Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what procedures her Department has to deport failed asylum seekers.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

Asylum related returns are set out at table Asy_00a of the Asylum summary tables, published at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/immigration-system-statistics-data-tables

Caseworker guidance on arranging returns is published on gov.uk at Returns preparation: caseworker guidance - GOV.UK

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum seekers who have had their claim refused have been deported in the last 3 years.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

Asylum related returns are set out at table Asy_00a of the Asylum summary tables, published at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/immigration-system-statistics-data-tables

Caseworker guidance on arranging returns is published on gov.uk at Returns preparation: caseworker guidance - GOV.UK

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent discussions she has had with the university sector on the mental health of students.

Answered by Josh MacAlister - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

This government is committed to ensuring students in higher education (HE) have access to effective mental health support. This is why my noble Friend, the Minister for Skills has recently appointed a new HE Student Support Champion to lead a reconvened HE Mental Health Implementation Taskforce. Full details of the new champion will be announced shortly.

The Minister for Skills, met with the new champion earlier this month to set out her strategic priorities for mental health in HE, and on 10 October the champion reconvened the HE Mental Health Implementation Taskforce. The taskforce will be a key vehicle for discussions with the university sector around driving forward improvements.

Updates on the work of the taskforce will be published at: https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/higher-education-mental-health-implementation-taskforce.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her policy to refuse (a) asylum and (b) humanitarian leave to remain to anyone who does not speak English to a proficient level.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

It is not possible to impose language requirements as a prerequisite for being granted protection in the UK.

Every asylum claim admitted to the UK asylum system is carefully considered on its individual merits. Protection is normally granted where a claimant has a well-founded fear of persecution under the Refugee Convention, or a claimant faces a real risk of serious harm. Those found not to need protection are refused.

English language proficiency is a requirement across a range of other immigration routes.

The Government published an Immigration White Paper on 12 May setting out reforms to legal migration, so that we can restore order, control and fairness to the system, bring down net migration and promote economic growth.  Part of these reforms will focus on introducing new English language requirements across a range of immigration routes, for both main applicants and their dependants. Further information is available on GOV.UK at: Restoring control over the immigration system: white paper - GOV.UK

We will separately set out new reforms to the asylum system and to border security in response to irregular and illegal migration, to bring the asylum system back under control and end the use of asylum hotels later this year.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what recent discussions her Department has had with representatives from (a) YouTube and (b) other social media platforms on tackling dangerous (i) DIY, (ii) lifestyle and (iii) recipe content on their platforms.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Online Safety Act is being implemented by this government and introduced measures to tackle illegal content online and harmful content for children.

The child safety duties in the Act are clear on protecting children from harmful content – including dangerous substances and stunts.

Ofcom, who are responsible for enforcing the Act, engage regularly with companies as YouTube. Ministers and officials regularly engage with stakeholders, including Ofcom and social media companies, to strengthen online safety for children and adults.

We are committed to the Act and will not hesitate to go further to protect people, particularly children, where we need to.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what recent discussions her Department has had with representatives from YouTube on tackling inappropriate advertising on its platform.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Online Safety Act is being implemented by this government and introduced measures to tackle illegal content online and harmful content for children.

The child safety duties in the Act are clear on protecting children from harmful content – including dangerous substances and stunts.

Ofcom, who are responsible for enforcing the Act, engage regularly with companies as YouTube. Ministers and officials regularly engage with stakeholders, including Ofcom and social media companies, to strengthen online safety for children and adults.

We are committed to the Act and will not hesitate to go further to protect people, particularly children, where we need to.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many dependents of people granted humanitarian leave to remain have come to the UK in each of the last three years.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The information you have requested is published in the Immigration system statistics quarterly release - GOV.UK Data on grants of humanitarian protection following an asylum claim is published in table Asy_D02 of the asylum detailed datasets. Data on grants of entry clearance visa applications, by visa type, is published in table Vis_D02 of the entry clearance visas detailed datasets. Data on refugees resettled is published in table Res_D02 of the resettlement detailed datasets. The latest data is available up to the end of June 2025. Information on how to use the datasets can be found in the 'Notes' page of the workbook.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of road tolls on the cost of living in areas near toll bridges.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Government has not carried out a formal assessment of the impact of bridge tolls on the cost of living in nearby areas. While tolls are an additional cost, users also enjoy significant benefits from the availability of such bridges, without which journeys would be substantially longer.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to improve (a) victim support and (b) communication processes with (i) victims and (ii) victims' families within the (A) court system and (B) criminal justice system.

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

The Government is committed to ensuring victims and victims’ families have the information and support they need to navigate the criminal justice system. Implementation of the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 is underway, and once commenced, these measures will help to drive more strategic commissioning of victim support services through the Duty to Collaborate; ensure victims know their rights under the Victims’ Code; and require criminal justice bodies to collect data set out in secondary legislation on how their services comply with the Victims’ Code, which may include information on the victim experience.

The Victims and Courts Bill will provide a new route for victims to request information via a dedicated helpline, which will give victims confidence about the routes available to receive information about their offender’s release. The Ministry of Justice is also exploring opportunities to transform how victims access information and experience the justice system through data and digital improvement.

The Ministry of Justice continues to fund victim and witness support services, including ringfenced funding for community-based domestic abuse and sexual violence services, and core funding to Police and Crime Commissioners. The Department funds the Witness Service which provides emotional and practical support to witnesses in court, to enable them to give their best evidence. The Ministry of Justice also commissions a national Homicide Service which aims to ensure families bereaved by, eyewitnesses of, and children or young people impacted by a homicide or major incident where a crime has caused fatalities, receive the support they need to help them build resilience to cope with the impact of these devastating crimes. This includes support through criminal justice processes.

We continually keep under review Ministry of Justice commissioning of victim support services. The Victims Funding Strategy, published in May 2022, sets out a framework to improve the way Government funds victim support services, seeking to better align and co-ordinate funding to enable victims to receive the support they need.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of (a) victim and (b) family support in the (i) the court system and (b) the criminal justice system.

