Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what the reason the new Royal Navy Dreadnought Submarine programme will be built from steel imported from France.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

United Kingdom (UK) submarine steel requirements continue to be sourced by our prime contractors from a range of UK and international suppliers. This reflects the need to source specific grades of steel, not all of which are available in the UK, and ensures competitive procurement in terms of cost, time and quality.

There are no UK suppliers of the specialised steel required in the manufacture of submarine pressure hulls. Other grades of steel used in the manufacture of submarines are sourced from a range of suppliers, including a number of UK companies.

We encourage the sourcing of UK steel wherever it is technically and commercially feasible and publish our future pipeline of steel requirements, enabling steel manufacturers better to plan and bid for government opportunities.

This Government is committed to ensuring that defence spending supports British based businesses and economic growth which will be a key tenet in the upcoming Defence Industrial Strategy.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress he has made on the sale of (a) HMS Albion and (b) HMS Bulwark to Brazil.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

On a recent visit to Brazil, at the Latin American Aerospace and Defence Expo, I witnessed the signing of a Statement of Intent (SOI) between the Federative Republic of Brazil and the UK Ministry of Defence. This concerned cooperation and assistance in relation to the acquisition of HMS ALBION and HMS BULWARK. This is a significant step in strengthening bilateral defence cooperation with Brazil and enables discussions regarding the possible sale of the vessels to the Brazilian Navy.

I am unable to provide further information due to commercial sensitivities.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how was the sale price of (a) HMS Albion and (b) HMS Bulwark calculated.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

On a recent visit to Brazil, at the Latin American Aerospace and Defence Expo, I witnessed the signing of a Statement of Intent (SOI) between the Federative Republic of Brazil and the UK Ministry of Defence. This concerned cooperation and assistance in relation to the acquisition of HMS ALBION and HMS BULWARK. This is a significant step in strengthening bilateral defence cooperation with Brazil and enables discussions regarding the possible sale of the vessels to the Brazilian Navy.

I am unable to provide further information due to commercial sensitivities.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the cost to the public purse has been of dental support provided to asylum seekers since 5 July 2024.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Data is not held on the financial cost of dental support provided to asylum seekers or the number of National Health Service dental appointments provided to asylum seekers since 5 July 2024.

The Government recognises that certain groups of patients, such as asylum seekers, may find it difficult to access dental care. We are committed to ensuring NHS dental services are available to all who need them.

The responsibility for commissioning primary care services, including NHS dentistry, to meet the needs of the local population has been delegated to the integrated care boards across England.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many dental appointments have been provided to asylum seekers since 5 July 2024.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Data is not held on the financial cost of dental support provided to asylum seekers or the number of National Health Service dental appointments provided to asylum seekers since 5 July 2024.

The Government recognises that certain groups of patients, such as asylum seekers, may find it difficult to access dental care. We are committed to ensuring NHS dental services are available to all who need them.

The responsibility for commissioning primary care services, including NHS dentistry, to meet the needs of the local population has been delegated to the integrated care boards across England.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what is the total cost to the public purse of financial support given to asylum seekers for glasses since 5 July 2024.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The National Health Service is a residency-based system, which means that people who do not live here on a lawful, settled basis must contribute to the cost of their care. However, some of the most vulnerable people arriving in the United Kingdom, including refugees and asylum seekers, do not pay for NHS treatment.

Asylum seekers who are receiving support from the Home Office under section 95 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 will automatically receive a HC2 certificate for full help with health costs. From the data available it is not possible to determine the total number, or cost of, sight tests or optical vouchers provided to asylum seekers, as eligibility to NHS services and to free means-tested services is not based on immigration status. Immigration status is therefore not recorded when services are provided.

Asylum seekers are entitled to free new glasses or contact lenses in the same way as other residents meeting the means-test criteria. Further information is available at the following link:

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/opticians/free-nhs-eye-tests-and-optical-vouchers/

The Home Office and its contractors work closely with the NHS, local authorities, and non-governmental organisations to ensure that people can access the health care and support they need.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many free eyesight tests have been given to asylum seekers since 5 July 2024.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The National Health Service is a residency-based system, which means that people who do not live here on a lawful, settled basis must contribute to the cost of their care. However, some of the most vulnerable people arriving in the United Kingdom, including refugees and asylum seekers, do not pay for NHS treatment.

Asylum seekers who are receiving support from the Home Office under section 95 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 will automatically receive a HC2 certificate for full help with health costs. From the data available it is not possible to determine the total number, or cost of, sight tests or optical vouchers provided to asylum seekers, as eligibility to NHS services and to free means-tested services is not based on immigration status. Immigration status is therefore not recorded when services are provided.

Asylum seekers are entitled to free new glasses or contact lenses in the same way as other residents meeting the means-test criteria. Further information is available at the following link:

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/opticians/free-nhs-eye-tests-and-optical-vouchers/

The Home Office and its contractors work closely with the NHS, local authorities, and non-governmental organisations to ensure that people can access the health care and support they need.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what financial assistance is available to pay for glasses following a free eyesight test for asylum seekers.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The National Health Service is a residency-based system, which means that people who do not live here on a lawful, settled basis must contribute to the cost of their care. However, some of the most vulnerable people arriving in the United Kingdom, including refugees and asylum seekers, do not pay for NHS treatment.

Asylum seekers who are receiving support from the Home Office under section 95 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 will automatically receive a HC2 certificate for full help with health costs. From the data available it is not possible to determine the total number, or cost of, sight tests or optical vouchers provided to asylum seekers, as eligibility to NHS services and to free means-tested services is not based on immigration status. Immigration status is therefore not recorded when services are provided.

Asylum seekers are entitled to free new glasses or contact lenses in the same way as other residents meeting the means-test criteria. Further information is available at the following link:

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/opticians/free-nhs-eye-tests-and-optical-vouchers/

The Home Office and its contractors work closely with the NHS, local authorities, and non-governmental organisations to ensure that people can access the health care and support they need.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the carbon flux sequestration of peat lands in the Falkland Islands.

Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Defra is currently funding an R&D project to gather data on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and carbon sequestration in peatlands in the Falkland Islands.

This will deliver scientifically robust data to improve our understanding of Falkland peatland GHG emissions and reporting into the GHG Inventory. It will also establish accurate carbon sequestration rates for the peatlands, enabling a feasibility study for a carbon offsetting scheme with the long-term aim of financing peatland restoration.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many child asylum seekers have entered the education system since 5 July 2024.

Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

Information about the nationality, country of birth or immigration status of children in schools in England is not collected by the department. Therefore, we are unable to provide the information requested.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many new prisons are planned to be completed by July 2029.

Answered by Nicholas Dakin - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

In the recently published 10-Year Prison Capacity Strategy the Lord Chancellor has committed to delivering three new prisons, one in Leicestershire (next to HMP Gartree), one in Buckinghamshire (next to HMPs Grendon and Springhill) and one in Lancashire (next to HMPs Garth and Wymott).

We aim to deliver these places by the end of 2031. This is in addition to the three new prisons that have already been delivered as part of the 20,000 prison place programmes to date; HMP Five Wells, HMP Fosse Way and HMP Millsike, which was officially opened on 27 March 2025.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what he plans to do with each Warrior infantry fighting vehicle when they retire from service.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

Following the extension of the Out of Service Date (OSD) of the Warrior Armoured Fighting Vehicle from 2025 to 2027, it remains the Department’s intent that the Warrior family will be withdrawn from service by the end of the decade with salvage activity already occurring in line with planned fleet reductions. Plans for Warrior beyond its OSD are yet to be formally agreed.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of adding defence as a subject in the national curriculum.

Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)

The government has established an independent Curriculum and Assessment Review, chaired by Professor Becky Francis CBE. The Review wants to ensure a rich, broad, inclusive and innovative curriculum that readies young people for life and work. The interim report was published on 18 March and sets out the particular areas of focus for the next stage of the Review. The report can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/curriculum-and-assessment-review-interim-report. This considers questions that have been raised across different subjects about the specificity, relevance, volume and diversity of content, and seeks to ensure that the national curriculum allows space for schools to support mastery of core concepts, effective transitions, and progression through each key stage. The Review’s final report with recommendations will be published in the autumn.

The national curriculum currently provides a broad framework which gives schools flexibility to organise the content and delivery of the curriculum to meet the needs of their pupils. Defence is not included as a subject in the national curriculum, as subjects are based around broad disciplines such as geography and history. However, schools can choose to teach about defence, for example, within secondary citizenship content covering democracy, the rule of law, the roles played by public institutions in society and the United Kingdom’s relations with the wider world.

As the Review said in its interim report that the current shape of the curriculum at key stages 1-4 provides students with good exposure to a wide range of subjects, and that they intend to recommend retaining the current curriculum architecture, we therefore expect that defence will not be added as a subject but that schools and teachers will continue to have the flexibility to adapt the curriculum to best meet the needs of their pupils.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much surplus military land has been allocated to development in local plans.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

C. 1,240 hectares of Ministry of Defence (MOD) land has been allocated to development in local plans in England, with the MOD continuing to work with over 17 local authorities on the future use of surplus military land in local plans.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the press notice entitled Homes fit for heroes: Raft of new measures to improve military family housing, published on 18 April 2025, what the total projected cost is of the new Defence Housing Strategy in each of the next five years.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

The Defence Housing Strategy is planned for publication later this year.

It will set out a roadmap to deliver a generational renewal of military accommodation; the projected costs of which are under review.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the press notice entitled Homes fit for heroes: Raft of new measures to improve military family housing, published on 18 April 2025, what his Department's timetable is for publishing the Defence Housing Strategy.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

The Defence Housing Strategy is planned for publication later this year.

It will set out a roadmap to deliver a generational renewal of military accommodation; the projected costs of which are under review.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the press notice entitled Homes fit for heroes: Raft of new measures to improve military family housing, published on 18 April 2025, what steps he is taking to encourage the development of surplus military land.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

Ministry of Defence (MOD) works closely with Local Authorities to secure alternative development for sites post military use, this includes securing allocations in Local Plans, public consultation as part of master planning, and where appropriate working with development partners. the MOD is also working in partnership with Homes England to accelerate the release of public land.

The Government has set out its ambitions to unlock thousands of new homes on surplus defence land, including via the creation of a new taskforce between MOD, HM Treasury and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the press notice entitled Homes fit for heroes: Raft of new measures to improve military family housing, published on 18 April 2025, what steps his Department is taking to allocate a named housing officer for every family.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

Better and clearer communication for Service families, including a named Housing Officer for every Service family who they can contact for specific housing related queries, is one of the seven commitments announced in the new Consumer Charter.

Work is currently underway to review Housing Officer's duties, roles and responsibilities along with the current Housing Officer structure. A new Housing Officer Vision has been rolled out via recent Housing Officer workshops.

Service families will know who their Housing Officer is and how to contact them, either by telephone and email, or through local initiatives (including housing surgeries, open offices, online consultations and coffee mornings, estate and community walks).

Final detail will be set out in the Defence Housing Strategy following consultation with Military personnel and their families.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to publish the New Consumer Charter for families in military homes.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

The New Consumer Charter is part of a new Defence Housing Strategy and will be published later this year.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what funding he provides to Magpas Air Ambulance.

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

The Department does not directly fund air ambulance services on a routine basis. Air ambulances in England operate as independent charities and are supported by the National Health Service through the provision and training of key clinical staff.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the press notice entitled Homes fit for heroes: Raft of new measures to improve military family housing, published on 18 April 2025, what criteria his Department plans to use to decide which homes will be renovated under the New Consumer Charter.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

A combination of factors will be considered when selecting Service Family homes for renovation under the new Consumer Charter.

All homes will be assessed against factors including condition, thermal efficiency, age, safety, and modernity as well as whether the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has an enduring requirement for them; ensuring a geographical spread of investment across the UK; and a mixture of Officer and Other Rank properties.

The Department will prioritise 1,000 of the worst homes, with renovation work starting at the beginning of Summer 2025 and being completed by the end of the year.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the cost to the public purse has been of free prescriptions provided to asylum seekers since 5 July 2024.

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

The Department does not hold the information requested. Data is not held on the number of prescriptions dispensed in the community in England free of charge to asylum seekers.

There is no automatic exemption from prescription charges for asylum seekers, however individuals may be entitled to exemption from charges for other reasons such as age or through application to the NHS Low Income Scheme (LIS). If an individual who is an asylum seeker has a prescription that includes a charge exemption, it would be recorded in the system in the same way as any other prescription with that exemption.

Asylum seekers who are supported by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), Section 95 support, who may be housed by UKVI or in accommodation prior to dispersal, are sent a HC2 certificate, valid for six months, for full help. Other asylum seekers may make an NHS LIS claim using the HC1 certificate form.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many free prescriptions for medicine have been given to asylum seekers since 5 July 2024.

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

The Department does not hold the information requested. Data is not held on the number of prescriptions dispensed in the community in England free of charge to asylum seekers.

There is no automatic exemption from prescription charges for asylum seekers, however individuals may be entitled to exemption from charges for other reasons such as age or through application to the NHS Low Income Scheme (LIS). If an individual who is an asylum seeker has a prescription that includes a charge exemption, it would be recorded in the system in the same way as any other prescription with that exemption.

Asylum seekers who are supported by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), Section 95 support, who may be housed by UKVI or in accommodation prior to dispersal, are sent a HC2 certificate, valid for six months, for full help. Other asylum seekers may make an NHS LIS claim using the HC1 certificate form.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the per capita funding is for each integrated care board.

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

NHS England is responsible for funding allocations to integrated care boards (ICBs). This process is independent of the Government, and NHS England takes advice on the underlying formulae from the independent Advisory Committee on Resource Allocation. ICB allocations for 2025/26 were published on 30 January 2025, and include a breakdown of per capita funding for each ICB, with further information available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/allocations/

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what new NHS facilities are planned to be built within Huntingdon constituency.

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

The Government is committed to delivering a National Health Service that is fit for the future. This means we need to see world class NHS infrastructure across the entire NHS estate. Beyond hospitals, we know we need the right infrastructure in the right place to deliver a true Neighbourhood Health Service, to ensure that all patients receive the care they deserve.

Hinchingbrooke Hospital in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire is part of Wave 1 of the New Hospital Programme, with construction of the new hospital expected to commence in 2027/28.

The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Integrated Care Board (ICB) is working towards a further four facilities in the constituency. In Alconbury Weald, the Glade health facility is due to be operational from late 2025. In addition, the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough ICB is currently working with local councils to support the delivery of the Alconbury Weald Hub Health Facility over the next five years, along with similar health infrastructure developments in both Wintringham and Great Staughton.

There are 16 general practices in the Huntingdon constituency.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the (a) Cabinet Office and (b) Treasury approval processes are that decide on whether an Arm’s-Length Body can become a non-departmental public body.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The approvals process for new arm’s-length bodies (ALBs), including non-departmental public bodies, is outlined in the Public Bodies Handbook - Part 2. This is a jointly led process between the Cabinet Office and HM Treasury.

