theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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James MacCleary:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of classifying stage 4 breast cancer as very severe in relation to access to life-saving drugs. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The Department understands the impact that cancer has on those living with it and their families, and the urgent need for new treatment options.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is an independent body and is responsible for developing the methods and processes it uses to evaluate whether new medicines should be recommended for routine National Health Service funding.

Whilst no such assessment has been made, in developing recommendations on whether medicines represent a clinically and cost-effective use of NHS resources, NICE is able to apply a weighting that recognises the additional value that society places on treatments for severe conditions. The weighting that is applied is calculated for each appraisal based on information on the expected shortfall in life expectancy and quality of life of people with the condition, considering existing treatment options. NICE has concluded for several appraisals of medicines for late-stage breast cancer that a weighting should be applied based on the severity of the condition and has recommended all but one of the new medicines for the treatment of breast cancer, including advanced breast cancer, that it has evaluated since 2018. These treatments are now available for the treatment of NHS patients.

NICE’s methods that are used for determining whether an appraisal qualifies for a weighting under the severity modifier have been developed through extensive engagement with stakeholders and through public consultation.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-09)

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Freddie van Mierlo:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that NICE appraisals for (a) Duchenne muscular dystrophy and (b) other rare, progressive conditions take into account urgency of access. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) aims wherever possible to issue guidance on new medicines close to the time of licensing to ensure that patients can benefit from rapid access to clinically and cost-effective new medicines. NICE’s ability to do so is contingent on the company notifying NICE of its launch plans at an early stage and providing a timely evidence submission.

The Life Sciences Sector Plan sets out the measures we are taking that will mean that patients are able to access medicines three to six months faster, including improved alignment between decisions from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and NICE guidance publication.

The Life Sciences Sector Plan is available at the following link:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/688c90a8e8ba9507fc1b090c/Life_Sciences_Sector_Plan.pdf
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Cameron Thomas:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to hold discussions with leaders of mental health services on meeting the requirements of the statutory duty of candour. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The Government is supportive of the review it inherited into the effectiveness of the statutory duty of candour for health and social care providers. Our aim is to ensure that all providers, including mental health trusts, and their leaders act upon the duty consistently and effectively to improve openness, coupled with effective enforcement by the Care Quality Commission.

The review included a call for evidence, and the Government published its findings on 26 November 2024. These findings are available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/findings-of-the-call-for-evidence-on-the-statutory-duty-of-candour/findings-of-the-call-for-evidence-on-the-statutory-duty-of-candour

The Government also launched a public consultation on 26 November 2024, on proposals to regulate National Health Service managers. This sought views on making managers, including those in mental health providers, accountable for ensuring that the statutory duty is correctly followed in their organisation. In finalising the review on the statutory duty of candour, we are considering our proposals on candour set out in the Government’s response to the consultation, which was published on 21 July 2024, and other areas including recommendations made by the Infected Blood Inquiry. The consultation response is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/leading-the-nhs-proposals-to-regulate-nhs-managers/outcome/leading-the-nhs-proposals-to-regulate-nhs-managers-consultation-response
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-09)

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Gregory Stafford:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the conclusive findings were of the Government-funded psilocybin trial that concluded in February 2024. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Clinician Scientist Fellowship titled ‘A Feasibility RCT of Single-Dose Psilocybin in Unipolar Depressive Disorder Resistant to Standard Treatments’ is shown on the NIHR Funding and Awards website as concluding in February 2024. The progress of this award was significantly delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The results are therefore not yet available and are due to be released in 2026.

The main aim of this award is to investigate the feasibility of conducting a trial in this patient group and to contribute towards the design of a more definitive study. The award has resulted in the creation of the Psychoactive Trials Group at King’s College London, which is one of the world’s most experienced clinical research teams in this emerging area of treatment.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-09)

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Cameron Thomas:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of rates of sexual assault incidents perpetrated by mental health staff conducting Mental Health Act Section 17 escort duties or similar protective observations. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: It is wholly unacceptable for any patient or member of staff to experience violence or harassment of any kind in National Health Service settings, and all organisations must take robust and compassionate action to prevent it. The Government is committed to supporting and challenging the system to ensure a safe environment for our staff and patients.

