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 ending the temporary visa concession for overseas sheep shearers on the UK agricultural sector; and if she will reconsider allowing experienced overseas sheep shearers, including those from New Zealand, to enter the UK on short-term seasonal work visas.

Answered by Jo White - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

Concessionary arrangements are exceptional, temporary and subject to regular Ministerial review. The sheep shearing concession operated for 16 seasons from 2011 until 2026 and closed for a final time on 30 June this year. During this time, the sector has worked to develop skills and training within the domestic workforce with over 4,000 people trained as a shearer since 2021.

This year only 16 overseas shearers used the concession. The Home Office does not create bespoke immigration routes for a single profession, and it is not practical nor cost-effective to create a dedicated route for such a small number of workers. It is reasonable to expect that continued training efforts will allow the domestic labour supply to cover the workforce required for future shearing seasons.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of requiring learner drivers to complete accredited CPR and defibrillator awareness training as part of the process of obtaining a full driving licence; and whether she plans to introduce such a requirement.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Information about first aid, including CPR, is already included in the official learning materials by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), the Highway Code and Driving Essential Skills. Questions are then asked as part of the driver theory test to check learning has taken place.

The requirement for learner drivers to complete accredited CPR and defibrillator awareness training as part of the process of obtaining a full driving licence would require legislative change. There are no current plans to introduce mandatory CPR training as part of the learning to drive process.

DVSA believes testing this knowledge at theory test stage is the correct and proportionate approach. It is important the practical driving test examines as rigorously as possible a person’s ability to drive safely in different road and traffic conditions.

Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what assessment the Department has made of the potential impact of Google’s proposed Android developer verification requirements on independent and small-scale application developers in the UK.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)

The Department has not undertaken a specific assessment of the potential impact of Google’s proposed Android developer verification requirements on independent and small-scale application developers in the UK. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), the UK’s independent competition authority, is examining competition in Google’s mobile ecosystem and will consider relevant evidence as part of its ongoing work.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to introduce (a) temporary visa extensions and (b) other immigration flexibility for Iranian nationals and dual nationals whose permission to stay in the UK is due to expire and who are unable to return to Iran.

Answered by Jo White - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The Home Office continues to monitor the situation in Iran and its impacts. We recognise the disruption to travel routes through the Middle East and the impact on people whose onward travel has been delayed.

The UK has not introduced a bespoke visa route for this situation and no specific temporary visa extensions or other special provisions for Iranian nationals or dual nationals affected by the situation in Iran have been implemented.

Existing visa routes remain available and applications must meet the requirements of those routes.

Regardless of age, those already living in the UK who have permission to stay should continue to follow their immigration conditions.

For those whose permission to stay is due to expire, there are a variety of existing routes under the Immigration Rules to allow a person to extend or vary their permission in the UK.

Guidance on varying permission to stay can be found on the GOV.UK website: Vary your immigration application - GOV.UK(opens in a new tab).

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what consideration her Department has given to the needs of elderly Iranian nationals and dual nationals visiting the UK unable to return to Iran.

Answered by Jo White - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The Home Office continues to monitor the situation in Iran and its impacts. We recognise the disruption to travel routes through the Middle East and the impact on people whose onward travel has been delayed.

The UK has not introduced a bespoke visa route for this situation and no specific temporary visa extensions or other special provisions for Iranian nationals or dual nationals affected by the situation in Iran have been implemented.

Existing visa routes remain available and applications must meet the requirements of those routes.

Regardless of age, those already living in the UK who have permission to stay should continue to follow their immigration conditions.

For those whose permission to stay is due to expire, there are a variety of existing routes under the Immigration Rules to allow a person to extend or vary their permission in the UK.

Guidance on varying permission to stay can be found on the GOV.UK website: Vary your immigration application - GOV.UK(opens in a new tab).

Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what assessment the Department has made of the potential impact of Google’s proposed Android developer verification requirements on competition and consumer choice in the distribution of Android applications in the UK.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)

The Department has not undertaken a specific assessment of Google's proposed Android developer verification requirements. The Government supports competitive digital markets that promote innovation and consumer choice. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), the UK's independent competition authority, is examining competition in Google's mobile ecosystem, including Android and the Play Store and will consider relevant evidence as part of its ongoing work.

Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of proposed STFC funding reductions on the long-term scientific capabilities of Jodrell Bank Observatory, including its contribution to international research collaborations and STEM outreach activities.

Answered by Chris McDonald - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

I met with the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) Executive Chair, Professor Michele Dougherty, in August to discuss the council’s strategic programmes and infrastructure investments, and have engaged with the UKRI Chief Executive, Sir Ian Chapman, on several occasions. UK Research and Innovation and the STFC undertook a structured assessment of the impacts of different funding options across STFC's portfolio. Jodrell Bank will continue to host world-leading scientific research led by the University of Manchester, alongside serving as the headquarters for the Square Kilometre Array Observatory. Jodrell Bank also remains an important centre for science engagement and outreach, with no impact on the Jodrell Bank Centre for Engagement, which welcomes thousands of visitors, including school pupils, each year, helping to inspire the next generation.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of charging interest on unpaid Inheritance Tax where an estate’s principal asset cannot be sold because of delays by HM Courts and Tribunals Service in issuing probate and letters of administration on those estates; and what routes are available to estates to seek a review in such circumstances.

