Tackling affordability is this government’s number one priority. The Government has acted on energy bills, with our decisions at last year’s Budget driving the price cap down: those decisions are now factored into bills for the years to come.

We will continue to monitor the situation ahead of the winter and plan for all contingencies. The country must learn the right lessons from this war: rising energy bills show the British people are paying the price of our exposure to volatile fossil fuel markets, and that is why we are doubling down on clean power.

The Government recognises the need to support vulnerable households which are struggling with bills whilst we transition to clean power. That is why the Autumn Budget acted to take an average £150 of costs off people’s energy bills. This support came on top of the £150 off energy bills provided for around 6 million families under the Warm Home Discount, cutting fuel poverty.

A discounted essential energy block is one form of energy bills support, the cost of which would depend on the size of the subsidised block and how many households are supported. As important as the support mechanism is the ability to target it at those who most need support. We are working across Government to improve access to and sharing of relevant data to enable us to target support more effectively in the future. Specifically, the ‘Kickstarter’ programme under the National Data Library is testing how public sector data can be used to better target support.

The consultation for the earned settlement model, as proposed in ‘A Fairer Pathway to Settlement’, was open to the public between 20 November 2025 and 12 February 2026. Contributions will now be analysed, and the findings will support the development of the final model.

As mentioned in my previous response, the earnings thresholds have been selected as they equate to the current thresholds for payment of Income Tax in England at the higher and additional rate respectively. As with all significant policy changes, the proposals will be subject to both economic and equality impact assessments.

We are now reviewing and analysing all responses received. This analysis will help inform the development and deliverability of the final earned settlement model, including consideration of any transitional measures for those already on a pathway to settlement.

Once the final model has been decided, the Government will communicate the outcome publicly.

The consultation for the earned settlement model, as proposed in ‘A Fairer Pathway to Settlement’, was open to the public between 20 November 2025 and 12 February 2026.

As part of this consultation, we sought views on the potential impact to visa holders already in the UK, including skilled workers. We also consulted on salary thresholds, which were selected as they equate to the current thresholds for payment of Income Tax, and any alternative measures or potential exemptions.

We are now reviewing and analysing all responses received. This analysis will help inform the development and deliverability of the final earned settlement model, including consideration of any 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 economic and equality impact assessments.

The consultation for the earned settlement model, as proposed in ‘A Fairer Pathway to Settlement’, was open to the public between 20 November 2025 and 12 February 2026.

As part of this consultation, we sought views on the potential impact to visa holders already in the UK, including skilled workers. We also consulted on salary thresholds, which were selected as they equate to the current thresholds for payment of Income Tax, and any alternative measures or potential exemptions.

We are now reviewing and analysing all responses received. This analysis will help inform the development and deliverability of the final earned settlement model, including consideration of any 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 economic and equality impact assessments.

The consultation for the earned settlement model, as proposed in ‘A Fairer Pathway to Settlement’, was open to the public between 20 November 2025 and 12 February 2026.

As part of this consultation, we sought views on the potential impact to visa holders already in the UK, including skilled workers. We also consulted on salary thresholds, which were selected as they equate to the current thresholds for payment of Income Tax, and any alternative measures or potential exemptions.

We are now reviewing and analysing all responses received. This analysis will help inform the development and deliverability of the final earned settlement model, including consideration of any 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 economic and equality impact assessments.

The consultation for the earned settlement model, as proposed in ‘A Fairer Pathway to Settlement’, was open to the public between 20 November 2025 and 12 February 2026.

As part of this consultation, we sought views on the potential impact to visa holders already in the UK, including skilled workers. We also consulted on salary thresholds, which were selected as they equate to the current thresholds for payment of Income Tax, and any alternative measures or potential exemptions.

We are now reviewing and analysing all responses received. This analysis will help inform the development and deliverability of the final earned settlement model, including consideration of any 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 economic and equality impact assessments.

The consultation for the earned settlement model, as proposed in ‘A Fairer Pathway to Settlement’, was open to the public between 20 November 2025 and 12 February 2026.

As part of this consultation, we sought views on the potential impact to visa holders already in the UK, including skilled workers. We also consulted on salary thresholds, which were selected as they equate to the current thresholds for payment of Income Tax, and any alternative measures or potential exemptions.

We are now reviewing and analysing all responses received. This analysis will help inform the development and deliverability of the final earned settlement model, including consideration of any 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 economic and equality impact assessments.

