theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_22
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_22

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 19 March 2025 to Question 37225 on Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Equality, what the training provided by (a) Ernst and Young and (b) Inclusive Employers Ltd included; and whether that spending was approved (a) before or (b) after 14 May 2024. \p Alex Norris: a. Ernst and Young LLP: Disability Confident Line Manager training. Enabling managers to become more confident and knowledgeable in supporting disabled colleagues in the workplace. Spend for this training was most recently approved in October 2024.

b. Inclusive Employers Ltd: Inclusion Allies Training. Providing CPD-accredited training to members of MHCLG’s Inclusion Allies network. Spend for this training was approved in October 2024.
wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_23
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_23

Alison Bennett:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of the report entitled Saving Lives Is Not Enough, published by the British Burn Association in August 2019. \p Alex Norris: I note this report is from 2019, my officials will discuss this further with colleagues in the Department for Health and Social Care, and the National Fire Chiefs Council.
wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_24
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_24

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions she has held with Cabinet colleagues on the extension of the £250 reduction in electricity bills for those living within 500m of a pylon to those living near to NSIP level solar farms. \p Matthew Pennycook: Ministers in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government regularly engage with Cabinet colleagues to deliver the government’s priorities, including matters relating to planning and energy infrastructure.

I otherwise refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister for Energy to Question UIN 39293 on 24 March 2025.
wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_25
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_25

Dr Simon Opher:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if she will bring section 230 of the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 into force. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government is reviewing heritage planning policy in the context of wider reforms to the planning system. As part of that work we will consider the outstanding measures from the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 including statutory historic environment records in section 230 of the Act.
wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_26
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_26

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the Nature Restoration Fund levy will be subject to economic viability assessments. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to Clause 62, subsection (2) of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill.
wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_27
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_27

Rachel Gilmour:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of planning applications without clear necessity on the boundaries of national parks on those areas. \p Matthew Pennycook: The government has made no such assessment. Impacts of development on National Parks are assessed by local planning authorities.

National Park authorities are the local planning authority within the National Park and are a statutory consultee for planning applications where development comes forward which is likely to affect a National Park.
wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_28
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_28

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 3 March 2025 to Question 31973 on Affordable Housing: Construction, and with reference to the Update from MHCLG on targets on the 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme, published on 30 July 2024, if she will provide a breakdown of the latest target or estimated total number of dwellings to be delivered under the 2021-26 programme, separate to the proposed extension to 2026-27 set out in 25 March 2025, Official Report, HCWS549. \p Matthew Pennycook: My Department published an update on targets in the 2021-26 Programme on 30 July 2024 on gov.uk here.

At Spring statement, the government announced an immediate injection of £2 billion to support delivery of the biggest boost in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation and contribute to our ambitious Plan for Change milestone of building 1.5 million safe and decent homes in this Parliament. Further detail can be found in the Written Ministerial Statement made on 25 March 2025 (HCWS549).

In October 2024, this government announced £500 million in new in-year funding for the Affordable Homes Programme, found on gov.uk here. As a result of significant demand from housing providers across the country, that additional funding is already oversubscribed.

In the Written Ministerial Statement made on 12 February 2025 (HCWS447), this government announced allocating a further £300 million to the Affordable Homes Programme. This will support the near-term delivery of more social and affordable housing, delivering up to 2,800 new homes with more than half being Social Rent homes.

In addition, at the multi-year Spending Review later this year, the government will set out details of new investment to succeed the 2021-26 Affordable Homes Programme. This new investment will deliver a mix of homes for sub-market rent and home-ownership, with a particular focus on delivering homes for Social Rent.

We will publish a new report after the summer recess.
wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_29
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_29

Carla Denyer:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 2.62 of the Office for Budget Responsibility Economic and Fiscal Outlook, published on 26 March 2025, CP 1289, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the estimated increase in the housing stock on private rents. \p Matthew Pennycook: The factors affecting affordability in the private rented sector are complex and difficult to disentangle. As well as the size of the total housing stock, they include the movement of tenants into homeownership and social rented housing, house prices, taxation policy, and interest rates.

