Lord Shinkwin

The King’s Speech set out our intention to publish the draft Equality (Race and Disability) Bill during the first session.

The Bill will deliver our manifesto commitments to introduce mandatory pay gap reporting for large employers on ethnicity and disability, and extend the right to make equal pay claims to ethnic minority and disabled people. We intend to consult on these measures before we publish the Bill and will announce our plans in due course.

We are currently considering the Civil Service Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Expenditure Review commissioned by the previous Government.

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In line with research from the independent Institute for Fiscal Studies, the government does not anticipate the ending of the VAT exemption, that private schools enjoy, to prompt notable movement into the state sector and any movement is expected to take place over several years. This research is attached and can also be found here: https://ifs.org.uk/publications/tax-private-school-fees-and-state-school-spending.

There is significant spare capacity in existing state schools. The department collects pupil forecasts and school capacity data from local authorities annually through the school capacity survey and this data shows that in May 2023, 11.7% of primary capacity and 11.5% of secondary capacity was unfilled nationally, meaning school places are available in many parts of the country. The department will monitor demand and capacity using its normal processes and continue to work with local authorities to meet any pressures.

The department supports local authorities to ensure that every local area has sufficient places for children that need them and works to provide appropriate support where pupils with special educational needs require a place at a state-funded school.

This government’s ambition is that all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities, or in alternative provision, receive the right support to succeed in their education and as they move into adult life. The department is committed to improving inclusivity and expertise in mainstream schools.

Where children have an education, health and care plan which requires a local authority funded place at an independent school, they will not be affected by the VAT changes, as the responsible local authority will be able to reclaim VAT.

In line with research from the independent Institute for Fiscal Studies, the government does not anticipate the ending of the VAT exemption, that private schools enjoy, to prompt notable movement into the state sector and any movement is expected to take place over several years. This research is attached and can also be found here: https://ifs.org.uk/publications/tax-private-school-fees-and-state-school-spending.

There is significant spare capacity in existing state schools. The department collects pupil forecasts and school capacity data from local authorities annually through the school capacity survey and this data shows that in May 2023, 11.7% of primary capacity and 11.5% of secondary capacity was unfilled nationally, meaning school places are available in many parts of the country. The department will monitor demand and capacity using its normal processes and continue to work with local authorities to meet any pressures.

The department supports local authorities to ensure that every local area has sufficient places for children that need them and works to provide appropriate support where pupils with special educational needs require a place at a state-funded school.

This government’s ambition is that all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities, or in alternative provision, receive the right support to succeed in their education and as they move into adult life. The department is committed to improving inclusivity and expertise in mainstream schools.

Where children have an education, health and care plan which requires a local authority funded place at an independent school, they will not be affected by the VAT changes, as the responsible local authority will be able to reclaim VAT.

In line with research from the independent Institute for Fiscal Studies, the government does not anticipate the ending of the VAT exemption, that private schools enjoy, to prompt notable movement into the state sector and any movement is expected to take place over several years. This research is attached and can also be found here: https://ifs.org.uk/publications/tax-private-school-fees-and-state-school-spending.

There is significant spare capacity in existing state schools. The department collects pupil forecasts and school capacity data from local authorities annually through the school capacity survey and this data shows that in May 2023, 11.7% of primary capacity and 11.5% of secondary capacity was unfilled nationally, meaning school places are available in many parts of the country. The department will monitor demand and capacity using its normal processes and continue to work with local authorities to meet any pressures.

The department supports local authorities to ensure that every local area has sufficient places for children that need them and works to provide appropriate support where pupils with special educational needs require a place at a state-funded school.

This government’s ambition is that all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities, or in alternative provision, receive the right support to succeed in their education and as they move into adult life. The department is committed to improving inclusivity and expertise in mainstream schools.

Where children have an education, health and care plan which requires a local authority funded place at an independent school, they will not be affected by the VAT changes, as the responsible local authority will be able to reclaim VAT.

