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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department has taken to communicate changes to voter eligibility to EU voters resident in the UK.

Answered by Rushanara Ali - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Electoral Commission, as the independent electoral regulator, holds responsibility for issuance of guidance for local authorities on electoral registration and voting.

This can be found at - Our guidance | Electoral Commission.

The Electoral Commission also worked (and has continued to work) with voter groups and civil society organisations by providing information and raising awareness on changes to voter registration and eligibility requirements following the passage of the Elections Act 2022.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance her Department has issued to local authorities on voter eligibility changes in the Elections Act 2022.

Answered by Rushanara Ali - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Electoral Commission, as the independent electoral regulator, holds responsibility for issuance of guidance for local authorities on electoral registration and voting.

This can be found at - Our guidance | Electoral Commission.

The Electoral Commission also worked (and has continued to work) with voter groups and civil society organisations by providing information and raising awareness on changes to voter registration and eligibility requirements following the passage of the Elections Act 2022.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she plans to take to ensure that high-quality education provision is available for children who are unable to attend (a) mainstream education and (b) special unit add-ons.

Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)

This government is committed to ensuring that all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) receive the right support to thrive in their education and make a successful transition into adulthood, including those who are unable to attend inclusive mainstream schools and instead access specialist or alternative provision (AP). We therefore recognise the vital role of high-quality specialist provision, particularly for children with more complex needs.

It is for local authorities, under section 19 of the Children's Act 1996, to arrange suitable and (normally) full-time education for children of compulsory school age who, because of exclusion, illness or other reasons, would not receive suitable education.

Ofsted hold local authorities to account for the sufficiency and commissioning of AP as part of their area SEND inspections.

The department issues guidance on the planning and commissioning of AP that focuses on the principles of delivering education that is appropriate, effective, safe and of good quality. The guidance was last updated in January 2025 and can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/alternative-provision.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on the potential merits of including (a) nurses and (b) other allied health professionals on short occupation visa list.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

The Government published the White Paper ‘Restoring Control over the immigration System’ on 12 May 2025. The White Paper set out its intention to introduce a Temporary Shortage List to replace the Immigration Salary List.

The list will initially be comprised of occupations which the MAC have previously identified as in shortage and those which are key to the Industrial Strategy. The Government will set out in due course the longer term composition of that list.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of reviewing the inclusion of (a) nursing and (b) other allied health professionals on the shortage occupation visa list.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

The Government published the White Paper ‘Restoring Control over the immigration System’ on 12 May 2025. The White Paper set out its intention to introduce a Temporary Shortage List to replace the Immigration Salary List.

The list will initially be comprised of occupations which the MAC have previously identified as in shortage and those which are key to the Industrial Strategy. The Government will set out in due course the longer term composition of that list.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with EU member states on securing new bilateral voting rights agreements.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Prior to the UK's departure from the EU, in December 2018, the UK wrote to all 27 EU Member States signalling willingness to enter into bilateral agreements to ensure continuity of local election voting and candidacy rights (VCR) for each other's citizens.

Some EU countries already grant local voting rights to UK nationals, and we have bilateral agreements with other EU Member States.

A number of EU Member States have constitutional barriers which prevent them from entering into bilateral agreements.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will publish her Department's plans for an open finance regulatory framework.

Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

As set out in the National Payments Vision, the government’s ambition is for the UK to be a world leader in Open Finance – the next generation of financial data sharing. The benefits are potentially transformative for businesses and customers, enabling choice, innovation and a greater ability to engage with financial services.

The government is prioritising the development of a long-term regulatory framework for Open Banking, which will lay the foundations for Open Finance.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of her Department's publication entitled Restoring control over the immigration system: white paper, published on 12 May 2025, on the ability to fill vacancies in social care.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

We hugely welcome the contribution of overseas care workers, but it is important that long-term plans are drawn up to train homegrown talent into the care sector.  

As outlined in the ‘Restoring Control over the Immigration System - Technical Annex’, it is estimated there will be an annual reduction of approximately 7,000 main applicants resulting from the removal of Care and Senior Care worker occupations from the Health and Social Care route

To manage this change, there will be a transitional period until 2028.

