Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what the current average waiting time is between a data protection complaint being lodged with the Information Commissioner's Office and a case officer being assigned; and what steps are being taken to address complaints that have significantly exceeded this average.

Answered by Stephanie Peacock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

The Information Commissioner's Office transitioned to become the Information Commission on 30 September 2026. While DCMS is its sponsor department, the Information Commission remains independent and accountable to Parliament.

The Information Commission assesses each complaint against its Data Protection Complaints Framework. The Information Commission advises that complaints are typically triaged within two and a half months of submission, and those not requiring further investigation are on average resolved within 5 days from being triaged/allocated. Those requiring further investigation are currently assigned to a case officer approximately 10 months after submission. The Information Commission is prioritising the most serious cases and exploring process and technology improvements to reduce waiting times.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what comparative assessment her Department has made of the testimony evidence submitted to her Department on 15 July 2025 by Surrey County Council on SEND with the Department’s response entitled Local SEND Reform Feedback for Surrey, in which Q9 states "Surrey demonstrates strong engagement with parents, young people, schools and health partners".

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The Local Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Reform Plan feedback provided to the Surrey Local Area Partnership was based only on the department’s assessment of Surrey’s Local SEND Reform Plan and is not a reflection of Surrey’s SEND performance more broadly. In the plan, Surrey Local Area Partnership demonstrated a strong commitment to co-production with meaningful engagement on the development of the plan across the partnership, but recognised that further strengthening of wider engagement is required.

Going forward, officials from the department and NHS England, alongside expert advisers, will regularly support and challenge Surrey as it implements the plan and strengthens the quality of existing support for children and young people with SEND. The department will continue to engage Parent Carer Forums and local stakeholders to assess the quality of partnership working and, where concerns are raised, will work with the local area to support the improvement and effective delivery of its plan.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to ensure that survivors and domestic abuse specialist services are involved in shaping the proximity-monitoring pilot scheme.

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

The Government has committed to piloting proximity monitoring technology as part of its wider work to strengthen protections for victims of violence against women and girls. Officials are engaging with key partners across the victims sector, including victims’ commissioners and domestic abuse organisations, to ensure that the pilot is informed by the experiences and needs of victim survivors.

We have established ongoing engagement with victims’ organisations to provide advice and challenge as the pilot is developed.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what information her Department hold on the antidepressant prescribing rate among parents and carers of children with EHC plans.

Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

We do not currently hold any central data on that specific issue.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will introduce species-specific welfare standards for budgerigars under its Animal Welfare Strategy for England, including regulations on conspecific social housing, restrictions on non-veterinary wing-clipping, reviews of commercial hand-rearing and enforcement of flight guidance for bird retailers.

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

As part of this Government’s Animal Welfare Strategy, we are committed to working with the sector to improve compliance with existing welfare requirements. The Animal Welfare Act 2006 makes it an offence to cause animals unnecessary suffering. Furthermore, businesses selling animals as pets must meet statutory minimum welfare standards under the Licensing of Activities Involving Animals Regulation 2018. There are no plans to introduce further regulation on the issues raised.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many children with EHC plans and no setting are waiting for a placement that exists but is full, as against one that does not exist at all.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The department does not hold information on the reason why children are not attending the placement named in their Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan.

This government is committed to supporting local areas to create high-quality places that are suitable to meet the needs of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). We want more children and young people to access the right support in a local mainstream setting which will enable them to learn alongside their peers and siblings, instead of travelling a long way to a special school.

This is why we are investing at least £3.7 billion in high needs capital funding between 2025/26 and 2029/30, to support local authorities to provide places for children and young people with SEND, or who require alternative provision, across early years settings, schools, and colleges.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the timing of EHC plan issue on Key Stage 4 attainment and post-19 employment.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The government wants all settings, including early years, schools and post-16 providers, to be confident in accurately identifying special educational needs and choosing evidence-based interventions that effectively address them. For those who require an education health and care (EHC) plan, our reforms will seek to improve families’ experiences and outcomes for children and young people (CYP).

