Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the earned settlement proposals on backlogs for care assessments carried about by registered social workers.

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

The earned settlement public consultation ran for 12 weeks and closed on 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. As with all significant policy changes, the proposals will be subject to both an economic impact assessment and equality impact assessment which we will publish as well as the Government’s response in due course.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the proposed earned settlement arrangements on the number of registered social workers.

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

The earned settlement public consultation ran for 12 weeks and closed on 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. As with all significant policy changes, the proposals will be subject to both an economic impact assessment and equality impact assessment which we will publish as well as the Government’s response in due course.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the proposed earned settlement arrangements on the staffing of children's services.

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

The earned settlement public consultation ran for 12 weeks and closed on 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. As with all significant policy changes, the proposals will be subject to both an economic impact assessment and equality impact assessment which we will publish as well as the Government’s response 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 impact of requiring the non-UK children of UK citizens to have a UK passport in order to enter the country on trends in the number of people entering the UK.

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

British citizens, including those who hold dual nationality must travel with a valid British passport or another passport endorsed with a certificate of entitlement to the right of abode (CoE) when travelling to the UK. There is guidance on GOV.UK to help people determine whether they or their children qualify for British citizenship at: https://www.gov.uk/check-british-citizenship.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the Monroe Doctrine.

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

It is for the United States to set its own security and defence policy, as it is for any government.

However, there are many issues and initiatives where we share common objectives with the US, ranging from the AUKUS treaty and our joint work on critical minerals, to the ongoing efforts to secure peace and stability in Gaza, Sudan and Syria.

We will continue to work with our closest partner to pursue those and other shared goals.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to ban the sale and supply of peat for horticulture.

Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government plans to legislate for a ban on the sale of peat and peat containing products when parliamentary time allows. This commitment is embedded within our Carbon Budget planning and, most recently, reflected in the recently published Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP).

The need to work with the Devolved Governments on this matter, to ensure a joined-up approach, was discussed at the Inter Ministerial Group on 5 February 2026.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if she will take steps to ensure that identifying information is not open to abuse by (a) Palantir and (b) other companies.

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

We do not hold any contracts with Palantir, however in terms of Identifying information, DSIT utilises the GDPR and Data protection laws in every contract it enters, we also have a dedicated data protection team that review these specific clauses before contract signature.

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 meet with the Social Housing Action Campaign to discuss their concerns around service charges.

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

Neither the Secretary of State nor I have any current plans to meet with the Social Housing Action Campaign.

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 support leaseholders in Poole constituency for remediation work to properties that is required following the Grenfell Tower fire.

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

Eight years on from the Grenfell tragedy, there is no justification for any building to remain unsafe. The Government has provided extensive funding and strong legal protections to shield leaseholders from historical building safety costs following Grenfell, including cladding remediation funds and strengthened leaseholder rights under the Building Safety Act.

In December 2024, Government launched the Remediation Acceleration Plan (RAP) to fix buildings faster, identify those still at risk, and support residents. An update in July 2025 outlined progress and further steps to remove barriers and strengthen accountability.

As of December 2025, there are 30 buildings identified with unsafe cladding above 11m in the Poole constituency, of which 25 buildings have started or completed remediation works.

The Government remains committed to considering how to strengthen protections for leaseholders from current and future building safety issues, outside the scope of the leaseholder protections regime.

Plans to launch a new long-term Waking Watch Replacement Fund were announced as part of the RAP update in July 2025, and we plan to launch the new fund shortly.

In the RAP, we announced we would work with the insurance industry to consider options for possible government support. We are currently engaging with industry and will provide an update in due course. Following a public consultation, we are also proceeding with legislation to ban insurance commissions being passed to freeholders, landlords and managing agents at leaseholders’ expense, and replace these with a fair and transparent permitted fee structure.

As soon as parliamentary time allows, we will bring forward a new Remediation Bill to push the remediation of historic unsafe cladding further.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to answer on 10 February 2026 to Question 110293, what steps are being taken in response to the number of Armed Forces pensions that remain unclaimed, beyond the 60 day tracing exercise conducted after the pension due date.

Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is expanding its communications to better reach those with unclaimed pensions, developing new online materials specifically aimed at deferred members who have not yet submitted a claim.

The Defence contribution to the National Pensions Dashboards Programme will provide members with a single, secure online platform where they can view all their pension information. The dashboards will help reunite individuals with forgotten or previously unclaimed pensions by making their entitlements visible and easy to access at a time convenient to them.

Alongside the 60‑day tracing activity conducted when a pension becomes due, the MOD intends to introduce a second tracing exercise approximately one year after the initial attempt for any pensions that remain unclaimed. In addition, the MOD plans to carry out a wider tracing exercise covering all existing unclaimed pensions. These improvements will create repeated opportunities to locate members whose circumstances or contact information may have changed over time.

Together, these measures form an expanding and proactive approach designed to ensure that every individual who has earned pension benefits through service in the Armed Forces is able to be located and supported to claim them.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she plans to extend VAT relief to community-based services like The Filo Project, that provide socialising activities and support for those with dementia.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Supplies of welfare services, including the provision of care for people with permanent disabilities and dementia, are exempt from VAT if they are supplied by eligible bodies, such as public bodies or charities.

Because community interest companies (CICs) are not charities in law, they must meet the criteria of being state-regulated in order to provide VAT-exempt care services. This is to ensure that the VAT relief is carefully targeted at private providers offering safe and high-quality welfare services.

The Government recognises that there are private organisations that bring value to the care sector without being regulated, but extending the VAT relief to include these would have to be carefully balanced against the risks that it poses

More generally, VAT is a broad-based tax on consumption, and the 20 per cent standard rate applies to most goods and services. VAT is the UK’s second largest tax, forecast to raise £180 billion in 2025/26. Exceptions to the standard rate have always been limited and balanced against affordability considerations.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what role Young Futures Hubs will play in the delivery of the National Year of Reading.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)

The National Year of Reading is a Department for Education initiative, in collaboration with the National Literacy Trust.

Young Futures Hubs will bring together services to improve access to opportunities and support for young people at community level, promoting positive outcomes and enabling them to thrive. Local Authorities participating in the programme will co-design the services in each hub alongside young people in the community to ensure it meets local needs.

Young Futures Hubs are just one part of delivering support within a much wider youth landscape, and will work closely with core services and wider initiatives spanning youth, education, employment, social care, mental health, youth justice and policing.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what role public libraries will play in the delivery of the National Year of Reading.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

Public libraries are central to the success of the National Year of Reading’s campaign to engage people of all ages with reading. The Reading Agency has been appointed to work with sector partners to deliver and support public library engagement. The Summer Reading Challenge in 2026, and World Book Night, the annual celebration of reading for adults on 23 April 2026, will be key moments for libraries during the National Year of Reading 2026. Throughout the year, The Reading Agency will provide public libraries with resources, toolkits, and print and digital materials to support their work and boost engagement.

Local authorities such as Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, Hillingdon, Oxfordshire and Nottinghamshire are actively celebrating and participating in the National Year of Reading programmes with various activities and events at their library branches.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether eligible (a) prospective claimants not currently in receipt of Universal Credit and (b) existing Universal Credit claimants who do not receive the health element would be entitled to the rate of the health element of Universal Credit in force before 6 April 2026 where an application for that element is received by the Department for Work and Pensions on or before 5 April 2026, including in cases where eligibility is confirmed, a Work Capability Assessment is completed, or a decision on entitlement is made on or after 6 April 2026.

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

The Universal Credit and Employment and Support Allowance (Rates of Allowances) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 were laid in Parliament on 9 February 2026. The Regulations provide further detail on the application of the Universal Credit Act 2025 including the definition of a pre-6 April 2026 claimant confirming that claimants who declare a health condition or disability on or before 5 April 2026 and are found to have limited capability for work and work-related activity (LCWRA) will receive the higher rate of LCWRA. This applies even if their decision on entitlement is made on or after 6 April 2026.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of introducing a fixed 4% stamp duty on the purchase of properties.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) is charged using a rate structure which rises as properties get more valuable. This means that lower-value properties benefit more from the nil rate band, with the first £125,000 of any property not being charged SDLT at all. This ensures that those who can afford to pay more do so.

