Stephanie Peacock Portrait

Stephanie Peacock

Labour - Barnsley East

First elected: 8th June 2017

Shadow Minister (Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)

(since July 2022)

Data Protection and Digital Information (No. 2) Bill
3rd May 2023 - 23rd May 2023
Online Safety (Re-committed Clauses and Schedules) Bill
7th Dec 2022 - 15th Dec 2022
Northern Ireland Affairs Committee
6th Jul 2020 - 29th Nov 2022
Shadow Minister (Defence)
14th May 2021 - 22nd Jul 2022
Shadow Minister (Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
10th Apr 2020 - 14th May 2021
Women and Equalities Committee
8th May 2019 - 6th Nov 2019
Opposition Whip (Commons)
18th Jan 2018 - 14th Mar 2019
International Trade Committee
4th Dec 2017 - 2nd Jul 2018
Science and Technology Committee (Commons)
16th Oct 2017 - 4th Dec 2017
Science and Technology Committee
16th Oct 2017 - 4th Dec 2017
Science, Innovation and Technology Committee
16th Oct 2017 - 4th Dec 2017


Department Event
Thursday 11th January 2024
09:30
Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport
Oral questions - Main Chamber
11 Jan 2024, 9:30 a.m.
Culture, Media and Sport (including Topical Questions)
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Note: This event involves a Department with which this person is linked, and does not guarantee their actual attendance.
Division Votes
Monday 20th November 2023
Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill
voted Aye - in line with the party majority
One of 154 Labour Aye votes vs 0 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 210 Noes - 280
Speeches
Tuesday 21st November 2023
Media Bill
I am pleased to welcome the introduction of the overdue Media Bill. I refer the House to my entry in …
Written Answers
Thursday 16th November 2023
Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve diagnostic …
Early Day Motions
Wednesday 24th July 2019
PERIOD POSITIVE PLEDGE
That this House welcomes the Period Positive Pledge which has now been adopted by institutions and organisations across the world …
Bills
Employment and Workers' Rights Bill 2017-19
The Bill failed to complete its passage through Parliament before the end of the session. This means the Bill will …
MP Financial Interests
Monday 16th October 2023
3. Gifts, benefits and hospitality from UK sources
Name of donor: Arena Racing Company
Address of donor: 4th Floor, Millbank Tower, 21-24 Millbank, London SW1P 4QP
Amount of …
EDM signed
Thursday 18th March 2021
Agriculture
That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, praying that the Heather and Grass etc. Burning (England) Regulations 2021 …
Supported Legislation
Wednesday 5th February 2020
Education (Guidance about Costs of School Uniforms) Act 2021
A Bill to make provision for guidance to schools about the costs aspects of school uniform policies.

Division Voting information

During the current Parliamentary Session, Stephanie Peacock has voted in 620 divisions, and never against the majority of their Party.
View All Stephanie Peacock Division Votes

Debates during the 2019 Parliament

Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.

Sparring Partners
John Whittingdale (Conservative)
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
(105 debate interactions)
Victoria Prentis (Conservative)
Attorney General
(72 debate interactions)
Jacob Rees-Mogg (Conservative)
(28 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
Department Debates
Cabinet Office
(40 debate contributions)
Department of Health and Social Care
(34 debate contributions)
View All Department Debates
Legislation Debates
Fisheries Act 2020
(20,385 words contributed)
Media Bill 2023-24
(1,382 words contributed)
View All Legislation Debates
View all Stephanie Peacock's debates

Latest EDMs signed by Stephanie Peacock

18th March 2021
Stephanie Peacock signed this EDM as a sponsor on Thursday 18th March 2021

Agriculture

Tabled by: Keir Starmer (Labour - Holborn and St Pancras)
That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, praying that the Heather and Grass etc. Burning (England) Regulations 2021 (S.I., 2021, No. 158), dated 15 February 2021, a copy of which was laid before this House on 16 February 2021, be annulled.
10 signatures
(Most recent: 11 May 2021)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 8
Independent: 1
Green Party: 1
14th January 2021
Stephanie Peacock signed this EDM on Monday 18th January 2021

Godfrey Colin Cameron

Tabled by: Chris Stephens (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South West)
That this House is deeply saddened by news of the death of Godfrey Colin Cameron, a hardworking member of Parliamentary security staff and member of the PCS trade union who passed away aged just 55 after contracting covid-19; extends our sincere condolences to his devoted wife Hyacinth, children Leon and …
139 signatures
(Most recent: 8 Feb 2021)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 113
Scottish National Party: 15
Independent: 6
Plaid Cymru: 3
Alba Party: 1
Democratic Unionist Party: 1
View All Stephanie Peacock's signed Early Day Motions

Commons initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Stephanie Peacock, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.

MPs who are act as Ministers or Shadow Ministers are generally restricted from performing Commons initiatives other than Urgent Questions.


Stephanie Peacock has not been granted any Urgent Questions

1 Adjournment Debate led by Stephanie Peacock

1 Bill introduced by Stephanie Peacock


The Bill failed to complete its passage through Parliament before the end of the session. This means the Bill will make no further progress. A Bill to make provision about employment conditions and workers' rights; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 40%

Last Event - 1st Reading: House Of Commons
Wednesday 19th July 2017
(Read Debate)

821 Written Questions in the current parliament

(View all written questions)
Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department
1 Other Department Questions
9th Jun 2022
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps her Department is taking to reduce disparity in pay by gender.

The national gender pay gap has fallen significantly under this government - and by approximately a quarter in the last decade.

In 2017, we introduced regulations requiring large employers to publish the differences in average salaries and bonuses for men and women every year. The regulations have helped to motivate employers, and focus attention on improving equality in the workplace.

However, in order to continue making progress we need to understand the real barriers people face in the workplace, and ensure everyone is empowered to fulfil their potential.

Kemi Badenoch
President of the Board of Trade
13th Jul 2023
To ask the Attorney General, what (a) algorithmic and (b) other automated decision making systems her Department uses; and for what purposes.

The Attorney General's Office does not use any algorithmic or other automated decision-making systems.

Michael Tomlinson
Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
20th Jun 2023
To ask the Attorney General, with reference to the oral contribution of the Minister for Data and Digital Infrastructure of 14 June 2023 at Topical Questions, T7, Official Report, column 286, what plans her Department has to (a) utilise the provisions in Part 3 of the Data Protection and Digital Information (No. 2) Bill and (b) use smart data in new sectors.

The Attorney General’s Office do not have plans to utilise the provisions in Part 3 of the Data Protection and Digital Information (No.2) Bill, there is work still to be done to understand how Smart Data can be used across Government.

Michael Tomlinson
Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
13th Jul 2023
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what (a) algorithmic and (b) other automated decision making systems his Department uses; and for what purposes.

Algorithmic and automated decision-making systems are broad terms covering a large array of systems and processes. Whilst it would not be appropriate to comment on specific government systems, we can confirm that automated decision making in Government is compliant with provisions in GDPR and the Data Protection Act, which includes the right for a data subject to request ‘a new decision that is not based solely on automated processing.’

Government’s Roadmap to a Digital Future includes digital transformation in Government by ‘automating manual processes’ in order to drive greater efficiency and deliver maximum value for the taxpayer.

Alex Burghart
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
20th Jun 2023
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the oral contribution of the Minister for Data and Digital Infrastructure of 14 June 2023 at Topical Questions, T7, Official Report, column 286, what plans his Department has to (a) utilise the provisions in Part 3 of the Data Protection and Digital Information (No. 2) Bill and (b) use smart data in new sectors.

There is exciting potential to explore Smart Data in further sectors, beyond Open Banking. Government, regulators and industry experts are working together via the Smart Data Council to ensure that the UK continues to be at the forefront of developments in this space.

This Bill is sponsored by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. Before committing to utilise the provisions in Part 3 of the Data Protection and Digital Information (No.2) Bill in any given sector, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology is working to understand how Smart Data can empower consumers and turbo charge competition.

Alex Burghart
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
15th Jul 2022
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what budget is attached to the role of Minister for Veterans’ Affairs; and whether that budget is being drawn from existing Office for Veterans' Affairs funding.

Johnny Mercer MP was appointed as the first standalone UK Minister for Veterans' Affairs on 7 July in recognition of the seriousness with which this country takes supporting our veterans.

No budget is attached to the new role, but the Office for Veterans' Affairs has a budget this financial year of £10.3m. Severance payments for Ministers are a statutory entitlement under section 4 of the Ministerial and other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991. Salary entitlements are set out in Schedule One of the Ministerial and Other Salaries Act 1975. The Minister for Veterans' Affairs’ salary is not being drawn from the Office for Veterans' Affairs' budget.

Under current arrangements the Minister for Veterans' Affairs has been allocated one full-time Private Secretary.

15th Jul 2022
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether a severance agreement is attached to the new role of Minister for Veterans’ Affairs.

Johnny Mercer MP was appointed as the first standalone UK Minister for Veterans' Affairs on 7 July in recognition of the seriousness with which this country takes supporting our veterans.

No budget is attached to the new role, but the Office for Veterans' Affairs has a budget this financial year of £10.3m. Severance payments for Ministers are a statutory entitlement under section 4 of the Ministerial and other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991. Salary entitlements are set out in Schedule One of the Ministerial and Other Salaries Act 1975. The Minister for Veterans' Affairs’ salary is not being drawn from the Office for Veterans' Affairs' budget.

Under current arrangements the Minister for Veterans' Affairs has been allocated one full-time Private Secretary.

15th Jul 2022
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what salary is associated with the new role of Minister for Veterans’ Affairs; and whether that salary is being drawn from existing Office for Veterans’ Affairs funding.

Johnny Mercer MP was appointed as the first standalone UK Minister for Veterans' Affairs on 7 July in recognition of the seriousness with which this country takes supporting our veterans.

No budget is attached to the new role, but the Office for Veterans' Affairs has a budget this financial year of £10.3m. Severance payments for Ministers are a statutory entitlement under section 4 of the Ministerial and other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991. Salary entitlements are set out in Schedule One of the Ministerial and Other Salaries Act 1975. The Minister for Veterans' Affairs’ salary is not being drawn from the Office for Veterans' Affairs' budget.

Under current arrangements the Minister for Veterans' Affairs has been allocated one full-time Private Secretary.

9th Jun 2022
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what data his Department holds on the prevalence of incidences of theft of items which are essential to a person’s livelihood (a) nationally (b) in Barnsley East constituency.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.

A response to the hon. Member’s Parliamentary Question of 9 June is attached.

8th Jun 2022
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Government has begun research to create insight and understanding of public and employer’s perception of veterans, as committed to in the Veterans Strategy Action Plan, and when this research will be published.

In the Veterans’ Strategy Action Plan 2022 – 2024, the OVA laid out its commitment to promote a positive public perception of veterans.

The Office for Veterans’ Affairs commissioned YouGov in January 2022 to carry out a comprehensive research study into the public and employer’s perception of veterans. The fieldwork for this project has now been completed and the research team is in the process of drafting the final report and findings.

Leo Docherty
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
8th Jun 2022
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Office for Veterans' Affairs has begun work with the Disability Unit to share best practice with Disabled Persons Organisations on how veterans use adaptive sport to help increase activity levels and participate in communities, as committed to in the Veterans Strategy Action Plan.

The Veterans’ Strategy Action Plan includes over 60 cross-government commitments and has made good progress in its delivery since its launch in January 2022. I will answer each question in turn:

  • The Office for Veterans' Affairs has established both an advisory group of academics and researchers, as well as a working group composed of representatives from the Devolved Administrations to meet quarterly.
  • The Office for Veterans’ Affairs continues to keep the governance of veterans issues across government under review, and has recently advertised for vacancies on the Veterans’ Advisory Board. I look forward to announcing new board members in due course.
  • The Office for Veterans' Affairs has recently delivered the bespoke campaign on employability via a media partnership. We have also further developed tailored veteran employment schemes in the public sector, including Great Place to Work in the Civil Service, Advance into Justice in the Prison Service, and Step into Health. Employers taking on veterans in their first civilian job now benefit from a 12-month National Insurance holiday. We’ve introduced tailored employment schemes in the public sector, and work closely with the private sector to enhance opportunities for veterans to make the best use of their skills.
  • The commitment on sharing best practice with Disabled Persons Organisations was delivered in March, when I hosted a roundtable meeting to discuss the experiences and developments in veteran adaptive sports. I also had the opportunity to recently see veteran adaptive sports in action at the Invictus Games in The Hague and the Veteran Games in Tel Aviv.
Leo Docherty
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
8th Jun 2022
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Office for Veterans' Affairs has begun conducting the bespoke campaign on employability to promote to the business audience the skills veterans have, and the schemes that are on offer to increase veteran employment committed to in the Veterans Strategy Action Plan.

The Veterans’ Strategy Action Plan includes over 60 cross-government commitments and has made good progress in its delivery since its launch in January 2022. I will answer each question in turn:

  • The Office for Veterans' Affairs has established both an advisory group of academics and researchers, as well as a working group composed of representatives from the Devolved Administrations to meet quarterly.
  • The Office for Veterans’ Affairs continues to keep the governance of veterans issues across government under review, and has recently advertised for vacancies on the Veterans’ Advisory Board. I look forward to announcing new board members in due course.
  • The Office for Veterans' Affairs has recently delivered the bespoke campaign on employability via a media partnership. We have also further developed tailored veteran employment schemes in the public sector, including Great Place to Work in the Civil Service, Advance into Justice in the Prison Service, and Step into Health. Employers taking on veterans in their first civilian job now benefit from a 12-month National Insurance holiday. We’ve introduced tailored employment schemes in the public sector, and work closely with the private sector to enhance opportunities for veterans to make the best use of their skills.
  • The commitment on sharing best practice with Disabled Persons Organisations was delivered in March, when I hosted a roundtable meeting to discuss the experiences and developments in veteran adaptive sports. I also had the opportunity to recently see veteran adaptive sports in action at the Invictus Games in The Hague and the Veteran Games in Tel Aviv.
Leo Docherty
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
8th Jun 2022
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Office for Veterans Affairs has conducted a review of the governance of veterans issues across government as committed to in the Veterans Strategy Action Plan; and when that review will be published.

The Veterans’ Strategy Action Plan includes over 60 cross-government commitments and has made good progress in its delivery since its launch in January 2022. I will answer each question in turn:

  • The Office for Veterans' Affairs has established both an advisory group of academics and researchers, as well as a working group composed of representatives from the Devolved Administrations to meet quarterly.
  • The Office for Veterans’ Affairs continues to keep the governance of veterans issues across government under review, and has recently advertised for vacancies on the Veterans’ Advisory Board. I look forward to announcing new board members in due course.
  • The Office for Veterans' Affairs has recently delivered the bespoke campaign on employability via a media partnership. We have also further developed tailored veteran employment schemes in the public sector, including Great Place to Work in the Civil Service, Advance into Justice in the Prison Service, and Step into Health. Employers taking on veterans in their first civilian job now benefit from a 12-month National Insurance holiday. We’ve introduced tailored employment schemes in the public sector, and work closely with the private sector to enhance opportunities for veterans to make the best use of their skills.
  • The commitment on sharing best practice with Disabled Persons Organisations was delivered in March, when I hosted a roundtable meeting to discuss the experiences and developments in veteran adaptive sports. I also had the opportunity to recently see veteran adaptive sports in action at the Invictus Games in The Hague and the Veteran Games in Tel Aviv.
Leo Docherty
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
8th Jun 2022
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Office for Veterans' Affairs has established a working group with Devolved Administration colleagues to meet quarterly as committed to in the Veterans Strategy Action Plan.

The Veterans’ Strategy Action Plan includes over 60 cross-government commitments and has made good progress in its delivery since its launch in January 2022. I will answer each question in turn:

  • The Office for Veterans' Affairs has established both an advisory group of academics and researchers, as well as a working group composed of representatives from the Devolved Administrations to meet quarterly.
  • The Office for Veterans’ Affairs continues to keep the governance of veterans issues across government under review, and has recently advertised for vacancies on the Veterans’ Advisory Board. I look forward to announcing new board members in due course.
  • The Office for Veterans' Affairs has recently delivered the bespoke campaign on employability via a media partnership. We have also further developed tailored veteran employment schemes in the public sector, including Great Place to Work in the Civil Service, Advance into Justice in the Prison Service, and Step into Health. Employers taking on veterans in their first civilian job now benefit from a 12-month National Insurance holiday. We’ve introduced tailored employment schemes in the public sector, and work closely with the private sector to enhance opportunities for veterans to make the best use of their skills.
  • The commitment on sharing best practice with Disabled Persons Organisations was delivered in March, when I hosted a roundtable meeting to discuss the experiences and developments in veteran adaptive sports. I also had the opportunity to recently see veteran adaptive sports in action at the Invictus Games in The Hague and the Veteran Games in Tel Aviv.
Leo Docherty
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
8th Jun 2022
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Office for Veterans' Affairs (OVA) has established an advisory group of academics and researchers to ensure a robust academic contribution to the work of the OVA, as committed to in the Veterans Strategy Action Plan.

The Veterans’ Strategy Action Plan includes over 60 cross-government commitments and has made good progress in its delivery since its launch in January 2022. I will answer each question in turn:

  • The Office for Veterans' Affairs has established both an advisory group of academics and researchers, as well as a working group composed of representatives from the Devolved Administrations to meet quarterly.
  • The Office for Veterans’ Affairs continues to keep the governance of veterans issues across government under review, and has recently advertised for vacancies on the Veterans’ Advisory Board. I look forward to announcing new board members in due course.
  • The Office for Veterans' Affairs has recently delivered the bespoke campaign on employability via a media partnership. We have also further developed tailored veteran employment schemes in the public sector, including Great Place to Work in the Civil Service, Advance into Justice in the Prison Service, and Step into Health. Employers taking on veterans in their first civilian job now benefit from a 12-month National Insurance holiday. We’ve introduced tailored employment schemes in the public sector, and work closely with the private sector to enhance opportunities for veterans to make the best use of their skills.
  • The commitment on sharing best practice with Disabled Persons Organisations was delivered in March, when I hosted a roundtable meeting to discuss the experiences and developments in veteran adaptive sports. I also had the opportunity to recently see veteran adaptive sports in action at the Invictus Games in The Hague and the Veteran Games in Tel Aviv.
Leo Docherty
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
13th May 2022
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department will respond to the recommendations listed in the 2022 Forward Assist and Salute Her UK Privileged Access Interview Report titled Exit Wounds: Members of the Veteran LGBTQ+ Community Share their Lived Experience of Life Before, During and After Service in the UK Military.

I pay tribute to the work of those involved in this important research. While the Government has no formal obligation to respond to this study, I acknowledge its recommendations and have asked the Office for Veterans' Affairs to consider them carefully. In addition, I am confident that this study, along with a range of other evidence, will be considered by the upcoming Independent LGBT Veterans Review, which the government will formally respond to in due course.

Leo Docherty
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
29th Mar 2022
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the advisory group of organisations employing veterans has been established; and how that group's findings will be presented or published.

The commitment to establish an advisory group of organisations employing veterans is one of over 60 set out in the Veterans’ Strategy Action Plan, which was published earlier this year. The group will focus on members' experiences employing those who have served and will also provide a forum for discussion around the range of policies and programmes impacting veterans in this area.

Leo Docherty
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
29th Mar 2022
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to plans outlined in the Veterans’ Strategy Action Plan 2022-24 to promote opportunities for Service leavers to go into careers with the uniformed and health services, how his Department plans to measure and evaluate the success of those plans.

Ensuring veterans maintain stable and fulfilling employment post service is a key theme of the Veterans’ Strategy Action Plan. The Government has committed over £70 million on more than 60 Action Plan commitments, including promoting opportunities in the uniformed and Health services. It will be delivered by departments through sharing of resources and messaging, creation of networks and championing schemes such as Step into Health and Advance Into Justice.

The Office for Veterans’ Affairs monitors the delivery of the Strategy Action Plan, and regularly convenes departments across Government to ensure these important commitments are met.

Leo Docherty
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
29th Mar 2022
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what funding has been allocated to promote opportunities for service leavers and veterans to go into careers with the Uniformed and Health Services and associated support staff.

Ensuring veterans maintain stable and fulfilling employment post service is a key theme of the Veterans’ Strategy Action Plan. The Government has committed over £70 million on more than 60 Action Plan commitments, including promoting opportunities in the uniformed and Health services. It will be delivered by departments through sharing of resources and messaging, creation of networks and championing schemes such as Step into Health and Advance Into Justice.

The Office for Veterans’ Affairs monitors the delivery of the Strategy Action Plan, and regularly convenes departments across Government to ensure these important commitments are met.

Leo Docherty
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
29th Mar 2022
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps have been taken to bring together all service leaver and veteran life chances schemes in the civil service under the central management of Going Forward Into Employment.

The Going Forward into Employment (GFiE) Life Chance scheme provides opportunities for those who face barriers to employment, and who would struggle to compete on the basis of fair and open competition without further training and support. Through the use of an exception (2) in the Recruitment Principles 2018, we are able to use innovative approaches to recruit individuals on Fixed Term Appointments, which may lead to the option of being made permanent.

The Veterans scheme, launched by GFiE in 2019, provides all departments with the ability to employ Veterans or Military Partners & Spouses into real roles. In addition, a single departmental scheme (run out of HMRC) was developed to support Service Leavers and in December 2021, this was brought into the GFiE delivery model, allowing it to be delivered centrally, but more importantly, it has now been made available for all departments to utilise.

We continue to grow the scheme and do more, with the introduction of GFiE targets announced in the Office for Veteran Affairs Strategic Action Plan from April 2022. This will help provide an increasing number of Life Chance opportunities and help to make the Civil Service a great place to work for Veterans.

Leo Docherty
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
29th Mar 2022
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish all data his Department holds on the number of veterans working (a) in the NHS, (b) as prison officers and (c) as teachers.

Data on veterans’ employment is improving all the time but there is still more to do.

Data held by NHSE indicates that between Q1 19/20 and Q3 21/22,1,595 NHS job offers were made to applicants who have previously served in the Armed Forces, although it is unclear how many of those offers were accepted

Data from the Ministry of Justice indicates that between March 2017 and December 2021 there were 1,568 Prison Officers recorded as having previous service in the Armed Forces.

The Department for Education does not hold data on how many veterans are working as teachers.

Leo Docherty
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
22nd Mar 2022
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure veteran services are consistent across the UK; and if he will make an assessment of the potential for improvements in co-ordination between veteran services deliverers.

The Veterans' Strategy Action Plan 2022-24, launched in January 2022, outlines the actions the UK Government will take to support veterans and their families across the UK. Many services are devolved, but we work closely with the Devolved Administrations and service providers across the United Kingdom to learn from one another.

Veterans Commissioners exist in Scotland and Northern Ireland, as well as a newly appointed Veterans Commissioner for Wales, to represent the views of their veterans and signpost services in their nation. We have also appointed the Independent Veterans Adviser who reports directly to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

We will continue to engage and collaborate on delivery with local authorities, other statutory service providers, service charities, academia and private sector organisations - many of which have UK-wide reach. Moving forward, analysis of standardised census data on veterans will provide unprecedented insight into where our veterans live and allow us to better address their needs. In addition, the new Covenant duty, introduced as part of the Armed Forces Act 2021, will increase awareness of the Armed Forces Community and the Covenant at the local level, improving delivery in key areas of health, housing and education across the UK, and so provide greater consistency of support.

Leo Docherty
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
10th Feb 2022
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of the closure of the Veterans Mobility Fund on (a) veterans and (b) veterans charities.

The Veterans Mobility Fund was launched in 2016 with a five-year commitment of £3 million from LIBOR fines, to support veterans with Service-related serious physical injury. The Government is committed to ensuring there is no gap in provision for those who relied on the Mobility Fund. The NHS has a range of mobility equipment which meets the clinical needs experienced by veterans, which includes Personal Health Budgets for Wheelchairs.

Leo Docherty
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
31st Jan 2022
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment his Department has made of the success of the Civil Service Great Place to Work for Veterans Scheme Pilot.

During the early adopter phase, 3,126 applications were submitted by veterans through the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative. Of the applications, 1,063 were offered an interview, with 310 subsequent job offers. These numbers suggest the initiative has been successful in providing greater opportunities to veterans to pursue a career in the Civil Service. Feedback from Civil Service and Veterans’ organisations agreed the scheme helps break down negative perceptions of veterans within society and among employers.

Following the success of the early adopter phase, we are currently rolling the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative out across the Civil Service with all departments expected to have implemented the initiative by 31 March 2022.

Leo Docherty
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
31st Jan 2022
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many veterans applied using the civil service great place to work scheme over the nine month pilot; and how many of those applicants (a) received an interview, (b) were offered a job, (c) were placed on reserve lists and (d) went on to accept a role and begin work.

During the early adopter phase, 3,126 applications were submitted by veterans through the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative. Of the applications, 1,063 were offered an interview, with 310 subsequent job offers. These numbers suggest the initiative has been successful in providing greater opportunities to veterans to pursue a career in the Civil Service. Feedback from Civil Service and Veterans’ organisations agreed the scheme helps break down negative perceptions of veterans within society and among employers.

Following the success of the early adopter phase, we are currently rolling the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative out across the Civil Service with all departments expected to have implemented the initiative by 31 March 2022.

Leo Docherty
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
31st Jan 2022
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many veterans have been employed by the Civil Service in his Department in each year since 2010.

During the early adopter phase, Cabinet Office received 255 applications from veterans through the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative. Of the applications, 48 were offered an interview, with 10 subsequent job offers. These numbers suggest the initiative has been successful in providing greater opportunities to veterans to pursue a career in the Civil Service.

The number of veterans employed in the Cabinet Office since 2010 is not held.

Leo Docherty
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
31st Jan 2022
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many veterans applied to his Department using the civil service great place to work scheme over the nine month pilot; and how many of those applicants (a) received an interview, (b) were offered a job and (c) went on to accept a role and begin work.

During the early adopter phase, Cabinet Office received 255 applications from veterans through the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative. Of the applications, 48 were offered an interview, with 10 subsequent job offers. These numbers suggest the initiative has been successful in providing greater opportunities to veterans to pursue a career in the Civil Service.

The number of veterans employed in the Cabinet Office since 2010 is not held.

Leo Docherty
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
28th Jan 2022
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what budget will be allocated to the Office for Veterans Affairs for the financial year 2022-23.

The 2022-23 budget allocation for the Office for Veterans’ Affairs has not yet been confirmed as the Cabinet Office's business planning process is still ongoing.

Leo Docherty
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
27th Jan 2022
To ask the Prime Minister, With reference to the oral contribution of the Prime Minister of 19 November 2021, official report, column 577, when he plans to meet with the nuclear testing veterans.

We are grateful to all those who participated in the British nuclear testing programme which played a valuable role towards developing a nuclear deterrent that has ultimately kept Britain safe for decades. We take our obligations to our personnel extremely seriously and ministers are always open to discussing whether we can do more.

My Office is in discussions to arrange a mutually convenient time to meet representatives of the nuclear testing veterans.

13th Jan 2022
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many death certificates have recorded both covid-19 and underlying industrial disease since March 2020.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have, therefore, asked the Authority to respond.

13th Jan 2022
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department has taken steps to ensure that underlying industrial disease is recorded on the death certificates of former miners with respiratory conditions who die with covid-19.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have, therefore, asked the Authority to respond.

13th Dec 2021
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent progress his Department has made on developing new ways to measure loss of veteran lives through suicide.

The Office for Veterans’ Affairs has been working with the Office for National Statistics to further develop plans for a ten year retrospective study looking at suicides within the veteran community. We are working with the MoD to access the data required for this study, and this analysis will look at issues including the frequency of suicide within the veteran community since 2011 and how this rate has changed. This study is expected to be conducted with results published next year.

The Office for Veterans’ Affairs also continues to engage with the Office for National Statistics as analysis plans are put in place for the veterans data collected in the 2021 England and Wales census, which will be used to produce a measure of the number of veterans who take their own lives each year. It is expected that the first annual statistic on this will be published in 2023.

Leo Docherty
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
13th Dec 2021
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent progress his Department has made on its review of veteran deaths through suicide in the last ten years.

The Office for Veterans’ Affairs has been working with the Office for National Statistics to further develop plans for a ten year retrospective study looking at suicides within the veteran community. We are working with the MoD to access the data required for this study, and this analysis will look at issues including the frequency of suicide within the veteran community since 2011 and how this rate has changed. This study is expected to be conducted with results published next year.

The Office for Veterans’ Affairs also continues to engage with the Office for National Statistics as analysis plans are put in place for the veterans data collected in the 2021 England and Wales census, which will be used to produce a measure of the number of veterans who take their own lives each year. It is expected that the first annual statistic on this will be published in 2023.

Leo Docherty
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
10th Dec 2021
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many veterans were employed by the Civil Service in (a) February 2020 and (ii) November 2021.

I am committed to ensuring that veterans enter appropriate employment post service. The Great Place to Work for Veterans Scheme is an example of one of the initiatives we have brought in to support veteran employment. A successful trial phase ran in six departments for nine months.

1,524 veterans who applied through the scheme received an interview and 344 received a job offer.

Given this was just a trial phase rolled out in six early adopter departments, it is not appropriate to measure the proportion of jobs filled through the scheme across the whole Civil Service.

Leo Docherty
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
10th Dec 2021
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the announcement entitled Detail of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative published in October 2020, how many and what proportion of civil service vacancies were filled through this initiative in (a) January to March, (b) April to June and (c) July to September 2021.

I am committed to ensuring that veterans enter appropriate employment post service. The Great Place to Work for Veterans Scheme is an example of one of the initiatives we have brought in to support veteran employment. A successful trial phase ran in six departments for nine months.

1,524 veterans who applied through the scheme received an interview and 344 received a job offer.

Given this was just a trial phase rolled out in six early adopter departments, it is not appropriate to measure the proportion of jobs filled through the scheme across the whole Civil Service.

Leo Docherty
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
10th Dec 2021
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the number of veterans who have received (a) an interview and (b) a job through the Great Place to Work scheme.

I am committed to ensuring that veterans enter appropriate employment post service. The Great Place to Work for Veterans Scheme is an example of one of the initiatives we have brought in to support veteran employment. A successful trial phase ran in six departments for nine months.

1,524 veterans who applied through the scheme received an interview and 344 received a job offer.

Given this was just a trial phase rolled out in six early adopter departments, it is not appropriate to measure the proportion of jobs filled through the scheme across the whole Civil Service.

Leo Docherty
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
23rd Sep 2021
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he plans to take to help ensure that lessons are learnt from the handling of the covid-19 pandemic before the public inquiry into its handling, for the purposes of ensuring a stronger response in the event that the virus mutates in a dangerous way between autumn 2021 and spring 2022.

The Government has consistently adapted its response to COVID-19, including new variants, as more is learnt about the virus and how best to manage it.

The Government has developed a wide range of tools to: reduce the risk of new variants emerging; stop and slow importation of the most dangerous variants; identify new variants and outbreaks; and ensure there is an appropriate response if further outbreaks occur. This includes - but is not limited to - the enhancement of domestic sequencing capacity this year. Our domestic capacity is set to further increase over the coming months, enabling a higher number of PCR positive cases to undergo whole genome sequencing, which in turn improves our ability to detect any new variants.

The Government is committed to learning lessons from COVID-19 to inform our preparedness for future epidemics. The government fully expects that many of those lessons will come from the public inquiry which will begin its work in spring 2022.

23rd Sep 2021
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what progress he has made on (a) hiring staff, (b) finding offices and (c) sending advance requests for documents in preparation for the public inquiry into the handling of the covid-19 pandemic.

On 12 May, the Prime Minister confirmed that a public inquiry into COVID-19 would be established on a statutory basis, with full formal powers, and that it will begin its work in spring 2022.

Further details will be set out in due course.

23rd Sep 2021
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what progress he has made on defining the terms of reference in preparation for the public inquiry into the handling of the covid-19 pandemic.

On 12 May, the Prime Minister confirmed that a public inquiry into COVID-19 would be established on a statutory basis, with full formal powers, and that it will begin its work in spring 2022.

Further details will be set out in due course.

23rd Sep 2021
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent progress has been made on appointing a chair for the public inquiry into the Government's response to the covid-19 pandemic.

On 12 May, the Prime Minister confirmed that a public inquiry into COVID-19 would be established on a statutory basis, with full formal powers, and that it will begin its work in spring 2022.

Further details will be set out in due course.

23rd Sep 2021
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make it his policy to bring forward the public inquiry into the Government's response to the covid-19 pandemic to afford bereaved families the opportunity to have their concerns answered and come to terms with their losses.

On 12 May, the Prime Minister confirmed that a public inquiry into COVID-19 would be established on a statutory basis, with full formal powers, and that it will begin its work in spring 2022.

Further details will be set out in due course.

21st Jul 2021
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish the (a) minutes and (b) decisions of the meetings of the independent Military Advisory Sub-Committee.

The assessment of historic medals claims is a matter for the independent Advisory Military Sub-Committee (AMSC) whose terms of reference are publicly available on gov.uk.

The independent chair of the AMSC was appointed through open and fair competition via a public appointments process. The AMSC has a majority of independent members who were recruited for their working knowledge of HM Armed Forces; experience of public service; experience of assessment and decision-making. It is important that members of the Sub-Committee advising on the award of military honours have relevant knowledge and experience. Members are required to declare any conflicts of interest to the AMSC secretariat before any evidence is presented to the AMSC and prior to any discussion of a particular claim taking place.

The AMSC meets regularly to discuss cases. As an independent Sub-Committee, the AMSC may determine for itself which medals claims should be reviewed. I understand that the case for medallic recognition for Nuclear Test Veterans was considered at length by the Sub-Committee.

It is not possible to give specific timings on the duration required for the Sub-Committee to consider a case, as each claim will be different and each case is carefully considered. The details of cases must remain confidential until the decision-making process is final. To preserve the confidentiality of the honours process, the details of decisions are not published. The outcome of AMSC reviews are announced on gov.uk once the advice has been fully assessed, including (where appropriate) via the Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals to The Sovereign.

20th Jul 2021
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, why the communication of the decision not to award medals to nuclear test veterans was delayed for 8 months.

The assessment of historic medals claims is a matter for the independent Advisory Military Sub-Committee (AMSC) whose terms of reference are publicly available on gov.uk.

The independent chair of the AMSC was appointed through open and fair competition via a public appointments process. The AMSC has a majority of independent members who were recruited for their working knowledge of HM Armed Forces; experience of public service; experience of assessment and decision-making. It is important that members of the Sub-Committee advising on the award of military honours have relevant knowledge and experience. Members are required to declare any conflicts of interest to the AMSC secretariat before any evidence is presented to the AMSC and prior to any discussion of a particular claim taking place.

The AMSC meets regularly to discuss cases. As an independent Sub-Committee, the AMSC may determine for itself which medals claims should be reviewed. I understand that the case for medallic recognition for Nuclear Test Veterans was considered at length by the Sub-Committee.

It is not possible to give specific timings on the duration required for the Sub-Committee to consider a case, as each claim will be different and each case is carefully considered. The details of cases must remain confidential until the decision-making process is final. To preserve the confidentiality of the honours process, the details of decisions are not published. The outcome of AMSC reviews are announced on gov.uk once the advice has been fully assessed, including (where appropriate) via the Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals to The Sovereign.

20th Jul 2021
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether members of the independent Military Advisory Sub-Committee are required to declare any links they have with the Ministry of Defence while serving on that committee.

The assessment of historic medals claims is a matter for the independent Advisory Military Sub-Committee (AMSC) whose terms of reference are publicly available on gov.uk.

The independent chair of the AMSC was appointed through open and fair competition via a public appointments process. The AMSC has a majority of independent members who were recruited for their working knowledge of HM Armed Forces; experience of public service; experience of assessment and decision-making. It is important that members of the Sub-Committee advising on the award of military honours have relevant knowledge and experience. Members are required to declare any conflicts of interest to the AMSC secretariat before any evidence is presented to the AMSC and prior to any discussion of a particular claim taking place.

The AMSC meets regularly to discuss cases. As an independent Sub-Committee, the AMSC may determine for itself which medals claims should be reviewed. I understand that the case for medallic recognition for Nuclear Test Veterans was considered at length by the Sub-Committee.

It is not possible to give specific timings on the duration required for the Sub-Committee to consider a case, as each claim will be different and each case is carefully considered. The details of cases must remain confidential until the decision-making process is final. To preserve the confidentiality of the honours process, the details of decisions are not published. The outcome of AMSC reviews are announced on gov.uk once the advice has been fully assessed, including (where appropriate) via the Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals to The Sovereign.

20th Jul 2021
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish the recruitment processes for the appointment of the (a) Chair and (b) other appointments to the independent Military Advisory Sub-Committee.

The assessment of historic medals claims is a matter for the independent Advisory Military Sub-Committee (AMSC) whose terms of reference are publicly available on gov.uk.

The independent chair of the AMSC was appointed through open and fair competition via a public appointments process. The AMSC has a majority of independent members who were recruited for their working knowledge of HM Armed Forces; experience of public service; experience of assessment and decision-making. It is important that members of the Sub-Committee advising on the award of military honours have relevant knowledge and experience. Members are required to declare any conflicts of interest to the AMSC secretariat before any evidence is presented to the AMSC and prior to any discussion of a particular claim taking place.

The AMSC meets regularly to discuss cases. As an independent Sub-Committee, the AMSC may determine for itself which medals claims should be reviewed. I understand that the case for medallic recognition for Nuclear Test Veterans was considered at length by the Sub-Committee.

It is not possible to give specific timings on the duration required for the Sub-Committee to consider a case, as each claim will be different and each case is carefully considered. The details of cases must remain confidential until the decision-making process is final. To preserve the confidentiality of the honours process, the details of decisions are not published. The outcome of AMSC reviews are announced on gov.uk once the advice has been fully assessed, including (where appropriate) via the Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals to The Sovereign.

6th May 2020
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many death certificates refer to industrial disease in (a) each year since 2010, (b) March and April 2019, and (c) March and April 2020.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have therefore asked the Authority to respond. A copy of the UKSA response has been placed in the library of the House.

26th Feb 2020
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many members of staff will be allocated to work for the Office for Veterans' Affairs.

