Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Frontier Worker Permits were (a) issued and (b) valid in 2024-25.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

The Home Office publishes data on entry clearance visas by visa type, including Frontier Worker Permits, in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on the outcomes of visa applications are published in table ‘Vis_D02’ of the ‘detailed entry clearance dataset’.

Information on how to use the dataset can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbook. Data is from January 2005 up to the end of March 2025.

Information on how many visas were valid in a given period is not currently available from published statistics.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which UK Visas and Immigration international (a) application points and (b) decision-making centres processed applications to work in (i) construction, (ii) maintenance and (iii) seafaring roles in the offshore wind industry under the Offshore Wind Workers Concession scheme between 2017 and 2023.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

Visa applications for the Offshore Wind Workers Concession Scheme were processed by the following Decision Making Centres (DMCs): Riyadh, Beijing, Manila, Bogota, Istanbul, Pretoria, Chennai, Warsaw, Abu Dhabi, Amman, New Delhi, Croydon, Liverpool and Sheffield.

A number of construction, maintenance and seafaring roles were also processed by the above DMCs.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the (a) staff headcount, (b) full-time equivalent number of staff and (c) departmental budget required to administer the Frontier Worker Visa scheme was in each year between 2021-22 and 2024-25.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

The department operates a flexible staffing model to ensure that available resources are deployed effectively according to demand. As such, staff engaged on the Frontier Worker Visa scheme are also engaged in the administration of other high-volume routes.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people holding a Frontier Worker Permit have retained worker status.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

The information requested is not currently available from published statistics, and the relevant data could only be collated and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many nurses qualified to work in the NHS (a) 2024, (b) 2023 and (c) 2022.

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

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) publishes information on the number of nurses joining their register for the first time, who are resident in England. It is important to note that newly registered nurses may choose to work in a range of settings, including National Health Service trusts, private or third sector bodies, who may undertake NHS work, or social care settings.

The following table shows the number of nurses joining the NMC register in England for the first time by financial year:

Source: Nursing and Midwifery Council, March 2025 Annual Data Report, available at the following link:

https://www.nmc.org.uk/about-us/reports-and-accounts/registration-statistics/

The information may slightly undercount first time register joiners in England as it is based on the address registered with the NMC.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make it his policy for newly qualified nurses to be guaranteed a job in the NHS.

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

Decisions on the employment of newly qualified nurses are a matter for individual National Health service trusts, which manage their recruitment at a local level, ensuring they have the right number of staff in place, with the right skill mix, to deliver safe and effective care.

We are working closely with NHS England, employers, and educators to ensure support is in place to help graduating nurses transition into the workforce.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many newly qualified nurses were employed in the NHS as a band 5 nurse after six months of being a qualified in (a) 2024, (b) 2023 and (c) 2022 .

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

The Department does not hold the information requested.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many newly qualified nurses were employed in the NHS as a band 5 nurse after three months of being a qualified in (a) 2024, (b) 2023 and (c) 2022.

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

The Department does not hold the information requested.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average processing time is for forensic analysis of (a) fingerprints and (b) DNA testing in criminal investigations.

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

Individual forces would hold data on fingerprint processing times.

The Forensic Capability Network holds data on contractual compliance levels for DNA testing conducted on behalf of policing by the commercial sector.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to reduce the time taken to process forensic evidence in criminal investigations.

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

Individual forces would hold data on fingerprint processing times.

The Forensic Capability Network holds data on contractual compliance levels for DNA testing conducted on behalf of policing by the commercial sector.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure that people with a Frontier Worker Permit are (a) on UK employment contracts and (b) paid above the National Minimum Wage.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

The Frontier Worker Permit scheme implements our commitment under the Citizens’ Rights Agreements to protect the rights of EU, other EEA and Swiss citizens who were frontier working in the UK before the end of the transition period on 31 December 2020 for as long as they continue to be frontier workers.

The Agreements provide that frontier workers must not be discriminated against on grounds of nationality as regards employment, remuneration and other conditions of work and employment. Free and confidential advice on the National Minimum Wage is available by contacting Acas on 0300 123 1100. Any worker who believes they are not receiving what they are entitled to can also complain directly to His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs via their online complaints form on GOV.UK, which can be found by searching “complain about pay and work rights”.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that (a) divers and (b) other emergency patients in the North East have access to hyperbaric oxygen therapy within clinically recommended times after October 2025.

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

NHS England is committed to ensuring equitably accessible, high-quality services, for anyone who requires hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). This will be achieved through the commissioning of six geographically dispersed services across England. Three preferred providers have been identified to date, and a further procurement exercise will take place to identify the three remaining centres.