Although no direct assessment of policy implications on rates of sexual assaults has been made, in September 2023, the Sexual Safety Charter was launched by NHS England with the aim of promoting a zero-tolerance approach towards sexual misconduct in the workplace. Every NHS trust and integrated care board (ICB) have since signed up to the Charter and are actively working to implement its ten principles to tackle unwanted, inappropriate or harmful sexual behaviour in the workplace.

In October 2024, NHS England launched a new national sexual misconduct people policy framework and training to help staff right across the NHS to ensure they are taking the right steps in recognising, reporting and acting on sexual misconduct at work. The new framework outlines how those working in the health service should recognise, report and act on sexual misconduct in the workplace, against staff or patients. The framework is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/national-people-sexual-misconduct-policy-framework/

NHS England is currently measuring the uptake of framework across all trusts and ICBs, including gathering key feedback about its impact and effectiveness so far. Feedback will be used to identify areas where organisations need support in implementing to achieve a sexual safety culture.

Several tools and resources have been developed by NHS England for trusts and ICBs to adopt and take further actions on sexual misconduct. This includes the first-ever NHS-wide training on sexual misconduct awareness, now available to the entire workforce, including mental health staff conducting Mental Health Act Section 17 escort duties.

NHS England has recently written to providers and asked them to take further steps to identify potential perpetrators of sexual misconduct and to redouble efforts to protect staff and patients.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-09)

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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to page 12 of the policy paper entitled 10 Year Health Plan for England: fit for the future, published on 3 July 2025, how long individualised genomic data for newborns will be retained. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The 10-Year Health Plan set out an ambition to offer newborn genomic testing as part of routine care within the next decade. Delivering against this ambition will be subject to evidence gathered through the Generation Study. This research programme is evaluating the effectiveness of using whole genome sequencing to test 100,000 newborns for more than 200 rare genetic conditions.

With parental consent, data is stored securely in the existing National Genomic Research Library which, with patient consent, already stores genomic data from the NHS Genomic Medicine Service to support ethical research. The study is exploring the risks and benefits of storing an individual's genome over their lifetime. Therefore, genomic data will be stored throughout the child’s life, unless consent is withdrawn. Consent is an ongoing process, and parents can withdraw their child at any time before the age of 16 years old, when the child will be asked to re-consent. The study will deliver an evaluation report which will inform future policy decisions around the storage of personal, including genomic, data.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-09)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, CP 1337, published on 23 June 2025, what progress he has made on doubling commercial interventional trial participants by the end of 2025. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The Department is monitoring progress on commercial interventional trial participation via the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The number of participants recruited to commercial interventional trials in the United Kingdom was 21,108 in 2024/25 and 4,635 in the first quarter of 2025/26.

To ensure the UK’s international competitiveness and to attract more commercial interventional trials to the UK, the Government has implemented a Study Set-Up Plan through the 4-nation UK Clinical Research Delivery (UKCRD) programme. The second and final phase of the UKCRD Study Set-Up Plan was completed in June 2025, as part of efforts to cut clinical trials study set up times to 150 days by March 2026.

The NIHR is also supporting increased participation in clinical trials with the online service 'Be Part of Research', making it easier for people to find and take part in health and care research and for researchers to recruit suitable participants.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-09)

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James Naish:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when NICE last reviewed its guidance on the (a) availability and (b) prescribing of T3 for the treatment of thyroid cancer; and whether he has plans to improve access to T3 for patients where it is clinically indicated. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has not made any recommendations on the use of liothyronine in the treatment of thyroid cancer. NICE published a guideline on the assessment and management of thyroid cancer in December 2022. There are currently no plans to review the guideline.