While it is difficult to isolate the specific impact of each of these factors, the government recognises that boosting supply is critical to improving housing affordability. This is why we are committed to achieving our ambitious Plan for Change milestone of building 1.5 million safe and decent homes in this Parliament.
wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_30
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_30

Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many disabled people have been allocated council housing in Nottinghamshire since 27 March 2024. \p Matthew Pennycook: The Department does not currently hold figures on allocated council housing since 27 March 2024.

However, the Department has begun collecting data for the 2024/25 financial year as part of our Social Housing Lettings in England statistical series and will publish the 2024/25 report in this series in November 2025 on gov.uk here.
wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_31
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_31

Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps her Department is taking to prioritise disabled people on waiting lists for social housing. \p Matthew Pennycook: Local authorities are responsible for designing and managing their own housing allocations policies to meet local need but have to do so within the legislative framework set by government.

As part of this, they are required to ensure they give ‘reasonable preference’ (priority) to people for medical or welfare reasons, which includes a physical or learning disability.

Allocations guidance also encourages local authorities to give additional preference to people who need to move urgently because of a sudden disability. Social housing allocations guidance can be found on gov.uk here.
wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_32
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_32

Ben Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department plans to issue guidance to local authorities in rural areas with high levels of (a) executive housing and (b) second homes on revising the (i) points and (ii) banding systems used to allocate social housing. \p Matthew Pennycook: Local Authorities are responsible for designing and managing their own housing allocations policies to meet local need within the framework of legislation under which certain categories of people must be given priority. Social housing allocations guidance can be found here. The Department has no plans to issue additional guidance to local authorities in rural areas.
wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_33
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_33

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the press notice entitled £2 billion new investment to support biggest boost in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation, published on 25 March 2025, how many and what proportion of those new homes will be available for social rent. \p Matthew Pennycook: I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 25 March 2025 (HCWS549).
wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_34
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_34

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to section one of the policy paper entitled A new approach to ensure regulators and regulation support growth, published on 17 March 2025, if she will make an assessment of the potential cumulative impact of these regulations on the private rented sector. \p Matthew Pennycook: The Renters’ Rights Bill delivers our manifesto commitment to transform the experience of private renting, including by ending Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions.

While the majority of landlords provide a good service, the private rented sector currently provides the least affordable, poorest quality and most insecure housing of all tenures. A sector that does not work for those who depend on it is bad for economic growth and productivity, detrimental to good public health, and a drain on aspiration.

The government’s Impact Assessment for the Bill indicated that, for landlords that already provide decent homes and a prompt repair service to their tenants, the costs of our reforms are estimated to be just £22 per rented property annually – only 0.2% of mean annual rents. Landlords are expected to benefit from our reforms too – we estimate a gross benefit to landlords of £9 per property per year.

Following Royal Assent of the Bill, we will allow time for a smooth transition to the new system. We will support tenants, landlords and agents to understand and adjust to the new rules.
wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_35
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_35

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether new towns will be built through development corporations. \p Matthew Pennycook: The independent New Towns Taskforce will publish its report this Summer, including recommendations on new town locations and delivery mechanisms.
wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_36
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_36

Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 14 March 2025 to Question 37069 on Local Government Finance, what information her Department holds on the financial impact of other forms of recent local government reorganisation. \p Jim McMahon: As set out it in the English Devolution White Paper, the unitary proposals submitted to the Department from the most recently established unitary councils identified a range of efficiencies that could be achieved where council services are brought together in one organisation.
wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_37
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_37

Joe Robertson:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what accountability measures exist for civil servants producing regulatory impact assessments. \p Justin Madders: When producing regulatory impact assessments, the government expects all civil servants to adhere to published guidance including the Better Regulation Framework and HM Treasury Green Book.