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

The Government is committed to ensuring victims and victims’ families have the information and support they need to navigate the criminal justice system. Implementation of the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 is underway, and once commenced, these measures will help to drive more strategic commissioning of victim support services through the Duty to Collaborate; ensure victims know their rights under the Victims’ Code; and require criminal justice bodies to collect data set out in secondary legislation on how their services comply with the Victims’ Code, which may include information on the victim experience.

The Victims and Courts Bill will provide a new route for victims to request information via a dedicated helpline, which will give victims confidence about the routes available to receive information about their offender’s release. The Ministry of Justice is also exploring opportunities to transform how victims access information and experience the justice system through data and digital improvement.

The Ministry of Justice continues to fund victim and witness support services, including ringfenced funding for community-based domestic abuse and sexual violence services, and core funding to Police and Crime Commissioners. The Department funds the Witness Service which provides emotional and practical support to witnesses in court, to enable them to give their best evidence. The Ministry of Justice also commissions a national Homicide Service which aims to ensure families bereaved by, eyewitnesses of, and children or young people impacted by a homicide or major incident where a crime has caused fatalities, receive the support they need to help them build resilience to cope with the impact of these devastating crimes. This includes support through criminal justice processes.

We continually keep under review Ministry of Justice commissioning of victim support services. The Victims Funding Strategy, published in May 2022, sets out a framework to improve the way Government funds victim support services, seeking to better align and co-ordinate funding to enable victims to receive the support they need.

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, whether their Department has run any (a) recruitment and (b) internship schemes aimed to increase the number of people from underrepresented groups in the workforce in the last year.

Answered by Jo Stevens - Secretary of State for Wales

As set out in the Civil Service People Plan 2024-2027, we are committed to ensuring we attract, develop and retain talented people from a diverse range of backgrounds to create a modern Civil Service, now and for the future.

Civil Service recruitment must follow the rules set out in legislation within the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act (CRaGA) 2010 which outlines the requirements to ensure that civil servants are recruited on merit, via fair and open competition.

My Department has not run any internship schemes in the last year.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help support people with disabilities to meet the cost of (a) energy bills and (b) transport (i) to medical appointments and (ii) in general.

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

I have regular meetings with colleagues across Government on ways to support disabled people meet the additional costs that can arise from a long-term health condition or disability.

My department provides support with the additional generality of costs that can arise through provision of the extra costs disability benefits such as Personal Independence Payment. This is supported by provision from other departments: the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero who provide support with energy bills through the Warm Home Discount Scheme; the Department for Transport who provide guidance on concessionary fares and free parking spaces; and the Department for Health and Social Care who provide for the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme for travel costs associated with medical appointments.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of trends in the number of children in receipt of Disability Living Allowance on the long-term financial sustainability of that benefit.

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

Assessments of the financial sustainability of public expenditure as a whole are made on an annual basis by the Office for Budget Responsibility in their Fiscal Risks and Sustainability Report. Forecasts of Disability Living Allowance caseloads and expenditure for children are published in the Benefit Expenditure and Caseload Tables, under ‘Disability Benefits’, and will be updated following the Budget on 26 November.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people with humanitarian leave to remain have (a) applied for and (b) received universal credit in each of the last 3 years.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

The information requested for part (i) is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

The Department publishes Universal Credit (UC) immigration status and nationality statistics as part of the Universal Credit statistics publication. These statistics can be found on https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/universal-credit-statistics-29-april-2013-to-10-july-2025. For part (ii) the number of people on Universal Credit with a humanitarian scheme immigration status, for each month from April 2022 to June 2025, is in Table 1 of the following data tables: Universal Credit immigration status and nationality statistics to July 2025.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to help improve the reliability of bus services.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Government knows how important, reliable bus services are enabling people to access education, work and vital services. The Government is committed to delivering better bus services across the country, including in rural areas across England.

The Government introduced the Bus Services (No. 2) Bill on 17 December as part of its ambitious plan for bus reform. The Bill will put passenger needs, reliable services and local accountability at the heart of the industry by putting the power over local bus services back in the hands of local leaders right across England, including in rural areas. The Bill includes a measure on socially necessary services so that local authorities and bus operators have to have regard for alternatives to changing or cancelling services.

As part of the Autumn 2024 Budget, the Government allocated over £1 billion to support and improve bus services in 2025/26 and keep fares affordable. This includes £712 million for local authorities that can be used to expand services and improve reliability, which are currently massive obstacles for too many people. The East Midlands Combined Authority has been allocated £40.5 million of this funding. Funding allocated to local authorities to deliver better bus services can be used in whichever way they wish to improve services for passengers, including expanding services and improving reliability.

The Government reaffirmed its commitment to investing in bus services long-term in this Spending Review. On 11 June, the Government confirmed additional funding per year from 2026/27 to maintain and improve bus services, including taking forward franchising pilots and extending the £3 bus fare cap until March 2027.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to help improve the (a) frequency and (b) and latest timed of bus services in rural areas.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Government knows how important, reliable bus services are enabling people to access education, work and vital services. The Government is committed to delivering better bus services across the country, including in rural areas across England.

The Government introduced the Bus Services (No. 2) Bill on 17 December as part of its ambitious plan for bus reform. The Bill will put passenger needs, reliable services and local accountability at the heart of the industry by putting the power over local bus services back in the hands of local leaders right across England, including in rural areas. The Bill includes a measure on socially necessary services so that local authorities and bus operators have to have regard for alternatives to changing or cancelling services.

As part of the Autumn 2024 Budget, the Government allocated over £1 billion to support and improve bus services in 2025/26 and keep fares affordable. This includes £712 million for local authorities that can be used to expand services and improve reliability, which are currently massive obstacles for too many people. The East Midlands Combined Authority has been allocated £40.5 million of this funding. Funding allocated to local authorities to deliver better bus services can be used in whichever way they wish to improve services for passengers, including expanding services and improving reliability.

