Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, for a breakdown of what prison education courses, according to annual delivery plan data, were provided in January (a) 2025, and (b) 2026, by prison, level of qualification and duration.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

We are committed to ensuring that prisoners can access high-quality education and skills provision that supports rehabilitation and reduces re-offending.

The curriculum delivered through core education contracts is decided at local level, as is the number of education staff employed. It would not be possible to obtain this information from each prison without incurring disproportionate cost. It should be noted that the majority of teaching staff are employed by external providers.

In the interests of transparency, we intend to publish figures for changes to core education delivery volumes at individual prison level in the coming weeks.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prison education staff, according to annual delivery plan data, were employed in January (a) 2025, and (b) 2026, by prison.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

We are committed to ensuring that prisoners can access high-quality education and skills provision that supports rehabilitation and reduces re-offending.

The curriculum delivered through core education contracts is decided at local level, as is the number of education staff employed. It would not be possible to obtain this information from each prison without incurring disproportionate cost. It should be noted that the majority of teaching staff are employed by external providers.

In the interests of transparency, we intend to publish figures for changes to core education delivery volumes at individual prison level in the coming weeks.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prison education staff were employed in January (a) 2025, and (b) 2026, by prison.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

We are committed to ensuring that prisoners can access high-quality education and skills provision that supports rehabilitation and reduces re-offending.

The curriculum delivered through core education contracts is decided at local level, as is the number of education staff employed. It would not be possible to obtain this information from each prison without incurring disproportionate cost. It should be noted that the majority of teaching staff are employed by external providers.

In the interests of transparency, we intend to publish figures for changes to core education delivery volumes at individual prison level in the coming weeks.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to deliver a sustainable supported housing sector.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 112725 on 25 February 2026.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of reductions to Access to Work awards at renewal on employment outcomes for blind and partially sighted people.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The support that a customer will receive from Access to Work is dependent upon their needs and circumstances at the time they make an application. Case managers will use the guidance to ensure Access to Work principles are considered when making a decision on support. No changes have been made to Access to Work policy.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how often Access to Work awards for blind and partially sighted customers are reviewed for compliance with the EHRC Code of Practice.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

Access to Work (AtW) awards, including those made to blind and partially sighted customers, are managed through standard casework processes, which include appropriate Service Assurance checks to ensure decisions comply with AtW guidance and principles.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to the Answer of 10 February 2026 to Question 110103 on the Emissions Trading Scheme, how much revenue does the Government expect to raise per year for the period to 2030 from the extension of the Emissions Trading Scheme to maritime.

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

The Impact Assessment includes a 20‑year discounted appraisal of the expected effects of extending the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (UK ETS) to domestic maritime.

This assessment projects roughly £1.9 billion in additional revenue to the UK Government over the appraisal period through the purchasing of allowances.

If the analysis is disaggregated to focus on the compliance period from 2026-2030, the estimated increase in revenue is £720 million, reflecting that earlier years account for a proportionally larger share of emissions, and allowance purchases, before the maritime sector begins to decarbonise more substantially.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of the Crown Court backlog comprises the cohort of up to three years’ imprisonment cases and would go before a Judge only court under proposed reforms.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

The Ministry of Justice publishes information about cases in the open caseload at both the magistrates’ courts and at the Crown Court. This includes breakdowns of volumes and durations as part of the Crown Court open caseload published as part of Criminal Court Statistics Quarterly: Criminal court statistics quarterly.  
 
The Ministry of Justice does not publish data relating to the progression of cases or defendant elections in the open caseload. As such we cannot provide volume or timeliness estimates regarding the decision of the defendant to elect mode of trial within the disproportionate costs limit.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of cases in the Crown Court backlog are either way cases that would be no longer eligible for jury trial under proposed reforms.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

The Ministry of Justice publishes information about cases in the open caseload at both the magistrates’ courts and at the Crown Court. This includes breakdowns of volumes and durations as part of the Crown Court open caseload published as part of Criminal Court Statistics Quarterly: Criminal court statistics quarterly.  
 
The Ministry of Justice does not publish data relating to the progression of cases or defendant elections in the open caseload. As such we cannot provide volume or timeliness estimates regarding the decision of the defendant to elect mode of trial within the disproportionate costs limit.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department holds information on the median age of cases yet to elect mode of trial.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

The Ministry of Justice publishes information about cases in the open caseload at both the magistrates’ courts and at the Crown Court. This includes breakdowns of volumes and durations as part of the Crown Court open caseload published as part of Criminal Court Statistics Quarterly: Criminal court statistics quarterly.  
 