The government is additionally conducting a review of all ALBs, including proposals for new ones, to assess them against four principles: (1) Ministers should have direct policy control over decisions that affect the public, (2) duplication across the state should be minimised, (3) stakeholder engagement is not sufficient rationale for an ALB, and (4) some advice should be independently delivered. This is part of the plan to streamline the state by closing, merging or repatriating public bodies into departments unless their separate existence can be justified.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many GP surgeries there are in Huntingdon constituency.

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

The Government is committed to delivering a National Health Service that is fit for the future. This means we need to see world class NHS infrastructure across the entire NHS estate. Beyond hospitals, we know we need the right infrastructure in the right place to deliver a true Neighbourhood Health Service, to ensure that all patients receive the care they deserve.

Hinchingbrooke Hospital in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire is part of Wave 1 of the New Hospital Programme, with construction of the new hospital expected to commence in 2027/28.

The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Integrated Care Board (ICB) is working towards a further four facilities in the constituency. In Alconbury Weald, the Glade health facility is due to be operational from late 2025. In addition, the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough ICB is currently working with local councils to support the delivery of the Alconbury Weald Hub Health Facility over the next five years, along with similar health infrastructure developments in both Wintringham and Great Staughton.

There are 16 general practices in the Huntingdon constituency.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what her Department's policy is on the participation of trans women in elite-level women’s sport in the UK in events sanctioned by an international sporting body that allows trans women to compete in its competitions.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

We have always been clear that, when it comes to women's sport, biology matters. We will continue to support sports to develop policies that protect fairness and safety, particularly when it is not possible to balance those factors with inclusion.

In terms of gender eligibility, National Governing Bodies set their own policies for who can participate in their sports in domestic competitions. It is for International Federations to determine the rules for their sports at the international level of competition.

Our Sports Councils produce guidance to provide domestic sports bodies with the framework and support to determine the right position for their sport. Our Sports Councils are consulting with legal experts to clarify how the Supreme Court ruling affects the guidance. The outcome of this will feed into their timescale for a planned wider review of the guidance.

Alongside this, sports need to come up with approaches to ensure everyone has the opportunity to take part somehow - and I know that sporting bodies will be considering this in light of the Supreme Court decision.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reason (a) The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and (b) RAF Cranwell are not rated by Ofsted.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

Both the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and the Royal Air Force Officer Training Academy (at Cranwell) were inspected by Ofsted using the Ministry of Defence Inspection Framework (care and welfare) during the 2022-23 academic year. Both training establishments were graded as Good (Level 2) for Overall Effectiveness and the full reports can be found in the Ofsted Annual Report for 2022-23 which can be found at the following address: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/welfare-and-duty-of-care-in-armed-forces-initial-training/welfare-and-duty-of-care-in-armed-forces-initial-training-2022-to-2023#establishments-inspection-history

Ofsted conduct approximately a dozen inspections of Ministry of Defence training establishments per year. It is expected that both Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and Royal Air Force Officer Training Academy (Cranwell) will be inspected in the next academic year 2025-26.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 21 March 2025 to Question 38049 on Non-departmental Public Bodies, if he will list the 249 non-departmental public bodies operating as of March 2025.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Cabinet Office publishes an annual arms length body landscape analysis, which includes non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) around a year in arrears. The most recently published landscape analysis was published on 17 December 2024 and is available here. The list of every ALB that exists as of March 2025 is due to be published in 2026.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what geoengineering projects the Advanced Research and Invention Agency have (a) underway and (b) planned in financial year 2025-26.

Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

Details of the Advanced Research and Invention Agency’s (ARIA) ‘Exploring Climate Cooling’ programme, are available on ARIA’s website: https://www.aria.org.uk/opportunity-spaces/future-proofing-our-climate-and-weather/exploring-climate-cooling

ARIA is intending to publish further details of projects within this programme shortly.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many personnel the National Cyber Force has.

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

The National Cyber Force does not comment on detailed figures regarding staff numbers for national security reasons, though there is a roughly equal share of personnel from Defence and the UK intelligence community.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many snowmobiles are (a) owned by his Department and (b) deployed overseas.

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

The Royal Marines are the Armed Forces’ Extreme Cold Weather experts and have a fleet of 184 snowmobiles, which are known as Over Snow Reconnaissance Vehicles.

The Ministry of Defence does not routinely disclose a breakdown of the location of equipment capabilities, or the operational readiness of our fleet, in the interests of safeguarding security and operational effectiveness.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to publish the short-term action plan to enhance family homes.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

We do not intend to publish a short-term action plan.

In our new Consumer Charter, we announced seven commitments to immediately improve the lived experience for Service families:

• A strengthened move-in standard
• Improved, clearer information for families ahead of a move
• More reliable repairs
• Raising the minimum standard of military homes with a refurbishment of up to 1,000 of the worst homes
• Better and clearer communication for families, including a named housing officer for every service family
• A new, simpler complaints process
• Modernising policies to allow more freedom for families to make improvements

Service families will start to see early benefits including a named Housing Officer provided for every home, and £50 million to fund refurbishment works on 1,000 of the worst homes.

The Defence Housing Strategy will be published later this year and will set out further long-term plans to improve the standard of Service family homes.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department’s publication entitled Cambridgeshire Constabulary, published on 9 April 2025, whether the figures apply only to year one of the four year neighbourhood policing grant.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)

The figures published on Neighbourhood policing grant allocations and projections: 2025 to 2026 - GOV.UK relate to the first year of the neighbourhood policing programme only.

This marks the first year towards increasing neighbourhood policing by 13,000 officers by the end of this Parliament.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Aspen cards have been issued to asylum seekers since 5 July 2024.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Home Office)

Aspen cards are issued only to the main applicants on claims for Asylum Support and can only be used for chip and pin payments. Asylum seekers are able to report any difficulties, including loss or theft of their Aspen card, by calling Migrant Help, available 24/7 by telephone, webchat or email.

The Home Office publishes regular information on asylum expenditure in the Home Office Annual Report and Accounts, but the specific cost data requested is considered commercially sensitive, and its disclosure could undermine the ability of the Home Office to secure maximum value for money in future contract negotiations.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many ASPEN cards have been reported (a) lost and (b) stolen since 5 July 2024.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Home Office)

Aspen cards are issued only to the main applicants on claims for Asylum Support and can only be used for chip and pin payments. Asylum seekers are able to report any difficulties, including loss or theft of their Aspen card, by calling Migrant Help, available 24/7 by telephone, webchat or email.

The Home Office publishes regular information on asylum expenditure in the Home Office Annual Report and Accounts, but the specific cost data requested is considered commercially sensitive, and its disclosure could undermine the ability of the Home Office to secure maximum value for money in future contract negotiations.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the cost is of Aspen cards issued since 5 July 2024.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Home Office)

Aspen cards are issued only to the main applicants on claims for Asylum Support and can only be used for chip and pin payments. Asylum seekers are able to report any difficulties, including loss or theft of their Aspen card, by calling Migrant Help, available 24/7 by telephone, webchat or email.

The Home Office publishes regular information on asylum expenditure in the Home Office Annual Report and Accounts, but the specific cost data requested is considered commercially sensitive, and its disclosure could undermine the ability of the Home Office to secure maximum value for money in future contract negotiations.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many (a) phones, (b) laptops and (c) other electronic devices have been lost by their Department since 5 July 2024.

Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The following table includes the number of lost department-issued devices by The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office since 5 July 2024.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 8 April 2025 to Question 44058 on General Practitioners: Pay, what plans he has to update the Market Forces Factor in the Carr-Hill formula with modelled earnings by geographical location for 2024-25.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department has no immediate plans to update the Market Forces Factor in the Carr-Hill formula.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what proportion of new homes will be built on surplus military land over the next four years.