There are 8 members of staff working in the Office for Veterans’ Affairs with more staff, who have already been recruited, joining shortly. Plans to increase the Office for Veterans’ Affairs beyond its current size are in place with recruitment due to begin shortly. Future increases in the size of the Office will be determined by the capacity it needs to ensure the United Kingdom becomes the best place to be a veteran anywhere in the world. Beyond the Office for Veterans’ Affairs there are many Civil Servants across Government Departments working everyday to support this country’s veterans.

Johnny Mercer
Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Minister for Veterans' Affairs)
21st Feb 2020
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if the Government’s Strategy for Our Veterans will classify the very seriously injured as a priority group.

The Strategy for Our Veterans is inclusive of all veterans who access UK services, covering all experiences, conflicts and circumstances. As the Government works towards delivering the Strategy, it may be appropriate to provide certain cohorts of veterans with particular types of focused support to recognise their specific experiences or circumstances. As detailed within the Strategy for our Veterans UK Government Consultation Response, the Government already provides bespoke services to support the very seriously injured, such as the Integrated Personal Commissioning for Veterans (IPC4V) framework and benefit cap exemptions.

Johnny Mercer
Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Minister for Veterans' Affairs)
21st Feb 2020
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent progress his Department has made on the implementation of the Government’s Strategy for Our Veterans.

The Strategy for our Veterans sets out the Government’s ambition to make the UK the best place to be a veteran anywhere in the world. In January the Government published its first Action Plan to deliver this strategy following a UK-wide consultation on how to implement it.

This plan included the creation of the Office for Veterans’ Affairs, which this Government has already delivered, and that Office are responsible for overseeing the implementation of the Strategy. A number of the actions are already complete, such as the establishment of charity-facing posts within the Ministry of Defence and the recruitment of more Jobcentre Plus Armed Forces Champions, to help those who have left the military transition into employment. Progress is being made in all areas, with a number of other commitments due to be completed in the coming months; these include the publication of a factsheet drawing together key data on veterans, and shortly the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government will publish guidance for local authorities on allocating social housing for the Armed Forces community. In addition to the actions set out in the Strategy, we have already set out plans to introduce railcards for veterans and make it easier for veterans to get an interview for a job in the Civil Service.

Work on many of the other commitments in the consultation’s action plan is in full swing, and the Government looks forward to announcing further progress over the coming months.

Johnny Mercer
Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Minister for Veterans' Affairs)
1st Sep 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether her Department plans to take steps to expedite the visa process for UK models accepting roles in Europe on a tight deadline.

The Government recognises the importance of mobility for UK businesses, and regularly engages other European countries to address any bilateral mobility issues and to ensure the visa information they provide is clear. To help businesses navigate the visa and work permit rules of EU Member States, the Government has published guidance on GOV.UK on entry requirements, as well as for Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland. This includes a specific ‘landing page’ for the fashion sector.

Nigel Huddleston
Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
1st Sep 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps her Department is taking to support UK based fashion businesses to compete with businesses in the EU.

The Export Support Service (ESS) brings together information from across government, making it easier for exporters to find what they need in one place. The service also includes an Export Policy Hub which helps answer complex queries and analyse business intelligence to identify barriers to exporting and a Europe Market Access Centre, where local market experts in Europe will provide exporters with expertise.

Officials work closely with representatives from the textile and footwear sectors to understand how government can help businesses increase their UK manufacturing capabilities while increasing their exports.

Kevin Hollinrake
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
1st Sep 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to help the fashion industry secure skilled workers to employ.

The Government is increasing skills investment by a total over the Parliament of £3.8bn by 2024-25. Officials are working with stakeholders including the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) and UK fashion and Textiles association, to accelerate the talent pipeline, such as the Production Sewing Machinists Skills bootcamp in Greater Manchester.

Where employers cannot get the skills they need in the domestic labour market, it is appropriate that they make the most of the points-based immigration system to access talent from around the world, including the Skilled Worker Visa. We also consider other important routes to increasing employers' access to skills, including addressing non-skill barriers to work such as childcare.

Kevin Hollinrake
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
1st Sep 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps she is taking to ensure that businesses supplying the fashion industry have access to the same support across UK regions.

We engage with businesses across all sectors, including fashion, via a one-to-many approach through programmes like Export Academy, Export Champions, local events and trade missions.

The British Business Bank’s website hosts the online information platform, the Business Finance Hub, which helps raise awareness of appropriate finance options for SMEs in all sectors at all stages of their growth.

Additionally, Local Enterprise Partnership Growth Hubs can also be a source of free advice and finance.

Kevin Hollinrake
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
13th Jul 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what (a) algorithmic and (b) other automated decision making systems her Department uses; and for what purposes.

The Department uses a range of tools to aid decision making, including services built by our staff and externally procured software and tools. These tools include use of what is commonly referred to as artificial intelligence to generate insight from large and complex data. However, all final decisions are made by humans, using the insight generated from these tools. Individuals are made aware of the limitations of these tools which only form part of the decision-making process.

Nusrat Ghani
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) (jointly with the Cabinet Office)
20th Jul 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department has made an assessment of potential regional disparities in fuel prices; and if he will make a statement.

The Competition and Markets Authority’s road fuel market study found that with the exception of Northern Ireland, differences in average prices between the regions of the UK are relatively small but there was much wider variation within the rural and urban categories than between them.

These differences can be driven by lower competition at a local level, as well as differences in rent and staff costs. In addition, forecourts selling smaller volumes may require a higher price per litre to cover their costs.

The Government will consult on a statutory open data scheme and an ongoing road fuels monitoring function which should help to reduce regional price disparities.

Amanda Solloway
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
13th Jul 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what (a) algorithmic and (b) other automated decision making systems his Department uses; and for what purposes.

The Department’s Analysts use machine learning techniques where appropriate as part of analytical support to policy development. However, there is no use of such algorithms for automated decision making.

Graham Stuart
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
20th Jun 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to the oral contribution of the Minister for Data and Digital Infrastructure of 14 June 2023 at Topical Questions, T7, Official Report, column 286, what plans his Department has to (a) utilise the provisions in Part 3 of the Data Protection and Digital Information (No. 2) Bill and (b) use smart data in new sectors.

The UK energy system is increasing in complexity, with increasing intermittent generation and consumers engaged with their energy use. In the Energy Digitalisation Strategy (2021), the Government states that data sharing and digitalisation will be crucial to managing this complexity

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero is a member of the Smart Data Council, which aims to drive appropriate data sharing and best practice, and inform the evolution of Smart Data policy. The Government will work across relevant Departments and regulators to identify relevant opportunities in the energy sector.

Andrew Bowie
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
22nd May 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether it is his Department's policy that recipients of the National Concessionary Fuel Scheme will receive a reduction in their allowance under that Scheme if they change their fuel source from home coal to (a) gas or (b) electricity.

Concessionary fuel entitlements are governed by historic agreements negotiated between the employer(s) and mining unions prior to the Government assuming responsibility for the liability.

Cash amounts are dependent on several factors, including the scheme the concessionaire belongs to and whether the entitlement arises from being a management or clerical grade.

Before switching from a solid fuel entitlement to cash-in-lieu, concessionaires should contact the National Concessionary Fuel Office which will advise them on the level of entitlement that applies to their individual circumstances.

Graham Stuart
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
29th Mar 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate he has made of the number of people will no longer receive the Warm Homes Discount as a result of changes in the eligibility criteria for 2023.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Bradford South on 9 March 2023 to Question 156174.

Amanda Solloway
Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury
14th Jul 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether her Department is taking steps to require online distributors to inform consumers of the minimum length of time a smart product sold via their website will receive security updates.

When the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act’s product security regime comes into effect, manufacturers will be required to publish the minimum period of time the product will receive security updates for (the “defined support period”), including in a ‘statement of compliance’ that accompanies the product. This will be required if they are aware or ought to be aware that their product will be made available to UK consumers, including via online spaces.

The Government does not currently plan to make it mandatory for the distributors of these products to publicise the defined support period available, however we do encourage distributors to take this action voluntarily. If the manufacturer fails to publish the defined support period, the enforcement authority can issue notices demanding that the manufacturer, importer or distributor stop selling the product. They can also seize products from any person in the supply chain and recall them from end users.

We will be monitoring the effectiveness of the product security regime when it comes into effect. If evidence emerges suggesting further action to ensure the availability of the defined support period at points of purchase would be appropriate, the PSTI product security regime empowers Ministers to take such action.

13th Jul 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what (a) algorithmic and (b) other automated decision making systems her Department uses; and for what purposes.

The Department does not currently use algorithmic and other automated decision-making systems as the primary source of judgement in its processes. It is working to use technologies such as automation and AI innovatively to improve outcomes and efficiency.

Government’s Roadmap to a Digital Future includes digital transformation in Government by “automating manual processes” in order to drive greater efficiency and deliver maximum value for the taxpayer.

The Department's Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation, in collaboration with the Cabinet Office's Central Digital and Data Office, has established the UK's Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standard. This helps public sector organisations provide clear information about the algorithmic tools they use, and why they’re using them.

5th Jul 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the evidence of the Information Commissioner to the EU Parliament Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs on 23 May, whether her Department has had recent discussions with the European Commission on the potential impact of the Data Protection and Information (no. 2) Bill on data adequacy.

We maintain an ongoing dialogue with the European Commission and have a positive, constructive relationship. We are engaging with the European Commission on our proposals in the Data Protection and Digital Information (no.2) Bill.

As we have set out in our National Data Strategy, we are committed to championing the international flow of data. As part of this, we will continue to engage with the EU, both at official and Ministerial levels, with a view to ensuring our reciprocal arrangements for free flow of personal data can remain in place on an ongoing basis.

John Whittingdale
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
13th Jun 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions her Department has had with relevant industry stakeholders on the public switched telephone network switch off.

The Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) is a privately-owned telecommunications network. Communications providers are in the process of upgrading the old PSTN to new Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology. Consumers can expect to be upgraded by 2025. The migration is industry-led and does not result from any government decision or form part of any government programme.

Ofcom is responsible for ensuring telecoms providers adhere to their regulatory obligations throughout the migration process, such as ensuring uninterrupted access to the emergency services and protecting vulnerable consumers. Ofcom has published guidance which states that providers must take steps to identify and protect at-risk consumers who are dependent on their landline. Providers have a range of solutions to ensure vulnerable consumers receive additional support. These options include, among others, free battery back-up units to engineer supported installations or hybrid landline phones.

We are working together with Ofcom to ensure customers receive appropriate levels of communication and vulnerable consumers are protected. Ofcom requires that providers must engage in effective communications. In January 2023, we published a webpage on GOV.UK to provide information to consumers about the PSTN migration.

As this is an industry-led migration, Communications Providers will contact their customers with information ahead of their line being upgraded. The exact migration process will depend on the provider and the type of equipment the customer has at their premises.

The Department meets regularly with Communications Providers to discuss the progress they have made in migrating their customers, and to ensure they have adequate plans in place to inform their customers and protect vulnerable consumers. This includes, but is not limited to, quarterly progress meetings with individual providers, quarterly meetings with Communications Providers and all government departments, and quarterly meetings with Ofcom. The Minister for Media, Data and Digital Infrastructure also convened a roundtable with the largest providers in January 2023 to discuss their communications plans.

John Whittingdale
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
13th Jun 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether her Department plan to publicise the public switched telephone network switch off.

The Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) is a privately-owned telecommunications network. Communications providers are in the process of upgrading the old PSTN to new Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology. Consumers can expect to be upgraded by 2025. The migration is industry-led and does not result from any government decision or form part of any government programme.

Ofcom is responsible for ensuring telecoms providers adhere to their regulatory obligations throughout the migration process, such as ensuring uninterrupted access to the emergency services and protecting vulnerable consumers. Ofcom has published guidance which states that providers must take steps to identify and protect at-risk consumers who are dependent on their landline. Providers have a range of solutions to ensure vulnerable consumers receive additional support. These options include, among others, free battery back-up units to engineer supported installations or hybrid landline phones.

We are working together with Ofcom to ensure customers receive appropriate levels of communication and vulnerable consumers are protected. Ofcom requires that providers must engage in effective communications. In January 2023, we published a webpage on GOV.UK to provide information to consumers about the PSTN migration.

As this is an industry-led migration, Communications Providers will contact their customers with information ahead of their line being upgraded. The exact migration process will depend on the provider and the type of equipment the customer has at their premises.

The Department meets regularly with Communications Providers to discuss the progress they have made in migrating their customers, and to ensure they have adequate plans in place to inform their customers and protect vulnerable consumers. This includes, but is not limited to, quarterly progress meetings with individual providers, quarterly meetings with Communications Providers and all government departments, and quarterly meetings with Ofcom. The Minister for Media, Data and Digital Infrastructure also convened a roundtable with the largest providers in January 2023 to discuss their communications plans.

John Whittingdale
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
13th Jun 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that vulnerable customers are not negatively impacted by the public switched telephone network switch off.

The Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) is a privately-owned telecommunications network. Communications providers are in the process of upgrading the old PSTN to new Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology. Consumers can expect to be upgraded by 2025. The migration is industry-led and does not result from any government decision or form part of any government programme.

Ofcom is responsible for ensuring telecoms providers adhere to their regulatory obligations throughout the migration process, such as ensuring uninterrupted access to the emergency services and protecting vulnerable consumers. Ofcom has published guidance which states that providers must take steps to identify and protect at-risk consumers who are dependent on their landline. Providers have a range of solutions to ensure vulnerable consumers receive additional support. These options include, among others, free battery back-up units to engineer supported installations or hybrid landline phones.

We are working together with Ofcom to ensure customers receive appropriate levels of communication and vulnerable consumers are protected. Ofcom requires that providers must engage in effective communications. In January 2023, we published a webpage on GOV.UK to provide information to consumers about the PSTN migration.

As this is an industry-led migration, Communications Providers will contact their customers with information ahead of their line being upgraded. The exact migration process will depend on the provider and the type of equipment the customer has at their premises.

The Department meets regularly with Communications Providers to discuss the progress they have made in migrating their customers, and to ensure they have adequate plans in place to inform their customers and protect vulnerable consumers. This includes, but is not limited to, quarterly progress meetings with individual providers, quarterly meetings with Communications Providers and all government departments, and quarterly meetings with Ofcom. The Minister for Media, Data and Digital Infrastructure also convened a roundtable with the largest providers in January 2023 to discuss their communications plans.

John Whittingdale
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
13th Jun 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of her Department's progress towards the 2025 target for the public switched telephone network switch-over; and what steps her Department is taking to ensure that this target is reached.

The Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) is a privately-owned telecommunications network. Communications providers are in the process of upgrading the old PSTN to new Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology. Consumers can expect to be upgraded by 2025. The migration is industry-led and does not result from any government decision or form part of any government programme.

Ofcom is responsible for ensuring telecoms providers adhere to their regulatory obligations throughout the migration process, such as ensuring uninterrupted access to the emergency services and protecting vulnerable consumers. Ofcom has published guidance which states that providers must take steps to identify and protect at-risk consumers who are dependent on their landline. Providers have a range of solutions to ensure vulnerable consumers receive additional support. These options include, among others, free battery back-up units to engineer supported installations or hybrid landline phones.

We are working together with Ofcom to ensure customers receive appropriate levels of communication and vulnerable consumers are protected. Ofcom requires that providers must engage in effective communications. In January 2023, we published a webpage on GOV.UK to provide information to consumers about the PSTN migration.

As this is an industry-led migration, Communications Providers will contact their customers with information ahead of their line being upgraded. The exact migration process will depend on the provider and the type of equipment the customer has at their premises.

The Department meets regularly with Communications Providers to discuss the progress they have made in migrating their customers, and to ensure they have adequate plans in place to inform their customers and protect vulnerable consumers. This includes, but is not limited to, quarterly progress meetings with individual providers, quarterly meetings with Communications Providers and all government departments, and quarterly meetings with Ofcom. The Minister for Media, Data and Digital Infrastructure also convened a roundtable with the largest providers in January 2023 to discuss their communications plans.

John Whittingdale
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
22nd May 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the oral contribution of the Minister for Data and Digital Infrastructure at the public bill committee for the Data Protection and Digital Information (No. 2) Bill, Official Report, column 148, how relevant stakeholders can make contributions on clause 13 for the Minister's consideration.

There were over 3,000 responses from stakeholders to our consultation, “Data: A New Direction”. We continue to engage with stakeholders about these reforms, including through our business advisory group and in dedicated meetings with interested organisations. I encourage stakeholders to write to me, as the Minister for Data and Digital Infrastructure, if they would like to share further views.

John Whittingdale
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
2nd Mar 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to help improve the cyber security of (a) CCTV doorbells and (b) other relevant connectable or IoT products.

The government is committed to ensuring that the benefits that connectable technologies offer to individuals and the economy, are not at the expense of consumer security. The Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act, which received Royal Assent in December 2022, will ensure that security requirements are met for consumer connectable products, including smart doorbells, sold to UK customers.

Regulations will be made shortly to implement the new Act, making the UK market the first in the world to benefit from these new protections. Manufacturers of consumer connectable products sold to UK consumers will be required to stop using universal default and easily-guessable default passwords. Regulations will also require these manufacturers to publish a vulnerability disclosure policy on how security issues affecting their products can be reported to them, as well as information on the minimum length of time for which the manufacturer will provide security updates covering the product.

2nd Mar 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether her Department plans to lay regulations to set a time limit for provision of security updates for (a) CCTV doorbells and (b) other connectable or IoT products.

The government is committed to ensuring that the benefits that connectable technologies offer to individuals and the economy, are not at the expense of consumer security. The Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act, which received Royal Assent in December 2022, will ensure that security requirements are met for consumer connectable products, including smart doorbells, sold to UK customers.

Regulations will be made shortly to implement the new Act, making the UK market the first in the world to benefit from these new protections. Manufacturers of consumer connectable products sold to UK consumers will be required to stop using universal default and easily-guessable default passwords. Regulations will also require these manufacturers to publish a vulnerability disclosure policy on how security issues affecting their products can be reported to them, as well as information on the minimum length of time for which the manufacturer will provide security updates covering the product.

2nd Mar 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he has a timetable for the introduction of legislative provisions which require CCTV Doorbells and relevant connectable or IoT products to have a vulnerability disclosure policy.

The government is committed to ensuring that the benefits that connectable technologies offer to individuals and the economy, are not at the expense of consumer security. The Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act, which received Royal Assent in December 2022, will ensure that security requirements are met for consumer connectable products, including smart doorbells, sold to UK customers.

Regulations will be made shortly to implement the new Act, making the UK market the first in the world to benefit from these new protections. Manufacturers of consumer connectable products sold to UK consumers will be required to stop using universal default and easily-guessable default passwords. Regulations will also require these manufacturers to publish a vulnerability disclosure policy on how security issues affecting their products can be reported to them, as well as information on the minimum length of time for which the manufacturer will provide security updates covering the product.

2nd Mar 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether he has a timetable for the introduction of legislative provisions on banning default passwords on CCTV doorbells and other relevant connectable or IoT products.

The government is committed to ensuring that the benefits that connectable technologies offer to individuals and the economy, are not at the expense of consumer security. The Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act, which received Royal Assent in December 2022, will ensure that security requirements are met for consumer connectable products, including smart doorbells, sold to UK customers.

Regulations will be made shortly to implement the new Act, making the UK market the first in the world to benefit from these new protections. Manufacturers of consumer connectable products sold to UK consumers will be required to stop using universal default and easily-guessable default passwords. Regulations will also require these manufacturers to publish a vulnerability disclosure policy on how security issues affecting their products can be reported to them, as well as information on the minimum length of time for which the manufacturer will provide security updates covering the product.

2nd Mar 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference the Statement of Strategic Priorities for telecommunications, the management of radio spectrum, and postal services, published in July 2019, if she will make an assessment of compatibility of Ofcom’s intention to allow volume-based pricing discounts in the fixed line market with that Statement.

Through the 2019 Statement of Strategic Priorities (SSP), the Government gave Ofcom a strategic priority to incentivise market competition. Ofcom must have regard to this SSP when taking regulatory decisions and has introduced a number of pro-competition measures both in its 2021 Wholesale Fixed Telecoms Market Review (WFTMR) and beyond. We meet regularly with Ofcom at all levels to monitor how the regulator delivers on its strategic priorities.

In relation to volume-based pricing discounts, the remedies set out by Ofcom in the WFTMR for downstream markets promote competition and investment in gigabit-capable networks. In all areas, Ofcom prohibits Openreach from using wholesale pricing structures to deter new network build by competing network operators by prohibiting certain geographic discounts and providing transparency of other commercial terms that may distort competition.

Given Ofcom’s statutory independence, it would otherwise not be appropriate for the Government to comment on its regulatory decisions, which are taken independent of the government.

Julia Lopez
Minister on Leave (Minister of State)
2nd Mar 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure effective competition in the fixed telecommunications infrastructure sector.

Increasing competition in the fixed telecoms market is integral to the Government’s strategy to deliver nationwide coverage of gigabit-capable broadband. Competition keeps prices low and standards high for consumers, whilst encouraging companies to build quickly. Through the 2018 Future Telecoms Infrastructure Review (FTIR) and the 2019 Statement of Strategic Priorities (SSP), we brought forward substantive proposals to make it easier for new firms to enter the market and compete with the incumbent provider, such as granting competitors access to Openreach’s national network of ducts and poles. The SSP gives Ofcom a strategic priority to incentivise market competition.

Ofcom must have regard to this SSP when taking regulatory decisions and has introduced a number of pro-competition measures both in its 2021 Wholesale Fixed Telecoms Market Review (WFTMR) and beyond. These measures include introducing the ‘fair bet’ principle to ensure firms have the opportunity to make higher returns when a risky investment is successful, and the introduction of ‘One Touch Switching’ to make it easier for consumers to switch broadband providers.

As a result of our pro-competition policies, there is now a thriving market of over 80 providers investing nearly £35bn rolling out gigabit broadband all over the UK. 74% of premises can access gigabit-capable networks, up from just one in ten in November 2019.

Julia Lopez
Minister on Leave (Minister of State)
2nd Mar 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the number of network providers needed for effective competition in the fixed telecommunications infrastructure sector.

As a result of our pro-competition policies, there is now a thriving market of over 80 providers investing nearly £35bn rolling out gigabit broadband all over the UK. Whilst we are in favour of sustainable long term competition, the Government does not have a view on the specific number of providers we would like to see. In the Future Telecoms Infrastructure Review, published in 2018, we estimated that at least a third of UK premises are likely to be able to support three or more competing gigabit-capable networks, with up to half likely to be able to support competition between two gigabit-capable networks.

Julia Lopez
Minister on Leave (Minister of State)
13th Dec 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the £200 Alternative Fuel Payment, when his Department will issue guidance to energy companies on administering the payment.

The Alternative Fuel Payment of £200 will provide support for those in properties using fuels such as heating oil, liquified petroleum gas, coal or biomass for heating. Officials are working very closely with energy companies on its implementation, which will include issuing formal written guidance to them very soon.

Graham Stuart
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
13th Dec 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with regards to the £200 Alternative Fuel Payment, when will it be administered.

The vast majority of Alternative Fuel Payments eligible households in Great Britain will receive payment automatically via their electricity supplier with no need to take any action. There will be a small number of customers who are unable to receive the funding automatically, for instance households without a direct relationship with an electricity supplier, and the Government will ensure there is a route for those households to apply for and receive the £200 support. This support will be delivered in Great Britain as soon as possible after 1st February.

The Government has decided to pay the Alternative Fuel Payment to all households in Northern Ireland. This will make sure households in Northern Ireland receive their Alternative Fuel Payment this winter. Suppliers will be able to begin payments in Northern Ireland from the beginning of January.

Graham Stuart
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
13th Dec 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the £200 Alternative Fuel Payment, what method the Department is using to (a) identify eligible households and (b) ensure the payment is administered to all those who need it.

The Government has confirmed that the Alternative Fuel Payment will be made to all households in Northern Ireland. In Great Britain, the Government is working to identify the best route to ensure the payment reaches households who use alternative fuels.

The vast majority of Alternative Fuel Payment eligible households throughout the UK will receive payment through their electricity supplier with no need to take any action. There will be a small number of customers who are unable to receive the funding automatically, for instance households without a direct relationship with an electricity supplier, and the Government will ensure there is a route for those households to apply for and receive the £200 support. This support will be delivered as soon as possible this year.

Graham Stuart
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
13th Oct 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what support his Department provides to energy customers who receive incorrect bills due to faulty readings caused by signal loss on an in-home energy smart meter.

The vast majority of smart meters in homes and small businesses across Great Britain are operating as intended, with consumers benefitting from automatic, remote meter readings and near-real time cost and usage information via their In-Home Display. The Government does not hold separate data on the number of households experiencing problems with their In-Home Display.

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy works closely with Ofgem to monitor suppliers' performance and share good practice to drive operational improvements.

Energy suppliers are required by licence conditions to take all reasonable steps to ensure their customers’ smart meters are functional. Ofgem is responsible for regulating energy suppliers against their licence obligations, and has a range of enforcement tools at its disposal.

Graham Stuart
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
13th Oct 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he has made an estimate of the number of energy customers experiencing problems with signal to their in-home energy smart meters.

The vast majority of smart meters in homes and small businesses across Great Britain are operating as intended, with consumers benefitting from automatic, remote meter readings and near-real time cost and usage information via their In-Home Display. The Government does not hold separate data on the number of households experiencing problems with their In-Home Display.

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy works closely with Ofgem to monitor suppliers' performance and share good practice to drive operational improvements.

Energy suppliers are required by licence conditions to take all reasonable steps to ensure their customers’ smart meters are functional. Ofgem is responsible for regulating energy suppliers against their licence obligations, and has a range of enforcement tools at its disposal.

Graham Stuart
Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
28th Jan 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to establish an appropriate compensation scheme for the 555 subpostmasters involved in the Group Litigation Order.

The 555 subposmasters involved in the Group Litigation Order (GLO) agreed a settlement of £42.75m plus costs. In bringing this case they performed a public service; I understand their frustration that they have received less compensation than others. My officials have recently met their representatives to understand the harms which they have experienced.

14th Dec 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many miners were recipients of the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme in November 2021.

As of November 2021, there are 127,876 Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme members, of whom 118,154 are in receipt of their pension.

Greg Hands
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
14th Dec 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many miners were recipients of the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme in (a) May 2020, (b) November 2020 and (c) May 2021.

In May 2020, there were 136,886 Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme members of whom 125,355 were in receipt of pension. Equivalent numbers in November 2020 were 134,391 and 123,516 and in May 2021, 131,534 and 121,262.

Greg Hands
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
23rd Sep 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate he has made of the (a) number and (b) proportion of households in Barnsley that will experience fuel poverty after the energy price cap raise has been enforced.

Under the Low Income Low Energy Efficiency fuel poverty metric, approximately 20,000 (18.6%) of households in the Barnsley Local Authority area are fuel poor, according to the latest data from 2019.

In order to tackle fuel poverty, the Government have committed £1.3 billion to improving the efficiency of fuel-poor and other low-income homes through stimulus schemes such as the Local Authority Delivery Scheme, the Social Housing Decarbonisation fund and the Home Upgrade Grant. The energy price cap is set by Ofgem, the independent energy regulator.

Greg Hands
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
23rd Sep 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate he has made of the (a) number and (b) proportion of households in England that will experience fuel poverty after the energy price cap raise has been enforced.

The Government is committed to ensuring fair energy prices for consumers. We therefore introduced the energy price cap in 2019, which saves 15 million households on default tariffs up to £100 a year on average.

Alongside this support, eligible low income and vulnerable households will have access to energy bill support through the Warm Home Discount, Winter Fuel Payment and Cold Weather Payment. Energy efficiency schemes are also available, including the Energy Company Obligation, the Local Authority Delivery scheme and the Home Upgrade Grant.

Greg Hands
Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
12th Apr 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to support businesses to become carbon neutral.

Achieving our net zero goal requires all businesses to take action. My Rt. Hon. Friend the Prime Minister has set out his Ten Point Plan for the UK to lead the world into a Green Industrial Revolution. This innovative programme sets out ambitious policies and £12 billion government investment to support up to 250,000 green jobs. It will accelerate our path to reaching net zero by 2050, and could unlock three times as much private sector investment by 2030.

The Prime Minister has also appointed my Hon. Friend the Member for Arundel and South Downs as the UK’s Net Zero Business Champion ahead of COP26. My Hon. Friend’s role is to encourage UK business to sign up to climate action via the Race to Zero science-based targets initiative, to champion the actions that UK businesses are already taking and to help UK businesses exploit the many opportunities of the transition to a low carbon economy.

As a result of my Hon. Friend’s campaign, 30 of the UK’s FTSE 100 companies have signed up to Race to Zero, and he is about to launch a national small business mass mobilisation campaign.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
12th Apr 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to support businesses to switch to renewable energy sources for their power supply.

The Government is working with stakeholders to drive the ambitious action needed from UK businesses to help tackle climate change and reduce their impact on the environment.

Significant financial savings are available to businesses taking steps to improve their energy efficiency and decarbonise to achieve Net Zero. We are working to encourage as many UK businesses to pledge to join the Race to Zero campaign and set climate targets. The UK’s Net Zero Business Champion, my Hon. Friend the Member for Arundel and South Downs, will also be launching a small and micro business campaign ahead of COP26, which is aimed at mass mobilising local businesses and getting as many as possible to sign up to the Race to Zero via a new UK landing page on the SME Climate Hub.

Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting Regulations (SECR) came into force on 1 April 2019 and have been introduced to simplify requirements for businesses to report on their energy use and carbon emissions. This provides greater levels of transparency, helping to stimulate demand for low carbon energy supplies.

We are supporting small-scale renewable electricity through the Smart Export Guarantee scheme (SEG). The SEG provides small-scale renewable generators the right to be paid for the excess energy they export to the grid.

The Clean Heat Grant (CHG) will be targeted at households and small non-domestic buildings, to enable the installation of heat pumps and, in limited circumstances, biomass, to provide space and water heating.

The Green Gas Support Scheme (GGSS) will follow on from support for biomethane under the Non-Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive, which is due to close to new applicants on 31 March 2021. The GGSS will provide tariff support for biomethane produced via anaerobic digestion. It will launch in autumn 2021 and will be open to applicants for four years.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
9th Nov 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment his Department has made of the effect on pubs, clubs and breweries of the ban on off sales during the November 2020 covid-19 lockdown in England.

During the new national restrictions in place from 5 November, hospitality venues are permitted to sell alcohol through delivery or via click and collect where remote ordering has been utilised. Off licenses and licensed shops selling alcohol, including breweries, are permitted to remain open.

9th Nov 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps the Government is taking to support pubs, clubs and breweries affected by the November 2020 covid-19 lockdown in England.

The Government is providing an unprecedented package of support for hospitality businesses including an extension of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme until 31 March 2021 and grants of up to £3000 per month in addition to loans, business rate holidays and VAT cuts.

3rd Nov 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether the areas that were allocated additional financial support in response to going into the Tier 3 local covid alert level will still receive those funds.

Yes. We set out in guidance to local authorities on 3rd November what additional support will be available to make grants to business. This covers both during the period of national restrictions and for the prior period where some areas were in High and Very High Local Covid Alert Levels.

Where local authority areas were previously in Local Covid Alert Level 3 (Very High) they may have accessed additional enhanced business support settlements. These settlements are now part of the Additional Restrictions Grant and they will still receive the agreed funding.

12th Oct 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how much is held in the investment reserve funds for the Mineworkers' Pension Scheme.

As at 30 September 2020, the Investment Reserve stood at £1,216m.

12th Oct 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate he has made of how much the Government will receive from the Mineworkers' Pension Scheme in the financial year (a) 2018-19, (b) 2019-20 and (c) 2020-21.

In 2018-19, the Government received £142.4m as its share of surplus and £475m from the Investment Reserve. In each of 2019-20 and 2020-21, the Government received £142.4m as its share of surplus. The presence of the Guarantee has given the Trustees the freedom to invest in a way that targets surpluses and, as a consequence, bonuses to members. Bonuses paid to date mean that the typical member’s pension today is around 33% higher in real terms than it would otherwise have been.

12th Oct 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to the Answer of 3 November 2016 to Question 51063 on the Mineworkers' Pension Scheme, whether the Government has made any direct payments to the Mineworkers' Pension Scheme under the guarantee arrangements since November 2016.

No such payments have been made.

5th Oct 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how much the Government has received from its share of the surplus from the Mineworkers' Pension Scheme since the surplus-sharing arrangement was agreed.

Since the agreement was reached in 1994, the Government has received £3,111.8m as its share of surpluses. This is in return for the provision of the guarantee that ensures pensions are paid. The guarantee has enabled an investment strategy that has resulted in scheme members receiving payments 33% higher than they would have been if they received only their actual earned pension up to privatisation.

22nd Apr 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy how many loans have been granted to fishing and aquaculture companies under the Government's Coronavirus Business Interruption Loans Scheme.

As of 22 April, over £2.8bn worth of loans have been issued under the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme across all sectors, to over 16,600 businesses. At this time we cannot provide a breakdown of funding by sector, as we have given lenders a temporary dispensation from uploading their data to the British Business Bank’s system in order to let them focus on issuing new loans. This is a pragmatic step that reflects the urgency of getting loans issued. We are working with the British Business Bank, HM Treasury and lenders on regular and transparent data publication going forward.

22nd Apr 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy how many fishing and aquaculture businesses have applied to the (a) Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme and (b) Coronavirus Jobs Retention Scheme in England.

As of 22 April, over £2.8bn worth of loans have been issued under the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme across all sectors, to over 16,600 businesses. At this time we cannot provide a breakdown of funding by sector, as we have given lenders a temporary dispensation from uploading their data to the British Business Bank’s system in order to let them focus on issuing new loans. This is a pragmatic step that reflects the urgency of getting loans issued. We are working with the British Business Bank, HM Treasury and lenders on regular and transparent data publication going forward.

Applications for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) opened on Monday 20th April. As of Thursday 23rd April HMRC had received about 512,000 claims with a total value of about £4.5bn. This is a new scheme and HMRC are currently working through the analysis they will be able to provide based on the data available. HMRC will make the timescales for publication and the types of data available in due course.

18th Mar 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of providing additional paid family leave to help working parents cope with school closures.

The Government is committed to supporting individuals through this difficult time, that is why the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced a substantial package of measures to support businesses and individuals as part of the national effort in response to coronavirus.

Employees are entitled to time off to deal with an emergency involving a dependent, This would apply to situations related to coronavirus (COVID-19), including if they have children they need to look after or arrange childcare for because their school has closed. We encourage employers to support parents who choose to take leave, and those who choose to work flexibly. Parents’ employment rights are protected whilst taking existing leave entitlements or sick pay.

24th Jan 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the timeframe is for the implementation of the long-term protection of pension bonuses for members for the Mineworkers' Pensions Scheme.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent on 15 January 2020 to Question 1709.

20th Oct 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she is taking steps with (a) Swim England and (b) British Swimming to help ensure that Para S15 swimmers (i) are able to access (A) support and (B) funding and (ii) receive acknowledgement when competing in international championships.

The Government is committed to championing disability sport at the highest levels, with continued support for Paralympic sports through UK Sport funding.

The UK Government currently provides support to elite athletes through funding our Arm’s Length Body, UK Sport. UK Sport in turn uses this funding to support athletes with potential to achieve success in Olympic and Paralympic sports.

Sport England have also agreed to work with UK Deaf Sport to help to identify a small number of governing bodies that, on a trial basis, will have their talent pathways supported to be as inclusive to D/deaf athletes as possible. This work with Sport England will help open up opportunities at all levels for D/deaf people.

Stuart Andrew
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
20th Oct 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with the Leader of the House on establishing an independent football regulator.

On 23 February 2023, the Government published its ‘A Sustainable Future: Reforming Club Football Governance’ White Paper on reforms to football governance, committing to legislate for a statutory regulator for English football. This followed the Government’s Response, published in April 2022, to the independent Fan-Led Review of Football Governance.

The Government subsequently undertook a targeted consultation period, including inviting comments from all 116 football clubs in the top five tiers of English football; the relevant leagues and existing footballing bodies; fan groups; legal experts; industry experts; leading academics; and civil society organisations. The Government Response was published on 7 September 2023.

Stuart Andrew
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
20th Oct 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department plans to introduce a shadow non-statutory independent football regulator.

We are actively exploring the extent to which preparatory work can be done ahead of the Regulator being established in law, which could take the form of a shadow non-statutory body. This is being considered and a decision will be confirmed in due course.

Stuart Andrew
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
20th Oct 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to reduce barriers to entry for young deaf people in (a) sport and (b) other activities.

The government recognises that there are significant benefits to participation in sport and physical activity for disabled people, including D/deaf people at both the grassroots and elite levels.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport arms length body, Sport England, has committed £1.2 million between 2022 and 2027 to boost deaf sport at the grassroots level, build wider participation, and develop strong governance within UK Deaf Sport.

Sport England have also agreed to work with UK Deaf Sport to help to identify a small number of governing bodies that, on a trial basis, will have their talent pathways supported to be as inclusive to D/deaf athletes as possible. This work with Sport England will help open up opportunities at all levels for D/deaf people.

Stuart Andrew
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
20th Oct 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to promote the inclusion of deaf people in sport.

The government recognises that there are significant benefits to participation in sport and physical activity for disabled people, including D/deaf people at both the grassroots and elite levels.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport arms length body, Sport England, has committed £1.2 million between 2022 and 2027 to boost deaf sport at the grassroots level, build wider participation, and develop strong governance within UK Deaf Sport.

Sport England have also agreed to work with UK Deaf Sport to help to identify a small number of governing bodies that, on a trial basis, will have their talent pathways supported to be as inclusive to D/deaf athletes as possible. This work with Sport England will help open up opportunities at all levels for D/deaf people.

Stuart Andrew
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
18th Oct 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the policy paper entitled A sustainable future - reforming club football governance, published on 23 February 2023, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of requiring fans to be given a golden share as a condition of the football club licensing process.

The football governance white paper set out how we will put fans back at the heart of football.

The Independent Football Regulator will introduce strong new legal protections to safeguard the heritage of clubs and ensure fans’ voices are heard. Clubs will not be able to make changes to their badge or home shirt colours without explicit fan approval. The Government has worked with the FA to ensure these protections are in place now, and the Regulator will act as a statutory backstop to ensure this cannot change.

