Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to help tackle under-16s illegally riding e-scooters and e-bikes.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Government takes the illegal and anti-social use of e-scooters and e-bikes seriously, including by those aged under 16.

Privately owned e-scooters are classed as motor vehicles and are illegal to use on public roads, pavements and other public places. Police have powers to seize vehicles being used unlawfully and to take enforcement action where road traffic offences are committed.

The Government has strengthened the powers available to the police to tackle anti-social behaviour involving vehicles, including e-scooters and e-bikes.

Section 8 of the Crime and Policing Act 2026, removed the requirement for a prior warning before police can seize a vehicle being used anti-socially under section 59 of the Police Reform Act 2002. This makes it easier and quicker for police to seize vehicles being used anti-socially, supporting more immediate action against off-road bikes, dangerous e-scooters and other vehicles being used unlawfully or irresponsibly. The Government also reduced vehicle disposal timeframes to seven days in July 2026, helping to prevent offenders, including those under 16, to reclaim their vehicles and continue to cause nuisance.

Forces are encouraged to work with local authorities and communities to identify local solutions to persistent problems, including those involving off-road bikes and motorcycles.

Under the Government’s Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, every neighbourhood has named, and contactable officers dedicated to addressing crime and anti-social behaviour in the local area.

The Home Office works closely with policing partners to ensure they have the powers they need to carry out effective enforcement, while the Department for Transport continues to lead on the legal framework for e-scooters and e-bikes and public awareness of the rules governing their use.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what discussions he has had with the Home Secretary on helping to ensure that prisoners repatriated to their country of origin will serve out their entire sentence.

Answered by Jake Richards - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

The Government is committed to removing foreign national offenders from our prisons wherever possible, ensuring they are no longer a burden on the taxpayer and cannot return to this country. While the Ministry of Justice is responsible for prisoner transfer arrangements, we work closely with the Home Office and other government departments on the removal of foreign national offenders.

Prisoner transfers take place under legally binding international treaties that contain robust safeguards governing the recognition and enforcement of sentences by the receiving State. Transfers are only approved where the Department is satisfied that the sentence will continue to be enforced in a manner comparable to that imposed by the courts of England and Wales.

Before agreeing to any transfer, the Department carefully assess the receiving State's proposed sentence enforcement and release arrangements. Each case is considered on its individual merits. The nature of the offence is not the only determining factor, the Department considers the views of victims and wider risk to public confidence in the criminal justice system if the transfer were to go ahead. Where there is any doubt that a prisoner will serve out their sentence in accordance with the applicable legal framework, the transfer will not proceed.

The Department continues to work closely with international counterparts to strengthen prisoner transfer arrangements and support the effective removal of foreign national offenders, while ensuring appropriate safeguards remain in place following transfer.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to prevent the repatriation of prisoners sentenced for violent crimes when there is any doubt that the prisoner will serve out the remainder of their sentence.

Answered by Jake Richards - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

The Government is committed to removing foreign national offenders from our prisons wherever possible, ensuring they are no longer a burden on the taxpayer and cannot return to this country. While the Ministry of Justice is responsible for prisoner transfer arrangements, we work closely with the Home Office and other government departments on the removal of foreign national offenders.

Prisoner transfers take place under legally binding international treaties that contain robust safeguards governing the recognition and enforcement of sentences by the receiving State. Transfers are only approved where the Department is satisfied that the sentence will continue to be enforced in a manner comparable to that imposed by the courts of England and Wales.

Before agreeing to any transfer, the Department carefully assess the receiving State's proposed sentence enforcement and release arrangements. Each case is considered on its individual merits. The nature of the offence is not the only determining factor, the Department considers the views of victims and wider risk to public confidence in the criminal justice system if the transfer were to go ahead. Where there is any doubt that a prisoner will serve out their sentence in accordance with the applicable legal framework, the transfer will not proceed.

The Department continues to work closely with international counterparts to strengthen prisoner transfer arrangements and support the effective removal of foreign national offenders, while ensuring appropriate safeguards remain in place following transfer.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to help ensure that repatriated prisoners will serve out their full sentence in the country they have been repatriated to.

