Calvin Bailey

The Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund (WH:SHF, formally SHDF) provides grant funding for social housing landlords to improve the energy performance of their properties through the installation of energy efficiency measures and low carbon technologies. The WH:SH will upgrade a significant amount of the social housing stock currently below EPC C up to that standard. £1.29 billion has been allocated as part of the Autumn 2024 Budget for the WH:SHF Wave 3, to be delivered from 2025 until 2028 by eligible social housing landlords.

Additionally, the National Wealth Fund has worked with leading banks to make £1bn available to help housing associations provide warmer, more energy efficient homes to tenants across the country.

Yes, we will announce the outcomes of the Business Planning process, including any implications for the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme soon.

In a time where the world faces huge challenges, the Government is fully committed to a successful BBC World Service that continues to provide essential, impartial and accurate news coverage and programming reaching millions of people across the globe.

Government funding for the World Service in financial year 25-26 will be determined as part of the upcoming Spending Review.

The Secretary of State regularly engages in conversations with Cabinet colleagues, and recent discussions with relevant colleagues have referenced the resources available to the BBC World Service.

This government is committed to driving economic growth and supporting opportunity for all, and further education (FE) is central to this.

My right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced £300 million in 2025/26 for FE at the Autumn Budget 2024. We will set out how the additional funding will be distributed in due course.

The government, through the Ministry of Defence, provides in the region of £180 million to support cadets schemes. The Cadet Expansion Programme will receive £3.6 million in government funding for this academic year and through to the 2033/2034 financial year. This goes to the single Service (i.e. Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force) cadet organisations, to provide funding for cadet expansion in schools.

The department provides £3.5 million to enable cadets to achieve an ‘out of school hours’ level 2 or 3 vocational qualification. The qualifications recognise the wide variety of skills, including teamwork, communication and leadership skills that cadets gain while attending their unit, which are transferable to further and higher education, as well as the workplace.

These qualifications are directly linked to community, social action and volunteering, and are carefully mapped to the training programmes of the cadet forces. For the cadet forces, the current offer is:

• BTEC Level 1 in Teamwork and Personal Skills for Uniformed Youth Organisations. 1 year course, age range: 13 to 15.
• BTEC Level 2 in Teamwork and Personal Development in the Community. 2 year course, age range: 16 to 18.
• ILM Level 3 Award in Leadership and Management. 1 year course, age range: 16 +.

Further details are available here: https://cvcollege.org/our_qualifications/.

There are no current plans to make an assessment of the merits of introducing 16 to 18 scholarships for young people participating in cadets programmes. However, there are initiatives at a local level to support cadets with financial barriers to participate.

The government, through the Ministry of Defence, provides in the region of £180 million to support cadets schemes. The Cadet Expansion Programme will receive £3.6 million in government funding for this academic year and through to the 2033/2034 financial year. This goes to the single Service (i.e. Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force) cadet organisations, to provide funding for cadet expansion in schools.

The department provides £3.5 million to enable cadets to achieve an ‘out of school hours’ level 2 or 3 vocational qualification. The qualifications recognise the wide variety of skills, including teamwork, communication and leadership skills that cadets gain while attending their unit, which are transferable to further and higher education, as well as the workplace.

These qualifications are directly linked to community, social action and volunteering, and are carefully mapped to the training programmes of the cadet forces. For the cadet forces, the current offer is:

• BTEC Level 1 in Teamwork and Personal Skills for Uniformed Youth Organisations. 1 year course, age range: 13 to 15.
• BTEC Level 2 in Teamwork and Personal Development in the Community. 2 year course, age range: 16 to 18.
• ILM Level 3 Award in Leadership and Management. 1 year course, age range: 16 +.

Further details are available here: https://cvcollege.org/our_qualifications/.

There are no current plans to make an assessment of the merits of introducing 16 to 18 scholarships for young people participating in cadets programmes. However, there are initiatives at a local level to support cadets with financial barriers to participate.

Ofsted and Care Quality Commission commenced a strengthened local inspection framework in January 2023, which places a greater emphasis on the outcomes being achieved for children and young people. It is the primary tool to maintain a focus on high standards in the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system, across all partners.

Where a council does not meet its duties, the department can take action that prioritises children’s needs and supports local areas to bring about rapid improvement. The department works to monitor, support and, where necessary, challenge local authorities, working closely with NHS England to tackle any weaknesses that sit with health partners.