I believe my hon. Friend will welcome the changes the Government have made to statutory sick pay, which came into force earlier this month. For the first time ever, we have removed the lower earnings limit for statutory sick pay, as well as the waiting period so that people can access sick pay as soon as they need it. These changes will mean that up to 1.3 million more people will be covered, helping the low paid and those who work for more than one employer in particular.

Being able to communicate effectively in English is essential for accessing public services, participating in civic life, securing employment, and building strong connections within local communities.

The Government is continuing to consider whether the B2 standard should be extended more widely and future decisions will take into account responses to the consultation on earned settlement.

In the meantime, the current B1 English language requirement for settlement under the BN(O) route continues to apply.

Just this week and last, I have been across the channel to speak to EU counterparts and counterparts in member states. We are making good progress with the EU in our strategic partnership in a changing world. It is a strategic partnership that is good for bills, good for borders and good for jobs.

As part of a review of its infrastructure investments, the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), within UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), has concluded that the Facility for Airborne Atmospheric Measurements (FAAM) no longer represents good value for money due to rising operating and maintenance costs and limited planned usage.

Only two projects are scheduled to use the aircraft between 2027 and 2029, accounting for around 27% of available flying hours, and FAAM-related research represented a small proportion of overall investment in atmospheric science. NERC has engaged directly with affected programme leads to explore alternative ways to deliver the research, including deploying FAAM instrumentation on other platforms, or by exploring alternative approaches. NERC has already begun investing in new technologies offering lower emissions, greater responsiveness and improved cost effectiveness, including a Net Zero Aerial Capability scoping programme (in collaboration with Innovate UK) on UAV development and investments to explore further autonomous capabilities.

This decision reflects a strategic shift towards more sustainable, flexible and modern technologies. Ceasing FAAM operations will also release over £32 million for reinvestment within UK environmental science, supporting lower-emission, scalable capabilities that support broader range of researchers.

Sir Charlie Mayfield’s independent Keep Britain Working review report, published on 5 November 2025, aims to tackle health-related economic inactivity, with over one in five working-age adults out of the workforce, substantially because of health problems.

While not the direct focus, Statutory Sick Pay was considered as part of the Keep Britain Working Review, and we will work with the Vanguard employers to explore how to best utilise Occupational Sick Pay to generate the best outcomes for all.

The vanguard phase will consider and make recommendations to government on the incentives needed for employers and employees to deliver better work and health outcomes.

Sir Charlie Mayfield’s independent Keep Britain Working review report, published on 5 November 2025, aims to tackle health-related economic inactivity, with over one in five working-age adults out of the workforce, substantially because of health problems.

While not the direct focus, Statutory Sick Pay was considered as part of the Keep Britain Working Review, and we will work with the Vanguard employers to explore how to best utilise Occupational Sick Pay to generate the best outcomes for all.

The vanguard phase will consider and make recommendations to government on the incentives needed for employers and employees to deliver better work and health outcomes.

On Monday, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education set out ambitious SEND reforms to ensure the system works better for families and children across England. It is clear that families, and the teachers and wider staff trying to support them, have been failed by the system, and that that has had a profound impact on children and young people’s education and wellbeing. We are determined to work with families and professionals around the country to build a system in which children’s needs are met quickly and families do not have to battle because the right inclusive mainstream and specialist support will be available in their communities. We want to hear from young people, parents, teachers and all those who support them, so I ask everyone in the Chamber to bring the voices of their constituents to our consultation.

The primary care estate is a complex mix of general practice (GP) private ownership, third party ownership, and lease arrangements with approximately half of GP premises owned by GPs. As of December 2025, there are 6,210 GP surgeries across England.

The Government recognises the importance of strategic, value for money investments in capital projects, such as new facilities, significant upgrades, or other targeted capital investments.

In May, we announced schemes which will benefit from the £102 million Primary Care Utilisation and Modernisation Fund to deliver upgrades to more than a thousand GP surgeries across England this financial year. These schemes will create additional clinical space within existing building footprints to enable practices to see more patients, boost productivity, and improve patient care.

At the Autumn Budget, we announced our commitment to deliver 250 neighbourhood health centres, with 120 operational by 2030. These centres will co-locate local health services such as GPs and physiotherapists to improve access to care and to support a more preventative and sustainable National Health Service.