Caroline Dinenage

I refer the Hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement, HCWS681, made on 15 March.

In order to sustain the UK’s target of 2.4% research intensity of GDP by 2027, it is estimated the R&D sector will need a minimum of 150,000 additional researchers and technicians between 2021 and 2030. The R&D People & Culture Strategy set out our plan to tackle skills gaps, anticipate future needs in both business and academia, and build the workforce the UK needs. BEIS is working with partners to better understand the skills and workforce needed for research and innovation.

The UK continues to be a world leader in mathematics, and to support mathematics R&D, UKRI has awarded £104 million of additional funding into Mathematical Sciences, over and above EPSRC’s core Mathematical Sciences Theme budget. The additional investment has funded institutes, small and large research grants, fellowships, doctoral studentships, and postdoctoral awards.

The Government agrees that creators should be fairly remunerated. The Government is taking forward work to achieve this, including a programme considering the remuneration issues related to music streaming.

DCMS Ministers and officials have been engaging with the Design and Artists Copyright Society (DACS) on their proposals for a Smart Fund. It is encouraging to see proposals from the sector to support creators and fair remuneration. However introducing statutory levies of this nature can present significant challenges, including the risk that costs would be passed to consumers. This is of particular concern in the context of wider cost of living challenges. We encourage DACS to work with the tech industry to explore options for industry-led solutions.

As we take the next steps in living with COVID-19, we remain committed to doing everything possible to protect face-to-face education and care, and keep early years providers open for all children.

At the Spending Review on 27 October 2021, the government announced additional funding of £160 million in the financial years 2022-23, £180 million in 2023-24, and £170 million in 2024-25, as compared to the current financial year. This is for local authorities to increase hourly rates paid to childcare providers. It also reflects cost pressures as well as anticipated changes in the number of eligible children.

The department continues to publish comprehensive guidance to support nurseries and other early years providers in delivering a safe and secure environment for children and staff as we continue to learn to live with COVID-19. This applies to providers across England. This guidance explains the control measures that providers should take to reduce the spread of COVID-19. This includes ensuring good hygiene, maintaining appropriate cleaning regimes, and keeping spaces well-ventilated.

The department has also issued guidance to clarify that providers can use the existing flexibilities on ratios that are set out in the Early Years Foundation Stage statutory framework. This will help manage short-term workforce pressures so long as children continue to be cared for safely.

The government continues to monitor the early years sector for issues, including through engagement with local authorities. These support measures apply to all early years and childcare providers across England.

Universities are autonomous bodies, independent from government, and they have control over decisions about who to admit to their courses.

Mathematics remains the most popular A level subject and we are committed to increase participation in post-16 mathematics. We introduced reformed A levels which provide a better foundation to study Mathematics courses, including pure Mathematics, at a higher level. We fund the Advanced Mathematics Support Programme which supports schools and colleges to improve the effectiveness of level 3 maths teaching and provides targeted support for students preparing for study at higher education.

We are working with universities and academy trusts to establish a specialist Mathematics school in each region (and a total of 11 nationally). These aim to prepare more of our most mathematically able students to succeed in Mathematics disciplines at top universities.

We strongly believe effective careers guidance and advice is key to supporting young people in their education and career choices.

The government’s Careers Strategy sets out a long-term plan to build a world class careers system to achieve this ambition. The delivery of the Careers Strategy will ensure that science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) encounters, such as with employers and apprenticeships, are built into school career programmes.

The government also supports around 25% of the total PhD population in the UK through grants awarded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). Since January 2020, UKRI has awarded £104 million of additional funding into Mathematical Sciences, over and above the Engineering and physical Sciences Research Council’s core Mathematical Sciences Theme budget.

My officials are currently undertaking a review of bathing water policy in England.

The Statutory Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Standards issued in 2020 provides the Government’s view on the merits of installing CCTV in taxis and private hire vehicles; that it can deter those drivers that seek to abuse their position of trust and be of investigative and evidential value when this is alleged.

The use of CCTV can provide a safer environment not just for passengers but also for taxi and private hire vehicle drivers who often face verbal and physical assault, which is frequently racially motivated, and from false accusations.

All licensing authorities should consult to identify if there are local circumstances which indicate that the installation of CCTV in vehicles would have either a positive or an adverse net effect on the safety of taxi and private hire vehicle users and drivers, taking into account potential privacy issues.

There are currently 90 community diagnostic centres (CDCs) operating in England, including supporting spoke sites. Of these, six CDCs or 7% of sites offer diagnostic mammography services.

No such estimate has been made, as the Department does not collect this data centrally.

The Department does not collect this information centrally.

The Government expects local National Health Service (NHS) commissioning bodies to commission fertility services in line with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines, so that there is equitable access across England.

We are aware that some commissioners set additional non-clinical criteria. This is outside the best clinical practice and is not fair to patients with infertility.

The Department undertook an internal policy review about the variation in access to NHS fertility services, which was completed in 2021. The results of this review will inform our ambitions in the Women’s Health Strategy, which is due to be published in the Spring.

The Government is committed to continue the support to the infected blood community.

The information requested is not collected centrally.

My Department coordinated a cross-government hurricane exercise earlier this month as part of its review of plans to ensure the UK provides a rapid and effective response this year. In May, officials also hosted a pre-hurricane season conference. We continue to invest in capability and capacity building programmes across the Overseas Territories.

The Government provided enhanced support to the retail, hospitality, and leisure sectors, as well as nurseries, during the pandemic given the impact of non-pharmaceutical interventions on high street footfall and nursery attendance.

In line with the Government roadmap to reopen the economy, nurseries are currently able to receive up to 66 per cent business rates relief until 31 March 2022. Although nurseries are no longer subject to COVID-19 restrictions, the Government will continue to provide support ahead of the revaluation in 2023. Freezing the multiplier for 2022-23 will support all ratepayers ahead of the revaluation in 2023, meaning bills are 3 per cent lower than without the freeze.

The COVID-19 Additional Relief Fund is designed to provide support to those businesses affected by COVID-19 that have not been covered by existing support linked to business rates. Nurseries received a full business rates holiday until 30 June 2021 and can claim a 66 per cent relief for the remainder of this financial year.

The Government provided enhanced support to the retail, hospitality, and leisure sectors, as well as nurseries, during the pandemic given the impact of non-pharmaceutical interventions on high street footfall and nursery attendance.

In line with the Government roadmap to reopen the economy, nurseries are currently able to receive up to 66 per cent business rates relief until 31 March 2022. Although nurseries are no longer subject to COVID-19 restrictions, the Government will continue to provide support ahead of the revaluation in 2023. Freezing the multiplier for 2022-23 will support all ratepayers ahead of the revaluation in 2023, meaning bills are 3 per cent lower than without the freeze.

The COVID-19 Additional Relief Fund is designed to provide support to those businesses affected by COVID-19 that have not been covered by existing support linked to business rates. Nurseries received a full business rates holiday until 30 June 2021 and can claim a 66 per cent relief for the remainder of this financial year.

Our initial proposal is that the relief would apply to containers at least as big as the traditional firkin – a 40 litre cask. We will discuss the size of containers that will qualify for the relief with brewers as part of our consultation process.

Calculation of an individual's Guaranteed Income Payment (GIP) takes a number of factors into consideration. The GIP calculation takes account of both salary and age in determining the lifelong loss of earnings the individual is likely to face, both salary and pension, as a result of their service-caused injury or injuries. It also includes an enhancement for lost future military promotions. This calculation enables the department to provide a payment that not only recognises final salary but also loss of future potential earnings.