NHS England produced advice for prescribers on the use of liothyronine, otherwise known as T3, in August 2023 that sets out details on those patients that may benefit from T3 and how prescribers can prescribe this medicine to those patients. It recommends liothyronine as part of the management of thyroid cancer in preparation for radioiodine remnant ablation and radioiodine therapy. The advice is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/liothyronine-advice-for-prescribers/

We are aware that liothyronine 20 microgram vials will be out of stock from October 2025 until the end of April 2026. NHS England will be issuing national communications containing advice during the period of disruption to supply of the licensed product, outlining the availability of unlicensed imports and other clinical alternatives. NHS England is not aware of any supply issues affecting oral presentations of liothyronine.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-09)

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Matt Vickers:To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much funding his Department has allocated to community mental health transformation programmes in the North East since 2022. \p Dr Zubir Ahmed: The following table shows the funding allocated to community mental health transformation programmes in the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board area:

Year

Allocated Funding

2022/23

£17.4 million

2023/24

£21.7 million

2024/25

£22.1 million

Source: NHS England

Note: These figures represent service development funding directed at transformation and do not represent the total amount allocated to community mental health services in the area.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-09)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what progress she has made in delivering the Early Years Childcare Reform Programme. \p Olivia Bailey: From 1 September, hundreds of thousands of families are better able to balance work and family life, with parents who use their full entitlement saving an average of £7,500 a year, and more children getting the high quality early education that will give them the best start in life.

To support the expansion of childcare, the government has supported early years workforce recruitment through the ‘Do Something Big’ campaign, financial incentives and new routes into the profession. We have invested over £8 billion into early years entitlements in 2025/26 and created thousands more places through the school-based nurseries programme. Workforce has grown significantly, with 18,200 more staff delivering entitlements in private, voluntary and independent providers in 2025, a 7.2% rise from the previous year.

There are over 5,800 more providers delivering childcare entitlements this year, the first increase in five years, and the biggest increase since data became available in 2018.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-09)

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Manuela Perteghella:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many students were entered into English GCSE exams at the age of (a) 16 and under and (b) post-16 in (i) 2018, (ii) 2019, (iii) 2020, (iv) 2021, (v) 2022, (vi) 2023, (vii) 2024 and (viii) 2025. \p Georgia Gould: The department publishes the number of pupils at the end of key stage 4 who entered GCSE English from the 2017/18 to 2023/24 academic year.

The department also publishes the number of students at the end of 16 to 18 study who entered for GCSE English from the 2019/20 to 2023/24 academic year. This data is not published for 2017/18 or 2018/19. The data for these two years can be found in the attached document.

Data relating to 2024/25 will be published in October 2025 for pupils at the end of key stage 4, and November 2025 for students at the end of 16 to 18 study.

The data relating to pupils at the end of key stage 4 can be found here:

This data becomes available in October or November of each year.

The data relating to students at the end of 16 to 18 study can be found here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/a-level-and-other-16-to-18-results/2023-24. GCSE English entries comprise entries to GCSE English Language, English Literature, and English Language and Literature.

Students studying GCSE English 16-18 (xlsx, 23.5KB)
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Cameron Thomas:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of the increase in nursery fees on the finances of families with nursery-age children. \p Olivia Bailey: In 2025/26, the department plans to provide over £8 billion for the early years entitlements as we roll out their expansion. This represents an additional £2 billion compared to 2024/25.

The government’s roll out of an expansion to the funded hours of childcare working parents are entitled to began in April 2024, and parents have been accessing 30 hours per week from the term after their child turns nine months old since 1 September 2025. This marks the final stage of the rollout and will save eligible families who use their full entitlement £7,500 a year on average.

The government will provide an additional £1.6 billion per year by 2028/29, compared to 2025/26, to continue the expansion of government-funded childcare for working parents.

