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Written Question
Social Services
Monday 30th December 2024

Asked by: Neil O'Brien (Conservative - Harborough, Oadby and Wigston)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to publish the work his Department commissioned from the Adult Social Care Research Unit on updating the 2013 Adult Social Care Relative Needs Formula.

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

The Department of Health and Social Care funds independent research through its research delivery arm, the National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR). This project is funded through the NIHR Adult Social Care Policy Research Unit.

The publication of research is led by the research team and in line with NIHR commitments to the transparent and independent publication of high-quality research will be made available on the Adult Social Care Policy Research Unit Website. The views expressed in outputs of the research are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care.

The Department of Health and Social Care is still considering this research as part of its ongoing policy work. We are working closely the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, and the role of a specific Adult Social Care funding formula is considered within the consultation ‘Local authority funding reform: objectives and principles’, published on 18 December 2024. We will update further in due course.


Written Question
Asylum: Housing
Monday 30th December 2024

Asked by: Neil O'Brien (Conservative - Harborough, Oadby and Wigston)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on what occasions a Contract Change Note has been issued for contracts for asylum accommodation and support services since 2021.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Home Office)

Since 2021, Contract Change Notices have been issued for the Asylum Accommodation and Support contracts on the following occasions:

Serco MEE

CCN Number

Date Effective

006.02

01/03/2021

006.04

12/11/2021

006.07

06/01/2022

006.08

01/04/2022

006.10

24/05/2022

006.12

24/08/2022

006.14

31/10/2022

006.16

12/01/2023

006.18

12/01/2023

006.20

07/03/2023

006.22

27/03/2023

006.24

06/04/2023

006.26

24/05/2023

006.28

27/06/2023

006.30

20/07/2023

006.32

03/08/2023

006.34

20/10/2023

006.36

20/10/2023

008.00

14/12/2021

008.01

01/04/2022

008.02

16/11/2022

008.03

27/11/2022

009.00

01/01/2021

011.00

01/05/2022

012.00

24/05/2022

014.00

14/02/2022

015.00

01/09/2022

017.00

10/01/2023

018.00

01/01/2022

019.00

01/01/2023

019.10

11/08/2023

020.00

11/08/2023

022.00

03/08/2023

022.10

06/11/2023

022.20

05/01/2024

022.30

05/03/2024

022.40

05/06/2024

022.50

05/08/2024

023.00

04/07/2023

023a

08/09/2023

023b

18/09/2023

023c

18/09/2023

024.00

07/08/2023

024.10

07/08/2023

025.00

06/10/2023

026.00

08/12/2023

027.00

01/10/2024

Serco NW

CCN Number

Date Effective

005

23/11/2021

006.01

28/01/2021

006.03

13/07/2021

006.05

12/11/2021

006.06

06/01/2022

006.09

01/04/2022

006.11

24/05/2022

006.13

24/08/2022

006.14

31/10/2022

006.15

31/10/2022

006.17

12/01/2023

006.19

12/01/2023

006.21

07/03/2023

006.23

27/03/2023

006.25

06/04/2023

006.27

24/05/2023

006.29

27/06/2023

006.31

20/07/2023

006.33

03/08/2023

006.35

20/10/2023

006.37

20/10/2023

009

06/01/2022

011

01/05/2022

012

24/05/2022

013

11/05/2022

013.1

24/06/2022

014

11/02/2022

017

10/01/2023

018

01/01/2022

019

01/01/2023

019.01

01/04/2024

020

11/08/2023

025

06/10/2023

026

18/12/2023

027

01/10/2024

Mears NEYH

CCN Number

Date Effective

013

23/02/2021

014

01/03/2021

015

21/05/2021

016

06/09/2022

019

25/02/2022

022

06/04/2022

023

04/11/2022

024

01/01/2023

025

27/02/2023

026

11/07/2023

027

30/08/2023

028

17/11/2023

029

14/09/2023

030

05/01/2023

030A

20/02/2024

031

08/12/2023

033

08/01/2024

034

01/01/2024

035

01/02/2024

036

08/03/2024

037

15/03/2024

038

29/06/2024

039

24/07/2024

040

31/08/2024

041

29/09/2024

042

01/11/2024

043

17/11/2024

044

01/10/2024

048

01/12/2024

049

13/12/2024

Mears NI

CCN Number

Date Effective

009

17/01/2022

012

17/01/2022

013

04/04/2022

016

23/08/2023

019

09/02/2024

020

01/02/2024

021

01/10/2024

022

13/12/2024

Mears Scotland