The Government reaffirmed its commitment to investing in bus services long-term in this Spending Review. On 11 June, the Government confirmed additional funding per year from 2026/27 to maintain and improve bus services, including taking forward franchising pilots and extending the £3 bus fare cap until March 2027.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the total cost to the public purse was for the translation of immigration and asylum (a) letters and (b) documentation into foreign languages in each of the last 3 years.

Answered by Mike Tapp - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The Home Office does not provide a document translation service for immigration and asylum letters and documentation.

Where documentary evidence is submitted in evidence, it must be translated into English in order for the contents to be taken into account by the decision maker. The translation should be dated and set out who has translated the document with any relevant qualifications.

All asylum seekers are entitled to legal representation to support them. This includes translation. Legal aid can help pay for legal advice, if eligible.

Asylum claimants may also seek support from family, friends, Non-Government Organisations and other support networks to help them respond to any additional information requests. Some charities like Refugee Action, Asylum Aid or the British Red Cross, and other NGOs may offer informal translation help. Charities are listed on section four of the published guidance: Information booklet about your asylum application - GOV.UK

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prisoners serving sentences for (a) violent and (b) sexual offences have been transferred to open prisons in the last five years.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

The relevant data for this PQ has been attached alongside the answer.

Prisoners are required to pass thorough risk assessments to become eligible for a move into open conditions, and we retain the ability to return prisoners to closed conditions if there is any evidence of an increased risk.

Under the Temporary Presumptive Recategorisation Scheme (TPRS), which aims to improve efficiency across the prison estate, prisoners convicted of all sexual and violent offenders serving a sentence of at least four years are ineligible to move to open conditions.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he has any plans to review (a) policies on the transfer of prisoners to open prisons and (b) the eligibility criteria for prisoners to be moved to open prisons.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

There are no current plans to revise the policy on transfer of prisoners to open prisons, or the eligibility criteria. As with all prison categories, this matter is kept under continuous review. Changes may be made, as necessary, to adapt the capacity of the prison estate to changes in the composition of the custodial population.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will publish a breakdown of spending on Disability Living Allowance on children with (a) neurodevelopmental and (b) mental health disorders in each of the last 3 years for which data is available.

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

The information is in the table:

Points to note:

• Figures are for England and Wales only.
• Figures are rounded to the nearest 10 million pounds.
• Figures are from March – February for each Financial Year. For example, Financial Year 2022/23 includes March 2022 – February 2023.
• Mental health disorders include the following medical conditions:

o Personality disorder

o PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder)

o Stress reaction disorders

o GAD (generalised anxiety disorder)

o Phobia specific

o Phobia social

o Agoraphobia

o Panic disorder

o Anxiety disorders

o OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder)

o Anxiety and depression

o Conversion disorder

o BDD (Body Dysmorphia Disorder)

o Dissociative disorders

o Depressive disorder

o Bipolar

o Mood disorders

o Schizophrenia

o Schizoaffective disorder

o Psychotic disorders

o Anorexia nervosa

o Bulimia nervosa

o Eating disorder not specified

o Munchausen syndrome

o Factitious disorder

o Psychiatric disorders of childhood

• Neurodevelopmental disorders include the following medical conditions:

o Learning Disability

o Speech and Language Disorders

o Autism

o Asperger’s Syndrome

o Dyspraxia

o Hyperkinetic disorder

o ADHD/ADD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder)

• The table refers to primary conditions only.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the total cost to the public purse was for universal credit payments to people with humanitarian leave to remain in each of the last 3 years.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he is taking steps to prevent job losses at the Lindsey Oil Refinery.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The insolvency process at Prax Lindsey is led by the court-appointed Official Receiver, who must act in accordance with his statutory duties and independently of government.

On 30 September, the Official Receiver made the independent decision to issue 125 redundancy notices effective from 31 October in order to provide employees with as much notice as possible, while concluding the sales process in the coming weeks. The majority of the workforce will be retained beyond the end of October.

The Official Receiver is independently assessing potential bids for the future of the refinery and its assets and has made clear he will continue to work with all bidders with credible and deliverable proposals. The Government remains hopeful that a solution will be found that supports jobs on the site long-term.

The Government’s first priority is supporting the workforce. Employees will be able to access support from the Department for Work and Pensions and the National Careers Service. We are also funding a Training Guarantee for refinery workers, to ensure they have the skills they need and are supported to find long-term jobs, including in the growing clean energy workforce. Those affected are able to enrol onto the scheme now with over 60 workers already registered to complete Training Need Assessments.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what criteria her Department uses to decide which projects to fund through UK foreign aid.

Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) uses the Programme Operating Framework (PrOF), which is publicly available at this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fcdo-programme-operating-framework

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how he plans to determine which proposed sites for new towns will go ahead.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

On 28 September 2025, the government published the independent New Towns Taskforce report as well as its initial response to that report. Both can be found on gov.uk here.

As set out in the initial government response, we warmly welcome all 12 of the locations it has recommend. Prima facie, each has the clear potential to deliver on the government’s objectives, with Tempsford, Crews Hill and Leeds South Bank looking particularly promising as sites that might make significant contributions to unlocking economic growth and accelerating housing delivery.

On 28 September 2025 we commenced a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) to understand the environmental implications of new towns development. This will support final decisions on precisely which locations we take forward. No final decisions on locations will be made until that SEA concludes and preferred locations could change as a result of the process.

Ministers and officials will now begin work with local partners to develop detailed proposals and enhance our understanding of how different locations might meet the government’s expectations of what a future New Towns Programme can deliver, with all promising sites and reasonable alternatives assessed and considered through the SEA process. Appropriate assessment under the Habitats Regulations will also be undertaken when required.

We are determined to get spades in the ground on at least three new towns in this Parliament and the government is prepared to progress work on a far larger range of locations if it proves possible.

