Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average response time is for the Pension Service.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

Information regarding the performance of The Pension Service can be found in the Annual Reports and Accounts 2024-25 linked here - DWP Annual Report and Accounts 2024 to 25

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what support she is providing to post offices to help with changes in the level of business rates.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government recognises the vital role that the Post Office plays in the economy and wider society At the Budget, the Government acted to limit increases in business rates bills, announcing a support package worth £4.3 billion. The Government has also introduced new permanently lower tax rates for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure properties. These new tax rates are worth nearly £1 billion per year and benefit over 750,000 properties.

Post offices are also eligible for 100 per cent rural rate relief if they meet certain conditions.

Further data related to the 2026 revaluation can be found at: Non-domestic rating: change in rateable value of rating lists, England and Wales, 2026 Revaluation (compiled list) - GOV.UK

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made an assessment how many post offices that will close as a result of the changes to business rates.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government recognises the vital role that the Post Office plays in the economy and wider society At the Budget, the Government acted to limit increases in business rates bills, announcing a support package worth £4.3 billion. The Government has also introduced new permanently lower tax rates for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure properties. These new tax rates are worth nearly £1 billion per year and benefit over 750,000 properties.

Post offices are also eligible for 100 per cent rural rate relief if they meet certain conditions.

Further data related to the 2026 revaluation can be found at: Non-domestic rating: change in rateable value of rating lists, England and Wales, 2026 Revaluation (compiled list) - GOV.UK

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made an assessment of how many post offices will be affected by the proposed changes in business rates.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government recognises the vital role that the Post Office plays in the economy and wider society At the Budget, the Government acted to limit increases in business rates bills, announcing a support package worth £4.3 billion. The Government has also introduced new permanently lower tax rates for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure properties. These new tax rates are worth nearly £1 billion per year and benefit over 750,000 properties.

Post offices are also eligible for 100 per cent rural rate relief if they meet certain conditions.

Further data related to the 2026 revaluation can be found at: Non-domestic rating: change in rateable value of rating lists, England and Wales, 2026 Revaluation (compiled list) - GOV.UK

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average response time is for Jobcentre Plus.

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

Information on departmental performance, including measures, can be found in the Annual Reports and Accounts DWP annual report and accounts 2024 to 2025 - GOV.UK

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what was the average number of days in advance that victims were informed of a Foreign National Offender's deportation in 2025.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

The HMPPS Victim Contact Scheme provides a service to victims of offenders convicted of specified violent, sexual, or terrorism offences who receive a custodial sentence of 12 months or more. The Victim Contact Scheme enables eligible victims to make representations regarding licence conditions and supervision requirements, and to receive relevant information as appropriate to the circumstances of the case, such as details about the offender’s sentence.

In accordance with policy, victims must be informed about the offender’s immigration status and their eligibility for schemes including the Early Removal Scheme Tariff Expired Removal Scheme, Prisoner Transfer Agreements, or extradition. Eligible victims who have opted into the Victim Contact Scheme are informed by their Victim Liaison Officer if an offender is being considered for deportation or removal, and when deportation or removal has taken place. The Home Office are responsible for the arrangements for deportation of the offender and as a result, victims are not informed of the date in advance and, therefore, the data requested cannot be provided. In addition, information relating to victim contact is not routinely collected or published.

For victims not eligible or engaged with the Victim Contact Scheme, the Victims’ Code sets out that you have the Right to ask for updates regarding the immigration case of the Foreign National Offender directly from the Home Office’s Victim Support Team.

Through the Victim and Courts Bill, we will be updating the legislative framework that establishes the Victim Contact Scheme to bring victims currently served by different post-conviction communication schemes into the Victim Contact Scheme and provide a new route for other victims to request information via a dedicated helpline.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether independent oversight mechanisms will apply to Individual Support Plans under the proposed SEND reforms; and whether families will be able to challenge the adequacy of provision where detailed support is no longer contained within an Education, Health and Care Plan.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

There will be a legal duty on settings to produce an Individual Support Plan (ISP) for every child or young person receiving targeted or specialist support, ensuring help keeps pace with their development, prevents challenges from escalating, and reduces the risk of them disengaging from learning.