In line with research from the independent Institute for Fiscal Studies, the government does not anticipate the ending of the VAT exemption, that private schools enjoy, to prompt notable movement into the state sector and any movement is expected to take place over several years. This research is attached and can also be found here: https://ifs.org.uk/publications/tax-private-school-fees-and-state-school-spending.

There is significant spare capacity in existing state schools. The department collects pupil forecasts and school capacity data from local authorities annually through the school capacity survey and this data shows that in May 2023, 11.7% of primary capacity and 11.5% of secondary capacity was unfilled nationally, meaning school places are available in many parts of the country. The department will monitor demand and capacity using its normal processes and continue to work with local authorities to meet any pressures.

The department supports local authorities to ensure that every local area has sufficient places for children that need them and works to provide appropriate support where pupils with special educational needs require a place at a state-funded school.

This government’s ambition is that all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities, or in alternative provision, receive the right support to succeed in their education and as they move into adult life. The department is committed to improving inclusivity and expertise in mainstream schools.

Where children have an education, health and care plan which requires a local authority funded place at an independent school, they will not be affected by the VAT changes, as the responsible local authority will be able to reclaim VAT.

In line with research from the independent Institute for Fiscal Studies, the government does not anticipate the ending of the VAT exemption, that private schools enjoy, to prompt notable movement into the state sector and any movement is expected to take place over several years. This research is attached and can also be found here: https://ifs.org.uk/publications/tax-private-school-fees-and-state-school-spending.

There is significant spare capacity in existing state schools. The department collects pupil forecasts and school capacity data from local authorities annually through the school capacity survey and this data shows that in May 2023, 11.7% of primary capacity and 11.5% of secondary capacity was unfilled nationally, meaning school places are available in many parts of the country. The department will monitor demand and capacity using its normal processes and continue to work with local authorities to meet any pressures.

The department supports local authorities to ensure that every local area has sufficient places for children that need them and works to provide appropriate support where pupils with special educational needs require a place at a state-funded school.

This government’s ambition is that all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities, or in alternative provision, receive the right support to succeed in their education and as they move into adult life. The department is committed to improving inclusivity and expertise in mainstream schools.

Where children have an education, health and care plan which requires a local authority funded place at an independent school, they will not be affected by the VAT changes, as the responsible local authority will be able to reclaim VAT.

The Get Britain Working White Paper, published 26 November 2024, set out the Department’s plans for labour market transformation, including more support for workers and employers. In the Spring, we will set out our proposals for significant reforms to health and disability benefits in a Green Paper. We appreciate the real importance of this topic for disabled people, people with health conditions, their representatives and so many others and so we will be carefully considering our approach and listening to their views.

The Disability Confident scheme needs to be more robust, and we acknowledge the need for reform. Officials are currently exploring options to enhance the criteria, and we will collaborate closely with employers, disabled people’s organisations, and disabled individuals themselves to fully realise the scheme's potential.

Our independent review into the role of employers in supporting healthy and inclusive workplaces will also make recommendations for change, and as part of this we are committed to working closely with disabled people. As set out in the White Paper, we will establish a disability panel to ensure the views and voices of disabled people are put at the heart of the design and delivery of our reforms.

As in all policy areas, any further reform proposals would be announced in due course in the usual way.

We are shortly going to launch “Keep Britain Working”, an independent review into the role of UK employers in reducing health-related inactivity and to promote healthy and inclusive workplaces, led by the former Chair of John Lewis, Sir Charlie Mayfield. Sir Charlie Mayfield is recognised and respected in the business community and is ideally placed to engage with employers, businesses, disabled people and their representative organisations.

In appointing Sir Charlie Mayfield as the Lead Reviewer, we have taken due regard to the Nolan principles, and the Terms of Engagement for this review will commit the chair to conducting their appointment by these principles.

We will work closely with the lead reviewer to ensure appropriate stakeholders are engaged as the review progresses. We are looking to engage a broad range of stakeholders across the country, including employers, employees across various sectors, clinical practitioners, and lived experience. An expert panel will be established following the results of the discovery phase, and will be supported by a diverse range of external stakeholders.

The review will give appropriate consideration to proposals from all stakeholders, including the Disability Employment Charter.