The department welcomes the publication of the Big Listen response. We will continue to work with Ofsted to consider how outcomes for children with SEND or in alternative provision (AP) are better reflected in the Education Inspection and the Area SEND inspection frameworks going forwards.

There are several routes of redress for parents or young people who disagree with decisions or actions of their educational setting or local authority. However, the department does understand these processes can be lengthy and difficult for families to navigate. It is in everyone’s interests that routes of redress are set out clearly and that complaints are resolved at the earliest possible stage.

The work of the Change Programme partnerships has provided valuable insights and learning across the SEND and AP system. This includes informing the department's thinking about effective inclusive mainstream practice, which is an area where more needs to be done to ensure children with SEND receive the support they need and deserve. We will share more news on the future direction of the Change Programme in due course.

The department is committed to ensuring that co-production with parents and carers of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and with the specialist charities that support them is a priority.

The department has two contracts which enable it to talk directly to both parents and carers of children with SEND and the specialist charities who support them in order to get their input into its policy development. The department uses these contracts to regularly discuss policy development and delivery with parents, carers and with the SEND sector. The department also presents, and hold workshops, at regular events coordinated by SEND specialist charities, such as the Council for Disabled Children, throughout the year.

The department recognises the importance of, and will continue to work together, with parents and carers, specialist organisations, children and young people with SEND, so that they get the right support to succeed in education, lead happy and healthy lives.

The length of time that the Civil Aviation Authority, the independent regulator, takes for a licence application assessment is predicated on the heritage and maturity of the technology, and the quality of information provided by the applicant. The Government has implemented the Regulatory Innovation Office, which will reduce red tape and recognises the innovative technology developments in the space sector. Working alongside the CAA, we will ensure we have legislation that is effective and globally competitive, through the use of a Regulatory Sandbox and a Post Implementation Review of the Space Industry Regulations 2021, commencing in January 2025.

We are working closely with Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology (DSIT), who we understand have met with the Regulatory Horizons Council (RHC) on their report published in April 2024. A formal response will be sent to the RHC in the new year.

To support the sector the CAA publish guidance setting out regulatory principles and how applicants can comply with the outcome focused legislation. Their guidance was last updated in May 2024.

The CAA also has regular, close engagement with the whole sector through Space Launch and Orbit Group (SPLOG), which provides the CAA opportunities to engage with operators to understand mission concepts and provide guidance on how to progress a licence application.

Working alongside the CAA, we will ensure we have legislation that is effective and globally competitive, through the use of a Regulatory Sandbox and a Post Implementation Review of the Space Industry Regulations 2021, commencing in January 2025.

The pandemic exposed how precarious work and life is for those on low incomes, with many forced to choose between their health and financial hardship. This is why, through the Employment Rights Bill, we are removing the Lower Earnings Limit so that up to 1.3 million low-paid employees will become eligible for Statutory Sick Pay. We are also removing the waiting period so that all eligible employees will receive payment from the first day of sickness absence. This will ensure the safety net of sick pay is available to those who need it most.

The impact of planned changes to Strengthen Statutory Sick Pay on ethnic minority employees is set out in full in our Equality Impact Assessment, which we published on 7 November 2024 and can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/making-work-pay-strengthening-statutory-sick-pay/equality-analysis-for-statutory-sick-pay-reform-measures-in-the-employment-rights-bill.

We know that employees in insecure work tend to be on lower incomes, and our planned changes to SSP will benefit millions of additional employees. The rate lower paid employees are entitled to will be based on their actual average weekly earnings, protecting those who work irregular hours.

The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) review for prostate cancer screening is currently underway. The evidence review will cover modelling the clinical effectiveness and cost of several approaches to prostate cancer screening. This will include different potential ways of screening the whole population from 40 years of age onwards and targeted screening aimed at groups of people identified as being at higher than average risk, such as black men or men with a family history of cancer.

This work is detailed and complex. Once the modelling and evidence review are complete it will be considered by the UK NSC. Subject to no further revisions being required, the UK NSC plans to hold a public consultation towards the end of 2025.