The Ministry of Justice does not publish data relating to the progression of cases or defendant elections in the open caseload. As such we cannot provide volume or timeliness estimates regarding the decision of the defendant to elect mode of trial within the disproportionate costs limit.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of cases in the court backlog are pending the decision of the defendant to elect mode of trial.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

The Ministry of Justice publishes information about cases in the open caseload at both the magistrates’ courts and at the Crown Court. This includes breakdowns of volumes and durations as part of the Crown Court open caseload published as part of Criminal Court Statistics Quarterly: Criminal court statistics quarterly.  
 
The Ministry of Justice does not publish data relating to the progression of cases or defendant elections in the open caseload. As such we cannot provide volume or timeliness estimates regarding the decision of the defendant to elect mode of trial within the disproportionate costs limit.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the number of either-way cases in the Crown Court backlog yet to elect mode of trial.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)

The Ministry of Justice publishes information about cases in the open caseload at both the magistrates’ courts and at the Crown Court. This includes breakdowns of volumes and durations as part of the Crown Court open caseload published as part of Criminal Court Statistics Quarterly: Criminal court statistics quarterly.  
 
The Ministry of Justice does not publish data relating to the progression of cases or defendant elections in the open caseload. As such we cannot provide volume or timeliness estimates regarding the decision of the defendant to elect mode of trial within the disproportionate costs limit.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions has he had with representatives from the sport and recreation sector on proposals to remove Sport England as a statutory planning consultee.

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

My Department has met with Sport England on a number of occasions to discuss the proposals set out in the consultation on reforms to the statutory consultee system. Most recently, I met with Chris Boardman, Chair of Sport England, on 21 January to discuss Sport England's response to the consultation and our shared aim of ensuring playing fields continue to be protected.

The consultation closed on 13 January 2026. A total of 1,605 responses were received, 1,294 of which were specific to the question on removing Sport England as a statutory consultee.

No final decisions will be taken on the role of these statutory consultees until all consultation feedback has been fully analysed and considered. A government response will be published in due course.

Regardless of consultation outcomes, these statutory consultees will continue to engage through public consultation and targeted notifications in the planning process.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many responses have been received to the consultation on the reform of statutory consultees specifically with respect to the proposal to remove Sport England.

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

My Department has met with Sport England on a number of occasions to discuss the proposals set out in the consultation on reforms to the statutory consultee system. Most recently, I met with Chris Boardman, Chair of Sport England, on 21 January to discuss Sport England's response to the consultation and our shared aim of ensuring playing fields continue to be protected.

The consultation closed on 13 January 2026. A total of 1,605 responses were received, 1,294 of which were specific to the question on removing Sport England as a statutory consultee.

No final decisions will be taken on the role of these statutory consultees until all consultation feedback has been fully analysed and considered. A government response will be published in due course.

Regardless of consultation outcomes, these statutory consultees will continue to engage through public consultation and targeted notifications in the planning process.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 3 July 2025 to UIN 61881 on Western Sahara: Origin Marking, if she will take steps to ensure that produce originating in Western Sahara is labelled as such by supermarkets.

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

The Government is committed to ensuring that UK consumers are not misled about the origin of the food they purchase. In accordance with Assimilated EU Regulation 1169/2011 on the provision of food information to consumers, food labelling must not be misleading, including in relation to the origin or provenance of food.

It is the UK position that where origin information is given for food products made or grown in the Western Sahara, it must give accurate origin information and cannot be labelled as Moroccan.

The Government has begun negotiations with the EU on an SPS agreement which will cover SPS standards and controls and also wider agrifood rules, including food labelling and key agri-food marketing standards. The Government is considering any EU legislative developments that could potentially affect labelling policy in the UK.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 3 July 2025 to UIN 61881 on Western Sahara: Origin Marking, what data her Department holds on produce originating in Western Sahara being sold in supermarkets labelled as produce of Morocco.

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

Food origin information is mandatory for some, but not all, foods. In all cases where origin is provided, it must not be misleading.