Answered by James Murray - Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General

Inheritance tax (IHT) is due by the end of the sixth month after the date of death. Late payment interest will accrue on any amounts outstanding after this date. Personal representatives can proceed to apply for probate when sufficient IHT has been paid.

HMRC offers several payment options for estates with assets which may be difficult to sell before probate has been granted, including the option to pay by annual instalments. Further information on these payment options is available at: https://www.gov.uk/paying-inheritance-tax/deceaseds-bank-account

The latest published statistics on HM Courts & Tribunal Service processing times for grants of probate and letters of administration are available at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/family-court-statistics-quarterly-january-to-march-2026/family-court-statistics-quarterly-january-to-march-2026#probate-service

Customers seeking a review of interest charged on an IHT account, where they believe the interest amount was caused by an HMRC error or delay, should write to HMRC directly at https://www.gov.uk/find-hmrc-contacts/inheritance-tax-general-enquiries. However, If the account is subject to a compliance enquiry, customers should instead write to the relevant compliance caseworker.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what discussions his Department has had with HM Treasury and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on Inheritance Tax interest and council-tax liabilities incurred by estates as a result of exceptional delays in obtaining probate and letters of administration.

Answered by Alex Davies-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

The Government recognises that probate applications are made at a difficult and emotional time for bereaved families and it is important that the service is delivered as efficiently as possible. HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has invested in more staff in 2026, alongside system and process improvements and a programme of upskilling to improve the processing time for applications. The Ministry of Justice publishes regular data on probate timeliness and open caseload in the quarterly family court statistics bulletin: Family Court Statistics Quarterly - GOV.UK.

The Ministry of Justice has not made an estimate of additional financial liabilities incurred by estates as a result of delays in obtaining a grant. Where urgent action is required before the administration of an estate can be completed, it may be possible to obtain a limited grant for a specific purpose.

Ministry of Justice officials engage with other government departments responsible for services linked to the probate system on operational matters as required.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate his Department has made of the additional financial liabilities incurred by estates as a result of exceptional delays in obtaining probate and letters of administration.

Answered by Alex Davies-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

The Government recognises that probate applications are made at a difficult and emotional time for bereaved families and it is important that the service is delivered as efficiently as possible. HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has invested in more staff in 2026, alongside system and process improvements and a programme of upskilling to improve the processing time for applications. The Ministry of Justice publishes regular data on probate timeliness and open caseload in the quarterly family court statistics bulletin: Family Court Statistics Quarterly - GOV.UK.

The Ministry of Justice has not made an estimate of additional financial liabilities incurred by estates as a result of delays in obtaining a grant. Where urgent action is required before the administration of an estate can be completed, it may be possible to obtain a limited grant for a specific purpose.

Ministry of Justice officials engage with other government departments responsible for services linked to the probate system on operational matters as required.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of applications for (a) grants of probate, (b) letters of administration with a will and (c) letters of administration without a will took more than (i) 26, (ii) 52 and (iii) 70 weeks to complete in each of the last five years.

Answered by Alex Davies-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

The Ministry of Justice publishes regular data on probate timeliness and open caseload in the Probate Service in the quarterly Family Court Statistics bulletin, available at: Family Court Statistics Quarterly - GOV.UK. The published timeliness measure includes periods during which HM Courts & Tribunals Service is unable to progress an application, for example where further information or action is awaited from the applicant, or where a caveat is in place.

The attached Excel File contains data on the number and proportion of probate applications that took more than 26 weeks, 52 weeks and 70 weeks from receipt to issue.

More widely, we have worked hard to reduce waiting times for probate applicants, including through staff training and improving how applications are processed, which has resulted in record numbers of grants being issued over the last year.

Most probate applications are now granted within five weeks, down two weeks on a year earlier – but we understand how distressing delays can be in some cases. Applicants who feel their cases are not progressing can request an appointment with the probate team.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the Timms Review will consider evidence from people with autism, learning disabilities and their families regarding their experiences when applying for Personal Independence Payment.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government) (Equalities)

The Review's steering group recognise no single method of engagement and evidence-gathering will allow them to hear every voice. That is why the group has adopted a mix of approaches combining lived experience, expert insight, existing research, new quantitative data and workshops across the UK to gather evidence. This engagement included those with lived experience of autism. The findings from this engagement are being used to build a strong evidence base to inform policy analysis and the Review's recommendations.