The post-war new towns programme was the most ambitious town-building effort ever undertaken in the UK. The next generation of new towns must match that post-war vision. The government will be looking for assurance that any location can be effectively and efficiently delivered in partnership with local communities, has a clear economic purpose, and will support national economic growth. We will also seek to test different delivery vehicles to learn lessons for how future large settlements are delivered and to contribute to a wider transformation of housing supply.

The government will publish the draft proposals and final SEA for consultation early next year, before confirming the locations that will be progressed as new towns later in the Spring alongside a full response to the New Towns Taskforce’s report.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department are taking to encourage language learning in adults.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Department for Work and Pensions supports adults aged 19+ in England who speak English as a second or additional language to access English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) provision. ESOL is funded through the Adult Skills Fund (ASF), subject to the eligibility requirements laid out in the ASF rules. The ASF fully funds or co-funds skills provision for eligible adults aged 19 and above from pre-entry to level 3. ESOL allows learners to develop the English language skills they need for everyday life, work or further learning.

Currently, approximately 68% of the ASF is devolved to 12 Strategic Authorities and the Greater London Authority. These authorities are responsible for the provision of ASF funded adult education for their residents and the allocation of the ASF to learning providers. The Department for Work and Pensions is responsible for the remaining ASF in non-devolved areas where colleges and training providers have the freedom and flexibility to determine how they use their ASF to meet the needs of their communities.

In non-devolved areas, ASF funding is available for a range of languages for level 3 and below. These qualifications include, for example, the Level 1 Award in British Sign Language which allows learners to communicate in British Sign Language on a range of topics that involve simple, everyday language use.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether their Department has run any (a) recruitment and (b) internship schemes aimed to increase the number of people from underrepresented groups in the workforce in the last year.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

Recruitment

As set out in the Civil Service People Plan 2024 - 2027, MHCLG are committed to ensuring we attract, develop and retain talented people from a diverse range of backgrounds to create a modern Civil Service, now and for the future

Civil Service recruitment must follow the rules set out in legislation within the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act (CRaGA) 2010 which outlines the requirements to ensure that civil servants are recruited on merit, via fair and open competition

Going Forward into Employment (GFiE, pronounced gif-ee) accredits life chance recruitment pathways across government. GFiE pathways recruit people from a wide range of backgrounds into the Civil Service, including people from low socio-economic backgrounds, prison leavers, veterans, carers and care leavers. People recruited by GFiE develop skills, gain experience and build a career, contributing to the Opportunity Mission and to the wider economy.

MHCLG participated last year in the Care Leavers GFiE scheme, offering work experience in government to those entitled to a leaving care package.

In February 2025, MHCLG also gained accreditation to deliver Civil Service Masterclasses as a new life-chance pathway. This is a unique two-week face to face programme designed to support candidates aged 19+ from lower socio-economic backgrounds. The programme breaks down barriers and helps participants in a practical learning setting to develop skills and knowledge to access Civil Service roles at AO or EO level. The scheme is available to all departments and supporting bodies based in the Liverpool City Region, Greater Manchester, and County Durham/Darlington areas.

Internships

In this period, MHCLG participated in the following internship schemes with a focus on increasing representation of under-represented groups:

• The Autism Exchange Internship Programme, recruited by Cabinet Office in partnership with Ambitious about Autism, which aims to support young autistic people by providing work experience opportunities that help prepare them to enter the workplace.

• Change 100, recruited by Leonard Cheshire, which offers professional development and mentoring for talented students and graduates with a disability or long-term condition.

• The Summer Internship Programme, recruited by Cabinet Office, which provides work placements for individuals in their final two years at university.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prisoners have been granted early parole in each of the last five years; and how many prisoners granted early parole subsequently committed (a) violent and (b) sexual offences in each of the last five years.

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

We have interpreted “early parole” to mean a release direction made by the Parole Board once a prisoner serving a parole-eligible sentence has completed the minimum custodial term (tariff) set at the point of sentence and so becomes eligible for release.

The information on how many prisoners have been granted parole can be found at: The Parole Board for England & Wales Annual Report 2024/25 - GOV.UK.

We have interpreted ‘subsequently committed (a) violent and (b) sexual offence’ as those qualifying offences under the Probation Serious Further Offence (SFO) Procedures as set out in Annex A of the SFO Policy Framework: Probation Service Serious Further Offence procedures Policy Framework - GOV.UK.

The table below sets out the total number of convictions for a) violent offence or b) a sexual offence, where the offender was released by the Parole Board (either from an indeterminate sentence, an extended sentence or following a recall to custody) and where cases were notified to HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) between 1 April 2018 and 31 March 2023.

1. Figures are based on conviction data that was produced on 30 September 2024.

2. Data are based on the year the notification of the SFO was received by HMPPS and not the date of conviction.

3. Violent and sexual offences are defined by the Serious Further Offences Policy Framework and do not include all violent or sexual offences. The list can be accessed at annex A via the following link Serious_Further_Offences_2024.ods

4. The number of SFO cases released by the Parole Board include those released from indeterminate sentences, extended sentences for public protection and those released following a recall to custody.

5. SFO cases don’t necessarily come from the general Parole Board releases. If the Parole Board released people in 2022/23, it does not mean the 2022/23 SFO cases came from those Parole Board releases.

6. Provisional figures are subject to change as outstanding cases are concluded at court.

7. Data Sources and Quality. We have drawn these figures from administrative IT systems which, as with some large-scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Figures are published based on the date of SFO notification (ie, when the offender was charged with an SFO) as received by the National SFO Team in HMPPS. The lag between the date of publication and the conviction figures is to allow time for most cases to complete the criminal justice process. Conviction Figures for 2023/2024 will be published on 30 October 2025.

SFOs are incredibly rare, with fewer than 0.5% of offenders supervised by the Probation Service going on to commit serious further offences but each one is investigated fully so we can take action where necessary.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department has assessed the potential merits of excluding people convicted of violent offences from early parole eligibility.