We want to work alongside employers, disabled people, and people with long-term health conditions to understand this problem, and do our part to support them. We will work to strengthen these relationships and trust, and welcome any insights that are shared through this review.

In addition to this independent review, the department is working to establish a disability panel to consult disabled people as part of our wider efforts to ensure that the views and voices of disabled people are put at the heart of the design and delivery of our reforms. Once established, the panel will be engaged on the independent review.

We are shortly going to launch “Keep Britain Working”, an independent review into the role of UK employers in reducing health-related inactivity and to promote healthy and inclusive workplaces, led by the former Chair of John Lewis, Sir Charlie Mayfield. Sir Charlie Mayfield is recognised and respected in the business community and is ideally placed to engage with employers, businesses, disabled people and their representative organisations.

In appointing Sir Charlie Mayfield as the Lead Reviewer, we have taken due regard to the Nolan principles, and the Terms of Engagement for this review will commit the chair to conducting their appointment by these principles.

We will work closely with the lead reviewer to ensure appropriate stakeholders are engaged as the review progresses. We are looking to engage a broad range of stakeholders across the country, including employers, employees across various sectors, clinical practitioners, and lived experience. An expert panel will be established following the results of the discovery phase, and will be supported by a diverse range of external stakeholders.

The review will give appropriate consideration to proposals from all stakeholders, including the Disability Employment Charter.

We want to work alongside employers, disabled people, and people with long-term health conditions to understand this problem, and do our part to support them. We will work to strengthen these relationships and trust, and welcome any insights that are shared through this review.

In addition to this independent review, the department is working to establish a disability panel to consult disabled people as part of our wider efforts to ensure that the views and voices of disabled people are put at the heart of the design and delivery of our reforms. Once established, the panel will be engaged on the independent review.

We are shortly going to launch “Keep Britain Working”, an independent review into the role of UK employers in reducing health-related inactivity and to promote healthy and inclusive workplaces, led by the former Chair of John Lewis, Sir Charlie Mayfield. Sir Charlie Mayfield is recognised and respected in the business community and is ideally placed to engage with employers, businesses, disabled people and their representative organisations.

In appointing Sir Charlie Mayfield as the Lead Reviewer, we have taken due regard to the Nolan principles, and the Terms of Engagement for this review will commit the chair to conducting their appointment by these principles.

We will work closely with the lead reviewer to ensure appropriate stakeholders are engaged as the review progresses. We are looking to engage a broad range of stakeholders across the country, including employers, employees across various sectors, clinical practitioners, and lived experience. An expert panel will be established following the results of the discovery phase, and will be supported by a diverse range of external stakeholders.

The review will give appropriate consideration to proposals from all stakeholders, including the Disability Employment Charter.

We want to work alongside employers, disabled people, and people with long-term health conditions to understand this problem, and do our part to support them. We will work to strengthen these relationships and trust, and welcome any insights that are shared through this review.

In addition to this independent review, the department is working to establish a disability panel to consult disabled people as part of our wider efforts to ensure that the views and voices of disabled people are put at the heart of the design and delivery of our reforms. Once established, the panel will be engaged on the independent review.

We are shortly going to launch “Keep Britain Working”, an independent review into the role of UK employers in reducing health-related inactivity and to promote healthy and inclusive workplaces, led by the former Chair of John Lewis, Sir Charlie Mayfield. Sir Charlie Mayfield is recognised and respected in the business community and is ideally placed to engage with employers, businesses, disabled people and their representative organisations.

In appointing Sir Charlie Mayfield as the Lead Reviewer, we have taken due regard to the Nolan principles, and the Terms of Engagement for this review will commit the chair to conducting their appointment by these principles.

We will work closely with the lead reviewer to ensure appropriate stakeholders are engaged as the review progresses. We are looking to engage a broad range of stakeholders across the country, including employers, employees across various sectors, clinical practitioners, and lived experience. An expert panel will be established following the results of the discovery phase, and will be supported by a diverse range of external stakeholders.

The review will give appropriate consideration to proposals from all stakeholders, including the Disability Employment Charter.