Additionally, the Universal Credit childcare offer supports claimants with the costs of childcare, no matter how many hours they work. Tax-Free Childcare remains available for working parents of children aged 0-11, or up to 17 for eligible disabled children.
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Lisa Smart:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of reminding parents who are claiming free childcare for working parents to reconfirm their details by (a) telephone call and (b) letter. \p Olivia Bailey: It is the government’s ambition that all families have access to high quality, affordable and flexible early education and care, giving every child the best start in life and delivering on our Plan for Change. The department is delivering more support to working families than ever with the rollout of 30 hours government-funded childcare. Reconfirmation ensures that parents continue to meet the eligibility criteria. Eligibility for 30 hours is based on expected income for the next three months.

Parents receive an email and/or text prompt four weeks before their reconfirmation deadline and again two weeks before the deadline if they still have not reconfirmed. This email will remind parents that they will need to confirm their details are up to date and will provide instructions on how to reconfirm.

Parents who do not have access to a mobile phone or email address will receive letters reminding them to reconfirm.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-09)

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Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to support young Ukrainians commencing their (a) primary, (b) secondary and (c) tertiary education in the UK. \p Georgia Gould: Since its launch, 750 schools across Ukraine and the UK have applied to take part in the 100 Year Partnership Programme. This unique initiative between the UK and Ukraine will support schools to build lasting international partnerships through shared projects on reading for pleasure, that will support pupils, expand horizons, build confidence and boost mental wellbeing.

Schools are responsible for ensuring that all their pupils, including those classed as having English as an additional language (EAL), can access the full curriculum and have opportunity to achieve and thrive, building the knowledge and skills for life, no matter their background or circumstance.

In the 2024/25 academic year, £484 million was allocated to schools via the EAL factor in the national funding formula. Schools also have flexibility over how they use their overall budget to support EAL pupils.

Most young people legally residing in England will be eligible for a funded 16-19 study programme at a college, school or other 16-19 provider. Study programmes should be tailored to the needs of young people and include appropriate support.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-09)

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Victoria Collins:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on local planning policies supporting the expansion of early years provision through the (a) protection and (b) promotion of (i) high-quality and (ii) home-based childcare settings. \p Olivia Bailey: It is the government’s ambition that all families have access to high quality, affordable and flexible early education and care, giving every child the best start in life and delivering on our Plan for Change. In 2025/26 alone, we plan to provide over £8 billion for the early years entitlements, which is an additional £2 billion (over 30% increase) compared to 2024/25, as we roll out the expansion of the entitlements. The government is boosting availability and increasing access to childcare for families through the school-based nurseries programme, including school led provision and private, voluntary and independent providers operating from school sites.

The department has regular contact with each local authority in England about their sufficiency of childcare and any issues they are facing. Where local authorities report sufficiency challenges, we discuss what action the local authority is taking and, where needed, support the local authority with any specific requirements through our childcare sufficiency support contract.

The department continues to help people discover rewarding early years careers through the ‘Do Something Big’ national recruitment campaign, building on our pilot of delivering financial incentives in 38 local authorities this year. This is alongside exploring ways to make childcare more accessible, including supporting childminders in adapting their homes, accessing community spaces and introducing flexibilities for childminders to work with more children from home or on non-domestic premises. We are also looking at a proposed professional register for early years staff, a career framework to support progression, and recognition and increased inspection frequency by Ofsted to ensure quality standards are maintained. Childminders will also be part of the Best Start Family Service, which aims to integrate early years support across education, health and community services.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-09)

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Lisa Smart:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of issuing further reminders to parents who claim free childcare for working parents to reconfirm their details after the deadline has passed. \p Olivia Bailey: It is our ambition that all families have access to high quality, affordable and flexible early education and care, giving every child the best start in life and delivering on our Plan for Change. We are delivering more support to working families than ever with the rollout of 30 hours government-funded childcare. Reconfirmation ensures parents continue to meet the eligibility criteria, which is based on expected income for the next three months. To reconfirm, parents receive an email and/or text prompt four weeks and two weeks before the reconfirmation deadline.