Many care workers arriving on this route have been widely exploited, with tens of thousands displaced and promised jobs that did not materialise. They will be given the opportunity to do the jobs they were promised, alongside the development of future workforce plans.

The White Paper sets out a number of reforms to the immigration system which will be implemented in a phased way. Each measure will be subject to an impact assessment when they are brought into force.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the absence of a (a) compensation and (b) redress scheme on the (i) long-term planning and (ii) care provision for families impacted by in utero exposure to sodium valproate.

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

The Government is carefully considering the valuable work done by the Patient Safety Commissioner and the resulting Hughes Report, which set out options for redress for those harmed by valproate and pelvic mesh. This is a complex area of work, involving several Government departments, and it is important that we get this right. We will be providing an update to the Patient Safety Commissioner’s report at the earliest opportunity.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to provide a timeline for responding to the recommendations of the Valproate Redress Campaign.

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

The Government is carefully considering the valuable work done by the Patient Safety Commissioner and the resulting Hughes Report, which set out options for redress for those harmed by valproate and pelvic mesh. This is a complex area of work, involving several Government departments, and it is important that we get this right. We will be providing an update to the Patient Safety Commissioner’s report at the earliest opportunity.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on the potential impact of her Department's White Paper entitled Restoring control over the immigration system, published on 12 May 2025 on social care.

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

The immigration White Paper, Restoring Control over the Immigration System, was collectively agreed across Government, and is available at the following link:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6821f334ced319d02c906103/restoring-control-over-the-immigration-system-web-optimised.pdf

In the technical annex, published alongside the White Paper, the Home Office has estimated an annual reduction of approximately 7,000 main applicants as a result of ending overseas recruitment for care workers and senior care workers. This is based on their internal management information for entry visas granted covering the period March 2024 to February 2025. This estimate reflects that there was a drop in visa grants of more than 90% compared with the 12 months ending in March 2024, when more than 83,000 entry visas were granted to care workers and senior care workers. The analysis in the technical annex will be refined and included within the relevant impact assessments accompanying the rule changes, as appropriate. The technical annex is available at the following link:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6821b49bdb6463b14cd8189c/restoring-control-over-the-immigration-system-technical-annex.pdf

As set out in the immigration White Paper, visa extensions and in-country switching for those already in the country and with working rights will be permitted for a transition period until 2028. This will be kept under review.

DHSC are providing up to £12.5m to regional partnerships in 2025/26 to respond to unethical international recruitment practices in the adult social care sector. This includes supporting international recruits impacted by sponsor licence revocations to find alternative employment.

Care workers are essential to those who draw on care and support, helping them to maintain their quality of life, independence, and connection to the things that matter to them. In England, as per the Care Act 2014, it is the responsibility of local government to develop a market that delivers a wide range of sustainable, high-quality care and support services, that will be available to their communities. English local authorities have responsibility under the Care Act 2014 to meet social care needs, and statutory guidance directs them to ensure there is sufficient workforce in adult social care.

The Department continues to monitor adult social care workforce capacity, bringing together national data sets from Skills for Care’s monthly tracking data, the Capacity Tracker tool, and intelligence from key sector partners.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the white paper entitled Restoring control over the immigration system, published on 12 May 2025, on the provision of a satisfactory standard of social care.

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

The immigration White Paper, Restoring Control over the Immigration System, was collectively agreed across Government, and is available at the following link:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6821f334ced319d02c906103/restoring-control-over-the-immigration-system-web-optimised.pdf

In the technical annex, published alongside the White Paper, the Home Office has estimated an annual reduction of approximately 7,000 main applicants as a result of ending overseas recruitment for care workers and senior care workers. This is based on their internal management information for entry visas granted covering the period March 2024 to February 2025. This estimate reflects that there was a drop in visa grants of more than 90% compared with the 12 months ending in March 2024, when more than 83,000 entry visas were granted to care workers and senior care workers. The analysis in the technical annex will be refined and included within the relevant impact assessments accompanying the rule changes, as appropriate. The technical annex is available at the following link:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6821b49bdb6463b14cd8189c/restoring-control-over-the-immigration-system-technical-annex.pdf

As set out in the immigration White Paper, visa extensions and in-country switching for those already in the country and with working rights will be permitted for a transition period until 2028. This will be kept under review.

