Written Statements

Thursday 27th March 2025 Written Statements

Thursday 27 March 2025

Infected Blood Compensation Authority Contingency Fund Advance: Correction

Thursday 27th March 2025 Written Statements

[The Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office (Nick Thomas-Symonds)]

Further to my statement of 17 December, I hereby give notice that the Cabinet Office has received a Contingencies Fund advance to make compensation payments to victims of the infected blood scandal.

The Cabinet Office’s capital annually managed expenditure (AME) budget in its main estimate 2024-25 did not provide funding for compensation payments already approved by Parliament through the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024. This advance was used to quickly compensate victims of the infected blood scandal. This has been received through the supplementary estimate. This advance enabled compensation to be made ahead of Parliament formally approving the ambit and the associated expenditure.

Parliamentary approval for additional capital of £272,000,000 for this new expenditure was sought in a supplementary estimate for the Cabinet Office. Pending that approval, urgent expenditure estimated at £272,000,000 was met by repayable cash advances from the Contingencies Fund.

[HCWS557]

Devolved Government Funding 2024-25

Thursday 27th March 2025 Written Statements

[The Chief Secretary to the Treasury (Darren Jones)]

In addition to changes in devolved Government funding at supplementary estimates 2024-25, and in line with the statement of funding policy, the Welsh Government have chosen to draw down £125.000 million in resource DEL (excluding depreciation) and £50.000 million in capital DEL (general) from the Wales reserve in 2024-25. The Welsh Government have also chosen to switch £202.000 million from resource DEL (excluding depreciation) to capital DEL (general). These changes are in line with the funding arrangements set out in the Welsh Government’s fiscal framework.

There have been further changes to devolved Government funding due to the application of the Barnett formula—changes that were processed after the finalisation of supplementary estimates 2024-25. These have resulted in a change of £0.019 million CDEL (general) for the Welsh Government and £0.812 million CDEL (general) for the Northern Ireland Executive in 2024-25. The Scottish Government will carry forward their £1.975 million CDEL (general) increase to 2025-26 with no change to their funding for 2024-25.

The Welsh Government will also return £2.000 million CDEL (general) funding for the north Wales growth deal in 2024-25 and £7.000 million CDEL (general) funding for the construction of border control posts. This is to ensure the profile of funding better reflects the delivery of the deal and of border control post construction.

Revised 2024-25 funding is as follows:

Double Taxation Convention: United Kingdom and Peru

Thursday 27th March 2025 Written Statements

[The Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury (James Murray)]

A double taxation convention with Peru was signed in London on 20 March. The text of the convention is available on the HM Revenue and Customs pages of the gov.uk website and will be deposited in the Libraries of both Houses. The text of the convention will be scheduled to a draft Order in Council and laid before the House of Commons in due course.

[HCWS560]

School Places: Capital Funding

Thursday 27th March 2025 Written Statements

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education (Stephen Morgan)]

I am today announcing over £1 billion of new capital investment to support local authorities to create mainstream school places needed by September 2028. I am also confirming details of the £740 million of capital funding for the 2025-26 financial year to support the creation of school places for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) or who require alternative provision (AP), and details of £2.1 billion in capital funding for the 2025-26 financial year to improve the condition of the school and sixth-form college estate in England.

High and rising school standards for all children is at the heart of this Government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity and improve children’s outcomes through our plan for change. Ensuring that there are sufficient high-quality school places in well-maintained buildings is a critical part of driving forward this agenda.

Funding for mainstream school places

Today’s funding announcement will support local authorities to meet their statutory duty and create school places needed by September 2028.

This funding, £640 million of which will be allocated in the 2026-27 financial year, with a further £400 million allocated in 2027-28, is on top of almost £1.5 billion of basic need capital funding that has previously been announced to create new school places needed between 2024 and September 2026.

Funding for SEND and AP places

I am also confirming the details of the previously announced £740 million to support children and young people with SEND or who require AP.

This funding can be used to adapt classrooms to be more accessible for children with SEND, to create specialist facilities within mainstream schools that can deliver more intensive support adapted to suit the pupils’ needs, and to create special school places for pupils with the most complex needs.