SDLT continues to be an important source of Government revenue, raising around £14 billion each year to help pay for the essential services the Government provides.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what consideration has been given to legalising the use of electric scooters on roads for use by adults who also hold a full driving licence.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Government has committed to pursuing legislative reform for micromobility vehicles when parliamentary time allows. This will create safe, legal routes for people to use new transport technology like e-scooters.

Any regulations, including a potential requirement for users to hold a driving licence, will be consulted on before they come into force so that all interested parties have a chance to shape the new regime.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will have discussions with the Met Police on the potential merits of it releasing further information on Operation Corn Poppy into alleged abuse at Harrods and other workplaces connected to the Al-Fayeds, including when it plans to (a) conclude and (b) report its findings.

Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

We expect every report of a sexual offence and trafficking to be treated seriously from the point of disclosure, every victim to be treated with dignity and every investigation and prosecution to be conducted thoroughly and professionally.

However, the Home Office is unable to intervene in, or comment on, the progress of these individual cases. This is not because of a lack of concern, but because it is a fundamental principle of our criminal justice system that the police and courts are operationally independent of Government.

We are aware that the Metropolitan Police Service is continuing to conduct a multi-strand investigation into allegations involving Mohamed Al Fayed, known as Operation Cornpoppy and they are best placed to assess the potential merits of releasing further information on progress.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will have discussions with the Met Police on the potential merits of publishing the terms of reference for Operation Corn Poppy into alleged abuse at Harrods and other workplaces connected to the Al-Fayeds.

Answered by Jess Phillips - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

We expect every report of a sexual offence and trafficking to be treated seriously from the point of disclosure, every victim to be treated with dignity and every investigation and prosecution to be conducted thoroughly and professionally.

However, the Home Office is unable to intervene in, or comment on, the progress of these individual cases. This is not because of a lack of concern, but because it is a fundamental principle of our criminal justice system that the police and courts are operationally independent of Government.

We are aware that the Metropolitan Police Service is continuing to conduct a multi-strand investigation into allegations involving Mohamed Al Fayed, known as Operation Cornpoppy and they are best placed to assess the potential merits of releasing further information on progress.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of introducing a visitor levy in England on (a) visitor numbers and (b) local economies.

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

The impacts of the overnight visitor levy will be determined by local decisions. It will be up to Mayors and local leaders to decide whether to implement a levy, subject to a local consultation on specific proposals.

The Government’s consultation on the design and scope of the visitor levy closed on 18 February, and we will publish an official response in due course.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the extension of settlement routes for those on family visas from 6 to 10 years in 2012 on the number of people leaving (a) voluntarily and (b) through enforced removals.

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.

The responses to the consultation are being reviewed and analysed. Implementation of the final earned settlement arrangements will be subject to economic and equality impact assessments, which we have committed to publish in due course.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to work with industry to end the routine culling of male chicks.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 21 January 2026 to the hon. Member for Mid Dorset and North Poole, PQ UIN 105878.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the extension of settlement routes for those on family visas from 6 to 10 years in 2012 on the number of illegal migrants arriving in the UK.

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.

The responses to the consultation are being reviewed and analysed. Implementation of the final earned settlement arrangements will be subject to economic and equality impact assessments, which we have committed to publish in due course.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has issued guidance to Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council on volunteer groups that patrol local streets.

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

My department has not issued any such guidance.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of exempting the state pension from taxation.

Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

Exempting the State Pension from income tax entirely would undermine the public services we all rely on, including the NHS.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Loan Charge and HMRC’s approach to dealing with so-called disguised remuneration schemes.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave on 9 February 2026 to UIN 109841.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many outstanding Loan Charge cases will be settled as a result of the McCann Review.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave on 9 February 2026 to UIN 109841.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment she has made of the value-for-money of the Loan Charge.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave on 9 February 2026 to UIN 109841.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans are in the GP IT roadmap to allow for the safe handover of care at the end of each working day to out-of-hours providers.

