theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_166
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_166

Dr Simon Opher:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that teacher pension payments are not suspended as a result of (a) administrative issues and (b) delays related to proof of life documentation. \p Catherine McKinnell: The department has kept the Disclosure of Death Registration Information (DDRI) check under review with the scheme administrator to ensure that it continues to meet the objectives of both protecting members and the scheme.

The DDRI check was introduced as a proportionate means to ensure that recipients of pension payments from the Teachers’ Pensions Scheme continue to be eligible.

The process allows 28 days for a pensioner member to respond to an enquiry to certify their ongoing entitlement. Where a pension has been paused because confirmation has not been received within that timescale, it is normally reinstated within 10 working days with payment of any arrears. The scheme administrator is currently working on further enhancements, such as issuing additional notifications by alternative communication methods, including by email.

This approach avoids the need to require all recipients to confirm eligibility on an annual basis, and protects them, and taxpayers, from the consequences of any overpayments.

Ultimately, the Teachers’ Pension Scheme Pension Board provides oversight of the effectiveness of all elements of the administration of the scheme.
wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_167
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_167

Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of equalising dedicated school grants for schools. \p Catherine McKinnell: Every year the department uses the schools national funding formula (NFF) to distribute core funding for 5- to 16-year-old pupils in mainstream state-funded schools in England. In the current NFF, the vast majority of funding is distributed on the basis of pupil numbers and characteristics.

The purpose of the NFF is not to give every school the same level of per pupil funding. It is right that pupils with additional needs attract additional funding to help schools respond and meet their needs. In addition, schools in more expensive areas, like London, attract higher funding per pupil than other parts of the country to reflect the higher costs they face.

Through the dedicated schools grant, Bedford local authority is receiving over £179 million for mainstream schools in the 2025/26 financial year, which equates to £6,306 per pupil on average, excluding growth and falling rolls funding. Central Bedfordshire local authority is receiving almost £260 million, or £5,980 per pupil on average, for mainstream schools in the financial year 2025/26. Schools' final funding allocations are determined by local authority funding formulae and based on updated pupil numbers, so the final per pupil funding amounts for individual schools may differ.
wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_168
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_168

Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of allowing children to attend specialist education settings in a different local authority to the one in which they reside. \p Catherine McKinnell: Children and young people can attend specialist provision in any local authority, not just the one in which they reside.

Children and young people will be placed in special schools through the statutory process which the Children and Families Act 2014 prescribes for an education, health and care plan. Where pupils require alternative provision because they do not have a school place, the local authority is responsible for arranging a placement.

As of January 2024, 8.9% of special school pupils were educated outside the local authority where they live. More information on school and pupil characteristics can be found here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-pupils-and-their-characteristics.
wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_169
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_169

Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether children who attend school in a different local authority area to the one in which they reside are funded at the level of (a) the local authority their school is in or (b) the local authority where they reside. \p Catherine McKinnell: The schools national funding formula (NFF) allocates funding for mainstream schools. The funding levels vary between local authority areas, and the funding that mainstream schools receive is determined by the local authority that they are in, rather than where their pupils live. In any given year, mainstream schools are allocated funding based on pupil numbers and characteristics at the time of the previous October census. This means that for the 2025/26 financial year, schools are allocated funding based on the pupils they had at the time of the October 2024 census.

Children with complex special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are mainly funded by the local authority in whose area they reside. Local authorities are allocated high needs funding for this purpose and their allocations are calculated through a high needs NFF which uses data relating to the children resident in their area. The local authority allocates the majority of this high needs funding to mainstream and special schools, both those located in the authority’s area and those elsewhere, in respect of the children with SEND resident in their area for whom they have statutory responsibilities.
wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_170
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_170

Tom Gordon:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what information her Department holds on the number of families that have experienced adoption breakdown in the last 12 months. \p Janet Daby: The department does not collect information centrally on families that have experienced adoptions that break down.

The department publishes information on whether children starting to be looked after in any given year were known to have been previously adopted. The latest information available relates to the year ending 31 March 2024 and is in the table ‘CLA starting during the year by characteristics – National’ of the ‘Children looked after in England’ statistical release which can be found at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/92f77d0d-7e95-45a1-f1db-08dd5cc661f7. This includes information on any known previous permanence arrangement for a child starting to be looked after.