Condition funding

We have increased funding to improve the condition of the estate for financial year 2025-26 to £2.1 billion, up from £1.8 billion committed for financial year 2024-25. This is in addition to our continued investment in the school rebuilding programme and targeted support for schools with RAAC.

The funding for financial year 2025-26 includes almost £1.4 billion in school condition allocations for eligible responsible bodies, including local authorities, large multi-academy trusts and large voluntary aided school bodies, such as dioceses, to decide how to invest across their schools. Allocations are partly informed by updated data on the relative condition of schools. It also includes almost £470 million available through the condition improvement fund, an annual bidding round for essential maintenance projects at schools in small and stand-alone academy trusts, small voluntary-aided bodies and sixth form colleges. Successful applications to the fund will be announced later in the spring. Almost £220 million in devolved formula capital (DFC) will be allocated directly for schools to spend on their own capital priorities.

Full details of this announcement, including the allocations for basic need, high needs, and condition funding, have been published on the Department for Education section on the gov.uk website here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/basic-need-allocations

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/high-needs-provision-capital-allocations

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/school-capital-funding

[HCWS559]

British Council Annual Report and Accounts 2023-24

Thursday 27th March 2025 Written Statements

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Mr Hamish Falconer)]

The Minister of State for International Development, Latin America and Caribbean, my noble Friend Baroness Chapman of Darlington, has today made the following statement:

The British Council is an important international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities for the UK. It supports peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide. It does this by uniquely combining the UK’s deep expertise in arts and culture, education and the English language, its global presence and relationships in over 100 countries, and its unparalleled access to young people and influencers around the world.

In 2023-24 the British Council received £161.5 million core grant in aid from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

With a total reach of 589 million people in 2023-24, the British Council creates mutually beneficial relationships between the people of all four nations of the UK and other countries. Such connections, based on an understanding of each other’s strengths and shared values, build an enduring trust. This helps strengthen the UK’s global reputation and influence, encouraging people from around the world to visit, study, trade and make alliances with the UK.

Copies of the British Council’s annual report and accounts for the 2023-24 financial year have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. The annual report can also be found at the British Council’s website: www.britishcouncil.org/about-us/how-we-work/corporate-reports

[HCWS563]

Six-monthly Report on Hong Kong: 1 July to 31 December 2024

Thursday 27th March 2025 Written Statements

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs (Catherine West)]

The latest six-monthly report on the implementation of the Sino-British joint declaration on Hong Kong was published today and can be found as an online attachment. It covers the period from 1 July to 31 December 2024. The report has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. A copy is also available on the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office website: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/six-monthly-report-on-hong-kong-july-to-december-2024. I commend the report to the House.

Attachments can be viewed online at: http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2025-03-27/HCWS558

[HCWS558]

Mental Health: Expected Spend for 2025-26

Thursday 27th March 2025 Written Statements

[The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Wes Streeting)]

I am today publishing this third annual statement, following the one made in March 2024 by my predecessor. The Health and Care Act 2022 introduced a statutory requirement for the Government to publish an annual statement setting out expectations for NHS mental health services spending. The statement aims to strengthen the accountability and transparency on decisions and spending relating to mental health, as part of the Government’s commitment to improve mental health services.

It also supports the Government’s commitment to uphold the mental health investment standard, which requires that integrated care boards’ spending on mental health grows at least in line with growth in overall recurrent funding allocations. This statement covers ICB spend on mental health within scope of the mental health investment standard, as well as national spending on mental health through transformation funding and through NHS England’s specialised commissioning. I am pleased to update the House that we will meet the mental health investment standard for the coming year.

Owing to the statutory requirement to make this statement before Parliament ahead of the new financial year, the figures for 2025-26 are the best current estimate based on projections that take account of the NHS planning guidance allocations, which were published on 30 January 2025. Figures for 2024-25 are based on the month 11 forecast, as full-year spend is not yet available. There have been minor changes to the recurrent baseline in 2023-24 due to final adjustments at year end, while the 2024-25 recurrent mandate now includes the impact of additional funding provided for elective recovery and the 2024-25 pay awards. Our 2025 mandate lays the foundations for longer-term reform and included improving the mental health of the nation as a priority of this Government and for the NHS.