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

We have interpreted “early parole” to mean a release direction made by the Parole Board once a prisoner serving a parole-eligible sentence has completed the minimum custodial term (tariff) set at the point of sentence and so becomes eligible for release. Eligibility for release at the discretion of the Parole Board is determined by the type of sentence a prisoner is serving. All prisoners serving an indeterminate sentence – life or imprisonment for public protection (IPP) – must serve the minimum term in prison set by the judge before they become eligible to be considered for parole. Prisoners serving an extended determinate sentence (EDS) or sentence for offenders of particular concern (SOPC) must serve two-thirds of their custodial term in prison before being referred to the Parole Board to consider release. By their nature, sentences which involve release by the Parole Board are imposed on the most serious and dangerous offenders, including those convicted of violent offences. In all cases, the Parole Board may only direct release if they are satisfied that it is no longer necessary for the protection of the public that the offender remain confined.

The recent Independent Sentencing Review recommended that EDS prisoners should be subject to a new ‘progression model’ but the Government rejected that proposal because we do not think it would be right to allow for prisoners who have been deemed dangerous by the courts to have their parole eligibility date brought forward.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of early parole release decisions on (a) victim wellbeing and (b) public confidence in the criminal justice system.

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

We have interpreted “early parole” to mean a release direction made by the Parole Board once a prisoner serving a parole-eligible sentence has completed the minimum custodial term (tariff) set at the point of sentence and so becomes eligible for release. Most prisoners, even those who have committed serious offences, will become eligible for release once they have served the minimum term of their sentence set by the court. We know that Parole Board decisions can be difficult for victims but we are committed to ensuring victims understand release decisions, can contribute to the process and are supported through it. This support is provided to eligible victims through the Victim Contact Scheme which includes Victim Liaison Officers who offer tailored guidance, keep victims informed, and help them navigate the parole process.

A number of changes have been made to the parole process in recent years including the introduction of decision summaries which can be provided by the Parole Board, the Reconsideration Mechanism (which allows parties to a case to ask for Parole Board decisions to be looked at again), public parole hearings and the ability for victims to apply to observe private hearings. We support these and other measures to improve transparency, victim involvement and public confidence in the system.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps her Department is taking with the Parole Board to ensure that (a) victims and (b) their families have a key role in the decision-making process in early parole release hearings.

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

We have interpreted “early parole” to mean a release direction made by the Parole Board once a prisoner serving a parole-eligible sentence has completed the minimum custodial term (tariff) set at the point of sentence and so becomes eligible for release. The Ministry of Justice and the Parole Board are committed to ensuring victims, and their families in the case of deceased victims, can participate in and are supported through the parole decision-making process. As part of this commitment, a national policy was rolled out earlier this year to enable victims to apply to observe parole hearings remotely, supported by trained staff from the Victim Contact Scheme. Victims also have the right to submit a Victim Personal Statement, which may be read aloud during the hearing and eligible victims can make representations about licence conditions imposed on offenders when they are released. There is also a process by which victims can make representations to the Secretary of State if they think there are grounds for the Secretary of State to apply for a release decision to be reconsidered by the Parole Board. These measures aim to improve transparency, support victim engagement, and ensure their voices are heard throughout the parole process.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent discussions he has had with the Parole Board on the involvement of victims in early parole release decisions.

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

We have interpreted “early parole” to mean a release direction made by the Parole Board once a prisoner serving a parole-eligible sentence has completed the minimum custodial term (tariff) set at the point of sentence and so becomes eligible for release.

It is important in the parole process that victims’ voices are heard and that they receive information and support to understand how the Parole Board reaches its decisions. We work closely with the Board on victims’ involvement and how to ensure their rights under the Victims’ Code and Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 are being met. This includes the right for victims to submit a Victim Personal Statement to the Parole Board explaining how the crime has affected them and their families. Eligible victims may also make representations about licence conditions imposed on offenders when released and, since 1 April 2025, we have worked with the Parole Board on measures to support victims to apply to observe parole hearings. Throughout the process victims are kept updated and given support by their Victim Liaison Officer, where they have signed up to the Victim Contact Scheme operated by His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether his Department has considered introducing a statutory timeframe within which housing developers must (a) complete and (b) handover infrastructure to local authorities for adoption.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 80700 on 20 October 2025.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he make it his policy to issue guidance to local planning authorities on potential enforcement action when housing developers fail to complete infrastructure projects.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 80700 on 20 October 2025.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment he has made of (a) the number of housing estates that are currently unadopted and (b) the length of time they have been unadopted.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 80700 on 20 October 2025.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that new housing estates are adopted by local authorities in a timely manner.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 80700 on 20 October 2025.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent discussions his Department has had with housing developers on the long term impacts of unadopted estates on (a) existing residents, (b) the maintenance of infrastructure and (c) levels of public confidence in new developments.

Answered by Matthew Pennycook - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 80700 on 20 October 2025.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of food labelling regulations in supporting consumers to make informed choices.

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

All food and drink sold on the UK market, including that which is imported, must comply with food labelling rules. The rules require what information must be provided to consumers and how this must be done. The fundamental principle of food labelling rules is that information provided to the consumer must not mislead and must be labelled effectively.

The government continues to review the effectiveness of existing legislation through post implementation reviews. Food regulations contain a statutory review clause which requires the Secretary of State to publish a report every five years.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions she has had with companies in the gig economy on tackling illegal working.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Government is working closely with food delivery platforms in the gig economy to ensure they understand their responsibilities in preventing illegal working. As a result, Deliveroo, Uber Eats and Just Eat are undertaking right to work checks on all of their workers and recently introduced enhanced checks on registered substitutes following a ministerial roundtable in June.

In September, the Home Office commenced data sharing with these food delivery firms. The Department is committed to work alongside delivery firms to deepen cooperation and this measure is another important step to tackle illegal working hotspots and root out this criminality from within communities. By sharing this data, it means the firms will have more information to track down and suspend accounts of delivery riders working illegally.