Answered by Jake Richards - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

The Government is committed to removing foreign national offenders from our prisons wherever possible, ensuring they are no longer a burden on the taxpayer and cannot return to this country. While the Ministry of Justice is responsible for prisoner transfer arrangements, we work closely with the Home Office and other government departments on the removal of foreign national offenders.

Prisoner transfers take place under legally binding international treaties that contain robust safeguards governing the recognition and enforcement of sentences by the receiving State. Transfers are only approved where the Department is satisfied that the sentence will continue to be enforced in a manner comparable to that imposed by the courts of England and Wales.

Before agreeing to any transfer, the Department carefully assess the receiving State's proposed sentence enforcement and release arrangements. Each case is considered on its individual merits. The nature of the offence is not the only determining factor, the Department considers the views of victims and wider risk to public confidence in the criminal justice system if the transfer were to go ahead. Where there is any doubt that a prisoner will serve out their sentence in accordance with the applicable legal framework, the transfer will not proceed.

The Department continues to work closely with international counterparts to strengthen prisoner transfer arrangements and support the effective removal of foreign national offenders, while ensuring appropriate safeguards remain in place following transfer.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to support bean and pulse farmers in the UK.

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

This Government is committed to our horticulture and arable sectors and their role in providing home‑grown produce. The Horticulture Sector Plan is an independent sector led plan aiming to identify how the sector can increase productivity, profitability and strengthen the contribution of domestic production to our national food security. The plan is relying on sector expertise to set out a clear vision for growth and a practical pathway to deliver it. Fresh beans and pulses grown as horticultural crops are in scope. While pulses cultivated as arable crops are outside scope, they are a vital part of domestic agricultural production.

Defra engages regularly with growers and industry stakeholders to understand challenges affecting the beans and pulse sector and their supply chains.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment her Department has made of supply chain issues affecting bean and pulse farmers in the UK.

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

This Government is committed to our horticulture and arable sectors and their role in providing home‑grown produce. The Horticulture Sector Plan is an independent sector led plan aiming to identify how the sector can increase productivity, profitability and strengthen the contribution of domestic production to our national food security. The plan is relying on sector expertise to set out a clear vision for growth and a practical pathway to deliver it. Fresh beans and pulses grown as horticultural crops are in scope. While pulses cultivated as arable crops are outside scope, they are a vital part of domestic agricultural production.

Defra engages regularly with growers and industry stakeholders to understand challenges affecting the beans and pulse sector and their supply chains.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department plans to allow full-time carers with no work commitments to claim back the cost of childcare.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government) (Equalities)

The Government’s Universal Credit childcare offer is designed to address a key barrier to work by providing financial help with childcare to make it easier for low-income families to work, stay in work and progress in work.

Carers who are not in paid work are not generally eligible for Universal Credit childcare support, as the support is intended to help with childcare costs associated with employment. There is an existing exception, for cases where one parent in a couple has regular and substantial caring responsibilities for a severely disabled person, and the other is in paid work, supporting the policy ambition to enable low-income families to enter and stay in work.

Whilst the Government keeps Universal Credit policy under review, there are no plans to change the existing eligibility requirements for Universal Credit childcare.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to tackle housing benefit fraud.

Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

In May 2026 we published the annual national statistics on Fraud and Error in the Benefit System. For Housing Benefit (HB) the overpayment rate decreased to 6.2% (£795m) in the Financial Year Ending (FYE) 2026, from 7.2% (£1103m) in FYE 2025.

This was a statistically significant reduction. Analysis of these rates indicates that existing DWP initiatives and support for Local Authorities (LAs) have driven some reductions in HB.

• We are continuing to deliver Housing Benefit Award Accuracy (HBAA) which funds LAs to conduct full case reviews on their standard HB caseload.
• We provide LAs with data matching rules (matching HB claim information with that of DWP and HMRC) around the key areas of loss, to help improve accuracy of claims.
• We provide LAs with data shares for DWP benefits so they are notified of changes to DWP benefits that passport entitlement to HB.
• We also continue to support LAs through engagement, communications, guidance and consultancy support for their HB Services.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department plans to review the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 to ensure that it makes appropriate provision for the accessibility requirements of disabled people.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The department currently has no plans to review the School Standards and Framework Act 1988. There are a range of measures already in place to meet the accessibility requirements of disabled people.