The contract for HBOT services, also known as recompression, was reviewed in 2024, as existing contract terms expired. This included an update of the service specification using the published full methods process, and a public consultation on the proposal to reduce the number of commissioned providers in England from eight to six centres. Further information on the service specification, the published full methods process, and the consultation is available, respectively, at the following three links:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Hyperbaric-oxygen-therapy-services-all-ages-Service-specification-January-2025.pdf

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/methods-national-service-specifications/

https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/reviewing-hyperbaric-oxygen-services-consultation-guide/#:~:text=Background-,Background,Manual%20of%20Prescribed%20Specialised%20Services

The updates to the specification seek to ensure timely access to treatment for the most acutely unwell patients with the specification requiring:

• the delivery of care that is integrated with other services, including the emergency department, critical care, and other healthcare professionals as required; and
• facilities should be capable of receiving patients in any diagnostic category who may require advanced life support either immediately or during HBOT.

The geographical scope of the six services will ensure that there are no more than four hours travelling time by road from coastal locations, from the furthest borders, or between neighbouring commissioned HBOT centres, which is in line with good practice guidelines. The published Equality and Health Inequalities Impact Assessment sets out an evaluation, including access to services and where appropriate action was taken to ensure fair access to any patient who requires this service. Further information on the Equality and Health Inequalities Impact Assessment is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/2.1-Hyperbaric-oxygen-therapy-equality-and-health-inequalities-impact-assessment.pdf

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 ensure timely access to emergency hyperbaric oxygen therapy for patients in the North East.

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

NHS England is committed to ensuring equitably accessible, high-quality services, for anyone who requires hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). This will be achieved through the commissioning of six geographically dispersed services across England. Three preferred providers have been identified to date, and a further procurement exercise will take place to identify the three remaining centres.

The contract for HBOT services, also known as recompression, was reviewed in 2024, as existing contract terms expired. This included an update of the service specification using the published full methods process, and a public consultation on the proposal to reduce the number of commissioned providers in England from eight to six centres. Further information on the service specification, the published full methods process, and the consultation is available, respectively, at the following three links:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Hyperbaric-oxygen-therapy-services-all-ages-Service-specification-January-2025.pdf

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/methods-national-service-specifications/

https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/reviewing-hyperbaric-oxygen-services-consultation-guide/#:~:text=Background-,Background,Manual%20of%20Prescribed%20Specialised%20Services

The updates to the specification seek to ensure timely access to treatment for the most acutely unwell patients with the specification requiring:

• the delivery of care that is integrated with other services, including the emergency department, critical care, and other healthcare professionals as required; and
• facilities should be capable of receiving patients in any diagnostic category who may require advanced life support either immediately or during HBOT.

The geographical scope of the six services will ensure that there are no more than four hours travelling time by road from coastal locations, from the furthest borders, or between neighbouring commissioned HBOT centres, which is in line with good practice guidelines. The published Equality and Health Inequalities Impact Assessment sets out an evaluation, including access to services and where appropriate action was taken to ensure fair access to any patient who requires this service. Further information on the Equality and Health Inequalities Impact Assessment is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/2.1-Hyperbaric-oxygen-therapy-equality-and-health-inequalities-impact-assessment.pdf

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Government's 2024 election manifesto's commitment to hold an investigation or inquiry into events at Orgreave on 18 June 1984, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to (a) preserve and (b) protect from destruction all (i) documents and (ii) records held by (A) police forces and (B) relevant public bodies relating to those events.

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

Police forces are independent of government and decisions concerning the management of their records are for them to make in accordance with their respective review, retention and disposal policies. However, the Government expects any such decisions to be made in accordance with relevant legislation and national guidance.

Further details about the Government’s manifesto commitment for an investigation or inquiry into the events at Orgreave will be made available in due course.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether Northumbria Police sought (a) permission, (b) guidance, and (c) clearance from her Department prior to the destruction of (i) documents and (ii) records on 29 and 30 April 2024 relating to (A) events at Orgreave on 18 June 1984 and (B) the 1984-85 miners’ strike.

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

Police forces are independent of government and decisions concerning the management of their records are for them to make in accordance with their respective review, retention and disposal policies. However, the Government expects any such decisions to be made in accordance with relevant legislation and national guidance.

Further details about the Government’s manifesto commitment for an investigation or inquiry into the events at Orgreave will be made available in due course.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will investigate the destruction of documents by Northumbria Police on (a) 29 and (b) 30 April 2024 relating to the 1984 miners’ strike and Orgreave.

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

Police forces are independent of government and decisions concerning the management of their records are for them to make in accordance with their respective review, retention and disposal policies. However, the Government expects any such decisions to be made in accordance with relevant legislation and national guidance.