Further details of the UK NSC’s evidence review process is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-nsc-evidence-review-process/uk-nsc-evidence-review-process

The standard process confirming the total funding amount for major infrastructure projects involves the review and approval of a Full Business Case. All trusts in the New Hospital Programme have previously received indicative funding allocations to support planning, however these are commercially sensitive. The New Hospital Programme had confirmed £3.7 billion in funding up to the end of 2024/25.

The trust is currently developing their Outline Business Case for the Whipps Cross Hospital, and is at Royal Institute of British Architects Stage 2. Up to the end of the 2023/24, the total amount received by the Barts Health NHS Trust in funding for their new hospital scheme is £22.2 million.

The breakdown of how much the trust received for their new hospital scheme is published annually as part of the Department’s Annual Reports and Accounts, with Public Dividend Capital to individual trusts included in the Financial Assistance Report under section 40 of the National Health Service Act 2006. The 2022/23 report is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dhsc-annual-report-and-accounts-2022-to-2023

The standard process confirming the total funding amount for major infrastructure projects involves the review and approval of a Full Business Case. All trusts in the New Hospital Programme have previously received indicative funding allocations to support planning, however these are commercially sensitive. The New Hospital Programme had confirmed £3.7 billion in funding up to the end of 2024/25.

The trust is currently developing their Outline Business Case for the Whipps Cross Hospital, and is at Royal Institute of British Architects Stage 2. Up to the end of the 2023/24, the total amount received by the Barts Health NHS Trust in funding for their new hospital scheme is £22.2 million.

The breakdown of how much the trust received for their new hospital scheme is published annually as part of the Department’s Annual Reports and Accounts, with Public Dividend Capital to individual trusts included in the Financial Assistance Report under section 40 of the National Health Service Act 2006. The 2022/23 report is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dhsc-annual-report-and-accounts-2022-to-2023

The standard process confirming the total funding amount for major infrastructure projects involves the review and approval of a Full Business Case. All trusts in the New Hospital Programme have previously received indicative funding allocations to support planning, however these are commercially sensitive. The New Hospital Programme had confirmed £3.7 billion in funding up to the end of 2024/25.

The trust is currently developing their Outline Business Case for the Whipps Cross Hospital, and is at Royal Institute of British Architects Stage 2. Up to the end of the 2023/24, the total amount received by the Barts Health NHS Trust in funding for their new hospital scheme is £22.2 million.

The breakdown of how much the trust received for their new hospital scheme is published annually as part of the Department’s Annual Reports and Accounts, with Public Dividend Capital to individual trusts included in the Financial Assistance Report under section 40 of the National Health Service Act 2006. The 2022/23 report is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dhsc-annual-report-and-accounts-2022-to-2023

The standard process confirming the total funding amount for major infrastructure projects involves the review and approval of a Full Business Case. All trusts in the New Hospital Programme have previously received indicative funding allocations to support planning, however these are commercially sensitive. The New Hospital Programme had confirmed £3.7 billion in funding up to the end of 2024/25.

The trust is currently developing their Outline Business Case for the Whipps Cross Hospital, and is at Royal Institute of British Architects Stage 2. Up to the end of the 2023/24, the total amount received by the Barts Health NHS Trust in funding for their new hospital scheme is £22.2 million.

The breakdown of how much the trust received for their new hospital scheme is published annually as part of the Department’s Annual Reports and Accounts, with Public Dividend Capital to individual trusts included in the Financial Assistance Report under section 40 of the National Health Service Act 2006. The 2022/23 report is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dhsc-annual-report-and-accounts-2022-to-2023

The humanitarian situation in Gaza is unacceptable. I have raised the dire situation in the north of Gaza with both the Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister and the Israeli Ambassador to the UK, most recently on 3 January. We have repeatedly urged the Government of Israel to ensure that UNRWA can continue its vital operations across Gaza, including in our contacts with Israeli ministers, and at the UN Security Council in January. The Prime Minister underlined the UK's support for UNRWA by announcing, on 11 December, an additional £13 million for UNRWA to support vital services for Palestinian refugees in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and the region, bringing our support for UNRWA's work across the region to £41m this financial year.

The Foreign Secretary has raised the issue of increased atrocity risks in Sudan with a number of key regional and international actors. In December, the Foreign Secretary discussed protection of civilians in Sudan with Troika counterparts Secretary Blinken (US) and Foreign Minister Barth Eide (Norway). The Foreign Secretary also engaged with the African Union and African Security Council members during his visit to New York in November, including at a roundtable he hosted where he urged states to use their influence with the warring parties to push for improved humanitarian access in Sudan and protection of civilians. We will continue to use our engagements with international partners to pressure warring parties to comply with international humanitarian and human rights law.