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 help ensure that deaf people can receive appropriate care at home.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

Local authorities are best placed to understand and plan for the needs of their populations, which is why, under the Care Act 2014, local authorities are tasked with the duty to shape their care market to meet the diverse needs of all people, including ensuring that deaf people receive appropriate care at home.

Additionally, the Government is taking steps to ensure that people, including deaf people, can receive high-quality, personalised care at home. This is part of the Government’s wider improvements to adult social care as we progress towards a National Care Service. These steps include:

- investing £12 million in workforce training through the Learning and Development Support Scheme, helping care workers to develop the skills needed to support people with sensory disabilities, including deaf individuals;

- rolling out the Care Workforce Pathway, which sets out the knowledge, skills and behaviours needed to deliver high-quality care across eight role categories, including personal assistants and enhanced care workers;

- supporting unpaid carers, who play a vital role in home-based care – from March 2026, millions of unpaid carers will be able to manage care plans, appointments and prescriptions via the NHS App;

- raising the Carer’s Allowance earnings limit to £196 per week and reviewing the case for paid carer’s leave;

- expanding care options to support independent living, with an additional £172 million for the Disabled Facilities Grant over two years, enabling around 15,600 extra home adaptations; and

- introducing care technology standards to help people choose the right support at home.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether their Department has run any (a) recruitment and (b) internship schemes aimed to increase the number of people from underrepresented groups in the workforce in the last year.

Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Department for Transport (DfT) has not run recruitment or internship schemes with the sole focus of increasing the number of people from underrepresented groups in the workforce in the last year. However, we have offered a range of recruitment and internship schemes designed to attract and develop talent.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether their Department has run any (a) recruitment and (b) internship schemes aimed to increase the number of people from underrepresented groups in the workforce in the last year.

Answered by Jake Richards - Assistant Whip

As set out in the Civil Service People Plan 2024-2027, we are committed to ensuring we attract, develop and retain talented people from a diverse range of backgrounds to create a modern Civil Service, now and for the future.

Civil Service recruitment must follow the rules set out in legislation within the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act (CRaGA) 2010 which outlines the requirements to ensure that civil servants are recruited on merit, via fair and open competition.

Going Forward into Employment (GFiE) accredits life chance recruitment pathways across government. GFiE pathways recruit people from a wide range of backgrounds into the Civil Service, including people from low socio-economic backgrounds, prison leavers, veterans, carers and care leavers.

People recruited by GFiE develop skills, gain experience and build a career, contributing to the Opportunity Mission and to the wider economy.

Over the past year, the Ministry of Justice has delivered targeted recruitment initiatives to support underrepresented groups through our Life Chance Pathways. These schemes are:

• Going Forward into Employment scheme and the Probation Employment Pathway, which provide opportunities for prison leavers and individuals with convictions;

• Going Forward into Employment Care Leavers pathway, designed for care-experienced individuals; and

• Advance into Justice programme, which supports service leavers and veterans.

These pathways provide tailored support and fair access to employment opportunities across the Department for individuals who face barriers to work.

In addition, the Ministry of Justice participates in the Civil Service Care Leaver Internship Scheme (‘Launch’), a cross-Government initiative led by the Department for Education. This scheme provides 18-month Administrative Officer (AO) or Executive Officer (EO) internships to help young care-experienced individuals gain valuable work experience and progress into employment.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether their Department has run any (a) recruitment and (b) internship schemes aimed to increase the number of people from underrepresented groups in the workforce in the last year.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

HMT has not run any recruitment or internship schemes specifically aimed at increasing the number of people from underrepresented groups.

HMT has participated in some cross-government internship schemes such as the Cabinet Office run Summer Intern Placement (SIP), Autism Exchange Internship Placement and the Department of Work and Pensions’ Movement to Work Scheme.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum seekers who have had their claims rejected were in receipt of Home Office accommodation support on 10 October 2025.

Answered by Alex Norris - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office publishes data on asylum in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on the number of asylum seekers in receipt of support, by support type, is published in table Asy_D11 of the ‘Asylum support detailed datasets’.

Individuals receiving Section 4 support have had their asylum claim refused but they are destitute and there are reasons that temporarily prevent them from leaving the UK. Please note that Section 95 support data includes some failed asylum seekers who had children in their household when their appeal rights were exhausted.

The latest data relates to as at 30 June 2025. Data for as at 30 September 2025 will be published on 27 November 2025. Information on how to use the datasets can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbooks.

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 with (a) local authorities and (b) voluntary organisations to assist disabled people with transportation to medical appointments.

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

As set out in the Plan for Change, we will ensure that 92% of patients return to waiting no longer than 18 weeks from referral to treatment by March 2029, a standard which has not been met consistently since September 2015. The Government is clear that reforming elective care must be done equitably and inclusively for all adults, children, and young people.

We know there is also geographical variation in waiting times. It is important that patients, including disabled patients, do not miss or cancel hospital appointments due to a lack of affordable and/or accessible transport options in their area. This is why the Elective Reform Plan, published in January 2025, committed to reviewing, developing and increasing the uptake of existing national health inequalities improvement initiatives. Specifically, the plan committed to reviewing local patient transport services and improving the signposting to, and the accessibility of, them for patients, to make it easier for vulnerable groups to travel to and access appointments.

NHS England are funding and co-ordinating a range of patient transport projects to explore more effective approaches to supporting patients with their NHS travel needs.

NHS England work with individual NHS organisations, local authorities, transport providers and other stakeholders to continually pilot, review, refine and propagate approaches to improving the choice, affordability, and accessibility of transport options for NHS patients.