The Regulator must approve any proposal to move or sell the stadium, and must consider the views of fans and impact on club heritage where a relocation is sought. Clubs can only participate in competitions which are approved by the Regulator against a set of published criteria. This will prevent English clubs from joining unapproved breakaway leagues such as the European Super League.

This will provide fans with irreversible, strong legal protections to prevent damage to the most important aspects of their clubs.

The Government is committed to delivering on the Football Governance White Paper and will legislate where parliamentary time allows.

Stuart Andrew
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
18th Oct 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has had recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on the prevalence of degenerative brain conditions in former rugby union players.

The safety, wellbeing, and welfare of everyone taking part in sport is paramount. My department is committed to working alongside the Department for Health and Social Care on issues relating to head injuries in sport, and have ongoing official level engagement on this issue.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has worked with sporting bodies and others to develop a single set of shared concussion guidelines for grassroots sport across the UK, which were published on 28 April 2023. We continue to encourage sports governing bodies to adapt the guidelines to their own sport where appropriate.

Further research on the links between health, dementia and contact sport is needed to better understand the issue. My department has established a new Sports Concussion Research Forum to identify key research questions that need answering in this important area.

Stuart Andrew
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
18th Oct 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has had recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on the prevalence of anterior cruciate ligament injuries in women’s football.

It has been well documented that female football players are around three times more likely to suffer an ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injury than their male counterparts.

The Review of Women’s Football, published in July this year, examined the strategic priorities for the development of women's football and made recommendations on the future direction of the women's game. It highlighted the lack of sport exercise and scientific research which currently exists in women’s sport and that only 6% of sport exercise and science research involves only women. This lack of awareness means female athletes are often not being given the protection, expertise and support they need.

The Government has been speaking to the football authorities on all matters within the review, and is due to respond to the review in the autumn. We will address ACL injuries directly in that response, holding relevant stakeholders to account for action around player welfare.

Stuart Andrew
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
18th Oct 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the policy paper entitled A sustainable future - reforming club football governance, published on 23 February 2023, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of requiring an equality, diversity and inclusion action plan as a condition of the football club licensing process.

The Government supports calls for further action to be taken on a range of issues in the domestic game, including equality, diversity and inclusion. We welcome the industry’s ongoing efforts to improve transparency and its commitment to provide equity and fair opportunities for all. Since the publication of the Fan-Led Review, the football leagues and the FA have introduced enhanced equality requirements for football clubs.

The Government acknowledges that there is still more progress to be made and will continue to work with the leagues, the FA, and other organisations to encourage reform where appropriate.

However, as set out in the White Paper and the government response to the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee consultation, the primary strategic purpose of the Regulator will be to ensure that English football is sustainable and resilient for the benefit of fans and the local communities that football clubs serve. As such, the Regulator will focus on the financial sustainability of clubs, the systemic stability of the football pyramid and protecting club heritage.

Action on wider issues, including equality, diversity and inclusion, is best led by industry.

Stuart Andrew
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
17th Oct 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department has made a recent assessment of the potential merits of removing the cap on charity lottery sales.

The Government recognises the importance of society lotteries as a fundraising tool for charities and other organisations. Society lotteries are a vital source of funds for these organisations, raising over £400 million a year.

In 2020, we legislated to raise the annual sales limit for large society lotteries from £10 million to £50 million. Each organisation with a society lottery licence is therefore able to sell up to £50 million of tickets per year. Most society lottery operators have sales well within this annual limit, meaning there is plenty of scope for them to continue to grow.

The limits were reviewed 12 months after the reforms implemented in 2020, which concluded it was too soon to reach any firm view on its impact, and that more data on the growth of the sector is needed before considering any further changes.

Stuart Andrew
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
17th Oct 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions she has had with Ofcom on tackling the use of sexist and misogynistic language in broadcast news.

Ofcom’s Broadcasting Code sets out rules to ensure that broadcast material which contains abusive or derogatory treatment of individuals or groups must not be included except where it is justified by the context.

As the UK’s independent regulator, it is for Ofcom to determine whether there has been a breach of the Broadcasting Code, and whether to take action. In making any decision, Ofcom is required by the Communications Act 2003 to strike a balance between ensuring an appropriate level of freedom of expression and adequate protection from harmful material.

Ministers and officials have regular discussions with Ofcom on a range of issues, but it is for Ofcom to determine any breaches of the Broadcasting Code.

John Whittingdale
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
17th Oct 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to NICE's draft for consultation entitled Harmful gambling: identification, assessment and management, published in October 2023, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on that consultation's draft guidance on GPs asking patients presenting with a mental health issue about their potential gambling habits.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) is the government lead for treatment of gambling-related harms and commissioned the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) to develop a new clinical guideline on gambling which is currently out for consultation and will close on 15 November. Following the gambling white paper published in April, DCMS has launched a public consultation on the statutory levy charged to gambling operators which proposes clear, ringfenced investment for the NHS to lead the commissioning of treatment services for gambling-related harm.

The Secretary of State has not recently had any such discussions, but DCMS officials will continue to work closely with DHSC to ensure that the latest evidence on the health harms associated with gambling and effective treatment resulting from that consultation is closely considered.

Stuart Andrew
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
17th Oct 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to page 89 of the policy paper entitled A sustainable future - reforming club football governance, what recent discussions her Department has had with stakeholders on the potential merits of conducting (a) trials for alcohol sales in sight of the pitch for clubs in the National League and League Two and (b) a review of the Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol etc.) Act 1985.

We recognise the need to balance the potential commercial benefits of alcohol sales in the lower leagues with concerns around safety and disorder. We will keep this matter under review in conjunction with the Home Office.

Stuart Andrew
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
17th Oct 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with the Gambling Commission on whether it plans to release the results of its 2021 call for evidence on affordability checks.

Following the Government’s publication of the white paper on gambling earlier this year, the Gambling Commission has been consulting on a series of proposed changes to requirements on gambling businesses, including on financial vulnerability checks and financial risk assessments. We understand that the Gambling Commission will publish information about both the call for evidence and the current consultation as part of their formal consultation response.

Stuart Andrew
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
16th Oct 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department is taking steps to ensure the future provision of public service content on linear broadcast services.

The Government recognises the crucial role that linear broadcast services, including digital terrestrial television services, play in the wider UK broadcasting system, in particular in helping ensure that public service content continues to be widely available free-to-air to all audiences.

All of the UK’s public service broadcasters (PSBs) are required by law to operate at least one linear television service and must offer those service(s) to digital terrestrial, satellite and cable television providers.

In addition, the Government’s draft Media Bill, published on 29 March 2023, will amend the public service remit for television to make explicit in law the requirement on our PSBs to make their public service content available to as many members of the public in the United Kingdom as reasonably practicable.

John Whittingdale
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
16th Oct 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department is taking steps to ensure that streaming services that do not have an Ofcom broadcasting licence cannot to (a) buy the rights for a listed event and (b) put them behind a paywall.

The draft Media Bill set out our intention to make qualification for listed events a Public Service Broadcaster-specific benefit.

John Whittingdale
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
16th Oct 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to her speech to the Royal Television Society published by her Department on 20 September 2023, whether the findings of the six-month research project on changing viewing habits and technologies will be published.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is in the process of commissioning independent research which will look at a wide range of themes, including changing audience viewing habits and technologies that will impact how shows are brought to our screens, both now, and in the decades to come. The research will inform wider work looking at the future of television distribution.

In accordance with Government Social Research guidelines, the research will be published in due course.

John Whittingdale
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
16th Oct 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to her speech to the Royal Television Society published by her Department on 20 September 2023, what her Department's timeline is for bringing forward the Media Bill.

The Government remains committed to introducing the Media Bill when Parliamentary time allows.

John Whittingdale
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
19th Sep 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions she has had with relevant stakeholders on the horserace betting levy.

The Department is engaging with representatives of the betting and racing industries and other interested parties as part of our review of the Horserace Betting Levy, which we have committed to undertake by April 2024. The engagement with racing has been channelled through the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) in line with racing’s agreed industry strategy and the engagement with betting has been channelled through the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) as the industry body for UK betting and gaming.

In addition to those organisations, I have also met the Horserace Betting Levy Board, the Horse Racing Bettors Forum and the All Party Parliamentary Group on Racing and Bloodstock; and officials have met the UK Tote, the Federation of Racecourse Bookmakers and the British Association of Racecourse Bookmakers in the past six months.

Stuart Andrew
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
18th Sep 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what progress her Department has made on appointing a new ombudsman to adjudicate complaints and order redress.

The Government is working with the Gambling Commission, gambling industry and others to implement all the measures set out in the gambling white paper as soon as possible. A number of proposals are already complete, at consultation stage, or being trialled ahead of implementation.

We launched the consultation on the details of the statutory levy, including rates for different sectors and governance arrangements, on 17 October. We are also continuing work with the industry and Gambling Commission to scope and design an ombudsman, and remain on track for it to be established next summer.

The cross department group of officials working on informational messaging on the risks associated with gambling has met a number of times since the white paper was published.

Stuart Andrew
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
18th Sep 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what her Department's expected timescale is for launching its consultation on the (a) design and (b) scope of the statutory levy for gambling operators.

The Government is working with the Gambling Commission, gambling industry and others to implement all the measures set out in the gambling white paper as soon as possible. A number of proposals are already complete, at consultation stage, or being trialled ahead of implementation.

We launched the consultation on the details of the statutory levy, including rates for different sectors and governance arrangements, on 17 October. We are also continuing work with the industry and Gambling Commission to scope and design an ombudsman, and remain on track for it to be established next summer.

The cross department group of officials working on informational messaging on the risks associated with gambling has met a number of times since the white paper was published.

Stuart Andrew
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
18th Sep 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many times the working group for strengthening informational messaging including on the risks associated with gambling has met.

The Government is working with the Gambling Commission, gambling industry and others to implement all the measures set out in the gambling white paper as soon as possible. A number of proposals are already complete, at consultation stage, or being trialled ahead of implementation.

We launched the consultation on the details of the statutory levy, including rates for different sectors and governance arrangements, on 17 October. We are also continuing work with the industry and Gambling Commission to scope and design an ombudsman, and remain on track for it to be established next summer.

The cross department group of officials working on informational messaging on the risks associated with gambling has met a number of times since the white paper was published.

Stuart Andrew
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
18th Sep 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when she plans to launch the consultation on reviewing the premises licence fees cap for local authorities and aligning the gambling and alcohol licensing systems.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport published its consultation, Measures relating to the land-based gambling sector, on July 26 2023.

The specific measures consulted on included the introduction of an age limit on ‘cash-out’ category D slot-style gaming machines, gaming machine allowances in casinos, the ratio of Category B to Category C/D gaming machines in arcades and bingo halls, and a review of licensing authority fees. The consultation closed on 4 October 2023 and we will publish the government’s response in due course.

The white paper also proposed to introduce cumulative impact assessments to align the gambling and alcohol licensing systems. This measure is not currently being consulted on. However, we plan to introduce it when parliamentary time allows.

Stuart Andrew
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
18th Sep 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when she plans to launch a consultation on changing the 80/20 machine rule for Category B and C/D machines in bingo and arcade venues to 50/50.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport published its consultation, Measures relating to the land-based gambling sector, on July 26 2023.

The specific measures consulted on included the introduction of an age limit on ‘cash-out’ category D slot-style gaming machines, gaming machine allowances in casinos, the ratio of Category B to Category C/D gaming machines in arcades and bingo halls, and a review of licensing authority fees. The consultation closed on 4 October 2023 and we will publish the government’s response in due course.

The white paper also proposed to introduce cumulative impact assessments to align the gambling and alcohol licensing systems. This measure is not currently being consulted on. However, we plan to introduce it when parliamentary time allows.

Stuart Andrew
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
18th Sep 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when she plans to launch a consultation on outstanding issues on making the rules on machines more consistent in the casino sector.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport published its consultation, Measures relating to the land-based gambling sector, on July 26 2023.

The specific measures consulted on included the introduction of an age limit on ‘cash-out’ category D slot-style gaming machines, gaming machine allowances in casinos, the ratio of Category B to Category C/D gaming machines in arcades and bingo halls, and a review of licensing authority fees. The consultation closed on 4 October 2023 and we will publish the government’s response in due course.

The white paper also proposed to introduce cumulative impact assessments to align the gambling and alcohol licensing systems. This measure is not currently being consulted on. However, we plan to introduce it when parliamentary time allows.

Stuart Andrew
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
18th Sep 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when she plans to launch a consultation on secondary legislation on cash pay out machines.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport published its consultation, Measures relating to the land-based gambling sector, on July 26 2023.

The specific measures consulted on included the introduction of an age limit on ‘cash-out’ category D slot-style gaming machines, gaming machine allowances in casinos, the ratio of Category B to Category C/D gaming machines in arcades and bingo halls, and a review of licensing authority fees. The consultation closed on 4 October 2023 and we will publish the government’s response in due course.

The white paper also proposed to introduce cumulative impact assessments to align the gambling and alcohol licensing systems. This measure is not currently being consulted on. However, we plan to introduce it when parliamentary time allows.

Stuart Andrew
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
18th Sep 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with the (a) Professional Footballers Association and (b) Premier League on (i) measuring and (ii) analysing the impact of heading restrictions for young players on (A) short and (B) long term incidences of brain injury.

Although I have discussed pitch safety with the PFA, I have not had any specific discussions with the PFA or Premier League on concussion substitutes or heading restrictions.

The safety, wellbeing and welfare of everyone taking part in sport is absolutely paramount, and I encourage sports organisations to do all they can to protect their players from harm.

My department has recently worked with sporting bodies and health experts to develop a single set of shared concussion guidelines for grassroots sport across the UK, published in April 2023. We continue to encourage sports governing bodies to adapt the guidelines to their own sport where appropriate.

Stuart Andrew
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
18th Sep 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with the (a) Professional Footballers Association and (b) Premier League on (i) measuring and (ii) analysing the impact of concussion substitutes in football on rates of dementia in former football players.

Although I have discussed pitch safety with the PFA, I have not had any specific discussions with the PFA or Premier League on concussion substitutes or heading restrictions.

The safety, wellbeing and welfare of everyone taking part in sport is absolutely paramount, and I encourage sports organisations to do all they can to protect their players from harm.

My department has recently worked with sporting bodies and health experts to develop a single set of shared concussion guidelines for grassroots sport across the UK, published in April 2023. We continue to encourage sports governing bodies to adapt the guidelines to their own sport where appropriate.

Stuart Andrew
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
14th Sep 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the sport strategy, Get Active: a strategy for the future of sport and physical activity, published by her Department on 30 August 2023, how frequently her Department plans to meet representatives of the National Physical Activity Taskforce.

The National Physical Activity Taskforce has been set up to connect relevant organisations across government and the sport sector to ensure that the government continues to make progress and deliver on the targets set out in the Sport Strategy. The taskforce will endeavour to meet quarterly and run for 18 months in the first instance. The first meeting will take place shortly.

Stuart Andrew
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
14th Sep 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the new standards for equal access to sports announced by her Department on 8 March 2023, what plans her Department has to monitor the impact of the (a) standard and (b) associated funding on the participation of young girls in sport.

The government is committed to supporting women's sport at every opportunity including pushing for greater participation.

In March this year, the government announced a significant package of over £600 million to boost school sport, including confirmation of funding for the PE and School Sport Premium and the School Games Organisers network until the end of the summer term 2025. These programmes will improve the quality of PE and sports in primary schools to help children benefit from regular activity and ensure girls and boys have equal opportunity to play sport in school. The Department for Education will be introducing a new digital tool to hold schools accountable for how they use their PE and sport premium funding allocation to monitor and improve the quality of PE and sport they provide.

We are also investing over £300 million in grassroots football and multi-sport facilities across the UK by 2025 which will further support women and girls accessing sport. Projects in England will need to have a clear women and girls plan to receive this funding. Projects are monitored regularly to ensure the objectives are met.

We recently published our first sports strategy in eight years. This includes our ambition to provide the infrastructure and conditions needed to get as many women and girls involved in sport. The government will work with Sport England to monitor the impact of this ambition including measuring the progress made in tackling inactivity annually through the Active Lives Children survey, and in real time by seeking new sources of data that allow us to monitor progress.

Stuart Andrew
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
14th Sep 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department are taking steps to measure the proportion of adults that carry out 150 minutes of moderate intensity activity a week.

We know that active people are fitter, happier and healthier - which is why in our new Sport Strategy - 'Get Active’ - we set out an ambitious strategy to boost our national health by getting 3.5 million extra active people by 2030. This includes bold targets to reach communities with the lowest levels of physical activity.

As part of this strategy, we have set up a new National Physical Activity Taskforce to ensure we meet these targets, and will work closely with Sport England to track and measure the impact of our interventions. This will include measuring the progress made in tackling inactivity annually through the Active Lives Children survey, and in real time by seeking new sources of data that allow us to monitor progress.

Stuart Andrew
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
13th Sep 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the School Sport and Activity Action Plan, what steps the Government plans to take to (a) measure and (b) track the proportion of children and young people who participate in at least 60 minutes of physical activity a day.

We know that active people are fitter, happier and healthier - which is why in our new Sport Strategy - 'Get Active’ - we set out an ambitious strategy to boost our national health by getting 3.5 million extra active people by 2030. This includes bold targets to reach communities with the lowest levels of physical activity.

As part of this strategy, we have set up a new National Physical Activity Taskforce to ensure we meet these targets, and will work closely with Sport England to track and measure the impact of our interventions. This will include measuring the progress made in tackling inactivity annually through the Active Lives Children survey, and in real time by seeking new sources of data that allow us to monitor progress.

Schools play a key role in allowing all children to have high quality opportunities to take part in PE and sport. In July we published an update to the School Sport and Activity Action Plan. This builds on the announcement we made in March that set out new ambitions for equal access to PE and sport and guidance on how to deliver 2 hours of quality PE a week, alongside over £600 million funding for the Primary PE and Sport Premium and the School Games Organiser network.

The Department for Education will be introducing a new digital tool to support schools with their reporting requirements for their PE and sport premium spend. This will hold schools accountable for how they use their PE and sport premium funding allocation to measure and improve the quality of PE and sport they provide.

Stuart Andrew
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
13th Sep 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent estimate her Department has made of the contribution of sport and sporting activities to the economy.

The government is committed to supporting economic growth in the sector, and ensuring this translates into tangible outcomes that span grassroots participation through to elite performance. In turn, this can help stimulate the contribution sport makes to growing the national economy.

The government’s previous Sport Satellite Account estimated that the gross value added (GVA) of the sport sector in 2019 was £48.9 billion. This marked an increase of 2.9% between 2018 and 2019, and of 20.4% between 2010 and 2019, in real terms. In addition, major sporting events have significant benefits for the national economy and for attracting investment to the UK. The hosting of the 2022 events (excluding Commonwealth Games), had a direct economic impact of £132 million, supported 1,600 jobs and had a 6:1 return on investment. The short-term impact alone of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games contributed almost £871 million GVA to the UK economy.

In our new sport strategy, Get Active, we have set out our ambition to deliver a new economic snapshot that articulates the economic value and growth opportunities that exist within sport in the UK. This will replace the previous government Sport Satellite reporting mechanism.

Stuart Andrew
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
13th Sep 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent estimate her Department has made of the contribution of gambling and betting activities to the UK economy.

The government recognises the contribution that the betting and gaming industry makes to the economy. The sector pays approximately £2 billion per year to the government in duties (excluding Lottery Duty), accounted for £5.7 billion or 0.3% of UK Gross Value Added (GVA) in 2019, and employed approximately 98,000 people in Great Britain in 2019. While many gambling companies do operate overseas hubs, the jobs in this country are geographically dispersed, with hubs of high skill work in areas like Stoke-on-Trent and Leeds.

The government does not collect affirmative data on the costs of gambling and betting addiction to the UK economy specifically.

Stuart Andrew
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
13th Sep 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent estimate her Department has made of the cost of gambling and betting addiction to the economy.

The government recognises the contribution that the betting and gaming industry makes to the economy. The sector pays approximately £2 billion per year to the government in duties (excluding Lottery Duty), accounted for £5.7 billion or 0.3% of UK Gross Value Added (GVA) in 2019, and employed approximately 98,000 people in Great Britain in 2019. While many gambling companies do operate overseas hubs, the jobs in this country are geographically dispersed, with hubs of high skill work in areas like Stoke-on-Trent and Leeds.

The government does not collect affirmative data on the costs of gambling and betting addiction to the UK economy specifically.

Stuart Andrew
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
13th Sep 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions she has had with gaming industry on protection for young people against loot boxes in video games.

Since publication of the government response to the call for evidence on loot boxes in video games in July 2022, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has facilitated engagement between the games industry and players, parents, government departments, independent bodies, regulators, academics and other external organisations. The output of this work was new industry-led guidance on loot boxes published by the industry trade body Ukie in July 2023, and a Video Games Research Framework published by DCMS in May 2023.

To support the development of industry-led guidance, DCMS convened a Technical Working Group with representatives of games companies and platforms. The Technical Working Group met eight times between September 2022 and June 2023, including a meeting chaired by the DCMS Secretary of State in June 2023.

John Whittingdale
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
12th Sep 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to measure the (a) progress and (b) success of the Strategic Lawsuits against Public Participation Taskforce.

The Strategic Lawsuits against Public Participation (SLAPPs) Taskforce will meet every two months over a fixed, 12 month period. The Taskforce will report into the National Committee for the Safety of Journalists, which is chaired by the Minister for Media, Tourism and Creative Industries and the Minister for Safeguarding, and will publish its Terms of Reference shortly.

John Whittingdale
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
12th Sep 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how frequently the new Strategic Lawsuits against Public Participation Taskforce intends to meet.

The Strategic Lawsuits against Public Participation (SLAPPs) Taskforce will meet every two months over a fixed, 12 month period. The Taskforce will report into the National Committee for the Safety of Journalists, which is chaired by the Minister for Media, Tourism and Creative Industries and the Minister for Safeguarding, and will publish its Terms of Reference shortly.

John Whittingdale
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
12th Sep 2023
BBC
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what her Departments planned timeline is for the BBC mid-term review.

The Mid-Term Review is an important milestone in the government’s Roadmap for BBC Reform.

We have assessed evidence from a wide range of stakeholders, and consulted the BBC, Ofcom and DAs on our findings, as required by the Terms of Reference. We are now finalising our findings and are working at pace to publish the results of the review.

John Whittingdale
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
12th Sep 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of extending the renewal of Digital Terrestrial Television beyond 2034.

I refer the honourable member to the answer I gave on 11 July 2023 to question UIN 192774.

John Whittingdale
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
12th Sep 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking with (a) the FA and (b) FIFA to help ensure the proper conduct of officials towards players during (i) national and (ii) international competitions.

There is no place for inappropriate conduct within sport, and it is vital that sports bodies continue to work together to tackle it.

Sport should be welcoming to all, and everyone - whether at a grassroots or elite level - should have confidence that the highest standards of safeguarding are followed. That is why as part of our Sport Strategy we launched a call for evidence, to understand how the prevention and handling of integrity issues could be strengthened. It is open to participants, parents and guardians, coaches, athlete support personnel, sports governing bodies, academics and other relevant stakeholders.

Stuart Andrew
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
11th Sep 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has had recent discussions with the BBC board on the potential use of (a) an Equalities Impact Assessment and (b) a Public Value Test on proposed changes to local radio.

The government remains disappointed that the BBC is planning to reduce parts of its local output. Ministers have met with the BBC on several occasions since the announcement where they have expressed the concerns shared across the House about the BBC’s plans. The Secretary of State most recently raised her concerns with the BBC earlier this month.

While it is up to the BBC to decide how it delivers its services, the government has been clear with the Chair of the BBC Board and the Director General that the BBC must make sure it continues to provide distinctive and genuinely local radio services, with content that reflects and represents people and communities from all corners of the UK. These services are a key part of the BBC’s public service remit and an example of how the BBC can use its licence fee funding to provide content that is directly relevant to audiences, particularly in areas that may be underserved by the market.

The BBC is editorially and operationally independent, and therefore decisions on how to consider the potential impacts for audiences of these changes under their public sector equality duty is for the BBC. It is also for the BBC to consider the public value associated with any changes to its services.

The government also expects Ofcom, as the independent regulator of the BBC, to ensure the BBC is robustly held to account in delivering its public service duties. As part of this, the BBC will be required to monitor the impact of changes on audiences and publish more information about how it delivers high quality, distinctive content and services for audiences across the UK.

John Whittingdale
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
11th Sep 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions she has had with the BBC board on proposed changes to local radio.

The government remains disappointed that the BBC is planning to reduce parts of its local output. Ministers have met with the BBC on several occasions since the announcement where they have expressed the concerns shared across the House about the BBC’s plans. The Secretary of State most recently raised her concerns with the BBC earlier this month.

While it is up to the BBC to decide how it delivers its services, the government has been clear with the Chair of the BBC Board and the Director General that the BBC must make sure it continues to provide distinctive and genuinely local radio services, with content that reflects and represents people and communities from all corners of the UK. These services are a key part of the BBC’s public service remit and an example of how the BBC can use its licence fee funding to provide content that is directly relevant to audiences, particularly in areas that may be underserved by the market.

The BBC is editorially and operationally independent, and therefore decisions on how to consider the potential impacts for audiences of these changes under their public sector equality duty is for the BBC. It is also for the BBC to consider the public value associated with any changes to its services.

The government also expects Ofcom, as the independent regulator of the BBC, to ensure the BBC is robustly held to account in delivering its public service duties. As part of this, the BBC will be required to monitor the impact of changes on audiences and publish more information about how it delivers high quality, distinctive content and services for audiences across the UK.

John Whittingdale
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
11th Sep 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department plans to incorporate the outcome of the Listed Events: Digital Rights Review into the Media Bill.

We are undertaking a review to look at whether, in the face of technological change, the objectives of the existing regime are still being met and whether digital rights should now be included in the regime.

Our review is ongoing and we will set out more detail in due course.

John Whittingdale
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
11th Sep 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when her Department plans to (a) publish and (b) set a timescale for the legislative scrutiny of the Media Bill.

The government remains committed to introducing the Media Bill when Parliamentary time allows.

The Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee is expected to publish their pre-legislative scrutiny report this Autumn. The government looks forward to receiving their recommendations and responding in the usual manner.

John Whittingdale
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
1st Sep 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department have taken to improve (a) environmental and (b) human sustainability practices in the fashion industry.

The textiles and fashion industry plays an important role in the UK’s social and cultural heritage, and is a major driver of economic growth - with UK designers and manufacturers exporting around the world. Improving the creative industries’ environmental impact was identified as a priority in our Creative Industries Sector Vision, published in June 2023.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) works with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) on the work they are doing on textiles waste management. Defra’s ambitions for minimising textile waste are outlined in ‘Maximising Resources, Minimising Waste’ which constitutes a new Waste Prevention Plan and was published on 28 July 2023. Defra funds Textiles 2030, a voluntary initiative with over 110 signatories from the fashion manufacturing industry covering 62% by sales of the UK clothing market. Signatories are committed to reducing their carbon and water usage and to other circular economy principles such as agreeing good design principles so that their products are durable and recyclable.

DCMS also supports the UK Research and Investment (UKRI) £15 million Circular Fashion programme, launched in 2022 to bring the sector, academia and government together to understand and drive the fashion and textiles industry towards sustainable and responsible practices.

John Whittingdale
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
1st Sep 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department have taken to steps to support people from disadvantaged backgrounds in the fashion industry with (a) the cost of sending samples and (b) other costs associated with running a small business.

The textiles and fashion industry plays an important role in the UK’s social and cultural heritage, and is a major driver of economic growth - with UK designers and manufacturers exporting around the world. Recognising this contribution, HM Treasury has named the creative industries, including fashion, as one of the top five priority growth sectors - underscored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s (DCMS) recent Sector Vision, which sets out ambitious growth targets.

In the sector vision and elsewhere, DCMS has a number of initiatives that aim to improve access to the creative and fashion industries for those from disadvantaged backgrounds. The Creative Careers Programme has been relaunched with £1 million HM Government funding (22/23-24/25). Aimed at young people aged 11-18 from underrepresented backgrounds, the Creative Careers Programme is targeting 77 priority areas across England. DCMS also engages with our government-appointed Creative Industries Disability and Access Ambassadors who are working on increasing access to the creative industries for those with disabilities.

The government is supporting UK businesses with running costs through the Recovery Loan Scheme, designed to support access to finance for UK businesses as they look to invest and grow. Businesses can use the finance for any legitimate business purpose – including managing cashflow, investment and growth. Additionally, Local Enterprise Partnership Growth Hubs can also be a source of free advice and finance. This is in addition to the Energy Bills Discount Scheme; the increased Employment Allowance of £5,000, which takes the smallest 40% of businesses out of paying any National Insurance at all; and setting the Annual Investment Allowance at £1 million permanently. To support businesses with exporting goods (including samples) the Government's Export Support Service (ESS) provides guidance and advice in response to queries about exporting and ATA Carnets.

As part of the Creative Industries Sector Vision, the government announced £2 million funding to support London Fashion Week over the next two years - this will go towards supporting emerging designer talent and increasing access to the sector.

John Whittingdale
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
20th Jul 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to help support local councils to tackle loneliness.

Many people experience loneliness and social isolation, and across government, we’re committed to building a more connected society, where everyone is able to build meaningful relationships. Having strong social relationships play an important role in our physical and mental wellbeing, and local councils, health systems and voluntary and community sector organisations all have an important role to play in tackling loneliness. Local services can achieve better outcomes in tackling loneliness by working together and building a shared understanding of the local community’s needs and assets.

The government is working with partners to support local areas to share and learn from best practice examples. This includes working with the Local Government Association to provide guidance on how local councils can tackle loneliness, and providing a space for organisations to share resources on the Tackling Loneliness Hub. Furthermore, through the delivery and evaluation of the £30 million Know Your Neighbourhood Fund, local authorities and community organisations in high deprivation areas will have access to evidence on what works to increase regular volunteering and reduce chronic loneliness.

Stuart Andrew
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
13th Jul 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what (a) algorithmic and (b) other automated decision making systems her Department uses; and for what purposes.

Decisions on the department’s policy and grant funding allocations - while informed by data, analysis and relevant criteria - are made by Ministers.

Data processing is commonplace across all areas of department business, subject to set rules and criteria, as is the case for all organisations.

John Whittingdale
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
30th Jun 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to her Department's publication of transactions over £25,000 for April 2023 on 29 June, at what venue her Department's staff conference took place on 25 January; what activities that conference involved; and how many staff from her Department were in attendance.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s (DCMS) staff conference took place at Alexandra Palace, chosen as it represented best value for money after a thorough search and for its links to the department’s policy areas of sport, culture, tourism and the events industry.

Like many large organisations, DCMS manages our staff conference as a cost-effective way of developing skills and training all staff on the latest policy developments, sharing ideas, building their digital skills, and focusing on how they can best support the government’s agenda. The conference was hybrid, bringing the benefits of being together face to face, with the accessibility of online.

The conference featured talks, panels and Q&A sessions focused on the department’s delivery priorities for 2023, learnings from the major events the Department delivered in 2022 such as the Commonwealth Games and Platinum Jubilee. Sessions also included how to harness the benefits of 5G, how to work effectively as one team in pursuit of shared objectives as well as a short annual staff awards that recognised the huge contribution our people make to public service.

In total 1,665 colleagues attended the hybrid event.

John Whittingdale
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
20th Jun 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport, whether she has had recent discussions with Ofcom on the definition of a news programme.

Ministers and officials have regular discussions with Ofcom on a range of issues. The Secretary of State has not had discussions with Ofcom on the definition of a news programme.

John Whittingdale
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
20th Jun 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the oral contribution of the Minister for Data and Digital Infrastructure of 14 June 2023 at Topical Questions, T7, Official Report, column 286, what plans her Department has to (a) utilise the provisions in Part 3 of the Data Protection and Digital Information (No. 2) Bill and (b) use smart data in new sectors.

There is exciting potential to explore Smart Data in further sectors, beyond Open Banking. Government, regulators and industry experts are working together via the Smart Data Council to ensure that the UK continues to be at the forefront of developments in this space.

The Smart Data Council was launched in April 2023, for regulators and government to coordinate future schemes and collaborate with industry. A Smart Data Challenge Prize is in development, which will aim to encourage innovation by identifying and developing cross-sector use cases.

John Whittingdale
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
13th Jun 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 18 April 2023 to Question 176799 on Television: Children, when she expects Ofcom’s to publish its review of the free-to-air market and the interests of children.

The Government is conducting an assessment of the contestable funding model to consider its impact and the long-term sustainability of this kind of funding, next steps will be set out in due course. As required by the scheme, the BFI commissioned and published an independent evaluation of the Young Audiences Content Fund in December 2022. That evaluation is available here.

Ofcom set out in their “Plan of Work” for 2023/24, published on 14 December 2022, that they would take an in-depth look at how the market is serving the interests of children. It will be for Ofcom, as the independent regulator, to determine when to publish its findings.

John Whittingdale
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
13th Jun 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 18 April 2023 to Question 176799 on Television: Children, whether she plans to publish her Department's assessment of the contestable funding model.

The Government is conducting an assessment of the contestable funding model to consider its impact and the long-term sustainability of this kind of funding, next steps will be set out in due course. As required by the scheme, the BFI commissioned and published an independent evaluation of the Young Audiences Content Fund in December 2022. That evaluation is available here.

Ofcom set out in their “Plan of Work” for 2023/24, published on 14 December 2022, that they would take an in-depth look at how the market is serving the interests of children. It will be for Ofcom, as the independent regulator, to determine when to publish its findings.

John Whittingdale
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
13th Jun 2023
BBC
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has had discussions with the Director General of the BBC on the BBC report entitled Across the UK, published March 2021.

Ministers and officials regularly meet with the BBC to discuss a range of matters, including how it plans to reflect, represent and serve all parts of the country.

In May 2022, the Government published updates to the BBC’s Framework Agreement to reflect the BBC’s latest commitments on impartiality, accessibility, and moving more activities outside of London. This includes a number of commitments from the BBC’s “Across the UK” report in March 2021. The BBC must report on all of these new commitments in the BBC’s Annual Report and Accounts.

The Government expects Ofcom, as the BBC’s independent regulator, to ensure the BBC is robustly held to account in delivering its public service duties.

John Whittingdale
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
29th Mar 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to help (a) support and (b) encourage broadcasters to provide children’s television content.

The Government recognises the unique societal, educational and economic importance of British children’s television and we are taking direct action to support and encourage broadcasters to provide children’s television content to UK audiences.

At the Budget, we announced reform and an increase in the rate of tax relief for animation and children’s TV, which will directly boost the level of financial support for children’s production companies. These reliefs have historically already supported 845 programmes, with a total investment of £1.26 billion.

Through the Media Bill we will introduce a new remit for public service television, which includes the provision of public service children’s programming. This sends a clear signal about the importance the Government places on high value children's programming being available to families across the UK on a free-to-air basis.

We welcome Ofcom’s recent commitment in their Plan of Work 2023/24 to take an in-depth look at how the market is serving the interests of children. This is facilitated by powers we introduced in 2017 for Ofcom to monitor and set criteria for the provision of children’s television. The independent regulator will give us an invaluable insight into the challenges faced by the children’s television industry right now and this will be key in helping us and industry consider where further work is needed.

Children’s television was also chosen to pilot contestable funding, which has supported more than 280 hours of new content with a direct investment of £44.1 million. The British Film Institute published an independent evaluation of the Young Audiences Content Fund in December 2022. The Government is conducting an assessment of the contestable funding model to consider its impact and the long-term sustainability of this kind of funding. The potential for further investment will be considered against that assessment and future public service broadcasting needs.

Julia Lopez
Minister on Leave (Minister of State)
29th Mar 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to paragraph 3.4 of the White Paper entitled, Up next - the government’s vision for the broadcasting sector, published in April 2022, when she plans to publish the evaluation of the Young Audience Content Fund contestable funding pilot.

The Government recognises the unique societal, educational and economic importance of British children’s television and we are taking direct action to support and encourage broadcasters to provide children’s television content to UK audiences.

At the Budget, we announced reform and an increase in the rate of tax relief for animation and children’s TV, which will directly boost the level of financial support for children’s production companies. These reliefs have historically already supported 845 programmes, with a total investment of £1.26 billion.

Through the Media Bill we will introduce a new remit for public service television, which includes the provision of public service children’s programming. This sends a clear signal about the importance the Government places on high value children's programming being available to families across the UK on a free-to-air basis.

We welcome Ofcom’s recent commitment in their Plan of Work 2023/24 to take an in-depth look at how the market is serving the interests of children. This is facilitated by powers we introduced in 2017 for Ofcom to monitor and set criteria for the provision of children’s television. The independent regulator will give us an invaluable insight into the challenges faced by the children’s television industry right now and this will be key in helping us and industry consider where further work is needed.

Children’s television was also chosen to pilot contestable funding, which has supported more than 280 hours of new content with a direct investment of £44.1 million. The British Film Institute published an independent evaluation of the Young Audiences Content Fund in December 2022. The Government is conducting an assessment of the contestable funding model to consider its impact and the long-term sustainability of this kind of funding. The potential for further investment will be considered against that assessment and future public service broadcasting needs.

Julia Lopez
Minister on Leave (Minister of State)
26th Jan 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to her Department's policy paper entitled up next - the government’s vision for the broadcasting sector published on 28 April 2022, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of postponing the launch of the consultation on individual local television station licenses on (a) businesses, (b) universities and (c) local communities.

The Government remains committed to extending the local television multiplex licence, which is currently due to expire on 25 November 2025. We also outlined our plans in the Broadcasting White Paper to consult on the renewal or relicensing of the 34 individual local television services at the same time.

The Government recognises the important contribution and impact that local television services make to our broadcasting ecosystem and for those across the UK, particularly in their role disseminating relevant news and engaging with local communities.

We will publish a formal consultation paper on the future of local TV in due course.

Julia Lopez
Minister on Leave (Minister of State)
26th Jan 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to her Department's policy paper up next - the government’s vision for the broadcasting sector published on 28 April 2022, when she plans to launch a consultation on individual local television station licenses.