Further details about the Government’s manifesto commitment for an investigation or inquiry into the events at Orgreave will be made available 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 his Department has made of the potential impact of removing hyperbaric oxygen therapy services from the North East on (a) Levels of patient safety and (b) treatment outcomes.

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

NHS England has not decided to remove hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) services in the North East.

Due to current contract terms expiring, NHS England conducted a re-procurement of the service in line with Provider Selection Regime regulations. NHS England was only able to award contracts that met the quality requirements of the tender. The Intention to Award Notice, issued on 14 May 2025, confirmed that NHS England was only able to award three of the six available lots. For those lots where no preferred provider was identified, including the North-East, a further procurement exercise will take place. Interim contract arrangements will be put in place in these areas to ensure continued service provision in line with the commissioning intentions of equitably accessible, high-quality care for any patient who requires HBOT. The intention to award notice is available at the following link:

https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/021325-2025?origin=SearchResults&p=1

The geographical scope of the six services will ensure that there are no more than four hours travelling time by road from coastal locations, from the furthest borders, or between neighbouring commissioned HBOT centres, which is in line with the optimal time to treatment set out in good practice guidelines. Further information on the configuration of service modelling can be found in the published public consultation documents, available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/reviewing-hyperbaric-oxygen-services-consultation-guide/

The published Equality and Health Inequalities Impact Assessment, which sets out the evaluation of the impact of the changes on access to services, is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/2.1-Hyperbaric-oxygen-therapy-equality-and-health-inequalities-impact-assessment.pdf

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps NHS England took to consult with(a) diving organisations, (b) local health trusts and (c) emergency services in the North East it decided to decommission hyperbaric chamber services in the north of England.

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

NHS England has not decided to decommission hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) services in the North of England.

NHS England undertook stakeholder testing and a public consultation on the revised service specification for HBOT services. The main impact of the proposals was the reconfiguration of the number of commissioned HBOT centres in England, from eight centres to six.

The review was led by the chair of the Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Clinical Reference Group and the lead commissioner for the service, and was supported by a Specification Working Group (SWG). Membership of the SWG included a patient representative, clinical leads from current commissioned providers, consultants in public health, and members of the British Hyperbaric Association. Specialist advice was sought on relevant inter-dependent services including adult critical care, HM Coastguard, adult critical care transfer services, and children’s services.

Stakeholder testing on the revised service specification took place from 8 June 2024 to 25 June 2024. 14 responses were received, six of which were on behalf of organisations and eight from individuals. Public consultation was carried out from 13 September to 12 October 2024. A total of 923 individuals responded to the public consultation, from across all regions and devolved nations of the United Kingdom.

NHS England actively encourages individuals and organisations to register as stakeholders to ensure a full range of views are included in any service developments. Stakeholders can register their interest in services commissioned by NHS England on their website, which includes a special interest group for HBOT.

Any individuals or organisations who sign up are kept informed when NHS England engages on potential changes to the way that these services are commissioned. NHS England also encourages stakeholders to cascade invitations to provide feedback across their networks.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many band 5 nurse role were advertised for internal applicants in (a) 2024, (b) 2023 and (c) 2022.

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

The Department does not hold the information requested.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many band 5 nurse roles were advertised for external applicants in (a) 2024, (b) 2023 and (c) 2022.

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

The Department does not hold the information requested.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department monitors the number of (a) EEA and (b) non-EEA resident workers qualified in (i) construction, (ii) maintenance and (iii) seafaring roles who transit through the UK to work on offshore renewable energy projects licenced by the UK Government in waters over 12 nautical miles from the coastline.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

The Frontier Worker Permit scheme implements our commitments under the Citizens’ Rights Agreements to protect the rights of EU, other EEA and Swiss citizens who were frontier working in the UK before the end of the transition period on 31 December 2020 for as long as they continue to be frontier workers.

It is not possible to extract data from Home Office systems on Frontier Worker permits by occupation. Accordingly, there have been no discussions with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero about Frontier Worker permit holders employed in the offshore renewable energy sector.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will monitor the number of Frontier Worker Permits held by non-resident workers in the offshore renewable energy sector; and what discussions officials in her Department have had with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on Frontier Worker Permits held by those workers.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

The Frontier Worker Permit scheme implements our commitments under the Citizens’ Rights Agreements to protect the rights of EU, other EEA and Swiss citizens who were frontier working in the UK before the end of the transition period on 31 December 2020 for as long as they continue to be frontier workers.