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

The Secretary of State for Defence has identified the long-term opportunity to build over 100,000 homes on surplus defence land, improving opportunities for homeownership and creating jobs across the country. This includes a commitment to building and modernising family homes for the Armed Forces and Veterans, delivering on our commitments to British families and our Armed Forces.

Work is underway with HM Treasury, the Ministry of Defence, and Homes England to establish opportunities to accelerate delivery with trailblazer sites at Ripon, Chilwell and Wyton.

It is not possible to indicate the exact proportion of new homes that will be delivered on surplus military land over the next four years

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether Integrated Care Boards will be coterminous with unitary authority boundaries following the implementation of local government reforms.

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

As set out in the English Devolution White Paper, the Government recognises the benefits that aligned geographical boundaries can have for improving co-ordination between public services. Within integrated care systems, collaboration between local government and health partners is crucial to the delivery of high quality and efficient services for communities and patients. On 5 February 2025, the Government formally invited unitary proposals from all the councils in two tier areas and their neighbouring small unitaries. It is for councils to develop robust and sustainable proposals that are in the best interests of their whole area. As set out in the published statutory guidance, unitary structures must prioritise the delivery of high quality and sustainable public services to citizens, and the views of other public sector providers will be crucial to understanding the best way to structure local government. Following submission of proposals, we will consider these carefully before taking decisions on how to proceed.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people each Integrated Care Board will cover following proposed local government reforms.

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

As set out in the English Devolution White Paper, the Government recognises the benefits that aligned geographical boundaries can have for improving co-ordination between public services. Within integrated care systems, collaboration between local government and health partners is crucial to the delivery of high quality and efficient services for communities and patients. On 5 February 2025, the Government formally invited unitary proposals from all the councils in two tier areas and their neighbouring small unitaries. It is for councils to develop robust and sustainable proposals that are in the best interests of their whole area. As set out in the published statutory guidance, unitary structures must prioritise the delivery of high quality and sustainable public services to citizens, and the views of other public sector providers will be crucial to understanding the best way to structure local government. Following submission of proposals, we will consider these carefully before taking decisions on how to proceed.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what (a) the global sum payment funding allocation and (b) other Government funding is for each GP surgery in Huntingdon constituency.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department does not hold this information centrally for 2024/25. However, the attached table shows published data for the global sum payment allocation and other Government funding for each general practice surgery in Huntingdon constituency for 2022/23.

This information is also available at the following link:

https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/nhs-payments-to-general-practice/england-2022-23

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the breakdown of the Government Car Service operational fleet is by vehicle (a) make, (b) model, (c) year and (d) fuel type.

Answered by Abena Oppong-Asare - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

For security reasons, any details that could lead to the identification of Government cars are not provided.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many times the Prime Minister has visited Huntingdon constituency since 5 July 2024.

Answered by Abena Oppong-Asare - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

I refer the Hon Member to my answer of 10 March 2025, Official Report, PQ 34994.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 6 March 2025 to Question 34056 on Fire and Rescue Services: Finance, how the growth in population since the 2013 projected population size is accounted for in current funding allocations.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The majority of funding in the Local Government Finance Settlement, including funding for Fire and Rescue Authorities, is distributed through the Settlement Funding Assessment (SFA).

The SFA uses a range of formulas to determine relative need of areas which when combined with a measure of tax base, determines their relative income. The formula used for Fire and Rescue Authorities includes variables such as population, coastline, population density, sparsity, deprivation, high-risk areas, property/societal factors, and a community fire safety top-up.

Further details on the current funding methodology for Fire and Rescue Authorities can be online, within the ‘Calculation of 2013/14 Formula Funding’ linked here.

The current system for funding local authorities, is out of date, does not represent best value for taxpayers, and without action this will get worse. That is why after years of delays, we will update the local government finance system.

We sought views on our principles and objectives for funding reform, including the approach to updating the data in the fire and rescue services Relative Needs Formula, through a consultation which ran from 18 December 2024 - 12 February 2025. A second consultation will run following the Spending Review which will seek views on a detailed approach to determining new funding allocations for local authorities, including fire and rescue services.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 6 March 2025 to Question 34056 on Fire and Rescue Services: Finance, how the Fair Funding Review will mean funding differs from the existing funding arrangements.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The majority of funding in the Local Government Finance Settlement, including funding for Fire and Rescue Authorities, is distributed through the Settlement Funding Assessment (SFA).

The SFA uses a range of formulas to determine relative need of areas which when combined with a measure of tax base, determines their relative income. The formula used for Fire and Rescue Authorities includes variables such as population, coastline, population density, sparsity, deprivation, high-risk areas, property/societal factors, and a community fire safety top-up.

Further details on the current funding methodology for Fire and Rescue Authorities can be online, within the ‘Calculation of 2013/14 Formula Funding’ linked here.

The current system for funding local authorities, is out of date, does not represent best value for taxpayers, and without action this will get worse. That is why after years of delays, we will update the local government finance system.

We sought views on our principles and objectives for funding reform, including the approach to updating the data in the fire and rescue services Relative Needs Formula, through a consultation which ran from 18 December 2024 - 12 February 2025. A second consultation will run following the Spending Review which will seek views on a detailed approach to determining new funding allocations for local authorities, including fire and rescue services.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 6 March 2025 to Question 34056 on Fire and Rescue Services: Finance, how population (a) density and (b) sparsity will be updated to use the most up to date data.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The majority of funding in the Local Government Finance Settlement, including funding for Fire and Rescue Authorities, is distributed through the Settlement Funding Assessment (SFA).

The SFA uses a range of formulas to determine relative need of areas which when combined with a measure of tax base, determines their relative income. The formula used for Fire and Rescue Authorities includes variables such as population, coastline, population density, sparsity, deprivation, high-risk areas, property/societal factors, and a community fire safety top-up.

Further details on the current funding methodology for Fire and Rescue Authorities can be online, within the ‘Calculation of 2013/14 Formula Funding’ linked here.

The current system for funding local authorities, is out of date, does not represent best value for taxpayers, and without action this will get worse. That is why after years of delays, we will update the local government finance system.

We sought views on our principles and objectives for funding reform, including the approach to updating the data in the fire and rescue services Relative Needs Formula, through a consultation which ran from 18 December 2024 - 12 February 2025. A second consultation will run following the Spending Review which will seek views on a detailed approach to determining new funding allocations for local authorities, including fire and rescue services.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 6 March 2025 to Question 34056 on Fire and Rescue Services: Finance, how the 2013 population projections from the 2011 census data were calculated.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The majority of funding in the Local Government Finance Settlement, including funding for Fire and Rescue Authorities, is distributed through the Settlement Funding Assessment (SFA).

The SFA uses a range of formulas to determine relative need of areas which when combined with a measure of tax base, determines their relative income. The formula used for Fire and Rescue Authorities includes variables such as population, coastline, population density, sparsity, deprivation, high-risk areas, property/societal factors, and a community fire safety top-up.

Further details on the current funding methodology for Fire and Rescue Authorities can be online, within the ‘Calculation of 2013/14 Formula Funding’ linked here.

The current system for funding local authorities, is out of date, does not represent best value for taxpayers, and without action this will get worse. That is why after years of delays, we will update the local government finance system.

We sought views on our principles and objectives for funding reform, including the approach to updating the data in the fire and rescue services Relative Needs Formula, through a consultation which ran from 18 December 2024 - 12 February 2025. A second consultation will run following the Spending Review which will seek views on a detailed approach to determining new funding allocations for local authorities, including fire and rescue services.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, for what reason Cambridgeshire Police Headquarters was chosen as the venue for the announcement of the neighbourhood policing pledge by the Prime Minister.