DHSC are providing up to £12.5m to regional partnerships in 2025/26 to respond to unethical international recruitment practices in the adult social care sector. This includes supporting international recruits impacted by sponsor licence revocations to find alternative employment.

Care workers are essential to those who draw on care and support, helping them to maintain their quality of life, independence, and connection to the things that matter to them. In England, as per the Care Act 2014, it is the responsibility of local government to develop a market that delivers a wide range of sustainable, high-quality care and support services, that will be available to their communities. English local authorities have responsibility under the Care Act 2014 to meet social care needs, and statutory guidance directs them to ensure there is sufficient workforce in adult social care.

The Department continues to monitor adult social care workforce capacity, bringing together national data sets from Skills for Care’s monthly tracking data, the Capacity Tracker tool, and intelligence from key sector partners.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department plans to increase its support for integrated heat, power and mineral co-production projects.

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

The Government supports geothermal energy through multiple schemes and integrated projects can receive funding from more than one at a time. For example, United Downs in Cornwall will produce heat and was awarded a contract for difference to produce electricity. Automotive Transformation Fund has provided funding to support R&D into UK Lithium extraction and refining including in Cornwall. The Green Heat Network Fund can also support geothermal heat. Cornwall Council secured £22 Million for Langarth District Geothermal Heat Network. There are no plans to integrate schemes as there are few operational or planned commercial projects combining heat, power, and mineral production.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what plans his Department has to develop risk mitigation schemes for early-stage deep geothermal heat and power projects in line with international best practice.

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

The Government recognises that risk mitigation schemes have helped develop the geothermal industry in some parts of Europe. It is considered premature to introduce a dedicated risk mitigation scheme at this time, given the current stage of development in the UK, associated costs, and funding priorities.

This conclusion was informed by discussions on the role that these mechanisms fulfil in encouraging deep geothermal investment. Experts, including those from France and the International Energy Agency were consulted. We continue to monitor and engage with the market and experts.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he plans to include geothermal energy within the strategic remit of GB Energy.

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

Geothermal energy is a clean energy source and therefore falls within the group of technologies that are included within Great British Energy’s (GBE) remit, as set out in the GBE Bill.

The Secretary of State will prepare a Statement of Strategic Priorities (SSP) for GBE within six months of the date the Bill comes into force. The SSP will steer GBE on its approach to future investments.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of geothermal energy on the UK’s (a) ability to reach net zero and (b) energy security objectives.

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

In 2023, the Department co-funded a study with the Northeast Local Enterprise Partnership on the UK’s deep geothermal potential. Based on its recommendations, the British Geological Survey was commissioned to develop the UK Geothermal Platform—an open-access, web-based tool launching in summer 2025 to help developers and investors identify geothermal opportunities and conduct pre-feasibility assessments. Further research on the levelised costs of geothermal heat and power will also be published in summer 2025. The UK government continues to engage with the geothermal sector, academia, and international partners to improve understanding of geothermal energy’s role in achieving net zero.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to support the families of children unable to return to (a) mainstream and (b) special school.

Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)

The department recognises that some pupils find it harder than others to attend school. It is therefore very important that schools and partners work closely with pupils and parents to remove any barriers to attendance by building strong and trusting relationships and working together to put the right support in place.

If a child of compulsory school age is still unable to access a mainstream or special school place, the local authority, under section 19 of the Children's Act 1996, has a duty to arrange alternative suitable and, typically, full-time education for the child.

Placements into alternative provision (AP) should focus on enabling the child to overcome any barriers to learning they may have and to assist them back into mainstream education. All placements should be reviewed regularly to ensure they are meeting these objectives.