The Government is concerned by credible claims of mistreatment of detainees, which the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) cannot investigate, having been denied access to places of detention.  The treatment of detainees was a factor taken into account in our decision on arms export licences, as set out in the summary of the international humanitarian law (IHL) process, decision and the factors taken into account [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/summary-of-the-international-humanitarian-law-ihl-process-decision-and-the-factors-taken-into-account#:~:text=The%20government%20has%20conducted%20a%20thorough%20review%20of%20Israel%E2%80%99s%20compliance].

The Foreign Secretary made an Oral Statement to update the House on this decision on 2 September. The Foreign Secretary has repeatedly called for Israel to allow the ICRC access to detainees in accordance with International Humanitarian Law, including the Fourth Geneva Convention.

The UK unequivocally condemns all violations and abuses, including sexual violence and violence against children, and calls for all reports to be fully investigated to ensure justice for victims and survivors. The arrest and detention of children should follow due process, in line with international juvenile justice standards.

As set out in the Foreign Secretary's statement to the House on 2 September, it is the assessment of this Government that Israel could reasonably do more to ensure that life-saving food and medical supplies reach civilians in Gaza. I raised this concern with Israeli Ambassador to the UK Tzipi Hotovely during our meeting on 24 July, making clear that significantly more aid needed to be delivered for Israel to fulfil its commitment to 'flood' Gaza with aid.

We continue to press Israel for safe distribution of aid and an improved deconfliction mechanism to keep humanitarian operations safe from military operations. We have been clear that if Israel's personnel are responsible for incidents, they should be held accountable. All parties must abide by their obligations under international humanitarian law. This was raised by the Foreign Secretary in his visit to Israel on 16 August.

We continue to call on Israeli authorities to exercise restraint, adhere to international law, and clamp down on the actions of those who seek to inflame tensions. The Government is deeply concerned by the ongoing IDF military operation in the occupied West Bank and the attacks from Palestinian militants. It is in no one's interest for further conflict and instability to spread in the West Bank.

The UK strongly condemns settler violence and provocative remarks such as those made by Israel's National Security Minister Ben-Gvir, which threaten the status quo of the Holy Sites in Jerusalem. The Foreign Secretary was clear with PM Netanyahu on his visit to Israel and the OPTs in July that the Israeli government must clamp down on settler violence and end settlement expansion. The UK has sanctioned eight people responsible for perpetrating and inciting human rights abuses against Palestinian communities in the West Bank, and two entities. We keep all these issues under review and continue to discuss them with our closest allies.

Immediate family members of British citizens, and those settled in the UK, who wish to come and live in the UK and do not have a current UK visa can apply under one of the existing family visa routes. There are no plans to create a bespoke family reunion scheme at this stage.

Further details are available here: https://www.gov.uk/uk-family-visa

We will accept applications, which would normally have to be made in the country where the person is living, at any of the UK’s Visa Application Centres.

Visa Application Centres are open and operating in Egypt, in both Cairo and Alexandria, and Amman in Jordan. Application centres are also open and operating in Ramallah, Jerusalem, and Tel Aviv.

The FCDO is also providing consular assistance to those with British nationality, or dual nationality including British, who are in Gaza or who have left Gaza to a third country. Dual national British-Palestinians are not required to make a visa application as they have the right of abode in the UK. Our embassy staff are ready to provide support as appropriate.

The information requested is provided below.

Notes/Caveats:

1. Regular officer commissions includes those completing the mainstream Commissioning Course for Regular officers at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS). This therefore excludes Professionally Qualified Officers who join and complete the Commissioning Course Short

We are very grateful for the work of the External Scrutiny Team in producing their Council of Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Associations Annual Statutory Report 2024.

All Ministry of Defence (MOD) training courses are delivered in accordance with Defence Systems Approach to Training, including for Reservists; this is a formal iterative process to continually improve course delivery, integrate learning technologies and formally record student feedback, resulting in improved changes to Course Programmes.

Many Defence courses now offer a modular approach to completion via the Defence Learning Environment which tracks and accurately records student progress. This has provided significant flexibility, allowing Reservists to complete courses in a way that fits around their employment needs and family commitments.