A notification is also sent on deadline date to notify a parent they are no longer eligible and to reconfirm as soon as possible.

If a child is already in a funded place, they will enter a ‘grace period’ which allows the child to continue their place temporarily. If the parent becomes eligible again during this period, the child can continue to access their place. Specific grace period dates are set out in the department’s statutory guidance.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-09)

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Cameron Thomas:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to financially support parents of children who attend nursery. \p Olivia Bailey: It is the government’s ambition that all families have access to high quality, affordable and flexible early education and care, giving every child the best start in life and delivering on our Plan for Change.

To support parents with the cost of childcare, the department offers:

More information can be found at the new Best Start in Life parent hub: https://www.beststartinlife.gov.uk/.
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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to paragraph 23 on page 19 of the Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June 2025, whether her Department has allocated funding to help develop understanding of the Armed Forces among young people in schools. \p Georgia Gould: The Strategic Defence Review (SDR) states that, as part of a national conversation on security, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) will work with the department to develop understanding of the armed forces in schools.

The department works jointly with MoD on the Cadet Expansion Programme, which was launched to establish new cadet units in English state secondary schools. We will continue to work with MoD as they implement the SDR’s recommendation to expand in-school and community-based Cadet Forces.

We will also work with MoD on the SDR’s recommendation to increase understanding of the armed forces in schools in a way that creates opportunities.
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Mr Peter Bedford:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that (a) Leicestershire County Council and (b) other local authorities, apply the statutory guidance on Free Early Education Entitlement funding in a manner that (i) supports flexibility for working families and (ii) does not penalise private nurseries based on parental drop-off and collection times. \p Olivia Bailey: The department regularly speaks with all local authorities in England, including Leicestershire County Council, to monitor childcare sufficiency.

The statutory guidance makes clear that local authorities should ensure that providers work with parents so that parents understand which hours and sessions can be taken as free provision. Not all providers will be able to offer fully flexible places, however providers should work with parents to ensure that, as far as possible, the pattern of the entitlement hours is convenient for parents’ working hours.

Over 500,000 children will benefit from additional funded hours this term which means that hundreds of thousands of families are better able to balance work and family life, with parents who use their full entitlement saving an average of £7,500 a year, and more children getting the high quality early education that will give them the best start in life.
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Lisa Smart:To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions her Department has had with local authorities on ensuring the availability of support for parents of children with severe SEND needs who require two-to-one support during the school holidays. \p Olivia Bailey: Local authorities have a legal duty to complete an annual childcare sufficiency assessment. In this assessment, they must have regard to the needs of parents in their area for the provision of childcare which is suitable for disabled children. Where adequate childcare provision is not available, parents have the right to request a wraparound or holiday childcare place for their child.

The holiday activities and food (HAF) programme funding is primarily for school-aged children from reception to year 11 who receive benefits-related free school meals (FSM). Local authorities have discretion to use up to 15% of their funding to provide free holiday club places for children who are not in receipt of benefits-related FSM but who the local authority believes could benefit from HAF provision.

The department regularly meets with local authorities to discuss HAF provision and encourages them to engage with local and national organisations, including special schools with expertise in working with children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) or additional needs. Local authorities are obligated to include the numbers of children with SEND or additional needs who have participated in their programme in their post provision reporting to us.
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Mike Wood:To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, whether the Cabinet Office has funded Common Purpose since 4 July 2024. \p Olivia Bailey: Common Purpose was paid to provide a one-off day of team development for the Office of Equality and Opportunity in February 2025.
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Dr Scott Arthur:To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, if she will publish a timeline for introducing trans-inclusive legislation banning conversion practices. \p Olivia Bailey: This Government’s position is that conversion practices are abuse. Such practices have no place in society and must be stopped.