I recently announced changes to the NHS operating model to move power from central Government to local leaders. The Darzi investigation highlighted that there were too many targets set for the NHS, which made it hard for local systems to prioritise their actions or be held properly accountable. We are giving systems greater control and flexibility over how funding is deployed to best meet the needs of their local population. The NHS planning guidance for 2025-26 sets out the first steps for reform and the immediate actions we are asking systems to take to deliver on the three big shifts needed: to move healthcare from hospitals to the community, analogue to digital, and sickness to prevention.

As stated above, I am committed to the mental health investment standard to support this Government’s national mental health objectives and, as outlined in the planning guidance, we expect all integrated care boards to meet the MHIS in 2025-26. Ringfenced funding for mental health will support the delivery of our key priorities, increase the number of children and young people accessing services, reduce local inequalities in access, and improve productivity. This commitment will support the delivery of effective courses of treatment within NHS talking therapies and increase access to individual placement and support, so we can reach those in most need of support while also supporting the Government’s objectives on economic growth.

In financial year 2024-25, mental health spending amounted to £14.9 billion and all 42 integrated care boards are forecasting to meet the mental health investment standard. Real-terms spending on mental health in 2024-25 is forecast to be £695 million higher than in 2023-24.

For 2025-26, mental health spending is forecast to amount to £15.6 billion. This represents another significant uplift in real-terms spending on mental health— £320 million—compared with the previous financial year. Real-terms growth in budgets will enable us to continue the roll-out of our manifesto commitments, including recruiting 8,500 mental health staff, modernising the Mental Health Act, providing access to specialist mental health professionals in every school, and creating a network of community Young Futures hubs.

The proportion of spend is almost exactly the same as it was last year, with a difference of just 0.07%. This is because of significant investment in other areas of healthcare. Much of this investment in other areas, such as investment to improve general practice, will also have secondary benefits for mental health care.

There are also important elements of mental health spending that are not included in these figures. This includes capital spending, where we have committed £75 million of investment to reduce out-of-area placements, as well as prescribing for mental health, spend on continuing healthcare and NHS England’s routine spend on training new mental health staff.

Consultation on Prohibiting Ninja Swords

Thursday 27th March 2025 Written Statements

[The Minister for Policing, Fire and Crime Prevention (Dame Diana Johnson)]

The Government are today publishing their response to the public consultation, “Prohibiting ninja swords: legal description and defences”. The consultation ran between 13 November and 11 December 2024. This was open to the public, businesses, the voluntary sector and community groups, and other organisations with a direct interest in the proposals.

The consultation received a total of 312 completed responses, and we are grateful to all those who took the time to respond. The Government response sets out our consideration of these responses.

The Government will introduce legislation to amend the Criminal Justice Act 1988 (Offensive Weapons) Order 1988, adding ninja swords to the prohibited list. This will mean that it will become an offence to manufacture, import, sell and generally supply or possess a ninja sword, unless a defence applies. Preceding a ban will be the surrender scheme, allowing individuals to claim compensation for ninja swords that they surrender.

A copy of the consultation response will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses and published on gov.uk.

[HCWS556]

Ninja Swords Ban: Statutory Instrument

Thursday 27th March 2025 Written Statements

[The Minister for Policing, Fire and Crime Prevention (Dame Diana Johnson)]

The Government are today laying before Parliament a statutory instrument to ban ninja swords. Under the Criminal Justice Act (Offensive Weapons Order) 1988, ninja swords will be added to the list of prohibited weapons, making it an offence to manufacture, import, sell or possess one.

The Government are delivering their manifesto commitment and making our streets safer by restricting access to ninja swords and preventing their use as weapons of crime. This will be known as part of Ronan’s law and is an important step forward in our mission to halve knife crime within a decade.

We sought views on the proposals across a four-week period through a public consultation, and the responses are in support of the ban. A copy of the Government’s response to the public consultation can be found on gov.uk.

The surrender scheme for ninja swords will precede the ban, enabling those in possession of a ninja swords to safely surrender it. Those who own a ninja sword on or prior to today, the cut-off date of 27 March—the day on which this statutory instrument is being laid in Parliament —will be eligible for compensation. Those who come into possession of a ninja sword after today will not be able to claim compensation. It will also be possible to surrender a ninja sword without seeking compensation or without attending a police station.