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

As part of the Government’s National Health Service 10‑Year Health Plan commitment to deliver a single patient record, we are supporting healthcare professionals to access important medical information about patients by investing £20 million in the Connecting Care Records programme. This programme ensures authorised health and care professionals in England have safe and secure access to the person-related information that they need to provide care when they need it, where they need it, and how they need it.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of trends in the number of volunteer groups that patrol local streets.

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

The Government is delivering our Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, putting 13,000 additional police personnel into neighbourhood roles, ensuring everyone has a named and contactable officer, enquiries are responded to within 72 hours and officers are conducting visible patrols.

The Government’s Police Reform White Paper announced the most significant reforms to policing in 200 years. We have committed to increasing the number of volunteers in neighbourhood policing, including special constables. We will do this by working with policing to attract new special constables, improving and streamlining the recruitment process and better integrating special constables into wider policing. We would encourage anyone who wishes to give back to their community and support local policing to consider formally volunteering with the police.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has had recent discussions with Dorset Police on trends in the number of volunteer groups that patrol local streets.

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

The Government is delivering our Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, putting 13,000 additional police personnel into neighbourhood roles, ensuring everyone has a named and contactable officer, enquiries are responded to within 72 hours and officers are conducting visible patrols.

The Government’s Police Reform White Paper announced the most significant reforms to policing in 200 years. We have committed to increasing the number of volunteers in neighbourhood policing, including special constables. We will do this by working with policing to attract new special constables, improving and streamlining the recruitment process and better integrating special constables into wider policing. We would encourage anyone who wishes to give back to their community and support local policing to consider formally volunteering with the police.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of licensing volunteer groups that patrol local streets.

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

The Government is delivering our Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, putting 13,000 additional police personnel into neighbourhood roles, ensuring everyone has a named and contactable officer, enquiries are responded to within 72 hours and officers are conducting visible patrols.

The Government’s Police Reform White Paper announced the most significant reforms to policing in 200 years. We have committed to increasing the number of volunteers in neighbourhood policing, including special constables. We will do this by working with policing to attract new special constables, improving and streamlining the recruitment process and better integrating special constables into wider policing. We would encourage anyone who wishes to give back to their community and support local policing to consider formally volunteering with the police.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has issued guidance to Dorset Police on volunteer groups that patrol local streets.

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

The Government is delivering our Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, putting 13,000 additional police personnel into neighbourhood roles, ensuring everyone has a named and contactable officer, enquiries are responded to within 72 hours and officers are conducting visible patrols.

The Government’s Police Reform White Paper announced the most significant reforms to policing in 200 years. We have committed to increasing the number of volunteers in neighbourhood policing, including special constables. We will do this by working with policing to attract new special constables, improving and streamlining the recruitment process and better integrating special constables into wider policing. We would encourage anyone who wishes to give back to their community and support local policing to consider formally volunteering with the police.

Billionaire wealth

Creative industries and the use of AI

Strike action by UCU at Scottish universities

World Social Work Day 2026

Reforming National Parks and National Landscapes

Steve Cram CBE

Transition of rail workers into Great British Railways

Closure of Al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan

Industrial action and the cost of living

Cheadle Civic Society's celebration of Agatha Christie's connection to Cheadle 2026

Payment of employment tribunal awards

Royal Mail postal delivery services

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

Assassination of Yanar Mohammed, women's rights campaigner

Industrial relations at Carlisle Support Services

Fipronil and Imidacloprid Pesticides

Review of the student loan system

Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules (No. 2)

King's Guard's ceremonial bearskin caps

Trade union de-recognition at GB Railfreight

Football ticket prices (No. 2)

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

Compulsory redundancies and industrial action at Edinburgh Napier University

Conduct of the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care

National Keep Britain Tidy Campaign

Escalation of conflict with Iran

Covid Day of Reflection 2026

45th anniversary of Only Fools and Horses

Use of catapults against wildlife

Reverend Jesse Jackson Sr

Rosebank oil field

Dual nationals and new UK entry documentation requirements