Written questions by Franklin.

What support is available to children in voluntary foster care who have (a) drug dependency and (b) mental health needs; and whether he has made an assessment of access to (i) therapy and (ii) treatment for such children.

The Department for Education’s National Minimum Standards for fostering makes it clear that local authorities should ensure that children in their care should have prompt access to doctors and other health professionals, including specialist services such as those supporting mental health and drug dependency, when they need these services. Further information on the National Minimum Standards for fostering is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fostering-services-national-minimum-standardsLocal authority commissioned community drug and alcohol treatment is free and accessible to all those who need it, including children and young people in voluntary foster care. Funding for alcohol and drug treatment and recovery services is provided through the Public Health Grant (PHG). In addition to the PHG, in 2025/26, the Department of Health and Social Care is providing a total of £310 million in additional targeted grants to improve drug and alcohol treatment services and recovery support to ensure that those in need can access high quality help and support. This includes children and young people with, or at risk of developing, drug and/or alcohol problems. As a result of recent increases in funding, as of August 2025, there were 4,374 more children and young people in drug and alcohol treatment. In 2024, 10% of under 18 year olds in drug and alcohol treatment were in care.For children and young people in distress or struggling with their mental health, including those in voluntary foster care, fast access to early, high-quality support is critical. That is why the 10-Year Health Plan sets out how we will work with schools and colleges to better identify and meet children's mental health needs by expanding mental health support teams in schools and colleges in England, to reach full national coverage by 2029. This will build on the work that has already begun, including providing mental health support for almost one million more young people in schools this year and investing an extra £688 million in Government funding to transform mental health services, hire more staff, and deliver more early interventions.

What guidance her Department provides to local authorities on supporting children in voluntary foster care to return home in cases where a lack of suitable full-time education provision is a barrier to family reunification.

Where a child is accommodated under Section 20 of the Children Act 1989, our care planning regulations and statutory guidance are clear that there should be a robust care planning and decision-making process to meet the day-to-day needs of the child. Where reunification is in the best interests of the child and will safeguard and promote their welfare, the local authority should set out the support and services to be provided once the child returns home, including suitable education provision.The department has not carried out an assessment of the cost to local authorities incurred in cases where there has not been suitable educational provision and children have remained in voluntary foster care.The department’s children’s social care reforms include the national rollout of the Families First Partnership programme, which will embed a new approach to Family Help and greater use of family group decision making. Family Help will wrap support around families where children in care may be able to return home safely. This includes bringing in relevant agencies or individuals from school attendance teams to support sustainable reunification.

What estimate her Department has made of the cost to local authorities of keeping children in voluntary foster care due to inadequate local education provision.

Where a child is accommodated under Section 20 of the Children Act 1989, our care planning regulations and statutory guidance are clear that there should be a robust care planning and decision-making process to meet the day-to-day needs of the child. Where reunification is in the best interests of the child and will safeguard and promote their welfare, the local authority should set out the support and services to be provided once the child returns home, including suitable education provision.The department has not carried out an assessment of the cost to local authorities incurred in cases where there has not been suitable educational provision and children have remained in voluntary foster care.The department’s children’s social care reforms include the national rollout of the Families First Partnership programme, which will embed a new approach to Family Help and greater use of family group decision making. Family Help will wrap support around families where children in care may be able to return home safely. This includes bringing in relevant agencies or individuals from school attendance teams to support sustainable reunification.

Whether he has made an assessment of the extent of regional variations in access to (a) shared care agreements and (b) prescribed treatments; and what steps he is taking to help ensure consistency of access to these in all integrated care boards.

