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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has had recent discussions with Royal Mail on the timely delivery of postal votes for the May 2026 local elections.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Officials in the Ministry of Housing and Communities and Local Government meet regularly with the Royal Mail to discuss matters relating to elections including capacity, capability and contingency planning.

As part of the usual engagement ahead of the significant electoral events, Ministers and senior government officials have met with the Chief Executive and other senior representatives from Royal Mail and it is intended to do so again ahead of the May elections.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she made when considering the changes proposed in the Immigration White Paper of the economic contribution of business holders who entered the country on the European Communities Association Agreement route.

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

Following the end of the EU exit transition period on 31 December 2020, the UK is no longer obliged to provide preferential treatment to Turkish nationals on the basis of the European Communities Association Agreement (ECAA).

The earned settlement model, proposed in ‘A Fairer Pathway to Settlement’ (CP 1448), was consulted on between 20 November 2025 and 12 February 2026. We are now reviewing and analysing all responses received. This analysis will help inform the development of the final earned settlement model, including consideration of any potential exemptions or transitional measures for those already on a pathway to settlement. Once the final model has been decided, the Government will communicate the outcome publicly. It will be subject to economic and equality impact assessments, which we have committed to publish in due course.

In the meantime, Appendix ECAA: Extension of Stay and Appendix ECAA Settlement will continue to apply.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether an impact assessment been completed on the potential impact of the changes from the Immigration White Paper on individuals who entered the UK under the European Communities Association Agreement route.

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

Following the end of the EU exit transition period on 31 December 2020, the UK is no longer obliged to provide preferential treatment to Turkish nationals on the basis of the European Communities Association Agreement (ECAA).

The earned settlement model, proposed in ‘A Fairer Pathway to Settlement’ (CP 1448), was consulted on between 20 November 2025 and 12 February 2026. We are now reviewing and analysing all responses received. This analysis will help inform the development of the final earned settlement model, including consideration of any potential exemptions or transitional measures for those already on a pathway to settlement. Once the final model has been decided, the Government will communicate the outcome publicly. It will be subject to economic and equality impact assessments, which we have committed to publish in due course.

In the meantime, Appendix ECAA: Extension of Stay and Appendix ECAA Settlement will continue to apply.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure that young people are fully informed about student loan repayment terms.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The government continuously reviews student finance to ensure it remains fair, sustainable, and supportive of students from all backgrounds.

Interest accrues on loan balances from the first day the loan is paid to the learning provider, and/or to the student, until the loan has been repaid in full or cancelled. Interest rates are linked to the Retail Price Index to maintain the real value of the loan over a long loan term but do not impact monthly repayments made by borrowers.

Prospective students have access to information across a range of platforms before submitting their loan application. Student loan terms and conditions make clear that the conditions of the loan may change in line with the regulations that govern the loans. Students sign these terms and conditions before any money is paid to them.

Repayments are calculated solely on earnings, not on amount borrowed or the rate of interest applied. Any outstanding loan, including interest accrued, will be cancelled after the loan term ends, and debt is never passed on to family members or descendants.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will commit to a review of the student loan interest rate system.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The government continuously reviews student finance to ensure it remains fair, sustainable, and supportive of students from all backgrounds.

Interest accrues on loan balances from the first day the loan is paid to the learning provider, and/or to the student, until the loan has been repaid in full or cancelled. Interest rates are linked to the Retail Price Index to maintain the real value of the loan over a long loan term but do not impact monthly repayments made by borrowers.

Prospective students have access to information across a range of platforms before submitting their loan application. Student loan terms and conditions make clear that the conditions of the loan may change in line with the regulations that govern the loans. Students sign these terms and conditions before any money is paid to them.

Repayments are calculated solely on earnings, not on amount borrowed or the rate of interest applied. Any outstanding loan, including interest accrued, will be cancelled after the loan term ends, and debt is never passed on to family members or descendants.

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 it his policy for the National Planning Policy Framework to safeguard against the loss of a public house where they are there are no other such establishments in an area.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 105500 on 20 January 2026.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many cladding remediation applications submitted to the Building Safety Regulator have exceeded the 12-week service level agreement for determination since November 2025.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) has increased their regulatory capacity throughout 2025. There were 115 posts approved, with 83 members of staff already onboarded.

The BSR’s monthly Building Control Approval data was released on 25th February 2026 for data between December 2025 and February 2026. The median wait time between submission and approval of Gateway 2 applications for cladding remediation works on Higher-Risk Buildings which include some older applications was 31 weeks.

Newer applications (received in 2026) are currently being determined significantly quicker due to both improving quality of applications as well as more efficient BSR processes. The BSR is currently launching a plan that will further drive down application times and help unsafe buildings be remediated at pace.