Information for the year ending 31 March 2025 will be published in autumn 2025.
wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_172
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_172

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether a UK peacekeeping or reassurance force in Ukraine would in principle cover (a) land, (b) sea, (c) air, (d) space and (e) cyber domains. \p Luke Pollard: The Prime Minister has been clear that we must all come together to support Ukraine to remain in the fight and back US efforts to make real progress to ensure Ukraine can defend itself from future Russian aggression.

Planning so far has looked across the full range of European military capabilities including aircraft, tanks, troops, intelligence and logistics capabilities – and discussions have centred on how European nations can contribute their own capabilities to support any future force.

Discussions continue around military planning of air, sea and land forces that would be required to support a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.
wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_173
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_173

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will list the other countries in the coalition of the willing that have committed in principle to deploy troops to Ukraine in a peacekeeping or reassurance capacity. \p Luke Pollard: With France, the UK is leading plans to put together a Coalition of the Willing. 31 nations joined a planning meeting last week at the Permanent Joint Headquarters, with over 200 military planners convening this week for further meetings focused on how we keep the skies, the seas and the border safe, looking across the full range of European military capabilities including aircraft, tanks, troops, intelligence and logistics.

We can not provide a list of the countries that have committed in principle to deploy troops to Ukraine. That is a matter for those countries to provide details on.
wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_174
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_174

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to order additional A400M aircraft this Parliament. \p Maria Eagle: All capability requirements, including those for tactical airlift, are being considered as part of the Strategic Defence Review process.
wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_175
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_175

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has has with his US counterpart on a security guarantee in the event of a UK peacekeeping or reassurance force in Ukraine. \p Luke Pollard: The Defence Secretary regularly speaks with his US and international counterparts, including on our collective support to Ukraine’s armed forces.

The UK, along with a number of allies and partners, held further discussions this week at the Permanent Joint Headquarters to consider in detail how best to ensure Ukraine can defend itself from future Russian aggression. We will continue to keep the US informed on that planning process.
wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_176
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_176

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department has had discussions on the rules of engagement for a potential UK peacekeeping or reassurance force in Ukraine. \p Luke Pollard: The UK is playing a leading role in accelerating work on security guarantees for Ukraine. Operational planning continues but it is long-standing Government policy not to comment on Rules of Engagement. The only person who would benefit from that is Putin.
wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_177
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_177

Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much of the additional £0.4 billion 2025-26 resource DEL allocated to Defence at the Spring Statement will be spent on additional service personnel; and if he will make an estimate of the number of additional personnel that will be recruited as a result. \p Luke Pollard: The Department is committed to taking decisive action to address recruitment and retention challenges that we inherited from the last administration and strengthen our Armed Forces, including launching the new, combined Armed Forces Recruitment Service in 2027.

These initiatives are funded from our existing spending plans and will not draw on the additional funding announced in the Spring Statement.
wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_178
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_178

Graeme Downie:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has discussions with international counterparts in NATO on the report entitled SkyShield: a practical security guarantee for Ukraine by CEPA, published on 17 March 2025. \p Luke Pollard: The Defence Secretary regularly speaks with his NATO and international counterparts, including on our collective support to Ukraine's armed forces in response to Russia's illegal and unprovoked invasion.

With reference to the report entitled SkyShield, we are working with the Coalition of the Willing for potential security assurances for Ukraine.
wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_179
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_179

Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Government plans to conduct military exercises with (a) Malaysia, (b) Brunei, and (c) Singapore in the next twelve months. \p Luke Pollard: The UK military exercises regularly with allies and partners across the Indo-Pacific. Over the next twelve months, we will be conducting bilateral and multilateral exercises with Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore.
wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_180
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_180

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the forecasted cost of the Rented Living Accommodation Project has changed since 5 July 2024. \p Al Carns: The average annual cost of the Rented Living Accommodation Project (RLAP) is £80 million.

The RLAP Contract is due for renewal on 1 April 2027.

