The Valuation Office is working towards its target of clearing 90% of Council Tax Maintenance cases within 90 working days by March 2027.

A new case management system has been implemented to help improve the timelines of domestic property cases.

No decisions have been made on the scope of FETF inclusion in Capital Grants from 2027, we are still considering future support arrangements and will set out further details in due course.

The Government recognises the significant challenges that drought conditions can pose for farmers and growers. As part of the drought support package announced on 14 August 2026, up to £15 million has been made available to support on-farm reservoir construction.

FETF 2026 was the final round of the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund in its current form; Defra is reviewing our wider grants offers to ensure they deliver the greatest benefit for farmers, food production and the environment. Decisions on the design and scope of any future offers have not yet been made.

Defra will continue to engage with farmers and industry stakeholders as we develop its future programme.

The Government apologises to passengers across the United Kingdom who faced significant disruption as a result of the issues that impacted NATS' operation on 8 September, resulting in delays and cancellations for a large number of passengers, as well as the disruption that it has caused for industry. Let me be clear that disruption of this kind is absolutely unacceptable.

NATS' primary objective is to provide a safe air traffic service, while also delivering a resilient and reliable operation that enables aircraft to move efficiently through UK airspace. Safety remains the overriding priority in all operational decisions, with system resilience and service continuity essential to maintaining public confidence in the aviation network.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) provides independent regulatory oversight of NATS' safety and operational performance, including monitoring performance against agreed targets and reviewing major incidents. The Department for Transport works closely with both the CAA and NATS to support a safe, resilient and effective air traffic system for passengers and the wider aviation sector.

The Department receives regular updates from NATS on the modernisation of its air traffic control systems, with technical changes closely monitored and overseen by the CAA as the independent regulator.

The Secretary of State asked NATS to provide a report by 16 September setting out the cause of the incident and the actions taken in response. The Secretary of State has also asked the CAA to conduct an independent review and will provide an update within 6 months. This will provide an important opportunity to review existing arrangements, ensure lessons are learned, and identify any further measures required to enhance resilience.

Officials are currently taking forward the implementation of the creation of a new Class Unit and closure of Social Mobility Commission to ensure a smooth, staged transition. All changes will be carried out with appropriate consultation and full support for affected staff. Changes will be handled in line with relevant policies, and in consultation with Trade Unions.

This Government is committed to ensuring that everyone, no matter their background, can thrive. One of the Class Unit’s early priorities will be the socio-economic duty. We are currently working towards commencement, which includes drafting statutory guidance that will clarify how the duty can be applied effectively. Further announcements about the new unit’s role and responsibilities will be shared in due course.

Defra has taken proactive steps to strengthen the national capacity for the testing of bluetongue in response to increased demand. Testing is now also being undertaken by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) at Weybridge alongside the National Reference Laboratory at The Pirbright Institute, helping to manage high sample volumes and support timely results.

A new online reporting form will be launched on Friday 11 September, which makes it easier and quicker for vets to report suspect cases and clinical signs directly to APHA. This will allow private vets to diagnose bluetongue after examining affected animals, with cases formally confirmed by APHA at a premises level.

Defra is working with APHA and The Pirbright Institute to reduce delays in testing and reporting. Testing is being undertaken by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) at Weybridge alongside the National Reference Laboratory at The Pirbright Institute.

A new online reporting form was launched on Friday 11 September, which makes it easier and quicker for vets to report suspect cases and clinical signs directly to APHA. This will allow private vets to diagnose bluetongue after examining affected animals, with cases formally confirmed by APHA at a premises level. Where a vet cannot rule out suspicion of another notifiable disease, including foot and mouth, the usual reporting and laboratory testing arrangements will continue. This will support prioritising laboratory capacity for tests such as movement testing and surveillance in emerging areas in GB. Defra will monitor the impacts of these changes on turnaround time and capacity.

As with my answer of 7 September in response to the Hon. Member’s Question 26543, I refer him to the answer provided on 16 July in response to Question 17438.

NHS England has committed to implement the Cass Review's recommendation for a dedicated detransition service, and will hold a public consultation on a proposed service specification in the autumn of 2027, for adoption in 2027/28.

The NHS service specification for adult gender services was published in 2019, following an extensive public consultation in 2017, respondents to which included United Kingdom professional medical bodies and health regulators. A similar process of public consultation on a proposed new service specification will be held later in 2027/28 building on the findings and recommendations of the report of the National Operational and Delivery Review of Adult Gender Services published in December 2025.

The arrangements for referral for surgery, and the funding of that surgery, are consistent with those for other specialised services. Upon a confirmed diagnosis of gender dysphoria, an NHS-commissioned specialist multi-disciplinary Adult Gender Service may make a referral to a specialist surgical team who will assess the patient's suitability for surgery and communicate that decision to the Adult Gender Service. Processes are in place to ensure that patients are fully informed of potential risks and benefits in order to give informed consent both to the initial referral for surgery and to the surgical intervention.

The following table shows the number of NHS referrals for chest reconstructive surgery which were made in each of the last three years, broken down by age group. Please note that the number of referrals that were assessed as suitable for surgery will be lower and that these numbers include patients from England, Northern Ireland, Wales, and Scotland:

The following table shows the number of NHS referrals for genital surgery which were made in each of the last three years, broken down by age group:

All regulatory intervention is considered based on the specific facts and circumstances at the time.

The current average wait time for the resolution of a Council Tax Formal band challenge is 2.7 months.

The current average wait time for the resolution of a Council Tax Formal band challenge is 2.7 months.

The Government commissioned the Independent Water Commission which scrutinised different ownership models, including Northern Ireland Water.

The Environment Agency Pension Funds (EAPF) contract was awarded in accordance with procurement regulations applicable at the time. As part of the decision to exercise the option to extend its administration contract with Capita Pension Solutions (CPS), the EAPF undertook an assessment and due diligence on the performance of other public sector pension contracts.

The EA is a separate contracting authority, and the EAPF contract is separate from other CPS public-sector pension administration contracts. The EAPF has in place an 8-year contract with CPS. During the initial four-year term of the contract, CPS met its contractual service standards with the EAPF in full. Conscious of the experience of other public sector pension contracts, the EAPF considered potential performance risks and put in place mitigations to provide assurance that CPS would continue to meet its contractual service levels throughout the extension period.

Water companies' principal statutory duties are set out in the Water Industry Act 1991. Under section 37 of the Water Industry Act 1991 a water company has the duty to ensure the supply of water within its area of appointment and to develop and maintain an efficient and economical supply system for that purpose. In addition, under section 94 of the Water Industry Act 1991, a water company that also holds a sewerage appointment has the duty to effectually deal with the contents of sewers and provide the necessary infrastructure for that purpose.

Environmental Performance Assessment and persistent sewage discharges in breach of permit conditions may each be relevant factors for the purpose of a number of different regulatory interventions by Regulators and, if needed, Government.

The statutory grounds for placing a water company into a Special Administration Regime (SAR) are set out in the Water Industry Act 1991 and apply consistently across all water companies.

Environmental Performance Assessment and persistent sewage discharges in breach of permit conditions may each be relevant factors for the purpose of a number of different regulatory interventions by Regulators and, if needed, Government.

A drought permit application is expected from Anglian Water in early October to support refilling Grafham Water if sustained rainfall is received. The Great Ouse Catchment System Plan partnership project has been formed to identify and track sources of nitrate and develop strategies to reduce it.

Under the Environment Act 1995, local authorities are responsible for addressing areas where air quality objectives are exceeded and developing local action plans.