Asked by: Lord Kempsell (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government which Arms Length Bodies have been shut down as a result of the ALB Review launched in April 2025.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Arm’s Length Bodies (ALB) review, launched in April 2025, is an ongoing, multi-phase programme designed to ensure public bodies provide value for money, eliminate duplication, and remain directly accountable to Ministers and Parliament.
Since the announcement of the review on 7 April 2025, the following bodies have been abolished or merged, with their essential functions either absorbed into other ALBs, repatriated to parent departments, or ceased where no longer required:
Valuation Office Agency (HM Revenue and Customs) – Dissolved as a standalone executive agency in April 2025 (functions integrated into HMRC)
Infrastructure and Projects Authority (Cabinet Office/HM Treasury) – Closed and replaced by the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority, also incorporating the functions of the National Infrastructure Commission, in April 2025
Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (Department for Education) – Closed June 2025
Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Cabinet Office) – Closed October 2025
Committee on Standards in Public Life (Cabinet Office) – Merged into the Ethics and Integrity Commission in October 2025
Scientific Advisory Committee on the Medical Implications of Less-Lethal Weapons (Ministry of Defence) – Closed November 2025
Building Digital UK (Digital, Culture, Media and Sport) – Repatriated into the former DSIT in November 2025
Committee on Radioactive Waste Management (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero) – Reclassified as an expert committee in November 2025
Committee on Fuel Poverty (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero) – Reclassified as an expert committee in November 2025.
Independent Medical Expert Group (Ministry of Defence) – Reclassified as Expert Committee in December 2025
LocatED (Department for Education) – Repatriated into DfE in April 2026
UK Space Agency (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) – Repatriated to the former DSIT in April 2026
Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (Home Office) – Abolished, functions transferred to the Fair Work Agency in April 2026
Asked by: Lord Kempsell (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what guidance is followed when an official incorrectly reports the theft of a Cabinet Office-provided phone.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
When an official's Cabinet Office-provided phone is stolen, they are required to report the theft to the department, and asked to report the theft to the Police.
If the phone was then found or retrieved for any reason, the case would be reviewed in line with the Cabinet Office’s Security Breach Policy, and IT Acceptable Use Policy.
Asked by: Lord Kempsell (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made towards their target to recruit 6,500 extra teachers by 2029.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
We have now achieved 4,654 of the 6,500 additional teachers pledge, equivalent to 71.6% of the target, compared with the 2023/24 baseline. This includes 3,008 more teachers in secondary and special schools in 2025/26 and 1,646 more teachers in the statutory further education sector and school-based providers in 2024/25.
Asked by: Lord Kempsell (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with representatives of Citizens Advice following findings that an increasing number of households are being directed towards Personal Independence Payments when contacting Citizens Advice for financial support.
Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Department engages regularly with Citizens Advice and a range of other stakeholders on issues relating to the wider benefits system.
The Timms Review, the first ever full review of PIP, seeks to ensure we have a system that supports disabled people to achieve better health, higher living standards and greater independence, including through employment.
Asked by: Lord Kempsell (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government why the 1,000 roles for newly qualified midwives announced in response to Baroness Amos’s investigation are temporary and not permanent.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
We recognise that student midwives are a vital part of our future workforce, providing essential care and support to women, babies and families across maternity services.
Temporary posts give providers flexibility to recruit ahead of turnover, so newly qualified midwives can start work quickly rather than waiting for vacancies. This period will be used to stabilise services and support newly qualified midwives into practice, with the expectation they move into permanent roles as vacancies arise through normal turnover.
Asked by: Lord Kempsell (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government when the new maternity and neonatal commissioner will be appointed by; and whether they will have a set time in post.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government has announced that it will appoint a statutory Maternity and Neonatal Commissioner. The full scope and role of the Maternity and Neonatal Commissioner is being considered urgently through the National Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce.
Asked by: Lord Kempsell (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask His Majesty's Government who will sit on the panel for the Independent Review of the Prison System.
Answered by Lord Lemos - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)
Work is ongoing to establish a panel to support the Independent Review, in line with the appropriate appointment process. The panel will comprise individuals with the relevant expertise and experience to support the Review’s consideration of the matters set out in its Terms of Reference. Details of panel member appointments will be confirmed in due course.
Asked by: Lord Kempsell (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many members of the Independent Monitoring Boards have been removed from their role following a security vetting failure or a breach of any codes of conduct in each of the last ten years; and how many are currently suspended pending investigation on either ground.
Answered by Lord Timpson
Over the last 10 years, no members of Independent Monitoring Boards (IMBs) have had their appointment terminated following a security vetting failure. During the same period, nine IMB members have had their appointment terminated following a breach of the IMB Code of Conduct.
The Department does not comment on individual disciplinary, conduct or vetting matters relating to IMB members. Whilst aggregate information on concluded cases is published where appropriate, it would not be appropriate to comment on ongoing cases.
Asked by: Lord Kempsell (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many members of the Independent Monitoring Boards have been removed from their role following a criminal conviction in each of the last ten years.
Answered by Lord Timpson
No members of the Independent Monitoring Boards have been convicted of a criminal offence and subsequently removed from their role in the last ten years.
Asked by: Lord Kempsell (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what are the 10 secondary school subjects with the largest number of teacher vacancies in England.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.