[HCWS554]

Zombie-style Knives: Surrender and Compensation Scheme

Thursday 27th March 2025 Written Statements

[The Minister for Policing, Fire and Crime Prevention (Dame Diana Johnson)]

The Government have implemented the ban on zombie-style knives and zombie-style machetes approved by Parliament last year. The ban came into force on 24 September 2024. It follows the holding of a surrender and compensation scheme that ran from 25 August and concluded on 23 September 2024. An analysis of the scheme is set out below.

Households Below Average Income: Statistics Release

Thursday 27th March 2025 Written Statements

[The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Liz Kendall)]

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has today published its annual statistics on incomes and living standards covering 2023-24.

This includes households below average income (HBAI), which contains estimates of household incomes and a range of low-income indicators for 2023-24, derived from the family resources survey.

Further publications in today’s release are: income dynamics, pensioners’ income series, children in low-income families, improving lives indicators, separated families statistics and the family resources survey. These publications cover the four statutory measures of child poverty required to be published by DWP under the Welfare Reform and Work Act 2016.

Today’s statistics underline how poverty and hardship increased substantially under the last Government. A total of 1.2 million more people were living in relative poverty after housing costs in 2023-24 than in 2010-11. That includes 900,000 more children and 200,000 more pensioners in poverty.

The statistics also show that median household incomes fell by 2% in 2023-24 compared to the year before, both before and after housing costs. Child poverty saw the biggest increases between 2022-23 and 2023-24, rising across all four measures: relative and absolute poverty, both before and after housing costs.

Nearly 1 in 5 children—2.6 million—were living in a food insecure household in 2023-24, up from 17% to 18% on the previous year. The number of individuals in households using a food bank in the previous 12 months increased by 500,000 to 2.8 million people in 2023-24, over 4% of the population. These are the highest numbers since records began.

The levels of poverty and food insecurity we inherited are unacceptable. The last Labour Government lifted 600,000 children and over a million pensioners out of poverty. This active Government are determined to drive down poverty, drive up living standards, and grow the economy—this Government’s No.1 priority.

We know that good work is the best route out of poverty. That is why, since the election, we have hit the ground running to get Britain working:

Delivering the biggest reforms to employment support in a generation with our £240 million get Britain working plan: creating a new jobs and careers service, giving Mayors and local leaders new powers and resources to join up work, health and skills support to drive down economic inactivity; and delivering a new youth guarantee so that all 18 to 22-year-olds in England are earning or learning.

Setting out decisive action to fix the broken benefits system to protect people who need support and help those who can into employment through our Pathways to Work Green Paper—including £1 billion a year in employment, skills and health support for disabled people.

Creating more good jobs in every part of the country in clean energy and through our modern industrial strategy.

Investing almost £26 billion in the health and social care system to get people back to health and back to work;

Alongside this, we have taken action to support people on the lowest incomes and those struggling the most, including by:

Boosting the national minimum wage for 3 million of the lowest paid full-time workers, putting up to £2,500 a year in their pockets from this April.

Announcing a permanent, above inflation rise to the standard allowance in universal credit, for the first time ever—increasing it from £92 per week in 2025-26 to £106 per week by 2029-30.

Introducing from April a new fair repayment rate that caps the level of debt repayments that can be taken from universal credit. This puts £420 a year on average into the pockets of 1.2 million of the poorest households.

Extending the household support fund in England until 31 March 2026, with £742 million for local authorities to help families and pensioners facing hardship and additional Barnett funding for the devolved Governments.

Poverty scars the lives and life chances of our children—because you cannot fulfil your potential without food in your belly or a decent roof over your head. So, in addition, we are bringing forward a child poverty strategy to ensure every child has the best start in life.

With our commitment to the triple lock, we are also protecting pensioners who have worked all their lives and deserve security in retirement. Unlike the previous Government, who left over 800,000 pensioners missing out on the pension credit they were entitled to, we are protecting the poorest pensioners by delivering the biggest ever drive to increase uptake. This has seen an 81% increase in applications since July 2024 compared with the same period last year, and 46,000 more awards compared with that period.

Today’s statistics serve to underscore the chances and choices that were denied by the last Government and our determination to support those who are struggling and unleash the potential of the British people.

[HCWS553]