The department has not made a specific assessment of the impact of timing of issuing EHC plans on key stage 4 attainment or post-19 employment outcomes. However, we recognise the importance of timely support for CYP with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) at every stage of their education.

Effective, timely identification and intervention are critical to improving outcomes for CYP with SEND. Through our proposed reforms, we will also seek to establish smoother transitions from school to post-16 education. This will include ensuring that settings work together and that transition planning for learners with SEND begins 12 months in advance.

The department recently consulted on its proposed SEND reforms and will set out its response in due course.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of health and social care support available to autistic people who do not have a learning disability.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The independent review into the prevalence and support for mental health conditions, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and autism, led by Professor Peter Fonagy, was published on 9 October, providing analysis and recommendations across a wide range of issues relating to the current provision of services in this area.

The Government issued an initial response on the day of publication, available at the link below, but we will set out the full action we are taking in response to the review recommendations in our new Mental Health Strategy to be published later this year, which will be relevant to the issues raised by the Hon Member. The Government remains fully committed to developing and publishing a revised cross-Government autism strategy in line with the Autism Act 2009. We will engage on the development of the revised autism strategy including on whether the scope of the autism strategy should be extended to cover ADHD.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-pledges-earlier-support-to-tackle-mental-health-crises

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether she plans to improve access to health and social care support for autistic people who do not have a learning disability.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The independent review into the prevalence and support for mental health conditions, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and autism, led by Professor Peter Fonagy, was published on 9 October, providing analysis and recommendations across a wide range of issues relating to the current provision of services in this area.

The Government issued an initial response on the day of publication, available at the link below, but we will set out the full action we are taking in response to the review recommendations in our new Mental Health Strategy to be published later this year, which will be relevant to the issues raised by the Hon Member. The Government remains fully committed to developing and publishing a revised cross-Government autism strategy in line with the Autism Act 2009. We will engage on the development of the revised autism strategy including on whether the scope of the autism strategy should be extended to cover ADHD.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-pledges-earlier-support-to-tackle-mental-health-crises

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will review the rules on Ofsted-registered childminders claiming government-funded early education and childcare hours for children to whom they are related, where care is provided outside the child’s home; and if she will adopt the same approach as in Wales.

Answered by Paul Waugh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

Parents are free to choose the childcare that is right for them and their children. However, the restriction on funding relatives is set out in the Childcare Act (2006). Section 18(4) of this Act specifically excludes care provided for a child by a parent or other relative. This approach avoids creating an incentive for adults to register to become childminders and be paid to look after related children that they are already looking after on an informal basis.

​A local authority can choose to fund a childminder providing childcare for a related child, but this would have to be from the local authority’s funds independent of the dedicated schools grant.

​Flexibilities within staff to child ratios can be used to enable childminders who are caring for related children, to avoid limiting the income they can earn. We currently have no plans to change this long-standing position.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the economic and social costs associated with the mental health impact on parents and caregivers of children with SEND; and whether she plans to include these costs in future fiscal impact assessments for SEND provision.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The department has made no specific estimate of the economic and social costs associated with the mental health impact on parents and caregivers of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The department has also made no assessment of whether such costs should be included in future fiscal impact assessments for SEND provision.

The government has recognised that too many children and young people with SEND and their families are being let down by the current system. The reforms seek to reduce the need for families to navigate adversarial processes and instead provide support that is earlier, clearer and more consistent, helping ensure that children and young people with SEND and their families have a better experience of the system.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Version 5.0 change mandating refusal for suspended sentences of 12 months or more will apply retrospectively to convictions connected to the 2019 Hong Kong protest movement that were already disclosed to, and accepted by, her Department at the point a BNO visa was granted.

Answered by Jo White - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

Applications are assessed against the Immigration Rules in force at the date the application is decided, including the applicable suitability requirements.