In the next phase of the Review, Shaping Recommendation Workshops will be held and will bring together disabled people and those with long-term health conditions from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences to help shape, test and refine the Review's emerging recommendations.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of introducing strengthened service standards and automatic compensation for mobile network customers, similar to those available for fixed broadband services.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

Government has made no assessment of automatic compensation for mobile network customers. Ofcom, the independent telecoms regulator, has statutory duties to protect the interests of telecoms consumers and has powers to set rules that communications providers must follow. The Government continues to engage with Ofcom and industry on service quality and consumer protections. Ofcom has introduced a range of measures to protect mobile customers, including rules on switching, contract transparency and protections against mobile messaging scams, while keeping consumer safeguards under review.

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the eight-week complaint resolution timeframe for mobile network providers.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

Ofcom, as the independent regulator, has acted to make telecoms complaints faster and fairer. Following review in April 2026, Ofcom concluded consumers should not have to wait eight weeks before accessing Alternative Dispute Resolution and reduced the timeframe to six weeks. Government supports proportionate action that helps consumers resolve issues sooner and get fair outcomes.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what consideration is being given to introducing specialist assessor training on autism and learning disabilities to ensure that PIP assessments accurately capture the impact of such conditions on daily living and independent functioning.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government) (Equalities)

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessments are functional assessments designed to consider how a person’s health conditions or impairments affect their ability to carry out daily living and mobility activities. They do not require health professionals (HPs) to diagnose conditions or recommend treatment.

All assessment suppliers are required to ensure that HPs have appropriate training and knowledge of the clinical aspects and likely functional effects of a wide range of health conditions and impairments, including Autism and learning disabilities. All HPs undertaking assessments on behalf of the department must be registered practitioners and receive comprehensive training in disability analysis, including how to assess the impact of health conditions on day-to-day activities, alongside awareness training covering a range of conditions, symptoms and disabilities.

From 9 September 2024 the educational material for all Health Assessment Advisory Service HPs has been provided by DWP. As part of our review, we identified best practice in the NHS and have implemented the Oliver McGowan training as part of the mandatory training requirements for every HP. This training is recognised to be of significant value to HPs in ensuring they have the skills and knowledge to provide safe, informed, and compassionate assessments to claimants with autism and learning disabilities.

In addition, HPs have access to a wide range of Core Training and Guidance Materials (CTGM). These resources offer detailed clinical and functional information, including the potential risks and limitations of a range of conditions, including autism and learning disabilities, to support HPs in delivering informed assessments. Following the transfer of responsibilities to DWP all training and guidance materials are undergoing a comprehensive review and update. A newly established team is leading this work, ensuring that all materials are aligned with national best practice standards. To support this, independent clinical experts are being engaged to provide external quality assurance, helping to ensure the accuracy, relevance, and consistency of the content.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department has undertaken an assessment of the outcomes of PIP claims made by people with autism and learning disabilities compared with other disability groups.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government) (Equalities)

Information on Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessment outcomes by primary condition can be found on Stat Xplore. PIP claimants can have more than one condition and this data only indicates the primary condition as determined during the PIP assessment process.

The requested data can be found in the ‘PIP Clearances’ dataset. You can expand the ‘Disability’ filter to narrow to ‘Autistic spectrum disorders’ and ‘Learning disability global’. You can expand the ‘Clearance type detail’ filter to select awarded and disallowed claims.

You can log in or access Stat-Xplore as a guest user. Guidance on how to use Stat-Xplore is also available here: Personal Independence Payment data on Stat-Xplore: user guide - GOV.UK.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking through the Timms Review of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) to assess whether the current PIP assessment process adequately reflects the needs and circumstances of claimants with autism and learning disabilities.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government) (Equalities)

The Timms Review seeks to ensure that PIP is fair and fit for the future. The Review's terms of reference set out a broad scope to ensure that PIP effectively captures the impact of long-term health conditions and disabilities in the modern world.

The Review is being co-produced with disabled people, the organisations that represent them, and other experts. The steering group has shaped a programme of participation that brings together the full range of views and voices, including those with autism and learning disabilities.

The interim report of the Timms Review found that PIP as a benefit is no longer fit for purpose and is failing to keep pace with how disability, health and work have changed over the past decade.

The next phase of the Review is testing and refining recommendations for reform. The Review will report its recommendations to the Secretary of State in autumn.

Lord Lieutenancy of Surrey transition

Contribution of Gaynor White to Worplesdon Parish Council

Publication of Legal Advice on Local Government Reorganisation

Touring artists mobility arrangements

A new growth and defence partnership with Europe

Political donations and campaign finance regulation

Claudia Adolphus-Green

Ehlers Danlos Syndrome

Defence Investment Plan

Military housing

Ahmadiyya Muslims in Pakistan

Miscarriage care

National Suicide Memorial Day for Health and Care Workers

Contribution of women to the Bayeux Tapestry

Celebrating the great British postie

Royal National Lifeboat Institution (No. 2)

Accountability and child safeguarding in Surrey County Council

Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) rescue operations

Support for hospices

Funding of Jodrell Bank Observatory