Answered by Abena Oppong-Asare - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Neighbourhood Policing announcement was made by the government on 9 April. A link to the announcement made on 9 April can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-measures-to-put-neighbourhood-bobbies-back-on-beat

The visit in question on 10 April was not an official government visit and therefore no civil service support was provided.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, for what reason Huntingdon was chosen for the Prime Minister’s town centre walk around on 10 April 2025.

Answered by Abena Oppong-Asare - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Neighbourhood Policing announcement was made by the government on 9 April. A link to the announcement made on 9 April can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-measures-to-put-neighbourhood-bobbies-back-on-beat

The visit in question on 10 April was not an official government visit and therefore no civil service support was provided.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 6 March 2025 to Question 34056 on Fire and Rescue Services: Finance, how funding for Fire and Rescue Authorities is distributed through the Settlement Funding Assessment.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The majority of funding in the Local Government Finance Settlement, including funding for Fire and Rescue Authorities, is distributed through the Settlement Funding Assessment (SFA).

The SFA uses a range of formulas to determine relative need of areas which when combined with a measure of tax base, determines their relative income. The formula used for Fire and Rescue Authorities includes variables such as population, coastline, population density, sparsity, deprivation, high-risk areas, property/societal factors, and a community fire safety top-up.

Further details on the current funding methodology for Fire and Rescue Authorities can be online, within the ‘Calculation of 2013/14 Formula Funding’ linked here.

The current system for funding local authorities, is out of date, does not represent best value for taxpayers, and without action this will get worse. That is why after years of delays, we will update the local government finance system.

We sought views on our principles and objectives for funding reform, including the approach to updating the data in the fire and rescue services Relative Needs Formula, through a consultation which ran from 18 December 2024 - 12 February 2025. A second consultation will run following the Spending Review which will seek views on a detailed approach to determining new funding allocations for local authorities, including fire and rescue services.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 6 March 2025 to Question 34056 on Fire and Rescue Services: Finance, what data his Department plans to use.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The majority of funding in the Local Government Finance Settlement, including funding for Fire and Rescue Authorities, is distributed through the Settlement Funding Assessment (SFA).

The SFA uses a range of formulas to determine relative need of areas which when combined with a measure of tax base, determines their relative income. The formula used for Fire and Rescue Authorities includes variables such as population, coastline, population density, sparsity, deprivation, high-risk areas, property/societal factors, and a community fire safety top-up.

Further details on the current funding methodology for Fire and Rescue Authorities can be online, within the ‘Calculation of 2013/14 Formula Funding’ linked here.

The current system for funding local authorities, is out of date, does not represent best value for taxpayers, and without action this will get worse. That is why after years of delays, we will update the local government finance system.

We sought views on our principles and objectives for funding reform, including the approach to updating the data in the fire and rescue services Relative Needs Formula, through a consultation which ran from 18 December 2024 - 12 February 2025. A second consultation will run following the Spending Review which will seek views on a detailed approach to determining new funding allocations for local authorities, including fire and rescue services.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what level of fire service coverage Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project solar farms are required to have.

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

Fire service coverage is considered during the examination and determination of any Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project. It is for the applicant to demonstrate satisfactorily that this issue has been addressed, which will include the view of the relevant fire service, Local Authority, and health and safety experts.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what level of fire service coverage solar farm applications are required to have in order to be approved as Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects.

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

Fire service coverage is considered during the examination and determination of any Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project. It is for the applicant to demonstrate satisfactorily that this issue has been addressed, which will include the view of the relevant fire service, Local Authority, and health and safety experts.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which branches of the armed forces use the L110A2 Light Machine Gun.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The L110A2 Light Machine Gun remains in limited use by the UK Armed Forces. However, for reasons of operational security I cannot provide any further details on which areas of the UK Armed Forces still use the L110A2, the numbers held and what operations it is used for.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which non-departmental public bodies are (a) planned to have been created and (b) scheduled to come into operation by 5 July 2025.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The full list of new arm’s-length bodies proposed by this government can be found in Baroness Anderson’s response to HL6032.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how old the stock of L7A2 machine guns are held by his Department across all branches of the armed forces.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

Further analysis of the information held is required in order to provide an answer. I will write to the hon. Member as soon as practical and will place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many L7A2 machine guns his Department holds.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

Further analysis of the information held is required in order to provide an answer. I will write to the hon. Member as soon as practical and will place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people who arrived illegally via small boat (a) before and (b) since 5 July 2024 are living in hotel accommodation.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office does not publish asylum support statistics broken down by method of arrival.

However, data is published quarterly, on both the number of supported asylum seekers in accommodation, including hotels, and the number of small boat arrivals, and can be found at: Immigration system statistics data tables - GOV.UK.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many staff in her Department have been issued with a (a) laptop, (b) phone and (c) both.

Answered by Alex Davies-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

Please find the figures for the number of phones, laptops and both issued by the Department. Please note this data does not include missing devices:

The Ministry of Justice is a large operational department with over 90,000 employees. The laptops and phones issued are always encrypted.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 29th April 2025 to Question 47888 on Fire and Rescue Services: Finance, whether population (a) density and (b) sparsity is taken into account when calculating fire and rescue services funding.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Both population density and sparsity are key components of the current fire funding formula. The Government recognises that the formula is outdated. As such, this formula is currently being reviewed as part of Local Government funding reform and a public consultation on this ran from 18 December 2024 to 12 February 2025.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Homes fit for heroes: Raft of new measures to improve military family housing, published on 18 April 2025, how the satisfaction figures will be collated; at what frequency; and by who.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

As one of the seven commitments announced in the new Consumer Charter, new customer satisfaction measures are being developed to enhance accountability, giving Service families the confidence in the improvements being made.

Details of these satisfaction measures, including when they will be published and how they will be collated, will be provided in the new Defence Housing Strategy due to be published later this year.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the press notice entitled Homes fit for heroes: Raft of new measures to improve military family housing, published 18 April 2025, what steps he is taking to ensure that families receive more reliable repairs to their homes through the New Consumer Charter.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

A commitment to conduct urgent repairs and ensure issues are fixed and resolved first time and within a set timeline, has been set out in the Consumer Charter. Our repairs commitment will be consistent with legislation such as Awaab’s law. As set out in the announcement of the Consumer Charter on 18 April, further detail will be published as part of the Defence Housing Strategy later this year following consultation with Service families.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the press release entitled Homes fit for heroes: Raft of new measures to improve military family housing, published on 18 April 2025, what steps he plans to take to help ensure that the New Consumer Charter for families in military homes will lead to higher move-in standards.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

All families should be confident they are moving into a home that is clean and functional and we will continue to invest in preparing homes so that they are ready for families to move into. As part of this, we are introducing a more robust move in process, with greater assurances that all homes will be maintained, inspected, and prepared according to industry standards.

The Defence Housing Strategy, to be published later this year, will set out wider plans to improve the standard of service family homes.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Homes fit for heroes: Raft of new measures to improve military family housing, published on 18 April 2025, when the satisfaction figures will be published.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

As one of the seven commitments announced in the new Consumer Charter, new customer satisfaction measures are being developed to enhance accountability, giving Service families the confidence in the improvements being made.

Details of these satisfaction measures, including when they will be published and how they will be collated, will be provided in the new Defence Housing Strategy due to be published later this year.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the press notice entitled Homes fit for heroes: Raft of new measures to improve military family housing, published on 18 April 2025, what the cost is for implementing the online portal for service personnel to manage repairs.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

More reliable repairs, including a new online portal for Service personnel to manage repairs, is one of the seven commitments announced in the new Consumer Charter.