Departmental guidance states that a child’s family should always be consulted before AP is arranged. This is because we know that families have an important role to play throughout the planning and commissioning of a child’s placement, as they can provide necessary information about the child and their needs. This guidance, last updated in January 2025, is accessible at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/alternative-provision.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the White Paper entitled Restoring control over the immigration system, published on 12 May 2025, what plans her Department has to consult with BN(O) visa holders on the potential impact of the proposed immigration reforms on their communities.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

Settlement in the UK is a prerequisite for becoming a British citizen and brings lifelong benefits. Settlement is also an important step in integrating and contributing to local communities and the wider country. We will therefore reform the current rules around settlement so that individuals must earn their right to privileged immigration status in the UK through the long-term contribution they bring to our country. We will be consulting on the earned settlement scheme later this year and will provide details of how the scheme will work after that, including which immigration routes it will apply to.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department's White Paper entitled Restoring Control over the Immigration System, published on 12 May 2025, whether British National (Overseas) visa holders will be required to meet new earned settlement criteria.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

Settlement in the UK is a prerequisite for becoming a British citizen and brings lifelong benefits. Settlement is also an important step in integrating and contributing to local communities and the wider country. We will therefore reform the current rules around settlement so that individuals must earn their right to privileged immigration status in the UK through the long-term contribution they bring to our country. We will be consulting on the earned settlement scheme later this year and will provide details of how the scheme will work after that, including which immigration routes it will apply to.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the White Paper entitled Restoring Control over the Immigration System, published on 12 May 2025, if she will make it her policy to maintain the current route to settlement for BN(O) visa holders.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

Settlement in the UK is a prerequisite for becoming a British citizen and brings lifelong benefits. Settlement is also an important step in integrating and contributing to local communities and the wider country. We will therefore reform the current rules around settlement so that individuals must earn their right to privileged immigration status in the UK through the long-term contribution they bring to our country. We will be consulting on the earned settlement scheme later this year and will provide details of how the scheme will work after that, including which immigration routes it will apply to.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her proposed extension of the settlement qualification period from five to ten years will apply to BN(O) visa holders who are already on the pathway to indefinite leave to remain.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

Settlement in the UK is a prerequisite for becoming a British citizen and brings lifelong benefits. Settlement is also an important step in integrating and contributing to local communities and the wider country. We will therefore reform the current rules around settlement so that individuals must earn their right to privileged immigration status in the UK through the long-term contribution they bring to our country. We will be consulting on the earned settlement scheme later this year and will provide details of how the scheme will work after that, including which immigration routes it will apply to.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department's White Paper entitled Restoring Control over the Immigration System, published on 12 May 2025, whether these changes will apply to British National (Overseas) visa holders.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

Settlement in the UK is a prerequisite for becoming a British citizen and brings lifelong benefits. Settlement is also an important step in integrating and contributing to local communities and the wider country. We will therefore reform the current rules around settlement so that individuals must earn their right to privileged immigration status in the UK through the long-term contribution they bring to our country. We will be consulting on the earned settlement scheme later this year and will provide details of how the scheme will work after that, including which immigration routes it will apply to.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department's White Paper entitled Restoring Control over the Immigration System, published on 12 May 2025, whether changes to English language requirements from B1 to B2 level will apply to holders of pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme intending to apply for (a) settled status and (b) British citizenship.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

Further details of all the measures announced in the White Paper will be set out in due course, and where necessary, subject to consultation.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of directly providing a proportion of SEN funding to schools.

Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)

This government’s ambition is that all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) or in alternative provision receive the right support to succeed in their education and as they move into adult life.

Overall schools funding is increasing by £3.2 billion in the 2025/26 financial year and will total over £64.8 billion, compared to almost £61.6 billion in the 2024/25 financial year.

Local authorities are required by regulations to identify for each of their mainstream schools an amount, sometimes referred to as a notional budget, within their overall budget, which helps the school understand what might be required to meet the additional cost of supporting pupils with special educational needs, up to £6,000 per pupil per annum. Local authorities, working with their schools, calculate this amount using proportions of their local formula factor values in accordance with regulations. Most authorities use a combination of funding from the basic entitlement factor, the deprivation factors, and the low prior attainment factors in their local formula.

Local authorities also support schools with SEND support costs in excess of that £6,000 threshold, by allocating funds directly from their high needs budgets.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of proposed changes to English language and family migration requirements on the ability of (a) BN(O) visa holders and (b) people hold full British citizenship to bring dependents to live with them in the UK.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

The Home Office will publish all relevant assessments relating to measures announced in the Immigration White Paper when further details of those measures are set out in due course.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of her Department's publication entitled Restoring control over the immigration system: white paper, published on 12 May 2025, on the Government's commitment to supporting Ukrainian refugees to resettle in the UK.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

Following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the UK has offered sanctuary to over 300,000 Ukrainians and their families, thanks to the generosity of the British public. We have always been clear that the Ukraine Schemes are temporary and do not lead to settlement in the UK. Similarly, time spent in the UK with permission granted under the Ukraine Schemes cannot be relied upon towards the continuous qualifying period for the purposes of a Long Residence application.