Shared care arrangements between a general practitioner (GP) and a specialist are voluntary and are not part of the GP Contract. GPs do not receive additional funding for participating in shared care arrangements and may decline on clinical or capacity grounds.Guidance issued by the General Medical Council supports GPs in deciding whether to accept shared care responsibilities, ensuring that any prescriptions or referrals are clinically appropriate. Where a GP does not enter into a shared care arrangement, responsibility for ongoing treatment, including prescribing, remains with the specialist clinician.Integrated care boards (ICBs), including the NHS Surrey Heartlands ICB, are responsible for arranging health services in line with local population needs and relevant guidance. ICBs follow NHS England’s guidance on shared care protocols, including the Responsibility for Prescribing Between Primary and Secondary/Tertiary Care framework. Within the NHS Surrey Heartlands ICB this framework is overseen by the Surrey Heartlands Medicines Optimisation Group. Implementation may vary between GPs due to factors such as clinical capacity, digital infrastructure, and local agreements. Regarding funding, the ICB’s approach is consistent with national policy expectations that integrated care systems should ensure equitable access to medicines and safe, sustainable shared care arrangements.Whilst a specific assessment has not been undertaken, to support consistency of access, the Department’s Fit for the Future: 10-Year Health Plan for England, published on 3 July 2025, sets out plans for a Single National Formulary (SNF) for medicines. The SNF will replace the current system of local formularies, with a national oversight board sequencing products based on clinical and cost-effectiveness, supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. This approach is intended to drive rapid and equitable adoption of the most clinically and cost-effective medicines across England.

What steps her Department is taking to ensure that (a) NHS Surrey Heartlands Integrated Care Board and (b) other integrated care boards provide (i) adequate funding and (ii) clear guidance to general practitioners to support the implementation of shared care agreements for patients requiring ongoing medication.

Shared care arrangements between a general practitioner (GP) and a specialist are voluntary and are not part of the GP Contract. GPs do not receive additional funding for participating in shared care arrangements and may decline on clinical or capacity grounds.Guidance issued by the General Medical Council supports GPs in deciding whether to accept shared care responsibilities, ensuring that any prescriptions or referrals are clinically appropriate. Where a GP does not enter into a shared care arrangement, responsibility for ongoing treatment, including prescribing, remains with the specialist clinician.Integrated care boards (ICBs), including the NHS Surrey Heartlands ICB, are responsible for arranging health services in line with local population needs and relevant guidance. ICBs follow NHS England’s guidance on shared care protocols, including the Responsibility for Prescribing Between Primary and Secondary/Tertiary Care framework. Within the NHS Surrey Heartlands ICB this framework is overseen by the Surrey Heartlands Medicines Optimisation Group. Implementation may vary between GPs due to factors such as clinical capacity, digital infrastructure, and local agreements. Regarding funding, the ICB’s approach is consistent with national policy expectations that integrated care systems should ensure equitable access to medicines and safe, sustainable shared care arrangements.Whilst a specific assessment has not been undertaken, to support consistency of access, the Department’s Fit for the Future: 10-Year Health Plan for England, published on 3 July 2025, sets out plans for a Single National Formulary (SNF) for medicines. The SNF will replace the current system of local formularies, with a national oversight board sequencing products based on clinical and cost-effectiveness, supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. This approach is intended to drive rapid and equitable adoption of the most clinically and cost-effective medicines across England.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that Personal Independence Payment appeals for claimants awarded under the Special Rules for terminal illness are prioritised (a) when a PIP award has been removed despite no improvement in prognosis and the claimant has been waiting over a year for a tribunal hearing and (b) in general.

The listing of appeals is a matter for the Tribunal’s independent judiciary. Appeals are usually listed in chronological order based on the date of receipt.If an expedited hearing is sought, or where the Tribunal identifies a case which might benefit from an expedited hearing, a judge or tribunal caseworker will make a decision on the issue, taking all the circumstances of the case into account.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of business rates on the level of investment by companies in (a) energy-efficient buildings and (b) renewable technologies.

The Government is determined to remove barriers to investment to support our businesses to succeed, our high streets to thrive, and our economy to grow. Business rates support is available for green technology to facilitate the decarbonisation of buildings. Eligible plant and machinery used in onsite renewable energy generation and storage, including onsite storage used at electric vehicle charging points, as well as rooftop solar panels, wind turbines, and battery storage, are exempt from business rates from 1 April 2022 until 31 March 2035. A 100 per cent relief for eligible low-carbon heat networks which have their own rates bill is also available.

What steps her Department is taking to support family-owned businesses with significant inheritance tax liabilities following company valuations.

The Government believes its reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief from 6 April 2026 get the balance right between supporting farms and businesses, fixing the public finances, and funding public services. The reforms reduce the inheritance tax advantages available to owners of agricultural and business assets, but still mean those assets will be taxed at a much lower effective rate than most other assets. Despite a tough fiscal context, the Government will maintain very significant levels of relief from inheritance tax beyond what is available to others and compared to the position before 1992. Where inheritance tax is due, those liable for a charge can pay any liability on the relevant assets over 10 annual instalments, interest-free.

