesInformation on Universal Credit and Pensions

Whether her Department has conducted quantitative analysis into the potential causes of increases in claims for Personal Independence Payment into shares attributable to (a) underlying ill health, (b) financial incentives and (c) other personal or behavioural factors; and whether such analysis includes a comparison with the rate of increase in economic inactivity due to long-term sickness or disability over the same period.

The Department has not conducted quantitative analysis exactly as described; however, we do regularly monitor potential drivers of new claims demand for PIP and how this compares with changes in disability prevalence in the population. It is likely that both health-related and behaviour-related factors have been important contributory factors in the rising number of claims for PIP, as well as changes in the population, with demand for PIP accelerating since the COVID-19 pandemic. A number of health-related factors may have contributed to these increases, including: higher prevalence and recognition of health conditions, particularly mental health and neurodiverse conditions; the direct health impacts of the COVID-19 virus; indirect impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdowns on physical health (through reduced activity) and mental health (through reduced social interaction and increased anxiety); impacts of subsequent labour market changes and cost of living pressures on health; and increases in NHS waiting times. In addition, a number of behavioural factors are also likely to have contributed to higher numbers claiming incapacity and disability benefits, including: cost of living pressures; greater awareness of disability benefits (in part due to cost of living); longer waits for NHS treatment; economically inactive people being more likely to report long-term illness or disability as their main reason for inactivity; and incentives in the benefit system that can encourage people to claim health-related benefits.

Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the recovery of the film and TV industry since the strikes in 2023.

The current market is very challenging for the film and TV sector, including broadcasters and independent producers, but we have high ambitions for the industry and are already taking steps to incentivise production activity.We have brought in a 5% tax relief uplift for UK visual effects costs in film and high-end TV, confirmed the 40% business rates relief for film studios until 2034, and brought in the 53% independent film tax relief to support British filmmakers. This is in addition to our existing audio-visual tax reliefs; our investment in infrastructure; and investing £7 million to continue the UK Global Screen Fund for 2025/26.Film and High End TV production spend in the UK reached £5.6 billion in 2024. Whilst this was down on the peak of £6.3bn in 2022 when post-Covid demand was surging, it shows a promising level of recovery following the US Guild strikes of 2023 when spend dipped to £4.3bn. https://www.bfi.org.uk/news/official-bfi-statistics-2024As part of the government’s Industrial Strategy, eight ‘growth-driving’ sectors have been identified, including the Creative Industries. DCMS will produce a Creative Industries Sector Plan, which will be published in late spring alongside the Industrial Strategy and aligned to the Spending Review. Film and TV are sub-sectors of the Creative Industries with strong growth potential and therefore will be a focus in the forthcoming Sector Plan which will inform next steps for the sector and its sustainability for the coming years.

How many people claiming the daily living part of Personal Independence Payment scored fewer than four points in each of the daily living activities (a) by sex, (b) by age, (c) by ethnicity and (d) in total.

Information on the impacts of the Pathways to Work Green Paper will be published in due course, and some information was published alongside the Spring Statement. These publications can be found in ‘Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper’. A further programme of analysis to support development of the proposals in the Green Paper will be developed and undertaken in the coming months. The Department does not hold data on the ethnicity of all PIP claimants on its computer systems, since it is not required for the administration of benefit. Information on the ethnicity of PIP claimants is available from the Family Resources Survey: financial year 2023 to 2024 (Table 2.10), but this cannot be related to PIP point scores.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of changes to the uptake of Carer’s Allowance as a result of proposed tightening of PIP eligibility criteria on (a) rates of poverty among carers, (b) carers’ labour market participation and (c) levels of demand for public services.

No assessment has yet been conducted. Information on the impacts of the Pathways to Work Green Paper will be published in due course, and some information was published alongside the Spring Statement. These publications can be found in ‘Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper’. A further programme of analysis to support development of the proposals in the Green Paper will be developed and undertaken in the coming months.

How many people claiming Carer’s Allowance are caring for a person who scores fewer than four points for each individual descriptor in the daily living part of Personal Independence Payment (a) by sex, (b) by ethnicity and (c) in total.