We keep the Ukraine schemes under continuous review in line with the ongoing conflict and the Ukrainian government’s desire for the future return of its citizens to Ukraine.

Ukrainians in the UK under one of the Ukraine Schemes can apply to extend their permission by up to an additional 18 months through the Ukraine Permission Extension (UPE) scheme, which opened to applications on 4 February 2025. The scheme provides the same rights and entitlements to access work, benefits, healthcare and education as the current Ukraine schemes.

There are other routes available for those who wish to settle in the UK permanently, if they meet the requirements.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to provide (a) guidance and (b) training to (i) local authority careers services and (ii) college course providers on the (A) rights and (B) eligibility of British National (Overseas) visa holders for post-16 (1) education and (2) adult learning programmes.

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

The government is spending £1.4 billion on the Adult Skills Fund (ASF) in the 2024/25 academic year, which funds English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) provision for adult learners.

The general principle within ASF rules is that adults must be ordinarily resident in the UK for the three years preceding their first day of learning, although there are exceptions set out in the department’s funding rules. The department’s guidance to ASF providers, including local authorities on residency eligibility is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/adult-skills-fund-funding-rules/adult-skills-fund-funding-and-performance-management-rules-2024-to-2025.

Although British Nationals (Overseas) arriving from Hong Kong are not immediately eligible for ASF funding, funding of up to £850 per adult is available to support access to English language classes for those on the British Nationals (Overseas) route. For those aged 16-19, eligibility is explained in the student eligibility section of the statutory guidance ‘Advice: funding rules for 16 to 19 provision 2025 to 2026’, which can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/advice-funding-regulations-for-post-16-provision/advice-funding-rules-for-16-to-19-provision-2025-to-2026#sectionthree.

Currently, 62% of the ASF is devolved to mayoral strategic authorities (MSAs). Devolution works because local leaders can use their mandate for change to take decisions needed to drive growth and convene local partners to tackle shared problems. While MSAs follow the department’s rules on residency, decisions around how they spend their devolved funding and their approach to monitoring are for them to make.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department is taking steps to expand access to English for Speakers of Other Languages provision for British National (Overseas) visa holders at (a) intermediate and (b) advanced levels and with a focus on (i) conversational and (ii) workplace English.

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

The government is spending £1.4 billion on the Adult Skills Fund (ASF) in the 2024/25 academic year, which funds English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) provision for adult learners.

The general principle within ASF rules is that adults must be ordinarily resident in the UK for the three years preceding their first day of learning, although there are exceptions set out in the department’s funding rules. The department’s guidance to ASF providers, including local authorities on residency eligibility is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/adult-skills-fund-funding-rules/adult-skills-fund-funding-and-performance-management-rules-2024-to-2025.

Although British Nationals (Overseas) arriving from Hong Kong are not immediately eligible for ASF funding, funding of up to £850 per adult is available to support access to English language classes for those on the British Nationals (Overseas) route. For those aged 16-19, eligibility is explained in the student eligibility section of the statutory guidance ‘Advice: funding rules for 16 to 19 provision 2025 to 2026’, which can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/advice-funding-regulations-for-post-16-provision/advice-funding-rules-for-16-to-19-provision-2025-to-2026#sectionthree.

Currently, 62% of the ASF is devolved to mayoral strategic authorities (MSAs). Devolution works because local leaders can use their mandate for change to take decisions needed to drive growth and convene local partners to tackle shared problems. While MSAs follow the department’s rules on residency, decisions around how they spend their devolved funding and their approach to monitoring are for them to make.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will take steps to ensure that (a) combined authorities and (b) local English for Speakers of Other Languages hubs (i) monitor uptake of English language support by British National (Overseas) visa holders and (ii) improve referral pathways between providers.