It is not possible to extract data from Home Office systems on Frontier Worker permits by occupation. Accordingly, there have been no discussions with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero about Frontier Worker permit holders employed in the offshore renewable energy sector.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, If she will take steps to monitor the number of Frontier Worker Permits held by non-resident workers in the offshore renewable energy sector; and what discussions her Department has had with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on this issue.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

The Frontier Worker Permit scheme implements our commitments under the Citizens’ Rights Agreements to protect the rights of EU, other EEA and Swiss citizens who were frontier working in the UK before the end of the transition period on 31 December 2020 for as long as they continue to be frontier workers.

It is not possible to extract data from Home Office systems on Frontier Worker permits by occupation. Accordingly, there have been no discussions with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero about Frontier Worker permit holders employed in the offshore renewable energy sector.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that armed forces veterans with service-related health conditions are appropriately identified for additional support under the proposed changes to the Universal Credit health element.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is carefully considering the implications for veterans and their families in the welfare Green Paper consultation, and is actively engaging with Armed Forces groups to ensure that veterans with service-related health conditions are appropriately identified and supported under the proposed changes to the Universal Credit (UC) health element.

As part of welfare reform, the DWP has committed to a dedicated consultation process with Armed Forces stakeholders. This includes direct meetings with service charities and veterans' organizations to assess the potential impact of the changes, particularly on Early Service Leavers and those medically discharged from service

Additionally, the DWP continues to support veterans through the Armed Forces Champions network within Jobcentre Plus. These champions are trained to understand the unique challenges faced by the Armed Forces community and help ensure that veterans receive tailored support, including assistance with benefit claims and employment services

The department also utilises service medical board evidence to streamline the assessment process for veterans applying for Universal Credit, reducing the need for face-to-face assessments where appropriate.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many Personal Independence Payment claimants are veterans with service-related health conditions in the latest period for which data is available.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Department does not centrally hold data on Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claimants’ previous occupation, so we are not able to determine which claimants are veterans.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will clarify whether people in receipt of legacy benefits who are migrated to Universal Credit through the managed migration process will be treated as new claimants for the purposes of the health-related element changes proposed in the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Department plans to complete migration of ESA claimants to UC by March 2026. As part of this ESA claimants will be migrated to the UC Health Element. To protect any claimants who have not migrated by April 2026 we intend to mirror as closely as possible the changes made in UC in the ESA rates. Changes to the “support component” and the two disability premia (severe and enhanced disability premium rates) will reflect changes to UC LCWRA rates for existing claimants. Including these commensurate measures aims to give fair treatment for all customers moving onto UC from income related ESA, regardless of their point of migration.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to (a) strengthen national food security and (b) increase levels of domestic food production.

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

Food security is national security. We need a resilient and healthy food system, that works with nature and supports British farmers, fishers and food producers.

The Government’s commitment to farming and food security remains steadfast which is why the government is investing £2.7 billion a year into sustainable food production and nature’s recovery, with funding for our Environmental Land Management schemes increasing by 150%.

Work is underway to develop an ambitious new food strategy to set the food system up for long term success. The strategy will deliver wide ranging improvements to ensure it is able to feed the nation, realise its potential for economic growth, protect the planet, and nourish individuals.

We work closely with the Cabinet Office and other Lead Government Departments ensuring food supply is fully incorporated as part of emergency preparedness, including consideration of dependencies on other sectors.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the proposed changes to Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief on levels of food production.

Answered by James Murray - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government believes its reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief from 6 April 2026 get the balance right between supporting farms and businesses, and fixing the public finances. The reforms reduce the inheritance tax advantages available to owners of agricultural and business assets, but still mean those assets will be taxed at a much lower effective rate than most other assets. Despite a tough fiscal context, the Government will maintain very significant levels of relief from inheritance tax beyond what is available to others and compared to the position before 1992. Where inheritance tax is due, those liable for a charge can pay any liability on the relevant assets over 10 annual instalments, interest-free.

The reforms are expected to result in up to 520 estates claiming agricultural property relief, including those also claiming business property relief, paying more inheritance tax in 2026-27. Almost three-quarters of estates claiming agricultural property relief, including those that also claim for business property relief, will not pay any more tax as a result of the changes in 2026-27, based on the latest available data.

The Government will invest more than £2.7 billion a year in sustainable farming and nature recovery in England from 2026-27 until 2028-29. This will boost productivity and protect the natural ecosystems underpinning food production and broader economic activity, which will support food and economic security.

Peace and sovereignty in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Equitable national prostate cancer screening

Government policy on the Hillsborough Law

Funding for training of professional journalists

Safe Inside Prisons Charter

Naloxone

Peter Krykant (No. 2)

Durham Miners' Gala 2025

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