Information on the impacts of the Pathways to Work Green Paper will be published in due course, and some information was published alongside the Spring Statement. These publications can be found in ‘Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper’.A further programme of analysis to support development of the proposals in the Green Paper will be developed and undertaken in the coming months.The Department does not hold data on the ethnicity of all PIP claimants on its computer systems, since it is not required for the administration of benefit. Information on the ethnicity of PIP claimants is available from the Family Resources Survey: financial year 2023 to 2024 (Table 2.10), but this cannot be related to PIP point scores.

What his planned timeframe is for the chronic fatigue syndrome delivery plan.

We have listened to key myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), stakeholders to allow for more time to develop the plan, to help ensure we can be as ambitious as possible and make the most impact for those living with ME/CFS. As such, we aim to publish the plan by the end of June 2025.

If she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her Department's data on the gender pensions gap in private pensions of the ONS's latest release of the Wealth and Assets Survey, published on 24 January 2025.

The Department is committed to both monitoring and narrowing the Gender Pension Gap and we are currently exploring the latest Wealth and Asset survey, provided by the ONS, with the aim of publishing an update on the Gender Pension Gap publication in due course.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to her Department's consultation outcome document entitled Provisional local government finance settlement 2025 to 2026 consultation: summary of responses, published 3 February 2025, for how long will the multi-year settlements from financial year 2026-27 last.

The government is pursuing a comprehensive set of reforms for public services to return the local government sector to a sustainable position. We know that the sector has long called for long-term certainty on its budgets. That is why the government is committed to providing a multi-year funding settlement starting in 2026-27. This will be the first multi-year settlement since 2016 and will provide local authorities with the certainty they need to focus on their priorities. The timings of the Local Government Finance Settlement are bound by the Spending Review cycle. We will set out further information in due course after the conclusion of the Spending Review on 11 June 2025.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of future funding allocations to NHS eating disorder services.

Funding for eating-disorder services has increased each year, from £46.7 million in 2017/18 to a planned spend of £101 million in 2024/25.The Government is committed to ensure that those living with eating disorders are given the support they need, including by recruiting an extra 8,500 new mental health workers across child and adult mental health services to cut waiting times and ensure people can access treatment and support earlier.

What recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of the (a) pay and (b) other conditions of teaching assistants in schools.

Teaching assistants play a vital role in children’s education.Most school support staff, including teaching assistants, are currently employed on National Joint Council (NJC) for local government services pay and conditions. The NJC is a negotiating body made up of representatives from trade unions and local government employers. Local government employees covered by the NJC for local government services pay and conditions were offered a flat cash uplift of £1,290 from 1 April 2024. In October 2024 an agreement was reached on the 2024/25 pay award for these employees, which covers the period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025.This government values and recognises the professionalism of the entire school workforce, which is why the department is reinstating the School Support Staff Negotiating Body (SSSNB) through the Employment Rights Bill, introduced in Parliament on 10 October 2024.The SSSNB will mean that employers and employee representatives come together to negotiate terms and conditions, and pay for school support staff, to ensure that support staff are properly recognised and rewarded for the work they do. The SSSNB will also be tasked with establishing a national terms and conditions handbook and advising on suitable training and career progression routes that recognise the varied and vital roles support staff undertake.The SSSNB will give a voice to support staff, who make up roughly half of the school workforce, but are currently employed on terms and conditions negotiated by a wider framework for local government employees rather than a school specific body.It will help address the recruitment and retention challenges state-funded schools are facing for support staff. This in turn will support work to drive high and rising standards in schools and ensure we give children the best possible life chances.

What assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of shortages of ADHD medication.

As a result of intensive work, some issues with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medicines have resolved. All strengths of lisdexamfetamine, atomoxetine capsules, atomoxetine oral solution and guanfacine prolonged-release tablets are now available.However, whilst supply of methylphenidate prolonged-release tablets has improved, issues persist. We are continuing to work to resolve these remaining issues by engaging with all suppliers of methylphenidate prolonged-release tablets to assess the challenges faced and their actions to address them. We are also directing suppliers to secure additional stocks, expedite deliveries where possible, and review plans to build further capacity to support continued growth in demand for the short and long-term. The Department is also working with new suppliers of methylphenidate prolonged-release tablets to improve supply and resiliency for the United Kingdom market.We are supporting an ADHD taskforce established by NHS England to examine ADHD service provision. The taskforce will bring together expertise from across a broad range of sectors, including the National Health Service, education and justice, to help provide a joined-up approach in response to concerns around rising demand. In collaboration with NHS England’s national ADHD data improvement plan, we plan to combine modelling for future growth forecasts, which will be shared with industry to improve demand forecasting for ADHD medicines.The Department has worked with NHS specialists to develop advice on prescribing alternative ADHD medications. We expect that ADHD service providers should follow this guidance and offer rapid responses for urgent advice, especially for high-risk patients. To aid decision-making at the point of prescribing and dispensing of ADHD medicines, we continue to update a list of available ADHD products on the Specialist Pharmacy Service website.