We want to work alongside employers, disabled people, and people with long-term health conditions to understand this problem, and do our part to support them. We will work to strengthen these relationships and trust, and welcome any insights that are shared through this review.

In addition to this independent review, the department is working to establish a disability panel to consult disabled people as part of our wider efforts to ensure that the views and voices of disabled people are put at the heart of the design and delivery of our reforms. Once established, the panel will be engaged on the independent review.

The Government’s Health Mission is to build a health and social care system fit for the future, working in partnership with health and care system partners. The goals of the mission are to: ensure the National Health Service is there when people need it; reduce the lives lost to the biggest killers; and create a fairer Britain where everyone lives well for longer.

The Department and NHS England support the NHS trusts to define their own appropriate policies to support equality, diversity, and inclusion.

The Department supports Arm’s Length Bodies to define the appropriate policies to support equality, diversity, and inclusion, to align with the Government’s Health Mission and priorities, and make health and social care accessible to all.

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is committed to championing and promoting equal opportunity for those donating blood, including by: lifting the blood donation ban for men who have sex with men in 2021; encouraging more LGBT+ people to help save and improve lives by giving blood and joining the NHS Organ Donor Register; and making NHSBT a more inclusive place to work.

NHSBT continues to keep all its memberships under review, to ensure they best meet the needs of the organisation and benefit the public and patients they serve.

NHS England does not have a list of banned words or phrases. NHS England encourages the use of plain English and inclusive language to help everyone to make informed decisions about their health needs.

The department supports arm’s-length bodies (ALBs) to define the appropriate policies to support equality, diversity and inclusion to align with the government’s health mission and priorities and make health and social care accessible to all.

Latest reporting shows that the only ALB with a subscription to Stonewall is NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) for the Diversity Champions Programme, with a cost of £3,090 for 2024/25.

The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office Act 1996 provides the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office with certain privileges and immunities in line with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations for the purposes of furthering economic and trade interests. There are no current plans to replace this legislation.

Minister West met with Regina Ip on 31 October in an official capacity. Human rights were raised as part of the discussion.

The UK will continue to speak often and candidly with Hong Kong authorities across both areas of contention as well as areas for cooperation. Engagement with representatives of Hong Kong and China is pragmatic and necessary to support UK interests.

Following the meeting, Minister West visited Hong Kong for a two-day programme of engagements. Minister West met with stakeholders across the Hong Kong Government to discuss areas of co-operation and challenge on areas of contention.

Minister West met with Regina Ip on 31 October in an official capacity. Human rights were raised as part of the discussion.

The UK will continue to speak often and candidly with Hong Kong authorities across both areas of contention as well as areas for cooperation. Engagement with representatives of Hong Kong and China is pragmatic and necessary to support UK interests.

On 29 July, the Government announced that, as of 1 January 2025, all education services and vocational training provided by a private school in the UK for a charge will be subject to VAT at the standard rate of 20 per cent.

This was a tough but necessary decision that will secure additional funding to help deliver the Government’s commitments relating to education and young people, including opening 3,000 new nurseries, rolling out breakfast clubs to all primary schools, and recruiting 6,500 new teachers.

The Government has carefully considered the impact that this policy will have on pupils and their families across both the state and private sector. Following scrutiny of the Government's costings by the independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), details of the Government’s assessment of the expected impacts of these policy changes will be published at the Budget on 30 October in the usual way.

The Government is committed to improving SEND provision in mainstream state schools, as well as ensuring state special schools cater to those with the most complex needs.

The first duty of any government is to keep the country safe and protect its citizens. The UK does not tolerate attempts by any state to threaten or intimidate UK residents. We continually assess potential risks and take the protection of individuals’ rights, freedoms, and safety very seriously. This involves taking a proactive approach to countering the most acute forms of state-directed threats to individuals.

We will continue to implement measures in the National Security Act 2023, which make the UK a harder target for those states which seek to conduct hostile acts.

Home Office officials work closely with operational partners, the FCDO and other government departments to ensure that UK residents are safe and secure. Where individuals have concerns for their safety, they are advised to contact their local police in the first instance.