Adaptations include tailoring to deliver training locally at weekends or in blocks of time that are accessible, allowing Reservists to balance their civilian and military commitments effectively.

In line with recommendations made by the Haythornthwaite Review and the Pan Defence Skills Framework, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) believes there is value in recognising and accrediting the learning, experience and qualifications achieved by individuals outside of Defence.

There are a number of targeted programmes allowing those in higher and further education to experience the Armed Forces and potential careers in the Regular or Reserve Forces, including University Royal Navy Units (URNU), University Officer Training Corps and University Air Squadron students. As an example, since 2015 the Royal Naval Reserve (RNR) has been running a condensed fast-track Phase 1 training programme in the summer months to deliberately align with longer student vacations. Since 2021 the programme has been extended to officer cadets of the URNU, with seamless transfer to the RNR as an option for successful trainees.

There are currently no specific funding options to incentivise higher or further education students to join the Maritime Reserves or Royal Air Force Reserves. Students wishing to join the Army Reserves as Officers can apply for a financial bounty for £1,200, paid in two stages, the first payment on enlistment and the second on completion of their training. The Army also has four support schemes available for students in sixth form and higher and further education, ranging from Army Scholarships worth £3,000 per candidate to a Defence STEM Undergraduate Sponsorship whereby Candidates have their tuition fees paid and receive £5,000 per annum for three university years.

In line with recommendations made by the Haythornthwaite Review and the Pan Defence Skills Framework, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) believes there is value in recognising and accrediting the learning, experience and qualifications achieved by individuals outside of Defence.

There are a number of targeted programmes allowing those in higher and further education to experience the Armed Forces and potential careers in the Regular or Reserve Forces, including University Royal Navy Units (URNU), University Officer Training Corps and University Air Squadron students. As an example, since 2015 the Royal Naval Reserve (RNR) has been running a condensed fast-track Phase 1 training programme in the summer months to deliberately align with longer student vacations. Since 2021 the programme has been extended to officer cadets of the URNU, with seamless transfer to the RNR as an option for successful trainees.

There are currently no specific funding options to incentivise higher or further education students to join the Maritime Reserves or Royal Air Force Reserves. Students wishing to join the Army Reserves as Officers can apply for a financial bounty for £1,200, paid in two stages, the first payment on enlistment and the second on completion of their training. The Army also has four support schemes available for students in sixth form and higher and further education, ranging from Army Scholarships worth £3,000 per candidate to a Defence STEM Undergraduate Sponsorship whereby Candidates have their tuition fees paid and receive £5,000 per annum for three university years.

In line with recommendations made by the Haythornthwaite Review and the Pan Defence Skills Framework, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) believes there is value in recognising and accrediting the learning, experience and qualifications achieved by individuals outside of Defence.

There are a number of targeted programmes allowing those in higher and further education to experience the Armed Forces and potential careers in the Regular or Reserve Forces, including University Royal Navy Units (URNU), University Officer Training Corps and University Air Squadron students. As an example, since 2015 the Royal Naval Reserve (RNR) has been running a condensed fast-track Phase 1 training programme in the summer months to deliberately align with longer student vacations. Since 2021 the programme has been extended to officer cadets of the URNU, with seamless transfer to the RNR as an option for successful trainees.

There are currently no specific funding options to incentivise higher or further education students to join the Maritime Reserves or Royal Air Force Reserves. Students wishing to join the Army Reserves as Officers can apply for a financial bounty for £1,200, paid in two stages, the first payment on enlistment and the second on completion of their training. The Army also has four support schemes available for students in sixth form and higher and further education, ranging from Army Scholarships worth £3,000 per candidate to a Defence STEM Undergraduate Sponsorship whereby Candidates have their tuition fees paid and receive £5,000 per annum for three university years.

Living in or owning an unsafe home without knowing when and how it will be made safe can have significant impact on the lives of residents and leaseholders. That is why we expect developers and owners to sign works contracts and make buildings safe as quickly as reasonably practicable, and to keep residents and leaseholders informed throughout in line with guidance in the Code of Practice for the Remediation of Residential Buildings. As part of the joint plan that we published in December 2024, developers committed to accelerate this work and government committed to support them in overcoming barriers such as disputes between developers and building owners over access license agreements and scope of remedial works.