The Government remains committed to extending the local television multiplex licence, which is currently due to expire on 25 November 2025. We also outlined our plans in the Broadcasting White Paper to consult on the renewal or relicensing of the 34 individual local television services at the same time.

The Government recognises the important contribution and impact that local television services make to our broadcasting ecosystem and for those across the UK, particularly in their role disseminating relevant news and engaging with local communities.

We will publish a formal consultation paper on the future of local TV in due course.

Julia Lopez
Minister on Leave (Minister of State)
26th Jan 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what is her planned timetable for the BBC Mid-Term Review.

In May 2022, DCMS launched the Mid-Term Review to assess, at the half-way point of the Charter period, how effectively the governance and regulation arrangements of the BBC are performing and whether any reforms are necessary.

We have now consulted a wide range of stakeholders, including Ofcom and the BBC, and are working through the feedback received to help us develop our conclusions. We will soon start to consult the BBC, Ofcom and the Devolved Administrations on potential conclusions, as required by the review’s Terms of Reference. The Charter specifies that the review must take place between 2022 and 2024 and we will set out more detail on the timetable in due course.

Julia Lopez
Minister on Leave (Minister of State)
26th Jan 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to support local newspapers.

The Government is committed to supporting local and regional newspapers as vital pillars of communities and local democracy. They play an essential role in holding power to account, keeping the public informed of local issues and providing reliable, high-quality information.

However, as the independent Cairncross Review into the future of journalism identified, society is increasingly moving online and local news publishers are facing significant challenges in transitioning to sustainable digital business models.

The Government supported the majority of Cairncross recommendations and has taken them forward through a range of fiscal and regulatory interventions. This has included the delivery of the £2 million Future News Fund; the zero rating of VAT on e-newspapers; the extension of a 2017 business rates relief on local newspaper office space until 2025; the publication of the Online Media Literacy Strategy; and our work through the Mid-Term Review of the BBC Charter, exploring how the BBC seeks to act as a complement to, rather than a substitute for, local commercial news outlets. The Government was also pleased to see the BBC conduct a thorough review of the Local Democracy Reporting Service in 2020, as recommended by the Cairncross Review. As set out in our response to the Review, we would support any efforts by the BBC to grow the scheme.

Most importantly, we are introducing a new, pro-competition regime for digital markets. The regime, which aims to address the far-reaching power of the biggest tech firms, will help rebalance the relationship between publishers and the online platforms on which they increasingly rely. This will make an important contribution to the sustainability of the press.

I am pleased that the DCMS Select Committee has also looked into this issue in detail. We will continue to consider all possible options in the interests of promoting and sustaining the sector, including carefully reviewing the recommendations made in their report.

Julia Lopez
Minister on Leave (Minister of State)
19th Jan 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether the Media Bill (a) will be published in draft and (b) face pre-legislative scrutiny.

The Government will introduce the Media Bill when Parliamentary time allows. Further details on the Media Bill will be set out in due course.

Julia Lopez
Minister on Leave (Minister of State)
13th Dec 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what plans her Department has to support the transition from 2G to 3G networks.

In December 2021, DCMS published a Joint Statement with the UK’s mobile network operators (MNOs) confirming that all 2G and 3G networks would be switched off by 2033 at the latest. We welcome that some individual operators will switch off these networks, particularly 3G networks, earlier than this date. Each MNO is moving at its own pace within this timeframe and since this statement was published a number of operators have announced individual plans for 3G switch off.

We are committed to extending good quality mobile coverage across the UK. In March 2020, the government announced a deal with the MNOs to increase 4G coverage to 95% of the UK landmass.

In 2017, the government also set an ambition for the majority of the UK population to have access to 5G by 2027. This has been met five years early, with basic “non-standalone” 5G - which uses 5G equipment on 4G infrastructure. In our forthcoming Wireless Infrastructure Strategy, we will establish a new ambition for 5G. We will also set out how we will continue to drive 5G deployment across the UK and ensure that UK businesses reap the full benefits of 5G.

There is no explicit regulatory requirement for MNOs to maintain a 2G or 3G network and the government has limited powers to compel operators to maintain, switch off or streamline specific networks. It is for operators to take final decisions on the provision of network services.

MNOs will contact customers to let them know if they are affected and what steps they need to take prior to the switch off of these networks. DCMS officials are working closely with relevant government departments and Ofcom to support this transition away from 2G and 3G networks. The Government welcomes 2G and 3G networks being switched off in a responsible way, and will continue to work with MNOs to ensure a smooth transition that meets the needs of business users and consumers.

Julia Lopez
Minister on Leave (Minister of State)
13th Dec 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact on (a) consumers and (b) competition of telecoms providers which advertise FTTC connections as fibre broadband.

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is committed to delivering nationwide gigabit connectivity. Our approach to achieving this is to make it as attractive as possible for companies to build gigabit-capable networks in the UK by creating a regulatory environment that encourages competition and investment between firms. Our strategy also includes promoting the take up of fibre broadband to ensure consumers can maximise its benefits. Gigabit-capable broadband will offer consumers a faster and more reliable connection.

DCMS recognises the decisions of both the Advertising Standards Authority and the High Court of Justice on the issue of fibre advertisement. In 2017, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), the UK's regulator of advertising, reviewed consumer understanding of the term ‘fibre’ as used in broadband advertising (particularly for part-fibre services such as Fibre to the Cabinet) and any impact the use of this term has on consumers’ transactional decisions. The ASA engaged with stakeholders and received a range of responses from providers of part-fibre and full-fibre broadband services, consumer organisations and other regulators.

The ASA published their findings in November 2017 and concluded by stating the following:“It is not possible to conclude that the word ‘fibre’, as currently used in part-fibre advertising, is likely to mislead and misinform consumers.”

The findings also demonstrated that the word ‘fibre’ appeared to be relatively unimportant when participants interpreted broadband advertising. In addition, the report found that it generally did not trigger the start of a purchase journey for consumers.

Both the ASA and Ofcom are independent regulators and matters relating to industry rules on advertising is a matter for their discretion.

Julia Lopez
Minister on Leave (Minister of State)
13th Dec 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, when she plans to bring forward legislative proposals to ensure new-build homes come with gigabit-speed broadband.

We are committed to delivering nationwide gigabit connectivity as soon as possible, and it is a priority to ensure that new homes are built with fast, reliable and resilient broadband.

We laid The Building etc. (Amendment) (England) (No. 2) Regulations 2022 in Parliament on 26 September 2022. This statutory instrument amends Building Regulations to ensure that the construction of new homes in England includes the installation of gigabit-ready infrastructure, and the installation of gigabit-capable connections where this can be provided within a cost cap of £2,000 per dwelling.

The new requirements come into force on 26 December 2022, and will help to ensure that new homes are future-proofed and have access to Gigabit broadband at the point of construction, giving more people the connectivity they want and need without costly and disruptive installation work after the home is built.

Where a gigabit capable connection is not available without breaching the cost cap, the next fastest connection available within the cost cap must be installed. The cost cap does not apply to the requirement for developers to install gigabit-ready infrastructure, which must be installed to ensure that the new homes are future-proofed.

We are working with the Devolved Administrations to ensure consistency across the UK, as far as possible.

Julia Lopez
Minister on Leave (Minister of State)
13th Dec 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent assessment the Government has made of the potential merits of introducing flexi permits which allow telecoms operators to carry out multiple works over multiple streets for a specified time.

The Department for Transport consulted twice on proposals for a flexi permit in autumn 2021 and February 2022. The proposals would have allowed one permit to cover a number of works over a period of time across a specific area. The proposals were strongly opposed by highway authorities. The Government published a response to the consultation in May 2022 which announced that the government had decided not to proceed with the proposal for flexi permits at that time. However, the government did say that it would continue to work with the street works sector to develop further the concept and provide more evidence. So far, trials have taken place in Sheffield, Bexley, Essex and Lancashire, on a voluntary basis by organisations in the sector.

Work is now underway to launch longer, more extensive trials - testing out different scenarios and in different areas than those that have happened to date. The trials seek to determine if potential benefits outweigh any drawbacks when flexi permits are used in conditions closer to real life - examining effects on congestion and reinstatement performance, for example. My officials are currently working with counterparts in the Department for Transport, a number of local authorities and telecoms operators to bring forward more trials in the new year.

Julia Lopez
Minister on Leave (Minister of State)
13th Dec 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to promote social tariffs offline.

In November, the DCMS - as part of Help for Households - launched a UK-wide campaign to boost awareness of social tariffs among eligible households.

The campaign uses multiple channels to reach individuals; and partners with a range of stakeholders - including other Government departments (such as DWP), job centres, libraries, local authorities, charities, consumer groups and internet service providers - to maximise the reach of our messaging. Alongside dedicated digital resources, posters and leaflets have been created, which can be distributed by partners directly to those who may be eligible. We are also using print media, such as ‘Quids In!’, a magazine targeted at low-income households.

On 29 November, I convened a roundtable with the UK’s major broadband and mobile providers, as-well-as consumer groups to examine the barriers to take up of social tariffs and the role Government, the telecoms sector, charities and consumer groups can play to ensure eligible households are aware of the support available. We will continue to explore further options for collaboration.

Julia Lopez
Minister on Leave (Minister of State)
13th Dec 2022
5G
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether the Wireless Infrastructure Strategy will be published by 31 January 2022.

Our Wireless Infrastructure Strategy will set out a strategic framework for the development, deployment and adoption of 5G and future networks. It will articulate a clear vision for how advanced wireless infrastructure can become an integral part of the fabric of the UK's economy and society by 2030.

We intend to publish the strategy in early 2023.

Julia Lopez
Minister on Leave (Minister of State)
13th Dec 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if her Department will provide support to local authorities to help ensure those authorities have in-house telecoms expertise to respond to requests from telecoms operators.

The Government recognises the importance of having a dedicated lead on digital infrastructure in local and regional authorities. This is why this approach is strongly recommended in the advice provided to local authorities on the Government’s Digital Connectivity Portal.

The Digital Connectivity Portal provides practical information for local authorities, for instance on debunking myths around 5G, around making assets available for hosting equipment and on the application of legislation such as the Electronic Communications Code and planning regulations.

DCMS officials frequently facilitate meetings and workshops between the telecoms industry and local authority staff, including local authority digital connectivity leads. These meetings are designed to increase understanding of the importance of digital connectivity to local communities, as well as the practicalities around its deployment.

This engagement is a part of the work carried out by DCMS’ Barrier Busting Task Force (BBTF) which was established in 2017. Its key objective is to identify and address the barriers preventing the fast, efficient and cost-effective deployment of gigabit-capable broadband and improved mobile coverage, including next generation 5G technology.

The Department has also provided £4m of funding to establish the Digital Connectivity Infrastructure Accelerator (DCIA) programme, to enable local authorities and the mobile industry to make more effective use of public sector assets and land.

Julia Lopez
Minister on Leave (Minister of State)
13th Dec 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent estimate her Department has made of the number of households which utilise a full fibre connection.

According to Ofcom’s 2022 Connected Nations Report, take-up of full-fibre broadband where available is currently 25%, with take-up of gigabit-capable networks at 38%.

Ofcom also notes that take-up may appear lower than expected because networks are deploying at pace and take-up lags behind coverage.

Julia Lopez
Minister on Leave (Minister of State)
13th Dec 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent estimate her Department has made of the proportion of households which have access to a gigabit connection but do not utilise it.

According to Ofcom’s 2022 Connected Nations Report, take-up of full-fibre broadband where available is currently 25%, with take-up of gigabit-capable networks at 38%.

Ofcom also notes that take-up may appear lower than expected because networks are deploying at pace and take-up lags behind coverage.

Julia Lopez
Minister on Leave (Minister of State)
13th Dec 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the Department's publication, Listed Events: Digital Rights Review, published on 15 November 2022, whether she plans to implement the findings of that consultation through legislative proposals in a Media Bill.

The Government believes that certain sporting events of national interest should be shown on free-to-air television so that they can be enjoyed by as wide an audience as possible. We want to ensure that as viewing habits change and technology evolves the regulatory framework remains fit for purpose.

The Government is speaking to stakeholders to look at whether in the face of technological change, the objectives of the existing regime are still being met and whether digital rights should be included in the regime. The review will need to balance the ability for audiences to watch national sporting events at no additional cost with the ability for sporting organisations to generate revenues from sports rights to re-invest in their sports at all levels.

We are still considering this issue, and it is important we consult relevant stakeholders as we look to deliver for audiences. If the Government decides to make changes that require legislation, we will consider the best legislative vehicle to deliver it in the usual way.

Julia Lopez
Minister on Leave (Minister of State)
9th Nov 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to proposals in the Up Next Policy Paper on a consultation on individual local television station licenses before the end of 2022, when that consultation will be launched.

We will publish a consultation paper on future local television licensing in due course.

Julia Lopez
Minister on Leave (Minister of State)
9th Nov 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what her policy is on the privatisation of Channel 4.

Channel 4 is a great UK success story and, in a rapidly changing media landscape, the government wants it to thrive in the long-term while maintaining its distinctiveness.

As set out in our recent white paper, Up Next - the government’s vision for the broadcasting sector, Channel 4 - along with all broadcasters - is facing challenges to its future success and sustainability. This is due to the rapidly evolving media landscape, including unprecedented competition for viewers, programmes and talent from overseas as well as new, rapidly growing, streaming platforms.

The Secretary of State is reviewing the business case for a sale of Channel 4 and will set out further detail in due course.

Julia Lopez
Minister on Leave (Minister of State)
9th Nov 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what plans she has to progress the Media Bill proposed in the Queen's Speech on 10 May 2022.

The Government will introduce the Media Bill when Parliamentary time allows.

Julia Lopez
Minister on Leave (Minister of State)
9th Nov 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent assessment her Department has made of the potential importance of the advertising sector for the creative industries.

Advertising is a thriving sector that makes a significant and valuable contribution to the UK economy and creative industries. It is a key revenue source for many creative industries, underpinning the provision of key services that are positively transforming people’s lives. The Advertising and marketing sub-sector contributed £5.1 billion to UK exports in services worldwide in 2020. This was a 27.3% increase from the previous year. The UK is second in Portland’s Soft Power Index and the advertising sector plays a leading role in this ranking. The creative industries provide a distinctive image of our country and our cities, helping them to stand out from competitors. As a home to some of the most influential international advertising agencies, the UK advertising sector makes a significant contribution to the country’s soft power by creating awareness of, and familiarity surrounding, the nation’s products, services, cultural outputs and distinctive image abroad.

14th Oct 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department is on track to meet its target of ensuring 85 per cent of premises are gigabit capable by 2025.

Over 71 per cent of premises are now able to access gigabit-capable broadband, up from 6 per cent in January 2019.

We are on track to hit our target of 85 per cent gigabit coverage by 2025. We have published our delivery trajectory to reach our target and Building Digital UK (BDUK) publishes quarterly updates to demonstrate our progress towards this milestone.

Julia Lopez
Minister on Leave (Minister of State)
14th Oct 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what plans her Department has to spend the remaining £3.8 billion of Project Gigabit funding.

Project Gigabit is a £5 billion programme to deliver gigabit connectivity. £1.2 billion was allocated to Project Gigabit in this Spending Review period, with the remainder available in future years.

Through Project Gigabit we are contracting with suppliers to install gigabit-capable broadband networks to hard-to-reach areas of the UK. These contracts will deliver gigabit connectivity in this Spending Review period and beyond. We recently signed our first Project Gigabit contracts in North Dorset and Teesdale, and have launched procurements with a value of over £700 million to date.

Julia Lopez
Minister on Leave (Minister of State)
14th Oct 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what proportion of gigabit capable properties in England have more than one choice of fibre-optic broadband provider.

According to data from Think Broadband, 5% of premises in England have access to more than one fibre optic provider, 41% have access to one provider, and 72% of premises have access to gigabit-capable broadband from at least one provider when including gigabit-capable coaxial cable technology.

Julia Lopez
Minister on Leave (Minister of State)
14th Oct 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to her speech at Conservative Party Conference 2022, what plans she has to repeal UK GDPR in The Data Protection Act 2018 when creating a British data protection system.

The Data Protection and Digital Information Bill was introduced into the House of Commons on Monday 18 July 2022 and following the election of the new leader of the Conservative Party, Ministers are further considering the Bill.

We will amend the existing Data Protection and Digital Information Bill and adapt the UK GDPR to create a new bespoke British data protection framework that is business and consumer friendly, and keeps people's personal data secure.

We are working with businesses and other stakeholders, at speed, to ensure that the Bill maximises this post-Brexit opportunity, and as mentioned in the Secretary of State’s conference speech, the Bill seeks to retain our data adequacy decision so businesses can trade freely.

The DPDI Bill will continue its passage in due course.

Julia Lopez
Minister on Leave (Minister of State)
14th Oct 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to her speech at Conservative Party Conference 2022, what plans she has to include creation of a British data protection system in the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill.

The Data Protection and Digital Information Bill was introduced into the House of Commons on Monday 18 July 2022 and following the election of the new leader of the Conservative Party, Ministers are further considering the Bill.

We will amend the existing Data Protection and Digital Information Bill and adapt the UK GDPR to create a new bespoke British data protection framework that is business and consumer friendly, and keeps people's personal data secure.

We are working with businesses and other stakeholders, at speed, to ensure that the Bill maximises this post-Brexit opportunity, and as mentioned in the Secretary of State’s conference speech, the Bill seeks to retain our data adequacy decision so businesses can trade freely.

The DPDI Bill will continue its passage in due course.

Julia Lopez
Minister on Leave (Minister of State)
14th Oct 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what plans she has to progress the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill; and what her policy is on maintaining EU data adequacy.

The Data Protection and Digital Information Bill was introduced into the House of Commons on Monday 18 July 2022 and following the election of the new leader of the Conservative Party, Ministers are further considering the Bill.

We will amend the existing Data Protection and Digital Information Bill and adapt the UK GDPR to create a new bespoke British data protection framework that is business and consumer friendly, and keeps people's personal data secure.

We are working with businesses and other stakeholders, at speed, to ensure that the Bill maximises this post-Brexit opportunity, and as mentioned in the Secretary of State’s conference speech, the Bill seeks to retain our data adequacy decision so businesses can trade freely.

The DPDI Bill will continue its passage in due course.

Julia Lopez
Minister on Leave (Minister of State)
14th Oct 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how much and what proportion of the £210 million funding allocated to the Broadband Voucher scheme for rural areas has been spent.

Since its establishment as an Executive Agency, Building Digital UK will report on its performance and spending annually, alongside the publication of quarterly delivery updates highlighting the progress of Project Gigabit.

Through the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme and its previous iterations, we have issued over 100,000 vouchers worth more than £214 million. Over 73,000 of these vouchers have been used to connect premises to gigabit-capable broadband.

Julia Lopez
Minister on Leave (Minister of State)
14th Oct 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how many properties have been connected as a result of the Broadband Voucher scheme for rural areas since that scheme's inception.

As of the end of March 2022, 44,000 vouchers have been claimed for gigabit-capable infrastructure through Project Gigabit’s Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme and previous voucher subsidy schemes for rural premises.

Year

Rural

2017/18

0

2018/19

2,000

2019/20

5,700

2020/21

13,900

2021/22

22,300

TOTAL

44,000

Source:

BDUK (as of Oct 2022)

Notes:

1. Rounded to the nearest 100.

2. Encompasses 3 different schemes: Gigabit Voucher Scheme (GBVS), Rural Gigabit Connectivity (RGC) and UKGV (UK Gigabit Voucher).

Julia Lopez
Minister on Leave (Minister of State)
14th Oct 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent estimate her Department has made of the number of households unable to afford broadband.

In September, Ofcom published their latest Affordability Report which found that 5% of UK households faced an affordability issue with their fixed broadband in the month of August. While this figure has remained static since Ofcom’s previous report in March, we know that many households are struggling with their monthly broadband bills during this difficult time.

In June, we secured a set of public commitments from the UK’s major broadband and mobile providers to support families through the global rise in the cost of living. These commitments include more manageable payment plans, switching to a cheaper package free-of-charge, or taking a more affordable broadband social tariff if the customer is eligible. We encourage people to contact their provider to see what support is available.

Julia Lopez
Minister on Leave (Minister of State)
14th Oct 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how many premises have been connected via the Superfast Broadband Programme since 2020.

Since its recent establishment as an Executive Agency, Building Digital UK will report on its performance and spending annually, alongside the publication of quarterly delivery updates highlighting the progress of Project Gigabit.

In BDUK’s most recent Performance Report, we reported that over 625,000 premises have received a gigabit-capable connection as a result of the Superfast Broadband Programme. 95,300 premises were passed between April 2021 and March 2022, and 529,900 had previously been passed by 31 March 2021.

Julia Lopez
Minister on Leave (Minister of State)
13th Oct 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, when the Wireless Infrastructure Strategy will be published.

In 2017, the government set an ambition for the majority of the population to have access to 5G by 2027. This has been met five years early, with basic “non-standalone” 5G - which uses 5G equipment on 4G infrastructure.

Ofcom Connected Nations Summer Update (7 October 2022) showed that non-standalone 5G is available outside up to 64% of premises across the UK.

Our Wireless Infrastructure Strategy will set out how we can realise the full benefits of 5G for the UK. We aim to publish the strategy later this year.

Julia Lopez
Minister on Leave (Minister of State)
13th Oct 2022
5G
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department is on track to meet its target for the majority of the population to have access to a 5G signal by 2027.

In 2017, the government set an ambition for the majority of the population to have access to 5G by 2027. This has been met five years early, with basic “non-standalone” 5G - which uses 5G equipment on 4G infrastructure.

Ofcom Connected Nations Summer Update (7 October 2022) showed that non-standalone 5G is available outside up to 64% of premises across the UK.

Our Wireless Infrastructure Strategy will set out how we can realise the full benefits of 5G for the UK. We aim to publish the strategy later this year.

Julia Lopez
Minister on Leave (Minister of State)
13th Oct 2022
5G
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent assessment her Department has made of the proportion of the population with access to (a) standalone full 5G and (b) non-standalone 5G.

In 2017, the government set an ambition for the majority of the population to have access to 5G by 2027. This has been met five years early, with basic “non-standalone” 5G - which uses 5G equipment on 4G infrastructure.

Ofcom Connected Nations Summer Update (7 October 2022) showed that non-standalone 5G is available outside up to 64% of premises across the UK.

Our Wireless Infrastructure Strategy will set out how we can realise the full benefits of 5G for the UK. We aim to publish the strategy later this year.

Julia Lopez
Minister on Leave (Minister of State)
13th Oct 2022
5G
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department's target for the majority of the population to have access to a 5G signal by 2027 relates to standalone full 5G or non-standalone 5G.

In 2017, the government set an ambition for the majority of the population to have access to 5G by 2027. This has been met five years early, with basic “non-standalone” 5G - which uses 5G equipment on 4G infrastructure.

Ofcom Connected Nations Summer Update (7 October 2022) showed that non-standalone 5G is available outside up to 64% of premises across the UK.

Our Wireless Infrastructure Strategy will set out how we can realise the full benefits of 5G for the UK. We aim to publish the strategy later this year.

Julia Lopez
Minister on Leave (Minister of State)
13th Oct 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, when her Department plans to reintroduce the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill to Parliament.

The Data Protection and Digital Information Bill was introduced into the House of Commons on Monday 18 July 2022. Following the election of the new leader of the Conservative Party, Ministers are further considering the Bill and will set out next steps in due course.

Julia Lopez
Minister on Leave (Minister of State)
21st Sep 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate she has made of the potential effect of delays to the Government's response to the Telecommunications (Security) Act 2021 draft designated vendor direction consultation on businesses facing upcoming compliance deadlines.

Earlier this year DCMS held a targeted consultation with 35 public telecoms providers and Huawei on whether to issue a designation notice to Huawei and a designated vendor direction in respect of Huawei’s goods and services, for reasons of national security.

Many telecoms vendors responded to the consultation, feeding back on specific technical aspects of their networks and timeframes to comply with the draft direction.

Due to the technical and security implications of this consultation, it is right that we have taken time to consider and understand all representations - including those from Huawei.

A number of follow up conversations have taken place to ensure that we fully understand all representations, and any implications that may arise from a decision.

Having received and considered consultation responses, and having held follow up conversations, the Secretary of State is now deciding how to respond, and whether or not to issue a designation notice and designated vendor directions for Huawei.

The outcome of this decision making process will be communicated to all relevant parties once it has been taken.

If a decision is taken to issue a designated vendor direction for Huawei, any requirements and deadlines included in the direction will be proportionate to the aim of protecting national security. Where consultees have raised concerns over deadlines, we are considering their concerns fully.

Julia Lopez
Minister on Leave (Minister of State)
21st Sep 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, when her Department will publish its response to the Telecommunications (Security) Act 2021 draft designated vendor direction consultation.

Earlier this year DCMS held a targeted consultation with 35 public telecoms providers and Huawei on whether to issue a designation notice to Huawei and a designated vendor direction in respect of Huawei’s goods and services, for reasons of national security.

Many telecoms vendors responded to the consultation, feeding back on specific technical aspects of their networks and timeframes to comply with the draft direction.

Due to the technical and security implications of this consultation, it is right that we have taken time to consider and understand all representations - including those from Huawei.

A number of follow up conversations have taken place to ensure that we fully understand all representations, and any implications that may arise from a decision.

Having received and considered consultation responses, and having held follow up conversations, the Secretary of State is now deciding how to respond, and whether or not to issue a designation notice and designated vendor directions for Huawei.

The outcome of this decision making process will be communicated to all relevant parties once it has been taken.

If a decision is taken to issue a designated vendor direction for Huawei, any requirements and deadlines included in the direction will be proportionate to the aim of protecting national security. Where consultees have raised concerns over deadlines, we are considering their concerns fully.

Julia Lopez
Minister on Leave (Minister of State)
21st Sep 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, for what reason her Department is yet to respond to the Telecommunications (Security) Act 2021 draft designated vendor direction consultation.

Earlier this year DCMS held a targeted consultation with 35 public telecoms providers and Huawei on whether to issue a designation notice to Huawei and a designated vendor direction in respect of Huawei’s goods and services, for reasons of national security.

Many telecoms vendors responded to the consultation, feeding back on specific technical aspects of their networks and timeframes to comply with the draft direction.

Due to the technical and security implications of this consultation, it is right that we have taken time to consider and understand all representations - including those from Huawei.

A number of follow up conversations have taken place to ensure that we fully understand all representations, and any implications that may arise from a decision.

Having received and considered consultation responses, and having held follow up conversations, the Secretary of State is now deciding how to respond, and whether or not to issue a designation notice and designated vendor directions for Huawei.

The outcome of this decision making process will be communicated to all relevant parties once it has been taken.

If a decision is taken to issue a designated vendor direction for Huawei, any requirements and deadlines included in the direction will be proportionate to the aim of protecting national security. Where consultees have raised concerns over deadlines, we are considering their concerns fully.

Julia Lopez
Minister on Leave (Minister of State)
10th Nov 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions he has had with representatives of local and regional news outlets on matters affecting those outlets as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.

The Government is clear that local and regional newspapers play an invaluable role in the fabric of our society, and it has been an absolute priority to ensure we do all we can to support news publishers at this time of financial instability. With this in mind, we continue to focus both on alleviating the existential threat posed by the pandemic and simultaneously progressing commitments made in our response to the Cairncross Review.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, we have held regular roundtable discussions and bi-lateral meetings with stakeholders from across the industry to better understand their developing needs and concerns, and to inform the support measures we have put in place. To date, these include designating journalists as ‘key workers’; issuing guidance to local authorities on the importance of newspaper delivery; ensuring the use of ‘keyword blocklisting’ technology is not disproportionately limiting news publishers’ online advertising revenues for Covid-19 related stories by ad-blocking coronavirus-related terms; implementing a significant public information campaign across the local and national press to ensure that authoritative, up-to-date information about the Government’s response to Covid-19 is distributed through reliable channels; and fast-tracking the commencement of zero-rating of VAT on e-newspapers.

John Whittingdale
Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
21st Sep 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department is taking to support the roll-out of superfast broadband to communities in (a) South Yorkshire and (b) Barnsley.

The department invested over £10 million in broadband rollout across South Yorkshire. As a result of this, as well as commercial investment, 98% of premises in South Yorkshire now have access to superfast broadband. Nearly 14% of premises can also access gigabit-capable connectivity - up from 0% in February 2016. A further £780,000 has been made available to bring more South Yorkshire premises in scope for a broadband upgrade.

In Barnsley, 98% of premises in Barnsley have access to superfast broadband which is up from 44% in November 2011. Nearly 20% of premises have access to gigabit-capable connectivity, up from 0.4% in August 2018.

For those premises that are still struggling with slow speeds, there are a number of options available to them. DCMS runs a voucher scheme that can be used by rural communities across the UK to reduce the cost of installing gigabit-capable connectivity. This provides a voucher worth up to £3,500 for eligible small businesses and vouchers worth up to £1,500 for residents. ‘Top-up’ schemes run by Local Authorities, who provide their own funding on top of DCMS’s, are also operating across the UK.

The government also introduced the broadband Universal Service Obligation (USO) on 20 March 2020. The USO gives eligible premises in the UK the right to request a decent and affordable connection. The government has defined decent broadband as a service that can provide a download speed of 10Mbps and an upload speed of 1Mbps.

28th Apr 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether his Department has taken steps to restrict targeted online advertising by gambling businesses during the covid-19 outbreak.

The government, Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), and Gambling Commission do not hold data on the frequency at which targeted advertising is shown to or seen by social media users. The nature of targeted advertising makes it difficult to generate accurate figures as the number of targeted gambling advertisements varies considerably between users.

Targeted gambling advertising on social media platforms, like all forms of gambling advertising, is subject to strict controls. Rules on content mean that these adverts must never seek to exploit or appeal to children or vulnerable people, and rules on placement mean that they must never be targeted at these groups. In October 2019 the Gambling Commission issued a challenge to industry to make better use of advertising technology to target away from vulnerable people. Following this, it was announced in April that industry has committed to make better and more consistent use of customer data to ensure paid-for advertising is targeted away from vulnerable people on social media platforms.

The government is aware of concerns that the anxiety and isolation experienced as a result of measures in place to curb the spread of covid 19 may increase the risk of gambling-related harms for some people. In recognition of this, the Minister for Sport, Tourism and Heritage has written to operators to urge them to increase the prominence of safer gambling messaging in all adverts during the current period, including online. In addition, the ASA has written to operators warning them that they must continue to abide by existing rules and must not look to exploit the current situation.

Nigel Huddleston
Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
28th Apr 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the UK gambling industry on the protection of children and vulnerable adults.

The government has made clear that we expect operators to be aware of the potential risk for increased gambling harm as people spend much more time at home and online. I have written and spoken to operators to remind them that they should be particularly responsible regarding player protections and advertising at this time, as have the Gambling Commission and the Advertising Standards Authority. We are continuing to monitor the situation carefully.

The government has welcomed the ‘10 commitments’ launched by the Betting and Gaming Council to ensure safer gambling practices amongst its members. Following engagement and correspondence with the government and the Commission, BGC members have also pledged for the next six weeks to replace all slot, casino and bingo advertising on TV and radio with safer gambling adverts or to donate the slots to charity, and their online advertising will focus more on safer gambling measures.

The Gambling Commission has published Covid specific guidance to customers about staying safe when gambling online, including on how to limit ad exposure on social media and access support if needed. This all comes against a backdrop of continuing government and regulator action, including the introduction of tighter age and identity verification requirements, a ban on credit card gambling and the introduction of Gamstop integration as a condition of holding a licence.

We continue to hold operators to account if they fail to adequately protect consumers at this difficult time and will not hesitate to step in if that becomes necessary.

Nigel Huddleston
Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
13th Oct 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent estimate her Department has made of the number of school buildings impacted by reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) in each region of England.

An updated list of schools and colleges with confirmed cases of RAAC was published on 19 October, which is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/reinforced-autoclaved-aerated-concrete-raac-management-information. This will be updated on a regular basis as new buildings are identified and surveying and remediation are carried out.

19th Sep 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department plans to provide additional funding to early years childcare providers to help increase their capacity ahead of the implementation of Government plans to broaden eligibility for state-funded places.

The Government currently funds local authorities to deliver the government-funded entitlements through the Early Years National Funding Formula (EYNFF) for 3 and 4-year-olds and a separate formula for 2-year-olds. These have been designed to allocate our record investment in early years entitlement funding fairly and transparently across the country.

The EYNFF is made up of a universal base rate, (which is the same hourly funding rate for every child in a local authority) plus funding factors for additional needs, using measures of free school meals; disability living allowance and English as an additional language. The formula also includes an area cost adjustment (ACA) multiplier to reflect variations in costs across different areas of the country. This uses the General Labour Market measure to reflect staff costs and a Rates Cost Adjustment to reflect premises related costs. Each local authority’s EYNFF rate will vary depending on their level of additional needs and their ACA values.

Following a consultation in 2022, the department updated the funding formulae to ensure the funding system remains fair, effective and responsive to changing levels of need across different local authorities.

On 7 July the department announced that the additional £204 million funding for early years in 2023/24, announced at the Spring Budget in March, will be distributed to local authorities via a standalone Early Years Supplementary Grant (EYSG) from September 2023.

To recognise cost variations between local authority areas, we have used the existing funding formulae for 2, 3 and 4-year-olds (and using the same underlying weightings and data that were used to calculate the 2023/24 hourly funding rates) to determine the EYSG rates for each individual local authority.

With the introduction of the new entitlements for working parents of children aged 9 months to 2 years from 2024/25, we have recently finished consulting on our proposed funding formula for distributing funding to local authorities, along with the accompanying local rules for local authorities to follow when passing on this funding to early years providers. That consultation closed on 8 September and we will announce our response and confirm the final hourly funding rates for 2024/25 in the autumn.

We will ensure a phased implementation of the free hours offers, to allow the market to develop the necessary capacity as well as continuing to explore how we can support the sector to deliver the additional places that will be required.

We will work closely with local authorities and providers to identify what needs to be in place to support this significant expansion in childcare provision including capital requirements as well as workforce.

David Johnston
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
19th Sep 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, for what reason her Department plans to provide higher funding per hour for childcare in London than in Barnsley.

The Government currently funds local authorities to deliver the government-funded entitlements through the Early Years National Funding Formula (EYNFF) for 3 and 4-year-olds and a separate formula for 2-year-olds. These have been designed to allocate our record investment in early years entitlement funding fairly and transparently across the country.

The EYNFF is made up of a universal base rate, (which is the same hourly funding rate for every child in a local authority) plus funding factors for additional needs, using measures of free school meals; disability living allowance and English as an additional language. The formula also includes an area cost adjustment (ACA) multiplier to reflect variations in costs across different areas of the country. This uses the General Labour Market measure to reflect staff costs and a Rates Cost Adjustment to reflect premises related costs. Each local authority’s EYNFF rate will vary depending on their level of additional needs and their ACA values.

Following a consultation in 2022, the department updated the funding formulae to ensure the funding system remains fair, effective and responsive to changing levels of need across different local authorities.

On 7 July the department announced that the additional £204 million funding for early years in 2023/24, announced at the Spring Budget in March, will be distributed to local authorities via a standalone Early Years Supplementary Grant (EYSG) from September 2023.

To recognise cost variations between local authority areas, we have used the existing funding formulae for 2, 3 and 4-year-olds (and using the same underlying weightings and data that were used to calculate the 2023/24 hourly funding rates) to determine the EYSG rates for each individual local authority.

With the introduction of the new entitlements for working parents of children aged 9 months to 2 years from 2024/25, we have recently finished consulting on our proposed funding formula for distributing funding to local authorities, along with the accompanying local rules for local authorities to follow when passing on this funding to early years providers. That consultation closed on 8 September and we will announce our response and confirm the final hourly funding rates for 2024/25 in the autumn.

We will ensure a phased implementation of the free hours offers, to allow the market to develop the necessary capacity as well as continuing to explore how we can support the sector to deliver the additional places that will be required.

We will work closely with local authorities and providers to identify what needs to be in place to support this significant expansion in childcare provision including capital requirements as well as workforce.

David Johnston
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
19th Sep 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the implications for her policies on free childcare of the Childcare and early years survey of parents, published on 27 July 2023.

The 2021 Childcare and Early Years Survey of Parents survey findings, particularly around existing use of childcare and the availability of childcare as a barrier to work, were a key input into modelling that informed the policy decision to expand funded early education childcare entitlements for working parents.

The 2022 survey statistics provide a robust baseline and future surveys will be used to monitor and evaluate impacts following the Spring Budget 2023 announcements.

The survey is nationally representative, representing the views of around 6,000 parents with children aged 0-14 in England. It collects detailed information on parents' changing use of childcare, on their awareness of government support for childcare, on their opinions of the availability, affordability and quality of childcare in their local area, and how childcare affects their likelihood of working.

David Johnston
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
19th Sep 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department is taking steps to help ensure that early year providers have sufficient capacity to maintain provision for previously-enrolled children following the extension of eligibility for free childcare.

In the Government’s Spring Budget, my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, announced transformative reforms to childcare for parents, children and the economy. By 2027/28, this Government will expect to be spending in excess of £8 billion every year on free hours and early education to help working families with their childcare costs. This represents the single biggest investment in childcare in England ever.

The Government is providing £204 million in 2023/24, increasing to £288 million by 2024/25 for local authorities to increase the hourly funding rate to providers, increasing year on year to meet rising cost pressures. This substantial uplift is for local authorities to increase the hourly rates paid to providers for delivering the existing entitlements.

The additional £204 million in 2023/24 allows an increase by an average of 32% for the current 2-year-old entitlement, and by an average of 6.3% for the 3-and 4-year-old entitlements. For 2-year-olds, this means that the average hourly rate has risen from the current £6 per hour in 2023-24 to an effective £7.95 per hour. The 3-and 4-year-old national average hourly rate has increased from £5.29 to an effective £5.62 from September 2023.

The Spring Budget also announced an additional £288 million for 2024/25 to allow for further uplifts next year. Funding rates for 2024/25 will be confirmed in the autumn. This is in addition to £4.1 billion of funding provision by 2027/28 to deliver the new offers.