In relation to remediation applications, the statutory target for issuing a determination is eight weeks.

The BSR confirms that, of the 117 Gateway 2 remediation applications received since November 2025, the current position is as follows:

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what the current average time is between submission and approval of Gateway 2 applications for cladding remediation works on high-risk buildings.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) has increased their regulatory capacity throughout 2025. There were 115 posts approved, with 83 members of staff already onboarded.

The BSR’s monthly Building Control Approval data was released on 25th February 2026 for data between December 2025 and February 2026. The median wait time between submission and approval of Gateway 2 applications for cladding remediation works on Higher-Risk Buildings which include some older applications was 31 weeks.

Newer applications (received in 2026) are currently being determined significantly quicker due to both improving quality of applications as well as more efficient BSR processes. The BSR is currently launching a plan that will further drive down application times and help unsafe buildings be remediated at pace.

In relation to remediation applications, the statutory target for issuing a determination is eight weeks.

The BSR confirms that, of the 117 Gateway 2 remediation applications received since November 2025, the current position is as follows:

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many additional staff were recruited to the Building Safety Regulator by the end of 2025; and whether the recruitment target set for that year was met.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) has increased their regulatory capacity throughout 2025. There were 115 posts approved, with 83 members of staff already onboarded.

The BSR’s monthly Building Control Approval data was released on 25th February 2026 for data between December 2025 and February 2026. The median wait time between submission and approval of Gateway 2 applications for cladding remediation works on Higher-Risk Buildings which include some older applications was 31 weeks.

Newer applications (received in 2026) are currently being determined significantly quicker due to both improving quality of applications as well as more efficient BSR processes. The BSR is currently launching a plan that will further drive down application times and help unsafe buildings be remediated at pace.

In relation to remediation applications, the statutory target for issuing a determination is eight weeks.

The BSR confirms that, of the 117 Gateway 2 remediation applications received since November 2025, the current position is as follows:

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to support structured recruitment pathways for newly qualified paramedics entering the ambulance workforce.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

No estimate has been made of the number of newly qualified paramedics unable to secure employment in National Health Service ambulance trusts.

Decisions on the employment of newly qualified paramedics are a matter for individual NHS trusts which manage their recruitment at a local level, ensuring they have the right number of staff in place, with the right skill mix, to deliver safe and effective care.

As set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, we are working closely with NHS England, employers, and educators to improve transition into the workforce.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the number of newly qualified paramedics unable to secure employment in NHS ambulance trusts due to financial constraints on recruitment.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

No estimate has been made of the number of newly qualified paramedics unable to secure employment in National Health Service ambulance trusts.

Decisions on the employment of newly qualified paramedics are a matter for individual NHS trusts which manage their recruitment at a local level, ensuring they have the right number of staff in place, with the right skill mix, to deliver safe and effective care.

As set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, we are working closely with NHS England, employers, and educators to improve transition into the workforce.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help ensure NHS ambulance trusts have sufficient funding to recruit newly qualified paramedics.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

No estimate has been made of the number of newly qualified paramedics unable to secure employment in National Health Service ambulance trusts.

Decisions on the employment of newly qualified paramedics are a matter for individual NHS trusts which manage their recruitment at a local level, ensuring they have the right number of staff in place, with the right skill mix, to deliver safe and effective care.

As set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, we are working closely with NHS England, employers, and educators to improve transition into the workforce.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many high-risk residential buildings in England with identified dangerous cladding have not yet commenced remediation works.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

As of end January 2026 there are 916 residential buildings 18m metres and over in height, in England, with identified unsafe cladding that have not yet commenced remediation works. Of those 916 buildings, 15 have ACM cladding.

These 18m+ buildings are known as higher-risk buildings under the Building Safety Act 2022. Higher-risk residential buildings also include buildings that have at least 7 storeys. Residential buildings which are 7 storeys tall but not 18 metres and over in height will not be included in the above figures.

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

International Women's Day 2026 and women’s inclusion in placemaking

NHS dentistry

Marie Curie Great Daffodil Appeal 2026

National Keep Britain Tidy Campaign

Recognition of Ukrainian driving licences

UK digital sovereignty strategy

Conduct of the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care

Found: Campbell-Savours; Sam Carling; Lauren Edwards; Peter Lamb; John Lamont; Richard Quigley; and Luke Taylor

Found: Luke Taylor: I am a Senior Researcher at the think-tank the Centre for Social Justice.

Found: Luke Taylor: I am a Senior Researcher at the think-tank the Centre for Social Justice.

Found: on Human Rights), Baroness Kidron, Helen Grant, Chris Philp, Matt Vickers, Max Wilkinson and Luke Taylor