The new online portal is currently in development and will go through user testing before release. The online portal will be made available to families this year.

The online portal will be provided by Pinnacle Service Families – this is a commitment under the existing contract.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the press notice entitled Homes fit for heroes: Raft of new measures to improve military family housing, published on 18 April 2025, which company will provide the online portal for service personnel to manage repairs.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

More reliable repairs, including a new online portal for Service personnel to manage repairs, is one of the seven commitments announced in the new Consumer Charter.

The new online portal is currently in development and will go through user testing before release. The online portal will be made available to families this year.

The online portal will be provided by Pinnacle Service Families – this is a commitment under the existing contract.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the press notice entitled Homes fit for heroes: Raft of new measures to improve military family housing, published on 18 April 2025, when the online portal for service personnel to manage repairs will be available for use.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

More reliable repairs, including a new online portal for Service personnel to manage repairs, is one of the seven commitments announced in the new Consumer Charter.

The new online portal is currently in development and will go through user testing before release. The online portal will be made available to families this year.

The online portal will be provided by Pinnacle Service Families – this is a commitment under the existing contract.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the (a) daily and (b) weekly cost to the public purse was of accommodation for people who arrived illegally via small boat on 1 April 2025.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Home Office)

Information on asylum expenditure is published in the Home Office Annual Report and Accounts at Home Office annual reports and accounts - GOV.UK (opens in a new tab).

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many (a) phones, (b) laptops and (c) other electronic devices have been lost by their Department since 5 July 2024.

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

The Department has lost five laptops and 14 mobile phones since 5 July 2024. There have been no other lost electronic devices. All the Department’s laptops and mobile phones are encrypted to secure the data on the device.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 24th April 2025 to Question 46100 on Hospitals: Construction, how the construction order of hospitals impacted by Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete will be decided.

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

The New Hospital Programme (NHP) is working at pace to ensure that the seven schemes to replace hospitals constructed wholly or primarily from reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) will continue to be prioritised and rebuilt as quickly as possible, to protect patient and staff safety.

As set out in the NHP Plan for Implementation, all seven RAAC schemes are in Wave 1, and construction will commence between 2025 and 2030.

My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has commissioned an updated site-by-site report to inform decisions on the delivery of the replacement hospitals, which is due in Summer 2025. The site-by-site report on RAAC hospitals will help inform individual development plans, which continue to progress at pace.

Delivery expectations and dates may be subject to change, depending on local and national factors, and the programme reserves the right to adjust the delivery plan as schemes develop in the future.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many MAT B1 forms have been issued by doctors to female asylum seekers since 5 July 2024.

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

The Department does not hold this information.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether (a) he and (b) his Department have had discussions with Nostrada.ai since 5 July 2024.

Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

We are committed to building an AI sector that can scale and win globally.

As the Government takes the AI Opportunities Action Plan forward, the Secretary of State and the rest of his department will continue to engage widely with stakeholders.

Ministerial meetings are published according to normal transparency requirements on the GOV.UK website; however, no meetings have taken place with Nostrada.ai.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how many (a) phones, (b) laptops and (c) other electronic devices have been lost by their Department since 5 July 2024.

Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The following table includes the number of lost department-issued devices by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology since 5 July 2024.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the (a) lowest, (b) highest and (c) average administrative cost to the public purse is of processing an asylum claim.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Home Office)

The requested data is not centrally held, but Tab ASY_04 at the link below details 2023/24 Asylum Support costs for the average claimant:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-and-protection-data-q4-2024.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum claims have been (a) made and (b) processed since 5 July 2024.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office publishes data on asylum in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on the number of asylum claims and initial decisions on asylum claims is published in tables Asy_D01 and Asy_D02 of the ‘Asylum applications, initial decisions and resettlement detailed datasets’. Information on how to use the datasets can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbooks. The latest data relates to 2024.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Homes fit for heroes: Raft of new measures to improve military family housing, published on 18 April 2025, what the budget is for implementing the robust complaints system for service housing.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

A new, simpler complaints process is currently being devised. This will shorten the process to two stages in line with industry best practice, so that Service personnel and families have quicker resolution. Final details of this will be set out in the Defence Housing Strategy, set to be published later this year following consultation with Service personnel and their families.

There is no intent to put a contract out to tender. The complaints process is encompassed within the current Future Defence Infrastructure Services (FDIS) contracts and the complaints process is managed by Pinnacle.

No additional budget has been allocated to resource the new complaints process, as this is already delivered as part of the FDIS contracts.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference his Department's press release entitled Homes fit for heroes: Raft of new measures to improve military family housing, published on 18 April 2025, what steps he is taking to implement a robust complaints system for service housing.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

A new, simpler complaints process is currently being devised. This will shorten the process to two stages in line with industry best practice, so that Service personnel and families have quicker resolution. Final details of this will be set out in the Defence Housing Strategy, set to be published later this year following consultation with Service personnel and their families.

There is no intent to put a contract out to tender. The complaints process is encompassed within the current Future Defence Infrastructure Services (FDIS) contracts and the complaints process is managed by Pinnacle.

No additional budget has been allocated to resource the new complaints process, as this is already delivered as part of the FDIS contracts.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Homes fit for heroes: Raft of new measures to improve military family housing, published on 18th April 2025, when he plans to put the contract for the complaints system for service housing out to tender.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

A new, simpler complaints process is currently being devised. This will shorten the process to two stages in line with industry best practice, so that Service personnel and families have quicker resolution. Final details of this will be set out in the Defence Housing Strategy, set to be published later this year following consultation with Service personnel and their families.

There is no intent to put a contract out to tender. The complaints process is encompassed within the current Future Defence Infrastructure Services (FDIS) contracts and the complaints process is managed by Pinnacle.

No additional budget has been allocated to resource the new complaints process, as this is already delivered as part of the FDIS contracts.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the press release entitled Homes fit for heroes: Raft of new measures to improve military family housing, published on 18 April 2025, which organisation will be responsible for running the complaints system for service housing.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

A new, simpler complaints process is currently being devised. This will shorten the process to two stages in line with industry best practice, so that Service personnel and families have quicker resolution. Final details of this will be set out in the Defence Housing Strategy, set to be published later this year following consultation with Service personnel and their families.

There is no intent to put a contract out to tender. The complaints process is encompassed within the current Future Defence Infrastructure Services (FDIS) contracts and the complaints process is managed by Pinnacle.

No additional budget has been allocated to resource the new complaints process, as this is already delivered as part of the FDIS contracts.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what objectives the Personal Hard Armour Framework (PHA-F) seeks to deliver.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question 45048 on 28 April 2025.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Homes fit for heroes: Raft of new measures to improve military family housing, published on 18 April 2025, what budget has been allocated to the renovation of the worst homes in the Defence Housing Strategy.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

The cost of renovating 1,000 of the worst homes is £50 million.

Refurbishment work will commence at the beginning of summer 2025, with completion planned by the end of the year.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many of the 36,347 houses re-acquired by his Department in January 2025 house service (a) personnel and (b) families.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

As at 30 April 2025, of the properties re-acquired by the Department in January 2025, 29,622 are let.

Of these, 26,470 are let to Service personnel and their families and a further 402 are let to Service personnel as appropriated as Single Living Accommodation.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release Homes fit for heroes: Raft of new measures to improve military family housing published on 18 April 2025, how the first 1,000 homes for refurbishment were selected.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

In our new Consumer Charter we announced seven commitments, one of which is to raise the minimum standard of Service Family Accommodation (SFA) with a new programme of refurbishment works targeted at 1,000 of the worst homes.