What steps her Department is taking to ensure that no person is extradited to Hong Kong for an act that is not a crime in the UK.

The UKs extradition framework, governed by the Extradition Act 2003,enshrines the principle of dual criminality.This legal requirement means that no person can be extradited from the UK unless the conduct in question would also constitute a criminal offence under UK law.In addition, all UK extradition cooperation is underpinned by strong legalsafeguards operationalised by independent UK courts who have extensive powers to bar extradition where it is politically motivated or where it would beagainst an individual’s human rights.

When she plans to publish the Loan Charge Review.

The Government commissioned an independent review of the loan charge to help bring the matter to a close for those affected whilst ensuring fairness for all taxpayers. The Government will respond by Autumn Budget 2025.

What assessment he has made of the safety of the use of PAVA spray in youth offender institutions.

In April 2025, the Government announced a limited rollout of PAVA incapacitant spray in the three young offender institutions (YOIs) for 15 to 18-year-olds (Werrington, Wetherby and Feltham A). It was determined that this was a necessary measure to protect children and members of staff at risk of serious and life changing injuries from incidents of violence.The potential use of PAVA spray in YOIs was the subject of lengthy consideration. This included research from available sources, and work with specialists across HM Prison and Probation Service and beyond. The advice of medical advisors and legal experts was taken into account in reaching the decision.PAVA is now available to specially selected and trained groups of staff at Werrington, Wetherby, and Feltham A, to facilitate an immediate local response to a serious incident. It is only to be used as a last resort, in response to an immediate threat of serious harm.

If she will increase Air Passenger Duty on private jet flights to (a) match and (b) exceed the rate applied to first-class scheduled flights.

Larger private jets incur a higher rate of Air Passenger Duty (APD), which is at least three times the standard rate that typically applies to passengers flying premium economy, business or first class. Passengers travelling on aircraft of over 20 tonnes that are equipped to carry fewer than 19 passengers must pay the higher rate of APD. This year, the higher rate has increased to £84 for domestic and short-haul flights, and to £647 and £673 for long-haul and ultra-long-haul flights respectively. Passengers flying in first class on scheduled commercial flights currently pay the standard rate which is £14 for domestic flights, £28 for short haul, £216 for long haul and £224 for ultra-long-haul flights. At Autumn Budget 2024, the Government announced that APD rates would be partially adjusted in 2026-27 to help compensate for recent years of below-inflation uprating. The higher rate for private jets will rise by a further 50 per cent on top of the general increase made to all APD rates. The Government also published a consultation on the extension of the higher rate to cover more private jets. At present, the higher rate only applies to larger private jets, and so many private jet passengers pay the same rates as commercial airline passengers. The consultation closed on 22 January, and the Government will respond in due course.

Whether she plans to remove the Air Passenger Duty exemption for aircraft under 5.7 tonnes.

The government published a consultation on “Reform of Air Passenger Duty for private jets” in October 2024. This set out that, given the potential for increased compliance costs and instances where some smaller jets may already incur fuel duty (such as for private pleasure flying), the government proposes to maintain the existing maximum take-off weight (MTOW) threshold of 5.7 tonnes. The consultation closed on 22 January 2025 and the government will respond in due course. You can find the government consultation document here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/reform-of-air-passenger-duty-for-private-jets

Whether she plans to introduce a ban on kerosene-powered private jets as part of the Government’s net zero strategy.

The government has no plans to ban kerosene-powered private jets. The Chancellor announced changes to the Air Passenger Duty (APD) in the last Budget, which included a 13% increase in APD rates for 2026/27 and a further 50% increase for larger private and business jets. The government is committed to meeting our climate obligations to reach net zero by 2050 and will set out detail on plans for meeting legislated carbon budgets later this year.

If she will review the VAT exemption applied to private jet travel.

It is right that the aviation sector, including private jet travel, contributes to public finances. Air Passenger Duty is the principal tax applied to private jet travel. The Government keeps all taxes under review.

Whether she has had recent discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the provision of funding to support cross-community interfaith work.