The Equality Act 2010 requires local authorities to prepare accessibility strategies for the schools for which they are the responsible bodies. There is a similar duty for individual schools of all types to develop accessibility plans.

We have published funding allocations and guidance for key elements of the £4 billion investment previously announced to prepare for our proposed special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) reforms. This includes support for schools, colleges, early years settings and local authorities to improve inclusive provision and better meet the needs of children and young people with SEND and is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/send-reform-putting-children-and-young-people-first/send-reform-putting-children-and-young-people-first-html-version.

This is in addition to £3.7 billion of capital investment between 2025 and 2030 to create 60,000 specialist places. Alongside expanding access to inclusion bases, this funding can be used to improve the accessibility and inclusivity of mainstream settings for pupils with SEND.

We have also published new guidance on inclusive education estates, to support local authorities, responsible bodies and mainstream settings to identify the most affordable, high-impact adaptations in their context, based on pupils’ needs and estate opportunities, available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/inclusive-education-estates. This could include improved sensory comfort through acoustics and lighting adaptations, improving physical accessibility, or creating calm, quiet spaces for flexible use.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of recent trends in the use of catapults against wild and domestic animals.

Answered by Jenny Riddell-Carpenter - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

This Government takes crimes against wildlife seriously and is aware of the misuse of catapults against wild animals and domestic pets which is causing great concern to some local communities.

Sufficient laws are already in place to protect animals against the targeted use of catapults. However, the 2025 Animal Welfare Strategy commits the Government to reviewing and looking to strengthen penalties for cruelty to wildlife so they are consistent with higher levels of sentencing available for offences against pets and livestock. Incidents involving catapults that cause unnecessary suffering to wild animals would be in scope of any strengthened penalties.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to protect wildlife from targeted use of catapults.

Answered by Jenny Riddell-Carpenter - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

This Government takes crimes against wildlife seriously and is aware of the misuse of catapults against wild animals and domestic pets which is causing great concern to some local communities.

Sufficient laws are already in place to protect animals against the targeted use of catapults. However, the 2025 Animal Welfare Strategy commits the Government to reviewing and looking to strengthen penalties for cruelty to wildlife so they are consistent with higher levels of sentencing available for offences against pets and livestock. Incidents involving catapults that cause unnecessary suffering to wild animals would be in scope of any strengthened penalties.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment her Department has made of the impact of the SFI scheme on the planting of harvestable legumes as break crops.

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

The Government is committed to supporting protein crops and their contribution to domestic food supply and is working with the sector to investigate the opportunities to support wider growing of protein crops.

Actions within the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) can support pulse crops, including through companion cropping. We have assessed impacts of SFI on food production and some actions now have lower payment rates and a limited area of 25%, so they are less competitive against break crops including pulses.

To date the Government’s Farming Innovation Programme (FIP) has committed over £7.2m support within a sustainable farm-based protein competition.

Governments Genetic Improvement Networks (GINs) also include research on pulse crops.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what study her Department has made of whether the Canadian Government’s investment in their pulses industry could be replicated in the UK.

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

The Government is committed to supporting protein crops and their contribution to domestic food supply and is working with the sector to investigate the opportunities to support wider growing of protein crops.

Actions within the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) can support pulse crops, including through companion cropping. We have assessed impacts of SFI on food production and some actions now have lower payment rates and a limited area of 25%, so they are less competitive against break crops including pulses.

To date the Government’s Farming Innovation Programme (FIP) has committed over £7.2m support within a sustainable farm-based protein competition.

Governments Genetic Improvement Networks (GINs) also include research on pulse crops.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department will develop and implement a National Protein Strategy.

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

The Government is committed to supporting protein crops and their contribution to domestic food supply and is working with the sector to investigate the opportunities to support wider growing of protein crops.