Where there are concerns about provision, parents and young people will be able to resolve this directly with the setting using schools’ improved complaints systems. The school complaints system will be strengthened by having clearer processes, reduced duplication, and the inclusion of an appropriate, independent special educational needs and disabilities specialist in the final stage panel.

The use and quality of ISPs will also be considered in Ofsted inspections, and the department will also work with parent groups and experts to explore how a second opinion could give families extra confidence that their child’s plan is right and being delivered well. We also expect governors will sample ISPs.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will include post offices in the proposed High Streets Strategy.

Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Government will be publishing a new High Streets Strategy later this year. Government is working closely with businesses, local authorities and other partners to develop this strategy, this includes input from Post Office Ltd.

The anchoring role of post offices plays a vital role on high streets across the country. In July 2025, the Department for Business and Trade published a green paper outlining the government’s vision for the Post Office. This included an objective for the Post Office network to support high streets, acting as a stimulant and visible sign of incremental economic activity. We published our response to public consultation on this green paper in February: Government response: Future of the Post Office - GOV.UK

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an estimate of the potential planning costs for the delivery of a third runway at Heathrow.

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

The Government recognises the importance of making sure that any scheme for Heathrow expansion is both deliverable and affordable. It is for potential promoters to develop plans for expansion as part of their Development Consent Order application. As the independent economic regulator for expansion, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) will determine the recovery of costs incurred by potential promoters of expansion.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the economic and environmental review of Heathrow expansion has been completed.

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

The economic and environmental review of Heathrow expansion is ongoing. We intend to consult on a revised Airports National Policy Statement (ANPS), which will include the proposed outcomes of the review, in summer this year. The review will not be complete until the final ANPS (post-consultation) is laid in Parliament, which we intend to do by the end of the year.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of Heathrow Airport's debt on her policies on a third runway at Heathrow.

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

As a private company, Heathrow Airport's financing decisions are a matter for the airport. Since this is a private sector project, it is up to the potential promoters to develop and finance expansion proposals, and to demonstrate that any scheme is financially viable.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of Heathrow Airport's debt.

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

As a private company, Heathrow Airport's financing decisions are a matter for the airport. Since this is a private sector project, it is up to the potential promoters to develop and finance expansion proposals, and to demonstrate that any scheme is financially viable.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment has been made of Ofcom's (a) ability to implement interim business disruption measures and (b) effectiveness at preventing illegal content online.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

Ofcom’s online safety budget and expert team ensure its duties can be performed effectively. Ofcom has spent approximately £281.3 million on online safety since 2020, including a projected spend of £92 million for 2025/26.

The Online Safety Act provides Ofcom with a range of enforcement powers, including business disruption measures, which can include fast tracked interim service restriction orders or access restriction orders, where necessary. These measures are sanctions of last resort, available where serious non‑compliance persists.

The Secretary of State has written to Ofcom to underline the Government’s full support for the regulator using all the powers Parliament has provided it.

Ofcom is independent, and early enforcement activity is already helping to prevent and address illegal content online.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many staff have (a) had their employment contract terminated and (b) resigned in (i) Jobcentre Plus, (ii) the Pension Service, and (iii) the Child Maintenance Service since January 2025.

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

The data relates to DWP leavers within Child Maintenance Service, Retirement Services, and Universal Credit Operations. It includes both paid and unpaid leavers and covers the period from 1 January 2025 to 31 March 2026.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average response time is for the a) Child Support Agency and b) Child Maintenance Service.

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

The Child Support Agency (CSA) does not publish a standalone Annual Report and Accounts. Information regarding the performance of the Child Maintenance Service can be found in the Annual Reports and Accounts 2024-25 linked here - DWP Annual Report and Accounts 2024 to 25

100th anniversary of the birth of Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II