A combination of factors will be considered when selecting SFA for refurbishment. All SFA will be assessed against condition, thermal efficiency, age, safety, and modernity, as well as whether the Ministry of Defence has an enduring requirement for them. This will ensure both a geographical spread of investment across the UK and that a mixture of Officer and Other Rank properties are considered.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release Homes fit for heroes: Raft of new measures to improve military family housing published on 18 April 2025, how many families will each named housing office be responsible for under the new consumer charter.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

The number of families each named Housing Officer will be responsible for under the new Consumer Charter, will vary depending on the number of Service families based at each location across the Defence estate.

Work is currently underway to review Housing Officer duties, roles and responsibilities, along with the current structure. A new Housing Officer Vision has been rolled out via recent Housing Officer workshops.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release Homes fit for heroes: Raft of new measures to improve military family housing published on 18 April 2025, what are they main components of the defence housing strategy.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

The Defence Housing Strategy, planned for publication later this year, will set out a roadmap to deliver a generational renewal of military accommodation, where the main objective is to raise the minimum standard of Armed Forces housing.

It will also turbocharge the development of surplus military land creating opportunities for Armed Forces home ownership and support the delivery of affordable homes for families across Britain as part of the Government’s Plan for Change.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 25 April 2025 to Question 45200 on Cycling: Training, what discussions the RAF have held with British Cycling to determine the parameters for the partnership on the BMX freestyle training facility located at RAF Shawbury.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

Ministry of Defence officials have held discussions with British Cycling and agreed mutually beneficial parameters to enable the continued use of the BMX facilities at RAF Shawbury for at least 12-18 months.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Homes fit for heroes: Raft of new measures to improve military family housing, published on 18 April 2025, how the Armed Forces Commissioner will be involved in the two stage complaints process for service housing.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

We are committed to listening to our people and we are establishing an Armed Forces Commissioner to act as a strong, independent champion for personnel and their families to improve Service life. The role of the Commissioner and the process for the investigation of complaints will be confirmed when the Armed Forces Commissioner Bill comes into force with the Armed Forces Commissioner Act.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Homes fit for heroes: Raft of new measures to improve military family housing, published on 18 April 2025, whether the named housing officers for every family will be commissioned.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

Housing Officers are employed by Pinnacle, the Ministry of Defence’s Industry Partner. These posts are filled by civilians, not military personnel and therefore, are not commissioned.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the size of the Army Cadet force.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

The merits of the Army Cadet Force and the societal benefits of all Army cadets are well recognised, improving self-efficacy, enhancing ability to communicate, and strengthening physical and mental resilience leading to better employability prospects.

Work is currently underway to understand opportunities for expansion across Ministry of Defence Cadets. Although it is too early to make an accurate assessment on projected numbers, I have directed that a review is carried out, closely aligned with the Strategic Defence Review, to determine how we can deliver more cadet activity and increase the size and offer of the Cadet Forces.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 24 April 2025 to Question 46185 on Police: Recruitment, and with reference to the document entitled Transparency data: Cambridgeshire Constabulary, published on 9 April 2025, whether the projected growth for Cambridgeshire Constabulary is the only police recruitment budgeted for in Cambridgeshire in the 2025-26 financial year.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Government is committed to ensuring police forces are supported to tackle crime effectively and protect the communities they serve. We have been clear with all forces that they are required to deliver sufficient recruitment to maintain officer numbers through funding provided in the 2025-26 police funding settlement in parallel with neighbourhood policing commitments.

Total funding to police forces will be up to £17.6 billion, an increase of up to £1.2 billion compared to the 2024-25 police funding settlement – a significant increase, and more than the increase last year. This equates to a 7.1% cash increase, and 4.6% real terms increase in funding. This includes funding to support the costs of the 2024-25 pay award, the increase in the employer national insurance contributions, funding for officer maintenance and an additional £200 million to kickstart the first phase of 13,000 additional police personnel into neighbourhood policing roles.

A total of up to £376.8 million has been allocated to support the maintenance of police officer numbers in England and Wales in 2025-26. It is for Chief Constables and directly elected PCCs, and Mayors with PCC functions to put in place robust workforce plans that will ensure forces can continue to manage budgets whilst delivering sufficient recruitment to maintain officer numbers and their neighbourhood policing commitments.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many employees Great British Energy had on 1 April 2025.

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

To ensure Great British Energy can begin delivering quickly once the parliamentary process has been completed, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has taken steps to assign resource including the appointment of Juergen Maier to the role of start-up chair for Great British Energy, Dan McGrail as interim CEO, and five start-up non-executive directors. Additional DESNZ resource has been assigned to Great British Energy, focusing on a small number of essential roles.

Once Great British Energy is formally established by the Bill, work will begin to fully resource Great British Energy.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 28 April 2025 to question 47394 on Gender Based Violence: Men, what policing framework do police forces use for male victims of (a) domestic abuse, (b) rape and sexual assault, (c) forced marriage and (d) honour-based violence.

Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

I refer the Honourable Member to the answer I gave on 28 April 2025 to UIN 47394.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 28 April 2025 to Question 46122 on Electric Vehicles: Charging Points, how much of the Local EV Infrastructure Fund will be allocated to local authorities in Huntingdon constituency.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, which includes Huntingdon constituency, has been allocated almost £6m capital and resource funding as part of the £381m Local EV Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund, to transform the availability of electric vehicle (EV) charging for drivers without off-street parking in the area.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what was the average proportion of NHS funding for GP practices contributed by the global sum payment for 2022/23.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

In 2022/23, global sum payments to general practices were £4.4 billion, while total payments to general practices were £10.2 billion. The global sum accounted for 42.7% of funding. This figure includes practices who do not receive global sum payments but are instead paid under a Personal Medical Services or an Alternative Provider Medical Services contract.

For a median average practice, that had registered patients in 2022/23 and received global sum payments, those payments accounted for 63% of their total payments.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of the 28 April 2025 to Question 44693 on Neighbourhood Policing, how the figure of an additional 13,000 neighbourhood police officers was calculated.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)

As set out in the Labour Party Manifesto, this Government has a clear commitment to recruit 13,000 additional neighbourhood officers.

Neighbourhood policing is the bedrock of the British policing model. Every community deserves visible, pro-active and accessible neighbourhood policing with officers tackling the issues that matter to them.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 8 April 2025 to Question 43807 on NHS: Carbon Emissions, how much will be spent each year on solar generation from the £100 million partnership with Great British Energy.

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

Capital funding for this programme is available in the 2025/26 financial year, and is for the procurement and installation of solar panels and battery storage only. As announced on 21 March 2025, £100 million has been provisionally allocated to projects covering approximately 200 National Health Service sites at 78 trusts. The lifespan of the solar panels to be delivered has been estimated at 30 years, and total savings are estimated at approximately £260 million. This includes consideration of operational and maintenance costs and panel performance over time.

Any future funding for NHS solar investment will be confirmed through the Spending Review.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 29 April 2025 to Question 46182 on Cambridgeshire Constabulary: Recruitment, how her Department calculated the number of additional (a) police officers, (b) Police Community Support Officers and (c) special constables each force required to meet the target of 13,000 additional neighbourhood police.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)

As set out in the 2025/26 police funding settlement, £200 million of funding has been allocated to forces in England and Wales, starting in April 2025 for the financial year 2025/26, to deliver the first steps towards placing 13,000 additional officers into neighbourhood policing roles by the end of this Parliament.

