Patricia Ferguson

The Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS), and the activity to replace it, is industry owned and led. Government and Ofgem have been working closely with the RTS Taskforce in recent months to urgently increase the rate of replacements.

I am meeting with Energy UK and Ofgem on a fortnightly basis to ensure the phase out process is planned effectively and consumers are appropriately protected.

The latest data on the number of remaining RTS meters is held by the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem). However, Ofgem does not collect constituency level data on RTS meters from suppliers.

The Government has made clear to industry that suppliers must fulfil their obligations to customers and must drive up the rate of Radio Teleswitch (RTS) meter replacements.

As part of the RTS Taskforce we are doing all that we can to protect consumers from any negative impacts, and make sure that the carefully managed phase out process of RTS, which starts from 30 June, is as smooth as possible for consumers.

The Government has made clear to industry that suppliers must fulfil their obligations to customers and must drive up the rate of Radio Teleswitch (RTS) meter replacements.

As part of the RTS Taskforce we are doing all that we can to protect consumers from any negative impacts, and make sure that the carefully managed phase out process of RTS, which starts from 30 June, is as smooth as possible for consumers.

I met with the Pensions Ombudsman and Chief Operating Officer to discuss the significant increase over a period of several years in complaints received; a trend that is continuing. This increase has impacted on waiting times for cases to be allocated to an adjudication specialist. In response, The Pension Ombudsman has implemented an Operating Model Review (OMR) programme.

DWP are working closely with TPO to rigorously monitor the impact the OMR is having on waiting times and case allocation to adjudication specialists.

I recently met with the Pensions Ombudsman and Chief Operating Officer to discuss performance of the organisation and significant increases in requests for The Pensions Ombudsman (TPO) services. The time taken by TPO to resolve cases is dependent on several factors often external to TPO. For example, the complexity of the complaint, Ombudsman jurisdiction, and response times taken by the industry and the complainant to reply to information gathering requests from TPO.

In response to these pressures, TPO have implemented an Operating Model Review (OMR) programme. DWP are working closely with TPO to rigorously monitor the impact the OMR is having on the complaint management and resolution of cases.

We are committed to reducing waiting times for Access to Work and are considering the best way to deliver that for customers. We have increased the number of staff processing Access to Work claims and applications from customers who are about to start a job or who are renewing are prioritised.

The Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to get Britain Working’ Green Paper was published on 18 March. Alongside the Access to Work reform proposals introduced in the Green Paper, we are considering further options to reduce the waiting time for customers

The department administers a wide range of benefits, and as such the information you have requested is not held centrally and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

The Department for Work and Pensions seeks to identify individuals who have complex user needs and/or require additional support to enable them to access our benefit and services; this includes people who are vulnerable and are claiming, or need to claim, Universal Credit. We provide a tailored service that recognises those with complex needs at any point throughout their journey and aims to make appropriate support available quickly.

Advances are available to ensure those who need it can receive financial support as soon as possible. Financial support is important so customers are not reliant on high-cost lenders, but may be able instead to get some of their Universal Credit early, interest free, as an advance.

We are committed to training the staff we need to ensure that patients are cared for by the right professional, when and where they need it.

We will ensure that the number of medical specialty training places meets the demands of the National Health Service in the future. NHS England will work with stakeholders to ensure that any growth is sustainable and focused in the service areas where need is greatest.

To reform the NHS and make it fit for the future, we have launched a 10-Year Health Plan as part of the Government’s five long-term missions. Ensuring we have the right people, in the right places, with the right skills will be central to this vision. We will publish a refreshed workforce plan to deliver the transformed health service we will build over the next decade, and treat patients on time again.

We are committed to training the staff we need to ensure that patients are cared for by the right professional, when and where they need it.

We will ensure that the number of medical specialty training places meets the demands of the National Health Service in the future. NHS England will work with stakeholders to ensure that any growth is sustainable and focused in the service areas where need is greatest.

To reform the NHS and make it fit for the future, we have launched a 10-Year Health Plan as part of the Government’s five long-term missions. Ensuring we have the right people, in the right places, with the right skills will be central to this vision. We will publish a refreshed workforce plan to deliver the transformed health service we will build over the next decade, and treat patients on time again.

Decisions about recruitment are matters for individual National Health Service trusts. NHS trusts manage their recruitment at a local level, ensuring they have the right number of staff, including clinical fellows, in place, with the right skill mix, to deliver safe and effective care.

The delivery of compensation is a matter for the Infected Blood Compensation Authority, an independent arms-length body. The Cabinet Office is the sponsor department for the authority. My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has not discussed the proposed timetable for payments to family members of those affected with the Infected Blood Compensation Authority.

However, on 12 February 2025, the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme Regulations 2025 were laid before Parliament. Subject to Parliamentary approval, the Government is aiming for these regulations to be in place by 31 March 2025, to support our goal that family members of those who have been affected can start receiving payment this year.

