Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much was spent on (a) new furniture and fittings and (b) other refurbishment of Ministerial offices in her Department since the dissolution of the last Parliament; and on what items this was spent.

Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

Since the dissolution of the last Parliament, the only purchase relating to Ministerial furniture was at a cost of £1,627.50. This spend incorporates:

•  Low back, full upholstered meeting chair – Quantity 3.

There have been some modifications to the offices to facilitate additional flexibility in set up and use of the Ministerial rooms. This has been at a cost of £12,886.71. This spend incorporates:
•  Relocation of floor boxes including raising access floor.

•  Supply and install of cabling, sockets, data plates and residual current devices.

•  Standard Liability cover.

•  Labour.

•  Out of hours working.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much was spent on (a) new furniture and fittings and (b) other refurbishment of Ministerial offices in his Department since the dissolution of the last Parliament; and on what items this was spent.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department has not spent any money on new furniture, fittings, or refurbishment of ministerial offices since the dissolution of the last Parliament.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much was spent on (a) new furniture and fittings and (b) other refurbishment of Ministerial offices in his Department since the dissolution of the last Parliament; and on what items this was spent.

Answered by Maria Eagle - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

There has been no expenditure on new furniture and fittings, or other refurbishment of the Ministerial offices in Ministry of Defence Main Building since the dissolution of the last Parliament on 30 May 2024.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how much was spent on (a) new furniture and fittings and (b) other refurbishment of Ministerial offices in his Department since the dissolution of the last Parliament; and on what items this was spent.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Since the dissolution of the last Parliament, the Department for Business and Trade has not spent any money on:

a) new furniture or fittings for Minister’s offices or

b) other refurbishment of Ministerial offices

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many and what proportion of desks were occupied in each of her Department’s offices in the most recent four weeks for which figures are available; and how many staff attended each office in person in the same period.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)

Heads of Department have agreed that 60% minimum office attendance for most staff continues to be the best balance of working for the Civil Service.

Office occupancy data for the period July - September has been published, with further publications to now happen on a quarterly basis. The data is published here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-hq-occupancy-data

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much was spent on (a) new furniture and fittings and (b) other refurbishment of Ministerial offices in her Department since the dissolution of the last Parliament; and on what items this was spent.

Answered by Diana Johnson - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Department has spent zero pounds on the refurbishment of Ministerial offices since the dissolution of the last parliament.

Some routine works were carried out in the usual schedule of maintenance.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of desks were occupied in each of her Department's offices in the most recent four weeks for which figures are available; and how many staff attended each office in person in the same period.

Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

Heads of department have agreed that 60% minimum office attendance for most staff continues to be the best balance of working for the Civil Service. Office occupancy data for the period July to September has been published, with further publications to now happen on a quarterly basis. The data is published here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-hq-occupancy-data.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how much was spent on (a) new furniture and fittings and (b) other refurbishment of Ministerial offices in his Department since the dissolution of the last Parliament; and on what items this was spent.

Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Department is a customer of the Government Property Agency (GPA) at all its office locations. The office where the Department’s ministers are located is a GPA building, where GPA is the landlord and building manager and the Department is a tenant. GPA is responsible for the fit out, furnishing and refurbishment of all office spaces, which includes ministerial offices.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prisoners released via the Early Release Scheme on 22 October 2024 are registered as residing in Bridgwater constituency.

Answered by Nicholas Dakin - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

Data on SDS40 releases forms a subset of data intended for future publication.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of desks were occupied in each of HM Courts and Tribunals Service’s (a) courts and (b) offices in the most recent four weeks for which figures are available; and how many staff attended each (i) court and (ii) office in person in the same period.

Answered by Alex Davies-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

The new Government has recently committed to keep to the current guidance on civil service office attendance. Office occupancy data for the period July - September has been published, with further publications to now happen on a quarterly basis. The data is published here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-hq-occupancy-data.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of desks were occupied in each of her Department’s offices in the most recent four weeks for which figures are available; and how many staff attended each office in person in the same period.

Answered by Alex Davies-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

The new Government has recently committed to keep to the current guidance on civil service office attendance. Office occupancy data for the period July - September has been published, with further publications to now happen on a quarterly basis. The data is published here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-hq-occupancy-data.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many and what proportion of desks were occupied in each of his Department’s offices in the most recent four weeks for which figures are available; and how many staff attended each office in person in the same period.

Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Heads of Department have agreed that 60% minimum office attendance for most staff continues to be the best balance of working for the Civil Service. Office occupancy data for the period July - September has been published today, with further publications to now happen on a quarterly basis. The data is published here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-hq-occupancy-data

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much was spent on (a) new furniture and fittings and (b) other refurbishment of Ministerial offices in 10 Downing Street since the dissolution of the last Parliament; and on what items this was spent.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

For management and staffing purposes the Prime Minister’s Office is a business unit of the Cabinet Office. No expenditure has been made since the dissolution of Parliament.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many and what proportion of desks were occupied in each of his Department’s offices in the most recent four weeks for which figures are available; and how many staff attended each office in person in the same period.

Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Heads of Department have agreed that 60% minimum office attendance for most staff continues to be the best balance of working for the Civil Service. Office occupancy data for the period July - September has been published, with further publications to now happen on a quarterly basis. The data is published here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-hq-occupancy-data

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much was spent on (a) new furniture and fittings and (b) other refurbishment of Ministerial offices in her Department since the dissolution of the last Parliament; and on what items this was spent.

Answered by Alex Davies-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

The Ministry of Justice’s total cost spent on refurbishments to ministerial private offices, including new furniture and fittings, over this period is £13,314.73, of which £12,578.31 was for painting, installation of new electrical sockets, reconfiguration of existing furniture, removing TV cabling from a wall to move to another room and other redecoration works. The remaining was spent on a new chair, a freezer, two bookcases, and three standing mirrors.

Question to the Attorney General:

To ask the Solicitor General, how much was spent on (a) new furniture and fittings and (b) other refurbishment of Ministerial offices in her Department since the dissolution of the last Parliament; and on what items this was spent.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)

Following the dissolution of the last Parliament on 30 May 2024 and before the General Election on 4 July 2024, and prior to the appointment of the Attorney General and I, officials in the Attorney General’s Office arranged for the two ministerial offices to be modestly refurbished. The refurbishment was completed on 30 June 2024 and the costs are set out below.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many civil servants are assigned to work in each of his Department's offices; and how many desks are available in each office.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

The information to answer the hon. Member's question in full could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

However, as of 1 April 2024, there was a total of 4,069 Full Time Equivalent Ministry of Defence (MOD) staff working at Main Building. Full Time Equivalence is a figure that allows part-time workers’ hours to be put into the same units as full-time workers. Please note this figure includes all employees in MOD and the four Executive Agencies, alongside Military personnel – it does not include Contractor staff or visitors.

There are 3,802 workplaces for use in MOD Main Building.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many and what proportion of desks were occupied in each of his Department’s offices in the most recent four weeks for which figures are available; and how many staff attended each office in person in the same period.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

Heads of Department have agreed that 60% minimum office attendance for most staff continues to be the best balance of working for the Civil Service. Office occupancy data for the period July - September has been published, with further publications to now happen on a quarterly basis. The data is published here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-hq-occupancy-data

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how many civil servants are assigned to work in each of his Department's offices; and how many desks are available in each office.

Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The number of civil servants assigned to the Department’s office locations, and how many desks are available in each office location, are shown below:

Question to the Attorney General:

To ask the Solicitor General, how many civil servants are assigned to work in each of her Department's offices; and how many desks are available in each office.

Answered by Sarah Sackman - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)

For the period 2 to 27 September 2024, there were 54 civil servants assigned to work in the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) and 42 desks available.

The AGO superintends the Law Officers’ Departments: Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), Government Legal Department (GLD), HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate (HMCPSI), and Serious Fraud Office (SFO). Further information on the Law Officers’ Departments is set out below.

As of 30 September 2024, the CPS had a headcount of 7,286 allocated against 4,347 desks.

The GLD has staff based in five sites across the country: 102 Petty France, London; 1 Ruskin Square, Croydon; 7-8 Wellington Place, Leeds; 2 Rivergate, Bristol; and Three New Bailey, Manchester.

For the period 2 to 27 September 2024, the table below shows a breakdown of the number of civil servants based in GLD offices and the number of desks in each office.

Please note that data for 102 Petty France, London, includes 10 HMCPSI staff, which share this office.

HMCPSI also shares office space with the CPS in Foss House, York. For the same period, HMCPSI had 10 civil servants assigned to work in Foss House.

As of 30 September 2024, the SFO had 534 permanent employees and 133 temporary agency workers, a total of 667 people. The total number of desks available is 432.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of (a) section 42 of the Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023 and (b) fire safety regulations introduced since the Grenfell Tower fire on the financial viability of arms-length management organisations.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

In the Housing Minister's answer to Question UIN 11383 on 31 October 2024, he set out the measures the Government is taking to deliver the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation.

The Government is committed to working with social housing providers to ensure that homes are safe, decent, warm and free from damp and mould. That is why we have committed to bringing forward regulations to improve the quality of social housing, for example Awaab’s Law, and to ensuring that landlords meet fire safety regulations. The costs and impacts of new regulatory requirements are set out alongside the relevant consultation and subsequent consultation response.

The Government is providing funding for social housing landlords through the Social Sector ACM Cladding Remediation Fund, the Building Safety Fund and Cladding Safety Scheme for 11m+ buildings. The Government’s Warm Homes Plan also offers grants and low interest loans which support investment in insulation, low carbon heating and other improvements.

As we set out in July, details of future Government investment in social and affordable housing will be brought forwards at the Spending Review.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of (a) section 42 of the Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023 and (b) fire safety regulations introduced since the Grenfell Tower fire on the level of social housebuilding.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

In the Housing Minister's answer to Question UIN 11383 on 31 October 2024, he set out the measures the Government is taking to deliver the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation.

The Government is committed to working with social housing providers to ensure that homes are safe, decent, warm and free from damp and mould. That is why we have committed to bringing forward regulations to improve the quality of social housing, for example Awaab’s Law, and to ensuring that landlords meet fire safety regulations. The costs and impacts of new regulatory requirements are set out alongside the relevant consultation and subsequent consultation response.

The Government is providing funding for social housing landlords through the Social Sector ACM Cladding Remediation Fund, the Building Safety Fund and Cladding Safety Scheme for 11m+ buildings. The Government’s Warm Homes Plan also offers grants and low interest loans which support investment in insulation, low carbon heating and other improvements.

As we set out in July, details of future Government investment in social and affordable housing will be brought forwards at the Spending Review.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of proposals to require all rented homes to reach an EPC C standard by 2030 on the level of social housebuilding.

Answered by Alex Norris - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

In the Housing Minister's answer to Question UIN 11383 on 31 October 2024, he set out the measures the Government is taking to deliver the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation.

The Government is committed to working with social housing providers to ensure that homes are safe, decent, warm and free from damp and mould. That is why we have committed to bringing forward regulations to improve the quality of social housing, for example Awaab’s Law, and to ensuring that landlords meet fire safety regulations. The costs and impacts of new regulatory requirements are set out alongside the relevant consultation and subsequent consultation response.

The Government is providing funding for social housing landlords through the Social Sector ACM Cladding Remediation Fund, the Building Safety Fund and Cladding Safety Scheme for 11m+ buildings. The Government’s Warm Homes Plan also offers grants and low interest loans which support investment in insulation, low carbon heating and other improvements.

As we set out in July, details of future Government investment in social and affordable housing will be brought forwards at the Spending Review.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what his planned timetable is for the publication of the UK Chemicals Strategy.

Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government is committed to protecting human health and the environment. This Government has wasted no time in announcing a rapid review of the Environmental Improvement Plan to deliver on our legally binding targets to save nature and this includes how best to manage chemicals. Further details will be provided in due course.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help improve public awareness of (a) the importance of early diagnosis of chronic kidney disease and (b) recognition of early symptoms.

Answered by Andrew Gwynne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

NHS England is working to detect people at risk of kidney disease through the NHS Health Check Programme. The programme, which is available for everyone between the ages of 40 and 74 years old, who is not already on a chronic disease register, assesses people’s health and risk of developing certain health problems. Using this information, patients are supported to make behavioural changes and access treatment which helps to prevent and detect kidney disease earlier.

The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) reviewed chronic kidney disease (CKD) and glomerulonephritis in 2011, concluding that a population-wide screening programme would not be recommended. The UK NSC has not looked at the evidence for a targeted programme. The UK NSC can be alerted to any new published peer-reviewed evidence which may suggest the case for a new screening programme. More information is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-nsc-annual-call-submitting-a-screening-proposal/uk-nsc-annual-call-how-to-submit-a-proposal

The National Health Service provides access to tests and therapies to diagnose, code, and treat patients with early-stage CKD. NHS England, through the Renal Services Transformation Programme (RSTP) and regional renal networks, is implementing initiatives to provide better integrated care, reduce health inequalities, and focus on prevention and timely intervention for kidney disease. Regional renal clinical networks prioritise CKD diagnosis and prevention within their transformation ambitions, facilitating earlier treatment. This includes considerations to develop a unified approach to testing populations at risk of developing CKD, and includes raising awareness of diagnostic tools like urine albumin creatinine tests, enabling CKD diagnosis at stages 1 and 2. NHS England aims to improve awareness and access to these important urine and blood tests across primary and secondary care. In addition, RSTP launched a renal toolkit earlier last year, for use by systems, that outlines principles to support better management of patients identified with CKD throughout their patient journey.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance, Chronic kidney disease: Assessment and management [NG203], updated in November 2021, sets out best practice for clinicians in the diagnosis and management of CKD. The guidance covers the care and treatment of patients at risk of CKD. It includes recommendations on monitoring of patients at risk of CKD and aims to prevent or delay the progression of the disease. The guidance is available at the following link:

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng203

Found: New Amendments: 12 to 24 and NC9 to NC19 _24 Sir Ashley Fox ★.

Found: Graham Stringer Bob Blackman David Mundell John McDonnell Alicia Kearns Dr Ben Spencer Sir Ashley

Found: Graham Stringer Bob Blackman David Mundell John McDonnell Alicia Kearns Dr Ben Spencer Sir Ashley

Found: _6 Claire Coutinho Andrew Bowie Joy Morrissey Mark Garnier Saqib Bhatti Sir Ashley Fox Rebecca

Found: Negatived on division _6 Claire Coutinho Andrew Bowie Joy Morrissey Mark Garnier Saqib Bhatti Sir Ashley

Found: Interim Chair, a position I was honoured to accept following the decision of our inaugural Chair, Sir Ashley