The department is ensuring a phased implementation of the expansion to the 30 hours offer to allow the market to develop the necessary capacity. The sufficiency of childcare places is also continuously being monitored. The key measure of sufficiency is whether the supply of available places is sufficient to meet the requirements of parents and children.

Under Section 6 of the Childcare Act 2006, local authorities are responsible for ensuring that the provision of childcare is sufficient to meet the requirements of parents in their area. Part B of the Early education and childcare statutory guidance for local authorities highlights that local authorities should report annually to elected council members on how they are meeting their duty to secure sufficient childcare, and to make this report available and accessible to parents. More information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-education-and-childcare--2.

The Department has regular contact with each local authority in England about their sufficiency of childcare and any issues they are facing. Where local authorities report sufficiency challenges, we discuss what action the local authority is taking to address those issues and where needed support the local authority with any specific requirements through our childcare sufficiency support contract.

David Johnston
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
18th Sep 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to inform early years providers about the process of accessing funding for school places before changes in the numbers of children who are eligible for nursery places from 2024/25.

Children remain eligible for an early education place until they start in reception at a state-funded school. For many children this will be the September following their 4th birthday, or the term after they turn 5 (which is when they reach compulsory school age).This applies to the process for accessing funding for school places before changes in the number of children who are eligible for nursery places from 2024/25.

David Johnston
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
18th Sep 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to support parents with changes to nursery funding.

In the government’s Spring Budget, the Chancellor announced transformative reforms to childcare for parents, children, the economy and women. By 2027/28, this government expects to be spending in excess of £8 billion every year on free childcare hours and early education, helping families with pre-school children with their childcare costs. This represents the single biggest investment in childcare in England ever.

Our reforms include:

  • Providing over £4.1 billion by 2027/28 to fund 30 hours of free childcare for children over the age of nine months.
  • Investing £204 million from this September, rising to £288 million next year to uplift the rates for existing entitlements.
  • Increasing the supply of wraparound care through £289 million start-up funding.
  • Attracting more people to childminding through an up to £7.2 million start up grant fund.
  • Giving providers more flexibility by changing staff to child ratios to 1:5 for two- year-olds in England.

The department will continue to work closely with the sector on the implementation of these reforms and will set out further details in due course. This is a massive expansion in the offer and will take some time to implement and rollout. The department wants to make sure that taxpayers’ money is used efficiently and that the new offer is delivered in the best way.

The government’s Childcare Choices communications campaign aims to ensure every parent knows about the government funded support they are eligible for. Further information on Childcare Choices is available at: https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/. Further information on the full range of support available to parents can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs/.

David Johnston
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
18th Sep 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that differences in regional needs are taken into account in early years provision.

Under Section 6 of the Childcare Act 2006, local authorities are responsible for ensuring that the provision of childcare is sufficient to meet the requirements of parents in their area. Part B of the ‘Early education and childcare’ statutory guidance for local authorities highlights that local authorities should report annually to elected council members on how they are meeting their duty to secure sufficient childcare, and to make this report available and accessible to parents. The ‘Early education and childcare’ statutory guidance can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-education-and-childcare--2.

The department has regular contact with each local authority in England about their sufficiency of childcare and any issues they are facing.

Where local authorities report sufficiency challenges, the department discusses what action the local authority is taking to address those issues and where needed supports the local authority with any specific requirements through its childcare sufficiency support contract.

The department knows that the sector is facing economic challenges, similar to the challenges being faced across the economy. The department continues to engage with sector stakeholders and local authorities to monitor dynamics with local markets, parents’ access to the government’s entitlements and the childcare they require, and the sustainability of the sector.

The government is providing £204 million this year, and £288 million in 2024/25, for local authorities to increase hourly rates paid to childcare providers, with funding uplifting year on year to meet rising cost pressures.

The additional £204m is being distributed to local authorities via a new standalone Early years Supplementary Grant (EYSG) in 2023/24.

As a result of this additional funding, funding rates to local authorities have risen by an average of 32% for the current 2-year-old entitlement, and by an average of 6.3% for the 3 to 4-year-old entitlements from September 2023, compared to their current 2023/24 rates.

The EYSG rate for 2-year-olds is, on average, £1.95 per hour. This means that the national average hourly rate that local authorities will receive has risen from the current £6 per hour to £7.95.

The EYSG rate for 3 and 4-year-olds is, on average, 33 pence per hour. Similarly, the national average hourly rate received by local authorities has risen from £5.29 to £5.62.

This funding is in addition to £4.1 billion by 2027/28 to deliver the new offers.

As part of the consultation published on 21 July, the department has published illustrative local authority hourly funding rates for those 2 years old and under for 2024/25. The department currently anticipates that, in 2024/25, the national average rates would be £8.17 for the 2-year-old entitlements and £11.06 for younger children. These illustrative rates are likely to change following the outcome of the consultation and when the latest data becomes available. The department will confirm final 2024/25 hourly funding rates for local authorities in the autumn.

The department will ensure a phased implementation of the free hours offers, to allow the market to develop the necessary capacity.

David Johnston
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
18th Sep 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of regional disparities in funding available for early years providers.

The government currently funds local authorities to deliver the government-funded entitlements through the Early Years National Funding Formula (EYNFF) for 3 and 4-year-olds and a separate formula for 2-year-olds. These have been designed to allocate the department’s record investment in early years entitlement funding fairly and transparently across the country.

The EYNFF is made up of a universal base rate, which is the same hourly funding rate for every child in a local authority, plus funding factors for additional needs, based on the measures of free school meals, disability living allowance, and English as an additional language.

The formula also includes an area cost adjustment (ACA) multiplier to reflect variations in costs across different areas of the country. This uses the General Labour Market measure to reflect staff costs and a Rates Cost Adjustment to reflect premises related costs.

Each local authority’s EYNFF rate will vary depending on their level of additional needs and their ACA values. Following a consultation in 2022, the department has updated the funding formulae to ensure the funding system remains fair, effective and responsive to changing levels of need across different local authorities.

To distribute the additional £204 million funding provided from September for the existing entitlements through the Early Years Supplementary Grant (EYSG), the department has used the existing funding formulae for 2, 3 and 4-year-olds. This allows the department to recognise cost variations between local authority areas when determining the EYSG rates for individual local authorities.

With the introduction of the new entitlements for working parents of children aged 9 months to 2 years from 2024/25, the department has recently finished consulting on its proposed funding formula for distributing funding to local authorities, along with the accompanying local rules for local authorities to follow when passing on this funding to early years providers. That consultation closed on 8 September and the department will announce its response and confirm the final hourly funding rates for 2024/25 later this year.

At a local level, local authorities are responsible for setting individual provider funding rates in consultation with their providers and schools forum, and fund providers using their local funding formula. In setting their local funding formula, all local authorities are required to use the same base rate for all providers. On top of the base rate, additional funding can be paid to providers to reflect local needs through the use of a mandatory supplement for deprivation, and other discretionary supplements. But supplements are capped at a maximum of 12% of the total funding to providers.

David Johnston
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
18th Sep 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to manage increases in demand for nursery places.

Concerning the number of new spaces that will need to be made available for pre-school childcare providers, the department used the results from the 2021 Childcare and early years survey as a guide. The results of this survey are accessible at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/childcare-and-early-years-survey-of-parents/2021. The data tables at 1.6 and 1.7 show the proportion of children at the relevant ages using formal childcare, and for how long per week. This data was used to estimate, of the children using the offer, how many need new places compared to how many already would pay for childcare under the pre-existing system.

The department is providing £204 million this year, increasing to £288 million by 2024/25, for local authorities to increase the hourly funding rate to providers. As a result of this additional funding, funding rates to local authorities will rise by an average of 32% for the current 2-year-old entitlement, and by an average of 6.3% for 3-4-year-old entitlements from September 2023, compared to their current 2023/24 rates.

The department is ensuring a phased implementation of the expansion to the 30 hours offer to allow the market to develop the necessary capacity. The department is also launching a new national recruitment campaign to support the recruitment and retention of talented staff to support the expansion of the 30 hours offer.

We are also consulting on changes to the early years foundation stage framework that aim to reduce known burdens on providers and offer them more flexibility. The department is continuing to explore how the sector can be supported to deliver the additional places that will be required.

We will also continue to monitor the sufficiency of childcare places. The department’s childcare and early years provider survey shows that the number of places available has remained broadly stable since 2019.

The key measure of sufficiency is whether the supply of available places is sufficient to meet the requirements of parents and children.

Under Section 6 of the Childcare Act 2006, local authorities are responsible for ensuring that the provision of childcare is sufficient to meet the requirements of parents in their area. Part B of the early education and childcare statutory guidance for local authorities highlights that local authorities are required to report annually to elected council members on how they are meeting their duty to secure sufficient childcare, and to make this report available and accessible to parents.

The department has regular contact with each local authority in England about their sufficiency of childcare and any issues they are facing.

Where local authorities report sufficiency challenges, the department discusses what action the local authority is taking to address those issues and, where needed, supports the local authority with any specific requirements through our childcare sufficiency support contract.

David Johnston
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
15th Sep 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the availability of school places for children with SEND.

The statutory duty to provide sufficient school places for children with Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND) sits with local authorities. The department supports local authorities by providing annual funding and monitors local authorities financial performance through meetings with officials, the department’s SEND advisors and through programmes such as the Safety Valve programme.

The department has published over £1.5 billion of High Needs Provision Capital Allocations (HNPCA) for the 2022/23 and 2023/24 financial years. This funding is allocated to local authorities to support them deliver new places and improve existing provision for children and young people with SEND or who require alternative provision (AP). Barnsley are receiving £7.1 million.

This funding forms part of the department’s transformational investment of £2.6 billion in new high needs provision between 2022 and 2025. This funding is on top of the department’s ongoing delivery of new special and AP free schools.

Starting from Summer 2023 the department has, for the first time, collected data from local authorities on available capacity in special schools, SEND units and resourced provision, along with corresponding forecasts of demand for these places. This data will help the department to more effectively support local authorities to fulfil their statutory duty to provide sufficient specialist places.

David Johnston
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
15th Sep 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department holds regional data on the number of children with SEND who are not in formal education.

The department holds data on the number of children and young people with an Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan, including the setting in which the child or young person is typically educated or where they are not in education or training for any reason. The information is available in the National Statistics publication at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/education-health-and-care-plans. The data can be broken down by region and local authority.

David Johnston
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
15th Sep 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many children with SEND are not in formal education.

The department holds data on the number of children and young people with an Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan, including the setting in which the child or young person is typically educated or where they are not in education or training for any reason. The information is available in the National Statistics publication at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/education-health-and-care-plans. The data can be broken down by region and local authority.

David Johnston
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
15th Sep 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department are taking to support schools to provide formal education to children with SEND.

In the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Alternative Provision (AP) Improvement Plan, published in March 2023, the department outlined its commitment to ensuring that children and young people with SEND or attending AP enjoy their childhood, achieve good outcomes and feel well prepared for adulthood and employment

To ensure teachers have the knowledge and skills to deliver high-quality teaching for pupils with SEND, the department has implemented a ‘golden thread’ of evidence-based teacher training reforms, from initial teacher training through Early Career Framework-based induction and on to National Professional Qualifications (NPQ) for more experienced teachers. This support includes the introduction of a new leadership level NPQ for Special Educational Needs Coordinators.

High needs revenue funding will rise to £10.5 billion in 2024/25, a 60% increase on 2019/20 allocations. As part of this investment, £2.6 billion of funding will support local authorities to deliver new places in mainstream, special schools and AP, and to improve the suitability of existing buildings. Through its £70 million Change Programme, the department is testing and refining the Improvement Plan reforms to improve outcomes and experiences for children and young people with SEND and their families.

David Johnston
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
15th Sep 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department have taken provide children with SEND who are not currently in formal education environments with access to care and adjustments to help them return to education as soon as possible.

School attendance is mandatory. Regular attendance at school is vital for children’s education, wellbeing and long-term development. To promote strong attendance, all schools should be calm, safe, and supportive environments where pupils and staff can thrive in safety and respect.

The department understands that barriers to attendance are wide and complex, particularly for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Addressing these requires a support-first approach and strong relationships between families, schools, local authorities, and other relevant local services.

When considering the appropriate action to address absence, schools and local authorities should consider the individual circumstances of each pupil and family and take the best course of action to support the child’s return to school. The department encourages parents to work with their child’s school and the local authority to discuss the reasons behind their child’s absence. They should agree together an action plan, so that the right support can be put in place to help their child to return to regular and consistent education.

The department published the SEND and Alternative Provision Improvement Plan in March 2023. This sets out the department’s longer-term plans to tackle inconsistency in the system and promote attendance through new national standards.

David Johnston
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
15th Sep 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department took to ensure that responses to the SEND consultation were received from all regions in England.

During the 16-week consultation on the Special Educational Needs (SEND) and Alternative Provision (AP) Green Paper, the department received around 6,000 online responses from the sector including children, young people, families, schools and local government. In addition, 175 online and in person consultation events were delivered, receiving responses from a further 4,500 people. To support receiving responses from people across the country, these events were promoted through a wide range of communication channels, including working in partnership with the Council for Disabled Children and the regional parent carer forums via the National Network of Parent Carer Forums who represent families from each English region.

The department also allowed organisations to submit consultation responses. Annex 4 of the independent analysis of the consultation responses shows the wide range of responses received from across the country.

The department continues to engage with the SEND and AP sector as reforms are designed and tested through the Change Programme. This will ensure a wide range of perspectives are considered to improve the outcomes and experiences of children and young people with SEND and in AP.

David Johnston
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
15th Sep 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department has taken to consult with (a) children and (b) the families of children with SEND who are not in formal education as part of the SEND Review.

The consultation on the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Alternative Provision (AP) Green Paper ran from 10 March to 22 July, during this time the department received around 6,000 responses to the online consultation and delivered 175 consultation events hearing from over 4,500 people.

The department designed specific consultation questions for children and young people, proactively engaged with seldom heard groups. Consultation events were also delivered with stakeholders such as the Council for Disabled Children’s Friendship, Learning, Achieve, Reach and Empower (FLARE) children and young people’s group and the National Network of Parent Carer Forums that amplified the voices of children, young people and their families, to ensure their views were captured in the consultation feedback.

The department continues to engage with children, young people and their families as we design and test reforms through the Change Programme. This will ensure a wide range of perspectives are considered to improve the outcomes and experiences of children and young people with SEND and in AP.

David Johnston
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
15th Sep 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department are taking to support parents and guardians whose children have not been in a formal education environment for over six months due to special educational needs requirements.

In the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Alternative Provision (AP) Improvement Plan, published in March 2023, the department outlined its commitment to build a consistent national SEND and AP system that parents and carers can trust, easily navigate, and have confidence in.

The department understands that barriers to attendance are wide and complex, particularly for pupils with SEND. The attendance guidance for schools and local authorities expects schools, trusts and local authorities to provide joined up support for children and their families facing special educational needs, health or disability related barriers to attendance.

Through the AP Specialist Taskforce Pilots, the department is also working directly with young people and their families who are at risk of disengaging with education to offer intensive support. The pilot has supported more than 2,500 children so far, 77% of whom have SEND.

Where parents have elected to home educate their child, some local authorities will provide support at their discretion. The department is committed to introducing statutory local authority registers for children not in school, and a duty for local authorities to provide support to home-educating families. We continue to work with local authorities to ensure all children are receiving a suitable education.

David Johnston
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
14th Sep 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the new standards for equal access to sports announced by her Department on 8 March 2023, whether her Department has issued updated guidance for schools on using the funding to support pupils with physical education, sport and games.

On 19 July 2023, the Government published an update to the School Sport and Activity Action Plan (SSAAP). The update builds on the Government’s announcement in March that set out new ambitions for equal access to PE and sport for girls and boys, two hours of PE a week, alongside over £600 million funding for the primary PE and Sport Premium and the School Games Organiser Network.

Alongside the SSAAP, the Department has published updated guidance for primary schools on the PE and Sport Premium, including a new digital tool to support schools in using the funding to the best advantage of their pupils. This will be piloted in 2024 and become mandatory in 2025.

The Department will publish non-statutory guidance for schools later this year, which will illustrate the practical steps taken by schools to provide two hours of PE and equal access for girls and boys.

20th Jul 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he Department is taking steps to support families on low incomes through provision of nutritious meals for children over school holidays.

The department is aware school holidays can be particular pressure points for some families because of increased costs, such as food and childcare, and reduced incomes.

This year, the government in England is again investing over £200 million in the Holiday Activities and Food programme, with all local authorities delivering in the Easter, summer and Christmas holidays. The programme provides heathy meals, enriching activities, and free childcare places to children from low-income families, benefiting their health, wellbeing and learning. Last summer, the programme reached around 600,000 children across England, including over 475,000 children eligible for free school meals across England.

David Johnston
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
13th Jul 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the affordability of school holiday clubs.

The department recognises that school holidays can be particular pressure points for some families because of increased costs such as food and childcare, and reduced incomes. For some children, that can lead to a holiday experience gap, with children from disadvantaged families less likely to access organised out-of-school activities, more likely to experience ‘unhealthy holidays’ in terms of nutrition and physical health and are more likely to experience social isolation. Free holiday clubs are a response to this issue and evidence suggests that they can have a positive impact on children and young people.

This year, the government is again investing over £200 million in our Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme, with all local authorities in England delivering the programme in the Easter, summer and Christmas holidays. The HAF programme provides heathy meals, enriching activities and free childcare places to children from low-income families, benefiting their health, wellbeing and learning. Last summer, the programme reached around 600,000 children across England, including over 475,000 children eligible for free school meals across England.

The department’s 2021 independent evaluation of the 2021 HAF summer programme found that 730,000 children attended a HAF summer holiday club in person, of which 616,000 places were directly funded by HAF and 498,000 were eligible for benefits-related free school meals (FSM). The evaluation also found that two-thirds of HAF attendees lived in one of the 30% most deprived areas across the country.

As in previous years, local authorities have discretion to use up to 15% of their funding to provide free or subsidised holiday club places for children who are not in receipt of benefits-related FSM, but who the local authority believe could benefit from HAF, such as other vulnerable children. This could include, where appropriate, providing places at HAF clubs that support working families. In deciding which children should benefit from the 15% flexible funding, local authorities are asked to ensure that these places are aligned to their local priorities. The department also encourages all our providers to offer paid places, alongside HAF-funded, to increase the reach of holiday clubs. Clubs must provide healthy free meals, nutritional education, and physical activities on a daily basis.

Claire Coutinho
Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
13th Jul 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of the number of opportunities that children from low-income families have to participate in activities during the summer holidays.

The department recognises that school holidays can be particular pressure points for some families because of increased costs such as food and childcare, and reduced incomes. For some children, that can lead to a holiday experience gap, with children from disadvantaged families less likely to access organised out-of-school activities, more likely to experience ‘unhealthy holidays’ in terms of nutrition and physical health and are more likely to experience social isolation. Free holiday clubs are a response to this issue and evidence suggests that they can have a positive impact on children and young people.

This year, the government is again investing over £200 million in our Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme, with all local authorities in England delivering the programme in the Easter, summer and Christmas holidays. The HAF programme provides heathy meals, enriching activities and free childcare places to children from low-income families, benefiting their health, wellbeing and learning. Last summer, the programme reached around 600,000 children across England, including over 475,000 children eligible for free school meals across England.

The department’s 2021 independent evaluation of the 2021 HAF summer programme found that 730,000 children attended a HAF summer holiday club in person, of which 616,000 places were directly funded by HAF and 498,000 were eligible for benefits-related free school meals (FSM). The evaluation also found that two-thirds of HAF attendees lived in one of the 30% most deprived areas across the country.

As in previous years, local authorities have discretion to use up to 15% of their funding to provide free or subsidised holiday club places for children who are not in receipt of benefits-related FSM, but who the local authority believe could benefit from HAF, such as other vulnerable children. This could include, where appropriate, providing places at HAF clubs that support working families. In deciding which children should benefit from the 15% flexible funding, local authorities are asked to ensure that these places are aligned to their local priorities. The department also encourages all our providers to offer paid places, alongside HAF-funded, to increase the reach of holiday clubs. Clubs must provide healthy free meals, nutritional education, and physical activities on a daily basis.

Claire Coutinho
Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
13th Jul 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of taking steps with local authorities to provide subsidised holiday club spaces to children from low-income families who are not eligible for free school meals.

The department recognises that school holidays can be particular pressure points for some families because of increased costs such as food and childcare, and reduced incomes. For some children, that can lead to a holiday experience gap, with children from disadvantaged families less likely to access organised out-of-school activities, more likely to experience ‘unhealthy holidays’ in terms of nutrition and physical health and are more likely to experience social isolation. Free holiday clubs are a response to this issue and evidence suggests that they can have a positive impact on children and young people.

This year, the government is again investing over £200 million in our Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme, with all local authorities in England delivering the programme in the Easter, summer and Christmas holidays. The HAF programme provides heathy meals, enriching activities and free childcare places to children from low-income families, benefiting their health, wellbeing and learning. Last summer, the programme reached around 600,000 children across England, including over 475,000 children eligible for free school meals across England.

The department’s 2021 independent evaluation of the 2021 HAF summer programme found that 730,000 children attended a HAF summer holiday club in person, of which 616,000 places were directly funded by HAF and 498,000 were eligible for benefits-related free school meals (FSM). The evaluation also found that two-thirds of HAF attendees lived in one of the 30% most deprived areas across the country.

As in previous years, local authorities have discretion to use up to 15% of their funding to provide free or subsidised holiday club places for children who are not in receipt of benefits-related FSM, but who the local authority believe could benefit from HAF, such as other vulnerable children. This could include, where appropriate, providing places at HAF clubs that support working families. In deciding which children should benefit from the 15% flexible funding, local authorities are asked to ensure that these places are aligned to their local priorities. The department also encourages all our providers to offer paid places, alongside HAF-funded, to increase the reach of holiday clubs. Clubs must provide healthy free meals, nutritional education, and physical activities on a daily basis.

Claire Coutinho
Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
13th Jul 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what (a) algorithmic and (b) other automated decision making systems her Department uses; and for what purposes.

Information relating to use of algorithmic and other automated decision making systems to make automated decisions is not centrally held within the Department.

The Department uses elements of Automation, Robotics and Machine Learning, although much of the work remains experimental. Most automation that has been developed is for internal use and is aimed at improving the Department’s operational processes and not to aid implementation of policies. Neither the Department’s robotics/automation nor machine learning work are used in isolation to make decisions and do not drive decisions or actions directly or in an automated fashion.

The Department’s automation and robotics work includes using business rules to assign correspondence to team queues and text readers to help read and analyse reports. It also includes automation of data flows and validation processes, robots to develop and publish management information reports and analytical insight tools, and chatbots. Guidance for public sector organisations on how to use automated or algorithmic decision making systems in a safe, sustainable and ethical way can be accessed at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ethics-transparency-and-accountability-framework-for-automated-decision-making.

20th Jun 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the oral contribution of the Minister for Data and Digital Infrastructure of 14 June 2023 at Topical Questions, T7, Official Report, column 286, what plans her Department has to (a) utilise the provisions in Part 3 of the Data Protection and Digital Information (No. 2) Bill and (b) use smart data in new sectors.

The Department is preparing for the introduction of the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill and has a dedicated resource that is focusing on understanding what the impact the Bill on its data protection practices. Given that the Bill has not been finalised, the Department does not have an update in respect of Part 3 as it is considering the wider impact of the changes.

2nd Mar 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Answer of 3 February 2023 to Question 133725 on Department for Education: Data Protection, if she will publish the recommendations from the audit by the Information Commissioner's Office; what steps her Department has taken to implement the recommendations; what steps must be taken to implement the remaining three per cent. of recommendations; and if she will make a statement.

​The Department has now deposited a redacted copy of the agreement in the Library.

​The Department has made significant progress in improving data protection processes and intends to publish an updated summary of recommendations and actions taken, in relation to these, in spring 2023.

2nd Mar 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Answer of 13 January 2023 to Question 113179, when she plans to place a copy of the Trustopia agreement in the Library; and for what reason the placement of the agreement in the Library has been delayed.

​The Department has now deposited a redacted copy of the agreement in the Library.

​The Department has made significant progress in improving data protection processes and intends to publish an updated summary of recommendations and actions taken, in relation to these, in spring 2023.

26th Jan 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the 2018-2020 LRS Data Breach by Trustopia, who within her Department is accountable for improving its data protection practices.

The Department does not use the Learning Records Service (LRS) information for age verification, although it does include dates of birth for identification purposes. The dates of birth on the service was misused by Trustopia to search for individuals that it had already acquired data to confirm the age given to Trustopia matched what was held on the LRS by the department.

UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) states that if a breach is likely to result in a high risk to the rights and freedoms of individuals, the Department must inform those concerned directly and without undue delay. As no additional personal data of pupils past and present was compromised by the breach, whilst the breach itself remained serious, it did not pose a high risk to individuals.

Once aware, the Department took immediate action and referred the incident to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). At the time of the breach, the Department was already working closely with the ICO in relation to the audit already in progress.

Procedures for monitoring unusual activity have been strengthened, along with additional improvements. These improvements include a more robust application process, better in-application audit processes that have been used to monitor and remove users who may not be using the system in accordance with their agreement, and the ability to remove or suspend accounts quickly in the event of possible misuse.

The Department has made significant progress in improving processes and has completed 97% of the ICO recommendations to date, with plans to complete the remaining recommendations by the end of March 2023. All actions relating to the LRS data breach have been completed.

The Department continues to work closely with the ICO. No further controls from the ICO have been placed upon the Department.

The Office of the Data Protection Officer leads on ensuring compliance with Data Protection Legislation for the Department, led by the Departmental Data Protection Officer. The team continues to work with the Department and the ICO to make further improvements in the Department’s data protection practices.

26th Jan 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the 2018-2020 LRS Data Breach by Trustopia, what steps her Department has taken since that incident to improve their data protection practices.

The Department does not use the Learning Records Service (LRS) information for age verification, although it does include dates of birth for identification purposes. The dates of birth on the service was misused by Trustopia to search for individuals that it had already acquired data to confirm the age given to Trustopia matched what was held on the LRS by the department.

UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) states that if a breach is likely to result in a high risk to the rights and freedoms of individuals, the Department must inform those concerned directly and without undue delay. As no additional personal data of pupils past and present was compromised by the breach, whilst the breach itself remained serious, it did not pose a high risk to individuals.

Once aware, the Department took immediate action and referred the incident to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). At the time of the breach, the Department was already working closely with the ICO in relation to the audit already in progress.

Procedures for monitoring unusual activity have been strengthened, along with additional improvements. These improvements include a more robust application process, better in-application audit processes that have been used to monitor and remove users who may not be using the system in accordance with their agreement, and the ability to remove or suspend accounts quickly in the event of possible misuse.

The Department has made significant progress in improving processes and has completed 97% of the ICO recommendations to date, with plans to complete the remaining recommendations by the end of March 2023. All actions relating to the LRS data breach have been completed.

The Department continues to work closely with the ICO. No further controls from the ICO have been placed upon the Department.

The Office of the Data Protection Officer leads on ensuring compliance with Data Protection Legislation for the Department, led by the Departmental Data Protection Officer. The team continues to work with the Department and the ICO to make further improvements in the Department’s data protection practices.

26th Jan 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the 2018-2020 LRS Data Breach by Trustopia, whether pupils past and present will be informed that their personal data was used by LRS for age verification purposes.

The Department does not use the Learning Records Service (LRS) information for age verification, although it does include dates of birth for identification purposes. The dates of birth on the service was misused by Trustopia to search for individuals that it had already acquired data to confirm the age given to Trustopia matched what was held on the LRS by the department.

UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) states that if a breach is likely to result in a high risk to the rights and freedoms of individuals, the Department must inform those concerned directly and without undue delay. As no additional personal data of pupils past and present was compromised by the breach, whilst the breach itself remained serious, it did not pose a high risk to individuals.

Once aware, the Department took immediate action and referred the incident to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). At the time of the breach, the Department was already working closely with the ICO in relation to the audit already in progress.

Procedures for monitoring unusual activity have been strengthened, along with additional improvements. These improvements include a more robust application process, better in-application audit processes that have been used to monitor and remove users who may not be using the system in accordance with their agreement, and the ability to remove or suspend accounts quickly in the event of possible misuse.

The Department has made significant progress in improving processes and has completed 97% of the ICO recommendations to date, with plans to complete the remaining recommendations by the end of March 2023. All actions relating to the LRS data breach have been completed.

The Department continues to work closely with the ICO. No further controls from the ICO have been placed upon the Department.

The Office of the Data Protection Officer leads on ensuring compliance with Data Protection Legislation for the Department, led by the Departmental Data Protection Officer. The team continues to work with the Department and the ICO to make further improvements in the Department’s data protection practices.

9th Nov 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much funding primary schools in Barnsley East constituency have received each academic year since 2010.

Allocations are calculated by Local Authority area, not by constituency. Maintained school allocations are calculated for a financial year that runs from April to March, while academies are funded on a financial year that matches the academic year. The figures provided show the total for the financial year across primary and secondary schools.

The revenue funding figures shown below are for 2013 to 2022. Before 2013/14, funding allocated by the Department through the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) was allocated to Local Authorities as a single amount that was intended to fund school budget shares (including academies), local authority central services for schools, additional support for high needs pupils, and provision for early years education.

In 2013/14 the DSG was divided into funding blocks for a schools block, central services schools block, high needs block and early years block. The schools block is allocated based on the number of pupils in schools within each Local Authority. The amounts allocated by Barnsley Metropolitan Council from their schools block to primary and secondary schools and academies for each year since 2013/14 to 2021/22 are shown in the following table:

Financial year

Schools classed as primary schools (£)

Schools classed as secondary schools (£)

Total (£)

2013/14

27,852,000

23,767,000

51,619,000

2014/15

29,310,000

22,598,000

51,908,000

2015/16

30,049,000

21,617,000

51,666,000

2016/17

30,582,000

21,092,000

51,674,000

2017/18

31,268,000

21,256,000

52,524,000

2018/19

31,979,000

21,783,000

53,762,000

2019/20

37,875,000

25,593,000

63,468,000

2020/21

40,933,000

29,271,000

70,204,000

2021/22

41,989,000

31,237,000

73,226,000

*From 2019/20 onwards Pupil Premium, PE/Sport, and Universal Infant School Meals Grants are included

*Information for 2022/23 is due for publication at the end of January 2023.

This funding is allocated using the Local Authority’s own formulae based upon nationally agreed factors and the attached table shows the allocations for each school, rounded to the nearest £1,000.

Figures showing funding for each school in the Barnsley Metropolitan Council and relevant links to where these figures are published are provided in the attached table.

9th Nov 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much funding secondary schools in Barnsley East constituency have received each academic year since 2010.

Allocations are calculated by Local Authority area, not by constituency. Maintained school allocations are calculated for a financial year that runs from April to March, while academies are funded on a financial year that matches the academic year. The figures provided show the total for the financial year across primary and secondary schools.

The revenue funding figures shown below are for 2013 to 2022. Before 2013/14, funding allocated by the Department through the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) was allocated to Local Authorities as a single amount that was intended to fund school budget shares (including academies), local authority central services for schools, additional support for high needs pupils, and provision for early years education.

In 2013/14 the DSG was divided into funding blocks for a schools block, central services schools block, high needs block and early years block. The schools block is allocated based on the number of pupils in schools within each Local Authority. The amounts allocated by Barnsley Metropolitan Council from their schools block to primary and secondary schools and academies for each year since 2013/14 to 2021/22 are shown in the following table:

Financial year

Schools classed as primary schools (£)

Schools classed as secondary schools (£)

Total (£)

2013/14

27,852,000

23,767,000

51,619,000

2014/15

29,310,000

22,598,000

51,908,000

2015/16

30,049,000

21,617,000

51,666,000

2016/17

30,582,000

21,092,000

51,674,000

2017/18

31,268,000

21,256,000

52,524,000

2018/19

31,979,000

21,783,000

53,762,000

2019/20

37,875,000

25,593,000

63,468,000

2020/21

40,933,000

29,271,000

70,204,000

2021/22

41,989,000

31,237,000

73,226,000

*From 2019/20 onwards Pupil Premium, PE/Sport, and Universal Infant School Meals Grants are included

*Information for 2022/23 is due for publication at the end of January 2023.

This funding is allocated using the Local Authority’s own formulae based upon nationally agreed factors and the attached table shows the allocations for each school, rounded to the nearest £1,000.

Figures showing funding for each school in the Barnsley Metropolitan Council and relevant links to where these figures are published are provided in the attached table.

9th Nov 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what financial support the Government is providing to schools to help address the cost of living crisis.

Overall, core schools funding, including funding for both mainstream schools and high needs, increased by £4 billion in the 2022/23 financial year compared to the previous financial year, which equates to a 7% cash increase in funding per pupil.

Schools will also benefit from the Energy Bill Relief Scheme. This will reduce how much schools need to spend on their energy, and give schools greater certainty over their budgets over the winter months. The details of the scheme can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/energy-bill-relief-scheme-help-for-businesses-and-other-non-domestic-customers.

The Department is also supporting schools with the school resource management (SRM) advice, which is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/schools-financial-health-and-efficiency. This includes a free range of practical tools and information to help all schools unlock efficiencies, which they can then reinvest based on their own priorities.

The SRM advice includes recommended deals for energy costs and ancillary services. The Department is also updating and strengthening guidance on a regular basis to inform schools of the market and commercial position, with practical advice on new and exiting existing contracts. More information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/get-help-buying-for-schools.

The Department knows that every school’s circumstances are different, and where schools are in serious financial difficulty, they should contact their Local Authority or the Education and Skills Funding Agency, who can provide advice and, in exceptional circumstances, financial support.

9th Nov 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he is taking steps to (a) issue guidance and (b) provide support for teachers where their pupils schooling has been impacted by the financial situation of their families, in the context of the cost of living crisis; and what assessment he has made of the impact of rising energy costs on school's budgets to provide support for low-income pupils.

The Department continues to assess and monitor the effects of inflationary pressures on schools’ budgets. This includes working with schools to understand the effects on low-income pupils.

The 2022 Autumn Statement has provided an additional net increase in the core schools budget of £2 billion in 2023/24, and a further £2 billion in 2024/25, over and above totals announced at the Autumn and Budget Spending Review 2021. This brings the core schools budget to a total of £58.8 billion in 2024/25. This will enable head teachers to continue to concentrate funding in the areas that positively support educational attainment. The 2022 Autumn Statement brings school funding for both mainstream and high needs to £4 billion higher than last year and will rise by a further £3.5 billion next year.

There will be targeted support for disadvantaged pupils through the pupil premium and the National Funding Formula (NFF). In the 2022/23 financial year, the Department is allocating approximately £2,000 per pupil, for all pupils who have been eligible for free school meals (FSM) at any point in the last six years. In total, this is an increase of 15% funding in two years.

From October 2022 to 31 March 2023, schools will benefit from the Energy Bill Relief Scheme. This will provide a price reduction to protect them from high energy bills over the winter period.

The Department’s schools resource management (SRM) guidance includes Department approved frameworks for energy costs and ancillary services relating to energy. Schools can obtain free procurement support on energy and all other buying needs via the Get Help Buying for Schools service.

The Government is offering support to help families with the costs of childcare, housing, transport, and bills. The Help for Households’ guidance lists Government cost of living support available to families.

9th Jun 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many children in Barnsley East constituency have been in receipt of free school meals each month since May 2021.

Data on the number of pupils eligible for free school meals is published annually in the ‘Schools, pupils and their characteristics’ National Statistics release, available at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-pupils-and-their-characteristics.

In January 2022, there were 4,084 pupils eligible for free school meals in Barnsley East constituency. In January 2021, there were 3,792 pupils eligible for free school meals in Barnsley East constituency.

29th Mar 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to plans outlined in the Veterans’ Strategy Action Plan 2022-24 to promote opportunities for service leavers to get into teaching, how his Department plans to measure and evaluate the success of those plans.

The department is committed to further promoting opportunities for service leavers to get into teaching. Many veterans already use our services to support service leavers into Initial Teacher Training (ITT) each year.

Through collaboration with the science, technology, engineering and maths communities and the Office for Veterans’ Affairs, and in partnership with the Careers Transition Partnership in the Ministry of Defence, we are working to further develop this offer. This will include increased signposting, tailored communications, hosting webinars, careers fairs, and information sessions for service leavers.

The department plans to track several data points through all these activities to determine the success of, and engagement with, the offer, and over the longer term track the wider journey through to ITT. All of this will help us develop and evolve our offer to ensure it meets the needs of service leavers wishing to enter the profession.

29th Mar 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what funding has been allocated to promote opportunities for veterans to go into teaching.

For veterans who do not already hold a degree, the department offers a Troops to Teachers undergraduate bursary worth £40,000. This is paid over two years to veterans who undertake an undergraduate initial teacher training (ITT) course in secondary biology, chemistry, computing, languages, mathematics or physics. Veterans who hold a degree can access the postgraduate ITT bursaries and scholarships of up to £26,000 that we offer for secondary biology, chemistry, computing, design and technology, geography, languages, mathematics and physics courses.

Regardless of the subject or phase they train in, veterans can also access student finance to complete undergraduate and postgraduate ITT courses. This includes a tuition fee loan, maintenance loan and additional means-tested funding for trainees in particular circumstances, including those with children, adult dependants, or a disability.

All of the above funding is allocated on a demand-led basis so there is no limit to the number of veterans who can access this funding to enter teaching.

16th Dec 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether Ofsted inspections for schools previously rated outstanding are taking priority over inspections on other schools.

There are no longer any schools exempt from inspection as a result of having been rated Outstanding. The exemption from routine inspection, which applied to 3,446 outstanding schools at the time, was removed in November 2020. The removal took place at a time when Ofsted’s routine inspections were suspended due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

In September 2021, Ofsted resumed its programme of routine inspections and will aim to inspect every state funded school, including previously exempt outstanding schools, by the end of summer 2025. Ofsted will continue to prioritise schools most in need of inspection, particularly those with the lowest Ofsted grades and outstanding schools that have gone the longest without a visit.

16th Dec 2021
To the Secretary of State for Education, how many schools are exempt from Ofsted inspections as a result of having been rated outstanding.

