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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department plans to allocate funding to support the Great South West Partnership from April 2026.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Following a four-week public consultation, in March 2025 the Government announced its intention to end funding for Pan-Regional Partnerships, with an exceptional, time-limited award of £281,250 for the Great South West Pan-Regional Partnership for the 2025/26 financial year.

Pan-Regional Partnerships, including the Great South West, have made a valuable contribution, supporting collaboration between local authorities and government and taking forward a breadth of work on shared growth opportunities. However, as our English Devolution White Paper sets out, we are now moving to a different model of regional collaboration, where we are keen to support new models driven by local leaders.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of economic factors and the consumption of ultra-processed foods on the prevalence of diet-related illnesses and mental health conditions, and what steps are being taken to address these upstream determinants of public health.

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

The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) considered the evidence on the impact of processing on health, including mental health, in 2023 and 2025. The SACN concluded that the observed associations between higher consumption of processed and ultra processed foods and adverse health outcomes are concerning. The SACN noted that studies to date appear to inconsistently account for important factors such as socioeconomic status.

The SACN recommend that on balance, most people are likely to benefit from reducing their consumption of processed foods high in energy, saturated fat, salt, and free sugars, and which are low in fibre. These recommendations align with existing policies for supporting healthier diets and advice to consumers. The SACN will keep the topic of food processing and health under review.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ 2024 report on Food Insecurity also considered inequalities in access to a healthy sustainable diet. Data from the latest National Diet and Nutrition Survey report shows that participants in higher income households, and households in less deprived areas, were closer to meeting some dietary recommendations. However, where diets failed to meet recommendations, this was consistent across the range of income and deprivation.

The Department of Health and Social Care is working closely with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to develop their cross-Government Food Strategy, which aims to improve affordability and access to healthier food, to help both adults and children live longer, healthier lives.

Earlier this year, the Government committed to reviewing the School Food Standards to reflect the most recent Government dietary recommendations. Free school meals will also be extended to all children from households in receipt of Universal Credit from September 2026.

Healthy Start provides funding to pregnant women, babies, and young children under four years old from very low-income households to support a healthier diet. In April 2026, the value of weekly payments will increase by 10%.

The Department is working closely with the Child Poverty Taskforce to develop and deliver an ambitious strategy to reduce child poverty.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has plans to review the legislation governing Class F council tax exemptions, specifically the treatment of inherited properties that were occupied at the time of death and vacated more than six weeks later; and whether he will consider extending exemptions to cover the probate process and up to 12 months after probate is granted, regardless of occupancy status at the time of death.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Properties which are unoccupied because the occupant has passed away, and probate has been granted on their estate, are exempt from council tax from the point of death until six months after the grant of probate or the signing of letters of administration (a class F exemption). Where the property remains occupied by another person, it is liable for council tax in the same way as any other property. The Government has no plans to amend class F council tax exemption.

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 ensure that Child Maintenance Service liability accurately reflects actual care arrangements, including in cases where the paying parent has become the primary carer but Child Benefit remains registered to the other parent.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

To qualify for maintenance payments a child must meet the Child Maintenance Service's (CMS) criteria. They must be under 20 years of age and in full time non-advanced education or approved training, and eligible for Child Benefit. They must also be habitually resident in the UK and usually living in the same household as the receiving parent. Child maintenance defines a child the same way as Child Benefit does to offer consistency across rules.

If the CMS is satisfied that both parents have equal day-to-day care for the child, in addition to sharing overnight care, there is no requirement for either parent to pay child maintenance. There is no statutory definition of day-to-day care; our definition is broadly aligned with that of Child Benefit, where an ‘overall care test’ is used. This provides consistency across government.

The CMS shared care rules are designed to reflect the financial responsibilities of both parents based on the care provided to the child. The inclusion of overnight stays as a measure of shared care is intended to offer a clear, administrable way to assess the level of care each parent provides.

CMS does not routinely contact local authorities or schools to verify care arrangements. Instead, it relies on evidence provided by parents and applies an “overall care test” aligned with Child Benefit principles. Receipt of Child Benefit is regarded as a strong indicator of entitlement but, in circumstances where parents dispute the level of shared care, caseworkers consider all relevant evidence. A decision is made on the balance of probability to determine who provides day-to-day care. Where this evidence indicates a change in primary care, the CMS will update and adjust maintenance liability, even if Child Benefit remains registered with the other parent.

Collection activity is not automatically paused during verification, but CMS can exercise discretion where there is clear evidence of a dispute over care arrangements.

Where payments have been made in error following an incorrect care-status determination, CMS has processes to refund overpayments to the paying parent and, where appropriate, to recoup funds from the receiving parent. Reimbursement decisions are discretionary and consider whether the overpayment resulted from CMS error and whether the paying parent has requested repayment.

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 adequacy of mechanisms the Child Maintenance Service has to verify care arrangements with (a) local authorities and (b) schools; and whether collection action can be paused pending such verification.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

To qualify for maintenance payments a child must meet the Child Maintenance Service's (CMS) criteria. They must be under 20 years of age and in full time non-advanced education or approved training, and eligible for Child Benefit. They must also be habitually resident in the UK and usually living in the same household as the receiving parent. Child maintenance defines a child the same way as Child Benefit does to offer consistency across rules.

If the CMS is satisfied that both parents have equal day-to-day care for the child, in addition to sharing overnight care, there is no requirement for either parent to pay child maintenance. There is no statutory definition of day-to-day care; our definition is broadly aligned with that of Child Benefit, where an ‘overall care test’ is used. This provides consistency across government.