Interfaith relations are vital for strong, cohesive communities.That is why the Government funded Inter Faith Week last year and then commissioned a consultation on its future.The consultation report was published in May and provides a strong evidence base for future planning and co-ordination of interfaith relations.Government is currently finalising support for Inter Faith Week 2025.Alongside this, MHCLG funds grassroots programmes such as Near Neighbours and Schools Linking which promote dialogue and understanding across communities.

What steps she is taking to regulate (a) poisonous and (b) harmful substances procured (i) domestically and (ii) internationally that may be used for suicide.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave her on 6 May to Question 48303.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to review the (a) application and (b) enforcement of the UK Forestry Standard in Surrey, in the context of recent logging activities at Bummoor Copse; and if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the UK Forestry Standard for balancing ecological protections with commercial forestry operations in (i) bluebell season, (ii) the bird nesting period and (ii) other times.

The Forestry Commission regulates tree felling in England under the provisions in the Forestry Act. Most felling licences require that felled trees or woodland are replaced by replanting or natural regeneration. The exception to this is a thinning licence, where sufficient woodland cover is retained so as not to require restocking. In this specific case, the Forestry Commission issued 3 felling licences covering thinning, coppicing and an area of clear felling. Felling trees is an essential part of woodland management and plays a vital role in supporting the rural economy through the production of sustainable timber. When considering a felling licence application, the Forestry Commission will judge the proposals against the UK Forestry Standard, the government’s approach to sustainable forestry. The latest (5th) edition was published in 2023 following an extensive review process. The standard encompasses the impacts on biodiversity and recognises the importance of priority habitats and species. As a result, felling licences also include guidance on additional issues the licence holder may need to consider such as compliance with wider relevant legislation, including laws related to habitat and species conservation. Following concerns raised by the local community, the Forestry Commission visited the site in early May to assess compliance with the felling licence conditions. The woodland has been impacted by ash dieback and therefore the felling operations will help address the health and safety risks associated with diseased trees as well as providing an opportunity to increase the structural diversity to improve biodiversity in the longer term.

Whether his Department has made an assessment of the (a) effectiveness and (b) value for money of outsourcing interpreter and translation services for court proceedings; and what steps she has taken to ensure (i) quality, (ii) consistency and (iii) the protection of fair trial rights when third-party contractors provide such services.

The Department has recently undertaken a re-procurement of its interpreter and translation service under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. These regulations mandate that public bodies aggregate expenditure on classes of goods and services and ensure that competition is applied through defined procurement procedures to ensure value for money. This principle underpinned the Ministry of Justice’s previous procurement of services and remains the case today.The Ministry of Justice has regular conversations with stakeholders and incorporated their views into the options explored within a delivery model assessment which resulted in the consideration of insourcing, and hybrid options of insource and outsource. Stakeholders were informed in 2022/23 that the Department planned to continue with an outsourced model after assessments indicated that it was the best model for our needs. This option allowed for greater cost efficiency and enabled a larger share of funding to be directed towards paying interpreters.It is vital that victims, witnesses and defendants understand what is happening in court to ensure justice is done. To support this, the Ministry of Justice operates a robust performance and quality regime for interpretation and translation services. These include monthly meetings with suppliers and stakeholders to monitor and discuss, in detail, the quality of the services being provided and performance against contractual performance indicators. The suppliers forecast demand, and work to ensure that there is a pool of qualified interpreters available to the Department to fulfil bookings and facilitate fair trials for those that require interpretation services. The contracts also provide for the Ministry of Justice to audit the suppliers to verify the accuracy of contractual payments, management information, and compliance with contractual obligations.In addition, the Department has awarded a contract for the provision of independent quality assurance of the services provided under these other contracts. This assurance is undertaken in a number of ways, including:Managing the Ministry’s register of interpretersConducting an annual audit of supplier processes for introducing new interpretersConducting a programme of 'spot checks' of interpreters undertaking assignmentsAnnual surveys of business users of the service

What systems are in place within (a) Border Force and (b) her Department to monitor the international procurement of poisons; and whether those systems are applied consistently across all countries.

We remain committed to stopping dangerous drugs – including poisons – from entering the country. Our Border Force Officers continue to work to stop illegal drugs by making more, higher-quantity seizures than in previous years, using advanced technology, data analytics, and greater intelligence, derived from close working relationships with police, the National Crime Agency, and international partners.It would not be in the interest of national security to disclose specific systems in place, nor further information regarding intelligence gathering and sharing.