Actions within the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) can support pulse crops, including through companion cropping. We have assessed impacts of SFI on food production and some actions now have lower payment rates and a limited area of 25%, so they are less competitive against break crops including pulses.

To date the Government’s Farming Innovation Programme (FIP) has committed over £7.2m support within a sustainable farm-based protein competition.

Governments Genetic Improvement Networks (GINs) also include research on pulse crops.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to incentivise the growing of protein crops.

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

The Government is committed to supporting protein crops and their contribution to domestic food supply and is working with the sector to investigate the opportunities to support wider growing of protein crops.

Actions within the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) can support pulse crops, including through companion cropping. We have assessed impacts of SFI on food production and some actions now have lower payment rates and a limited area of 25%, so they are less competitive against break crops including pulses.

To date the Government’s Farming Innovation Programme (FIP) has committed over £7.2m support within a sustainable farm-based protein competition.

Governments Genetic Improvement Networks (GINs) also include research on pulse crops.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the Office of the Public Guardian.

Answered by Jake Richards - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

The Public Guardian is appointed by the Lord Chancellor to carry out statutory responsibilities under the Mental Capacity Act 2005. These include registering Lasting Powers of Attorney, supervising deputies and addressing concerns when raised.

The Office of Public Guardian’s (OPG) effectiveness against these responsibilities is kept under review by the Ministry of Justice through various mechanisms based on a proportional approach to the requirements set out in the Cabinet Office’s Arm’s Length Body Sponsorship Code of Good Practice and MoJ/OPG Framework Document.

These include:

• Regular assurance meetings between the OPG executive and the Ministry of Justice’s senior sponsor which review the OPG’s performance, finance and customer satisfaction metrics as well as other data to assure itself that OPG is operating efficiently and effectively.
• Public Bodies Reviews, the most recent of which reported in May 2024: Office of the Public Guardian review 2023 to 2024; and
• The review and publication of OPG’s annual reports which provide data on the OPG’s annual performance: Office of the Public Guardian – Annual report and accounts 2025 to 2026.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of mandating that a person granted Lasting Power of Attorney must submit a detailed financial statement of themselves to an oversight body upon appointment.

Answered by Jake Richards - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

The Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) is improving public awareness of its role and responsibilities by working with organisations that support its customers and can help extend the reach of its information. Through webinars, meetings and targeted engagement with legal, finance, charity, health and social care sectors, OPG provides timely information about its services, including Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA), and helps stakeholders support the public's understanding more effectively.

In addition, OPG continues to raise awareness of LPAs through its Your Voice, Your Decision campaign, which is delivered in locations across England and Wales. OPG also uses its digital channels and GOV.UK content to provide information about its role and services, and how customers can access support and guidance.

OPG does not have current plans to introduce mandatory safeguarding training. There are several ways throughout the LPA process where OPG supports attorneys to manage a donor’s welfare, property or financial affairs once a donor loses capacity. Following registration, OPG outlines their legal responsibilities and signposts them to further guidance, including the Mental Capacity Act Code of Practice and GOV.UK guidance on being an attorney, for example ‘Getting started as an attorney’ and ‘How to be an attorney’. OPG’s Contact Centre also provides support to attorneys when handling calls, signposting to online guidance or forwarding to a separate team to give specialised advice and signposting when there are potential safeguarding concerns. This guidance is currently being updated to ensure it continues to support attorneys in understanding and carrying out their responsibilities effectively.

OPG does not consider that mandating personal financial statements by all attorneys would be proportionate, as LPAs are private legal arrangements which allow a person to choose who they trust to make decisions on their behalf should they lose capacity. Under the Mental Capacity Act 2005, a donor must have capacity when making an LPA and is entitled to make their own decisions about who they trust to act on their behalf. The LPA framework therefore reflects the importance of donor choice and autonomy. There are statutory eligibility requirements and safeguards which mean some people cannot be appointed as attorneys for property and financial affairs, including individuals who are bankrupt or subject to a Debt Relief Order.