The CMS shared care rules are designed to reflect the financial responsibilities of both parents based on the care provided to the child. The inclusion of overnight stays as a measure of shared care is intended to offer a clear, administrable way to assess the level of care each parent provides.

CMS does not routinely contact local authorities or schools to verify care arrangements. Instead, it relies on evidence provided by parents and applies an “overall care test” aligned with Child Benefit principles. Receipt of Child Benefit is regarded as a strong indicator of entitlement but, in circumstances where parents dispute the level of shared care, caseworkers consider all relevant evidence. A decision is made on the balance of probability to determine who provides day-to-day care. Where this evidence indicates a change in primary care, the CMS will update and adjust maintenance liability, even if Child Benefit remains registered with the other parent.

Collection activity is not automatically paused during verification, but CMS can exercise discretion where there is clear evidence of a dispute over care arrangements.

Where payments have been made in error following an incorrect care-status determination, CMS has processes to refund overpayments to the paying parent and, where appropriate, to recoup funds from the receiving parent. Reimbursement decisions are discretionary and consider whether the overpayment resulted from CMS error and whether the paying parent has requested repayment.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what processes are in place to (a) refund and (b) recoup Child Maintenance Service payments made in error following incorrect care-status determinations.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

To qualify for maintenance payments a child must meet the Child Maintenance Service's (CMS) criteria. They must be under 20 years of age and in full time non-advanced education or approved training, and eligible for Child Benefit. They must also be habitually resident in the UK and usually living in the same household as the receiving parent. Child maintenance defines a child the same way as Child Benefit does to offer consistency across rules.

If the CMS is satisfied that both parents have equal day-to-day care for the child, in addition to sharing overnight care, there is no requirement for either parent to pay child maintenance. There is no statutory definition of day-to-day care; our definition is broadly aligned with that of Child Benefit, where an ‘overall care test’ is used. This provides consistency across government.

The CMS shared care rules are designed to reflect the financial responsibilities of both parents based on the care provided to the child. The inclusion of overnight stays as a measure of shared care is intended to offer a clear, administrable way to assess the level of care each parent provides.

CMS does not routinely contact local authorities or schools to verify care arrangements. Instead, it relies on evidence provided by parents and applies an “overall care test” aligned with Child Benefit principles. Receipt of Child Benefit is regarded as a strong indicator of entitlement but, in circumstances where parents dispute the level of shared care, caseworkers consider all relevant evidence. A decision is made on the balance of probability to determine who provides day-to-day care. Where this evidence indicates a change in primary care, the CMS will update and adjust maintenance liability, even if Child Benefit remains registered with the other parent.

Collection activity is not automatically paused during verification, but CMS can exercise discretion where there is clear evidence of a dispute over care arrangements.

Where payments have been made in error following an incorrect care-status determination, CMS has processes to refund overpayments to the paying parent and, where appropriate, to recoup funds from the receiving parent. Reimbursement decisions are discretionary and consider whether the overpayment resulted from CMS error and whether the paying parent has requested repayment.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average time taken is for the Child Maintenance Service to adjust liability following notification of a change in care arrangements.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) works to ensure that liability adjustments following changes in care arrangements are processed as quickly and accurately as possible. These changes can vary in complexity, and the time taken depends on factors such as the availability of corroborating information from both parents and whether there is agreement on the new arrangements. Where there is disagreement or insufficient evidence, additional checks are required, which can extend the timescale. The CMS is expanding digital channels and online messaging to allow parents to submit information more quickly, helping to reduce delays.

The Department for Work and Pensions does not currently publish an official average timescale for adjustments to child maintenance liability following notification of a change in care arrangements (for example, shared care or main carer modifications). Therefore, the information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost. However, CMS remains committed to improving timeliness and accuracy in processing changes by investing in service modernisation, enhancing digital tools, and streamlining processes to deliver a faster and fairer service for all customers.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing an expedited pathway for Child Maintenance Service cases involving (a) safeguarding concerns, (b) homelessness risk or (c) significant financial hardship.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) is committed to ensuring that it delivers a safe service that is sensitive to the needs of all the parents that use it. We recognise that some parents may be vulnerable, particularly at a time of separation.

It is our priority to handle these cases in a sensitive manner and ensure vulnerable customers get the help and support they need to use the service safely.

The CMS already has processes in place to identify safeguarding concerns and is well prepared to respond quickly and effectively if it becomes aware that the safety of any of its customers are at risk. All caseworkers receive extensive training and follow a well-managed process with clear steps to support vulnerable customers.

The CMS recognises socio-economic factors such as deprivation, unmanageable debt, poor housing, and unemployment, CMS Caseworkers use a District Provision Toolkit (DPT) with clear steps to support vulnerable clients, including those at risk of homelessness. This toolkit is regularly reviewed.

Caseworkers also use the Affordability Hub for signposting and Advanced Customer Support (ACS) to support all customers who are vulnerable and deemed at risk from abuse, harm or neglect. These tools are available at any and every stage of the case journey, not just at applications.

DWP has recruited Advanced Customer Support Senior Leaders (ACSSLs), forming a nationwide network of support that provides clear escalation routes for cases. ACSSLs are instrumental in forming strong, far reaching, external relationships with a range of partner organisations and across DWP’s internal teams.

Internally, ACSSLs have a responsibility to raise any service design or delivery issues that are identified as potential causes of negative customer experience, escalating these to the appropriate teams.

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Found: Members The following Members made oral representations: • Wera Hobbhouse: Cost of Energy • Gideon Amos