Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what quality control measures are in place to monitor the accuracy and appropriateness of the advice given by G4S staff while handling Carer’s Allowance calls.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government) (Equalities)

DWP has arrangements in place to assure the quality of services delivered on its behalf, including the handling of Carer’s Allowance calls. G4S advisers receive DWP-designed and approved training, along with support appropriate to the services they deliver.

Subject matter experts and quality assurance teams monitor the quality of calls, with DWP providing further assurance through its contract management arrangements. Where quality issues are identified, appropriate action is taken.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what data her department holds on the number of disabled people currently on local authority housing lists in England who are waiting for a wheelchair-accessible social rented home to become available for letting.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

My Department does not hold data on the number of disabled people on social housing registers that require a wheelchair-accessible home.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of regional variations in child benefit claims following the end of the two-child limit.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government) (Equalities)

Child Benefit is a matter for HM Revenue and Customs, which administers the benefit and publishes annual statistics on claims. The two-child limit has never applied to Child Benefit. As a such, the Department for Work and Pensions has not assessed regional variations in Child Benefit claims following the removal of the two-child limit in Universal Credit.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when the National Screening Committee intends to review the breast screening programme to include women outside the national screening age.

Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided on 6 July to Question 13406.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she will take to ensure that patient community engagement within membership of NHS Trusts will be sustained after the dissolution of Councils of Governors.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

As the Hon. Member knows, the Health Bill proposes removing the statutory requirement for National Health Service foundation trusts to have both councils of governors and members. That is not a judgement on the performance of the individuals currently engaged in those roles, and nor is it intended to weaken patient community engagement. It is simply an attempt to free-up foundation trusts to engage with patients, carers and staff in ways that better reflect their own local circumstances and structure, rather than being obliged under all circumstances to follow the ‘one size fits all’ governor model.

The timing of the dissolution of NHS foundation trusts’ Councils of Governors will be dependent on the will of Parliament and an agreed commencement date.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when she will provide the a) timeline and b) guidance on prospective replacement mechanisms for the scheduled dissolution of Councils of Governors.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

As the Hon. Member knows, the Health Bill proposes removing the statutory requirement for National Health Service foundation trusts to have both councils of governors and members. That is not a judgement on the performance of the individuals currently engaged in those roles, and nor is it intended to weaken patient community engagement. It is simply an attempt to free-up foundation trusts to engage with patients, carers and staff in ways that better reflect their own local circumstances and structure, rather than being obliged under all circumstances to follow the ‘one size fits all’ governor model.

The timing of the dissolution of NHS foundation trusts’ Councils of Governors will be dependent on the will of Parliament and an agreed commencement date.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will ensure that any guidance relating to the dissolution of Councils of Governors will take into account staff and patient voice.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

As the Hon. Member knows, the Health Bill proposes removing the statutory requirement for National Health Service foundation trusts to have both councils of governors and members. That is not a judgement on the performance of the individuals currently engaged in those roles, and nor is it intended to weaken patient community engagement. It is simply an attempt to free-up foundation trusts to engage with patients, carers and staff in ways that better reflect their own local circumstances and structure, rather than being obliged under all circumstances to follow the ‘one size fits all’ governor model.

The timing of the dissolution of NHS foundation trusts’ Councils of Governors will be dependent on the will of Parliament and an agreed commencement date.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance her Department has issued to local authorities on their duties under section 17, and paragraph 7 of Schedule 2 to the Children Act 1989 to promote the upbringing of children in need by their families.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The department’s principal guidance to local authorities on their duties under section 17 of the Children Act 1989 is ‘Working together to safeguard children’. This statutory guidance sets out how agencies should work together to help, support and protect children, including how they should identify and respond to the needs of children in need and their families, including through the provision of Family Help.

The Families First Partnership programme guide provides further non-statutory guidance on delivering Family Help. It brings together targeted early help and support provided under section 17, helping to ensure children and families receive the right support at the right time.

The department does not issue separate statutory guidance specifically on paragraph 7 of Schedule 2 to the Children Act 1989. Local authorities must comply with their duties under the Act and must have regard to relevant statutory guidance, including working together to safeguard children.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how the proposed earned settlement framework will apply to individuals who entered the UK on a Youth Mobility Scheme visa and subsequently switched to a Skilled Worker visa, and whether time spent on the Youth Mobility Scheme route will count towards their qualifying period for settlement.

Answered by Jo White - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The consultation for the earned settlement model, as proposed in ‘A Fairer Pathway to Settlement’, was open to the public between 20 November 2025 and 12 February 2026. The consultation included questions on the treatment of public service occupations, previous residence under temporary routes and transitional arrangements under the future system.