The overall forecast cost for RLAP has not changed since 5 July 2024.
wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_181
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_181

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the entitlement requirements are for an application to live in Substitute Service Family Accommodation. \p Al Carns: When Service Family Accommodation (SFA) is unavailable on assignment to a new duty unit, Service personnel who are married and accompanied by their family, registered in a civil partnership, a lone single parent, or are married unaccompanied fulfilling certain key appointments are entitled to apply for Substitute Service Family Accommodation (SSFA) broadly equivalent to SFA entitlement. SSFA is provided by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) contractor responsible for sourcing suitable properties from the commercial rental market, subject to the following criteria:
wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_182
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_182

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the annual cost to his Department for Substitute Service Single Accommodation is, by region. \p Al Carns: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 31 March 2025, to Question 41231.

Armed Forces: Housing (docx, 14.7KB)
wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_183
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_183

James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the entitlement requirements for an application to live in Substitute Service Single Accommodation. \p Al Carns: Individuals are permitted to occupy Substitute Service Single Accommodation (SSSA) up to two working days prior to the date of posting to a new place of duty subject to the following criteria:

a. Single Living Accommodation (SLA) is not available (at the time of requirement) up to 45 minutes travelling time by public transport (or up to a 10 miles radius when there is no viable public transport at the discretion of the Local Service Commander) of the duty station (60 mins for London only).

b. They should expect to occupy SSSA for a minimum of six months and spend not less than four nights each week in the accommodation.

c. They are single or Serving unaccompanied; they must either be separated from their family who are residing in Service Family Accommodation (SFA), Substitute Service Family Accommodation (SSFA) or their own property which is more than 50 miles or 1½ hours travelling time (by public transport) from their duty station. If the Commanding Officer considers that due to exceptional circumstances these limits should be reduced, a case is to be submitted through the chain of command to the Ministry of Defence Project Manager. Where the Service Person’s (SP) family occupy surplus SFA and the SP is Serving unaccompanied at the duty station, and Notice to Quit has been served, the SP will be required to Serve accompanied.

d. Where both spouse/civil partner are Serving members of the Armed Forces and are Serving unaccompanied at different duty stations, where no SLA exists both have an entitlement to SSSA; they are awaiting allocation of SFA, where no SLA exists providing the waiting period is likely to exceed six months. However, entitlement to SSSA will cease when individuals are allocated SFA at the permanent duty station.

e. They are awaiting allocation of SFA, where no SLA exists providing the waiting period is likely to exceed six months. However, entitlement to SSSA will cease when individuals are allocated SFA at the permanent duty station.

The full entitlement requirements for Substitute Service Single Accommodation are set out in Joint Service Publication 464 (Tri-Service Accommodation Regulations), Volume 2, Part 1, Chapter 8, Para 8.200; and Annex A to Section 2, Chapter 8 sets out the levels of accommodation entitlement, which differs depending on rank. This information can be found at the following website: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/jsp-464-tri-service-accommodation-regulations-tsars
wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_184
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_184

Claire Hanna:What recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on promoting tourism in Northern Ireland. \p Hilary Benn: We all recognise the importance of tourism to Northern Ireland, and I am working with Cabinet colleagues and the Executive to support a thriving and competitive economy, including drawing on the many wonderful things there are to see and do in Northern Ireland.
wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_185
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_185

Sir Desmond Swayne:What steps he is taking to replace the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023. \p Hilary Benn: The approach taken by the previous Government to address legacy was wrong. It caused immense pain to victims and survivors, and in many respects has been found to be unlawful.

In December, I laid a proposal for a draft Remedial Order in Parliament, to remedy the human rights deficiencies in the Act identified by the courts, and when parliamentary time allows, I will introduce primary legislation to implement other measures to ensure that the Government fulfils the commitments it has made.
wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_186
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_186

Josh Fenton-Glynn:What steps he is taking with the Northern Ireland Executive to help tackle violence against women and girls. \p Fleur Anderson: Last year, seven women were killed in Northern Ireland and rates of violence against women are higher in Northern Ireland than anywhere else in the UK.

In January, I was pleased to welcome the Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls to Northern Ireland to meet Executive Ministers and the Police Service, and to visit the excellent Foyle Family Justice Centre. We discussed ways we can work together and share best practice to tackle violence against women and girls.
wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_187
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_187

Jamie Stone:What discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on support for the farming industry in rural areas in Northern Ireland. \p Fleur Anderson: I very recently met with the Executive Minister for the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Minister Muir, and discussed support for the farming industry. We also visited a farm near Newry and talked directly with farmers and I have met with the Ulster Farmers Union twice in the last two weeks. We are committing to supporting local farmers and the important rural economy.
wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_188
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_188

Mr Mark Francois:To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the (a) financial and (b) legal liabilities of repealing the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023. \p Hilary Benn: The Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy & Reconciliation) Act 2023 (the Act) was almost universally opposed in Northern Ireland. A number of its key provisions, including those relating to the immunity scheme, have been found to be unlawful by the domestic courts. Ongoing litigation regarding the Act has incurred significant cost to the public purse and I regularly take advice on these matters.

Officials in the Northern Ireland Office and His Majesty’s Treasury are in regular contact about the Government’s commitment to repeal and replace the Act, as with any other process of policy development.
wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_189
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_189

Pippa Heylings:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the level of the compensation tariff for whiplash in line with inflation. \p Sarah Sackman: The Civil Liability Act 2018 allows the Lord Chancellor to set fixed compensation tariff amounts for whiplash injuries from road traffic accidents lasting two years or less. The tariff amounts were first set via the Whiplash Injury Regulations 2021, and the Civil Liability Act 2018 requires the tariff to be reviewed every three years.

The first statutory review was completed on 22 May 2024. The Lord Chancellor’s report of the review was published on 21 November 2024. The report concluded that the original whiplash tariff amounts should be increased by roughly 15% to account for the impact of inflation since the tariff was introduced on 31 May 2021, and to include a three-year buffer to account for projected inflation until the next review in 2027.

This increase to the whiplash tariff will be implemented by the draft Whiplash Injury (Amendment) Regulations 2025, which was laid in Parliament on 20 March 2025. Subject to approval from both Houses, the new tariff will apply to relevant whiplash injuries that occur on or after 31 May 2025.
wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_190
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_190

Paula Barker:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what consideration is given to home Energy Performance Certificates by the first-tier tribunal in determining a market rent assessment. \p Sarah Sackman: A market rent decision in the First-tier Tribunal is a judicial decision. In reaching a decision, a tribunal will take into account all relevant factors in a given case including, amongst others, those relating to the condition of a property such as energy efficiency or an Energy Performance Certificate, if that evidence is before the Tribunal.

Tribunal market rents decisions are published at Residential property tribunal decisions - GOV.UK and can be searched using free text terms such as “EPC” or “energy efficiency” within the “Rents” category of decisions.
wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_191
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_191

James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the time taken to complete cases on (a) youth offenders and (b) victims. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: This Government inherited a criminal justice system in crisis and recognises the impact the outstanding caseloads left behind by the previous administration is having. That is why we are working tirelessly to tackle this, including increasing sitting days to a record level, increasing magistrates sentencing powers and commissioning an independent review of the criminal courts, led by Sir Brian Leveson, to consider the merits of once-in-a-generation reform.

Listing of cases is a judicial function, and where possible cases involving young defendants and those with vulnerable and intimidated witnesses are prioritised, and regularly reviewed, to ensure they are being listed as expeditiously as possible. The Government is also currently reviewing the Victims’ Commissioner’s report on the impact of the Crown Court backlog on victims, published in March 2025, and will respond shortly.
wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_192
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_192

James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps she is taking to reduce the time taken to complete youth justice cases. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: This Government inherited a criminal justice system in crisis and recognises the impact the outstanding caseloads left behind by the previous administration is having. That is why we are working tirelessly to tackle this, including increasing sitting days to a record level, increasing magistrates sentencing powers and commissioning an independent review of the criminal courts, led by Sir Brian Leveson, to consider the merits of once-in-a-generation reform.

Listing of cases is a judicial function, and where possible cases involving young defendants are prioritised, and regularly reviewed, to ensure they are being listed as expeditiously as possible.
wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_193
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_193

Nick Timothy:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of sentences given in (a) magistrates’ courts and (b) crown courts were less than 60% of the statutory maximum length in the latest period for which data is available. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: The Ministry of Justice publishes data on the number of offenders sentenced at criminal courts in England and Wales in the following links. This includes the information on sentence outcomes, including grouped custodial sentence lengths and average sentence lengths, for a wide range of offences, which can be viewed individually to show the range of sentencing outcomes:

Magistrates’ courts: Magistrates' court data tool

Crown Court: Crown Court data tool

Using data held centrally to align individual convictions to statutory maxima would only be possible at disproportionate costs.
wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_194
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_194

Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prosecutions has there been for illegal drug possession in the last 12 months. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: The Ministry of Justice publishes information on the number of prosecutions for illegal drug possession, latest data is available to June 2024 in the Outcomes by Offence data tool: June 2024.
wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_195
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_195

Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people have been convicted of drug driving offences in Lincolnshire in each of the last 10 years. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: The Ministry of Justice publishes data on drug driving offence convictions. This is available in the Outcomes by Offences data tool, that can be downloaded from the Criminal Justice Statistics landing page here: Criminal Justice Statistics.

The number of convictions and the type of sentence related to drug driving offences can be accessed by navigating to the ‘Prosecutions and Convictions’ tab, using the “Police Force Area” filter to select ‘Lincolnshire’ and filtering the “HO offence code” drop down for:

The resulting numbers of prosecutions are for offenders appearing at courts in Lincolnshire and the offence may not have originated in Lincolnshire.
wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_196
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_196

Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the total amount of fines resulting from drug driving convictions was in each of the last five years. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: The Ministry of Justice publishes data on fines for drug driving offences. This is available in the Outcomes by Offences data tool, that can be downloaded from the Criminal Justice Statistics landing page here: Criminal Justice Statistics.

The drug driving offences used in the table are below:
wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_197
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_197

Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people convicted of drug driving offences were given the maximum sentence in each of the last five years. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: The Ministry of Justice publishes data on drug driving offence convictions. This is available in the Outcomes by Offences data tool, that can be downloaded from the Criminal Justice Statistics landing page here: Criminal Justice Statistics.

The number of convictions and the type of sentence related to drug driving offences can be accessed by navigating to the ‘Sentence Outcomes’ tab, using the sentencing outcome filter and filtering the “HO offence code” drop down for:
wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_198
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_198

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 31 October 2024 to Question 10987 on Public Sector: Pay, if she will list which non-statutory office holders are paid through the Cabinet Office’s HR and payroll department. \p Georgia Gould: This information is not held centrally.
wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_199
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_199

Charlie Dewhirst:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 4 March 2025 to Question 34456 on Information Rights User Group, whether the decision not to hold a meeting of the Group since April 2024 was made by (a) Ministers and (b) officials. \p Ms Abena Oppong-Asare: As was the case under the previous administration, the timing of meetings of the Group have been organised on an ad hoc basis. The Government will set out its plans for the Information Rights User Group in due course.
wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_200
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_200

Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many days’ notice the House of Lords Appointments Commission was given to clear and undertake due diligence in relation to the appointment of Baroness Gustafsson of Chesterton. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: The House of Lords Appointment Commission vets all nominations for life peerages to ensure the highest standards of propriety. The process for vetting nominations of those who are intended to serve as Ministers is the same as the process for all other nominations for life peerages.

While the Government does not comment on individual appointments, it is sometimes the case that the nomination and vetting process of ministerial appointments to the House of Lords is completed on an expedited timeline.
wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_201
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_201

Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 27 November 2024, to Question 6057, on Prime Minister's Office: Vacancies, what proportion of external recruitment competitions in 10 Downing Street resulted in the selection of a successful candidate who was already (a) in post temporarily and (b) working in 10 Downing Street since 4 July 2024. \p Ms Abena Oppong-Asare: Due to the small number of individuals in scope, release of this information would disclose personal data of the Civil Servants involved.
wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_202
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_202

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether information about each Department's (a) spending control data and (b) exemptions is held centrally. \p Georgia Gould: A Prime-Ministerial directive, issued in 2010, mandated all departments to publish details of all spend approvals from the Advertising, Marketing and Communications, Commercial, Contingent Labour, Digital and Technology, and National Property controls on a quarterly basis. The Cabinet Office’s publications are at this link https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/cabinet-office-spend-data .

HMT Treasury delegates authority to departments to enter into commitments and spend within predefined limits without specific prior approval. Agreements of any exemptions a body holds from the Spend Controls should be recorded in the department’s delegation letter and in the Framework Document, or similar relationship-defining document, between the body and its sponsor department.
wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_203
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_203

Charlie Dewhirst:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answers of (a) 12 February 2025 to Question 28577 and (b) 16 January 2025 to Question 21390 on Armed Forces: Equality, whether the work on the Armed Forces’ EDI review was led or undertaken by his Department. \p Georgia Gould: The Cabinet Office has not carried out a review of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) expenditure for the Armed Forces.

The Civil Service EDI Expenditure Review, which was carried out under the previous administration between June 2023 and May 2024, included EDI expenditure relating solely to civil servants, including those who may have been undertaking work on behalf of the Armed Forces, but not in relation to Armed Forces personnel.
wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_204
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_204

Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 20 January 2025 to Question 24253 on Cabinet Office: Equality, which  diversity and inclusion (a) days and (b) weeks and (c) months were marked from July 2024 to December 2024 inclusive. \p Georgia Gould: As has been the case under previous administrations, the Cabinet Office marks a range of events throughout the year.

During the period from July 2024 to December 2024 inclusive, this included marking events such as Rosh Hashanah, Black History Month, National Inclusion Week, and Inter Faith Week.

These events were marked through a range of means that included intranet articles, panel events, internal newsletters, and network events.
wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_205
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_205

Charlie Dewhirst:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, for what reasons was there no public consultation on the new joint Framework Agreement for Civil Service Commission, Advisory Committee on Business Appointments and Commissioner for Public Appointments. \p Georgia Gould: There is no requirement to carry out a public consultation on Framework Agreements, as was the case under the previous government. As such, none was undertaken on the new joint Framework Agreement for Civil Service Commission, Advisory Committee on Business Appointments and Commissioner for Public Appointments.
wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_206
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_206

Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what equality, diversity and inclusion courses are provided by Civil Service Learning. \p Georgia Gould: The only cross Civil Service Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) course provided through the Cabinet Office’s central training contracts is Civil Service Expectations.
wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_207
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_207

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, Pursuant to the answer of 30 July 2024, to Question 1261, on Senior Civil Servants, if he will publish a breakdown by (a) department and (b) job title of senior civil service jobs (i) offered and (ii) appointed since 30 July 2024, including indicating where a Civil Service recruitment principles exception was applied. \p Georgia Gould: Information on Senior Civil Service appointments is not collated centrally. Departments can run campaigns outside of the central recruitment services through their own Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) or processes, or make appointments from existing reserve lists. Therefore, we are unable to provide a full response.

Appointments by exception at SCS2 or above must be approved by the Civil Service Commission, details of which are published on the commission’s website.
wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_208
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_208

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he plans to issue new guidance on the proportion of the civil service jobs advertised to the public. \p Georgia Gould: In May 2022 the then Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster wrote to cabinet ministers outlining all Senior Civil Service (SCS) jobs must be advertised externally to the public unless an exemption is approved. This continues to be the policy.

As under the previous Government, for appointments below SCS level, departments have the authority to determine how they recruit in line with the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. Again, this continues to be the policy.
wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_209
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_209

Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department plans to bring forward a new official statistics order to include the Regulatory Innovation Office. \p Georgia Gould: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.

A response to the Hon. Member's Parliamentary Question of 23rd March is attached.

Letter from the National Statistician (pdf, 106.3KB)
wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_210
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_210

Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 21 February 2025 to Question 30683 on Cabinet Office: Media, how many staff are assigned to the New Media Unit; what grades they are assigned at; and whether this includes special advisers. \p Ms Abena Oppong-Asare: The New Media Unit is currently made up of departmental loans while it is in its initial phase. There are no special advisers assigned to the New Media Unit. Recruitment for its permanent structure is ongoing.
wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_211
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_211

Jim Shannon:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he expects the permanent Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman to be appointed. \p Georgia Gould: The House of Commons leads on the recruitment of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, which is ongoing. We expect that further information will be made available shortly.
wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_212
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_212

Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 15 January 2025 to Question 22459 on Honours, if he will publish that guidance. \p Nick Thomas-Symonds: New guidance on ministerial involvement in the Honours System will be issued in due course.
wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_213
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_213

Charlie Dewhirst:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether Ministers can consider applications to the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments which have not been considered when making Government appointments. \p Georgia Gould: All government appointees, whether regulated or unregulated, are subject to due processes to manage outside interests, which may include external employment.
wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_214
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_214

Charlie Dewhirst:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether Ministers in receipt of a political donation from an (a) unincorporated association and (b) members' association must declare the identity of the ultimate donor behind the donation to their (i) Permanent Secretary and (ii) the Independent Advisor. \p Georgia Gould: There is an established process in place for the declaration and management of private interests held by ministers. This ensures that steps are taken to avoid or mitigate any actual or perceived conflicts of interest. As part of this process, ministers and their permanent secretaries are asked to consider together whether any recent donations may have a bearing on the minister’s portfolio and duties and to agree appropriate mitigations.

Ministers are also required, as MPs and peers, to adhere to the relevant parliamentary code of conduct with regards to declaring interests. This includes registering donations and other support, details of which are made public on Parliament’s website.
wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_215
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_215

Charlie Dewhirst:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Answer of 24 February 2025 to Question HL4627, on 9 Downing Street: Media, for what reasons the media room in 9 Downing Street was refurbished. \p Georgia Gould: I refer the Hon Member to the answer of 21 January 2025, Official Report, PQ 25454.
wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_216
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_216

Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office,  if he will publish a list of every Arm’s Length Body that exists as of January 2025. \p Georgia Gould: The Cabinet Office publishes an annual ALB Landscape Analysis around a year in arrears. The most recently published ALB Landscape Analysis was published on 17 December 2024 and is available here. The list of every Arm's Length Body that exists as of January 2025 is due to be published in 2026.
wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_217
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_217

Charlie Dewhirst:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 9 October 2024 to Question 5282, on Senior Civil Servants: Pay, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing performance related incentives in the junior civil service. \p Georgia Gould: Individual Government Departments have delegated authority to determine pay, including performance related incentives, for their workforce, excluding Senior Civil Servants, subject to the parameters of the Civil Service Pay Remit Guidance. Currently, non-consolidated performance payments are already in place across many departments. The Government recently announced new measures for performance-related pay for the Senior Civil Service.
wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_218
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_218

Charlie Dewhirst:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 31 July 2024 to Question 1208 on Government Communication Service, if he will publish a breakdown of the staff for each of the non-departmental public bodies that are not included in the Section 14 of the published Annual Civil Service Employment Survey. \p Georgia Gould: I refer the Hon. Member to Question 16512, answered on 5 December 2024.
wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_219
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_219

Charlie Dewhirst:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Government advertises on X. \p Georgia Gould: I refer the honourable gentleman to the previous response given to Question 14352.

Between October 2023 and October 2024, the Cabinet Office has spent £0 advertising on X.
wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_220
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_220

Charlie Dewhirst:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which divisions in his Department hold information on (a) the number of software licences his Department has paid for and (b) usage of those software licences. \p Georgia Gould: Cabinet Office Digital is responsible for the number of software licenses purchased.

Cabinet Office Digital uses a range of tools to monitor and manage these software licenses.
wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_221
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_221

Charlie Dewhirst:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, through which mechanisms non-ministerial departments are accountable to Parliament. \p Georgia Gould: A non-ministerial department (NMD) is a government department, but one that does not have its own minister. An individual NMD is accountable to Parliament through its sponsoring ministers, and the NMD Permanent Secretary, who is the accounting officer. Non-ministerial departments have their own budgets, and are required to produce annual reports and accounts, which can be examined by Parliament.
wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_222
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_222

Charlie Dewhirst:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 27 February 2025 to Question 32906, on Government Departments: Telephone Services,  whether the Government Communication Service provides a departmental press office telephone number to members of the press. \p Georgia Gould: It is up to the individual departments to decide their preferred method of communication with members of the press.

Within the Cabinet Office press office, there is not a single telephone number, communication takes place via xxx@xxx.xx.
wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_223
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-02)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-02 conversation_223

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether staff are permitted to hold more than one government pass with different (a) names, (b) photographs and (c) genders. \p Georgia Gould: Civil Servants are only allowed to hold 1 Government Pass (Common Civil Service Pass or GovPass) at any time.

In 2020, under the previous administration, an exemption was introduced, which allows for individuals to apply for a second pass to reflect their identity if it is deemed that current arrangements are unsupportive. This arrangement was intended to support gender fluid members of staff or those who are transitioning.