Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will ensure that carers are not being pursued for overpayments where this was incurred due to incorrect operational guidance.

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

I refer the hon. Member to my Written Statement of 25 November HCWS1092 and (at Col 22WS) Carer's Allowance Overpayments Review - Hansard - UK Parliament where I set out that the department will be reassessing historical and existing Carer’s Allowance cases with an earnings-related overpayment in England and Wales. This will cover the period between 2015 and summer 2025 where the treatment of fluctuating earnings may have given rise to an incorrect overpayment. I also said we would set out more details on the reassessment exercise in the New Year.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what is the planned timetable for the reassessment of carers allowance overpayments as a result of incorrect operational guidance.

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

I refer the hon. Member to my Written Statement of 25 November HCWS1092 and (at Col 22WS) Carer's Allowance Overpayments Review - Hansard - UK Parliament where I set out that the department will be reassessing historical and existing Carer’s Allowance cases with an earnings-related overpayment in England and Wales. This will cover the period between 2015 and summer 2025 where the treatment of fluctuating earnings may have given rise to an incorrect overpayment. I also said we would set out more details on the reassessment exercise in the New Year.

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 proposed new earnings requirement for settlement on British children in families where one parent is a non-UK national with primary caring responsibilities.

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

The earned settlement model is currently subject to a public consultation, running until 12 February 2026. Details of the earned settlement scheme will be finalised following that consultation.

However, the May 2025 Immigration White Paper and the command paper accompanying the current consultation, entitled A Fairer Pathway to Settlement, have both already committed to retaining a five-year route to settlement for the spouses and children of British citizens.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Department has evaluated the tax contribution of the sponsoring British partner when assessing the overall economic contribution of mixed-nationality families under the proposed new settlement requirements.

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

The earned settlement model is currently subject to a public consultation, running until 12 February 2026. Details of the earned settlement scheme will be finalised following that consultation.

However, the May 2025 Immigration White Paper and the command paper accompanying the current consultation, entitled A Fairer Pathway to Settlement, have both already committed to retaining a five-year route to settlement for the spouses and children of British citizens.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Government will consider assessing household income rather than individual income when determining eligibility for settlement under the proposed contribution-based requirements.

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

The earned settlement model is currently subject to a public consultation, running until 12 February 2026. Details of the earned settlement scheme will be finalised following that consultation.

However, the May 2025 Immigration White Paper and the command paper accompanying the current consultation, entitled A Fairer Pathway to Settlement, have both already committed to retaining a five-year route to settlement for the spouses and children of British citizens.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on what evidential basis it is her policy that minimum individual earnings should determine eligibility for settlement, including for applicants with no access to public funds.

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

The earned settlement model is currently subject to a public consultation, running until 12 February 2026. Details of the earned settlement scheme will be finalised following that consultation.

However, the May 2025 Immigration White Paper and the command paper accompanying the current consultation, entitled A Fairer Pathway to Settlement, have both already committed to retaining a five-year route to settlement for the spouses and children of British citizens.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the proposed minimum earnings requirement for settlement applications will apply to family migration routes, including partners and spouses of British citizens.

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

The earned settlement model is currently subject to a public consultation, running until 12 February 2026. Details of the earned settlement scheme will be finalised following that consultation.

However, the May 2025 Immigration White Paper and the command paper accompanying the current consultation, entitled A Fairer Pathway to Settlement, have both already committed to retaining a five-year route to settlement for the spouses and children of British citizens.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what is his planned timetable for the publication of the triennial report into the operation of the Honours and Memorialisation secretariats.

Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

The next report into the operation of the UK Honours System is expected in due course.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how his department will assist post-radiotherapy head and neck cancer patients who currently have to pay for private dentistry due to a lack of NHS dentistry places, despite regular check-ups being an essential part of their post-radiotherapy care.

Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

To assist post-radiotherapy head and neck cancer patients, dentists will prioritise patients at a higher risk of oral cancer for more frequent recall and review in line with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance.

Members of the public who are worried about their oral health in relation to cancer, including post-radiotherapy head and neck cancer patients, should seek advice from their dentist or general practitioner (GP). Patients with symptoms of concern should be assessed and offered an urgent dental appointment based upon clinical need, in line with advice from NHS England.

Some people are eligible for exemptions from NHS dental patient charges, or help with part of the cost of treatment, including those who are receiving certain benefits. Further information is available at the following link:

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/dentists/who-can-get-free-nhs-dental-treatment/

Horton Cemetery

Found: • Jim Shannon: IVF Egg donation in young women • Tom Morrison: Inquiry in Service Awards • Alison Bennett