OPG can investigate concerns raised about an attorney's conduct and, where appropriate, apply to the Court of Protection to remove attorneys who are not meeting their duties under the Mental Capacity Act 2005. OPG works closely with the financial services sector, including through its engagement with UK Finance, to ensure financial institutions understand when and how to report suspected fraud, financial abuse and other safeguarding concerns involving attorneys and deputies. Financial institutions can and do raise concerns with OPG through established reporting routes, enabling concerns about an attorney's conduct to be investigated.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department plans to introduce mandatory safeguarding training for individuals granted Lasting Power of Attorney.

Answered by Jake Richards - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

The Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) is improving public awareness of its role and responsibilities by working with organisations that support its customers and can help extend the reach of its information. Through webinars, meetings and targeted engagement with legal, finance, charity, health and social care sectors, OPG provides timely information about its services, including Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA), and helps stakeholders support the public's understanding more effectively.

In addition, OPG continues to raise awareness of LPAs through its Your Voice, Your Decision campaign, which is delivered in locations across England and Wales. OPG also uses its digital channels and GOV.UK content to provide information about its role and services, and how customers can access support and guidance.

OPG does not have current plans to introduce mandatory safeguarding training. There are several ways throughout the LPA process where OPG supports attorneys to manage a donor’s welfare, property or financial affairs once a donor loses capacity. Following registration, OPG outlines their legal responsibilities and signposts them to further guidance, including the Mental Capacity Act Code of Practice and GOV.UK guidance on being an attorney, for example ‘Getting started as an attorney’ and ‘How to be an attorney’. OPG’s Contact Centre also provides support to attorneys when handling calls, signposting to online guidance or forwarding to a separate team to give specialised advice and signposting when there are potential safeguarding concerns. This guidance is currently being updated to ensure it continues to support attorneys in understanding and carrying out their responsibilities effectively.

OPG does not consider that mandating personal financial statements by all attorneys would be proportionate, as LPAs are private legal arrangements which allow a person to choose who they trust to make decisions on their behalf should they lose capacity. Under the Mental Capacity Act 2005, a donor must have capacity when making an LPA and is entitled to make their own decisions about who they trust to act on their behalf. The LPA framework therefore reflects the importance of donor choice and autonomy. There are statutory eligibility requirements and safeguards which mean some people cannot be appointed as attorneys for property and financial affairs, including individuals who are bankrupt or subject to a Debt Relief Order.

OPG can investigate concerns raised about an attorney's conduct and, where appropriate, apply to the Court of Protection to remove attorneys who are not meeting their duties under the Mental Capacity Act 2005. OPG works closely with the financial services sector, including through its engagement with UK Finance, to ensure financial institutions understand when and how to report suspected fraud, financial abuse and other safeguarding concerns involving attorneys and deputies. Financial institutions can and do raise concerns with OPG through established reporting routes, enabling concerns about an attorney's conduct to be investigated.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of mandating financial institutions to notify the Office of the Public Guardian if they suspect an individual with Lasting Power of Attorney is undertaking negligence and fraud regarding money in a donor's account.

Answered by Jake Richards - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

The Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) is improving public awareness of its role and responsibilities by working with organisations that support its customers and can help extend the reach of its information. Through webinars, meetings and targeted engagement with legal, finance, charity, health and social care sectors, OPG provides timely information about its services, including Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA), and helps stakeholders support the public's understanding more effectively.

In addition, OPG continues to raise awareness of LPAs through its Your Voice, Your Decision campaign, which is delivered in locations across England and Wales. OPG also uses its digital channels and GOV.UK content to provide information about its role and services, and how customers can access support and guidance.

OPG does not have current plans to introduce mandatory safeguarding training. There are several ways throughout the LPA process where OPG supports attorneys to manage a donor’s welfare, property or financial affairs once a donor loses capacity. Following registration, OPG outlines their legal responsibilities and signposts them to further guidance, including the Mental Capacity Act Code of Practice and GOV.UK guidance on being an attorney, for example ‘Getting started as an attorney’ and ‘How to be an attorney’. OPG’s Contact Centre also provides support to attorneys when handling calls, signposting to online guidance or forwarding to a separate team to give specialised advice and signposting when there are potential safeguarding concerns. This guidance is currently being updated to ensure it continues to support attorneys in understanding and carrying out their responsibilities effectively.