A non-emergency patient transport service (NEPTS) provides funded transport where a medical condition means a patient cannot safely travel to receive their treatment independently. Transport may be provided by the ambulance service, independent providers, the voluntary sector and volunteers.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether their Department has run any (a) recruitment and (b) internship schemes aimed to increase the number of people from underrepresented groups in the workforce in the last year.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

As set out in the Civil Service People Plan 2024 - 2027, published under the previous government, we are committed to ensuring we attract, develop and retain talented people from a diverse range of backgrounds to create a modern Civil Service, now and for the future.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether their Department has run any (a) recruitment and (b) internship schemes aimed to increase the number of people from underrepresented groups in the workforce in the last year.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

As set out in the Civil Service People Plan 2024 - 2027, DESNZ are committed to ensuring we attract, develop and retain talented people from a diverse range of backgrounds to create a modern Civil Service, now and for the future.

Department for Energy Security and Net Zero recruitment must follow the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act (CRaGA) 2010 legislation, which outlines the requirements to ensure that civil servants are recruited on merit, via fair and open competition.

Whilst recruitment into DESNZ does not focus solely on underrepresented groups we want to ensure all groups feel supported during the recruitment process and see DESNZ as an employer of choice. As part of our recruitment process, we:

• Run the Disability Confident Scheme and are a Disability Confident Leader
• Anonymise applications (including removing the name of educational institutions)
• Run attraction events targeted at underrepresented groups (ethnic minorities, women and those from lower socio-economic backgrounds)

DESNZ has run or supported the following programmes aimed at supporting underrepresented groups in the workforce in the past year:

• Autism Exchange Internship Programme - supporting young autistic people to gain meaningful work experience in the Civil Service.
• Care Leavers Programme - a programme run by Department for Education and a GFiE accredited programme, is an internship designed to improve outcomes for young people who have spent time in care.
• Change 100 Summer Internship Programme - a collaboration with the charity Leonard Cheshire to provide an internship for disabled students and graduates.
• upReach Summer Internship Programme - a collaboration with the charity upReach to offer an internship for university students from lower socio-economic backgrounds.
• Release on temporary licence programme (ROTL) - a programme that supports individuals who are eligible to be released from prison on temporary licence to work.
• Summer Internship Programme - the new revised programme for 2026 will support individuals in their final 2 years from a lower socio-economic backgrounds into placements in the Department, which aims to build a diverse pipeline into Fast Stream.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether their Department has run any (a) recruitment and (b) internship schemes aimed to increase the number of people from underrepresented groups in the workforce in the last year.

Answered by Hilary Benn - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

(a) As set out in the Civil Service People Plan 2024-2027, we are committed to ensuring we attract, develop and retain talented people from a diverse range of backgrounds to create a modern Civil Service, now and for the future. Civil Service recruitment must follow the rules set out in legislation within the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act (CRaGA) 2010 which outlines the requirements to ensure that civil servants are recruited on merit, via fair and open competition. Going Forward into Employment (GFiE) accredits life chance recruitment pathways across government. GFiE pathways recruit people from a wide range of backgrounds into the Civil Service, including people from low socio- economic backgrounds, prison leavers, veterans, carers and care leavers. People recruited by GFiE develop skills, gain experience and build a career.

The Northern Ireland Office has not run a GFiE accredited scheme in the last year.

(b) The Northern Ireland Office has not recruited for any internship schemes in the last year.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether their Department has run any (a) recruitment and (b) internship schemes aimed to increase the number of people from underrepresented groups in the workforce in the last year.

Answered by Anna Turley - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)

As set out in the Civil Service People Plan 2024 - 2027, we are committed to ensuring we attract, develop and retain talented people from a diverse range of backgrounds to create a modern Civil Service, now and for the future.

Civil Service recruitment must follow the rules set out in legislation within the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act (CRaGA) 2010 which outlines the requirements to ensure that civil servants are recruited on merit, via fair and open competition.

Going Forward into Employment (GFiE) accredits life chance recruitment pathways across government. GFiE pathways recruit people from a wide range of backgrounds into the Civil Service, including people from low socio-economic backgrounds, prison leavers, veterans, carers and care leavers.

People recruited by GFiE develop skills, gain experience and build a career, contributing to the Opportunity Mission and to the wider economy.

The Cabinet Office participates in the Great Place to Work for Veterans scheme which offers a guaranteed interview if a veteran meets the minimum criteria for the role. The department also welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction for specific offences.

In the last year, the Cabinet Office has participated in internship schemes aimed to increase the number of people from underrepresented groups in the workforce. These were:

• Fast Stream Summer Internship Programme (Cabinet Office runs on behalf of the whole Civil Service)

• Care Leavers Programme (Run by Department for Education)

• Career ready workplace scheme (Run by Cabinet Office Glasgow colleagues)

• Cabinet Office/Barnardos internship partnership (Run by Cabinet Office Glasgow colleagues)

Question to the Scotland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether their Department has run any (a) recruitment and (b) internship schemes aimed to increase the number of people from underrepresented groups in the workforce in the last year.

Answered by Kirsty McNeill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Scotland Office)

All staff that join the Scotland Office, do so on an assignment, loan or secondment from other Government bodies, principally the Ministry of Justice and the Scottish Government, who remain the employers. As such, the Scotland Office actively participates with the employers in any recruitment and internship schemes aimed to increase the number of people from underrepresented groups in the workforce.

In the past year, the Scotland Office has participated in the Civil Service Fast Stream Summer Internship Programme.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether their Department has run any (a) recruitment and (b) internship schemes aimed to increase the number of people from underrepresented groups in the workforce in the last year.

Answered by Louise Sandher-Jones - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

As set out in the Civil Service People Plan 2024 - 2027, we are committed to ensuring we attract, develop and retain talented people from a diverse range of backgrounds to create a modern Civil Service, now and for the future. Civil Service recruitment must follow the rules set out in legislation within the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010 which outlines the requirements to ensure that civil servants are recruited on merit, via fair and open competition.

The Ministry of Defence is committed to reviewing and improving its recruitment model to ensure we are attracting a skilled and diverse workforce. This includes supporting central Going Forward into Employment (GFiE) pathways, which focus on recruitment from a wide range of backgrounds into the Civil Service, including people from low socio-economic backgrounds, prison leavers, Veterans, carers and care leavers. and. We are also committed to supporting schemes such as a Great Place to Work for Veterans and the cross-Government Summer Internship Programme.

