Asked by: Alex Burghart (Conservative - Brentwood and Ongar)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the answer of 23 January 2026 to Question 105698 on Erasmus+ Programme, what estimate her Department has made of the number of inbound EU students who will study in the UK.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The UK has agreed to associate to Erasmus+ in 2027 on terms that represent a fair balance between the UK’s contribution and the benefits the programme offers.
We have agreed a 30% discount compared to the default terms in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, as well as a review of the UK’s participation in the programme ten months after our association, including data concerning demand for funding in the UK.
In 2018/19, there were approximately 31,000 inbound higher education (HE) student mobilities via the Erasmus+ programme. There were approximately 16,000 outbound HE student mobilities in the same year. The department expects there will be a greater number of HE mobilities on reassociation, given the expansion of the programme.
In real terms, the Erasmus+ budget for 2027 is 50% higher than in 2019. Due to this increased budget, we expect that over 100,000 people could benefit from mobility and partnership opportunities from participation in 2027 across all sectors.
Asked by: Alex Burghart (Conservative - Brentwood and Ongar)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, further to the Crown Commercial Service contractfinder entry, Provision of a Systematic evidence review on the impact of the pandemic on mental health, published March 2025, Procurement reference: CCZZ24A16, awarded to the Centre for Strategy and Evaluation Services, if he will publish the report.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The UK Covid-19 Inquiry is independent of government. The systematic evidence review on the impact of the pandemic on mental health, commissioned by the UK Covid-19 Inquiry to support its investigation into the impact of the pandemic on society, will be published on the Inquiry's website during hearings for Module 10, to be held between 16th February 2026 and 5th March 2026.
Asked by: Alex Burghart (Conservative - Brentwood and Ongar)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the UK-EU Summit - Common Understanding, 22 December 2025, whether he plans to make additional financial contributions to the European Union as a consequence of the new provisions on Development and disaster cooperation.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
We have agreed to regular UK-EU dialogue on development issues and to seek to enhance our cooperation on international disaster and humanitarian response.The details of any agreements, including financial contributions, are subject to ongoing negotiations with the EU.
Asked by: Alex Burghart (Conservative - Brentwood and Ongar)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the answer of 23 January 2026 to Question 105701 on Turing: Finance, whether the Turing scheme will continue in 2027-28; and what her target is for the number of outbound UK students using the Turing scheme in 2026-27.
Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Guidance on the Turing Scheme for the 2026/27 academic year has been published on GOV.UK, with applications for funding now open and closing at 16:00 on Monday 16 March. Looking ahead, we remain committed to international mobility. That’s why the UK has agreed association with Erasmus+ on better financial terms for the UK. Decisions on the Turing Scheme for future years will be shared in due course.
The Turing Scheme is a demand led, competitive programme, so providers can shape applications to the needs of their students. The department does not set targets for the number of Turing Scheme placements in each year as this is highly dependent on the numbers of students that individual providers intend to send, where they intend to go and how long they intend to go for. Instead, we allocate funding in a way that prioritises the participation of students from disadvantaged backgrounds and those with special educational needs and disabilities.
Asked by: Alex Burghart (Conservative - Brentwood and Ongar)
Question
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, how many civil service jobs the Office for Women and Equalities has advertised in the last 12 months which have only been listed on the internal civil service jobs website.
Answered by Olivia Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
All vacancies for OEO are advertised via Civil Service Jobs, ensuring the recruitment process is appropriately followed.
Recruitment is by exception where there is a clear business critical need or specialism that can not be found within the Department.
Asked by: Alex Burghart (Conservative - Brentwood and Ongar)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 21 January 2026 to Question 105241 on Public Sector: Reform, what the nature is of the commercial confidentiality.
Answered by Chris Ward - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The transparency obligations under the Procurement Act only apply to the overarching contractual agreement between the Contracting Authority and the Supplier. It does not cover Statements of Work subsequently agreed under the contract.
This is in line with common practice across government procurement.
Asked by: Alex Burghart (Conservative - Brentwood and Ongar)
Question to the Leader of the House:
To ask the Leader of the House, Further to the UK-EU Summit - Common Understanding, 22 December 2025, what steps he will take to assist Parliament scrutiny of new EU laws that the UK will adopt as a consequence of dynamic alignment; and whether he has had discussions with the House authorities on re-establishing a European Scrutiny Committee.
Answered by Alan Campbell - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
The Common Understanding is clear that where the UK Government decides to align with EU rules as part of a new agreement this will give due regard to the UK’s constitutional and Parliamentary procedures. The UK will be involved, as a sovereign nation outside of the European Union, at an early stage and contribute to the decision-shaping process of EU legal acts.
We will work with Parliament on the arrangements for the scrutiny of any necessary legislation, and the agreement more broadly, as the negotiations progress.
Asked by: Alex Burghart (Conservative - Brentwood and Ongar)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the National Wealth Fund operates a salary sacrifice scheme for its Defined Contribution staff pension offering.
Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The National Wealth Fund does not operate a salary sacrifice scheme in respect of its Defined Contribution staff pension offering. Details of the National Wealth Fund’s pension offering are set out in the Remuneration Report within its Annual Report and Accounts, which can be accessed here: https://www.nationalwealthfund.org.uk/media/wpxnswqx/e03371942_nwf-ara-24-25_accessible_2.pdf
Asked by: Alex Burghart (Conservative - Brentwood and Ongar)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what data (a) her department and (b) NISTA holds on the number of central government PFI contracts which necessitate the underlying asset remaining in the ownership of the PFI contractor at the end of the contract.
Answered by James Murray - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
HM Treasury, which includes NISTA, publishes aggregate information on PFI and PF2 projects annually.
In line with guidance, any arrangements which necessitate the underlying asset remaining in the ownership of the PFI contractor at the end of the contract would be the exception. Information on such cases is not collated centrally by HM Treasury.
Asked by: Alex Burghart (Conservative - Brentwood and Ongar)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what auditing processes are in place to monitor the use of equipment and technology provided to claimants through the Flexible Support Fund, and how the Department assures itself that equipment purchased using the Flexible Support Fund is used for its intended purpose.
Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Flexible Support Fund was introduced in April 2011. It provides discretionary support to help individuals move closer to employment. Work coaches must exercise their discretion in line with national and local guidance, ensuring that Flexible Support Fund (FSF) awards are reasonable, good value for money, and aimed at improving employment prospects. They consider each request on a case-by-case basis, confirming that all other funding options have been explored and that the individual cannot reasonably meet the cost themselves. As FSF is public money, work coaches must be confident that any award is necessary and appropriate ‑case basis, confirming that all other funding options have been explored and that the individual cannot reasonably meet the cost themselves. As FSF is public money, work coaches must be confident that any award is necessary and appropriate.
Once an award is made, work coaches must verify that the item is used as intended. If concerns arise — for example, where training supported by a purchased item was not attended — the coach will seek an explanation and determine whether repayment is required. Independent post-award checks also provide assurance that awards are accurate and appropriate‑award checks also provide assurance that awards are accurate and appropriate. A new digital FSF application, to be launched nationally by the end of March, will improve oversight and provide more detailed data to support stronger scrutiny of awards.