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

The government is spending £1.4 billion on the Adult Skills Fund (ASF) in the 2024/25 academic year, which funds English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) provision for adult learners.

The general principle within ASF rules is that adults must be ordinarily resident in the UK for the three years preceding their first day of learning, although there are exceptions set out in the department’s funding rules. The department’s guidance to ASF providers, including local authorities on residency eligibility is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/adult-skills-fund-funding-rules/adult-skills-fund-funding-and-performance-management-rules-2024-to-2025.

Although British Nationals (Overseas) arriving from Hong Kong are not immediately eligible for ASF funding, funding of up to £850 per adult is available to support access to English language classes for those on the British Nationals (Overseas) route. For those aged 16-19, eligibility is explained in the student eligibility section of the statutory guidance ‘Advice: funding rules for 16 to 19 provision 2025 to 2026’, which can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/advice-funding-regulations-for-post-16-provision/advice-funding-rules-for-16-to-19-provision-2025-to-2026#sectionthree.

Currently, 62% of the ASF is devolved to mayoral strategic authorities (MSAs). Devolution works because local leaders can use their mandate for change to take decisions needed to drive growth and convene local partners to tackle shared problems. While MSAs follow the department’s rules on residency, decisions around how they spend their devolved funding and their approach to monitoring are for them to make.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will commit to keeping the BN(O) visa route open to new applicants at least until the Chinese government enters a state of full compliance with the Sino-British Joint Declaration.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

The Government is committed to supporting members of the Hong Kong community who have relocated to the UK and those who may come here in future. We keep all aspects of the immigration system under review, in consultation with a wide range of experts and stakeholders.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to introduce a distinct form of nationality status for children born in the UK to British Nationals (Overseas) visa holders.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

The Government is committed to supporting members of the Hong Kong community who have relocated to the UK and those who may come here in future. We keep all aspects of the immigration system under review, in consultation with a wide range of experts and stakeholders.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to review her Department's guidance on British Nationals (Overseas) visa applications from people with political detention histories in Hong Kong.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

The Government is committed to supporting members of the Hong Kong community who have relocated to the UK and those who may come here in future. We keep all aspects of the immigration system under review, in consultation with a wide range of experts and stakeholders.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Almost million more pupils get access to mental health support, published on 16 May 2025, whether the mental health support measures for young people will apply up to the age of 18.

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

Mental health support teams cover school pupils and further education learners, including those up to the age of 18 years old.

They work directly with school and college staff, alongside National Health Services, to provide professional advice, easing the pressure on school staff and allowing them to help young people get the right support and stay in education.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to ensure that autism is considered in delivery plans for the Get Britain Working White Paper, published on 26 November 2024.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

A range of stakeholders have provided input and expertise to support policy development and delivery of the reforms outlined in the Get Britain Working White Paper.

Our aim is to create an inclusive labour market in which everybody – including neurodivergent people – can participate and progress in work. We will do this by developing a new Jobs and Careers service, which will be accessible and inclusive for all users, and will provide personalised and tailored support to those looking to find or progress in work. It will also work in partnership with other local services, helping people to access the employment, health and skills support they need in their community.

Additionally, the Keep Britain Working review is exploring how employers can support healthy and inclusive workplaces. Findings from the initial discovery phase were published in March, and now the review Chair and team are engaging with a range of stakeholders to discuss the problems and how they can be addressed.

Finally, we have launched an independent panel of academics with expertise and experiences of neurodiversity to advise us on boosting neurodiversity awareness and inclusion at work. Many of the panel are diagnosed or identify as neurodivergent and/or have familial experience alongside their professional experience and expertise. Recommendations are expected to include employer actions that can support the inclusion of neurodivergent people, including in recruitment and day to day workplace practices.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to support growth in domestic clean energy supply chains.

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

The Government’s upcoming Industrial Strategy will outline plans to boost high-potential sectors like Clean Energy, creating quality jobs. An initial £300 million via Great British Energy will accelerate offshore wind supply chains, attract private investment, and secure UK manufacturing. Up to £21.7 billion over 25 years has been made available for the first carbon capture projects, which are expected to support 4,000 direct jobs and up to 50,000 as the sector matures into the 2030s. The Solar Roadmap will soon outline steps for resilient solar supply chains. Government also continues to strengthen the nuclear supply chain in partnership with industry.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to align UK oil and gas production with climate targets.