There are no longer any schools exempt from inspection as a result of having been rated Outstanding. The exemption from routine inspection, which applied to 3,446 outstanding schools at the time, was removed in November 2020. The removal took place at a time when Ofsted’s routine inspections were suspended due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

In September 2021, Ofsted resumed its programme of routine inspections and will aim to inspect every state funded school, including previously exempt outstanding schools, by the end of summer 2025. Ofsted will continue to prioritise schools most in need of inspection, particularly those with the lowest Ofsted grades and outstanding schools that have gone the longest without a visit.

16th Dec 2021
To the Secretary of State for Education, whether his Department has a timetable for the re-inspection by Ofsted of schools that were previously rated outstanding.

There are no longer any schools exempt from inspection as a result of having been rated Outstanding. The exemption from routine inspection, which applied to 3,446 outstanding schools at the time, was removed in November 2020. The removal took place at a time when Ofsted’s routine inspections were suspended due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

In September 2021, Ofsted resumed its programme of routine inspections and will aim to inspect every state funded school, including previously exempt outstanding schools, by the end of summer 2025. Ofsted will continue to prioritise schools most in need of inspection, particularly those with the lowest Ofsted grades and outstanding schools that have gone the longest without a visit.

14th Dec 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to ensure online home-learning options remain available for children who are unable to attend school for health reasons post the covid-19 outbreak.

COVID-19 continues to be a virus that we learn to live with and the imperative to reduce the disruption to children and young people’s education remains. Our priority is for schools to deliver face-to-face, high-quality education to all pupils. The evidence is clear that being out of education causes significant harm to educational attainment, life chances, mental and physical health.

School attendance is mandatory for all pupils of compulsory school age and it is a priority to ensure that as many children as possible regularly attend school. However, the department’s current guidance for remote education states that schools affected by the remote education temporary continuity direction must provide remote education for state-funded, school-aged pupils whose attendance would be contrary to public health advice or government guidance or law relating to COVID-19 during the 2021/22 academic year.

This means that from September 2021, schools should offer remote education to pupils who test positive for COVID-19 or present with COVID-19 symptoms, where they are well enough to be educated from home.

In terms of considering home education options for children who are unable to attend school for health reasons beyond the COVID-19 outbreak, the department is carefully considering the role that remote approaches could play in the education system longer-term, recognising the opportunities that remote education has presented, alongside the challenges.

The department recognises that technology in education has been essential for continuing to teach remotely during the COVID-19 outbreak and subsequent school and college closures. We are building on the department’s significant investment in devices, platforms, training and digital services to develop a sustainable strategy for digital technology in education.

23rd Feb 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to develop an equitable system for awarding exam results for the 2020-21 academic year.

GCSE, AS and A levels

Students have worked hard in preparation for their exams this year and teachers have made tremendous efforts to provide high quality remote education. Given the ongoing disruption to education caused by the COVID-19 outbreak, we announced in January that GCSE, AS and A level exams will not go ahead as planned this summer. In ensuring our approach was developed with the sector, the Department and Ofqual launched a joint consultation in January on how to award grades in 2021 so they are robust and fair. We received over 100,000 responses from students, parents, teachers, school leaders and other stakeholders. There was widespread support for our approach.

My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, confirmed in his statement on 25 February that students will receive grades determined by their teachers, with pupils only assessed on what they have been taught. Fairness to young people is fundamental to the Department and Ofqual’s decision making. We want to ensure all young people have the confidence that, despite exams not going ahead, they will receive a grade that reflects their ability and enables them to progress.

Full details on alternative arrangements to exams can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/teacher-assessed-grades-for-students.

Vocational and Technical Qualifications (VTQs)

On 25 February, the outcome of the Department for Education’s joint consultation with Ofqual on the arrangements for awarding Vocational and Technical Qualifications (VTQs) including BTECs, as well as the approach to awarding other general qualifications was also published.

The diverse nature of VTQs and other general qualifications means that one approach to awarding cannot be taken to all these qualifications. Different approaches should be taken to three groups of VTQs. However, it is important that there is as much fairness as possible between VTQ students and students taking GCSEs, AS and A levels.

The first group are qualifications used to support progression to further or higher education, which includes many Pearson BTEC qualifications. These will be awarded through teacher assessed grades similar to those being implemented for GCSE and AS/A level awarding.

The second group are VTQs used to enter directly into employment. Exams or assessments will continue where they are critical to demonstrate occupational or professional competence and can be delivered in line with public health measures. However, where the assessment cannot take place safely it will be delayed.

The third group are smaller qualifications that are used for progression to further or higher education but are not like GCSEs or A levels in their structure, such as Functional Skills Qualifications and English for Speakers of Other Languages. Exams and assessments for these will continue in line with public health measures, including remotely, but with alternative arrangements available for those who cannot access the assessments.

Apprenticeships

Apprentices working towards mandatory qualifications as part of their apprenticeship framework or standard are assessed in the same way as students taking those same qualifications through other routes.

Additionally, apprenticeship end-point assessments can continue and should take place remotely wherever possible, in line with the guidance from the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education on the delivery of assessment. Our intention is to safeguard the quality of apprenticeships, and end-point assessment is an integral part of that. We do not consider that it would be appropriate to estimate an apprentice’s occupational competence by other means.

To support students taking qualifications used to enter directly into employment and apprentices nearing completion, face-to-face training and learning can take place in schools and colleges where it is essential to enable students and apprentices to prepare for and undertake their exams, assessments and end-point assessments. Furthermore, on 22 February it was announced that all school and further education students will be able to return from 8 March. This means that students taking qualifications which confer occupational competence and apprentices can get back to face-to-face teaching and training, which we know is important for their mental health and educational achievement.

23rd Feb 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to support help ensure an equitable approach to assessing (a) BTEC and (b) apprenticeship qualifications and (c) other courses with formal assessments in the 2020-21 academic year.

GCSE, AS and A levels

Students have worked hard in preparation for their exams this year and teachers have made tremendous efforts to provide high quality remote education. Given the ongoing disruption to education caused by the COVID-19 outbreak, we announced in January that GCSE, AS and A level exams will not go ahead as planned this summer. In ensuring our approach was developed with the sector, the Department and Ofqual launched a joint consultation in January on how to award grades in 2021 so they are robust and fair. We received over 100,000 responses from students, parents, teachers, school leaders and other stakeholders. There was widespread support for our approach.

My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, confirmed in his statement on 25 February that students will receive grades determined by their teachers, with pupils only assessed on what they have been taught. Fairness to young people is fundamental to the Department and Ofqual’s decision making. We want to ensure all young people have the confidence that, despite exams not going ahead, they will receive a grade that reflects their ability and enables them to progress.

Full details on alternative arrangements to exams can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/teacher-assessed-grades-for-students.

Vocational and Technical Qualifications (VTQs)

On 25 February, the outcome of the Department for Education’s joint consultation with Ofqual on the arrangements for awarding Vocational and Technical Qualifications (VTQs) including BTECs, as well as the approach to awarding other general qualifications was also published.

The diverse nature of VTQs and other general qualifications means that one approach to awarding cannot be taken to all these qualifications. Different approaches should be taken to three groups of VTQs. However, it is important that there is as much fairness as possible between VTQ students and students taking GCSEs, AS and A levels.

The first group are qualifications used to support progression to further or higher education, which includes many Pearson BTEC qualifications. These will be awarded through teacher assessed grades similar to those being implemented for GCSE and AS/A level awarding.

The second group are VTQs used to enter directly into employment. Exams or assessments will continue where they are critical to demonstrate occupational or professional competence and can be delivered in line with public health measures. However, where the assessment cannot take place safely it will be delayed.

The third group are smaller qualifications that are used for progression to further or higher education but are not like GCSEs or A levels in their structure, such as Functional Skills Qualifications and English for Speakers of Other Languages. Exams and assessments for these will continue in line with public health measures, including remotely, but with alternative arrangements available for those who cannot access the assessments.

Apprenticeships

Apprentices working towards mandatory qualifications as part of their apprenticeship framework or standard are assessed in the same way as students taking those same qualifications through other routes.

Additionally, apprenticeship end-point assessments can continue and should take place remotely wherever possible, in line with the guidance from the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education on the delivery of assessment. Our intention is to safeguard the quality of apprenticeships, and end-point assessment is an integral part of that. We do not consider that it would be appropriate to estimate an apprentice’s occupational competence by other means.

To support students taking qualifications used to enter directly into employment and apprentices nearing completion, face-to-face training and learning can take place in schools and colleges where it is essential to enable students and apprentices to prepare for and undertake their exams, assessments and end-point assessments. Furthermore, on 22 February it was announced that all school and further education students will be able to return from 8 March. This means that students taking qualifications which confer occupational competence and apprentices can get back to face-to-face teaching and training, which we know is important for their mental health and educational achievement.

23rd Feb 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to support the mental health and wellbeing of school and college students during the covid-19 outbreak.

We know that the COVID-19 outbreak, and associated measures and restrictions, such as social distancing and school closures, will be impacting on the mental wellbeing of many people, including children and young people. The government has made student wellbeing and mental health a central part of our response to the COVID-19 outbreak, and the support we have already put in place for schools, colleges and universities will be critical during this time.

The return to school for all pupils is being prioritised due to the significant and proven impact caused by being out of school, including on wellbeing. The support schools provide to their pupils as they return to face-to-face education should include time devoted to supporting wellbeing, which will play a fundamental part in supporting children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing recovery. The expectations for schools in this regard are set out clearly in the main DfE guidance to schools which also signposts further support, available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak.

We are also providing support and training to schools through the £8 million Wellbeing for Education Return programme, a Department for Education-led initiative alongside the Department of Health and Social Care, Higher Education England, Public Health England and key voluntary sector organisations. It is funding local experts to provide training, advice and resources for schools and further education providers to help support pupil and student, parent and carer, and staff wellbeing, resilience, and recovery considering the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 outbreak and lockdown. Over 90% of local authority areas in England have reported that they are delivering additional training and support into local schools and further education providers because of the Wellbeing for Education Return funding and have been continuing to do so remotely.

We have also put in place a £1 billion COVID “catch-up” package with £650 million shared across early years, schools and 16 to 19 providers over the 2020/21 academic year to support education settings to put the right catch-up and pastoral support in place. The Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) have published a COVID-19 support guide to support schools to direct this funding, which includes further information about interventions to support pupils’ mental health and wellbeing.

In addition to this, the return to school for all pupils from 8 March will be supported with a new £700 million package, which includes a new one-off Recovery Premium for state primary, secondary and special schools to use as they see best to support disadvantaged students. This will help schools to provide their disadvantaged pupils with a one-off boost to the support, both academic and pastoral, that has been proved most effective in helping them recover from the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak. Further details are available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-education-recovery-package-for-children-and-young-people.

For further education (FE) we are also committed to providing and signposting wellbeing guidance and support, and ensuring that specialist mental health support is available for all students and staff in FE who need it. The FE operational guidance includes a specific section on supporting the mental health of staff and students in addition to signposting providers to additional resources, such as webinars and online platforms. This is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-further-education-provision.

The department’s College Collaboration Fund (CCF) is a £5.4 million grant funding programme open to all statutory FE colleges, to be delivered in the financial year 2020/21. We particularly welcomed applications that address one of five specific quality improvement needs. Five of the funded projects are designed to provide remote/online mental health and wellbeing support to students and/or staff.

We have worked closely with the Office for Students (OfS), providing up to £3 million to fund the mental health platform Student Space in response to COVID-19, and have asked the OfS to allocate an additional £15 million towards student mental health, through proposed reforms to Teaching grant funding. Student Space is a mental health and wellbeing platform designed to bridge any gaps in support for students arising from this unprecedented situation and works alongside existing services. Ensuring students have access to quality mental health support is a top priority, which is why we asked the OfS to look at extending the platform. I am delighted they have been able to extend the platform to support students for the whole 2020/21 academic year.

For students that need specialist support the government continues to invest in and prioritise mental health. The NHS will receive around an additional £500 million this year, to address waiting times for mental health services, give more people the mental health support they need, and invest in the NHS workforce.

The department and the Department of Health and Social Care have convened a Mental Health in Education Action Group. The purpose of the Action Group is to look across the age ranges at the impact of COVID-19 on children, young people and staff in nurseries, schools, colleges, and universities.

Furthermore, my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister, appointed Dr Alex George (an A&E Doctor) as Youth Mental Health Ambassador to advise the government and raise the profile of mental health education and wellbeing in schools, colleges, and universities. As Youth Mental Health Ambassador, he will use his clinical expertise and personal experience to champion the government’s work on children’s and young people’s mental health and shape policy on improving support for young people in schools, colleges, and universities.

23rd Feb 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to tackle the digital divide in access to remote learning for school and college students.

The Department is providing over £400 million to support access to remote education and online social care. We have secured 1.3 million laptops and tablets and have already delivered over 1.2 million of these to schools, colleges, trusts, local authorities, and further education providers to support disadvantaged children and young people who would not otherwise have access to a digital device.

The Department are making deliveries all the time and expect to achieve our overall commitment of delivering 1.3 million devices by the end of the spring term. The Government is providing this significant injection of laptops and tablets on top of an estimated 2.9 million already owned by schools before the start of the COVID-19 outbreak.

The Department has extended support to disadvantaged 16-to-19 year olds, including those in further education. Schools with sixth forms, colleges and other further education institutions are being invited to order laptops and tablets to further support disadvantaged students to access remote education.

The Department has partnered with mobile operators to provide free data to help disadvantaged children go online as well as delivering over 70,000 4G wireless routers for pupils without connection at home.

The Department is grateful to EE, Lycamobile, O2, Sky Mobile, Smarty, Tesco Mobile, Three, Virgin Mobile, BT Mobile, Vodafone, iD Mobile and giffgaff for supporting the mobile data offer. We are currently engaged with additional mobile network operators and continue to invite a range of mobile network providers to support the offer.

Four major mobile network operators, Vodafone, O2, Three and EE, have also committed to working together to make access to Oak National Academy free for school children. Additionally, the Department is grateful to BT and EE, who have made access to BBC Bitesize resources free from the end of January 2021.

23rd Feb 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to support the mental health and wellbeing of school and college staff during the covid-19 outbreak.

The Department recognises the pressure that teachers and leaders in schools and colleges are under, and is enormously grateful to them for their efforts, resilience, and service as we continue to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak.

The Department has worked in partnership with the sector and mental health experts to provide a range of support for mental health and wellbeing. This includes improving access to resources and the development of the first ever wellbeing charter for staff which the Department intends to publish in the coming months.

The Department has taken action to respond to the mental health needs of school leaders as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak by launching a £95,000 pilot led by Education Support to provide online support and telephone supervision from experts to around 250 school leaders. This service has now been extended until March 2021. The outcome of the pilot will inform future wellbeing support. More information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/extra-mental-health-support-for-pupils-and-teachers.

The £8 million Wellbeing for Education Return training programme continues to support staff in schools and colleges to respond to the additional pressures children and young people may be feeling as a direct result of the COVID-19 outbreak, as well as to any emotional response they or their teachers may be experiencing. Additional support can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/supporting-pupils-wellbeing. The Government has also provided over £10 million funding to mental health charities – including Mind, the Samaritans, Young Minds, and Bipolar UK to help them adapt, expand, and reach those who are most vulnerable.

Following my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education’s announcement on 13 January 2021, the Department is also convening a new Mental Health in Education Action Group, chaired by my hon. Friend, the Minister for Children and Families, and my hon. Friend, the Minister of State for Universities. This group will look at how we support young people and staff with their wellbeing as they return to school and university. On 4 February my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister appointed Dr Alex George as Youth Mental Health Ambassador to advise government and raise the profile of mental health education and wellbeing in schools, colleges and universities. He will be joining the new Mental Health in Education Action Group.

As well as providing additional COVID-19 specific mental health advice and support for children and young people, our Relationships, Health and Sex Education curriculum includes mental health and wellbeing. We have a host of online training materials and implementation guides, which give inclusive advice to schools and staff on how best to support pupils’ mental health, available here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/teaching-about-mental-wellbeing.

The Government remains committed to long term improvements to support children and young people’s mental health, set out in the government’s response to its green paper and NHS Long Term Plan. This includes rolling out new Mental Health Support Teams to work with a fifth to a quarter of schools and colleges across the country by academic year 2023/24, offering training for a senior mental health lead in every state school in the country, and Link Programme training for all schools and colleges to help frontline health and education professionals work together effectively.

23rd Feb 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department plans to take to help replace the provision of educational and skills training offered under the Union Learning Fund after the Government ceases its funding of that Fund.

The Union Learning Fund (ULF) only rarely directly provides learning, as its main role has been to link individuals to training that is funded and provided elsewhere, for example via the adult entitlement to fund adults to gain English and Maths qualifications at level 2 and basic digital skills (level 1).

Adult skills are key in supporting the economy and tackling disadvantage and so we are continuing to invest in education and skills training for adults through the Adult Education Budget (AEB) (£1.34 billion in 2020/21). The AEB fully funds or co-funds skills provision for eligible adults aged 19 and above from pre-entry to level 3, to support adults to gain the skills they need for work, an apprenticeship or further learning and training up to level 2 for unemployed people aged 19 and over.

The AEB supports 4 statutory entitlements to full funding for adult learners:

o English and maths, up to and including level 2, for individuals aged 19 and over, who have not previously attained a GCSE grade A* - C or grade 4, or higher, and/or

o First full qualification at level 2 for individuals aged 19 to 23, and/or

o First full qualification at level 3 for individuals aged 19 to 23.

o Specified digital skills qualifications for adults with no or low digital skills (came into effect from 1 August 2020).

The fourth statutory entitlement to fully fund specified digital skills qualifications for adults, aged 19+, with no or low digital skills came into effect from 1 August 2020. This will ensure adults, aged 19 and over, can study for specified qualifications in basic digital skills free of charge to get the skills and capabilities they need to get on in life and work. These statutory entitlements apply in devolved and non-devolved areas.

Instead of continuing to support the ULF, the funding will be used to support larger and wider initiatives in adult education. The National Skills Fund and the Skills Recovery Package will expand the funding and support open to all. As announced by my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister, in September as part of his Lifetime Skills Guarantee, this includes for adults who do not currently have a level 3 qualification, fully funding their first full level 3, focusing on the valuable courses that will help them get ahead in the labour market.

Gillian Keegan
Secretary of State for Education
29th Jan 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what funding is available to support the mental health of pupils and staff at (a) school and (b) home for the duration of the covid-19 outbreak.

Schools already support the mental wellbeing of their pupils as part of their curriculum provision and pastoral support. This is paid for from schools’ core funding, which is rising in each financial year by £2.6 billion in 2020/21, £4.8 billion in 2021/22 and £7.1 billion in 2022/23, compared to 2019/20 funding levels. Pastoral support is a core job for schools; we do not place restrictions on spending because it is important that schools are free to decide how best to use the core funding they receive.

We have also put in place a £1 billion COVID “catch-up” package, with £650 million shared across early years, schools and 16-19 providers over the 2020/21 academic year to support education settings in putting the right catch-up and pastoral support in place. The Education Endowment Foundation have published a COVID-19 support guide to support schools to direct this funding, which includes further information about interventions to support pupils’ mental health and wellbeing.

The Wellbeing for Education Return, a Department for Education led initiative alongside the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), Health Education England, Public Health England, and key voluntary sector organisations, backed by £8 million, has trained local experts to provide additional advice and resources for schools and colleges. This is to help support pupil, student, parent, carer, and staff wellbeing, resilience, and recovery, in light of the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 outbreak and lockdown. Alongside this, the department has launched a £95,000 pilot led by the Education Support charity to provide online peer-support and telephone counselling from experts to around 250 school leaders. The pilot will end in March 2021. The outcome of the pilot will inform any future wellbeing and mental health interventions for staff.

The College Collaboration Fund is a £5.4 million grant funding programme open to all statutory further education colleges, to be delivered in the 2020/21 financial year. We particularly welcomed applications that address one of five specific quality improvement needs. Five of the funded projects are designed to provide remote/online mental health and wellbeing support to students and/or staff.

We worked closely with DHSC on their wellbeing and mental health support plan for COVID-19. The plan sets out the support available for individuals in the context of a second wave, and the winter months, including support for children and young people. As part of taking forward this work, the department will also be convening a mental health action group to look at the effects on children, young people and staff in the education system. We will confirm the next steps as soon as possible.

For children and young people who need specialist support, the government continues to invest in and prioritise mental health for all, with an additional investment of £2.3 billion a year by the 2023/24 financial year through the NHS Long Term Plan. The NHS will also receive approximately an additional £500 million this financial year, to address waiting times for mental health services, give more people the mental health support that they need, and invest in the NHS workforce. The government has also provided £9 million in funding to mental health charities, including Mind, the Samaritans, Young Minds, and Bipolar UK, to help them adapt, expand, and reach those who are most vulnerable. We have also extended the Barnardo’s See Hear, Respond support for vulnerable children, including support for mental health.

In the long term, we remain committed to our joint green paper delivery programme with DHSC and NHS England, including introducing new mental health support teams for all schools and colleges, providing training for senior mental health leads in schools and colleges, and testing approaches to faster access to NHS specialist support. The department will be convening an action group to look at the effects on children, young people and staff in the education system and we will confirm the next steps as soon as possible.

29th Jan 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to ensure that teachers are offered priority access to a covid-19 vaccine.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) are the independent experts who advise the Government on which vaccines the UK should use and provide advice on who should be offered them. The JCVI advises that the first priorities for the COVID-19 vaccination should be the prevention of mortality and the maintenance of the health and social care systems, and as the risk of mortality from COVID-19 increases with age, prioritisation is primarily based on age.

Under the priority groups for the first phase of vaccine rollout, those over 50 years of age, and all those 16 years of age and over who are clinically extremely vulnerable or have certain underlying health conditions, are eligible for vaccination within the first phase of the programme. This captures almost all preventable deaths from COVID-19 and will include thousands of those in the education and childcare workforce.

In the next phase of the vaccine rollout, the JCVI have asked that the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) consider occupational vaccination in collaboration with other Government departments. The Department for Education is working with DHSC and Public Health England to ensure that the education and childcare workforce is considered for prioritisation in the rollout of the vaccine.

12th Nov 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment his Department has made of the effect of covid-19 outbreak on the (a mental and (b) physical health of (i) teachers and (ii) school and college staff.

The Department recognises the pressure that teachers and leaders in schools and colleges are under. We are enormously grateful to them for their efforts, resilience and service to our country’s children and young people as we continue to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak.

The Department has been working closely with members of our Expert Advisory Group on staff wellbeing throughout the COVID-19 outbreak, and we understand the pressures that teachers and leaders are facing.

The Department has taken decisive action to fund a pilot with Education Support to provide professional supervision from experts and peer support for school leaders, managing the pressures caused by COVID-19. This service will run until at least December 2020, and the outcome of the pilot will inform future wellbeing and mental health interventions. Alongside this, the £8 million Wellbeing for Education Return training programme is already supporting staff in schools and colleges to respond to the additional pressures children and young people may be experiencing because of the COVID-19 outbreak.

In June, the Department announced a range of commitments to support the wellbeing of teachers and other education professionals in schools and colleges. These include the creation of a wellbeing charter for the teaching sector. The charter will help create an open culture around wellbeing and mental health, breaking down stigma, and will include a range of commitments by the Government and for employers in schools and colleges to promote and protect staff wellbeing. Further information on this is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/extra-mental-health-support-for-pupils-and-teachers.

12th Nov 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to develop a long term plan for education during and beyond the covid-19 outbreak.

Education recovery is a priority for the Department as schools recover from the disruption caused by COVID-19. Schools have been open for all pupils full-time since the start of the autumn term. It continues to be the Department’s aim that all pupils remain in school full-time as this is the best place for them to be for their education, development and wellbeing.

The Department recognises that all children and young people have had their education disrupted as a result of COVID-19. The Department has announced a catch up package worth £1 billion, including a ‘Catch up Premium’ worth a total of £650 million to support schools to make up for lost teaching time. Alongside the Catch up Premium, the Department has announced a new £350 million National Tutoring Programme, which will increase access to high-quality tuition for the most disadvantaged young people.

The Department is also delivering a remote education support package which includes access to the right technology to deliver remote education, peer to peer training on how to use this effectively, and practical tools, guidance and webinars. Additionally, over 340,000 laptops and tablets, owned by schools, trusts or local authorities, are being made available by the Department this term to support disadvantaged children in Years 3 to 11 whose face-to-face education may be disrupted.

Understanding the long term impact of COVID-19 disruption on attainment and progress is a key research priority for the Department , and it has commissioned an independent research and assessment agency to consider catch up needs and monitor progress over the course of the year. This will help inform strategic policy for supporting the school system.

14th Sep 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what support his Department is providing to schools to help disadvantaged pupils catch-up on time missed as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.

All children have had their education disrupted by the COVID-19 outbreak, but it is likely that disadvantaged and vulnerable groups will have been hardest hit. The government has announced a catch-up package worth £1 billion, including a catch-up premium worth a total of £650 million to support schools to make up for lost teaching time. To help schools make the best use of this funding, the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) has published a support guide for schools, which is available here:
https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/covid-19-resources/national-tutoring-programme/covid-19-support-guide-for-schools/#nav-covid-19-support-guide-for-schools1.

The guidance includes evidence-based approaches to catch-up for all students and a further school planning guide: 2020 to 2021, which is available here:
https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/covid-19-resources/guide-to-supporting-schools-planning/.

Alongside this universal grant, a National Tutoring Programme worth £350 million will deliver proven, successful interventions to the most disadvantaged young people. Research shows high-quality individual and small group tuition can add up to five months of progress for disadvantaged pupils.

Schools continue to receive the pupil premium, worth almost £2.4 billion this year. We strongly encourage school leaders to review their Pupil Premium Strategy to ensure that it responds to the needs of pupils as they resume learning in the autumn term.

18th May 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that early intervention children's services are adequately funded.

The government has provided over £3.2 billion of additional funding to support local authorities in meeting COVID-19 related pressures including on children’s services and early intervention. This will be kept under very close review over the coming weeks and months.

We have also committed over £100 million to support access to social care services and remote education, including by providing laptops, tablets and 4G wireless routers to vulnerable and disadvantaged children. Further, we have committed additional funding worth £26.4 million directly to charities to support them and £1.6 million to expand the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children’s helpline.

In order to ensure engagement with all children in their care and to support effective risk assessment, through emergency legislation and with Social Work England, we have reinstated the professional registration of 8,000 former social workers so that they can re-join the profession, providing additional resource where it is required.

18th May 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to ensure that children's services have adequate resources to support vulnerable children effectively (a) during and (b) after the covid-19 outbreak.

The government has provided over £3.2 billion of additional funding to support local authorities in meeting COVID-19 related pressures including on children’s services and early intervention. This will be kept under very close review over the coming weeks and months.

We have also committed over £100 million to support access to social care services and remote education, including by providing laptops, tablets and 4G wireless routers to vulnerable and disadvantaged children. Further, we have committed additional funding worth £26.4 million directly to charities to support them and £1.6 million to expand the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children’s helpline.

In order to ensure engagement with all children in their care and to support effective risk assessment, through emergency legislation and with Social Work England, we have reinstated the professional registration of 8,000 former social workers so that they can re-join the profession, providing additional resource where it is required.

18th May 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of funding for children's services in light of the finding of the report published by Barnardo's, the Children's Society, Action for Children, the NSPCC and the National Children's Bureau that there has been a £2.2 billion decline in available funding for children's services over the last decade.

The government announced at the Local Government Finance Settlement that English councils' core spending power is rising by over £2.9 billion this financial year. This includes £1 billion of new grant funding that can be used flexibly by local authorities to deliver adult and children’s social care services. Further to this, the government has provided over £3.2 billion of additional funding to support local authorities in meeting COVID-19 related pressures including on children’s services. We will keep this under very close review over the coming weeks and months.

Longer term funding decisions are for this year’s Spending Review.

18th May 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans he has to support teachers in providing face-to-face and online support to students in different year groups and classes during the proposed phased re-opening of schools.

The Department has asked primary schools to welcome back children in nursery, Reception, year 1 and year 6, alongside priority groups (vulnerable children and children of key workers), from 1 June. From 15 June, secondary schools can invite year 10 and 12 pupils (years 10 and 11 for alternative provision schools) back into school for some face-to-face support with their teachers, to supplement their remote education, which will remain the predominant mode of education for these pupils this term. Priority groups can continue to attend full-time.

The Department has published guidance to help schools prepare for wider opening which includes sections on curriculum as well as staff workload and wellbeing. The guidance is available at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-educational-and-childcare-settings-to-prepare-for-wider-opening-from-1-june-2020/actions-for-education-and-childcare-settings-to-prepare-for-wider-opening-from-1-june-2020.

The Department has also published a planning guide for primary schools which includes a section on what to teach and how. The guidance is available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/preparing-for-the-wider-opening-of-schools-from-1-june/planning-guide-for-primary-schools.

Guidance for secondary school provision is also available: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/preparing-for-the-wider-opening-of-schools-from-1-june/planning-guide-for-secondary-schools.


Teachers will continue to be able to access support to deliver remote teaching to year groups not eligible to be in school at this time. Schools are encouraged to consider how Oak National Academy or other remote education platforms can provide additional support, as well as how education delivered in school, if manageable, could be made available to pupils learning remotely. The Department has provided a range of information, guidance and support for teachers on educating children during the COVID-19 outbreak which is available at:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/remote-education-during-coronavirus-covid-19.

4th May 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment he has made of the capacity of Edenred to meet the demand for free school meals while schools are closed during the covid-19 outbreak.

As both my right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer have made clear, the government will do whatever it takes to support people affected by COVID-19.

During this period, we are asking schools to support children who are eligible for and claiming benefits-related free school meals by providing meals or food parcels through their existing food providers wherever possible. We know that many schools are successfully delivering food parcels or arranging food collections for eligible children, and we encourage this approach where it is possible.

However, we recognise that providing meals and food parcels is not a practicable option for all schools. That is why on 31 March we launched a national voucher scheme as an alternative option, with costs covered by the Department for Education.

Schools are best placed to make decisions about the most appropriate arrangements for eligible pupils, and this can include food parcel arrangements, provision through the national voucher scheme or alternative voucher arrangements. We do not hold details of how many schools are making arrangements outside of the national voucher scheme.

We are working very closely with our national voucher scheme supplier, Edenred, to improve the performance of the scheme. Edenred has reported that over £65 million worth of voucher codes has been redeemed into supermarket eGift cards by schools and families through the scheme as of Monday 11 May. Edenred has also reported that over 16,500 schools had placed orders for the scheme as of Tuesday 28 April. We are very grateful to families and schools for their understanding and patience while we upgrade this service to meet increased demand.

These are rapidly developing circumstances; we continue to keep the situation under review and will keep Parliament updated accordingly.

4th May 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to ensure the timely provision to families with children on free school meals of vouchers to spend in a supermarket of their choice.

As both my right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer have made clear, the government will do whatever it takes to support people affected by COVID-19.

During this period, we are asking schools to support children who are eligible for and claiming benefits-related free school meals by providing meals or food parcels through their existing food providers wherever possible. We know that many schools are successfully delivering food parcels or arranging food collections for eligible children, and we encourage this approach where it is possible.

However, we recognise that providing meals and food parcels is not a practicable option for all schools. That is why on 31 March we launched a national voucher scheme as an alternative option, with costs covered by the Department for Education.

Schools are best placed to make decisions about the most appropriate arrangements for eligible pupils, and this can include food parcel arrangements, provision through the national voucher scheme or alternative voucher arrangements. We do not hold details of how many schools are making arrangements outside of the national voucher scheme.

We are working very closely with our national voucher scheme supplier, Edenred, to improve the performance of the scheme. Edenred has reported that over £65 million worth of voucher codes has been redeemed into supermarket eGift cards by schools and families through the scheme as of Monday 11 May. Edenred has also reported that over 16,500 schools had placed orders for the scheme as of Tuesday 28 April. We are very grateful to families and schools for their understanding and patience while we upgrade this service to meet increased demand.

These are rapidly developing circumstances; we continue to keep the situation under review and will keep Parliament updated accordingly.

4th May 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many free school meal vouchers have been issued since schools were closed in response to the covid-19 outbreak.

As both my right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer have made clear, the government will do whatever it takes to support people affected by COVID-19.

During this period, we are asking schools to support children who are eligible for and claiming benefits-related free school meals by providing meals or food parcels through their existing food providers wherever possible. We know that many schools are successfully delivering food parcels or arranging food collections for eligible children, and we encourage this approach where it is possible.

However, we recognise that providing meals and food parcels is not a practicable option for all schools. That is why on 31 March we launched a national voucher scheme as an alternative option, with costs covered by the Department for Education.

Schools are best placed to make decisions about the most appropriate arrangements for eligible pupils, and this can include food parcel arrangements, provision through the national voucher scheme or alternative voucher arrangements. We do not hold details of how many schools are making arrangements outside of the national voucher scheme.

We are working very closely with our national voucher scheme supplier, Edenred, to improve the performance of the scheme. Edenred has reported that over £65 million worth of voucher codes has been redeemed into supermarket eGift cards by schools and families through the scheme as of Monday 11 May. Edenred has also reported that over 16,500 schools had placed orders for the scheme as of Tuesday 28 April. We are very grateful to families and schools for their understanding and patience while we upgrade this service to meet increased demand.

These are rapidly developing circumstances; we continue to keep the situation under review and will keep Parliament updated accordingly.

4th May 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many schools have chosen their own alternatives to the free school meal voucher system.

As both my right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer have made clear, the government will do whatever it takes to support people affected by COVID-19.

During this period, we are asking schools to support children who are eligible for and claiming benefits-related free school meals by providing meals or food parcels through their existing food providers wherever possible. We know that many schools are successfully delivering food parcels or arranging food collections for eligible children, and we encourage this approach where it is possible.

However, we recognise that providing meals and food parcels is not a practicable option for all schools. That is why on 31 March we launched a national voucher scheme as an alternative option, with costs covered by the Department for Education.

Schools are best placed to make decisions about the most appropriate arrangements for eligible pupils, and this can include food parcel arrangements, provision through the national voucher scheme or alternative voucher arrangements. We do not hold details of how many schools are making arrangements outside of the national voucher scheme.

We are working very closely with our national voucher scheme supplier, Edenred, to improve the performance of the scheme. Edenred has reported that over £65 million worth of voucher codes has been redeemed into supermarket eGift cards by schools and families through the scheme as of Monday 11 May. Edenred has also reported that over 16,500 schools had placed orders for the scheme as of Tuesday 28 April. We are very grateful to families and schools for their understanding and patience while we upgrade this service to meet increased demand.

These are rapidly developing circumstances; we continue to keep the situation under review and will keep Parliament updated accordingly.

28th Apr 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans the Government has to ensure that disadvantaged children do not experience a comparative reduction in attainment during the covid-19 outbreak.

The Department has taken rapid, wide-ranging action to help schools and parents support all young people during the school closures. This includes publishing an initial list of online education resources and guidance for parents, supporting the launch of a new online academy, and supporting the BBC package of TV and online education materials.

The Department is doing everything it can to ensure that schools and other education providers are getting the guidance and support they need to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 while pupils are not attending school. We will do everything possible to make sure no child, whatever their background, falls behind as a result of COVID-19.

The Government has already committed over £100 million to boost remote education, including by providing devices and internet access to vulnerable children who need it most. Devices have been ordered for the most disadvantaged Year 10 pupils who are preparing for examinations, as well as for children receiving support from a social worker, and for care leavers.

Schools also continue to receive additional funding in the form of the pupil premium – worth around £2.4 billion annually – to help them support their disadvantaged pupils.

The Department recognises that disadvantaged pupils making the transition into new primary and secondary schools and into post-16 education risk missing out on crucial support. The Department is looking at how to draw on best practice being put into place by schools and how to support links between education providers. The Department is also looking at how other providers might support children and young people with engagement and development activity now and in the run up to schools reopening.

The Department is also considering, with a range of partner organisations, how best to support all pupils, especially the disadvantaged, who have been affected by school closures.

18th Mar 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when his Department plans to issue advice to schools and high education institutions on possible closures as a result of covid-19.

The Department sends a daily email to schools, colleges and other education providers, which gives updates and new guidance. All advice is on GOV.UK and is frequently updated in line with developments.

The Department is also working closely with the English higher education sector to ensure they have the latest guidance from Public Health England (PHE) and other relevant Government departments.

Vice chancellors and college principals will make decisions about their own institutions using the latest PHE guidance. The Department is working closely with the sector to facilitate this.

Advice continues to be that campus accommodation should remain open unless advised otherwise by PHE. Many universities are home to international students, care leavers and students who are estranged from their families – all of whom might not have anywhere else to go.

18th Mar 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in the devolved Administrations on school closures as a result of covid-19.

My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, held several conversations with his counterparts in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland regarding school closures. Cooperation with devolved administrations is ongoing.

21st Feb 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of children in secondary school in Barnsley who were eligible for free school meals went on to higher education in each year since 2010.

The attached tables show the number and proportion of disadvantaged young people attending state-funded schools and colleges in Barnsley that went on to higher education after 16 to 18 study (taking A level or other level 3 qualifications) in academic years 2010/11 to 2017/18.

Table 1 includes figures for students eligible for free school meals until 2013/2014 and table 2 shows figures of students eligible for pupil premium from 2014/2015 to 2017/2018.

Free school meals and pupil premium status of students is based on eligibility in year 11. From 2017/18, the 16-18 group of leavers contains additional students who took level 3 qualifications not included in the 16-18 attainment tables. Information on student destinations is published annually at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-destinations.

22nd Jan 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many people in (a) Barnsley and (b) Barnsley East constituency commenced study at a higher education institution in each year since 2010.

Information on students enrolled in UK Higher Education is collected and published by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). More information is available at: https://www.hesa.ac.uk.

The number of undergraduate and postgraduate higher education entrants who were domiciled in Barnsley and Barnsley East constituency prior to study in each year between 2010/11 and 2018/19 has been provided in the table.

The decline in undergraduate entrants into higher education in Barnsley East constituency and Barnsley local authority can partly be explained by the demographic changes in the area. The entry rate for 18-year-olds into higher education in the Barnsley East constituency has increased from 14.8% in 2010/11 to 21.6% in 2018/19.