In addition, the Government has committed in legislation to pay £100,000 to the estates of the deceased infected persons. The process under which estates can apply for interim compensation payments opened in October 2024, and so far over 350 interim payments have been paid to the estates of deceased infected people, totalling over £35 million. This is important progress in getting money into the hands of the families of victims of the infected blood scandal.

The Government is currently considering attendance at the Second World Summit for Social Development.

Detailed decisions on how the Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget will be used are being worked through following the recent Spending Review and through resource allocation processes. We intend to publish final 2025/26 ODA programme allocations in the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) Annual Report and Accounts this summer. The FCDO is focused on ensuring that every pound is spent in the most impactful way.

Detailed decisions on how the Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget will be used are being worked through following the recent Spending Review and through resource allocation processes. We intend to publish final 2025/26 ODA programme allocations in the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) Annual Report and Accounts this summer. The FCDO is focused on ensuring that every pound is spent in the most impactful way including by considering the impact for people with disabilities and other marginalised groups in line with the public sector equality duty.

The UK will be represented at this year's Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities by Minister Seema Malhotra in her role as Minister for Equalities. Minister Malhotra will be joined by senior officials from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the Cabinet Office, and the Work and Health Unit, a cross-government unit, jointly sponsored by the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department of Health and Social Care.

In all our engagement with the Syrian Government we consistently emphasise the need to protect the rights of all Syrians. I discussed these points in my meeting with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani on 17 March and the UK Special Representative for Syria spoke directly to members of the Alawite community following the violence in coastal areas in early March. We will continue to monitor the treatment of all civilians in Syria, and this issue will continue to be an important aspect of our engagement with the Syrian Government.

At Phase 1 of the 2025 Spending Review, the UK Government allocated an additional £500 million to the Department for Transport for local highways maintenance in 2025-26. The Barnett formula was applied in the usual way to changes in the Department for Transport’s Delegated Expenditure Limit (DEL) budget.

At Spending Reviews, the Barnett formula is applied to changes to each UK Government department’s overall DEL budget, not to individual programmes.

The Scottish Government is receiving over £47.7 billion in 2025-26 following Phase 1 of the Spending Review 2025. This is the largest in real terms of any settlement since devolution and ensures that the Scottish Government continue to receive at least 20% more per person than equivalent UK Government spending in the rest of the UK.

The Block Grant Transparency publication breaks down all changes in the devolved governments’ block grant funding from the 2015 Spending Review up to and including Main Estimates 2023-24. The most recent report was published in July 2023. An update to Block Grant Transparency to include Autumn Budget 2024 changes will be published in due course:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/block-grant-transparency-july-2023

As with all taxes and allowances, the Government keeps flat rates expenses, including Overseas Scale Rates, under review.

Any decisions on future changes in this area will be taken in the context of the wider public finances.

The Government published information about the reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief at www.gov.uk/government/publications/agricultural-property-relief-and-business-property-relief-reforms.

As with other tax changes, HM Revenue and Customs will update its guidance in due course in the usual way.

The Government is determined to secure a ceasefire in Gaza and rapidly increase aid, ensuring humanitarian support is reaching people there.

The government is keeping existing visa pathways under review in response to events. Palestinians and academics from the Middle East affected by conflict who wish to come to the UK can do so via the existing range of visa routes available.

Any application for a UK visa will be assessed against the requirements of the Immigration Rules.

The requirements for each route, including how to prove the requirements are met, are set out in the Immigration Rules and accompanying guidance. There is additional guidance available for when to apply evidential flexibility, which decision makers will refer to when considering applications from applicants who may have lost documents due to ongoing conflict.

All decisions on visa applications are undertaken on a case-by-case basis, dependent on what applicants have stated on their application forms. The supporting documents guidance sets out the additional evidence required for the different types of visits – https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/visitor-visa-guide-to-supporting-documents/guide-to-supporting-documents-visiting-the-uk.

The Government welcomes academics from across the globe and recognises the importance of international collaboration in this field. Academic visitor visa applications are assessed in the round, looking at all the factors of the case, in line with immigration rules.

Members of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) are civilians and may receive pensions for their Service under the terms of any civilian pension scheme to which they belonged. The Ministry of Defence does have a scheme to provide compensation to members of the RFA who suffer war injuries or detention, but this scheme does not cover peacetime activities, such as the nuclear tests on Christmas Island. However, other options may be sought such as recourse to common law claims under the Workmen’s Compensation Act or the Industrial Injuries Scheme.

If there is a need for a product recall this will be managed by the F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) through its global industry supply chain.

Air accident investigation is undertaken by the F-35 Partner Nation that has experienced the accident. They will be supported by the JPO and any findings impacting air safety will be shared with all Partner Nations.

The F-35 Lightning II Joint Program Office, part of the US Department of Defence, manages the F-35 programme for all F-35 Partner Nations through its global industry supply chain.

200 of the 201 households from Grenfell Tower and Grenfell Walk have been permanently rehoused.

One household is currently living in a high quality temporary home within the borough.

We continue to work closely with the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, which is responsible for housing decisions in the borough and supporting each person impacted by the tragedy to settle into permanent homes.

I refer the hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN 40375 on 27 March 2025.