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

The UK is committed to transitioning away from fossil fuels and meeting global climate targets.

The Government supports action on decarbonising oil and gas production and has already consulted on revised environmental guidance to take into account emissions from burning extracted oil and gas. We will respond to this consultation in due course and developers will be able to apply for consents under this revised regime.

The Government has also consulted on its commitment to not issue new oil and gas licences to explore new fields and will publish a response setting out our next steps in due course.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will include within the remit of Skills England a requirement to help support (a) British National (Overseas) visa holders and (b) other migrants to access (i) training and (ii) employment.

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

Skills England will play a critical part in the government’s mission to drive growth across the country, support people to get better jobs and improve their standard of living.

Skills England will join the Labour Market Evidence (LME) Group to support a coherent approach to skills, migration and labour market policy. It will also shape technical education and apprenticeships to respond to skills needs.

It remains the case that eligible visa holders, including Hong Kong British National (Overseas) status holders, may be able to take an apprenticeship but must be able to complete the apprenticeship within the time they have available on their visa, including the end-point assessment.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to expand the emergency department bloodborne virus opt-out testing programme to (a) King’s Mill Hospital, (b) Lincoln County Hospital, (c) Pilgrim Hospital and (d) other sites in the East Midlands.

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

The Emergency Department opt-out testing programme will continue to test individuals for bloodborne viruses, including HIV and viral hepatitis, in line with committed funding plans.

None of the funding already committed has been removed from sites offering opt-out testing for viral hepatitis. NHS England is currently reviewing its budgetary position, with a view to determining whether funding can be made available to extend the provision of opt-out testing for viral hepatitis. In particular, NHS England is reviewing this for sites whose committed funding will end during 2025.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to (a) reinstate and (b) extend funding for opt-out testing for Hepatitis B and C in A&Es.

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

The Emergency Department opt-out testing programme will continue to test individuals for bloodborne viruses, including HIV and viral hepatitis, in line with committed funding plans.

None of the funding already committed has been removed from sites offering opt-out testing for viral hepatitis. NHS England is currently reviewing its budgetary position, with a view to determining whether funding can be made available to extend the provision of opt-out testing for viral hepatitis. In particular, NHS England is reviewing this for sites whose committed funding will end during 2025.

Found: ; Melksham and Devizes) David Mundell (Conservative; Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale) James Naish

Found: Democrat; Melksham and Devizes) David Mundell (Conservative; Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale) James Naish

Found: Q14 James Naish: I want to just take a step back.

Found: Q14 James Naish: I want to just take a step back.

Found: Chair); Tracy Gilbert; Monica Harding; Noah Law; Alice Macdonald; Brian Mathew; David Mundell; James Naish

Found: Chair); Tracy Gilbert; Monica Harding; Noah Law; Alice Macdonald; Brian Mathew; David Mundell; James Naish

Found: Anna Dixon Connor Naismith Leigh Ingham Mrs Sarah Russell Daniel Francis Amanda Hack Jo Platt James Naish

Found: Anna Dixon Connor Naismith Leigh Ingham Mrs Sarah Russell Daniel Francis Amanda Hack Jo Platt James Naish

Found: Anna Dixon Connor Naismith Leigh Ingham Mrs Sarah Russell Daniel Francis Amanda Hack Jo Platt James Naish

Found: Anna Dixon Connor Naismith Leigh Ingham Mrs Sarah Russell Daniel Francis Amanda Hack Jo Platt James Naish

Found: Anna Dixon Connor Naismith Leigh Ingham Mrs Sarah Russell Daniel Francis Amanda Hack Jo Platt James Naish

Found: Anna Dixon Connor Naismith Leigh Ingham Mrs Sarah Russell Daniel Francis Amanda Hack Jo Platt James Naish

Found: Anna Dixon Connor Naismith Leigh Ingham Mrs Sarah Russell Daniel Francis Amanda Hack Jo Platt James Naish

Found: Anna Dixon Connor Naismith Leigh Ingham Mrs Sarah Russell Daniel Francis Amanda Hack Jo Platt James Naish