All civil servants involved in the production of impact assessments are subject to the standards of integrity, honesty, objectivity and impartiality set out in the Civil Service Code and are held to account principally through their relevant performance management framework.
wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_38
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_38

Joe Robertson:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department plans to require routine independent assessments of regulatory costs. \p Justin Madders: Assessments of regulatory costs that departments produce as part of the options assessments for major regulatory provisions within the scope of the Better Regulation Framework are subject to independent scrutiny by the Regulatory Policy Committee. On 13 March, the Prime Minister issued a new target for the government to cut the costs of regulation to business. This target for government departments and regulators will lead to less red tape and greater economic growth. The government will bring forward its plans to meet the target and its method for assessing progress towards it later this year.
wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_39
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_39

Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what diversity, equality and inclusion targets his Department has for staff recruitment. \p Justin Madders: Appointments to advertised vacancies in the Department for Business and Trade are made on the basis of fair recruitment open to all. The Department does not operate recruitment targets in relation to diversity, equality and inclusion. The Department does have an internally published Diversity and Inclusion plan that is focussed on embracing fairness for all.
wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_40
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_40

Joe Robertson:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how frequently his Department reviews initial compliance cost estimates in impact assessments. \p Justin Madders: Sections 28–31 of the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015 set the legislative requirements for the inclusion of statutory review provisions in secondary legislation, including that a report of the first review must be published within five years of the relevant legislation's commencement date and subsequent reports published at intervals not exceeding five years. In the absence of a review provision, the post-implementation review statutory guidance made under section 31 of the act states that policies should still be subject to proportionate monitoring, evaluation and non-statutory review, where appropriate.
wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_41
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_41

Joe Robertson:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what methodology his Department uses to identify potentially unnecessary regulations. \p Justin Madders: The government is reforming the regulatory landscape because it is not functioning as effectively as it should. Officials in the Department for Business and Trade are working with colleagues across government and have undertaken extensive engagement with businesses, think tanks and other key stakeholders to identify regulatory barriers to economic growth across the Industrial Strategy growth-driving sectors.

In particular, this work is being informed by responses to the Industrial Strategy Green Paper, so we are hearing directly from as many stakeholders as possible. These reforms will be published in due course as part of the Industrial Strategy.
wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_42
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_42

Ellie Chowns:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what progress the Competition and Markets Authority has made on its investigation into misleading environmental claims, announced on 26 January 2023. \p Justin Madders: Following the closure of the Competition and Markets Authority (“CMA”) investigation into certain claims made by Unilever in relation to some of its fast-moving consumer goods, which include everyday items such as toiletries and cleaning products, the CMA does not currently have any open investigations into misleading environmental claims.

The CMA remains interested in the issue and may take further enforcement action where this is warranted and appropriate, based on intelligence and its published prioritisation criteria.
wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_43
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_43

Charlie Dewhirst:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what guidance his Department has issued on the use of third-party AI tools in relation to topics with a security classification; and what assessment he has made of whether such AI tools transfer information outside of government further to their terms and conditions. \p Feryal Clark: The AI Playbook for the UK Government acknowledges the use of third-party AI tools, offering high-level guidance on commercial, legal, and security aspects. Principle 8 advises consulting Commercial colleagues on procurement (p. 39) to ensure that expectations around responsible and ethical AI use are the same for in-house and third-party systems. The legal section (p. 61) covers intellectual property considerations when using third-party tools, while the security section (p. 74) examines risks and opportunities in third-party tools and embedded AI solutions.

As with any third-party tool, departments are required to undertake necessary risk assessments, including data protection impact assessment (DPIA) when using third-party AI tools. The DPIA process is designed to identify different types of sensitive data to be processed in different phases of use, including inputs and outputs. The AI Playbook outlines a section on data protection, which covers the importance of undertaking DPIAs for risk mitigation. The DPIA process would identify data governance risk areas, which would be covered in the terms and conditions of the suppliers' contract. Breaches of contractual clauses are legally binding. Security classifications are derived from the Government Security Classifications Policy (GSCP), and that the principles set out in the GSCP must also be adhered to for use of all tools.
wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_44
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_44

Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what diversity, equality and inclusion targets his Department has for staff recruitment. \p Feryal Clark: The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology does not currently have DEI recruitment targets.
wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_45
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_45

Anneliese Midgley:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if he will list the dates of meetings he has held with (a) companies and (b) creators on the potential impact of artificial intelligence on copyright since July 2024. \p Feryal Clark: Ministers and officials have regular meetings with a range of stakeholders about artificial intelligence and copyright.

Ministerial meetings and engagements are published through quarterly transparency reports on GOV.UK.
wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_46
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_46

Chi Onwurah:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of levels of research and development funding for sickle cell disorder. \p Feryal Clark: UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) delivers a substantial portfolio of researcher-led projects and strategic investments, including research into sickle cell disease, for which UKRI had expenditure of approximately £0.2 million in 2023-24. UKRI also plays a key role in funding underpinning research which may not be attributable to a specific condition but will benefit medical research more generally.

The Department of Health and Social Care funds research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). Over the past five years, the NIHR have awarded over £6 million for research related to sickle cell disease.
wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_47
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_47

Bell Ribeiro-Addy:To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he has had discussions with (a) the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care and (b) NHS stakeholders on the potential impact of the Data (Use and Access) Bill on protections for personal health data. \p Chris Bryant: The Secretary of State meets regularly with Health Ministers to discuss a range of topics. The Secretary of State has not met with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to specifically discuss impacts of the Data (Use and Access) Bill on protections for personal health data. Ministers have held discussions on the Bill with a wide range of stakeholders, including NHS stakeholders, providing opportunities to emphasise that the Bill does not impact on existing protections for personal health data. An impact assessment for the Bill can be found here.
wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_48
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_48

Charlie Dewhirst:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department has used AI software to help respond to (a) Freedom of Information Act requests and (b) written parliamentary questions. \p Ms Abena Oppong-Asare: All FOI requests and written parliamentary questions are considered on a case by case basis. In the Cabinet Office, AI software is not currently used to respond to FOI requests or written parliamentary questions. AI software may be used in the future, as appropriate, to support certain elements of these processes.
wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_49
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_49

Charlie Dewhirst:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Office of the Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists in regulating lobbying by foreign-based firms. \p Ms Abena Oppong-Asare: Under the provisions of the Transparency of Lobbying, Non-party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014, the Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists is required to maintain the UK Register of Consultant Lobbyists. Under the legislation, which was introduced by the then Government in 2013, all registrants must be UK VAT registered. As such, the Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists does not regulate foreign based consultant lobbyist firms.
wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_50
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_50

Charlie Dewhirst:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the length of time before an email in his Department's inbox is subject to automatic deletion; whether such deleted emails remain searchable on the Server; and whether (a) manually deleted and (b) auto-deleted emails remain held for the purposes of (i) public inquiries, (ii) subject access requests and (iii) Freedom of Information Act requests. \p Ms Abena Oppong-Asare: Emails sent to or received by a minister’s mailbox are retained permanently as an official record, and remain available for public inquiries, subject access or freedom of information requests. Individual emails may be reviewed at a future date for their historical relevance before transfer to The National Archives, but they are not subject to automatic deletion.

The mailboxes of permanent secretaries are similarly preserved, and those of senior staff (grade SCS PB2 and above) are retained for a period of seven years after they leave their post. After seven years the contents are reviewed and records of historic value selected for permanent preservation.

Unless there is a reason to retain them for a public or other inquiry, or to respond to litigation, all other staff mailboxes are destroyed twelve months after they leave Cabinet Office’s employment.
wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_51
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_51

Charlie Dewhirst:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what information his Department held on the eligibility of Lady Elish Angiolini for the position of Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland when her appointment was announced. \p Mr Douglas Alexander: Following the announcement in December of last year that Lady Elish Angiolini was to be appointed as Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, it became clear that there is a legal restriction against a Catholic person being appointed to the role.

The Church of Scotland (Lord High Commissioner) Act 2025 has been passed by both Houses of Parliament with cross-party support and has received Royal Assent. This legislation removes the historical legal restriction and will ensure that Lady Elish can take up the role.
wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_52
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_52

Charlie Dewhirst:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether there is a data sharing arrangement in place between the Cabinet Office and (a) HM Revenue and Customs and (b) the National Crime Agency on Ministerial vetting. \p Ms Abena Oppong-Asare: As was the case under previous administrations, no such agreements are in place with HMRC and the National Crime Agency.
wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_53
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_53

Charlie Dewhirst:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department assessed the reinstatement of the School Support Staff Negotiating Body against the requirement set out in the Approvals Process for the Creation of New Arm’s-Length Bodies that the creation of a new arms length body should only be considered as a last resort. \p Georgia Gould: The Department for Education is currently working through the approval process to establish the School Support Staff Negotiating Body as an Arm’s Length Body, in parallel to the passage of the Employment Rights Bill. The completion of business cases as part of this process considers other viable delivery mechanisms and ensures there is a clear rationale for its creation.
wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_54
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_54

Charlie Dewhirst:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he plans to lay an Official Statistics Order to include the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority. \p Georgia Gould: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.

A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 27th March is attached.

Letter from the National Statistician (pdf, 106.2KB)
wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_55
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_55

Charlie Dewhirst:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 10 February 2025 to Question 27919 on Government Departments: Communications and Marketing, what the aggregate figure for spending on communications and marketing is on which the estimated £85 million reduction is based. \p Georgia Gould: The information used to form the aggregate figure for which the spending reduction on communications and marketing is based on can be found through the Government efficiency, transparency and accountability page on Gov.uk.

A comprehensive communications Spending Review identified 39 campaigns that were cancelled, 46 campaigns continuing with reduced budgets and 46 campaigns aiming to reduce their expenditure by 25%. The combined savings from these measures total £85 million in 2024-25 and up to £96 million in 2025-26.
wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_56
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_56

Anneliese Dodds:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to her Department's guidance entitled Period product scheme for schools and colleges, published 9 September 2024, what methods she uses to highlight to eligible schools and colleges the availability of (a) environmentally friendly and (b) reusable products. \p Stephen Morgan: The period product scheme provides a wide range of products for organisations to choose from. These include environmentally friendly tampons and pads, alongside reusable products such as menstrual cups and period pants. Schools and colleges know their learners best and therefore have the freedom to select the most suitable products for their learners, considering the cost and type of product.

When choosing products, girls and women will inevitably have a range of priorities including whether the product is familiar, comfortable and whether it is environmentally friendly. The department therefore offers a range of products to allow organisations and learners a choice. We will be monitoring product choice closely, while continuing to seek opportunities to encourage the use of sustainable products as the scheme develops.

In the 2024/25 academic year up to February 2025, 45% of ordering organisations had ordered environmentally friendly or reusable products.
wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_57
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_57

Dr Al Pinkerton:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to support dyslexic children with mental health difficulties in Surrey Heath constituency. \p Catherine McKinnell: The department is committed to improving support for all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), including those with dyslexia and other neurodiverse conditions.

​Early identification of need and support is critical to improving outcomes for children and young people with SEND, including those with dyslexia. There are already a number of measures to help teachers do this, including the phonics screening check and statutory assessments at the end of key stage 2.

​Measures have also been introduced to support the effective teaching of reading, including for those at risk of falling behind. This includes the English hubs programme, the publication of the reading framework and an updated list of high-quality systematic synthetic phonics programmes for schools. The initial teacher training and early career framework, which sets out the core body of knowledge, skills and behaviours that define great teaching, contains significantly more content related to adaptive teaching and supporting pupils with SEND, and from September 2025 will underpin the minimum entitlement to training for new teachers.

My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education has not had any conversations with Surrey Heath Borough Council regarding dyslexia support, as we believe schools are best placed to take these decisions locally, in consultation with parents, young people and the local authority, after a thorough assessment of the child or young person’s needs and drawing on wider professional advice, as appropriate.

The department will also provide access to specialist mental health professionals in every school by expanding Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs), so every young person has access to early support to address problems before they escalate. Further information on the support, as at 31 March 2024, for pupils provided by NHS funded MHSTs in Surrey schools is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/transforming-children-and-young-peoples-mental-health-provision. We will recruit an additional 8,500 new mental health staff to treat children and adults, and open new Young Futures hubs with access to mental health support workers.
wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_58
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_58

Chris Webb:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure the early identification of dyslexia in primary school children. \p Catherine McKinnell: I refer my hon. Friend, the Member for Blackpool South to the answer of 31 March 2025 to Question 40829.
wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_60
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_60

Jo Platt:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities training provided in Initial Teacher Training programmes; and what steps she is taking to improve that training. \p Catherine McKinnell: High quality teaching is the most important in-school factor for improving outcomes for all children, particularly those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) or from disadvantaged backgrounds, and we are committed to ensuring that all pupils receive excellent support from their teachers. The teachers’ standards set clear expectations that teachers must understand the needs of all pupils, including those with SEND. All initial teacher training (ITT) providers must ensure that their courses enable trainee teachers to meet the teachers’ standards, to be recommended for the award of qualified teacher status. Early career teachers (ECTs) are also assessed against the teachers’ standards in order to pass their statutory teacher induction.

The ITT core content framework and early career framework, for trainee and ECTs respectively, cover the first three years or more at the start of a teacher’s career. They set out the core body of knowledge, skills and behaviours that define great teaching. From September 2025, they will be superseded by the combined initial teacher training and early career framework (ITTECF), which sets out a minimum entitlement to training and must be used by providers of ITT and those delivering provider-led early career training to create their curricula.

The department’s review of content for the ITTECF paid particular attention to the needs of trainees and ECTs when supporting pupils with SEND. There is now significantly more content related to adaptive teaching and supporting pupils with SEND, some of which has been adapted from the new National Professional Qualification for special educational needs co-ordinators to be relevant for trainees and ECTs. We have edited existing statements to improve inclusivity for SEND throughout the framework including, for example, developing an understanding of different pupil needs, and learning how to provide opportunities for success for all pupils. From September 2025, the department has also enhanced the requirement on providers of ECT training to develop SEND training materials. The department tested this approach with SEND educational experts with consensus that the approach of ‘quality-first teaching’ would be the best way to improve outcomes for all children, particularly those with SEND.

The department recognises that continuous improvement is essential and have recently committed to a full review of the ITTECF and Early Career Teacher Entitlement in 2027 to ensure it continues to provide the best possible support for trainees and ECTs. This review will focus on the support we provide new teachers in teaching pupils with SEND.
wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_61
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_61

Mr Will Forster:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if her Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a British Sign Language GCSE. \p Catherine McKinnell: The department is in the process of developing a British Sign Language (BSL) GCSE. This landmark GCSE is an important step towards greater recognition of BSL as a language and will foster better communication between Deaf and hearing communities.

The department published subject content for the BSL GCSE in December 2023. Ofqual, the independent qualifications regulator, is developing assessment arrangements and will launch a technical consultation on this in due course.
wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_62
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_62

James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent estimate she has made of the number of (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in debt in (i) England and (ii) Essex. \p Catherine McKinnell: The department trusts schools to manage their own budgets, and the vast majority are operating with a cumulative surplus, with only a small percentage having a deficit.

The latest published figures for academies show that at a national level, 98% of academy trusts are in cumulative surplus or breaking even nationally. These figures for academy trusts relate to 31 August 2023.

For maintained schools, at national level, 14.7% of maintained primary schools and 13% of maintained secondary schools were in deficit. In the Essex local authority 6.9% of maintained primary schools and no secondary schools were in deficit in the same period. The figures for maintained schools relate to 31 March 2024.

The department does not hold local authority level figures for academies, since their funding is managed at Trust level, and many Trusts operate across local authorities’ boundaries. The financial benchmarking and insights tool on GOV.UK provides resources to review the finances of individual academies. This tool is available at: https://financial-benchmarking-and-insights-tool.education.gov.uk/data-sources.
wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_63
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_63

James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent discussions her Department has had with head teachers on (a) energy bills and (b) other costs for schools. \p Catherine McKinnell: Overall core revenue funding for schools totals almost £61.6 billion this 2024/25 financial year. The overall core schools budget is increasing by over £3.2 billion in the 2025/26 financial year, meaning the core schools budget will total over £64.8 billion.

The department holds discussions on energy costs and other cost pressures with sector bodies, including representatives for headteachers. This includes regular meetings with the Schools and Academies Funding Group and the Service-level Working Group on Education and Children's Services.

The department provides advice to headteachers and is developing a suite of productivity initiatives to support schools in making efficiencies in their budgets. This includes giving schools the opportunity to join the department’s ‘Energy for Schools’ initiative. When schools' energy contracts are up for renewal, they can join the department's contract. During the pilot for this project, schools saved 36% on average compared to their previous contracts. The Schools Resource Management Advisor Programme works with headteachers by providing peer to peer advice on resources and costs at school level. We continue to work with schools to ensure, where needed, they are accessing our full suite of existing support to help manage budgets.

The department will continue to monitor cost pressures, as it usually does.
wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_64
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_64

Mr Will Forster:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if her Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a GCSE in Ukrainian. \p Catherine McKinnell: I refer the hon. Member for Woking to the answer of 2 April 2025 to Question HL5393.
wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_65
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_65

Neil O'Brien:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much funding was allocated to Ofsted in (a) cash and (b) real terms in each year since 1995. \p Catherine McKinnell: This is a matter for His Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Sir Martyn Oliver. I have asked him to write to the hon. Member for Harborough, Oadby and Wigston directly and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_66
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_66

David Mundell:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to support HIV (a) prevention and (b) treatment programs in Ukraine. \p Stephen Doughty: As a founding member and third largest investor, the UK is a committed partner of the Global Fund to fight health risks including HIV/AIDS. Since 2002, the Global Fund has invested more than US$980 million in Ukraine for HIV and TB programmes and to support strong and resilient health systems. The Global Fund allocated US$27.7 million in emergency funding to Ukraine between March 2022 and August 2023 to support the continuity of HIV (and TB) prevention, testing and treatment services. Through the investments of the Global Fund partnership, nearly 120,000 people received antiretroviral therapy for HIV in Ukraine in 2023 alone. Figures for 24/25 are not yet available.
wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_67
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_67

Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how much funding his Department is providing to Ukraine to help tackle antimicrobial resistance. \p Stephen Doughty: We have provided £477 million in humanitarian support to Ukraine since the full-scale invasion, which includes support for healthcare services. Our support includes funding for the Ukrainian Red Cross, who have funded NHS doctors and nurses to share best practice with their Ukrainian counterparts, including how to prevent the spread of infections and antimicrobial resistance. Through the World Health Organisation, we are also strengthening Ukraine's health system to provide better care and rehabilitation services to meet the needs of those injured because of the war. In February, the Defence Secretary announced that we would double our funding to £40 million for Project Renovator, which draws on the UK's leading defence medical expertise to expand Ukraine's military rehabilitation and medical services.
wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_68
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_68

Kanishka Narayan:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure international climate finance reaches children in communities impacted by climate change. \p Stephen Doughty: Our international climate finance continues to prioritise support to the most vulnerable communities who are experiencing the worst impacts of climate change, including children. In addition, we are committed to amplifying the voices of the most marginalised, empowering them as decision-makers, advocates, and leaders in the climate response, ensuring gender and inclusion characteristics are a key part of our policy and programming. Through our policy and programming in health, we are promoting climate resilience, sustainable and equitable systems for health, including for children. The UK is also supporting the Global Partnership for Education in a new initiative partnering with the Green Climate Fund to provide co-financing to support countries to build the resilience of their education systems to climate shocks.
wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_69
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_69

Stuart Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if the Government will put the role of Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief on a statutory footing. \p Stephen Doughty: The UK is committed to championing freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all around the world. However, we do not see additional value in making the role of envoy statutory. No special envoy roles in the UK are enshrined in legislation and legislation is not required in order to create, or make more effective, the role of special envoys. David Smith MP was appointed as the UK Special Envoy for FoRB in December 2024.
wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_70
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-04)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-04 conversation_70

Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst:To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what proportion of British diplomats posted to Russia have language proficiency in Russian at CEFR level C1 or higher. \p Stephen Doughty: Around 70 members of staff of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office currently have valid exam passes in Russian at C1 level or above. Exam passes are valid for five years.