Undergraduate and postgraduate entrants domiciled in Barnsley local authority and Barnsley East constituency prior to study

UK Higher Education Institutions (HEIs)

Academic years 2010/11 to 2018/19

Source: DfE analysis of the Higher Education Statistics Agency’s (HESA) Student Record

Academic Year

Entrants from Barnsley Local Authority

Undergraduates

Postgraduates

Total entrants

2010/11

1945

520

2465

2011/12

1855

425

2280

2012/13

1490

375

1865

2013/14

1410

415

1825

2014/15

1395

485

1880

2015/16

1470

485

1955

2016/17

1325

480

1805

2017/18

1335

545

1880

2018/19

1355

540

1895

Academic Year

Entrants from Barnsley East constituency

Undergraduates

Postgraduates

Total entrants

2010/11

685

170

855

2011/12

620

135

755

2012/13

555

110

670

2013/14

475

150

625

2014/15

495

165

660

2015/16

525

155

685

2016/17

490

155

645

2017/18

430

180

615

2018/19

455

185

640

Notes:

1) Figures are based on the HESA standard registration population.

2) Figures are rounded to the nearest five.

3) Totals may not sum due to rounding.

4) Parliamentary constituency is derived from the student's postcode prior to study.

Statistics for the 2019/20 academic year will become available in January 2021.

13th Jul 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what (a) algorithmic and (b) other automated decision making systems her Department uses; and for what purposes.

Defra is using algorithms for land use mapping at a national scale which include:

  • A Crop Map of England is produced annually to classify crop cover for England. The system uses algorithms to classify satellite data based on statistical and ground truthing information collected during the growing season.

  • Peatland map: Deep learning algorithms are used to detect moorland grips from aerial photography. The algorithms are applied to provide a ‘live’ map of grips in peatlands in England and insight into peatland restoration work.

To some extent automated processes are used to complete transactions. But decisions are still governed by the policy lead, budget holder (or other) approvals. There is no independent, algorithmic logic making choices without human approval. Predictive analytics is only used at aggregate level. Individuals are not profiled.

Mark Spencer
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
20th Jun 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the oral contribution of the Minister for Data and Digital Infrastructure of 14 June 2023 at Topical Questions, T7, Official Report, column 286, what plans her Department has to (a) utilise the provisions in Part 3 of the Data Protection and Digital Information (No. 2) Bill and (b) use smart data in new sectors.

Defra is tracking the passage of the Bill closely and was consulted during the drafting process. We recognise that there is exciting potential to explore Smart Data in further sectors, beyond Open Banking. Government, regulators and industry experts are working together via the Smart Data Council to ensure that the UK continues to be at the forefront of developments in this area.

Before committing to use the provisions in Part 3 of the Data Protection and Digital Information (No.2) Bill in any given sector, there is work to be done to understand how Smart Data can best empower consumers and increase competition.

Once the Bill is law, we will also look in further depth at the implications and opportunities for Defra’s own data use and sharing, working with other Government departments where appropriate.

Mark Spencer
Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
21st Jul 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what criteria, checks and procedures his Department used to decide where to site Automatic Urban and Rural Network units.

Defra adheres to the Air Quality Standards Regulations (2010) when deciding where to site Automatic Urban and Rural Network units. This includes detailed provisions on the location and number of sampling points, the measurement methods to be used, the classification of sites, the data quality objectives and the siting criteria each monitoring station must meet. Potential new sites are subject to a detailed technical review process, to ensure that they meet these requirements.

9th Jun 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of raising public awareness of how to identify a legitimate waste carrier license.

Our consultation on potential measures to strengthen the waste carriers, brokers and dealers regime closed in April. We are looking carefully at the comments made and will respond in due course.

Jo Churchill
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
9th Jun 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of increasing the level of. background checks for waste carrier license application.

Our consultation on potential measures to strengthen the waste carriers, brokers and dealers regime closed in April. We are looking carefully at the comments made and will respond in due course.

Jo Churchill
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
17th Mar 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for what reasons four of the 76 offshore Marine Protected Area sites were consulted on ending bottom trawling practices.

Marine protection is a devolved matter and the information below relates to England only.

In England, we have 40 offshore Marine Protected Areas which have been designated to protect a variety of important habitats, species and geological features. Outside of the Common Fisheries Policy, we now are focused on ensuring these sites have the appropriate level of protection from bottom trawling.

The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) has developed an ambitious programme for assessing sites and implementing byelaws, where necessary, to manage fishing activity in all English offshore Marine Protected Areas. We recognise the urgency to establish management measures to protect the marine environment. We will engage fully with all stakeholders and have established a process to enable evidence gathering and consultation, with the aim of all sites being protected within 3 years. As soon as the transition period ended, the MMO moved quickly to launch a consultation on draft management measures for the first four sites. All English offshore sites have been prioritised based on the features sensitivity to fishing activity and these four sites were considered the most urgent.

The consultation closes on the 28th March 2021 and the MMO is keen to hear views on the proposed management measures.

Rebecca Pow
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
17th Mar 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment the Government has made of the length of time it will take to protect all 76 offshore Marine Protected Areas from bottom trawling in those protected areas.

Marine protection is a devolved matter and the information below relates to England only.

In England, we have 40 offshore Marine Protected Areas which have been designated to protect a variety of important habitats, species and geological features. Outside of the Common Fisheries Policy, we now are focused on ensuring these sites have the appropriate level of protection from bottom trawling.

The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) has developed an ambitious programme for assessing sites and implementing byelaws, where necessary, to manage fishing activity in all English offshore Marine Protected Areas. We recognise the urgency to establish management measures to protect the marine environment. We will engage fully with all stakeholders and have established a process to enable evidence gathering and consultation, with the aim of all sites being protected within 3 years. As soon as the transition period ended, the MMO moved quickly to launch a consultation on draft management measures for the first four sites. All English offshore sites have been prioritised based on the features sensitivity to fishing activity and these four sites were considered the most urgent.

The consultation closes on the 28th March 2021 and the MMO is keen to hear views on the proposed management measures.

Rebecca Pow
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
19th Jan 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans he has to convene an emergency flood summit before a major flood event to ensure that adequate resources are available to (a) local authorities and (b) the Environment Agency in order to protect communities.

There are currently no plans to convene an emergency flood summit before a major flood event. As part of our ongoing preparedness work for flooding, the department engages across Government to understand and mitigate risks that flooding may pose.

In anticipation of a major flood event, Defra facilitates continuous cross-Government situational awareness and rapid coordination of the central Government response. This aids effective decision making in a significant flooding emergency.

To ensure adequate resources are available, we have committed to review local government funding for local statutory flood and coastal erosion risk management functions to ensure it is fair and matches the needs and resources of local areas. We want to make the funding framework for local government funding simpler, more up to date and more transparent.

Flood funding is part of the overall local government settlement and 2020-21 saw the biggest year-on-year increase in the overall settlement for over ten years, an average 4.4% real terms increase. As set out at the Spending Review, we will be making an additional £2.2 billion available to local government to deliver local services.

The Environment Agency (EA) is prepared to take action this winter wherever it is needed. The EA has 40 kilometres of metal frame temporary barriers, which can be delivered anywhere in the country within 12 hours, providing additional protection to locations where there are no permanent defences or where forecast river levels could overtop existing defences. The EA also has 250 high volume pumps available and 6,500 trained staff across the country, including 314 trained flood support officers. In addition, the EA has trained its contractors to be on hand to support local incident teams preparing for and responding to flooding across England. The EA routinely trains the Army civil contingency battalions as they rotate to ensure additional trained support is available to help deploy barriers should a major incident occur.

Through its communications, including social media, the EA has been encouraging residents and business to sign up to its free flood alert service so they can Prepare, Act and Survive. As of 8 January 2021, there were over 1.52 million properties in England signed up to the EA's free flood warning service, which sends a message directly by voice message, text or email when a flood warning is issued.

Rebecca Pow
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
12th Jan 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans the Government has to ensure that UK fishing can restart in (a) the Norwegian Exclusive Economic Zone and (b) around the Barents Sea; and what the timeframe is for securing those fishing agreements.

The UK has a Fisheries Framework Agreement with Norway. The annual bilateral negotiations with Norway for opportunities during this year will begin shortly, however some UK vessels already have access and will sail imminently. Furthermore, it is not uncommon for agreements to not conclude by December; it is important agreements are met which are balanced for the whole industry.

Victoria Prentis
Attorney General
12th Jan 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plan does the Government has to ensure that UK fishing can restart in the Svalbard Exclusive Economic Zone; and what the timeframe is for securing that fishing agreement.

The UK fleet continues to benefit from fishing opportunities in the waters around Svalbard as a result of arrangements between the UK and Norway. The Marine Management Organisation has now received the relevant information from the operators involved and the relevant licensing processes are complete.

Victoria Prentis
Attorney General
12th Jan 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans the Government has to ensure that UK fishing can restart in the Greenland Exclusive Economic Zone; and what the timeframe is for securing that fishing agreement.

The UK signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Greenland on 9 November 2020. This agreement provides a platform for cooperation on fisheries issues but does not at this stage provide for annual negotiations or exchanges of fishing opportunities.

Victoria Prentis
Attorney General
12th Jan 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans the Government has to ensure that UK fishing can restart in the Icelandic Exclusive Economic Zone; and what the timeframe is for securing that fishing agreement.

The UK signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Iceland on 11 November 2020. This agreement provides a platform for cooperation on fisheries issues but does not provide for annual negotiations or exchanges of fishing opportunities. The UK has not had fishing opportunities in the Icelandic Exclusive Economic Zone since 2008.

Victoria Prentis
Attorney General
25th Nov 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which stocks of interest to the UK had Total Allowable Catch limits set above the scientific advice in the last 12 months.

For stocks which the UK has an interest in, and that have assessments advising on their maximum sustainable yield (MSY), 36 (67%) Total Allowable Catches (TACs) were set at MSY out of a total of 54 in 2020. A full list is set out in the “Analysis of the outcomes of the 2019 December EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council & EU-3rd Country Negotiation” report submitted to the Select Committee on the European Union on 1st April 2020.

The UK advocates an approach to TACs setting for 2021 founded on the best available scientific advice and which aims to deliver sustainability improvements.

Victoria Prentis
Attorney General
25th Nov 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which stocks the UK advocates should have Total Allowable Catch limits set above the scientific advice.

For stocks which the UK has an interest in, and that have assessments advising on their maximum sustainable yield (MSY), 36 (67%) Total Allowable Catches (TACs) were set at MSY out of a total of 54 in 2020. A full list is set out in the “Analysis of the outcomes of the 2019 December EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council & EU-3rd Country Negotiation” report submitted to the Select Committee on the European Union on 1st April 2020.

The UK advocates an approach to TACs setting for 2021 founded on the best available scientific advice and which aims to deliver sustainability improvements.

Victoria Prentis
Attorney General
25th Nov 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether it is Government policy in total allowable catches negotiations with the EU on deep sea species that all deep-sea stocks should follow the precautionary approach advice provided by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea.

The UK Government supports the application of the precautionary approach in setting total allowable catches (TACs) for deep sea stocks. The deep-sea stocks that are subject to a total allowable catch and which will be negotiated with the EU for 2021 and 2022 are :

  • Black scabbardfish (BSF)
  • Alfonsinos (ALF)
  • Roundnose grenadier (RNG)
  • Roughhead grenadier (RHG)
  • Red seabream (SBR)
  • Orange Roughy (ORY)
  • Deep-water catsharks (API)
  • Frilled shark (HXC)
  • Gulper shark (CWO)
  • Portuguese dogfish (CYO)
  • Longnose velvet dogfish (CYP)
  • Black dogfish (CFB)
  • Birdbeak dogfish (DCA)
  • Kitefin shark (SCK)
  • Great lanternshark (ETR)
  • Velvet belly (ETX)
Victoria Prentis
Attorney General
25th Nov 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which stocks the Government has assessed to be deep sea species.

The UK Government supports the application of the precautionary approach in setting total allowable catches (TACs) for deep sea stocks. The deep-sea stocks that are subject to a total allowable catch and which will be negotiated with the EU for 2021 and 2022 are :

  • Black scabbardfish (BSF)
  • Alfonsinos (ALF)
  • Roundnose grenadier (RNG)
  • Roughhead grenadier (RHG)
  • Red seabream (SBR)
  • Orange Roughy (ORY)
  • Deep-water catsharks (API)
  • Frilled shark (HXC)
  • Gulper shark (CWO)
  • Portuguese dogfish (CYO)
  • Longnose velvet dogfish (CYP)
  • Black dogfish (CFB)
  • Birdbeak dogfish (DCA)
  • Kitefin shark (SCK)
  • Great lanternshark (ETR)
  • Velvet belly (ETX)
Victoria Prentis
Attorney General
25th Nov 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 6 October 2020 to Question 98265 and to the November 2020 spending review CP 330, whether he plans to ensure that the Environment Agency receives adequate funding to meet its long-term investment scenario of £1 billion per year.

The Environment Agency's Long-Term Investment Scenarios (LTIS) assess what could happen with regard to flood risk over the next 50 years in England, and recommend a long-term annual average investment need over that period for works that are cost-beneficial.

LTIS considers total investment from all sources and is not a recommendation for levels of Government spend alone. However, total investment in flood risk management is currently in line with the LTIS optimum investment levels, and will rise above this through the next 6 year flood defences delivery programme beginning in April 2021.

At the Budget earlier this year, the Government confirmed it will invest a record £5.2 billion over six years to build around 2,000 new flood defences and better protect 336,000 properties. In addition, up to £170 million will be spent to accelerate work on shovel-ready flood defence schemes that will begin construction by March 2022, along with a £200 million investment in an innovative flood and coastal resilience programme.

Rebecca Pow
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
24th Nov 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which areas will receive funding from the £200 million announced in July 2020 for innovative projects to improve flood resilience.

We are investing £200m in a new Flood and Coastal Resilience Innovation Programme to pilot new and creative approaches to improve resilience to flooding and coastal change in 25 areas across England. On 9th November 2020, we invited Lead Local Flood Authorities (LLFAs) and Coast Protection Authorities (CPAs) to work together with partners to develop their expressions of interest by 15 January 2021. Areas will then be selected based on a range of criteria, including repeated significant flooding in the past. Some initial funding will be used help the areas selected to develop their project proposals into more detailed plans during spring 2021, before the projects formally begin from summer 2021.

Rebecca Pow
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
24th Nov 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which areas will receive funding from the £170 million announced in July 2020 for shovel-ready flood defence schemes.

In July, £170 million capital funding was announced to accelerate work on shovel-ready flood defence schemes that will begin construction before the end of 21-22. 22 areas across the country will benefit from this immediate boost to jobs supporting the local economy as communities recover from the impact of coronavirus.

The schemes, which were shortlisted and approved based on their economic growth and recovery potential, will together better protect more than 10,000 local businesses and safeguard around 100,000 jobs.

The following table provides a breakdown of funding by scheme for each area:

Project

Funding

Severn Valley Flood Risk Management Scheme

Up to £30,000,000

Leeds FAS

Up to £21,000,000

Sheffield Upper Don Valley coastal& the Upper Don Catchment NFM Programme

£16,000,000

Lowestoft Flood Risk Management Project (LFRMP) Tidal Walls and Barrier

£43,486,439

Hebden Bridge

£12,000,000

Derby OCR

£10,000,000

Team Valley

£6,000,000

Severn Valley NFM and carbon offsetting

£5,400,000

Lowdham

£5,000,000

Tenbury Wells

Up to £4,895,000

Benacre and Kessingland Flood Risk Management Scheme

£3,297,660

Bude, The Crescent

Up to £2,140,000

Brighton Marina to River Adur

£2,000,000

Padiham

£2,000,000

Lancaster, Caton Road

£1,400,000

Leeds FAS, Natural Flood Management

£1,320,000

Hexham

£1,000,000

Peak District, peatland restoration

£960,000

East Cowes

£500,000

Falmouth IUDM inc Tidal Prince of Wales Pier

£500,000

Penketh & Whittle

£480,000

Ponteland FAS

£450,000

Rebecca Pow
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
19th Nov 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress his Department has made on updating plans for all (a) catchments and (b) coastal cells in England.

The government recognises the important role that strategic planning plays in managing flood and coastal erosion risks.

The Flood Risk Regulations 2009 set out the current statutory process for regional flood risk planning over a six-year cycle. The Environment Agency is working with Lead Local Flood Authorities (LLFAs) to review and update Flood Risk Management Plans (FRMPs) as part of the next cycle of flood risk planning.

This will aim to improve local flood risk management planning and will also inform the government’s long-term commitment to transform local flood risk planning, as set out in the government Policy Statement on Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management.

Coastal erosion is a natural and ongoing process and the government is committed to supporting communities on the coastline to adapt to and manage the risks of climate change. Defra has provided £1 million to refresh the 20 Shoreline Management Plans (SMPs) in England. The Environment Agency is working with coastal authorities to update SMPs which set the future policy direction and management of the coast.

Rebecca Pow
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
9th Nov 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 23 October 2020 to Question 104129 on Floods: Building Regulations, if his Department will work with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to update British Standard 85500:2015 on flood resilient construction for new buildings and retrofits for existing buildings to make it more explicit for the reinstatement of flood-damaged properties.

The British Standards Institute is independent of Government and reviews its standards every five years. There is a consultation in progress as to whether to proceed with a review of BS85500:2015, which is due to close on 22 November.

Defra and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) keep in regular contact on these matters. MHCLG keeps building regulations under review.

Rebecca Pow
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
9th Nov 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 23 October 2020 to Question 104127 on property level flood resilience grants, how many Risk Management Authorities have developed local Property Flood Resilience grant schemes and applied to Regional Flood and Coastal Committees for a contribution towards their cost through local-levy or grant-in-aid.

In England, 46 Risk Management Authorities (RMAs) have developed Property Flood Resilience (PFR) schemes with an element of Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Grant-in-Aid or levy funding within the current investment period (2015-2021).

Elements of PFR work may also be carried out within wider flood risk management schemes. However, it is not currently possible to readily identify the number of additional RMAs that have done this.

Rebecca Pow
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
3rd Nov 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much and what proportion of flood defence funding has been allocated to (a) Yorkshire and Humber, (b) the South East, (c) London, (d) the North West, (e) the East of England, (f) the West Midlands, (g) the South West, (h) the East Midlands, (i) the North East and (j) England in each year since 2009.

Capital flood defence grant-in-aid per Office of National Statistics region is shown in the table in the attached document. Actual expenditure for 2019/20 and 2020/21 is not yet available and are allocations only, based on the Environment Agency’s latest consented Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management investment programme.

Rebecca Pow
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
3rd Nov 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when the Blanc review into the affordability of flood insurance is planned for publication.

The report was published on Thursday 5 November.

This link can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/flood-insurance-review-2020-blanc-review

Rebecca Pow
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
2nd Oct 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the oral contribution of the Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 10 September 2020, Official Report, column 759, which Members she has had Zoom calls with and when on the issue of flooding.

The Government recognises the impact that flooding has had on individuals, businesses and local communities and sympathises with all those affected. The Secretary of State, myself and the department have been actively engaging with hon. Members whose constituencies have been affected by flooding.

I am always willing to discuss flooding, or other pertinent matters, with hon. Members, and I refer the hon. Member to the reply previously given on 17 September 2020, PQ UIN89799. [https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2020-09-14/89799]

For completeness, meetings and other engagements I have had with hon. Members so far this year are detailed below.

Date

Event

8 October 2020

Meeting with South Yorkshire November 2019 flood-affected Members and other local risk management authorities

7 October 2020

End of day debate, flooding in Staffordshire, led by the hon. Member for Stafford

1 September 2020

Meeting with the hon. Member for South Ribble

30 September 2020

End of day debate, flooding preparedness in Yorkshire, led by the hon. Member for Barnsley Central

21 July 2020

All-Party meeting about the Severn Valley, attended by the hon. Members for Shrewsbury and Atcham, Gloucester, Montgomeryshire, West Worcestershire, North Herefordshire, Stroud, Stafford, the Rt Hon Member for Ludlow, and Defra’s PPS the hon. Member for Brecon and Radnorshire

20 July 2020

Meeting with the hon. Member for North East Derbyshire

4 June 2020

Meeting with the Rt Hon Member for Scarborough and Whitby and the hon. Member for Thirsk and Malton

3 June 2020

End of day debate, flood defences for Tenbury Wells, led by the hon. Member for West Worcestershire

14 May 2020

Members surgery with the hon. Members for Don Valley and Barnsley Central

7 May 2020

Meetings with the hon. Members for Don Valley and Brigg and Goole

30 April 2020

Meeting with the hon. Member for Cheadle

23 April 2020

Meeting with the hon. Member for Shipley

16 March 2020

Meeting with the hon. Member for Westmorland and Lonsdale

11 March 2020

Westminster Hall debate, flooding of the River Severn, led by the hon. Member for Shrewsbury and Atcham

9 March 2020

End of day debate, improving rainwater attenuation and reservoirs to prevent flooding, led by the hon. Member for Warwick and Leamington

4 March 2020

Opposition debate, flooding, led by the Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the hon. Member for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport

27 January 2020

Meeting with the hon. Member for Macclesfield

30 January 2020

Westminster Hall debate, South Yorkshire flooding, led by the Shadow Minister (Environment, Food and Rural Affairs), the hon. Member for Barnsley East

20 January 2020

End of day debate, Lowestoft flood barrier, led by the hon. Member for Waveney

Rebecca Pow
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
1st Oct 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 30 September 2020 to Question 95729, whether the Environmental Agency received enough funding from all of its sources of funding to reach its estimated investment need for flood and coastal protection.

The 2020 Budget announced £5.2 billion of Defra capital investment for the six years starting in 2021. This equates to £866 million per year. In addition there will be partnership funding contributions, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government investment direct to local authorities and revenue investment for the maintenance of defences.

Subject to the upcoming comprehensive spending review, it is very likely the overall level of investment over the six years from 2021 will exceed the £1 billion per year identified in the Environment Agency’s Long Term Investment Scenarios.

Rebecca Pow
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
1st Oct 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 30 September 2020 to Question 95729, how much funding the Environment Agency has received from all its sources of funding including Government investment in each year since 2010.

The table below shows all the sources of funding for Environment Agency (EA) expenditure by year since 2010/11. This includes central government funding to the Environment Agency, together with local levy and other sources which includes partnership-funding-contributions to Environment Agency schemes that are partially funded by government Grant in Aid.

Estimated Total Flood and Coastal Risk Management Expenditure through Environment Agency (EA), 2010/11 to 2019/20 (£m)

Financial Year

EA Central Government Funding Resource

EA Central Government Funding Capital

EA Local Levy

EA funding from other sources

Total

2010/11

291.6

360.0

30.9

17.1

699.6

2011/12

287.8

260.7

33.7

16.9

599.1

2012/13

268.0

269.1

20.2

27.2

584.5

2013/14

250.6

315.3

29.1

39.4

634.4

2014/15

282.6

466.7

24.1

42.9

816.3

2015/16

274.5

390.7

18.2

55.8

739.2

2016/17

314.6

446.9

27.1

55.0

843.6

2017/18

338.2

403.1

29.3

49.8

820.4

2018/19

304.8

453.0

35.5

42.8

836.1

2019/20*

316.7

514.1

38.9

38.0

907.7

*Note that for 2019/20 the accounts have not yet been finalised for the last financial year, these figures are still subject to change.

Rebecca Pow
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
29th Sep 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimates the Environment Agency has made of the funding required for flood risk mitigation projects in each year since 2010.

The Environment Agency’s (EA) Long Term Investment Scenarios (LTIS) for England sets out the total national level of investment required for FCERM. The Environment Agency produced LTIS 2009, 2014 and LTIS 2019. LTIS is used as evidence for government and others considering future policy and investment choices.

The latest LTIS was published in 2019 and shows that the EA’s best estimate of the overall economic optimum level of investment has a long-term annual average of over £1 billion. The 2020 Budget announcement for capital funding is consistent with the ‘optimal’ spend suggested by LTIS. Overall funding is expected to at least meet the LTIS recommendation, allowing for faster progress towards long term adaptation.

Rebecca Pow
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
29th Sep 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much funding the Environment Agency has been allocated for flood risk mitigation projects in each year since 2010.

Defra provides the majority of its funding for flood and coastal erosion risk management to the Environment Agency (EA) as Grant-in-Aid, which is the mechanism for financing Non-Departmental Public Bodies, such as the EA. The EA spends this funding directly on manging flood risk, but it also passes some of this funding on as capital grants for flood or coastal erosion defence improvements to local authorities or Internal Drainage Boards – local public authorities established in areas of special drainage need which manage water levels within their respective drainage districts.


The capital funding allocated to the EA for flood and coastal erosion risk management in present and future financial years 2019/20 to 2021/22 can be found in table 1 (page 4) of the document available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/funding-for-flood-and-coastal-erosion-risk-management-in-england.

Expenditure on flood and coastal erosion risk management by the EA, Defra and Lead Local Flood Authorities for 2010/11 – 2018/19 can be found in table 2 (page 5) of the same document. Figures for 2019/20 spend are still in the process of being audited and will be available in an updated document on GOV.UK soon.

Rebecca Pow
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
28th Sep 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of flood warning systems in the UK.

This is a devolved matter and the information provided therefore relates to England only.

Approximately 1.4 million people in England are signed up the Environment Agency’s free flood warning service which sends a message directly to people by voice message, text or email when a flood warning is issued. On average, over 99% of messages sent are received within 15 minutes.

The Environment Agency is continually reviewing the adequacy and improving its warning service to enable people to take timely and appropriate action. These improvements mean that by 2022 the flood warning service will be expanded to all places at a high risk of flooding from rivers and the sea.

Rebecca Pow
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
28th Sep 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much funding the Government has allocated to flood resilience schemes in each year since 2010.

All the flood and coastal erosion risk management schemes delivered by the Environment Agency help to increase the resilience of people and places to flooding or coastal erosion risk.

Expenditure by the Environment Agency 2010/11 – 2018/19 can be found in table 2 (page 5) of the document available at the following link: www.gov.uk/government/statistics/funding-for-flood-and-coastal-erosion-risk-management-in-england.

Financial Year

EA Resource (£m)

EA Capital (£m)

Total (£m)

2010/11

291.6

360.0

651.6

2011/12

287.8

260.7

548.5

2012/13

268.0

269.1

537.1

2012/14

250.6

315.3

565.9

2014/15

282.6

466.7

749.3

2015/16

274.5

390.7

638.2

2016/17

314.6

446.9

761.5

2017/18

339.2

403.1

742.3

2018/19

304.8

453.0

757.8

Figures for 2019/20 spend are still in the process of being audited and will be available in an updated document on the GOV.UK website soon.

The Government invested in property flood resilience measures for homeowners as part of flood recovery schemes delivered by local authorities in 2013/4 (£24 million) and 2015/6 (£45 million). There are new recovery schemes underway for those impacted by the exceptional flooding of November 2019 (closes December 2021) and February 2020 (closes July 2022).

Rebecca Pow
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
28th Sep 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to reforest upstream areas to reduce flooding risk.

The Government’s new £640 million Nature for Climate Fund will drive up tree planting and peat restoration rates, including in upland areas. This fund will complement many of the Environment Agency’s existing flood and coastal erosion risk management schemes that include nature-based solutions such as tree planting. In addition, the Environment Agency’s new National Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy outlines the need to increase the use of nature-based solutions including tree planting to slow the flow of or store flood water to reduce flooding risk.

Rebecca Pow
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
25th Sep 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of funding for the Environmental Agency.

The Environment Agency has the resources to deliver its statutory duties. It receives grant in aid from the Government plus charge income for its regulatory services. In 2019/20 the Environment Agency had a budget of £1.377 billion and in 2020/21 the Environment Agency’s budget is £1.742 billion.

In the spring Budget the Chancellor announced record funding of £5.2 billion for flood defences between 2021 and 2027, offering better protection from flooding for 336,000 homes and non-residential properties. The Environment Agency also received £120 million for repairs following winter flooding.

Rebecca Pow
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
25th Sep 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much the Environmental Agency has spent on flood defence measures in each year since 2010.

Expenditure on flood and coastal erosion risk management by the Environment Agency 2010/11 – 2018/19 can be found in table 2 (page 5) of the document available at the following link: www.gov.uk/government/statistics/funding-for-flood-and-coastal-erosion-risk-management-in-england.

Environment Agency spend taken from the above reference document is as follows:

Financial Year

EA Resource (£m)

EA Capital (£m)

Total (£m)

2010/11

291.6

360.0

651.6

2011/12

287.8

260.7

548.5

2012/13

268.0

269.1

537.1

2012/14

250.6

315.3

565.9

2014/15

282.6

466.7

749.3

2015/16

274.5

390.7

638.2

2016/17

314.6

446.9

761.5

2017/18

339.2

403.1

742.3

2018/19

304.8

453.0

757.8

Figures for 2019/20 spend are still in the process of being audited and will be available in an updated document on the GOV.UK website soon.

Rebecca Pow
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
25th Sep 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent estimates the Environment Agency has made on funding needed for future flood risk mitigation.

The Environment Agency’s Long Term Investment Scenarios for England estimate that an average spend of over £1 billion per year is needed on flood and coastal protection over the next 50 years. Investment at this level will avoid existing flood and coastal erosion risk increasing and illustrates the challenge of managing these risks in the face of climate change.

The estimated investment need refers to all sources of funding and not just central Government investment.

Rebecca Pow
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
23rd Sep 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to undertake a formal public consultation on economic link reform in relation to fisheries management and landing a higher proportion of fish in the UK.

The Government will consult on proposals for reform of the economic link imminently. As fisheries management is a devolved matter the consultation will cover England only.

Victoria Prentis
Attorney General
23rd Sep 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, under what statutory authority Ministers may dispense with the Fish Quota Allocation to the commercial fishing sector on behalf of the Crown.

The fish quota is distributed by the Secretary of State under common law powers. This is set out in the publicly available UK Quota Management Rules and in the Quota Management Rules for of the Fisheries Administrations.

We are also seeking related powers in the Fisheries Bill which would supplement these common law powers in future. Clause 2(2) provides for the Joint Fisheries Statement to include policies relating to the distribution of quota. Clause 25 sets out criteria for the distribution of quota.

Victoria Prentis
Attorney General
23rd Sep 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference his Department's 25 year environment plan progress report of 11 June 2020, what recent assessment he has made on progress towards meeting the Government's long-term target of at least three-quarters of water bodies, including rivers, lakes, canals, coastal waters, and groundwater, to be restored to as close as possible to their natural state.

The Environment Agency's latest water body classification results 2019 showed that 16% of waters overall and 14 % of rivers are at Good Ecological Status. This is the same result as the data for 2016 which means progress in improving the ecological status of England's surface water has plateaued. More needs to be done and we need to go further and faster. The Government remains committed to bringing at least three quarters of our water to as close as possible to its natural state as soon as is practicable and in support of this, we will be bringing forward a further legally binding target in the Environment Bill. We are tackling pollution from poor farming practice with regulation, financial incentives and educational schemes for farmers. Water company investment is being scaled up to £4.6 billion, the highest yet, in the next five-year period. A new task force comprising the Government and water companies will help address the problem of sewage discharge from storm overflows and our new chemicals strategy will build on a robust statutory regime to ensure chemicals are managed and handled safely.

Rebecca Pow
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
23rd Sep 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 22 September to Question 91696, which hon. Members from the South Yorkshire Area the Minister has been in contact which and when on the issue of a roundtable.

The Government recognises the impact that flooding has had on individuals, local communities and businesses and sympathises with all those affected.

The hon. Member for Sheffield South East and the hon. Member for Barnsley Central have written to my office, and I replied, discussing the issue of holding a roundtable.

In addition, I have engaged in the House with the hon. Members for Barnsley Central and Barnsley East on the issue of a roundtable through Parliamentary Questions on this and in a Westminster Hall debate.

Rebecca Pow
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
21st Sep 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what proportion of water bodies are in good ecological health in (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland, and (d) Northern Ireland.

The Environment Agency's latest classification results for England show that 16% of surface water bodies meet the criteria for good ecological status or good ecological potential. We are committed to improving our water with a legally binding target in the Environment Bill and we are making a concerted effort on many fronts. This includes working with water companies who are investing £4.6 billion in improvements, educating and incentivising farmers to reduce harmful run-off and developing a new chemicals strategy.

Water quality in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is a devolved matter.

Rebecca Pow
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
21st Sep 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many water samples have been taken in each year since 2010.

The numbers of water samples taken each year since 2010 are:

Year

Number of Samples Taken

2010

131,602

2011

137,250

2012

155,394

2013

159,737

2014

135,452

2015

122,103

2016

112,022

2017

95,247

2018

87,605

2019

100,037

Rebecca Pow
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
18th Sep 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will publish information on the (a) known and (b) potential areas within the UK's exclusive economic zone of sensitive or vulnerable deep-sea habitats for (i) coldwater corals, (ii) deep-sea sponges, (iii) mud and sand emergent epifauna, (iv) bryozoan patches and (v) xenophyophore patches.

Information on the extent, or area covered, and distribution of marine habitats is currently publicly available in different formats.

Created by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) in 2018, UKSeaMap provides a broad-scale overview of the coverage of different physical seabed habitats in the UK. In addition to this, the JNCC’s UK Marine Protected Area mapper portal provides up to date detailed information on the known distribution and extent of sensitive deep-sea habitat types such as deep-sea sponge aggregations and cold-water corals, and also provides information on their protection status. Through the Canyons Marine Conservation Zone, located in the far south-west of the UK, Defra is protecting the only known example of cold-water corals within English waters, so action is being taken. All other instances of cold-water corals in the UK are recorded from Scottish waters such as the Rosemary Bank Seamount, East & North West Rockall Bank, Anton Dhorn Seamount and Darwin Mounds.

We are also currently in the process of mapping and analysing data on the condition of biogenic reefs, hard structures made up of living organisms, and underwater rocky communities, specifically looking at those habitats with sensitive emerging epifauna, such as corals and sponges. The results are not yet publicly available, although we are in the process of finalising the report for external publication.

Rebecca Pow
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
18th Sep 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many areas of less that 800 metres depth in UK territorial waters have been closed to bottom trawling following identification of a vulnerable marine ecosystems since the implementation of the Deep-sea Access Regulation (EU) 2016/2336.

The deep-sea access regulation provides the European Commission with delegated powers to establish a list of areas where Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems (VMEs) are known or likely to occur below a depth of 400m. Once identified, those areas will be closed to fishing with bottom gears in accordance with the regulation. The Commission requested advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) in October 2019, and details of a related ICES workshop report and the advice request can be found at the links below. The workshop report also includes a summary of existing VME protection measures through national conservation initiatives, including in UK waters (ref. pages 8 and 9).

http://www.ices.dk/sites/pub/Publication%20Reports/Expert%20Group%20Report/Fisheries%20Resources%20Steering%20Group/2019/WKREG/WKREG2019.pdf

http://www.ices.dk/sites/pub/Publication%20Reports/Advice/2019/Special_Requests/eu.2019.19.pdf

The UK, while still a Member State, submitted UK-related VME data to assist the implementation process of the deep-sea access regulation. When ICES provides its advice the Commission will proceed with implementation in EU waters. As this will happen after the end of the transition period the UK will be in a position to develop the retained regime in our waters from next year, taking the ICES UK-related advice into consideration as we do so.

Victoria Prentis
Attorney General
17th Sep 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has set a date for the South Yorkshire flood summit.

The Government recognises the impact that flooding has had on individuals, local communities and businesses and sympathises with all those affected. I have been in contact with hon. Members from the South Yorkshire area on the issue of a round table.

Prior to lockdown, Defra officials were working to set this up. However, the coronavirus pandemic has caused delays. Officials continue to work on the logistics for holding a meeting in response to the November 2019 flooding and I expect to be able to confirm a date very soon.

Yesterday (21 September) the Government announced an extension of the £5,000 grant scheme available to homes and businesses affected by flooding last winter.

The Property Flood Resilience (PFR) scheme will be extended by nine months to take into account delays to repair work and the additional pressures placed on local authorities by coronavirus. The extension will give homeowners and businesses more time to carry out repairs and local authorities a greater period to process the grants.

Rebecca Pow
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
15th Sep 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much his Department has spent on flood defence by region in the UK in the last 12 months.

This is a devolved matter and the information provided therefore relates to England only.

Defra provides most of its funding for flood and coastal erosion risk management (FCERM) to the Environment Agency (EA) as grant-in-aid, which is the mechanism for financing non-departmental public bodies such as the EA. The EA spends this funding directly on managing flood risk, but it also passes some of this funding on as capital grants for flood or coastal erosion defence improvements to local authorities or Internal Drainage Boards.

The EA allocated capital grant-in-aid for 2019/20 per Office for National Statistics (ONS) region as follows. This information is a forecast only, based on the EA’s current consented FCERM investment programme (approved and published in April 2019).

ONS Region

2019/20 £

East Midlands

67,321,698

East of England

55,614,346

London

40,116,579

North East

10,119,997

North West

58,167,332

South East

58,641,225

South West

39,507,690

West Midlands

32,554,347

Yorkshire and the Humber

117,484,419

Rebecca Pow
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
14th Sep 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many meetings he has had on the winter 2019-20 flooding with hon. Members whose constituencies were affected.

The Government recognises the impact that flooding has had on individuals, local communities and businesses and sympathises with all those affected. Following the winter 2019-20 flooding, the Secretary of State, myself and the department have been actively engaging with hon Members whose constituencies were affected.

The Secretary of State has made a number of site visits and hosted an event following the winter floods in November 2019 and February 2020. These included visits to Ironbridge and Shrewsbury. He has also met individual Members including the hon Member for Halifax and the Rt Hon Member for Newark to discuss flooding in their constituencies.

In addition, I have taken part in a Westminster Hall debate on the South Yorkshire flooding with several affected Members. I have also met hon Members to discuss flooding in their constituencies including the hon Member for North East Derbyshire, the hon Member for Brigg and Goole and the hon Member for Don Valley. I have also attended an end of day debate with the hon Member for West Worcestershire.