This is a complex issue, and it is imperative that we get this right.That is why, in collaboration with Ministerial colleagues, my officials and I are working hard to draft legislation that protects LGBT+ individuals from these abusive practices.

We remain committed to bringing forward a full trans-inclusive ban on conversion practices, starting with publishing our draft Bill later this session for pre-legislative scrutiny.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how attendees at the College for National Security are selected. \p Anna Turley: Online training courses provided by the College for National Security are open to all civil servants, public servants and crown servants. Attendance at events held by the College are approved on a first come first served basis. For certain practitioner courses, a short application process is sometimes required. When required, these applications are anonymously evaluated based on the applicant’s experience, interest and ambition in the subject. The College will sometimes curate the learning groups to ensure a good mix of departments. As its learner base grows, the College will keep its systems under review.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 12 May 2025 to Question 49543, how many of the houses reacquired by his Department in January 2025 from Annington Homes have been used to house Afghans brought to the UK via (a) the Afghan Resettlement Programme and (b) separately as a subset of the Afghan Response Route. \p Luke Pollard: Surplus SFA not needed for our personnel have been used in certain circumstances. 795 of the 36,000 properties bought back from Annington Homes in January 2025 have been used to house Afghans who worked alongside out troops in Afghanistan who have been brought to the UK via the Afghan Resettlement Programme (ARAP).

I refer the honourable member to the answer to PQ 72330 which provides the number of Afghan Response Route (ARR) Eligible Persons (EP) accommodated on the Defence Estate on 4 September 2025. The Department does not hold data on which former Annington Homes properties are occupied by ARR EPs.
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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Afghans housed in Service Families Accommodation under Operation Lazurite were brought to the UK under the Afghan Response Route. \p Luke Pollard: We are committed to honouring the promise made to those Afghans who supported the UK mission in Afghanistan, often at great personal risk.

As of 4 September 2025, there are 97 Afghan Response Route (ARR) eligible families residing in Settled Service Family Accommodation (SSFA). MOD does not hold data on the specific number of individuals in each SSFA. There are 293 ARR eligible persons residing in temporary accommodation on the Defence Estate which includes transitional SFA and barrack block style accommodation.

The Afghan Resettlement Programme provides our Afghan friends and allies with the opportunity to begin new lives in the UK. Each arrival is entitled to nine months transitional accommodation – allowing them time to orient themselves to the UK, establish roots and integrate into communities to begin the path to self-sufficiency.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-21)

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Alex Mayer:To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, when the external windows were last cleaned on (a) Norman Shaw South, (b) Portcullis House and (c) Richmond House. \p Nick Smith: The external windows were last cleaned on the following dates.

(a) Norman Shaw South: South, East and West façade were last cleaned in February 2025, with the next clean scheduled in August 2025. The North façade is unable to be cleaned due to reach and wash equipment unable to access due to the Norman Shaw North works.

(b) Portcullis House: Internal façade (overlooking the Atrium) was cleaned in June 2025 and the external façade was cleaned in May 2025; both areas scheduled to be cleaned in November 2025.

(c) Richmond House windows last cleaned in April 2025 with the next clean scheduled for October 2025.
wrans/answers2025-07-21 conversation_2
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-21 conversation_2

Mike Wood:To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, what was the (a) percentage and (b) cash term monetary change in average fees for the House of Commons nursery in (i) 2024-25 and (ii) 2025-26. \p Nick Smith: The House of Commons Commission has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
wrans/answers2025-07-21 conversation_3
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-21 conversation_3

Mike Wood:To ask the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney, representing the House of Commons Commission, pursuant to the Answer of 21 May 2025 to Question 52332 on House of Commons: Morning Star, what criteria the House uses to determine the number of copies ordered. \p Nick Smith: The Library takes one copy of each daily national newspaper which is made available in the Members’ Library. Additional copies of titles are only taken if Library staff determine there is sufficient demand. Newspaper orders, including numbers of copies, are reviewed annually to ensure they are still meeting Members’ needs.