We are aware of concerns that some Hong Kongers may have been refused on suitability grounds following convictions arising from politically motivated prosecutions in Hong Kong. The Government keeps the operation of the BN(O) route under careful review to ensure it continues to reflect its policy intent and the UK's commitment to the Hong Kong community.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Security Industry Authority's current consultation on proposed changes to licence-linked qualifications and training requirements, a) what evidence supports additional training requirements for existing experienced licence holders, b) how recognition of prior qualifications and competence will operate, and c) how the SIA intends to ensure that meaningful communication standards for new entrants are independently assessed.

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security) (Jointly with the Cabinet Office)

The Security Industry Authority (SIA) is consulting on changes to its licence-linked qualifications and training requirements. The consultation closes on 23 October 2026 and no final decisions have been taken.

The proposals have been informed by a range of evidence and stakeholder engagement. Prior to the consultation exercise, the SIA engaged with approximately 5,200 stakeholders via webinars and formal, structured research exercises. The SIA has also taken views from other sources, including regular engagement with industry, government departments and on occasion from coroner’s rulings.

The consultation considers how existing refresher training requirements should develop, including the treatment of existing qualifications and competence. The experience of existing licence holders will inform the final arrangements.

The SIA is consulting on potential changes to the current functional English requirement, including how this is tested and assured by training providers and awarding organisations. It is also seeking views on the introduction of an additional independent English-language test. These proposals are intended to provide greater assurance that new entrants have the functional level of English required to carry out their duties safely.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the publication of New College Worcester’s report titled ‘Academically Successful and Independently Able’, what steps she is taking to clear the backlog of tribunal cases for visually impaired students needing EHCPs.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The department recognises the importance of ensuring that children and young people receive the support they need without unnecessary delay. We are working with the Ministry of Justice, HM Courts and Tribunals Service, and the judiciary to address the time families wait for hearings and decisions, including through recruitment of additional administrative and judicial resource, and concluding more appeals on paper without the need for a hearing.

These measures form part of a wider programme of work to improve timeliness, increase capacity and support earlier resolution of disputes, while maintaining fair and thorough consideration of every appeal.

Our ‘SEND Reform: Putting Children and Young People First’ consultation document set out broader reform proposals, focused on earlier identification of need and a more inclusive mainstream. These proposals should mean children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) can access the support they need when they need it, without having to appeal to the SEND Tribunal.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of thefts of hydraulic rescue equipment from fire and rescue stations on the operational capacity of fire and rescue services; and what steps her Department is taking to address such thefts.

Answered by Florence Eshalomi - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Decisions on station security, the replacement or reallocation of stolen equipment, working with Police, and the continuity arrangements needed to maintain local cover, are all matters for each Fire and Rescue Service (FRS), informed by its assessment of local risk.

The Department does not hold central data on these thefts.

The Department also is, however, working with the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) and FRSs to improve information sharing within the sector on break-ins and equipment thefts, such that it can facilitate better understanding of the pattern of incidents and inform local protective measures within the sector.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that (a) teachers receive adequate training to identify and support children with Developmental Language Disorder within mainstream classrooms and (b) there are adequate numbers of Experts at Hand to provide essential specialist support and training within schools.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

The department is investing around £1.8 billion over the next three years for local area partnerships, including local authorities and Integrated Care Boards, to develop a new Experts at Hand (EaH) offer. Alongside the National Inclusion Standards and a new £200 million special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) Continuing Professional Development programme, this will help ensure staff have the knowledge, skills and support needed to identify and respond to speech and language needs, including developmental language disorder.

This will support schools to identify needs earlier and put appropriate support in place, informed by specialist advice, while helping specialist professionals focus their time on children and young people who require more intensive support. This approach builds on evidenced learning of what works from programmes such as Early Language Support for Every Child, which has informed the development of the EaH offer and can be used to inform and strengthen the wider offer.

To support delivery, the department is investing over £40 million in the specialist workforce, including £26 million to train more educational psychologists and £15 million over three years to support more speech and language therapists to work in education settings.

Local areas are responsible for planning and monitoring delivery of their EaH offer, reflecting local need and workforce capacity. The department will continue to monitor data on the growth of the relevant health and education specialist workforces.

Prosecution of parents of children with SEND for school absence

Nature rights

Political donations and campaign finance regulation