OPG does not consider that mandating personal financial statements by all attorneys would be proportionate, as LPAs are private legal arrangements which allow a person to choose who they trust to make decisions on their behalf should they lose capacity. Under the Mental Capacity Act 2005, a donor must have capacity when making an LPA and is entitled to make their own decisions about who they trust to act on their behalf. The LPA framework therefore reflects the importance of donor choice and autonomy. There are statutory eligibility requirements and safeguards which mean some people cannot be appointed as attorneys for property and financial affairs, including individuals who are bankrupt or subject to a Debt Relief Order.

OPG can investigate concerns raised about an attorney's conduct and, where appropriate, apply to the Court of Protection to remove attorneys who are not meeting their duties under the Mental Capacity Act 2005. OPG works closely with the financial services sector, including through its engagement with UK Finance, to ensure financial institutions understand when and how to report suspected fraud, financial abuse and other safeguarding concerns involving attorneys and deputies. Financial institutions can and do raise concerns with OPG through established reporting routes, enabling concerns about an attorney's conduct to be investigated.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to improve public awareness of the role and responsibilities of the Office of the Public Guardian.

Answered by Jake Richards - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

The Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) is improving public awareness of its role and responsibilities by working with organisations that support its customers and can help extend the reach of its information. Through webinars, meetings and targeted engagement with legal, finance, charity, health and social care sectors, OPG provides timely information about its services, including Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA), and helps stakeholders support the public's understanding more effectively.

In addition, OPG continues to raise awareness of LPAs through its Your Voice, Your Decision campaign, which is delivered in locations across England and Wales. OPG also uses its digital channels and GOV.UK content to provide information about its role and services, and how customers can access support and guidance.

OPG does not have current plans to introduce mandatory safeguarding training. There are several ways throughout the LPA process where OPG supports attorneys to manage a donor’s welfare, property or financial affairs once a donor loses capacity. Following registration, OPG outlines their legal responsibilities and signposts them to further guidance, including the Mental Capacity Act Code of Practice and GOV.UK guidance on being an attorney, for example ‘Getting started as an attorney’ and ‘How to be an attorney’. OPG’s Contact Centre also provides support to attorneys when handling calls, signposting to online guidance or forwarding to a separate team to give specialised advice and signposting when there are potential safeguarding concerns. This guidance is currently being updated to ensure it continues to support attorneys in understanding and carrying out their responsibilities effectively.

OPG does not consider that mandating personal financial statements by all attorneys would be proportionate, as LPAs are private legal arrangements which allow a person to choose who they trust to make decisions on their behalf should they lose capacity. Under the Mental Capacity Act 2005, a donor must have capacity when making an LPA and is entitled to make their own decisions about who they trust to act on their behalf. The LPA framework therefore reflects the importance of donor choice and autonomy. There are statutory eligibility requirements and safeguards which mean some people cannot be appointed as attorneys for property and financial affairs, including individuals who are bankrupt or subject to a Debt Relief Order.

OPG can investigate concerns raised about an attorney's conduct and, where appropriate, apply to the Court of Protection to remove attorneys who are not meeting their duties under the Mental Capacity Act 2005. OPG works closely with the financial services sector, including through its engagement with UK Finance, to ensure financial institutions understand when and how to report suspected fraud, financial abuse and other safeguarding concerns involving attorneys and deputies. Financial institutions can and do raise concerns with OPG through established reporting routes, enabling concerns about an attorney's conduct to be investigated.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of its processes for assessing the wealth of prospective football club owners.

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

Fans deserve to know who makes decisions at their clubs and have confidence that the owners are suitable. We also know that ensuring football attracts the right, continued investment is crucial to the long-term health of the game.

That is why we established the Independent Football Regulator (IFR) and gave it the powers to test all owners and officers at the point of entry, and act to remove existing owners if deemed necessary.

Crucially, what stands the IFR’s tests apart from the leagues’ existing tests is its ability to access greater depths of intelligence to inform its decision making. They can do this through their information gathering powers and sharing agreements with key organisations, including the National Crime Agency.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that the fitness test for owners and directors in the football industry is adequate.

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

Fans deserve to know who makes decisions at their clubs and have confidence that the owners are suitable. We also know that ensuring football attracts the right, continued investment is crucial to the long-term health of the game.

That is why we established the Independent Football Regulator (IFR) and gave it the powers to test all owners and officers at the point of entry, and act to remove existing owners if deemed necessary.

Crucially, what stands the IFR’s tests apart from the leagues’ existing tests is its ability to access greater depths of intelligence to inform its decision making. They can do this through their information gathering powers and sharing agreements with key organisations, including the National Crime Agency.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to close regulatory loopholes for owners and prospective owners of football clubs.

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

Fans deserve to know who makes decisions at their clubs and have confidence that the owners are suitable. We also know that ensuring football attracts the right, continued investment is crucial to the long-term health of the game.

That is why we established the Independent Football Regulator (IFR) and gave it the powers to test all owners and officers at the point of entry, and act to remove existing owners if deemed necessary.

Crucially, what stands the IFR’s tests apart from the leagues’ existing tests is its ability to access greater depths of intelligence to inform its decision making. They can do this through their information gathering powers and sharing agreements with key organisations, including the National Crime Agency.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential disbenefits of tying pension growth to inflation.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government is absolutely committed to supporting pensioners and giving them the dignity and security they deserve in retirement. That includes always ensuring State Pension entitlements increase at least in line with inflation each year. We will honour our manifesto commitment to maintain the Triple Lock in its current form for the rest of this Parliament.

From April 2030, pensioners will be protected by an adjusted Triple Lock. The State Pension will rise every year by at least the higher of CPI inflation or 2.5%, and by more where needed to maintain its protected value relative to average earnings.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of tying pension growth at a minimum of 2.5% on (a) pensioners and (b) the economy.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government is committed to maintaining the Triple Lock for the remainder of this Parliament. This means that the basic and new State Pensions will increase each year by the highest of growth in average earnings, Consumer Prices Index inflation or 2.5%.

From April 2030, pensioners will be protected by an adjusted Triple Lock. The basic and new State Pensions will continue to increase every year by at least the higher of CPI inflation or 2.5%, and by more where needed to maintain their protected value relative to average earnings. This will lock in the gains made under the current Triple Lock while putting the State Pension on a sustainable footing.

The Department has published analysis of the long-term impact of the adjusted Triple Lock, including projected effects on pensioner poverty and indicative expenditure savings. This is available in the GOV.UK publication, State Pension uprating analysis 2026: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/state-pension-uprating-analysis-2026.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of tying pension growth to inflation.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government is absolutely committed to supporting pensioners and giving them the dignity and security they deserve in retirement. That includes always ensuring State Pension entitlements increase at least in line with inflation each year. We will honour our manifesto commitment to maintain the Triple Lock in its current form for the rest of this Parliament.

From April 2030, pensioners will be protected by an adjusted Triple Lock. The State Pension will rise every year by at least the higher of CPI inflation or 2.5%, and by more where needed to maintain its protected value relative to average earnings.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the number of people migrated to Universal Credit and receiving Transitional Protection Payments that are worse off in real terms than before they were migrated.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government) (Equalities)

Please find the number of people on universal credit and receiving transitional protection payments on DWP Stat-Xplore here.

No assessment has been made of the number of people who may be worse off in real terms following their move to Universal Credit.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps is he taking to support people receiving Transitional Protection Payments that are in a worse financial position than before they migrated.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government) (Equalities)

Please find the number of people on universal credit and receiving transitional protection payments on DWP Stat-Xplore here.

No assessment has been made of the number of people who may be worse off in real terms following their move to Universal Credit.

Found: present: Vicky Foxcroft Rt Hon Damian Hinds Dr Rupa Huq Natasha Irons Jo Platt Jeff Smith Cameron Thomas