Further copies are placed in the Members’ Tea Room, Smoking Room, and Portcullis House Atrium, as previously requested by Members.

In June 2025, the Administration Committee approved a review of newspaper provision in non-Library areas, to look at both quantities and locations of hard-copy newspapers. This will be completed by the House Service post summer recess.
wrans/answers2025-07-21 conversation_4
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-21 conversation_4

Andy Slaughter:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when she plans for the Legal Aid Agency’s case management system to be fully operational, following the recent data breach. \p Sarah Sackman: This has been an unprecedented event and every effort is being made to restore services following the criminal attack on our systems. The Legal Aid Agency’s (LAA) digital services have been taken offline to negate the threat and prevent further exposure of legal aid providers and users. We have been able to return some systems to internal use, enabling an improved ability to support criminal legal aid applications and payments.

We cannot confirm a specific timescale for full service restoration. In the interim, the LAA will continue to provide updates as soon as they are available and will work closely with representative bodies to ensure any extended or refined contingency measures support providers and their clients to the maximum extent. All updates, including contingency arrangements, are published on the LAA’s dedicated cyber security incident webpage Legal Aid Agency cyber security incident - GOV.UK.

Contingency measures have been implemented to ensure that access to legal aid remains available and that providers are receiving payments. This included the implementation of emergency legislation on 27 June. The new legislation provides for increased delegation of powers to providers and removes civil client contributions. The average payment scheme already operating in civil legal aid will continue.

The LAA retains all data impacted by this incident. There is no evidence of data being permanently lost or destroyed. However, while systems are offline some data is not accessible. Access will be restored as part of service restoration.

The recent data breach is the result of serious criminal activity, but it was enabled by the fragility of the LAA’s IT systems as a result of the long years of underinvestment under the last Conservative Government. By contrast, since taking power this Government has prioritised work to reverse the damage of over a decade of under-investment. That includes the allocation of over £20 million in extra funding this year to stabilise and transform the Legal Aid Agency digital services. This investment will make the system more robust and resilient in the face of similar cyber-attacks in future.
wrans/answers2025-07-21 conversation_5
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-21 conversation_5

Sir Christopher Chope:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people have applied for appointment as a (a) First-Tier Tribunal Judge (Immigration and Asylum) and (b) Upper Tribunal Judge (Immigration and Asylum) in the last 12 months; and how many of those applications (i) were successful, (ii) were rejected and (iii) are outstanding. \p Sarah Sackman: We are maintaining investment in the annual recruitment of about 1,000 judges and tribunal members across all courts and tribunals.

Recruitment was completed in 2024 for salaried and fee-paid judges of the FTT, including for the IAC, and for salaried and fee-paid judges of the Upper Tribunal IAC. Deployment to a specific FTT chamber is the responsibility of the Senior President of Tribunals.

The independent Judicial Appointments Commission publishes data once recruitment is completed: https://judicialappointments.gov.uk/completed-exercises/.

Information on the number of judges in post, leavers, new appointments and promotions is published annually at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/judicial-diversity-statistics.

Recruitment exercises which commenced in 2024 for the First-tier Tribunal, including the IAC, are ongoing, with recommendations due later this year. Further recruitment will commence later in 2025. There is no ongoing or currently planned recruitment to the Upper Tribunal IAC.
wrans/answers2025-07-21 conversation_6
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-21 conversation_6

Richard Burgon:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether her Department plans to take steps to reduce the waiting time for appeal hearings in the First-tier Tribunal (Social Security and Child Support). \p Sarah Sackman: We are working to reduce the outstanding caseload across the Social Entitlement Chamber of the First-tier Tribunal, which includes the Social Security and Child Support jurisdiction. This is key to reducing the waiting time for tribunal hearings.

HMCTS continues to invest in improving tribunal productivity through the recruitment of additional Judges, the deployment of Legal Officers to actively manage cases, the development of modern case management systems and the use of remote hearing technology.