We received over 200,000 responses and are now in the process of carefully considering the feedback received. The proposals set out fundamental reform of the settlement system and it is right that we take the time needed to consider the impacts. For this reason, I am unable to commit to when we will respond to the consultation.

The government recognises the valuable role of those who are working in vital public services. The command paper set out the proposal that there should be a shorter pathway to settlement for those who are working in vital public services. The occupations which qualify for this reduction will be determined once the analysis of the consultation responses has been completed.

There are almost 70 different routes within the Immigration Rules, approximately 40 lead to settlement. As part of these proposals, we are not changing which routes contribute to the qualifying period for settlement.

The consultation also sought views on whether there should be transitional arrangements for those already on a pathway to settlement. Transitional arrangements may be designed to ease the impact of policy change; however no final decisions have been made.

The final model will also be subject to economic and equality impact assessments, which we have committed to publish in due course.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether time spent lawfully resident in the UK on a Youth Mobility Scheme visa will count towards the qualifying period for settlement under the proposed earned settlement framework.

Answered by Jo White - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The consultation for the earned settlement model, as proposed in ‘A Fairer Pathway to Settlement’, was open to the public between 20 November 2025 and 12 February 2026. The consultation included questions on the treatment of public service occupations, previous residence under temporary routes and transitional arrangements under the future system.

We received over 200,000 responses and are now in the process of carefully considering the feedback received. The proposals set out fundamental reform of the settlement system and it is right that we take the time needed to consider the impacts. For this reason, I am unable to commit to when we will respond to the consultation.

The government recognises the valuable role of those who are working in vital public services. The command paper set out the proposal that there should be a shorter pathway to settlement for those who are working in vital public services. The occupations which qualify for this reduction will be determined once the analysis of the consultation responses has been completed.

There are almost 70 different routes within the Immigration Rules, approximately 40 lead to settlement. As part of these proposals, we are not changing which routes contribute to the qualifying period for settlement.

The consultation also sought views on whether there should be transitional arrangements for those already on a pathway to settlement. Transitional arrangements may be designed to ease the impact of policy change; however no final decisions have been made.

The final model will also be subject to economic and equality impact assessments, which we have committed to publish in due course.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the immigration route on which an individual has previously been resident in the UK will be a relevant consideration under the proposed earned settlement framework.

Answered by Jo White - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The consultation for the earned settlement model, as proposed in ‘A Fairer Pathway to Settlement’, was open to the public between 20 November 2025 and 12 February 2026. The consultation included questions on the treatment of public service occupations, previous residence under temporary routes and transitional arrangements under the future system.

We received over 200,000 responses and are now in the process of carefully considering the feedback received. The proposals set out fundamental reform of the settlement system and it is right that we take the time needed to consider the impacts. For this reason, I am unable to commit to when we will respond to the consultation.

The government recognises the valuable role of those who are working in vital public services. The command paper set out the proposal that there should be a shorter pathway to settlement for those who are working in vital public services. The occupations which qualify for this reduction will be determined once the analysis of the consultation responses has been completed.

There are almost 70 different routes within the Immigration Rules, approximately 40 lead to settlement. As part of these proposals, we are not changing which routes contribute to the qualifying period for settlement.

The consultation also sought views on whether there should be transitional arrangements for those already on a pathway to settlement. Transitional arrangements may be designed to ease the impact of policy change; however no final decisions have been made.

The final model will also be subject to economic and equality impact assessments, which we have committed to publish in due course.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether existing Skilled Worker visa holders who are currently on a five-year pathway to indefinite leave to remain will be eligible for transitional arrangements allowing them to qualify for settlement under the rules in place when they commenced that pathway.

Answered by Jo White - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The consultation for the earned settlement model, as proposed in ‘A Fairer Pathway to Settlement’, was open to the public between 20 November 2025 and 12 February 2026. The consultation included questions on the treatment of public service occupations, previous residence under temporary routes and transitional arrangements under the future system.

We received over 200,000 responses and are now in the process of carefully considering the feedback received. The proposals set out fundamental reform of the settlement system and it is right that we take the time needed to consider the impacts. For this reason, I am unable to commit to when we will respond to the consultation.

The government recognises the valuable role of those who are working in vital public services. The command paper set out the proposal that there should be a shorter pathway to settlement for those who are working in vital public services. The occupations which qualify for this reduction will be determined once the analysis of the consultation responses has been completed.