CCN Number

Date Effective

010

15/01/2021

011

23/02/2021

012

01/03/2021

013

15/01/2021

014

25/02/2022

015

04/04/2022

016

15/01/2021

017

15/01/2021

018

15/01/2023

019

15/01/2021

020

23/08/2023

020A

23/08/2023

021

15/01/2021

022

01/02/2024

023

01/10/2024

024

18/11/2024

025

18/11/2024

026

01/10/2024

027

13/12/2024

CRH South

CCN Number

Date Effective

006e

22/03/2022

006f

25/10/2022

010

28/01/2021

011

31/03/2021

012

02/12/2021

013

11/02/2022

014

28/01/2022

015

01/04/2022

016

03/11/2022

016a

10/11/2022

016b

11/12/2022

016c

12/03/2023

016d

12/06/2023

016e

12/09/2023

016f

12/12/2023

017

22/11/2022

018

01/10/2021

019

01/01/2023

020

25/04/2023

021

11/06/2023

022

06/06/2023

023

26/07/2023

024

27/11/2023

025

13/11/2023

026

29/11/2023

028

23/07/2024

CRH Wales

CCN Number

Date Effective

010

28/01/2021

012

02/12/2021

013

11/02/2022


Written Question
Health: Children
Friday 20th December 2024

Asked by: Neil O'Brien (Conservative - Harborough, Oadby and Wigston)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the average height was for state school pupils in (a) reception and (b) year six in each academic year since 2005-06; what the average height was for state school pupils in each ethnic group in those academic years in that period; and how many state school pupils were in each ethnic group in those academic years in that period.

Answered by Andrew Gwynne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The height of state school pupils in Reception and Year 6 is measured in the National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP). The following table shows the average height in centimetres of boys and girls aged five and 11 years old, in the academic years from 2008 to 2024:

Age

Academic year

Mean height for girls

Mean height for boys

5

2008 to 2009

109.2cm

110.0cm

5

2009 to 2010

109.2cm

110.1cm

5

2010 to 2011

109.2cm

110.1cm

5

2011 to 2012

109.3cm

110.2cm

5

2012 to 2013

109.2cm

110.1cm

5

2013 to 2014

109.3cm

110.2cm

5

2014 to 2015

109.3cm

110.2cm

5

2015 to 2016

109.3cm

110.2cm

5

2016 to 2017

109.3cm

110.3cm

5

2017 to 2018

109.3cm

110.3cm

5

2018 to 2019

109.3cm

110.3cm

5

2019 to 2020

109.4cm

110.4cm

5

2020 to 2021

109.8cm

110.9cm

5

2021 to 2022

109.7cm

110.7cm

5

2022 to 2023

109.3cm

110.4cm

5

2023 to 2024

109.3cm

110.3cm

11

2008 to 2009

145.7cm

145.0cm

11

2009 to 2010

145.8cm

145.0cm

11

2010 to 2011

145.9cm

145.1cm

11

2011 to 2012

145.9cm

145.1cm

11

2012 to 2013

146.0cm

145.1cm

11

2013 to 2014

146.1cm

145.3cm

11

2014 to 2015

146.2cm

145.3cm

11

2015 to 2016

146.3cm

145.5cm

11

2016 to 2017

146.3cm

145.5cm

11

2017 to 2018

146.4cm

145.6cm

11

2018 to 2019

146.5cm

145.6cm

11

2019 to 2020

146.6cm

145.7cm

11

2020 to 2021

148.0cm

146.5cm

11

2021 to 2022

148.0cm

146.4cm

11

2022 to 2023

147.8cm

146.3cm

11

2023 to 2024

147.5cm

146.4cm

Source: data is from the NCMP, with further information available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/obesity-profile-november-2024-update

Height data has not been published for the years 2005 to 2008. Height data by ethnic group of pupil is not available, but is due to be published by the Department on 4 February 2025, and will be available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/announcements/obesity-profile-february-2025-update

The Department for Education publishes information on the number of state school pupils by ethnicity. This information can be found in the Schools, pupils, and their characteristics publication on GOV.UK website, which is based on January school census data. Statistics from May 2010 onwards are available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-school-and-pupil-numbers

Data is not published for Reception and Year 6 children specifically. Statistics from 2005 to 2009 are available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/schools-pupil-and-their-characteristics-2002-to-2009-data


Written Question
Universities: China
Thursday 19th December 2024

Asked by: Neil O'Brien (Conservative - Harborough, Oadby and Wigston)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of scholarships offered by the Chinese Government for universities in the UK on freedom of speech.

Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The UK welcomes international partnerships and students, including from China, who make a very positive impact on the UK’s higher education (HE) sector, our economy and society as a whole. However, we will always protect our national security interests, human rights and values.

All registered English HE providers have a duty to protect freedom of speech under the Education (No.2) Act 1986. They are also subject to registration conditions from the Office for Students (OfS) which requires them to uphold public interest governance principles, including securing freedom of speech within the law, academic freedom and accountability, such as operating openly and with integrity. The OfS can take action if it identifies a breach of this provision.

The UK government is carrying out an audit to examine the UK's interests with respect to China to improve our ability to understand and respond to the challenges and opportunities China poses. The audit is being conducted as a cross-government exercise, led by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.


Written Question
NHS: Expenditure
Thursday 19th December 2024

Asked by: Neil O'Brien (Conservative - Harborough, Oadby and Wigston)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Answer of 1 May 2024 to Question 19413 on NHS: Expenditure, how much (a) NHS England, (b) clinical commissioning groups and (c) integrated care boards spent in aggregate on (i) mental health services, (ii) acute health services, (iii) social care services, (iv) primary medical services, (v) specialised services, (vi) NHS continuing healthcare and (vii) all other recorded spending categories in each financial year since 2015-16; and how much those organisations plan to spend in aggregate in each of those areas in the 2024-25 financial year.

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

The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.


Written Question
Academies
Wednesday 18th December 2024

Asked by: Neil O'Brien (Conservative - Harborough, Oadby and Wigston)

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of (a) primary and (b) secondary schools secured academy status in each year since 2010; and how many of these were in a multi-academy trust.

Answered by Catherine McKinnell - Minister of State (Education)

The attached information details the current number of open academies and free schools, by phase and their respective year of opening, as well as the proportion of state-funded schools this represents.

Of the 11,224 open academies and free schools as of 1 December 2024, 10,352 are part of a multi-academy trust.


Written Question
Visas
Wednesday 18th December 2024

Asked by: Neil O'Brien (Conservative - Harborough, Oadby and Wigston)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many visas were granted to (a) people and (b) family dependents in each quarter since January 2021.

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

The Home Office publishes data on entry clearance visas in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on visas granted, by quarter, visa route and applicant type, are published in table Vis_D02 of Entry clearance detailed dataset. Information on how to use the dataset can be found in the ‘Notes’ page of the workbook. The latest data relate up to the end of September 2024.


Written Question
Ministry of Defence: Temporary Accommodation
Wednesday 18th December 2024

Asked by: Neil O'Brien (Conservative - Harborough, Oadby and Wigston)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people seeking (a) asylum and (b) humanitarian protection are in accomodation on his Department's property.

Answered by Al Carns - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence) (Minister for Veterans)

There are currently no people seeking asylum or humanitarian protection accommodated on the Defence Estate.

The Secretary of State for Defence recently made an announcement regarding the Afghan Resettlement Programme (ARP). The ARP is a cross-government delivery programme that will improve efficiency, value for money and outcomes across Afghan Resettlement. This Government has always supported the aims of the Afghan resettlement schemes and we will deliver its commitments to those in Afghanistan who are eligible to relocate and resettle in the UK.

As part of this, the use of the Defence Estate for transitional accommodation will reduce over time however it is currently providing temporary and long-term accommodation to over 5,600 Afghans.


Written Question
Asylum: LGBT+ People
Wednesday 18th December 2024

Asked by: Neil O'Brien (Conservative - Harborough, Oadby and Wigston)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to update the LGB asylum data tables, last updated on 25 August 2022.

Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office publishes data on asylum in the ‘Immigration System Statistics Quarterly Release’. Data on asylum claims relating to sexual orientation are published in the ‘Asylum claims on the basis of sexual orientation tables’. The latest data on claims and initial decisions relates to 2023 and was updated as part of the year ending June 2024 release in August 2024. The next planned update is in August 2025.


Written Question
Migrant Workers: English Language
Tuesday 17th December 2024

Asked by: Neil O'Brien (Conservative - Harborough, Oadby and Wigston)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people were referred by job centre advisors to a course to improve their English language skills in each year since 2015.

Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The requested information is not held by the Department for Work and Pensions.