Produce originating in Western Sahara that has been mislabelled as produce of Morocco would be considered misleading under food labelling regulations. Defra does not hold data on produce being presented in this way in UK supermarkets. My officials and the Food Standards Agency work closely with Local Authority Trading Standards Officers who enforce food labelling rules in the UK, including addressing labels that may be misleading or non-compliant.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure that the proposed earned settlement system does not negatively impact victim-survivors of VAWG with (a) insecure and (b) temporary immigration status, particularly where criteria may prevent them from meeting the qualifying requirements for settlement.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

Proposals for introducing an earned settlement model, as set out in the Command Paper “A Fairer Pathway to Settlement” (CP1448), were subject to a public consultation, which opened on 20 November 2025 and closed on 12 February 2026.

We are now reviewing and analysing the results of this to inform the development of the final model. The consultation sought views on the impact proposed changes might have on different groups and the case for exemptions for vulnerable groupings. Implementation of the earned settlement arrangements will be subject to economic and equality impact assessments, which we have committed to publish in due course.

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 the earned settlement model on Black, minoritised and migrant women, particularly in relation to labour market exclusion, interrupted employment due to abuse, caring responsibilities, trauma and insecure immigration status.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

Proposals for introducing an earned settlement model, as set out in the Command Paper “A Fairer Pathway to Settlement” (CP1448), were subject to a public consultation, which opened on 20 November 2025 and closed on 12 February 2026.

We are now reviewing and analysing the results of this to inform the development of the final model. The consultation sought views on the impact proposed changes might have on different groups and the case for exemptions for vulnerable groupings. Implementation of the earned settlement arrangements will be subject to economic and equality impact assessments, which we have committed to publish in due course.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she intends to publish the equalities and economic impact assessments for her proposed changes to indefinite leave to remain.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

Proposals for introducing an earned settlement model, as set out in the Command Paper “A Fairer Pathway to Settlement” (CP1448), were subject to a public consultation, which opened on 20 November 2025 and closed on 12 February 2026.

We are now reviewing and analysing the results of this to inform the development of the final model. The consultation sought views on the impact proposed changes might have on different groups and the case for exemptions for vulnerable groupings. Implementation of the earned settlement arrangements will be subject to economic and equality impact assessments, which we have committed to publish in due course.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to help ensure that Mayors and the new Local Policing and Crime Boards retain the ability to hire and dismiss chief constables so that policing leaders remain directly accountable to the communities they serve.

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

The Home Office is working with policing and local government stakeholders to design and implement future governance arrangements to replace Police and Crime Commissioners from May 2028. We remain committed to developing a system of police governance that maintains consistently high standards of oversight, which is joined up with other local services and that the public can trust.

Future governance arrangements will ensure that policing leaders remain accountable to the communities they serve. Policing and Crime Boards and Mayors will have the necessary powers and levers to support their governance role and hold Chief Constables to account, including the ability to hire and dismiss their Chief Constable and to set the budget. We will bring forward legislation for future arrangements as soon as Parliamentary time allows.

Through our reforms we will strengthen the process for the appointment, suspension and dismissal of Chief Constables to introduce greater fairness, transparency and balance into the process. We will also reintroduce the Home Secretary’s power to remove a Chief Constable on performance grounds, where there are serious, persistent and systemic failings. This will include appropriate safeguards, with checks and balances to protect operational independence and local accountability.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to ensure that (a) mayors and (b) Policing and Crime Boards will retain ownership of the budget for policing.

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

The Home Office is working with policing and local government stakeholders to design and implement future governance arrangements to replace Police and Crime Commissioners from May 2028. We remain committed to developing a system of police governance that maintains consistently high standards of oversight, which is joined up with other local services and that the public can trust.

Future governance arrangements will ensure that policing leaders remain accountable to the communities they serve. Policing and Crime Boards and Mayors will have the necessary powers and levers to support their governance role and hold Chief Constables to account, including the ability to hire and dismiss their Chief Constable and to set the budget. We will bring forward legislation for future arrangements as soon as Parliamentary time allows.

Through our reforms we will strengthen the process for the appointment, suspension and dismissal of Chief Constables to introduce greater fairness, transparency and balance into the process. We will also reintroduce the Home Secretary’s power to remove a Chief Constable on performance grounds, where there are serious, persistent and systemic failings. This will include appropriate safeguards, with checks and balances to protect operational independence and local accountability.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the targets are of the social housing taskforce.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 28 January 2026 (HCWS1283).

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to help ensure that Mayors and Local Police and Crime Boards are empowered to advocate effectively on behalf of their communities within the governance structures of the National Police Service.

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

The White Paper “From Local to National: A New Model for Policing” makes clear that the voices of local police governance bodies should form part of the governance of the National Police Service (NPS).

The Government will continue to work with Police and Crime Commissioners, Mayors and Local Police and Crime Boards to help establish the NPS and ensure that the voices of residents and communities are appropriately reflected.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department is taking steps to ensure that (a) mayors and (b) Local Police and Crime Boards will have a role in the governance structures of the National Police Service.

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

The White Paper “From Local to National: A New Model for Policing” makes clear that the voices of local police governance bodies should form part of the governance of the National Police Service (NPS).

The Government will continue to work with Police and Crime Commissioners, Mayors and Local Police and Crime Boards to help establish the NPS and ensure that the voices of residents and communities are appropriately reflected.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to help ensure that the voices of local residents will shape the strategic priorities of the new National Police Service.

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

The White Paper “From Local to National: A New Model for Policing” makes clear that the voices of local police governance bodies should form part of the governance of the National Police Service (NPS).

The Government will continue to work with Police and Crime Commissioners, Mayors and Local Police and Crime Boards to help establish the NPS and ensure that the voices of residents and communities are appropriately reflected.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that the National Police Service improves accountability.

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

The White Paper “From Local to National: A New Model for Policing” makes clear that the voices of local police governance bodies should form part of the governance of the National Police Service (NPS).

The Government will continue to work with Police and Crime Commissioners, Mayors and Local Police and Crime Boards to help establish the NPS and ensure that the voices of residents and communities are appropriately reflected.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she is taking steps with (a) Police and Crime Commissioners and (b) mayors on ensuring accountability within the governance structures for the National Police Service.

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

The White Paper “From Local to National: A New Model for Policing” makes clear that the voices of local police governance bodies should form part of the governance of the National Police Service (NPS).

The Government will continue to work with Police and Crime Commissioners, Mayors and Local Police and Crime Boards to help establish the NPS and ensure that the voices of residents and communities are appropriately reflected.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 10 February 2026 to Question 110104 on the Emissions Trading Scheme, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of phasing in the expansion of the Emissions Trading Scheme to maritime, with reference to the approach of the EU equivalent.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Maritime Decarbonisation Strategy (MDS), published in 2025, sets out how we will decarbonise UK maritime transport, including through the inclusion of domestic maritime sector in the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) from July this year. Given the long lifespan of shipping vessels, action needs to be taken now to meet the goals of the MDS, helping the sector move towards a lower carbon future and contribute to UK net zero obligations.

To support maritime operators during implementation of the Scheme the Government will allow operators to wait and surrender allowances for the first two scheme years, providing further opportunity to familiarise themselves with UK ETS and the digital systems. Additionally, whilst reporting has been paused, operators will already be familiar with Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV), under both the existing UK MRV, and the EU MRV regimes.

The Government will monitor the impacts of the scheme and has committed to review the effectiveness of the scheme, including the threshold and the exemptions, in 2028.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the long-term housing strategy will include the potential impact of the supported housing sector on delivering outcomes, such as reducing homelessness.

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

The government values the role played by supported housing in tackling rough sleeping and homelessness. Providing the right support alongside housing can improve health, wellbeing and socio-economic outcomes to enable individuals in need of support, to access and retain housing, reducing their risk of homelessness and rough sleeping. This key role for supported housing was recognised in the National Plan to End Homelessness. We will publish the long-term housing strategy shortly.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the revised National Planning Policy Framework on playing fields, pitches and community sports facilities.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 107478 on 30 January 2026.

Funding for fire and rescue services

Transition of rail workers into Great British Railways

NHS access to medical cannabis for children with drug-resistant epilepsy

Fipronil and Imidacloprid Pesticides

Royal Mail postal delivery services

Future of Hamworthy Fire Station

Closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan

Payment of employment tribunal awards

Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules (No. 2)

New United Nations Convention on the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals

King's Guard's ceremonial bearskin caps

Trade union de-recognition at GB Railfreight

Football ticket prices (No. 2)

Escalation of conflict with Iran

Billionaire wealth

Rare Disease Day and Achalasia

Surveillance and political intimidation of journalists

International Mother Languages Day 2026

Government response to Israel’s West Bank annexation plan

British couple detained in Iran