I also attended an all-party meeting about the Severn Valley, held on 21 July 2020. The hon Members for Shrewsbury and Atcham, Gloucester, Montgomeryshire, West Worcestershire, Ludlow, North Herefordshire, Stroud, Stafford, and Defra's Parliamentary Private Secretary, the hon Member for Brecon and Radnorshire, attended.

I have been in contact with hon Members from the South Yorkshire area on the issue of a round table and I expect to be able to confirm a date very soon.

Rebecca Pow
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
14th Sep 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many meetings he has held with regional stakeholders in South Yorkshire on (a) the winter 2019 floods and (b) flood defence support in the last 12 months.

The Government recognises the impact that flooding has had on individuals, local communities and businesses and sympathises with all those affected. Following the winter 2019-20 flooding, the Secretary of State, myself and the department have been actively engaging with regional stakeholders.

As Minister for floods I engaged in a Westminster Hall debate focused on the flooding in South Yorkshire over the winter. This was attended by the hon Members for Barnsley East, Kingston upon Hull North, Rother Valley, Newport West, and the Rt Hon Member for Doncaster North. I have also met with the hon Member for Don Valley to discuss the impact of the winter floods and Sheffield City region's planned investment programme.

A number of hon Members from South Yorkshire have also written to Defra since November 2019. These include the hon Members for Barnsley Central, Don Valley, Rother Valley, and the Rt Hon Members for Doncaster North and Wentworth and Dearne.

Recently South Yorkshire, Sheffield, Upper Don Valley and the Upper Don Catchment NFM programme schemes received an allocation of the £170 million announced on 14 July, £15.4 million for the Sheffield Upper Don scheme and £600,000 for the NFM programme. Following this announcement, I met with the Member for Penistone & Stocksbridge to discuss flooding.

I have been in contact with hon Members from the South Yorkshire area on the issue of a round table and I expect to be able to confirm a date very soon.

Additionally, my officials have been engaging actively with eligible local authorities on the Property Flood Resilience Fund to provide clarity on the guidance for these schemes and to provide clarity on delivery questions.

Rebecca Pow
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
2nd Sep 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether it is his policy that a zero total allowable catch limit be set for the herring stock in ICES divisions 6a and 7b-c.

Whilst joint scientific advice is issued for the herring stock in ICES divisions 6a and 7b-c, they are managed separately. Since 2016, a small Total Allowable Catch (TAC) has been set based on ICES advice to enable monitoring of the stock, specifically the levels of mixing between different stocks North and South. TAC setting for 2021 will be a matter for negotiation, using this and any other available scientific evidence.

Victoria Prentis
Attorney General
2nd Sep 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Government has taken to ensure that non-assessed fish stocks are not overfished.

The Government has and will continue to use the best scientific advice available in setting fishing opportunities for species that are subject to a Total Allowable Catch (TAC). This includes those stocks which do not have a Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) assessment.

Victoria Prentis
Attorney General
2nd Sep 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Government has taken to meet Aichi Target 6 under the Convention on Biodiversity; and what assessment the Government has made of its effectiveness in seeking to meet that target.

Within the confines of the Common Fisheries Policy, the UK has made significant progress in introducing sustainable fisheries measures, including a landing obligation, subsidies and incentives for more selective gear, accreditation schemes, and area-based management measures.

For 2020, the UK will have 67% of its Total Allowable Catches set at Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) out of total of 54 stocks with MSY assessments.

We recently published our Marine Strategy Part One assessment on the health and resilience of our marine ecosystems, including our progress towards the achieving our objective of good environmental status (GES) in UK waters. This encompasses the scope of Aichi Target 6.

Victoria Prentis
Attorney General
5th May 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Environment Agency's water quality monitoring programme, what number of (a) samples have been taken and (b) sampling points there have been in (i) each year since 2010 and (ii) each month since January 2020.

The table below shows the number of water quality samples taken by the Environment Agency, and the number of sample points, in each year since 2010:

Year

No. samples taken

No. sample points

2010

131602

18079

2011

137251

17286

2012

155394

16790

2013

159737

18498

2014

135452

17962

2015

121755

16088

2016

111951

15428

2017

94879

15335

2018

86737

13086

2019

97587

14439

The table below shows the number of water quality samples taken, and the number of sample points, in each month since January 2020:

Month

No. samples taken

No. sample points

January

9475

8175

February

7740

6612

March

7196

6189

Data for April is not yet available.

Rebecca Pow
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
5th May 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans his Department has to resume sampling of rivers, groundwater and bathing waters to measure water quality.

In line with Government guidelines to reduce the spread of Coronavirus, the Environment Agency (EA) has paused all monitoring activities that are not essential to prevent serious harm to people or the environment, or to support responses to major incidents.

The EA will keep this under review and will restart non-critical activities (including routine environmental monitoring) in due course, in line with Government guidance on lockdown measures.

Rebecca Pow
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
5th May 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many samples of England's designated bathing waters have been taken to monitor water quality (a) since 2010 and (b) in each month of 2020.

From 2010 to the end of 2019, the Environment Agency (EA) collected and analysed 78,250 samples to monitor water quality at England’s designated bathing waters. The EA has not taken any samples yet in 2020 because the sampling season starts on 1 May and has been disrupted due to the Coronavirus emergency.

Rebecca Pow
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
5th May 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the timetable is for the publication of the Water Framework Directive water body classifications.

During the Coronavirus emergency, the Environment Agency (EA) has prioritised activities critical to preventing serious harm to people or the environment, or to supporting responses to major incidents. The EA does not, therefore, currently have a release date for the Water Framework Directive water body classifications. The EA is considering this as part of its planning for the ‘restart’ phase of the Coronavirus emergency and will publish the classifications as soon as it reasonably can.

Rebecca Pow
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
5th May 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much funding has been allocated to water quality monitoring since 2010.

£130.5 million was allocated to the Environment Agency (EA) for water quality monitoring from 2015 to the end of 2019. This includes planning, sampling, analysing, recording and interpreting the data.

Prior to 2015, funding allocations within the EA were not recorded to the same level of detail and so accurate and consistent figures cannot be provided for the period 2010 to 2015.

Rebecca Pow
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
24th Apr 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many businesses have applied to the Coronavirus Fisheries Support Scheme.

The £9 million Fisheries Response Fund (FRF) went operational on Tuesday, April 21st. The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) has contacted just under 1000 registered fishing vessel owners directly by email, and the final 200 will be contacted today (28 April).

Victoria Prentis
Attorney General
24th Apr 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many businesses have received a direct cash grant through the Coronavirus fisheries support scheme.

Of the 978 registered fishing vessel owners contacted, over 600 have returned completed application forms and 351 payments have been processed (to a total value of over £1.5 million) within the first five days. Further payments to all eligible fishing vessel owners will be made during this week and will continue in response to applications returned.

Victoria Prentis
Attorney General
24th Apr 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many projects to support fishermen in selling their catch to local communities have been funded by the Government's fisheries support scheme.

The £1 million Direct Seafood Supply Scheme is due to be launched during this week, commencing with a call for projects. Applicants will have time to complete their bids for grants, which will be judged by a panel including fishing industry representatives. It is anticipated that decisions will be made and applicants informed from May 15.

Victoria Prentis
Attorney General
26th Feb 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many staff have been employed by the Environment Agency in each year since 2009.

The below table shows the number of full-time equivalents (FTEs) in England only from 2009:

a) Directly

b) Contracted Basis

Year

Perm Employees

Fixed Term Contract Employees

Employment Agency Staff

Contractors

Total

09/10

10,918

359

429

452

12,158

10/11

10,063

105

209

135

10,512

11/12

9,816

158

516

139

10,628

12/13

10,345

310

487

216

11,358

13/14

10,068

207

218

114

10,608

14/15

9,624

113

343

154

10,235

15/16

9,556

117

275

391

10,340

16/17

9,839

264

185

607

10,896

17/18

9,174

316

233

283

10,006

18/19

9,577

296

297

260

10,429

January 2020

9,918

359

219

256

10,752

The changes in the number of staff who work at the Environment Agency represent the Spending Review settlements and income received from charge payers. The response uses England only figures as pre 2013 the Environment Agency was made up of England and Wales. Following 2013 it is England only. In addition, 896 Full Time Equivalents transferred to Defra Corporate Services under a Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) (TUPE) arrangement in November 2017.

Victoria Prentis
Attorney General
26th Feb 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much and what proportion of flood defence funding has been allocated to (a) Yorkshire and Humber, (b) the South East, (c) London, (d) the North West, (e) the East of England, (f) the West Midlands, (g) the South West, (h) the East Midlands, (i) the North East and (j) England since 2009.

Between 2010/11 and 2018/19 the Government has invested over £3.3 billion to better protect the country from flooding. This includes over 1,200 flood defence schemes which have better protected over 400,000 homes. The Government has also invested over £1 billion to maintain flood defences

In addition to this, in September 2019 a further £62.35 million of Government spending was announced to protect communities across Yorkshire, Cumbria, the North East and South East of England from flooding. In total, more than 9,000 homes will be better protected against flooding through this round of funding.

ONS Region

2010/2011 to 2018/2019 Government Investment (£k)

National or Cross-Boundary

421,971

East Midlands

326,130

East of England

426,356

London

192,481

North East

130,100

North West

371,759

South East

547,220

South West

360,209

West Midlands

108,105

Yorkshire and the Humber

480,627

Total

3,364,957

Rebecca Pow
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
25th Feb 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what proportion of planning applications were objected to by the Environment Agency because of flood risk concerns since 2009.

As a statutory consultee in development planning, the Environment Agency (EA) comments on all development proposals (other than minor development) in areas that are at (i) medium or high risk of flooding from rivers or the sea, (ii) within 20 metres of a Main River, (iii) within an area with critical drainage problems. The EA does not make the final decision on local planning approvals. Local planning authorities are responsible and accountable for approving proposals for new development in their local areas. In the majority of cases the EA’s flood risk advice is taken on board by local planning authorities.

Between 2009 and 2018, the EA initially objected to approximately 30% of planning applications where it was a statutory consultee on flood risk matters. However, by working with the local planning authorities and developers to gather additional information, or make modifications to the initial development proposals, the vast majority of these objections were overcome.

The EA, in working with communities, developers and planning authorities, ensures that necessary development in flood risk areas is designed to be safe and resilient to flooding, and does not increase risk to others. The success of the EA’s role is demonstrated in the reporting figures with over 99% of new homes in planning applications being made in line with our advice, and in 2018/19, over 95% of all planning applications (where flood risk was considered) were made in line with EA advice, where we were made aware of the planning decision.

Year

Planning decision in line with EA advice

Planning applications involving new homes decided in line with EA advice on flood risk

2018/19

95%

99%

2017/18

95%

99%

2016/17

96%

99%

2015/16

97%

99%

2014/15

96%

98%

2013/14

97%

99%

2012/13

95%

99%

2011/12

96%

99%

2010/11

97%

No data

2009/10

96%

No data

The EA publishes a comprehensive list of all applications where we’ve lodged objections on flood risk grounds. This can be seen at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/environment-agency-objections-to-planning-on-the-basis-of-flood-risk. Many of the issues will have been resolved before a final decision was made.

Rebecca Pow
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
3rd Feb 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will call a flood summit in response to the November 2019 floods.

Minister Pow announced at the Westminster debate on Flooding in South Yorkshire, on 30 January, that she proposes to host a meeting with the Mayor of Sheffield City Region Combined Authority, Members of Parliament from South Yorkshire and the Environment Agency in the near future to discuss the recent flooding and the work that can be done locally to plan for the future.

Rebecca Pow
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
8th Oct 2020
What recent discussions she has had with UK trade partners on maintaining International Labour Organisation standards in future trade agreements.

While the detail of free trade agreements is reserved for formal negotiations, we have committed in our public mandates to protect our labour standards as the British people would expect. These include health and safety, minimum wages and action on modern slavery. We will continue to uphold Britain’s high standards and remain an active member of the International Labour Organisation.

15th Sep 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to increase the availability of driving tests.

Since April 2021, the recovery measures put in place by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) to reduce car practical driving test waiting times, together with the ongoing recruitment of driving examiners, is creating approximately 40,000 extra car test appointments each month. These measures include conducting out-of-hours testing, such as on public holidays and weekends, asking all those qualified to conduct tests but who do not do so as part of their current day job, to return to conducting tests, and asking recently retired driving examiners to return.

As of 18 September 2023, there were 561,275 car practical driving tests booked, and 64,817 driving tests available within the 24-week booking window.

The DVSA is aware of some people who have been using apps and bots to find a test date. These apps or bots are not approved by the DVSA as they make it harder for candidates to get a test and can also result in people paying more for a test, than the official test fee. Using such services also means that any changes to the test may not necessarily be relayed to the candidate.

The DVSA will also continue to inform candidates of the official channels for booking a test. The DVSA has taken measures to encourage learners to use the official booking site on GOV.UK by ensuring that it appears as high as possible on popular search engines and by promoting the official website on social media.

The fees for the services that the DVSA offers have remained largely the same for over 10 years. The car driving test fee was last changed in 2009 and has not kept up with inflation. The fee for a driving test represents a relatively small component of the overall cost of learning to drive.

Richard Holden
Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
15th Sep 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether financial support is available for people who cannot afford to pay for a driving test.

Since April 2021, the recovery measures put in place by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) to reduce car practical driving test waiting times, together with the ongoing recruitment of driving examiners, is creating approximately 40,000 extra car test appointments each month. These measures include conducting out-of-hours testing, such as on public holidays and weekends, asking all those qualified to conduct tests but who do not do so as part of their current day job, to return to conducting tests, and asking recently retired driving examiners to return.

As of 18 September 2023, there were 561,275 car practical driving tests booked, and 64,817 driving tests available within the 24-week booking window.

The DVSA is aware of some people who have been using apps and bots to find a test date. These apps or bots are not approved by the DVSA as they make it harder for candidates to get a test and can also result in people paying more for a test, than the official test fee. Using such services also means that any changes to the test may not necessarily be relayed to the candidate.

The DVSA will also continue to inform candidates of the official channels for booking a test. The DVSA has taken measures to encourage learners to use the official booking site on GOV.UK by ensuring that it appears as high as possible on popular search engines and by promoting the official website on social media.

The fees for the services that the DVSA offers have remained largely the same for over 10 years. The car driving test fee was last changed in 2009 and has not kept up with inflation. The fee for a driving test represents a relatively small component of the overall cost of learning to drive.

Richard Holden
Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
15th Sep 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to reduce waiting times to obtain driving tests.

Since April 2021, the recovery measures put in place by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) to reduce car practical driving test waiting times, together with the ongoing recruitment of driving examiners, is creating approximately 40,000 extra car test appointments each month. These measures include conducting out-of-hours testing, such as on public holidays and weekends, asking all those qualified to conduct tests but who do not do so as part of their current day job, to return to conducting tests, and asking recently retired driving examiners to return.

As of 18 September 2023, there were 561,275 car practical driving tests booked, and 64,817 driving tests available within the 24-week booking window.

The DVSA is aware of some people who have been using apps and bots to find a test date. These apps or bots are not approved by the DVSA as they make it harder for candidates to get a test and can also result in people paying more for a test, than the official test fee. Using such services also means that any changes to the test may not necessarily be relayed to the candidate.

The DVSA will also continue to inform candidates of the official channels for booking a test. The DVSA has taken measures to encourage learners to use the official booking site on GOV.UK by ensuring that it appears as high as possible on popular search engines and by promoting the official website on social media.

The fees for the services that the DVSA offers have remained largely the same for over 10 years. The car driving test fee was last changed in 2009 and has not kept up with inflation. The fee for a driving test represents a relatively small component of the overall cost of learning to drive.

Richard Holden
Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
15th Sep 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he plans to provide people who paid a broker to obtain a driving test with financial support.

Since April 2021, the recovery measures put in place by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) to reduce car practical driving test waiting times, together with the ongoing recruitment of driving examiners, is creating approximately 40,000 extra car test appointments each month. These measures include conducting out-of-hours testing, such as on public holidays and weekends, asking all those qualified to conduct tests but who do not do so as part of their current day job, to return to conducting tests, and asking recently retired driving examiners to return.

As of 18 September 2023, there were 561,275 car practical driving tests booked, and 64,817 driving tests available within the 24-week booking window.

The DVSA is aware of some people who have been using apps and bots to find a test date. These apps or bots are not approved by the DVSA as they make it harder for candidates to get a test and can also result in people paying more for a test, than the official test fee. Using such services also means that any changes to the test may not necessarily be relayed to the candidate.

The DVSA will also continue to inform candidates of the official channels for booking a test. The DVSA has taken measures to encourage learners to use the official booking site on GOV.UK by ensuring that it appears as high as possible on popular search engines and by promoting the official website on social media.

The fees for the services that the DVSA offers have remained largely the same for over 10 years. The car driving test fee was last changed in 2009 and has not kept up with inflation. The fee for a driving test represents a relatively small component of the overall cost of learning to drive.

Richard Holden
Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
20th Jul 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to help increase the safety of (a) pedestrians and (b) other road users.

The Highway Code was updated on 29 January 2022 to include changes to improve safety for cyclists, pedestrians and horse riders. Key changes include the introduction of a Hierarchy of Road Users, which ensures that those who do the greatest harm have the greatest responsibility to reduce the danger or threat that they pose to others, strengthening pedestrian priority on pavements and at crossings, guidance on safe passing distances when overtaking cyclists, pedestrians and horse-riders and clarification that cyclists have priority at junctions when travelling straight ahead. The changes will lead to improvements in road safety as they encourage more mutual respect and consideration for all road users.

Richard Holden
Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
13th Jul 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what (a) algorithmic and (b) other automated decision making systems his Department uses; and for what purposes.

Algorithms are used in various analytical processes and in modelling by the Department for Transport. These inform decisions, but ultimately decisions are taken by Ministers. The Department publishes a list of business-critical models and their purposes. This is available online, at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dft-analytical-assurance-framework-strength-in-numbers/dft-register-of-business-critical-models-april-2021.

The Department is developing an internal AI programme which will use algorithmic processes, for example to detect fraudulent grant applications and to streamline work processes. To date, none of these developmental systems has been used for automated decision making.

20th Jun 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the oral contribution of the Minister for Data and Digital Infrastructure of 14 June 2023 at Topical Questions, T7, Official Report, column 286, what plans his Department has to (a) utilise the provisions in Part 3 of the Data Protection and Digital Information (No. 2) Bill and (b) use smart data in new sectors.

The Department has no current plans to make use of this legislation but will continue to keep it under review.

26th Jan 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department takes steps to ensure that audio-visual announcements on buses are available for those who require them and not turned down or off.

There has been progress in increasing the number of vehicles on which audible and visible information is provided. Since 2016/17, the percentage of buses using an Audio-Visual information system to provide route, direction, next stop and diversion information to passengers has almost doubled, from 18% to 34% in 2020/21 across Great Britain. However, there is a large variation in usage by region.

At present there is no legal requirement for operators to provide audible and visible information or to maintain volume levels at a particular level. However, we plan to require the provision of audible and visible information on local bus and coach services across Great Britain, and intend to introduce the Accessible Information Regulations shortly. The Regulations will incorporate requirements to ensure that audible information can be heard by passengers.

Richard Holden
Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
26th Jan 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent progress his Department has made on installing audio-visual announcements in buses.

There has been progress in increasing the number of vehicles on which audible and visible information is provided. Since 2016/17, the percentage of buses using an Audio-Visual information system to provide route, direction, next stop and diversion information to passengers has almost doubled, from 18% to 34% in 2020/21 across Great Britain. However, there is a large variation in usage by region.

At present there is no legal requirement for operators to provide audible and visible information or to maintain volume levels at a particular level. However, we plan to require the provision of audible and visible information on local bus and coach services across Great Britain, and intend to introduce the Accessible Information Regulations shortly. The Regulations will incorporate requirements to ensure that audible information can be heard by passengers.

Richard Holden
Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
9th Jan 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an estimate of the number of speed-related traffic accidents in each month in 2022.

Statistics on road collisions reported to the police for 2022 are scheduled for publication in September 2023.

Richard Holden
Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
9th Jan 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent steps his Department has taken to reduce the number of speed-related traffic accidents.

Figures for Great Britain’s traffic fatalities per million population have been among the lowest in the world for many years. In 2021, Great Britain had the fifth lowest rate of road fatalities per million people among European countries with a population over 1 million.

The Government believes that any form of dangerous or inconsiderate driving behaviour is a serious road safety issue. All available research shows a link between excessive speed and the risk of collisions.

We expect all drivers to observe the speed limit, and enforcement is a matter for the police. Policing of our roads, and how available resources are deployed, is the responsibility of individual chief officers, taking into account the specific local issues.

The Government is progressing a four-year review into roads policing and traffic enforcement. The Department for Transport will be looking at this with the Home Office, the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners and the National Police Chiefs’ Council. We aim to identify ways of increasing capability and capacity across a range of agencies. This review will not only highlight where police forces are doing good work: it will show what more can be done to improve road safety.

The Department has also announced plans to set up a Road Safety Investigation Branch to identify the underlying causes of road traffic collisions. This will bring roads into line with modes such as rail, which have long benefitted from an accident investigation branch.

Richard Holden
Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
13th Dec 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent steps he has taken to progress the roadside noise camera trials; and what plans he has to extend the pilot to a wider rollout.

The Department is working at pace to understand if noise camera technology can be used to automatically detect excessively noisy vehicles. The current roadside trials commenced on 18 October and will be completed in early 2023. If the trials prove to be successful, noise cameras may be considered for wider rollout, should funding be available.

Richard Holden
Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
13th Dec 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with the Home Secretary on the potential merits of training local police forces to become vehicle examiners so that they could purchase decibel meters to enable enforcement against vehicles that create excessive noise.

It is for the Home Secretary to determine matters of police resourcing.

To support enforcement efforts, the Department for Transport has commenced further research to understand if the latest 'noise camera' technology can be an effective tool for the police and local authorities that will enable more targeted and efficient enforcement.

Richard Holden
Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
13th Dec 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to support (a) local authorities and (b) the police on ensuring those bodies have the resources to enforce rules on vehicles which create excessive noise.

It is for the Home Secretary to determine matters of police resourcing.

To support enforcement efforts, the Department for Transport has commenced further research to understand if the latest 'noise camera' technology can be an effective tool for the police and local authorities that will enable more targeted and efficient enforcement.

Richard Holden
Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
14th Oct 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate her Department has made of the potential impact of the delivery of Northern Powerhouse Rail on communities in the North of England.

Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) will transform the railways of the North of England. NPR will see journey times cut and passenger capacity increased between the North’s major economic centres, bringing people and places closer together.

The impact of different options for NPR on communities has been, and will remain, a key criteria in assessing different choices to deliver out commitment to it.

The Government will continue to work closely with leaders across the North as it confirms further details on this transformational programme.

13th Oct 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish a plan to deliver Northern Powerhouse Rail; and when (a) a new line between Leeds and Manchester, (b) signal upgrades and electrification across the whole of the North will be delivered.

The Prime Minister has made clear the Government’s commitment to delivering Northern Powerhouse Rail in full, including a stop in Bradford. Plans will be set out in due course including potential opportunities for acceleration. We will engage closely with local leaders and MPs in reaching detailed decisions on the options to deliver this.

In the Transport Decarbonisation Plan, published July 2021, the government committed to deliver a net zero rail network by 2050. This will include electrifying additional lines and deploying battery and hydrogen trains on lines where it makes economic and operational sense.

4th Jul 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that local authorities have the funding required to introduce adequate road safety measures to reduce speeding.

The Government believes that any form of dangerous or inconsiderate driving behaviour is a serious road safety issue. All available research shows a link between excessive speed and the risk of collisions.

We expect all drivers to observe the speed limit, and enforcement is a matter for the police. Policing of our roads, and how available resources are deployed, is the responsibility of individual chief officers, taking into account the specific local issues.

Responsibility for making decisions, and prioritising works, about the roads under their care rests with local traffic authorities based on their knowledge of local needs. This includes introducing measures to tackle dangerous roads and reduce speeding.

The Department for Transport provides guidance to support local councils on the implementation of various traffic management issues.

In addition, the Department for Transport provides funds directly to local authorities which may be used for road safety purposes.

This includes the £170 million the Department is providing in 22/23 to local highways authorities in England, outside London and City Region areas, through the Integrated Transport Block for small scale transport schemes, including road safety measures. The Integrated Transport Block is not ring-fenced, allowing authorities to spend their allocations according to their own priorities. It is therefore for each authority to decide how it allocates its resources and which transport improvement projects to support.

It also includes the £5.7 billion City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements (CRSTS) provide consolidated, long-term capital funding to improve the local transport networks of eight city regions across England through five-year settlements from 2022/23. This funding combines new and existing funds, including Highways Maintenance, Integrated Transport Block, Potholes fund and final year Transforming Cities Fund.

The Safer Roads Fund was established to treat the 50 highest risk local A road sections in England with remedial road safety engineering interventions. As a result, £100 million has been committed by the Department for Transport across 48 schemes.

Trudy Harrison
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
4th Jul 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to encourage and support local authorities to introduce safety measures on dangerous roads proactively rather than retrospectively after multiple accidents.

The Government believes that any form of dangerous or inconsiderate driving behaviour is a serious road safety issue. All available research shows a link between excessive speed and the risk of collisions.

We expect all drivers to observe the speed limit, and enforcement is a matter for the police. Policing of our roads, and how available resources are deployed, is the responsibility of individual chief officers, taking into account the specific local issues.

Responsibility for making decisions, and prioritising works, about the roads under their care rests with local traffic authorities based on their knowledge of local needs. This includes introducing measures to tackle dangerous roads and reduce speeding.

The Department for Transport provides guidance to support local councils on the implementation of various traffic management issues.

In addition, the Department for Transport provides funds directly to local authorities which may be used for road safety purposes.

This includes the £170 million the Department is providing in 22/23 to local highways authorities in England, outside London and City Region areas, through the Integrated Transport Block for small scale transport schemes, including road safety measures. The Integrated Transport Block is not ring-fenced, allowing authorities to spend their allocations according to their own priorities. It is therefore for each authority to decide how it allocates its resources and which transport improvement projects to support.

It also includes the £5.7 billion City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements (CRSTS) provide consolidated, long-term capital funding to improve the local transport networks of eight city regions across England through five-year settlements from 2022/23. This funding combines new and existing funds, including Highways Maintenance, Integrated Transport Block, Potholes fund and final year Transforming Cities Fund.

The Safer Roads Fund was established to treat the 50 highest risk local A road sections in England with remedial road safety engineering interventions. As a result, £100 million has been committed by the Department for Transport across 48 schemes.

Trudy Harrison
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
4th Jul 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what support is available for local authorities seeking to reduce speeding to improve road safety.

The Government believes that any form of dangerous or inconsiderate driving behaviour is a serious road safety issue. All available research shows a link between excessive speed and the risk of collisions.

We expect all drivers to observe the speed limit, and enforcement is a matter for the police. Policing of our roads, and how available resources are deployed, is the responsibility of individual chief officers, taking into account the specific local issues.

Responsibility for making decisions, and prioritising works, about the roads under their care rests with local traffic authorities based on their knowledge of local needs. This includes introducing measures to tackle dangerous roads and reduce speeding.

The Department for Transport provides guidance to support local councils on the implementation of various traffic management issues.

In addition, the Department for Transport provides funds directly to local authorities which may be used for road safety purposes.

This includes the £170 million the Department is providing in 22/23 to local highways authorities in England, outside London and City Region areas, through the Integrated Transport Block for small scale transport schemes, including road safety measures. The Integrated Transport Block is not ring-fenced, allowing authorities to spend their allocations according to their own priorities. It is therefore for each authority to decide how it allocates its resources and which transport improvement projects to support.

It also includes the £5.7 billion City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements (CRSTS) provide consolidated, long-term capital funding to improve the local transport networks of eight city regions across England through five-year settlements from 2022/23. This funding combines new and existing funds, including Highways Maintenance, Integrated Transport Block, Potholes fund and final year Transforming Cities Fund.

The Safer Roads Fund was established to treat the 50 highest risk local A road sections in England with remedial road safety engineering interventions. As a result, £100 million has been committed by the Department for Transport across 48 schemes.

Trudy Harrison
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
16th May 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate his Department has made of the potential number of unroadworthy vehicles in the event that MOT tests were required only every two years.

The Department has made no proposal or decision to change the requirements for MOT tests. Should any such proposal be made, we would produce an assessment of the effects of the change.

DVSA publish statistics on the number of vehicles that pass and fail MOT tests and the reasons for failed tests:-

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/mot-testing-data-for-great-britain

Trudy Harrison
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
16th May 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish the data his Department holds on the number of MOT testing centres that have closed since March 2020.

The percentage of vehicles declared unroadworthy following an MOT conducted statistics are published at Vehicle testing and enforcement activity effectiveness reports - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

It is not possible to determine the number of MOT testing centres that have ‘closed’ since March 2020 as sites might cease testing and then resume testing at a later date either by the site owner or a new owner. Should an MOT testing centre cease to conduct MOT tests, the site may remain open to continue its underlying service and repair work.

Trudy Harrison
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
16th May 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish the data his Department holds on the percentage of vehicles declared unroadworthy following an MOT conducted (a) January to March 2020 and (b) January to March 2022.

The percentage of vehicles declared unroadworthy following an MOT conducted statistics are published at Vehicle testing and enforcement activity effectiveness reports - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

It is not possible to determine the number of MOT testing centres that have ‘closed’ since March 2020 as sites might cease testing and then resume testing at a later date either by the site owner or a new owner. Should an MOT testing centre cease to conduct MOT tests, the site may remain open to continue its underlying service and repair work.

Trudy Harrison
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
21st Sep 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the average processing time was for an HGV driving licence application renewal in (a) 2018, (b) 2019, (c) 2020 and (d) 2021 to 31 August.

The table below shows the average processing time for vocational (which includes both HGV and bus) driving licence renewal applications.

Calendar Year

Average days to issue a renewal vocational driving licence

2018

2.94

2019

2.45

2020

4.74

2021 (to 31 August)

12.02

Trudy Harrison
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
17th Sep 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to increase the speed with which HGV driver applications are processed.

The DVLA is currently prioritising applications for HGV driving licences and continues to explore opportunities to reduce turnaround times for paper applications. Extra staff have been recruited and the DVLA is seeking extra office space to house more staff to help reduce backlogs and provide future resilience and business continuity.

Paper driving licence applications are currently taking between six and ten weeks to process and more information is available on GOV.UK here. There may be additional delays in processing more complex transactions, for example, if medical investigations are needed.

Following a public consultation, the Department is also introducing changes that will streamline the licensing process for new HGV drivers and increase driving test availability. These are aimed to help address current driver shortages. A written statement to Parliament about these changes has been published on GOV.UK.

Trudy Harrison
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
16th Sep 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what additional resources have been made available to ensuring that HGV driver applications are being processed on time.

On 15 September, there were 54,191 applications for vocational driving licences awaiting processing. These are a mix of first applications for a provisional vocational licence and renewals. It is important to note that the majority of those applying to renew their vocational licence will be able to continue to drive while their application is being processed. Vocational applications include those applying for entitlement to drive both HGVs and buses and it is not possible to separate them out.

On 31 March 2010, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) employed 6,428 staff. It is not possible to specify how many staff were working on applications for HGV licences in 2010 as most DVLA operational roles require employees to carry out a range of tasks.

Information about the number of renewal applications for HGV driver licences that were not processed by their renewal date is not held.

The DVLA is currently prioritising applications for HGV driving licences and continues to explore opportunities to reduce turnaround times for paper applications. Extra staff have been recruited and the DVLA is seeking extra office space to house more staff to help reduce backlogs and provide future resilience and business continuity.

Paper driving licence applications are currently taking between six and ten weeks to process and more information is available on gov.uk here. There may be additional delays in processing more complex transactions, for example, if medical investigations are needed.

Trudy Harrison
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
16th Sep 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many renewal applications for HGV driver licences were not processed by their renewal date as a result of delays in DLVA processing in each month since January 2021 to date. .

On 15 September, there were 54,191 applications for vocational driving licences awaiting processing. These are a mix of first applications for a provisional vocational licence and renewals. It is important to note that the majority of those applying to renew their vocational licence will be able to continue to drive while their application is being processed. Vocational applications include those applying for entitlement to drive both HGVs and buses and it is not possible to separate them out.

On 31 March 2010, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) employed 6,428 staff. It is not possible to specify how many staff were working on applications for HGV licences in 2010 as most DVLA operational roles require employees to carry out a range of tasks.

Information about the number of renewal applications for HGV driver licences that were not processed by their renewal date is not held.

The DVLA is currently prioritising applications for HGV driving licences and continues to explore opportunities to reduce turnaround times for paper applications. Extra staff have been recruited and the DVLA is seeking extra office space to house more staff to help reduce backlogs and provide future resilience and business continuity.

Paper driving licence applications are currently taking between six and ten weeks to process and more information is available on gov.uk here. There may be additional delays in processing more complex transactions, for example, if medical investigations are needed.

Trudy Harrison
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
16th Sep 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many staff working for the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency were dedicated to processing HGV driver applications in 2010.

On 15 September, there were 54,191 applications for vocational driving licences awaiting processing. These are a mix of first applications for a provisional vocational licence and renewals. It is important to note that the majority of those applying to renew their vocational licence will be able to continue to drive while their application is being processed. Vocational applications include those applying for entitlement to drive both HGVs and buses and it is not possible to separate them out.

On 31 March 2010, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) employed 6,428 staff. It is not possible to specify how many staff were working on applications for HGV licences in 2010 as most DVLA operational roles require employees to carry out a range of tasks.

Information about the number of renewal applications for HGV driver licences that were not processed by their renewal date is not held.

The DVLA is currently prioritising applications for HGV driving licences and continues to explore opportunities to reduce turnaround times for paper applications. Extra staff have been recruited and the DVLA is seeking extra office space to house more staff to help reduce backlogs and provide future resilience and business continuity.

Paper driving licence applications are currently taking between six and ten weeks to process and more information is available on gov.uk here. There may be additional delays in processing more complex transactions, for example, if medical investigations are needed.

Trudy Harrison
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
16th Sep 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many staff worked for the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency in 2010.

On 15 September, there were 54,191 applications for vocational driving licences awaiting processing. These are a mix of first applications for a provisional vocational licence and renewals. It is important to note that the majority of those applying to renew their vocational licence will be able to continue to drive while their application is being processed. Vocational applications include those applying for entitlement to drive both HGVs and buses and it is not possible to separate them out.

On 31 March 2010, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) employed 6,428 staff. It is not possible to specify how many staff were working on applications for HGV licences in 2010 as most DVLA operational roles require employees to carry out a range of tasks.

Information about the number of renewal applications for HGV driver licences that were not processed by their renewal date is not held.

The DVLA is currently prioritising applications for HGV driving licences and continues to explore opportunities to reduce turnaround times for paper applications. Extra staff have been recruited and the DVLA is seeking extra office space to house more staff to help reduce backlogs and provide future resilience and business continuity.

Paper driving licence applications are currently taking between six and ten weeks to process and more information is available on gov.uk here. There may be additional delays in processing more complex transactions, for example, if medical investigations are needed.

Trudy Harrison
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
16th Sep 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many applications for HGV driving licences the DVLA had taken receipt of but had not yet completed processing of as at 15 September 2021.

On 15 September, there were 54,191 applications for vocational driving licences awaiting processing. These are a mix of first applications for a provisional vocational licence and renewals. It is important to note that the majority of those applying to renew their vocational licence will be able to continue to drive while their application is being processed. Vocational applications include those applying for entitlement to drive both HGVs and buses and it is not possible to separate them out.

On 31 March 2010, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) employed 6,428 staff. It is not possible to specify how many staff were working on applications for HGV licences in 2010 as most DVLA operational roles require employees to carry out a range of tasks.

Information about the number of renewal applications for HGV driver licences that were not processed by their renewal date is not held.

The DVLA is currently prioritising applications for HGV driving licences and continues to explore opportunities to reduce turnaround times for paper applications. Extra staff have been recruited and the DVLA is seeking extra office space to house more staff to help reduce backlogs and provide future resilience and business continuity.

Paper driving licence applications are currently taking between six and ten weeks to process and more information is available on gov.uk here. There may be additional delays in processing more complex transactions, for example, if medical investigations are needed.

Trudy Harrison
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
15th Sep 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many and what proportion of Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency Staff are responsible for processing heavy goods vehicle driver applications.

The table below shows the average processing time for vocational (which includes HGV) driving licence applications.

Financial Year

Average days to issue a vocational driving licence

2018/19

3.33

2019/20

3.42

2020/21

6.71

2021/22 (to end of August)

16.80

Industrial action by the Public and Commercial Services union, a significantly reduced number of staff on site to ensure social distancing in line with Welsh Government requirements, as well as the increased demand for Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) services has led to the increased processing times in this financial year.

It is not possible to specify how many staff are working on applications for HGV licences as most DVLA operational roles require employees to carry out a range of tasks.

Andrew Stephenson
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
15th Sep 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the average processing time was for an HGV driving licence application in (a) 2018, (b) 2019 and (c) 2020.

The table below shows the average processing time for vocational (which includes HGV) driving licence applications.

Financial Year

Average days to issue a vocational driving licence

2018/19

3.33

2019/20

3.42

2020/21

6.71

2021/22 (to end of August)

16.80

Industrial action by the Public and Commercial Services union, a significantly reduced number of staff on site to ensure social distancing in line with Welsh Government requirements, as well as the increased demand for Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) services has led to the increased processing times in this financial year.

It is not possible to specify how many staff are working on applications for HGV licences as most DVLA operational roles require employees to carry out a range of tasks.

Andrew Stephenson
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
15th Sep 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the average processing time has been for an HGV driving licence application in 2021.

The table below shows the average processing time for vocational (which includes HGV) driving licence applications.

Financial Year

Average days to issue a vocational driving licence

2018/19

3.33

2019/20

3.42

2020/21

6.71

2021/22 (to end of August)

16.80

Industrial action by the Public and Commercial Services union, a significantly reduced number of staff on site to ensure social distancing in line with Welsh Government requirements, as well as the increased demand for Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) services has led to the increased processing times in this financial year.

It is not possible to specify how many staff are working on applications for HGV licences as most DVLA operational roles require employees to carry out a range of tasks.

Andrew Stephenson
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
15th Sep 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many staff currently work for the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency.