Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, in what way defined contribution pension pots held in drawdown are taken into account when determining entitlement to means-tested benefits; and what guidance his Department provides to pensioners on the relationship between pension drawdown decisions and benefit eligibility.

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

For Universal Credit, a defined contribution pension pot that has not yet been accessed is generally disregarded. Once pension savings are accessed, regular drawdown payments are treated as income for Universal Credit purposes, while any lump sum withdrawals are treated as capital and assessed under the normal Universal Credit capital rules.

The Department's guidance, Pension freedoms and DWP benefits, explains how accessing pension savings, including through drawdown, can affect Universal Credit entitlement.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department has assessed the extent to which higher voluntary workplace pension contributions increase Universal Credit awards; and whether he has considered the potential merits of introducing limits on the level of pension contributions that may be deducted from earnings for the purposes of Universal Credit assessment.

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

No such assessment has been made.

Universal Credit is assessed using a claimant's net earnings. Employee contributions to an occupational or personal pension are deducted when calculating earnings for Universal Credit purposes, in line with the legislative framework for determining entitlement.

The Department has not considered introducing limits on the level of pension contributions that may be deducted from earnings for Universal Credit purposes.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to improve levels of participation in grassroots sport.

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

The Government believes in the power of grassroots sport. Everyone should have access to quality sport and physical activity opportunities.

The majority of support through our Arm’s Length Body, Sport England, which annually invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding to support grassroots participation.

Directly investing £400 million into grassroots facilities across the country.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of providing additional funding to local authorities to support the use of High Street Rental Auctions in areas with persistent commercial vacancy.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Local authorities are not required to notify the Department if they adopt High Street Rental Auction (HSRA) powers and therefore the Department does not hold comprehensive data on take-up. However, through regular engagement with local authorities, we are aware of more than 40 councils that have either implemented or are actively preparing to use HSRAs.

The Government recognises that there are costs associated with implementing the powers and is currently gathering evidence from local authorities to review the HSRA new burdens payments. Through this engagement, councils have highlighted additional costs associated with identifying suitable vacant premises and refurbishment of long-term vacant premises. To that end, the Government has announced a £10 million funding package to support HSRA implementation. Further details will be made available in due course.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the level of resource requirements on local authorities wishing to utilise High Street Rental Auction powers.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Local authorities are not required to notify the Department if they adopt High Street Rental Auction (HSRA) powers and therefore the Department does not hold comprehensive data on take-up. However, through regular engagement with local authorities, we are aware of more than 40 councils that have either implemented or are actively preparing to use HSRAs.

The Government recognises that there are costs associated with implementing the powers and is currently gathering evidence from local authorities to review the HSRA new burdens payments. Through this engagement, councils have highlighted additional costs associated with identifying suitable vacant premises and refurbishment of long-term vacant premises. To that end, the Government has announced a £10 million funding package to support HSRA implementation. Further details will be made available in due course.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many local authorities have commenced High Street Rental Auction procedures since the powers came into force.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Local authorities are not required to notify the Department if they adopt High Street Rental Auction (HSRA) powers and therefore the Department does not hold comprehensive data on take-up. However, through regular engagement with local authorities, we are aware of more than 40 councils that have either implemented or are actively preparing to use HSRAs.

The Government recognises that there are costs associated with implementing the powers and is currently gathering evidence from local authorities to review the HSRA new burdens payments. Through this engagement, councils have highlighted additional costs associated with identifying suitable vacant premises and refurbishment of long-term vacant premises. To that end, the Government has announced a £10 million funding package to support HSRA implementation. Further details will be made available in due course.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of existing programmes supporting the diversification of high streets into leisure, cultural and community uses.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Diversification into leisure, cultural, community and public service uses can play an important role in supporting high street vitality. Evidence from evaluations of the Towns Fund and UK Shared Prosperity Fund indicates that the strongest outcomes are achieved where these uses form part of an integrated, place-based approach, helping to increase footfall, strengthen pride in place and support local economic activity.

Successful examples include North East Lincolnshire, where Freshney Place is being transformed from a traditional shopping centre into a mixed-use destination incorporating leisure, food, health and community facilities, helping to generate footfall throughout the day and evening. In Barnsley, the Health on the High Street programme integrated health services into the town centre, with the Community Diagnostic Centre delivering over 220,000 appointments and generating more than 50,000 additional town centre visits annually. In Prescot, the £38 million Shakespeare North Playhouse attracts around 100,000 visitors each year and generates £12.4 million of local spending, helping to strengthen the town centre’s cultural identity.

More broadly, evaluation evidence shows that events, markets and cultural activities can increase footfall, dwell time and pride in place, particularly when delivered alongside wider regeneration activity. This evidence will continue to inform the Government’s High Streets Strategy, which 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, whether the Government plans to review national guidance on CAMHS referrals and prioritisation to ensure that children and young people with autism, OCD, ADHD and related neurodevelopmental conditions can access specialist mental health support before their condition reaches the point of requiring hospitalisation.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Last December, we asked clinical psychologist Professor Peter Fonagy to lead an independent review, examining the prevalence of, and support for, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism, and mental health conditions. Professor Fonagy's final report will be published later this year, and will inform our new national approach in this area.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment she has made of whether CAMHS triage and prioritisation systems are effectively identifying and prioritising children and young people whose mental health is rapidly deteriorating, but who have not yet reached crisis thresholds.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Last December, we asked clinical psychologist Professor Peter Fonagy to lead an independent review, examining the prevalence of, and support for, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism, and mental health conditions. Professor Fonagy's final report will be published later this year, and will inform our new national approach in this area.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, when she plans to publish the updated statutory guidance on social housing allocations referred to in the National Plan to End Homelessness.

Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Department is reviewing the statutory guidance on social housing allocations. To inform this review, the Department has invited evidence from local authorities, housing associations, charities, academics, tenant groups and others with experience of allocations. Evidence gathered will inform policy development and updated guidance. The Department aims to consult on updated guidance in early 2027.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she plans to introduce further funding streams specifically aimed at supporting mixed-use town centre regeneration in post-industrial towns.

Answered by Jim McMahon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Government is committed to revitalising high streets, including by supporting mixed use regeneration. A High Streets Strategy will be published this year, and we will set out more details on funding plans in due course, and we are keen to learn from the challenges and good practice across the country.

Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential animal welfare implications of importing seafood products from the Faroe Islands; and whether animal welfare considerations will form part of future reviews of the UK's trade arrangements with the Faroe Islands.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government is committed to upholding high animal welfare standards in all of our trading relationships, with Faroese imports subject to the UK’s strict quality and standards regime.

There are currently no plans to formally review the terms of the UK-Faroe Islands Free Trade Agreement (FTA). However, the Government will continue to raise animal welfare with the Faroe Islands at every appropriate opportunity, including via the UK-Faroe Islands FTA Joint Committee, which last met in June 2026.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the extent to which proposed SEND reforms will improve coordination between schools, local authorities, and mental health services in identifying and supporting children with complex educational and mental health needs at an earlier stage.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

Effective early identification and intervention is critical in improving the outcomes of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). As part of the SEND consultation, the government committed to strengthening local SEND partnerships and planning across the country. The response to the consultation will set out how the department will strengthen partnership and multi-agency working across the country, including early years settings, Best Start Family Hubs, and wider partners, to ensure need is identified at the earliest possible point. The Information Sharing Duty of the Children Wellbeing and Schools Act, which commences on 30 September, will further support multi agency information sharing to improve earlier identification of need in relation to promoting the welfare of children.

Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, if he will consider introducing (a) guidance, (b) consumer protection measures, and (c) legislative proposals to ensure that charges applied by (i) holiday resorts, (ii) hotels and (iii) other hospitality businesses to 16 and 17-year-olds who are unable to access adult-only products and services are proportionate to the services 16 and 17-year-olds are legally permitted to receive.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)

This department engages regularly with consumer organisations, regulators and industry representatives on a wide range of consumer issues and will continue to keep the effectiveness of the consumer protection framework under review.

We have not undertaken a specific review of charges applied by holiday resorts, hotels or other hospitality businesses to 16 and 17-year-olds. These are generally commercial decisions for the business to make. However, businesses must comply with consumer protection law, including requirements that information provided to consumers is clear and not misleading.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department is taking to improve referral pathways to early pregnancy services for women with pre-existing medical conditions associated with increased pregnancy risks, including hypothyroidism.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Miscarriage can have a devastating impact on women and their families, and we are determined that they receive the support they need.

My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, is chairing the Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce to develop a national action plan that will reform maternity and neonatal services to deliver lasting change for women, families, and their babies.

The taskforce will consider all aspects of those current services, including miscarriage care. Within this, we will carefully assess the findings from the Tommy’s Graded Model of Miscarriage Care pilot study as committed to in the Renewed Women’s Health Strategy.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether she has had recent discussions with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence on updating guidance relating to miscarriage diagnosis and management to ensure that patients' mental wellbeing is appropriately considered during clinical decision-making.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Miscarriage can have a devastating impact on women and their families, and we are determined that they receive the support they need.

My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, is chairing the Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce to develop a national action plan that will reform maternity and neonatal services to deliver lasting change for women, families, and their babies.

The taskforce will consider all aspects of those current services, including miscarriage care. Within this, we will carefully assess the findings from the Tommy’s Graded Model of Miscarriage Care pilot study as committed to in the Renewed Women’s Health Strategy.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether her Department has considered establishing an accreditation framework for private pregnancy scanning clinics to enable diagnostic information from approved providers to be more readily recognised within NHS early pregnancy assessment pathways.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Miscarriage can have a devastating impact on women and their families, and we are determined that they receive the support they need.

My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, is chairing the Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce to develop a national action plan that will reform maternity and neonatal services to deliver lasting change for women, families, and their babies.

The taskforce will consider all aspects of those current services, including miscarriage care. Within this, we will carefully assess the findings from the Tommy’s Graded Model of Miscarriage Care pilot study as committed to in the Renewed Women’s Health Strategy.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment her Department has made of the psychological impact on women of prolonged diagnostic waiting periods before a miscarriage can be formally confirmed and treatment options offered.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Miscarriage can have a devastating impact on women and their families, and we are determined that they receive the support they need.

My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, is chairing the Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce to develop a national action plan that will reform maternity and neonatal services to deliver lasting change for women, families, and their babies.

The taskforce will consider all aspects of those current services, including miscarriage care. Within this, we will carefully assess the findings from the Tommy’s Graded Model of Miscarriage Care pilot study as committed to in the Renewed Women’s Health Strategy.

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 potential impact of (a) pension freedoms and (b) the treatment of funds held in defined contribution drawdown arrangements on eligibility for means-tested benefits; and whether he has made an assessment of the appropriateness of the the current system appropriately for incentivising retirement saving.

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

For question UIN 24752 I refer the hon. member to the answers I gave on 1 September 2026 to questions 19244 and 19245.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions her Department has had with police forces, motorcycle manufacturers and insurers on tackling motorcycle theft; and what steps the Government is taking to improve theft prevention, vehicle recovery rates and the disruption of organised motorcycle theft gangs.

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

The Home Office engages regularly with policing partners, industry and other stakeholders on vehicle crime, including through the National Vehicle Crime Reduction Partnership and the National Vehicle Crime Working Group. These groups bring together police, government, vehicle manufacturers, insurers and representative groups, including those representing the motorcycle sector, to share intelligence, identify emerging threats and support theft prevention activity.

The Government is strengthening the police response to vehicle theft through the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee and new powers in the Crime and Policing Act, including powers to enter and search premises where GPS-tracked stolen property is believed to be located. We have also provided almost £1 million since 2024 to support enforcement activity against organised vehicle theft and export through the National Vehicle Crime Reduction Partnership, with a further £300,000 being invested this year to disrupt organised criminal groups and improve vehicle recovery.

In the year to March 2026, the police in England and Wales recorded 115,448 incidents of theft of a motor vehicle, including motorcycles. This is a decrease of 5% compared with the previous year.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether local authority areas that are actively undertaking enforcement activity against organised criminality, illicit tobacco and vaping sales, and rogue high street businesses, but which are not currently designated as priority areas by the Home Office or National Crime Agency, will be eligible to access support from the High Street Crime Unit in the future; and what criteria will be used to determine eligibility for such support.

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

Through Operation Machinize, which is led by the National Crime Agency in conjunction with the National Police Chiefs’ Council, funding is available to all local authorities and law enforcement agencies to support operational activity against money laundering and associated serious and organised criminality on the High Street. Funding decisions are an operational matter for the NCA.

Since March 2025 Operation Machinize, has led to over 3,000 high street premises suspected of criminality having been visited and nearly 1,000 individuals arrested.

Separately, the High Street Organised Crime Unit, based in the Home Office, has been established to develop a long-term strategic response to tackle money laundering and associated criminality on the High Street. The unit is responsible for identifying what more is needed – from stronger powers to better coordination – to stop this criminal activity from happening in the first place.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether Cheshire East Council will be eligible to access support from the High Street Crime Unit in future, in the context of its ongoing multi-agency enforcement activity against organised crime, illicit tobacco and vape sales, and rogue high street businesses.

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

Through Operation Machinize, which is led by the National Crime Agency in conjunction with the National Police Chiefs’ Council, funding is available to all local authorities and law enforcement agencies to support operational activity against money laundering and associated serious and organised criminality on the High Street. Funding decisions are an operational matter for the NCA.

Since March 2025 Operation Machinize, has led to over 3,000 high street premises suspected of criminality having been visited and nearly 1,000 individuals arrested.

Separately, the High Street Organised Crime Unit, based in the Home Office, has been established to develop a long-term strategic response to tackle money laundering and associated criminality on the High Street. The unit is responsible for identifying what more is needed – from stronger powers to better coordination – to stop this criminal activity from happening in the first place.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many prosecutions have taken place under the Hunting Act 2004 in each of the last five years.

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

I refer the Hon Member to the response given by the Minister of State for Courts and Legal Services on 9 June 2026 to Connor Naismith MP under PQ 5710.