Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many claims were made for (a) delayed or (b) cancelled journeys by railway companies in public ownership in each month for which records are available; and what was the value of those claims.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Most train operating companies publish on their website Delay Repay compensation data on the number of claims submitted, the number of claims approved and the value of these claims. Delay Repay compensation is paid for eligible delays regardless of the reason for the delay. See below, for the most recent rail period available, the relevant data for Southeastern, South Western Railway, Northern and TransPennine Trains and a link to their website.

We are unable to provide London North Eastern Railway’s (LNER’s) data as it is not something it currently publishes on its website. The figures provided below from the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) covers a period longer than one month and is also the number of claims closed, not received, or approved. We have included its approval rate, along with the link to the ORR data.

LNER - 05/01/25 to 31/03/25 - 117,948 Claims Closed – Approval Rate of 79.5 per cent. https://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/statistics/passenger-experience/delay-compensation-claims/.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of introducing license-based occupancy contracts for specialist housing for older people.

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

The government is committed to enhancing provision and choice for older people in the housing market and we will continue to consider this issue as we develop our long-term housing strategy, which will be published later this year.

As set out in the Written Ministerial Statement I made on 26 November 2024 (HCWS249), the government is giving careful consideration to the recommendations from the Older People’s Housing Taskforce report including in relation to specialist accommodation for older people.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the King's Gurkha Artillery will recruit female Nepali citizens.

Answered by Luke Pollard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

Gurkhas have made an outstanding contribution to the UK through their years of dedicated service to the Crown and are held in high esteem by the British Army and public alike.

The number of recruits required for the Brigade of Gurkhas is managed on an annual basis and depends on factors such as retirements, transfers and any changes in unit Order of Battles. Therefore, the Army cannot provide confirmation on the likely number of Gurkha recruits for each of the next five years.

The British Army’s wish to recruit women has been communicated to the Government of Nepal and we will continue to engage them on this subject.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of amending the planning system to encourage the building of integrated retirement communities.

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

The National Planning Policy Framework is clear that local authorities should assess the size, type, and tenure of housing needed for different groups, including older people, and reflect this in their planning policies.

Plan making authorities should also set clear policies to address the housing needs of older people and, where there is an identified unmet need for specialist housing for older people, local authorities should take a positive approach to schemes that propose to meet this need, including integrated retirement communities.

The government is committed to enhancing provision and choice for older people in the housing market and we will continue to consider this issue as we develop our long-term housing strategy, which will be published later this year.

As set out in the Written Ministerial Statement I made on 26 November 2024 (HCWS249), the government is giving careful consideration to the recommendations from the Older People’s Housing Taskforce report including in relation to specialist accommodation for older people.

Found: I am copying this letter to Dr Andrew Murrison MP.