There are almost 70 different routes within the Immigration Rules, approximately 40 lead to settlement. As part of these proposals, we are not changing which routes contribute to the qualifying period for settlement.

The consultation also sought views on whether there should be transitional arrangements for those already on a pathway to settlement. Transitional arrangements may be designed to ease the impact of policy change; however no final decisions have been made.

The final model will also be subject to economic and equality impact assessments, which we have committed to publish in due course.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether long-term employment in the UK Civil Service will be recognised as a contribution for the purposes of qualifying for accelerated settlement under the proposed earned settlement framework.

Answered by Jo White - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The consultation for the earned settlement model, as proposed in ‘A Fairer Pathway to Settlement’, was open to the public between 20 November 2025 and 12 February 2026. The consultation included questions on the treatment of public service occupations, previous residence under temporary routes and transitional arrangements under the future system.

We received over 200,000 responses and are now in the process of carefully considering the feedback received. The proposals set out fundamental reform of the settlement system and it is right that we take the time needed to consider the impacts. For this reason, I am unable to commit to when we will respond to the consultation.

The government recognises the valuable role of those who are working in vital public services. The command paper set out the proposal that there should be a shorter pathway to settlement for those who are working in vital public services. The occupations which qualify for this reduction will be determined once the analysis of the consultation responses has been completed.

There are almost 70 different routes within the Immigration Rules, approximately 40 lead to settlement. As part of these proposals, we are not changing which routes contribute to the qualifying period for settlement.

The consultation also sought views on whether there should be transitional arrangements for those already on a pathway to settlement. Transitional arrangements may be designed to ease the impact of policy change; however no final decisions have been made.

The final model will also be subject to economic and equality impact assessments, which we have committed to publish in due course.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she expects to publish the Government's response to the consultation on earned settlement, A Fairer Pathway to Settlement, which closed on 12 February 2026.

Answered by Jo White - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The consultation for the earned settlement model, as proposed in ‘A Fairer Pathway to Settlement’, was open to the public between 20 November 2025 and 12 February 2026. The consultation included questions on the treatment of public service occupations, previous residence under temporary routes and transitional arrangements under the future system.

We received over 200,000 responses and are now in the process of carefully considering the feedback received. The proposals set out fundamental reform of the settlement system and it is right that we take the time needed to consider the impacts. For this reason, I am unable to commit to when we will respond to the consultation.

The government recognises the valuable role of those who are working in vital public services. The command paper set out the proposal that there should be a shorter pathway to settlement for those who are working in vital public services. The occupations which qualify for this reduction will be determined once the analysis of the consultation responses has been completed.

There are almost 70 different routes within the Immigration Rules, approximately 40 lead to settlement. As part of these proposals, we are not changing which routes contribute to the qualifying period for settlement.

The consultation also sought views on whether there should be transitional arrangements for those already on a pathway to settlement. Transitional arrangements may be designed to ease the impact of policy change; however no final decisions have been made.

The final model will also be subject to economic and equality impact assessments, which we have committed to publish in due course.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the basis for Home Office caseworkers describing Hong Kong as having “competent criminal courts” in Electronic Travel Authorisation refusal decisions, given the operation of the National Security Law; and how this is consistent with guidance that applicants should not be refused solely for convictions for offences not recognised in UK law, particularly where charges are acknowledged as potentially politically motivated.

Answered by Jo White - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

Guidance to Home Office decision makers is clear that self-declared convictions for offences not recognised in the UK should not necessarily result in the refusal of an ETA application. All applications are considered on a case-by-case basis, with full consideration given to the nature of any offences declared, and other relevant factors.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has considered altering the format of birth certificates to enable the parents to decide in which order their names are listed.

Answered by Jo White - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953, and associated regulations, prescribe the information to be recorded in a birth entry in England and Wales and a birth certificate is a certified copy of that entry. The order in which the parents’ details are recorded on a register page does not give either parent precedence or greater significance, and there are currently no plans to redesign the birth register format or the birth certificate.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what information her Department holds on the annual number of section 17 and section 47 assessments undertaken in England in each of the last ten years.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The department has published the total number of referrals from 2016 to 2025. This data is available at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/4b670aa7-818c-479a-8c3b-08df25240285.

The total number of social worker lead completed assessments is available at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/b40b3029-bf8d-4291-8c32-08df25240285. These figures are relevant to the section 17 framework.

The total number of section 47s for 2016 to 2025 is available at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/56a41c10-e509-42fd-4b41-08df251b5373.

In the year ending March 2025, there were 632,830 referrals, 648,830 completed assessments and 230,590 section 47s.