Whether he plans to continue the work of the Rare Disease Action Plan 2024.

The Government is committed to improving the lives of those living with rare diseases. The 2025 England Rare Diseases Action Plan was published on 28 February 2025 and is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/england-rare-diseases-action-plan-2025This action plan includes details of how we have continued to progress actions introduced in the 2024 action plan.

What assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of increases in airport drop off charges since 2021.

Most airports in the UK are managed and operated as private businesses. The provision of and charging for car parking at airports, including drop-off and pick-up charges, is a matter for the airport operator as a commercial business.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of domestic abuse on levels of knife crime.

Physical abuse, violent or threatening behaviour often form part of controlling or coercive behaviour. As set out in the statutory guidance under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 on controlling or coercive behaviour, this can involve use, or threats of use, of ‘weapons’, such as knives, and coercing the victim into carrying out criminal behaviour such as carrying weapons.This government will treat tackling violence against women and girls as a national emergency. As part of our mission to halve violence against women and girls in a decade, we will ask the police to relentlessly pursue those perpetrators who pose the greatest risk to women.We are clear that this is not a problem that can be solved by one government department, by one piece of legislation, or by one agency. It will require focused, coordinated, and joined up long-term action between all our key partners.

What assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of recent trends in levels of renewal premiums for insurance.

The Government has not made an assessment. The Government does not set the terms, conditions, or prices for insurance policies. Insurers make commercial decisions about pricing based on their assessment of the relevant risks. The Government is determined that insurers should treat customers fairly and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), as the independent regulator of the insurance industry, requires firms to ensure their products offer fair value. The FCA has stated that it will monitor firms to ensure they provide products that offer fair value and will take action if necessary. In 2022, the FCA introduced rules that require firms to offer a renewal price that is no greater than the equivalent new business price the firm would offer to a new customer. The FCA estimated that these new rules would save consumers £4.2 billion over ten years.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of the eligibility requirements for the respiratory syncytial virus vaccine.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) is the United Kingdom’s expert committee that advises the Government on immunisations programmes.In June 2023, JCVI advised on introducing respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) immunisation programmes to protect older adults and infants at greatest risk of harm from RSV infection.Following a competitive tender and in line with JCVI advice, the new RSV vaccination programmes began in England on 1 September 2024 for pregnant women and adults aged between 75 and 79 years old. Both programmes use Pfizer’s Abrysvo® vaccine, which is approved only for use in pregnant women from 28 weeks, for infant protection, and older adults, following clinical trials in these groups.When advising the introduction of an RSV vaccination programme for adults aged between 75 and 79 years old, the JCVI considered that there was less certainty about how well the vaccine works in people aged 80 years old and over, as there were not enough people of this age in the clinical trials to be able to see if the vaccines are protective in this age band.The structure of an immunisation programme is dynamic and the JCVI will continue to keep evidence under review. The Department will consider any further JCVI advice on who should be offered an RSV immunisation in due course.

If she will make a comparative estimate of the funding allocation provided to (a) Thames Valley Police and (b) other regional police forces.

In December 2024, the Government published the 2025-26 provisional police funding settlement, which proposed funding of up to £19.5 billion for the policing system in England and Wales.Total funding to police forces will be up to £17.4 billion, an increase of up to £987 million compared to the 2024-25 police funding settlement.In 2025-26, Thames Valley will receive up to £622.4 million, an increase of up to £35.8 million compared to 2024-25.Funding allocations for all forces in England and Wales were confirmed via Written Ministerial Statement: Written statements - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament