theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_40
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_40

Alex Brewer:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to support young people in supported accommodation. \p Sir Stephen Timms: It remains the department’s priority to support young people in supported accommodation.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) provides support with rent and other living costs through Housing Benefit and Universal Credit to eligible individuals (including young people) living in supported accommodation. Subject to criteria, individuals may be eligible for help with housing costs through Housing Benefit, to pay all or part of their rent and any eligible service charges. In 2023, DWP spent an estimated £4.1bn on Housing Benefit and Universal Credit housing entitlement for people living in supported accommodation.

To drive up quality of provision for people in supported accommodation, DWP is working alongside the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to implement measures arising from the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act. A government response to the first consultation on the Act is due to be published as soon as possible.

We also acknowledge there is a challenge arising from the interaction between Universal Credit and Housing Benefit for working age customers residing in supported and temporary accommodation.

We are considering options to improve work incentives for residents of supported housing and temporary accommodation, while taking into account the views of stakeholders. Any future decisions will be taken in the round and in the context of the current fiscal environment.
wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_41
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_41

Siân Berry:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to raise awareness and warn pensioners about scam messages on winter fuel payment eligibility. \p Torsten Bell: The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is taking a number of steps to protect our vulnerable customers from online benefit scams. This includes raising public awareness of benefit scam messages on the Gov.uk website. Our most recent Press Release relating to Winter Fuel Payment warned our customers to be alert to text message scams in advance of next month’s payments and urging them to forward any suspicious texts to 7726. This is free of charge and helps phone providers block the numbers involved. Customers are also encouraged to forward suspicious emails to xxx@xxx.xx.

We are also working together with Action Fraud raising awareness on social media. This is alongside DWP’s continued work with trusted partners and charities such as Independent Age to ensure accurate and timely information is available. DWP has also developed a recorded message for our telephone lines to raise awareness of Winter Fuel Payment scams.
wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_42
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_42

Callum Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of potential factors limiting Pension Credit take-up among eligible low-income pensioners in rural areas. \p Torsten Bell: Research suggests that there are a range of reasons why some pensioners don’t claim Pension Credit. These include lack of awareness, uncertainty about eligibility and stigma around claiming benefits more generally. Some pensioners assume that they will not be entitled because they own their own home or have modest savings or other retirement income. Some may be put off by the claim processor be hesitant to provide personal or financial information. Pensioners in rural areas may face added barriers such as having limited access to local support services, social isolation or poor digital connectivity.

The Government is committed to ensuring that all pensioners, no matter where they live, receive the financial support they are entitled to. That is why we have been running the biggest ever Pension Credit taken-up campaign across the whole of Great Britain, promoting Pension Credit to eligible pensioners and their family and friends through adverts on television and radio; on social media and on digital screens in GP surgeries and Post Offices, as well as in the press. And Pension Credit can be claimed over the telephone, by post or online. Pensioners claiming by telephone can be supported and guided through the claim process by an agent while the online service is available 24/7 every day of the year and can be completed by a friend or relative.
wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_43
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_43

Callum Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what data his Department holds on local authority engagement with Pension Credit take-up campaigns. \p Torsten Bell: The Department regularly engages with all councils in Great Britain through the Local Authority Welfare Direct e-bulletins on GOV.UK, email communications to our local authority contact list, and through wider outreach work through partnership managers covering national Jobcentre Plus districts. DWP Communications keeps a log of the extensive support for the campaign offered by Local Authorities across Great Britain, which helps the Department to focus promotional efforts. Following our calls for support for the annual Pension Credit Week of Action in 2024, and in October this year, at least 200 councils across Great Britain have actively supported our awareness campaign through social media promotion and/or in-person/on-site distribution of our promotional materials, including posters and leaflets.
wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_44
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_44

Callum Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans his Department has to enhance digital access support for Pension Credit applications for older people. \p Torsten Bell: The Department is committed to making Pension Credit applications as accessible as possible for older people. We have invested in the Apply for Pension Credit online service (AfPC), which is designed to simply gather the information needed to make a claim, while ensuring that non-digital routes remain available for those who prefer or require them.

Assisted digital support is embedded into the service, including telephone and paper-based options for digitally excluded customers. To further enhance digital access support, we plan to introduce “save and return” to make online applications easier for those who need more time or assistance.
wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_45
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_45

Neil O'Brien:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many staff in his Department (a) did not retain employment following the completion of their probationary period and (b) had their probationary period extended in each of the last five years. \p Andrew Western: The information requested is not held centrally and due to the additional activity that would be required to provide it, would incur disproportionate cost.
wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_46
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_46

Neil O'Brien:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many performance reviews were undertaken for staff in (a) his Department and (b) its agencies in each of the last five years; in how many such cases performance was rated as unsatisfactory or below; how many staff left as a result of such a rating; and what proportion of full-time equivalent staff this represented. \p Andrew Western: DWPs performance management policy utilises a team-based approach. The policy requires the performance of every employee to be robustly assessed on an ongoing basis. However, the approach, and these reviews do not involve employees below the Senior Civil Service being assigned a rating. Consequently, we are unable to provide data on employees rated as either satisfactory or unsatisfactory performers, nor how many staff left as a result of such a rating.
wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_47
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_47

Helen Whately:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the (a) number of people Connect to Work is expected to support into work and (b) expected cost of the scheme per person successfully employed at the end of the programme. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The £1 billion Connect to Work programme covers all of England and Wales and will support around 300,000 people over its lifetime.

The guidance for the programme published on Gov.uk in November 2024, makes clear the expectation that all local areas will aim for at least 50% of participants experiencing some work during the 15-month tracking period (up to 21 months if support extended) from starting on the programme. The cost per participant will vary by Delivery Area (reflecting area and individual characteristics), but overall, the average unit cost for the programme is £3,800 per participant supported.

We plan to undertake a robust and proportionate evaluation of the Connect to Work programme.
wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_48
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_48

Luke Murphy:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of lone working practices introduced under the Co-op’s Project Lunar scheme on employee (a) safety and (b) wellbeing. \p Sir Stephen Timms: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 5 September 2025 to Question UIN 71094.
wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_49
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_49

Neil Coyle:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the Timms Review into Personal Independence Payments will include assessments of the potential impact of proposed changes on levels of homelessness. \p Sir Stephen Timms: The Timms Review will be co-produced with disabled people, the organisations that represent them, carers, clinicians, experts, parliamentarians and other stakeholders to ensure a wide range of views and voices are heard.

I have announced that the Review will be co-chaired by myself alongside Sharon Brennan and Dr Clenton Farquharson CBE. We will oversee a steering group made up of a majority of disabled people or representatives of disabled people’s organisations and recruited through an open and transparent Expression of Interest process.

It will be for the Review’s steering group to determine how it runs and what it recommends. The Terms of Reference give the group a broad remit to set out its strategic direction, priorities and workplan.
wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_50
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_50

Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of expanding the services available at job centres to (a) community organisations and (b) sports groups. \p Dame Diana Johnson: The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) supports customers through our job centre network and a range of venues within local communities such as community centres and sports venues. These services allow DWP to help harder to reach customers in an environment that suits their needs and will be a core principle of the jobs and careers service.
wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_51
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_51

Dan Carden:To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to improve safety standards in the construction industry. \p Sir Stephen Timms: In line with its published Strategy 2022 to 2032, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) focuses on the most effective and efficient ways to improve the health and safety performance of all industries in Great Britain, including construction. HSE uses a variety of approaches in the construction industry.

HSE visits construction sites where they have intelligence to suggest risk is not being managed adequately and investigates incidents in line with their published selection criteria. Planned inspection visits target work related health risks, the biggest cause of lost time and longer-term worker injury and address safety risks where present.

As well as site visits, HSE engages with construction through a variety of channels including delivering industry talks, stakeholder events and engaging with the media and publishing targeted articles. HSE works with and through stakeholders that represent a cross section of the industry including the Construction Leadership Council (CLC), the Construction Industry Advisory Committee (CONIAC) and Working Well Together (WWT).

There are dedicated HSE webpages and a range of freely available guidance to enable the construction industry to comply with health and safety law and keep themselves and others safe. HSE circulate a monthly construction e-bulletin which has 140,000 subscribers and, where needed, addresses specific safety risks.
wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_52
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_52

Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will take steps to commission an independent review of the Serious Crime Act 2007. \p Sarah Jones: This Government remains firmly committed to tackling serious and organised crime and the significant threat it poses to communities across the UK. It is essential that law enforcement agencies are equipped with robust and effective tools to respond to this challenge.

The Serious Crime Act 2007 was subject to full parliamentary scrutiny during its passage in Parliament. In addition, the Act underwent post-legislative scrutiny in 2012, the findings of which are publicly available.

This review assessed the implementation and impact of the Act and can be accessed via the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/post-legislative-scrutiny-of-the-serious-crime-act-2007.
wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_53
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_53

Paul Davies:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what training is provided to police officers to (a) identify and (b) respond to offenders with unmet (i) health and (ii) social needs to divert them away from the criminal justice system. \p Sarah Jones: The Home Office has previously published guidance for police forces and local partners outlining approaches they should consider, collectively, to support people they encounter who have mental health problems, learning difficulties and drug misuse issues.

That sets out that when the police identify a person whom they suspect of committing an offence as being vulnerable, forces have systems in place to refer people into a Liaison and Diversion scheme.

Health professionals within criminal justice Liaison and Diversion teams will then: assess the person’s health needs, refer them for treatment or support (when appropriate), and provide relevant information to police and courts to help inform charging and sentencing. Moreover, the College of Policing has published guidelines for ‘recognising and responding to vulnerability-related risks’, which provides a framework to ensure vulnerable people receive appropriate help during interactions with the police
wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_54
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_54

Paul Davies:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what role neighbourhood policing teams play in identifying people at risk of repeated low-level offending linked to homelessness or substance misuse. \p Sarah Jones: Prolific offenders and those in a cycle of reoffending commit a disproportionate amount of crime and societal harm and generate outsized demand for the police, criminal justice system and public services, making them an important focus for intervention.

Every neighbourhood across England and Wales now has named and contactable neighbourhood officer, dedicated to addressing the issues that matter most by working closely with their communities, businesses, and partner agencies, using local intelligence to problem solve complex issues such as repeat offending.

The Government supports the use of diversion and early intervention, recognising that we cannot tackle prolific offending through policing alone. Police forces have a range of powers available, such as out of court resolutions, to divert offenders away from the criminal justice system where appropriate.

Drugs are a major cause of crime and continued investment in treatment and recovery services will be vital to help reduce levels of reoffending. Part of the Drug and Alcohol Treatment Improvement Grant funds treatment and wraparound support for people sleeping rough or at risk of rough sleeping who have a drug need. This helps deliver integrated, cross-sector working in preventing homelessness and supporting substance misuse treatment and recovery.

In addition, Combating Drugs Partnerships play an important role in tackling prolific offending. These partnerships bring together police, probation, public health, the NHS and other local partners to deliver a whole-system, multi-agency response to drug-related harms, including tackling the crime and antisocial behaviour linked to drugs.

Overall, given the demand prolific offenders generate across various services and the complexity of their needs, the Home Office has ongoing discussions with other government Departments, the police, local authorities and Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) on how to continue to strengthen our approach to this cohort.
wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_55
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_55

Siân Berry:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many violent crimes perpetrated against sex workers were recorded by (a) police area, (b) sanction detection rate and (c) whether the crime was reported by the (i) victim and (ii) third party in the latest period for which data is available. \p Sarah Jones: The Home Office collects and publishes information on the number of sexual and violence against the person offences, and their investigative outcomes, recorded by the police in England and Wales. The latest information, broken down by police force area and by out outcome type, for the year ending June 2025, can be accessed here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/police-recorded-crime-and-outcomes-open-data-tables

The Home Office does not hold information on whether the victim of an offence has engaged in prostitution.
wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_56
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_56

Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department plans to review the guidance provided to police forces on the publication of information relating to Criminal Behaviour Orders on social media. \p Sarah Jones: The Home Office provides statutory guidance to support police and other local agencies in the use of the powers and tools in the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, including information on publicising Criminal Behaviour Orders (CBOs).

While UK Law, including data protection legislation, supports the legitimate sharing of information to prevent crime, it is the legal responsibility of the police to decide on a case-by-case basis if it is necessary, proportionate and lawful to share personal details about suspects or perpetrators.

The Information Commissioner’s Office also provides guidance on data sharing, including for police.
wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_57
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_57

Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of whether communications guidance for police officers permits sufficient communication of police activity. \p Sarah Jones: The Home Office does not direct operational policing decisions on police communications, including those related to the disclosure of information about a person suspected of committing an offence.

Guidance on police communications for officers is provided by the College of Policing, which operates independently of government. Forces are responsible for implementing this guidance, and officers are expected to exercise professional judgement in line with the law and operational priorities.
wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_58
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_58

Dr Al Pinkerton:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has plans to review guidance to police forces on the proportionality of enforcement measures in cases involving non-violent offences. \p Sarah Jones: When police officers are required to use force in order to achieve a lawful objective, the force used must be reasonable, proportionate and necessary in all circumstances. Where officers take the decision to use force, they are accountable through the law for their actions.

The College of Policing is responsible for setting guidance and standards which police abide by. Before being deployed all officers must pass comprehensive training, set by the College of Policing, in Public and Personal Safety which must be refreshed annually. Training reinforces the importance of legitimacy in police use of force at every level and is aimed at de-escalating the situation wherever possible to prevent harm.
wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_59
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_59

Dr Al Pinkerton:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that vulnerable adults are appropriately safeguarded during (a) arrest and (b) detention procedures. \p Sarah Jones: The Home Office sets the statutory framework for the treatment of vulnerable adults through the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) and its Codes of Practice.

PACE Code C requires police to identify whether people brought into police custody are vulnerable and provide additional safeguards if so. Where there is any doubt, officers must treat the person as vulnerable and make reasonable enquiries to confirm this.

Vulnerable adults must be supported by an appropriate adult, independent of the police, whose role is to safeguard their rights and welfare, assist communication, and ensure fair treatment. Except in exceptional circumstances, the appropriate adult must be present for key procedures, including:

Custody officers must also ensure that detainees receive clinical attention as soon as practicable if they appear to require it, including where they show signs of mental disorder. Where the detainee is vulnerable, the appropriate adult should be involved in discussions about health and welfare needs.

Before releasing a detainee from custody, the custody officers must assess any ongoing risks with regard to health, mental state and vulnerability and ensure that appropriate support or referrals are in place.
wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_60
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_60

Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will take steps to commission an independent review of the Public Order Act 1986. \p Sarah Jones: The Home Secretary launched a review of public order legislation on 5 October, including the Public Order Act 1986

The review will ensure police powers remain fit for purpose, are used consistently, and strike the right balance between protecting the public and upholding the right to lawful protest. Further details of the review will be announced in due course.
wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_61
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_61

Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what quantity of illegal meat was seized at ports in England in each of the last five years. \p Mike Tapp: Since 1st April 2020 the following number of illegal meat imports were seized by Border Force across England:

Year

Total Seizures

Amount Seized in KG

1st April 2020 - 31st March 2021

1,232

14,529

1st April 2021 - 31st March 2022

1,511

19,832

1st April 2022 - 31st March 2023

1,462

34,590

1st April 2023 - 31st March 2024

1,823

70,978

1st April 2024 - 31st July 2024

632

40,164

More recent data is not held in an accessible format and cannot be obtained without incurring a disproportionate cost.
wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_62
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_62

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of replacing the L16 81mm mortar. \p Luke Pollard: The L16A2 81 mm mortar remains an effective piece of equipment. The Army is regularly assessing the effectiveness of its capabilities to ensure that soldiers have the best possible range of weapons to help them achieve their mission.
wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_63
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_63

Neil O'Brien:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many staff in his Department (a) did not retain employment following the completion of their probationary period and (b) had their probationary period extended in each of the last five years. \p Louise Sandher-Jones: Ministry of Defence probation policy and guidance advises managers on the steps to take to assess a new employee’s suitability for the post and to provide support to enable them to succeed. It also advises on the steps to take where performance, attendance or conduct are not satisfactory. This can include exiting the employee or extending their probation to provide further evidence for a final decision on their suitability.

The table below shows the number of probations which were extended, and the number of staff who did not retain employment following the completion of their probationary period for the last five years:

Year

Extended Probations

Not retained after probation

2020

*

91

2021

*

216

2022

84

274

2023

175

322

2024

157

238

2025 (up to 31 Oct)

47

131

Total

463

1272

*The number of probations extended in the year 2020 and 2021 is not centrally held.
wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_65
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_65

Neil O'Brien:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many staff in his Department are recorded as having a (a) mental health condition and (b) physical disability by grade. \p Louise Sandher-Jones: Information on the number of people declaring a disability by each Government Department is published annually as part of Civil Service Statistics 2025, an accredited official statistics publication. Latest published data as at 31 March 2025 can be found at Table 29 of the statistical tables at the following web address:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/civil-service-statistics-2025

Information on mental health conditions or type of disability is not reported as part of the Annual Civil Service Employment Survey, however the Ministry of Defence (MOD) does record them based on voluntary self-declarations which is then recorded on the MOD’s HR systems.

The tables below outline the number of recorded Physical and Mental Health disabilities within the department as at 31 October 2025.

Physical Disability

Paid Grade Grouping

Total

Senior Civil Service

17

Senior Leadership Group

6

Grade 6

49

Senior Professional

35

Grade 7

103

Professional I

106

Senior Executive Officer

277

Professional II

243

Higher Executive Officer

365

Senior Technical Specialist I

160

Executive Officer

323

Senior Technical Specialist II

66

Administrative Officer

390

Technical Specialist I

70

Administrative Assistant

117

Apprentice

≤5

Graduate

≤5

NHS Grades

17

Outside Banding Structure

≤5

Retained Grades

61

Skillzone 1

14

Skillzone 2

58

Skillzone 3

32

Skillzone 4

6

Total

2,522

Mental Health Disability

Paid Grade Grouping

Total

Senior Civil Service

7

Senior Leadership Group

≤5

Grade 6

17

Senior Professional

11

Grade 7

47

Professional I

45

Senior Executive Officer

125

Professional II

112

Higher Executive Officer

164

Senior Technical Specialist I

135

Executive Officer

138

Senior Technical Specialist II

38

Administrative Officer

148

Technical Specialist I

42

Administrative Assistant

55

Apprentice

7

Graduate

≤5

NHS Grades

11

Retained Grades

24

Veterans Agency

≤5

Skillzone 1

≤5

Skillzone 2

18

Skillzone 3

8

Skillzone 4

≤5

Total

1,166

Please note that the data in these tables do not reflect the actual numbers of MOD employees with a mental health or physical condition, but the number of employees who have self-voluntarily recorded their condition as a disability.

Where figures are less than or equal to 5, the data is shown as ‘≤5’ to avoid identifying the individuals concerned.
wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_66
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_66

Neil O'Brien:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many performance reviews were undertaken for staff in (a) his Department and (b) its agencies in each of the last five years; in how many of those cases performance was rated as unsatisfactory or below; how many staff left as a result of such a rating; and what proportion of full-time equivalent staff this represented. \p Louise Sandher-Jones: It is taking time to collate the required information to answer the hon. Member's Question. I will write to him when the information is available, and a copy of this letter will be placed in the Library of The House.
wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_67
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_67

Neil O'Brien:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many staff left his Department in each of the last five years by grade. \p Louise Sandher-Jones: The table below shows the outflow of Ministry of Defence Civil Servants by grade within the last five years.

Grade

2020-21

2021-22

2022-23

2023-24

2024-25

Senior Civil Service

46

73

54

63

72

Grade 6

73

140

132

137

138

Grade 7

259

411

358

551

429

SEO

510

922

947

993

876

HEO

800

1,200

1,207

1,113

1,044

EO

724

1,088

969

873

745

AO

949

1,537

1,453

1,556

1,347

AA

309

412

446

455

478

Other Grades

88

120

457

225

40

Total

3,758

5,903

6,023

5,966

5,169
wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_68
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_68

Joe Morris:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to support Commonwealth war graves in the North East. \p Louise Sandher-Jones: During the Financial Year 2024-25, the Ministry of Defence paid the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) £56.31 Million Grant-in-Aid funding so that it may continue to honour, in perpetuity, the 1.7 million men and women of the Commonwealth forces who died during the First and Second World Wars by caring for 23,000 war memorials and war cemeteries around the world. Within CWGC’s North East region, more than 22,500 personnel are commemorated at almost 1,360 locations, including war memorials and cemeteries in Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, Durham, Yorkshire and Humberside.
wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_69
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_69

Will Stone:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make it his policy to raise the minimum age of military recruitment to 18. \p Louise Sandher-Jones: The Armed Forces have no plans to raise the minimum age of recruitment. All recruitment into the UK military is voluntary and no young person under the age of 18 years may join our Armed Forces unless their application is accompanied by the formal written consent of their parent or guardian. We take the duty of care towards all recruits seriously, in particular those under 18 years of age. We have robust, effective and independently verified safeguards in place to ensure that under-18s are cared for properly.

Service personnel aged under 18 are not deployed on hostile operations outside the UK or on any operations where they could be exposed to hostilities. All new recruits, regardless of age, can discharge within their first three to six months of Service.

Our policies on under-18s in Service comply with national and international law. In addition to the comprehensive welfare system that is in place for all Service personnel, we remain fully committed to meeting our obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, Optional Protocol on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict, and have taken steps to bestow special safeguards on young people under the age of 18.

Further, the provision of education and training for 16-year-old school leavers not only provides a route into the Armed Forces that complies with Government education policy and offers a significant foundation for development, but it also enables access to training in literacy and numeracy, as well as enrolment in apprenticeships. Ofsted regularly inspects our care of newly joined young recruits, and we are very proud of the standards we achieve.
wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_70
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_70

Will Stone:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many junior soldiers residing at the Army Foundation College in Harrogate were (a) referred to mental health services and (b) signed off sick by a medical professional due to mental ill health between 1 January 2019 and 30 December 2024. \p Louise Sandher-Jones: Between 1 January 2019 and 31 December 2024, 182 junior soldiers at AFC Harrogate underwent an initial assessment at a Ministry of Defence (MOD) Department of Community Mental Health (DCMH).

There are multiple routes for junior soldiers at the Army Foundation College (AFC) to access mental health services. These include the MOD DCMH and external Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).

Information on under 18s who were referred to CAMHS is not held centrally. There are various routes for referral to CAMHS, including self-referral and by external medical professionals, which the department does not track centrally.

With regard to the number of junior soldiers signed off sick by a medical professional due to mental ill health during the period 1 January 2019 to 30 December 2024, this information is only recorded on individual medical records. It is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_71
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_71

Neil O'Brien:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many employment tribunal claims have been lodged against his Department in for (a) unfair dismissal and (b) claims under the Equality Act 2010 in each of the last five years. \p Kate Dearden: On 1st July 2023 due to a Machinery of Government Change, the Department of International Trade (DIT) became the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), alongside parts of the Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). We therefore only hold information from DBT from 1st July 2023, and information from DIT before this date, and all information shared will be within these parameters.

Year / Category

No. Employment Tribunal Claims

2025

(a) unfair dismissal

1

(b) claims under the Equality Act 2010

4

2024

(a) unfair dismissal

4

(b) claims under the Equality Act 2010

4

2023

(a) unfair dismissal

4

(b) claims under the Equality Act 2010

4

2022

(a) unfair dismissal

0

(b) claims under the Equality Act 2010

1

2021

(a) unfair dismissal

3

(b) claims under the Equality Act 2010

1
wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_72
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_72

John Cooper:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of section 267 of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 on platform fees for digital subscriptions. \p Kate Dearden: The Government has consulted on how refunds should work when consumers exercise their statutory cooling-off rights (Consultation on the implementation of the new subscription contracts regime). We are analysing all the responses, including in relation to digital platform fees and views from the printed news sector.

The impact assessment for the subscriptions chapter in the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Act can be found here: Subscription traps: annex 2 impact assessment. Together the subscription measures are anticipated to provide £400m of consumer benefits per year and the estimated net direct cost to businesses is £171m per year. Sector-specific analysis has not been conducted.
wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_73
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_73

Siân Berry:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what information his Department holds on whether any UK companies are supplying (a) equipment and (b) services to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (i) detention centres and (ii) other activities. \p Chris Bryant: None.
wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_74
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_74

Neil O'Brien:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many performance reviews were undertaken for staff in (a) his Department and (b) its agencies in each of the last five years; in how many of those cases performance was rated as unsatisfactory or below; how many staff left as a result of such a rating; and what proportion of full-time equivalent staff that represented. \p Kate Dearden: On 1st July 2023 due to a Machinery of Government Change, the Department of International Trade (DIT) became the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), alongside parts of the Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). We therefore only hold information from DBT from 1st July 2023.

DBT does not hold performance management data for its agencies.

Performance reviews are held for every member of staff as per our Line Management Guidance. We capture this for all SCS, but results of delegated reviews (AA to Grade 6) are only partially available.

The data below shows performance reviews recorded in our system. Exact numbers of leavers due to poor performance and the percentages of such are withheld as disclosure could identify individuals and breach GDPR principles.

Performance year Runs from 1st April to 31st March

Number of staff with known ratings

Number Marked as ‘Not Met’ against performance

Leavers due to Poor Performance

2023-2024

3505

49

<5

2024-2025

3078

54

<5
wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_75
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_75

Neil O'Brien:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many staff left his Department in each of the last five years by grade. \p Kate Dearden: Information on the number of civil servants leaving each government department and organisation by responsibility level for the years 2021 to 2025 is published annually through the ‘Civil Service data browser’ as part of Civil Service Statistics 2025, an accredited official statistics publication. Information can be accessed through the Civil Service data browser for 2021 through 2025 at the following web address:

https://civil-service-statistics.jdac.service.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/

Here is the break down by grade in 2024/2025 and 2023/2024.

Leavers by grade

2024/2025

2023/2024*

AO/EO

123

118

HEO

139

115

SEO

155

132

G7

149

129

G6

46

33

SCS 1/2/3/4

33

16

Total

645

543

*Civil servants who left DBT payroll between 1 August 2023 and 31 March 2024.

The DBT was created in 2023. Complete staff record for DBT was only available since 1 August 2023. Leavers data prior to 1 August 2023 was provided by DBT’s predecessors, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Department for International Trade. This data is readily available on Gov.uk : https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/civil-service-statistics
wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_76
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_76

Neil O'Brien:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many staff in his Department (a) did not retain employment following the completion of their probationary period and (b) had their probationary period extended in each of the last five years. \p Kate Dearden: Department for Business and Trade’s (DBT) probation policy and guidance advises managers on the steps to take to assess a new employee’s suitability for the post and to provide support to enable them to succeed. It also advises on the steps to take where performance, attendance or conduct are not satisfactory. This can include exiting the employee or extending their probation to provide further evidence for a final decision on their suitability.

DBT recoded fewer than five staff members who were recruited into the civil service and did not pass their probation, and were subsequently dismissed, since DBT was created in 2023. Information on staff who had their probationary period extended is not available.
wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_77
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_77

Neil O'Brien:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many staff in his Department are recorded as having a (a) mental health condition and (b) physical disability by grade. \p Kate Dearden: Information on the number of people declaring a disability in department for Business and Trade (DBT) are published annually as part of Civil Service Statistics 2025, an accredited official statistics publication. The latest published data is accurate as of 31 March 2025 and can be found at Table 29 of the statistical tables at the following web address:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/civil-service-statistics-2025

As of 31 March 2025, a) 61 civil servants had self-reported having a Mental Ill Health condition and b) 102 civil servants had self-reported as having a Physical Disability (Facial Disfigurement, Speech impairment, Hearing Impairment, Manual Dexterity Condition, Mobility Condition or a Visual Impairment) in DBT. Here is the breakdown by grade:

A) Self-Reported Mental Ill Health Condition by Grade

Grade

Count

AO/EO

7

HEO

18

SEO

19

G7

12

G6

Less than 5

All SCS

Less than 5

Total

61*

b) Self-Reported Physical Disability by Grade

Grade

Count

AO/EO

6

HEO

25

SEO

23

G7

33

G6

8

All SCS

7

Total

102*

*As of March 2025, 61.6% of civil servants in DBT self-reported their disability status. Not all individuals who reported a disability provided information on the type or nature of their disability or condition.

Information for 31 March 2026 is due for publication in July 2026.
wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_78
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_78

Joe Morris:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what estimate his Department has made of the potential impact of foreign direct investment projects on economic growth in the North East in the last (a) five years and (b) ten years. \p Chris Bryant: DBT’s Official Statistics on inward investment at Inward investment results - GOV.UK show the number of Foreign Direct Investment projects and new jobs created in the North East as per the tables below.

2015-16

2016-17

2017-18

2018-19

2019-20

FDI projects

77

69

69

59

73

New jobs

2,991

4,609

2,379

2,188

2,979

2020-21

2021-22

2022-23

2023-24

2024-25

FDI projects

51

71

61

67

63

New jobs

1,373

5,843

3,047

4,296

2,064

The estimated economic impact is only published for DBT-supported projects at a UK level. This has been published since 2019-20 and is shown below.

2019-20

2020-21

2021-22

2022-23

2023-24

2024-25

Estimated economic impact (£m)

3,091

3,875

7,034

5,769

5,757

6,041
wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_79
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-10)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-10 conversation_79

Sir James Cleverly:To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the level of cement production in the UK. \p Chris McDonald: We routinely, for internal purposes, consider production levels of cement and other foundational industries products. We also maintain close contact with the Mineral Products Association, the industry trade body and individual businesses to consider and address the issues facing the sector.

The cement sector has been included in the Government's future Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), and some cement firms are supported by the British Industry Supercharger but not the Energy Intensive Industries (EII) Compensation Scheme.