The approach to delivery in 2025/26, which will be year 1 of a 4-year programme, is designed to deliver an initial increase to the neighbourhood policing workforce in a manner that is flexible and can be adapted to the local context and varied crime demands. An assessment of progress and learnings from year 1 of delivery will be used to inform delivery models for future phases of the programme.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, from which (a) date and (b) financial year did funding begin for the recruitment of the 13,000 additional neighbourhood police.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)

As set out in the 2025/26 police funding settlement, £200 million of funding has been allocated to forces in England and Wales, starting in April 2025 for the financial year 2025/26, to deliver the first steps towards placing 13,000 additional officers into neighbourhood policing roles by the end of this Parliament.

The approach to delivery in 2025/26, which will be year 1 of a 4-year programme, is designed to deliver an initial increase to the neighbourhood policing workforce in a manner that is flexible and can be adapted to the local context and varied crime demands. An assessment of progress and learnings from year 1 of delivery will be used to inform delivery models for future phases of the programme.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, in what location the 36,347 houses reacquired in January 2025 are.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

The number of Service Family Accommodation (SFA) properties by location reacquired from Annington Property Limited in January 2025 are shown in the following table:

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the complete list is of surplus military land in scope for development under the Defence Housing Strategy.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

A list of surplus military land in scope for development is currently not held.

As announced by the Defence Secretary, Chancellor and Deputy Prime Minister earlier this year, the Ministry of Defence is undertaking a review of development opportunities on military land as part of a cross-Government, taskforce-led initiative. The Defence Housing Strategy review is complementing this work and will report later this year.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information his Department holds on the number of patients who are registered with each General Practice in Huntingdon constituency.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The following table shows the number of patients registered at each general practice in the Huntingdon constituency:

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information her Department holds on the (a) number and (b) duration of shifts required to provide continued cover for the same full-time equivalent warranted police officer patrolling role (i) in a vehicle, (ii) on foot and (iii) in a firearms capacity over a 24 hour period.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office does not hold this data.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of increasing support for Twinning Associations.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

DCMS does not hold responsibility for this policy area and has therefore not conducted any such assessment.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police officers Cambridgeshire Constabulary expects to recruit in (a) 2025-2026, (b) 2026-2027, (c) 2027-2028 and (d) 2028-2029.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Government is committed to ensuring police forces are supported to effectively tackle crime. We are clear that visible policing is essential to restoring public confidence in the police.

The 2025-26 final police funding settlement provides funding of up to £19.6 billion for the policing system in England and Wales. Total funding to police forces will be up to £17.6 billion, an increase of up to £1.2 billion compared to the 2024-25 police funding settlement. This includes up to £376.8 million, allocated to directly support the maintenance of police officers across England and Wales in 2025-26, as well as £200 million to kickstart the first phase of delivering 13,000 additional police officers and PCSOs into neighbourhood roles.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 30 April 2025 to Question 48207 on Fire and Rescue Services: Finance, how the fire and rescue services Relative Needs Formula works.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I refer the hon. member to the answer to Question UIN 36212 answered on 11 March 2025.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many HC2 certificates for full help with health care costs have been issued to people seeking asylum since 5 July 2024.

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

Between 5 July 2024 and 2 May 2025, 138,238 HC2 certificates have been issued to people seeking asylum.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 28 April 2025 to Question 46188 on the River Great Ouse, what was the outcome of the Environment Agency's inspection of the Ouse washes flood Storage reservoir banks.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Middle Level Barrier Bank was last inspected in March 2025 and was found to be generally in good condition, with some minor defects including scour damage and vermin activity with repairs identified and planned for the coming years programme. The Cradge Bank was inspected throughout autumn and winter by Environment Agency staff, who identified scour from overtopping and wave erosion. Emergency repairs were completed in December 2024, with priority repairs planned for Summer 2025 and further repairs scheduled for 2026/27.

Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, how many (a) phones, (b) laptops and (c) other electronic devices have been lost by their Department since 5 July 2024.

Answered by Nia Griffith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Wales Office)

For the Cabinet Office the figures are:

These are the devices reported by staff of the Cabinet Office as lost since July 5th 2024. Some of these devices may have been found since their initial reporting.

Office for Equality and Opportunity are part of the Cabinet Office and as such, lost/stolen laptops will be reported within the Cabinet Office data

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how is the value of the financial sum added weekly to an Aspen card calculated.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Home Office)

The level of the allowance given to those supported under section 95 and section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 is reviewed each year to ensure it covers an asylum seekers’ essential living needs. Details of what is considered essential, can be found in the annual asylum support rate review reports, published on GOV.UK.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 28 April 2025 to Question 46070 on Schools: Domestic Visits, how many private schools she has visited since 5 July 2025.

Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

I refer the hon. Member for Huntingdon to the answer of 06 May 2025 to Question 46839.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether named neighbourhood police officer coverage will be available 24 hours per day.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)

As the Prime Minister announced on 10 April, by July, every community will have named, and contactable officers dedicated to addressing the issues facing their communities as part of the government’s Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee. Police forces will ensure that neighbourhood policing teams spend the majority of their time in communities, providing visible patrols and engaging with local communities and businesses, providing them opportunities to raise concerns and priorities through regular beat meetings.

There will also be a guaranteed response time to neighbourhood queries of 72 hours. There will be a clear process in place for the public to seek recourse if this response time is not met.

The police are contactable 24 hours a day via force websites or by phoning 101 for non-emergency enquiries and concerns and the public should call the police on 999 in an emergency.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) neighbourhood police officers and (b) police community support officers there were as of (i) 5 July 2024 and (ii) 1 April 2025.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office collects information on the number of officers, PCSOs and staff on a biannual basis, as at 31 March and 30 September each year.

The latest information on the number of police officers and PCSOs in England and Wales covers the situation as at 30 September 2024, and is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-workforce-england-and-wales-30-september-2024

The latest information on the number of neighbourhood police officers covers the situation as at 31 March 2024, and is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/provisional-revision-to-neighbourhood-policing-data-at-31-march-2024.

The Home Office does not hold data on the number of neighbourhood police officers or PCSOs as at 5 July 2024 or 1 April 2025.

The next release of ‘Police Workforce, England and Wales’ statistical bulletin, which will cover information on the number of neighbourhood officers and PCSOs in post as at 31 March 2025 is due to be published in July 2025.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the answer of 29th April 2025 to question 46179 on Councillors: Disqualification, whether a criminal conviction resulting in a custodial sentence of three months or more would disqualify an individual from appointment as a metro mayor.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Yes, an individual would be disqualified from being a metro mayor candidate or holding the office in these circumstances.

The five-year disqualification for a criminal conviction that results in a custodial sentence of three months or more, suspended or not, applies to all elected mayors, including metro mayors, other than in cases where a mayor also holds the Police and Crime Commissioner function. Where a mayor also holds the Police and Crime Commissioner function, they are disqualified if they have ever been convicted of an imprisonable offence.

The Electoral Commission publishes guidance on disqualifications for single authority, combined authority, combined county authority and Greater London Authority mayoral candidates online.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many and what proportion of people who arrived illegally via small boat since 5 July 2024 have been granted asylum.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office publishes statistics on detected small boat arrivals to the UK in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on small boat arrivals claiming asylum and the outcomes of these asylum claims, by arrival year and quarter, is published in tables Irr_D02 and Irr_D03 of the ‘Irregular migration to the UK detailed datasets’, with the latest data up to the end of December 2024. Data up to the end of March 2025 will be published on 22 May 2025.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has decided whether to procure additional F-35 fighter jets.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Huntingdon (Ben Obese-Jecty) on 28 April 2025 to Question 45186.

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