Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department plans to continue the policies set out in the policy paper entitled Statement of changes to the Immigration Rules: HC 813, 22 October 2020 in relation to the rights and settlement expectations of individuals who entered the UK under the European Communities Association Agreement route.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

As the explanatory memorandum to HC 813 set out, following the end of the EU exit transition period and the repeal of EU-derived directly effective immigration rights, the UK is no longer obliged to provide preferential treatment to Turkish nationals on the basis of the European Communities Association Agreement (ECAA).

The earned settlement model, proposed in ‘A Fairer Pathway to Settlement’ (CP 1448), was consulted on between 20 November 2025 and 12 February 2026. We will now carefully review and analyse all responses received and the findings will support the development of the final earned settlement model, including consideration of any potential exemptions or transitional measures. Once the final model has been decided, the Government will communicate the outcome publicly.

In the meantime, Appendix ECAA: Extension of Stay and Appendix ECAA Settlement, which set out the rules described in HC 813, will continue to apply. Time spent in routes that currently count towards settlement after 5 years will also continue to count towards the new standard qualifying period.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the policy paper entitled Statement of changes to the Immigration Rules: HC 813, 22 October 2020 on proposals on settlement for individuals who entered the UK under the European Communities Association Agreement route.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

As the explanatory memorandum to HC 813 set out, following the end of the EU exit transition period and the repeal of EU-derived directly effective immigration rights, the UK is no longer obliged to provide preferential treatment to Turkish nationals on the basis of the European Communities Association Agreement (ECAA).

The earned settlement model, proposed in ‘A Fairer Pathway to Settlement’ (CP 1448), was consulted on between 20 November 2025 and 12 February 2026. We will now carefully review and analyse all responses received and the findings will support the development of the final earned settlement model, including consideration of any potential exemptions or transitional measures. Once the final model has been decided, the Government will communicate the outcome publicly.

In the meantime, Appendix ECAA: Extension of Stay and Appendix ECAA Settlement, which set out the rules described in HC 813, will continue to apply. Time spent in routes that currently count towards settlement after 5 years will also continue to count towards the new standard qualifying period.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with (a) the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, (b) the Children’s Commissioner, (c) the Local Government Association and (d) Adoption UK, on the waiting times faced by (i) looked-after children and (ii) previously looked-after children for neurodevelopmental assessment.

Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

My Rt. Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has regular discussions on a wide range of matters including with stakeholders.

The Government has recognised that, nationally, demand for assessments for neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has grown significantly in recent years and that people are experiencing severe delays for accessing such assessments. The Government’s 10-Year Health Plan will make the National Health Service fit for the future and recognises the need for early intervention and support.

It is the responsibility of integrated care boards (ICBs) to make available appropriate provision to meet the health and care needs of their local population, including children and their access to neurodevelopmental assessments.

NHS England issued advice to systems on ADHD service delivery and prioritisation on 7 October 2025. This advice includes guidance on managing service provision, reviewing waiting lists and providing support to patients waiting. The advice is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/adhd-service-delivery-and-prioritisation-advice-to-systems/

Through the Medium-Term Planning Framework, published 24 October, NHS England has set clear expectations for local ICBs and trusts to improve access, experience, and outcomes for autism and ADHD services over the next three years, focusing on improving quality and productivity.

NHS England established an ADHD taskforce which brought together those with lived experience with experts from the NHS, education, charity, and justice sector to get a better understanding of the challenges affecting those with ADHD, including timely and equitable access to services and support. The final report was published on 6 November 2025 and we are carefully considering its recommendations.

Building on the work of the Independent ADHD Taskforce, my Rt. Hon. Friend announced on 4 December 2025 the launch of an Independent Review into Prevalence and Support for Mental Health Conditions, ADHD and Autism. The review will inform our approach so that people with ADHD and autistic people have the right support in place to enable them to live well in their communities.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimated waiting times his Department is communicating to applicants to the Access to Work Programme.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Department is currently advising applicants submitting a new Access to Work grant that the estimated waiting time for their application to be reviewed is up to 30 weeks.

Applications from individuals who have a job starting in the next four weeks, or who are renewing existing support, are prioritised.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 3 July 2025 to Question 63906, what recent estimate he has made of the waiting times for Access to Work Applications.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

We have interpreted this question as referring to the average processing time from the date an application is submitted to the date a decision is made. The current average processing time for access to work is 100.5 days from April 2025 to January 2026.

We are committed to reducing processing times. We also prioritise applications from customers who are due to start work within the next four weeks, as well as renewals for existing grants, to minimise disruption to employment.

In March 2025, the Department published the Pathways to Work Green Paper, launching a consultation on the future of Access to Work and how the scheme can better support disabled people in employment. We are reviewing all aspects of the programme as we develop plans for reform following the conclusion of the consultation.

Please note that the data supplied is derived from unpublished management information, which was collected for internal Departmental use only, and have not been quality assured to National Statistics or Official Statistics publication standard.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what estimate he has made of the potential impact of the Made Smarter Adoption Programme on energy cost reductions for SMEs.

Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Made Smarter Adoption Programme is primarily designed to boost SME productivity, but digital adoption can also deliver energy‑cost savings. The 2024 Institute for Manufacturing’s government‑commissioned report on the programme found a third of the firms surveyed reported positive impacts on carbon emissions. The main changes that have had positive impacts included: fewer product defects, more efficient use of logistics and lower energy use. In December 2025 the Government announced an additional £2 million of Made Smarter funding to specifically fund SME investment in energy‑efficient technologies, digital energy‑management systems and on‑site renewables.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has to help resolve the shortage of bone cement in the NHS.

Answered by Zubir Ahmed - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department is working closely with NHS England, professional bodies and industry partners and have implemented a range of measures to resolve the shortage of bone cement.

The National Health Service has secured stock of an alternative bone cement product, which is now in the United Kingdom for onward distribution. There is sufficient supply to confidently resume elective procedures, and further deliveries are planned in the coming weeks.

The NHS also issued immediate guidance to hospitals to ensure that trauma and urgent care could continue safely.

We will keep our horizon-scanning processes under review and work specifically to identify future potential risks and safeguard continuity of future bone cement supplies.

The Department has held regular discussions with NHS England on the supply position, operational impact, and plans to secure alternative products, including through established incident coordination structures.

Heating oil prices

Public health campaign on tackling stigma towards suicide

Protections for Cornish produce

Cardiac risk in the young

Dual nationals without British passports

New US sanctions on Cuba

Palantir and the NHS

Community spaces

British couple detained in Iran

Dolphin hunting in the Faroe Islands

Review of the student loan system

Securing the Ukraine Permission Extension scheme