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 improve the quality of (a) care and (b) support for deaf people in care homes.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government is taking steps to improve the quality of adult social care, which will include deaf people in care homes. This includes improvements to better support the vital care workforce through a Fair Pay Agreement backed by £500 million, expanded career pathways, and £12 million invested in training and qualifications.

We have also launched an independent commission, chaired by Baroness Casey, to help shape the future of adult social care and ensure it meets the needs of older people and working-age disabled adults. The commission will explore how to improve accountability and drive up quality across the system.

Under section 18 of the Care Act 2014, local authorities are required to meet the needs of adults in their area who meet the eligibility criteria, which would include deaf people that have eligible needs. In addition, under the Equality Act 2010, local authorities must make reasonable adjustments to ensure that disabled people are not disadvantaged.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) are assessing how well local authorities in England are performing against their duties under part one of the Care Act 2014, including their duties relating to the access and provision of care and support for deaf people. Support for deaf people forms part of the CQC’s overall assessment of local authorities’ delivery of adult social care. In that context, the CQC will report on access and provision of care and support for deaf people when there is something important to highlight, such as something being done well, innovative practice or an area for improvement.

The CQC monitors, inspects and regulates adult social care services to make sure they meet fundamental standards of quality and safety. For deaf individuals, this includes providing care that is responsive to their communication needs.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether their Department has run any (a) recruitment and (b) internship schemes aimed to increase the number of people from underrepresented groups in the workforce in the last year.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)

The Civil Service People Plan 2024–2027 commits to attracting and retaining diverse talent. Recruitment follows the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010, ensuring fair and open competition based on merit.

Going Forward into Employment (GFiE) supports inclusive recruitment pathways, welcoming individuals from low socio-economic backgrounds, and other categories. GFiE helps participants gain skills, experience, and career opportunities.

From October 2024 to October 2025, the Department supported the Autism Exchange Internship Programme, offering eight placements.

The Department guarantees interviews for disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria under the Disability Confident Interview Scheme.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether their Department has run any (a) recruitment and (b) internship schemes aimed to increase the number of people from underrepresented groups in the workforce in the last year.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

In the past year, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has actively supported and hosted two internship schemes.

DSIT welcomed 35 interns through the Summer Internship Programme (SIP) and 17 candidates via the Autism Exchange Internship Programme (AEIP). These schemes are specifically designed to provide work experience to individuals from diverse backgrounds, including those who are neurodivergent, from ethnic minority communities or from socioeconomically disadvantaged communities.

Several of our interns were also offered extended placements following their initial internships, reflecting our department’s commitment to providing long term development opportunities. Additionally, all our SIP interns were paired with DSIT Fast Streamers who mentored them throughout their placements, supporting their growth and guiding them through the Fast Pass process into the Civil Service Fast Stream.

The AEIP, delivered in partnership with Ambitious about Autism, has always been a cornerstone of DSIT’s inclusive internship offer. The 2025 cohort were provided with tailored onboarding and workplace adjustments support, including communication guidance for line managers to ensure a positive and accessible experience.

These programmes reflect DSIT’s ongoing efforts to foster a more inclusive workforce and to create pathways into government careers for individuals who may face systemic barriers to employment. The department remains committed to exploring and implementing alternative entry routes that continue to prioritise diversity and inclusion.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether their Department has run any (a) recruitment and (b) internship schemes aimed to increase the number of people from underrepresented groups in the workforce in the last year.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

All Civil Service departments work within the Recruitment Principles, as regulated by the Civil Service Commission, to recruit using a fair and open process and appoint on merit.

As set out in the Civil Service People Plan 2024 - 2027, we are committed to ensuring we attract, develop and retain talented people from a diverse range of backgrounds, to create a modern Civil Service, now and for the future.

The Home Office have run Internship schemes aimed at increasing representation of underrepresented groups within the Home Office workforce in the last year:

• Summer Internship Programme (SIP): placements for students from lower socio-economic backgrounds.
• Autism Exchange Internship Programme (AEIP): internships for neurodivergent candidates.
• Care Leaver Internship Scheme: paid internships for care leavers.

The Home Office also support Government Employment Programs that utilse an exception within the Civil Service Recruitment Principles. This allows departments to appoint individuals temporarily for up to two years, providing fixed-term Civil Service roles for those whose circumstances and previous life chances make it difficult to compete for appointments on merit, and on the basis of fair and open competition, without further work experience and/or training opportunities. The programs the Home Office have employed over the last 12 months are:

• Pathway to Employment Social Mobility Programme: fixed term appointment of individuals from low socio-economic backgrounds.
• Pathway for Autistic People: fixed term appointment of individuals with autism.
• Civil Service Master Class: fixed term appointment of individuals from low socio-economic backgrounds.
• Stepping into Communications: an internship pathway for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether their Department has run any (a) recruitment and (b) internship schemes aimed to increase the number of people from underrepresented groups in the workforce in the last year.

Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

As set out in the Civil Service People Plan 2024 - 2027, we are committed to ensuring we attract, develop and retain talented people from a diverse range of backgrounds to create a modern Civil Service, now and for the future.

Civil Service recruitment must follow the rules set out in legislation within the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act (CRaGA) 2010 which outlines the requirements to ensure that civil servants are recruited on merit, via fair and open competition.

Going Forward into Employment (GFiE) accredits life chance recruitment pathways across government. GFiE pathways recruit people from a wide range of backgrounds into the Civil Service, including people from low socio- economic backgrounds, prison leavers, veterans, carers and care leavers. People recruited by GFiE develop skills, gain experience and build a career, contributing to the Opportunity Mission and to the wider economy.

In the last year, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport participated in the Care Leavers Internship Pathway.

In relation to internships in the last year, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport participated in the Civil Service Summer Internship Programme and the Autism Exchange Internship Programme.