Asked by: Kirsty Blackman (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen North)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Answer of 13 December 2023 to Question 5974 on Universal Credit: Children, what recent assessment her Department has made of the impact of deductions from Universal Credit payments on trends in the level of (a) relative and (b) absolute child poverty.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Estimating the impact of deductions on trends in poverty is complex as stopping deductions would result in a build-up of arrears of the range of debts a customer has and stop vital obligations such as child maintenance being paid.
The government is committed to a sustainable, long-term approach to drive up opportunity and drive down poverty across the UK. As announced by the Chancellor in the Autumn Budget, a new Fair Repayment Rate has now been introduced from 30 April 2025, reducing the Universal Credit (UC) overall deductions cap from 25% to 15% of a customer’s UC standard allowance. This measure will help approximately 1.2 million of the poorest households benefit by an average of £420 a year.
Asked by: Kirsty Blackman (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen North)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many (a) press, (b) media and (c) other communications posts there are in his Department; and what the salary band is for each post.
Answered by Ian Murray - Secretary of State for Scotland
In the Scotland Office communications team, there are a total of 16 Full Time Equivalent Government Communication Service professionals.
Of this total, 5 work in the media discipline which covers press and media responsibilities.
Asked by: Kirsty Blackman (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen North)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what the evidential basis is to determine the number of employees required by Ofcom’s Online Safety directorate to provide an evidence-based high level of service to fulfil its duties under the Online Safety Act 2023.
Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
In 2023/24, Ofcom had 189 full-time equivalent posts in the Online Safety Group. This does not include staff who work on online safety in other groups such as legal, enforcement and research. Ofcom’s latest staff numbers will be available as part the Annual Report and Accounts for 2024/25, which will be presented to Parliament.
The government has ensured Ofcom has the funding it needs to deliver online safety regulation effectively, with £72.6 million allocated for online safety spend in 2025/26. This decision followed a business case process that included Ofcom submitting its requirements.
Asked by: Kirsty Blackman (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen North)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how many people work for Ofcom’s Online Safety directorate as of 5 April 2025.
Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
In 2023/24, Ofcom had 189 full-time equivalent posts in the Online Safety Group. This does not include staff who work on online safety in other groups such as legal, enforcement and research. Ofcom’s latest staff numbers will be available as part the Annual Report and Accounts for 2024/25, which will be presented to Parliament.
The government has ensured Ofcom has the funding it needs to deliver online safety regulation effectively, with £72.6 million allocated for online safety spend in 2025/26. This decision followed a business case process that included Ofcom submitting its requirements.
Asked by: Kirsty Blackman (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen North)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many posts there are for (a) press, (b) media and (c) other communications staff in her Department; and what the salary band is for each post.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
Our Communications team is responsible for ensuring transparency and informing the public about vital policies and services that support citizens every day. We communicate about our services to over 20 million people, whether that's about paying benefits, pensions or helping people to move into and progress at work.
As one of the largest departments, our Communications team helps 90,000 colleagues deliver their important work by keeping them informed and engaged on our priorities and delivery, and promoting the support available to some of our most vulnerable households.
In the central DWP communications team, there are a total of 142 Government Communication Service professionals.
Of this total, 21 work in the media discipline which covers press and media responsibilities.
This is the latest available data from 30 April 2025.
The salary bands are:
AIO/EO £36,211 - £41,092
IO/HEO £43,589 - £48,672
SIO/SEO £48,405 - £60,482
G7 £57,787 - £74,457
G6 £75,550 - £83,973
The SCS pay scale can be found in the DWP ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2023-24
Asked by: Kirsty Blackman (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen North)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many posts there are for (a) press, (b) media and (c) other communications staff in her Department; and what the salary band is for each post.
Answered by Mike Kane - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
In the central Department for Transport communications team, there are a total of 91.01 Full Time Equivalent Government Communication Service professionals.
Of this total, 31.82 work in the media discipline which covers press and media responsibilities.
This is the latest available data from June 2024.
Asked by: Kirsty Blackman (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen North)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many posts there are for (a) press, (b) media and (c) other communications staff in his Department; and what the salary band is for each post.
Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
In the central Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office communications team, there are a total of approximately 135 Full Time Equivalent Government Communication Service professionals.
Of this total, 22 work in the media discipline which covers press and media responsibilities.
This is the latest available data from April 2025.
Asked by: Kirsty Blackman (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen North)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many posts there are for (a) press, (b) media and (c) other communications staff in his Department; and what the salary band is for each post.
Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) press, media team is made up of 14 employees. Roles range from grades Higher Executive Officer to Grade six and have salary ranges between £36,530 to £40,150 up to £70,450 to £78,790 This figure is for the MOD Directorate of Defence Communications Press Office and Media personnel only.
Asked by: Kirsty Blackman (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen North)
Question
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, if she will issue guidance on (a) what a single sex space is, (b) whether toilets should be considered single sex spaces and (c) whether any toilets should be excluded from this designation.
Answered by Nia Griffith - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Wales Office)
The Supreme Court’s ruling has brought clarity and confidence for women and single-sex services providers. The Government will work closely with the EHRC as they develop definitive guidance. All government departments should follow the clarity the ruling provides.
Asked by: Kirsty Blackman (Scottish National Party - Aberdeen North)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the potential impact of recent changes to welfare provision on families in Scotland.
Answered by Ian Murray - Secretary of State for Scotland
Scotland needs both its governments to step up and fix a broken welfare system.
We will ensure the system protects the most vulnerable who can’t work, while supporting people who can into work.
But in Scotland there are people who want to work but can’t because they are stuck on an NHS waiting list, employability services have faced cuts, college places are at a decade low and the equivalent of a large secondary school’s worth of kids leave school every year without qualifications, and there is a declared housing crisis in Scotland - does the hon Member really think that speaks well of the SNP’s record?