Data on Tribunals performance is published by the Ministry of Justice on a quarterly basis. Receipts, disposals and the outstanding caseload for individual Chambers in the First-tier Tribunal and Upper Tribunal, the Employment Tribunal and the Employment Appeal Tribunal can be found at the link below: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/tribunals-statistics.
wrans/answers2025-07-21 conversation_7
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-21 conversation_7

Andy Slaughter:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the response to the Legal Aid Agency data breach on the implementation of the means test review proposals. \p Sarah Sackman: This is an unprecedented event and an evolving situation, and every effort is being made to restore systems following the criminal attack on our services. The impact on the system has affected implementation and delivery of intended legal aid fee uplifts in both crime and civil – we are working at pace to operationalise those commitments. More generally, the Government continues to give consideration to the financial criteria that governs legal aid eligibility.
wrans/answers2025-07-21 conversation_8
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-21 conversation_8

Tracy Gilbert:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether her Department plans to take steps to protect digital ownership. \p Sarah Sackman: The Government is taking steps to protect digital ownership by introducing the Property (Digital Assets etc) Bill. This Bill confirms that digital assets such as crypto-tokens can be recognised as personal property under the law of England and Wales, and Northern Ireland. This clearer legal recognition will provide greater certainty and legal protection for individuals and businesses who hold or transact with these assets, including in cases of theft, insolvency, inheritance, and when used as security for loans.

Justice is a devolved matter in Scotland, which has a distinct legal tradition in property law. The Scottish Government has been consulting separately on the recognition of digital assets as property under Scots law.
wrans/answers2025-07-21 conversation_10
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-21 conversation_10

Nick Timothy:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what information her Department holds on the number of foreign nationals in prisons who are on remand in the community since 2019, broken down by (a) year, (b) nationality and (c) offence committed. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: If a foreign national accused of a crime is held on remand, they are detained in custody ahead of trial and sentencing and will not be in the community. We are therefore not able to provide a response to this question as currently worded.

The Ministry of Justice does publish information on the number of Foreign National Offenders in prison which includes the number of Foreign Nationals in prison on remand. The latest available published data can be found at Table 1_Q_9 in the attached link: prison-population-31-Mar-2025.ods.

Foreign nationals who commit crime should be in no doubt that the law will be enforced. Where appropriate, the Ministry of Justice will work with the Home Office to pursue their deportation.
wrans/answers2025-07-21 conversation_11
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-21 conversation_11

Robert Jenrick:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many stab vests have been issued to prison officers since June 2025. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: Following the Lord Chancellor’s announcement on 3 June that we will be mandating Protective Body Armour (PBA – commonly referred to as "stab vests") for use in Separation Centres, Close Supervision Centres and Segregation Units in the Long-term High Secure Estate, we are working to ensure that PBA will be made and issued as quickly as possible.

Staff continue to have the ability to wear PBA (with other personal protective equiment) when necessary.
wrans/answers2025-07-21 conversation_12
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-21 conversation_12

Robert Jenrick:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many assaults on staff at prisons have been recorded in each month since 1 December 2024. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: Assaults on staff by month can be found on the bottom row on table 8e in the Safety in Custody Summary Tables, available at the following link: Safety-in-custody-summary-q4-2024_final_table.xlsx.

The Safety in Custody statistics are updated quarterly, and the next update will be published on 31 July.
wrans/answers2025-07-21 conversation_13
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-07-21)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-07-21 conversation_13

Robert Jenrick:To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when her Department plans to publish the next Safety in custody statistics. \p Sir Nicholas Dakin: Safety in Custody statistics are published quarterly, with the next publication due on 31 July 2025. This will cover deaths in prison custody to June 2025, and self-harm and assaults in prison custody to March 2025.

The statistics will be available at the following link: Safety in custody statistics - GOV.UK.